The Berlin Wall, the symbol of the divided continent of Europe collapsed almost a quarter century ago. In the one and a half decades since the fall of the “Iron Curtain”; the European Union has expanded significantly and essentially the borders between these states ceased to exist. However, this historically created divide between east and west within the European Union in many ways remained. Access to Help in Rural Areas provides the reader important information concerning the condition of the local organization of social services (LOSS) and how citizens access them daily in two relatively underprivileged regions of two different countries in the eastern and still relatively divided part of the EU. The book not only provides the outcomes of the two country regional surveys, it shows the juridical background and public administration of the LOSS and their alterations, particularly with respect to the effects of the crisis. This research is a harbinger of continued and expanded international research built upon twenty years of scientific collaboration within the LOSS program. In both countries, government officials are responsible for arranging social and health care services and promoting the wellbeing of the citizens. Although there are differences between the areas of Northern Hungarian Great Plain and Northern Finland, continued research cooperation would likely open new opportunities for developing services and safeguarding the wellbeing of people living in Hungary and Finland. Research cooperation would generate new knowledge about how citizens experience wellbeing, the phenomena as both a regional and temporary process, and finally about welfare services themselves and the potential for application of technology to safeguard services.

A Times Best Book of the Year 2025 A remarkable micro-history from the author of The Sleepwalkers and Revolutionary Spring 'It takes a confident historian to write a short book... the story is distilled to its powerful essence; he knows precisely what's important... This small book is many things, but for me what shines brightest is a tale of two renegade preachers who understood women and love' - Gerard de Groot, The Times Now part of the Russian Baltic enclave of Kaliningrad, the former Prussian and German port of Königsberg has always been a somewhat sleepy place, doomed to be famous for having once been the residence of Immanuel Kant. But in the late 1830s, just for a short while, it became famous for all the wrong reasons. Christopher Clark's brilliant new book is the result of many years of fascination with this strange case. Sensational accusations were bandied about, implying that beneath the town's somnolent surface there were dark erotic currents and wrenching betrayals of trust. For the Prussian authorities this was just the sort of moral collapse they feared most. In the aftermath of the Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars, which had unsettled a generation, every lapse could be seen as the harbinger of new storms. A Scandal in Königsberg beautifully brings to life a time and a place that we would now situate in the tranquil 'Biedermeier' years between the seismic upheavals of the 1810s and 1840s. But there is a timeless quality to this small vortex of turbulence, in which spiritual hunger, vanity, professional rivalry, sexual incontinence, naivety and sheer human waywardness threatened to tear a city apart.

LOCUS FINALIST FOR BEST TRANSLATED NOVEL 2026 A Trans-Siberian odyssey through political, criminal, scientific, philosophical and amorous intrigues, and into an endless winter to confront something utterly alien. 14th July 1924: In a Warsaw buried under feet of snow and Russian rule, Benedykt Gieroslawski, a dissolute young Polish mathematician, is roused from his bed by two officials from the Ministry of Winter and dispatched to Siberia, on the Trans-Siberian Express, to track down his long-exiled father. The catalyst for this frosty metamorphosis of 20th century history is the impact of the Tunguska asteroid, deep in Siberia, in 1908. From this Ground Zero, emerge the Gleissen, silent harbingers of an eternal winter that follows in their ponderous wake. As they spread across the continent, agriculture collapses and people flock to cities as they seek protection from the deadly cold. As the land freezes, so does history: the Tsar still rules Russia; the Belle Époque endures; and the First World War never happened. But out there, on the ice, a new world is being forged. The extreme, alien cold has transmuted elements into strange new forms, a 'black physics' that is the catalyst for a new industrial and scientific revolution. At the heart of it lies Siberia - a 'Wild East', a magnet for all the political, religious and scientific fevers shaking the world at the dawn of the 20th century, the crucible where black physics, shamanic lore and the cold logic of winter combine. And Benedykt's final destination. Will he embrace the ice, or destroy it?

A Trans-Siberian odyssey through political, criminal, scientific, philosophical and amorous intrigues, and into an endless winter to confront something utterly alien. 14th July 1924: In a Warsaw buried under feet of snow and Russian rule, Benedykt Gieroslawski, a dissolute young Polish mathematician, is roused from his bed by two officials from the Ministry of Winter and dispatched to Siberia, on the Trans-Siberian Express, to track down his long-exiled father. The catalyst for this frosty metamorphosis of 20th century history is the impact of the Tunguska asteroid, deep in Siberia, in 1908. From this Ground Zero, emerge the Gleissen, silent harbingers of an eternal winter that follows in their ponderous wake. As they spread across the continent, agriculture collapses and people flock to cities as they seek protection from the deadly cold. As the land freezes, so does history: the Tsar still rules Russia, the Belle Époque endures, and the First World War never happened. But out there, on the ice, a new world is being forged. The extreme, alien cold has transmuted elements into strange new forms, a &#39,black physics&#39, that is the catalyst for a new industrial and scientific revolution. At the heart of it lies Siberia - a &#39,Wild East&#39,, a magnet for all the political, religious and scientific fevers shaking the world at the dawn of the 20th century, the crucible where black physics, shamanic lore and the cold logic of winter combine. And Benedykt&#39,s final destination. Will he embrace the ice, or destroy it?

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout comes book four in her Blood and Ash series. This special edition features premium design enhancements—including sprayed and designed edges, a glossed and embossed cover, and an original piece of commissioned artwork. War is only the beginning... From the desperation of golden crowns... Casteel Da''Neer knows all too well that very few are as cunning or vicious as the Blood Queen, but no one, not even him, could''ve prepared for the staggering revelations. The magnitude of what the Blood Queen has done is almost unthinkable. And born of mortal flesh... Nothing will stop Poppy from freeing her King and destroying everything the Blood Crown stands for. With the strength of the Primal of Life''s guards behind her, and the support of the wolven, Poppy must convince the Atlantian generals to make war her way-because there can be no retreat this time. Not if she has any hope of building a future where both kingdoms can reside in peace. A great primal power rises... Together, Poppy and Casteel must embrace traditions old and new to safeguard those they hold dear-to protect those who cannot defend themselves. But war is only the beginning. Ancient primal powers have already stirred, revealing the horror of what began eons ago. To end what the Blood Queen has begun, Poppy might have to become what she has been prophesied to be-what she fears the most. As the Harbinger of Death and Destruction.

'And if anyone knows anything about anything... it's Owl who knows something about something.' Winnie-the-Pooh, A. A. Milne From prehistoric cave paintings to the prints and etchings of Picasso, owls have captivated and inspired us for millennia. Whether they appear as ancient Athenian symbols of wisdom, ghostly harbingers of death, or the cuddly sidekicks of Harry Potter and Winnie the Pooh, these birds have continued to fascinate and disturb us in equal measure. Through revelatory new behavioural research, Jennifer Ackerman provides an intimate glimpse into these magnificent creatures' lives. From the evolutionary quirks behind their silent flight and rotating heads, to their romantic relationships and parenting styles, What an Owl Knows brings the rich natural history of owls to life. Deftly weaving together science and art, Ackerman journeys into the owl's moonlit world and asks: what is it about these birds that so enthrals us? *** *THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER* A TIMES AND ECONOMIST BOOK OF THE YEAR 2023 ' Fascinating ... we often hear a barn owl hooting in a stand of pine trees behind the house. It's an eerie, mysterious sound that never fails to enchant. And it is this enchantment that is at the core of this charming, deeply researched book .' GUARDIAN 'Once again, Jennifer Ackerman has written a fascinating, fact-filled and wonderfully readable work of popular science - this time on one of the most mysterious and charismatic of all bird families: the owls.' STEPHEN MOSS ' Ackerman's love for these birds is totally infectious ... Long may they continue to fly through the darkness.' DAILY MAIL

* EBRD LITERATURE PRIZE PRIZE FINALIST* *LOCUS FINALIST FOR BEST TRANSLATED NOVEL 2026* A Trans-Siberian odyssey through political, criminal, scientific, philosophical and amorous intrigues, and into an endless winter to confront something utterly alien. 14th July 1924: In a Warsaw buried under feet of snow and Russian rule, Benedykt Gieroslawski, a dissolute young Polish mathematician, is roused from his bed by two officials from the Ministry of Winter and dispatched to Siberia, on the Trans-Siberian Express, to track down his long-exiled father. The catalyst for this frosty metamorphosis of 20th century history is the impact of the Tunguska asteroid, deep in Siberia, in 1908. From this Ground Zero, emerge the Gleissen, silent harbingers of an eternal winter that follows in their ponderous wake. As they spread across the continent, agriculture collapses and people flock to cities as they seek protection from the deadly cold. As the land freezes, so does history: the Tsar still rules Russia; the Belle Époque endures; and the First World War never happened. But out there, on the ice, a new world is being forged. The extreme, alien cold has transmuted elements into strange new forms, a 'black physics' that is the catalyst for a new industrial and scientific revolution. At the heart of it lies Siberia - a 'Wild East', a magnet for all the political, religious and scientific fevers shaking the world at the dawn of the 20th century, the crucible where black physics, shamanic lore and the cold logic of winter combine. And Benedykt's final destination. Will he embrace the ice, or destroy it?

“An extraordinary work of humane imagination. . . . Call it magic realism with soul. The closest compatriot of The Between is Toni Morrison’s Beloved. Not shabby.”—Locus A man risks his soul and his sanity to save his family from malevolent forces in this brilliant novel of psychological horror and the supernatural from the award-winning pioneer of speculative fiction and author of the classic My Soul to Keep—now available as a Harper Perennial Olive Edition. When Hilton was a boy, his grandmother sacrificed her life to save him from drowning. Thirty years later, he begins to suspect that he was never meant to survive that accident, and that dark forces are working to rectify that mistake. When Hilton's wife, the only elected African American judge in Dade County, Florida, begins to receive racist hate mail from a man she once prosecuted, Hilton becomes obsessed with protecting his family. The demons lurking outside are matched by his internal terrors in this gripping Southern Gothic—macabre nightmares, more intense and disturbing than any he has ever experienced. Are these bizarre dreams the dark imaginings of a man losing his hold on sanity—or are they harbingers of terrible events to come? As Hilton battles both the sociopath threatening to destroy his family and the even more terrifying enemy stalking his sleep, the line between reality and fantasy dissolves . . . Chilling and utterly convincing, The Between is the haunting story of a man desperately trying to hold on to the people and life he loves as he slowly loses himself.

Inhalt: Das „Rekruten-Bundle: Legion der Knochendynastie“ versammelt die ersten Konstrukte einer neu geformten Ossiarch Kohorte, geschaffen, um im Namen Nagashs Tribut einzufordern und jede Ordnung zu brechen, die nicht der seinen entspricht. Ein Mortisan Knochenbildner überwacht die Formation und gestaltet die Krieger mit kalter Präzision aus dem gesammelten Seelenzehnt. Die Mortek Guard marschiert als disziplinierte Infanterie, bereit, jede Front durch reine Ausdauer und makellose Kampfkunst zu halten. Necropolis Stalkers wechseln fließend zwischen Haltungen und schneiden mit unnatürlicher Geschwindigkeit durch die feindlichen Reihen. Morghast Archai steigen in majestätischem Schweigen über das Schlachtfeld und vollstrecken Nagashs Willen mit göttlicher Strenge. Ein Gothizzar Harvester sammelt die Überreste der Gefallenen und führt dem Knochentross neue Essenzen zu, damit die Dynastie niemals zum Stillstand kommt. Gemeinsam formen sie eine unnachgiebige Legion, die weder Müdigkeit noch Zweifel kennt. Für wen eignet sich dieses Bundle?: Dieses Rekruten-Bundle ist ideal für Kommandanten, die ihre ersten Ossiarch Bonereapers ins Feld führen möchten. Vom ersten Pinselstrich an tauchst du in polierte Knochenplatten, seelengebundene Konstrukte und die unheimliche Kälte einer Armee ein, die aus Pflicht und Berechnung besteht. Die Formation lässt sich problemlos durch zusätzliche Mortisan Priester, schwere Knochengolems oder weiterführende Mortek Truppen erweitern und bildet einen perfekten Kern für eine straffe Ossiarch Streitmacht. Das Bundle enthält: - 1x Mortisan Knochenbildner - 20x Mortek Guard - 3x Necropolis Stalkers (alternativ baubar als Immortis Guards) - 2x Morghast Archai (alternativ baubar als Morghast Harbingers) - 1x Gothizzar Harvester Genauere Informationen zu den einzelnen Produkten findest du auf den verlinkten Einzelseiten. Hinweis:  Die Mengenangabe bezieht sich ausschließlich auf die Anzahl der Miniaturen. Die enthaltenen Modelle bestehen aus Kunststoff, sind unbemalt und müssen zusammengebaut werden. Passende Bases sind enthalten. Hintergrund: Die Ossiarch Bonereapers sind die vollendeten Kriegsmaschinen Nagashs, geschaffen aus Seelenfragmenten und sorgfältig geschichteten Knochen. Ihre Dynastien folgen strengsten militärischen Strukturen, und jede Einheit wird aus Ressourcen geformt, die aus den Reichen der Sterblichen gefordert werden. Der Seelenzehnt, den sie erheben, dient als Grundlage für ihre stetige Expansion. Mortisans fertigen in endlosen Ritualen neue Konstrukte, während Krieger wie die Mortek Guard und die Morghasts den Willen des Todesgottes durchsetzen. Sie marschieren ohne Furcht, ohne Emotion und ohne Pause, eine Armee aus perfekter Effizienz, die erst endet, wenn alle Widerstände unter ihren Knochenschritten zerbrochen sind. Bereit, die Legion der Knochendynastie zu erheben? Dann führe den Willen Nagashs in die Reiche der Sterblichen!

This major re-assessment by a leading political economist shows that the 2008 financial crash was no ordinary crisis, but the harbinger of a much deeper convulsion comparable to the major past crises of capitalism. While it is still uncertain whether it will become a transformative crisis for the international order, what we do know already is that: • While the crash particularly affected western states, and those unevenly, no part of the international economy is immune from its effects. • While the immediate crisis was contained, its magnitude is shown by how long it has taken western economies to recover, and by the need for exceptional measures, such as near-zero interest rates over a prolonged period. • There is not a single crisis, but a series of crises, highlighting in particular a deeper set of dilemmas about western leadership, democracy and prosperity which unless addressed, will preclude sustained recovery and pave the way to new and deeper crises. Andrew Gamble maps out likely scenarios in a turbulent world in which the weakening of the old western international order as a result of the decline in the capacities and will of the United States combine with internal deadlocks in both the US and the Eurozone over the management of austerity and debt and in many of the rising powers, especially China, over the management of growth and rising expectations. The path to a new era of prosperity depends on a reformed international order, solutions to budget as well as fiscal deficits, and new forms of sustainable growth. But these demand a political will so far notable by its absence at all levels without which there is little prospect of escape from a future of crisis without end.

'Haunting in every way. A story thick with family secrets, human heartache, and the kind of deep magic only Harkness can conjure. You will be enchanted' LEIGH BARDUGO 'The Black Bird Oracle deftly explores the nexus of memory, history, and parenthood - the magic, pain, and promises mothers pass onto their children. Harkness's lush prose makes a fantastical world real enough to touch' JODI PICOULT Diana Bishop journeys to the darkest places within herself - and her family history - in the highly anticipated fifth novel of the beloved Number One Sunday Times bestselling All Souls series. The first shadows fall on a Friday afternoon when a single, dying raven lands on the pavement in front of Diana Bishop, harbinger of an invitation that reads, 'It's time you came home, Diana'. Diana is a witch and scholar; her husband Matthew Clairmont, a vampire. Their intense love for one another awoke the dark powers within her and dissolved the Covenant between the three species - Witch, Daemon and Vampire - that live alongside humans. Now, the governing Congregation has decided it must test the magical powers of their seven-year-old twins, Pip and Becca. Concerned with their safety, Diana decides to forge a different path for her family's future and travels to Ravenswood, the Proctor family home. There, Diana begins a new era, becoming her great aunt Gwyneth's pupil in higher magic. It's time to confront her family's past - and her own, inescapable desire for greater power. Number One bestselling author Deborah Harkness returns to her beloved All Souls world with a triumphant novel that sweeps back to the Salem Panic and illuminates Diana's family history in new and thrilling ways.

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • An urgent wake-up call about the future of emerging viruses and a gripping account of the doctors and scientists fighting to protect us, told through the story of the deadly 2013-2014 Ebola epidemic "Crisis in the Red Zone reads like a thriller. That the story it tells is all true makes it all more terrifying."-Elizabeth Kolbert, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Sixth Extinction From the #1 bestselling author of The Hot Zone, now a National Geographic original miniseries . . . This time, Ebola started with a two-year-old child who likely had contact with a wild creature and whose entire family quickly fell ill and died. The ensuing global drama activated health professionals in North America, Europe, and Africa in a desperate race against time to contain the viral wildfire. By the end-as the virus mutated into its deadliest form, and spread farther and faster than ever before-30,000 people would be infected, and the dead would be spread across eight countries on three continents. In this taut and suspenseful medical drama, Richard Preston deeply chronicles the pandemic, in which we saw for the first time the specter of Ebola jumping continents, crossing the Atlantic, and infecting people in America. Rich in characters and conflict-physical, emotional, and ethical-Crisis in the Red Zone is an immersion in one of the great public health calamities of our time. Preston writes of doctors and nurses in the field putting their own lives on the line, of government bureaucrats and NGO administrators moving, often fitfully, to try to contain the outbreak, and of pharmaceutical companies racing to develop drugs to combat the virus. He also explores the charged ethical dilemma over who should and did receive the rare doses of an experimental treatment when they became available at the peak of the disaster. Crisis in the Red Zone makes clear that the outbreak of 2013-2014 is a harbinger of further, more severe outbreaks, and of emerging viruses heretofore unimagined-in any country, on any continent. In our ever more interconnected world, with roads and towns cut deep into the jungles of equatorial Africa, viruses both familiar and undiscovered are being unleashed into more densely populated areas than ever before. The more we discover about the virosphere, the more we realize its deadly potential. Crisis in the Red Zone is an exquisitely timely book, a stark warning of viral outbreaks to come.

NATIONAL BESTSELLER! “As darkly whimsical as the most beloved fairy tales and soaked in gothic atmosphere. The gorgeous and evocative illustrations bring to life an unforgettably lush and hypnotically romantic story.” —Ava Reid, #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Study in Drowning Step into the dark coming-of-age fantasy debut from The Legend of Korra illustrator Michelle Wong, where a young woman bound to a mysterious god seeks revenge on her aristocratic family in a story of divine rituals, brutal magic, and twisted love—featuring illustrations throughout by the author. Born out of wedlock and shunned by society, Alma found solace in solitude—so long as her mother was by her side. But when illness strikes, Alma reaches out to the father she’s never known and uncovers a dark truth: she’s a bastard of House Avera, one of the four noble families that serve the gods, and her father is a vessel of the Dread Beast, a harbinger of death. To save her mother, Alma agrees to sacrifice her arm in a blood-soaked ceremony that binds her to the Beast. But the cure never comes, leaving her trapped in a hostile, gothic estate—despised by her relatives and used as a pawn in her father’s schemes. Now vengeance drives her, guided by the god who shadows her every step. He appears only to her—a beautiful, monstrous prince—whispering that she’s destined to reshape the world. With his dark magic fueling her, Alma sets out to destroy the House that took everything from her. But as their bond deepens and their plans grow more perilous, she must decide if her god’s honeyed words—and her forbidden feelings for him—are leading her to victory, or dragging the mortal world to ruin. “A beguiling tale of strange gods, cosmic horrors, and ruinous revenge, House of the Beast dazzled me. With compelling characters and masterful world building, Wong’s debut is sure to become a celebrated classic.”— Erin A. Craig, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Thirteenth Child If you enter the House of the Beast, prepare to find: Morally grey characters with toxic, codependent relationships (M/F, M/M) Vengeful heroine and her chaotic-evil trickster god Slow-burn yearning and forbidden attraction Family rivalries and court intrigue Deadly trials and divine bargains Nightmare realm full of monsters and secrets Magic, violence, and madness Stunning black-and-white art by the author woven through the text For fans of One Dark Window, Blood Over Bright Haven, and A Study in Drowning

**DISCOVER THE THRILLING NOVEL FROM THE WORLDWIDE NUMBER ONE BESTSELLING AUTHOR** 'Liane Moriarty is a genuine GENIUS. Here One Moment is off the scale brilliant' Marian Keyes ' A master story teller . . . brilliant and satisfying' Bella Mackie 'An absolute masterclass . I treasure every word Liane writes, because she has such a rare and deep understanding of people and human behaviour' Joanna Cannon 'A compulsive plotline, intriguing characters, great writing, surprises, humour and tragedy. It'll stay with me' John Boyne ' You will devour this doorstop of a book' The Times, Book of the Month ' Easily my favourite Liane Moriarty book so far . . . it is just perfection! ' ***** Reader Review 'Funny, frightening, heartbreaking and life-affirming . . . I adored it' Chris Whitaker 'A genre-defying gem' Woman & Home 'A real page-turner. . . Gripping, well-executed , with fascinating characters' Grazia 'Keeps you guessing right to its satisfying conclusion' Heat ' A gem of a book, unique and compelling' ***** Reader Review ---- We're all so busy, caught up in life's moments, big and small . . . The flight attendant working on her birthday. The mother struggling with two young children. The newlyweds off to their tropical honeymoon . The overworked father missing his kid's big show. The young man returning from his best friend's funeral. The ER nurse wondering what retirement will bring. All strangers. All unsuspecting. All on their own journey - or so they imagine. Because they are each about to encounter an elderly woman. In just a few words, she will make a prediction, tying herself to them all. And, in being bound to her, these disparate strangers will be drawn together . . . Who is this woman? Is she a clairvoyant? A charlatan? The answer to prayers, or a harbinger of nightmares? They are about to find out - here one moment . . . --- 'Brilliant, thought-provoking' Fabulous 'A tense read that asks many questions about what we want to know about the ends of our lives' Prima 'We drop everything for a Liane Moriarty read!' Bella 'A riveting story so wild you don't know how she'll land it, and then she does, on a dime' Anne Lamott 'An absolute masterclass in storytelling. I treasure every word Liane writes, because she has s uch a rare and deep understanding of people and human behaviour' Joanna Cannon PRAISE FOR LIANE MORIARTY 'One of the few writers I'll drop anything for' Jojo Moyes 'An engrossing mashup of family drama and psychological suspense that offers a mystery. Complex and satisfying. Perfect holiday reading' Guardian 'Keeps you guessing until the very end' Reese Witherspoon 'Moriarty writes vividly, wittily and wickedly' Sunday Express 'Had me utterly hooked' Daily Mail

INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER • Order now to receive the gorgeous DELUXE LIMITED EDITION—only available on the first printing while supplies last! The collector’s hardcover features a reversible jacket, stenciled edges, illustrated endpapers, a printed case, and beautiful black-and-white interior illustrations throughout. “As darkly whimsical as the most beloved fairy tales and soaked in gothic atmosphere. The gorgeous and evocative illustrations bring to life an unforgettably lush and hypnotically romantic story.” —Ava Reid, #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Study in Drowning Step into the dark coming-of-age fantasy debut from The Legend of Korra illustrator Michelle Wong, where a young woman bound to a mysterious god seeks revenge on her aristocratic family in a story of divine rituals, brutal magic, and twisted love—featuring illustrations throughout by the author. Born out of wedlock and shunned by society, Alma found solace in solitude—so long as her mother was by her side. But when illness strikes, Alma reaches out to the father she’s never known and uncovers a dark truth: she’s a bastard of House Avera, one of the four noble families that serve the gods, and her father is a vessel of the Dread Beast, a harbinger of death. To save her mother, Alma agrees to sacrifice her arm in a blood-soaked ceremony that binds her to the Beast. But the cure never comes, leaving her trapped in a hostile, gothic estate—despised by her relatives and used as a pawn in her father’s schemes. Now vengeance drives her, guided by the god who shadows her every step. He appears only to her—a beautiful, monstrous prince—whispering that she’s destined to reshape the world. With his dark magic fueling her, Alma sets out to destroy the House that took everything from her. But as their bond deepens and their plans grow more perilous, she must decide if her god’s honeyed words—and her forbidden feelings for him—are leading her to victory, or dragging the mortal world to ruin. “A beguiling tale of strange gods, cosmic horrors, and ruinous revenge, House of the Beast dazzled me. With compelling characters and masterful world building, Wong’s debut is sure to become a celebrated classic.”— Erin A. Craig, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Thirteenth Child If you enter the House of the Beast, prepare to find: Morally grey characters with toxic, codependent relationships (M/F, M/M) Vengeful heroine and her chaotic-evil trickster god Slow-burn yearning and forbidden attraction Family rivalries and court intrigue Deadly trials and divine bargains Nightmare realm full of monsters and secrets Magic, violence, and madness Stunning black-and-white art by the author woven through the text For fans of One Dark Window, Blood Over Bright Haven, and A Study in Drowning

Winner of the Christopher Award and the New York City Book Award Winner of the 2016 Wheatley Book Award in Nonfiction A history of African Americans in New York City from the 1910s to 1960, told through the life of Samuel Battle, the New York Police Department's first black officer. When Samuel Battle broke the color line as New York City's first African American cop in the second decade of the twentieth century, he had to fear his racist colleagues as much as criminals. He had to be three times better than his white peers, and many times more resilient. His life was threatened. He was displayed like a circus animal. Yet, fearlessly claiming his rights, he prevailed in a four-decade odyssey that is both the story of one man's courageous dedication to racial progress and a harbinger of the divisions between police and the people they serve that plague twenty-first-century America. By dint of brains, brawn, and an outsized personality, Battle rode the forward wave of African American history in New York. He circulated among renowned turn-of-the-century entertainers and writers. He weathered threatening hostility as a founding citizen of black Harlem. He served as "godfather" to the regiment of black soldiers that won glory in World War I as the "Hellfighters of Harlem." He befriended sports stars like Joe Louis, Jesse Owens, and Sugar Ray Robinson, and he bonded with legendary tap dancer Bill "Bojangles" Robinson. Along the way, he mentored an equally smart, equally tough young man in a still more brutal fight to integrate the New York Fire Department. At the close of his career, Battle looked back proudly on the against-all-odd journey taken by a man who came of age as the son of former slaves in the South. He had navigated the corruption of Tammany Hall, the treachery of gangsters like Lucky Luciano and Dutch Schultz, the anything-goes era of Prohibition, the devastation of the Depression, and the race riots that erupted in Harlem in the 1930s and 1940s. By then he was a trusted aide to Mayor Fiorello La Guardia and a friend to First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. Realizing that his story was the story of race in New York across the first half of the century, Battle commissioned a biography to be written by none other than Langston Hughes, the preeminent voice of the Harlem Renaissance. But their eighty-thousand-word collaboration failed to find a publisher, and has remained unpublished since. Using Hughes's manuscript, which is quoted liberally throughout this book, as well as his own archival research and interviews with survivors, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Arthur Browne has created an important and compelling social history of New York, revealed a fascinating episode in the life of Langston Hughes, and delivered the riveting life and times of a remarkable and unjustly forgotten man, setting Samuel Battle where he belongs in the pantheon of American civil rights pioneers.