Download or read book Empress of Forever written by Max Gladstone and published by Tor Books. This book was released on 2019-06-18 with total page 480 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: NOW A LOCUS AWARD FINALIST! “A classic space opera...a universe we’ve never seen before.” —Delilah S. Dawson, New York Times bestselling author From Hugo Award finalist Max Gladstone comes a smart, swashbuckling, wildly imaginative adventure; the saga of a rag-tag team of brilliant misfits, dangerous renegades, and enhanced outlaws in a war-torn future. A wildly successful innovator to rival Steve Jobs or Elon Musk, Vivian Liao is prone to radical thinking, quick decision-making, and reckless action. On the eve of her greatest achievement, she tries to outrun people who are trying to steal her success. In the chilly darkness of a Boston server farm, Viv sets her ultimate plan into motion. A terrifying instant later, Vivian Liao is catapulted through space and time to a far future where she confronts a destiny stranger and more deadly than she could ever imagine. The end of time is ruled by an ancient, powerful Empress who blesses or blasts entire planets with a single thought. Rebellion is literally impossible to consider--until Vivian Liao arrives. Trapped between the Pride—a ravening horde of sentient machines—and a fanatical sect of warrior monks who call themselves the Mirrorfaith, Viv must rally a strange group of allies to confront the Empress and find a way back to the world and life she left behind. A magnificent work of vivid imagination and universe-spanning action, Empress of Forever is a feminist Guardians of the Galaxy crossed with Star Wars and spiced with the sensibility and spirit of Iain M. Banks and William Gibson. “Empress of Forever is tense and vast, complex and twisty, a space opera epic that’s a lot faster on the draw than Star Wars or Star Trek ever dreamed of being. But at its core, it’s an epic about the value of empathy and the importance of compassion. It’s amazingly good.”—Locus “With Empress of Forever, Max Gladstone’s remarkable talent is operating at full stretch, demonstrating the strength, power, and originality at his command. This unique and propulsive novel yields a deep, cellular-level enchantment filled at every turn with curiosity and delight.”—Peter Straub “Empress of Forever is a story that will make you weep with wonder. The whole book is filled with the kind of snark that I love and an endless majesty of stars. It broke me to pieces and then stitched me back together with golden thread. Simply glorious.”—K.B. Wagers, author of Behind the Throne “Galaxy-saving space opera with cool original settings and a unique band of adventurers that change each other for the better. It was a wild ride and I really enjoyed it.”—Martha Wells, Hugo Award-winning author of The Murderbot Diaries “Incorporates wonder and wit to create a feminist, humanist playground. Introduces one mind-blowing concept after another, capitalizing on the concept of personal power while candidly addressing personal failure. This feast for the imagination intelligently captures the complexities of a variety of relationships in an adrenaline-fueled series of escapades and will leave readers both exhausted and elated.”—Publishers Weekly, starred review “A fantastic tale of adventure on the grandest scale of epic space opera, spanning galaxies full of battles and traps as well as trade and negotiation, all told with humor as the crew seeks allies, weapons, and ships to fight back against The Empress to save the galaxy—and so Viv can find her way home.”—Booklist, starred review “Vivian is an amazing woman: with no more than her sharp wit in a universe of AIs and enhanced beings, she still ends up being the key to the truth. Gladstone's epic space opera and fast-paced adventure will thrill readers.”—Library Journal, starred review At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

Download or read book If We Were Villains written by M. L. Rio and published by Flatiron Books. This book was released on 2017-04-11 with total page 368 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: “Much like Donna Tartt’s The Secret History, M. L. Rio’s sparkling debut is a richly layered story of love, friendship, and obsession...will keep you riveted through its final, electrifying moments.” —Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney, New York Times bestselling author of The Nest "Nerdily (and winningly) in love with Shakespeare...Readable, smart.” —New York Times Book Review On the day Oliver Marks is released from jail, the man who put him there is waiting at the door. Detective Colborne wants to know the truth, and after ten years, Oliver is finally ready to tell it. A decade ago: Oliver is one of seven young Shakespearean actors at Dellecher Classical Conservatory, a place of keen ambition and fierce competition. In this secluded world of firelight and leather-bound books, Oliver and his friends play the same roles onstage and off: hero, villain, tyrant, temptress, ingénue, extras. But in their fourth and final year, good-natured rivalries turn ugly, and on opening night real violence invades the students’ world of make-believe. In the morning, the fourth-years find themselves facing their very own tragedy, and their greatest acting challenge yet: convincing the police, each other, and themselves that they are innocent. If We Were Villains was named one of Bustle's Best Thriller Novels of the Year, and Mystery Scene says, "A well-written and gripping ode to the stage...A fascinating, unorthodox take on rivalry, friendship, and truth."

Download or read book Even Villains Fall in Love written by Liana Brooks and published by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform. This book was released on 2017-05 with total page 124 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: If you believe the rumors you know that Doctor Charm, the wickedly sexy super villain, retired in shame seven years ago after his last fight with the super hero Zephyr Girl. The fact that the charming Evan Smith-father of four and husband of the too-beautiful-to-be-real Tabitha-bears a resemblance to the defeated Doctor is pure coincidence. And, please, ignore the minions. Everything is perfect in the Smith household, until Tabitha announces her return to work as a super hero. Evan was hoping to keep her distracted until after he rigged the presidential election, but-genius that he is-Evan has a backup plan. In his basement lab, Evan has a machine whose sole purpose is keeping Tabitha hungry for him. But children and labs don't mix. The machine is broken, and Tabitha storms out, claiming she no longer knows him. World domination takes a back seat to meeting his daughters' demands to get Mommy back right now. This time his genius isn't going to be enough-he's going to need both his evil alter-ego, and the blooming super abilities of his children to save his wife. But even his most charming self might not be enough to save their marriage.

Download or read book Even Villains Grant Wishes written by Liana Brooks and published by Inkprint Press. This book was released on 2021-12-15 with total page 29 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Dreams-Come-True Coordinator at the Merriton Pediatric Hospital: an emotional job at the best of times. But with Christmas fast approaching, Andrea needs help even more desperately than usual. In particular, she needs someone willing to cosplay The Polar Terror, Yukon’s only home-grown supervillain—or super anything, for that matter. What she gets? Just a bit more than she expected… A heart-warming addition to Brooks’s popular Heroes & Villains series that reminds readers that even villains can grant wishes.

Download or read book The Story Grid written by Shawn Coyne and published by Black Irish Entertainment LLC. This book was released on 2015-05-02 with total page 459 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: WHAT IS THE STORY GRID? The Story Grid is a tool developed by editor Shawn Coyne to analyze stories and provide helpful editorial comments. It's like a CT Scan that takes a photo of the global story and tells the editor or writer what is working, what is not, and what must be done to make what works better and fix what's not. The Story Grid breaks down the component parts of stories to identify the problems. And finding the problems in a story is almost as difficult as the writing of the story itself (maybe even more difficult). The Story Grid is a tool with many applications: 1. It will tell a writer if a Story ?works? or ?doesn't work. 2. It pinpoints story problems but does not emotionally abuse the writer, revealing exactly where a Story (not the person creating the Story'the Story) has failed. 3. It will tell the writer the specific work necessary to fix that Story's problems. 4. It is a tool to re-envision and resuscitate a seemingly irredeemable pile of paper stuck in an attic drawer. 5. It is a tool that can inspire an original creation.

Download or read book Gra lfire written by Stephen Chamberlain and published by Troubador Publishing Ltd. This book was released on 2017-06-28 with total page 268 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Graëlfire is a gripping new twist on Grail mythology. Based on the medieval legend of the Grail as a stone that fell from Heaven, the adventure is set in present-day Switzerland and medieval Occitania within a fictional cosmos where universes emerge from the cosmic soup of Graëlfire—the source of all Creation.

Download or read book Heroes and Villains of New Mexico written by Bud Russo and published by Sunstone Press. This book was released on 2019-09-07 with total page 146 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Some of these tales are about genuine heroes. Some are about dastardly villains. Others you’ll have to decide for yourself: hero or villain? You’ll recognize these people, even if you don’t remember their names. They are Spanish colonials, Mexicans, and Anglos all the way to the present. They are even aboriginal Americans predating the arrival of Europeans. These are personal tales—gossip, you might say—and, when you finish a story, if you’re like me, you’ll be able to say, “I didn’t know that!” Now, don’t you think knowing the quirks and grit of those who peopled the pages of your history textbooks—rather than all those dates and places—is more interesting? The author always thought so. After a dozen years writing travel stories about New Mexico, he undertook writing yarns of adventure, intrigue, failure, and even death. Open the book to Elfego Baca’s story and learn why one Mexican had no fear of American cowboys. Or how Navajo Chester Nez, who was denied the right to speak his native language, used Navajo words to help win World War II. Or even how the haughty wife of a colonial governor was falsely denounced to the Inquisition as a Crypto-Jew. Fact or imagination? Sometimes it’s hard to know which it is, but these, at least, are true life episodes. Includes Readers Guide.

Download or read book Hero Second Class written by Mitchell Bonds and published by Enclave Publishing. This book was released on 2008-10 with total page 616 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Have at You! Cyrus Solburg is a young man who dreams of becoming a Hero in a fantasy world in which Heroes owe monthly dues and Villains are allowed only one eclipse per fiscal quarter. Cyrus becomes the apprentice to Sir Reginald Ogleby, also known as the Crimson Slash, a towering swordsman with a titanic sword and a penchant for self-narrating his own battles. It's up to Reginald to train Cyrus in the essentials of Heroism so that one day, at the conclusion of his first Quest, Cyrus may become a Hero, Second Class. More is afoot than the routine of training in the arts of Heroic Derring-Do, however. A bona fide Arch-Villain is on the loose. And this Villain is particularly interested in Cyrus, not least because of how Cyrus seems to have magic coming to him in spite of himself, resulting in tremendous disruption of the magical planes. Entering into the fray come a wise-cracking Dragon, a petulant gargoyle, the Heroes' Guild, the Army of DarknessTM, and a horde of cursed invisible Centaurs. Cyrus will have to call on his friends, a beautiful young cat girl, and all the power of the Capital Letters and Arbitrary Numbers if he is to live to become a full-fledged Hero. *** When Mitchell was 10 he and his friends created an adventure game called Quest. Mitchell played all the supporting characters, quest givers, and (his favorite) the villains, while his friends played the brave heroes who thwarted them. That game became the basis for Hero, Second Class. Mitchell is a young man with theatrical inclinations, a wry sense of humor, and storytelling ability well beyond his years.

Download or read book Even Superheroes Have Bad Days written by Shelly Becker and published by Union Square + ORM. This book was released on 2020-02-28 with total page 39 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: “Filled with diverse characters, from caped crusaders to badly behaving villains . . . Full of action and vibrancy . . . A good way to soothe bad days away.” —School Library Journal When Superheroes don’t get their way, when they’re sad, when they’re mad, when they’ve had a bad day . . . . . . they COULD super-tantrum, they COULD but they DON’T, because REAL Superheroes just WOULDN’T—they WON’T! All kids have trouble getting a grip on their emotions, sometimes—even young superheroes! But what do they do when they’re having a bad day? Colorful action-packed illustrations and a dynamite rhyming text reveal the many ways superheroes (and ordinary children, too) can resist the super-temptation to cause a scene when they’re sad, mad, frustrated, lonely, or afraid. From burning off steam on a bike or a hike, to helping others, this energetic picture book has plenty of fun ideas to help kids cope when they’re feeling overwhelmed. “An action-packed romp.” —Kirkus Reviews “[A] lighthearted exposé on how a group of superheroes deal with their frustrations . . . A spoonful of superheroes certainly helps the message go down.” —Booklist

Download or read book Happily Ever After written by Liana Brooks and published by Inkprint Press. This book was released on 2020-01-01 with total page 25 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Rose got her happily ever after, complete with castle, prince and ornate banquets every night. But after four centuries, Rose can state definitively: happy endings suck. No concerts, no plays, no children or visits with friends… Not one single change in four hundred years. That ends, now. Before Rose destroys her castle in a fit of pique. A fractured fairytale about the dangers of wishing for Happily Ever After.

Download or read book Here She Lies written by Liana Brooks and published by Inkprint Press. This book was released on 2022-04-15 with total page 30 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Esana just wants a private place to avoid the hubbub of the annual company party. What she finds? An assassination attempt on the son of the biggest of bosses. If anyone else finds out, her reputation—and his? At risk. Fatally. Not to mention her best-kept secret about her special talents… A flirty action story with light sci fi aspects for readers who love hyper-competent characters in high-pressured situations.

Download or read book Prayer To A Goddess written by Liana Brooks and published by Inkprint Press. This book was released on 2022-12-01 with total page 32 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: As a Goddess, interruptions go with the job description. Hence setting clear expectations early on that this Goddess would not manifest for every stubbed toe or missing ox. But this petitioner? Very insistent. Irritatingly so. The Goddess abandons her hot bath to answer… and what she finds not only shocks her, but sets in motion a series of events that change her life forever. A satisfying, sultry, slow-burn from the author of the All I Want For Christmas romances, for readers who like their heroes clever, cheeky and seductive.

Download or read book Welcome To Dark Dale written by Liana Brooks and published by Inkprint Press. This book was released on 2020-04-01 with total page 23 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: No one survives Dark Dale. But when the demons summon, she goes—with her swords, and daggers, and iron-capped boots. The compromise to her independence chafes. But the pay? Worth it. And they better pay. Or she’ll make them rue the day they called her. For readers who are practical, well-armed, and ready for any challenge—or who wish they were.

Download or read book Hero on a Mission written by Donald Miller and published by HarperCollins Leadership. This book was released on 2022-01-11 with total page 225 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: New York Times bestselling author Donald Miller shares the plan that led him to turn his life around. This actionable guide will teach you how to do the same through journaling prompts and goal-planning exercises. There are four characters in every story: The victim, the villain, the hero, and the guide. These four characters live inside us. If we play the victim, we’re doomed to fail. If we play the villain, we will not create genuine bonds. But if we play the hero or guide, our lives will flourish. The hard part is being self-aware enough to know which character we are playing. In this book, bestselling author Donald Miller uses his own experiences to help you recognize if the character you are currently surfacing is helping you experience a life of meaning. He breaks down the transformational, yet practical, plan that took him from slowly giving up to rapidly gaining a new perspective of his own life’s beauty and meaning, igniting his motivation, passion, and productivity, so you can do the same. In Hero on a Mission, Donald’s lessons will teach you how to: Discover when you are playing the victim and villain. Create a simple life plan that will bring clarity and meaning to your goals ahead. Take control of your life by choosing to be the hero in your story. Cultivate a sense of creativity about what your life can be. Move beyond just being productive to experiencing a deep sense of meaning. Donald will help you identify the many chances you have of being the hero in your life, and the times when you are falling into the trap of becoming the victim. Hero on a Mission will guide you in developing a unique plan that will speak to the challenges you currently face so you can find the fulfillment you have been searching for in your life and work.

Download or read book Seventy written by Liana Brooks and published by Inkprint Press. This book was released on 2019-04-01 with total page 39 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Alien ships ravaged the solar system. The newly-terraformed Dauphin represents humanity’s only hope for continued survival. But the terraforming? Not finished yet. Dr. Jeff Koenig and his team of scientist have that under control, though. Seventy days? More than enough time to add the finishing touches to humanity’s newest home. Until disaster strikes, that is, igniting a race against the clock that sends them scrambling for backup—and their lives. A space exploration story about the true spirit of humanity, and what it takes to survive against the odds.

Download or read book Dream Away written by Liana Brooks and published by Inkprint Press. This book was released on 2021-02-15 with total page 28 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Jazrin just wants to go home. But the persistent sales woman insists: she sells dream vacations for all budgets. Perfect vacations. Dream vacations that take absolutely no time at all. All she needs? One minute of Jazrin’s trust. A sci-fi crime story about getting what you want—and losing what you have.

Download or read book Not Quite Cinderella written by Liana Brooks and published by Inkprint Press. This book was released on 2020-08-15 with total page 29 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The king announces a ball in order to end the war. His subjects? Overjoyed. Marian? Determined to stop it. Her sponsors need the war to continue. Looks like sabotage will feature at the top of tonight’s menu. A Cinderella retelling for everyone who ever wondered why Cinderella wanted to marry the prince in the first place.