Download or read book In the Shadow of the Empress written by Nancy Goldstone and published by Little, Brown. This book was released on 2021-09-21 with total page 589 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The vibrant, sprawling saga of Empress Maria Theresa—one of the most renowned women rulers in history—and three of her extraordinary daughters, including Marie Antoinette, the doomed queen of France. Out of the thrilling and tempestuous eighteenth century comes the sweeping family saga of beautiful Maria Theresa, a sovereign of uncommon strength and vision, the only woman ever to inherit and rule the vast Habsburg Empire in her own name, and three of her remarkable daughters: lovely, talented Maria Christina, governor-general of the Austrian Netherlands; spirited Maria Carolina, the resolute queen of Naples; and the youngest, Marie Antoinette, the glamorous, tragic queen of France, and perhaps the most famous princess in history. Unfolding against an irresistible backdrop of brilliant courts from Vienna to Versailles, embracing the exotic lure of Naples and Sicily, this epic history of Maria Theresa and her daughters is a tour de force of desire, adventure, ambition, treachery, sorrow, and glory. Each of these women’s lives was packed with passion and heart-stopping suspense. Maria Theresa inherited her father’s thrones at the age of twenty-three and was immediately attacked on all sides by foreign powers confident that a woman would to be too weak to defend herself. Maria Christina, a gifted artist who alone among her sisters succeeded in marrying for love, would face the same dangers that destroyed the monarchy in France. Resourceful Maria Carolina would usher in the golden age of Naples only to face the deadly whirlwind of Napoleon. And, finally, Marie Antoinette, the doomed queen whose stylish excesses and captivating notoriety have masked the truth about her husband and herself for two hundred and fifty years. Vividly written and deeply researched, In the Shadow of the Empress is the riveting story of four exceptional women who changed the course of history.

Download or read book The Empress of Time written by Kylie Lee Baker and published by Harlequin. This book was released on 2022-10-04 with total page 382 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: “Sharp and seductive…a fantasy with teeth.” —Julie C. Dao, author of Forest of a Thousand Lanterns on The Keeper of Night In this riveting sequel to The Keeper of Night, a half Reaper, half Shinigami soul collector must defend her title as Japan’s Death Goddess from those who would see her—and all of Japan—destroyed. Death is her dynasty. Ren Scarborough is no longer the girl who was chased out of England—she is the Goddess of Death ruling Japan’s underworld. But Reapers have recently been spotted in Japan, and it’s only a matter of time before Ivy, now Britain’s Death Goddess, comes to claim her revenge. Ren’s last hope is to appeal to the god of storms and seas, who can turn the tides to send Ivy’s ship away from Japan’s shores. But he’ll only help Ren if she finds a sword lost thousands of years ago—an impossible demand. Together with the moon god Tsukuyomi, Ren ventures across the country in a race against time. As her journey thrusts her in the middle of scheming gods and dangerous Yokai demons, Ren will have to learn who she can truly trust—and the fate of Japan hangs in the balance. Read the entire Keeper of Night duology! The Keeper of Night The Empress of Time

Download or read book Shadow Empress written by C N Crawford and published by . This book was released on 2021-02-24 with total page 258 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Ali -I'm now the Empress of Vanaheim and leader of all Elves. It's a lonely job, but the important thing is that the Night Elves are finally safe. At least until I learn of the invading draugr horde. I need Galin's help, and I'm desperate to see him again, but the sorcerer has plans of his own. And when he tries to rewrite our fate, I may lose everything-including him. Galin -After I fell into the Well of Wyrd, the shades dragged my shattered body to Hel. Hela may have breathed life back into me, but I've found myself trapped. Oddly enough, when Hela closes the gates to Hel, I see opportunity to escape. A chance to rewrite my fate, to find glory again. But as I spend time with Ali my icy resolve starts to crack. I want to choose her, but it could mean being stuck in Hel for good.***For readers of Kelly St. Claire, Leia Stone, Linsey Hall, and Jaymin Eve.

Download or read book Empress of All Seasons written by Emiko Jean and published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. This book was released on 2018-11-06 with total page 360 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In this Japanese folklore–inspired YA fantasy for fans of The Hunger Games, a lowly young woman with a monstrous secret competes to become empress. Each generation, a competition is held to find the next empress of Honoku. The rules are simple. Survive the palace’s enchanted seasonal rooms. Conquer Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall. Marry the prince. All are eligible to compete—all except yōkai, supernatural monsters and spirits whom the human emperor is determined to enslave and destroy. Mari has spent a lifetime training to become empress. Winning should be easy. And it would be, if she weren't hiding a dangerous secret. Mari is a yōkai with the ability to transform into a terrifying monster. If discovered, her life will be forfeit. As she struggles to keep her true identity hidden, Mari’s fate collides with that of Taro, the prince who has no desire to inherit the imperial throne, and Akira, a half-human, half-yōkai outcast. Torn between duty and love, loyalty and betrayal, vengeance and forgiveness, the choices of Mari, Taro, and Akira will decide the fate of Honoku… Winter 2018-2019 Kids’ Indie Next List “Dark, daring, and utterly delicious.”—C.J. Redwine, New York Times–bestselling author of The Bloodspell “Will latch onto your imagination and sweep you along for a magical and dangerous ride.”—Joelle Charbonneau, New York Times–bestselling author of The Testing Trilogy “Jean's world building is incredible.”—Booklist “An engaging story that also questions the power structures of heaven and earth, male and female, human and yokai. A narrative that will engage fans of the genre with a much-needed non-Western setting.”—Kirkus Reviews

Download or read book Shadow s Lure written by Jon Sprunk and published by Jabberwocky Literary Agency, Inc.. This book was released on 2018-10-12 with total page 384 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Shadow Saga continues with in this “fun, fast, action-packed novel” of magic, mystery, and monstrous evil (Elitist Book Reviews). After helping his lover Josephine lay claim to the throne of Nimea, the assassin Caim has ventured north to the land that has haunted his dreams—cold, unforgiving Eregoth. He departs seeking answers to his parents’ murder and hoping that this knowledge will explain his ability to bend the shadows to his will. In searching for his past, Caim wanders into war. But Eregoth is threatened by a power more terrifying than any army—the witch Sybelle, Queen of the Dark. If given the chance, her aims at destruction would not cease at Eregoth but storm through Nimea where Josey struggles to secure her reign. With nothing more than a force of ragtag warriors at his side, Caim knows that standing against Sybelle’s onslaught may be suicide. But as a son of the Shadow, he has no choice but to fight. Even if every life he takes brings him closer to the blackness that would claim him body and soul...

Download or read book The Empress of the Last Days written by Jane Stevenson and published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. This book was released on 2004 with total page 380 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "Though written to be read independently, The Empress of the Last Days is also the conclusion to Jane Stevenson's acclaimed historical trilogy, companion to The Winter Queen and The Shadow King."--BOOK JACKET.

Download or read book Maria Theresa written by Barbara Stollberg-Rilinger and published by Princeton University Press. This book was released on 2022-01-18 with total page 1066 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A major new biography of the iconic Austrian empress that challenges the many myths about her life and rule Maria Theresa (1717–1780) was once the most powerful woman in Europe. At the age of twenty-three, she ascended to the throne of the Habsburg Empire, a far-flung realm composed of diverse ethnicities and languages, beset on all sides by enemies and rivals. Barbara Stollberg-Rilinger provides the definitive biography of Maria Theresa, situating this exceptional empress within her time while dispelling the myths surrounding her. Drawing on a wealth of archival evidence, Stollberg-Rilinger examines all facets of eighteenth-century society, from piety and patronage to sexuality and childcare, ceremonial life at court, diplomacy, and the everyday indignities of warfare. She challenges the idealized image of Maria Theresa as an enlightened reformer and mother of her lands who embodied both feminine beauty and virile bellicosity, showing how she despised the ideas of the Enlightenment, treated her children with relentless austerity, and mercilessly persecuted Protestants and Jews. Work, consistent physical and mental discipline, and fear of God were the principles Maria Theresa lived by, and she demanded the same from her family, her court, and her subjects. A panoramic work of scholarship that brings Europe's age of empire spectacularly to life, Maria Theresa paints an unforgettable portrait of the uncompromising yet singularly charismatic woman who left her enduring mark on the era in which she lived and reigned.

Download or read book The Maid and the Queen written by Nancy Goldstone and published by Penguin. This book was released on 2012-03-29 with total page 455 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: “Attention, ‘Game of Thrones’ fans: The most enjoyably sensational aspects of medieval politics—double-crosses, ambushes, bizarre personal obsessions, lunacy and naked self-interest—are in abundant evidence in Nancy Goldstone's The Maid and the Queen.” (Laura Miller, Salon.com) Politically astute, ambitious, and beautiful, Yolande of Aragon, queen of Sicily, was one of the most powerful women of the Middle Ages. Caught in the complex dynastic battle of the Hundred Years War, Yolande championed the dauphin's cause against the forces of England and Burgundy, drawing on her savvy, her statecraft, and her intimate network of spies. But the enemy seemed invincible. Just as French hopes dimmed, an astonishingly courageous young woman named Joan of Arc arrived from the farthest recesses of the kingdom, claiming she carried a divine message-a message that would change the course of history and ultimately lead to the coronation of Charles VII and the triumph of France. Now, on the six hundredth anniversary of the birth of Joan of Arc, this fascinating book explores the relationship between these two remarkable women, and deepens our understanding of this dramatic period in history. How did an illiterate peasant girl gain access to the future king of France, earn his trust, and ultimately lead his forces into battle? Was it only the hand of God that moved Joan of Arc-or was it also Yolande of Aragon?

Download or read book The Phoenix Empress written by K Arsenault Rivera and published by Tor Books. This book was released on 2018-10-09 with total page 402 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: K Arsenault Rivera's second novel, The Tiger's Daughter, the continuation of a new epic fantasy trilogy "Rich, expansive, and grounded in human truth...simply exquisite.” —V. E. Schwab, New York Times bestselling author of the Shades of Magic series Once they were the heirs to a prophecy that predicted two women would save an empire. Now Shefali is dying—and her wife is unaware of the coming tragedy. Shizuka is too busy trying to reunite a fractured empire and right the wrongs of her ancestors. As the Imperial Army gathers against a demonic invasion, Shizuka must do all she can with an empire on the brink of civil war. Ascendant #1 The Tiger’s Daughter #2 The Phoenix Empress #3 The Warrior Moon At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

Download or read book Shadow Princess written by Indu Sundaresan and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on 2010-03-09 with total page 437 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Critically acclaimed author Indu Sundaresan picks up where she left off in The Twentieth Wife and The Feast of Roses, returning to seventeenth-century India as two princesses struggle for supremacy of their father’s kingdom. Trapped in the shadow of the magnificent tomb their grief-stricken father is building for his beloved deceased wife, the emperor’s daughters compete for everything: control over the imperial harem, their father’s affection, and the future of their country. They are forbidden to marry and instead choose to back different brothers in the fight for ultimate power over the throne. But only one of the sisters will succeed. With an enthusiasm for history and a flair for rich detail, Indu Sundaresan brings readers deep into the complicated lives of Indian women of the time period and highlights the profound history of one of the most celebrated works of architecture in the world, the Taj Mahal.

Download or read book Empress in Disguise written by Zoey Gong and published by Red Empress Publishing. This book was released on 2020-08-01 with total page 259 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: To save her family, one girl will sacrifice her very identity. Living in poverty in the shadow of the Forbidden City, Daiyu never imagined that the life of the emperor would impact her own. But a chance meeting with a girl who looks exactly like her changes everything. Daiyu's family is offered enough money to support them for life if she only agrees to take the stranger's place at the emperor's selection for new consorts. In order to pull off the ruse, Daiyu must abandon everything she ever knew and become a completely different person, a person she despises. And if she fails, if she is discovered, she will be guilty of treason and put to death. Daiyu cannot allow her family to suffer if it is within her power to save them, so she strikes the deadly bargain. But living within the Forbidden City is even more dangerous than she imagined... In this incredible retelling of The Princess and the Pauper, based on true events, authors Zoey Gong and Amanda Roberts bring to life the opulent and dangerous world of imperial consorts trapped within the great red walls of the Forbidden City.

Download or read book Shadow War written by Deborah Chester and published by Diversion Publishing Corp.. This book was released on 2015-02-10 with total page 424 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The national bestselling author of Reign of Shadows continues her “masterful” Ruby Throne Trilogy with a novel of epic dark fantasy (Extrapolation). For nine centuries the Emperor Kostimon has sat upon the Ruby Throne. The dark lord Beloth is responsible for his eternal existence—and what the shadow god has bestowed, he can easily take away . . . As the aging Kostimon awaits the crowning of his empress, Elandra Albain, forces of evil conspire to destroy the kingdom of Imperia. Whispers of treason come from those closest to the emperor—including his own son. Pure of spirit, Elandra remains untouched by the shadow god—but she senses his return. With darkness descending, Elandra finds her destiny joined with another’s. Possessing the magic of a healer and a warrior’s might, Caelan E’non has risen from lowly slave to champion gladiator. And when the dark lord and his minions overtake the castle, he will find Elandra’s life—and the future of the empire—in his hands. “Chester is a world class fantasist.” —The Best Reviews

Download or read book The Shadow Book of Ji Yun written by Ji Yun and published by Empress Wu Books. This book was released on 2021-06-05 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Empress Game written by Rhonda Mason and published by Titan Books. This book was released on 2015-07-10 with total page 408 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Empress Game, the tournament fought to decide the Empress Apparent, has been called and the females of the empire will stop at nothing to secure political domination for their homeworlds. The empire's elite gather to forge, strengthen or betray alliances in a dance that will determine the fate of the empire for a generation.

Download or read book In the Shadow of the Olive Tree written by Orna O'Reilly and published by Vanguard Press. This book was released on 2021-07-14 with total page 262 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Two strangers, both newly divorced women, are determined to start life afresh amongst the olive groves of Puglia in the South of Italy, as they both attempt to put their old lives behind them. Claudia has a seemingly perfect life: a successful novelist, a loving mother, beautiful and admired by all, but she's haunted by a decision she made. Her confidence is destroyed at the hands of another. Is she able to move on, put it behind her and find happiness once more? Janet is determined to make a new life for herself after her husband left her for a younger woman, and she yearns to live in an idyllic trullo under the Pugliese sun. As the paths of Claudia and Janet cross and their lives become entwined, one woman's dream is threatened by the past of the other when they discover it's not always easy to escape one's previous life. Sometimes it follows in unexpected ways.

Download or read book Shadows of an Empress written by Carole Waterhouse and published by . This book was released on 2016-06-20 with total page 310 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: When a recurring dream about a city she can't identify leaves Sylvia feeling unsettled and restless, she suddenly awakens one night to find the Empress Elisabeth of Austria, dressed in black, sitting in her living room. Suspecting their lives are somehow linked, but unable to find the answers in Sylvia's daily life, they embark on a whirlwind tour of places related to the empress's past, this time led by Sissi, Elisabeth's younger version. Along the way, the Archduchess Sophie arranges a courtship between Sylvia and Franz Joseph, a heart-broken Heinrich Heine laments the empress's tendency to credit him for her awful poetry, and Sigmund Freud offers commentary on their journey. A creative writing professor at California University of Pennsylvania, Carole Waterhouse is the author of two previous novels, "The Tapestry Baby," and "Without Wings," as well as a short story collection, "The Paradise Ranch." Her short stories have appeared in numerous literary magazines, including "The Massachusetts Review, Crack the Spine, Crossconnect," and "Turnrow."

Download or read book Rounding Wagner s Mountain written by Bryan Gilliam and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 2014-11-13 with total page 357 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Richard Strauss' fifteen operas, which span the years 1893 to 1941, make up the largest German operatic legacy since Wagner's operas of the nineteenth century. Many of Strauss's works were based on texts by Europe's finest writers: Oscar Wilde, Hugo von Hofmannsthal and Stefan Zweig, among others, and they also overlap some of the most important and tumultuous stretches of German history, such as the founding and demise of a German empire, the rise and fall of the Weimar Republic, the period of National Socialism, and the post-war years, which saw a divided East and West Germany. In the first book to discuss all Strauss's operas, Bryan Gilliam sets each work in its historical, aesthetic, philosophical, and literary context to reveal what made the composer's legacy unique. Addressing Wagner's cultural influence upon this legacy, Gilliam also offers new insights into the thematic and harmonic features that recur in Strauss's compositions.