Epic Magical Realism

Burt Higgins’ retirement is not going well. His children have grown, and his wife has gone off to earn a late-life degree, leaving him alone in his sprawling suburban home. With too much time on his hands, he broods on the state of the world, obsessively following the worst of cable news and the Internet. Increasingly angry at the state of affairs, he nurtures a fantasy that a dark lord from another realm has foisted these problems on humankind.

Elías es un pequeño que está por cumplir 5 años cuando un inesperado accidente termina con su vida. Se niega a cruzar la puerta a su descanso eterno al ser atraído por un canto y un aroma que le resultan muy familiares para luego caer en el mundo de los sueños donde queda atrapado. Ahora, debe buscar la forma de regresar a la realidad mientras huye de su destino y se enfrenta a una mujer que quiere vivir a como dé lugar.

Divine retribution for invention is now a thing of the past. Young, optimistic, quick of mind, and quick to act, Robert thinks being invited to the New School is an invitation to change the world. Nothing is as simple as it first seems, least of all change. Robert is surprised and frustrated by everything from his classmates Koria and Eloise stalking him, to protestors claiming that the new grain is poison and its inventors should be murdered like in the old days

Determined to take over the Realms of Arydd, a bane returns once more to reclaim the kingdom by force with his army of goblins. With Galddor gone from this realm the kingdom is vulnerable without his protection. The Sovereign Mountain Dragons have refused to associate with the humans any longer, leaving no hope of their assistance. Young King Turk must take unusual steps to ensure the safety of everyone in the kingdom. With the aid of Ronad, the new Dragon Sage and Ryndorix, his dragon friend, they must lead a team to retrieve the only weapon that can stop the bane once and for all.

Gifted or cursed? Isobel is a healer, and the Hawks who accepted her, broken and different as she was, need her help. But she must hide the truth behind her healing power. John Deighton, The Prophet, is back in Innis and stoking the embers of bigotry and superstition, scouring the realm and imprisoning mind-gifted Aurels. When he corners Isobel, will she fight back or succumb to her old fears and lingering scars of the Beast of Monaughty? Will she answer the call of a healer if it costs her everything she loves?

I’d never played a game before, I’d never seen the point. On the first day, I leveled up. It was an intense feeling of euphoric pleasure. By the end of the week, I’d forgotten about my other life. My name is Alexa Drey. This game has become my world. I fight for Barakdor.

Das Leben der 23-jährigen Fiona Carter, gelangweilt und auf Krawall gebürstet, gerät jäh aus den Fugen, als ihr junger Bruder scheinbar bei einem Autounfall stirbt. Doch als Fiona auf eigene Faust nach dem flüchtigen Unfallfahrer sucht, sticht sie in ein Wespennest. Die Ereignisse bringen sie nicht nur an ihre Grenzen, sondern über sie hinaus. Sie ahnt nicht, dass es nur der Beginn ist. Auch nicht, dass sie ihre Kräfte nicht nur dem Kampfsport verdankt. Ebenso ahnt sie nicht, dass der geheimnisvolle Drol Wayne sehr viel damit zu tun hat, wer und was sie tatsächlich ist.

Supernaturals are real. And so are monsters. I’m Paul Riordan, son of Siobhan Riordan, and I will never forget that my father was murdered. Twenty years have passed since terror swept through Ballynagual. But that doesn’t mean that evil is gone for good. There’s a serial killer running loose in town, not to mention I’m in love with a woman I can’t have, and she's in the crosshairs of the murderer. Some people will die to protect their secrets. Others will kill to expose them. Me? No worries. I just have to worry about dealing with the undead.

Abbey and her friends travel across the sea in search of Syd's brother, a sailor captured by a warlord years ago. To find him, they'll need the help of their greatest enemy, the Storm Caller Dahlia. When they arrive, they discover a land ruled by a new form of magic: the Way of Stone. The Stone Shapers agree to help Abbey and her friends track down the missing man, but only if Abbey helps them defeat a band of rebels first. What Abbey doesn't know is that the leader of the rebels is the very man they came to rescue.

When the storm clouds gather, only the bravest answer the call. Abbey and Dustin head to the Storm Wall to investigate a series of Barskall attacks. They arrive in the midst of a battle and discover an unlikely ally. They soon learn of a powerful weapon they can use to stop Dahlia and her seafaring pirates... If they can find it in time. The search will take them deep into enemy territory where their only hope for survival is the resourcefulness of their small but feisty crew.

For Signet, being human is much harder than she imagined. There are machines that are trying to kill her, people who want to replace her, and dizzying new emotions she’d rather not feel. When she finds herself torn between two wildly different worlds, she must discover how much she’s willing to sacrifice, where she really belongs, and who she truly is. Enter a world where birds shapeshift into wizards, women emerge from sealskins, swans transform into maidens, and love is the most powerful enchantment of all.

After the events of the Hangman Returns, Alexander and Emma Merryweather have returned home to Chicago in hopes of living a normal life and raising their twin babies, Octavia and Octus. But the wizard Merlin arrives in Alexander’s dream and informs him of a threat to his twins in the future.

Jon Eddington was just a simple young dude fresh out of college when his grandfather, an archeologist named Jack, passed away. Jack leaves his New York house and everything in it to Jon, including an ancient Celtic pool he discovered long ago. One night, a strange storm blew in and Jon was blown into the mysterious pool and wakes up in a strange world known as Meridian.

With a new wielder of the Axe of Fate, Eunisa Crimsonseas, Karvian and his other companions find themselves hunted and sought after. Feeling pressure from the Dark Mother, Stovin Goldenfields, the King of Chivelestine, sends out a detachment of troops to bring the Axe of Fate back to the capital city of Chivel. However, battles still rage in Shaeness. Gaivior, an emerald green dragon, goes to aid Shaeness, leaving the rest of the group to deal with what is hunting them: the Blood Dragon. A terrible creation from the experiment chambers within Nyerhurst.

After briefly eluding Yassir Ali's ruthless assassins in England, Nick, Marie, and Ishi have fled north, where they hope to track down a forgotten cavern in the Highlands of Scotland. The cavern is linked to the Ambrosius Amulet, and is said to contain the greatest treasure of gold, jewels, and other artifacts ever amassed by the ancient druids....

Hannah Stevenson inherits a home in the Cotswolds when her grandmother, Violet, passes away, and leaves her job as a cruise-ship lounge singer to start her own herbal bath and body business there. She knows about some of the extrasensory powers she's inherited from Violet, but not about the resident malevolent goddess, Maeve, bent on destroying her. She's surprised to learn that she's not the only person of the craft in the area, either - and then there's her new, very intriguing neighbor, Edward.

When Xavier, the youngest son of the corrupt king from the hidden city, appears in Ophelia's world, she soon realizes that her quest is not going to be as straight-forward as she had hoped.

Justin hates his new home, his new school, and his new life. Staying with his Mom after his parents divorced, Justin tries to make the best of things, dodging the bullies and exploring the woods near his home. When he finds a rusty sword and a ruby pendant, Justin doesn't immediately make the connection between them and the crazy dreams he's been having. But soon he realizes that the new world he travels to when he's asleep is more than just a dream - its reality, and he's got a mission he needs to complete.

Maximus never thought his life would change so dramatically. Orphaned from a horrible accident caused by unicorns, the youngster is adopted by the Royal family who just lost their own son the same night. The love Maximus receives from the ruler of Forestrial, King Drummond, is exactly what he needs the most. Queen Zelebeth, on the other hand, has a closed heart and wants nothing to do with Maximus. She despises him.

This audio study guide for The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin includes detailed summary and analysis of each chapter and an in-depth exploration of the book’s multiple symbols, motifs, and themes, such as social hierarchies, the meaning and morality of survival, and motherhood in extreme circumstances.