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Inheritance of Shadows
by Janis Susan MayAurora Mathis is coming home. Back to Merrywood, an estate she doesn't remember. Back to the house in which her father died by his own hand. Back to where she witnessed his death.Charles Mathis captivated millions of readers with a series of eerie fantasy novels before taking his own life when Aurora was just a toddler. Aurora tried to hide from his infamy but now she wants to learn about the man she never knew.She agrees to attend a convention honoring her father's work but on arrival is filled with a gnawing sense of unease and soon begins dreaming of the strange, inhuman beings who populated her father's books. When she starts receiving odd gifts and seeing mysterious robed figures in the halls of Merrywood, Aurora worries she may be losing her mind.As the days pass and the happenings around her turn from odd to dangerous, Aurora begins to wonder if the magical world her father created may not be completely fictional...94,000 words
An Inheritance of Magic: Book 1 in a new dark fantasy series by the author of the million-copy-selling Alex Verus novels (The Inheritance of Magic Series)
by Benedict JackaBook one in a new fantasy series of super rich magical dynasties and warring heirs - from the author of the million-copy-selling Alex Verus series. For readers of contemporary fantasy who enjoy the methods and magicians of dark academia . . . *buy a copy in hardback to receive a beautiful, limited foiled edition*ANYONE CAN USE MAGIC - IF THEY CAN AFFORD THE PRICE . . .In a world where everything magical is bought up and controlled by the super rich - Stephen Oakwood has inherited a natural talent for magic. Plunged by his father's disappearance into a glittering world of scheming dynasties, warring patriarchs and vicious scions, Stephen must navigate magical high society and learn to control his gifts. Dangerous enemies await the Oakwood heir, and even more dangerous allies: if Stephen cannot master his magic quickly and learn to distinguish friend from foe, his name may end up on the missing persons list, just like his father.
An Inheritance of Magic (Inheritance of Magic #1)
by Benedict JackaThe super-rich control everything—including magic—in this thrilling and brilliant, contemporary fantasy from the author of the Alex Verus novels.The wealthy seem to exist in a different, glittering world from the rest of us. Almost as if by . . . magic.Stephen Oakwood is a young man on the edge of this hidden world. He has talent and potential, but turning that potential into magical power takes money, opportunity, and training. All Stephen has is a minimum wage job and a cat. But when a chance encounter with a member of House Ashford gets him noticed by the wrong people, Stephen is thrown in the deep end. For centuries, the vast corporations and aristocratic Houses of the magical world have grown impossibly rich and influential by hoarding their knowledge. To survive, Stephen will have to take his talent and build it up into something greater—for only then can he beat them at their own game.
Inheritance: The Lost Bride Trilogy, Book 1 (The Lost Bride Trilogy #1)
by Nora RobertsInheritance is the first in The Lost Bride Trilogy by #1 New York Times bestselling author Nora Roberts—a tale of tragedies, loves found and lost, and a family haunted for generations.1806: Astrid Poole sits in her bridal clothes, overwhelmed with happiness. But before her marriage can be consummated, she is murdered, and the circle of gold torn from her finger. Her last words are a promise to Collin never to leave him…Graphic designer Sonya MacTavish is stunned to learn that her late father had a twin he never knew about—and that her newly discovered uncle, Collin Poole, has left her almost everything he owned, including a majestic Victorian house on the Maine coast, which the will stipulates she must live in it for at least three years. Her engagement recently broken, she sets off to find out why the boys were separated at birth—and why it was all kept secret until a genealogy website brought it to light.Trey, the young lawyer who greets her at the sprawling clifftop manor, notes Sonya’s unease—and acknowledges that yes, the place is haunted…but just a little. Sure enough, Sonya finds objects moved and music playing out of nowhere. She sees a painting by her father inexplicably hanging in her deceased uncle’s office, and a portrait of a woman named Astrid, whom the lawyer refers to as “the first lost bride.” It’s becoming clear that Sonya has inherited far more than a house. She has inherited a centuries-old curse, and a puzzle to be solved if there is any hope of breaking it…
The Influence (Fiction Without Frontiers)
by Ramsey CampbellNow a major Netflix movie."This is a chilling work and the fullest treatment of one of Campbell's recurring themes - the psychic violence family members wreak upon one another." Publishers WeeklyQueenie is the ageing matriarch of the Faraday family, and even death can&’t break her hold over her eleven-year-old granddaughter Rowan. She&’s buried with a locket that contains a lock of Rowan&’s hair, and soon afterwards Rowan is befriended by a mysterious uncannily intelligent girl of her own age. Only her aunt Hermione suspects how sinister this is, but will retrieving the locket save her niece? By the time anyone sees what effect the ghostly influence on Rowan is having, it may be too late for her. if the child who takes her place in the family isn&’t Rowan, Rowan may be somewhere else not quite like our world…FLAME TREE PRESS is the new fiction imprint of Flame Tree Publishing. Launched in 2018 the list brings together brilliant new authors and the more established; the award winners, and exciting, original voices.
Infinity's Gateway: A Novel
by James S. ParkerA Navy ship fights to survive an inexplicable event in this action-packed Bermuda Triangle thriller . . .Every year, all across the planet, people simply vanish, never to be seen again. Some areas of the world are well known for this phenomenon—like the area that would become known as the Bermuda Triangle after the famed Flight 19 incident off the Florida coast in 1945.Now, in the present day, an unexplainable event has occurred in the same area—an event that cannot be ignored by the military. The Navy ship Eclipse and its crew are sent to investigate, but after several days come up empty. Then, two days before the planned return to port, the event reoccurs, and the Eclipse is caught up in something it cannot escape. The ship and its crew suddenly find themselves completely isolated, all communication lost, surrounded by a terribly hostile environment where each day is a struggle to survive—in this intense, fast-paced novel of self-reliance, mystery, and discovery.
Infinityglass: An Hourglass Novel
by Myra McentireThe stakes have risen even higher in this third book in the Hourglass series. The Hourglass is a secret organization focused on the study of manipulating time, and its members -- many of them teenagers -have uncanny abilities to make time work for them in mysterious ways. Inherent in these powers is a responsibility to take great care, because altering one small moment can have devastating consequences for the past, present, and future. But some time travelers are not exactly honorable, and sometimes unsavory deals must be struck to maintain order. With the Infinityglass (central to understanding and harnessing the time gene) at large, the hunt is on to find it before someone else does. But the Hourglass has an advantage. Lily, who has the ability to locate anything lost, has determined that the Infinityglass isn't an object. It's a person. And the Hourglass must find him or her first. But where do you start searching for the very key to time when every second could be the last?
Infinity Reaper: The much-loved hit from the author of No.1 bestselling blockbuster THEY BOTH DIE AT THE END! (Infinity Cycle #2)
by Adam SilveraFrom the author of the UK NO.1 BESTSELLER THEY BOTH DIE AT THE END.In this gripping sequel to the New York Times bestselling Infinity Son, Adam Silvera brings a diverse cast of heroes and villains to life in an alternate New York where some people are born with powers, while others steal them from the blood of endangered magical creatures . . . For fans of Cassandra Clare, Leigh Bardugo and Sarah J Maas. Now including a limited edition prequel short story starring Ness!Emil and Brighton defied the odds. They beat the Blood Casters and escaped with their lives – or so they thought. When Brighton drank the Reaper's Blood, he believed it would make him invincible, but instead the potion is killing him.In Emil's race to find an antidote that will not only save his brother but also rid him of his own unwanted phoenix powers, he will have to dig deep into the very past lives he's trying to outrun. Though he needs the help of the Spell Walkers now more than ever, their ranks are fracturing, with Maribelle'sthirst for revenge sending her down a dangerous path.Meanwhile, Ness is being abused by Senator Iron for political gain, his rare shifting ability making him a dangerous weapon. As much as Ness longs to send Emil a signal, he knows the best way to keep Emil safe from his corrupt father is to keep him at a distance.The battle for peace is playing out like an intricate game of chess, and as the pieces on the board move into place, Emil starts to realise that he may have been competing against the wrong enemy all along . . .Praise for Infinity Son: 'A magnificent addition to the ranks of Young Adult fantasy' Waterstones 'Silvera shoots off his plot like a gun and writes action sequences as if they were car chases – relentless, quick-cutting, sparks flying' New York Times 'Silvera has created an exciting fantasy series opener. Fans of Cassandra Clare … will love this magical book that embodies it all.' School Library Journal
The Infinity Concerto: The Infinity Concerto; The Serpent Mage (Songs of Earth and Power #1)
by Greg BearMichael Perrin wants to live the simple life of an aspiring poet in Los Angeles. However, when he receives a key and a piece of music called The Infinity Concerto, Michael's life becomes anything but simple. Soon he is whisked away to the land of the Sidhe, dangerous elves in a tentative truce with humans. Barren and stark, this world is anything but the pretty pretty land of faerie tales.Drafted into learning the physical and mental skills of magic, Michael discovers of his role in a much larger history of magic and music in both the Sidhe's world and ours. Can he survive the pitched battle? Will Michael be the answer to finally uniting the elder races?A classic YA novel that blends the intricacies of complex SF with the wonder and danger of fantasy, THE INFINITY CONCERTO and its sequel THE SERPENT MAGE were re-written and expanded from its original version to form the series SONGS OF EARTH AND POWER. This E-Reads edition is based on those expanded works.
The Infinity Concerto (Songs of Earth and Power #1)
by Greg BearMusic, myth, and magic mix in this tale of a melody not meant for human ears, from the New York Times–bestselling and award-winning author of Darwin&’s Radio. Michael Perrin is an aspiring poet, struggling to express the chaotic cadences of his thoughts on paper. He finds a kindred spirit in Arno Waltiri, the film score composer behind several of Michael&’s favorite classic movies. The maestro&’s greatest piece, however, was performed in front of a live audience only once. The concerto Opus 45, Infinity left its listeners entranced, altered to the very core of their souls. Waltiri&’s composition is a song of power. Never meant to be heard by human ears, its melody is as captivating as a siren&’s call, its notes ring out like a death knell, and its rhythms shake the very foundations of reality. The music&’s otherworldly tones have led Michael through the gate between Earth and the Realm of the Sidhedark, where faeries reign by rule of magic—and where Michael must find his muse if he&’s ever to return home. The Infinity Concerto is a fantasy masterpiece by the Hugo and Nebula Award–winning author of the Forerunner Saga, Eon, and other imaginative classics.
Infinity (Chronicles of Nick #1)
by Sherrilyn Kenyon<P>At fourteen, Nick Gautier thinks he knows everything about the world around him. Streetwise, tough and savvy, his quick sarcasm is the stuff of legends. . . until the night when his best friends try to kill him. Saved by a mysterious warrior who has more fighting skills than Chuck Norris, Nick is sucked into the realm of the Dark-Hunters: immortal vampire slayers who risk everything to save humanity. <P> Nick quickly learns that the human world is only a veil for a much larger and more dangerous one: a world where the captain of the football team is a werewolf and the girl he has a crush on goes out at night to stake the undead. <P>But before he can even learn the rules of this new world, his fellow students are turning into flesh eating zombies. <P>And he's next on the menu. As if starting high school isn't hard enough. . . now Nick has to hide his new friends from his mom, his chainsaw from the principal, and keep the zombies and the demon Simi from eating his brains, all without getting grounded or suspended. How in the world is he supposed to do that?
Infinite Days
by Rebecca MaizelFor 500 years Lenah Beaudonte has been a vampire. 500 years of seduction, blood and destruction. But she is sickened by her dark powers - and longs to feel the sun on her skin, grass under her bare feet, and share the breath of a human kiss. She wants to be mortal again. But is she really capable of being human, after her long years of darkness? Waking up as a sixteen-year-old girl brings Lenah many things - the life she has missed, taste, touch, love. But a vampire soul is not easily shed. And her coven - the four vampires she led in decadence and thrilling destruction - want their queen back . . .
El infierno está cerca
by Marta Prieto Lara N. P. Martin"El infierno está vacio y todos los demonios están aquí." Leia Swanson es una chica huérfana que acaba de cumplir los dieciocho años y dejar atrás un pasado turbulento en el que perdió a sus padres con sólo siete años. Entonces, la gente empieza a convertirse en demonio ante sus ojos y ella comienza a sentir un poder extraño creciendo en su interior. Después de visitar la casa de su infancia, la vida de Leia dará un giro. Convencida de que un demonio se llevó a su madre y mató a su padre, Leia descubre el verdadero pasado de su madre: una Vigilante (cazador de demonios) y que ella también es una Nephilim (mitad ángel, mitad humana). Cuando alguien secuestra a su hermano gemelo Josh y mata a su madre de acogida, Leia se ve obligada a encontrar a Frank, su tío, del que nadie le había contado nada. A pesar de ser un hombre solitario, Frank accede a enseñar a Leia a utilizar sus poderes de Vigilante y ayudarla a rescatar a su hermano. En el camino, Leia podrá desentrañar ese pasado oscuro. Mientras tanto, un poderoso demonio ha secuestrado a niños Nephilim de todo el mundo para involucrarlos en un malvado plan que pondrá en peligro la tierra. El infierno está cerca. ¿Será capaz Leia de dar su vida y, posiblemente, su alma para salvar al mundo? El infierno está cerca es el primer libro de la saga Los Vigilantes. Si le gustan los thriller supernaturales, descargue un fragmento o compre El infierno está cerca.
Un Infierno En Todas Las Estaciones
by Emiliya AhmadovaUN INFIERNO EN TODAS LAS ESTACIONES presenta siete historias cortas escalofriantes que se extienden por todo el mundo, invitándote a participar en una aventura sobrenatural escalofriante que no olvidarás pronto. En su interior, descubrirá lo que sucede cuando colegialas desprevenidas, médicos estrictos, un vaquero bravucón, hipócritas egoístas, un borracho, una médium y los estudiantes universitarios comunes y corrientes se encuentran con sus peores pesadillas. ¿Qué han hecho para provocar fenómenos sobrenaturales? Las malas decisiones, el mal momento y el karma vienen a perseguirlos de maneras trascendentales para enseñarles una lección muy necesaria, si no mal guiada, llena de momentos de terror, horas de caos y años de arrepentimiento. Desplácese hacia arriba para comprar su copia de esta colección de cuentos de terror cortos espantosamente buenos, y sea consciente de sus acciones. Nunca se sabe cuándo volverán para perseguirle. "La diabólica imaginación de Emiliya ofrece historias horribles que definitivamente no son para los pusilánimes, ni deben leerse en ningún momento que no sea a plena luz del día".
Infested: An MTV Fear Novel (Fear)
by Angel Luis Colón&“Infested expertly mixes mystery and monster story with family drama and very now political concerns. It&’s a thrilling, I-can&’t-stop-reading page-turner. If Infested doesn&’t make your skin crawl, check your pulse.&” —Paul Tremblay, bestselling author of The Cabin at the End of the World and A Head Full of Ghosts The Taking of Jake Livingston meets Cemetery Boys in this YA ghost story about a Puerto Rican teen&’s battle with a malevolent spirit targeting his apartment building and the all-too-real horrors of gentrification.It&’s the summer before senior year, and Manny has just moved from Texas to the Bronx in New York. So, instead of hanging with his friends and making some spending money, Manny is forced to do menial tasks in his new home, a luxury condo his stepdad is managing, while stressing about starting over. Thankfully, he meets Sasha, who is protesting the building but turns out to be really cool. And he strikes up an unlikely friendship with Mr. Mueller, the building&’s exterminator. Maybe life in the Bronx won&’t be so bad. Then the nightmares begin. And Manny swears he has roaches crawling under his skin. When building contractors start to go missing, Manny and Sasha come to the terrifying realization that Mr. Mueller is not who he says he is. Or rather, he is, but he died decades ago in a fire exactly where Manny&’s new building is located. A fire that Mueller set. Now, in a race against time, Manny must rescue his family from a deranged specter determined to set the Bronx ablaze once again.
Infestation (Whispering Pines)
by Heidi Lang Kati BartkowskiIn this creeptastic sequel to the Whispering Pines, Rae and Caden take on flesh-eating centipedes that may be alien in nature—perfect for fans of Stranger Things!Caden&’s brother Aiden is many things: clever, powerful, vindictive. Unforgiving. And now, he&’s also mysteriously free from the hellish dimensional prison that Caden had trapped him in. Caden is sure that Aiden is out for revenge, but since his parents refuse to see the danger when it comes to his brother, he&’ll have to find a way to survive on his own. Meanwhile, Rae, freed from the threat of the eye-snatching, monstrous Unseeing, has once again turned all her focus toward finding her missing father. She believes the town&’s shady alternative energy company, Green On!, might have the information she seeks, so she joins their internship program to get answers. Unfortunately, this means sacrificing her friendship with Caden, who wants nothing to do with Green On! or anyone associated with it. When a special assignment from Rae&’s internship leads her to uncover an infestation of giant, flesh-eating centipedes that may be alien in nature, she needs to convince Caden to help her get rid of them. The two friends must learn to work together again, because this time, it&’s not just Whispering Pines&’ fate that hangs in the balance, but the world&’s.
Inferno: Tales of Terror and the Supernatural
by Nathan Ballingrud Laird Barron Elizabeth Bear Simon Bestwick P. D. Cacek Pat Cadigan Terry Dowling Paul Finch Jeffrey Ford Christopher Fowler Stephen Gallagher John Grant Glen Hirshberg K. W. Jeter Mike O'Driscoll Joyce Carol Oates Mark Samuels Lucius Shepard Lee Thomas Conrad WilliamsThis multiple award-winning anthology of twenty psychological and supernatural horror stories explores the outer limits of fear. To create this volume, renowned horror editor Ellen Datlow wrote to her favorite authors asking for stories that would &“provide the reader with a frisson of shock, or a moment of dread so powerful it might cause the reader outright physical discomfort; or a sensation of fear so palpable that the reader feels impelled to turn up the lights very bright and play music or seek the company of others to dispel the fear.&” Mission accomplished. The resulting collection draws together some of the most powerful voices in the field: Pat Cadigan, Terry Dowling, Jeffrey Ford, Christopher Fowler, Glen Hirshberg, K. W. Jeter, Joyce Carol Oates, and Lucius Shepard, to name a few. Each author approaches fear in a different way, but all of the stories&’ characters toil within their own hell.Winner of the 2008 World Fantasy Award, International Horror Guild Award, and Shirley Jackson Award for Best Anthology.
Inferno (Chronicles of Nick #4)
by Sherrilyn Kenyon<P>The fourth novel in the bestselling Chronicles of Nick series from #1 New York Times bestselling author Sherrilyn Kenyon <P>The heat is on, and a new threat to humanity has risen . . . <P>Nick has his driver's license and he's not afraid to use it. But turning sixteen isn't what he thought it would be. While other boys his age are worried about prom dates and applying for college, Nick is neck deep in enemies out to stop him from living another day. No longer sure if he can trust anyone, his only ally seems to be the one person he's been told will ultimately kill him. But life spent serving the undead is anything except ordinary. And those out to get him have summoned an ancient force so powerful even the gods fear it. As Nick learns to command and control the elements, the one he must master in order to combat his latest foe is the one most likely to destroy him. <P> As the old proverb goes, fire knows nothing of mercy, and if Nick is to survive this latest round, he will have to sacrifice a part of himself. However, the best sacrifice is seldom the sanest move. Sometimes it's the one that leaves your enemies confused. And sometimes, you have to trust your enemy to save your friends. But what do you do when that enemy is you? <P>Inferno is the fourth book in Sherrilyn Kenyon's Chronicles of Nick.
Inferno (Saga Arcangelo #3)
by Joseph R. MeisterLilith è stata rapita dalle forze del male e trascinata nell'inframondo, dove gli Elohim hanno in programma per lei un destino orribile. Benché il circolo sia stato spezzato e gli elementi non siano particolarmente favorevoli, i suoi compagni decidono di andare a salvarla e di percorrere l'eterna catena di supplizi e tormenti costituita dai nove cerchi dell'inferno, mettendo in gioco non solo le loro vite ma anche le loro stesse anime. Con l'aiuto di Uriel, l'arcangelo combattuto tra le sue due nature, quella umana e quella divina, e di Iago, con il cuore diviso a metà, si mettono in cammino Saray, sempre più misteriosa e lontana; Anna con i suoi poteri in continua evoluzione, che si affaccia all'oscurità; e Victor, la cui umiltà gli impedisce di accorgersi che la sua magia è la più potente in assoluto. Li accompagna l'enigmatico Zabulón, deciso a proseguire la sua millenaria partita a scacchi contro gli Elohim e che svelerà, man mano che la comitiva scende nelle profondità dell'averno, segreti che ha dovuto proteggere per millenni. Segreti che, una volta rivelati, rovesceranno il punto di vista dei protagonisti e ci condurranno fino al colpo di scena finale che lascerà tutti a bocca aperta.
Inferno (Trilogia Arcanjo #3)
by Joseph R. MeisterLilith foi raptada pelas forças do mal e arrastada até o submundo, onde os Elohim tramaram um destino horrível para ela. Embora o círculo tenha sido rompido e os elementos não estejam no seu auge, seus companheiros decidem ir procurá-la, percorrendo a eterna cadeia de suplícios e tormentos dos nove círculos do inferno, arriscando não só suas vidas, mas suas almas. Apoiados pelo arcanjo Uriel, dividido entre suas metades divina e humana, e por Yago, com o coração dividido, vão Saray, cada dia mais misteriosa e distante; Ana, com seus poderes crescentes aproximando-se à escuridão; e Víctor, cuja humildade o impede de ver que possui a magia mais poderosa de todas. Estão acompanhados pelo enigmático Zabulón, que continua seu milenar jogo de xadrez contra os Elohim e que vai revelar, enquanto descem às profundezas do inferno, os segredos que vem protegendo, o que dará uma reviravolta na história, com um desfecho que vai te deixar sem respiração.
Inferno (Archangel Trilogy #3)
by Joseph R. MeisterLilith has been kidnapped by the forces of evil and dragged to the underworld, where the Elohim have a horrible destiny in store for her. Although the circle has been broken, and the elements are incomplete, her companions decide to rescue her, to fight through the nine circles of hell, risking not only life and limb, but their souls. The archangel Uriel is there to help, but he’s torn between divine and human love. Yago is with them as well, but his heart is stuck in the past. Saray is distant, more mysterious with each passing day. Ana's powers are growing, branching and peering into darkness. And Victor, whose humility prevents him from understanding he possesses the most powerful magic of all. They also travel with the enigmatic Zebulon, who continues his millenary chess game against the Elohim. He will reveal, as they descend the depths of hell, the secrets that will turn everything upside down, in this final chapter of the Archangel Saga, that will leave you breathless.
The Infernal Riddle of Thomas Peach: A novel of necromancy, secrets, and a world on the brink of the modern age
by Jas TreadwellWHO IS THOMAS PEACH?Ah, reader! - if you would have us answer THAT question - What mysteries you shall compel us to expose!It is the year 1785, and a gentleman of modest means has left London for the countryside, to look after his ailing wife.Among his new neighbours, tongues begin to wag. Why does he keep a locked chest under the stairs? Is it really full of forbidden books? And what exactly is the matter with his wife?For the most part, though, the couple live in peace -- until a letter arrives, threatening to cut off their livelihood and expel them from their home.Faced with the prospect of penury -- and perhaps worse -- the gentleman rides out in search of some means to save himself.But fate has other plans for Thomas Peach.A bizarre request brings an encounter with a mysterious young woman, raised from infancy as a rich man's ward, now condemned to the madhouse. As their paths become disturbingly entangled, Mr Peach begins to suspect that in her past lies a dreadful secret . . .Dreadful indeed! - Yet however fearful the poor child's history - can her secret be darker, than HIS OWN?
The Infernal Riddle of Thomas Peach: A novel of necromancy, secrets, and a world on the brink of the modern age
by Jas TreadwellWHO IS THOMAS PEACH?Ah, reader! - if you would have us answer THAT question - What mysteries you shall compel us to expose!It is the year 1785, and a gentleman of modest means has left London for the countryside, to look after his ailing wife.Among his new neighbours, tongues begin to wag. Why does he keep a locked chest under the stairs? Is it really full of forbidden books? And what exactly is the matter with his wife?For the most part, though, the couple live in peace -- until a letter arrives, threatening to cut off their livelihood and expel them from their home.Faced with the prospect of penury -- and perhaps worse -- the gentleman rides out in search of some means to save himself.But fate has other plans for Thomas Peach.A bizarre request brings an encounter with a mysterious young woman, raised from infancy as a rich man's ward, now condemned to the madhouse. As their paths become disturbingly entangled, Mr Peach begins to suspect that in her past lies a dreadful secret . . .Dreadful indeed! - Yet however fearful the poor child's history - can her secret be darker, than HIS OWN?
The Infernal Riddle of Thomas Peach: a gothic mystery with an edge of magick
by Jas TreadwellA masterful novel of necromancy, secrets, and a world on the brink of the modern age...The year is 1785, and Thomas Peach, a gentleman of modest means, moves to a small village in the West Country, bringing with him a steamer chest of clothes, some books - and, apparently, his wife, Mrs Peach, who quickly becomes a source of fascination and suspicion to the villagers. Why is she never seen abroad? Why does Mr Peach refuse entry to her bedroom to their maidservant, who is unable to detect even a whisper of breath at Mrs Peach's door, try as she might? Does Mrs Peach even exist? And if so, is she the victim of her husband's cruelty? A liberal and free thinker, Mr Peach is a member of a society of learned men in Bristol, one of whom is guardian of a young woman believed to be possessed by a demon. Mr Peach disagrees with this opinion, but suspicion only grows when the woman in question - whose mouth and lips are stained inexplicably black - escapes from her patron and causes panic in the countryside. Soon she is living under Mr Peach's protection. But he himself is in danger; someone - or something - has followed him from his former life in London. Thomas Peach has enumerable secrets - and one of them might just prove deadly.(P) 2021 Hodder & Stoughton Ltd
The Infernal Machine
by C. W. SnyderArthur White lived a simple life tending the dead in a quiet cemetery, until meeting a mysterious stranger known only as Mr. Black. In a few short hours, the stranger turns the groundskeeper’s life upside down, burdening Arthur with an immortal clockwork heart. Over the course of years, Arthur works as Mr. Black’s right hand, doing the things the old warlock cannot dirty his hands with. The death of a mutual friend and the discovery of Lucifer’s cast-off heart catalyze them into action, setting off a global chase to recover the artifact and open the door to death. Along the way, Arthur struggles with evils he’s committed, dreams of loss that plague him, and desperate loneliness that may be cured by the appearance of a mysterious new companion, Ava. But before they can get to know one another, they must confront a cult out to steal the heart for their own ends. Before it’s over, Arthur, Ava, and Mr. Black will have to face who they are and what they’ve done, or perish in a brutal new world. Whatever remains from the ashes may be their only hope.