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High Dive: A novel
by Jonathan Lee**Named a Best Book of the Year by the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, San Francisco Chronicle**“Devastating . . . Inspired . . . We make so many complex emotional investments in the lives of Lee’s characters that it takes a monk’s restraint not to flip to the very end of the book before you get there.” —Jennifer Senior, New York TimesIn September 1984, a bomb was planted at the Grand Hotel in the seaside town of Brighton, England, set to explode in twenty-four days when the British prime minister and her entire cabinet would be staying there. High Dive not only takes us inside this audacious assassination attempt—a decisive act of violence on the world stage—but also imagines its way into a group of unforgettable characters. Nimbly weaving together fact and fiction, comedy and tragedy, the story switches among the perspectives of Dan, a young IRA explosives expert; Moose, a former star athlete gone to seed, who is now the deputy hotel manager; and Freya, his teenage daughter, trying to decide what comes after high school. Over the course of a mere four weeks, as the prime minister’s arrival draws closer, each of their lives will be transformed forever. A bold, astonishingly intimate novel of laughter and heartbreak, High Dive is a moving portrait of clashing loyalties, guilt and regret, and how individuals become the grist of history.
High Five
by Adam RubinA #1 New York Times bestseller from the creators of the beloved Dragons Love Tacos comes a rollicking, rhyme-tastic, interactive high five competition--starring YOU!Discover the lost art of the high five and improve your slapping skills just in time for the annual high five contest! From hand-limbering stretches to lessons on five-ing with finesse, readers are guided through a series of interactive challenges, each goofier than the next.Acclaimed creative duo Adam Rubin and Daniel Salmieri have dreamed up another one-of-a-kind, laugh-out-loud book that kids will beg to read again and again.
High Five! A Graphic Novel (Catwad)
by Jim BentonCatwad, Blurmp, Pigmichael, and more of Jim Benton's hilarious comic creations return in this roaringly funny fifth graphic novel!In this poignant and emotionally wrenching tale, famous curmudgeon Catwad faces loss, fear, and struggles with his own mortality when his best friend Blurmp receives news of... wait, who are we kidding? This isn't a melodrama -- it's another laugh-out-loud Catwad from Jim Benton!Catwad and Blurmp are back with more ridiculous fun that will have readers high-fiving each other with joy. This volume sees the big blue grump and his slow but lovable friend get a pet, try new hobbies, explore the newest videogame technology, and more! If you love laughing (and who doesn't??), this book is for you!
High Flyer! (The Secret World of Alex Mack #14)
by Patricia Barnes-SvarneyUp, Up, and Away! Alex may have some unusual powers, but one thing she can't do is fly. So when her new friend Chris invites Alex and her friends to the soaring fields where his dad flies glider planes, she leaps at the opportunity. Everyone has a great time, and when Chris tells them about his dad's plan to start a flying school on the fields, they offer to help. Someone, though, is out to stop them. First, the fields are mysteriously damaged. Then one of the planes is sabotaged. Alex knows she shouldn't, but using her GC-161 powers is tempting. How else can she stop the creep who's trying to ground the sailplanes for good? ?
High Heels and Homicide
by Kasey MichaelsWhen mystery author Maggie Kelly pops across the pond for a movie shoot--accompanied by her once-fictional, now all-too-real (not to mention sexy) hero, Alexandre, Viscount Saint Just--shes in for a jolly good time . . . We are not amused. . . Dont get me wrong--there was plenty to laugh about when we first arrived in Merry Olde England to watch one of my novels being shot as a TV movie. Alex was delighted with the location (a seventeeth-century manor house), but horrified with the surfer-dude mimbo playing him. I, personally, found the situation hilarious. . . until the scriptwriter showed up. Dead. Lights, camera. . . action! No, not that kind of action. Hmmmm . . . on second thought. . . Okay, so things are suddenly getting hot and heavy between Alex and me--and our timing is atrocious as usual, what with the murder and mayhem. Suspects? Dont get me started. Theres Mr. Contemptuous Director, Ms. Man-Crazy Production Assistant, Mr. Fancy Pants English Actor, Ms. Diva Leading Lady, and. . . yours truly. Yep, I was seen arguing with the victim right before his unfortunate demise, so I am, as the Brits would say, in a bit of a pickle. . . "Light and funny, Michaelss latest should please her many fans. "--Publishers Weekly "Michaelss trademark wit and humor abound . . . Another outstanding mystery with a unique cast of characters. "--Booklist
High Hopes: My Autobiography
by Ronnie CorbettA true great of British comedy, Ronald ‘Ronnie’ Corbett, is hailed as one of the finest comedians of his generation.Son of an Edinburgh baker, Ronnie rose to fame as one half of the infamous Two Ronnies alongside Ronnie Barker. Known for his versatility, quick-wit, family-friendly dialogue, and meandering monologues, Corbett was a staple of British television for more than 50 years. In his autobiography, he tells the complete story, from his school technique of estimating the height of a girl before daring to ask her to dance, to his days as a night club barman in London, and finally, to his decades long career as a stand-up and sitcom star. Including tales of how he first met David Frost, John Cleese and Michael Palin, this book is written with all of Ronnie’s trademark warmth and wit.Celebrating his life and career, this is Ronnie’s own honest and definitive account of his truly dramatic journey.
The High-Impact Infidelity Diet
by Lou Harry Eric PfeffingerA WHOLE NEW WAY TO CHEAT ON YOUR DIET Meet Brin and Martin, Cheryl and Doug, Dierdre and Randy. Three normal married couples who share a common problem: all of the husbands weigh over 300 pounds--and not much of that's muscle. The concerned wives concoct a plan and offer up a deal. Each guy who scales down to 210 pounds gets a free pass to spend an evening with a beautiful hooker Brin just happens to know from college. Of course, there's no such hooker. The wives only hope that the incentive will help their men lose a few inches off their guts. Unfortunately, Brin, Cheryl, and Dierdre underestimate the power of the male competitive drive. As the men begin to shed pounds, the women find themselves on a frantic search to find the perfect prostitute. Follow along on a hilarious journey as three marriages, six friendships, 300 pounds of fat, and one saucy hooker endure the ups and downs of the worst weight-loss plan ever.
The High Moments: 'Addictive, hilarious, bold' Emma Jane Unsworth, author of Adults
by Sara-Ella Ozbek&‘I read this in less than a day . . . A must-read for everyone who had ever dreamt of being a somebody&’ Laura Jane Williams, author of Our Stop 'Brilliantly highlights the insecurities of being a young woman . . . It made me feel uncomfortable, and made me laugh - a sign of a good book' Emma Gannon, author of Olive and Ctrl Alt Delete 'Scarlett is the perfect heroine for our times' Sarra Manning author of The Rise and Fall of Becky Sharp *Scarlett makes mistakes – over and over again. She&’s not perfect, she has a tricky relationship with her mother and is desperate for people to like her.She repeatedly goes back to the people that hurt her, no matter how badly. She moves to London with no plan (of course), but manages to land a job at a modelling agency. Finally, she&’s getting her life on track, but the fashion industry is a murkier place than she had imagined. She changes herself to please others. Just as she starts to find her place, Scarlett&’s life begins to spiral. But at least people know her, she is starting to become someone. And surely it&’s better to be someone – even if it&’s someone you hate?With a vein of dark humour at its core, The High Moments offers an astute, often stark look at the fashion industry and the issues you can face as a woman in your twenties - fans of Emma Jane Unsworth's Animals and shows like Girls will love this. Why readers love The High Moments . . . ?'One of the most seductive and accomplished debuts I have ever read . . . I was obsessed with the insight into the murky world of modelling, and the way Sara-Ella explores the feelings of "other" that can consume so much of our twenties' Laura Jane Williams 'Brilliantly highlights the insecurities of being a young woman and not feeling like you've 'become' anything yet - it also shows the darkness and toxicity that can linger behind a so-called 'dream' job' Emma Gannon 'A beautiful, messed-up mash-up of The Devil Wears Prada and Fleabag. Set in the seedy underbelly of the high octane world of fashion, modelling and Instagram influencers, Scarlett is the perfect heroine for our times. Essential reading for anyone relieved to be done with their twenties and a cautionary tale for those who are still living them!' Sarra Manning 'An exhilarating, edgy, roller coaster of a story from start to finish. The High Moments is a fascinating window into the bright lights - and underbelly - of the fashion industry . . . A complete thrill to read!' Helly Acton, author of The Shelf
The High Moments: 'Addictive, hilarious, bold' Emma Jane Unsworth, author of Adults
by Sara-Ella OzbekWith a vein of dark humour at its core, The High Moments is a filthier, more sordid The Devil Wears Prada, offering an astute, often stark look at the fashion industry and the issues you face as a woman in your twenties - fans of Girls and Emma Jane Unworth's Animals will love this.
The High Place
by James Branch CabellIn the sulphurous The High Place, the amoral hero Florian enters the sleeping-beauty story and (unlike Jurgen with Helen) does not draw back at the sight of excessive beauty. Complications ensue: Beauty is realistically diminished during pregnancy, the first-born child is forfeit to Satan under the pact that guaranteed Florain's success, and an irascible saint is eager to call down holy fire on transgressors. Florian treads close to damnation and is saved only when Satan and the angel Michael conspire to let recent events become, again, a dream: he has a rare second chance and learns better.
High Rising: A Virago Modern Classic (Virago Modern Classics #370)
by Angela ThirkellSuccessful lady novelist Laura Morland and her boisterous young son Tony set off to spend Christmas at her country home in the sleepy surrounds of High Rising. But Laura's wealthy friend and neighbour George Knox has taken on a scheming secretary whose designs on marriage to her employer threaten the delicate social fabric of the village. Can clever, practical Laura rescue George from Miss Grey's clutches and, what's more, help his daughter Miss Sibyl Knox to secure her longed-for engagement?Utterly charming and very funny, High Rising is irresistible comic entertainment.
High Rising: A Virago Modern Classic (Virago Modern Classics #370)
by Angela ThirkellSuccessful lady novelist Laura Morland and her boisterous young son Tony set off to spend Christmas at her country home in the sleepy surrounds of High Rising. But Laura's wealthy friend and neighbour George Knox has taken on a scheming secretary whose designs on marriage to her employer threaten the delicate social fabric of the village. Can clever, practical Laura rescue George from Miss Grey's clutches and, what's more, help his daughter Miss Sibyl Knox to secure her longed-for engagement?Utterly charming and very funny, High Rising is irresistible comic entertainment.
High-Risk Homosexual: A Memoir
by Edgar GomezThis witty memoir traces a touching and often hilarious spiralic path to embracing a gay, Latinx identity against a culture of machismo—from a cockfighting ring in Nicaragua to cities across the U.S.—and the bath houses, night clubs, and drag queens who help redefine prideI&’ve always found the definition of machismo to be ironic, considering that pride is a word almost unanimously associated with queer people, the enemy of machistas . . . In a world desperate to erase us, queer Latinx men must find ways to hold on to pride for survival, but excessive male pride is often what we are battling, both in ourselves and in others. A debut memoir about coming of age as a gay, Latinx man, High-Risk Homosexual opens in the ultimate anti-gay space: Edgar Gomez&’s uncle&’s cockfighting ring in Nicaragua, where he was sent at thirteen years old to become a man. Readers follow Gomez through the queer spaces where he learned to love being gay and Latinx, including Pulse nightclub in Orlando, a drag queen convention in Los Angeles, and the doctor&’s office where he was diagnosed a &“high-risk homosexual.&” With vulnerability, humor, and quick-witted insights into racial, sexual, familial, and professional power dynamics, Gomez shares a hard-won path to taking pride in the parts of himself he was taught to keep hidden. His story is a scintillating, beautiful reminder of the importance of leaving space for joy.
High Score
by Destiny HowellOceans 11 goes to the arcade in this wildly entertainng heist adventure that is perfect for fans of Gordon Korman, Varian Johnson, and Celia P rez.We do this my way.No one gets hurt.And if I call it off, it’s off.Got it?My name’s Darius James—but everyone calls me DJ. At my old school, I was the go-to guy for all kinds of tricky problems that needed creative solutions. But at my new school, Ella Fitzgerald Middle, I’m just trying to blend in.Well, I was, anyway, until my best friend, Conor, got himself transferred to the Fitz too. Now Conor owes 100,000 arcade tickets to the biggest bully around—and he only has two weeks to make it happen.Impossible? Not with my head in the game.
High Stick: Jarrett (Nashville Sound #3)
by Alicia Hunter PaceTwo twentysomethings struggle to let go of their idea of a perfect world on and off the ice in this emotional third book in the Nashville Sound series.Ambitious, smart, and straightlaced, Nashville Sound forward Jarrett MacPherson is determined to walk in the footsteps of his All-American hockey-playing grandfather. He prides himself on doing the right thing above all, with ethics so sharp they could cut the heart out of a saint. Hard-working Merry Sweet toils by day in a paper shop and coffee bar in Sound Town and at night at the arena, cleaning, selling concessions, and taking tickets. Jarrett notices and admires Merry’s determination and believes her when she says she needs money for law school, even offering to help solve her financial problems. When she refuses him, his esteem for her only grows. But when the public catches wind of their budding relationship, a surprising secret from Merry’s past comes to light. Now, Jarrett must decide if he’ll let his image take precedence over his heart and cost him the chance at something perfectly real. Sensuality Level: Sensual
High-Tech Ninja Heroes (The LEGO Ninjago Movie: Storybook)
by Michael PetranekAn 8x8 storybook based on the LEGO(R) Ninjago(R) Movie(TM)! Includes full-color images!
High-tech Terror (Green Lantern)
by Michael A. Steele Dan SchoeningWhile on intergalactic patrol, HAL JORDAN, a member of the GREEN LANTERN CORPS, receives a distress call. A nearby planet is under attack . . . by lawn mowers! All of the planet's machines have come alive. Cars, semi-trucks, even television sets, have transformed into deadly robots. Soon, HAL learns that a superpowered robot is behind the mechanical chaos . . . TEKIK, a member of the evil SINESTRO CORPS. To stop his mini machines, the GREEN LANTERN must stop TEKIK first. Unfortunately, pulling the plug on this super-villain won't be so easy.
High Time (Suds In Your Eye Ser. #2)
by Mary LasswellWith young Americans leaving to fight in WWII, Mrs. Feeley, Mrs. Rasmussen, and Miss Tinkham are overcome with patriotism and decide they owe a contribution to the war effort themselves. But when the manager of nearby Consocraft Airplane Factory doesn't think that they're cut out for riveting, they try a more domestic approach to help their boys overseas. The second installment of Mary Lasswell's delightful and lighthearted stories to feature the residents of San Diego's Noah's Ark junkyard is full of brash do-goodery and fun. Get ready to be swept up in Mrs. Feeley and friends' impeccable charm in this classic title about The Greatest Generation.
High Time: A novel
by Hannah RothschildAn outlandish comedy of morals and manners about a highborn British family of outrageous characters, by the acclaimed author of The Improbability of Love and House of TrelawneyEight years have passed and in 2016 many things have changed for the eccentric Trelawney family. In the months leading up to the Brexit referendum, Ayesha, the beautiful, young secret daughter of the late Enyon Trelawney, has married the much older thuggish banker Tomlinson Sleet with whom she has a young daughter, Stella. Ayesha is busy restoring the once broken-down Trelawney Castle in Cornwall, which Sleet has bought, to its former glory, as well as studying art at the Courtauld in London. The elderly Countess Clarissa—still ensconced on the property—the host of a camp television show, is about to head into a disastrous marriage. Lady Jane has separated from the hopeless Trelawney heir Kitto, who is crazier than ever, and found an enlightened woman to keep her company abroad. Sleet is becoming increasingly difficult, distracted by the seductive and ruthless bitcoin goddess Zamora, but Kitto&’s sister Blaze and her husband, Joshua, will support Ayesha&’s clever plan as she discovers shocking secrets, takes action, and brings the family together.Biting and satirical, but also poignant and moving, High Time is a delicious story of madness, mayhem, and mischief run amok.
High Vaultage: ‘High Vaultage positively crackles with invention and intrigue!’ – Helen Marshall
by Chris Sugden Jen SugdenEVEN GREATER LONDON, 1887. An uninterrupted urban plane encompassing the entire lower half of England and, for complex reasons, only the upper third of the Isle of Wight. The immense Tower casts electricity through the sky, powering the mind-boggling mechanisms of the city. The engineer-army of Isambard Kingdom Brunel swarms across the capital, building, demolishing, and rebuilding whatever they see fit. And at the heart of it all sits the country's first private detective agency.Archibald Fleet and Clara Entwhistle hoped things would pick up quickly for their new enterprise. No-one is taking them seriously, but their break will come soon. Definitely. Probably.Meanwhile, police are baffled by a series of impossible bank robberies, their resources absorbed by the case. Which means that when a woman witnesses a kidnapping, Fleet-Entwhistle Private Investigations is the only place she can turn for help. They're more than happy to oblige!But what's the motive behind the kidnap? As Clara and Fleet investigate, they find more than they could ever have imagined . . .From the creators of the acclaimed audio drama podcast Victoriocity comes a hilarious novel set in the greatest, most chaotic city in history. Twisty, inventive, and joyously funny, High Vaultage is perfect for fans of Ben Aaronovitch, Douglas Adams, and Terry Pratchett.
High Vaultage: ‘High Vaultage positively crackles with invention and intrigue!’ – Helen Marshall
by Chris Sugden Jen SugdenEVEN GREATER LONDON, 1887. An uninterrupted urban plane encompassing the entire lower half of England and, for complex reasons, only the upper third of the Isle of Wight. The immense Tower casts electricity through the sky, powering the mind-boggling mechanisms of the city. The engineer-army of Isambard Kingdom Brunel swarms across the capital, building, demolishing, and rebuilding whatever they see fit. And at the heart of it all sits the country's first private detective agency.Archibald Fleet and Clara Entwhistle hoped things would pick up quickly for their new enterprise. No-one is taking them seriously, but their break will come soon. Definitely. Probably.Meanwhile, police are baffled by a series of impossible bank robberies, their resources absorbed by the case. Which means that when a woman witnesses a kidnapping, Fleet-Entwhistle Private Investigations is the only place she can turn for help. They're more than happy to oblige!But what's the motive behind the kidnap? As Clara and Fleet investigate, they find more than they could ever have imagined . . .From the creators of the acclaimed audio drama podcast Victoriocity comes a hilarious novel set in the greatest, most chaotic city in history. Twisty, inventive, and joyously funny, High Vaultage is perfect for fans of Ben Aaronovitch, Douglas Adams, and Terry Pratchett.
High Vaultage: ‘High Vaultage positively crackles with invention and intrigue!’ – Helen Marshall
by Chris Sugden Jen SugdenEVEN GREATER LONDON, 1887. An uninterrupted urban plane encompassing the entire lower half of England and, for complex reasons, only the upper third of the Isle of Wight. The immense Tower casts electricity through the sky, powering the mind-boggling mechanisms of the city. The engineer-army of Isambard Kingdom Brunel swarms across the capital, building, demolishing, and rebuilding whatever they see fit. And at the heart of it all sits the country's first private detective agency.Archibald Fleet and Clara Entwhistle hoped things would pick up quickly for their new enterprise. No-one is taking them seriously, but their break will come soon. Definitely. Probably.Meanwhile, police are baffled by a series of impossible bank robberies, their resources absorbed by the case. Which means that when a woman witnesses a kidnapping, Fleet-Entwhistle Private Investigations is the only place she can turn for help. They're more than happy to oblige!But what's the motive behind the kidnap? As Clara and Fleet investigate, they find more than they could ever have imagined . . .From the creators of the acclaimed audio drama podcast Victoriocity comes a hilarious novel set in the greatest, most chaotic city in history. Twisty, inventive, and joyously funny, High Vaultage is perfect for fans of Ben Aaronovitch, Douglas Adams, and Terry Pratchett.
Highfire: An absolutely thrilling, addictive, explosive page-turning fantasy adventure
by Eoin Colfer'A joyous fantasy for grownups' Guardian 'A funny, offbeat adult fantasy novel' Independent'A dazzling first adult novel from bestselling children's author Colfer' Daily MailHighfire is a genre-bending tour-de-force of comedy and action by the million-copy-selling master storyteller.Squib Moreau may be swamp-wild, but his intentions are (generally) good: he really wants to be a supportive son to his hard-working momma Elodie. But sometimes life gets in the way - like when Fake Daddy walked out on them leaving a ton of debt, or when crooked Constable Regence Hooke got to thinking pretty Elodie Moreau was just the gal for him . . . An apprenticeship with the local moonshine runner, servicing the bayou, looks like the only way to pay off the family debts and maybe get Squib and his momma a place in town, far from Constable Hooke's unwanted courtship and Fake Daddy's reputation. Unfortunately for Squib, Hooke has his own eye on that very same stretch of bayou - and neither of them have taken into account the fire-breathing dragon hiding out in the Louisiana swamp . . . For Squib Moreau, Regence Hooke and Vern, aka Lord Highfire of Highfire Eyrie, life is never going to be the same again.'Told in crunchy prose, with lashings of earthy dialogue, it reads like an Elmore Leonard Thriller, but with dragons . . . Colfer clearly had a blast writing this, and his sheer storytelling panache brushes aside the quibbles of fantasy-genre agnostics with infectious glee' Mail on SundayFrom the internationally bestselling author of the Artemis Fowl series: Eoin Colfer's first adult fantasy novel is a hilarious, high-octane adventure about a vodka-drinking, Flashdance-loving dragon who's been hiding out from the world - and potential torch-carrying mobs - in a Louisiana bayou . . . until his peaceful world's turned upside down by a well-intentioned but wild Cajun tearaway and the crooked (and heavily armed) law officer who wants him dead.
Highfire: An absolutely thrilling, addictive, explosive page-turning fantasy adventure
by Eoin ColferFrom the internationally bestselling author of the Artemis Fowl series: Eoin Colfer's first adult fantasy novel is a hilarious, high-octane adventure about a vodka-drinking, Flashdance-loving dragon who's been hiding out from the world - and potential torch-carrying mobs - in a Louisiana bayou . . . until his peaceful world's turned upside down by a well-intentioned but wild Cajun tearaway and the crooked (and heavily armed) law officer who wants him dead.Squib Moreau may be swamp-wild, but his intentions are (generally) good: he really wants to be a supportive son to his hard-working momma Elodie. But sometimes life gets in the way - like when Fake Daddy walked out on them leaving a ton of debt, or when crooked Constable Regence Hooke got to thinking pretty Elodie Moreau was just the gal for him . . . An apprenticeship with the local moonshine runner, servicing the bayou, looks like the only way to pay off the family debts and maybe get Squib and his momma a place in town, far from Constable Hooke's unwanted courtship and Fake Daddy's reputation. Unfortunately for Squib, Hooke has his own eye on that very same stretch of bayou - and neither of them have taken into account the fire-breathing dragon hiding out in the Louisiana swamp . . . For Squib Moreau, Regence Hooke and Vern, aka Lord Highfire of Highfire Eyrie, life is never going to be the same again.HIGHFIRE: A triumphant genre-bending tour-de-force of comedy and action by the million-copy-selling master storyteller(p) 2019 HarperCollins Audio
Highfire: A Novel
by Eoin Colfer“True Detective meets Swamp Thing in the Artemis Fowl author’s neo-noirish thriller about a curmudgeonly dragon in Louisiana.” —GuardianFrom the New York Times bestselling author of the Artemis Fowl series comes a hilarious and high-octane adult novel about a vodka-drinking, Flashdance-loving dragon who lives an isolated life in the bayous of Louisiana—and the raucous adventures that ensue when he crosses paths with a fifteen-year-old troublemaker on the run from a crooked sheriff.In the days of yore, he flew the skies and scorched angry mobs—now he hides from swamp tour boats and rises only with the greatest reluctance from his Laz-Z-Boy recliner. Laying low in the bayou, this once-magnificent fire breather has been reduced to lighting Marlboros with nose sparks, swilling Absolut in a Flashdance T-shirt, and binging Netflix in a fishing shack. For centuries, he struck fear in hearts far and wide as Wyvern, Lord Highfire of the Highfire Eyrie—now he goes by Vern. However...he has survived, unlike the rest. He is the last of his kind, the last dragon. Still, no amount of vodka can drown the loneliness in his molten core. Vern’s glory days are long gone. Or are they?A canny Cajun swamp rat, young Everett “Squib” Moreau does what he can to survive, trying not to break the heart of his saintly single mother. He’s finally decided to work for a shady smuggler—but on his first night, he witnesses his boss murdered by a crooked constable. Regence Hooke is not just a dirty cop, he’s a despicable human being—who happens to want Squib’s momma in the worst way. When Hooke goes after his hidden witness with a grenade launcher, Squib finds himself airlifted from certain death by…a dragon?The swamp can make strange bedfellows, and rather than be fried alive so the dragon can keep his secret, Squib strikes a deal with the scaly apex predator. He can act as his go-between (aka familiar)—fetch his vodka, keep him company, etc.—in exchange for protection from Hooke. Soon the three of them are careening headlong toward a combustible confrontation. There’s about to be a fiery reckoning, in which either dragons finally go extinct—or Vern’s glory days are back.A triumphant return to the genre-bending fantasy that Eoin Colfer is so well known for, Highfire is an effortlessly clever and relentlessly funny tour-de-force of comedy and action.