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The Reformatory: A Novel
by Tananarive Due*Los Angeles Times Book Prize Winner * New York Times Notable Book * Locus Award Finalist * Winner of the Bram Stoker Award and the Shirley Jackson Award * &“You&’re in for a treat...one of those books you can&’t put down...Due hit it out of the park.&” —Stephen King A gripping, page-turning &“masterpiece&” (Joe Hill, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Fireman) set in Jim Crow Florida that follows Robert Stephens Jr. as he&’s sent to a segregated reform school that is a chamber of terrors where he sees the horrors of racism and injustice, for the living, and the dead.Gracetown, Florida June 1950 Twelve-year-old Robbie Stephens, Jr., is sentenced to six months at the Gracetown School for Boys, a reformatory, for kicking the son of the largest landowner in town in defense of his older sister, Gloria. So begins Robbie&’s journey further into the terrors of the Jim Crow South and the very real horror of the school they call The Reformatory. Robbie has a talent for seeing ghosts, or haints. But what was once a comfort to him after the loss of his mother has become a window to the truth of what happens at the reformatory. Boys forced to work to remediate their so-called crimes have gone missing, but the haints Robbie sees hint at worse things. Through his friends Redbone and Blue, Robbie is learning not just the rules but how to survive. Meanwhile, Gloria is rallying every family member and connection in Florida to find a way to get Robbie out before it&’s too late. The Reformatory is a haunting work of historical fiction written as only American Book Award–winning author Tananarive Due could, by piecing together the life of the relative her family never spoke of and bringing his tragedy and those of so many others at the infamous Dozier School for Boys to the light in this riveting novel.
Becoming a Restaurateur (Masters at Work)
by Patric KuhAward-winning journalist and food writer Patric Kuh explores the restaurant industry—based on the experiences of Lien Ta and Jonathan Whitener&’s Here&’s Looking at You restaurant in Los Angeles—and reveals essential details for anyone considering a path to this risky profession.Everyone knows that opening a restaurant is a risky business, a venture with an astounding rate of failure. Patrick Kuh&’s Becoming a Restaurateur takes readers behind the scenes of one of America&’s trendiest new restaurants, revealing how Lien Ta and chef Jonathan Whitener of LA&’s Here&’s Looking at You managed to beat the odds. With valuable information about what daily life for a professional is like, this is an entertaining, practical guide to what makes a master restaurateur, from writing the business plan to opening night and beyond.
Bloodmarked: TikTok made me buy it! The powerful sequel to New York Times bestseller Legendborn (The Legendborn Cycle #2)
by Tracy DeonnSPLINTERED BLOODLINES. UNBREAKABLE BARGAINS. A LEGACY OF BETRAYAL. The powerful sequel to the instant New York Times bestselling and award-winning Legendborn that's taking TikTok by storm. Perfect for fans of Cassandra Clare, Leigh Bardugo, Sarah J. Maas and Cinderella is Dead!The shadows have risen, and the line is law. All Bree wanted was to uncover the truth behind her mother&’s death. So she infiltrated the Legendborn Order, a secret society descended from King Arthur&’s knights – only to discover her own ancestral power. Now, Bree has become someone new: A Medium. A Bloodcrafter. A Scion. But the ancient war between demons and the Order is rising to a deadly peak. And Nick, the Legendborn boy Bree fell in love with, has been kidnapped. When the Regents reveal they will do whatever it takes to hide the war, Bree and her friends must go on the run to rescue Nick themselves. But enemies are everywhere, Bree&’s own powers are unpredictable and dangerous, and she can&’t escape her growing attraction to Selwyn, the mage sworn to protect Nick until death. If Bree has any hope of saving herself and the people she loves, she must learn to control her powers from the ancestors who wielded them first – without losing herself in the process.Praise for Legendborn: "I love the feeling of a magical world existing just beneath the surface of our own and this story gave me everything I wanted: incredible characters, ancient lore and secret societies – all grounded in our very real, very flawed world . . ." – Leigh Bardugo, author of Shadow and Bone "Tracy Deonn&’s Legendborn braids southern folk traditions and Black Girl Magic into a searing modern tale of grief, power and self-discovery." – Dhonielle Clayton, New York Times bestselling author of The Belles
Becoming a Curator (Masters at Work)
by Holly BrubachAn illuminating guide to a career as a museum and art curator written by acclaimed journalist Holly Brubach and based on the real-life experiences of an expert in the field—essential reading for someone considering a path to this challenging, yet rewarding profession.Go behind the scenes and be mentored by the best to find out what it&’s really like, and what it really takes, to become a curator. Esteemed journalist Holly Brubach takes readers to the front lines to offer a candid portrait of the modern curatorial profession. Brubach shadows Elisabeth Sussman of the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York to reveal how a top curator actually works. In Becoming a Curator, Brubach reveals the path to becoming a curator in today&’s ultra-competitive art world, from education to exhibition. Sit in on acquisition meetings, plan a splashy new show, go on a studio visit with an up-and-coming artist, and attend an opening at famed David Zwirner gallery in Chelsea. As museums step into the 21st century, the role of curator is changing and more crucial than ever. For those passionate about art, culture, and museums, this is the most valuable informational interview you&’ll ever have—required reading for anyone considering this dream career.
The Traitor's Emblem: A Novel
by J.G. JuradoA spellbinding novel about an epic mystery set against the rise of Nazism that spans decades of family betrayal, impossible love, and the high price of vengeance.Based on a true story: A Spanish sea captain rescues four German castaways during a treacherous storm in 1940. He doesn&’t know who they are or where they came from, but one of them gives him a mysterious gold-and-diamond emblem before disembarking. Decades later, the captain&’s son receives a substantial offer for it and is told an astounding story behind the object: it holds the key to Paul Reiner&’s lifelong quest. . . . Munich, 1919. After his family falls into disgrace, fifteen-year-old Paul dreams of the heroic father he never knew. But one night, seconds before committing suicide, Paul&’s cousin reveals a terrible secret about his father&’s death. This discovery turns Paul&’s world upside down and leads him on a hunt in Nazi Germany to uncover the mystery surrounding his father&’s death. The Traitor&’s Emblem is an epic novel spanning decades of family betrayal, impossible love, and the high price of vengeance. Set against the menacing streets of Depression-era Munich and the cruel rise of Nazism, Gómez-Jurado&’s spellbinding thriller proves again that he is a master of narration.
Becoming a Sommelier (Masters at Work)
by Rosie Schaap&“If you are curious about life as a sommelier, this charming book makes an easy, nutritious appetizer.&” —The New York Times An illuminating guide to a career as a sommelier written by acclaimed food and drink writer Rosie Schaap and based on the real-life experiences of experts in the field—essential reading for anyone considering a path to this profession.Wine is a pleasure, and in its pursuit there should be no snobbery. The sommelier is there to help, to teach, to guide. Acclaimed food and drink writer Rosie Schaap profiles two renowned sommeliers to offer a candid portrait of this profession. Learn the job from Amanda Smeltz, a poet and wine director in New York, and Roger Dagorn, a James Beard Award–winning Master Sommelier. From starting in the cellar, grueling certification exams, to tastings and dinner service, Becoming a Sommelier is an invaluable introduction to this dream job.
The Sun Also Rises: The Hemingway Library Edition (Hemingway Library Edition)
by Ernest HemingwayThe only authorized edition of Ernest Hemingway&’s first novel. &“The ideal companion for troubled times: equal parts Continental escape and serious grappling with the question of what it means to be, and feel, lost.&” —The Wall Street JournalThe Sun Also Rises is a classic example of Hemingway&’s spare but powerful writing style. It celebrates the art and craft of Hemingway&’s quintessential story of the Lost Generation—presented by the Hemingway family with illuminating supplementary material from the Hemingway Collection at the John F. Kennedy Library. A poignant look at the disillusionment and angst of the post-World War I generation, the novel introduces two of Hemingway&’s most unforgettable characters: Jake Barnes and Lady Brett Ashley. The story follows the flamboyant Brett and the hapless Jake as they journey from the wild nightlife of 1920s Paris to the brutal bullfighting rings of Spain with a motley group of expatriates. It is an age of moral bankruptcy, spiritual dissolution, unrealized love, and vanishing illusions. First published in 1926, The Sun Also Rises is &“an absorbing, beautifully and tenderly absurd, heartbreaking narrative...a truly gripping story, told in lean, hard, athletic prose&” (The New York Times). The Hemingway Library Edition commemorates Hemingway&’s classic novel with a personal foreword by Patrick Hemingway, the author&’s sole surviving son, and an introduction by Sean Hemingway, grandson of the author. Hemingway considered the extensive rewriting that he did to shape his first novel the most difficult job of his life. Early drafts, deleted passages, and possible titles included in this new edition elucidate how the author achieved his first great literary masterpiece.
Generations: The Real Differences Between Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X, Boomers, and Silents—and What They Mean for America's Future
by Jean M. TwengeA groundbreaking, &“lavishly informative&” (The New York Times) portrait of the six generations that currently live in the United States and how they connect, conflict, and compete with one another—from the acclaimed author of Generation Me and iGen.Upending the conventional theory that generational differences are caused by major events, Dr. Jean Twenge analyzes data on 39 million people from robust national surveys—some going back nearly a century—to show that changes in technology are the underlying driver of each generation&’s unique makeup. In this revelatory work, Twenge outlines key shifts in attitudes and lifestyle choices that define each generation regarding gender, income, politics, race, sexuality, marriage, mental health, and much more. Surprising, engaging, and informative, Generations &“gets you thinking about how appreciating generational differences can, ironically, bring us together&” (Angela Duckworth, New York Times bestselling author). It will forever change the way you view your parents, peers, coworkers, and children, no matter which generation you call your own.
Twin of Fire (Taggert #2)
by Jude DeverauxA steamy historical romance from the bestselling author of The Summerhouse, Temptation, and Sweet Liar.Jude Deveraux entwines the frontier adventures of two unforgettable sisters—demure beauty Houston Chandler and her independent, hot-tempered twin Blair—who discover heartfelt passions as powerfully and compelling as ice and fire... While dreaming of practicing medicine, Blair falls in love with her placid sister's fianceé, himself a doctor. Blair's impetuous spirit has won her a medical degree in a man's world—and captured Lee Westfield's heart. But even as the couple's ardor grows, there are nights when Lee disappears only to return exhausted, haunted. His silence imperils their love—but the truth would imperil her life.
Alice on Board (Alice #24)
by Phyllis Reynolds NaylorIn her last adventure before starting college, Alice takes to the open sea for the summer—and nothing can stop the tides of change.Everything Alice has ever known is about to change—from where she sleeps at night to how close her closest friends will be. So Alice is meeting that seasick feeling head-on by setting sail as staff on a Chesapeake Bay cruise ship. And like any last great adventure before starting college, Alice knows she’ll need sunblock, an open mind, and…oh yeah, all her best girlfriends. It’s the perfect summer job. Perfect, that is, when things are going perfectly. But when they’re not, Alice has to figure out how to weather unexpected storms of all sorts. Which could be perfect after all—perfect training for her next big adventure—college.
The House of My Mother: A Daughter's Quest for Freedom
by Shari FrankeFrom eldest daughter Shari Franke, the shocking true story behind the viral 8 Passengers family vlog and the hidden abuse she suffered at the hands of her mother, and how, in the face of unimaginable pain, she found freedom and healing. <p><p> Shari Franke’s childhood was a constant battle for survival. Her mother, Ruby Franke, enforced a severe moral code while maintaining a façade of a picture-perfect family for their wildly popular YouTube channel 8 Passengers, which documented the day-to-day life of raising six children for a staggering 2.5 million subscribers. But a darker truth lurked beneath the surface—Ruby’s wholesome online persona masked a more tyrannical parenting style than anyone could have imagined. As the family’s YouTube notoriety grew, so too did Ruby’s delusions of righteousness. Fueled by the sadistic influence of relationship coach Jodi Hildebrandt, together they implemented an inhumane and merciless disciplinary regime. <p><p> Ruby and Jodi were arrested in Utah in 2023 on multiple charges of aggravated child abuse. On that fateful day, Shari shared a photo online of a police car outside their home. Her caption had one word: “Finally.” For the first time, Shari will reveal the disturbing truth behind 8 Passengers and her family’s devastating involvement with Jodi Hildebrandt’s cultish life coaching program, &“ConneXions.” No stone is left unturned as Shari exposes the perils of influencer culture and shares for the first time her battle for truth and survival in the face of her mother’s cruelty. <b>New York Times Bestseller</b>
The Emerald Mile: The Epic Story of the Fastest Ride in History Through the Heart of the Grand Canyon
by Kevin FedarkoFrom one of Outside magazine&’s &“Literary All-Stars&” comes the thrilling true tale of the fastest boat ride ever through the Grand Canyon, atop the legendary Colorado River flood of 1983.In the spring of 1983, massive flooding along the length of the Colorado River confronted a team of engineers at the Glen Canyon Dam with an unprecedented emergency that may have resulted in the most catastrophic dam failure in history. In the midst of this crisis, the decision to launch a small wooden dory named &“The Emerald Mile&” at the head of the Grand Canyon, just fifteen miles downstream from the Glen Canyon Dam, seemed not just odd, but downright suicidal. The Emerald Mile, at one time slated to be destroyed, was rescued and brought back to life by Kenton Grua, the man at the oars, who intended to use this flood as a kind of hydraulic sling-shot. The goal was to nail the all-time record for the fastest boat ever propelled—by oar, by motor, or by the grace of God himself—through the heart of the Grand Canyon atop the Colorado River from Lee&’s Ferry to Lake Mead. Did he survive? Just barely. Now, this remarkable, epic feat unfolds here, in The Emerald Mile.
Becoming a Midwife (Masters at Work)
by Sandi DoughtonA revealing guide to a career as a midwife written by award-winning health reporter Sandi Doughton and based on the real-life experiences of the chief of the midwifery practice group at the University of Washington—required reading for anyone pursuing a path to this life-changing profession.Becoming a Midwife takes you behind the scenes to find out what it&’s really like, and what it really takes, to become a midwife. Midwives are medical professionals who provide care for childbearing women on their birthing journey. It is a growing career that combines compassion and emotional intelligence with nursing and healthcare. Expert midwife Mary Lou Kopas, MN, CNM, specializes in healthy pregnancy and birth. As a veteran of the field, she has helped countless women on the path to labor by delivering their babies and following up with breastfeeding support, newborn care, and insight into the many psycho-social challenges women face in the transition to motherhood. Gain professional wisdom as acclaimed health reporter Sandi Doughton shadows Kopas at work, telling the story of her professional path. Learn the ins and outs of this dynamic job, helping soon-to-be mothers bring new life into the world.
Then She Found Me: A Novel
by Elinor LipmanApril Epner teaches high school Latin, wears flannel jumpers, and is used to having her evenings free. Bernice Graverman brandishes designer labels, favors toad-sized earrings, and hosts her own tacky TV talk show: Bernice G!But behind the glitz and glam, Bernice has followed the life of the daughter she gave up for adoption thirty-six years ago. Now that she's got her act together, she's aiming to be a mom like she always knew she could. And she's hurtling straight for April's quiet little life....
Pieces of Intelligence: The Existential Poetry of Donald H. Rumsfeld
by Hart SeelyDonald Rumsfeld is not just a two-time Secretary of Defence, former CEO, former White House Chief of Staff, and the most outspoken and forceful civilian military leader in recent American history. He is also, intentionally or not, a poet. At last, the ubiquitous and at times unintelligible U.S. Secretary of Defence has been deciphered by humorist Hart Seely, who found that the rambling raconteur is best understood when set in verse. Seely uncovers zen poems and lyrics, haikus and sonnets and has plucked the golden apples from 'D.H.' Rumsfeld's tree to present over 100 hilarious gems drawn from Rummy's public statements. Whether you love him or hate him, they're irresistible. As we know, There are known knowns. There are things we know we know. We also know There are known unknowns. That is to say We know there are some things We do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns, The ones we don't know we don't know.
Birds of a Lesser Paradise: Stories
by Megan Mayhew BergmanAn “astonishing debut collection, by a writer reminiscent of such greats as Alice Munro, Elizabeth Strout, and even Chekhov” (Sara Gruen, author of Water for Elephants), focusing on women navigating relationships with humans, animals, and the natural world. Exploring the way our choices and relationships are shaped by the menace and beauty of the natural world, Megan Mayhew Bergman’s powerful and heartwarming collection captures the surprising moments when the pull of our biology becomes evident, when love or fear collides with good sense, or when our attachment to an animal or wild place can’t be denied. In “Housewifely Arts,” a single mother and her son drive hours to track down an African gray parrot that can mimic her deceased mother’s voice. A population-control activist faces the conflict between her loyalty to the environment and her maternal desire in “Yesterday’s Whales.” And in the title story, a lonely naturalist allows an attractive stranger to lead her and her aging father on a hunt for an elusive woodpecker. As intelligent as they are moving, the stories in Birds of a Lesser Paradise are alive with emotion, wit, and insight into the impressive power that nature has over all of us. This extraordinary collection introduces a young writer of remarkable talent.
House Fires
by Connor FrantaThe New York Times bestselling author of A Work in Progress and Note to Self moves fully into adulthood with his illuminating, soulful, bleeding collection of narrative, poetry, and original film photography.Humanitarian, entrepreneur, and content creator Connor Franta first captivated readers with A Work In Progress, ruminating on his Midwestern roots to his early start as a visionary and online thought-leader. He continued his soul-searching-through-a-broken-heart with Note to Self, challenging readers—and himself—to ponder the spectrum of humanity and their place within it. Now as Franta approaches thirty, life is no less confusing, but he finds this journey endlessly fascinating. Writing about confusion and clarity, loneliness and whirlwind romances, despair and elation—and everything in between—Franta invites readers back into the intimacy of his mind. House Fires magnifies a young man&’s emotional warfare with his past, the daze of wandering through modern times in search of purpose, and the electricity flying from tomorrow&’s potential.
This Modern Love
by Will DarbyshireIn the tradition of Post Secret and Other People’s Love Letters, a crowdsourced compilation of letters, stories, and art work about the modern state of love and relationships, edited by rising filmmaker and beloved YouTube vlogger Will Darbyshire.“What would you say to your ex, without judgment?” This is the question filmmaker and vlogger Will Darbyshire posed to hundreds of thousands of his closest friends on YouTube. Seeking closure after a tough break-up, Will was driven to strike up an intimate conversation with his online audience, and to get at the heart of one of life’s unknowable yet universal mysteries: love. Over a period of six months, Will posed a series of questions to his audience and asked them to reveal their innermost feelings about their own romantic experiences in the form of hand-written letters, poems, photographs, and emails. The result is a curated collection of responses that are, at turns, funny, dark, confessional, awkward, comforting, and uplifting. This Modern Love is a compelling portrait of individual desires, fantasies, resentments, and fears that reminds us that, whether we’re in or out of love, we’re not alone.
Nineteen Claws and a Black Bird: Stories
by Agustina BazterricaAn NPR Best Book of 2023 A collection of nineteen dark, wildly imaginative short stories from the author of the award-winning TikTok sensation Tender Is the Flesh.From celebrated author Agustina Bazterrica, this collection of nineteen brutal, darkly funny short stories takes into our deepest fears and through our most disturbing fantasies. Through stories about violence, alienation, and dystopia, Bazterrica&’s vision of the human experience emerges in complex, unexpected ways—often unsettling, sometimes thrilling, and always profound. In &“Roberto,&” a girl claims to have a rabbit between her legs. A woman&’s neighbor jumps to his death in &“A Light, Swift, and Monstrous Sound,&” and in &“Candy Pink,&” a woman fails to contend with a difficult breakup in five easy steps. Written in Bazterrica&’s signature clever, vivid style, these stories question love, friendship, family relationships, and unspeakable desires.
The Last Witness: A Thriller
by Glenn MeadeAfter a massacre at a Bosnian prison camp, a young girl is found alone, clutching a diary, so traumatized she can&’t even speak. Twenty years later, the last witness to the prison guards&’ brutal crimes must hunt down those responsible to learn what happened to her family in this fast-paced, heart-pounding thriller from the bestselling author of The Second Messiah. Twenty years ago, after the fall of Yugoslavia, the world watched in horror as tens of thousands were killed or imprisoned in work camps during an &“ethnic cleansing&” in Bosnia. Carla Lane has little knowledge of what went on halfway around the world when she was a child. She is living a near perfect life in New York City, married and soon to have a family of her own. But when her husband is murdered by a group of Serbian war criminals, strange memories start coming back, and she discovers that she underwent extensive therapy as a girl to suppress her memories. She is given her mother&’s diary, which reveals that she was, along with her parents and young brother, imprisoned in a war camp outside Sarajevo. As her memories come back, it becomes clear that she is the last witness to a brutal massacre in the prison and that her brother may still be alive. She sets out to find her brother, but first she must hunt down the war criminals responsible for destroying her life. But these killers will stop at nothing to protect their anonymity and their deadly pasts...and are determined to silence the last witness to their crimes. From the &“estimable storyteller&” (Kirkus Reviews) who gave us The Second Messiah, Glenn Meade serves up another captivating and nail-biting thriller that will keep you holding your breath right to the end.
Becoming a Real Estate Agent (Masters at Work)
by Tom ChiarellaChoosing a profession begins with imagining yourself in a career: here are all the details you need to get started in the popular field of real estate—from salary expectations, regional challenges, and how to use social media to your lucrative advantage. What makes a great real estate agent? Is it just numbers? Sales volume? How do you get to the top of the market in boom times? How do you survive a soft market? What tools must you bring to the job? Is it at all like those reality shows on TV? Starting in his own backyard, Esquire writer Tom Chiarella explores the requisite skills needed to thrive in various real estate scenarios: a static buyer&’s market in rural Indiana, a booming seller&’s market in Seattle, and the incredibly high-end market of Chicago&’s luxury high-rises. Forming a personal connection with each of his subjects, he watches them work in the front seat of their cars, at lunches, on street corners, and in the doorways of homes. What Chiarella discovers is that great real estate agents devote themselves to the job with a sense of craftsmanship. Showcasing the individual tools used to develop a successful real estate career, Becoming a Real Estate Agent profiles individuals who live a life of thrilling improvisation, action, and instinct—a life in which excellence is sometimes gauged by the ability to walk away from a commission when circumstance demands it.
Becoming a Climate Scientist (Masters at Work)
by Kyle DickmanA hands-on, revealing guide to a career as a climate scientist written by acclaimed Outside magazine writer Kyle Dickman and based on the experiences of a preeminent researcher studying permafrost in the Arctic—essential reading for anyone considering a path to this timely profession.Go behind the scenes and be mentored by the best in the business to find out what it&’s really like, and what it really takes, to become a climate scientist. Accurate climate science is more important than ever before. As awareness grows of our changing climate, demand is increasing for people to study it—from universities who want to have the latest, cutting-edge research, militaries who are worried about national defense, and governments who need accurate data to enact policy reform. Climate scientists use both field research and complex algorithms on super computers to predict the climate of our ever-changing world. Acclaimed Outside magazine editor Kyle Dickman shadows climate scientist Cathy Wilson and her team, who work in the farthest reaches of Alaska&’s northern tundra and in the national research labs in Los Alamos, NM, to reveal how this dream job becomes a reality. Shadow top climate scientists to see how they measure snowfall, assess the thawing of the permafrost, and determine the water content of soil down to 1 mm accuracy. Learn how the growth of one shrub can affect a whole ecosystem and how models can predict the future of our fast-changing planet. Here is how the job is performed at the highest level.
Becoming a Yoga Instructor (Masters at Work)
by Elizabeth GreenwoodThe must-have book for any yogi or yogini who&’s curious about taking the next step and becoming a yoga instructor.Choosing a profession begins with imagining yourself in a career. Whether you see yoga as a side gig or your life calling, Becoming a Yoga Instructor is the perfect resource to help you figure out how to get there—and what it&’ll really be like once you do. Journalist Elizabeth Greenwood has been practicing yoga for over twenty years. Now, she takes you along as she studies with teachers across the country to figure out how these women and men rose to the top of their profession—and how they stay there. In these pages, you&’ll take a private lesson with Abbie Galvin, a rock star instructor whom other yoga teachers fly around the world to learn from. You&’ll visit a small business owner as she opens up her very first studio, and meet newbies hustling as they figure out how to stand out from the competition, whether by leading yoga retreats to Costa Rica, helping veterans struggling with PTSD, or teaching classes over YouTube. Bursting with inside information about the yoga industry, and the spiritual, physical, and psychological benefits that daily practice can bring to your life, Becoming a Yoga Instructor is a perfect virtual internship for anyone contemplating turning their love of yoga into a career.
Esther: A Novel
by Rebecca KannerFrom the award-winning author of Sinners and the Sea comes a breathtaking new look into the timeless tale of Queen Esther, “a riveting tale of courage” (New York Times bestselling author Tosca Lee).A glittering Persian king has a vast empire that reaches farther than where the sun meets the horizon. He is bathed in riches and commands a frightening military force. He possesses power beyond any other mortal man and rules his kingdom as a god. Anything he desires, he has. Any woman he wants, he possesses. Thousands of them. Young virgins from all across his many lands. A Jewish girl is ripped from her hut by the king’s brutish warriors and forced to march across blistering, scorched earth to the capital city. Trapped for months in the splendid cage of the king’s palace, she must avoid the ire of the king’s concubines and eunuchs all while preparing for her one night with the king. Soon the fated night arrives, and she does everything in her power to captivate the king and become his queen. But wearing the crown brings with it a new set of dangers. When a ruthless man plies the king’s ear with whispers of genocide, it is up to the young queen to prevent the extermination of the Jews. She must find the strength within to violate the king’s law, risk her life, and save her people. This is a story of finding hidden depths of courage within one’s self. Of risking it all to stand up for what is right. This is the story of Queen Esther.
Clear: A Novel
by Carys Davies&“Tender, riveting, and inventive is Clear, the newest offering and masterpiece from the brilliant Carys Davies. It will take your breath away…What a thrill.&” —Sarah Jessica Parker A New York Times Book Review Top 10 Historical Fiction Book of 2024 A Vogue, The Washington Post, NPR, Kirkus Reviews, The Guardian, and The Globe and Mail (Toronto) Best Book of the Year Winner of the 2024 Bookmark Festival Book of Year Shortlisted for the 2024 Books Are My Bag Award, the Historical Writers&’ Association Gold Crown Award, and the Saltire Society Literary Award Longlisted for Blackwell&’s Book of the Year A &“daring and necessary…sophisticated and playful&” (The New York Times) novel from an award-winning writer, Clear is the story of a minister dispatched to a remote island to &“clear&” its last remaining inhabitant—an unforgettable tale of resilience, change, and hope.John, an impoverished Scottish minister, has accepted a job evicting the lone remaining occupant of an island north of Scotland—Ivar, who has been living alone for decades, with only the animals and the sea for company. Though his wife, Mary, has serious misgivings about the errand, he decides to go anyway, setting in motion a chain of events that neither he nor Mary could have predicted. Shortly after John reaches the island, he falls down a cliff and is found, unconscious and badly injured, by Ivar who takes him home and tends to his wounds. &“Clear chronicles the surprising bond that develops between these two men…pack[ing] a great deal of power into a compact tale&” (The Wall Street Journal) about connection, home, and hope—in which John begins to learn Ivar&’s language, and Ivar sees himself reflected through the eyes of another person for the first time in decades. Unfolding during the final stages of the infamous Scottish Clearances—a period of the 19th century which saw whole communities of the rural poor driven off the land in a relentless program of forced evictions—this singular novel explores what binds us together in the face of insurmountable difference, the way history shapes our deepest convictions, and how the human spirit can endure despite all odds. Moving and unpredictable, &“a love letter to the scorching power of language&” (The Guardian), Clear is &“a jewel of a novel&” (The Washington Post)—a profound and unforgettable read.