In ""Feathers of Fortune,"" seventeen-year-old Zara discovers an extraordinary ability to manipulate luck through magical feathers in a world where fortune is a tangible resource. As the daughter of a disgraced merchant, she must navigate a society sharply divided between the lucky and the unlucky. When a mysterious plague begins stealing luck from the fortunate, Zara's gift becomes both a blessing and a curse, thrusting her into a perilous adventure. Teaming up with Finn, a charismatic but unlucky street performer, Zara embarks on a quest to uncover the source of the plague and restore balance to their world. This unique blend of science, fantasy, and social commentary explores themes of privilege, responsibility, and the true nature of fortune. Through alternating perspectives, readers gain insight into both sides of this divided society, challenging them to question the role of luck in their own lives. With its intricate worldbuilding and character-driven narrative, ""Feathers of Fortune"" offers a fresh take on the classic hero's journey, appealing to young adults who crave a thought-provoking adventure with a dash of magic.

King Virinchi and Queen Vinidra, the creator and his creative consort were on their cosmic journey. They saw a dull and dusky planet in space and descended on it. On the barren planet they founded The Kingdom of Artesia, and thus began life and the story! The Kingdom of Artesia is a story of two twin sisters; Princess Lightia and Princess Darkia, and their adventures in the colourful Kingdom. It is a story about their pursuit of purpose in life; to find the ‘Book of Illumination’ and the 'Box of Trine’. Their pursuit for the crown took them beyond the walls of their palatial home. The journey was tough but it taught them valuable life lessons. The value of right choices, the role of friends, the meaning of relations and what all it takes to get crowned! Explore the Kingdom of Artesia with young princesses and get introduced to the weird creatures of Amazing Arthropodia. Venture into the Valley of Dead Colours, territory of Terra Toxica and Nova Lapida to meet Cercetie and Vishilia. Slip silently with Darkia to experience the ascent on the Half Hanging Bridge and meet the mysterious prince. Untangle yourself from the web of stories to enter the Grotto of Spinners. In the Testing Tunnel solve the Riddles of Nature with twin princesses, and reach the Receding Vault to get crowned! Be prepared for the Magic of Maya and the Wilderness of Prakriti.

Shortlisted for the SYRCA 2013 Diamond Willow Award, selected as an American Library Association 2012 Notable Children's Book, a Booklist Editors' Choice, nominated for the OLA Golden Oak Tree Award, and a finalist for the Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children's Book Awards: Young Adult/Middle Reader Award, the Governor General's Literary Awards: Children's Text and the Canadian Library Association Book of the Year for Children Award There's not much that upsets young Valli. Even though her days are spent picking coal and fighting with her cousins, life in the coal town of Jharia, India, is the only life she knows. The only sight that fills her with terror are the monsters who live on the other side of the train tracks -- the lepers. Valli and the other children throw stones at them. No matter how hard her life is, she tells herself, at least she will never be one of them. Then she discovers that she is not living with family after all, that her "aunt" was a stranger who was paid money to take Valli off her own family's hands. She decides to leave Jharia ... and so begins a series of adventures that takes her to Kolkata, the city of the gods. It's not so bad. Valli finds that she really doesn't need much to live. She can "borrow" the things she needs and then pass them on to people who need them more than she does. It helps that though her bare feet become raw wounds as she makes her way around the city, she somehow feels no pain. But when she happens to meet a doctor on the ghats by the river, Valli learns that she has leprosy. Despite being given a chance to receive medical care, she cannot bear the thought that she is one of those monsters she has always feared, and she flees, to an uncertain life on the street. Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.4.3 Describe in depth a character, setting, or event in a story or drama, drawing on specific details in the text (e.g., a character's thoughts, words, or actions). CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.5.3 Compare and contrast two or more characters, settings, or events in a story or drama, drawing on specific details in the text (e.g., how characters interact). CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.6.6 Explain how an author develops the point of view of the narrator or speaker in a text.

An outlaw Scotsman and a manor's independent young mistress form an unconventional partnership--in adventure and in love. . . Pirate, convict, and runaway bond servant, Kincaid is just the man Lady Elizabeth Lacy Bennett has been searching for. Now he's found, and as far as Bess is concerned, hanging is too easy an escape for the scoundrel who stole her beloved horse--and dared to repay her with a searing kiss. For despite his crimes, Kincaid is a valuable worker--worth every penny she has paid for his indenture--and the ideal guide to help find a lost treasure that could save her Maryland plantation from ruin. She may be mad to trust the charismatic Scotsman, for it's clear he desires more from her than freedom, but Bess was raised to finish what she starts, and to follow her heart--even if she may lose it. . . "A superb storyteller. . .I loved it!" --Linda Ladd 150,000 Words