In this middle grade debut inspired by Filipino folklore, a spunky, determined warrior must claim her destiny in order to save her sister, perfect for fans of Witchlings and The Owl House. Tani dreams of fulfilling her destiny as a Serpent Rider, fighting alongside an elemental serpent to defend her village against monsters. More than anything, she wants to protect her little sister Ligaya, the village princess who's tasked with memorizing their community's history, including the tale of Great Bakunawa, the most powerful and feared sea serpent that swallowed six of the world's seven moons. After a devastating monster attack, Tani can no longer wait patiently for her bakunawa egg to hatch. She makes a desperate deal with a stranger who promises her a serpent of her own. But when her gamble puts her sister in major danger, Tani must find a way to save Ligaya before she's lost forever. All the while, in the depths of the sea, Great Bakunawa is stirring, threatening to devour the last moon and plunge the night sky into eternal darkness . . . This accessible, standalone novel is a perfect gateway for new fantasy readers to dive into enchanting worlds and embark on heart-pounding adventures.

As a child, Keteris of Atlantis never dreamed he'd become a serpent rider. One fateful day he came face to face with Long Shadow, a dreaded sea serpent with a reputation for being untamable. Keteris and Long Shadow, against all expectations, bond and become Rider and Serpent. Meanwhile, Atlantis' tyranny of its vassal states and the free people of the Inner Sea reach a critical point. Keteris finds himself a central player in a war that he does not believe in. Keteris, duped by a sorceress spy, loses his Astrodextria, a tool that can expose the hidden location of Atlantis. The people of Atlantis turn on Keteris, punishing him for his perceived lack of responsibility. His accomplishments forgotten, Keteris is imprisoned in the Ortorios, a half-sunken dungeon where Atlantis' enemies are put to be forgotten about. Betrayed by his own people, Keteris finds himself travelling to strange places and making unusual allies to stop a world-spanning war before it starts. But will Atlantis accept his aid? Or will centuries old prejudices bring mighty Atlantis to the brink of destruction?

"Keith Brooke's prose achieves a rare honesty and clarity, his characters always real people, his situations intriguing and often moving." World Fantasy Award-winner Jeff VanderMeer With his health failing, the great mage Donn has chosen to pass on his Talents to a new generation: an old era is drawing to a close, a new era about to begin. But with change comes instability. War looms and a rogue church leader threatens to set loose the wild powers of the First City. Donn's children must oppose this man but, also, they must contend with Donn himself: the old mage has not finished with his children yet. On the run from the religious repression of the mainland, Leeth Hamera joins a group of outcasts on the Serpent's Back, a continually changing island continent in the middle of a lava sea. Leeth has never lived up to the expectations of his wealthy merchant family and his only magical skill is the lowly Talent of bonding with animals. But, as he learns, the greatest Talents can sometimes be the slowest to emerge. The leader of the outcasts is Chi, son of Donn and the greatest healer of his generation. Chi is in exile for breaking the Embodied Church's edict against intervening in the natural order: many years ago Chi used his skills to revive his son from the dead. That son, Lachlan Pas, is now a church leader tortured by the guilty knowledge of what his father had to do to return him to life. When he learns Chi is still alive, he orders his execution, determined that his secret should never be exposed. Until now, Chi has been content to live in exile but now he knows that his son's insane and cruel rule must be stopped. Chi summons his half-siblings from throughout the inhabited lands of the Rift valley. The need for action is confirmed when one of them reveals that Lachlan and his mage, Oriole, are rebuilding the ancient city of Samhab - an act which will release the powers of the earth with unforeseeable consequences. Welcome to the magical island city of Zigané, endlessly adrift in the southern lava sea; the searing soda plains home of the Morani warriors; the impenetrable Zochi jungle, full of illusion and hidden hazard; the charmed fortress-like City of the Divine Wall; and Samhab, the fantastic First City of the True, built at the geographical centre of the Rift, where the magical powers of the earth rise up to be set free by the earth-charmers and mages. The novel's cast of shape-changers, earth-charmers, healers and illusionists must battle to save civilization from the evil rule of Lachlan Pas and his followers. For whoever controls the power of Samhab controls the future of the world. "A progressive and skilful writer." Peter F Hamilton, author of the Night's Dawn trilogy "In the recognized front ranks of SF writers." Locus

The Serpent Column, a bronze sculpture that has stood in Delphi and Constantinople, today Istanbul, is a Greek representation of the Near Eastern primordial combat myth: it is Typhon, a dragon defeated by Zeus, and also Python slain by Apollo. The column was created after the Battle of Plataia (479 BC), where the sky was dominated by serpentine constellations and by the spiralling tails of the Milky Way. It was erected as a votive for Apollo and as a monument to the victory of the united Greek poleis over the Persians. It is as a victory monument that the column was transplanted to Constantinople and erected in the hippodrome. The column remained a monument to cosmic victory through centuries, but also took on other meanings. Through the Byzantine centuries these interpretation were fundamentally Christian, drawing upon serpentine imagery in Scripture, patristic and homiletic writings. When Byzantines saw the monument they reflected upon this multivalent serpentine symbolism, but also the fact that it was a bronze column. For these observers, it evoked the Temple's brazen pillars, Moses' brazen serpent, the serpentine tempter of Genesis (Satan), and the beast of Revelation. The column was inserted into Christian sacred history, symbolizing creation and the end times. The most enduring interpretation of the column, which is unrelated to religion, and therefore survived the Ottoman capture of the city, is as a talisman against snakes and snake-bites. It is this tale that was told by travellers to Constantinople throughout the Middle Ages, and it is this story that is told to tourists today who visit Istanbul. In this book, Paul Stephenson twists together multiple strands to relate the cultural biography of a unique monument.

DigiCat present this meticulously edited collection of the most sacred texts of Judaism, as well as most important historical and theological books about the Jewish faith. Content: Religious Texts: "Tanakh" – The Hebrew Bible "Talmud" – The Central Text of Rabbinic Judaism "Torah – Bilingual (English/Hebrew)" – Five Books of Moses "Tales and Maxims from the Midrash" – Biblical Exegesis by Ancient Judaic Authorities "The Kabbalah Unveiled" – Translations and commentaries of the Books of Zohar "The Sepher Ha-Zohar" – Zohar, or Splendor is the most important text of Kabbalah. "Siddur – The Standard Prayer Book" – The Authorized Daily Prayer Book of the United Hebrew Congregations "The Union Haggadah" – Jewish text that sets forth the order of the Passover Seder. History: The Jewish Wars (Flavius Josephus) Antiquities of the Jews (Flavius Josephus) History of the Jews (Heinrich Graetz) The Legends of the Jews (Louis Ginzberg) Philosophical Works: Kitab al Khazari (Kuzari) (Judah Halevi) The Guide for the Perplexed (Moses Maimonides) Ancient Jewish Proverbs (Abraham Cohen)

Jewish Essential Books is an exquisite anthology that underscores the profound depth and diversity within the sphere of Jewish thought and spirituality. This collection artfully assembles a mosaic of works ranging from medieval philosophical treatises to modern exegetical texts, encapsulating the rich tapestry of Jewish literary tradition. It navigates through varying literary styles, from the poetic musings of Judah Halevi to the intricate legalistic arguments of Moses Maimonides, thereby highlighting the profound plurality of perspectives within Judaism. The anthology not only serves as a testament to the intellectual heritage of the Jewish people but also showcases seminal pieces that have shaped Jewish thought across centuries. The contributing authors and editors, including luminaries like Louis Ginzberg and Heinrich Graetz, bring to the collection a wealth of knowledge and scholarly insight. Their backgrounds span across different epochs of Jewish history, reflecting the evolution of Jewish thought from its ancient roots to its contemporary manifestations. Each contributor has been instrumental in articulating the nuances of Jewish theology, philosophy, and law, thereby enriching the anthology's exploration of Jewish identity and spirituality. Together, their works align with key historical and cultural movements, offering readers a panoramic view of Jewish intellectual tradition. Jewish Essential Books offers readers an unparalleled opportunity to immerse themselves in the breadth and depth of Jewish literary culture. This anthology is an invaluable resource for anyone keen to explore the multifaceted nature of Jewish thought, offering insights into the complexities of faith, reason, and tradition. Whether one is a scholar, student, or lay reader, this collection invites a deeper engagement with the seminal texts that have shaped Jewish consciousness, fostering an appreciation for the dialogue between tradition and modernity within Jewish literature.