When it comes to political cunning, manipulation, ambition, and furthering an agenda, the forty-seven behind-the-scenes players in these pages are the gold standard. An intriguing twist on the popular ôgreat leadersö view of history, this extraordinary book focuses on dominant advisors, counselors, officials, and other king whisperers, from biblical times to the twenty-first century. They represent some of the most effective speakers, writers, revolutionaries, ideologues, and villains in world history. Whether in control of battle fields, ballot boxes, or even entire empires, these influential people rose to positions of influence from the dark shadows and narrow corridors of power. Book jacket.

“From the hair-raising to the eyebrow-raising, this is a scintillating account of meetings with spirits through history” (Mark Booth, New York Times–bestselling author). It may seem incredible, but as bestselling novelist and occult expert J.H. Brennan reveals in this eye-opening new history, there is a wealth of evidence to suggest that the disembodied voices of spirits may have subtly directed the course of human events. In Whisperers, Brennan explores how the “spirit world”—whether we believe in it or not—has influenced our own since the dawn of civilization. With a novelist’s flair and a scholar’s keen eye, Brennan details the supernatural affinities of world leaders from King Nebuchadnezzar to Adolf Hitler, showing how the decisions and policies of each have been shaped by their supernatural beliefs and encounters. Brennan also examines the impact of visions, from shamanism in native cultures to prophets such as Joan of Arc. Chronicling millennia of contact between the spirit world and our own, Whisperers presents an entirely new and different way to look at history. “Prolific Irish author and lecturer Brennan’s lifelong fascination with psychic phenomena fuels this comprehensive analysis of potential supernatural influences on history. . . . Certain hokum for skeptics, but the more open-minded will savor this chillingly convincing testimonial.” —Kirkus Reviews “J.H. Brennan is an expert storyteller who paints an often terrifying picture of how human destiny has regularly been changed forever by individuals convinced they were in communication with intelligences from beyond. In Whisperers, Brennan has created a unique and timely history of spirit voices that is both brilliant and utterly chilling.” —Andrew Donkin, coauthor of Illegal

Willie Stark's obsession with political power leads to the ultimate corruption of his gubernatorial administration.

One of NPR’s 50 Best Science Fiction and Fantasy Books of the Decade: A fifteenth-century palace mapmaker must hide his powers in the time of the Inquisition . . . Award-winning author G. Willow Wilson’s debut novel Alif the Unseen was an NPR and Washington Post Best Book of the Year and established her as a vital American Muslim literary voice. Now she delivers The Bird King, an epic journey set during the reign of the last sultan in the Iberian peninsula at the height of the Spanish Inquisition. Fatima is a concubine in the royal court of Granada, the last emirate of Muslim Spain. Her dearest friend, Hassan, the palace mapmaker and the one man who doesn’t leer at her with desire, has a secret—he can draw maps of places he’s never seen and bend the shape of reality. When representatives of the newly formed Spanish monarchy arrive to negotiate the sultan’s surrender, Fatima befriends one of the women, not realizing that she will see Hassan’s gift as sorcery and a threat to Christian Spanish rule. With their freedoms at stake, what will Fatima risk to save Hassan and escape the palace walls? As the two traverse Spain with the help of a clever jinn to find safety, The Bird King asks us to consider what love is and the price of freedom at a time when the West and the Muslim world were not yet separate. “Wilson has a deft hand with myth and with magic, and the kind of smart, honest writing mind that knits together and bridges cultures and people.” —Neil Gaiman, author of Norse Mythology “A triumph . . . one of the best fantasy writers working today.” —BookPage “A treasure-house of a novel, thrilling, tender, funny, and achingly gorgeous. I loved it.” —Lev Grossman, author of the Magicians trilogy

This is a riveting tale of two quests. In the first, Cara Diana Hunter searches for an ancient story that may unravel the secret of a long enmity between the unicorns and the monstrous delvers. In the second, Cara's father journeys to free her mother from the Rainbow Prison. As Cara travels through the strange and terrifying underground world of the delvers and to the court of the centaur king, her father travels from mysterious India to the depths of the Rainbow Prison itself. Who can be trusted? Who is the enemy? Readers will be at the edge of their seats with this multistranded story filled with wonder and suspense.

Liar . . . lies . . . the father of lies. Can you hear Satan's whispers? Which of his lies bind you? Robert Don Hughes writes, I know the voice within me well--I've heard it all my life. . . . It is sometimes patient-sounding, sometimes playful, sometimes naughty, sometimes devious, sometimes abusive--sometimes frightening. It seeks always to give me permission to do evil. It prompts me to harm myself in the name of fun. It taunts me, calling me names that hurt me names that have had power over me since my childhood, names that prompt me to lash out, to act in ways that I would really rather not. And it criticizes me--constantly--a never-ending stream of cynical, personally targeted satire that leaves me angry, defensive, and depressed. Oh, I know the voice well. I hear it daily. Do you? Satan did many things to block the writing of this book. He may be telling you that you don't need to read it. If you've heard Satan's whispers, you need this book learn of his lies and find the power to break the lies that bind you!

Whispers of a Secret God chronicles a clash of three sub-Saharan cultures battling for dominance in a tangle of drought, famine, and land rights. Slavery and dislocation have exacted a heavy toll, reshuffling ancient social boundaries and challenging long-held religious practices. Whereas stereotypical African villages evoke images of savagery, brutality, and superstition, the Fula tribes developed a more peaceful and rule-governed Muslim society. Honor and courage throbbed in their hearts. The saga derives its title from the muddled vestiges of Christianity surviving from somewhere in the tribe's distant identity. Although it is not allowed to surface openly, this secret knowledge is communicated by the women of the village from generation to generation. A chief Muslim cleric, who used religion as a tool of power, sought to replace the aging king's rule with strict Islamic law. The story pulsates with intrigue, romance, and fierce battles, but ends in a time of renewed yet short-lived tranquility. This saga provides the reader brief glimpses into the world beyond, contrasting temporal and spiritual reality.