An unforgettable fable about a father's journey and a timeless guide to life's many questions—from Ethan Hawke, four-time Academy Award nominee, twice for writing and twice for acting. A knight, fearing he may not return from battle, writes a letter to his children in an attempt to leave a record of all he knows. In a series of ruminations on solitude, humility, forgiveness, honesty, courage, grace, pride, and patience, he draws on the ancient teachings of Eastern and Western philosophy, and on the great spiritual and political writings of our time. His intent: to give his children a compass for a journey they will have to make alone, a short guide to what gives life meaning and beauty.

Misty and Mary-Lou never knew Christmas could be so perilous. One night in December, their uneventful lives were shattered. A Dark Knight from the magical land of Glamorgan accidentally kidnaps them while on an evil mission to steal Santa sets from the Mortal World. The girls escape and enter a beautiful hidden world full of mystery, danger, and friends. Evil servants shadow them and they draw upon each other's strengths to rally all the magical creatures against the Enemy's plans. They journey with all speed from Pearl's Gate to the mines of Pudgemud and the House of Warmth to warn Santa Clause of the growing danger. Can these two young mortals save the magical land of Glamorgan and the Mortal World before the Dark Knight King ends Christmas forever?

Drawing on distinguished review sources, this updated and expanded guide recommends more than 4,800 American and British fantasy novels and anthologies, including nearly 1,500 new to this edition. Ten topical chapters embrace the entire range of fantasy literature, from allegory to witchcraft. Detailed annotations note major awards won, review citations, suggested reading level, other related titles by the author, and more. - Back cover.

Come with Alden MacAlrey and discover that there's more to a new town than busy grown-ups and school bullies. While unlocking secret doors and exploring mysterious streets, Alden learns that faeries are real and can get him in real trouble. He finds himself thrust into a world where his new best friend might be hiding more than secrets, and a trip to the library turns into a wild chase. See magic at work when dragons appear, spells paralyze, and tulips turn to axes! Join Alden's quest to retrieve a deadly artifact, save his new friends, capture an evil wizard, and prove himself worthy of being called a Knight Investigator!

Clara’s duty as the Winter Guardian has taken a turn. Now, instead of stopping an invading army, she has to broker peace between two nations. Shouldn’t be a problem. But the mysterious disease known as Shadow is spreading across Winterlight more quickly than anyone expected, and Clara might be the only one who can stop it.