It is often assumed that the female characters found in popular folk and fairy tales are little more than inconsequential stereotypes--mostly serving as hapless victims in need of rescue, boring one-dimensional princesses, or egotistical and conniving villains. This book presents more fully-realized portraits of these female characters and the ways in which they actually represent bold and powerful connections to the goddesses of classic mythic narratives. The rich legacy of female goddesses, shamans, queens, and priestesses is in fact preserved and celebrated through these more modern representations, whether as brides who can transform into animals, wise old women who live alone in the deep wilderness, strong warrior maidens, or witches who can conquer and command the elements of nature. In contemplating this revised analysis of female characters within global folktales and fairy tales, readers can see that the goddesses of old have never truly been forgotten.

A literary, artistic, and historical exploration of Black female spirituality in mythology and religion.

Book two in The Goddess Test Series from #1 international bestselling author Aimée Carter. Kate Winters has won immortality. But if she wants a life with Henry in the Underworld, she'll have to fight for it. Becoming immortal wasn't supposed to be the easy part. Though Kate is about to be crowned Queen of the Underworld, she's as isolated as ever. And despite her growing love for Henry, ruler of the Underworld, he's becoming ever more distant and secretive. Then, in the midst of Kate's coronation, Henry is abducted by the only being powerful enough to kill him: the King of the Titans. As the other gods prepare for a war that could end them all, it is up to Kate to save Henry from the depths of Tartarus. But in order to navigate the endless caverns of the Underworld, Kate must enlist the help of the one person who is the greatest threat to her future. Henry's first wife, Persephone. Books and novellas in the Goddess series: The Goddess Test The Goddess Hunt (ebook novella) Goddess Interrupted The Goddess Queen (ebook novella)* The Lovestruck Goddess (ebook novella)* Goddess of the Underworld (ebook novella)* God of Thieves (ebook novella)* God of Darkness (ebook novella)* The Goddess Inheritance * Also available in print in The Goddess Legacy anthology

It's always been just Kate and her mom—and her mother is dying. Her last wish? To move back to her childhood home. So Kate's going to start at a new school with no friends, no other family and the fear her mother won't live past the fall. Then she meets Henry. Dark. Tortured. And mesmerizing. He claims to be Hades, god of the Underworld—and if she accepts his bargain, he'll keep her mother alive while Kate tries to pass seven tests. Kate is sure he's crazy—until she sees him bring a girl back from the dead. Now saving her mother seems crazily possible. If she succeeds, she'll become Henry's future bride, and a goddess.

Love or life. Henry or their child. The end of her family or the end of the world. Kate must choose. During nine months of captivity, Kate Winters has survived a jealous goddess, a vengeful Titan and a pregnancy she never asked for. Now the Queen of the Gods wants her unborn child, and Kate can't stop her—until Cronus offers a deal. In exchange for her loyalty and devotion, the King of the Titans will spare humanity and let Kate keep her child. Yet even if Kate agrees, he'll destroy Henry, her mother and the rest of council. And if she refuses, Cronus will tear the world apart until every last god and mortal is dead. With the fate of everyone she loves resting on her shoulders, Kate must do the impossible: find a way to defeat the most powerful being in existence, even if it costs her everything. Even if it costs her eternity.

A powerful girl. An epic love triangle. A devastating prophecy... Legacy thinks she’s just an average high-school girl with a sassy best friend and a not-so-secret crush on the hottest guy in town. Yep, pretty basic. When Adin, the boy of her fantasies, shows up at her surprise seventeenth birthday party, it’s the highlight of her life, but what she discovers that night will rock her entire world and leave her questioning the reality she’s always believed. It should’ve been a normal birthday. A celebration to kick off the summer before her senior year, and maybe even an unexpected start to the romance of her dreams. Not a bleak warning of what’s to come. It can’t be true, can it? There’s no way this can all be real. But it is. And when she meets River, the cocky new guy in town, she has no choice but to face this reality, which is so much more devastating than she could’ve ever imagined. Average? Yeah, she’s anything but normal. Then again, a goddess never is... "A fast paced book that will grab a reader from the beginning and draw them in, and will just not let go until the very end." - Night Owl Reviews TOP PICK Scroll up to begin the journey of a lifetime. ♥︎

Can a woman really have a natural, pain-free childbirth? Yes, she can! Can she feel completely in control and actually enjoy her birthing experience? Absolutely! I know this for sure and in The Birthing Goddess, I share my own pregnancy journey and epiphanies as I prepared myself and achieved that glorious goal of pain-free birthing. The Birthing Goddess is a carefully structured holistic program that engages women in an easy step- by- step training process and enables them to experience this seemingly elusive goal. This book targets and eradicates the fundamental causes of pain in childbirth: fear and inadequate preparation. The training involves dispelling fearful myths, strengthening and controlling birthing muscles, conscious breathing, emotional well-being, mental discipline, self-hypnosis, meditation, spiritual awareness, and much more. Fearfulness is banished. Medical intervention is minimized. As a Birthing Goddess, a woman becomes the superstar of her performance. Her body, mind and spirit become well prepared for a happy, healthy pregnancy and a joyful birthing experience. In this fast-paced world, pregnant women will need a structured natural childbirth training program that they can use in the privacy of their homes. Midwives, Doulas, Birthing Centers, and all Health care practitioners will find the information and training in The Birthing Goddess invaluable for themselves and their clients. The idea of enjoying a natural pain-free birthing experience may seem like a fantasy but after reading this book women will realize that they are in fact Birthing Goddesses, ready to reclaim their legacy and enjoy manifesting what they are divinely created to do. About the Author Laila Valere has had the benefit of a multi-faceted career as a Diplomat, Counseling Psychologist, Educator, Training Consultant and Conference Leader. As a mother, she herself has had first-hand experience of the remarkable difference between birthing three children naturally with much pain and anguish and birthing her fourth child at age 46 years naturally yet with comfort and joy. This gave her a compelling dual perspective on natural birthing. She realized that it was the quality of childbirth preparation and self-training that changed painful natural birthing into pain-free natural birthing. This is the transformative process that she wishes to share with others in The Birthing Goddess. Laila is a practitioner of Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) and Hypnotherapy. She has also produced a comprehensive training manual Focus on Self and two experiential CD recordings with accompanying booklets: (1) Success in Examinations to assist students to overcome examination anxiety and (2) From a point of Love- a healing prayer and meditation. In The Birthing Goddess, she uses her varied skillsets and experiences to design this innovative and effective training system to help women fully enjoy their pregnancy and be present for their divinely glorious, pain-free birthing experience. Laila lives in Florida with her husband, children and grandchildren and is actively involved in community service and in helping others to develop their potential.