In the darkness of the night, few things could be darker. Two beings are standing side by side, hooded and cloaked; watching the sky in the dark of night. Nothing to be seen around them except the grey sky hanging over them.The stars sparkled and delivered the minute illumination that was barely of use in the void that lay ahead. The grass was moist, and the trees stood tall and confident, while marking the passage for the duo, or maybe confusing them. The thick branches spread wildly affront with wet leaves hanging and slapping the figures as they pierced them to make way for their march. The wind was dry and chilly yet howled violently in the thick blanket of gloom that covered the duo. However, both men had dark souls resting within them, and that gloomy night was nothing short of a blessing, as they relished their walk in the night that would have certainly strike as harrowing to every sane mind. One began pacing, moving from one side to the other. "Can you stop?" the unmoving companion requested. "The meta-anthropoid is belated, his presence overdue," the other figure muttered. "What?""It is past the witching hour; I expected better from the inaugurator of this devious machination." "Your constant jittering won't make him come any faster, one eye," the other said in a menacing tone.

Professor Peyton Wilde has an enviable life teaching sociology at an idyllic liberal arts college--yet she is troubled by a sense of fading inspiration. One day an invitation arrives. Peyton has been selected to attend a luxurious all-expense-paid seminar in Iceland, where participants, billed as some of the greatest thinkers in the world, will be charged with answering one perplexing question. Meeting her diverse teammates--two neuroscientists, a philosopher, a dance teacher, a collage artist, and a farmer--Peyton wonders what she could ever have to contribute. The ensuing journey of discovery will transform the characters' work, their biases, and themselves. This suspenseful novel shows that the answers you seek can be found in the most unlikely places. It can be read for pleasure, is a great choice for book clubs, and can be used as unique and inspiring reading in qualitative research and other courses in education, sociology, social work, psychology, and communication.

A prince with a quest, a beautiful commoner with mysterious powers, and dragons who demand to be freed—at any cost Filled with the potent mix of the supernatural and romance that made A Discovery of Witches a runaway success, Moth and Spark introduces readers to a vibrant world—and a love story they won’t soon forget. Prince Corin has been chosen to free the dragons from their bondage to the power Mycenean Empire, but dragons aren’t big on directions. They have given him some of their power, but none of their knowledge. No one, not the dragons nor their riders, is even sure what keeps the dragons in the Empire’s control. Tam, sensible daughter of a well-respected doctor, had no idea before she arrived in Caithenor that she is a Seer, gifted with visions. When the two run into each other (quite literally) in the library, sparks fly and Corin impulsively asks Tam to dinner. But it’s not all happily ever after. Never mind that the prince isn’t allowed to marry a commoner: war is coming. Torn between his quest to free the dragons and his duty to his country, Tam and Corin must both figure out how to master their powers in order to save Caithen. With a little help from a village of secret wizards and rogue dragonrider, they just might pull it off.

American Library Association "Best Books for Young Adults" From the author of Ender's Game, an unforgettable story about young Alvin Maker: the seventh son of a seventh son. Born into an alternative frontier America where life is hard and folk magic is real, Alvin is gifted with the power. He must learn to use his gift wisely. But dark forces are arrayed against Alvin, and only a young girl with second sight can protect him. Includes an excerpt of Orson Scott Card's new novel, THE LOST GATE! The Tales of Alvin Maker series Seventh Son Red Prophet Prentice Alvin Alvin Journeyman Heartfire The Crystal City At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

The Electroclan embarks on a daring rescue mission when Michael Vey goes missing in this final volume of the series.

Get ready for all-new, original adventures with Hanazuki! These original chapter books are set within the timeline of the Hanazuki: Full of Treasures YouTube series, but they are not retellings of episodes. Each story invites fans to enjoy the colorful world of Hanazuki in a new format: two-color illustrations and vibrant packages that will catch the eye of every little Moonflower. Building upon the brand’s connection between emotion and color, each title in this planned four-book series highlights a specific emotion and color as Hanazuki learns more about herself and her world. Also Available: Hanazuki 2019 Wall Calendar (ISBN: 978-1-4197-3000-9)

From the experts who created SparkPeople.com, one of the most successful online weight-loss programs to date, comes The Spark, a ground-breaking book that focuses on what you can do, instead of what you can't do.