What kind of assassin works pro bono? It’s hard to be a badass assassin when a giant is beating the crap out of you. Luckily, I never let pride get in the way of my work. My current mission is personal: annihilate Mab Monroe, the Fire elemental who murdered my family. Which means protecting my identity, even if I have to conceal my powerful Stone and Ice magic when I need it most. To the public, I’m Gin Blanco, owner of Ashland’s best barbecue joint. To my friends, I’m the Spider, retired assassin. I still do favors on the side. Like ridding a vampire friend of her oversized stalker—Mab’s right-hand goon who almost got me dead with his massive fists. At least irresistible Owen Grayson is on my side. The man knows too much about me, but I’ll take my chances. Then there’s Detective Bria Coolidge, one of Ashland’s finest. Until recently, I thought my baby sister was dead. She probably thinks the same about me. Little does she know, I’m a cold-blooded killer . . . who is about to save her life.

Toxic creatures can be found almost anywhere—in the woods, in the desert, in your own backyard . . . even in your room! Some, such as poison dart frogs and puffer fish, have poisonous skin or other organs. Others are venomous—they have stingers, spines, or fangs to injects their toxins. You know some of them already: black widow spiders, killer bees, rattlesnakes, stingrays, and scorpions. There are lots of other toxic species, too. Just take a look inside . . . if you dare! "Sharp, full-color photos loaded with icky details are sure to catch readers' eyes and hold their interest."—School Library Journal "For biology reports or for students interested in the subject, this book will be a winner."—VOYA

On the unlikely day when an embittered, washed-up journalist met a spurned symbiotic organism from an alien planet, one of Spider-Man's greatest enemies was born... a force of evil and vengeance like no other in the Marvel Universe - VENOM! But is it as simple as that? Discover the true, twisted roots that gave rise to a lifetime of malevolence for Eddie Brock and the symbiote! Writer Zeb Wells (Amazing Spider-Man) and artist Angel Medina (Sensational Spider-Man) shed a little light on one of Marvel's darkest monsters! Venom Dark Origin (2008) #1-5.

The enthralling conclusion to Judy I. Lin's Book of Tea duology—#1 New York Times bestseller A Magic Steeped in Poison and A Venom Dark and Sweet—is sure to enchant fans of Adrienne Young and Leigh Bardugo. A great evil has come to the kingdom of Dàxi. The Banished Prince has returned to seize power, his rise to the dragon throne aided by the mass poisonings that have kept the people bound in fear and distrust. Ning, a young but powerful shénnóng-shi—a wielder of magic using the ancient and delicate art of tea-making—has escorted Princess Zhen into exile. Joining them is the princess' loyal bodyguard, Ruyi, and Ning's newly healed sister, Shu. Together the four young women travel throughout the kingdom in search of allies to help oust the invaders and take back Zhen's rightful throne. But the golden serpent still haunts Ning's nightmares with visions of war and bloodshed. An evil far more ancient than the petty conflicts of men has awoken, and all the magic in the land may not be enough to stop it from consuming the world...

Meet Grace, who just moved to San Francisco. It's a tiny bit scary starting over, but it gets scarier when a minotaur walks in the door. And even more shocking when a girl who looks exactly like Grace turns up to fight it. . . Gretchen is fed up of monsters pulling her out into the small hours, especially on a school night. Getting rid of a minotaur is just another notch on her combat belt, but she never expected to run into a girl who could be her double in the process. . . Greer has her life pretty well put together, thank you very much. But everything tilts sideways when two girls who look eerily like her appear on her doorstep and claim they're all sisters. . . These three teen descendants of Medusa must reunite and embrace their fates!

Collects Venom: Lethal Protector II (2023) #1-5. Venom vs. Doctor Doom! Venom co-creator David Michelinie returns with a new story set in the sinister symbiote's past, back when brains - and Spider-Man - were still on the menu! Prepare for an epic that will take Venom far from the streets of NYC - all the way to the kingdom of Latveria! When Silver Sable and S.H.I.E.L.D. come calling, Venom is recruited into a battle to stop a tech-worshipping cult from getting their hands on a doomsday weapon. Speaking of doom, there's a certain supreme leader of Latveria who also has his titanium-armored eyes on the same prize - and he's not the only one! Brock is about to be challenged like never before! What (or who) will Venom need to overcome the fiercest foe in the Marvel Universe?

Away games, back seats, and the locker room after hours...New York Times bestselling author Penelope Douglas is back with this spicy new adult romance, now with bonus material. Marymount girls are good girls. Even if they weren't, no one would know, because girls like Clay Collins keep their mouths shut. Not that Clay has anything to share, anyway. Always in control, she owns the hallways, walking tall on Monday and then dropping to her knees like the good Catholic girl she is on Sunday. What she wants she has to hide. Liv Jaeger crosses the tracks every day for one reason: to graduate from high school and get into the Ivy League. But Clay—with her beautiful skin, clean shoes, and rich parents—torments her daily and thinks Liv won't fight back. At least not until Liv gets Clay alone and finds out she's hiding so much more than just what's underneath those pretty clothes. Liv told Clay to stay on her side of town. But one night, Clay doesn't listen. And once Liv is done with her, she'll never be a good girl again.