WINNER OF THE 2021 BOOKER PRIZE A NEW YORK TIMES EDITORS’ CHOICE A modern family saga written in gorgeous prose by three-time Booker Prize-shortlisted author Damon Galgut. Haunted by an unmet promise, the Swart family loses touch after the death of their matriarch. Adrift, the lives of the three siblings move separately through the uncharted waters of South Africa; Anton, the golden boy who bitterly resents his life’s unfulfilled potential; Astrid, whose beauty is her power; and the youngest, Amor, whose life is shaped by a nebulous feeling of guilt. Reunited by four funerals over three decades, the dwindling family reflects the atmosphere of its country—one of resentment, renewal, and, ultimately, hope. The Promise is an epic drama that unfurls against the unrelenting march of national history, sure to please current fans and attract many new ones. “Simply: you must read it.”—Claire Messud, Harper’s Magazine

WHAT IS THE STATE OF THE AMERICAN DREAM? Is opportunity still available for those who work hard and play by the rules? Guardians of the Dream offers an inspiring view of our nation's promise, which for the past two centuries has been championed by the legion of America's immigrants. Paul Hsu, a business leader and entrepreneur who has built several successful companies, counters the negative narratives by recalling his own journey and those of others who have found the path to opportunity in a country that is like no other. Born in Taiwan, Hsu came to the United States as a young man and found a land where anything was possible. He writes movingly of his family's experience, recalling that "our lives were often hard, but we didn't feel put upon. We didn't think our struggle was unfair, because my wife and I knew that it was only one step along the road. It took some time, but we succeeded. We had a belief that America had great opportunities and that if we made sacrifices and stayed

No matter how good our lives seem to be going, we often long for a little more excitement. Sometimes we don’t realize it though until something unusual is presented to us, and we need to make some big, important decisions. In author Rick Boyle’s The Guardians: The Search for the Golden Praying Mantis, you join three teenagers who undertake an adventure of a lifetime. Seth is the star quarterback for La Jolla High School and his younger brother, Sean, is a genius. For the most part, the brothers are pleased with their lives. Then they meet their new science teacher. Miss Tia, a former college professor from New York University. When she shares a story about the elusive Golden Praying Mantis, the boys are intrigued. With the help of classmate, Amber, they go on a search for this mystical creature. And when they discover a black and white crystal, their lives are changed forever. The Guardians: The Search for the Golden Praying Mantis shows us that things are not always what they seem. Nor are people—even parents. Join Seth and Sean as they begin their journey to become Guardians of the Universe.

There is a fairytale Locked inside every heart, Waiting to be set free. Princess Ravenna learned, long ago, not to fight or resist Fate, even though Fate always seemed to be her enemy. Now, on her way to a new and much-dreaded life, she is caught between two undesirable fates, and two cruel and tyrannical kings. But Fate, never predictable, has something else in mind. A man, a hunter, in rescuing Ravenna from the clutches of those who would harm her, offers her a third option. So begins a journey of transformation as unexpected as it is beautiful. In a cursed land, with its aged king, Ravenna finds healing and love, and a place she knows she belongs. She begins to realise she must rewrite her story. And the ending, she discovers, is entirely in her own hands. The truth about endings, though, is that, without fail, they always herald new beginnings . . . .

For too long, the magical kingdom of Iressia has been overrun with disease and starvation. The people are suffering and dying. Something must be done before it’s too late. Princess Seraphina Kinsley would do anything to save her dying kingdom, including finding the Guardians of Iressia to light the five towers that protect their kingdom from darkness. With the help of her friend, Jer, she brings the Guardians together and sends them on the quest of a lifetime. The four young Guardians are just discovering their powers and learning to master the elements they control. Pressed for time, the four women set out to light the first tower, unsure of the dangers ahead. They only know that the dark sorcerer, Alastair, is hunting them and will do anything in his power to claim Iressia as his own. The Guardians are rising once more to restore their kingdom to its rightful glory. Together, Princess Seraphina, Jer, and the four Guardians must learn to trust each other and discover the mysteries of their past in order to save their beloved kingdom. Discover this epic story of magic, danger, and romance in the first installment of The Guardians of Iressia.