When it comes to political cunning, manipulation, ambition, and furthering an agenda, the forty-seven behind-the-scenes players in these pages are the gold standard. An intriguing twist on the popular ôgreat leadersö view of history, this extraordinary book focuses on dominant advisors, counselors, officials, and other king whisperers, from biblical times to the twenty-first century. They represent some of the most effective speakers, writers, revolutionaries, ideologues, and villains in world history. Whether in control of battle fields, ballot boxes, or even entire empires, these influential people rose to positions of influence from the dark shadows and narrow corridors of power. Book jacket.

“From the hair-raising to the eyebrow-raising, this is a scintillating account of meetings with spirits through history” (Mark Booth, New York Times–bestselling author). It may seem incredible, but as bestselling novelist and occult expert J.H. Brennan reveals in this eye-opening new history, there is a wealth of evidence to suggest that the disembodied voices of spirits may have subtly directed the course of human events. In Whisperers, Brennan explores how the “spirit world”—whether we believe in it or not—has influenced our own since the dawn of civilization. With a novelist’s flair and a scholar’s keen eye, Brennan details the supernatural affinities of world leaders from King Nebuchadnezzar to Adolf Hitler, showing how the decisions and policies of each have been shaped by their supernatural beliefs and encounters. Brennan also examines the impact of visions, from shamanism in native cultures to prophets such as Joan of Arc. Chronicling millennia of contact between the spirit world and our own, Whisperers presents an entirely new and different way to look at history. “Prolific Irish author and lecturer Brennan’s lifelong fascination with psychic phenomena fuels this comprehensive analysis of potential supernatural influences on history. . . . Certain hokum for skeptics, but the more open-minded will savor this chillingly convincing testimonial.” —Kirkus Reviews “J.H. Brennan is an expert storyteller who paints an often terrifying picture of how human destiny has regularly been changed forever by individuals convinced they were in communication with intelligences from beyond. In Whisperers, Brennan has created a unique and timely history of spirit voices that is both brilliant and utterly chilling.” —Andrew Donkin, coauthor of Illegal

Willie Stark's obsession with political power leads to the ultimate corruption of his gubernatorial administration.

One of NPR’s 50 Best Science Fiction and Fantasy Books of the Decade: A fifteenth-century palace mapmaker must hide his powers in the time of the Inquisition . . . Award-winning author G. Willow Wilson’s debut novel Alif the Unseen was an NPR and Washington Post Best Book of the Year and established her as a vital American Muslim literary voice. Now she delivers The Bird King, an epic journey set during the reign of the last sultan in the Iberian peninsula at the height of the Spanish Inquisition. Fatima is a concubine in the royal court of Granada, the last emirate of Muslim Spain. Her dearest friend, Hassan, the palace mapmaker and the one man who doesn’t leer at her with desire, has a secret—he can draw maps of places he’s never seen and bend the shape of reality. When representatives of the newly formed Spanish monarchy arrive to negotiate the sultan’s surrender, Fatima befriends one of the women, not realizing that she will see Hassan’s gift as sorcery and a threat to Christian Spanish rule. With their freedoms at stake, what will Fatima risk to save Hassan and escape the palace walls? As the two traverse Spain with the help of a clever jinn to find safety, The Bird King asks us to consider what love is and the price of freedom at a time when the West and the Muslim world were not yet separate. “Wilson has a deft hand with myth and with magic, and the kind of smart, honest writing mind that knits together and bridges cultures and people.” —Neil Gaiman, author of Norse Mythology “A triumph . . . one of the best fantasy writers working today.” —BookPage “A treasure-house of a novel, thrilling, tender, funny, and achingly gorgeous. I loved it.” —Lev Grossman, author of the Magicians trilogy

Liar . . . lies . . . the father of lies. Can you hear Satan's whispers? Which of his lies bind you? Robert Don Hughes writes, I know the voice within me well--I've heard it all my life. . . . It is sometimes patient-sounding, sometimes playful, sometimes naughty, sometimes devious, sometimes abusive--sometimes frightening. It seeks always to give me permission to do evil. It prompts me to harm myself in the name of fun. It taunts me, calling me names that hurt me names that have had power over me since my childhood, names that prompt me to lash out, to act in ways that I would really rather not. And it criticizes me--constantly--a never-ending stream of cynical, personally targeted satire that leaves me angry, defensive, and depressed. Oh, I know the voice well. I hear it daily. Do you? Satan did many things to block the writing of this book. He may be telling you that you don't need to read it. If you've heard Satan's whispers, you need this book learn of his lies and find the power to break the lies that bind you!

Unusual, fresh and challenging, these essential Daily Bible Insights rarely whisper, but shout! At last, the Christian world has a relevant and up-to-date, honest daily book of Bible insights that speaks to this generation! 'Night-Whispers' have long since been a global endeavour to communicate the God of the whole Bible in very raw terms to very real people. They are presented in such a way as to be read each day and are produced on a regular basis, the 366 daily readings for each year being presented with a unique volume number. That 'Volume' year is then divided into four Quarters. You can start any volume-quarter book of Night Whispers at any time you choose, because whilst these Everyday Bible Insights are fresh and relevant to each day, they are not interconnected in a way which means you have to read one volume before another. They are Biblical, fresh, provocative, relevant, and always challenging and always powerful. Night-Whispers: get yours today

Twenty years after the fall of the Empire, known as "The Night the Sky Burned", a new evil has come to the realm of man. As the kingdoms fall victim to the insidious malevolence, they erupt in chaos and war. Peasants and Commoners, Princes and Princesses, Knights and Lords, and Kings and Queens will all be tossed in the midst of anarchy and strife. They pray to the Guardians, but are they listening? The one that can listen only hears the Whispers of Darkness. When the realm of man clashes, who will be victorious?