always binden

This enthralling sapphic retelling of Swan Lake is an instant Number One bestseller in the UK - perfect for fans of Allison Saft and V.E Schwab. Magic has long been outlawed in Auréal. Odile has always known she'd be the one to restore it. Raised by a sorcerer, Odile has spent years preparing for the heist of a lifetime. It's perfectly simple: impersonate a princess, infiltrate the palace, steal the enchanted crown and restore magic to the kingdom. But when the King is unexpectedly murdered, she's forced to recruit the help of Marie, the real princess, and the two begin to unravel a web of lies and deceit that leaves Odile uncertain of whom to trust. Soon though Odile must decide - her mission or the girl she's falling for? The fate of the Kingdom depends on her making the right choice. . . --------------------------------------------------------------------- Reviews for A. B. Poranek's Where the Dark Stands Still: 'A deeply romantic debut'. Sarah Underwood, NYT Bestselling Author of Lies We Sing to the Sea 'The dark, gothic fairy tale of my dreams' Kika Hatzopoulou, author of the Sunday Times Bestseller Threads that Bind 'Folkloric and beautiful' Lyndall Clipstone, author of Unholy Terrors and the World at the Lake's Edge duology.

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of By Any Other Name comes a riveting novel about the risks we take to protect the ones we love in a world where crisis is always just around the corner. On September 11, 2001, when Molly Fitzgerald was only two months old, her mother went to an appointment at the World Trade Center and never came home. Her father and the stepmother who raised her couldn t have loved her more, but she still grew up with a healthy dread of disasters. Now an adult, she runs the Rhode Island Department for Emergency Preparedness, mapping out ways to save lives during storms, epidemics, and airplane crashes. She and her husband, Jesse a police polygraph expert with his own history of crisis have found a love that is a solace in a dangerous world. But then the unexpected upends their new marriage, leading them both to question everything they thought they knew. Moving between past and present, Hollow Bones is an epic story of the lies we tell ourselves as we write the narratives of our lives, the plans we design to protect ourselves at the worst moments, and the ties that bind mothers and daughters.

This enthralling sapphic retelling of Swan Lake is an instant Number One bestseller in the UK - perfect for fans of Allison Saft and V.E Schwab. Magic has long been outlawed in Auréal. Odile has always known she'd be the one to restore it. Raised by a sorcerer, Odile has spent years preparing for the heist of a lifetime. It's perfectly simple: impersonate a princess, infiltrate the palace, steal the enchanted crown and restore magic to the kingdom. But when the King is unexpectedly murdered, she's forced to recruit the help of Marie, the real princess, and the two begin to unravel a web of lies and deceit that leaves Odile uncertain of whom to trust. Soon though Odile must decide - her mission or the girl she's falling for? The fate of the Kingdom depends on her making the right choice. . . --------------------------------------------------------------------- Reviews for A. B. Poranek's Where the Dark Stands Still: 'A deeply romantic debut'. Sarah Underwood, NYT Bestselling Author of Lies We Sing to the Sea 'The dark, gothic fairy tale of my dreams' Kika Hatzopoulou, author of the Sunday Times Bestseller Threads that Bind 'Folkloric and beautiful' Lyndall Clipstone, author of Unholy Terrors and the World at the Lake's Edge duology.

From Julia Donaldson, the bestselling author of The Gruffalo, comes Princess Mirror-Belle, the exciting adventures of a mischievous princess.Princess Mirror-Belle is perfect for for fans who are beginning to listen on their own. This bind-up of two fantastic books, Princess Mirror-Belle and Princess Mirror-Belle and the Party Hoppers, is read by actress Sophie Thompson and contains six delightful stories that children will come back to again and again.Ellen's life is turned upside down by the hilarious Mirror-Belle, a spirited princess who claims to be from somewhere mysterious and far away. She appears out of mirrors to tell Ellen magical stories and take her on exciting escapades. From battling with Dragon Pox to helping out with the local pantomime, celebrating birthdays, having fun at the fair and starting at a new school, there are always adventures to be had!Cover illustration by Lydia Monks.

Bloomsbury presents It Comes From the River by Rachel Bower, read by Kristin Atherton. Infused with the folklore of Northern England, It Comes from the River is an unforgettable, uncanny debut about violence, resilience and hope - and the power of women when they work together. The three women flinch: feel something pass outside. A reek of singed fur, scorching damp. Flaming eyes. A creature. It knows these women. They feel its wanting. From the river it comes. To the river it always returns. Alex is trying to hold her growing family together with a husband who is becoming more and more difficult to keep happy. Lauren hopes that the new man in her life might present a fresh start for her and her two boys. And Nancy's son has moved her into a care home where she feels entirely out of place, longing for her lost dog while dreaming of her own escape. But there is something else at play here. Something lurking in the water or at the end of an unlit street; a shadow in a bag of strangers' clothing; a chorus of voices calling in the distance. As each woman's world spirals from her grasp, they feel it getting closer, revealing the truth of what binds them together, and what must be done to set each of them free . . .

To many in the West, Orthodoxy remains shrouded in mystery, an exotic and foreign religion that survived in the East following the Great Schism of 1054 that split the Christian world into two camps--Catholic and Orthodox. However, as the second largest Christian denomination, Orthodox Christianity is anything but foreign to the nearly 300 million worshippers who practice it. For them, Orthodoxy is a living, breathing reality; a way of being Christian ultimately rooted in the person of Jesus and the experience of the early Church. Whether they are Greek, Russian, or American, Orthodox Christians are united by a common tradition and faith that binds them together despite differences in culture. True, the road has not always been smooth--Orthodox history is littered with tales of schisms and divisions, of persecutions and martyrdom, from the Sack of Constantinople, capital of the Byzantine Empire and seat of the Ecumenical Patriarch, to the experience of the Russian Orthodox Church under the Soviet Union. Still, today Orthodoxy remains a vibrant part of the religious landscape, not only in those lands where it has made its historic home (Greece, Russia, the Middle East, and Eastern Europe), but also increasingly in the West. Orthodox Christianity: A Very Short Introduction explores the enduring role of this religion, and the history, beliefs, and practices that have shaped it.

Angsty sexy New Adult college romance from Italian bestseller and Wattpad sensation Carrie Leighton. For these two lovers, being together is a torment, but parting is impossible. The flawed love story between Vanessa and Thomas has reached the final stop: arguments and reconciliations, betrayal and lies have now divided them. But can something that is this broken-and has broken both their hearts-be mended? Vanessa Clark returns to Corvallis, harboring a deep resentment towards Thomas Collins, the bad boy who broke her heart. Meanwhile, Thomas has straightened himself out, but the anger they both feel triggers clashes and provocations. The attraction that binds them still smolders like fire under the ashes and needs only a spark to flare up again. But Logan, Vanessa's old boyfriend, stands between them, doing everything he can to stick to Vanessa's side. He seems like the perfect companion, a better man who only wants what's best for Vanessa. Or is he? Logan seems to have his own agenda, and perhaps Thomas is right in always warning her against him. To piece their relationship back together, Thomas must show Vanessa that he wants their love to last-because despite all their flaws, they cannot live without each other.

From the author of Tell Me Everything, My Name is Lucy Barton and Olive Kitteridge: a gorgeous new edition of Elizabeth Strout's celebrated novel The Burgess Boys Haunted by the freak accident that killed their father when they were children, Jim and Bob Burgess escaped from their Maine hometown for New York as soon as they could. Jim, a successful corporate lawyer, has belittled his bighearted brother their whole lives, something that Bob, a legal aid attorney who idolises Jim, has always taken in his stride. But when their sister desperately calls them back home to Shirley Falls to help her teenage son out of trouble, long-buried tensions begin to surface in unexpected ways that will change them forever. A stunning story about the tragedies and triumphs of two brothers, from the bestselling author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning Olive Kitteridge. Exploring the ties that bind us to family and home, this novel will resonate with readers long after they turn the final page. Praise for Elizabeth Strout 'Astonishingly good' Evening Standard 'So good it gave me goosebumps' Sunday Times 'Strout animates the ordinary with astonishing force' The New Yorker 'A superbly gifted storyteller and a craftswoman in a league of her own' Hilary Mantel

Do you see the past through a rosy filter that makes it seem like Paradise Lost? Are you convinced that traffic lights always turn red for you? Do you have to win (so as not to lose)? After extricating yourself from a bad relationship, do you find another partner just like the previous one? If so, congratulations! You have the makings of an unhappiness expert. With the techniques in this book, you can raise yourself to the genius level. A word of warning, however. Along the way you may begin to ask yourself, "How did I manage to turn myself into my own worst enemy?" Fortunately, this tongue-in-cheek (but serious) volume takes a look at that question too. Special attention is given to such topics as "Four Games with the Past," "Self-fulfilling Prophecies," and "Why Would Anybody Love Me?" Those who believe that the search for happiness will eventually lead to happiness will find much to ponder in the section "Beware of Arriving." All readers will be both amused and startled to find themselves in these pages, but there is a special delight and enlightenment for therapists and counselors. Although the author does not officially admit it, the book is one complex "symptom prescription," a therapeutic double bind as described and practiced by him and his colleagues.

Do you see the past through a rosy filter that makes it seem like Paradise Lost? Are you convinced that traffic lights always turn red for you? Do you have to win (so as not to lose)? After extricating yourself from a bad relationship, do you find another partner just like the previous one? If so, congratulations! You have the makings of an unhappiness expert. With the techniques in this book, you can raise yourself to the genius level. A word of warning, however. Along the way you may begin to ask yourself, "How did I manage to turn myself into my own worst enemy?" Fortunately, this tongue-in-cheek (but serious) volume takes a look at that question too. Special attention is given to such topics as "Four Games with the Past," "Self-fulfilling Prophecies," and "Why Would Anybody Love Me?" Those who believe that the search for happiness will eventually lead to happiness will find much to ponder in the section "Beware of Arriving." All readers will be both amused and startled to find themselves in these pages, but there is a special delight and enlightenment for therapists and counselors. Although the author does not officially admit it, the book is one complex "symptom prescription," a therapeutic double bind as described and practiced by him and his colleagues.

In this novel, we uncover the secret life of Farida El-Shenawy, as she enters into conflict with her family. But relationships with those we choose willingly don't always last. Shwikar Fahmy lives with her grandmother in her peaceful world. Will her life be turned upside down after she travels to London? In this story: - Learn about the lives of Egyptian Jews who refused to emigrate after 1952. - Discover the impact of emotions on people's lives, how emotions can transform our lives into a complex drama. - Uncover the secret that "Moussa" kept hidden in Alexandria for many years. What binds us to those we love? What is the strength of that strange bond that compels us to leave everything for those we love? And where does the longing come from that makes us return, no matter how long we are gone, to the places where we felt safe and at peace? Khaled meets Farida, and from the moment they meet, they decide never to part. As a result of the promise they make, each of them enters into a struggle with life itself to stay together. What will happen? And will drowning hearts find a shore to rest on from the rapid breaths? That is what we will discover.

With the dangerous, erratic Princess Sophia imprisoned, Queen Charlotte decides to invoke the ancient tradition of The Beauty Trials-a series of harrowing tests meant to find the one true ruler of Orleans. Edel, who has always aspired to be more than just a Belle, decides to enter and, after promising to bind her arcana to keep from having an unnatural advantage, joins a few dozen other hopefuls intent on becoming the next Queen of Orleans. But the trials are far worse than any of them bargained for. As the women are put through dangerous tasks meant to test their strength, confidence, composure, and bravery, many perish, and Edel is mysteriously attacked by one of the other competitors-forcing her to use her powers just to survive. Will her subterfuge cost her the crown, or is there a larger conspiracy at play? New York Times best-selling author Dhonielle Clayton is back with an all-new Belles story teeming with high-stakes court intrigue and danger disguised by beauty.

To many in the West, Orthodoxy remains shrouded in mystery, an exotic and foreign religion that survived in the East following the Great Schism of 1054 that split the Christian world into two camps--Catholic and Orthodox. However, as the second largest Christian denomination, Orthodox Christianity is anything but foreign to the nearly 300 million worshippers who practice it. For them, Orthodoxy is a living, breathing reality; a way of being Christian ultimately rooted in the person of Jesus and the experience of the early Church. Whether they are Greek, Russian, or American, Orthodox Christians are united by a common tradition and faith that binds them together despite differences in culture. True, the road has not always been smooth--Orthodox history is littered with tales of schisms and divisions, of persecutions and martyrdom, from the Sack of Constantinople, capital of the Byzantine Empire and seat of the Ecumenical Patriarch, to the experience of the Russian Orthodox Church under the Soviet Union. Still, today Orthodoxy remains a vibrant part of the religious landscape, not only in those lands where it has made its historic home (Greece, Russia, the Middle East, and Eastern Europe), but also increasingly in the West. Orthodox Christianity: A Very Short Introduction explores the enduring role of this religion, and the history, beliefs, and practices that have shaped it.

Open Wide will quite literally get under your skin - a weird, electrifyingly original love story about the mad, troubling and vulnerable things we do to get close to others 'Will leave you questioning the boundaries we draw around those we love' CHELSEA BIEKER 'Unputdownable' MARIE-HELENE BERTINO 'Smart, unsettling, sexy and hilarious' CLARE BEAMS 'Obsessed' Mirror Olive is desperate to get close to Theo - really, really close. Despite being a radio host, she's always struggled to connect with people. And now she's in her thirties, single, and so flustered by relationships that she secretly records her conversations, hoping to decipher social clues and find a way to be less alone. Then Theo turns up for a shift at the food pantry where she volunteers. He's a surgeon fascinated by human organs, a former football player, and possibly as weird as Olive. For the first time, someone seems to crave and understand her. Every recording Olive makes of Theo is a balm - which just makes her more afraid of losing him. The only solution seems to be to bind him to her forever. Luckily, the gap between Theo's front teeth is just wide enough for something - or someone - to slip inside. 'Strange, ominous and darkly alluring' PENG SHEPHERD 'Uncomfortably delicious' MEGAN MILKS

Angsty sexy New Adult college romance from Italian bestseller and Wattpad sensation Carrie Leighton. For these two lovers, being together is a torment, but parting is impossible. The flawed love story between Vanessa and Thomas has reached the final stop: arguments and reconciliations, betrayal and lies have now divided them. But can something that is this broken-and has broken both their hearts-be mended? Vanessa Clark returns to Corvallis, harboring a deep resentment towards Thomas Collins, the bad boy who broke her heart. Meanwhile, Thomas has straightened himself out, but the anger they both feel triggers clashes and provocations. The attraction that binds them still smolders like fire under the ashes and needs only a spark to flare up again. But Logan, Vanessa's old boyfriend, stands between them, doing everything he can to stick to Vanessa's side. He seems like the perfect companion, a better man who only wants what's best for Vanessa. Or is he? Logan seems to have his own agenda, and perhaps Thomas is right in always warning her against him. To piece their relationship back together, Thomas must show Vanessa that he wants their love to last-because despite all their flaws, they cannot live without each other.

From the author of Tell Me Everything, My Name is Lucy Barton and Olive Kitteridge: a gorgeous new edition of Elizabeth Strout's celebrated novel The Burgess Boys Haunted by the freak accident that killed their father when they were children, Jim and Bob Burgess escaped from their Maine hometown for New York as soon as they could. Jim, a successful corporate lawyer, has belittled his bighearted brother their whole lives, something that Bob, a legal aid attorney who idolises Jim, has always taken in his stride. But when their sister desperately calls them back home to Shirley Falls to help her teenage son out of trouble, long-buried tensions begin to surface in unexpected ways that will change them forever. A stunning story about the tragedies and triumphs of two brothers, from the bestselling author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning Olive Kitteridge. Exploring the ties that bind us to family and home, this novel will resonate with readers long after they turn the final page. Praise for Elizabeth Strout 'Astonishingly good' Evening Standard 'So good it gave me goosebumps' Sunday Times 'Strout animates the ordinary with astonishing force' The New Yorker 'A superbly gifted storyteller and a craftswoman in a league of her own' Hilary Mantel

Open Wide will quite literally get under your skin - a weird, electrifyingly original love story about the mad, troubling and vulnerable things we do to get close to others 'Will leave you questioning the boundaries we draw around those we love' CHELSEA BIEKER 'Unputdownable' MARIE-HELENE BERTINO 'Smart, unsettling, sexy and hilarious' CLARE BEAMS 'Obsessed' Mirror Olive is desperate to get close to Theo - really, really close. Despite being a radio host, she's always struggled to connect with people. And now she's in her thirties, single, and so flustered by relationships that she secretly records her conversations, hoping to decipher social clues and find a way to be less alone. Then Theo turns up for a shift at the food pantry where she volunteers. He's a surgeon fascinated by human organs, a former football player, and possibly as weird as Olive. For the first time, someone seems to crave and understand her. Every recording Olive makes of Theo is a balm - which just makes her more afraid of losing him. The only solution seems to be to bind him to her forever. Luckily, the gap between Theo's front teeth is just wide enough for something - or someone - to slip inside. 'Strange, ominous and darkly alluring' PENG SHEPHERD 'Uncomfortably delicious' MEGAN MILKS

Open Wide will quite literally get under your skin - a weird, electrifyingly original love story about the mad, troubling and vulnerable things we do to get close to others 'Will leave you questioning the boundaries we draw around those we love' CHELSEA BIEKER 'Unputdownable' MARIE-HELENE BERTINO 'Smart, unsettling, sexy and hilarious' CLARE BEAMS 'Obsessed' Mirror Olive is desperate to get close to Theo - really, really close. Despite being a radio host, she's always struggled to connect with people. And now she's in her thirties, single, and so flustered by relationships that she secretly records her conversations, hoping to decipher social clues and find a way to be less alone. Then Theo turns up for a shift at the food pantry where she volunteers. He's a surgeon fascinated by human organs, a former football player, and possibly as weird as Olive. For the first time, someone seems to crave and understand her. Every recording Olive makes of Theo is a balm - which just makes her more afraid of losing him. The only solution seems to be to bind him to her forever. Luckily, the gap between Theo's front teeth is just wide enough for something - or someone - to slip inside. 'Strange, ominous and darkly alluring' PENG SHEPHERD 'Uncomfortably delicious' MEGAN MILKS

A gripping and emotional suspense about two sisters and the dark past that binds them, from the eight-time Sunday Times bestselling author. 'JANE IS THE QUEEN OF FAMILY MYSTERIES' ANDREA MARA Rosy is the responsible sister. Amy is the free spirit, always breaking the rules. But between them lies a secret; one they've sworn to keep safe, whatever the cost. When Amy confides in James, her new psychiatrist, he begins to suspect one sister is covering for the other. Instinct tells him to run, but his own dark past draws him ever closer to the two women, and they to him. As cracks form in the sisters' facade, something becomes clear: three's a crowd, and one of them has to go. WHAT READERS ARE SAYING ABOUT MY SISTER'S SECRET: 'From the very first page, you know you're in for a ride' Jeremy Vine, bestselling author of Murder on Line One 'I very much enjoyed this fast-paced thriller full of secrets and twists. A masterclass in rising tension' K.L. Slater, author of The Waitress 'Another gripping family thriller from Jane that once again I could not put down' Heidi Perks, bestselling author of Someone is Lying 'Jane Corry writes compelling and delicious dark stories of murder and secrets' Claire Douglas, bestselling author of The Family Friend 'It is so 'just-one-more-chapter' moreish' Emma Curtis, bestselling author of One Little Mistake

Rachel thought she had buried her first love alongside her brother. For the last four years, Rachel has spent her time becoming exactly who everyone needs her to be. The dependable daughter. The easy girlfriend. The strong survivor. The supportive best friend.But when she walks into her best friend's wedding and locks eyes with Rhett, her carefully constructed world starts to fracture. Her brother's best friend. The one love she has never been able to forget. The only person who has ever seen past the mask. Rhett left town carrying guilt and a promise to protect her, convinced that walking away was the only way to keep her safe from the wreckage of his own broken family. But loving Rachel was never something he could outrun-and seeing her again makes one truth impossible to ignore: leaving was the greatest mistake of his life. The Long Way Home tells the story of the invisible strings that bind us, the courage it takes to confront loss and the love that demands we risk everything to find our way back to the person we were always meant to be. Choosing Rhett means dismantling the life Rachel built to survive. Loving Rachel means risking the one person Rhett has never been able to lose. Some loves don't take the easy road. Some are worth taking the long way for.

After a woman is killed and her daughter vanishes, detective Chelsey Calhoun uncovers a legacy of violence and survival that spans from Japan to Seattle in this propulsive novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Return of Ellie Black. A murdered woman. A missing daughter. A truth buried across two continents. Married, pregnant, and thriving in her career, Detective Chelsey Calhoun’s life finally feels whole, until an explosive new case shatters everything. A mother is dead. Her sixteen-year-old daughter, Naomi, has disappeared. And the search will awaken questions about Chelsey’s own origins—questions she’s spent a lifetime afraid to ask. The victim called herself Anne Walker. But she was born Rika Takahashi, and her journey from a remote Japanese farm to suburban Seattle conceals decades of deception. Across Tokyo’s shadowed underworld, an isolated Idaho town, and years of carefully constructed lies, Rika reinvented herself at every turn. But she was always running—from someone, or something. Now, Chelsey must find Naomi before she becomes the next victim. But the deeper she delves into Rika’s hidden life, the more she discovers: some secrets are worth killing for. And the most dangerous truths may be the ones closest to home. Told in three interwoven voices, Before You Were Anne is a gripping suspense novel about the lies that bind families and the sins that echo across generations.

Rachel thought she had buried her first love alongside her brother. For the last four years, Rachel has spent her time becoming exactly who everyone needs her to be. The dependable daughter. The easy girlfriend. The strong survivor. The supportive best friend.But when she walks into her best friend's wedding and locks eyes with Rhett, her carefully constructed world starts to fracture. Her brother's best friend. The one love she has never been able to forget. The only person who has ever seen past the mask. Rhett left town carrying guilt and a promise to protect her, convinced that walking away was the only way to keep her safe from the wreckage of his own broken family. But loving Rachel was never something he could outrun-and seeing her again makes one truth impossible to ignore: leaving was the greatest mistake of his life. The Long Way Home tells the story of the invisible strings that bind us, the courage it takes to confront loss and the love that demands we risk everything to find our way back to the person we were always meant to be. Choosing Rhett means dismantling the life Rachel built to survive. Loving Rachel means risking the one person Rhett has never been able to lose. Some loves don't take the easy road. Some are worth taking the long way for.

From Julia Donaldson, the bestselling author of The Gruffalo, comes Princess Mirror-Belle and the Magic Shoes, the exciting adventures of a mischievous princess.This bind-up of two fantastic books, Princess Mirror-Belle and The Magic Shoes and Princess Mirror-Belle and Prince Precious Paws, contains five delightful stories that children will come back to again and again.Ellen's life is turned upside down by the hilarious Mirror-Belle, a spirited princess who claims to be from somewhere mysterious and far away. She appears out of mirrors to tell Ellen magical stories and take her on exciting escapades. From going to ballet class to staying at Ellen's grandparents' house, causing mischief with their furry friends, having fun at Halloween and taking the princess test, you can always guarantee that wherever Mirror-Belle goes, trouble will follow.With a cover illustration by What the Ladybird Heard illustrator Lydia Monks and read by actress Sophie Thompson, Princess Mirror-Belle and the Magic Shoes is perfect for fans who are beginning to listen on their own.

A gripping and emotional suspense about two sisters and the dark past that binds them, from the eight-time Sunday Times bestselling author. 'JANE IS THE QUEEN OF FAMILY MYSTERIES' ANDREA MARA Rosy is the responsible sister. Amy is the free spirit, always breaking the rules. But between them lies a secret; one they've sworn to keep safe, whatever the cost. When Amy confides in James, her new psychiatrist, he begins to suspect one sister is covering for the other. Instinct tells him to run, but his own dark past draws him ever closer to the two women, and they to him. As cracks form in the sisters' facade, something becomes clear: three's a crowd, and one of them has to go. WHAT READERS ARE SAYING ABOUT MY SISTER'S SECRET: 'From the very first page, you know you're in for a ride' Jeremy Vine, bestselling author of Murder on Line One 'I very much enjoyed this fast-paced thriller full of secrets and twists. A masterclass in rising tension' K.L. Slater, author of The Waitress 'Another gripping family thriller from Jane that once again I could not put down' Heidi Perks, bestselling author of Someone is Lying 'Jane Corry writes compelling and delicious dark stories of murder and secrets' Claire Douglas, bestselling author of The Family Friend 'It is so 'just-one-more-chapter' moreish' Emma Curtis, bestselling author of One Little Mistake

This volume is dedicated to the interrelation between temporality and representation. It presumes that time cannot be conceived of as an abstract chronometric order, but that it is referring to materiality, being measured, represented, expressed, recognized, experienced and evaluated, and therefore is always closely related to cultural contexts of perception and evaluation.The contributions from various disciplines are dedicated to the present and its plural conditions and meanings. They provide insights into the state of research with special emphasis on the global present as well as on art and aesthetics from the 18th century until today.The anthology includes contributions by Mieke Bal, Stefan Binder, Maximilian Bergengruen, Iris Därmann, Gabriele Genge, Boris Roman Gibhardt, Boris Groys, Maria Muhle, Johannes F. Lehmann, Nkiru Nzegwu, Francesca Raimondi, Christine Ross, Ludger Schwarte, Angela Stercken, Samuel Strehle, Timm Trausch, Patrick Stoffel, and Christina Wessely.

From Julia Donaldson, the bestselling author of The Gruffalo, comes Princess Mirror-Belle and The Flying Horse, the exciting adventures of a mischievous princess.This bind-up of two fantastic books, Princess Mirror-Belle and the Flying Horse and Princess Mirror-Belle and the Sea Monster's Cave, contains four delightful stories that children will come back to again and again.Ellen's life is turned upside down by the hilarious Mirror-Belle, a spirited princess who claims to be from somewhere mysterious and far away. She appears out of mirrors to tell Ellen magical stories and take her on exciting escapades. From exploring a hospital after Ellen falls off her bike to chasing after Mirror-Belle's magic ball, going to the seaside and joining the unusual pets club, you can always guarantee that wherever Mirror-Belle goes, trouble will follow.With a cover illustration by What the Ladybird Heard illustrator Lydia Monks and read by actress Sophie Thompson, Princess Mirror-Belle and the Flying Horse is perfect for fans who are beginning to listen on their own.

College romance meets Billionaires meets Vampires in a brand-new paranormal romance series from Sunday Times bestselling author Elena Armas, as an unsuspecting heiress with a target on her back enlists the protection of a vampire whose wealth and secrets rival her own. Valle Cepeda's life changes drastically over the course of a winter break, when she goes from being an Ivy League scholarship student one day to inheriting a fortune from the mother she's never met by the next. The fate of Alma, a coveted fashion empire, is now in Val's hands. Hadrian Cruz presents himself as a calculating, self-serving player in the game of who takes over Alma, but that isn't his true aim. A blood debt that chains him to a hundred-year-old wound is finally being collected, and it involves Val. Furious at everyone who has tried to manipulate her, Val returns to Icarus University, only to see her world has changed shape dramatically, and Hadrian is now at the center of it. She doesn't trust him, but there are things only Hadrian can provide: protection, and a way to satiate the longing she craves more than fears. Plagued by nightmares, can Val decipher the secrets of her legacy? And can she accept that what she feels for Hadrian runs deeper than attraction? Answers always come at a cost, and these could shatter her heart...or bind her soul to the monster she desires the most.

The Instant #1 New York Times Bestseller! "Good Spirits is an absolute knockout. A new Borison book feels like coming home in the best way. She's truly in a league of her own." - Hannah Grace, New York Times bestselling author of Icebreaker The USA Today bestselling author of Business Casual, B.K. Borison is back with a whimsical new holiday romance-this time with a magical twist-that will have everyone falling in love with the Ghost of Christmas Past. He's the Ghost of Christmas Past. She's not exactly Scrooge. Ghost of Christmas Past Nolan Callahan intends to spend this holiday haunting like every other-get in, get out, return to his otherwise aimless existence as a ghost awaiting the afterlife. But when he's faced with Harriet York, the sweetest assignment he's ever had, he suddenly finds himself wishing for a future. Harriet York has no idea why she's being haunted. She's a good person-or, at least, she tries to be. A people pleaser to her core, she always does what's expected of her. But as she and Nolan begin to examine her past, they discover there are threads that bind them together- and realize there might be more to moving on than expected. With the deadline of Christmas Eve fast approaching, will they find the key to their futures in each other's pasts? Or will they stay firmly in the present, indulging in their unexpected, spirited connection? Filled with magic, mayhem, and cozy holiday charm, this swoony romance is B.K. Borison's best yet!

College romance meets Billionaires meets Vampires in a brand-new paranormal romance series from Sunday Times bestselling author Elena Armas, as an unsuspecting heiress with a target on her back enlists the protection of a vampire whose wealth and secrets rival her own. Valle Cepeda's life changes drastically over the course of a winter break, when she goes from being an Ivy League scholarship student one day to inheriting a fortune from the mother she's never met by the next. The fate of Alma, a coveted fashion empire, is now in Val's hands. Hadrian Cruz presents himself as a calculating, self-serving player in the game of who takes over Alma, but that isn't his true aim. A blood debt that chains him to a hundred-year-old wound is finally being collected, and it involves Val. Furious at everyone who has tried to manipulate her, Val returns to Icarus University, only to see her world has changed shape dramatically, and Hadrian is now at the center of it. She doesn't trust him, but there are things only Hadrian can provide: protection, and a way to satiate the longing she craves more than fears. Plagued by nightmares, can Val decipher the secrets of her legacy? And can she accept that what she feels for Hadrian runs deeper than attraction? Answers always come at a cost, and these could shatter her heart...or bind her soul to the monster she desires the most.

In a world where magic is controlled, suppressed, and feared, power is not something to be wielded freely—it is something to be contained. Seraphina has spent her life bound by the Circle, her Ash Magic sealed beneath ancient runes etched into her very skin. Locked away in the depths of Obsidian Keep, she is treated as both a threat and a weapon—too dangerous to release, too valuable to destroy. But something within her is changing. The magic she was meant to lose is not fading... it is evolving. Stronger. Sharper. Hungrier. Every surge of emotion awakens something new beneath the seals, a power even the Circle does not fully understand. And then there is Caelum Nightborne—the Enforcer sent to watch her. Cold. Loyal. Unyielding. He is the Circle's weapon made flesh, sworn to suppress the very magic Seraphina represents. Yet with every visit, every silent exchange, every moment his storm-grey eyes linger too long on her chains, the line between duty and defiance begins to blur. Because something binds them both—something neither of them chose. As the Circle debates whether Seraphina should be destroyed, controlled, or transformed into something far more dangerous, a darker truth begins to surface: her power is not the only thing changing. And if the seals break... it won't just be magic that is unleashed. It will be truth. In a world built on control, rebellion is not always loud. Sometimes, it begins as a whisper beneath the skin. Bound by Smoke and Shadow is the gripping second installment in The Ash & Shadow Saga, a dark fantasy romance filled with forbidden magic, slow-burn tension, enemies-to-lovers dynamics, and a world where power always demands a price.