Ancient World

An ancient goddess drawing her followers closer to free her from her prison. . .A man who discovers he can control the winds and storms. . .The woman he betrayed who must trust him if they are to conquer the evil one. . .Soren Thorson thought his uncle's stories of an evil force trying to return to destroy their world just another tale of outdated gods. When the powers rise in his blood and he can call and control the winds and sky, Soren realizes he is part of a bigger plot. And when groups of strangers arrive in Orkney and threaten the one woman he loved and lost, he is willing to do what he must to protect her. He never expected it meant battling others who held the powers of ancient gods within them.After Soren's betrayal, Ran Sveinsdottir turns her attentions to learning and controlling her father's trading company. Until a powerful and terrifying man arrives and uses her father to force her into his dark plan. Until she discovers that her affinity to water and the sea is much, much more than simply that.As more innocent lives are put at risk and the future of humanity hangs in the balance, Ran must discover the truth about Soren and her own new powers and decide if she can risk her life, heart and soul to the one man who'd thrown them away once before.This dark, emotional fantasy romance series set in medieval Scotland was previously published by Berkley.

THE GREATEST LOVE STORY NEVER TOLD.A profoundly moving sapphic tale of love, identity and defiance that retells the love story of Penelope, one of Ancient Greece's most famous heroines.'This is Rosie Hewlett's masterpiece' JENNIFER SAINT, bestselling author of Hera'As dazzling as Madeline Miller's reimagining of the Iliad in The Song of Achilles' ELODIE HARPER, bestselling author of The Wolf Den'The fury, the power, the cadence of this story will stay with me for years to come ... Sappho herself would be proud.' NIKITA GILL, bestselling author of HetakeOne fateful night in Sparta, a young slave girl encounters a mysterious, grey-eyed princess. Melantho and Penelope, though from different worlds, are instantly connected. But betrayal soon tears them apart.Years later, on Ithaca's rocky shores, Melantho is sent to serve Princess Penelope and her new husband, Prince Odysseus. Hardened by slavery, Melantho vows to stay distant from Penelope. Yet, the undeniable pull between them proves stronger than ever.As war ignites Greece, Odysseus and Ithaca's men are called away and, in their absence, Melantho finds a new world opening up before her - one where women rule, where family can be found, and where love is finally given the space to bloom.But all wars eventually end and as Troy falls, Penelope and Melantho must face the King's return and decide how far they will go to protect what matters most to them.'A stunning tale of defiance, integrity and enduring love. Crafted with complexity and woven with reverent yearning' KIKA HATZOPOULOU, bestselling author of Threads That Bind 'What The Song of Achilles did for The Iliad, Sweetbitter Song does for The Odyssey. A masterclass in mythic retelling' KIM CURRAN, author of The Morrigan'Visceral and haunting ... Outstanding' HAZEL McBRIDE, bestselling author of A Fate Forged in Fire'Will tear you to pieces and mend you again ... a gorgeous, scintillating re-imagining.' EMILY HAUSER, author of MythicaReaders love Rosie's writing...'This book is up there with Song of Achilles as one of my all-time favourite retellings''Heart-breaking and beautiful''Any readers of mythological retellings struggling to find a rival to Madeline Miller should look no further than Rosie Hewlett''Absolutely spellbinding''Dark, moody, at times heartbreaking, and utterly phenomenal, this book is an absolute must read for any fans of Circe or Ariadne!'

A thrilling, profoundly moving, and utterly unique retelling of the legend of Achilles and the Trojan War from the bestselling author of Circe.This deluxe edition features: - Elegant sprayed and stenciled edges- Sparkling gold foil- Endpapers featuring a map of Homer’s Greece- A guide to Greek gods, mortals, and heroes- Essays by Madeline Miller and discussion questionsA tale of gods and goddesses, kings and queens, immortal fame and the human heart.Achilles, “the best of all the Greeks,” son of the cruel sea goddess Thetis and the legendary king Peleus, is strong, swift, and beautiful—irresistible to all who meet him. Patroclus is an awkward young prince, exiled from his homeland after an act of shocking violence. Brought together by chance, they forge an inseparable bond, despite risking the gods’ wrath.They are trained by the centaur Chiron in the arts of war and medicine, but when words comes that Helen of Sparta has been kidnapped, all the heroes of Greece are called upon to lay siege to Troy in her name. Seduced by the promise of a glorious destiny, Achilles joins their cause, and torn between love and fear for his friend, Patroclus follows. Little do they know that the cruel Fates will test them both as never before and demand a terrible sacrifice.

Lebendig und kraftvoll - über die wohl umstrittenste Figur der Griechischen MythologieGemieden. Verfolgt. Gequält.Medea sehnt sich nach einem anderen Leben. Seit ihrer Kindheit ist sie von ihrer Schwester getrennt, von ihrer Mutter gemieden und von ihrem Bruder und Vater verfolgt und gequält worden. Und das alles wegen eines einzigartigen und gefährlichen Talents: der Hexerei.Unerbittlich. Mächtig. Magisch.Doch als ein tollkühner junger Held, Jason, auftaucht, um das berühmte Goldene Vlies einzufordern, das ihr Vater so vehement beschützt, sieht Medea ihre Chance zur Flucht. Ihr Angebot, Jason bei der Überwindung der von ihrem Vater auferlegten Prüfungen zu helfen, setzt eine Reise in Gang, die jedes Quäntchen ihrer Stärke, Magie und Loyalität auf die Probe stellen wird; eine Reise, auf der sie gegen Monster kämpfen, Könige entthronen und sich verlieben wird.Aber als sie mit dem ultimativen Verrat konfrontiert wird, wird Medea zu einer Verzweiflungstat getrieben, die so brutal ist, dass sie das Leben aller Beteiligten zerreißt...

Instant New York Times bestseller<BR><BR>'Exquisite and devastating. It won't fail to move you' ­- Shelley Parker-Chan, author of She Who Became the SunHer beauty hides a deadly purpose . . .<BR>Since birth, Xishi's extraordinary beauty has been seen as a blessing. When Xishi draws the attention of the famous young military advisor Fanli, he presents her with a rare opportunity: to use her beauty as a weapon. One that could topple the rival neighbouring kingdom, improve the lives of her people and avenge her sister's murder. All she has to do is infiltrate the enemy palace as a spy and seduce their immoral king.<BR><BR>What neither Xishi nor Fanli expects is the doomed attraction that ignites between them. Even worse, Xishi soon finds herself under the hungry gaze of the king and his advisors. A brutality lurks behind his gentleness, and Xishi knows she can never let her guard down. But the higher she climbs in the court, the further she and Fanli have to fall. And if she is unmasked as a traitor, she will bring both kingdoms down . . .<BR><BR>Inspired by the legend of Xishi, one of the famous Four Beauties of Ancient China, A Song to Drown Rivers is an epic historical fantasy about womanhood, war, sacrifice and love against all odds, as the fate of two kingdoms hangs in a delicate balance.<BR>Why readers love A Song to Drown Rivers:<BR>'I am STUNNED by just how beautiful this was'<BR><BR>'This book will break your heart in a way only a talented author can do'<BR><BR>'Ended up reading until 2 a.m. on a work night . . . Beautiful writing and characters'<BR><BR>'Amazing . . . I was fully crying on the plane while reading it'<BR>

Ivy Johansson is living the only life she's ever known, in an underground colony in what was once a remote part of the Australian landscape, now almost seafront property... And it's her birthday.The Earth's surface is uninhabitable, but small pockets of humanity survive, and some even thrive, in highly controlled underground cities. Ivy is one of the lucky ones. But she yearns for more. She's never been on an adventure... and she's never fallen in love.The Eternity League, a secret society within her colony, offers hope for change, to return the Earth to its former glory. Ivy doesn't know the details, but she knows she wants to be a part of it. And she has skills that the League needs.¿¿¿¿¿¿¿Risking everything that is safe in her life, she joins the league on a mission to the distant past. But what she finds there is not what she expected. Nor is the mission's actual objective.In a world of abundance and mystery, Ivy is challenged in ways that push her to the limits of her soul. Can love save the day? Or will an act of defiance cause Ivy to lose it all, including her life?*This book was written by an Australian Author and uses Australian English. The spelling of some words may differ from region to region.

WHEN GODS TURN VENGEFUL, ONLY THE BRAVE CAN DEFY FATE AND FIND THEIR WAY HOMEDiscover Stephen Fry's epic re-telling of the Odyssey for the 21st century'Relatable and full of humour . . . Odyssey brings [the] four-book sequence satisfyingly to a close' GUARDIAN'Outstandingly entertaining quartet of books . . . Fry breathes contemporary relevance into these ancient tales' OBSERVER'Odyssey completes his Greek Myths series in marvellous fashion. . . Fry, a born storyteller, succeeds again in making the ancient stories accessible' IRISH INDEPENDENT-- After the fall of Troy, wily Odysseus, King of Ithaca, sails for home and his steadfast queen Penelope.However, the angry gods curse him to wander the seas for ten long years. Tormented by giants and monsters, tempted by witches and goddesses, Odysseus battles to draw ever closer to home.Awaiting him is Penelope, defying reports of his death. But this queen endures her own tormentors - an army of young suitors eager to claim her hand and the throne . . .-- Praise for Stephen Fry's Greek Myths series:'Fry is at his story-telling best . . . the gods will be pleased' The Times'Brilliant . . . all hail Stephen Fry' Daily Mail'A head-spinning marathon of legends' Guardian'A rollicking good read' Independent'An Olympian feat. The gods seem to be smiling on Fry - his myths are definitely a hit' Evening StandardSunday Times bestseller, October 2024

She chose love. The price she paid was war.A stunning combination of history and mythology - 'an intriguing, luxuriously realised novel' FINANCIAL TIMESREADERS on LAVINIA:'Utterly compelling' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'Clever twist' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'Super' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'Like Spartan Helen, I caused a war. She caused hers by letting men who wanted her take her. I caused mine because I wouldn't be given, wouldn't be taken, but chose my man and my fate'Lavinia is the daughter of the King of Latium, a victorious warrior who loves peace; she is her father's closest companion. Now of an age to wed, Lavinia's mother favours her own kinsman, handsome, heroic, everything a young girl should want. Instead, Lavinia dreams of mighty Aeneas, a man she has heard of only from a ghost of a poet, who comes to her in the gods' holy place and tells her of her future, and Aeneas' past... If she refuses to wed her mother's choice, Lavinia knows she will start a war...'Subtly moving, playful...a novel that brought me to tears more than once. Lavinia is a delightful heroine' GUARDIAN

Magnus and Agnes' meet-cute, a Valentine's Day novella set in the Noble Norsemen village.After a series of unhappy relationships and disappointments, Magnus, the blacksmith, feels he deserves the woman of his dreams.When Agnes is offered a chance to flee the marriage arranged by her father, she doesn't hesitate. It will not take her long to see that the men in the Norsemen village are nothing like the ones she is used to.But none more so than the handsome blacksmith who offers her shelter...

"Simply gorgeous! The prose flows as smoothly as the waters of the Nile, rich in sensory detail . . . . Solomons pulls back the layers of history to show us the true Cleopatra in all of her pride and glory."—Luna McNamara, author of Psyche & Eros"Wonderful . . . . A fresh and lively take on a well-known tale."—The TimesFrom the internationally bestselling author of Fair Rosaline comes a captivating historical novel—a powerful retelling of the life of one of the most beguiling and misrepresented female figures in history, Cleopatra.The favored daughter of the Pharaoh, Egyptian Princess Cleopatra spent her childhood hiding amid the scrolls in the great library of Alexandria, dreaming of one day writing her own story.When her father dies, naming both Cleopatra and her selfish brother Ptolemy as his successors to the throne, danger arises. While the young Queen sails the Nile to greet her people, her brother plots to eliminate her and rule the empire alone.But while Ptolemy has the power of the kingdom behind him, Cleopatra has her cunning wits. When the great Caesar arrives from Rome, she realizes he could be the key to her salvation—though courting this powerful man could cost her everything.Can Cleopatra save her life, her throne, and her beloved Egypt and finally write her own history?Told from the dueling perspectives of Cleopatra and Caesar’s mistress Servilia, I Am Cleopatra is a powerful, addictively readable reimagining of the alluring queen’s life. A modern retelling that goes beyond previous caricatures, I Am Cleopatra is a fascinating portrait of the flesh-and blood-woman behind the great legend. Natasha Solomons’ spellbinding story of female power and fragility, love and loss, fierce friendship and terrible betrayal introduces at last the real Cleopatra in all her glory and vulnerability.

She flew too close to the sun.Now he's claimed her for his bride.But can he woo her before she flies away forever?Raised among the secrets and shadows of Crete, Icarus finds escape soaring through the sky with her finest invention, a pair of wings. But when she flies too close to the sun, Apollo finally sees the woman who has haunted his visions for a year. The woman he is certain is meant for him.She wants freedom. He wants her . . .So, Apollo demands Icarus as his sacrificial bride, to be given to him on the Summer Solstice. But he doesn't dare trust his destiny to the Fates. Apollo disguises himself as a mortal to woo his promised bride. The only way he can get close to her, however, is to help her as she prepares to escape Crete- and her unwanted bridegroom.Falling in love just might mean crashing and burning . . .Apollo will do whatever it takes to convince Icarus to choose a future with him. But she might not have a future to give. A new prophecy haunts him: Icarus will fall, but not in love. And mortals are such delicate creatures.They were always meant to be a tragedy. But maybe that was only the beginning . . .He falls first.She literally falls.Bride of the Sun is the first installment of Love of Legends, a series of interconnected standalones. Love of Legends retells Greco-Roman myths as no-spice romantasies set in Ancient Greece. Each installment features a different couple who earn their happily ever after by the end of the book as well as crossover appearances from other characters in the series. Bride of the Sun is part of the "Minoan Cycle" of Love of Legends, and each installment in this cycle features a couple that pairs a Cretan mortal and an immortal Primordial.

'[A] page-turning mystery [and] laugh-out-loud banter' MARY E. PEARSON'A thrilling adventure the whole way through' RACHEL GRIFFIN ¿¿¿AN IMPOSSIBLE LOVE. AN ENCHANTED LEGACY. A DANGEROUS DISCOVERY. ¿¿¿1885, Egypt: Inez Olivera is left reeling from her cousin Elvira's murder, and her mother's betrayal, and when Tío Ricardo issues an ultimatum about her inheritance, she's left with only one option to consider.Marriage to Whitford Hayes.Former British soldier, her uncle's aide de camp, and one time nemesis, Whit has his own mysterious reasons for staying in Egypt. With her heart on the line, Inez might have to bind her fate to the one person whose secret plans could ruin her.The stunning conclusion to the Sunday Times and New York Times bestselling Secrets of the Nile duology. A lush immersive historical fantasy set in Egypt filled with adventure, and a rivals-to-lovers romance like no other!TROPESRivals-to-lovers ¿¿¿¿Marriage of convenience ¿Forced proximity ¿Slow-burn romance ¿¿¿¿READERS LOVE IT'Inez and Whit have my heart forever'¿¿¿¿¿'So much adventure, romance, twists, a perfectly delightful sprinkle of magic, mystery, morally grey characters' ¿¿¿¿¿'Bring this book to my grave and read it to me' ¿¿¿¿¿'This was everything I could have hoped for, especially after that devastating cliffhanger' ¿¿¿¿¿'This was absolutely spectacular. I was obsessed and devoured it in a single day' ¿¿¿¿¿

Award-winning Colombian author Laura Restrepo weaves contemporary themes and ancient myth in this story of star-crossed lovers in a world on the brink of collapse.Retelling the mythical love story between the Queen of Sheba and King Solomon in the refugee camps of the present day, Song of Ancient Lovers is a sublime ode to love and desire as forces shaping human history, with power that rivals forces of destruction.Ethereal in its weaving of the real and the mythical, the contemporary and the ancient, this is the story of Bos Mutas, a young writer traveling from South America to northern Africa in search of traces of his obsession. His research unveils the Queen of Sheba as unyielding and committed to her independence, with remarkable influence both in her time—over Solomon and all the subjects in her expansive kingdom—and on thinkers and artists across the centuries, from Thomas Aquinas to Gérard de Nerval, Frida Kahlo to Patti Smith. He also finds traces of her influence in the magic made of devastating circumstances by women he meets on his journey, especially Zahra Bayda, a Somali midwife who has taken it upon herself to show him around.Stunning and evocative, Song of Ancient Lovers is a triumph of imagination and reverence for the spirit that connects us across boundaries of time and geography.Translated from the Spanish by Caro De Robertis

This book was an Editor's Pick from Publishers Weekly Booklife and a finalist for the Chanticleer 2025 Chaucer Award for Early Historical Fiction.After the fall of Troy, during the Bronze Age Collapse, Diomedes leads his Akhaian (Achaean) troop inland and helps bring down the Hittite Empire. In so doing, he falls in love with its queen, Lieia-Hepa. They become tragically separated in the Underworld and desperately agree to meet again at the Temple of the ancient Bird-Goddess in Paphos on Kyprios (Cyprus), where the marauding Sea Peoples are gathering. They each must undergo a hero's quest to reach Paphos and find each other again, but many dangers stand in their way. Lieia's emergence from the sea after a shipwreck is mistaken by the people for the birth of Goddess Aphrodite, while the Akhaians on Kyprios welcome Diomedes as their new leader. The pair become the rulers of Paphos, but they must still deal with jealous rivals, ruthless pirates, pretty Adonis (who is madly in love with Lieia-Aphrodite), and sorcery. Lieia becomes drawn to the role of Aphrodite and the lure of Adonis, so she begins to forget who she really is.This is a historically-based novel with authentic, mythic, and fictional characters interacting across the extraordinary panorama of the Bronze Age Collapse after the Fall of Troy and the Hittite Empire. This was a time of such chaos that empires fell, royalty was overthrown, palaces and temples were destroyed, and the hierarchy of the gods was doubted, yet people's self-reliance emerged like never before, and the ancient Great Goddess of the Cycles of Time, who had been suppressed, began to regain her former dominance. The Bronze Age Collapse was brought about by similar issues to those we face today-massive climate change, the control of wealth by power elites, the problem of runaway migrations, and wars of conquest.

In an empire where love and loyalty face relentless tests, "Legends of the Jade Empire" weaves an unforgettable trilogy of passion, duty, and danger. Follow three brave heroines and their forbidden romances as they fight to protect ancient secrets and shape the fate of two great empires. Each book reveals another facet of love's resilience against betrayals, political intrigue, and threats to peace that threaten to tear everything apart. Set in a richly painted world of ancient Korea and China, these interwoven stories pull you into hidden palaces, ancient rituals, and the clandestine lives of warriors, healers, and spies. Lovers must choose between the pull of their hearts and the honor of their empires. Will love's whispers overcome the jade-tipped swords of fate? Perfect for fans of historical romance and epic sagas, this trilogy promises edge-of-your-seat action, forbidden romance, and characters that will stay in your heart long after you turn the final page. Join Hwa Rin, Jin Ho, and others as they fight for their love and their legacies. Uncover the hidden secrets, betrayals, and the undying strength of true love within the "Legends of the Jade Empire." Don't wait to begin your journey. Order now and immerse yourself in the power of love, legacy, and loyalty.

River of Life: a Roman-era adventure with dangerous choices, unlikely friendships, world views in conflict, and a love story you won't forget.When the future you dreamed of looks impossible, maybe God has a better one planned.Driven from home because of her Christian faith, Neferu lands a position tutoring Jason, her childhood friend's young son. Jason's father despises him and banishes both the boy and Neferu to his ancestral estate, where Jason becomes the target of a family member who wants Jason's inheritance for her own boys. How can a mere servant thwart her mistress before her young charge is killed? Knowing what she does, is her life at risk as well?When Lusario's new master, Caelus Martinus, decided they would train together to work as architects, Lusario's once-bleak future seemed bright. But if they don't get a commission within a month to design a building, both will lose the future they long for.During their trip up the Nile to compete for a building contract, disaster strikes, forcing Neferu to rescue Lusario and Caelus from certain death. As the threat to Neferu and Jason grows, both men would do anything to protect her and the boy. Might death await them all if they fail?"This is a fabulous ancient-world series of novels that follow the lives of fictional early Christians. Carol is meticulous with her research and a true expert on Ancient Rome! History lovers and those who enjoy my biblical books are going to LOVE this series!" -- Roseanna White, best-selling author and Christy Award winner. If you enjoy the Roman-era Biblical fiction of Tessa Afshar and Francine River's Mark of the Lion series, you'll love the stand-alone novels of the Light in the Empire series.

READ THE FINAL BOOK IN STEPHEN FRY'S ACCLAIMED INTERNATIONALLY BESTSELLING GREEK MYTHS SERIES TELLING THE STORY OF THE ODYSSEYCAN A HERO FIND HIS WAY HOME?The most famous heroic story of all time, Odyssey is chock full of monsters, murder, maelstroms, gods, giants, wit, wisdom - and the most cunning hero of them all: Odysseus'Outstandingly entertaining quartet of books . . . Fry breathes contemporary relevance into these ancient tales . . . his wry sense of humour and natural gift for storytelling make for a highly engaging read' Observer'[A] jaunty version of Homer. . . The last in Fry's four-book retelling of the Greek myths is relatable and full of humour' Guardian, Book of the Day'The familiar narrative bounds along in a chatty style, coloured with mildly revisionist insights into the characters' Daily Mail----Troy has fallen - and the victorious Greeks head home . . .Setting sail, hero Odysseus dreams of lying in the arms of his beloved wife Penelope, and of teaching his son Telemachus a warrior's ways. However, gods toy with the desires of little mortals. Angered by this upstart's presumption, Poseidon - God of the ocean realms - curses our hero to wander the seas for ten long years.Encountering one-eyed giants, six-headed monsters, terrible storms, titanic whirlpools, hypnotic sirens, seductive witches and jealous goddesses, Odysseus is tempted and tormented beyond any man's endurance.Yet he is no mere mortal - and the lure of his wife and son draws him, step by step, stroke by stroke, ever closer to home and his destiny . . .A tale of love and longing, return and redemption, home and hope, Stephen Fry's Odyssey sees the author and national treasure weave together the final fabulous threads of the tapestry begun in worldwide bestseller, Mythos. It is a story for the ages - and all ages.----'Odyssey completes his Greek Myths series in marvellous fashion. . . Fry, a born storyteller, succeeds again in making the ancient stories accessible' Irish Independent'Accessible storytelling and Fry brings warmth, exuberance and humour. Hard to beat' GuardianPraise for Stephen Fry's Greek Myths series:'Fry is at his story-telling best . . . the gods will be pleased' The Times'Brilliant . . . all hail Stephen Fry' Daily Mail'A head-spinning marathon of legends' Guardian'A rollicking good read' Independent'An Olympian feat. The gods seem to be smiling on Fry - his myths are definitely a hit' Evening StandardSunday Times bestseller, October 2024

Instant New York Times bestseller<BR><BR>'Exquisite and devastating. It won't fail to move you' ­- Shelley Parker-Chan, author of She Who Became the SunHer beauty hides a deadly purpose . . .Since birth, Xishi's extraordinary beauty has been seen as a blessing. When Xishi draws the attention of the famous young military advisor Fanli, he presents her with a rare opportunity: to use her beauty as a weapon. One that could topple the rival neighbouring kingdom, improve the lives of her people and avenge her sister's murder. All she has to do is infiltrate the enemy palace as a spy and seduce their immoral king.<BR><BR>What neither Xishi nor Fanli expect is the doomed attraction that ignites between them. Even worse, Xishi soon finds herself under the hungry gaze of the king and his advisors. Despite his gentleness, a brutality lurks and Xishi knows she can never let her guard down. But the higher she climbs in the court, the further she and Fanli have to fall. And if she is unmasked as a traitor, she will bring both kingdoms down . . .<BR><BR>Inspired by the legend of Xishi, one of the famous Four Beauties of Ancient China, A Song to Drown Rivers is an epic historical fantasy about womanhood, war, sacrifice and love against all odds as the fate of two kingdoms hangs in a delicate balance.Why readers love A Song to Drown Rivers:'I am STUNNED by just how beautiful this was'<BR><BR>'This book will break your heart in a way only a talented author can do'<BR><BR>'Ended up reading until 2am on a work night . . . Beautiful writing and characters'<BR><BR>'Amazing . . . I was fully crying on the plane while reading it'