Mythology

An intimate look into the life of a legendary mythical villain who has so often been stripped of her voice and humanity in this debut novel, perfect for fans of Madeline Miller's Circe and the works of Jennifer Saint.You know how Medusa's story ends, but you've never heard her tell her own story... until now.The only mortal daughter of two sea gods, and a priestess of Athena, Medusa was a woman who thought she had found her place in the world. But when Medusa suffers a horrific violation at the hands of Poseidon, Athena is outraged over the desecration of her name and sends a message by transforming Medusa into the snake-haired monster of legend. With one look, any who meet her gaze is turned to stone. Word of her monstrosity travels fast, igniting a king's fear so greatly that he commands the boy-hero Perseus to bring him her head. With a power that will spare no one, Medusa begins to wonder if this is a blessing or a curse. Medusa only knows that she must leave the city she has come to call home before she harms another soul. Searching for a haven free from mortals, anger buoying her every step, Medusa journeys across ancient Greece. Her eyes are hidden beneath a blindfold, with nothing but the snakes for company. Through her travels, Medusa discovers solace and understanding in the mythical figures she stumbles upon: A debaucherous wine god, an alluring nymph, and a three-headed dog. But one cannot escape fate forever. As Perseus closes in, Medusa faces a choice: become the monster everyone expects her to be, or cling to the last piece of her humanity.

'Michael Pedersen is a rare writer of real passion and power and this debut is phenomenal.' MATT HAIGLife on a remote island is turned upside down by a stranger's arrival, testing bonds of family and tradition and leaving a young dreamer's future hanging in the balance. It's no ordinary existence on the rugged isle of Muckle Flugga. The elements run riot and the very rocks that shape the place begin to shift under their influence. The only human inhabitants are the lighthouse keeper, known as The Father, and his otherworldly son, Ouse. Them, and the occasional lodger to keep the wolf from the door. When one of those lodgers - Firth, a chaotic writer - arrives from Edinburgh, the limits of the world the keeper and his son cling to begin to crumble. A tug of war ensues between Firth and the lighthouse keeper for Ouse's affections - and his future. As old and new ways collide, and life-changing decisions loom, what will the tides leave standing in their wake?

Inspired by sites in the care of English Heritage, from the mythical Tintagel to mysteriousStonehenge, eight well-known contemporary authors have turned afresh to thelegends of the past.

This spellbinding collection of stories once again gathers together tales from across Scotland in one special volume. Drawn from The History Press' Folk Tales series, this second selection features further tales from authentic Scottish storytellers, honouring the unmistakable character of Scotland's customs, beliefs and dialects.

You know her name, you know her story. Just not the right one...Within the depths of the Underworld the formidable snake-haired Gorgon has finally had enough. Tired of being eternally and unjustly brandished a villain, Medusa has found the courage to face her tragic past and speak out. Determined to expose the centuries of lies surrounding her name, Medusa gives unparalleled insight into her cursed life, from her earliest memories and abandonment at birth, right through to her tragic and untimely death at the hands of the hero Perseus. Through telling her story, Medusa finally reveals the lost truth behind antiquity's most infamous monster.Medusa breathes new life into an ancient story and echoes the battle that women throughout millennia have continued to wage - the opportunity to simply be heard.

Thorfinn's detour to Greece has been itself derailed by a succession crisis. The Jomsvikings seek a new leader, and Thorfinn cannot keep his identity as the son of Thors secret for long. It seems the dream of paradise will have to be deferred until the end of one more war... The violent and complex action epic that inspired the hit anime returns, in premium, 3-in-1, collector's hardcovers! Includes volumes 19-21 of the Japanese edition of Vinland Saga and new bonus content. Since striking out from Iceland, Thorfinn's crew keeps growing, adding the aspiring sailor Gudrid, a baby, a dog, and the vengeful tinker Hild, but they seems to be getting no closer to selling their cargo in Miklagard, much less making the trek west to Vinland. When the Jomsvikings realize this Thorfinn is the same peerless fighter they once fought against, he emerges against his will as a top candidate to lead the band. Floki, who wants to ensure his grandson wins the power struggle, sends the bloodthirsty Garm after Thorfinn. Before long, this leadership dispute threatens the peace of the entire Baltic Sea, drawing the attention of King Canute... This premium, hardcover edition presents the acclaimed action epic in hardcover, at a bigger size than ever before (7 by 10 inches), wrapped in a dark green leather-patterned cover with logo stamping. This new edition features all the content of the original release, plus new and exclusive bonus illustrations, interviews, and behind-the-scenes details never before translated. This oversized collection includes volumes 19-21 of the Japanese edition of Vinland Saga, plus exclusive bonus content: A short story blending the worlds of Vinland Saga and the hit Assassin's Creed gamesAn exclusive gallery of sketches and color art from across the seriesCreator Makoto Yukimura speaks out on the impact of the story on his life, and vice versaFaux leather covers featuring an inscription in Norse runes

Edward Carey's witty and entrancing story of a young woman trapped in a ramshackle English playhouse – and the mysterious figure who threatens its very survival.Norwich, 1901. Edith Holler spends her days among the eccentric denizens of the Holler Theatre, warned by her domineering father that the playhouse will literally tumble down if she should ever leave.Fascinated by tales of the city she knows only from afar, young Edith decides to write a play of her own about Mawther Meg, a monstrous figure said to have used the blood of countless children to make the local delicacy, Beetle Spread. But when her father suddenly announces his engagement to a peculiar woman named Margaret Unthank, Edith scrambles to protect her father, the theatre, and her play – the one thing that’s truly hers – from the newcomer’s sinister designs. Teeming with unforgettable characters and illuminated by Carey’s trademark illustrations, Edith Holler is a surprisingly modern fable of one young woman’s struggle to escape her family’s control and craft her own creative destiny.

One's search can sometimes go from one extreme to another. l and my fellows start off on our voyage researching a lost culture that had evolved at the Eye of Africa in Mauritania. When the Sahara had dried at the end of the Holocene Maximum the peoples of the western part of the Saharan savanna had congregated here and by a nearby river to escape the desert. Much like what happened in Egypt in the Eastern Sahara.These people gathered here evolved their own culture and started to sail out into the Atlantic finding the North Atlantic gyre becoming adept seafarers. What we found was that more drying and other disasters struck this culture, causing them to increasingly take to the sea and evolving floating islands in their dwindling rivers delta.In the end these islands took completely to the sea along with the entire culture becoming seaborne. What became clear to us from following the trail of this culture to Bermuda, the Azores and Madeira was that they had moved their floating islands to the calm waters of the Sargasso Sea building of floating culture here.We find that this oceanic culture had had contact with the bronze age cultures of the Eastern Mediterranean and been part of the trade network that sustained the bronze age cultures. This oceanic culture built on floating islands in the middle of the world ocean had been the basis of the myth of a great ocean kingdom that disappeared in a cataclysmic disaster. Thus, being the actual Atlantis described by Plato.Finally, we uncover that there is a clear connection between the fall of this culture of Atlantis and the sea peoples that arrived in the Eastern Mediterranean during the bronze age collapse.

Many years ago there lived an Emperor who was so terribly fond of beautiful new clothes that he spent all his money on dressing elegantly...Jewels in storytelling, these magical fairytales by Hans Christian Andersen were inspired by his own life as an outsider. From 'The Little Mermaid' to 'The Red Shoes', his fables show the ugliest of humanity - its power, greed, vanity - but also how suffering can lead to beauty.

A gorgeously illustrated collection of 19 classic Korean tales of the supernatural! From spooky tales of shape-shifting beasts and vengeful demons to romantic stories of enchanted love, the 19 stories in this collection bring together the best of Korea's supernatural folklore. Thirty-six gorgeous watercolor paintings and pencil drawings by artist Marco Furlotti bring the stories to life. Included in this anthology are: The Hen and the Centipede: A poor man marries his wealthy employer, only to find she is an otherworldly centipede locked in a deadly battle with a ferocious white roosterHow Chin Outwitted the Devils: A clever policeman tricks hell's emissaries, who trap the souls of the dying in earthenware bottlesThe Swallow King's Rewards: A kind man gains magical riches for helping an injured swallow, while his greedy brother suffers bizarre cursesYun Se-Pyong, the Wizard: Two rival magicians clash in an epic duel--one transformed into a beetle, the other into a beePlus 15 more supernatural tales to captivate readers of all ages!These classic tales are retold by authors who traveled to Korea and fell in love with the rich culture they encountered. This deluxe hardcover volume will be treasured by fans of Korean culture, as well as anyone who enjoys a good demon story.

The Divine Queen of the Celtic Britons and the Welsh Goddess of Seasonal Sovereignty

The only way out is through.With Eva trapped in imminent peril, Bash rushes to save her and take down the False King once and for all. Eva desperately searches for a way out of her predicament, even as circumstances beyond her control bring her back to the secret kingdom that once had been her home.As sides form in the forthcoming war, not all are eager to believe the False King they thought vanquished is still bent on taking control of the faerie realm. With enemies closing in, and not even sleep safe from the nightmares that are all too real, the fate of the realm will come down to a race against time.Secrets from the past merge with the present as Eva struggles to unravel the truth that might change her fate. But will she be forced to choose between her kingdom and her future-or was that destiny a lie all along?