English Mythology

Finally, the truth about vampires.Vampires are the most fearsome and fascinating of all creatures of folklore. For the first time, detailed accounts of the vampire and how its tradition developed in different cultures are gathered in one volume by eminent folklorist Alan Dundes.

Thirteen-year-old Sik wants a simple life going to school and helping at his parents' deli in the evenings. But all that is blown to smithereens when Nergal comes looking for him, thinking that Sik holds the secret to eternal life. Turns out Sik is immortal but doesn't know it, and that's about to get him and the entire city into deep, deep trouble.

Relics of a mysterious god, the Spice Gates connect the eight far-flung kingdoms, each separated by a distinct spice and only accessible by those born with a special mark. This is not a caste of distinction, though, but one of subjugation: Spice Carriers suffer the lashes of their masters, the weight of the spices they bear on their backs, and the jolting pain of the Gates themselves.

Being trapped in a bedroom with a woman is a grand thing. Being trapped in hundreds of bedrooms over two thousand years isn't. And being cursed into a book as a love-slave for eternity can ruin even a Spartan warrior's day. As a love-slave, I know everything about women. How to touch them, how to savor them, and most of all, how to pleasure them. But when I was summoned to fulfill Grace Alexander's sexual fantasies, I found the first woman in history who saw me as a man with a tormented past. She alone bothered to take me out of the bedroom and onto the world. She taught me to love again.

Aleksi, the charming and charismatic god of love, is dying. But nothing can stop the Lover from completing his final quest: a dangerous diplomatic visit to a former adversary. Setting sail for a mystical kingdom of ice, Aleksi is joined by Einar the Kraken, infamous pirate lord, and Naia, a sweet young water nymph. Intoxicated by the pair’s electric connection, Aleksi vows to enjoy his last days by playing matchmaker, pushing away his own desires for the sake of theirs. But he’s unexpectedly caught up in a raging game of seduction.

Becoming Baba Yaga provides an in-depth look at the Baba Yaga mythos and history through Slavic folklore. Filled with historical and cultural context, analyses, and the stories themselves that add depth to the conversation. A comprehensive resource for anyone hoping to learn more about this ambiguous character and how her multifaceted presence still ripples through the present day, Becoming Baba Yaga is as thoughtful as it is illuminating.

A Mysterious Heritage An Obscure Society A veiled supernatural world Aspiring archaeologist Amy Abernethy never imagined her life would be filled with secrets and lies. After her father—a disgraced archaeologist turned treasure hunter—dies tragically, Amy is left alone and deep in debt. With no other option, she seeks membership in the Society of Obscure Archaeology, where her father was once a member. Dr. Byron Willoughby, a Raider himself, doubts her abilities and insists the Society's head is only granting her a place as a favor to her late father. Determined to prove them wrong, Amy...

Bound in an unwanted marriage, Freya spends her days gutting fish, but dreams of becoming a warrior. And of putting an axe in her boorish husband's back. Freya's dreams abruptly become reality when her husband betrays her to the region's jarl, landing her in a fight to the death against his son. To survive, Freya is forced to reveal her deepest secret: she possesses a drop of a goddess's blood, which gives her magic capable of repelling any attack. A magic that was foretold would unite the fractured nation of Skaland beneath a king-the one who controls the shield maiden's fate.

Set in the early nineteenth century, a seven-year-old narrates the story of an ancient folklore. Based on a work of fiction, the story setting is in a prosperous region of West Africa whose wealth and prosperity are rooted in an ancient tradition of textile manufacture. When the stability of the region consisting of several communities was threatened by internal rife, one person, a Palace Courier, stood up for the truth and went against popular consensus. In so doing, a whole generation was protected, and the wealth of future generations was secured. Part of the Sculpture Garden Series, ...

The beautiful and exciting novel from author Joey Walker about love, loss, and triumph, inspired by real legends of the Four Most Beautiful Women of China. In a small fishing village in ancient China, the singing girl of Dongying captures the attention of the Prince’s Court with her unparalleled beauty. Siao Wei makes her choice, a life-changing decision that forever alters her fate. Catapulted to a palace and bestowed with the title of Princess, Siao Wei realizes she has made a dreadful mistake. The longing for her childhood companion, now lost, haunts her every step. As delicate threads...

They’re widely known as raiders, pirates, invaders, and savages, but despite their fearsome reputation (or perhaps because of it), Vikings continue to fascinate us today. And it’s not hard to see why. They were brave, rebellious, and fierce fighters—plus, based on Hollywood’s portrayals, they were quite good-looking. While media highlights their violence and toughness, there’s more to the Viking culture than just conquering lands. The Vikings were not just warriors but also traders, explorers, and lawmakers....

In this strange and wonderful book, thirty elders of the ancient Hopi tribe of Northern Arizona—a people who regard themselves as the first inhabitants of America—freely reveal the Hopi worldview for the first time in written form. The Hopi kept this view a secret for countless centuries, and anthropologists have long struggled to understand it. Now they record their myths and legends, and the meaning of their religious rituals and ceremonies as a gift to future generations.

Unveiling Saraswati: The Hindu Goddess of Knowledge, Music, Art & Wisdom Uncover the transformative journey of Saraswati, the Hindu goddess of knowledge, music, art, and wisdom. This comprehensive guide explores her evolution from a powerful Vedic river to a central deity in Hinduism's rich mythology. Dive into Saraswati's Ancient Origins: Explore her roots in the Vedas, where she personified purifying waters and transformed into the very essence of knowledge. Discover Saraswati's Diverse Aspects: Delve into her multifaceted roles as the goddess of cosmic order, speech, the feminine ...

Ava Baldwin has always tried to keep her anger in check, just like her mom taught her. But when know-it-all classmate Owen King tries to speak over her yet again, Ava explodes . . . and Owen freezes, becoming totally unresponsive. Although Owen recovers, Ava's parents whisk her off to her mother’s alma mater, the Accademia del Forte, a mysterious international boarding school in Venice.

Though the Greek and Roman crew members of the Argo II have made progress in their many quests, they still seem no closer to defeating the earth mother, Gaea. Her giants have risen - all of them - and they're stronger than ever. The gods, still suffering from multiple personality disorder, are useless. How can a handful of young demigods hope to persevere against Gaea's army of powerful giants? As dangerous as it is to head to Athens, they have no other option. They have sacrificed too much already. And if Gaea wakes, it is game over . . .

The fields of folklore have never been more popular—a recent resurgence of interest in traditional beliefs and customs, coupled with morbid curiosities in folk horror, historic witchcraft cases and our superstitious past, have led to an intersection of ideas that is driving people to seek out more information. Tracey Norman (author of the acclaimed play WITCH) and Mark Norman (creator of The Folklore Podcast) lead you on an exploration of those more salubrious facets of our past.

This book is a captivating and thought-provoking exploration of the vast and wondrous universe that surrounds us. It delves into the mysteries of astronomy, from the intricate workings of our galaxies and planets to the dazzling beauty of constellations, suns, and cosmic dust. With a blend of poetry and scientific facts, this book is designed to be read aloud to your loved ones, creating a relaxing and therapeutic experience that will leave you feeling inspired and uplifted. As you journey through the pages of this book, you will be transported to a world of wonder and awe, where the stars ...

Designed for a new generation of psychedelic facilitators and seekers, Psychedelics and the Soul invokes the traditions of Jungian depth psychology, mythology, and Indigenous cultural wisdom to meet a critical question of our times: How can the emerging field of psychedelic medicine heal the soul amid planetary crisis and collective opportunity?

Acclaimed author Maxine Hong Kingston’s The Woman Warrior broke new ground when it was first published 35 years ago, weaving autobiography, history, folklore, and fantasy in to a candid and revelatory story about the daughter of Chinese immigrants in mid-20th century California.

On March 8, 1421, the largest fleet the world had ever seen set sail from China. Its mission was to "proceed all the way to the ends of the earth to collect tribute from the barbarians beyond the seas" and unite the whole world in Confucian harmony. When it returned in October 1423, the emperor had fallen, leaving China in political and economic chaos. The great ships were left to rot at their moorings and the records of their journeys were destroyed. Lost in China's long isolation that followed was the knowledge that Chinese ships had reached America 70 years before Columbus.