World Myths

Becoming Los Angeles, a new collection by the author of the acclaimed memoir Holy Land, blends history, memory, and critical analysis to illuminate how Angelenos have seen themselves and their city. Waldie’s particular concern is commonplace Los Angeles, whose rhythms of daily life are set against the gaudy backdrop of historical myth and Hollywood illusion. It’s through sacred ordinariness that Waldie experiences the city’s seasons.

A Mystery of Magic, Loyalty, and Ancient Secrets Strange things are stirring again in the quiet village of Doona. When a fisherman returns from the dead and whispers of leprechauns begin to spread, twelve-year-old Bridgie Campbell finds herself at the heart of a growing mystery. The Leprechauns of the Western Wild—thirteen in all, led by the cheerful but weary King Rua—have been locked out of their hidden home, Doona Hollow, nestled deep beneath the Sandy Banks. Without the Doona Hollow Key, a powerful magical relic once hidden in a chest of ancient Spanish gold, they cannot return. And...

Think there's just one fairy tale with two children sent into the woods? Think again! Cultures all around the world have their own Hansel and Gretel stories. Visit Germany, Russia, Italy, and Japan, and find out who follows a line of ashes instead of breadcrumbs, and who escapes the witch using a handkerchief that turns into a river. Listen to the Spanish audio.

From the chart-topping podcast The Rest is History, a whistle-stop tour through the past – from Alexander the Great to Agatha Christie, the Wars of the Roses to Watergate. The nation’s favourite historians Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook take on the most curious moments in history, answering the questions we didn’t even think to ask. Whether it is sending historical figures to Casa Amor in a series of Love Island, ranking history’s most famous eunuchs and pigeons, or debating the meaning of greatness, there is nothing too big or too small for Tom and Dominic to unpick.

Japanese culture has fascinated the West ever since the country’s doors opened up in the 1800s. In many ways, Japan has remained elusive, and people have travelled from all around the world to see for themselves how unique this nation remains. Another way of exploring this enigmatic culture is through its literature. The English language succeeds surprisingly well in revealing the Japanese sense of life.

With clever tricks and surprising twists, these tales teach children to think smart and act with care.

African folktales come in many different types. Some are myths explaining the origins of things, while others are tales of heroes with supernatural abilities. Animal stories are many and varied, and they usually involve some kind of trickster who uses his wiles to get out of sticky situations and sometimes into them. There are also cautionary tales explaining why it is important to behave well and treat others with respect, while other stories have a style and shape similar to that of a fairy tale.

When Tessa and her sisters are told they will be staying at their grandparents in Japan, Tessa is thrilled. But her hopes are dashed when she realizes that life in Japan is just like being in California: her sisters are old enough to go into Tokyo, while her grandparents want her to stay home with the neighbor kid, Jin. When Tessa is finally allowed to go to Tokyo, it’s only to join her grandpa’s retiree aerobic class with none other than Jin. Their forced hang out comes crashing to a halt when Tessa and Jin break the Miyata family’s heirloom—releasing the malicious samurai god Taira Masakado.

Harmony can be hard to achieve. As the spell inside Elaria begins to burn out, taking her with it, she becomes desperate to find the third lover the spell needs to fuel itself. But love isn't the only thing eluding her. Someone is setting monsters loose on Earth, and even her spellsinging seems to be failing her. Can she stop the attacks before the spell stops her heart? Playlists for every book in the Spellsinger Series can be found on Spotify under Amy Sumida, or by searching for the book title.

This Ravyn has the soul of a hawk. My name is Ravyn. I'm a human soldier in a Fae army of shapeshifters run by a warlord. I'm a simple man; I like the three Fs—Feasting, Fighting, and Fu- well, you know the last one. I don't have many expectations for my life beyond those things and that's just fine by me. But when two fae amulets are stolen and only a human can retrieve them, my warlord asks me to help. He is the Hawk Lord—honorable, brave, terrifyingly powerful, and hot enough to set my pants on fire with a single look. That look was all it took to get me to agree to one of the most ...

This "who's who" audio guide to the gods, goddesses, and other important figures of Norse mythology was commissioned by Helgi, who, after more than a millennium as manager of Hotel Valhalla, became fed up with answering the same questions from newly deceased heroes at check-in. The profiles provide essential stats, interviews, and personal reflections so you can identify the gods and avoid those awkward introductions. Handy facts about other beings round out this go-to audiobook.

Cece Rios thought saving her sister would be the end of her adventures in the world of criaturas. But part of Juana’s soul is still trapped in Devil’s Alley. As Cece tries to find a way to get it back using her new curandera abilities, Juana takes her fate in her own hands and sets off alone, intent on restoring her soul and getting revenge on El Sombrerón.

Venture capitalist Brian Dovey offers listeners a personal, humorous, story-driven compendium of practical advice for navigating the risky entrepreneurial journey. The Idea Is the Easy Part counters widespread myths of failure and success with lessons learned from Dovey’s decades of hands-on experience.

The mythic origin stories of the Grand Canyon and the Native American tribes who live in and near it.

Each of us will know physical pain in our lives, but none of us knows when it will come or how long it will stay. Today as much as 10 percent of the population of the United States suffers from chronic pain. It is more widespread, misdiagnosed, and undertreated than any major disease. While recent research has shown that pain produces pathological changes to the brain and spinal cord, many doctors and patients still labor under misguided cultural notions and outdated scientific dogmas.

I may be an Angel, but I'm no choir boy. When I met Bolin Tangzhou, a wereleopard tracker, I knew I had to have him. His badboy reputation to matched mine and the look in his eyes promised pleasure with no strings attached. Regrettably, our sex stars weren't aligned, and I got called onto a mission before I could explore his talents as thoroughly as I'd hoped. The last thing I expected was for Bolin to convince me to hire him for his other talents—that of tracking. Now, we're hunting a psychotic Angel together, chasing her across worlds and realms, trying to stop her from starting the ...

Samantha Moon returns in an all-new story! Vampire private eye Samantha Moon is summoned to a home in the San Diego hills, where she’s about to discover she's been part of a rescue mission in motion for seventy years... There sits on the edge of a lake in Argentina a massive stone structure, a structure that just might have been home to Adolf Hitler... a base of operations from which he and his minions planned to launch the Fourth Reich. That is, until Samantha Moon takes on a case unlike any other... Click BUY NOW or READ FOR FREE!

During the course of the day, Koo straightens his room, feeds his cat and the hungry fish outside, and he bakes a cake to welcome new neighbors. He even helps a family of ducklings to safely cross a street. But still, Koo wonders, how will HE ever save the world? At the end of the day, Uncle Stillwater has the answer:

Although long dead, the spectre of ‘The Cunning Man’ still hangs over the village of Bindon; a place well known for its involvement in smuggling over the centuries. But what is the connection between this enigmatic figure and the freshly carved witch marks ? Marks which Queenie and Sybil see on every door lintel in the village. Their curiosity is further piqued when they encounter the ghost of a child in the churchyard and so they decide to dig a little deeper into the mysterious affairs of the locals.

She holds the key to humanity’s survival—if she can unlock the truth buried inside her own mind. In a near-future Earth ravaged by unstoppable disease, the last hope for survival lies in the stars. The Rangatiratanga, the Absolute Sovereignty of New Zealand, launches three Galaxy Cruisers toward distant exomoons—each ship a final lifeline for the human race. But one by one, the ships are lost. River, a brilliant but isolated prodigy, may be the only one who can stop the destruction. She is unknowingly bound to a Māori prophecy—an ancient myth colliding with quantum reality—that ...