Showing results by publisher "Spoken Realms" in Fantasy

Prince Anryn of Ammar has spent his life striving to please his father, the legendary Lightning King. He studies, fences, burns witches at the stake. But when assassins strike, he is left wounded and alone in the mountains, wondering if his father ordered his death. There he meets Maertyn Blackfire, a cursed witch who has lived too long. In Anryn he sees what no one else dares: a curse like his own, trapping a woman’s soul in a man’s body. Bound by survival, Maertyn vows to protect the prince on a quest to uncover the would-be killer.

You've heard the tale of the Beauty and the Beast before, but not like this. The original French fairy tale written by Madame de Villeneuve relates the tale of a wealthy family plagued by misfortune and of a father who wished to give his beloved daughter, Beauty, the only gift she desired - a rose. But the rose Beauty's father decides to pick for her comes with a great price - a price exacted by the lord of the palace, a Beast of a man!

If the name seems familiar, these tales about Darby O'Gill and his encounter with the fairies were adapted for a Disney movie, Darby O'Gill and the Little People. They tell the story of an Irishman whose cow is captured by the fairies - or "good people". In his determination to recover his property, Darby finds himself in the center of their home, the mountain Sleive-na-mon.

This short story first appeared in science fiction magazine Amazing Stories and tells of a meteorite crash in rural Massachusetts...and of the horrific results. It was one of HP Lovecraft's most popular works for its combination of science fiction and horror, and it was the author's personal favorite short story.

Following the initial Martian invasion of England, President Theodore Roosevelt tries to prepare the United States for the potential of another Martian incursion. As the possibility of a stronger invasion is increasingly clear, the US government tries to mobilize nations to share information and technology to defend humanity. Newly minted ordinance officer Andrew Comstock has been placed in charge of developing new technology that has to be tested on the fly in a race against time if humanity is to survive.

Rathen, ex-captain of the late king’s army, pulls together a team to defeat the evil that threatens them all. The Book of Ziz, with its instructions for protective spells against an evil deity, has fallen into the nefarious hands of High Priest Litagus, meaning soon untold evil will reign unchecked if Rathen fails. Consumed by his personal vengeance for the betrayer in the earlier death of his friends, Rathen travels to the ruins of Ghrakus Castle to enlist the aid of the very being who tried to kill Rathen once before.

Award-winning narrator Mike Vendetti reads "The Festival", a short story by H. P. Lovecraft written in October 1923 and published in the January 1925 issue of Weird Tales. It is considered to be one of the first of his Cthulhu Mythos stories.

Demons of Cthulhu by Robert Silverberg, set in the infamous Cthulhu Mythos, takes listeners on a chilling journey into the depths of cosmic horror. Mike Vendetti's narration style proves to be an excellent choice for capturing the grim atmosphere and otherworldly ambiance that pervades the novel. His deep, resonant voice and skilled delivery brought the sinister tale to life. Silverberg's writing, though not as well-known for his contributions to the Mythos as H.P. Lovecraft himself, is a commendable addition to the canon.

The youngest of the merchant’s daughters displays cheerfulness and fortitude when the family’s circumstances change. Then when her father becomes indebted to the fearsome beast in the mysterious castle, Beauty shows perseverance, selflessness, and empathy as she offers herself in exchange for her father. Virtue and generosity by the Prince bolster gratitude and tenderness in Beauty which breaks the curse.

This gripping tale takes place in the late 19th century and follows the protagonist, Mr. Hapley, a famous entomologist who becomes embroiled in an ongoing feud with Professor Pawkins a rival in his field. Hapley has a devasting retort to Professor Pawkins's most recent attack on him, but before he can deliver the ruinous blow, Pawkins dies leaving Haply ready for battle with no opponent. The physical Pawkins may be gone, but a mysterious moth that no one but Hapley can see or feel the presence of appears.

It's been weeks since Angelina has left Neverland. James Hook is desperate to follow her off the island and find her in this notorious town called London when he makes a grave mistake. The consequences alter the life of his once-arch-enemy, Peter Pan, in a way no one could have foreseen. The boy who wouldn't grow up swears revenge, and what better way than by stealing Hook's love? Through a shower of falling stars, a loop around the moon, and then a hard left at the Clock Tower...

Although Angelina McFarland loves reading fairytales, she never dreamed of falling right into one. Literally! But who is this flying boy who saved her? And why doesn't he want to grow up? Desperately trying to find a way off this cursed island, Angelina runs into a ruthless pirate. Hook captures her and keeps her trapped on the Jolly Roger to lure the flying boy out of his hiding. But is James really the heartless man she heard about? The more time Angelina spends with him alone, the more she starts to wonder who actually is the bad guy in this story... and who isn't?

Thunder on the Left is a story about—but not for—children. It's a public domain mystery by one of the foremost mystery writers of the early twentieth century, Christopher Morley. The title also has nothing to do with politics. It's a story about children who make some declarations at a birthday party about growing old, only to find themselves whisked into the future for all but the last chapter of the book. Here they live the lives of adults, wanting more out of life, struggling with issues unimagined in their childhood.

Twelve years ago, my mom picked her volatile boyfriend over me, and I was gifted with an unwanted stay in a London children's home. But in six weeks, I'll be eighteen...and free! Unfortunately, one ridiculously pilfered sweater—puts me in front of a judge. And my absentee mother decides to make an appearance, too. And then somebody whispers that she has cancer. The Judge sentences me to spend some 'quality time' in France with her, and so I'm stuck laboring in the vineyards of some unknown relatives now. My escape from France, however, isn't quite as easy as I thought. Because of him. Julian.

The city of Parole is burning. Like Venice slipping into the sea, Parole crumbles into fire. The entire population inside has been quarantined, cut off from the rest of the world, and left to die—directly over the open flame. Eye in the Sky, a deadly and merciless police force, ensures no one escapes. Ever. All that’s keeping Parole alive is faith in the midst of horrors and death, trust in the face of desperation… and their fantastic, terrifying, and beautiful superhuman abilities.

Experience the classic tale of a young mermaid's quest for love and humanity. Rebecca H. Lee narrates this traditional Hans Christian Andersen story of magical creatures and merfolk. The story has been translated into English, but not modified from its original version, which may contain darker themes than its modern retellings.

The pompous businessman Paul Bultitude is farewelling his son who is about to set off for his first year at boarding school. Due to the action of a magical stone, the personalities of each are switched into the body of the other. The businessman is forced to relive the experiences of his schoolboy days and the boy takes charge of his father's business.

World War I infantry captain Ulysses Paxton is transported to Barsoom, where he encounters evil scientist Ras Thavas and his diabolical brain transplant experiments. Paxton falls in love with the beautiful Valla Dia, whose body has been swapped with the cruel Xaxa, Jeddara of Phundahl. Can Paxton save Valla Dia from a hideous fate and win her hand?

Hugo didn’t ask for this gift that his father, brilliant biologist Abednego Danner, bestowed upon him; a “gift” that promises a life of greatness. From being a baby that can launch himself from a second-story window unscathed, a boy that can leap canyons and hurl boulders, a football star that can beat an opposing team single-handed, a man capable of crushing an entire enemy platoon with his bare hands; surely such a person could steer the entire world to their whims. But, does the world hold any post for a man of such strength?

A lovable but mischievous marionette hopes to become a real boy, but first must learn to work hard, overcome peer pressure, and stop telling lies before his wish is granted. Pinocchio has enraptured the hearts of children and adults alike since 1881. The tale revolutionized Italian children's literature by using comedic characters and minimal adult intrusion to tell a story with a moral lesson. Published as a serial in the Giornale per i bambini, or "Children's Magazine", the stories were compiled into one volume in 1883.