Showing results by narrator "Jamie Della" in All Categories

Learn the truth behind the mask of Hollywood in these 10 bizarre tales of dreams and dream weavers, movies and movie-makers, by some of the most respected fantasy writers of our time.

Curiosity stirred as they inched forward. Then sharp wonder took over. They stood at the edge of a perfectly circular clear space in the hushed green glade. In the center of the sun-lit circle lay a low square dais of dazzling crystal. On the dais stood a low copper couch with strangely carved sides. And on the couch, wrapped in a robe of golden cloth, ornamented with black figures, lay the motionless figure of a man. They stood wide-eyed in fearful awe.

Charles Dickens was, for a time, editor of a daily newspaper. This series takes an imaginative look at how Dickens would have tackled bringing the news to the masses. We follow Dickens the editor as he contends with railway crashes, gory deaths in the River Thames, having his editorial judgment scrutinised, working with tyrannical landowners, entering the murky worlds of opium and prostitution and, most tragically of all, investigating a child's death. He and his newspaper tackle financial plotting, encountering a young and secretive Disraeli, and the prospect of war overseas.

Cunning. Corrupt. Charismatic. The degenerate characters in this collection shun conventional morality, and will stop at nothing to get what they want... These five sensational dramas, set in locations ranging from 16th century Venice to Victorian England, revolve around their unscrupulous actions – and the devastating consequences of the choices they make.

Kyra coaches the class for Magic School Sports Day in order to avoid a humiliating third defeat by their rivals, the Crowther School. Maxwell magically examines the two Temple keys which causes a chaotic magical disruption at the sports event, with Kyra at the centre. Kyra is blamed for the chaos but the disruption gives her a vision of the Temple of the Purple Lotus.

Ten years ago, in the land of Centernia, a deadly mage feud left Castle Aurumice trapped under a sinister energy field. Fearful, the cat-like inhabitants of the castle were forced to flee with nothing but the clothing on their backs. Only three people remained in the abandoned castle— the starry-eyed drug addict Misa, her dangerously manipulative brother Teren, and Nico, an alluring fire mage and the last true Lord of Aurumice. Misa is determined to destroy the barrier and save the castlefolk, no matter what trickery it takes.

Rusty Williams shares the ups and downs, but most importantly, the love, of fostering dogs to save them from euthanasia in this tell-all account. Laugh with him, cry with him, but most of all, learn the true gift of love and a new life as he details the sacrifices, the gut-wrenching, and the moments that made everything worthwhile. If you’ve ever considered fostering, this book will help you learn if you have what it takes. If you love dogs or are in need of inspiration to make positive change in the world, then this is your must-listen story of the year.

A group of cabinet ministers queries a supercomputer containing the minds of the country’s ancestors. A child robot on a dying planet uncovers signs of fragile new life. A descendant of a rain goddess inherits her grandmother’s ability to change her appearance—and perhaps the world. Created in the legacy of the seminal, award-winning anthology series Dark Matter, Africa Risen celebrates the vibrancy, diversity, and reach of African and AfroDiasporic science fiction and fantasy and reaffirms that Africa is not rising—it’s already here.

With Apinya’s true identity exposed, Maxwell and the two Keys are captured and taken to the Bangkok warehouse, where Kyra finally locates the Third Key using her Orb Magic. While the Bureau attempt to rescue Maxwell, Kyra, Imogen and Tayla retrieve the Third Key which magically transports Kyra to the Temple of the Purple Lotus where her Orb magic is drained and the Purple Lotus comes to life.

As the Purple Lotus begins to disrupt fairy and elf magic everywhere, the Bureau lose control of their magic, all except Kyra who is unaffected. Apinya pleads with Kyra to stop the Lotus by reclaiming her Orb Magic. When she refuses, Apinya plays her last card and reveals the truth about the disappearance of Kyra’s birth father.

When Kyra contracts a magical cold, her sneezing transports Mathilda into the Library where Kyra is forced to admit magic exists. When Mathilda tries to escape, Ruksy wipes her memory and Kyra has to pretend nothing happened. Imogen suspects Tayla is the magical graffiti artist and follows her to a secret studio where she warns Tayla about her reckless use of magic, but Tayla refuses to listen.

Kyra and the Bureau escape from Magnus Sorenson with the Purple Lotus plans, but they seem to offer no hope until Kyra has a vision of what she alone must do. As the Purple Lotus continues to drain elf and fairy magic, Kyra and the Bureau risk everything in a desperate attempt to destroy the Lotus. But with the existence of magic revealed to the whole world, things can never be the same.

Kyra’s attempt to reclaim her Orb Magic from the Purple Lotus fails and its true purpose is revealed – to drain magic from elves and fairies, leaving Trilings all-powerful. When the DMI’s plan to destroy the Lotus fails, Kyra and Bureau make a risky and desperate trip back in time in an attempt to steal the original plans for the Lotus from the Triling, Magnus Sorenson.

Professor Maxwell allows Tayla to attend magic school for a day, but when Tayla cracks a magical mirror, she creates a malevolent doppelganger bent on destroying the Bureau, so she won’t be sent back into the mirror. Peter manages to warn Kyra, who is looking after her sickly stepfather, and she races to the rescue. Watching the Bureau put things right begins a change in Tayla’s attitude.

Peter makes a video clip to promote Ben’s music but when it doesn’t succeed Lily, who still fancies Ben, casts a spell over the clip enchanting anyone who sees it. Suddenly everyone in River City, including the Bureau and Professor Maxwell, is singing and dancing to Ben’s music. Lily finds a way to lift the spell, but Ben decides he’s had enough of fame and quits the café.

Following clues in Magnus’ second journal, Kyra and the Bureau jump to Vietnam where Kyra uses Orb magic to reveal a Cobra Statue. The Third Temple Key is gone but the statue comes to life and chases them back to the Library where it smashes Ladder before cornering Kyra and giving her a vision. Maxwell warns Kyra to give up the quest but Kyra refuses – she has to know why this is happening to her.

An old journal written by early 20th century Temple-seeker Magnus Sorenson leads Kyra and Darra to Thailand. After overcoming magical obstacles, Kyra and Darra find another Cobra Statue which delivers the Second Key to Kyra. Though Imogen knows Tayla is the graffiti artist, she keeps it from the Bureau and visits Tayla at her home where she learns why Tayla has no love for the magical world.

The Bureau attempts to capture a bug whose bite causes the victim to tell the truth, but the bug bites Lily who is on her first date with Ben. Peter and Ruksy must pretend they are back together in order to prevent Lily from revealing that she is a fairy. Kyra is refused permission to testify at Maxwell’s hearing before the DMI. Maxwell is removed from teaching and Apinya is made permanent.

When Tayla loses a magical compact at school, Kyra’s friend Mathilda finds it and her wishes start coming true. Mathilda suspects the existence of magic so Kyra has to enlist the Bureau to convince her otherwise. With the café in danger of closing, Peter persuades his friend Ben to play guitar and sing. Ben is a hit and Lily gets a crush on him, but her attraction causes an embarrassing reaction.

When Imogen begins to suspect that Apinya is not who she claims to be, she and Lily set out to prove it and discover Apinya has a connection to the Bangkok warehouse where Darra and Kyra found the First Key. Kyra invites Darra to lunch so he can get to know her stepfather, and while looking at some old family photos, Kyra makes an astonishing discovery about her Triling heritage.