When Oscar stumbles across an arrogant bard named the Dodosette and the beautiful cat Vaasi-Vee, he unearths a plot to plunge the world into darkness. After some begging, a lot of snow and an industrial-sized vat of soup, the three animals argue all the way to the infamous land of Vra to do something about it.They did not, however, anticipate having to fight invisible Rottweilers, smash kitchens to pieces, lick frozen cars or fund taxi drivers’ sisters' eye operations. Although, for Oscar Teabag-Dooven, such things are not unusual.

Step into a world where alchemy and machinery intertwine, where ancient secrets hold the key to unlimited power, and where a young alchemist must navigate treachery and form unexpected alliances to safeguard the future. In "The Alchemist’s Code," embark on an exhilarating journey through a steampunk society teetering on the brink of revolution. Set in the sprawling metropolis of New Aetheria, this captivating tale follows the story of Lira, a gifted young alchemist who stumbles upon an ancient manuscript rumored to contain the secrets of unlimited energy. As powerful factions vie for control of this arcane knowledge, Lira finds herself thrust into a dangerous game of intrigue and betrayal, where every decision could mean the difference between life and death. From the bustling streets of the steampunk city to the hidden depths of the Arcane Forge, Lira must navigate a treacherous landscape fraught with peril and deception. Along the way, she forges unlikely alliances with rebels, engineers, and even mechanical beings known as the Gears, all while uncovering the truth behind the enigmatic Alchemist’s Code. But as Lira delves deeper into the mysteries of the code, she soon realizes that unlocking its power comes with a price. Caught in a web of secrets and lies, she must confront her own fears and insecurities, lest she succumb to the darkness that threatens to consume her. "The Alchemist’s Code" is a riveting tale of adventure, discovery, and the power of friendship in the face of adversity. With its richly imagined world and compelling characters, this spellbinding novel will keep readers on the edge of their seats from beginning to end. Prepare to be swept away by the magic and intrigue of "The Alchemist’s Code," a thrilling steampunk adventure that will leave you breathless and yearning for more.

Master conjurer Grey Carteret regains consciousness in a London gutter next to a concerned street urchin and not far from the body of a man murdered by magic. Some fool is hoping to use murder to raise a demon. Arrested for the crime, Grey must rely on the street urchin for help. But the lad turns out to be a comely lass, and she wants something in exchange. Pearl Parkin, a gently reared lady struggling to survive in London's slums, sees magic as a way out of the life she finds herself trapped in. But blackmailing Grey into making her his apprentice has unexpected consequences. As they plunge into the hunt for the murderer, Pearl discovers that the things she once desperately wanted are not so important after all, and that she must risk her blood, her heart, and her very life to grasp the love she needs. At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

The sacred and musical phenomenon of trance

The eponymous alchemist of Ben Jonson's quick-fire comedy is a fraud: he cannot make gold, but he does make brilliant theatre. The Alchemist is a masterpiece of wit and form about the self-delusions of greed and the theatricality of deception. This guide will be useful to a diverse assembly of students and scholars, offering fresh new ways into this challenging and fascinating play.

Primitive man's discovery of the ability to change matter from one state to another brought about a profound change in spiritual behavior. In The Forge and the Crucible, Mircea Eliade follows the ritualistic adventures of these ancient societies, adventures rooted in the people's awareness of an awesome new power. The new edition of The Forge and the Crucible contains an updated appendix, in which Eliade lists works on Chinese alchemy published in the past few years. He also discusses the importance of alchemy in Newton's scientific evolution.

LEAVE IT TO CHANCE. Eleanor “Elle” Chance, that is—the intrepid heroine of this edgy new series that transforms elements of urban fantasy, historical adventure, and paranormal romance into pure storytelling gold. In a Golden Age where spark reactors power the airways, and creatures of Light and Shadow walk openly among us, a deadly game of Alchemists and Warlocks has begun. When an unusual cargo drags airship-pilot Elle Chance into the affairs of the mysterious Mr. Marsh, she must confront her destiny and do everything in her power to stop the Alchemists from unleashing a magical apocalypse. Praise for A Conspiracy of Alchemists “Oh my Steampunk God! . . . If you like steampunk you definitely have to give this jewel a try. It would be a sin not to, really.”—Butterfly-o-Meter Books “A wonderful sense of fun on every page . . . Visit [your] nearest bibliographic emporium and seek this rather magnificent tome out.”—The Eloquent Page “I truly enjoyed this novel and strongly suggest it to Steampunk fans. I’m convinced A Conspiracy of Alchemists will rock your world!”—Tynga’s Reviews “Pure fun to read.”—Karissa’s Reading Review

A Jesuit poet once wrote, "If my God is a God of Light ? it is a Dark Light." Blood Work consists of unconventional and highly personal poems in the spirit of William Blake and Charles Williams. Their unitive theme is the Metaphysical Poets' unique conceptualization of the human soul as having blood. Subjects range from transcendent beauty and apotheosis to intense personal agony and frustrated creativity. Though varied, these heavily allusive and strangely imagist pieces attempt to convey ? as Donne did masterfully in his Holy Sonnet XIV ? that Love can suffer the worst violence, and be, itself, the most violent force of transformation. Blood Work is the humble first offering of Nathan Redman, a young person whose primary pursuit in life is to be a man of Christian integrity. His secondary pursuit is to write poetry that might in some way "open a door of speech to speak the Mystery of Christ" (Col. 4:3).

Why spiritual and supernatural yearnings, even investigations into the occult, flourished in the era of rationalist philosophy. In The Dark Side of the Enlightenment, John V. Fleming shows how the impulses of the European Enlightenment—generally associated with great strides in the liberation of human thought from superstition and traditional religion—were challenged by tenacious religious ideas or channeled into the “darker” pursuits of the esoteric and the occult. His engaging topics include the stubborn survival of the miraculous, the Enlightenment roles of Rosicrucianism and Freemasonry, and the widespread pursuit of magic and alchemy. Though we tend not to associate what was once called alchemy with what we now call chemistry, Fleming shows that the difference is merely one of linguistic modernization. Alchemy was once the chemistry, of Arabic derivation, and its practitioners were among the principal scientists and physicians of their ages. No point is more important for understanding the strange and fascinating figures in this book than the prestige of alchemy among the learned men of the age. Fleming follows some of these complexities and contradictions of the “Age of Lights” into the biographies of two of its extraordinary offspring. The first is the controversial wizard known as Count Cagliostro, the “Egyptian” freemason, unconventional healer, and alchemist known most infamously for his ambiguous association with the Affair of the Diamond Necklace, which history has viewed as among the possible harbingers of the French Revolution and a major contributing factor in the growing unpopularity of Marie Antoinette. Fleming also reviews the career of Julie de Krüdener, the sentimental novelist, Pietist preacher, and political mystic who would later become notorious as a prophet. Impressively researched and wonderfully erudite, this rich narrative history sheds light on some lesser-known mental extravagances and beliefs of the Enlightenment era and brings to life some of the most extraordinary characters ever encountered either in history or fiction.

THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER 'A mind-expanding tour of the world without leaving your paintbox. Every colour has a story, and here are some of the most alluring, alarming, and thought-provoking. Very hard painting the hallway magnolia after this inspiring primer.' Simon Garfield The Secret Lives of Colour tells the unusual stories of the 75 most fascinating shades, dyes and hues. From blonde to ginger, the brown that changed the way battles were fought to the white that protected against the plague, Picasso's blue period to the charcoal on the cave walls at Lascaux, acid yellow to kelly green, and from scarlet women to imperial purple, these surprising stories run like a bright thread throughout history. In this book Kassia St Clair has turned her lifelong obsession with colours and where they come from (whether Van Gogh's chrome yellow sunflowers or punk's fluorescent pink) into a unique study of human civilisation. Across fashion and politics, art and war, The Secret Lives of Colour tell the vivid story of our culture.