There is a legend in the world that tells of a weapon sought after by only the most wicked of souls. Passed down through the years since before the coming of the gods, it grants its master the power to conquer and rule. The Rune Breaker. After decades of dormancy, it just found a new master in Taylin, an escaped slave, who stumbled upon its resting place and found it bound to her will. But as it happens, the Rune Breaker is really a person: the shapeshifting master and dark mage, Ru Brakar, who has been cursed to serve whoever finds him since prehistory. Taylin refuses to keep a slave, but an accidental order to Ru lands them both flung far into the future, where they must rely on one another and their new allies to brave a world alien to both of them and the attentions of a foe who stalks them in hopes of gaining access to a power beyond the gods. Collects the first book of the web serial novel, Rune Breaker by Landon Porter with cover art by Clay Kronke. Keywords: Free, sword & sorcery, steampunk, dungeonpunk, shapeshifter, dragon

Unable to hear, I live my life in silence. Unable to argue with my father, I live my life in service, married off to the highest bidder. Now, to save myself and my kingdom, I will have to play the part of their prisoner. But I’m not playing anymore, and my new betrothed is more than happy to push the limits of my body and mind. He’s a monster with a handsome face… But truer monsters wait for me, and they’re ready to give me so much more than I was prepared for. What makes a monster and what makes a man? Only I can find that out… And my life isn’t so silent anymore. [CW]: this is a dark fantasy romance and contains elements that may be upsetting to some individuals.

All Kein wanted was to be devoured... Read the first two books in the Monster of Monsters series. 1. Monster of Monsters #1 Part One: Mortem's Opening Type: short story with a word count of about 18,700 words Begin this novella series by reading this short story, Monster of Monsters #1 Part One: Mortem's Opening and enter a world of wonder and monsters. Light and darkness... All Kein wanted was to be devoured. As an orphan, she had been told since joining her school that it was very important that a house or clan devour her so when she met a creature promising to devour her, she was confused at first but then she was consoled that someone wanted her. A world of monsters and a world of humans... Loneliness can be a very strong emotion but it can also be a very strong motivator so even when a creature of the darkness invited her to come to her, innocence heeded the call. Kein began an adventure of heartache and joy as she walked the paths of shadow and light. She would discover what it was to be devoured as a dangerous game drew her into a deadly realm of wishes, revenge, hope, desire, love, and horror. 2. Monster of Monsters #1 Part Two: Mortem's Contestant Type: novella and the word count is about 43,200 words. Join Kein in this novella serial series and explore a realm of terror through the eyes of one who wants nothing more than to find a family of her own. Start this endearing and yet heartbreaking story by reading the short story, Monster of Monsters #1 Part One: Mortem's Opening. Monster of Monsters #1 Part Two: Mortem's Contestant Light and darkness... Love and revenge... All Kein wanted was to be devoured. As an orphan, she had been told since joining her school that it was very important that a house or clan devour her so when she met a creature promising to devour her, she was confused at first, but then she was consoled that someone wanted her. A world of monsters and a world of humans... A world of joy and a world of terror... Loneliness can be a very strong emotion, but it can also be a very strong motivator so even when a creature of the darkness invited her to come to her, innocence heeded the call. Kein began an adventure of heartache and joy as she walked the paths of shadow and light. She would discover what it was to be devoured as a dangerous game drew her into a deadly realm of wishes, revenge, hope, desire, love, and horror. Monster of Monsters Science Fiction Horror Action Adventure Novella Serial Series: 1. Monster of Monsters #1 Part One: Mortem's Opening 2. Monster of Monsters #1 Part Two: Mortem's Contestant 3. Monster of Monsters #1 Part Three: And Let The Real Games Begin 4. Monster of Monsters #1 Part Four: A Bargain Has Been Struck, Too Bad For You

A thrilling and gruesome look at the science that influenced Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. The year 1818 saw the publication of one of the most influential science-fiction stories of all time. Frankenstein: or, The Modern Prometheus by Mary Shelley had a huge impact on the gothic horror and science-fiction genres, and her creation has become part of our everyday culture, from cartoons to Hallowe'en costumes. Even the name 'Frankenstein' has become a by-word for evil scientists and dangerous experiments. How did a teenager with no formal education come up with the idea for such an extraordinary novel? Clues are dotted throughout Georgian science and popular culture. The years before the book's publication saw huge advances in our understanding of the natural sciences, in areas such as electricity and physiology, for example. Sensational science demonstrations caught the imagination of the general public, while the newspapers were full of lurid tales of murderers and resurrectionists. Making the Monster explores the scientific background behind Mary Shelley's book. Is there any science fact behind the science fiction? And how might a real-life Victor Frankenstein have gone about creating his monster? From tales of volcanic eruptions, artificial life and chemical revolutions, to experimental surgery, 'monsters' and electrical experiments on human cadavers, Kathryn Harkup examines the science and scientists that influenced Shelley, and inspired her most famous creation.

Sidis has long loved Lyse, and fate intervened to keep the two of them from being together... But now, over a century later, they’ve been reunited at long last. The only trouble that remains is the intrigue plaguing the empire. With Lyse and Sidis’s wedding swiftly approaching, will the creeping chaos ruin their special day? Or will the star-crossed couple finally be able to tie the knot and live happily ever after in peace?

This book is a multi-faceted, interdisciplinary examination of the music and figure of Lady Gaga, combining approaches from scholars in cultural studies, art, fashion, and music. It represents one of the first scholarly volumes devoted to Lady Gaga, who has become, over a few short years, central to both popular (and, indeed, populist) as well as more scholarly thought in these areas and who, the contributors argue, is helping to shape—directly and indirectly—thought and culture both in the fields of the "scholarly" and the "everyday." Lady Gaga's output is firmly embedded in a self-consciously intellectual pop culture tradition, and her music videos are intertextually linked to icons of pop culture intelligentsia like Alfred Hitchcock and open to multiple interpretations. In examining her music and figure, this volume contributes both to debates on the status of intertextuality, held in tension with originality, and to debates on the figuring of the sexualized female body, and representations of disability. There is interest in these issues from a wide range of disciplines: popular musicology, film studies, queer studies, women’s studies, gender studies, disability studies, popular culture studies, and the burgeoning sub-discipline of aesthetics and philosophy of fashion.

Now that she’s betrothed to Sidis, Lyse is dreaming of the life she’s always wanted back in the Razanate Empire. She’s in for a rude awakening, however, when she crosses the border to find her engagement challenged by members of the imperial family—who want the happy couple to choose other spouses in order to spread their Light in different lineages?! This isn’t what Lyse came to the empire for! Can she come up with a clever way to navigate imperial politics, romantic intrigue, and family drama all to save her engagement?

In the Top Ten on YouTube, Facebook and Twitter, with millions of followers, Lady Gaga is adored by a huge online community. If you love the wonder that is Gaga, then you gotta get this unofficial biography - the ultimate celebration of innovation and brilliance, with lush pics and inspirational words.

For nearly a century, Victorian London relied on “climbing boys”—orphans owned by chimney sweeps—to clean flues and protect homes from fire. The work was hard, thankless, and brutally dangerous. Eleven-year-old Nan Sparrow is quite possibly the best climber who ever lived—and a girl. With her wits and will, she’s managed to beat the deadly odds time and time again. But when Nan gets stuck in a deadly chimney fire, she fears her time has come. Instead, she wakes to find herself in an abandoned attic. And she is not alone. Huddled in the corner is a mysterious creature—a golem—made from ash and coal. This is the creature that saved her from the fire. Sweep is the story of a girl and her monster. Together, these two outcasts carve out a life—saving one another in the process. By one of today’s most powerful storytellers, Sweep is a heartrending adventure about the everlasting gifts of friendship and hope.

This biography details Lady Gaga's life from all angles, documenting her family background; the events before and during her meteoric rise to success as a songwriter, singer, and performance artist; her deft use of social media; and her political commentary. Lady Gaga: A Biography details Lady Gaga's life from birth to 2011. Readers will learn about her personal background—where she was born, who her parents were, what her early school years as a "weird girl" with "rabbit teeth" were like—as well as her pre-fame years where she gained an education in music and "paid her dues" as a small-time professional in small performance venues. The many milestones of her wildly successful career so far are documented in detail, as are Haus of Gaga, the artistic collective that supports her performances; her ongoing activities as a performer; her presentation in couture and accessories; and her stated intentions for the future. This book will be an engrossing read for fans of Lady Gaga as well as anyone interested in popular culture or the entertainment industry. Its inclusion of chapter endnotes containing quotations and controversial points along with a bibliography of print and electronic resources make it an authoritative research tool for students as well.