The gripping story of a Chinese woman's journey through a criminal underworld of intrigue and opulence from the author of Peach Blossom Pavilion. Once upon a time in China, the most beautiful and gifted women were known as “skeleton women”—the ultimate femme fatales who could bring a man to his knees, or to his doom . . . When Camilla, a young orphan girl in Shanghai, is adopted and brought to live in luxury, it seems like a stroke of luck. But as Camilla grows to womanhood, she realizes that her “rescue” was part of gang leader Big Brother Wang's scheme. Camilla is trained in singing, dancing, knife-throwing and contortion—all to attract the attention of Wang's enemy, the ruthless Master Lung. Forced to become Master Lung's mistress, Camilla meets two intriguing women. One is a magician and rival for Master Lung's affections, while the other one dresses like a man and wields power through her incendiary gossip column. Both pose risks to Camilla's safety and status. But an even greater danger comes in the form of Master Lung's eldest son, who despises his father's violent lifestyle—but loves Camilla. Only by plotting to eliminate Lung can she make her escape, but the cost may be too high to pay . . . Praise for the novels of Mingmei Yip “A unique and enthralling style . . . flawless.” —Baltimore Books Examiner “Riveting . . . a rare peek into an exotic culture that is thrilling, captivating, and moving.” —Shobhan Bantwal, author of The Dowry Bride “A vivid account of the forgotten past.” —Chun Yu, author of Little Green

Time and the Ancestors: Aztec and Mixtec Ritual Art combines iconographical analysis with archaeological, historical and ethnographic studies and offers new interpretations of enigmatic masterpieces from ancient Mexico, focusing specifically on the symbols and values of the religious heritage of indigenous peoples.

When midlife hits, you lose some, you win some, and life sure can get interesting. Cassie’s husband kept the Boston townhouse and the friends ... she kept the dog, the midlife hot flashes, and the car, which she uses to drive the heck out of town, on a mission to rediscover herself and her Texas roots. The supernatural surprises begin during Cassie’s drive south when her Pekingese diva of a dog starts talking and a ghostly gramma on the run from the law starts haunting her backseat. Wondering whether it’s menopause or just her mind playing nasty tricks on her, Cassie tightens her grip on the wheel ... and her sanity and keeps driving. When the paranormal po-po start tailing her and pair of redneck trolls try to kill her, Cassie realizes it’s not only her grandmother who is in danger -- and her brand spanking new witchy magic is the only chance she has of staying alive and clearing her gramma's name. Otherwise, Cassie’s new life will be over before it begins, and her newfound gramma will wind up in ghost jail for a murder she didn't commit. This new paranormal midlife mystery series features a cast full of quirky characters, including a sassy, snarky magical dog, a ghostly gramma with a warrant (or two), a powerful Voodoo Queen, a couple of quite nice zombies, a teeny tiny fairy assassin with a drinking problem and a deadly power, a hot supernatural cop, and a pair of dangerous but dumb troll hitmen, to name just a few. The series includes tons of humor, plus new mid-life beginnings, old family secrets, and forever friendships, along with a massive dose of mystery, magic, mayhem, and more. Oh, and maple cupcakes. Don't forget the maple cupcakes.

Gorilla Pathology and Health: With a Catalogue of Preserved Materials consists of two cross-referenced parts. The first, the book itself, is a review of pathological changes and tissue responses in gorillas (Gorilla gorilla and G. beringei), with an emphasis on free-living animals, but also with reference to those in captivity. The comparative aspects are discussed, stressing the relevance of research to both gorillas and humans. What makes the publication truly unique, however, is the second part, a comprehensive descriptive catalogue of the location and nature of gorilla material in museums and scientific institutions throughout the world. This is of great consequence because free-living gorillas are strictly conserved with restricted access, so the location of a wealth of preserved tissues and other material that has been collected over the decades is a great benefit for research and study.This book can, and should, be used to gain cardinal knowledge regarding the biology and pathology of this genus. The combination of book and catalogue in this extensive compilation makes it an invaluable tool for all those concerned with the health, welfare, and conservation of gorillas, one of our nearest living relatives. - Brings together studies, data, and clinical practice from difficult-to-access or obscure journals and NGO reports, in different languages, for all interested parties and practitioners - Provides perspectives on existing research in gorilla pathology, both for those studying conservation practices and those seeking an understanding of comparable diseases in humans - Includes illustrative figures on gross and microscopic pathological changes, museum specimens, photos of field necropsy and techniques, and examples of laboratory tests - Features an extensive list of references and further reading, in different languages - Incorporates a comprehensive, descriptive catalogue of gorilla material from around the world