When women understand how God has empowered them, they can "wield the sword" of feminine strength against any evil that threatens them and those they love. What if you discovered you have been entrusted with an invisible, invincible, and incorruptible weapon? Would you use it? In a day of worldwide trafficking, gendercide, discrimination, and other hostility against women, Lisa Bevere points to a biblical foundation to present a model of feminine strength that will empower women to live confidently. Drawing on the many references to swords throughout Scripture, the author constructs a revealing and compelling female paradigm that will impact every area of a woman's self identity, spiritual awareness, relationships, and life vision and mission. Long known for her passionate and articulate expression of biblical womanhood, Bevere presents fresh imagery--as enticing and strong as polished steel--to prepare women boldly for the challenges they face in today's world. It's not enough to just be wise and strong: Now a woman must know how to wield her sword. Creatively forging the imagery of swords, the Word of God, and the Cross, Girls with Swords will teach you: • How to speak the language of heaven on earth • What it means to intercede • What it means to carry your cross • What it means to be discerning • How to disarm the enemy • Why women are the enemy’s target—and why God needs them to be heroes It’s time to take up your sword and be a hero.

A woman not only needs a room of her own, as Virginia Woolf wrote, but also the freedom to leave it and return to it at will; for a room without that right becomes a prison cell. The privilege of self-directed movement, the power to pick up and go as one pleases, has not been a traditional "right" of Iranian women. This prerogative has been denied them in the name of piety, anatomy, chastity, class, safety, and even beauty. It is only during the last 160 years that the spell has been broken and Iranian women have emerged as a moderating, modernizing force. Women writers have been at the forefront of this desegregating movement and renegotiation of boundaries. Words, Not Swords explores the legacy of sex segregation and its manifestations in Iranian literature and film and in notions of beauty and the erotics of passivity. Milani expands her argument beyond Iranian culture, arguing that freedom of movement is a theme that crosses frontiers and dissolves conventional distinctions of geography, history, and religion. She makes bold connections between veiling and foot binding, between Cinderella and Barbie, between the figures of the female Gypsy and the witch. In so doing, she challenges cultural hierarchies that divert attention from key issues in the control of women across the globe.

Queen Skye Eskel is in exile. With her friends scattered and a foreign prince on the throne, her kingdom is lost – and the only way to win it back might be to make a deal with the man who betrayed her. Nor is the fate of her nation her only concern. The newly freed revenants have gone south, taking their chaos and destruction to the Imaldran Empire. Skye's estranged sister seeks to use them for her own ends, setting in motion a race for possession of the final Sovereign Blades. If she finds them, Tawny will once again have the upper hand, and seek to bring about a reign of darkness. And the biggest battle of all might not be with elves, or Nocturnes, or Imperial princes. If Skye can't recover the fire that's spurred her on for so long, she risks surrendering any hope of peace, for herself or for her country. After everything she's lost, and found, and lost again, can she ever find a way back to the light?

Shadow of the Swords is Book Two of The Ancient Bloodlines Trilogy John and Mistress Gwen are caught up in a deadly struggle for magical swords and control of the Holy Land. Who has the Power? It is the year 1113, and the fanatical Knights of The Order are again seeking to control Gwen and separate her from John. Shadow of the Swords continues the fast-moving tale of intrigue, adventure and romance that began in The Power in the Dark. The action shifts from quiet Wessex villages to Henry I's royal court, Stonehenge, a French nunnery and the Isle of Cyprus. Why is John called Gilles de Plantard, and what is his relationship to Gwen? And how are they linked to the Swords of Power that threaten the Crusaders' occupation of the Holy Land? In this world of fierce battles and enduring friendships, the young protagonists must grow up quickly as they are reluctantly thrust into positions of power and influence for which they are ill prepared.

The crisis of masculinity surfaced and converged with the crisis of the nation in the late Qing, after the doors of China were forced open by Opium Wars. The power of physical aggression increasingly overshadowed literary attainments and became a new imperative of male honor in the late Qing and early Republican China. Afflicted with anxiety and indignation about their increasingly effeminate image as perceived by Western colonial powers, Chinese intellectuals strategically distanced themselves from the old literati and reassessed their positions vis-à-vis violence. In Mastery of Words and Swords: Negotiating Intellectual Masculinities in Modern China, 1890s–1930s, Jun Lei explores the formation and evolution of modern Chinese intellectual masculinities as constituted in racial, gender, and class discourses mediated by the West and Japan. This book brings to light a new area of interest in the “Man Question” within gender studies in which women have typically been the focus. To fully reveal the evolving masculine models of a “scholar-warrior,” this book employs an innovative methodology that combines theoretical vigor, archival research, and analysis of literary texts and visuals. Situating the changing inter- and intra-gender relations in modern Chinese history and Chinese literary and cultural modernism, the book engages critically with male subjectivity in relation to other pivotal issues such as semi-coloniality, psychoanalysis, modern love, feminism, and urbanization. “Jun Lei’s brilliant book offers a wealth of information and insights on how intellectuals such as Liang Qichao and Lu Xun shaped notions of Chinese masculinity in the tumultuous late Qing and May Fourth periods. Its account of how China’s interactions with the West and Japan impacted ideas of masculinity in modern times is compelling reading.” —Kam Louie, author of Theorising Chinese Masculinity: Society and Gender in China and Chinese Masculinities in a Globalizing World “What are political and cultural consequences when a Chinese man looks and behaves like a woman? Jun Lei probes the psychic, intellectual, and nationalist underpinnings of that question. This provocative book offers an engaging story and insightful analyses about how male writers grappled with the effeminate look and strove to revitalize manliness.” —Ban Wan

Step into the enthralling world of "The Kingdom of Slender Swords" by Hallie Erminie Rives, a captivating tale of love, honor, and political intrigue set against the backdrop of medieval Spain. Join the protagonist as she embarks on a journey through the vibrant streets of medieval Toledo, where the clash of cultures and the pursuit of power create a volatile atmosphere of uncertainty and danger. Through Rives' masterful storytelling, readers are transported to a world of knights, nobles, and clandestine alliances. Experience the tension and drama as rival factions vie for control of the kingdom, while hidden agendas and secret alliances threaten to upend the fragile peace. Against this backdrop, the protagonist navigates a web of deception and betrayal, forging unlikely alliances and confronting formidable adversaries. Explore themes of loyalty, betrayal, and the quest for justice as the protagonist grapples with the moral complexities of her time. From the glittering court of the king to the shadowy alleys of the city, each twist and turn of the plot keeps readers on the edge of their seats, eager to uncover the truth. The overall tone of the novel is one of suspense and intrigue, as Rives crafts a richly textured world filled with memorable characters and unexpected twists. Her vivid descriptions and evocative prose bring the sights, sounds, and smells of medieval Spain to life, immersing readers in a world of adventure and danger. Critically acclaimed for its compelling plot and rich historical detail, "The Kingdom of Slender Swords" has earned praise for its vivid characters and gripping narrative. Its exploration of power, ambition, and the human cost of political intrigue resonates with readers of all ages and backgrounds. Whether you're a fan of historical fiction or simply enjoy a well-crafted story, "The Kingdom of Slender Swords" promises to captivate and enthrall. Don't miss your chance to embark on this epic journey through the heart of medieval Spain. Grab your copy now and prepare to be swept away by Hallie Erminie Rives' spellbinding tale.

In this study the author analyses similarities, differences and contradictions in the cultural norms about gender expressed in proverbs she has found in oral and written sources from over 150 countries. Grouping the proverbs into categories as the female body, love, sex, childbirth and the female power, the author examines shared patterns in ideas about women and how men see them.

Timothy, the last priest of Lachdavan scribes the last days as he watches his beloved home of Chandel fall. But he also writes of hope. Trinian Komasir must lead his companions home to redeem the world of Altera. But to do so, he must overcome his existence as the vampiric assassin Sicarius to remain worthy to wield the Ankh-Djed and defeat the Night. They are not heroes because of their morals or ideals. They fight against the Darkness because they each know evil intimately. It causes their souls to quake knowing what they have done and what will happen if the Night succeeds.

The Wheel of Time is now an original series on Prime Video, starring Rosamund Pike as Moiraine! In A Crown of Swords, the seventh novel in Robert Jordan’s #1 New York Times bestselling epic fantasy series, The Wheel of Time®, a rebellious uprising threatens Rand al’Thor's rule as he prepares to battle an even more dangerous enemy. Incited by nobles seeking to reclaim their places of power, armies march against the Dragon Reborn. As Rand tries to restore order, he discovers a lack of loyalty even among the warrior Aiel, and still mistrusts the rebel Aes Sedai even though they swore allegiance. But nothing can stop Rand and his Asha'man soldiers from storming the city of Illian to confront the Forsaken Sammael, and challenge him to a duel of the One Power with the winner taking the Crown of Swords... Since its debut in 1990, The Wheel of Time® by Robert Jordan has captivated millions of readers around the globe with its scope, originality, and compelling characters. The last six books in series were all instant #1 New York Times bestsellers, and The Eye of the World was named one of America's best-loved novels by PBS's The Great American Read. The Wheel of Time® New Spring: The Novel #1 The Eye of the World #2 The Great Hunt #3 The Dragon Reborn #4 The Shadow Rising #5 The Fires of Heaven #6 Lord of Chaos #7 A Crown of Swords #8 The Path of Daggers #9 Winter's Heart #10 Crossroads of Twilight #11 Knife of Dreams By Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson #12 The Gathering Storm #13 Towers of Midnight #14 A Memory of Light By Robert Jordan and Teresa Patterson The World of Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time By Robert Jordan, Harriet McDougal, Alan Romanczuk, and Maria Simons The Wheel of Time Companion By Robert Jordan and Amy Romanczuk Patterns of the Wheel: Coloring Art Based on Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

On the night before her Choosing, there were whispers of war in the air. After binding herself to Clarent, Opal is given a grim prophecy of her future. Alone and ostracized from her clan, she finds an unlikely ally in the sorceresses' leader, Joan. Joan is the reason the Sorceress clan wants to attack. She's prophesied to pull Excalibur from its stone. But her clan wants its powers for a darker purpose. They have to band together to stop the Sorceress clan's invasion. Excalibur is on their side, but they’re outnumbered five to one. Can Opal escape this war unscathed? Or will her prophecy come true? If you like Merlin and Once Upon a Time, then you’ll love the first book in the Gemstone Massacre series. Buy “War of the Twin Swords” today!