Sword Is Drawn

Sword Is Drawn

Andre Norton

Science Fiction & Fantasy / Young Adult

Few authors have achieved such renown as World Fantasy Life Achievement honoree and Science Fiction Writers of America Grand Master Andre Norton. With the love of readers and the praise of critics, Norton's books have sold millions of copies worldwide.The House of Norreys—those merchants of gems for over three hundred years—faces its greatest crisis ever: the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands. The old Jonkheer lay dying in his bed when he called his grandson to be with him in the last hours of his life, and at this time, young Lorens van Norreys is entrusted with the future of Norreys. That future lies in the legendary Flower of Orange, a priceless baroque necklace that the Nazi scavengers burn to possess. It is up to Lorens to save the necklace and the House of Norreys. With the first encounter with the Nazi invaders, Lorens faces his challenge as The Sword Is Drawn.
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Beautiful Strangers

Beautiful Strangers

Ellen Dean

Young Adult / Science Fiction & Fantasy

There are many sides to Hyacinth Dickinson - aka H - all intriguing; none predictable.Her public life shows the world a respected gynaecologist. Her private life is deliciously different; dark, intoxicating.  A rich, powerful woman; a devious diamond smuggler and an artful witch who loves women - literally - despite sporting a trophy husband. Yet H is lonely; she wants a soul mate.So, she casts a powerful spell to manifest her perfect woman. A woman to match her desire for danger, diamonds and sex. When H meets talented surgeon Beth McConnell - the newest recruit to her husband's surgical team - she believes Beth is The One.H is excited. She has great plans for Beth; she will be Beth's first lesbian lover. But, first she has to entice Beth into her web. And, she will go to any lengths to do so. No matter that Beth has always quelled her attraction to women and totally blanks her unwanted and scary physic ability.  She is unprepared for the impact H makes on her and H's sexual advances. Confused, and against her better judgement, Beth agrees to go to London with H: she can't seem to say 'no' to the woman. But, fate intervenes. Beth meets her screen idol Lou Scott on the London bound train. Their mutual attraction is electric. Will Beth and Lou find happiness together or will H destroy them?The story is set against the backdrop of Northern England, London, Cannes, LA and Scotland. ReviewA mesmerizing book that has you spellbound from start to finish with its twisted web on intrigue, sultry lesbian lust, witchcraft and diamond smuggling. A roller-coaster novel. --Out! northeast Magazine February/March 2011 About the AuthorEllen was born in County Durham, England. She now lives in North Yorkshire with her long-term partner.She is active in amateur dramatics, and is interested in metaphysics.Before penning her first novel Ellen wrote features for national magazines and regional newspapers.
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Orion Among the Stars o-5

Orion Among the Stars o-5

Ben Bova

Science Fiction & Fantasy / Science

More than human and less that a god, John O’Ryan is Orion, made by the Creators who rule outside of time. His purpose is to do their bidding. Now, Orion has becomee a key piece in a cosmic game between two of the Creators—Anya, the goddess he loves, and Aten, the god who toys with his destiny.
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Defend and Betray

Defend and Betray

Anne Perry

Literature & Fiction / Mystery & Thrillers / Science Fiction & Fantasy

From Publishers WeeklyIn Perry's third mystery set in Victorian London, military hero Thaddeus Carlyon falls from the top of a staircase and is impaled on a suit of armor below--an ignoble end to a distinguished career and a definite damper to the dinner party he had been attending. When his death turns out to be a murder, his wife takes sole responsibility and is quickly arrested. But Carlyon's sister believes the widow innocent and enlists the help of her friend Hester Latterly, a nurse, who soon brings in her associates from The Face of a Stranger and A Dangerous Mourning : barrister Oliver Rathbone and troubled former policeman, amnesia victim and dogged investigator Thomas Monk. The quietly feminist Latterly, the gentlemanly Rathbone and the seemingly cold Monk (who discovers hidden aspects of himself as readily as he does clues) advance the narrative in tandem. Unobtrusively creating a richly detailed period atmosphere, Perry leads readers gradually through a case involving Carlyon's traumatized son and vengeful daughter, revealing social and moral nuances in the grand tradition of the Victorian novel--even though the finale relies on a plot device badly overused in current crime fiction. Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. From School Library JournalYA-- Professional lawyer, private investigator, and amateur sleuth unite to investigate not "whodunit" but why. Mrs. Carlyon has confessed to murdering her husband, the General Schwartzkopf of London society in 1857; her friends realize that the motive must have been significant for such a mild-mannered lady to have committed the deed. Halfway through the book, they learn her reason, but then must find admissible evidence to prove it in court. There are many characters in the story, differentiated by personality traits within a family or by rigid class structure. The latter is especially evident in the speech patterns. Because there is so much dialogue, the pacing is rapid. Readers discover much about the condition of women in Victorian England, i.e., as the husband's pawn with no rights or property of her own. Inspector Monk was introduced in an earlier novel; a secondary mystery relating to his amnesia is disappointing as it builds and then fizzles out. YAs will identify more with Hester, the sleuth. Enlightening historical fiction/mystery. --Claudia Moore, W. T. Woodson High School, Fairfax, VACopyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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Ban Talah

Ban Talah

A. L. Duncan

Science Fiction & Fantasy / Young Adult / Literature & Fiction

From the crumbling pages of ancient Celtic scrolls comes a vivid world of mysticism and unflinching valor. Ban Talah is the daughter of Tlachtga, Goddess of the Thunderbolt. Unbound by mortal laws Ban Talah must find strength in her own moral constitutions in all their depths and complexities and not distance herself from the deep undercurrent of her immortality in order to fulfill her Geasa, her duty, as a strength and legend to her people. It is the time of King Henry II, ruler of England, where Celtic-Christianity struggled with Rome's papacy and the legitimacy of paganism within the Church. It is a time that begins the reaping of a terrible sowing.The insidious heart of a French Cardinal, a man of mysterious dealings, has set the elements of evil astir. In order to save Henry's England Ban Talah must first save the Lady of the Land from the bindings of the Cardinal's sorcerous, wintery enchantment, a spell that is also a wicked inheritance of ills against the healers of her people. This is a tale of how one woman led her people in loyalty to a King and the Church a respect in her people, driving all that she fought for into all that she also fought against. A woman whom all called: Ban Talah.
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Excalibur #2: Renaissance

Excalibur #2: Renaissance

Peter David

Science Fiction & Fantasy / Comics & Graphic Novels

In the wake of the Excalibur's destruction, Dr. Selar, the ship's former medical officer is concerned about the birth of her child, following which, she retires to her world to raise her baby like a true Vulcan. Meanwhile, the baby Xyon, though Vulcan in appearance also carries some of its father's latent Hermat qualities. Thus, starts the conflict for the child's ultimate fate between Selar and Lieutenant Commander Burgoyne, the child's father­eventually resolved by T'Pau and the Vulcan justice system.
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Star Trek: Starfleet Academy #3: Cadet Kirk

Star Trek: Starfleet Academy #3: Cadet Kirk

Diane Carey

Science Fiction & Fantasy

Before he became the captain of the U.S.S. Enterprise… James T. Kirk was a “by-the-book” Starfleet Academy cadet. Until he had to throw the book away! It was a simple shuttle trip—just a quick hop to a nearby planet where renowned computer genius Richard Daystrom will give a lecture. But then a tractor beam forces the shuttle to land at a remote Federation outpost. Medical Intern McCoy, Ensign Spock and Cadet Kirk have been kidnapped by space pirates! They’re outnumbered and outgunned. McCoy and Spock simply want to escape and alert the authorities. But Professor Daystrom is the real target, and his shuttle will be entering this region of space soon. For Daystrom's sake, the fiery young Kirk is determined to destroy the pirates’ outpost—even if he has to do it alone.
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[A Thousand Faces 01.0] A Thousand Faces

[A Thousand Faces 01.0] A Thousand Faces

Janci Patterson

Young Adult / Science Fiction & Fantasy / Literature & Fiction

A Thousand Faces by Janci Patterson In her debut YA science fiction novel, Janci Patterson presents a thriller that #1 NYT bestseller James Dashner calls "a fantastic book" and #1 NYT bestseller Brandon Sanderson calls "hands down one of my favorite novels of the year." In the world of high-stakes espionage, it pays to be able to change your face. And that's just what sixteen-year-old Jory and her family of shape-shifting spies can do-alter their faces and bodies to look like anyone. Jory is in training to be a full member of the family business-when she can convince her parents to let her help with their elaborate cons. But when Jory's parents go missing on the job, Jory is thrown into a world of secrets, lies, and stolen identities that will put all her training to the test. Jory's always wanted to be a member of the team- But saving her family wasn't supposed to be part of the job. Other Praise for A THOUSAND FACES: "A Thousand Faces is a well-plotted race of a story with fantastic world building. A paranormal Mission Impossible for teens, Jory's world and story are so meticulously parsed together they make you want to look twice at every face you see on the street." -- Aprilynne Pike, #1 NYT bestselling author of the Wings series "A Thousand Faces is one of those rare books that can include heartbreaking and swoon-worthy romance and equally skillful action and suspense. It's a terrific novel." -Robison Wells, author of the Blackout series "A THOUSAND FACES is the YA thriller I've been waiting for: a fantastic, troubled heroine, struggling with an incredible power she only barely controls, trapped in a web of supernatural espionage where she can't trust anyone. The pace is quick, the intrigue is devious, and the magic is absolutely fascinating. A brilliant combination of romance, science fiction, and the supernatural." -Dan Wells, author of the Partials Series
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Ability Quotient

Ability Quotient

Mack Reynolds

Science Fiction & Fantasy

An elite soldier is asked to take part in problem researching sophisticated physical and mental testing, and to take university coursework as their computers direct. He finds out that more is going on than this, the creation of a mental and physical elite, going way beyond supergenius IQ into physical abilities and even immortality.
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