A Coalition Of Lions

DIVDIVCaught between two kingdoms, Princess Goewin must balance the demands of leadership with those of her own happiness/divDIV With her own kingdom in upheaval and her vicious aunt out for blood, Goewin, princess of Britain and daughter of High King Artos, flees to the British-allied African kingdom of Aksum. There, she meets with her fiancé, Constantine, Britain’s ambassador to Aksum, who is next in line for the throne of Britain. But Aksum is undergoing its own political turmoil, and Goewin soon finds herself trapped between two countries, with the well-being of each at stake. When she learns of another heir to the British throne, she must handle the precarious situation with great care—for the sake of her own happiness as well as for the safety of her people./divDIV /divDIVThis ebook features an illustrated biography of Elizabeth Wein including rare images from the author’s personal collection./div/div

DIVDIVTelemakos may have survived his capture in Afar, but his dangerous journey is far from over . . ./divDIV Twelve-year-old Telemakos—the descendant of British and Aksumite royalty—is still recovering from his ordeal as a government spy in the Afar desert, where he uncovered the traitor who spread the plague through Aksum. But before Telemakos is fully healed, tragedy strikes. For their own safety, Telemakos and his infant sister, Athena, are sent to live with Abreha, the ruler of Himyar—a longtime enemy turned ally of the Aksumites. Telemakos’s aunt Goewin, British ambassador to Aksum, warns him that Abreha is kind but dangerous. Telemakos promises he will be mindful—but he does not realize just how serious Goewin’s warnings will prove to be./divDIV This ebook features an illustrated biography of Elizabeth Wein including rare images from the author’s personal collection./divDIV/div/div

Central to this story is a young Sikh boy, who explores what it means to be "different just like you''. The first page turn encourages deeper conversations about identity and belonging with the question: "Do you know who I am?"Join this little human's quest of self-discovery through the metaphor of a lion's mane.The narrative's rhythm flows alongside the red fabric of a dastaar (turban worn by members of the Sikh community), strengthening the character's identity with each new word stitched into the dastaar."When we learn something new, it makes each of us stronger."Skipping Stones Honor Book Award Winner for Multicultural and International Awareness.

Brave Medraut is a fitting heir to the throne—but he can never be king—in this fantasy retelling of the legend of Mordred from the author of Code Name Verity. Medraut is the eldest son of High King Artos, and would-be heir to the British throne—if not for an unfortunate circumstance of birth. Instead, his weak and unskilled half-brother, Lleu, is chosen as successor. Medraut cannot bear the thought of being ruled by the boy who has taken what he believes is rightfully his. Consumed by jealousy, he turns to Morgause, the high king’s treacherous sister, who exploits Medraut’s shame and plots to take over the throne. But when Medraut discovers Lleu’s inner strength and goodness, he finds his battle is not just with the kingdom, but with the demons inside himself. Now he must choose where his allegiances truly lie. Perfect for readers of Robin McKinley and Jane Yolen, The Winter Prince is an “engrossing” novel that “fantasy lovers and devotees of Arthurian legends will enjoy,” from an author who has won honors ranging from the Carnegie Medal to the Edgar Award (Booklist). This ebook features an illustrated biography of Elizabeth Wein including rare images from the author’s personal collection.

This “unique, epic journey into adulthood” takes readers from Arthurian England to sixth-century Africa (The Horn Book). The acclaimed author of Code Name Verity spins a mesmerizing fantasy of sibling rivalry, royal intrigue, and hair-raising adventure in the medieval world. “Wein’s prose is taut and elegant, creating an intense, intimate, and sometimes painful story with finely wrought, believable characters” (Booklist). The Winter Prince: Medraut is the eldest son of High King Artos, and would-be heir to the British throne—if not for an unfortunate circumstance of birth. Consumed by jealousy, Medraut joins with the king’s treacherous sister in a plot to take over the throne. But Medraut soon finds his battle is not just with the kingdom, but also with the demons inside himself. “A mesmerizing, splendidly imagined debut.” —Kirkus Reviews A Coalition of Lions: With her kingdom in upheaval and her vicious aunt out for blood, Goewin, daughter of High King Artos, flees to the British-allied African kingdom of Aksum, now known as Ethiopia. But Aksum is undergoing its own political turmoil, and Goewin soon finds herself trapped between two countries, with the well-being of each at stake. “A gripping tale of danger, nobility, power, and love.” —The Horn Book The Sunbird: Telemakos, a descendant of both British and Aksumite rulers, has always been an outcast, but his honorable character has never failed his royal heritage. When a plague spreads through the kingdom of Aksum, he is called upon to travel to the Afar desert and discover who has betrayed the crown. “Intense, absorbing, and luminously written.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review The Lion Hunter: When tragedy strikes close to home, Telemakos and his infant sister, Athena, are sent to live with Abreha, the ruler of Himyar—a longtime-enemy-turned-ally of the Aksumites. But even in hiding, there is more danger than anyone could have imagined. “[A] lyrical and complex tale of adventure and betrayal set in sixth-century Africa.” —School Library Journal, starred review The Empty Kingdom: Accused of treason and imprisoned on the upper levels of a palace, Telemakos is forced to help plan an invasion of his beloved homeland. Lacking any way to communicate with his family in faraway Aksum, he must use all of his subtle talents to regain his freedom. “Filled with friendships and secrets, trust and treachery, this is a worthy entry in Wein’s sophisticated look at ancient Ethiopia.” —School Library Journal

An authoritative, accessible, and gorgeously illustrated exploration into the lives of these remarkable animals Lions are the only social cat. They hunt together, raise cubs together, and defend territories together against neighbors and strangers. Lions also rest atop their ecological pyramid, with profound impacts on competitors and prey alike, but their future is far from assured. Craig Packer interweaves his discoveries from more than forty years of research—including a substantial body of new findings—to provide an unforgettable portrait of the African lion. He shares insights into the intricacies of lion life from birth until death and describes efforts to conserve lions in an increasingly crowded continent. With a wealth of breathtaking photographs by Daniel Rosengren, The Lion sheds light on a host of intriguing scientific questions, such as why males have manes, why lions are social, how sociality limits and stabilizes lion populations, how close inbreeding affects lion health, why lions become man-eaters, how lions and people can best be protected from each other, and how to ensure the lion’s survival into the next century. Engagingly written by the world’s foremost expert on African lions Integrates a wealth of findings from two of the most comprehensive field studies on any animal Features hundreds of stunning photographs that capture a broad range of lion behaviors, ecological interactions, and conservation challenges Blends vivid field anecdotes and graphics to give the reader a sense of adventuring into the lion’s world

“Until the lion has its own storyteller, tales of the lion hunt will always glorify the hunter.” —Zimbabwean proverb In 2015, an American hunter named Walter Palmer shot and killed a lion named Cecil. The lion was one of dozens slain each year in Zimbabwe, which legally licenses the hunting of big cats. But Cecil’s death sparked unprecedented global outrage, igniting thousands of media reports about the peculiar circumstances surrounding this hunt. At the center of the controversy was Dr. Andrew Loveridge, the zoologist who had studied Cecil for eight years. In Lion Hearted, Loveridge pieces together, for the first time, the fascinating life and murky details of this beloved lion’s slaying. In the tradition of Born Free and Gorillas in the Mist, Lion Hearted chronicles Loveridge’s long acquaintance with a host of charismatic lions that his team has tracked, often from birth to death. Born and raised in Zimbabwe, Loveridge learned to love predators at the knee of his father, an eminent herpetologist who stored baby crocodiles in the family bathtub. After earning his doctorate at Oxford, he seized an invitation to study the lions of Zimbabwe’s Hwange National Park. There he meets Stumpy Tail, who, despite her name, has the dignity of the Queen of the Animal Kingdom; Dynamite, a venerable coalition leader who, muscled out by younger males, sets off on an incredible thirty-seven-day, 137-mile journey to find a new home; and Kataza, who escapes another lion’s claws, and whom Loveridge twice saves from death at the hands of humans. And, of course, there is Cecil. Dethroned in an epic battle, he forms an alliance with a former rival. He also becomes a favorite of photographers and tourists—until the fateful night when a Minnesota dentist and his hunting guide entice the trusting cat with a free meal. Loveridge unravels the complexities of lion society and the dangers the cats face both within their ranks and from the outside world. Despite their ruthless reputation, lions can form deep emotional bonds—females live in prides, a sisterhood of mothers, daughters, sisters, and aunts that can exhibit military precision when hunting in formation; males band together in coalitions to vie for control of territory and the female prides. They also display a wide range of emotional behavior, including mourning the loss of their mates, partners, and cubs. Africa’s lion population is estimated to have shrunk by 43 percent in the last twenty years. There may now be as few as 20,000 wild lions across the entire continent—far fewer than the number of elephants. While deploring the killing of lions for sport, Loveridge does not believe that banning trophy hunting, by itself, will halt the decline of Africa’s lion populations. He sees greater threats in human population growth, the loss of habitat to agriculture, and the illegal trade in lion body parts for use in traditional medicines. And he offers concrete proposals for averting the lion’s extinction. More than a gripping detective story, Lion Hearted is an exploration of humanity’s relationship with the natural world and an attempt to keep this majestic species from disappearing. “Lions are one of the most beloved animals on the planet,” Loveridge observes. “They are the national symbol of no fewer than fifteen countries. . . . Surely, we can think of a better way to save the wild animals we love besides killing them.”