The Mystique Chronicles

From beyond the boundaries of infinity and the vastness of immortal consciousness, a prophecy had been conceived within the majestic expanse of the unbound universe. As a result, the Mystique have sprung from the womb of Mother Earth like the phoenix rising up from the still burning embers of The Desert of Reality. Upon the death of his beloved Cortessa, Demonno was literally drove beyond the brink of insanity, and throughout the ageless millenniums, he had taken it upon himself to single-handedly wipe his own species off the face of the planet. Violet, nearly the last living Mystique in existence, has finally come upon the end of her inevitable journey. Despite the destruction of her species, bitter betrayals, and malignant diversities, Violet has still managed to fulfill a prophecy that is perhaps as ancient as the universe herself. Violet must ultimately pass Samantha Jean Doventhe mothering host of a new breed of Mystiquethe proverbial scepter to continue the self-sacrificing journey that she cannot continue. However, in the aftermath of Demonnos reign of terror, he continues his contaminated trail of destruction and will stop at absolutely nothing to finish what he has started and destroy all Mystiques, along with anything or anyone, who is unfortunate enough to cross his path. Samantha must stop this insane beast of hatred and rage and save humankind not only from themselves but Demonno as well. Samantha must find the strength within to carry the Mystique and humankind alike into a new age and a new millennium, because a new time and existence is about to begin. What is life? Life is the decisions we choose to make woven among our destiny and, in the end, all is as it should be.

Diverse perspectives on the “chronicle”as a literary genre and socio-cultural practice.

With her stepmother dying in an unknown targeted explosion, burning down a restaurant with her best friend Silas and a random possible long-lost sibling-with powers she didn't know she had; Vampress Scarlett Lenotine is left in a desperate, and gruesome place mentally. Passion and heat arises as unknown feelings grow for the one person that she knows she should only feel friendship for, and pure desire erupts as he returns the favor. Amongst the chaos of events, her life is on the line. And with sudden situations blowing up in her face, she doesn't have many options when abruptly, she is unwillingly recruited to train at the palace of Endlaysha in the land of the Fey. What will she do?

The present volume of studies is the first Subsidium of the Central European Medieval Text series, accompanying CEMT vol. 9 on the Illuminated Chronicle (formerly called the Vienna Chronicle), written in the fourteenth century, which represents the international artistic style at the royal court of Louis I of Hungary. The volume of the text and its annotations did not allow including the detailed scholarly introduction into the same volume as is the custom with the other CEMT items. The essays in the book analyze the text and the illuminations of the Illuminated Chronicle in literaryhistorical, art historical and heraldic context. The relevant literature that goes back to more than 200 years is also summarized. Additional studies address issues connected with the narrative. Since the chronicle starts with the history of the Huns, imaginary ancestors of the Hungarians, the Attila tradition in Hungarian history writing is discussed. Extensive coverage is offered on the dynastic struggles of the eleventh century, placing them into the context of amicitia and deditio. The image of King St. Ladislas I as the "ideal king" is reviewed, a topic that received conspicuously detailed coverage in the chronicle. Finally, the fate of the fourteenthcentury chronicle texts during the subsequent centuries is examined, their appearance in legal texts, and their reception abroad.

Discover a captivating collection of miniature worlds and intricate emotions in "Tiny Tales: Micro-Fiction for the Modern Reader." Step into a realm where stories unfold in mere sentences, inviting you to explore the depths of human experience, imagination, and connection through the power of brevity. In this enchanting anthology, each micro-fiction piece is a gem carefully crafted to transport you to realms both familiar and fantastical. With each turn of the page, you'll encounter characters navigating love's tender whispers, unravel mysteries in a sentence, witness history's grandeur in a hint, and explore the cosmos in a glance. From heartwarming tales of friendship to haunting glimpses of alternate realities, "Tiny Tales" captures the essence of life's profound moments in the most concise yet impactful manner. Dive into the secrets of the universe, embark on journeys of self-discovery, and witness the intricate threads of human connection that transcend time and space. Whether you're a lover of literature or a casual reader, these micro-stories will leave an indelible mark on your heart and mind. Within these pages, you'll find: Brevity's Beauty: A thought-provoking exploration of life's complexities in miniature narratives. Whispers in the Wind: Stories that capture the magic of a hundred words, each revealing a universe of emotions. Coffee-Stained Chronicles: Tales that unfold in the time it takes to savor a cup of coffee, yet linger in your thoughts. Of Shadows and Light: Miniature mythologies that weave the fabric of ancient tales into the modern world. Ephemeral Encounters: Brief meetings that evoke lasting connections between characters, and between you and their stories.

This anthology reflects a range of Japanese religions in their complex, sometimes conflicting, diversity. In the tradition of the Princeton Readings in Religions series, the collection presents documents (legends and miracle tales, hagiographies, ritual prayers and ceremonies, sermons, reform treatises, doctrinal tracts, historical and ethnographic writings), most of which have been translated for the first time here, that serve to illuminate the mosaic of Japanese religions in practice. George Tanabe provides a lucid introduction to the "patterned confusion" of Japan's religious practices. He has ordered the anthology's forty-five readings under the categories of "Ethical Practices," "Ritual Practices," and "Institutional Practices," moving beyond the traditional classifications of chronology, religious traditions (Shinto, Confucianism, Buddhism, etc.), and sects, and illuminating the actual orientation of people who engage in religious practices. Within the anthology's three broad categories, subdivisions address the topics of social values, clerical and lay precepts, gods, spirits, rituals of realization, faith, court and emperor, sectarian founders, wizards, and heroes, orthopraxis and orthodoxy, and special places. Dating from the eighth through the twentieth centuries, the documents are revealed to be open to various and evolving interpretations, their meanings dependent not only on how they are placed in context but also on how individual researchers read them. Each text is preceded by an introductory explanation of the text's essence, written by its translator. Instructors and students will find these explications useful starting points for their encounters with the varied worlds of practice within which the texts interact with readers and changing contexts. Religions of Japan in Practice is a compendium of relationships between great minds and ordinary people, abstruse theories and mundane acts, natural and supernatural powers, altruism and self-interest, disappointment and hope, quiescence and war. It is an indispensable sourcebook for scholars, students, and general readers seeking engagement with the fertile "ordered disorder" of religious practice in Japan.

"How often do you begin reading a book that makes you—immediately, urgently, desperately—want to read more books?” (Booklist). Nick Hornby has managed to write just such a book in this hilarious, insightful, and infectious volume. Ten Years in the Tub chronicles Hornby's journey through a decade’s worth of books, as related in his wildly popular Believer column “Stuff I’ve Been Reading.” Ten Years in the Tub is a one-way ticket into the mind of one of the most beloved contemporary writers on his favorite pastime, but it's also a meditation on what Celine Dion can teach us about ourselves, a warning about how John Updike can ruin our sex lives, and a recommendation for the way Body Shop Vanilla Shower Gel can add excitement to our days. This "decade-long addiction for many... makes standing in line at the bank a blessed interval for snorting another page.” (the New York Times Book Review)

Ember D'Mitra, president of Cysda, is forced to surrender, then taken to Vegas to face trial and execution. Princess C'Cada Solara disappears when she finds out her planet of Ornaby has not been totally destroyed as she had been led to believe. And Arik Austin has finally succumbed to Cynthiett Colegate's brainwashing machine. When he receives unexpected help and breaks Cynthiett's spell on him, Arik must choose between saving Ember or saving C'Cada with the help of some old allies, and some new ones. Oh, and he has to take the Mystic's final trial too: a battle of wills... to the death!