The Secret Of The Crown

Award-winning journalist, author, and royal authority John Fraser explores the endurance and allure of the Crown in Canada. With his trademark wit and artful agility, Fraser looks at the Crown's evolution from the Age of Deference to the era of celebrity to the present popular revival. He examines the differences between tribal monarchy and constitutional monarchy, the key roles of the governor general and the lieutenant governor, and the media's insatiable appetite for the Royal Family. Finally, he speculates on the future reign of Charles, Prince of Wales, and pays homage to Queen Elizabeth II on her Diamond Jubilee. Erudite and highly entertaining, The Secret of the Crown offers a captivating appraisal of Canada's long-standing affair with royalty. This volume includes a lavish 32-page photo insert to create a spectacular visual history of the once and future crown.

King Ludwig II ruled Bavaria for twenty-two years, commissioning extravagant castles throughout his homeland and exhibiting such bizarre behavior that he was eventually declared insane. According to legend, Ludwig had stockpiled a massive cache of gold and jewels that would finance the construction of the largest castle of all time. But in the years since the king’s mysterious death, no one has found any evidence of such a trove. Until now. Jonathon Payne and David Jones are pulled into the mystery by a colleague, who asks them to investigate the legend. They agree, and quickly find themselves in a life-or-death struggle to uncover the truth about Ludwig’s death, his mythical treasure, and who would be willing to kill for it.

For fans of Warriors and Wings of Fire comes a magical adventure story about a street cat who's mistaken for a wizard’s familiar. “Whether furry, flippered or feathered you’ll be taking a closer look at your family pet.” —Michael Buckley, author of The Sisters Grimm and NERDS When Aldwyn, a young alley cat on the run, ducks into a mysterious pet shop, he doesn’t expect his life to change. But that’s exactly what happens when Jack, a young wizard in training, picks Aldwyn to be his magical familiar. Finally off the tough streets, Aldwyn thinks he’s got it made. He just has to convince the other familiars—the know-it-all blue jay Skylar and the friendly tree frog Gilbert—that he’s the telekinetic cat he claims to be. But when Jack and two other wizards in training are captured by the evil queen, Aldwyn will have to use all of his street smarts, a few good friends, and a nose for adventure to save the day! This delightful Indie Next pick is beloved by hundreds of thousands of readers and was named to nine state award lists. Don’t miss any of the exciting books in the Familiars series: Secrets of the Crown, Circle of Heroes, and Palace of Dreams.

The full story of Britain's most secret partnership: the monarchy and their intelligence services.

Prepare for the unfamiliar When every bit of human magic disappears suddenly from Vastia, it falls on the familiars—Aldwyn the telekinetic cat, Skylar the know-it-all blue jay, and Gilbert the gullible tree frog—to find the Crown of the Snow Leopard, an ancient relic that can reverse the curse. They learn that the only way to do this is by following in the paw prints of Aldwyn’s missing father, who went searching for the Crown several years earlier. This magical spirit trail extends into the Beyond, where our heroes encounter new enemies and danger, while Aldwyn learns about his mysterious past. Full of high-flying adventure and heartwarming friendships, Secrets of the Crown will make readers want to get even more familiar with The Familiars!

Stori is in love with a boy who doesn't love her back. Her mother is sick and her father has gone missing. She tries to keep it all together by pursuing the mystery behind her father's disappearance---- in hopes that his return will set her life right. But the deeper she digs into her father's past, the closer she comes to life-threatening danger and, worst of all, heartbreaking disappointment. But nothing will stop her. Family is first. And she will die before she lets anything bad happen to her family. Emboldened by devotion she keeps searching and finds herself face to face with a mysterious woman who has the clues she has been looking for all along. Not only does Stori learn of her father's whereabouts she comes to discover a powerful book that was written by a philosopher of ancient times. And a secret brotherhood that is hiding this book in order to overtake her city and destroy all its families. With her newly gained knowledge and friend, Stori uncovers more secrets about herself, her father and her city. And about this holy, ancient text that has the power to change the very world and save many lives. Will she have the courage and the grace to accept the truth, will she have enough love in her heart to accept her destiny and see her quest to the end?

In The Caper of the Crown Jewels, Jack is summoned to solve a matter of grave national importance: the theft of the Crown Jewels of the British Empire from the Tower of London. Arriving on the scene, he is greeted by a traditional Tower guard- a Yeoman Warder (or Beefeater)- who explains what's missing: The Imperial State Crown, the Sovereign's Orb, and the Sovereign's Scepter with the cross containing the finest-cut diamond in the world, the Star of Africa. Jack identifies Ivan the Incredible and his assistant, Jazz, as the thieves immediately--but puzzling out how they did it is stickier. The famous Tower has the most advanced security in the world, and even using his impressive gadgets (the Encryption notebook, Heli-Spacer, Rock Corer, and Rope Tornado) Jack is flummoxed by how the jewels were spirited out. However, Jack can conjure up more than gadgets--he foils the evil magicians with some powerful mojo of his own, dispels an invisibility enchantment, and narrowly avoids the executioner's block before restoring the jewels to the crown and earning the gratitude of the Queen herself!

Leaving her Dominican Order to stand by a cousin who has been condemned to death by Henry VIII, novice Joanna Stafford and her father are arrested and ordered by the Bishop of Winchester to recover a religious artifact believed to hold a sacred power.