In the previous book, The Celtic Serpent, after a diagnosis of cancer and the death of her grandmother, Angi Talismann found herself on an incredible journey. Shackled to an unstable piece of ancient technology in the form of a medallion, she and her colleagues were forced to locate lost medallion gemstones which had been scattered to different countries in the seventeenth century. Close on their heels was a resolute killer bent on acquiring the medallion. Tracking down the descendants of old Irish and Scottish families assigned to protect this ancient treasure proved a daunting task. Eventually, locating the gemstones, the initial stage of their venture ended with twelve individuals stepping through a golden, serpent gate on the Hill of Tara in Ireland propelling them into another world. While stating they would return in three months, its assurance was uncertain. The journey continues in this book. Angi and her companions quickly adapt to their new environment on Tir na nOg, the land of the Tuatha de Danann, deemed to be the ancient gods of the Irish. Here they learn that their escort, Sirona, is a distinguished member of the kingdom and her ancestor, Myttrwn, is a gifted scientist and magician, supposedly centuries old in Earth terms. Under Myttrwn’s guidance the twelve discover a different perspective of the universe, learn the healing and destructive powers of light and sound, and gain some insight into their future role while Angi takes her first steps in mastering the complexities of her medallion. Yet, with all the goodwill, a powerful individual, Zolar, is displeased with their presence in Tir na nOg and Angi’s possession of such advanced technology. He sets out to rectify this matter in his own treacherous way. The journey to Tir na nOg for the twelve travellers would create an indelible imprint on their lives.

In the kingdom of Ujjain, King Vikramaditya reigns with wisdom and compassion. But a shadow falls upon the land as whispers of a monstrous Ironscale threaten peace. Driven by a quest to protect his people, Vikramaditya embarks on a perilous journey into the Whispering Forest, seeking the guidance of a legendary celestial serpent. Within the forest's hidden temple, he faces trials and unlocks the power of the serpent's song, a melody of empathy that soothes the Ironscale's rage. Victorious, Vikramaditya returns to a kingdom hailing him as a hero. However, a new threat emerges from within. Prince Raj, consumed by ambition and a yearning to surpass his father's legacy, delves into forbidden knowledge. He stumbles upon a ritual to bind the serpent's essence for personal gain, oblivious to the catastrophic consequences. As Vikramaditya grapples with unsettling dreams and a growing sense of unease, he uncovers his son's treacherous plan. Torn between love for his son and the safety of the kingdom, Vikramaditya is forced to banish Raj. A race against time ensues as Vikramaditya journeys to the source of the serpent's power – the dormant volcano and the pulsating emerald tree. He must unravel the secrets of the ritual and sever the connection before Raj unleashes chaos upon the land. The Serpent's Song is a captivating tale of courage, betrayal, and the corrupting influence of ambition. It explores the power of empathy and the delicate balance between peace and war. Will Vikramaditya succeed in stopping his son's dark ritual? Can the melody of peace be restored, or will the kingdom be consumed by the discordant song of war? Dive into this epic fantasy adventure and discover the fate of Ujjain.

To an experienced thief like Krunzle the Quick, the merchant nation of Druma is full of treasures just waiting to be liberated. Yet when the fast-talking scoundrel gets caught stealing from one of the most powerful prophets of Kalistrade, the only option is to undertake a dangerous mission to recover the merchantlord's runaway daughter -- and the magical artifact she took with her. Armed with an arsenal of decidedly unhelpful magical items and chaperoned by an intelligent snake necklace happy to choke him into submission, Krunzle must venture far from the cities of the merchant utopia and into a series of adventures that will make him a rich man -- or a corpse

When organised crime detective Francesca Salucci starts investigating the death of a biker, she comes across shady drug deals and internal power struggles within Australia's various crime gangs. The trail she uncovers leads her from Sydney to Rome, all the way to a small town in the Italian riviera. There, reunited with a past lover, Francesca has no choice but to confront her past and her own origins. In her search for the connections between the Sicilian mafia, Chinese Triads and Australian bike gangs, she will find herself caught between her personal history and her desire for justice. With her life in danger, Francesca will find refuge in the outback where she will work to come to terms with her biggest battle yet, her past. An action-packed thriller that tells a story of love, greed, betrayal and moral conflict.

The oceans have always been a source of fascination for humanity. They cover over 70% of our planet's surface, yet they remain largely unexplored, holding untold stories and hidden treasures. From ancient myths and legends to modern-day fantasies, the oceans have inspired countless tales of adventure, romance, and intrigue.

"A warm and expansive portrait of a woman’s mind that feels at once singular and universal," this collection of essays interweaves commentary on modern life, feminism, art, and sex with the author's own experiences of obsession, heartbreak, and vulnerability (BuzzFeed). Like a song that feels written just for you, Larissa Pham's debut work of nonfiction captures the imagination and refuses to let go. Pop Song is a book about love and about falling in love—with a place, or a painting, or a person—and the joy and terror inherent in the experience of that love. Plumbing the well of culture for clues and patterns about love and loss—from Agnes Martin's abstract paintings to James Turrell's transcendent light works, and Anne Carson's Eros the Bittersweet to Frank Ocean's Blonde—Pham writes of her youthful attempts to find meaning in travel, sex, drugs, and art, before sensing that she might need to turn her gaze upon herself. Pop Song is also a book about distances, near and far. As she travels from Taos, New Mexico, to Shanghai, China and beyond, Pham meditates on the miles we are willing to cover to get away from ourselves, or those who hurt us, and the impossible gaps that can exist between two people sharing a bed. Pop Song is a book about all the routes by which we might escape our own needs before finally finding a way home. There is heartache in these pages, but Pham's electric ways of seeing create a perfectly fractured portrait of modern intimacy that is triumphant in both its vulnerability and restlessness.

The invasion of Korea by Japanese troops in May of 1592 was no ordinary military expedition: it was one of the decisive events in Asian history and the most tragic for the Korean peninsula until the mid-twentieth century. Japanese overlord Toyotomi Hideyoshi envisioned conquering Korea, Ming China, and eventually all of Asia; but Korea’s appeal to China’s Emperor Wanli for assistance triggered a six-year war involving hundreds of thousands of soldiers and encompassing the whole region. For Japan, the war was “a dragon’s head followed by a serpent’s tail”: an impressive beginning with no real ending. Kenneth M. Swope has undertaken the first full-length scholarly study in English of this important conflict. Drawing on Korean, Japanese, and especially Chinese sources, he corrects the Japan-centered perspective of previous accounts and depicts Wanli not as the self-indulgent ruler of received interpretations but rather one actively engaged in military affairs—and concerned especially with rescuing China’s client state of Korea. He puts the Ming in a more vigorous light, detailing Chinese siege warfare, the development and deployment of innovative military technologies, and the naval battles that marked the climax of the war. He also explains the war’s repercussions outside the military sphere—particularly the dynamics of intraregional diplomacy within the shadow of the Chinese tributary system. What Swope calls the First Great East Asian War marked both the emergence of Japan’s desire to extend its sphere of influence to the Chinese mainland and a military revival of China’s commitment to defending its interests in Northeast Asia. Swope’s account offers new insight not only into the history of warfare in Asia but also into a conflict that reverberates in international relations to this day.