Book picks similar to
Jebediah's Crime by Vincent Phan Tran
fantasy-mythology
grimdark
dystopia
Animal Farm
Orwell Orwell - 2019
In a letter to Yvonne Davet, Orwell described Animal Farm as a satirical tale against Stalin ("un conte satirique contre Staline"),[7] and in his essay "Why I Write" (1946), wrote that Animal Farm was the first book in which he tried, with full consciousness of what he was doing, "to fuse political purpose and artistic purpose into one whole".[8]
Magium: The Mage Tournament (Book 1)
Chris Michael Wilson - 2017
After dedicating his whole life to studying magic, in the hopes of fulfilling his dream, he finally finds a way to do it. However, in order to become a mage, he must first win a deadly free-for-all tournament against the most powerful mages in the world. The fantasy world that the story takes place in is inspired by Dungeons and Dragons and by The Lord of the Rings. The story of Magium starts at the beginning of the tournament, right after Barry and all the other participants are transported to the continent where the contest is taking place. The tournament takes place on a continent hidden from the rest of the world, where there are mythical creatures like dragons and hydras, but also remnants of an old and technologically advanced civilization, whose magically powered devices are still being used in the present day. As the series progresses, Barry will meet with other participants, he will make friends and enemies, and he will gradually find out more about the continent he is on, and its inhabitants. He will find out that a person called "The Creator" had established several utopias in this place, six hundred years ago, where animals and humans lived in harmony, and food was created through magic. What Barry will get to see through his travels, however, is the downfall of these utopias, some of them being on the brink of destruction. As he begins to get involved with the people of this land, Barry will need to decide if he can simply ignore what is happening before his eyes, or if he will intervene, at the risk of being banned from the tournament, and forfeiting his dream. Credits for the magic ball image on the cover go to Agnes Landgraf.
The Immortality Trials: The Complete Collection
Eliza Raine - 2020
But she has left that life behind and now her battered smugglers ship, the Alastor, flies under everyone’s radar - just how she likes it.The Gods have a different plan for her though. They’re about to break one of their only rules and grant a worthy hero a chance to win the ultimate prize – immortality. And Lyssa and Hercules are two of the lucky heroes offered the chance to compete.Twelve gods, twelve realms, twelve trials. And for Lyssa, they’re about so much more than an eternal life. They’re about facing the monster from her past and stopping him from becoming truly untouchable.She never wanted to let the world know that she inherited some of her father’s immense power. But maybe it’s time to show them all. You’ve never read Greek mythology like this before…This omnibus contains the novels Skies of Olympus, Tides of Olympus, Storms of Olympus and Fires of Olympus in one complete collection, (RRP 10.96).Reviewers are saying...“This is hands down the most interesting version of Greek mythology that I have ever encountered. What you thought you knew about the Greek Gods and Hercules is completely thrown away, and instead something completely new replaced it and boy did I enjoy this version!” Katherine at Smadas Book Smack "Eliza Raine has done a wonderful job expanding the unique world of Olympus she has created, bringing it to life with her always vivid descriptions. Not only that, though. Each character derives straight from the ancient myths, each name has a deeper and actual meaning and is appropriately assigned, proving that she's done a serious research of every aspect of the story and the characters before putting it to writing. If you like mythology, then "The Immortality Trials" series is a definite must read!" Amazon Reviewer“Eliza Raine has taken the classic myths, heroes and gods and created a new, unique world, that drew me right into it. Apart from the excellent storyline, there is a variety of characters -gods, humans, paranormal creatures- that are exceptionally developed. The plot is fast-paced and full of adventures, with great twists, while the descriptions are so vivid that made me feel part of the story. I can't wait for the next instalment!” Amazon Reviewer“Eliza Raine has herself one hell of a story… The story twist and turns and has you wrapped up in so much so that you can't put it down. So if you like Greek mythology you will love this book , but even if you're not a fan of it don't pass up the chance to read a fantastic story. You will not be disappointed in this book at all.” Goodreads reviewer "This is such a refreshing twist on the entire Greek mythology, and it's hard not to enjoy seeing what the author has plotted together next. Lyssa is an amazing, girl-power character, who has as much to learn as she has talent and wit. While in many ways she's the underdog in these adventures, that's not what makes her easy to cheer for. She's courageous, kind-hearted and determined. Despite those around her and temptation from every direction, she remains pretty solid in her moral boundaries." Amazon Reviewer
Times What They Are
D.L. Barnhart - 2015
Panicked millions gridlock roads as Ray Bramlett escapes New York, barely ahead of a radioactive cloud. A thousand miles west, Karla Becker stares in horror at the televised images—sure the aftermath will bring worse. While Karla hunkers down at home, trusting her preparations, Ray seeks safety among his Tennessee friends. Each of their strategies buys time, but as social order collapses around them, both plans go awry. Now, survival means confronting a world teeming with sudden death and learning that no sanctuary remains safe forever.
Fallout Equestria: Project Horizons
Somber - 2012
All that changes as she becomes enveloped in a plot that not only endangers her stable but the remaining world as well.
Fallout: Equestria: Pink Eyes
Mimezinga - 2012
Losing everything she holds dear, Puppysmiles embarks on the adventure of her life to find her mother, her hopes of meeting her again driving her through the horrors of a world not of her making. Too bad the Wastelands doesn't care about hope.
The Maze Runner: by James Dashner | Summary & Analysis (The Maze Runner Series, Book 1)
Book*Sense - 2014
Award-winning author James Dashner’s The Maze Runner shows the influences of the author’s broad reading. It relates the story of the amnesiac Thomas as he is forced into the near-bucolic setting of the Glade, learns to navigate it and the labyrinthine Maze surrounding it and leads the people of the Glade from their bounded world into a broader outside world. It also presents a perspective on adolescence well worth discussing which this Analysis covers every detail that you would otherwise miss. The Maze Runner has features that recommend it for both adolescent readers and those who teach them which this Summary & Analysis helps to decipher increasing your understanding of the book more than ever. The former will find the dialogue and action engaging without neglect of character development. The latter will find a text that manages to play with the tropes of Golding’s Lord of the Flies (which Dashner reports as a direct influence on the book), offering a way to introduce that text and a venue for discussion of it. They present opportunities for readers to engage with underlying assumptions and attitudes, offering the chance for readers to understand themselves, the culture in which they live and the culture in which the writer writes which this Analysis covers. Each is a chance to better understand the world, and The Maze Runner does well to make such chances available. The book is well worth reading, both for its intended audience of young adults (inside and outside the classroom) and for a more general reading public. This Analysis of The Maze Runner fills the gap, making you understand more while enhancing your reading experience.
How to Maximize Your Potential (Management Sutras)
Devdutt Pattanaik - 2016
His profound management sutras are derived from his bestselling books on business and management. They show how individuals can realize their potential, create wealth and achieve lasting success by following uniquely Indian principles (based on Hindu, Jain and Buddhist mythology) of goal setting, strategic thinking and decision-making.
Jillybean's First Adventure
Peter Meredith - 2018
These side adventures occurred randomly throughout the first 10 book series. If you have not read the 10 original novels, you will be confused!When the apocalypse hits and nearly wipes out humanity, the survivors band together in little knots, fighting desperately to stay alive. All except one forgotten child. Six-year-old Jillybean has been alone for months with “monsters” prowling endlessly around her house, looking to eat her as they did Mrs. Polarski from up the street. A big bunch of them ate the old lady down to the bone and left nothing but chunks of scalp with long strands of bloody, brown hair attached, and also an elbow. They left her elbow behind and Jillybean could never understand why. That elbow haunted her, as did Mrs. Polarski’s screams. When the monsters first came there had been many screams. All night there would be horrible, scary screams, and they had been simply awful, but the silence was worse. The heavy silence went on and on until Jillybean couldn’t take it any longer…and that was when her stuffed zebra began to talk to her. From then on, things got better. She even left her house. This is the story of a mentally shattered little girl finding the courage to live when so many millions of adults had died pissing their pants and choking on their own blood as they screamed.
The Murder Blossom: An Ink Mage SideQuest
Victor Gischler - 2019
Beware the poison of the Murder Blossom! When a desperate wizard sends Templeton Kane on an important quest, he's obliged to team up with a formidable woman named Lill. Not only is Lill an imposing physical specimen -- as are many in her tribe from the Glacial Wastes -- but she's also an Ink Mage, a woman whose magical tattoos give her extraordinary abilities. As they chase an ancient artifact, moving from danger to danger, they discover that legends are not always what they're cracked up to be. Occasional strong language, brief adult situations, and gritty sword-stabbing action. The Murder Blossom is a 25,000 word NOVELLA. A word about SideQuests: Ink Mage SideQuests are meant to be shorter works set in the world of Ink Mage. Think of them as "in between meal snacks" while waiting for the books in the main series. While the SideQuests are meant to stand on their own, characters and situations might (or might not) appear in the main novels.
The Unbelievable Mr. Brownstone Omnibus 4
Michael Anderle - 2020
Brownstone books 19 - 22 (The BBQ years)(including Road Trip: BBQ and a Brawl, BBQ Delivered with Attitude, BBQ With a Side of No Apologies, BBQ and STFU)Road Trip: BBQ and a Brawl:Barbecue is life. Everything else is just details...AGAIN!Things are going a little too well for Brownstone as he sticks around the house, and Shay is getting agitated. Can a bounty hunter be happy when he has nothing to do?James goes on a road trip expecting to just eat some barbeque. Unfortunately, trouble is waiting when he arrives. The bounty hunter likes to keep things simple, but those who are working to beat up the Oriceran BBQ pitmaster's new place didn't account for him arriving.Will those attacking give up? Is stupid contagious?Instead of a simple BBQ road trip, now he is embroiled in helping a fellow BBQ lover he followed on TV as he helps bring the BROWNSTONE BEAT DOWN.BBQ Delivered with Attitude:Can't a man just enjoy a bit of BBQ without getting into a fight?Apparently not.One day, James comes home and finds his pregnant wife with drawn gun, a ready knife, and an unknown assailant in their living room. The problem is, the person in the living room is hoping the Granite Ghost will help her retrieve some valuable cargo that has gotten...lost.Now, James has to decide if he will allow an annoying female to persuade him to go on another road trip. Even if the road trip takes him to Texas, a state known for its brisket.Will those who want the artifacts find out he is involved?Fortunately, there are a lot of BBQ places between Los Angeles and Texas. It just so happens Brownstone gets a chance to stop at a few.BBQ With a Side of No Apologies:It’s hard to live a quiet life when you’ve left a trail of beatdowns and men in walls, but sometimes that’s the only way to achieve peace.James isn’t happy when the head of a Mafia family comes into his restaurant and demands his help. The reputation of James Brownstone is supposed to keep peace in the L.A. underworld, but a few new arrivals didn’t get the memo.Sometimes you don’t preserve the peace by preparing for war. You go straight to war.All James’ local trouble might be annoying, but there’s a shining light in the distance: a respected filmmaker wants to film a barbecue documentary with James at the center.A documentary BBQ road trip up the West Coast is just what James needs to relax, but the filmmaker seems more interested in capturing him beating down magical criminals than his thoughts on brisket.At the same time, dark forces from beyond Earth are on the move, and they don’t care about barbecue.James thought he had settled certain problems at the Battle of L.A., but sometimes a personal demonstration is necessary for someone to learn their lesson.BBQ and STFU:There is one thing you do not do… go after Brownstone’s family.Powerful entities on Oriceran listen to prophecy and fear a threat to their home world.That isn’t the only threat they should worry about.Whispy Doom is forever trying to get James to upgrade, perhaps for the last time?What will happen when beings who believe themselves to be invincible do the unthinkable?Now, there are Brownstones on two worlds, and one young son growing up.And amongst it all, you have Shay Brownstone as well. There
A World Torn Down: A Novel of Survival After the Apocalypse
Rebecca Fernfield - 2019
Cassie Morgan watched the world die from the comfort of her penthouse suite. She never expected her life of privilege to come to an end but, with all food gone, she has to face the survivors in the city alone. Sometimes, when the SHTF, you have to kick off your strappy sandals, let your fake tan fade, your Brazilian grow out, and become the woman you were meant to be. Rick Carter is the last of his unit to survive. To stay alive he must escape the disease infested city and head north to his prepper friend's self-sufficient farm. The last thing he needs is to rescue a woman with zero survival skills. When the apocalypse arrives, most will die, some will survive, whilst others will thrive. With most of the city dead, and no sign of rescue, Cassie and Rick have to rely on their own ingenuity to deal with the end of the world. Working together wasn’t what either had planned, but these are desperate times. Does Rick have what it takes to get them to the farm? Can Cassie rise to the challenge of survival? Will Rick have the stomach to help when he discovers Cassie's secret? 'A World Torn Down' is an epic tale of the apocalypse with a fresh take on TEOTWAWKI. Read today! Previously published as six books: 'The Road to Ruin', 'The Savage Road', 'The Outcast's Journey', 'The Path to Despair', 'The Route to Justice', and 'The Road to Redemption'. What readers say: The series gave me a very Walking Dead comic feel. I loved it, and the characters were all very well written. The detail that went into all the characters was brilliant. It was fast paced and kept you interested right to the the last sentence. I loved the strong female characters, Cassie being my absolute favourite, I love how she just gets things done and doesn't let the male characters walk over her. This series kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time I was reading. I would have to stop to go to work, and all I could think of was the book and getting back to finding out what would happen next.
Ten Sigma
A.W. Wang - 2019
The struggles span all possibilities: face-offs with knives and clubs, skirmishes as Roman legionaries, pitched WW1 trench warfare, duels with ultra-modern hypersonic weapons, and everything in between. The combatants who live are rewarded with another battle until they reach the unreachable score of ten sigmas. Those who die are expunged from the system, gone forever. The methods, so harsh they go beyond anything possible in the real world, are necessary for the end goal: violent evolution to produce the greatest warriors in all of human history.Who would choose such a fate?Those with no hope.On a wintry night, a government representative presents Mary, who is dying of incurable cancer, with the offer: a second chance at life and for those completing the requirements, a return to the real world in a fresh, healthy body. To save her family from bankrupting medical bills, she accepts.After her consciousness is transferred into the virtual universe of the program, her essence is ripped apart and her memories shattered. She’s reassembled as the perfect killer.As the life-and-death contests begin, she discovers the true nature of what lies ahead. But, she won’t surrender to the impossible and grimly embarks on the journey to return to her family while trying to save her soul.Mature readers only: intense combat, graphic violence, horror elements, some sex, some language.