Every Indian has grown up conditioned to the view that the Pandavas were virtuous and wronged; and the Kauravas were manipulative and evil. On a visit to Malanada Temple, Kerala, national bestselling author of ASURA, Anand Neelakantan, discovered the temple deity to be none other than Duryodhanan, the ostensible 'villain' of the Mahabharata. This astonishing discovery prompted him to delve deep into the narrative of the defeated Crown Prince of Hastinapura, and the Kaurava clan. Ajaya challenges established views and compels us to think again. The book is all about the power of perception. It retells with compelling credibility, the epic events from Duryodhan's (given name: Suryodhana), point of view. While Jaya is the story of the Pandavas, told from the perspective of the victors of Kurukshetra; Ajaya is the narrative of the 'unconquerable' Kauravas, who were decimated to the last man. At the heart of India's most powerful empire, a revolution is brewing. Bhishma, the noble patriarch of Hastinapura, is struggling to maintain the unity of his empire. On the throne sits Dhritarashtra, the blind King, and his foreign-born Queen – Gandhari. In the shadow of the throne stands Kunti, the Dowager-Queen, burning with ambition to see her firstborn become the ruler, acknowledged by all. Amidst the chaos, Prince Suyodhana, heir of Hastinapura, stands tall, determined to claim his birthright and act according to his conscience. He is the maker of his own destiny – or so he believes. While in the corridors of the Hastinapura palace, a foreign Prince plots to destroy India. About the Author : Anand Neelakantan says: Ajaya is an attempt to revisit our mythologies with a modern view and see what the same events look like when observed from the side of the defeated. Were these people branded villains because they were far ahead of their times? There are many books about the Pandavas, about Karna, Draupadi, Kuniti and the other dramatis personae of the Mahabharata. But who speaks for Duryodhana? Growing up in a Kerala village with more temples than necessary, it was small wonder that mythology fascinated Anand early on. Ironically, he was drawn to the anti-heroes. But life called and he went on to become an engineer; joined the Indian Oil Corporation; moved to Bangalore; married Aparna; and welcomed a daughter and a son. But the voices of yore refused to be silenced in his head and he felt impelled to narrate the stories of the vanquished and the dammed; to give life to those silent heroes we have long overlooked in our uncritical acceptance of the conventional renderings of our epics. Ajaya follows the outstanding success of his #1 bestseller, Asura: Tale Of The Vanquished.

    Liz had lingered behind, savouring the last of the night air. She pushed at the stray blond lock with her fingers, willing it to stay in place. On letting go the hair slid back. She secured it with her ivory comb. She began to run, overcome by a desperate need to see her children. A sense of dread swept over her. An unaccountable ache lay in her belly. The twins were so vulnerable, what if she failed in her duty to protect them? Then she stopped. She stood very still. The ache and the cold were replaced by the warmth of a hug and a kiss on her cheek. She turned to say thank you, but she was alone. The others were already at the house.'Beckman's appeared to be Liz's dream house, the perfect home in which to raise her young family. She had an immediate inexplicable affinity with the property, and it welcomed her with open arms. Why then should just one of its many rooms, the fourth room, make her feel as if she was an intruder? What secret was it hiding? She knew it was connected to the burnt out boat house and that sunken old rowing boat. Something about it was linked to her: its presence haunted her. She knew she needed to unravel the mystery before some dreadful disaster overcame her family. Her daughter's elusive friend Harriet had the answers but would she reveal them? And then there was that horrid Tarot reading. The potent image of the Five of Cups would not leave her. What were the cards trying to tell her and more to the point, would she listen? After all they were just bits of paper.Cover: The Five of Cups from a set of Tarot cards designed by the author.

    Seeking answers, he teams up with paranormal expert Jeremy Rhinehart. They race against time to stop a man who’s spreading chaos and violence by way of deadly, haunted objects… 1 - Collecting Death Victor Daniels and Jeremy Rhinehart discover a myriad of haunted collectibles unleashed upon the world. Together they begin to hunt them down. But it’s not long before they realize the haunted spirits within are more bloodthirsty now than when they were alive… 2 - Walter’s Rifle Stefan Korzh’s plan to spread fear and paranoia is unraveling perfectly, but Victor Daniels and Jeremy Rhinehart won’t let that happen. They race against time to stop the mayhem, but as they get closer, they discover how dangerous Stefan truly is. 3 - Blood in the Mirror As Victor and Jeremy continue their quest against evil, they discover a terrifying force lurking in their midst. Nothing is ever as it seems…

    Stories from the colonial era will both entertain and enthral readers. The author is very well-known in the Himachal as a prolific and an entertaining writer. About the Book: More Ghost Stories of Shimla Hills A collection of sixteen stories about the supernatural, originating from Shimla folklore and the days of the Raj. The haunted foothills of Himalayas present the perfect setting for the dark and sinister world of phantoms and apparitions. Many spirits wander about these hills-the English nurse, the theatre manager, the English lord and his sister, even a family of local ghosts Many of these are real encounters narrated by the inhabitants. With thrilling twists and turns, each story recreates the horror of the victims and the fear of the unknown. Get ready to be spooked! About the Author: Minakshi Chaudhry Minakshi Chaudhry, an author and former journalist, lives in Shimla with her husband. She is a keen observer of people, cultures, lifestyles, and loves trekking and travelling. Minakshi has authored several books-Sunshine: My Encounter with Cancer, Love Stories of Shimla Hills, Whispering Deodars: Writings from Shimla Hills, Destination Himachal: 132 Offbeat and 12 Popular Getaways, Ghost Stories of Shimla Hills, 65 Treks and Over 100 Destinations: A Guide to Trekking in Himachal, and Exploring Pangi Himalaya: A World Beyond Civilization. She is currently working on her next book and can be contacted at minakshi_kanwar@yahoo.com

    The arcades, food stands, souvenir shops and tattoo parlors are boarded over for the winter but the bungalows tucked in the dunes are occupied by artists and transients looking for cheap rentals. She faces a long, cold, lonely winter but a bunch of old guys, that she calls The Geezers, begin regaling her with stories about the "old days" and about an ill-fated romance between the beautiful wife of a Boston mob boss and The Great Hercules, a sideshow strongman. She is also increasingly fascinated by an elusive roustabout who flirts with her and shows her the secret spaces in an old beachfront ballroom. As winter gets darker and deeper Layla's husband is both struggling with his writing and becoming suspicious of her behavior. What Layla doesn't know is that nothing is what it seems and her options are growing fewer every day. (Volume One of the Halcyon Beach Chronicles. Volume Two is Ghosts of a Lighthouse in Autumn.)

    And I’m being paired with junior wizard James Wesson. A hustler, womanizer, and wannabe cowboy, he’s exactly why I prefer working alone.But something sinister is snatching blondes on the full moon. The local werewolf gang? The six-hundred pound witch who runs the brothel? Or does the perp come from the mortal ranks of a population as strange as any supernatural I’ve encountered?The only certainty is the lunar cycle, set to wax full in twenty-four hours—meaning we need to get cracking.Can the wizard duo of Croft and Wesson blow open the case in time to save the next victim?Or will our odd-couple act spell doom for Grimstone?Croft & Wesson is a spinoff of the popular Prof Croft series but stands on its own. If you like buddy wizards, occult mysteries, and wild spell-slinging in one of the Wilder Wests around, you’ll love Croft & Wesson!

    Lily the good witch is totally confused. Is she being set up at the annual cheerleading competition by one of the district's meanest bullies, or does a boy finally have a crush on her? In a bid to win the cheerleading championship for her school for the first time, Lily encounters disaster after disaster on their scramble up the leader board. There are so many catastrophes, it seems to be a little bit more than just bad luck, and Kaitlyn, Lily's team mate and friend, is convinced Chantelle, the bully from the leading team is behind it all. Will they make it to the finals, and more importantly, will they survive the competition without losing their dignity?

    But the Fates have different plans in mind for Hailey. Only a few weeks into the school year a student vanishes. Everyone believes them lost in the palace, but when more students begin disappearing one by one, Hailey realises someone, or something, is taking the students and that everyone living in the Academy is in serious danger. *** Scroll up and click ‘buy now’ to join teenage demigod Hailey for high school in a magical palace where adventure, monsters, and vengeful gods await. _________________________________________________________________________________ Here's what readers are saying about this middle grade adventure series: “Funny fast paced good light read. Recommended to my kids can't wait to read the next one.” Heather, Goodreads ★★★★★“Sarah A Vogler leads us through a mind-boggling maze of Greek mythology, Gods and some serious villains. I’m in awe of such an entrancing story and can not wait to dive under the waters and beneath the pages of Hailey’s continued adventure.” Kellie, Goodreads ★★★★★“This story and the whole series is really good. I agree it is a great way to introduce kids to reading and encourage an early love of mythology and history. If any age enjoyed Harry Potter read this series you will enjoy it as well.” Vickie, Goodreads ★★★★★“What an incredible book!! I was swept away in this wonderfully written book. With the impulsivity you would expect from high school freshmen, we watch friendships grow and individuals learn who they are. It was a very unique spin on mythology with plenty of adventure. I think fans of Rick Riordan will greatly enjoy this book but it also has a bit of a Buffy the Vampire Slayer feel to it as well.’ Amy, Goodreads ★★★★★“A very fun read with lots of action and daring. I liked that a part of the message was facing one sphere no matter what.” Ciayrra, Goodreads ★★★★★

    But who has cursed Whittlecombe and why? Can our Alfie find out and save her friends in the village?Will Alf ever manage to have a crisis free and merry Christmas?Will anybody wake up in time to prepare her figgy pudding?Maybe our favourite witch will be too busy to notice ...Because while mortals sleep, one witch keepsA watch of wondering love.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~O Witchy Town of Whittlecombe is a standalone Christmas cozy mystery that complements the Wonky Inn series as a whole.You’ll love this crazy paranormal cast of witches, wizards, faeries, ghosts and pantomime villains.And not forgetting Mr Hoo of course.This latest Wonky Inn Christmas mystery adventure is best served with a glass of your favourite tipple and a heart full of love.

    The Devas or Gods of the Vedic age were eternal enemies of the Asuras or Demonic races. How could the son of the preceptor of the Gods possibly hope to find love and happiness with the daughter of the preceptor of the Demons? Yet love flowers in the unlikeliest places and so Kacha and Devayani began to dream the impossible dream. Their love was doomed to end tragically but the how and wherefore of the tragedy is what makes their story so unforgettable. But the story doesn’t end there. Instead, it segues (after a gap of a few years) into another: the love triangle of Devayani, her former friend Sharmishtha, and the man they both loved, Yayati. After a quarrel with her friend Sharmishtha, Devayani used her father’s influence and power to force her friend Sharmishtha to live out the rest of her life as Devayani’s personal maidservant. One day, Devayani found herself trapped at the bottom of a well deep in the forest. Soon after, a stranger wandering through the forest, chanced across her.. On learning that he was Yayati, king of a powerful nation, she blackmailed him into a relationship. But unknown to Devayani, Yayati fell in love with Sharmishtha, resulting in a love triangle that presages the plots of countless present-day soap operas. Read on to see how Ashok’s storytelling shines brilliant light upon this gem pried loose from the mosaic of his own Mahabharata Series.

    Regularly priced at $4.99. Read on your PC, Mac, smart phone, tablet or Kindle device. Chilling stories, mind boggling events, and paranormal activities. We often hear them from the television, and often get scared of them. Although they do not happen to us, it is frightening to know how people become constantly plagued by them. Maybe your house is an old building, or your school is a former cemetery. Perhaps someone you know can feel and see other worldly entities? Look around you... do you remember a moment when you heard a screeching sound from the attic? Or maybe your chairs move without your assistance. When the lights flicker and the wind is chilling, you may consider the possibility that you aren’t alone? The cases included in this book vary: from a whole family being haunted, haunted houses, scary roads, and haunted asylums. It is proof enough that paranormal events can take place anywhere, and an ordinary person can be a victim of ghostly encounters. You may not be a believer now, but after reading this book, you might change your mind. Here Is A Preview Of What You'll Learn... True Ghost Stories – Screaming Tunnels in Ontario True Ghost Stories – Phantom of the Opera True Ghost Stories – The Ghost Who Pinned Her Own Murderer True Ghost Stories – The Smurl Family's Demonic Dilemma True Ghost Stories – The Italian Bride True Ghost Stories – The Carbon Copy Murders True Ghost Stories – The Haunting in San Pedro California True Ghost Stories – Little Violette is a Zombie Much, much more! Download your copy today! Take action today and download this book for a limited time discount of only $2.99! If you love a good, spine tingling, ghostly adventure then download this book now! Tags: true ghost stories, ghost stories, true ghost stories, paranormal activity, haunted houses, haunted houses books, true ghost stories books, haunted house stories, paranormal activities, scary ghost stories, scary stories,

    He is also a man of suspended beliefs, with a unique outlook on the universe. He works in Arcana City; a city that never sleeps. Unfortunately, it also never cleans its teeth or takes showers.When the daughter of one of his previous clients gets kidnapped by a high-ranking demon-lord, Jack is hired to find her, rescue her and then keep her out of the clutches of the underworld. He is helped along the way by Collymoddle, an eccentric professor; Helen Hiwater, a museum curator; and Zak, a demon he shares an uneasy alliance with.Things get even more complicated when Jack discovers that the demon-lord’s ambitions are greater by far than the fate of a single girl, which leaves the detective the unenviable task of coming up with a fee for saving the whole world.To be successful Jack will need to do battle with demons, hellhounds, a homicidal fast-food proprietor, the most negligent bartender in the known world, annoying dramatic ambience, and many other obstacles besides.And if that wasn’t enough to be getting on with, he’s also been forced into taking on another case, looking for an elderly lady’s lost cat.

    Amrapali craved peace; Upagupta’s bearing exuded contentment. Amrapali depended on the adulation of her audience; Upagupta spurned the attentions of the rich and famous. Their stories were different, but the Buddha’s wise teachings linked their lives – and the lessons to be learned from them.

    Real Place. Real Magic.Marco's summer in Glastonbury is starting to get seriously weird… The locals are having strange and terrifying visions, and then Marco's friend, Rosa, finds an ancient relic which experts identify as Excalibur, sword of the legendary King Arthur.According to the folk tales, Arthur will return to fight the forces of night. But where is the real threat coming from? A new evil is loose on the streets of the old town and inside the ruins of its ancient abbey... and walking right into it is Marco's sceptical London friend, Josh, the psychiatrist's son who's too clever for his own dad.Only Marco and Rosa can see the real darkness rising... and the blade about to fall.

    This time, we’re all members of the Steel Chariots MC, a cover designed to combat the boredom Zeus was experiencing this time. As God of the Underworld, I bow to no one, but still play his games, even if it is against my will. When a mortal woman crosses my path, something stirs, and triggers my interest with one glance. Suddenly I’m helpless to stop the slow burn of desire I have for her, and the need to make her mine.A rare jewel who sees me for who I am, yet enjoys my company despite it all, I can’t let her go. I have my own realm, maybe I’ll take her with me when I go.