Book picks similar to
The Sleepless Beauty by Rajesh Talwar


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Something Quite Beautiful


Amanda Prowse - 2013
    They have been sentenced to twenty years in Glenculloch, a remote prison for the most hopeless of criminals. The rumours say that it is run by a woman who thinks she's God. A woman who decides what is ugly, and what is beautiful. A woman who decides who lives, and who dies... A short story exclusive from bestselling author Amanda Prowse.

Quiet Magic


Sharon Lee - 2011
    Unfortunately, the Bispham is on duty, and he's taken exception to the Rove Captain and his men."Master of the Winds," by Sharon Lee follows two hopeful young people during their test to become the Kitemaster's apprentice. Only one can succeed.Lee and Miller join forces in "Candlelight," the story of a family-by-intent, and the craft that holds them together.

'50sVille


Paul Ibbetson - 2014
    In this strange place, only a select few people ever leave the city limits and even then, they leave reluctantly. This is what fifteen and a half year old Benjamin Granault faces as, through a string of amazing events, he finds himself living in a town where he can never talk about modern technology or current events, a place where being an outsider can cost a person his life and being part of the community may very well cost more. Follow the adventures of Benjamin Granault in ‘50sVille, the strangest town Indiana has ever been unaware of.

The Mother Goose Diaries


Chris Colfer - 2015
    and served as Andy Warhol's muse?This journey through time with a beloved character from the Land of Stories series will be perfect for new and old fans alike.Originally published in a boxed set with over 82,000 copies sold, this is now sold individually for the first time.

Just So Stories


Rudyard Kipling - 1902
    The Butterfly That Stamped, and How the Alphabet Was Made..

A Wolf at the Door: And Other Retold Fairy Tales


Ellen DatlowJaneen Webb - 2000
    Did you ever wonder how the dwarves felt after Snow White ditched them for the prince? Do you sometimes wish Cinderella hadn't been so helpless and petite? Prepare to see fairy tales from a completely new angle!

Snow White Stories Around the World: 4 Beloved Tales


Jessica S. Gunderson - 2014
    Visit Albania, Germany, Mozambique, and Turkey, and find out who meets 40 dragons instead of seven dwarfs, and on whose forehead a bright star shines.

Brooklyn House Magician's Manual


Rick Riordan - 2018
    Congratulations on reaching Brooklyn House in one piece. This accomplishment signals that you're descended from Ancient Egyptian royalty, and you have magic powers. But what good is power without knowing how to use it? That's where this training manual comes in. Packed with quizzes, stories, and insights about Ancient Egyptian deities, creatures (the friendly and the deadly), the mysterious Duat, and more, this primer will prime those with the blood of the pharaohs to take their first steps down the path of the gods. You'll hear from me, other magicians (including my sister, Sadie), and even a few of the gods themselves. But beware of tricks and surprises: anything can happen in the world of Egyptian magic.

Cinderella Liberator


Rebecca Solnit - 2019
    In this modern twist on the classic story, Cinderella, who would rather just be Ella, meets her fairy godmother, goes to a ball, and makes friends with a prince. But that is where the familiar story ends. Instead of waiting to be rescued, Cinderella learns that she can save herself and those around her by being true to herself and standing up for what she believes.

Shingaling


R.J. Palacio - 2015
    Readers have also been given a special look at another side of his story with  The Julian Chapter and a peek at his life before Beecher Prep in  Pluto. In this third Wonder Story, they’ll get to see his first year of school and what follows in the beginning of the next year through the perspective of reader-favorite Charlotte.

Miss Budge In Love


Daphne Simpkins - 2010
    A retired public school teacher, Miss Budge embarks on a series of slice-of-life adventures that take readers into the intriguing and authentic lives of Southern church women. "What our readers love about Miss Budge is that they all know her personally. In fact, they all are her in one way or another. Daphne's stories are instantly recognizable to those in a church community, and that's where the real humour and real pathos comes from. Daphne is a keen observer of the strange and wonderful subculture of 'the church lady.'" Brett Alan Dewing The Christian Courier (Canada) "Mildred Budge is a forthright, almost larger than life, woman who challenges every reader's faith walk by being transparent about her own. She reminds us that Jesus loves us the way we are but He loves us too much to leave us as we are." Julie Innes Evangel

How to Fracture a Fairy Tale


Jane Yolen - 2018
    Yolen fractures the classics to reveal their crystalline secrets, holding them to the light and presenting them entirely transformed, from a spinner of straw as a money-changer and to the big bad wolf retiring to a nursing home. Rediscover the fables you once knew, rewritten and refined for the world we now live in.

Gentleman's Wars: The Rules of Engagement


Andrew Karevik - 2021
    But when his family members die in the strangest of circumstances, leaving him sole in charge of the estate, the young man has to accept the harsh reality: someone is after them, and he’s next on the chopping block.Richard has no choice. The only way for him to protect his life and that of his younger sister is to enter the Great Game, that of the Gentleman’s Wars. But in doing so, he’s putting all his territories, his title as well as his very name in jeopardy.In a world where war has been abolished, gentries, duchies and baronies face each other on the battlefield not with armies made of wizards and warriors, but with gigantic proxies of metal and stone. Mighty automatons called Golems, which duke it out for sport but also for conquest.If that bold move might temporarily safeguard Richard against the mysterious assassin, it also throws him at the mercy of any would-be invader. The rules of the game are simple, yet ruthless: under the watchful eye of a Judge, the attacker must reach your Mana Sphere and destroy it to get his hands on your lands. Your job, as the defender, is to put up enough hurdles in the enemy’s way to slay his golems and prevent them from achieving their mission.The only problem is that Richard only has enough resources to buy a few units and erect the most basic of towers. He will need to use his strategic mind to make up for his lack of funds and repel anyone willing to come knocking on his door. As he’ll quickly learn, this is not a game for the faint of heart, and many a Gentleman might take interest in the territories of a weak new player like himself…

Every Breath You Take (Sehgal Family & Friends, Book #6)


Sapna Bhog - 2021
    Enter the world of the Sehgal family and friends. A brand new series of books!Here comes the bride…filled with hopes and happinessAfter a bitter experience in her past, Rhea Sehgal has deliberately stayed away from love, until Nirvaan Kapur comes crashing into her life. Her attraction to him was instant. His intense and forthright nature called to the wounded part of her soul. Being with him was easy, falling in love with him…easier, and marrying him—that was a dream come true or so she thought.Here comes the groom…filled with lies and deceptionGaming legend Nirvaan Kapur always gets what he wants, and what he wants is Rhea Sehgal. She was responsible for the death of someone very close to him and he’s vowed to make her pay. Making her fall for him was the first step. His plan was simple—marry her and thus destroy her dreams of happily ever after. It was supposed to be easy, until Rhea turns the tables on him. She declares war on him, one which she intends to win at all costs.He thought he’d win this battle of wills. But when sizzling attraction and white-hot chemistry come into play, even the best laid plans go awry.The road to love, however, is not easy, and sometimes one has to let go of the past, believe in the present, and trust your own heart to have a happy future.Will Rhea and Nirvaan find happiness or will forces working against them manage to destroy their love just when they find their way to one another?Every Breath you Take is Book 6 in the Sehgal Family & Friends Saga, and can be read as a stand-alone.If you like reading strong characters in stories centred on family and friends then you will love this series of books.

In the Mirror


Robin Lythgoe - 2011
    "With the help of Lythgoe's spot on descriptions - not to mention the beautiful cover art - I could practically feel the mirror under my fingers. I own an old mechanical typewriter that I used to write many a poem on when I was younger. It belonged to my father and the clack and clatter of it when he used to write was a well-loved sound to me. Lythgoe's story brings to mind many memories of my youth and childhood and how the simple things were very special. In the Mirror is well crafted, full of deep emotion, wonder, loss, hope and most of all, magic."--Kristie Kiessling, Reviewer