Bøger udgivet af Astra Publishing House

A new novel of high fantasy and adventure featuring martial arts masters Dhulyn and Parno. Fulfilling their Mercenary contract, Dhulyn and Parno have accepted the surrender of Prince Edmir, heir to the Tegriani Realm. The Common Rule of the Mercenary Brothers states that prisoners taken by them go free and unharmed. But when the War Commander who hired them refuses to honor this agreement, the duo break their contract and escape with the prince. And thus they take the first step along a path that might lead Dhulyn to the truth about her past?or bring them to a magical trap from which there may be no escape.

Second in the bestselling Dragon Prince series returns to a lush epic fantasy world replete with winged beasts, power games of magical treachery, and a realm of princedoms hovering on the brink of war • "Marvelous!"-Anne McCaffrey When Rohan was crowned High Prince and his Sunrunner wife Sioned became High Princess, they swore to keep the peace of the lands and preserve the secret of the dragons, an inheritance they would one day pass on to their only child, Pol, heir to both princely and Sunrunner powers. But the evil influence of the former High Prince Roelstra had not ended with his death at Rohan's hands. And even as Pol grew to manhood, other young men were being trained in the ways of war, youths descended from Roelstra and claimed by Rohan's enemies as willing pawns in what could become a bloody battle for succession. Yet not all players in these games of power fought merely with words or swords. For now a foe vanquished by the Sunrunners ages ago was once again growing in strength, an enemy determined to desroy Sunrunners and High Prince alike. And the only hope of defeating these masters of dark sorcery lay in reclaiming the knowledge so carefully concealed in the long-lost- Star Scroll….

Fifteen years ago, Mercedes Lackey put pen to paper to write Arrows Of The Queen, her first novel about Valdemar, a fantasy kingdom replete with magical races and magical creatures, enemies and allies both sorcerous and mundane. This ancient land of mystery is unique even among fantasy realms, for it is protected by an elite corps -- the Heralds. These men and women gifted with extraordinary mind powers are Chosen by, and bonded with, wondrous horselike beings known as Companions. Brought by their Companions from the length and breadth of Valdemar to Haven, Valdemar's capital city, they are trained in a special school, the Collegium, and devote their lives to protecting king and kingdom. Mindspeakers, FarSeers, FarSpeakers, Firestarters, ForeSeers -- their individual talents are as varied as their backgrounds. There are even those who can channel the magical nodes in the earth itself to use for their own purposes. Garbed in their uniforms of white leather, they patrol their territory, dispensing justice and keeping the peace. They are emissaries, spies, diplomats, scouts, warriors, judges, and counselors.With eighteen novels published, and millions of copies in print, Mercedes Lackey's Valdemar series has won the hearts of countless readers. In response to overwhelming demand on the part of her many fans, veteran editors John Helfers and Denise Little now present The Valdemar Companion. With the help and guidance of Mercedes Lackey, Helfers and Little have compiled a reader's guide to Mercedes Lackey's best-selling world of Valdemar. Included in this comprehensive work is an all-original Mercedes Lackey Valdemar novella, as well as an essay by Lackey about Valdemar, and extensive interviews with the author and her publisher. With an overview of the history of Valdemar, detailed essays on the various races and kingdoms, a substantial concordance containing entries on every major character, device and setting, and including articles on the magical races and creatures, a chapter on the diverse Valdemar fan clubs, and a section devoted to the songs of Valdemar, along with beautifully detailed maps, The Valdemar Companion is everything any Valdemar fan could wish for.

"Follow these simple instructions for drawing a brave chicken: Draw an oval, two dots for eyes, triangles for the beak, lines for legs, and some wings. Easy enough. But wait... where is the chicken? Oh, she's hiding! Maybe she needs armor to feel brave... so let's draw her some shiny armor. Now she's feeling brave-and she wants to chase a dragon! Oh no, Chicken! Are you sure you want to do that?"--

"George Washington and artist Gilbert Stuart didn't always see eye-to-eye, but both men knew the importance of legacy and the power of art. Though George disliked having his portrait painted--which took days and days to complete--he knew his place in history would require people to know his face. Fortunately, Gilbert Stuart's unique way of painting didn't compel his subjects to sit for hours on end--in fact, he encouraged them to move around and even bring friends to chat with. Capturing the soul of each subject, his portraits were unlike any other artists'. And Gilbert Stuart's one-of-a-kind portrait of Washington stands the test of time--it's the one that's used on the one-dollar bill"--

An ALSC Notable Children's BookA wondrous introduction to one of the most beautiful connections between mathematics and the natural world—the Fibonacci sequence—through a series of stunning nature photographs.Discover the biggest mathematical mystery in nature—Fibonacci numbers! Named after a famous mathematician, the number pattern is simple and starts with: 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13. Each number in the sequence comes from adding the two numbers before it. What's the mystery? The pattern crops up in the most unexpected places. You'll find it in the disk of a sunflower, the skin of a pineapple, and the spiral of a nautilus shell. This book brings math to life, celebrates science, and inspires kids to see nature through new eyes.

"The gripping true story about a botched gang murder set in the invisible economy of LA's immigrant street vendors"--

"It's Friday, and little Ruby gets to spend the day with her great-grandma, Tata. Together, they go for a walk with Ruby's grandma, Yaya. They take a nap. They read books. The whole family gathers for Shabbat dinner, and Ruby gets to eat a delicious piece of challah brea. Best of all, throughout the day, Tata tells Ruby funny, fantastical stories that come from her dreams, in which she soars on a giant blueberry bird, or dances right on top of the dinner table. In this heartwarming tale that spans four generations of Jewish women, acclaimed author-illustrator duo Julie Salamon and Jill Weber celebrate family traditions, the enduring lobe between a girl and her great-grandma, and the everlasting power of stories."--Provided by publisher.

"When Joo Hong harvests a beautiful persimmon from her mom's garden, she can't wait to give it to her Grandma, who is visiting from far away. However, the days leading up to her arrival feel like forever--and the persimmon is looking less and less perfect as time passes by. What can Joo Hong do to make sure it's perfectly ripe--and not mushy and wrinkly--for Grandma's visit?"--

From master storyteller and New York Times-bestseller Tad Williams comes the third book in the landmark epic fantasy saga of Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn. Tad Williams introduced readers to the incredible fantasy world of Osten Ard in his internationally bestselling series Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn. The trilogy inspired a generation of modern fantasy writers, including George R.R. Martin, Patrick Rothfuss, and Christopher Paolini, and defined Tad Williams as one of the most important fantasy writers of our time. “One of my favorite fantasy series.” —George R. R. Martin “Groundbreaking.” —Patrick Rothfuss “One of the great fantasy epics of all time.” —Christopher PaoliniBOOK THREE: TO GREEN ANGEL TOWER: PART II The evil minions of the undead Sithi Storm King are beginning their final preparations for the kingdom-shattering culmination of their dark sorceries, drawing King Elias ever deeper into their nightmarish, spell-spun world. As the Storm King’s power grows and the boundaries of time begin to blur, the loyal allies of Prince Josua struggle to rally their forces at the Stone of Farewell. There, too, Simon and the surviving members of the League of the Scroll have gathered for a desperate attempt to unravel mysteries from the forgotten past.  For if the League can reclaim these age-old secrets of magic long-buried beneath the dusts of time, they may be able to reveal to Josua and his army the only means of striking down the unslayable foe.... After the landmark Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn trilogy, the epic saga of Osten Ard continues with The Heart of What Was Lost. Then don’t miss the sequel trilogy, The Last King of Osten Ard, beginning with The Witchwood Crown!

From master storyteller and New York Times-bestseller Tad Williams comes the third book in the landmark epic fantasy saga of Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn. Tad Williams introduced readers to the incredible fantasy world of Osten Ard in his internationally bestselling series Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn. The trilogy inspired a generation of modern fantasy writers, including George R.R. Martin, Patrick Rothfuss, and Christopher Paolini, and defined Tad Williams as one of the most important fantasy writers of our time. “One of my favorite fantasy series.” —George R. R. Martin “Groundbreaking.” —Patrick Rothfuss “One of the great fantasy epics of all time.” —Christopher Paolini BOOK THREE: TO GREEN ANGEL TOWER: PART I The evil minions of the undead Sithi Storm King are beginning their final preparations for the kingdom-shattering culmination of their dark sorceries, drawing King Elias ever deeper into their nightmarish, spell-spun world. As the Storm King’s power grows and the boundaries of time begin to blur, the loyal allies of Prince Josua struggle to rally their forces at the Stone of Farewell. There, too, Simon and the surviving members of the League of the Scroll have gathered for a desperate attempt to unravel mysteries from the forgotten past.  For if the League can reclaim these age-old secrets of magic long-buried beneath the dusts of time, they may be able to reveal to Josua and his army the only means of striking down the unslayable foe....After the landmark Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn trilogy, the epic saga of Osten Ard continues with The Heart of What Was Lost. Then don’t miss the sequel trilogy, The Last King of Osten Ard, beginning with The Witchwood Crown!

"Sea Wolves: Keepers of the Rainforest is the astonishing story of a wolf species that calls the shores of western Canada and southeastern Alaska home. Here, wolves crack clams, feast on fish roe, swipe salmon from rivers, and swim miles between islands-as long observed by the First Nations communities that have lived alongside them for thousands of years. However, with the rise of industrial logging, pipeline projects, and other threats, sea wolves face a troubled future. Wildlife experts and First Nations members agree: these majestic creatures are a vital part of the ecosystem and need to be protected. Through beautiful verse and striking illustrations, Sea Wolves captures the fascinating life of an animal with great cultural and scientific significance-one that will inspire awe in young readers"--

"Mouth is an eerie, uncanny debut collection of speculative stories that moves across time and place, blurring the lines of conventional reality"--

"When a wildfire threatens Simone's home, she and Mâa must rush to take shelter. Guided by her own creativity, and buoyed by Mâa's memories of her childhood in Viòãet Nam, Simone navigates her way through an all-too-common crisis. This powerful story, straddling two generations and two countries, shows how communities come together in tough times, and how the youngest can imagine the path to a better future"--

"On monster picture day, Itty Bitty Betty Blob, who prefers dancing, rainbows and cute furry creatures instead of scaring, practices being monstery on her way to school until she makes a discovery and new friends with ideas that just feel right"--

"Early Sobrieties is a second coming-of-age story that offers an existential trek into the enigma of sobriety itself and follows the eloquent confessional of an addict who is lost and found, then lost again"--

Mary Dunlavy didn't intend to become a professional babysitter. Of course, she didn't intend to die, either, or to become a crossroads ghost. As a babysitting ghost, she's been caring for the Price family for four generations, and she's planning to keep doing the job for the better part of forever. With her first charge finally back from her decades-long cross-dimensional field trip, with a long-lost husband and adopted daughter in tow, it's time for Mary to oversee the world's most chaotic family reunion. And that's before the Covenant of St. George launches a full scale strike against the cryptids of Manhattan, followed quickly by an attack on the Campbell Family Carnival. It's going to take every advantage and every ally they have for the Prices to survive what's coming--and for Mary, to avoid finding out the answer to a question she's never wanted to know: what happens to a babysitting ghost if she loses the people she's promised to protect?

"Alf is scared of water--but he's not about to let that keep him from enjoying summer with his water-loving friends. In this slyly humorous story, Alf creatively confronts his fears and comes up with a surprising solution. It's the summer and everyone is out swimming under the sun...well, almost everyone. While all his friends love canoeing down rivers and splashing in the community pool, Alf would rather remain on dry land. This makes hanging with his friends difficult! What can Alf do to enjoy his summer as much as his splish-splashing friends, without getting so much as a single toe wet? From one of Sweden's most beloved children's authors, I Do Not Like Water is an award-winning celebration of whimsical individuality and overcoming your fears"--

"This moving tale introduces the youngest picture book audience to a girl who misses her grandmother -- whom she calls Tata or Tatita, as is traditional in many Spanish-speaking cultures -- and yearns to spend time with her. But Tatita is not here any more. The spare, striking illustrations make it ambiguous whether the girl misses her tata because she lives in a faraway place, is ill, or has passed on. Yet this gorgeous, deceptively simple book's ending makes it clear that no matter what, your tatita lives in your heart, and you can always hold her in your memory."--

"Just look at what you can build out of ordinary stuff when you follow your imagination!"--

Bear has "spotted a fish! And his wish? To gobble up this delicious fish dish, of course. Sadly for Bear, this is no ordinary fish--he's a homesick fellow determined to get back upstream where he belongs"--

"Here is the explosive story of the Kids for Cash scandal in Pennsylvania, a judicial justice miscarriage that sent more than 2,500 children and teens to a for-profit detention center while two judges lined their pockets with cash, as told by Candy J. Cooper, an award-winning journalist and Pulitzer Prize finalist"--

"What are you made of? How does your body work? Come on our tour and see how numbers tell the amazing tale"--Title page.