Archives par étiquette : Park & Fine Literary and Media

THE SCORPION AND THE NIGHT BLOSSOM d’Amélie Wen Zhao

From the New York Times bestselling author of the Song of the Last Kingdom series comes the beginning of a dark and opulent fantasy duology, perfect for fans of Kingdom of the Wicked and Fourth Wing. In a world invaded by demons, one girl faces the ultimate test: to save her dying mother, she must enter into a fabled, ancient competition for a chance to save her mother’s soul…or die trying.

THE SCORPION AND THE NIGHT BLOSSOM
The Immortality Trials Series, Book 1
by Amélie Wen Zhao
Delacorte, January 2025
(via Park & Fine Literary and Media)

Nine years ago, the Kingdom of Night began to seep into the mortal realm, and the Kingdom of Rivers was invaded by mó: beautiful and deadly demons that lure in humans with their appearance, then feast on their bodies and drink their souls. Those that survived the mó’s initial invasion now live behind protective wards, hoping to get through to another day.

Àn’yīng hasn’t forgotten the face of the demon who killed her father and drank her mother’s soul. Àn’yīng was helpless then, but now, armed with her crescent blades and her father’s magical practitioning texts, she’s determined to heal her mother’s soul, and the Immortality Trials are her only hope.

Hosted by the Immortals in the Kingdom of the Sky, the Trials have taken place for centuries. Open to mortals who can find their way to the Kingdom of Sky, those who complete all eight trials and prove their merit are granted a pill of immortality—a prize Àn’yīng believes can restore her mother’s soul. But competition is fierce, and if the Trials themselves don’t kill her, the other contestants might.

Who is friend and who is foe? And who is the irresistibly handsome and frustratingly arrogant contestant who keeps appearing when Àn’yīng least expects it—and most needs help? Danger is everywhere, and Àn’yīng is beginning to see signs that not all is right in The Kingdom of Sky. Night is coming for the Immortals–and when they fall, all is lost.

Amélie Wen Zhao（赵雯）was born in Paris and grew up in Beijing, where she spent her days reenacting tales of legendary heroes, ancient kingdoms, and lost magic at her grandmother’s courtyard house. She attended college in the United States and now resides in New York City, working as a finance professional by day and fantasy author by night. Amélie is the NYT bestselling author of the Song of the Last Kingdom duology and the Blood Heir trilogy.

SONG OF THE LAST KINGDOM SERIES d’Amélie Wen Zhao

In a fallen kingdom, one girl carries the key to its forgotten past – and the demons that sleep at its heart…

SONG OF THE LAST KINGDOM Series
by Amélie Wen Zhao
Delacorte, 2023 – 2024
(via Park & Fine Literary and Media)

SONG OF SILVER, FLAME LIKE NIGHT (Book 1 – January 2023)

Once, Lan had a different name. Now she goes by the one the Elantian colonizers gave her when they invaded her kingdom, killed her mother, and outlawed her people’s magic. She spends her nights as a songgirl in Haak’gong, a city transformed by the conquerors, and her days scavenging for what she can find of the past. Anything to understand the strange mark burned into her arm by her mother in her last act before she died.

The mark is mysterious—an untranslatable Hin character—and no one but Lan can see it. Until the night a boy appears at her teahouse and saves her life.

Zen is a practitioner—one of the fabled magicians of the Last Kingdom. Their magic was rumored to have been drawn from the demons they communed with. Magic believed to be long lost. Now it must be hidden from the Elantians at all costs.

When Zen comes across Lan, he recognizes what she is: a practitioner with a powerful ability hidden in the mark on her arm. He’s never seen anything like it—but he knows that if there are answers, they lie deep in the pine forests and misty mountains of the Last Kingdom, with an order of practitioning masters planning to overthrow the Elantian regime.

Both Lan and Zen have secrets buried deep within—secrets they must hide from others, and secrets that they themselves have yet to discover. Fate has connected them, but their destiny remains unwritten. Both hold the power to liberate their land. And both hold the power to destroy the world.

Now the battle for the Last Kingdom begins.

DARK STAR BURNING, ASH FALLS WHITE (Book 2 – January 2024)

The Demon Gods have risen. Skies’ End has fallen to the colonizers. And Lan and Zen have chosen sides.

But they will not fight together.

Though Lan inherited the power of the Silver Dragon, she understands the path she must take. She believes the Demon Gods to be the cause of war, conflict, and turmoil, and that the future of the Last Kingdom depends on their being eliminated forever. Worse, she knows that if the Elantians manage to bind one of the legendary beings, their army will be unstoppable. To save her kingdom and her people, Lan will need to find the only mythical weapon capable of destroying the Demon Gods: the Godslayer.

Zen is sure that the only way to free the Last Kingdom is to use the power of the Demon Gods. When he bound the Black Tortoise, he paid the ultimate price: to inherit its strength, he will forfeit his body, his mind, and his soul. Yet one Demon God is not enough against the might of the colonizers. In the ruins of the northern Mansorian lands slumbers a magical army of demonic practitioners capable of facing off against the Elantians—but Zen must find the Seal to awaken them to fight by his side.

At the center of both Lan’s and Zen’s journeys is one city: Shaklahira, a former stronghold of the Imperial Court that vanished without a trace when the Elantians invaded. Its location is a mystery, and both are sure that it holds the answers they need, but the past it hides might be more dangerous than anything they’ve faced yet.

The battle for the Last Kingdom rages on. But to win the war, Lan will have to decide: Can she face the boy she loves again? And when she does, can she kill him to free her people?

Amélie Wen Zhao（赵雯）was born in Paris and grew up in Beijing, where she spent her days reenacting tales of legendary heroes, ancient kingdoms, and lost magic at her grandmother’s courtyard house. She attended college in the United States and now resides in New York City, working in finance by day and being a fantasy author by night. Amélie is the NYT bestselling author of the SONG OF THE LAST KINGDOM duology and the Blood Heir trilogy.

SPICE ROAD TRILOGY de Maiya Ibrahim

Raised to protect her nation from the monsters lurking in the sands, sixteen-year-old Imani must fight to find her brother, whose betrayal is now the country’s greatest threat.

SPICE ROAD TRILOGY
by Maiya Ibrahim
Delacorte Press, 2023 – 2024
(via Park & Fine Literary and Media)

SPICE ROAD (Book 1 – January 2023)

In the hidden desert city of Qalia, there is a secret spice magic that awakens the affinities of those who drink the misra tea. Sixteen-year-old Imani has the affinity for iron and is able to wield a dagger like no other warrior. She has garnered the reputation as being the next great Shield for battling djinn, ghouls, and other monsters spreading across the sands.

Her reputation has been overshadowed, however, by her brother, who tarnished the family name after it was revealed that he was stealing his nation’s coveted spice—a telltale sign of magical obsession. Soon after that, he disappeared, believed to have died beyond the Forbidden Wastes. Despite her brother’s betrayal, there isn’t a day that goes by when Imani doesn’t grieve him.

But when Imani discovers signs that her brother may be alive and spreading the nation’s magic to outsiders, she makes a deal with the Council that she will find him and bring him back to Qalia, where he will face punishment. Accompanied by other Shields, including Taha, a powerful beastseer who can control the minds of falcons, she sets out on her mission.

Imani will soon find that many secrets lie beyond the Forbidden Wastes—and in her own heart—but will she find her brother?

★ “A beautifully written, surprise-filled page-turner.” ―Kirkus Review, Starred Review

★ « Overflowing with culturally specific details and set in a fictional, Arabian-inspired world, this high-octane adventure maintains a steady clip toward a scintillating conclusion. »―Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

★ “Spellbinding magic, lush description and whirlwind action define Maiya Ibrahim’s YA debut….readers will find much to admire in this powerful young woman who learns that thinking for herself is as vital as the magic she wields. » ―Shelf Awareness, starred review

SERPENT SEA (Book 2 – September 2024)

Imani is a magic-wielding warrior sworn to protect her land from the monsters that roam the desert. But an even worse enemy now threatens the Sahir. As the powerful Harrowlanders march south with their greatest weapon—spice magic—Imani knows it’s only a matter of time before their invasion of her land begins . . . and it will be a losing battle for her people.

But Imani also knows that one way to fight magic is with monsters. If she can restore Qayn’s stolen powers, together they can summon a supernatural army to defend the Sahir from the Harrowlanders. Forming an alliance with a djinni king is risky, but Imani will do anything to save her people, even embarking on a dangerous quest beyond the sands to find the magical jewels of Qayn’s lost crown.

As Imani journeys far from home, she will discover monsters that warriors have only heard about in myths . . . monsters that can strike at any moment. Meanwhile, her rival, Taha, has been captured and is on a dangerous mission of his own.

One wrong move could cost them their lives—and everyone they love. But they may find that there is more than meets the eye crossing the Serpent Sea . . . and betrayal cuts deeper than any dagger.

In this richly imagined Arabian-inspired fantasy told from a riveting dual perspective, critically acclaimed author Maiya Ibrahim dives into the complexities of love and war.

Maiya Ibrahim is the debut author of SPICE ROAD, an instant Sunday Times bestseller. Born and raised in Sydney, she has been writing stories since she learned how to boot up a PC and open her notepad. When not writing, Maiya can be found indulging in Lebanese food with her family, playing Skyrim, watching Game of Thrones, or swimming with friends at one of Australia’s many spectacular beaches.

IT BEGINS WITH YOU de Jillian Turecki

The first book from renowned relationship coach with 20 years of experience in the field, and “the TikTok relationship expert,” who millions flock to for her heartfelt advice on revolutionizing their relationships.

IT BEGINS WITH YOU
The 9 Hard Truths About Love That Will Change Your Life
by Jillian Turecki
HarperOne, 2025
(via Park & Fine Literary and Media)

In IT BEGINS WITH YOU, Jillian will share hard-won lessons from her own life experience and from her years of coaching thousands of people on their love lives. She will share personal anecdotes, as well as her clients’ experiences, alongside her best advice and practical tools, tips, and questions, to help readers examine their own lives and relationships. Each chapter will focus solely on one of her 9 Hard Truths, such as: “No One is Coming To Save You” – which looks at inner strength, accountability, and dependences – in the relationships we keep, and in ourselves. Jillian holds nothing back as she weaves her own experiences into her lessons; imperfections and failures are a part of all relationships and acknowledging this truth is a core principle of her teaching.

IT BEGINS WITH YOU will provide the tools to recognize the fulfilling relationships that serve us, but also the ones that don’t – the realization of which can be a hard truth to swallow. In her own words: “There may be some truths that sting a little more than others, but if you open your mind and heart to each one’s message, it will illuminate your path towards healthy love and ultimately, self-love.”

Jillian Turecki is a certified relationship coach, teacher and writer who for 20 years has taught others how to transform their relationships with themselves. Under the tutelage of Tony Robbins and worldrenowned family therapist Cloe Madanes, Jillian is certified by the Robbins Madanes Center for Strategic Intervention, a renowned coaching program known for its innovative strategic solutions to the most difficult relationship problems. Fueled by an insatiable curiosity about what makes a relationship thrive, Jillian has helped thousands through her teaching and writing revolutionize their relationship with themselves so that they transform their relationships with others.

FEMONOMICS de Corinne Low

A radical framework for understanding and improving the lives of women, using a data-driven approach to overcoming the structural, economic, and biological factors that force and constrain women’s choices and limit their potential for wellbeing.

FEMONOMICS
Winning the Bread and Baking It Too: A Data Driven Approach to Happiness in Work, Life, and Home
by Corinne Low
Flatiron, Fall 2025
(via Park & Fine Literary and Media)

Where mostly male behavioral psychologists have previously dominated the categories of happiness and optimization, Corinne, a professor at University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School, applies economic principles to uniquely female concerns. Teaching readers how to use concepts like personal utility function (how we individually maximize profit and joy) and constrained optimization (making the best choice within external limits) to think about decisions and tradeoffs like the cost of a biological clock, Corinne will arm women with the tools they need to ask for more: from their partners, from their bosses, and from the system itself.

Because Corinne researches the key decisions that shape women’s lives, she finds herself most often answering surprisingly everyday (and existential!) questions from students during office hours, colleagues at conferences, and journalists behind the scenes. Questions like:

  • Should I break up with my boyfriend?
  • What kind of career gives me the life I want?
  • How should I pick a partner?
  • What kind of parent do I want to be?
  • When should I consider freezing my eggs?
  • Why should I fight to get the house in the divorce?

This book is not about optimizing — women are already optimized. It is about moving beyond the work-life binary to help women enjoy a better deal at work, in life, and at home.

Corinne Low is an Associate Professor of business Economics and Public Policy at the Wharton School, specializing in labor and development economics. Her research brings together applied microeconomic theory with lab and field experiments to understand the determinants of who gets how much across gender and age lines. Corinne received her PhD in economics from Columbia University and her undergraduate degree in economics and public policy from Duke University.