World Myths

Almost everyone is familiar with names like Thor and Loki from movies, comics and other corners of the media world today, but where do they come from? That's exactly what this book looks at. You'll dive for a while into the origins of these familiar names of Norse mythology. You'll not only get an overview of the scientific sources if you desire to further investigate more specifically than what is presented here, you'll also get a short but concise introduction to the mythological world created in a pre-Christian time.

King David Kalākaua introduces us to the people upon whom the legend of the Pele family is based. They departed Samoa as war refugees in the 12th century, settling in the foothills of Mauna Loa. As earthquakes and eruptions occurred during their interactions with the Hawaiians, this family of kahuna were accorded what the king described as “unique sanctity and power”. Pele was as mighty as she was beautiful. The tales of the volcano goddess earned the attention of Kamapuaa, the outcast son of the chief of Oahu who terrorized the island with his band of renegades.

Three brothers embark on separate journeys to fulfill their father's dying wish. In their journeys, they go to distant lands, find curious treasures, and learn the true meaning of giving. Illustrated by Baird Hoffmire.

An evil queen. A rebel prince. A traitor with the promise of an army. Eris, half-god queen of the underworld, rules Earth with a cruel heart and an iron fist. When her son, Strife, joins a war against her, he is sure that he has left his dark past behind him. But as the battle for the throne escalates, who can he really trust? Alcyone, leader of the rebels or his lifelong protector, Nemesis, and her ferocious army of wolves? Strife teeters on the edge of an abyss. Will he follow the path of the light or will he let the shadows swallow him up forever? **Shortlisted for the Kindle Storyteller...

A fragile alliance. An ancient enemy. A secret that could change everything. As Strife and Alcyone rise victorious from battle, they face a hideous new foe. Their dangerous revolution has united the half-God dynasties of Hell and Earth. But, with the queen in hiding they are still a long way from peace. Commanded by the sorceress, Alecto thousands of mutant bats are waging a relentless attack on their exhausted rebel army. Killing Alecto is the only way to end this new war and as Strife risks his life on a dangerous mission to find her, Alcyone goes in search of long buried secrets. Will ...

In this volume I turn to the myths that survive from the medieval period: the myths of Persia, Japan, the Celts, and Scandinavia.These stories reflect the cultural, religious, and historical contexts of the societies that produced them. They, explain natural phenomena, providing moral and ethical guidance, and reinforce social structures. These myths have left lasting impacts on literature, art, and popular culture, influencing storytelling traditions across the world.

A beautiful collection of some of the finest Chinese fairy tales ever told. Incorporating magic, wicked witches, strange adventures and mysterious spirits. Enchanting! Stories include: "The Magic Pillow"; "The Stone Monkey"; "Stealing Peaches"; "The Painted Skin"; "The Wonderful Pear Tree"; "The Country of Gentlemen"; "Learning Magic"; "Theft of a Duck"; "Living for Ever"; "Football on a Lake"; "The Flower Fairies"; "The Talking Bird"; "The Peach Blossom Fountain"; "The Lute Girl’s Lament".

Return to the Hallowed Grounds of Fenway, Massachusetts, and Bear Witness to a Startling Prophecy. The chosen few have been beckoned by a mysterious trio, summoned for a rendezvous delving into matters of destiny, fate, and the nightmares yet to come. Amidst clashes of temperament and souls burdened with distrust, they must confront the sinister truths and the repercussions caused by the enigmatic Llewyn Glass and his deal with the Devil. Strange Reckoning serves as a tie-in story to the mind-bending seven-novel series of macabre, fantastical, and mystical stories, while also foreshadowing ...

Anthropologist Susan Johnston turns a scholarly eye on one of humankind's primary interests throughout history: the spiritual belief system. Beginning her lectures with an attempt to define religion, Professor Johnston continues this intriguing study with an examination of mythology and symbols, rituals and witchcraft, gender, politics, and religion's place in the many customs surrounding death.

In the 15th century, four Mahu sail from Tahiti to Hawaii and share their gifts of science and healing with the people of Waikiki. The islanders return this gift with a monument of four boulders in their honor, which the Mahu imbue with healing powers before disappearing. As time passes, foreigners inhabit the island and the once-sacred stones are forgotten until the 1960s. Though the true story of these stones was not fully recovered, the power of the Mahu still calls out to those who pass by them at Waikiki Beach today.

We have been connected to cats for more than 30 million years. To our prehistoricancestors cats were deadly predators of the night, and because of this ancient memory etched onto our DNA, cats epitomize our fear of the dark. Yet in addition to their connection to the dark and the shadows, their intelligence, sophisticated physical abilities, and finely tuned senses also led many cultures to view cats as connected to the spirit world.

A Tale of Forgotten Truths, Hidden Powers, and the Stories That Shape Reality Some stories are written. Some are erased. And some refuse to be forgotten. Ilias was once a scholar, a seeker of knowledge buried in the ruins of the past. Now, he is something else—a wanderer bound to an unraveling world, caught in the threads of a history no one remembers and a future that may never come to pass. The Keepers, the silent guardians of time’s greatest secrets, claim they are protecting balance, but Ilias has seen the truth: the past is breaking, and the very fabric of reality is fraying at the...

Tara faces her toughest decisions yet: love or self-respect, family or freedom, and ultimately . . . life or death. After years living under the thumb of a tyrannical Fae mob boss and sacrificing for her family, magical tracker Tara Knightley's world is changing in every way. She's finally found love with the man of her dreams, she's coming into her own with her talents, and she's discovering that her Fae roots run deeper than she ever guessed. But then things begin to unravel. First, Judah's pack forces him to make an impossible choice that could mean the end of his new relationship with ...

The teacher, Patrick Healy, traveled around the world, talked with people in different places, and collected around half a thousand myths, legends, and folktales and their several alternative versions. His opinion and comments (directly or indirectly) are inevitable. This is the second volume of his work. Patrick grouped 14 famous Czech children's stories and myths with his words. He retold the stories with his own opinion and approach to them.

Greek Mythology is one of the most popular of mythologies. The creativity and imagination of the Greek has lingered through time and inspired as well as influenced many of the heroes of nowadays Western fiction.

Humans are dangerous. That's the lesson faeries are taught as soon as their flower petals unfurl. It's the first thing Aerewyn remembers the priestesses telling her as a young girl. Why then, when she stumbles upon a human boy in the woods, does she find him so intriguing? His blue eyes don't shine with malice. His smile doesn't menace. And when she later discovers he's been knocked unconscious in a storm, injured and alone in the forest, the only thing he seems in danger of is dying. So she saves his life - a single act that will change the fate of both their worlds.

Wales is a land filled with mythology. Every breathtaking valley, towering mountain, shimmering lake, and magical castle has a mythical tale to entertain and enchant you. The Welsh, like other Celtic races, love to tell stories. From before the time of the Mabinogion and the Black Book of Carmarthen, they have passed dark winter nights telling Welsh fables, fairy tales and legends. The folklore of Wales and its history are interwoven with myths and legends that cross the centuries.

Paul Singh and John R. Shook draw on the latest findings from the physical and biological sciences, astronomy and cosmology, geology and genetics, and prehistory and archeology in search of answers. As they lucidly and engagingly demonstrate, the answers science gives about ourselves and the universe in which we live are incomparably more surprising and interesting than any mythical tale about some clash of titans or calculating creator.

What if a single story could bring a forgotten world back to life? When Lily discovers a hidden door in her grandmother’s attic, she never expects it to lead to an enchanted realm—a world where mythical creatures still exist, waiting to be remembered. A centaur, a fairy, and a dragonet reveal a painful truth: magic is fading, disappearing as belief in their world vanishes. Determined to save what remains, Lily captures their stories in her journal, hoping to restore the connection between their world and hers.

In this story, a poor boy's dream of having a drum takes him on an unlikely path. He meets several people who guide him along the way. In time, he learns to make his own magic in this world. Illustrated by Tom Wrenn.