Best Selling Books by Karen Miller

Karen Miller returns to the world of her bestselling Kingmaker, Kingbreaker duology in "an appealing series kickoff" ( Publishers Weekly ). Many years have passed since the last great Mage War. It has been a time of great change. But not all changes are for the best, and Asher''s world is in peril once more. The weather magic that holds Lur safe is failing, and the earth feels broken to those with the power to see. Among Lur''s sorcerers, only Asher has the skill to mend the antique weather map that governs the seasons, keeping the land from being crushed by natural forces. Yet, when Asher risks his life to meddle with these dangerous magics, the crisis is merely delayed, not averted. Asher''s son Rafel has inherited the father''s talents, but has been forbidden to use them. Many died in the last Mage War and these abilities aren''t to be loosed lightly into the world. But when Asher''s last desperate attempt to repair the damage leaves him on his deathbed, Rafel''s powers may not be denied. For his countrymen are facing famine, devastation, and a rift in the very fabric of their land.

In this epic fantasy adventure sequel to The Prodigal Mage , a sister sets out to rescue her brother from an evil sorcerer. It''s been many months since Rafel ventured over Barl''s Mountains into the unknown, in a desperate bid to seek help for their ravaged land. With his father''s Weather Magic exhausted, there seemed no other hope. Now this too has died. Only Deenie believes Rafel still lives, sensing her brother in tortured dreams. She also knows she must try to find him, as only Rafel''s talents could heal their land. The prospect terrifies Deenie, yet she sees no other choice. Deenie soon learns of a dangerous new power. She comes to suspect that not only is her brother involved, but also that the evil their father destroyed is somehow reborn. And if she can''t save Rafel, then through him, Morg''s vast power could once again command their world.

"A solid epic that posits political intrigue, ethereal prophecies and a rags-to-riches hero against a vivid . . . fantasy backdrop." — Publishers Weekly "The Innocent Mage is come, and we stand at the beginning of the end of everything." Being a fisherman like his father isn''t a bad life, but it''s not the one that Asher wants. Despite his humble roots, Asher has grand dreams. And they call him to Dorana, home of princes, beggars and the warrior mages who have protected the kingdom for generations. Little does Asher know, however, that his arrival in the city is being closely watched by members of the Circle, people dedicated to preserving an ancient magic. Asher might have come to the city to make his fortune, but he will find his destiny.

In Ethrea, Rhian sits upon a precarious throne. Defiant dukes who won''t accept her rule threaten the stability of her kingdom. Dexterity has been banished from her court in disgrace. The blue-haired slave Zandakar, the man she thought was her friend, has been revealed as the son of a woman sworn to destroy her world. And Rhian''s husband, King Alasdair, is unsure of her love. The trading nations refuse to believe Mijak is a threat, and promise reprisals if she dares protect her realm. Only Emperor Han of mysterious Tzhung-tzhungchai knows that the danger from Mijak is real. But is he an ally, or an enemy in disguise? As she struggles to learn the truth, and keep her embattled crown, the murderous warhost of Mijak advances . . . The Hammer of God is the stunning finale in the Godspeaker trilogy, the new fantasy blockbuster from an author who is taking the fantasy world by storm.

In a family torn apart by poverty and violence, Hekat is no more than an unwanted mouth to feed, worth only a few coins from a passing slave trader. But Hekat was not born to be a slave. For her, a different path has been chosen. It is a path that will take her from stinking back alleys to the house of her God, from blood-drenched battlefields to the glittering palaces of Mijak. This is the story of Hekat, precious and beautiful. A new fantasy trilogy of power and politics, treason and betrayal, and the rise and fall of Empires . . .

When kingdoms clash, every crown will be tarnished by the bloody price of ambition. A bastard lord leads a rebellion against his tyrant king -- and must live with the consequences of victory. A royal widow plots to win her daughter''s freedom from the ambitious lords who would control them both. An orphaned prince sets his eyes on regaining his father''s stolen throne. And two brothers, divided by ambition, will learn that the greater the power, the more dangerous the game. A masterful tale of the thirst for power and the cost of betrayal. Epic fantasy at its bloodiest, action-packed best.

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"The evil foretold has risen . . . and we are all that stands between it and the end." Asher has come a long way for a fisherman''s son. Together with his friend Prince Gar, he has defended their kingdom against its bitterest enemy, but at great cost. Now, the evil mage Morg is preparing for his most deadly assault. Desperate, trapped in a broken body, Morg has little time and fewer scruples. And he has a plan. As Gar and Asher unwittingly fall into a dangerous deception, Morg gets ever closer to his goal. And this victory would be particularly sweet? For who better to destroy the kingdom than the two who would give anything to save it?

A privileged mage forges a troubling romance with an aspiring student of the mystic arts in this epic prequel to the Kingmaker, Kingbreaker fantasy series. Hundreds of years before the great Mage War, a land lies, unknowing, on the edge of catastrophe... Barl is young and impulsive, but she has a power within that calls to her. In her city, however, only those of noble blood and with the right connections learn the ways of the arcane. Barl is desperate to learn—but her eagerness to use her power leads her astray and she is banned from ever learning the mystic arts. Morgan holds the key to her education. A member of the Council of Mages, he lives to maintain the status quo, preserve the mage bloodlines, and pursue his scholarly experiments. But Barl''s power intrigues him—in spite of her low status. Together, he realizes they can create extraordinary new incantations. Morgan''s ambition and Barl''s power make a potent combination. What she does not see is the darkness in him that won''t be denied. Praise for the Kingmaker, Kingbreaker series "A solid epic that posits political intrigue, ethereal prophecies and a rags-to-riches hero against a vivid if familiar fantasy backdrop. . . . Miller''s prose is earnest and engaging." — Publishers Weekly on The Innocent Mage "Intriguing characters and a finely tuned sense of drama." — Library Journal on The Innocent Mage "The sort of conclusion you remember for years and keep revisiting in your imagination." —Glenda Larke on The Awakened Mage

The Clone Wars have exploded across the galaxy as Republic forces and Separatists struggle to gain the upper hand. But while the Jedi generals work tirelessly to defeat Count Dooku and his rebels, Supreme Chancellor Palpatine is hatching his own dark victory plans. The Separatists have launched a sneak attack on Coruscant. Obi-Wan Kenobi, wounded in battle, insists that Anakin Skywalker and his rookie Padawan Ahsoka leave on a risky mission against General Grievous. But when Senator Bail Organa reveals some explosive intelligence that could turn the tide of war in the Republic''s favor, the Jedi Master agrees to accompany him to an obscure planet on the Outer Rim to verify the facts. What Obi-Wan and Bail don''t realize is that they''re walking into a deadly trap concocted by Palpatine. And by the time they find out, escape may not be an option. Inspired by the full-length animated feature film Star Wars: The Clone Wars and the brand-new TV series, these thrilling adventures are filled with provocative, never-before-revealed insights into the characters of Obi-Wan, Anakin, Padme, Yoda, Count Dooku, and many other Star Wars favourites.

A toymaker, under orders from his wife''s ghost, helps a besieged princess protect her kingdom in this epic fantasy by the author of Empress . The King of Ethrea is dying. His only surviving heir is the princess Rhian. But if her enemies have their way, Ethrea will not be ruled by a woman. Dexterity Jones is a toymaker. To protect Princess Rhian and his country, he must place his trust in an exile from Mijak. Yet, as Ethrea comes ever closer to civil war, a greater danger awaits. Across the sea, an empress has already slaughtered millions in the name of her god. And the war will not end—until the world kneels before her.

The Clone Wars have exploded across the galaxy as Republic forces and Separatists struggle to gain the upper hand. But while the Jedi generals work tirelessly to defeat Count Dooku and his rebels, Supreme Chancellor Palpatine is hatching his own dark victory plans. The Separatists have launched a sneak attack on Coruscant. Obi-Wan Kenobi, wounded in battle, insists that Anakin Skywalker and his rookie Padawan Ahsoka leave on a risky mission against General Grievous. But when Senator Bail Organa reveals some explosive intelligence that could turn the tide of war in the Republic''s favor, the Jedi Master agrees to accompany him to an obscure planet on the Outer Rim to verify the facts. What Obi-Wan and Bail don''t realize is that they''re walking into a deadly trap concocted by Palpatine. And by the time they find out, escape may not be an option. Inspired by the full-length animated feature film Star Wars: The Clone Wars and the brand-new TV series, these thrilling adventures are filled with provocative, never-before-revealed insights into the characters of Obi-Wan, Anakin, Padme, Yoda, Count Dooku, and many other Star Wars favourites.

Driven by revenge, an ex-slave becomes a powerful ruler and wages war against an entire realm in this fantasy adventure trilogy. Sold into slavery, Hekat dreams of power. Fate leads her to the warlord Raklion, and she begins turning dreams into reality. For the nameless god of Mijak is with her, and it promises her the world. Far away, the King of Ethrea is dying. His daughter Princess Rhian is ready to rule, but if her enemies have their way the crown of Ethrea will never be worn by a woman. Dexterity Jones is a toymaker. To protect Rhian and his country, he must place his trust in an exile from Mijak. Yet, as Ethrea comes ever closer to civil war, a greater danger awaits. Hekat still desires the world . . . and power is no longer a dream. This omnibus edition of The Godspeaker Trilogy includes Empress, The Riven Kingdom and The Hammer of God.

Planet by planet, darkness creeps across the galaxy. Among warriors and generals, among ordinary beings living in far-flung worlds, the fear will not go away: We are losing this war. . . . Anakin Skywalker feels it, too. The Separatist Alliance, with ruthlessness and treachery, is beating the Republic to every strategic target. But after a costly clash with General Grievous for the planet Kothlis, Anakin has a mission that will focus his anxious mind. Alongside Obi-Wan Kenobi, he is posing as a long-lost native of Lanteeb, an impoverished world on the Outer Rim. This seemingly unimportant planet has drawn the interest of the Seps—and Anakin and Obi-Wan soon discover the disturbing reason: A scientist enslaved by General Lok Durd is drawing on Lanteeb’s one natural resource for a devastating bioweapon. Now Anakin and Obi-Wan have entered the eye of a storm. Their presence has been exposed, Lok Durd’s plans unveiled, and a fight has begun for survival behind enemy lines—and a chance of winning a war that must be fought at any cost. Features a bonus section following the novel that includes a primer on the Star Wars expanded universe, and over half a dozen excerpts from some of the most popular Star Wars books of the last thirty years!

After the departure of the early Mormon settlers in 1857, early Las Vegas continued to be a watering stop for overland travelers on the Mormon Road/Old Spanish Trail. The area was mainly ranches and mines until railroad rivals eyed the Las Vegas Valley. Sen. William Clark of Montana bought the land and water rights to the former Mormon settlement from ranching pioneer Helen J. Stewart. The foundation for modern Las Vegas was laid in 1905, as auctioneers gaveled out the plans for the future of Las Vegas at Clark''s town site. Today, those sights and sounds are recalled as the community comes together to recreate the past in Mormon settlement days and for the Helldorado Parade, marking the city''s birth.

Mythical beasts or real creatures? You decide! Big Foot, Moth Man, the Sea Serpent of Gloucester. These are just a few of the mythical beasts uncovered in this intriguing collection of extraordinary creatures. Firsthand accounts and the opinions of scientists weave together a fascinating web of fact and legend. Whether you''re a skeptic or a believer, you''ll find much to ponder in the lore surrounding these monsters.

Simple Transitions gives unprecedented attention to improving the effectiveness of daily transitions and offers essential information for teachers in infant and toddler childcare. Karen Miller uses her extensive knowledge of infants and toddlers to gather hundreds of practical, easy, and fun activities, tips, and techniques that help infants, toddlers, caregivers, and parents. The information in Simple Transitions guides caregivers through day-to-day routines and other transitions, such as an infant moving to a toddler classroom.