Short Stories Fairy Tales

For an imperial assassin, assignment as a courtesan in the Floating World seems like a waste of her talents...until killers target her clan sisters. In the legendary Floating World, wars are waged with wit, the strongest soldier can be bound with threads of silk, and flesh is the currency by which life, death, and freedom can all be purchased. Half-elf Jie bemoans her temporary assignment as a Night Blossom in the most sought-after house, even if it's the perfect cover for her real work as an assassin in the emperor’s service.

Each of these startlingly original stories is set in modern Britain. Their characters include a people-trafficking gang-master and a prostitute, a migrant worker and a cocksure estate agent, an elderly musician doubly befuddled by dementia and the death of his wife, a pest-controller suspected of paedophilia and a librarian so well-behaved that her parents wonder anxiously whether she’ll ever find love.

After the loss of her mother, a woman returns to the San Fernando Valley only to uncover a haunting secret about her childhood friend. A visiting professor at a charming but strange California liberal arts college must face her past in order to protect her son. A sister, lost in the woods, confronts the dangerous truth about her brother, her stepmother, and herself. Rose's dog Wolfie has died, and three seductive women offer to help return him to her. But only if she will pay the price.

An astonishingly frank, funny, poignant audiobook for any woman who wishes they had someone who would say to them, “This happened to me, learn from my mistakes and my successes. Because you don’t get smarter as you get older, you get braver.” This program is read by the author and a full...

The school year was coming to an end and all of the students in Mr. Ostrich's class were extremely excited for summer vacation to start. Shawna Sheep had plans to go to the pool every day. Kimmie Koala had plans to go away to summer camp. Zach Zebra had plans to play with his friends whenever he could. Then Mr. Ostrich announced that there would be a big end of the year test. Who would do what it takes to pass?

Discover a treasure trove of fantastical tales that not only captivate young listeners and their imaginations but also impart valuable life lessons. Brian Bradford invites listeners into a world of wonder and wisdom through seven captivating short stories, each brimming with whimsy, friendship, and the subtle teachings that shape young hearts.

Each fable ends with a moral. So, there’s something more than entertainment, your child will learn ethics and good manners. Not only for kids, so many teens, adults, and seniors have told us these fables are highly entertaining for them and bring back their childhood memories. I hope you’ll really enjoy this.

This one-of-a-kind treasury brings together the talents of nearly two dozen best-selling middle-grade authors - including Shannon Hale, Brandon Mull, Ally Condie, and Jennifer A. Nielsen - who have created original short stories and modern-day fairy tales based on the lives and dreams of children they have met who all have two things in common: They have very big hopes and dreams, and they are all cancer patients.

Have you ever had a loose tooth? Lucy Llama woke up one morning and her tooth was loose! She ran to the mirror and wiggled it. She ran to her mother and wiggled it. She ran to her father and wiggled it. Then she ran all the way to school to wiggle it for her friends. Knowing that she would lose her first tooth soon was exciting. Would Lucy Llama's tooth fall out on its own, or would it have help?

It takes a lot of effort for Jimmy Crocker to become Piccadilly Jim – nights on the town roistering, headlines in the gossip columns, a string of broken hearts and breaches of promise. Eventually he becomes rather good at it and manages to go to pieces with his eyes open. But no sooner has Jimmy cut a wild swathe through fashionable London than his terrifying Aunt Nesta decides he must mend his ways. He then falls in love with the girl he has hurt most of all, and after that things get complicated. In a dizzying plot, impersonations pile on impersonations....

Within this collection, you will find tales that weave together the threads of myth and folklore, bringing to life captivating adventures that will capture the imaginations of both the young and the young at heart.

Step into the vibrant world of Mardi Gras with "Mardi Gras Day: Tales of Magic and Celebration," a captivating collection of stories that transport readers to the heart of New Orleans' most enchanting festival. From the bustling streets of the French Quarter to the grand parades and lively celebrations, each story in this book is a journey of discovery, adventure, and joy. Join young protagonists like Coco, Benny, Lily, and Jazzy as they embark on whimsical adventures filled with mystery, music, and culinary delights.

Ku-aya led a joyful life with her parents and her three younger brothers. Her days were spent tending to the fields of wheat, watching over the herd of sheep, and dancing along the banks of the salt river that ran through the center of her beautiful, sprawling village. Every dawn brought new blessings from the Sky Father above.

El sultán Shahriar descubre que su esposa lo engaña y la decapita. Todavía lleno de rencor, cada día desposa a una mujer a la que luego ordena matar por la mañana. Inesperadamente, Sherezade, la hija del visir, se ofrece voluntaria para casarse con el sultán. Durante la noche de bodas, la muchacha inicia un relato que deja fascinado a su marido, pero que interrumpe justo antes del amanecer.

John Updike reads six stories he has selected from the 100-odd he has published. Mr. Updike, when asked to described his method of reading aloud, said "I try to picture the things described and to speak the words distinctly, and to let the emotion come through on its own." The method works beautifully.

Peter Penguin sometimes felt jealous that his friends seemed to have cooler toys and games than him. Edgar Elephant just got a new skateboard, Francine Flamingo always had the newest sneakers, and Henry Hamster had a trampoline! Peter Penguin had an old skateboard, he had the same pair of shoes from the year before, and his backyard wasn't even big enough to fit a trampoline.

A Gentle Giant lives far, far away, in a magical kingdom. One day he discovers an extraordinary flower that grows in the middle of a field of beautiful blossoms. The Gentle Giant falls in love with the enchanting flower. But the flower is selfish. As soon as the Gentle Giant has fulfilled its wishes, it no longer wants to see him. The Gentle Giant is very sad, but soon he discovers a secret that fills him with joy.

In Whispers of Wonder, you’ll discover a collection of enchanting tales that will spark your imagination and warm your heart. From a clockwork dragon with a secret to a mysterious library filled with whispering books, these stories are brimming with wonder, mystery, and a touch of the extraordinary.

In the Forests of the Night is a darkly sensual collection of erotic fairy tales, blending the magic and fantasy of traditional fables with carnality and lust!

Thirteen award-winning fantasy and science fiction writers offer up their versions of these classic fairy tales as well as other favorites, including The Ugly Duckling, Ali Baba, Hansel and Gretel, and more. Some of the stories are funny, some are strange, and others are dark and disturbing - but each offers something as unexpected as a wolf at the door.