New Releases by Arthur Slade

Brax, hero of several Dragon Assassin tales, finally gets to tell his own story . . . On a diplomatic mission, Brax and his rider, Carmen, encounter a ghostly vision of The Nameless Goddess. She''s a part leopard, part crocodile deity, who warns them she is coming to conquer their world. Brax, in his usual snarky way, makes fun of her hairy legs and, after she vanishes, dismisses this threat. But things soon get a lot worse . . . When the duo arrives at the capital of the Akkad empire, they discover the emperor has been horrifically murdered by what looks to be an astral servant of that goddess, and his young nephew ascends to the throne. Both Brax and Carmen swear to protect the wetling from the Nameless Goddess. But power-hungry enemies circle the throne. Those dangers, along with the creatures sent from the netherworlds, makes protecting the emperor almost impossible. Their only choice it to battle this goddess face to face . . . Once they discover the true name of The Nameless Goddess, the hunt is on. Will they be able to destroy her before she rises to take over their world?

Can two kids stop a sinister plot to steal the brain power of the people of Nanaimo? Someone is delivering plates of scrumptious Nanaimo bars to every household in Nanaimo, and the people who eat them are behaving very strangely. Gordon Whillickers doesn’t get to eat his because, at the last minute, a hairy arm reaches through his window and steals them. He and Sophia chase after the thief and meet an amazing Sasquatch named Cheryl, who is also puzzled by the sudden appearance of the mouth-watering delicacies. With the help of Cheryl and the technological wizardry of a local librarian, the two kids move ever closer to the alien creature at the centre of the plot. They must stop him before the Nanaimoites’ IQs are lost forever!

Can two modern-day kids solve the mystery of the ghost that haunts the old hotel--or will they be trapped in the past forever? Walter Biggar Bronson (a.k.a. Wart) and his friend Cindy meet a ghost one night after school. The small, mournful boy leads them across the Broadway Bridge to the gracious Bessborough Hotel. After a strange incident in the elevator, they find themselves still in the hotel–but back in 1936. Some spooky things are going on. The room numbers are all mixed up. The library on the mezzanine is filled with hundreds of copies of the same book. And out on the street, the cars are all the same–vintage Studebakers. Back in the present, Wart and Cindy follow their motto–“Gather, identify, solve”–as they attempt to crack the case, with help from Wart’s distinctly odd parents and the loan of his mother’s time-travel-proof cell phone. If they fail, they may be trapped in the ghostly past forever . . .

The thrilling sequel to award-winning author Arthur Slade''s fantasy adventure! Carmen has defeated her twin brother, Corwin, thanks to the pact she made with Brax the dragon. Now it''s time for her to fulfill her end of the bargain. Brax takes Carmen to Drachia, the land of beasts, where Carmen soon learns that Brax had been banished from his father''s kingdom for accidentally killing his sister, Brenna. But soon after their arrival in the dragon capital, the two of them are quickly embroiled in plots and schemes to take the crown away from Brax''s father, King Xerx. When Carmen becomes separated from Brax, she finds herself alone as an outsider in a strange land where she is seen as either a slave or food. She must use her assassin training, and the magical bond she shares with Brax, to survive and set out to save him. Arthur Slade delivers with another exciting, fast-paced read full of action, magic and a healthy dash of humour.

Key Selling Points In Mr. Universe a teenage boy finds himself in an alternate universe being chased by lizard men in gray suits. The book is a fun adventure with a little romance thrown in. The author also wrote the adventure novel Death by Airship in the Orca Currents line. Arthur Slade has written many books, including The Hunchback Assignments, which won the TD Canadian Children''s Literature Award, and Dust, which was the winner of the Governor General''s Award for Children''s Literature. Arthur Slade is also the recipient of the prestigious Kloppenburg Award for Literary Excellence. New, enhanced features (dyslexia-friendly font, cream paper, larger trim size) to increase reading accessibility for dyslexic and other striving readers.

A thrilling YA fantasy novel from award-winning author Arthur Slade! Carmen is a student at Red Assassin School. She''s an expert at bladed weapons and poisons; and she''s desperate to finish at the top of the class, ahead of her twin brother. The students have been trained to hunt using giant black swans, but Carmen has discovered a dragon. All she has to do is get on his back. One problem: he''s killed everyone who gets near him. Then the Emperor declares war on assassins. And there might be a traitor among them. Carmen wants to graduate. But the emperor wants her dead. Her classmates might, too. Graduation night is about to become the fight of her life. In this heartstopping adventure by Arthur Slade, readers will root for Carmen - an Assassin with a heart of gold, determined to follow her dream against all odds.

Life as an ethical vampire isn''t easy for Amber Fang. First, she has to track down and eat a murderer every month. Second, her mother is imprisoned in a bunker controlled by ZARC, a multinational arms dealer. Third, her fellow vampires are hot on her trail, bent on ridding the world of scrupulous bloodsuckers. And then there''s Dermot, the handsome secret agent who hired her as an assassin in the first place and who has promised to help her rescue her mother. Amber can''t decide if she should kiss him or kill him. Then ZARC strikes a blow that leaves Amber stunned and heartbroken. Now she''s out for revenge. Amber Fang: Revenge is the third book in the popular Amber Fang series.

For Amber Fang, life used to be simple: study library science by day, read by night and, when she got hungry, enjoy an ethical meal straight from the jugular. Amber''s mother taught her well. It''s just good manners for vampires to eat only murderers. But now her mom has vanished, and Amber is alone. Her contract work as an assassin has been terminated. But the secret organization ZARC is still trying to hunt her down, using algorithms, drones and a murderess with metal hands. Through the dark web Amber learns that her long-lost mother has been "disappeared" to a secret compound in Antarctica. When Amber arrives and pries open a door to investigate, what she discovers shocks her to the core. And it will change her life forever. If she survives. Amber Fang: Betrayal is the second book in the popular Amber Fang series.

Amber Fang enjoys life''s simple pleasures. A perfect evening for her includes a good book, a glass of wine and, of course, a great meal, preferably straight from the jugular. Raised to eat ethically, Amber dines only on delicious cold-blooded killers. But confirming that her chosen victims deserve to die takes time. And patience. So it''s a good thing Amber is studying to be a librarian. Her extraordinary research skills help her hunt down her prey, seek out other vampires and stay on the trail of her mother, who has been missing for over two years now. But one day while Amber is stalking a rather tasty-looking murderer, things go horribly wrong. Amber has walked into a trap. The hunter becomes the hunted. Now on the run, Amber receives the perfect job offer out of the blue. Someone wants to pay her to kill (and eat) the world''s worst criminals. It sounds too good to be true. Amber Fang: Hunted is the first book in this exciting vampire series.

Twin girls are born. First, their mother dies... Then their father... But the worst is yet to come... One twin is beautiful and becomes the biggest star in 1920s Hollywood. The second twin is ugly and not allowed to leave the estate of Mr. Cecil. He''s the most famous director in the world. His dark, twisted movies are always a smash hit. Thing is, he may have been involved in the deaths of their parents. He may also have made a deal with the supernatural. And his next movie might, literally, light the world on fire. A surprising and incredible page-turner--young adult horror at its finest. Buy Flickers and experience the gut-churning suspense for yourself!

Are you a murderer? She''ll eat you. Are you a hit woman with metal hands? She''ll fight you. Do you like action and adventure vampire stories with a witty twist? Then you''ll instantly love the complete collection of Amber Fang books. She''s a librarian and an assassin and a vampire. And she loves her work. Whether it''s tracking down murderers, battling mercenaries, or making friends with ninja librarians. She can do it all. Experience a mind-bending mix of full-throttle action with a pinch of comedy and a dash of romance, reminiscent of Kelley Armstrong, Christopher Moore and C.N. Crawford. Join Amber Fang’s adventure today – simply buy this book! "Enthralling, witty, briskly paced and highly original, AMBER FANG is bestselling author Arthur Slade at his finest!" -A. J. Banner, #1 bestselling author of The Good Neighbor

Prince Conn will never be king. And that''s just fine with him. Conn is ninth in line for the pirate throne and is quite happy to sail the skies in his airship with his crew of cheery misfits, plundering as they go. But one by one his siblings are being murdered, in tragic fires, violent cannon attacks or mysterious poisonings. Soon all fingers are pointing toward Conn as the mastermind. To prove his innocence, Conn must make his way to Skull Island, navigating his airship through a gauntlet of villains, explosions and betrayals. Can he reach his father''s kingdom before it''s too late? Or will he suffer the same fate as the rest of his family? This short novel is a high-interest, low-reading level book for middle-grade readers who are building reading skills, want a quick read or say they don’t like to read!

A ruthless queen. An ancient god. One brave girl and an impossible choice. For over a thousand years, Queen Servilia has ruled the world of Illium. Using magical red dust mined from the earth, she has enslaved her subjects, enforcing uniformity and sameness to maintain her absolute power. But in Village Twenty-One, wild magic is growing. Fen, a young girl whose hand has been cut off as punishment for theft, wakes one morning to discover that her hair has gone crimson: a sign that she has been invested with magic of her own, and is a threat to Servilia’s reign. For Fen, this is a death sentence. When her village is burned to the ground and her sister captured, Fen must make an impossible choice. Will she risk unleashing the most feared magical entity of all time—an ancient god who could overthrow Servilia, but whose power may be even more terrifying—in order to save the only family she has left?

The weapon to end all wars is about to fall into the wrong hands.

A shape-shifting secret agent. A merciless enemy with a metal hand. The Victorian Empire got more than it bargained for. Start the adventure today! Modo is a young hunchbacked spy, raised by a British Lord to be the ultimate secret agent. Not only is he strong and fast, but he has a special ability: he can change his shape and look like other people. Alas, he can only hold this shape for a few hours. When he teams up with the beautiful agent Octavia, he hides his ugliness from her. Modo worries he can''t keep his looks hidden forever. Even more worrisome is the fact children are disappearing off London''s streets. Then the War Secretary is murdered by his own son. It''s clear a secret organization has Britain in its sights. But their final attack is far more devious and destructive than anyone is prepared for. Will Modo and Octavia survive? Buy Modo: Mission Clockwork to find out.

Grandpa was going to murder us. Not with an axe. Not with a shovel. But with words… In Draugr, three kids arrive in Manitoba from the US to spend the summer with their grandpa, ready to listen to his Icelandic stories. But they are anything but prepared when signs of a draugr-a man who comes back from the dead-appear in real life. The Haunting of Drang Island follows Michael and his father to a desolate island, the perfect place for Dad to finish the last chapters of his book of Norse stories. Before long, though, there is evidence that the rumors they’ve heard about Drang Island-about spirits, strange sacrifices and a serpent lurking in the ocean-might be true! In Loki Wolf, Angie believes her dreams about being devoured by a giant wolf are only her imagination-until she hears strange scratches outside her window and learns that sheep have been disappearing from her uncle’s farm. But it isn’t until she and her cousins go to the old croft house that they discover the horrifying truth.

Michael and his father head to a desolate island, the perfect place for Dad to finish the last chapters of his book of Norse stories. Before long, though, there is evidence that the rumors they''ve heard about Drang Island—about spirits, strange sacrifices and a serpent lurking in the ocean—might be true!

In this scary story inspired by Norse mythology, Angie believes her dreams about being devoured by a giant wolf are only her imagination—until she hears strange scratches outside her window and learns that sheep have been disappearing from her uncle''s farm. But it isn''t until she and her cousins go to the old croft house that they discover the horrifying truth.

Collected in one volume for the first time, these thrilling, fast-paced contemporary novels inspired by Norse mythology will set pulses racing-and keep pages turning! In Draugr, three kids arrive in Manitoba from the U.S. to spend the summer with their grandpa, famous for his old Icelandic stories. But they are anything but prepared when signs of a draugr-a man who comes back from the dead-appear in real life. The Haunting of Drang Island follows Michael and his father to a desolate island, the perfect place for Dad to finish the last chapters of his book of Norse stories. Before long, though, there is evidence that the rumours they''ve heard about Drang Island-and about spirits, strange sacrifices and a serpent lurking in the ocean-might not be so far-fetched after all. In Loki Wolf, Angie believes her dreams about being devoured by a giant wolf are only her imagination-until she hears scratching outside her window and learns that sheep have been disappearing from her uncle''s farm in Iceland. But it isn''t until she and her cousins go to the old croft house that they discover the horrifying truth.

This special bundle contains the first thirty-five books in the Quest Biography series, which profiles the lives of Canadians who have had a profound effect on their country and the world. Some of these figures are truly famous, while others were quietly influential. Among the wide variety of people we meet are: prime ministers (Mackenzie King, Macdonald, Laurier, and more); artists (Emily Carr, Tom Thomson); explorers (David Thompson, Samuel de Champlain), politicians (René Lévesque, Joey Smallwood), writers (Robertson Davies, Gabrielle Roy), entertainers (Emma Albani, Mary Pickford), activists (Nellie McClung, Louis Riel, Harriet Tubman), and many, many more. Let this series be your primer on the greatest figures in Canadian history. Includes Emma Albani Emily Carr George Grant Jacques Plante John Diefenbaker John Franklin Phyllis Munday Wilfrid Laurier William Lyon Mackenzie King René Lévesque Samuel de Champlain John Grierson Lucille Teasdale Maurice Duplessis David Thompson Mazo de la Roche Susanna Moodie Gabrielle Roy Louis Riel James Wilson Morrice Vilhjalmur Stefansson Robertson Davies James Douglas William C. Van Horne George Simpson Tom Thomson Simon Girty Mary Pickford Harriet Tubman Laura Secord Joey Smallwood Prince Edward, Duke of Kent John A. Macdonald Marshall McLuhan

Presenting nine titles in the Quest Biography series that profiles prominent figures in Canada’s history. In these books we explore Canada’s rich political history through the fascinating lives of some of its most influential lives. Profiled are: prime ministers John Diefenbaker, John A. Macdonald, William Lyon Mackenzie King, and Wilfrid Laurier; suffragette Nellie McClung; and provincial leaders Joey Smallwood, Maurice Duplessis, René Lévesque, and James Douglas. Includes James Douglas Joey Smallwood John A. Macdonald John Diefenbaker Maurice Duplessis Nellie McClung Réne Lévesque Wilfrid Laurier William Lyon Mackenzie King

Presenting ten titles in the Quest Biography series that profiles prominent figures in Canada’s history. The important Canadian lives detailed here are: Emma Albani, a nineteenth century opera singer from Quebec who became a diva of the musical world; Emily Carr, the artist famous for capturing the essence in her paintings of the Native cultures of the coast of British Columbia; George Grant, a prescient political philosopher and author of Lament for a Nation; star NHL goalie Jacques Plante, the first netminder to don a protective mask; influential Prime Ministers John Diefenbaker and Sir Wilfrid Laurier; John Franklin, while not a Canadian, an explorer whose demise in the Arctic is an important part of Canada’s historical identity; Marshall McLuhan, the academic who predicted so much of the modern media world we live in today; mountaineer and explorer Phyllis Munday; and early feminist icon Nellie McClung. Includes Emma Albani Emily Carr George Grant Jacques Plante John Diefenbaker John Franklin Marshall McLuhan Phyllis Munday Wilfrid Laurier Nellie McClung

Presenting five titles in the Quest Biography series that profiles prominent figures in Canada’s history. The important Canadian lives detailed here are: Emma Albani, a nineteenth century opera singer from Quebec who became a diva of the musical world; Emily Carr, the artist famous for capturing the essence in her paintings of the Native cultures of the coast of British Columbia; George Grant, a prescient political philosopher and author of Lament for a Nation; star NHL goalie Jacques Plante, the first netminder to don a protective mask; and honest Prime Minister John Diefenbaker, who led Canada in the late fifties and early sixties. Includes Emma Albani Emily Carr George Grant Jacques Plante John Diefenbaker

After previous assignments in London, the depths of the Atlantic Ocean, and the Australian rain forest, this final adventure in the Hunchback Assignments series finds our hero, shape-shifting, masked spy Modo, on his most personal quest. Along with fellow spy Octavia Milkweed, they search for Modo''s biological parents. But when the Clockwork Guild find Modo''s parents first, Octavia and Modo chase them across Europe and North America to the Island of Doom. Joined by memorable characters from the first three books--some lovable, and some who are terrifying and evil--Modo and Octavia dash towards a thrilling conclusion.

Who dares look upon the God Face? While Modo has spent a quiet winter recovering from his adventure in the dark deeps, talk is swirling around London of ancient Egyptian ruins in the midst of the Australian rainforest. A temple bulges with riches but also contains danger: the infamous God Face. No one knows what the God Face is or what it is made of, but it is rumoured to be a powerful weapon; anyone who looks upon it will be driven mad. Modo’s next assignment? Go to Queensland in Australia and discover the truth behind the God Face. He won’t be alone: Octavia and even Mr. Socrates will be accompanying him, as well as Mrs. Finchley, Modo’s beloved caregiver from childhood. But hot on their trail is the Clockwork Guild, with a brand-new weapon: mechanical birds with sharpened metal claws and poisoned beaks. With an airship battle, an escape from natives and an astounding discovery—one that hinges on Modo’s true appearance—Mission Clockwork continues to enthral readers of all ages!

The Starker family appears to be cursed: every person of Starker blood has died from being struck by lightning. Fourteen-year-old Newton Starker is the last of his line—except for his great-grandmother, Enid, a woman as friendly as a pickled wolverine— and he’s determined to survive. Newton has spent all of his life following a list of rules for self-preservation, guidelines passed down through generations of Starkers. But Newton wants to try something new. He has enrolled at Jerry Potts Academy of Higher Learning and Survival in Moose Jaw with the hope that he’ll be able to beat the odds. But if he wants to go beyond just getting by, Newton is going to need more than rules. He’s going to need friends.

Villainology is a veritable who’s who of characters from the underworld. Be they fictitious or all-too-genuine baddies, they are bound together by their infamous deeds. Author Arthur Slade takes a lighthearted view, nonetheless, and provides personal stats, their likes and dislikes, their high-school memories and an amazing array of cool facts along with up close and personal “interviews.” Readers will not only come away amused, they will come away with an enlarged store of general knowledge. Among the fourteen notable villains included are: The Wicked Witch of the West, Attila the Hun, The Wolf, Billy the Kid, The Headless Horseman, Morgan le Fay, Quin Hui, The Invisible Man, Scarface Capone, and a lineup of Shakespeare’s most memorable villains. Never-before-seen portraits of each by artist Derek Mah, make for a deliciously delectable rogue’s gallery.

Arthur Hercules Slade, whose British cavalry regiment fought in Palestine against the Turks in World War I, was once asked, "What was it like to be in the war?" He answered, "I was everywhere that Jesus was, but I couldn''t find him anywhere." Fascinated by the idea of his grandfather charging enemy machine guns with asabre in one hand and his horse''s reins in the other, bestselling author Arthur Slade has created a tale of a teenager who finds the true face of war behind the shinyveneer of patriotism, honour and duty. Megiddo''s Shadow is the story ofEdward Bathe, a 16-year-old prairie farm boy who, giddy with the romantic ideals of war and desperate to fight the Huns in France, enlists in 1917. To his disappointment, he is assigned to a horse- training regiment, where the only consolation is Buke, his horse, and Emily, the pretty young nurse he befriends. But when he is sent to fight the Turks in Palestine, Edward learns that what he thought he knew about right and wrong, about heroism and courage, and about God and country, no longer holds true. Much more than a powerful and shockingly realistic work of historical fiction, Megiddo''s Shadow is a poignanttestament to the terrible legacy of war, seen through the eyes of a character with whom readers will instantly connect. An intelligent, provocative and breathtaking read, Megiddo''s Shadow affirms Arthur Slade as a literary superstar.

Monsterology: Fabulous Lives of the Creepy, the Revolting, and the Undead is the most fun anyone can have with some of the nastiest creatures ever imagined! Who can resist morsels like the fact that “Drakul” means “son of the dragon” in Romanian, that the first Golem may have been Enkidu, who appeared in the ancient Epic of Gilgamesh, and that Frankenstein’s Monster was first inspired by Mary Shelley’s nightmare? Governor General’s Award-winner Arthur Slade has gathered together fifteen scary critters, ranging from Dracula to Golem, from Frankenstein to Baba Yaga and even a zombie. He provides facts, real history, imagined history, and lots of jokes to make these creatures come to life. Slade’s hilarious text presents delicious imagined gossip, favorite blood types, favorite movies, and even favorite haunts (you should pardon the expression) with character descriptions and thoroughly researched background information. Lively black-and-white illustrations by Derek Mah make this a book that is sure to be a hit with every monster-loving reader.

"In this novel - by the award-winning author of ''Dust'' - Percy hides his feelings of love and pain with offbeat behavior. Marked by wry undertones but also poignant sensitivity" Cf. Our choice, 2003.