FICTION

MORE OR LESS MADDYFrom the bestselling author of Still Alice and Inside the O'Briens comes a breathless, riveting novel about a young woman diagnosed with bipolar disorder who rejects the stability and approval found in a traditionally 'normal' life for a career in stand-up comedy.

GOD OF PAIN The second book in the dark romance series from USA today, international, and Amazon #1 bestselling author.*TOP 2 BESTSELLER IN THE ENTIRE STORE!*From USA Today bestselling author Rina Kent comes a new STANDALONE grumpy sunshine college romance.Creighton King is silent, brooding, and hostile. Annika Volkov still has a crush on him. She is everything he is not- bright, lively, and the heart of every party. What Annika doesn't realize is that behind Creighton's quiet beauty lies a dark and violent soul.Creighton knows he can never outrun his past, so he unleashes his pain on others. He never expected to be drawn to the girl who is his complete opposite. But as Annika tries to break through his walls, he finds himself captivated by her especially after he uncovers her wilder side. Now that he's obsessed, she will never escape him.Can Annika bring light to Creighton's darkness, or will he pull her into the shadows with him?

Beloved author Cathy Jinks weaves a thrilling tale involving online stalking, right wing conspiracy theorists and a remote homestead in rural NSW.After posting a drunken rant that goes horrifically viral, Bronte needs a place to lie low. Jobless, friendless, broke, she volunteers as a carer on an isolated rural property. She won't be paid for looking after dementia sufferer Nell, but at least she'll have a place to stay. Bronte's host is Nell's daughter Veda, who runs spiritual rebirthing retreats. She also claims the rights of a sovereign citizen and rejects the authority of the state, refusing even to register her car. She has acquired a small but devoted following of the like-minded.Are they harmless cranks, with their conspiracy theories and outrage at government overreach? Or dangerously paranoid domestic terrorists? And what is the dark secret that Nell, in her confused state, keeps harking back to? Bronte, increasingly uneasy, would be getting far away from the whole place-if she had anywhere else to go.In Panic, master storyteller Catherine Jinks delivers a tense, claustrophobic thriller of isolation and fear that will have you on the edge of your seat.'The story maintains a palpable sense of unease throughout, interspersed with moments of wry humour...Offers an engaging read-with well-drawn characters-that will appeal to readers of Shelley Burr, Garry Disher and Jane Harper.' Books+PublishingPRAISE FOR CATHY JINKS-'The fear is palpable and crawls off the page, so the reader can feel it too...This is a book that needs to be read with the lights on, and one that you will be unwilling to put down.' ArtsHub on Traced'If you enjoy a psychological thriller-a kind of cat and mouse book-I would certainly recommend this...It's a really good read to curl up with on a wintry night.' RNZ Nine to Noon on Traced' Jinks crafts a taut, tense thriller of a narrative, expertly cranking up the suspense notch by notch.' Saturday Paper on Traced

A compelling sapphic historical novel from the highly acclaimed author of House of Longing.For Ellen Whitfield, the betrothal of her dear friend Harriet to Ellen's brother has brought both loss and solace. But when Harriet suddenly breaks off the engagement, ostensibly at the insistence of her deceased mother, Ellen is bewildered. And when she learns that Harriet is involved with a spiritualist group led by the charismatic Caroline McLeod, she fears losing her friend altogether.So it is that practical, sceptical Ellen moves into the gloomy East Melbourne mansion where Caroline, along with her enigmatic daughter Grace, has assembled a motley court of the bereaved. Ellen's intention is to expose the simple trickery-the hidden cabinets and rigged seances, the levers and wires-that must surely lie behind these visits from the departed.What she discovers is altogether more complicated.Tara Calaby weaves a compelling and richly detailed narrative around the romance of old Melbourne in this intriguing, possibly supernatural, historical mystery.

The New York Times bestselling author of The First Bad Man returns with an irreverently sexy, tender, hilarious and literary novel about a woman upending her life

VINTAGE QUARTERBOUND CLASSICS- Bound to be beautifulA beautiful hardback edition of the Booker Prize-winning novel. A romance, a literary quest, a modern classic.A pair of young scholars investigate the lives of two Victorian poets. Following a trail of letters, journals and poems they uncover a web of passion, deceit and tragedy, and their quest becomes a battle against time. Possession is an exhilarating novel of wit and romance, at once a literary detective novel and a triumphant love story.'Exhilarating genius' Guardian'Possession is eloquent about the intense pleasures of reading. And, with sumptuous artistry, it provides a feast of them' Sunday Times**WINNER OF THE BOOKER PRIZE**VINTAGE QUARTERBOUND CLASSICS- Bound to be beautiful

TALES FROM RUSSIAN FOLKLORE: NEW TRANSLATION Towards the middle of the nineteenth century, following the example of the Brothers Grimm in Germany, Alexander Afanasyev embarked on the ambitious task of sifting through the huge repository of tales from Russian folklore and selecting the very best from written and oral sources. The result, an eight-volume collection comprising around 600 stories, is one of the most influential and enduringly popular books in Russian literature. This large selection from Afanasyev's work, presented in a new translation by Stephen Pimenoff, will give English readers the opportunity to discover one of the founding texts of the European folkloristic tradition.Displaying a vast array of unforgettable characters, such as the Baba-Yaga, Ivan the Fool, Vasilisa the Fair and the Firebird, these tales - by turns adventurous, comical and downright madcap - will enchant readers for their raw beauty and constant ability to surprise and excite.

An entrancing new rural romance from the bestselling author of A Homestead in the Eucalypts.

This is a powerful and moving story about a gay teacher in Auschwitz, who saved hundreds of children from death by providing hope under the darkest conditions imaginable . . .

From the bestselling author of Elizabeth & Elizabeth and That Bligh Girl, comes another fascinating story of female friendship, betrayal and triumphs based on historical events.

THIEF OF THE HEIGHTSA Junior Library Guild Gold Standard SelectionEnter the world of Muqadas, where the climb to the top of this vertically stacked city—away from disease-ridden waters of the lower levels—is paved with betrayal, secrets, and rebellion in this debut graphic novel from author Son M. and artist Robin Yao.Lifelong friends Basem, Mustafa, and Aarfah have carved out a place for themselves in their corner of Muqadas, where they dream of climbing from their place in the city’s lowest level, above the limb-snatching, disease-infested waters, to the very top of their vertical city. Young inventors who’ve seen firsthand the havoc the Habar infection causes set out to dazzle the masses with their innovative prosthetics and escape the dangers of Lake Saha.When their inventions catch the eye of a scout who is on the hunt for new talent to bring to the higher tiers, their dreams are suddenly within reach. But as the wonders of the upper tiers enchant, Basem, Mustafa, and Aarfah begin to question why the bounty of Muqadas falls short of reaching Lake Saha's inhabitants.Behind the beauty of the city's upper tiers lie dark and dangerous secrets—ones that threaten not only everything they’ve worked for but everyone they love. And when Mustafa and Aarfah are cast away for their allegiance to Lake Saha, Basem is faced with the difficult choice: Fight to bring justice to all of Muqadas Or abandon his friends and fall in line to achieve everything he’s ever dreamed of.

SQUIREFrom two incredible rising talents comes the fantasy graphic novel Molly Knox Ostertag calls “instantly compelling.” A New England Book Award and Harvey Award winner!Aiza has always dreamt of becoming a Knight. It’s the highest military honor in the once-great Bayt-Sajji Empire, and as a member of the subjugated Ornu people, Knighthood is her only path to full citizenship. Ravaged by famine and mounting tensions, Bayt-Sajji finds itself on the brink of war once again, so Aiza can finally enlist in the competitive Squire training program. It’s not how she imagined it, though. Aiza must navigate new friendships, rivalries, and rigorous training under the unyielding General Hende, all while hiding her Ornu background. As the pressure mounts, Aiza realizes that the “greater good” that Bayt-Sajji’s military promises might not include her, and that the recruits might be in greater danger than she ever imagined.In this breathtaking and timely story, Aiza will have to choose, once and for all: loyalty to her heart and heritage, or loyalty to the Empire.

BRIGHTEST LIGHT OF SUNSHINEAn emotional friends-to-lovers romance between a tattoo artist who steps in to take care of his baby sister and his sister's ballet teacher, who is ready to start healing from her past. Perfect for readers who love friendships that slowly turn into more, relatable main characters, and happy endings.“As much about moving on from adversity—without pretending it can be forgotten—as it is a love story.” -Kirkus ReviewsDetermined to walk away from a traumatic past, 22-year-old Grace Allen feels ready to take the next step in her healing journey and dip a toe into the dating pool. Although she should probably start by making a friend or two, right?Samuel ‘Cal’ Callaghan isn’t who she had envisioned as her first male friend in…well, forever. With an intimidating build, tattoos everywhere, eight years her senior, and a little sister under his care, he’s the last person she expected to warm up to. As their friendship evolves, Grace can’t help but wonder if Cal is exactly who she’s been looking for all this time.Cal can’t afford to lose sight of his priorities—making sure his tattoo parlor thrives and taking care of his little sister. Especially the latter. He wants to make sure 4-year-old Maddie has a healthy and happy childhood, despite their mother going off the rails and her father’s blatant neglect. There’s certainly no room for love in his life right now. But when a sweet blonde with a veiled past breaks down his walls, he finds it difficult to stick to his guns.

SIPSWORTH'A love story about a woman and a mouse. I found myself pulling for this unlikely duo on every page. Loaded with charm, resilience, and the deep desire for connection that all mammals share. I loved it.' -Ann PatchettOver the course of a single week, a woman who is ready to die finds an unexpected reason to live.Following the deaths of her husband and son, Helen Cartwright returns from sixty years in Australia to the English village of her childhood. Her only wish is to die quickly and without fuss.Helen retreats into her home on Westminster Crescent, becoming a creature of routine and habit. Then, one cold autumn night, a chance encounter with an abandoned pet mouse on the street outside her house sets Helen on a surprising journey of friendship, and a way back into life itself.

SPIDER-MAN: OCTO-GIRL, VOL. 1A new Spider-Man manga from the creators of My Hero Academia: Vigilantes!Spider-Man rogue Doctor Octopus faces his biggest challenge yet—living life as a middle school girl in Japan!After a battle with Spider-Man, the evil genius scientist Doctor Octopus falls into a coma. When he wakes up, his consciousness is in the body of Otoha Okutamiya, a regular kid in Tokyo! Thus begins the strange new life of Spider-Man’s biggest rival…as a schoolgirl!