Showing results by narrator "Matthew Bridges" in All Categories

Refugees have arrived from a neighboring village carrying stories of devastation. What first appears to be demonic remnants soon reveals itself as something far worse: the Amethyst Plague, a mysterious affliction that erodes qi and turns cultivation into a curse. As violet rain descends across the province, poisoning both earth and spirit, Gentle Wind Village becomes a refuge for the desperate—and a target for the opportunistic. Without a cure, the rain will not simply weaken the village; it will erase it.

For Prince Hail Teoran, there's never been a greater hero than his own father, a true living legend who came through the gates with his fellow Travelers years ago to rescue the continent of Lagrea from the forces of darkness. Unfortunately, when the young prince actually meets his dad for the first time, he turns out to be, well, a total jerkweed. Naturally, Hail is crushed. That is, until he's visited by a seemingly all-powerful administrator who explains that Hail, his mother, and everyone in their world are part of a game the Travelers are constantly playing.

It is known as the Day of Awakening. Across the continent, the Heavenly Interface appears, presenting each being with a system to track their skills and quests in the name of achieving their goals. Bandits rise to power, forgotten masters come out of seclusion, and spirit beasts arise from their slumber, drawn to the promise of a new era. Little do any of them know, it is Kai, a young herbalist from a small village, who was the cause of the Heavenly Interface's introduction.

It's been years since the Earthling Lansius awoke in a medieval fantasy world. Since then, he's learned the lay of the land, and after joining the army as a foot soldier, he witnessed the war against the thousand-year Imperium roll to its violent end. Now, Lord Lansius finds himself elevated to a reluctant warlord. With the emperor dead and famine threatening, he'll do all he can to keep bloodshed from breaking out at every turn.

December 6, 1941: Best friends Frank and Stanley have it good. Their dads are Navy pilots stationed at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, and the boys get a front-row view of the huge battleships and the sparkling water. Yes, World War II is raging in Europe and in Asia, but the US isn't involved in the war, and the boys are free to dream about becoming comic book creators. They've even invented a superhero of their own, in the style of Batman, Superman, Captain America, and other stars of the Golden Age of Comics. December 7th, 1941: Everything explodes.

Naofumi is off to the Cal Mira islands, where he plans to continue leveling up. Soon after arriving he meets a mysterious young man named l'Arc Berg. But how will this curious new character impact Naofumi's adventures? Surrounded by mystery and intrigue, Glass makes her second appearance. Aneko Yusagi's epic fantasy continues in volume 5!

The thousand-year-old Imperium era is drawing to a close, and the threat of war and violence hangs over the land. With no magic or wealth, Lansius has to face this new reality on his own. Well, mostly. The squire Stefi is at his side as he leaves his new home to march with young Lord Arte against the invaders. When Lansius is separated from Stefi and their liege, he faces his greatest challenge yet: taking command of a ragtag group of misfits as they battle to save their people. And as he reluctantly climbs the ranks of power, others flock to his banner seeking glory or safety.

Rory still can’t say his r’s, but that’s just the beginning of his troubles. First Rory’s ex-best-friend Brent started hanging out with the mean lacrosse kids. But then, a terrible accident takes Brent out of school, and Rory struggles with how to feel. Rory and his new speech teacher put their heads together on Rory’s r’s (as well as a serious love of hard rock and boxing legend Muhammad Ali), but nobody seems to be able to solve the problem of Rory’s complicated feelings about Brent. Brent’s accident left him with a brain injury and he’s struggling.

After their battle with Glass, Naofumi and the other heroes have a meeting with the queen and Naofumi is shocked to learn about the seven star heroes. Still reeling from this revelation, more drama unfolds on the islands before Naofumi and his party can return to Melromarc. He meets Rishia, who is betrayed by Itsuki and his party members. Naofumi sympathizes with her and invites her to join his party. Eventually, Naofumi discovers that she has a talent for magic, but before they can develop her powers, they are needed elsewhere.

Yomogi, a female samurai, attacks Naofumi and his team. The Shield Hero, Naofumi, finds himself separated from his companions–and reduced to level one! With the help of Kizuna, one of the holy heroes from the new world, he is able to reunite with his friends.

Naofumi and his friends defeat the Spirit Tortoise after it rampages across the country. They leave in search of the other missing heroes and meet Ost along the way, who says she is one of the Spirit Tortoise's servants. She tells Naofumi that the Spirit Tortoise is still alive and that someone is pulling the strings to use the tortoise to destroy the world! Can Naofumi protect those he loves from this new danger?

NATIONAL BESTSELLER NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW EDITORS' CHOICE ROXANE GAY'S AUDACIOUS BOOK CLUB PICK FINALIST FOR THE URSULA K. LE GUIN PRIZE ""Moving and thought-provoking . . . offering psychological insights in lyrical prose while seriously exploring speculative conceits."" —...

In the game world of The Gates of TirNiki, Earl Hail Jeoran has just been killed. Luckily, his very nature as a native player character and avatar of a god makes this a minor detail. All he has to do is reboot himself and he's back in action. But that doesn't mean he's immortal—and someone is about to put that fact to the test. Although Hail would be perfectly happy remaining an earl/adventurer, he's been drawn into a lethal contest for the throne of Yuikon. Meanwhile, an enigmatic enemy is systematically assassinating other members of the royal line.

Elliott has been struggling since his closest friend moved away, and he’s not too sure where he fits into his own family, especially since his newly remarried dad and stepmom are expecting a baby. His grades aren’t too great, he’s always forgetting things and he doesn’t really like sports. All together, the result is someone the complete opposite of his dad - a fact they’re both very aware of. Elliott’s only solace is cooking, where he can control the outcome, testing exciting recipes and watching his favourite cooking shows.

At a critical moment, Naofumi and the others are saved by a young girl. Ost's sacrifice is enough to save them from their battle to the death with Kyo, but Kyo's able to escape to another world. Naofumi attempts to follow him, but he awakens to find himself in prison! His friends are scattered and he finds himself back at level one. How will Naofumi survive the new challenges that await him?

In the realm of gaming sensation The Gates of TirNiki, Earl Hail Jeoran just might be the best of both worlds. His father was a Traveler, or player, and his mother was an NPC. As a result, he's a native player character, with abilities and potential beyond imagining . . . which is how he landed in his own personal holosuite jail. Apparently, when in-game threats lead to real-life violence, people can get sort of touchy.

When MMO gamer Lansius woke up in a fantasy world, his greatest concerns were learning the language and keeping a thatch roof over his head. Then he joined the army as a lowly soldier right as the thousand-year third Imperium rule was crumbling. Little did he know he would end up leading his own troops into battle.

Kai Liu has always known alchemy is his key to forging a path in the world of cultivators. Now, with the Grand Alchemy Gauntlet looming, his first true trial begins. Sponsored by the prestigious Verdant Lotus Sect, he steps into a realm where alchemy is more than just mixing herbs: it's a battlefield of wits, strategy, and mastery of the elements. As he trains, Kai quickly learns that the road to power is littered with challenges.

On his nineteenth birthday, Leland Silver was offered a portion of a Lord's power. The only issue… it was from a Lord no one had ever heard of—the Lord of Curses. Teamed with his two best friends—a Legacy of the Berserker and a Legacy of the Chameleon—Leland must learn quickly if he wishes to get anywhere in this newly opened world. Together, the trio will lead a relatively normal young adult life: protecting caravans, killing mana-lions, learning to play the harmonica, and forging contracts with gods.

During the course of the day, Koo straightens his room, feeds his cat and the hungry fish outside, and he bakes a cake to welcome new neighbors. He even helps a family of ducklings to safely cross a street. But still, Koo wonders, how will HE ever save the world? At the end of the day, Uncle Stillwater has the answer: