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Reporter Sam Kean reveals the periodic table as it’s never been seen before. Not only is it one of man's crowning scientific achievements, it's also a treasure trove of stories of passion, adventure, betrayal, and obsession. The infectious tales and astounding details in The Disappearing Spoon follow carbon, neon, silicon, and gold as they play out their parts in human history, finance, mythology, war, the arts, poison, and the lives of the (frequently) mad scientists who discovered them.

A topsy-turvy science-y history podcast by Sam Kean. I examine overlooked stories from our past: the dental superiority of hunter-gatherers, the crooked Nazis who saved thousands of American lives, the American immigrants who developed the most successful cancer screening tool in history, the sex lives of dinosaurs, and much, much more. These are charming little tales that never made the history books, but these small moments can be surprisingly powerful. These are the cases where history gets inverted, where the footnote becomes the real story.

Johannesburg, 1980s Apartheid South Africa. Augustine flees her vengeful ex-boyfriend with nothing but her child and the clothes on her back, terrified he will find her. Because she also possesses a dangerous secret. One he will kill for. One he will never stop hunting her for. But Augustine is rescued by a wealthy white housewife who takes pity on her, offering both employment and refuge. Or so she thinks. It might seem that she is safe inside the walls of the prosperous Diamond family home, but outside her every move is watched. Her sanctuary has become her prison.

Frank just wants to hunt monsters in peace. He’s good at it and prefers to kill evil creatures alone. But when the power suddenly goes out, blazing rocks fall from the sky, and a stranded girl is thrust into his life, everything changes. Now Frank finds himself tasked with defending a girl whose feistiness may prove more than a match for his hard edges. Even worse, his new companion is being hunted by a new threat — a monster Frank has never encountered… and may be unable to kill.

Unlikely friends Sam and Graham begin their journey in the heart of Scotland at Glencoe and travel from there all the way to Inverness and Culloden battlefield, where along the way they experience adventure and a cast of highland characters. In this story of friendship, finding themselves and whisky, they discover the complexity, rich history and culture of their native country.

One girl, two lives. Dutiful daughter of the Duke of Elverston, on the one hand, a willful girl who learns to fight on the other. Her father has let her run wild as long as she never embarrasses him. And if she does? Consequences are likely to be swift and brutal. The wargen are fierce men who wear two faces: one wolf, one human. They're the monsters mothers warn their children about in Grania, and now four wargen princes have been sent there to strike a deal with the duke. But when they catch sight of the wild Darcy, everything changes.

With the queen dead, we thought our troubles were over—turns out, they've only just begun. Dragon eggs have been stolen. War looms on the horizon. And my prince—my lover—has asked me to be fitted for new dresses. As the kingdom teeters on the edge of chaos, my prince struggles to hold it together. He's forcing Flynn into the role of Duke of Skane, pushing Brom away despite their love, and as for me? I was never meant to be queen-in-waiting, yet now it seems I may have no choice.

Whether it’s the mighty pyramids of Egypt or the majestic temples of Mexico, we have a good idea of what the past looked like. But what about our other senses: The tang of Roman fish sauce and the springy crust of Egyptian sourdough? The boom of medieval cannons and the clash of Viking swords? The frenzied plays of an Aztec ballgame...and the chilling reality that the losers might also lose their lives?

My ex-husband broke my heart by asking for an open marriage. Then I found out he had already been sleeping with someone else. So I dumped his butt and moved out. In the process, I found myself in the arms of four smoking-hot strangers. They pull out all the stops, lavishing me with all of the attention I’d been missing out on. But these guys have a secret. Am I going to be able to cope with the truth when it comes out, or is it going to be too much to bear?

I never intended to bond with a dragon. I definitely didn't intend to become his wife. Now I must wed the Crown Prince, a man who is as cruel as he is handsome. Yet, as soon as my dragon and I are presented to the king and queen, we are rejected. My dragon is not big enough, not good enough, and neither am I.

As leader of a special military unit charged with stopping potential pandemics before they spread, Haggerty has a front-row seat for the sharp increase in natural disasters that precede the Rapture—including plagues, earthquakes, famines, wars, and rumors of war. And each crisis is becoming more intense.

Breakers is Shepherd Grey’s account of what life looks like after organized civilization crumbles as he and his faithful canine companion, Rommel, venture out from their home in Virginia to try and count themselves among the survivors. It has been several years since the outbreak began. The virus is just a sick and twisted part of life now. You test as much as you can, but there is no “preventing” it, only staying alive until you catch it. “Red you’re dead” is a phrase all too commonly heard throughout the world. You have your outlaw rowdy gunslingers, your criers, your survivors, ...

Can a legendary warrior become a mage? Can a master of the sword take up the staff? With a little help, one swordsman intends to do just that. Master swordsman Leo Faulkner travels to Crestmarch, a frontier town, where he hopes to learn wild magic. Fortunately for him, the beautiful Mage Seer Elizabeth Kincaid agrees to be his tutor. Leo soon discovers that the edge of the world is more dangerous than it first appeared. As his studies begin, monsters emerge and encroach upon Crestmarch, forcing Leo to defend his new home.

Growing up, I had nothing but my good grades and them: the Vanguard brothers. They are the golden boys of our school, destined to be the alphas of our pack. They’re possessive, scaring away everyone else who might get close to me—until the night of their first shift. I’d been told over and over I could never be their mate, but the boy’s wolves had other ideas…. So, I’m whisked away, told to forget them—and I do, right up until they walk in through my door, telling me all the things I’d secretly dreamed of.

Riley DeShawn is a homeschooled kid with normal problems. Her twin brother is kind of annoying and her best friend can be a little moody. But when she sees a monster lurking in her friend’s closet her life is turned upside down. Soon, the three kids are faced with an impossible danger: track down the closet monster and save the kids it’s taking or become the next victims.

I don't want an alpha. I don't want the legendary Murphy pack as stepbrothers. I don't want to share a house with the four boys every girl in school wants. And I definitely don't want their breath on my skin, their scent in my nose, their marks on my neck. Their father told them to look after me. But he doesn't realize just how they've decided to twist that directive. I'm a pet omega for them to play with. And they're about to give me everything they decide I need.

Majestic in its sweep, rich in ideas and argument, and packed with news and revelations, Buckley vividly captures its subject in all his facets and phases—founding editor of National Review, the 20th century’s most influential political journal; syndicated columnist and TV debater; ally of Joseph McCarthy and Barry Goldwater; mentor to Ronald Reagan; wisecracking candidate for mayor of New York; and bestselling novelist and memoirist.

What do you do when your mother is determined to get you married? Create not one… not two… but three pretend boyfriends. It was supposed to be a lie so ridiculous she'd never bother me again. I never expected Mother Dearest to call my bluff and insist on meeting them. Luckily, my bestie is ready to help and volunteers her three gorgeous brothers for the role of fake boyfriend.

Welcome to the AbyssFormaria—a labyrinthine network of underground tunnels—is home to the Fromryr. An alliance of humans, dwarves, elves, and gnomes, they fight an endless war with ancient technologies. Technologies they don’t truly understand but deploy with devastating effect. Above the surface, exorcist Kalbrayeth Lyander investigates a possible demonic incursion. When he discovers a body imbued with unknown sorceries he finds himself in possession of a secret he never wanted. A secret that threatens to break centuries long alliances and drag Formaria into a war it cannot afford.

What's hotter than a handsome firefighter? Three of them. When our passion ignites like wildfire, we decide to give in to our delicious urges and share one crazy, unforgettable night. I even get a little souvenir to remember them by: a positive pregnancy test. Oops.