Pick the Plot

Pick the Plot
Author: James Riley
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Total Pages: 384
Release: 2017-09-26
Genre: Juvenile Fiction
ISBN: 1481461281

Owen is trapped in a time travel plot-your-own-adventure book, controlled by the reader, and a bizarre fellow prisoner, Kara Dox, might be his only hope for escaping to save Bethany.

Story Thieves

Story Thieves
Author: James Riley
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Total Pages: 416
Release: 2015-01-20
Genre: Juvenile Fiction
ISBN: 1481409212

This “clever opener likely to leave readers breathless both with laughter and anticipation” (Kirkus Reviews, starred review) is the first in the New York Times bestselling series from the author of the Half Upon a Time trilogy. Life is boring when you live in the real world, instead of starring in your own book series. Owen knows that better than anyone, what with the real world’s homework and chores. But everything changes the day Owen sees the impossible happen—his classmate Bethany climb out of a book in the library. It turns out Bethany’s half-fictional and has been searching every book she can find for her missing father, a fictional character. Bethany can’t let anyone else learn her secret, so Owen makes her a deal: All she has to do is take him into a book in Owen’s favorite Kiel Gnomenfoot series, and he’ll never say a word. Besides, visiting the book might help Bethany find her father… …Or it might just destroy the Kiel Gnomenfoot series, reveal Bethany’s secret to the entire world, and force Owen to live out Kiel Gnomenfoot’s final (very final) adventure.

Worlds Apart

Worlds Apart
Author: James Riley
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Total Pages: 512
Release: 2019-03-05
Genre: Juvenile Fiction
ISBN: 148148575X

Owen and Bethany try to find their way back to each other after the fictional and nonfictional worlds are torn apart in the finale of this "New York Times"-bestselling series.

The Stolen Chapters

The Stolen Chapters
Author: James Riley
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Total Pages: 248
Release: 2016-01-19
Genre: Juvenile Fiction
ISBN: 1481409247

Owen, Kiel, and Bethany confront secrets, stolen memories, and some very familiar faces in the second book in the New York Times bestselling series, Story Thieves—which was called a “fast-paced, action-packed tale” by School Library Journal—from the author of the Half Upon a Time trilogy. Owen Conners’s whole life changed the day he found out his classmate Bethany was half-fictional, and could take him into any book in the library. Which story would they jump into next? Another fantasy, like the Kiel Gnomenfoot, Magic Thief books? Maybe something with superheroes? Owen’s up for anything except mysteries—those just have too many hidden clues, twists that make no sense, and an ending you never see coming. Then Owen wakes up in a real-life mystery with a memory that’s been erased and too many questions. How did Kiel Gnomenfoot lose all of his magic? Where is Bethany? And who’s the annoying guy wearing the question mark mask and Sherlock Holmes hat, taunting Owen and Kiel that Bethany is in grave danger? Bethany is trapped in a hidden room that’s slowly filling with water, and she can’t escape until her friends find her. But is she imprisoned by more than just chains and a locked door? What’s she hiding from Owen and Kiel? Maybe some mysteries just shouldn’t be solved… Please note: The black bars in the first nine chapters are intended.

The Revenge of Magic

The Revenge of Magic
Author: James Riley
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Total Pages: 432
Release: 2019-03-05
Genre: Juvenile Fiction
ISBN: 1481485792

“Perfect for fans of Rick Riordan.” —Booklist When long-dead magical creatures are discovered all around the world, each buried with a book of magic, only children can unlock the dangerous power of the books in this start to an “imaginative and exciting” (Brandon Mull, #1 New York Times bestselling author) series from the author of the New York Times bestselling Story Thieves! Thirteen years ago, books of magic were discovered in various sites around the world alongside the bones of dragons. Only those born after “Discovery Day” have the power to use the magic. Now, on a vacation to Washington, DC, Fort Fitzgerald’s father is lost when a giant creature bursts through the earth, attacking the city. Fort is devastated, until an opportunity for justice arrives six months later, when a man named Dr. Opps invites Fort to a government-run school, the Oppenheimer School, to learn magic from those same books. But life’s no easier at the school, where secrets abound. What does Jia, Fort’s tutor, know about the attacks? Why does Rachel, master of destructive magic, think Fort is out to destroy the school? And why is Fort seeing memories of an expelled girl every time he goes to sleep? If Fort doesn’t find out what’s hiding within the Oppenheimer School, more attacks will come, and this time, nothing will stop them!

Once Upon Another Time

Once Upon Another Time
Author: James Riley
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Total Pages: 352
Release: 2022-04-05
Genre: Juvenile Fiction
ISBN: 1534425896

Storybook characters collide in this first book in a new trilogy of twisted fairy tales from New York Times bestselling author James Riley, set in the world of his popular Half Upon a Time series—perfect for fans of Fablehaven and Chris Colfer’s A Tale of Magic series! Five and a half feet might seem pretty tall for a twelve-year-old, but it’s not when your parents are giants. Lena has kept the fact that she’s a tiny giant secret, using magic to grow when out in the giant village. But hiding who she is has always felt wrong, even though she knows the other giants might not accept her. Fortunately, Lena has friends down in the Cursed City who understand that looking different doesn’t make her less of a giant. Someone who knows not to judge by appearances is Jin, a young genie currently serving one thousand and thirty-eight years of genie training that requires him to fulfill the wish of whoever holds his magical ring. In Jin’s case, it’s the power-hungry Golden King. At least the king only has two wishes left, one of which is for Jin to go to the Cursed City and capture its protector, the Last Knight—one of Lena’s closest friends. What Lena and Jin don’t know is how close the Golden King’s plans are to coming together, between his dark magic and his horrible Faceless knights. If Jin does find the Last Knight and bring him to the Golden King, why, that could doom the entire fairy-tale world. …This sounds like it’ll end badly, doesn’t it?

Half Upon a Time

Half Upon a Time
Author: James Riley
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Total Pages: 432
Release: 2010-09-07
Genre: Juvenile Fiction
ISBN: 1416995951

In this hilarious fractured fairy tale series from New York Times bestselling author James Riley, Jack, and “punk princess” May must navigate twists and turns unlike anything you’ve seen before! Jack lives in a fantasy world. Really. He's the son of the infamous Jack who stole the magic beans from the giant, and he's working hard to restore his family's reputation. He finds the perfect opportunity when a “princess” lands in front of him, apparently from the land of Punk, as her Punk Princess sweatshirt implies. May is from our world, and she’s utterly confused to find herself in the midst of the fairy tale characters she has read about. But Jack and May have more in common than they realize—and together, they embark on a hilarious and wild adventre in this highly accessible, modern middle grade fantasy novel.

Lingua Magika Complete Box Set

Lingua Magika Complete Box Set
Author: Kat Ross
Publisher: Kat Ross
Total Pages: 938
Release: 2022-02-25
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 1957358025

Poltergeist meets Wild, Wild West in this genre-bending adventure trilogy readers are calling “fast-paced,” “high-stakes” and full of “page-turning twists and turns.” THE JOB It was supposed to be simple. Help Marshal Sebastian Hardin escort his prisoner one stop on the railway to Charter Oak. Just one stop. But when that prisoner is a savant who talks to ghosts, even the simplest plans have a way of falling apart. THE LAW Sheriff’s Deputy Ruth Cortez always does the right thing. Lucky Boy is a company town, dependent on the rich and powerful Carnarvon family. Besides which, the charismatic Sebastian Hardin isn’t an easy man to say no to. When his transport derails in the middle of the prairie, Ruth begins a relentless manhunt that leads straight into the dark heart of the Carnarvon empire. THE FUGITIVE Lee Merriweather favors sharp suits and fast trains – especially when he’s stealing them. At the ripe old age of 18, he’s managed to become the most wanted criminal in three territories. Lee can’t resist playing cat and mouse with a small-town deputy, but what starts as a game becomes deadly serious. THE FIXER Sebastian Hardin is the Carnarvons’ right hand, loyal to the death and willing to keep any secret to protect the family. They want Lee alive, but with the young savant’s disturbing abilities it won’t be an easy proposition. Whoever catches Lee gets the keys to the kingdom and the Carnarvons aren’t the only ones hunting him down. Sebastian has enough problems without falling for Deputy Cortez – but you can’t always choose who you love. THE PHANTOMS They terrorized the settlers until Calindra Carnarvon learned to speak their language. Her empire relies on controlling their telekinetic powers, but Lee Merriweather could destroy it all. And not even Lee suspects the shocking truth of the phantoms’ real nature. Praise for the Lingua Magika Trilogy “The world-building is vivid and immersive . . . a fascinating mishmash of technology, steampunk and fantastical creatures. I loved it!” -Jazzy Book Reviews "I love Ruth and Doc and the steampunk world is so very cool and interesting - and really immersable. I feel like I'm there on the train going through the badlands. Can't wait for the next one!" -Reader “Completely original and engaging, the perfect read for fans of Westerns, mixed with action, danger, supernatural and a tough cookie of a main character.” -Smada’s Book Smack “I’ve been craving a story that was just different while also providing a crazy, exciting twist, and I didn’t realize that this was what I was looking for until I devoured it all.” -Treestand Book Reviews “Fun and adventurous and high-stakes. I couldn’t get enough!” -A Booktropolis Reviews “A complex, engrossing, fast-paced and extremely entertaining read.” -Gwendalyn Books