{"title":"Crystal King","description":"","products":[{"product_id":"the-happiness-collector-a-contemporary-fantasy-pitting-modern-humans-against-ancient-gods-hardcover","title":"The Happiness Collector: A Contemporary Fantasy Pitting Modern Humans Against Ancient Gods - Hardcover","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\"Urban fantasy, unexpected romance, and mythology all collide in King's latest. A must for V.E. Schwab and Katee Robert fans.\" -\u003cem\u003eBooklist\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn this stunning contemporary fantasy novel for fans of V. E. Schwab and Kaliane Bradley, a historian's dream job in Italy takes a dark turn when she discovers her employers aren't exactly human...\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAfter losing her book deal \u003cem\u003eand\u003c\/em\u003e her academic position, historian Aida Reale needs a new career, and fast. After all, she and her fiancé, Graham, have a wedding to pay for. So when a friend recommends her for an extremely high-paying position at a company called MODA, it feels like the perfect stroke of luck. And with a move to Italy and a breathtaking palazzo included, how could she say no? \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAside from a snooty assistant, a daunting NDA and some very stringent rules about the use of personal technology, working for MODA is a dream come true--at least at first. But the more research Aida conducts for this elusive company, the more things feel off. Not only does her relationship with Graham suffer, but it seems like every site she visits either vanishes or is struck by tragedy soon after she's been there.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIt's only after a mysterious woman approaches Aida and Luciano, her devastatingly handsome and equally concerned MODA colleague, that they learn the truth--they are just mortal pawns in a game between gods. Now Aida must find answers to the question she's been avoiding: What's really happening to all the happiness she's been collecting...and can she stop the gods' plans before it's too late?\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"BooksCloud","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50102536241375,"sku":"9780778387275","price":30.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0813\/8958\/4607\/files\/iucxkvAjHd9780778387275.webp?v=1781083442"},{"product_id":"in-the-garden-of-monsters-hardcover","title":"In the Garden of Monsters - Hardcover","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eA Goodreads Most Anticipated Historical Fiction Book of Fall 2024\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\"A sinister romance and hypnotic Gothic fairytale--surreal and luscious with a fascinating twist on the story of Hades and Persephone.\" --Jennifer Saint, bestselling author of \u003cem\u003eAriadne\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA woman with no past. A man who seems to know her. And a monstrous garden that could be the border between their worlds...\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003eItaly, 1948\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eJulia Lombardi is a mystery even to herself. The beautiful model can't remember where she's from, where she's been or how she came to live in Rome. When she receives an offer to accompany celebrated eccentric artist Salvador Dal? to the Sacro Bosco--Italy's Garden of Monsters--as his muse, she's strangely compelled to accept. It could be a chance to unlock the truth about her past...\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eShrouded in shadow, the garden full of giant statues that sometimes seem alive is far from welcoming. Still, from the moment of their arrival at the palazzo, Julia is inexplicably drawn to their darkly enigmatic host, Ignazio. He's alluring yet terrifying--and he seems to know her.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePosing for Dal? as the goddess Persephone, Julia finds the work to be perplexing, particularly as Dal? descends deeper into his fanaticism. To him, she \u003cem\u003eis\u003c\/em\u003e Persephone, and he insists she must eat pomegranate seeds to rejoin her king.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBetween Dal?'s fevered persistence, Ignazio's uncanny familiarity and the agonizing whispered warnings that echo through the garden, Julia is soon on the verge of unraveling. And she begins to wonder if she's truly the mythical queen of the Underworld...\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"BooksCloud","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50104083185887,"sku":"9780778310570","price":30.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0813\/8958\/4607\/files\/mZv1GQtsp39780778310570.webp?v=1781100001"}],"url":"https:\/\/blackandbarhe.com\/collections\/crystal-king.oembed","provider":"Black \u0026 Barhe Bookstore","version":"1.0","type":"link"}