Famous paintings are celebrated for their beauty and depth, but they’re also a treasure trove of ridiculous faces. From bewildered angels to screaming cats, stunning paintings are chock-full of weird expressions. In Stupid Faces in Stunning Paintings, Matthijs Van Mierlo takes you on a journey to the strangest corners of the art world, uncovering the stories behind 50 wacky faces―stories about religion, love, vanity, and just one very confused unicorn. Why does Vermeer’s The Girl with the Wine Glass look so bug-eyed? Who let Frida Kahlo paint a disturbingly dazed toddler? And why does baby Jesus look like he’s about to file your taxes? This is the art history book to answer those questions and more, perfect for anyone who loves a great painting and a good laugh.

Swish Slosh follows the onomatopoeic escapades of a young child and their dog as they delight in the tactile joy of getting messy. This toddler-friendly book is composed entirely of sounds and adults and children alike will delight in a sweet story that calls to be read aloud with joyful emphasis and humorous inflection. Woosh swoosh slosh splosh ― readers will romp through a day at the beach, enjoy a sweet treat and noisily make their way through bedtime routine in this vibrant board book conceptualized and written by award-winning author Deborah Kerbel and illustrated by artist Jacqui Lee.

On a train, there are only so many places to hide… Crime fiction author Joe Penvale has won the most brutal battle of his life. Now that he has finished his intense medical treatment, he and his twin sister, Meredith, are boarding the glorious Orient Express in Paris, hoping for some much-needed rest and rejuvenation. Meredith also hopes that the literary ghosts on the train will nudge Joe's muse awake, and he'll be inspired to write again. And he is; after their first evening spent getting to know some of their fellow travelers, Joe pulls out his laptop and opens a new document. Seems like this trip is just what the doctor ordered… And then some. The next morning, Joe and Meredith are shocked to witness that the cabin next door has become a crime scene, bathed in blood but with no body in sight. The pair soon find themselves caught up in an Agatha Christie-esque murder investigation. Without any help from the authorities, and with the victim still not found, Joe and Meredith are asked to join a group of fellow passengers with law enforcement backgrounds to look into the mysterious disappearance of the man in Cabin16G. But when the steward guarding the crime scene is murdered, it marks the beginning of a killing spree which leaves five found dead—and one still missing. Now Joe and Meredith must fight once again to preserve their newfound future and to catch a cunning killer before they reach the end of the line. USA Today bestselling author Sulari Gentill brings readers on a heart-pounding ride filled with intrigue, suspense, and literary charm in Five Found Dead, perfect for fans of twisty mysteries and books about books. 

An Ana and Din Mystery Brilliant detective Ana Dolabra must prove a man's innocence to stop a civil war in the third book of the series that began with The Tainted Cup, named an Edgar, Hugo, and World Fantasy Award Finalist and one of the best books of the year (New York Times Book Review, NPR, Elle)—from the bestselling author of The Founders Trilogy. In the canton of Sapirdad, two of the Empire’s most powerful families are moments away from going to war with each other, their hundreds of retainers gathered with swords drawn. If blood is spilt, the whole of the empire may be plunged into starvation and chaos. To de-escalate matters, someone must do the impossible: prove that one family’s eldest son is innocent of a gruesome and unforgivable murder, despite the incontrovertible evidence against him. It is with this undertaking that the great detective Ana Dolabra is tasked, her assistant Din at her side—and the two find themselves racing with great speed and little dignity to the scene. As ever, the impossible proves little obstacle for the deadly combination of Ana’s intellect and Din’s keen eye, and mere hours after riding into the dusty town, Ana glimpses the greater pattern behind the crime. A deeper, subtler web of death is being woven in plain sight, by a mastermind with an ancient magical technology at his disposal. But even Ana's uncanny insight is of little use when each new suspect she uncovers ends up dead--with each new killing calculated to bring tensions between the two rival clans past the boiling point. And as Din pursues their adversary through the canton's wild ranges, sprawling ranches, and reeking slaughterhouses, he finds his loyalties divided in unexpected ways.

An Ana and Din Mystery Brilliant detective Ana Dolabra must prove a man's innocence to stop a civil war in the third book of the series that began with The Tainted Cup, named an Edgar, Hugo, and World Fantasy Award Finalist and one of the best books of the year (New York Times Book Review, NPR, Elle)—from the bestselling author of The Founders Trilogy. In the canton of Sapirdad, two of the Empire’s most powerful families are moments away from going to war with each other, their hundreds of retainers gathered with swords drawn. If blood is spilt, the whole of the empire may be plunged into starvation and chaos. To de-escalate matters, someone must do the impossible: prove that one family’s eldest son is innocent of a gruesome and unforgivable murder, despite the incontrovertible evidence against him. It is with this undertaking that the great detective Ana Dolabra is tasked, her assistant Din at her side—and the two find themselves racing with great speed and little dignity to the scene. As ever, the impossible proves little obstacle for the deadly combination of Ana’s intellect and Din’s keen eye, and mere hours after riding into the dusty town, Ana glimpses the greater pattern behind the crime. A deeper, subtler web of death is being woven in plain sight, by a mastermind with an ancient magical technology at his disposal. But even Ana's uncanny insight is of little use when each new suspect she uncovers ends up dead--with each new killing calculated to bring tensions between the two rival clans past the boiling point. And as Din pursues their adversary through the canton's wild ranges, sprawling ranches, and reeking slaughterhouses, he finds his loyalties divided in unexpected ways.

Sometimes Book Mail is not the best mail...Lexi just wanted a signed book from her favorite author…She never expected what he wanted from her in return.Lexi wants to be the next book influencer. Jacob is a writer who loves to kidnap fans and make them main characters in his upcoming books. They meet as she wants a signed copy of his latest book.Now Lexi has found herself to be his next victim. While trapped, she uncovers his secret to what makes him a successful writer and it is not his insane habits or his writing skills. Will she be able to turn it on him? Can she use it to be the next big thing?Lexi tries to survive long enough so that she can turn his story around. Will she be able to change the plot in time, or will her story end with his next bestseller?

Fairytale Rule No. 1: All the best fairytales start with ‘Once upon a time . . .’ First-year student Brielle, a daydreamy book lover, knows everything there is to know about fairytales. Returning to the city of Rosebridge four years after moving away, she attends Once Upon a Time University, with the intention of living her fairytale dream. And when she meets Bear, shy vice-captain of the Princes rugby team, at the bookshop where she works, Brielle’s dream is off to a good start. Determined to forget the past, and with an unexpected new relationship blossoming, Brielle feels she’s finally living the dream. That is, until she discovers that she’s not the only one hiding something . . .

Sometimes Book Mail is not the best mail...Lexi just wanted a signed book from her favorite author…She never expected what he wanted from her in return.Lexi wants to be the next book influencer. Jacob is a writer who loves to kidnap fans and make them main characters in his upcoming books. They meet as she wants a signed copy of his latest book.Now Lexi has found herself to be his next victim. While trapped, she uncovers his secret to what makes him a successful writer and it is not his insane habits or his writing skills. Will she be able to turn it on him? Can she use it to be the next big thing?Lexi tries to survive long enough so that she can turn his story around. Will she be able to change the plot in time, or will her story end with his next bestseller?

With all hope of an appeal fading away, the fate of a condemned murderess takes a shocking turn in a breathtaking short story by the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Housemaid. Talia Kemper is on death row for murdering her husband. She had an alibi and no known motive, yet Talia’s unwavering protestations of innocence have always been ignored. Then one day in the visiting area, she sees a recognizable stranger she’s certain is her husband. It turns out the man she’s been convicted of killing may not be dead after all. But as the days tick away toward Talia’s execution, what will it take for her to be believed? Freida McFadden’s Death Row is part of Alibis, a collection of stories about lies, truth, and deception. It’s just a matter of what you can get away with. They can be read or listened to in one sitting.

The split attraction model? Alterous Love? Queerplatonic relationships?From the creator of Perfectly An Illustrated Introduction, this bold and brilliantly illustrated guide is written for anyone looking to explore the beautiful ace and aro communities; the acefluxes, the arospikes, the demis, the greys, the frays and more. Separate the myths and stereotypes, and discover some of the wonderful intricacies that shape each spectrum, forms of love and attraction, common identities, microlabels, flags, and the entertaining community-led culture. Packed with quizzes, activity sheets and a directory of further resources, this is a celebration of all things ace and aro!

The split attraction model? Alterous Love? Queerplatonic relationships?From the creator of Perfectly An Illustrated Introduction, this bold and brilliantly illustrated guide is written for anyone looking to explore the beautiful ace and aro communities; the acefluxes, the arospikes, the demis, the greys, the frays and more. Separate the myths and stereotypes, and discover some of the wonderful intricacies that shape each spectrum, forms of love and attraction, common identities, microlabels, flags, and the entertaining community-led culture. Packed with quizzes, activity sheets and a directory of further resources, this is a celebration of all things ace and aro!

Create stunning portraits while developing your own remarkable artistic style with this practical, inspiring, and easy-to-follow guide. Draw Amazing Faces is your go-to reference for crafting stunning portraits from scratch. Join Pypah Santos, the celebrated artist and YouTube sensation, as she shares the following: -Step-by-step guidance for constructing heads from diverse angles, mastering proportions, sketching facial features, and eliciting a spectrum of expressions -Techniques for both male and female faces of different ages -Signature techniques for rendering hair, including different types, textures, and styles -Shading and rendering techniques that infuse vitality into your portraits -Inspiration for developing your distinct style in portraying fantastic faces -QR codes linked to videos that further demonstrate important techniques This is your passport to the captivating world of portraiture. With Santos’s expertise, you will master the intricacies of portraying faces using her straightforward techniques. Whether you’re a fine artist, illustrator, or comic book artist, you will elevate your artistry, infuse life into your sketches, and uncover your distinct style—all while honing your ability to create awe-inspiring, lifelike faces.

After a cheesy ghost tour in one of California’s oldest towns stumbles upon an actual haunting, a skeptical historian of the occult becomes entangled in solving a murder case.When Professor Harper Grae loses a bet with a friend, she finds herself on a local nighttime tour of “haunted” locations in Monterey. Harper’s a lifelong non-believer in the occult, though her academic career is devoted to the historical and societal significance of witchcraft, ghosts, and medicinal poisons of all sorts. But her skepticism immediately gets tested when the tour stumbles on the body of local artist Delilah Mason—who’s found murdered on the grounds of a nearly two-hundred-year-old mansion, once home to the infamous Perles family.On the night Mason’s body is found, Harper catches sight of something in the house that she can’t shake, something that’s impossible to explain, at least not rationally. Soon the murder investigation reveals that this is the second time a woman has been found murdered beneath a sprawling cypress tree in the gardens of the Perles Mansion. And when Harper’s closest friend is questioned by the police, Harper fears the authorities will fail to uncover the real killer.As Harper asks questions around town and digs deeper into the supernatural speculation and rumors surrounding the murders—two women killed in similar circumstances, separated by nearly two centuries —she sees evidence she can’t ignore that the notorious mansion truly is haunted by the ghost of Isabel Perles. What will it cost Harper to rethink everything she’s always believed to admit that the veil between the living and the dead might actually be crossed?