succession

In 1917 Nicholas II, Tsar of Russia, was executed by revolutionaries. Now, in response to the collapse of the country's economy, the people have voted to instate a new Tsar, one who will be chosen from the descendents of Nicholas II. But a powerful group of Western businessmen want to make sure he is a candidate they can control, and hire African-American lawyer Miles Lord, with his knowledge of Russian language and history, to check the background of their chosen man. Miles is thrilled with his assignment ... until he becomes the target of an assassination attempt, and must run for his life, guided by a cryptic phrase penned by Rasputin, a bizarre prophecy that the Tsar will return to the throne and that Miles himself will see to it.

Brenden Vetch's gift for connecting with the agricultural world helps him land a job as the gardener for the wizard Od at her school in the city of Kelior, where Od uncovers Brenden's true powers and helps him save the school from evil rulers.

Hannah Green, a fourteen-year-old Jewish girl, finds herself caught in the rivalry between Queen Mary and her half sister, Elizabeth, after her ability to foresee the future leads her to work for the Queen as a spy.

Presents the annotated text of Shakespeare's tragedy in which a Danish prince seeks vengeance for his father's murder after being visited by his ghost, and includes reflections from actors who have played the role throughout history, commentary, contexts, criticism, and a look at how "Hamlet" has been used in other works.