Truth Be Told...

When summer break brings BIG changes, these BFFs 4EVA may end up saying good-bye 4EVA in the eighth and final book in this popular middle-grade series told entirely in text messages, emojis, and passed notes. Perfect for fans of Invisible Emmie and the Dork Diaries and now available in paperback.TBH, Cece, Prianka, and Gabby thought they'd be together forever. But when Gabby's mom announces she's moving to Texas and a backyard BBQ party gets the friends' blow-out summer off to a rocky start, they end up spending more time apart than together!To be honest, Gabby just wants to get the good-byes over with already.The question is: How can they be BFF 4EVA if everyone goes their separate ways?

Where do spiders live? How do spiders make silk? Are spiders dangerous? These and other questions are answered by the arachnophile author, along with some extra information provided by the spiders themselves in this third book in THE TRUTH ABOUT series.

Discover the fascinating world of our furry companions withWoof! The Truth About DogsbyAnnette Whipple. This engaging and informative book is filled with fun facts, photographs, illustrations, and all the answers to your burning questions about man’s best friend.Amusing & Informative:Written in an engaging question-and-answer format, this book is both entertaining and educational. Readers will learn about various aspects of dogs' behavior, communication, and history.Vibrant Illustrations:Colorful photographs and illustrations bring the world of dogs to life on the pages, capturing the attention of young readers and enhancing their understanding of the topics discussed.Extra Insights:In addition to the author's informative text, readers will enjoy hearing from the dogs themselves, who provide additional insights and perspectives on their behavior and experiences.Perfect for Ages 8-12:Geared towards children aged 8-12 and grade levels 2-4,Woof! The Truth About Dogsis accessible and e

A thrilling new chapter in the #1 New York Times bestselling Fifty Shades series as told by Christian Grey.Relive the sensuality, the romance, and the drama of Fifty Shades Freed—the love story that e

A funny and adorable celebration of family that reveals what babies are REALLY like. By the creator of The Truth About Old People, a Children's Book of the Week in the Telegraph and Empathy Lab Read

It’s eat or be eaten...literally!Laios nears the bottom of the dungeon and his inevitable confrontation with Sissel, the lunatic lord of its labyrinthine halls. In a succubus-induced slumber, Laios comes face-to-face with the winged lion, the source of Sissel’s power. Laios knows only that the lion is held captive by Sissel in the dungeon’s depths, but it could be the Canaries know a great deal more…With their centuries of experience, the elves’ knowledge could shed some light on the truth of the dungeon and its master-or prove to be Laios’s undoing…!

America''s favorite series returns with a new look and a Netflix tv show.The truth about Stacey is that she has diabetes, a fact she keeps secret from everyone except her new friends in the Baby-sitte

Cowie is a donkey who feels like a cow on the inside. Will his friends help him make his dream come true? Find out in this sweetly told story about discovering your true self.Cowie was born a donkey but he knows he’s meant to be a cow. He wants to be a cow. Cows can graze in the meadow all day long and no one asks them to carry heavy packages. So, he stands with the cows in the barn but nothing happens. Will his dream ever come true, he wonders. Can Mousie and Duckie help Cowie feel happy in his own skin?

Alva rushes through the trees in the dead of night with her sniffer wolf, Fen. Being out alone when there's a kidnapper on the loose is reckless, but if she ever wants to be an investigator like her Uncle Magnus, she'll need to be first to the crime scene. But what Alva discovers raises more questions than it answers, drawing her into a dangerous search for truth, and for treasure.

Maxwell Eaton III's The Truth About Hippos is a lighthearted nonfiction picture book, filled with useful facts about hippos that will make you laugh so hard you won’t even realize you’re learning some

Fresh off the heels of a successful debut at the Sundance Film Festival, Al Gore’s follow-up to his eye-opening blockbuster An Inconvenient Truth comes at a time when climate change is a daily headlin

The truth will set you free-if it doesn't kill you first. After a serious professional stumble, attorney Trevor Mann may have finally hit his stride. He's found happiness with his girlfriend Claire P

What is knowledge? Is it the same as opinion or truth? Do you need to be able to justify a claim in order to count as knowing it? How can we know that the outer world is real and not a dream?Questions

本書延續 Dav Pilkey 一貫的幽默節奏，讓 Dog Man 與夥伴們再度踏上一場既混亂又溫暖的冒險。故事從城市突然改變開始，主角們必須依靠彼此找回真相，也重新思考「相信」的力量。Power up with Dog Man: Big Jim Believes from the global #1 bestselling author and award-winning artist Dav Pilkey. Join the journey as our heroes discover the influence of belief and find truth from within. With threads of self-awareness, confidence, and integrity, Dav Pilkey masterfully crafts a humorous and heartfelt adventure, weaving together the importance of truth, goodness, and believing in yourself.The celebration comes to a halt for our heroes in Dog Man: Big Jim Believes when the mischievous Space Cuties From Space return. Our caped crusaders -- Dog Man (aka Scarlet Shedder), Commander Cupcake, and Sprinkles -- along with Mecha Molly discover that the city has changed, and nothing is how it should be. Can Big Jim's positivity and innocence help our heroes? Will Dog Man, Big Jim, Grampa, and Molly have the courage to trust each other and save the day? How does the past help shape the f

The brand new feel-good, laugh-out-loud Tom Gates story featuring LOADS of doodles, three parties and some pesky pets. From Liz Pichon, the multi-million copy bestselling author and illustrator. Norman's told the whole school that DogZombies have a NEW SONG and a NEW LOOK for the BIG end of term party.But the problem is... they don't. How can they be the best band when they will be up against Oakfield Manor school? Will Tom make it to Leroy's party on time? Is dressing as a dolphin with a blue face a good idea? And will Mum and Dad ever do a fun run again? These questions and SO much more answered in this hilarious extra special story.Written in diary form Every page STUFFED full of laughs, stories, doodles and creative FUN The Brilliant World of Tom Gates was the winner of the 2011 Roald Dahl Funny Prize! Perfect gifts for boys & girls who love to laugh themselves silly The first series of The Brilliant World of Tom Gates won the Scottish BAFTA for Entertainment! REVIEWS OF TOM GA

Running a bakery is no cakewalk for a tiny dragon with a big sweet tooth! Tummy rumbles turn to belly laughs in this feel-good picture book from the bestselling author and illustrator of The Bakery Dragon.Batter up!Ember is in charge while the baker takes a trip and he's excited to show what he can do! When an opinionated fairy princess swoops in demanding a cake, he eagerly agrees. So what if he's only baked bread before? How hard can it be?The sugar hits the fan when Ember's first attempt is a complete disaster. He tries again and again, but the royal customer is not happy. Everyone told Ember he was such a good baker, so why can't he get this right? If he doesn't figure it out soon, the only thing on the menu will be humble pie.Magic shimmers on every page of this whimsical story about how to bake a cake, make new friends and learn from your mistakes.

Uncover the truth hidden at the heart of a wondrous city in this official Minecraft novel!Jeremy has never brewed a single potion, but he knows what it's like to be invisible. He lives in the biggest city in the Overworld, surrounded by tall buildings, redstone wonders, and tons of people. So why does he feel so lonely? Why is it so hard to find a friend? When Jeremy's family meets a family from out in the wilderness, it looks like it's going to be the same old story. The outsiders' kid, Valda, acts like Jeremy is a helpless little baby. Sure, he's never caught a fish or fought a hostile mob, and maybe school only lets him read about crafting and never try it himself. That doesn't mean Valda has to be so rude! But that's not the only trouble Valda's family has brought with them. They share a terrifying story: A new kind of zombie has appeared, one that can do things no zombie should be able to do--steal resources and work together to terrorize the folks who live outside The City's wall

'A master storyteller' -GUARDIAN'A superb chronicler of cop culture' -SUNDAY TIMES'The equal of Joseph Wambaugh and James Lee Burke' -THE TIMESA MOTHER'S SECRETS CAN BE DEADLYWinter is closing in on the Mornington Peninsula and the coastal community of Waterloo is looking for ways to keep warm. But things start to heat up for Detective Inspector Hal Challis when Janine McQuarrie is shot in a quiet country lane while her terrified daughter watches from the car.As the compromising details of the McQuarries' personal lives come to light, Challis and Detective Sergeant Ellen Destry are faced with another complication: the victim's father-in-law, who is also their superintendent. It seems everyone has something to hide this winter. Can the truth be uncovered before the killer strikes again?From the multiple Ned Kelly Award-winning author ofConsolationandSanctuarycomes the third Hal Challis investigation, for readers of Jane Harper, Ian Rankin and Chris Hammer.

A deeply moving story of Sid the dog losing his beloved owner Sam, and finding a new kind of happy. Sid loves his best friend and owner, Sam. They share a happy life together, playing, snoozing, and meeting friends like Sophie and her mum in the park. Sid is sure that these good times will last forever, but he soon starts to notice that Sam isn’t quite himself. One morning, Sid wakes up to find that Sam isn’t there. Sid feels sad and lonely, but can Sophie help him be happy again? A gentle and ultimately uplifting introduction to life after loss, told through the eyes of a loyal dog.

The ninth book in the New York Times bestselling Emmie & Friends series--told from the alternating POVs of shy Emmie and class-clown Joe as they embark on a school camping trip. Crushes. Camping.MIDDLE SCHOOLThese days, Emmie doesn't feel so invisible. At least not around her best friends and her crush, Tyler.Class-clown Joe's jokes aren't landing the way they used to. Who doesn't love a good prank? Apparently not his so-called friends, who don't even seem to care if he's around.When their class goes on an end-of-year camping trip, Emmie and Joe find themselves stuck together--and expect the worst. But what happens instead turns out to be entirely unexpected.New York Times bestseller Terri Libenson is back with a story about finding friendship in the least likely of places.

揭露雪球城假象後，初凡本以為真相已水落石出，卻發現謊言才正要開始。圓頂內的溫度逐漸升高，新的秘密浮現，而她更被捲入一樁命案，成為眾矢之的。為了證明清白，初凡只能依靠身敗名裂的易本集團繼承人範徽。但在雪球城，誰都可能是敵人，連自己也不例外。The groundbreaking Korean phenomenon that Entertainment Weekly called "The Hunger Games meets Squid Game" continues with even more dark secrets and shocking surprises. The temperature is rising and the truth at the center of Chobahm's frozen world will be revealed in the final installment of this epic dystopian saga. Chobahm's perfect life in Snowglobe came crashing down when she discovered the truth about Haeri; the girl she watched faithfully on television was far from perfect. And the TV family, revered by millions, was nothing more than an illusion created by the Yibonn Media corporation. Nothing is as it seems in the carefully curated programs released from Snowglobe. But revealing the lies behind the Yibonn Media group was only the first crack in Snowglobe. Suddenly, the heat is rising inside the domed utopia--and with the soaring temperatures, come new secrets.

Meet the pets of Buddy and Bea and their friends in the third installment of this laugh-out-loud illustrated chapter book series celebrating life in a second grade classroom.After an author visits their classroom, Buddy and his friends can't stop talking about their pets. Joey’s adorable puppy even stops by Ms. Maple’s classroom (and makes a major mess)! But something seems off about the things Bea is saying about her cat. Are her stories true?Buddy has his own pet problems, so he tries not to focus on the drama with Bea. No one knows what to think about Bea’s tales—should they believe her? Is she fibbing? The truth turns out to be even more complicated than trying to train Buddy's cranky cat.This funny and fast-paced series stars a hilariously unlikely buddy duo, making it irresistible to chapter book readers.

The past and present unravel into staggering truths in this can’t-miss installment of the New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling Keeper of the Lost Cities series told entirely from Keefe’s point of view.Please be careful. Please be happy. And PLEASE forget all about me. It’ll be better for everyone that way.Those were the last words Keefe Sencen wrote to Sophie Foster before he ran away to the Forbidden Cities. He didn’t want to leave, but it was the only way to keep his friends safe while he figured out how to control his scary new powers and searched for answers about his past.What he found was so much more than adventures in Humanland.Where did he go? What did he do? And who did he meet while the rest of his friends worked to solve the mystery of Stellarlune? The answers go far beyond anything anyone could have ever imagined and give Keefe the power to change his destiny.

The next blockbuster Minecraft novel from the bestselling publishing program--now with over five million books in print!Opal has almost done it all—fighting monsters, protecting people from pillagers, and even defeating the legendary Ender Dragon! But that’s all in the past. Now, Opal has hung up their adventuring hat and is living the life of a happy creafter, far more likely to build you a bed than fight a Wither. In fact, Opal has decided that their time is best spent building their Dream Manor outside the very village that displays the Ender Dragon Skull they brought back from the End!Meanwhile, Opal’s sister, Lisa, is only at the beginning of her journey. She’s ready to be a hero. Just ask her. Or don’t. She’ll tell you anyway. She knows every single story ever told about her sibling, and probably a few other heroes as well. She admires Opal immensely, always has. But now it’s her turn to have an adventure.And that adventure might be bigger than she could ever have imagined. One d

Perfect for children just learning to read, this highly original book is told entirely in speech bubbles with a repetitive use of familiar phrases. From the award-winning author of Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!Gerald is careful. Piggie is not.Piggie cannot help smiling. Gerald can.Gerald worries so that Piggie does not have to.Gerald and Piggie are best friends.Gerald is tired and cranky. Will Piggie be in his dreams? Or will she keep Gerald from dreaming at all...? Mo Willems creates another hilarious escapade starring the award-winning duo that will have early readers breaking into laughter from the first page.

A beloved classic adult novel skilfully abridged to inspire and engage a new generation of middle-grade readers, from a multi-award-winning author. Young orphan Pip, downtrodden and mistreated by his guardian sister, has a terrifying meeting with an escaped convict. Soon afterwards he is invited to play at the gloomy, cobwebbed house of unhappy Miss Havisham, where he is humiliated by her beautiful ward, Estella.Pip falls in love with the girl, despite her disdain for his ignorance and rough appearance, and begins his apprenticeship to his blacksmith brother-in-law feeling ashamed of his lowly home. Then Pip is told he is to be brought up as a wealthy gentleman, and he delightedly assumes his secret benefactor to be Miss Havisham, planning him as a match him for Estella. When he discovers this is not the case, his heart is broken and his loyalties torn.What is the connection between Miss Havisham and the mysterious convict? And will Pip ever win Estella’s heart?

The Pied Piper’s little sister is determined to rat out the truth behind her brother’s bad behavior—and save the children of Hamelin! The third book in the Sisters Ever After series, perfect for anyone who loves fairy tale retellings about sisters and magic!"The Piper's Promiseis one of those rare books I will gladly read over and over again and love it more every time."—New York TimesBestselling author Jennifer A. NielsenClare's brother, Tom, also known as the pied piper, has stolen away the children of Hamelin. But Clare knows that’s only half the story. Tom isn’t the easiest person to love, but she’s certain that he couldn’t be so cruel. There has to be a good reason why he stole the Fae Queen’s magic pipe and led the children to a faraway land, never to be seen again.Together with Anna, the mayor of Hamelin’s daughter, Clare embarks on a journey into the Faerie Realms. In order to succeed, she will have to dodge faerie traps and stay out of the evil Rat Prince's claws. Only she can

Follow the investigations of Miss Cat as she tries to crack the case of a missing canary in a thrilling Scandi noiresque graphic novel.Sad, old Mr. Maximus comes to see Miss Cat at the old dairy she uses as an office. Someone has kidnapped his canary, Harry, his pride and joy. Mr. Maximus begs the detective to help find him.Following the trail of the missing canary, Miss Cat encounters the alluring Doris and aggressive Wolfgang, her talking dog. What could they be trying to hide? And could the elderly Maximus and the dashing Mixus the Magnificent—a magician with extraordinary powers—actually be the same person? Miss Cat must uncover the truth and get everything back to normal!With a Scandi noir atmosphere, Miss Cat: The Case of the Curious Canary is a gripping graphic novel that will make young readers eager for the next installment.

We all want to make great decisions, but frequently, we don't. When the moment of truth arrives, we make choices that we later regret. It causes us to wonder if we actually can begin to make better decisions for our lives.Pastor and bestselling author Craig Groeschel understands this dilemma that we all face. From both personal experience and as a minister and counselor to others, he knows what it is like to be trapped in a cycle of bad decision-making. But over time, he has discovered how to short-circuit the bad-decision cycle, make wise decisions, and begin to become the person God wants us to be.In the Think Ahead Workbook, which accompanies the book of the same name, Craig draws on the truth of Scripture and the latest research in human behavior to reveal the power of making decisions in advance--what we might call "pre-deciding"--to position ourselves to make the choices we really want to make and avoid those choices that we do not want to make. In the process, he reveals: The sc

Join lovable rescue dog Arfy—star of the New York Times bestselling picture book Can I Be Your Dog?—in his second Step 1 Comic Reader, perfect for readers ages 4-6. Comic Readers are told almost entirely in action-packed dialogue! Simple, graphic, paneled layouts introduce emergent readers to the joy of comics.Arfy loves his forever home! He has his sweet person and so many toys! Arfy wants to play but what should he play with? A ball! That's it! But there are so many kinds of balls! Some balls are too big, some too heavy, and others are too far away. Will Arfy be able to find the perfect ball for him? Tag along with Arfy on his newest adventure--illustrated with panels and speech balloons for a fun intro to comics!Step 1 Readers feature big type and easy words. Rhymes and rhythmic text paired with picture clues help children decode the story.Series Overview: 2 ARFY SiRs signed up:ARFY AND THE STINKY SMELL: Summer '23ARFY HAS A BALL: Spring '24

Two graphic novel superstars join forces in this heartwarming rom-com about fate, family, forgiveness, and lion dancing!Valentina Tran used to love Valentine's Day. But when she learns the truth behind her parents' separation, she concludes true love is a lie. A ghoulish visage of Saint Valentine appears and promises to protect Val from heartbreak—but only if she gives up on love. Permanently.Suddenly, cousins Leslie and Jae come roaring into Val’s life—literally. They’re lion dancers, and during one fateful Lunar New Year performance, the lion they’re inside hands Val a paper heart. And in that moment, Val feels . . . something again.Is that feeling love? Could this be Val's chance to break the family curse? Or is she destined to have a broken heart forever?

When a nosy stranger arrives in her riverside town, school reporter Veena Vale becomes suspicious. But only talking back cat Nightshade will listen to her. To find out the truth of what's going on, the two of them must unravel an ancient curse, tell uncomfortable lies and bake an awful lots of flapjacks . . .Cosy crime meets magical mystery in the new story from the bestselling author of The Last Chance Hotel, Nicki Thornton!'Blending magical adventure with Golden Age crime mystery, this delightfully atmospheric spin-off from the author of The Last Chance Hotel confirms Thornton’s place as one of the most original children’s writers around.' WATERSTONES on THE HOWLING HAG MYSTERYMAGIC MUST NEVER BE MISUSED . . . When a nosy stranger arrives in her riverside town, school reporter Veena Vale becomes suspicious.But only talking back cat Nightshade will listen to her.To find out the truth of what's going on, the two of them must unravel an ancient curse, tell uncomfortable lies and bake an

Uncover the truth hidden at the heart of a wondrous city in this official Minecraft novel!Jeremy has never brewed a single potion, but he knows what it’s like to be invisible. He lives in the biggest city in the Overworld, surrounded by tall buildings, redstone wonders, and tons of people. So why does he feel so lonely? Why is it so hard to find a friend?When Jeremy’s family meets a family from out in the wilderness, it looks like it’s going to be the same old story. The outsiders’ kid, Valda, acts like Jeremy is a helpless little baby. Sure, he’s never caught a fish or fought a hostile mob, and maybe at school they only let you read about crafting and never try it yourself. But that doesn’t mean Valda has to be so rude!But that’s not the only trouble Valda’s family has brought with them. They’re here with a terrifying story: A new kind of zombie has appeared, one that can do things no zombie should be able to do—working together, stealing resources, and terrorizing the folks who live

Throughout the centuries, people have recounted tales of a legendary magistrate known as Justice Bao! Never letting anything stand in the way of his pursuit for truth and justice, Justice Bao was a clever and upright official who never failed to solve his cases. He was liked by all who sought justice, and feared by criminals everywhere.In this second book of Justice Bao's adventures, you will discover the keen intelligence and masterful skill of a well-respected figure who remains a household name in many parts of the world!Taking classic stories from Asia and the West, Pop! Lit for Kids reimagines them into easy-to-read stories that provide the perfect introduction to classic tales. The most well-loved stories from around the world have been adapted into a form that will excite and entertain children everywhere.

Best-selling author Rick Riordan presents the second book in Graci Kim's best-selling Gifted Clans trilogy, now in paperback!For Riley Oh, life as the Godrealm’s last fallen star is not all it’s cracked up to be. Her new divine heritage doesn’t even come with cool magical powers; half of her friends and family (including her parents) can’t remember her; and to top it all off, the entire Gom clan is mad at her for killing the Cave Bear Goddess and stripping away their healing abilities.But when their anger boils over and a group of witches curse Riley’s home, she knows it’s up to her to restore magic back to her clan – even if it means sneaking into the Spiritrealm.Luckily, Riley has some backup. Along with her sister, Hattie, Riley meets Dahl, a heaven-born boy with shockingly white hair and a fondness for toilets who might not be telling the whole truth about who he is. Together they’ll fight vicious monsters, discover dark underwater worlds, and race to save the land of the dead from

From theNew York Timesbest-selling creator of the Vanderbeekers series comes a triumphant tale of friendship, healing, and the power of believing in ourselves, told from the perspectives of two biracial sixth graders living in a homeless shelter.At first, June can’t believe it: their new home is ahomeless shelter?When she’s told she can’t bring her cherished viola inside, she’s convinced the worst luck in the world landed her at Huey House.But Tyrell has lived at Huey House for three years, and he knows all the good things about it: friendship, hot meals, and the music from next door drifting through the windows. With his help, June begins to see things differently. Just as she’s starting to understand how Huey House can be a home, a new government policy threatens all the residents. Can June and Tyrell work together to find a way to save Huey House as they know it?

Star of the New York Times bestselling picture book Can I Be Your Dog?Everyone loves Arfy the rescue dog——even when he stinks! This is his first Comic Reader in the #1 early reader line, Step into Reading.Arfy used to be homeless, but now he's found his forever home with a sweet person and a squeaky bone! But what's that smell? Arfy loves to sniff things out--he's great at it, so he is on the case! He will find the source of this mysterious smell, even if he has to sniff the whole neighborhood! Tag along with Arfy on his newest adventure--illustrated with panels and speech balloons for a fun intro to comics! Comic Readers are told almost entirely in action-packed dialogue! Simple, graphic, paneled layouts introduce emergent readers to the joy of comics.Step 1 Readers feature big type and easy words. Rhymes and rhythmic text paired with picture clues help children decode the story.

The seventh book in the New York Times bestselling Emmie & Friends series, told from the alternating POVs of Sarah and her best friend, Leo, follows two divergent story lines—one in which Sarah has the courage to ask out her crush and another in which she loses her nerve.Secrets. Surprises. MIDDLE SCHOOL.Sarah and Leo have been BFFs since they were little. They share everything . . . until Sarah starts crushing on Leo’s friend Ben. Then one day Sarah is suddenly faced with a big choice — ask Ben to the school dance!OR chicken out.Either way, Sarah and Leo’s friendship will be put to the test. Which one would you choose?New York Times bestseller Terri Libenson returns with another winning story about friends, crushes, and drama.

From the No.1 International Bestselling author of The Atlas SixCHICAGO, SOMETIME. Two people meet in the armory of the Art Institute by chance. Prior to their encounter, he is a doctoral student who manages his destructive thoughts with compulsive calculations about time travel; she is a bipolar counterfeit artist undergoing court-ordered psychotherapy. After their meeting, those things do not change.Everything else, however, is slightly different.Both obsessive, eccentric personalities, Aldo Damiani and Charlotte Regan struggle to be without each other from the moment they meet. The truth - that he is a clinically depressed, anti-social theoretician and she is a manipulative liar with a history of self-sabotage - means the deeper they fall in love, the more troubling their reliance on each other becomes.ALONE WITH YOU IN THE ETHER is a glimpse into the nature of love, what it means to be unwell, and how to face the fractures of yourself and still love as if you're not broken.Reader re

托爾金曾形容中土世界的第二紀元是「黑暗時代」，僅在《魔戒》與附錄中留下片段記載，如力量之戒的鑄造、巴拉督爾的建立，以及索倫的崛起。《努門諾爾的陷落》由 Brian Sibley 編選，依據《魔戒》附錄「年代記」時間線，將托爾金於不同作品中對第二紀元的敘述匯集成完整編年史，包括《精靈寶鑽》、《未完成的故事》與《中土世界的歷史》系列的內容。書中由 Alan Lee 以水彩與鉛筆繪製全新插畫，重現努門諾爾的興盛與滅亡，以及精靈與人類最後同盟的史詩篇章。J.R.R. Tolkien famously described the Second Age of Middle-earth as a ‘dark age, and not very much of its history is (or need be) told’. And for many years readers would need to be content with the tantalizing glimpses of it found within the pages of The Lord of the Rings and its appendices, including the forging of the Rings of Power, the building of the Barad-dûr and the rise of Sauron. It was not until Christopher Tolkien published The Silmarillion after his father’s death that a fuller story could be told. Although much of the book’s content concerned the First Age of Middle-earth, there were at its close two key works that revealed the tumultuous events concerning the rise and fall of the island of Númenor. Raised out of the Great Sea and gifted to the Men of