Search Results for: there will come a darkness

At the end of the nineteenth century Charlotte Metcalf is a child of good fortune: a prosperous father, a loving mother, a loved brother all cocoon her from the fears of the outside world. But then her father dies… and she is plunged into poverty and the workhouse becomes her miserable home.

Yet Charlotte escapes, determined to find her lost brother, and her search brings her to Barras Hall, home of unknown relations where fine clothes, good food and wealth seem to promise her all she desires. But at night the horror begins – of sound and sense, surpassing all earthy terror. And Charlotte finds that daytime comfort comes at a price…and she must fulfil her terrible destiny.

Praise for Jonathan Aycliffe:

‘Aycliffe has a fine touch’ Independent

‘Aycliffe conjures up a feeling of dread that deepens with each unsettling incident’ Time Out

‘Naomi’s Room must rank among the finest of English ghost stories… They certainly don’t come more dark or fearsome.’ Newcastle Evening Chronicle

‘There are other places, Philippa. Other dreams and mirrors.’

15-year-olds Philippa and Danny have been best friends for years, but things are starting to change between them.

Danny has a new set of friends – the rugby boys – and suddenly whispers of ‘Phil the Thrill’ start to follow Philippa around school, and she knows exactly where those rumours started.

One evening, Philippa escapes to an abandoned seaside house to clear her head, but quickly discovers that she is far from alone. Not only has Danny secretly followed her, the two of them are about to witness something that will change their lives for ever.

A mysterious Society is meeting in the house to try to summon Death, and Danny and Philippa are caught up in their dark spell.

The pair manages to escape but they soon realise that they’re being followed by two children who, as they begin to talk, claim to not be human. Where do these creatures really come from? And what is that they want?

Beautifully written and sizzling with magic, Not Yet Dark will take you on a journey to a world where the line between life and death is blurred, stars are in touching distance, and friendship means absolutely everything.

‘Simon P. Clark is a truly interesting new voice’ David Almond, author of Skellig

Set in a lush, steamy world of ceaseless rain, swamps, alligators, overgrown cemeteries, and home-grown magic, these are dark and scary, yet pleasurably thrilling stories that unfold sinister secrets at every turn. These paranormal, suspenseful Southern Gothic romances are by both bestselling authors and bright up-and-coming talents, including Jill Archer, Sonya Bateman, Amanda Bonilla, Angie Fox, J. D. Horn, Elle Jasper, Erin Kellison, Laurie London, Shawntelle Madison, Bec McMaster, Hadley Monroe, Dianne Sylvan, Jessa Slade, Shelli Stevens, Tiffany Trent and Shiloh Walker.

Both a fascinating account of Walt Disney’s own significant artistic creations, from the iconic Mickey Mouse to the groundbreaking Snow White in 1937, and an insightful history of the hugely successful entertainment behemoth he created, from Dumbo to Pixar’s Toy Story, as well as the hugely popular theme parks. But Disney’s dark side is also explored: his disputed parentage; industrial disputes; his work for the FBI; and his anti-Communist and allegedly racist and antisemitic views.

The company Disney built is today stronger than ever, encompassing not only the ongoing legacy of Disney animation, but also acting as the guardian of other well-loved creative endeavours, such as Pixar, The Muppets, Marvel Comics and now Star Wars.

Sections include ‘Before Mickey: The Road to the Mouse House’, covering from 1901 to 1945 – the creation of Mickey Mouse, the creation of the world’s first full-length animated feature film, the Golden Age of animation and Disney’s help for the American war effort, despite labour disputes; ‘Disney Studios: The Disney Genius’ – difficult times, theme parks and television, live-action movies, including Mary Poppins; ‘Animation’s Second Coming’, from the Lady and the Tramp to The Sword in the Stone, and Walt Disney’s death; ‘After Walt: The Disney Legacy’ – family attempts to keep the studio afloat, decline and the loss of lustre in the 1970s and 1980s; ‘Disney Resurgent’ – a triumphant rebirth under new management with Who Framed Roger Rabbit? The Lion King and other blockbuster hits; ‘From Eisner to Iger’ – the corporate battle for the soul of Disney; ‘Disney Goes Digital’ – from Pixar to Star Wars, via Marvel Comics and The Muppets, Disney buyy up other studios, themselves often enough inspired by the original.

Sulien ap Gwien is seventeen years old when the Jarnish invasion begins, and strong enough to match any one of their raiders in battle. But when they do come, she finds herself unarmed and at their mercy. As she watches her attackers walk away from where she lies bound, she vows revenge.

With the land around her disintegrating and no help forthcoming, Sulien rides out in search of King Urdo, a young ruler fighting to create unity in a country where there is none.

What follows is the beginning of an alliance that will shape the course of history in Tir Tanagiri as well as the rest of Sulien’s life.

Praise for the Trilogy

‘Walton writes with an authenticity that never loses heart, a rare combination . . . She can dig down to a true vein of legend and hammer out gold.’ Robin Hobb

‘The people, the politics, the details of warfare and daily life, all ring as true as the steel sword the heroine wields so doughtily. This is much more than a retooling of the Matter of Britain: it is a fully imagined, living, magical world.’ Delia Sherman

‘Beautiful and thought-provoking. Walton tells a story set in a world and a history almost like ours, but different enough to be in itself a kind of elvenland.’ Poul Anderson

‘Head and shoulders and sword-arm above most fantasy. Like a lost memoir from the Dark Age of a subtly different history, tough and unsentimental and all the more touching for that.’ Ken MacLeod

From a stylish coming-of-age novel set in an elite world of Manhattan penthouses and exclusive sailing clubs, to a devious, dark and innovative murder mystery about dangerous obsession and the way it can influence our fates, this collection from Corsair is the perfect taste of our favourite fiction debuts. FREE chapters taken from four very different and compelling novels, by emerging new talents Amber Dermont, James Renner, Nick Dybek and Tom Winter.


Starboard Sea by Amber Dermont
Stylish American fiction at its best

‘Engrossing … captivating and inspired. Dermont adeptly charts the fine calibrations of teenage love and shame and belonging.’ New York Times
‘Touching, beautiful and deeply wise … You will be enthralled.’ Justin Cronin, author of The Passage

The Man From Primrose Lane by James Renner
Imagine an episode of Doctor Who written by Stephen King…

‘A haunting, wickedly clever book.’ Jonathan Carroll, author of The Ghost in Love
‘Ambitious and innovative.’ Washington Post

When Captain Flint Was Still a Good Man by Nick Dybek
An atmospheric thriller from a Granta magazine ‘New Voices’ emerging talent

‘An authentic, atmospheric, coming-of-age story … A terrific debut.’ C. J. Box
‘A thrilling yarn.’ Economist

Lost & Found by Tom Winter
Two lost souls are brought together by a series of letters, in this touching and captivating novel

When the Blitz starts in London, Dominic Lancaster, injured out of service at the battle of Narvik, accompanies his 10 year old sister Octavia to the family house on the shores of Ullswater in the Lake District.

Octavia is profoundly deaf but at night she can hear disturbing noises in the house. When questioned by Dominic as to what she can hear, she replies: ‘voices’. Two nights later she comes into his bedroom to tell him that the dead children in the house want them to leave.

And then Octavia falls mysteriously ill… during her sickness she tells Dominic he must go to the attic. There, he releases an older, darker evil that threatens the lives of Olivia and himself.

Praise for Naomi’s Roomt:

‘A chilling story which gives the lie to any notion that supernatural horror is remotely theraputic. Aycliffe has a fine touch.’ The Independent.

‘Naomi’s Room must rank among the finest of English ghost stories… They certainly don’t come any more dark and fearsome.’ Newcastle Evening Chronicle.

Murphy’s Law is the captivating first entry of Rhys Bowen’s New York Times bestselling Molly Murphy series.

Meet Molly Murphy, a resourceful young woman who lives by her own set of laws…

Molly Murphy always knew she’d end up in trouble, just as her mother had predicted. So when she commits murder in self-defence, she flees her cherished Ireland for the anonymous shores of America. When she arrives in New York and sees the welcoming promise of freedom in the Statue of Liberty, Molly begins to breathe a little easier. But when a man is murdered on Ellis Island, a man Molly was seen arguing with, she becomes a prime suspect in the crime.

If she can’t clear her name, Molly will be sent back to Ireland where the gallows await, so using her Irish charm and sharp wit, she escapes Ellis Island and sets out to find the wily killer on her own. Pounding the notorious streets of Hell’s Kitchen and the Lower East Side, Molly undertakes a desperate mission to clear her name before her deadly past comes back to haunt her new future.

‘Irish humour and gritty determination… with charm and optimism.’ Anne Perry

‘Delightful… as ever, Bowen does a splendid job of capturing the flavour of early twentieth-century New York and bringing to life its warm and human inhabitants.’ Publishers Weekly

‘Molly grows ever more engaging against a vibrant background of New York’s dark side at the turn of the century.’ Kirkus Reviews

Black Country – Joel Lane
“‘Black Country’ is one of a sequence of weird crime stories set in the West Midlands that I’ve been working on for years,” says Joel Lane. “A collection of them is forthcoming with the title Where Furnaces Burn. ‘Black Country’ is also a sequel to my earlier story ‘The Lost District’, which describes another narrator’s experience of Clayheath.
“I’d like to thank The Nightingales and Gul Y. Davis, whose words influenced this story. It was originally published as a chapbook by Nightjar Press, with an enigmatic cover illustration by Birmingham photographer Trav28.”

We All Fall Down – Kirstyn McDermott
“I carried the bones of this story around for quite a few years before I finally stumbled upon its beating heart,” explains the author. “In my head was the image of a doll house, huge and not quite right, and a woman searching desperately for something concealed inside. But I could never work a story around it that didn’t seem twee. Doll houses, you know?
“But then Emma and Holly appeared – trapped within their own fractured, futile relationship – and everything just, well, fell together. Beautifully. Awfully. And now I have a doll house story. Of a kind.”

Telling – Steve Rasnic Tem
“As for the following story,” reveals Steve Rasnic Tem, “it began with a dreadful image at the end of a dream. I couldn’t remember the other details of that dream, but I was determined to find out where that image might have come from.”

A Revelation of Cormorants – Mark Valentine
“‘A Revelation of Cormorants’ first appeared in the excellent series of chapbooks published by Nicholas Royle’s Nightjar Press,” explains Valentine, “and I first encountered the dark grace of the cormorant while visiting Galloway with Jo.”
Just Outside Our Windows, Deep Inside Our Walls – Brian Hodge
“I hardly ever write extended fragments of things and then leave them indefinitely,” Brian Hodge reveals, “but that’s how ‘Just Outside Our Windows, Deep Inside Our Walls’ got started.
“I first wrote the part about the fantasised magic show, plus the earliest bit about Roni moving in, after rereading a Thomas Ligotti collection. It may not be apparent to anyone else, but some flavour of his lingered in me for a little while and wanted to come out, and the magic show was the result.
“Then it sat idle for three years or so before I knew what more to do with it. Maybe because I had to forget about how it had begun and get back to being myself again.”

Oh I Do Like to Be Beside the Seaside – Christopher Fowler
Christopher Fowler explains “‘. . . Seaside’ came about firstly because I was commissioned to write a story for the World Horror Convention souvenir book and, as the event was to take place in Brighton, it seemed logical to set a tale on the South coast of England.
“I had written a fantasy novel, Calabash, some years earlier, hinting at the dark madness of such seaside towns, which are the antithesis of their Mediterranean counterparts. I thought of the depressing Morrissey song “Every Day is Like Sunday”, which captures the awfulness of English resorts.
“Coincidentally, Kim Newman and I were discussing the inherent creepiness of pantomime dames, and I decided it was time to give vent to my horror of these coastal pleasure domes. I wish I’d thought to include screaming gangs of hen-nighters as well. And I thought it was a nice touch to have everyone in the story telling the hero to ‘fuck off’ until he finally does.”

Featherweight – Robert Shearman
“I don’t like writing at home much,” admits the author. “Home is a place for sleeping and eating and watching afternoon game shows on TV. There are too many distractions. So, years ago, I decided I’d only write first drafts in art galleries.
“And the best of them all is the National Gallery, in London, a pigeon’s throw from Nelson’s Column. I can walk around there with my notebook, thinking up stories – and if I get bored, there are lots of expensive pictures to look at. Perfect.
“A lot of those paintings, however, have angels in them. They’re all over the place, wings raised, halos gleaming – perching on clouds, blowing trumpets, hovering around the Virgin Mary as if they’re her strange naked childlike bodyguards. And I began to notice. That, whenever the writing is going well, the angels seemed happy, and would smile at me. And whenever the words weren’t coming out right, when I felt sluggish, when I thought I’d rather take off and get myself a beer, they’d start to glare.
“I wrote this story in the National Gallery. Accompanied by a lot of glaring angels. Enjoy.”

Lesser Demons – Norman Partridge
“I was surprised to receive an invitation for S.T. Joshi’s Black Wings,” reveals Partridge, “an anthology of Lovecraftian fiction. Although I knew S.T. admired my work, I’ve never quite seen myself as a Mythos writer.
“While I respect H.P. Lovecraft and his contribution to horror, I’ve never felt that his worldview (or maybe I should say universeview) meshed with mine.
“In the end, that’s what made the story work . . . at least for me. I concentrated on my differences with Lovecraft, and approached the material from a place where Jim Thompson would be more comfortable than HPL. And I’m delighted that so many people have enjoyed the tale – it was a lot of fun to write.”

It’s the Swinging Sixties but not all barriers have come down – the aristocrats and financial power players still gather around the exclusive gaming tables of the Montcler Club in Berkeley Square while the rest slum it in the underground ska clubs and elicit drinking dens in Notting Hill.

And it’s against this background of London society and villainy that detective Vince Treadwell enters when investigating the seemingly unrelated murder of a young black woman in Notting Hill and blue-blooded Johnny Beresford in Belgravia. As Vince digs deeper he finds himself embroiled in a secret world of debauchery and corruption, where the underworld happily mixes with the aristocracy, and where no one remains an innocent victim.

Praise for Kiss Me Quick:

‘A thrilling read.’ – Buzz Magazine

‘Dark and involved.’ – Daily Express

Unmissable. – Best

‘This unusual and atmospheric crime novel suggests that Danny Miller is a writer to watch.’ – Good Book Guide

‘…one of those books that literally grabs you from page one.’ – The Week

With her brothers away fighting the Great War overseas, Livy Campbell desperately wants to help her family. Her chance comes when she meets a handsome stranger who lands her a job as a teacher in a place far from her parents’ farm. But the war casts a long shadow over the German-American town that Livy now calls home-and the darkness will test everything she thought she knew about family and love . . .

More than anything, Friedrick Wagner wants to be part of his adopted country’s struggle for peace. But when the bitter animosity between Germans and Americans soon turns citizens against newcomers, friend against friend, he will do whatever it takes to protect Livy from the hysteria that grips their town. As tragedy – and dark secrets from the past – threaten their future, Friedrick and Livy have one chance to stand up for what’s right . . . and one chance to fight for their love.

For one night, Tristan Kelley taught the woman he knew only as Angel to surrender to all her wicked desires. Now his Angel has a name–Isabella Lawson–and he’s not only her professor but her boss. Kisses are forbidden. Touches are forbidden. Nights with her are most definitely forbidden. Of course, he’s never been one to play by the rules.

When Isabella convinced her cousin to take her to her first kink party, she hadn’t intended on meeting someone like Tristan–and she certainly hadn’t intended on ever seeing him again. Now not only does she see him in class, she also shares a cramped office with him every afternoon…and it’s becoming harder and harder to resist him. But as much as she wants to focus on her new feelings for Tristan Kelley, her dark past is coming for her and this time…she might not survive.

“A sexy, brooding hero and a feisty, fierce heroine make for undeniable chemistry and scorching heat.” –Jay Crownover, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author The best rules are the ones worth breaking . . . After his mother’s funeral, ex-Army Ranger Drake Sullivan wants only to disappear and drown his sorrows in whiskey. Then he sees her: Mea Jones. An untamed, sexy-as-hell whirlwind of energy. A few years ago, she showed him the best-and hottest-night of his life, then walked away without a backward glance. But he’s never stopped wanting more. When it comes to guys, Mea has rules. One night. No dating. Whatever it takes to have control and keep it. With Drake, it’s all heat and hurt and hunger, and pretty much the opposite of control. And that makes him dangerous as hell. Mea has her own demons, and falling in love-or even in lust-is strictly a no-go proposition. But she soon finds out Drake is incredibly single-minded when it comes to getting what he wants. And he’s determined to be the exception to all her rules. Reader advisory: The heroine’s past deals with dark elements some readers may find disturbing. Recommended for mature audiences only. “Man of Honor is sweet and sexy in all the right places.” –New York Times bestselling author J.B. Salsbury “Top Pick! Intense, passionate, and gritty…If you love your heroines strong, your heroes even stronger, and want a book that will keep you reading past your bedtime, Man of Honor is for you!” –Harlequin Junkie “Drake and Mea set the pages on fire! I was hooked from the very start!” –J.L. Berg, USA Today bestselling author “A heart wrenching story of the healing power of love. Gardin handles tough issues with sensitivity and poignant storytelling. Man of Honor will have you rooting for Drake and Mia and reaching for the tissues.” –Marie Meyer, author of The Turning Point “An emotional, sexy, and touching read with two unforgettable and amazingly resilient characters. Man of Honor is an utterly devour-able book and I loved every second!” –Jillian Stein, READ-LOVE-BLOG

From rising star Angie Sandro, a steamy Southern gothic romance that will appeal to fans of Beautiful Creatures . . . Deep in the Louisiana bayou, Mala LaCroix cannot escape the mysterious things she’s seen. Haunted by her otherworldly past, she only wants to hide her special abilities and care for the man she’s come to love. But the dark swamp she calls home holds more than just Mala’s secrets, for a killer is leaving behind ghosts trapped between worlds, hungry for vengeance . . . Landry knows Mala could never turn her back on those in need. It’s part of what attracts him to her. But now that he’s wrestling with his own demons-and losing-he fears that just being near the woman he loves endangers her life. And that traps him in a terrible dilemma: leave Mala alone to catch a murderer by herself or stay close-and risk entangling her in the brutal battle for his very soul.

From rising star Angie Sandro, a steamy Southern gothic romance that will appeal to fans of Beautiful Creatures . . . Is this love affair their destiny? Or is it doomed? Paradise, Louisiana, is far from idyllic for Mala LaCroix and Landry Prince. Haunted by strange visions, the pair are drawn together by a mystery concealed beneath the polite facades and the murky swamps of the Deep South. Landry had a crush on Mala all through high school and was her greatest defender, but now-up close and personal-he is starting to suspect that the rumors of witchcraft and voodoo are true. But he can’t let his doubts tear them apart because a day of reckoning is coming. As Mala struggles to conceal her powers and avoid the curse that has struck generations of LaCroix women, Landry will have no choice but to face his own demons. Both of them will soon be caught up in a web of deceit that reveals the dark side of Paradise.

From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, Marie Hall, comes the first installment in the Eternal Lovers, sexy, dark, paranormal romance series! Eve Philips thought she could never love again. After her husband died in a hit-and-run accident, Eve poured her heart into her potions shop, Witch’s Brew, and hasn’t given any man a second glance-until Cian. As soon as she locks eyes with him, Eve knows she’ll never be the same. Gorgeous and mysterious, he incites a passion in her that she’s never felt before. And it’s almost otherworldly . . . Cian knows Eve is special the minute they lay eyes on each other. He’s a supernatural being with a dangerous duty, and being seen is not part of the job description. But when he meets the kind, beautiful Eve, all the rules go out the window. Now that his superiors have gotten wind of it, he has a wicked enemy on his tail. Yet all he cares about is Eve: loving her, protecting her-and finding the right time to tell her his dark and terrible secret, a secret that threatens both of their lives . . .

For San Diego’s elite FBI agents, risking their lives is standard procedure when it comes to capturing the city’s most dangerous criminals-but falling in love is the greatest risk of all. RIPPED FROM THE HEADLINES . . . FBI Special Agent Marissa Panuska faces the most explosive case of her career when she impersonates a female terrorist to infiltrate an al-Qaeda cell. Her dark hair, olive complexion, and Arabic fluency make her the perfect imposter, but each passing hour raises the risk of discovery. Can she stop the dirty-bomb plot-alone-when the Feds don’t even know the target? And should she trust the mysterious man who bursts into her life when her cover is blown? SO CLOSE TO REALITY . . . Former Navy SEAL Ameen Ali has a very personal reason for hating the terrorists and vowing to stop them. But when a beautiful woman joins the sleeper cell spreading death-to-America propaganda at his mosque, he doesn’t want to believe she shares their evil goals. Can he convince her to join forces before it’s too late?

With endless wealth comes irresistible temptation . . .

It’s an undisputed fact that Nash Beaumont is the hottest of the Beaumont brothers. His slow, sensual smile charms every French Kiss employee-and tempts every woman to buy the company’s lingerie. But beneath Nash’s raw charisma is a dark, kinky side that he struggles to control . . . a side that may be exposed by one lovely-and unexpectedly adventurous-woman.

Reporter Eden Huckabee needs a story. And when she discovers Nash’s dirty little secret, she thinks she’s found it. But Eden doesn’t count on Nash turning the tables on her-or that she will fall so deeply for this unbelievably sexy, one-in-a-billion Beaumont.

When new clients Jay and Camilla Givens come to Sharon McCone with Camilla’s stories of devil worshippers performing human sacrifices in San Francisco, the detective is skeptical, to say the least. However, when she discovers that Jay is involved with the treasure hunting group The Night Searchers, she starts looking into what exactly he and the other participants are up to after dark. As she digs deeper into the Searchers, Sharon joins their ranks in order to find out more-while someone is searching for her.

Buckton, Indiana, 1956. As post-war America brims with new opportunities, a young woman discovers the courage to follow her dreams-and her heart . . .

Gwendolyn Foster’s life seems like a dream come true. A bright future in front of her, the successful, traditional man her parents wanted at her side. What more could a girl ask for? But Gwen has a different dream altogether-to be a writer-and she won’t rest until it comes true. Strong arms to support her, not own her . . . that’s what she needs. And she finds them in the most unexpected of places.

Hank Ellis has long been haunted by his little brother’s death. He knows the entire town blames him for the accident, but it’s only fitting. He blames himself too. So he’s shocked when Gwen ignores the vicious gossip and befriends him. And before long, everything changes for them. Folks warn Gwen about Hank, but she knows in her heart that they’re wrong. Drawn to this man of bravery and kindness who encourages her to pursue her passions, Gwen can finally envision the life she’s always wanted. And with Gwen, Hank finds the strength to let go of his guilt, as he dares to hope for a future with her.

But braving the town that turns against them isn’t the only challenge they face. For Hank still harbors a dark secret, a shocking truth that may force him to lose Gwen forever . . .

When Kim de Blecourt and her husband decided to adopt a child from Ukraine, they knew that the process might be challenging. Nothing, however, could have prepared de Blecourt for the twisted nightmare she would endure. During her year-long struggle to extricate her newly adopted little boy from that post-Soviet country’s corrupt social service and judicial systems, de Blecourt was insulted, physically assaulted, and arrested. Worse, her months of loneliness, worry, and fear drove her to the brink of spiritual despair. But God had no intention of abandoning de Blecourt or her family. Her amazing story-culminating in a spine-chilling race to freedom-offers dramatic proof that God’s light shines on even in the deepest darkness.

The nightmares have returned. Something, or someone, wants to drag Julia Davidson back into a dreadful conflict she assumed was a distant memory. Was this, like before, the echo of another person’s dream? Is she responsible to rescue faces she doesn’t recognize but can’t forget? Do the murky images suggest she has a part to play in whatever ominous events lie ahead? Things are finally looking up for Matthew Adams. As the top earner at MedCom Associates he has started to crawl out of the financial hole created during his “dark days.” And now, out of the blue, a mysterious woman invites him to join a confidential research initiative. She says it will ease the mounting economic crisis. But at what cost to Matthew’s fragile sanity, and his tortured soul? Pastor Alex Ware faces a serious problem. The honeymoon period at Christ Community Church has ended. The finance committee says they can’t afford another year of dwindling income and dismal growth. The board wants action, now! Aging parishioners would gladly allocate a portion of their estate to help. But only if Alex stops condemning the transition industry and starts affirming what the Youth Initiative calls “our heroic volunteers.” In Fatherless and Childless, Dr. James Dobson and Kurt Bruner depicted a time in which present-day trends come to sinister fruition. This eagerly awaited conclusion vividly imagines what happens when God’s image on earth is exchanged for the horrors of a GODLESS world.

Rosa and her mama go to school together-in the dark of night, silently, afraid that any noise they hear is a patroller on the lookout for escaped slaves. Their school is literally a hole in the ground, where they and other slaves of all ages gather to form letters out of sticks, scratch letters in the dirt, and pronounce their sounds in whispers. Young Rosa is eager to learn the letters and then the words, because after the words comes reading. But she must have patience, her mama reminds her, and keep her letters to herself when she’s working on the plantation. If the Master catches them, it’ll mean a whipping-one lash for each letter. No matter how slow and dangerous the process might be, Rosa is determined to learn, and pass on her learning to others.