sparrow

Claire Youmans first went to Japan in 1992 and was immediately captivated. After years of travel and study, she continues to be charmed and amazed by a fascinating history and a culture that's both endearingly quirky and entirely unique. She is a retired lawyer who now lives in Tokyo. Her family, including her daughter and two grandsons, live in Seattle, USA. In 2014, she started Tales of the Meiji Era with The Toki-Girl and the Sparrow-Boy's unparalleled blend of historical fantasy in the first book of the series, Coming Home. She continues exploring the combination of history and folklore to share her love and fascination with a very different country and culture. Exciting adventures continue to unfold in this delightful fantastical yet historical world as social and political changes expand, technology explodes, and two very unusual children grow up.

Mencintai seseorang secara mendalam berarti ingin memenjarakannya dengan kunci emas. Saat Duan Yelin pertama kali melihat Xu Hang, dia ingin mengurungnya dan menyembunyikan kecantikannya di rumah emas—dan kenyataannya, dia melakukannya. Jika ia menangkapnya dengan paksa, ia adalah perampok; jika ia sabar dan acuh tak acuh, ia akan menjadi daging di sumpit orang lain. Xu Hang awalnya enggan, tetapi ia ingin hidup. Masih banyak hal yang belum ia lakukan, sehingga akhirnya ia memasuki Xiaotong Guan. Ini adalah pertarungan yang sudah berlangsung lama. Bahkan setelah empat tahun terjerat, Xu Hang selalu tampak seperti semangkuk obat yang baru diseduh, dengan aroma samar, tetapi hanya setelah meminumnya seseorang dapat mengetahui apakah itu racun atau penawar. Lama kemudian Duan Yelin baru menyadari bahwa yang dikurungnya bukanlah seekor burung pipit emas yang dingin dan sombong, melainkan sebuah tusuk rambut emas yang dingin dan tajam.

Spencer Kingsley, a teen girl, arrives in Philadelphia, in hopes of forgetting the tragedy of her old life and starting fresh. New school. New people. New games. She steps right back into the drama she wanted to get away from. What does Academy Arts Highschool have in store for our Little Sparrow?

Rylee was a college student with her dreams spread out before her. She was engaged to her best friend, pursuing her passion for art, and couldn’t wait for the future. But everything came crashing down when he departed, leaving her heart and her wallet empty. Despite the pain of betrayal, she tried not to loose hope. Putting her plans on hold, she was forced to focus on a 9-5 work cycle, secretly wondering about the ambitions she shelved in the process. The occasional artist alley table was not enough to fulfill her longing to do what she loved, and importantly, to find REAL love. Everything changes as she grows closer to an online friend. Late night role playing adventures turn into long conversations, and his encouragement spurs her to return to forgotten projects. Meanwhile, she meets a famous artist, who makes her want to give love another chance. Could it be, this love story, would be hers this time? Authors notes: Bi-weekly updates, original story, thank you for reading!

As tensions rise between nations, millions of people are caught in the middle. Death tolls rise and the value of human life is discarded as governments solve their disputes by throwing as many bodies as they can at each other. The world now feeding the flames of destruction with hatred and death, faces yet another world war. In the midst of it all, several nations improved their technology and incorporated it within their weapons. The Republic of Lanston, formerly France, Belgium and Germany, led the arms race and began a secret supersoldier program as a trump card to win the impending war. Taking disabled veterans and soldiers who are no longer fit for combat and turning them to lab rats for body augmentations. Wanting to turn them to mindless killing machines, failing and killing most of their experiments in the process then calling them a necessary sacrifice to achieve power over all their rivals. Enter Hilbert Straüss, one of the few who had successful augmentations and is considered the strongest out of the program. They operated under the grid and were mainly used before to kill anyone who opposes Lanston's government. As the war slowly creeps up on the world, Lanston activates the program once more and requested to have all available field agents to be attached to the military. The world will now see a new generation of weapons that will forever change the face of warfare.

The story begins with the rebirth of the female lead, Elara. In her past life, she was a wealthy young lady from modern society, betrayed by her fiancé and cousin, and pushed into an icy river to die. Filled with immense hatred and unwillingness, she awakens in a world resembling medieval Europe, reborn as a lowly serf girl suffering from hardship and abuse. Facing a desperate situation and a cruel reality, Elara relies on her past memories and indomitable will, determined to struggle for survival in this new world. However, fate leads her to unexpectedly catch the attention of Duke Reinhardt, the most powerful nobleman in the region, known for his dark, obsessive personality and feared reputation as the "Mad Duke." Attracted by something unique about Elara, the Duke takes her away by force, treating her as his exclusive possession, confining her like a "sparrow in his palm." Within the Duke's castle, Elara endures the pain of being controlled and "disciplined" while simultaneously using her intelligence and knowledge from her past life to seek opportunities for survival and secretly build her strength. She must navigate the Duke's volatile "mad dog" behavior and suffocating possessiveness, while also maneuvering through complex noble politics, church influence, and estate affairs, gradually showing astonishing resilience and growth. As time passes, through their forced entanglement, Elara begins to glimpse the trauma and vulnerability hidden beneath the Duke's violent exterior. Meanwhile, the Duke finds himself increasingly drawn to and affected by this untamable "sparrow," and cracks begin to appear in his icy heart. After experiencing external political turmoil, court intrigues, and even the crucible of war, the two are forced to cooperate, their relationship becoming exceedingly complex—a mixture of coercion, hatred, dependence, and a thread of unconscious mutual salvation. Ultimately, Elara transforms from a serf merely struggling to survive into a woman of wisdom and strength capable of navigating the darkness. The obsessive and mad Duke, through their mutual torment and redemption, begins to confront his inner self and seek change. The story revolves around themes of coercive love, the fight for survival, personal growth, and eventual mutual redemption, depicting a tale of intense, painful, yet compelling love and hate set against a medieval backdrop.

Lu Yan is caught in a web of secrets, conspiracies, lies and betrayals. In an unstable imperial court, tiny mistakes can lead to bloodshed. She's desperately trying to stay afloat. --- Meanwhile, General Han has returned victorious from war. He seems to care about nothing but chasing his wife(-to-be). --- A deep voice said, "Lady Lu, I'm not your little maid." The fistful of grains she was holding fell through her suddenly slack fingers, and scattered to the ground. She felt her heart jolt violently. Bracing herself, she said coolly, "I'm Madam Chen now." His smile instantly vanished. Even though the sun was still shining, she felt like she'd been plunged into ice when his eyes met hers. ---

As if waking from a bad day dream, Lin Rou finds herself in the humble care of a simple village hunter. Or is he? As her time with the Hunter Mu Chen grows, so does her feelings. And with no memory of her past or family, she decides to stay with Hunter Mu.

A child soldier with great skill realizes he is a shell of a being, devoid of purpose and will. Understanding his circumstances while in a battle with enemy forces and decides to commit suicide. Reincarnated into a new world filled with monsters and magic the boy felt lost, but also hopeful. Now searching for a purpose to live, a new chance at life, however, Underneath this new world peace lurks a danger threatening to destroy his new life of peace. This is the story of a boy called Sparrow Acheros.

Fu Shinian, an extra character in the original book, awakens to find that her whole family are the vicious villains in the story. Her father, unable to establish relations with the Marquis Changping's residence, is demoted and exiled by the male lead. Her mother is beaten to death on the road to exile, and Aunt Cheng is humiliated to death protecting her chastity. Her elder brother opposes the male lead to win over the female lead and dies saving her. Her elder sister makes life difficult for the female lead, and after their father is exiled, she is divorced by the male lead and sent to a pleasure house. To protect her family and change their tragic fate, isn’t it fair for her to absorb all the male and female leads' fortunes? * [Ding! Male and female leads' fortune -1000, Fu Mansion's fortune +1000] Mr. Fu: "I attended the morning court session, why did His Majesty promote me again!" Madam Fu: "I went to the temple to offer incense, and the master said I was surrounded by a powerful purple aura!" Aunt Cheng: "How did the Cheng Family suddenly become the imperial merchants!" Elder Brother: "It seems like I suddenly have gained intelligence, I know all the exam questions!" Elder Sister: "How come right after I broke off the engagement, Little General Gu came to propose?" * The Marquis Changping can only live to 25, in two years the title will belong to the male lead? She frantically absorbs the fortunes of the male and female leads to boost the Marquis Changping's fortune! During the plague lockdown, Fu Shinian brings medicine and travels long distances into the city to safeguard his health. He understands the girl's intentions, but he only has two years left to live, how can he drag her down. However, why does his heart ache so much watching her with someone else? Finally, the Marquis Changping forces Fu Shinian into the corner of the study, lowering his head to seek her lips: "Niannian, I was wrong."