{"product_id":"2940151924399","title":"The Firebird and Other Extracts from Strange Matters","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis book features three complete stories and one poem from Strange Matters, a collection of short fantasy stories by Bret Allen.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAbout the Firebird:\u003cbr\u003eEkaterina wants to be taken seriously by the men of her village, so she sets out to hunt the greatest prey of all, the legendary Firebird. On the way she encounters three strangers who give her the gifts she needs- for a price.\u003cbr\u003eThis short novella, inspired by Slavic folklore, is a symbolic fable about the importance of choosing wisely and keeping sight of the things that truly matter.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAbout British Gods:\u003cbr\u003eTwo strange figures watch the violence of the London riots unfold and do what they can to help, as only forgotten gods can.\u003cbr\u003eA humble nod to my favourite author, Neil Gaiman. This short story is based on British folklore in the modern-day style of American Gods.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAbout Thornback:\u003cbr\u003eA poem about the humble hedgehog, seen through my eyes.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAbout Saturday’s Child:\u003cbr\u003eHenri discovers that his afterlife is going to be even more dangerous than his first life, when he meets a predatory and beautiful stranger.\u003cbr\u003eThis very short story is set in the world of ‘Sleepwalkers’, a setting of my own creation. In this case, I give a glimpse of the plight of a newly deceased spirit.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFeel free to read these stories before checking out the full collection- Strange Matters- 20 stories and poems of fantasy, myth and magic!\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThese stories contain some mature themes.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Bret Allen","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47168345145584,"sku":"2940151924399","price":0.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/2940151924399_p0.jpg?v=1764015236","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/2940151924399","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}