Books with author C. S. Johnson

It's not always the quest for the cup. Sometimes, it's the quest for what's in the cup.Lance wants nothing more than to be there to fight the dragons for his beloved Princess Alexandra. With his faithful steed by his side, Lance sets out for the magic elixir found only in the Holy Grail. With its strengthening power, facing off an old hag, the bewitching woods, and the strange ogre who lives under a bridge should be easy. But when it comes to Alexandra's dragons, things aren't quite what they all seem to be. Will Lance's gift be enough -- or will his princess require something even more powerful to sustain her? Pull up a cup of your favorite "elixir" and enjoy this sweet and snarky satire story from C. S. Johnson, where the dragons are real, even if they aren't. FROM THE STORY: Every knight has a quest, and every quest has its reward.As a knight-errant, albeit one still in training, with only a year of service behind him, Lance took his duty seriously. But waking up was also a serious business, and that was why, despite the midmorning light flickering over his face, Lance was still half asleep. His faithful steed stepped up to help him, breathing smelly fumes into his face.“Blah!” Lance sputtered, trying to clear his tongue of the frothy waft. “What have you been eating, Percy?”His pet’s pungent wake-up call forced Lance to roll over. When the heat of Percy’s breath continued to eat into the shield of his pending sleep, Lance finally gave in to his beast’s rude awakening.“Alright, I’m getting up. Back from me, you fearsome brute.”The horse was far from intimidated by Lance’s waking grogginess; instead, he moved closer to his master, nuzzling him with his wet nose.“You’re lucky you’re the runt of your family,” Lance grumbled, sitting up. He patted down his hair, brushing the chestnut locks out of his eyes, before taking in the full sight of the bouncing creature before him. “Or you would be tied outside, like the ones at my mother’s house.”Percy gave a small yip, and the nuzzle became a nudge.“Alright, alright,” Lance muttered, petting his horse’s long, flowing mane playfully. “I know you’re hungry.”He also knew there was no point in trying to sleep when Percy was hungry—no matter how sleepy he still was.“I suppose you’re right, anyway, Percy.” Lance yawned and rubbed his hands over his face. “We promised the princess we would save her today, and every knight knows there is nothing more important than completing his quest.”Lance tossed Percy several treats and stroked his pet affectionately, before he put on his armor for the day. He pulled a breastplate polished to a shine over his head, slipped his feet into protective boots, and even donned a helmet to protect his face from the bright summer sunshine.Before too long, he stepped outside his quarters. Percy came trotting eagerly after him. With his steed at his side and a grin on his face, Lance set out into the morning to see his princess.“Princess Alexandra, I am coming for you,” he called out rapturously, eager to see his beloved once more.FROM THE AUTHOR: It's a good romantic tale that hints at the darker sides of depression and mental health, and the troubles we sometimes face when we befriend our demons, with liquid portals, jokes about avocados, strange references to illegal plants, and coffee runs. What's not to love? WHAT REVIEWERS ARE SAYING: "... An endearing story of love ... " ~ Dee Bookworm

*A USA Today Bestseller* He traveled to hell, danced with the devil and made it back to her, but his toughest challenge is still ahead...getting her to marry him. As a SEAL, Jon Rudnick dodged copper and lead without flinching, but just the thought of one tiny gold band around his ring finger has always sent him into a cold sweat. Love is one thing, but marriage is another. He's not sure he's ready for that just yet, until a near miss serves as a wake-up call he can't ignore.Now he's ready, but his girlfriend Ali has gone from rushing him toward the altar, to running in the opposite direction at full speed. Hell if Jon can figure out why, but he knows one thing--all's fair in love and war. He's not going to rest until he makes Ali his again. This time for good.

Islandia had been without a High King for a generation. Eloy, the last High King, embarked upon a journey shrouded in mystery after a cryptic warning found from a long lost prophet promised a return of ancient dark forces. Eloy had placed the rule of Islandia and the five kingdoms in the hands of his closest friend, King Richard. After thirty years most have long since stopped looking for Eloy's return or the darkness foretold. Many under Richard's rule have grown discontent and jealous of his appointment. All hope for peace is lost and chaos reigns after the icy hand of an assassin takes the life of King Richard and plucks him from the throne. What now? Will Prince Titus, Richard's son, have the strength to hold Islandia together, or will it descend into war over the High King's throne! The kingdom is divided by the sword as each must decide where their loyalties lie.

Her heart might be broken, but her spirit won’t be crushed.As the dark-skinned princess from the Southern Colonies—formerly the kingdom of Marula—Ebony is no stranger to hardship and ridicule.Forced into royal servitude after the death of her father, Ebony resolved to keep her head held high despite her sorrow—no matter how much vitriol she endured from her stepmother, Varyes, Queen of Pommier. And when the Queen’s son, Prince Rion, helps to piece her broken heart back together with his love and kindness, Ebony begins to hope she will one day find a new home for herself.But when Queen Varyes loses the Southern Colonies to its warring neighbors, she strikes out for vengeance—and Ebony is her first target.Can Ebony survive the wrath and cunning of her wicked stepmother—even if her survival means giving up her claim on Prince Rion’s heart?

IT'S HERE AT LAST - THE STARLIGHT CHRONICLES, COLLECTOR'S BOXED SET, BOOKS 1-4, with SHORT STORY EPISODES IN BETWEEN EACH BOOK!Box Set includes: BOOK 1, SLUMBERINGA CHRISTMAS EPISODE, AWAKENINGBOOK 2, CALLINGA STARRY KNIGHT EPISODE, FALLINGBOOK 3, SUBMERGINGA WEDDING EPISODE, SEEINGBOOK 4, REMEMBERINGA DATE NIGHT EPISODE, BELONGING Hamilton Dinger has a nearly perfect life as he enters into tenth grade at Apollo Central High School. He has the grades for the top of the class, the good looks, and the charm to get away with just about anything. There is no need for him to believe in anything other than himself, and the idea of good and evil is laughable. But all that changes when a meteorite strikes his town, and the Seven Deadly Sinisters, and their leader, Orpheus, are released. They prey on the city residents, collecting their souls for energy and nefarious purposes. As this is happening, Hamilton's longtime dormant supernatural powers are awakened, and he discovers he is a fallen Star. And not only that, he has been called to seal away the Sinisters once more - all to Hamilton's dismay. As the supernatural calling interrupts his perfect life - with his friends at school, his fame on the football team, and his prestigious job at the mayor's office - Hamilton finds a mix of relief and further aggravation in Elysian, a changeling dragon who declares himself to be Hamilton's "mentor," and Starry Knight, Hamilton's infuriating, secretive, and powerful co-defender, another fallen Star who has the power to seal away the Sinisters and their soul-sucking minions. Can Hamilton and his team find a way to work together to save Apollo City? Can Hamilton overcome his own selfish desires to find the will to fight? Find out in the first part of this epic fantasy adventure series about superheroes, fallen Stars, and high school from C. S. Johnson!

Even a Ghost can dream ...As a Ghost Child and Handmaiden to Ceru, the Great Sea Serpent and Guardian of the Laenite Tribe, all seventeen-year-old Thessa wants is a family of her own. When Ceru tells her she will marry an outsider and bear a child of prophecy, Thessa is more than excited-especially when the boy she loves, Garrison Rico, the son of the Arian Kingdom's ambassador, agrees to marry her.But the day of their engagement ceremony, Garrison withdraws his offer and takes his leave of Laena, and Thessa is left alone, humiliated and rejected by her community. Unable to reconcile Garrison's departure, Thessa questions her fidelity to Ceru for the first time-and sets out to defy him in revenge.Dragon Tears is a companion novella to The Alliance of the Dragon Sword, a Christian fantasy series from award-winning, genre-hopping author C. S. Johnson.

Years after Sapphira's battle against the Dark Plague, Princess Selene has grown up - and so has her daughter, Terra. Despite her mother's numerous stories and the affirmation of her friends and people, Terra sees the world as a place that still welcomes darkness, and she wonders if the Dark Plague is really gone - and if Pegasus was truly as real as her mother says. When tragedy strikes, Terra is faced with the haunting question of whether or not she can believe - and whether it really matters in the end.

Islandia had been without a High King for a generation. Eloy, the last High King, embarked upon a journey shrouded in mystery after a cryptic warning found from a long lost prophet promised a return of ancient dark forces. Eloy had placed the rule of Islandia and the five kingdoms in the hands of his closest friend, King Richard. After thirty years most have long since stopped looking for Eloy's return or the darkness foretold. Many under Richard's rule have grown discontent and jealous of his appointment. All hope for peace is lost and chaos reigns after the icy hand of an assassin takes the life of King Richard and plucks him from the throne. What now? Will Prince Titus, Richard’s son, have the strength to hold Islandia together, or will it descend into war over the High King’s throne! The kingdom is divided by the sword as each must decide where their loyalties lie. -Experience an edge of your seat thrill ride as each kingdom of Islandia seeks to carve out their own rule-Explore a tale of loyalty and lordship

“You want to be free,” Theo told her. “But you don’t even allow yourself to dream of it, even with small things, like singing a song.” A new wave of anger, both at him and at herself, washed over her. “If I am free, I am free to refuse,” she muttered. “It’s not a matter of freedom, but fear.” “I am not afraid!”“Aren’t you?” Theo asked quietly. “No.” Rose waited to hear Theo argue with her. But he said nothing. In order to defeat the sorceress Magdalina, and free herself from her curse, Rose, the Princess of Rhone, has set out to find dragon’s blood. As she travels toward the Romani territory, where the Serpent’s Garden resides, she is accompanied by her faithful group of friends, including their newest member, Prince Philip of Einish. But when the group ends up shipwrecked on the small island of Maltia, they find themselves trapped without supplies and a way off the island. With time, money, and new enemies working against them, Rose remains determined despite her despair to rise to each challenge. But can she face the growing fear—and longing—inside herself? Sweet, suspenseful, and full of surprises, Beauty’s Quest is the second book in the Once Upon a Princess saga from C. S. Johnson. Enjoy Part II of this historical fantasy retelling of the Sleeping Beauty fairy tale!

Asking for help is only the first step Jennifer can’t go on like this—binging, purging, starving, all while trying to appear like she’s got it all together. But when she finally confesses her secret to her parents and is hospitalized at the Samuel Tuke Center, her journey is only beginning. As Jennifer progresses through her treatment, she learns to recognize her relationships with food, friends, and family—and how each relationship is healthy or unhealthy. She has to learn to trust herself and her own instincts, but that’s easier than it sounds. She has to believe—after many years of being a believarexic. Using her trademark dark humor and powerful emotion, J. J. Johnson tells an inspiring story that is based on her own experience of being hospitalized for an eating disorder as a teenager. The innovative format—which tells Jennifer’s story through blank verse and prose, with changes in tense and voice, and uses forms, workbooks, and journal entries—mirrors the protagonist’s progress toward a healthy body and mind.

The Girth of a Hero ...Kallie Grande-White aspired to worldwide fame and adoration, but she never wanted it like this. After sort of innocently eating her grandmother's radioactive doughnuts in a fit of manic-depressive rage, and then arriving at her Model Middle America audition, Kallie transformed into a giant balloon-sized would-be superhero, even falling through her dressing room door just in time to stop a terrorist from taking Cuttingham City Amphitheater hostage.As Kallie becomes a beloved city hero and overnight sensation, there's more on her mind when Kallie's grandmother, Abuela-Blanca, reveals the origins of the radioactive doughnuts -- and why she now needs Kallie's help in bringing down an even bigger threat.And while there's nothing Kallie wants to do less than take up the media's given mantle of "Fatgirl," she soon finds out she has little choice -- not if she wants to keep her identity a secret, and not if she ever wants to get her mother to come back home. You can't make a full doughnut sandwich with only one doughnut. Double up for the full origin story of everyone's newest favorite doughnut-eating superhero! Fatgirl: Origins: Part Two is the conclusion to the origin story of this satirical science fiction superhero take on growing up, PC culture, and diet culture from award-winning, genre-hopping author C. S. Johnson.

“You’re crazy,” Rose said. “He knows, of all people, how I feel about love.” “And he is the one person, of all people, who is determined to get past the barriers you have in your heart.” Rose shook her head. “He won’t.” Rose, the Princess of Rhone, doomed to fall into a sleeping death on her eighteenth birthday, has only ever wanted two things in all her life: to be free of her curse, and to never fall in love. After securing the dragon's blood from the Serpent's Garden, Rose is confident she has all she needs to free herself from Magdalina's curse. But when Magdalina comes to offer Rose a new deal—one that would free her from her curse, while also eliminating future threats—Rose is forced to confront the truth of her feelings for Theo. As Theo's past and new troubles interrupt their journey back to Rhone, Rose knows she must make a devastating choice. Will she let herself fall in love? Or will she break her own heart instead? This novella series is an expanded retelling of the Sleeping Beauty, with new characters, new plot twists, and plenty of action and adventure, perfect for teen and young adult historical fantasy readers. Look for the conclusion of this saga in "Beauty's Gift."