Art Deco buildings still lift their modernist principles and streamlined chrome into the skies of Baltimore and Washington, D.C.
Second Place Winner of the Design and Effectiveness Award of the Washington Publishers
The bold lines and decorative details of Art Deco have stood the test of time since one of its first appearances in the International Exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Arts in Paris in 1925. Reflecting the confidence of modern mentality―streamlined, chrome, and glossy black―along with simple elegance, sharp lines, and cosmopolitan aspirations, Art Deco carried surprises, juxtaposing designs growing out of speed (racecars and airplanes) with ancient Egyptian and Mexican details, visual references to Russian ballet, and allusions to Asian art.
While most often associated with such masterworks as New York’s Chrysler Building, Art Deco is evident in the architecture of many U.S. cities, including Washington and Baltimore. By updating the findings of two regional studies from the 1980s with new research, Richard Striner and Melissa Blair explore the most significant Art Deco buildings still standing and mourn those that have been lost.
This comparative study illuminates contrasts between the white-collar New Deal capital and the blue-collar industrial port city, while noting such striking commonalities as the regional patterns of Baltimore’s John Jacob Zinc, who designed Art Deco cinemas in both cities.
Uneven preservation efforts have allowed significant losses, but surviving examples of Art Deco architecture include the Bank of America building in Baltimore (now better known as 10 Light Street) and the Uptown Theater on Connecticut Avenue NW in Washington. Although possibly less glamorous or flamboyant than exemplars in New York or Miami, the authors find these structures―along with apartment houses and government buildings―typical of the Deco architecture found throughout the United States and well worth preserving.
Demonstrating how an international design movement found its way into ordinary places, this study will appeal to architectural historians, as well as regional residents interested in developing a greater appreciation of Art Deco architecture in the mid-Atlantic region.

Washington and Baltimore Art Deco: A Design History of Neighboring Cities

Arts & Photography

Blair, Melissa

Striner, Richard

History & Criticism

Johns Hopkins University Press

The BookTok sensation from debut author Melissa Blair—now with exclusive bonus content!\n"Gripping and fierce. This is much-needed fantasy with its fangs honed sharp by the power of resistance. Melissa Blair has built a tremendous world."—Chloe Gong, #1 New York Times bestselling author of These Violent Delights\nMy body is made of scars, 
some were done to me, 
but most I did to myself.\nKeera is a killer. As the King's Blade, she is the most talented spy in the kingdom. And the king’s favored assassin. When a mysterious figure moves against the Crown, Keera is called upon to hunt down the so-called Shadow. She tracks her target into the magical lands of the Fae, but Faeland is not what it seems . . . and neither is the Shadow. Keera is shocked by what she learns, and can't help but wonder who her enemy truly is: the King that destroyed her people or the Shadow that threatens the peace?\nAs she searches for answers, Keera is haunted by a promise she made long ago, one that will test her in every way. To keep her word, Keera must not only save herself, but an entire kingdom.\nFans of fast-paced high fantasy such as A Court of Thorns and Roses series, The Inadequate Heir, and From Blood and Ash author Jennifer L. Armentrout, will enjoy the fierce female characters, sapphic representation, and fantasy romance of A Broken Blade.

A Broken Blade (The Halfling Saga)

Literature & Fiction

World Literature

Union Square & Co.

The highly anticipated second installment of the fantasy saga that took BookTok by storm sees Keera navigate political scheming, backstabbing, and her own grief as she moves against the cruel king that holds her kingdom hostage. To the kingdom, Keera is the king's Blade, his most feared and trusted spy and assassin. But in the shadows, she works with Prince Killian and his Shadow--the dark, brooding Fae, Riven, who sets her blood on fire. Together, they plot to topple the crown that sits upon the king's head. A secret can only survive as long as its conspirators, and when nothing is as it seems, all are in danger. Keera swore she would never open her heart again after a loss she barely survived. But she will soon find she has more to lose than she ever imagined . . .

A Shadow Crown (The Halfling Saga)

The thrilling third entry in the high fantasy saga that started with BookTok sensation A Broken Blade. &nbsp; "It seems fate has dealt me the same hand again. I know how to play it."&nbsp; &nbsp; A new king is on the throne and the rebellion lies in ruins. Keera spends her days drinking and her nights avoiding the strange dreams that have haunted her since she returned from the capital. Keera's family in Myrelinth won't let her go without a fight. With new intelligence about the magical seals left behind by Keera's ancient kin, the Light Fae, she rallies to face her demons and unleash the formidable powers she inherited from her people. But a shocking truth is hiding in plain sight, one with the power to unravel the entire rebellion... The pivotal third installment in the Halfling Saga will upend everything Keera thought she knew about her enemies . . . and her allies. &nbsp; The third entry in the Halfling Saga, the epic tale of a deadly assassin with a mysterious past, set in a lush fantasy world of Mortals, Elves, Halflings, and Fae, A Vicious Game is perfect for readers who enjoyed the A Court of Thorns and Roses series and other romantic fantasy books, especially those seeking LGBTQ+ romance or BIPOC representation.

A Vicious Game (The Halfling Saga)

Romance

Paranormal

This thrilling romantasy about king's Blade, Keera, and her epic quest to avenge her lover, save her people, and bring down a tyrant king is the final installment of Melissa Blair's highly acclaimed series. The Halfling Saga showcases BIPOC and queer representation, love, passion, betrayal, magic, and great battles of the sword and the soul. "Your land is not the one you take; it is the one you die for." Keera has tried to keep her final promise to Brenna, the partner she was forced to kill to save a kingdom--but that promise has led to the most difficult struggles of her life. She's been at war with her worst self while battling King Damien for the freedom of the Halflings, and she's lost too many along the way. But when she finally breaks the last seal, unleashing the Fae magic that's been hidden away for hundreds of years, the conflict seems to be turning in the Halflings' favor. &nbsp; Meanwhile, Keera's discovery of a staggering secret about her lover and the kidnapping of one of her closest allies threatens to tip her back into darkness, but she has no time to rest. Opening the kingdom's magical seals has transformed Keera in ways even the wisest Fae elders could not have anticipated, and the return of an evil thought long vanquished throws their rescue plans into chaos. And with the kingdom's Halfling population suddenly posing a risk to the crown, the land is plunged into violence as the king begins a new blood purge. Keera and her allies must gather an army to meet Damien's forces in a final confrontation of epic--and tragic--proportions. &nbsp; The stunning conclusion of BookTok sensation Melissa Blair's epically romantic series will leave readers breathless as Keera fights for her land, her people, and the promise of a better world. &nbsp;

An Honored Vow (The Halfling Saga)

Science Fiction & Fantasy

Fantasy

A Broken Blade

Nibi Books

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Books by Blair, Melissa