Child of Vanris by Nikki McCormack

SPFBO10

At five years old, Kasiel was found with the pointed ends of his ears cut off. Despite that brutal start, he’s lived twelve peaceful years with the man who took him in. Keeping his hair long over his mutilated ears helps him hide the fact that he is Vanrian, a child of the enemy. Everything changes when mercenaries arrive hunting for Kasiel. The last people he expects to come to his rescue are Vanrian soldiers, one of whom claims to be his spirit brother, whatever that means. They plan to take him across the war zone to deliver him to his real father, a man whose name strikes terror in his enemies. With his secret exposed, Kasiel can’t return to his old home. This is his chance to find out who he was supposed to be. It means traveling to a foreign land where they have unusual psychic abilities he may share. It also means leaving behind everything he’s ever cared about. If he is to survive, he will need to learn their language and culture and earn his place in their society. Meanwhile, the man who cut Kasiel’s ears will do anything to keep him out of his true father’s hands, even if it means killing him.

Beneath the Gods' Tree by S. Kaeth

Amanah knows all-too-well the dangers of catching the attention of the upper class of Arruk. Using her position as a guard to steal secrets of healing and help other lower class people means she works hard to remain unnoticed. Fellow guard Taunos is boisterous, laughing, larger than life–and always around. He attracts attention as easily as breathing, which makes being associated with him dangerous. Better to stay far away, regardless of her attraction to him and his easy calm. But when Amanah inadvertently insults a magistrate, she must flee the city to avoid his vengeance. She takes a last-minute job escorting a pair of noblemen to another town–a job Taunos is also hired for. Along the way, she’s forced to reveal her stolen healing skills to keep the small group alive, and finds more support from Taunos than she ever would have dreamed. His confident charm becomes hard to ignore as he sees her as no one else has, even when she’s doing her best to be invisible. But opening herself to romance might be as dangerous as the wildlife and bandits they face in the wilderness, and pursuing her dreams of becoming a healer could attract the ire of those in power. This book has: so much banter; strong sibling relationship; strong friendships; friends-to-lovers (low steam); gay side characters; main character anxiety rep; diverse cast with immersive worldbuilding; action and adventure, wilderness survival style; low fantasy (none of the main group displays clear magic on page); single PoV, third person past tense

No Heart for a Thief by James Lloyd Dulin

SPFBO9

We are the stories we tell ourselves...even the lies. The Thief, a great spirit, and her descendants have abused their ability to steal magic for centuries. When Kaylo starts to hear the song of other people’s magic, he must learn to hide from his people as well as the invaders. A gift or a curse, Kaylo may be able to save his people from the Gousht Empire that claimed their land with this stolen magic.

 Eighteen years later, Kaylo still prays to the spirits, but not out of loyalty or love. He knows better than to rely on those selfish bastards for anything. While hiding in the forest from his foolish acts of rebellion, he encounters a girl, Tayen, being pursued by two soldiers of the empire. Against his better judgment, he risks facing the consequences of his past to intervene.

 When Tayen attempts to run off seeking vengeance for her family, he offers to train her to wield her magic and a blade. If he can’t convince her to relinquish her need for vengeance and stave off the demons of his past, he’s going to get them both killed.

A Necessary Chaos Reviewed by Booksthatburn book blogger

Review posts November 24th, 2024.

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Well, Well, Well Reviewed by BlueSmokeFire book blogger

Jody's character work is phenomenal. This one keeps you on your mental toes.

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Jack of Thorns (Inheritance, 1) Reviewed by konstance author

Combine the creepiness from The Magicians with nature-magic, a flower shop, the pain of addictions, and you get the beginning of a good series.

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Not Your Bargain (Not Your Adventures Book 2) Reviewed by konstance author

A cozy-esque adventure with D&D vibes, but make it a jaded old man waiting for the end of the world. But even shorter: two old guys on their last adventure.

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The Hunter Reviewed by indyman book blogger

The Hunter is a great debut into epic fantasy with excellent character work, strong worldbuilding, and a long yet fun journey which makes it a fantastic read.

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The Scorching: The World in My Hands by Nick Snape

A lonely PA, a rebellious teenager, two ordinary people on a deadly journey to save humanity. The world is heading towards global collapse as The Scorching takes full effect. Salvation vessels orbit the Earth, waiting to transport the chosen few away from danger and to start again; ten plantships grown by an alien species for the wealthiest and most powerful, or those lucky enough to be selected by lottery. The rest remain behind, their future dependent on the Drathken finding a solution to Earth’s problems. Jenna, Personal Assistant to a prominent oil mogul, feels privileged to be among the saved, never questioning her good fortune. While Seth suffers, forced to leave his friends behind as his family takes their place aboard their luxurious ship. Yet not all is well on board. Dark secrets lurk in the corridors and depths of their respective ships, dragging Jenna and Seth into a world of malice and violence they thought they had left far behind. "Immersive and approachable sci-fi, and one that won’t easily be forgotten." Literary Titan

Tangled in Ribbons by Penny Heart

On a trip that goes awry from the start,... Vicky and Michelle, best friends since childhood, rented a cabin for a last hurrah together before Michelle's upcoming nuptials. The day of their trip, Michelle receives an email with proof her fiance cheated on her. The two women head to the cabin anyway to escape the chaos of a cancelled wedding. Neither of them expected the cabin to already occupied by three sexy guys. Vicky's snowed in with three hot guys... When Michelle's ex shows up unexpectedly to set the story straight and asks to meet her at a nearby hotel, Vicky gets snowed in with the three men, where things get even hotter! It starts out as happy fun times, but what happens when none of them want to let go? What else is she supposed to do to pass the time other than them? Read "Tangled in Ribbons" to find out if they salvage their friendships when jealousies, insecurities, and realities intrude in this snowed in, why choose adventure. This is full consensual, why choose erotic romance with MFMM and limited MM action. For a list of sexual activities included in this book, please check out https://www.pennyheartbooks.com/#books This story was previously released on Kindle Vella. This version has been modified to include additional content, including additional spicy scenes and other material to further develop the characters and story. Contains extensive explicit sexual language.

A Necessary Chaos by Brett Lambert

Vade is an anarchist, a Phantom Dragon. Althus is a Touchstone--an Imperial agent. Their love was never meant to survive. In a world of magical empires and the anarchists that would tear them down, A Necessary Chaos is the story of Althus and Vade, assigned to spy on the other by opposing sides. But now that they've both caught feelings, where will their loyalties fall? They must each decide if they'll follow orders or find a way to make their romance thrive beyond the lies. Part of the Neon Hemlock Novella Series.

The Fairy Wren by Ashley Capes

From the moment a fairy wren drops his lost wedding ring at his feet, Paul realises there's more magic to the world than he thought... When Paul Fischer receives a strange phone call asking for help, from a woman who might be his estranged wife Rachel, he's drawn into a mysterious search that threatens not only his struggling bookstore, but long-buried dreams too. Unfortunately, the only help comes from a shady best friend, an Italian runaway and a strange blue fairy wren that seems to be trying to tell him something - yet the further he follows the clues it leaves the less sense the world seems to make. Is he on the verge of a magical, beautiful discovery or at the point of total disaster?

Those Who Broke the World by Derek Ward-Colston

"Soon there will be heroes, gods, and villains that once fell under the guise of mythology intertwined into the lives of every human." Those Who Broke the World is a collection of science fiction and fantasy short stories, all the stories take place in the same universe on an Earth not unlike our own, but one that is soon destined to become filled with chaos and legends. Those who Broke the World has stories of action and drama that are all interconnected and slowly form a larger plot as the book progresses. It is not an ending, but the beginning of much larger things to come.

The Sound of Starfall by Scott Palmer

This is the end The Warlocks of Yehven have ruled over the Remembered Lands with their songs of dark sorcery since the skies were new. But now, beneath the shadow of an approaching comet, a mysterious death cult from the wild lands have arrived in the name of Nature to exterminate the Warlocks and their sorcerous Words with them. As the death cult breaches the walls of the Golden City and Ailar crumbles into anarchy, a Warlock, an enslaved man, and a guard are forced to make decisions that will shape the world for thousands of years to come. The sky is falling Nightmares are waking The sound of starfall eats all else

Snowed in at The Sunny Day Café by A.L. Davidson

Eli is a fallen angel living his second life in the quaint town of New Eden, where every day is filled with magic and cheer in his bakery, The Sunny Day Café. Housing a near-obsessive love for the holidays, Eli goes all out with the decorations and cookies as he awaits the arrival of Christmas. This Christmas is anything but sweet, however, as Eli’s tree is lacking presents and his little shop is empty for the second holiday season in a row. To make matters worse, the furnace is on the fritz and a blizzard is on the way. Just when he didn’t think his Christmas could be any crappier, in walks Des, his handsome (literal) demon of an ex-boyfriend. Des offers to fix up Eli’s furnace in exchange for a cappuccino and some company, but as the storm picks up and the winds grow stronger, a power outage drapes The Sunny Day Café in darkness! The exes soon find themselves snowed in and unable to do much more than chat and huddle together for warmth. Eli and Des are forced to face the unresolved issues that drove a wedge between them years prior, and the chilly Christmas Eve may just turn into one hell of a holiday they’ll never forget.

Lover, Thy Name Is Pestilence by A.L. Davidson

Dakota and Ed Hollander have lived quiet, isolated lives deep in the Smoky Mountains for nearly a decade without much trouble—despite the pious locals who scrutinize their way of life. Everything changes overnight as a brutal civil war decimates the United States, leaving behind a wasteland of decay and ruin in its wake. The country is shaken to its core for nearly nine months before all falls silent… Now, in a world recovering from famine and war, Dakota and Ed fight to prepare themselves for the harsh winter that will soon arrive on their doorstep. But Dakota’s sense of safety is rattled when lost travelers come knocking, and everything Ed told them about the world post-disaster is scrutinized when the secrets hidden in the cellar desperately claw their way to the surface. The carnage of Ed’s devotion is strewn across the snow in blood red streaks, and Dakota finds themself making drastic choices that threaten to strip away their humanity like flesh off a carcass. At the end of the world, love is written with the blade of an axe, and the most haunting plague of all may just be man’s own hubris.

Transference by Ian Patterson

Nicholas Fiveboroughs is a Sicko, someone that takes on others' illnesses. In a city where diseases can be transferred, the rich buy longer lives without pain, and the poor get a short life of constant sickness. Maybe it was fate, or maybe someone is looking out for him, but after Nicholas barely survives his latest affliction, he gets the chance to try and change things. To finally stop the whole disease transfer network. Tensions escalate as Nicholas infiltrates a higher society he doesn’t understand, and starts to fall for the very person he needs to manipulate to be successful. And between run-ins with a talking animal and genetically modified humans, the world around him just keeps getting stranger. Can Nicholas tear down the disease transfer architecture? And can he do it without losing his own humanity along the way?

Pathlighter by Rob Leigh

James is convinced that the gods have cursed him, left to fend for himself in a squalid city-state in the clutches of a corrupt theocracy. As a lamplighter, James serves the palace by illuminating the streets each night with a flame from the gods' temple. Despite his disdain for the gods, he feels a connection with the flame, and a surprising yet small amount of control over its brightness. For him, a quiet life weathering the desert was all he had to look forward to. That is, until others appear. From distant corners of the world, each has connective power to the gods, and each a past of great consequence. A soldier, an idealist, a hero, and a monster. Each squabbles according to their own desires, but cannot afford to exist alone any longer. Ancient devils and horrors beyond time have come to reclaim the world from the gods, but the forms they take and power they wield are anything but understood. The debut epic fantasy novel of author Rob Leigh, Pathlighter depicts a world struggling to grapple with the consequences of an unknown past and uncaring gods, featuring nuanced characters and a story of self-realization, found family, betrayal, and hope.

Performances of a Death Metal Bard: A Brutal Novella by Rob Leigh

Unfortunately, Death Metal doesn’t get much play in this sleepy, peaceful, actually kind of boring kingdom. Of course not. It’s tough inventing a genre on your own, and it doesn’t help when all the instruments you’ve tried up to this point don’t match the brutality necessary for a dark and heavy performance. My coin only seems to be enough to get me to the next run-down village, and it’s dwindling fast. To make matters worse, my newest lute is not normal. It never stays in tune, it’s barely holding together, and it keeps whispering to me. Over and over, demands for vengeance and murder echo in my head, with the promise that I’ll find the sound I need if I just listen to the voices. So what’s a starving bard to do? Performances of a Death Metal Bard is a brutal fantasy adventure inspired by The Witcher and Metalocalypse, merging the episodic travels of a musical elf with the darkness, blood, and raw riffs of the heaviest metal the kingdom has ever seen.

An Exile of Water & Gold by Joshua Walker

Brandon Sanderson's Rhythm of War meets Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time in this epic fantasy mystery adventure. EXILED FROM HEAVEN. FORCED INTO HELL. For centuries, the Aobians of the Great Tree have shared the continent of Q’ara with humanity. A select few known as Sleepers are empowered by Luminosity, the Tree’s greatest blessing. Drift, a young and cynical Aobian, has been exiled from his homeland – forever. Now, with no understanding of this condemnation, Drift must traverse the land of humans below, and find his purpose in an ever-changing world. Tarri, his betrothed, seeks to do the same, whilst also bringing him home. Elsewhere on Q’ara, an unknown organisation seeks to weaponise Luminosity for their own nefarious purposes. Drift himself is a part of this puzzle, and it quickly becomes apparent that the struggle for true power in Q’ara is emerging for reasons greater than anyone is prepared to grasp.

Canceled by Tim Cann

If it feels good to be bad, then these ladies are in ecstasy! Meet Lane Bryantt, shameless debutante and mother to a pair of lusty blonde alt-right social media influencers, and follow her family to contemporary left-coast Los Angeles as they become trapped on a dystopian reality television show of their own making. Will they escape the clutches of their evil producer, or will they be doomed to evolve into a life forever lived on the screen? Follow Lane and her family’s misadventures in this satiric, humorous take on social media and reality television until they finally find that rarest of commodities in modern-day society—privacy!

The Storm Beneath the World by Michael R. Fletcher

Cursed by the gods. The insectile ashkaro live on flying islands travelling the eternal River of Days while a hellish firestorm devours the world below. Collected into queendoms, the higher caste brights live in the luxurious windward rain-forest while the servile dulls scrape out a desperate existence in the leeward desert. Conflicts escalate between two neighbouring queendoms. Where Nysh embraces modern ideals of equality and independence, Yil honours the Fallen Goddess by enslaving their neighbours and maintaining traditional castes. In preparation for the imminent war, Nysh sends ashkaro youths with dangerous Talents to secret schools, training them as assassins and spies. Joh, a dull male with a Talent for suggestion, and Ahk, a bright female with a Talent for stealth, are torn from their families and thrown into the academy. The two naively believe that the biggest threat comes from the other students, not realizing the war has already begun. United in purpose, divided by caste, they can only save the island from the Mad Queen by working together.

Well, Well, Well by Jody Wenner

No one wants to hear about another person’s dream—unless they’re in it. Bren Wendell, a Midwestern journalist, is compelled to write a column about a seemingly benign dream but worries it will be a career breaker; instead, it spreads like a virus. Letters start pouring in, and to the entire newsroom’s shock, they are not all written by angry boomers. Thousands of readers claim they’ve had the same dream. And somehow Bren has been deemed head weaver. As the country slips into hysterics over its meaning, Bren and her co-worker Zack head out to tackle several of the wackier stories for the newspaper. Feeling pressure to find solid answers, Bren sets aside her own personal problems and digs deep into the investigation. When someone leaks private information about her to the press, the masses deify her on a whole new level, making the work more difficult. A strange conversation she has with a retired psychology professor leads her to wonder if she alone could be responsible for all of the madness she’s witnessed. In order to right the wrong and get things back to normal, Bren has to switch gears and prove the dream wasn’t real.

This Is How Immortals Die by Nicole Hidalgo

Aphrodite, Goddess of Love, unleashed a life-changing apocalypse that reshaped the world and cursed humankind with immortality. Now injury, old age, and death mean nothing. Until the Soul connects with its Twin. Once true Love is found, immortality is lost. The Priestesses of Aphrodite exist to hunt down and send those blessed souls to Aphrodite’s Golden Palace in the afterlife. They are devout and efficient… if only a little blinded by the lustre of gold and the taste of blood. Carys Epistro’phia, an infamous Priestess, will go to great lengths to put her hands on a chest with fifty thousand gold coins. Including turning a blind eye to Twin Souls who rule over an isolated island and are willing to hire her unique skills to bring their daughter back home. Princess Ishana, a fragile and naive girl who has never died before, is Carys’ key to the treasure… as long as she arrives home with her soul intact. But in this sacrilegious contract, not everything is as it seems, and sometimes the heart has its own schemes.

Reverence by Milena McKay

Two ballerinas. Two fates. One stage. It's the carefree '80s and Juliette Lucian-Sorel has it all. She’s the greatest dancer to ever grace the floorboards of Palais Garnier, she's royalty to her adoring fans, and Paris is at her feet. Or so it seems… Katarina Vyatka is defecting from behind the Iron Curtain, desperate to save herself and her career. Or so she claims… What happens when the Princess of Paris rescues the brightest star in the history of Bolshoi? Will the Paris ballet stage be big enough for both of them? Sparks fly and rivals become lovers as they set their lives ablaze in a torrent of secrets, intrigue and grands jetés!

This Hole Was Made For (You And) Me by Sienna Eggler

Despite constant setbacks, from giant carnivorous plants to fetch quests disguised as life lessons, Meike quickly adapts to life in Glasend. Armed with their growing knowledge of magic, and a thirst for adventure, Meike and friends turn their sights to the neglected Silverstone Mine. But there’s more than gold and silver lurking in its depths… Trolls and kobolds haunt the area, having run out the miners and ransacked the nearby village of Ashfort. Abandoned by their own country, the citizens are desperate for any help they can get. But as the gang comes to find, there’s a reason many have failed to liberate the mine… This Hole Was Made For (You And) Me is the second book of the Last Train Home series, a portal fantasy in a queer normative world.

The Threads That Weave by Sienna Eggler

Tormented by memories of past lives and a general distaste for structure, Sloane dropped out of a prestigious magic college to find themself. During their travels, they came across a curious little creature: a chatty spider that fit snugly in their hands. Unbeknownst to Sloane, this wasn’t a harmless garden or cellar spider. The spider had a craving that mere flies couldn’t quench. It demanded blood and flesh, and when mice failed to suffice, moved on to bigger and dangerous prey. Sloane appeased it as best they could, but as the spider rapidly shot up in size, turned their focus from butcher shops to farms. Together, they concocted a plan to “solve” a manifested loss of cattle. The spider got a steady supply of food, and Sloane got street cred as a “monster slayer”. “What could possibly go wrong?” – Famous last words of any irresponsible pet owner. So now Sloane has a very real infestation to contend with, along with suspicious rangers and wannabe hunters edging in on their turf. “…I’m gonna need a bigger boot.”

The Candid Odyssey by B. Johny

The Candid Odyssey is a captivating travel memoir and a philosophical journey into self-discovery. Join the author on a transformative eight-week solo trip across India, exploring not only its diverse landscapes and vibrant cultures but also the deeper questions of life, happiness, and purpose. This book is a unique blend of travel, philosophy, and self-help, offering readers an opportunity to explore both the outer world and the inner self. Perfect for anyone seeking inspiration to live a more meaningful life.

The Revenge of Captain Vessia by Leslie Allen

Claire Vessia's been sentenced to death. The last survivor of a ship of would-be-pirates captured by the navy, she's been accused of all of their crimes. She will die for it. Determined to go out with her head held high, her plans for a stoic execution are thrown out the window when a highborn lady offers her a chance to escape the noose... if she pays in vials of her own blood. But she is betrayed. Hung from the gallows and buried at sea, she rises amidst the waves as a Vampyri, an undead monster. Without a clue of where, or even what she is, and only a terrible hunger to guide her, it's only when she consumes a person trying to help her that she begins to understands what's been done to her. Swearing revenge against the noble woman that turned her, the nation that accused her, and its people that killed her, Claire makes an oath that she will hunt down anyone under the navy's flag, and carve a blood-strewn path on her quest for vengeance. But when the perfect chance to strike takes the form of the child of her maker - Claire must ask herself how far she's willing to go for justice.

In Which a Demon King Does Not Have a Romantic Interest in His Human Gardener by Rori Thornton

Demon King Jurao returns from his successful thirty-year Union Campaign and discovers something amiss - the castle gardens have a secret caretaker. Using his authority over the sentient plants, he discovers the gardener is... a human! But after hearing the man out, Jurao decides to appoint Braelin as the official Royal Gardener for all his hard work. Now he just needs to figure out why everyone seems to believe he is romantically interested in the human...

Mountain of Light by Jena Bowers

Fast-paced, thrilling, and full of twists, Mountain of Light is a high-stakes heist novel where the robbery leaves you questioning - who are the real criminals? A classic heist peppered with morality conflicts, for fans of Portrait of a Thief, the Ocean’s heist series, and The Feather Thief. The target: priceless jewels stolen centuries ago, now hidden in plain site. Come along for the ride with an elite crew of international thieves as they pull off the cultural heist of a lifetime and unearth centuries-old secrets that reveal the complicated future of art repatriation. The Mountain of Light, the “most infamous diamond in the world,” has been an integral piece of England’s Crown Jewels for the last 170 years. But that changes tonight - the eve of the coronation of the U.K.'s new King, William V. Vigilante thieves are determined to return this jewel to the rightful owner but will they be able to navigate centuries-old transgressions of colonialism and complexities of art repatriation?

Healer's Blade by Kyrie Wang

2023 Page Turner Book Awards - FINALIST 2023 Wishing Shelf Awards - FINALIST A healer on the run. A rebel knight after her heart. Will she betray him to save the England she loves? Eighteen-year-old healer Aliwyn is consigned to solitude after medical failures leave her alienated from her village. With a rebellion against William the Conqueror rumbling on the horizon, she longs to practice her medicine in peace. But when she agrees to hide an orphaned Norman girl, Aliwyn is plunged into the bloody war over the fate of England – a war she’s done her best to avoid. A daring escape from enemy arrows entangles her with the young rebel leader, Tobias, and she is swept into a world of rival factions and secret alliances. Faced with the insurgent army, she must make difficult choices about treating those she despises. Worst of all, Tobias's compassionate nature turns her perceptions of the enemy upside down. After she unravels the fiery secret underpinning the rebel army, Aliwyn is challenged to take fate into her own hands and save England from sweeping destruction. Can she find the courage to fight for what she believes? And can she resist the magnetic charms of the man she’s vowed to defeat? Step into a riveting & magic-free YA fantasy adventure with an authentic historical setting and irresistible slow-burn romance. Set in medieval England rocked by the early introduction of gunpowder and populated by Celtic-inspired tribes, Healer’s Blade is a page-turning read that’s perfect for fans of alternative history. If you like stories with high stakes, political intrigue, and nail-biting action but prefer them to be free from language and sexual content, grab Healer's Blade today!

Crossed Over by Santana Knox

From international best-selling author Santana Knox, comes an LGBTQ, women’s fiction, coming out story like nothing you’ve ever read before. A tale that grips the hearts of those who failed to see eye-to-eye with a parent, and anyone who’s ever denied the truth about themselves. Nia da Silva is dead… Dead serious about moving on from her past, from roller derby, and the traumatic injury that was a crushing blow to not just her body but her mind. Running away from her problems wasn’t the fix she had hoped for. Five years later, she returns to the town that left her with permanent scars. Healing her physical wounds was the bare minimum. She’ll finally have to face herself, and rediscover who she’s always been beneath the lies she’s worn like shredded fishnets over bruised knees. Pretty crossovers, and strong thighs won’t be enough to champion through her problems. Especially when they challenge who she may be at her very core. Crossed Over is a Sapphic, coming out story about healing, facing your fears, and becoming the hero you once needed for yourself. Please check content warnings, this story features adult themes and language that may not be suitable for readers under 18.

The Edge of a World by JD Rivers

A monster lurks under Otar's skin. It has destroyed lives and Otar lives in fear when it will escape his grasp again. But he isn't the only thing that seems out of place in this world: a mysterious ancestor, the Ancients, left behind nothing but ruins and questions. After the monster causes a tragic accident, Otar chooses to travel the Seven Lands to find answers instead of being executed. But time is running out. When the summon for a newly discovered ruin comes, it's his last chance to clear his name. On his journey he faces down slavers looking for easy money, and his former lover - who still makes his heart beat faster. Then the excavation site finally reveals the truths about the Ancients, and it becomes clear that something bigger lurks in the shadows. Otar's connection to his monster could save them all from a catastrophe - but will he be willing to sacrifice it all? The Edge of a World is a Fantasy Sci-Fi story about self-discovery, destiny, and paving your own path.

The Hands of the Emperor by Victoria Goddard

An impulsive word can start a war. A timely word can stop one. A simple act of friendship can change the course of history. Cliopher Mdang is the personal secretary of the Last Emperor of Astandalas, the Lord of Rising Stars, the Lord Magus of Zunidh, the Sun-on-Earth, the god. He has spent more time with the Emperor of Astandalas than any other person. He has never once touched his lord. He has never called him by name. He has never initiated a conversation. One day Cliopher invites the Sun-on-Earth home to the proverbially remote Vangavaye-ve for a holiday. The mere invitation could have seen Cliopher executed for blasphemy. The acceptance upends the world.

Anathema and Tidbit by Stephanie Barr

Rejected even by her own kind, Anathema, the albino dragon, always thought she’d live her centuries alone until, on a whim—on a compulsion—she rescued a tiny black kitten from certain death. She could never have guessed what his companionship would mean for her. More, she could never have predicted the impact sharing her life with him would have on her and so many others. Or the powerful persona lurking in that tiny feline morsel she called Tidbit.

The Companion by E.E. Ottoman

New York, 1948 After years of trying to break into New York City’s literary scene, Madeline Slaughter is emotionally and physically exhausted. When a friend offers her a safe haven as the live-in companion to reclusive, bestselling novelist Victor Hallowell she jumps at the chance to escape the city. Madeline expects to find rest and quiet in the forests of Upstate New York. Instead, she finds Victor, handsome and intensely passionate, and Audrey Coffin, Victor’s mysterious and beautiful neighbor. When Victor offers her a kiss and the promise of more Madeline allows herself to become entangled even as Audrey is also claiming her heart. The only problem is that Audrey and Victor are ex-lovers with plenty of baggage between them. As Madeline finds herself opening up and falling in love with both she starts to wonder, can there be a future for all three?

3 Strikes: Finding Love in Forbidden Places by Cody Draco

In 3 Strikes: Finding Love in Forbidden Places, Cody Draco delivers a raw and haunting memoir of self-discovery, forbidden love, and the ache of unrequited affection. This evocative journey traces Cody’s tumultuous relationships with three pivotal figures in their life: a childhood stepbrother, a charismatic but unattainable boss, and a former high school teacher. Each “strike” exposes the vulnerability, passion, and longing that shaped Cody’s identity, from constant changes of residence to navigating the complexities of mental health and sexuality. Told through a blend of brutally honest prose and strikingly intimate poetry, 3 Strikes explores the pain and beauty of loving those who can never fully love you back. With themes of self-acceptance, heartbreak, and resilience, this memoir is a profound reflection on the trials of queer love and the courage it takes to bloom into yourself—rooted in your own truth, even when love remains just out of reach. For readers who are drawn to deeply personal narratives, 3 Strikes is a powerful reminder that some of the most transformative relationships are the ones we never quite forget, their echoes remaining etched in our hearts and minds for eternity.

Far Flung by Utunu

On the harsh, barren planet of Sands, in the small settlement of Oasis, live three young companions: the inseparable fennecs Bori and Tuther, and their best friend, the hyena Samna. Bori is psionic—and on the distant planet of Verdant, psionics are fervently sought. When the two planets are in conjunction, a shuttle journeys between them, bringing needed resources to Sands and hoping to take gifted psionics back to lush Verdant in return. The shuttle’s imminent arrival signifies opportunities for Oasis, but for the trio it instead evokes dread. For if Bori is chosen, he’d be taken from his dearest friends and the only home he’s ever known. Bori would be broken without Tuther. Tuther would be broken without Bori. And Samna? All he can do is help make their remaining days together a little brighter.

All In by Russell Isler

What dies in Vegas, stays in Vegas. Vampire playboy Eddy Fry has spent years living it up, so to speak, in Las Vegas. In all those decades, not once has he met another of his kind. Until tonight. Eddy learns that, not only are there other vampires out there, the one after him is older and much more powerful than he is. As if that wasn't bad enough, she’s got a small army of supernatural creatures at her beck and call. In a flash, she’s muscled him out of the casino he calls home and left him with an offer he can’t refuse. Out-gunned and out of his depth, Eddy will need to find his own allies, allies who know their way around this whacked-out supernatural world he’s been ignoring for so long. Otherwise, he might just see his first sunrise in years…

Agent. Mother. Other. by Sharn Lee

An ex-covert agent. A loving mother. An unknown power. Rachel’s tranquil life on the terraformed planet of Tir-na shatters when her twenty-year-old son vanishes without a trace. With no ransom demands or clues, she must confront her past and re-enter the treacherous world of the Agency she once abandoned. In a high-stakes race against time, Rachel relies on her deadly agent skills and unlocks forgotten powers, embracing the shocking truth of her past. From the plant-covered solar-punk city of Crayn to a nomadic metropolis built upon colossal wheels, relentlessly rolling across The Wastes, her unwavering love drives her to unimaginable lengths. As the seconds tick away, can Rachel rewrite her destiny and shield her family from an impending threat? Will her rekindled abilities be enough to save her son, or will they be her ultimate downfall? Prepare for a pulse-pounding journey of sacrifice, redemption, and the indomitable spirit of a mother fighting against all odds. Secrets will be unveiled, alliances will be tested, and in the midst of peril, the true impact of the past will be revealed. If you crave thrilling science fiction tales featuring kick-ass women protagonists, rife with covert agents, corrupt corporations, secret bases, underground societies, drug dens, and deadly drone bots, then prepare for an exhilarating ride unlike any other. Get ready to immerse yourself in a world where love knows no bounds and danger lurks at every turn.

Disenchanted by Brianna Sugalski

The Princess Bride and Buffy the Vampire Slayer meet Sarah J. Maas' Throne of Glass in this Breton legend-inspired fantasy debut brimming with wry humor, epic adventure, and an irresistible romance. Lilac Trécesson is a prisoner in her parents' castle after a most wicked secret was revealed on the eve of her fifteenth birthday. Years later, her Accession looms upon her father's decision to abdicate, and between the riotous townsfolk and scheming nobles bent on snatching her throne, she prepares for the worst… Until a letter arrives from The Witch of Lupine Grotto, containing a curious offer to banish her curse forever. She begrudgingly trades her coronet for a cloak and ventures into the forest Brocéliande, only to find herself cornered by a bloodthirsty barkeep who demands her help in exchange for protection against the even deadlier forces of the woods. With only the protection of her inherited dagger—and unsolicited help of the sardonic stranger who inserts himself on her quest—Lilac must find the impious enchantress and return in time to claim her crown. Pity the fool to underestimate the girl with subpar blade skills but the spite to make up for it. This is the tale of a cursed princess, A crestfallen killer, The town that wants them to burn, And the witch who can save them both.

Accrue's End: Affliction by E.R. Smo

His parents were heroes, and now he may get his chance to be one. Whether he’s ready or not. When Kyo’s godfather is infected by the corruption-a spreading affliction that turns people into murderous shadow monsters, he goes to the only mages who can help. But the duo are not the kindly healers they appear. Kyo stumbles upon the victims of their manipulation and necromancy magics, and during the confrontation, the pair vanish with his godfather as a hostage. Desperate to reclaim his family, Kyo gives chase, but his first encounter teaches him he won’t defeat them alone. With the help of an anxiety-ridden cleric, a runaway princess, a fatherly stowaway, and a ten-year-old with the power to summon gods, he sets out to stop the mages before they turn the entire world into living dead and ravenous shades.

Corsair by Henrik Sorenson

In the blood-red skies of Calx, survival is a fleeting hope... Welcome to a world where the sun never rises, a planet torn between burning wastelands and frozen voids, where life clings to the thin Terminator strip, and death is an ever-present shadow. In this hostile environment, biological automaton T-β 63177 awakens from its cold slumber to perform its relentless tasks in a landscape of ice and fire, driven by duty and devoid of emotion—until something changes. When a fellow automaton is crushed by the treacherous ice, 63177 begins to experience something new: a flicker of life beyond its programmed existence. As strange memories stir and the ice-bound world reveals its darkest secrets, 63177’s fate spirals into chaos. Meanwhile, in the far reaches of space, Kalaiapi, an elite Corsair of the Confederation, finds herself locked in a deadly pursuit across the nebulae. On the trail of a mysterious Primus dreme, Kalaiapi is a deadly predator, relentless and cunning, until her prey escapes to a backwater planet. But this is no ordinary chase. As Kalaiapi closes in, she discovers the dark purpose behind the Primus ship's mission and the terrifying forces at play that could unravel the very fabric of the Confederation. What she finds will shake her to her core, testing her sanity, her loyalty, and her understanding of reality itself. Corsair is a gripping tale of survival, rebellion, and discovery set against the backdrop of brutal planetary landscapes and star-spanning wars. As biological constructs struggle with newfound sentience, and a lone warrior confronts the shadow of a galactic conspiracy, all will face choices that will determine the future of worlds, perhaps even the galaxy itself. For fans of science fiction and space operas, this novel is packed with pulse-pounding action, mind-bending twists, and profound questions about identity, free will, and what it means to be alive. Will Kalaiapi find the strength to stop an impending galactic war? Can 63177 break free from its preordained fate? Find out in Corsair, a novel where worlds collide, allegiances are tested, and the line between machine and human blurs.

Blood Red Nails: The Guardians of Iohiri Series Book 1 by L. Joyce

“Iohir, the land of the dead and the living. You will take me there, right?” The world is full of creatures of myth and legend, as well as alternate universes where the dead can reside, where ghosts can mate with the living. Known simply as Ghost Mates, one of them is about to take the world by storm. Asho Woodward, the autistic heir to the Woodward family, never thought he would find himself becoming a Ghost Mate, much less Mating with the ghost responsible for the crimes and murders that have happened over the last several decades in his town. Already dealing with his life and himself, Asho was not prepared for the events to come as a result of his Mating… ones that would change his life forever and likely threaten those he loves. And, he will need more than his Mate’s help to save himself and those he loves, or else everything he knows will be destroyed.

Code red by Talia Cantrell

Forty years ago, the last standing city on Earth, known as Wonderland, changed. A corrupt government has taken control of the citizens through fear. Alice has lived quietly, careful to avoid any issues with the Red Party. A single night on the town changes everything. Alice will stop at nothing to save the people she loves. The Mad Hatter, Cheshire Cat, March Hare, and Caterpillar lead the Resistance, and now Alice must contend with the Red Party and her growing feelings for four men.

A Memory of Song by Scott Palmer

In a dying land, the armies of the dead hold sway. And those who rule them are more god than human. James Culdaine, the last heir of the Northern Throne, was just a young man when the armies of the South murdered his parents and subjugated his lands. He has never forgotten those responsible, nor has he forgiven. He has spent the last ten years living in isolation with The Feldarra; a sacred Northern clan of fierce warriors, led by the fearless Wulfee who, still reeling from the loss of her own children, finds new meaning in protecting what only family she has left. Now, an ancient order of warlocks has returned to the North, singing dark songs composed of blood magic that null the elements and threaten all that is living. With nature depleted and the Southern armies returning to the North, James struggles to embrace the unique power he has long tried to repress; the ability to commune with the spirits of the dead. In the bitter heart of a growing war, with the world dying around them, James and Wulfee desperately seek answers, vengeance, and a way to save the ones they love... No matter the cost. Fires refuse to burn. The skies are thirsty and breathless. The earth won’t eat its rot... Welcome to Ardura.

The Rarkyn's Fall (The Rarkyn Trilogy #2) by Nikky Lee

They survived mancers. They survived monsters. They survived the Storm. With the mountains behind them and Illredus on the horizon, they thought the hardest part of the journey over. They were wrong. Outlawed and on the run, Lyss struggles to control her new and volatile magic. A magic that will destroy her. Her only hope: Find the last remaining witch to tame it. Her only clue: Buried in Illredus. City of mancers. Capital of the Empire. Together, she and Skaar descend into Illredus’ underbelly and discover a warren of illegal magics and the monstrous legacy Lyss’ father left behind. As truth, loyalties, and magic clash, Lyss must decide how far she’ll go to exact justice in her father’s name… And how far she’ll fall to rule the power inside her once and for all.

A Blend of Magic by Kate Kenzie

A witch cannot exist on potions and tea alone. Hiding in the shadows, staunch singleton Willow Anderson is content running her successful business, The Enchanted Emporium. With Christmas days away, she’s eager to exchange selling bespoke tea blends and spells for extended bubble baths and binge-watching festive movies snuggled next to her Maine Coon, Vincent. Nate never usually runs away from his problems, but drunk and disorientated, he finds himself in a small fisherman’s cottage in the Yorkshire coastal town of Whitby. After discovering his girlfriend’s affair, he is in no rush to return to the City. His wish for time alone in a Christmas-free zone comes true until an uninvited feline guest arrives. Neither Nate nor Willow want company, especially from each other, but they have little choice when concussion means they must spend at least twenty-four hours together. Sparks fly and not just the romantic kind. When darkness from Willow’s past returns and threatens to destroy all she has worked for, pursuing a love affair is the last thing she needs. With meddling ghosts and a teenage apprentice with her own matchmaking agenda, love and change are in the air. But can Willow face her fears, and the past, to capture the happiness she deserves?

The Woods Kept Silent by Blair Weeks

Sixty-seven years ago, a young girl vanished without a trace at Camp Rockatchee. Within a month, another girl tragically drowned. Sydney Wilkerson’s grandmother, Ginny Hunt, was a camper at the time, but Sydney never learned all the details. As a kid, she loved to hear her grandmother’s stories about the brighter, happier days of her teenage years. Most of all, Sydney loved playing among the Washington pines that surrounded her grandmother’s home, just yards away from the shuttered, decaying campgrounds. She barely knew about the local rumors that the camp owner dabbled in the occult. She had no idea her grandmother was once friends with bothmissing girls. But when news of Ginny’s death transfers the estate to Sydney, she learns there’s more to her inheritance than a forest and long-lost memories. In fact, Ginny has left her a treasure hunt—a game that takes her deep into the vast forest, with mementos hidden in secret places. At first, Sydney assumes it’s a loving way to say goodbye. She settles into her new life and befriends the handsome but brooding neighbor who inherited the former camp. But as she starts to question what her grandmother is trying to reveal—or rather, what Ginny once tried to hide—Sydney begins to fear what awaits her at the end of the hunt.

Legend by A.J. Calvin

War has come to Novania as brothers fight brother for control of the throne. Colin is an unyielding and ruthless ruler without remorse for the atrocities he has committed. He has disowned his half-brother, for Andrew is dragon-kind. He has exiled Alexander for bearing the Mark of the Magi. He forced Thomas to flee under vague threats of assassination. Now his brothers have gathered allies in order to oppose him. Oppressed Novanians have rallied to their cause, the Corodan have gathered, and even magi from the Southlands have offered their unique talents in the fight. The kingdom burns and the blood of thousands is spilled. Under Colin’s command is a man as ruthless and cold as his king: Robert Claybourne, whose sole motivation is to annihilate the magi – and any who choose to support them. After seeing the power Andrew is capable of, Claybourne makes it his secondary objective to slay the last of the dragon-kind as well.

Serpentus by A.J. Calvin

Dispatched to Stone Hill to oversee the city’s defenses among nebulous rumors of the Shadow Council’s threat, Owen Greenwaters must rely on the city’s guard and its natural defenses to protect the citizens. But when an army of mythical hooded ones bolstered by a sea serpent and the Soulless arrive in the wake of a terrible storm, he knows there is little he can do beyond hope the walls hold – and pray to the gods he and Stone Hill’s people will survive. They are outnumbered, outmatched, and without magical support. Owen is the only knight present in the city. They will be overrun. The Soulless are merciless and rarely take prisoners, but Owen and the survivors of Stone Hill are exceptions… And some fates are worse than death.

Harbinger by A.J. Calvin

The Novanian king has gathered an army in the north with the intent to make war upon the magi. He has exiled all three of his brothers. Andrew and Alexander fled to the Southlands, while Thomas escaped into the hostile northern highlands, the land of Novania’s ancient foe, the insectile Corodan. While Alexander prepares to face Colin’s army in the south, Andrew makes the perilous journey through Novania to seek Thomas’ whereabouts and offer what aid he can. Traveling at his side is Rynn, a powerful mage with the ability to manipulate and form ice. When they fail to locate Thomas after days of searching, Andrew is forced to seek the aid of the Corodan. He has a long and bloody history with their people, and was responsible for the death of their previous Hive-queen. Uncertain if the Corodan will cooperate, but faced with no other hope of locating his brother, he ventures into the heart of the Corodan lands. Without Thomas, the brothers have no hope of overthrowing Colin and his tyranny. Without Thomas, Novania will continue to execute innocent citizens simply for bearing the Mark of the Magi. Without Thomas, the kingdom will be lost.

The Scrivener's Apprentice by Michelle Salsbery

Words have power. Especially hers. When slave-girl Levila Day is sold to a city scrivener, the last thing she expects is to gain magic powers. But her new master not only frees her and offers to teach her his trade, he bestows on her mystical ink that only she has the innate power to use. With this ink, Levila can create detailed illusions of events real or fictional--even places she's never been and people she'll never meet. Levila doesn't know how dangerous her magic might be or how to control it. Seeking answers, Levila and her master must journey overland, braving perilous and magic-riddled lands in hopes of reaching Jhast, the distant town where dwells a half-crazed hermit priest--the only person who might have the knowledge Levila needs. If Levila can reach him before her own power dooms her as it did her father.

Domestication by Shannon Knight

In an eat or be eaten world, domestication is a death sentence. When Janie chose the isolated sheep farm, she knew her husband would hunt her down. What she didn’t expect was Rob and Howard. Rob rules the farm with the same domination tactics she uses to train dogs, while Howard believes only human supremacists think humans should be treated any differently than other animals. Janie inadvertently jumps out of the frying pan and into the fire. She wishes to leave her old self behind. She wants to transform. Will she devolve into meat, metamorphose into a monster, or transcend beyond her domesticated limitations?

The Neons by Dylan Wiseman

A girl has gone missing—nothing unusual for the corrupt, crime-filled megacity of Xi, where biotechnical mods make everyone as unique and dangerous as their imaginations allow. Soon enough, no one will remember that the girl ever existed. At least, that’s what Chance believes, until a duo of ambitious bounty hunters snatch him from his mundane day-to-day in the slums and introduce him to the shiny, secretive world of Xi’s rich and powerful. Meanwhile, in the city’s sparkling high-rises, a pair of siblings witness a murder and are forced into the violent bowels of the city, hunting for answers as they are hunted by a killer. A hard-punching, fast-paced cyberpunk fantasy, The Neons follows an ensemble cast of unlikely heroes as they untangle the wires of a twisted mystery and uncover a reality inhabited by cybernetic deities, android angels, and the resurrected demons of their own past lives.

It's Only A Little Death by Shane Blackheart

Being dead never felt so good... Silver's memories are gone, but that's the way death usually goes. You wake up by the Styx, you realize you're dead, you pick a name, and you pay Charon for a ride across the river. If you have nothing of value to give, Charon deals in other currencies too — including ones of the flesh. Silver soon finds themself sitting on a bed in a strange room. They're given a diary, which is the most important thing they now own, and a peer support worker, Ifris, who's less than stellar about the job. Silver isn't prepared to go through the stages of grief for their own death, but they're even less ready for the deal they made with Charon: Recover their memories and the reason they died in record time, and they get to avenge their murder. There's one problem; the only way to trigger memories is to create a shock to the system, which is easily attained by having an explosive climax at the hands of the beasts that hold Silver's life story.

Incorrect Eyes by Andromeda Ruins

Be Not Afraid Those three words have haunted me my entire life, and now I'm close. I know I am. I'm close to finding out the truth behind the words, the truth behind the Seraphim. The closer I get to uncovering the truth, to proving that the Seraphim are real, the further my mind slips. I can't sleep - can't dream - without seeing them. Life has become difficult all of a sudden and I know it's tied to them. I just have to keep going, keep learning, keep discovering. Everything will be better once I complete my research... Incorrect Eyes is a psychological religious horror involving paranoia, angels with too many eyes, and the least mentally stable protagonist I’ve ever written. Please read with caution.