Asrian Skies by Anne Wheeler

Avery Rendon is weeks away from realizing her dream as a Commonwealth fighter pilot when planetary politics destroy her fledgling career before it begins. Grudgingly, she returns to her home planet of Asria, still hoping to break free of her royal family and the life of tedious policymaking they’ve planned for her. But Asria is still Asria, and after her almost-fiancé walks out on her, she’s not sure things can get much worse. She’s wrong. When the Haederan Empire invades Asria, intent on rebuilding their interstellar domain, Avery becomes a target. She also becomes something else—a reluctant and naïve Commonwealth intelligence operative. It’s not long before she stumbles upon information that could change the course of the war, and suddenly she’s on the run, pursued by the Haederan secret police and desperate to deliver critical information to the Commonwealth before it’s too late. Swept up in something more dangerous than politics or flying, Avery starts to wonder if her destiny lies somewhere closer to home. If the information she’s learned can turn the tide of the war. And if she’ll live to see the end of it all.

Harvest Nights by Ahmed H. Alameen

“A Lovecraftian horror tale inspired by Native American Myths and colonial times” Harvest Nights is a story told through a young boy named Chua (Snake), who narrates the story of how the days were gone and replaced by nights when a strange shooting star appeared in the sky in 1811 Colonial America (Great Comet of 1811). During those dreadful nights, Chua, and later three other people, will have to survive the other worldly creatures that will stop at nothing to eat. A Lovecraftian horror story featuring famous historical figures and creatures inspired by Native American myths. “It was the surgically-precise gore, the sensations of body horror, and the tenticular terror that Ahmed Alameen penned that will stick with me for a long time.”—Michael Arnzen, Bram Stoker Award-winning author of Play Dead and 100 Jolts “Gripping and Eerie”—Eric J. Guignard, award-winning author and editor, including That Which Grows Wild and Doorways to the Deadeye “You’ll be hooked from the literally explosive beginning right through to the finale.”—Paul Kane – Bestselling and award-winning author of Before, Arcana and Sherlock Holmes and the Servants of Hell “Lingers long after the final page has been read.”—Amanda Stevens, Award-winning author of The Graveyard Queen “This Lovecraftian story took a couple of unexpected turns that really amped up the horror... Alameen clearly knows the subject matter well and he does it a lot of justice.”—April A. Taylor - author of Sinkhole and The Hunting of Cabin Green “Ahmed Alameen is a true cosmic frontiersman, forging a new path through uncharted terrors and guiding his readers into the vast unknown with Harvest Nights.”—Clay McLeod Chapman - Author of Whisper Down the Lane and the Remaking

Partial Function: A Wuxia-inspired Epic Fantasy by JCM Berne

If Taken starred Michelle Yeoh and was set on a Jurassic Park - inspired Cradle. Monster hunter Akina Azure inherited the most powerful weapon in the martial world before retiring to a peaceful life raising her twin girls. The Reaver has them kidnapped, thinking Akina will trade that weapon for their safe return. Will she? Or will she use it to wreak a terrible retribution on the men who took her girls? You get one guess.

Illusion of Stars by Sarah Marie Page

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Review by egstone book blogger on 2025-04-23T18:32:27Z

Mushroom Blues by Adrian M. Gibson

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Review by BrewedBooks on 2025-04-23T13:20:32Z

Isolation by Jared Grace

Review by Katbar_1 on 2025-04-19T14:30:57Z

Breeze Spells and Bridegrooms by Sarah Wallace & S.O. Callahan

Review by c_reads_books_ book blogger on 2025-04-17T20:10:57Z

The Reanimator's Remains by Kara Jorgensen

Review by c_reads_books_ book blogger on 2025-04-17T19:54:38Z

Everlasting | Legacy of Blood And Hope by Melanie Frome

The legacy of her blood has always come with a price. "Please just let me finish my final year of high school, preferably drama-free. And alive?" Sady Smith sends her plea up to the sky, already knowing it won’t be answered. Another year, another town, another fresh start. Her family does what it always does—packs up, moves on. Every home is temporary. Every friendship a risk. The rules are Don’t get attached. Don’t let anyone in. Start over. This year should be no different. Only… it is. First, there’s Greyson Black—her history teacher, of all people—who stirs up something she’s never felt before. Feelings she definitely shouldn’t be having. Before she can even start to unpack that little existential crisis, along comes Kelsey—a human wrecking ball of friendship, completely uninterested in the concept of boundaries. One day, she’s just a girl at the lunch table. The next, she’s there to stay. Effortless. Unshakable. Normal. Which means it’s doomed. Because mythical creatures? Yeah, they’re real. Her parents included. And Sady? She’s changing—fast. Power she can’t understand, or control. No rulebook to follow. And when her new friend, her only friend, is attacked—the storm inside her finally unleashes. And when the dust settles—it’s time to confront the demons of her bloodline and choose her own legacy. And then? Darkness takes her.

Her Shadowed Destiny by Rowena Aiello

"...a very strange book...in a magical land where odd things happen." They didn’t want to let her into their world. Now, she might just be their only hope. It takes a lot of guts to be a practicing witch in Lilaville. Then Aurora shows up, and Reine’s best friend goes missing at her house party. Now Reine’s powers might be the only thing keeping everyone safe. Without them, the true danger ahead of them can’t be stopped, and Reine could lose her best friend—forever. She just hopes her magic will be strong enough…

Among Wildflowers and Starlight Powers by Rowena Aiello

A romantic young witch. An enigmatic older woman. An opportunity of a lifetime…left in the hands of a hopeful and nervous wreck. All Violet wants is to get permission to attend the Priestess’s Birthday Ball. What she doesn’t plan on is running into a beautiful stranger…or the Priestess herself. The holy woman is so impressed by Violet’s dancing, she tasks Violet with putting together yet another Grand Ball, this time in Violet’s hometown. Violet’s never done anything like this before, but she can’t very well say no to the Priestess, much less in front of the beautiful stranger Violet now wants to also impress. As challenge after challenge mounts in front of her, Violet is left having to decide if she’s capable of pulling this off after all…and if walking away is worth doing, even if it means both her beautiful stranger, and the Priestess, end up disappointed.

Kill Seeker: Confessions of a pyschopath by Harlan Porter

Cole Cummins was just a kid when he killed his best friend. Then he took over his life. And just kept killing. Can a father's love help him overcome his compulsion? Will confession cleanse his soul? Or will a dogged detective catch up to him? This is a fast-paced novel. Its tone is intimate, confessional, disturbing, and quietly suspenseful, pulling the reader deep into the protagonist's mind — a mind that is calculating, traumatized, and increasingly unstable.

Golden Hour by Kat Jackson

Lina Ragelis prides herself on her bravery and strength, two traits that have served her well in her career in the US Army. Having been disconnected from her family since she turned eighteen, Lina has learned to rely solely on herself--and her slightly overbearing best friend--and she swears she prefers it that way. It's an easy lie for someone who has spent her entire life dodging love. Lina's pretty certain that she's damaged goods. But the truth is, she's the kind of person everyone wants in their corner, and the kind of woman many women want to love. Having had more than her fair share of challenges and hardships, there isn't much that scares Lina. Life would be so much easier if she were afraid of something basic--like spiders--instead of something significant. Something like real, true, healthy love.

The Shanghai Assignment by Karl Andrews

After more than two decades on New York's crime beat, reporter John Moore is enjoying semi-retirement in Vermont, writing up wire reports, hiking in the woods... and trying not to think about the story that ended his career. But when his former intern Samantha Fellows is murdered on the campus of Shanghai’s Fudan University, Moore agrees to cover the investigation for her local newspaper. As the killings spread, Moore finds himself tracking the city’s ambitious mayor, probing a suspicious property development - and uncovering a political intrigue that could change China forever.

The Other Place by Elizabeth Roderick

Living in Justin Flaherty’s mind has never been easy. Unfortunately, things are about to get much worse... At eighteen years old, most guys are chasing girls or dreams. Justin, on the other hand, wants to draw and be left alone. He’s been diagnosed with schizophrenia, but it’s more than that. He's in tune with the Dark Energy that surrounds us all, and can see how it controls people’s actions. Sometimes, the Dark Energy will give him visions, to help him on the road to enlightenment. When his mother hooks up with a Baptist preacher named David who believes Justin’s schizophrenia can be cured with prayer, Justin knows he has to get out—or risk involuntary commitment in a religious facility. After a brush with incarceration, Justin takes off to San Francisco, where his drawings are not just noticed, but admired... Justin’s bizarre and beautiful drawings create a stir in the art world. Meanwhile, he’s homeless, couch surfing, and trapped in a continuous battle with his mental illness. His salvation is a girl named Liria Czetski with a shady past. They’d met a year ago, and she’s appeared in his visions ever since. It turns out Liria has been sharing those visions, something that is a surprise to everyone but Justin... When secrets surface, Justin is forced to realize that being a genius has a downside. Surrounded by people who want to exploit his talent, he must fight not only for his career and freedom, but perhaps for his life...

Hoodlum Army by Elizabeth Roderick

A Robin Hood for the Modern Age… Robin never thought she’d meet the girl of her dreams in a bank, much less when they were both robbing it, but her mother always said to find someone who shares your interests. Maryann wants to start a cooking school for disadvantaged kids, Robin to save her parents’ farm from repossession. It's natural that they team up to make the world a better place through crime. Their job experience as a barista and a hotel maid doesn’t transfer to grand larceny, however. Some clumsy mistakes mean it’s not long before the FBI is hot on their heels. The agents seem to have criminal motivations of their own, so going to jail might be the least of Robin and Maryann’s worries. Worst of all, Robin is falling in love. She doesn’t think Maryann has ever dated a woman, but sometimes it seems like maybe, just maybe, she feels something deeper than criminal conspiracy. Will they find a happily-ever-after this side of prison…or the grave?

Gracie & Zeus Live the Dream by Elizabeth Roderick

Grace Morgan has been on the music scene long enough to know the life of sex, drugs & rock & roll is just a dream. But after a messy divorce, Grace wants to give her dream of being a music journalist one last shot. She moves to LA with her 21-year-old foster son, Zeus. They live in a motel on cup noodles and hope, until Grace finally gets a break: a story about Inez Carter, hot-mess frontwoman of the popular band Karma Korn. The story delivers more sex, drugs and rock & roll than Grace bargained for. Karma Korn's drummer, Nelson, has Grace rethinking her post-divorce vow of celibacy. And after they're invited to an elite Hollywood rave, where they mistakenly drink the electric Kool-Aid, Zeus is scouted to be the lead guitarist for another star band. However, the story soon goes sideways, and things aren't adding up. Someone is spreading rumors about Grace, trying to sabotage her career and reputation. Then someone tries to kill her. Grace is left frantically trying to connect the dots in the dwindling hope she'll be able to salvage the story, her relationship with Nelson, and her life.

The Tarnished Son by Elizabeth McKenna

“This is a nice, quiet town. Things like that don’t happen around here.” But they do. In THE TARNISHED SON, a tourist’s death, an alluring young teacher, a father’s carnal desires, and a stepdaughter’s vendetta ultimately destroy a village dynasty. The respected Clark family has governed Williams Bay since 1837. On a hot August day, seventeen-year-old Liam causes a tragic boating accident. What happens next—infidelity, drugs, theft, and more—deepens long-hidden cracks in the family’s façade, exposing their secrets and tarnishing their golden image. Meet the family: * William Sr., the grandfather who rules the family and the village with an iron fist * Hank, the father who lets temptations lead him on a path of self-destruction * Liam, the shining son who gets away with everything * Rose, the stepdaughter who has had enough and pushes the whole house down Grab some popcorn and watch the destruction unfold in Elizabeth McKenna's unpredictable family drama!

Shadows Lost by B.K. Cavaleri

A curse that drove a queen mad. A heroine that failed to stop her. A shifter that refuses to give up. A world that needs them both again.

Everlasting by Sara Fanfarillo

Immerse yourself in a captivating fantasy novel written by a talented young author with a vivid imagination. Step into a world of enchantment and adventure, embarking on an exciting journey through the pages of this compelling tale. With rich world-building and engaging characters, the author weaves intricate plots that keep readers hooked as they follow the protagonist's quest to uncover deep mysteries. The main character unknowingly sets out on a challenging and emotionally profound path, guided by a force capable of creating evocative settings. This journey of discovery seeks to reveal the truths of life, with references to the past and signs inherited from ancestors weaving the story together. Remote bonds, seemingly unconnected, ultimately converge in a stunning revelation. Despite the wise old master's guidance, the truth remains obscured by unfolding events. The realignment of entrenched realities heralds a new beginning and a fresh start. Don't miss this enchanting adventure from a promising new voice in fantasy fiction.

Lady Hell by Alyssa Page

Ushered into an arranged marriage with Bramwell Hellthorne, the lonely Lord of Valen, Belle finds herself wandering the wicked walls of an eerie, gothic manor on a cliffside far from the shores of home. When Belle's sister experiences a demonic possession and slips into insanity following her visit to the mansion, Belle's beliefs of religion, spirituality, and the unknown are suddenly tested, and Hellthorne Manor begins to haunt both Belle's dreams and her reality. With walls that weep tears of blood, pipes that whisper an untold tune, and a haunted portrait that dances between different locations, daily life within her new home shifts into a waking nightmare. By the time Belle realizes that both the manor and her husband may have a bit more than just a few bones hidden away, it's too late, and her remains may just rot away with the rest.

Ripple the Mesh by Sam LaRose

Harper Wyatt has had a celebrity crush for Misha Levin since she was a teenager and he was drafted to the Minnesota Northern Lights. She never expected to fall in love with a hockey player, or marry one. Not to mention, that hockey player being friends with the great Misha Levin? Impossible! Yet, she finds herself not just friends with but girlfriend to the hockey legend and is visiting him on his home turf in Edmonton for the first time. With busy travel schedules for everyone in the polycule, it's a wonder any of them have time for themselves much less each other. Hard topic discussions involve tough to hear answers, but also keep an open flow of communication, holding their relationships together.

Dirty Dangle by Sam LaRose

The Osprey season is coming to a close. Pietr's past is coming back to affect his current relationships and he seeks help after having trouble with Harper wanting to experiment with a woman. Harper is reconnecting with old friends and making new ones. Finding her place within the WHOOSH has been a journey, but the welcoming nature of Marie, Becca, and Helen in particular maybe finally be getting through to her. While Pietr and Misha's husband, Cecil, are busy on their separate play-off runs, Misha comes for an extended visit. He and Harper do a bit of traveling to extend their tattoo collections and enjoy some time alone together before the final big game.

Top Shelf Biscuit by Sam LaRose

Picking up after the events of On the Power Play, Harper and Isaac are spending a month alone in Wisconsin before the Thanksgiving holiday. With a surprise last minute visit from Misha, the polycule is having a hard time keeping their relationship underwraps from family, friends, and their rabid internet fans. As Harper continues to battle with feeling out of place with the Osprey WAGs, the whirlwind of going from zero boyfriends to three in less than a year, and specifically her mother's hard feelings toward...everything, something has to give. How would having everything out in the open make the relationships different? Are Pietr and Harper cut out for the poly-triad with Isaac? Is a relationship between Harper and Misha sustainable? There certainly seems to be a lot more questions than answers as the polycule grows and loves unconditionally.

On the Power Play by Sam LaRose

It's been less than a year since Pietr Ivanov and Harper Wyatt met and had their first kiss in a bar bathroom. Since then, it's been a whirlwind of relationship milestones, the most recent of getting engaged. Now that the hockey season is over, the couple is looking forward to spending time together. With big plans to merge their families, they're looking to house hunt for their hockey retirement home in Wisconsin, near Harper's parents. But first, Harper has to survive meeting the WAGs –the wives and girlfriends of the other Osprey players. A week in LA with Isaac Parker and their first big public appearance together at the NHL Awards, where they run into a familiar face who sets sights on getting to know Harper better.

Press Play by Sam LaRose

It’s been a month since Dylan Montgomery went into hiding. His ex-boyfriend’s album, all about a past relationship, begging for a second chance, has record downloads on a new music app. Since he was told he wasn’t allowed to listen to it, Dylan has no comment for the blogs and magazines who want confirmation that he’s Tyler Norse’s lost love. Instead, between getting out of New York, and secluding himself in his childhood home, Dylan keeps his head low. As September begins, Dylan is ready to move on. He’s turning twenty-two and is looking forward to some freedom. He wants to focus on teaching his classes and figuring out what he’s going to do with his life. Fate has other things in mind when Tyler’s band plays a Farewell-for-now show, closing it out with a group remastering of the album. Hearing it for the first time sends Dylan directly into the bed of another man. Not exactly Tyler’s intention. Nor the bodyguard, employed by his parents, whose bed he ends up in. As Dylan’s world spirals out of control, the question on everyone’s mind is: can he and Tyler start over?

Honest Lies by Sam LaRose

Dylan Montgomery is back in Manhattan. After three years in LA, he's anxious to resume life as normal in the greatest city in the world. He doesn't expect seeing Tyler Norse to still make him feel like a lovesick teenager. He knows getting too close to the man will only lead to one or both of them getting hurt again. Their former relationship is better left in the past. Tyler Norse isn't prepared for Dylan's return after putting a continent between them. He tried to move on, but it didn't stick. Seeing Dylan again brings all the old feelings and lack of closure back to the surface. He respects Dylan's decision to move on, but it doesn't mean he likes it. Jordan Baxter is happy with his boyfriend. He hasn't wanted more since breaking up with his joyfriend Dani, but lately Kyle has suggested that he look for another partner. After all, Kyle has three other boyfriends who are all vying for his attention; he doesn't want Jordan to feel neglected. So, when Dylan steps back into the band's life, Jordan's curiosity is piqued in a way it hasn't been in a long time. With Tyler's go ahead, Jordan asks Dylan out on a date. Just to see what happens. Dylan isn't interested in being Jordan's boyfriend, but he isn't averse to making a new friend who likes kissing occasionally. As the summer progresses into fall, Dylan struggles with finding his footing in adulthood, gaining privacy and distance from his privileged upbringing, and maintaining his sobriety.

Something More by Sam LaRose

Jordan Baxter has never considered himself to be anything other than a flirt. When his interest is piqued by not one, but two people, within days of one another, his world takes an unexpected turn. Kyle is a talented artist who's smile makes his heart squeeze and his stomach tilt. …But, he's openly polyamorous with his boyfriend Markus. Not to mention, he's also hooked up with Jordan's BFF Heath and Heath's boyfriend, Jack.Dani is a musician that lays most things on the table, like that they're non-binary and not entirely sure how the whole sex thing works for them. Unless they're drunk, in which case they stop thinking entirely. Defining the relationships is put on hold while Jordan's band, Dark Little Town, tours for the summer. When the tour ends, he knows they'll all eventually have to make a decision about their romantic status, or just be friends.

Pants Optional by Sam LaRose

Jack Piper is eighteen years old, living with his mother and twin sisters in Manhattan's Greenwich Village. He attends a selective private school, where he's honing his skills as a writer, aided greatly by his eidetic memory. It's been three years since his father passed away, inciting the move, and his first Christmas alone. When his friend Pixie invites him out for a Jewish Christmas, he doesn't expect the bend in the road his life is about to take. Heath Gibson is a New Jersey transplant to the city. His band, Dark Little Town, is just inches away from real success. Since moving to the city, he's made plenty of friends and is open to making more. Especially if it means getting to forget how in love with his best friend he's been since he was thirteen. When Jack and Heath recognize each other across a club on Christmas Eve, they don't expect to go home together. They certainly don't expect to catch feelings for one another. Jack isn't sure he wants to settle into a relationship with the older man. Heath is ready to hand over his heart, if Jack will just accept it. And neither of them quite knows what to make of Jack's best friends; a gay polyamorous couple who want nothing more than to get one, or both, of them into bed with them.

Real Talk by Sam LaRose

Dylan Montgomery's parents have reached their final straw. Banishment to Tynan, NJ seems like the pits, but is just what the troubled teen needs. It's there that he meets Tyler Norse; lead singer and guitarist for Dark Little Town. As the summer begins to fade, the future looks dim on the relationship from Dylan's perspective, but as far as Tyler's concerned: it's just getting started.

Light the Lamp by Sam LaRose

"Where do your ideas come from then?" "I don't know. It's this nagging inkling of what-if." "I understand this nagging feeling." The man took a step closer. "Like, this voice in my head that keeps telling me to kiss you." Harper's eyes widened slightly. "What? Why?" "Why?" He sounded surprised. "Why not? You are sexiest person in this bar. You stood out to me right away." Pietr Ivanov is skating into his 10th pro-hockey season with a new team, in a new city. Fresh off a successful play-off run, he's looking forward to connecting with his teammates and settling in. When he joins his captain for drinks, he doesn't expect the night to change his life. Harper Wyatt has lived in Manhattan for nearly a decade. As a still-floundering author, they take the little wins where they can and their favorite place to do that is the Mounting Bison. Celebrating the publication of their second book with their besties, they anticipate a couple of drinks, lots of laughs, and then calling it an early night. When Pietr spies Harper across the bar, he's immediately smitten. He has no idea what "non-binary" means, but he's open minded and willing to learn. Harper typically steers clear of the Osprey players that frequent the bar with their captain, but Pietr has zero qualms about approaching them –in the bar bathroom of all places. And thus, in the first Meet Cute of their life, Harper's quiet, single life is upended. This slice-of-life romance is sure to thrill romance readers looking for diverse representation and a unique story with cozy vibes. Fans of the Dark Little Town series will love the connections to a New York they've grown familiar with. Light the Lamp features multiple LGBTQ+ characters, alternative relationship structures, and a lot of spice.

Havoc by T.L. Hawke

After close to a century in a laboratory run by the secret government Department 13, where he and three of his fellow Drakonians are mercilessly experimented on, Havoc resigns himself to his fate. Until one day a new scientist arrives and changes everything…  Not only does she open the cage that holds him captive and facilitates the escape he never thought was possible, she also injects him with an unknown serum that triggers a monumental change in him. A change he’s been avoiding all his life, but is now unable to stop.  On the run, he’s finally forced to accept that his father is dead, making him the Drakonian King. It’s now up to him to save his people, all while resisting his uncontrollable feelings for the woman who changed him, and in the process, ruined his life. Excited to be working on a top secret genetics project, Dr. Harmony Holmes arrives for her first day on the job full of hope that she will be able to further her career prospects, and also build a relationship with her estranged father.  What she finds instead shocks her to her core. Four vampires held prisoner and tortured mercilessly.  Driven by despair, she opens one of the cages and sets off a string of events that change her life and the lives of everyone around her forever. Now she's on the run, fighting for her life, while at the same time trying to resist her uncontrollable need for the vampire with the golden eyes, who hates her…

The Freezer by Kim Hunt

In the endless tracts of the New South Wales bushland Ranger Cal Nyx finds a dead body under unusual circumstances. It soon becomes apparent this is a historic death. Growing attention on the crime puts the blowtorch to a murderer who’s managed to evade justice. For now. Detective Inspector Liz Scobie leads the police investigation while her partner, Nyx, uses her own considerable - some might say unorthodox - methods to chase down a killer. With speculation growing in the small community, someone privy to information becomes a new target for the killer. Join Nyx and Scobie in their dogged pursuit of a bold predator with everything to lose.

Koala and the Darkness: A Bermuda Triangle Mystery by Jared Michael Bull

When Koala, a teenaged orphan misfit living in an island seaport village, encounters a mysterious dark illness that is killing her hunting obsessed town, she sets off foot into the dark forest to discover a cure. But the forest is deadly, home to the village's greatest enemy, the Griffins, massive wolf-like creatures which hunt the villagers relentlessly at night and whose soul desire is to eat man flesh. As if the forest isn't dangerous enough there's even rumors of a dark witch that haunts unsuspecting townspeople making random appearances during the rising and settings of the sun. As Koala journeys the forest her adopting Father King Doti, the lead warrior of the elite griffin hunting team called the Gurkhas, must discover a new way to fight the threat across the ocean, the East Indian Company. Having just upped the quota for the island's fur production which is maintained by killing Griffins for their fur skins Doti must find and recruit more warriors and train them. If not, the East Indian Company will wreck, pillage, and burn their village. As Koala braves the forest with her trusted side-kick fox Fennec, she learns of her adopted Father's dark history, discovers the dark origin of the mysterious illness, finds her real mother, and races against time to find a cure and defeat the mercenaries of the East India Company to save her people.

Drew's Big Buff Brain by Drew Dennis/John Denny

Just like our bodies, our brains need a workout! The importance of reading is conveyed through comical characters and fun storytelling. Drew was a funny and outgoing boy who loved playing sports. But he also enjoyed playing video games and watching television. A lot. It made his brain fuzzy and he would forget things on the playing field. Drew felt like a zombie. His friend Deena tells him that even though his body might be fit, his brain needs to be strong too. She says reading is like a workout for your brain. Reading doesn't have to be dull and boring if you find topics you enjoy-like sports! Pretty soon, reading books made Drew smarter and stronger-It gave Drew a big buff brain! Key themes • Humor • Reluctant readers • Fitness and health • Inspiration and personal growth Author Drew Dennis is a fourteen-year-old boy who hated reading until his friend, writer, John Denny decided to show him how important reading is to the health of your brain by creating a book together. Drew's Big Buff Brain is a wonderful resource for teachers, librarians, and parents, to share this message to all children, especially reluctant readers.

The Other Team by Felix Fowler

Kit Cook is about to learn a whole lot more than soccer this summer Weltmeister Academy is the absolute last place Kit Cook wanted to go at the end of his freshman year. His parents are forcing him to leave behind his friends and go to the toughest soccer camp in the country so he has a chance to make varsity in the fall. With a lot of hard work, a little luck, and help from his new friend Freddie, Kit manages to build a semblance of normalcy and get through the summer. That is, until Kit sees something he wasn’t meant to, and his world is thrown into chaos. His friendships foundering and performance failing, Kit must find a way to reconcile what he saw if he wants to save his friendship and summer. Soccer isn’t all he’s going to learn this year – he’s going to learn all about a side of himself he didn’t know existed…

The Luck of Elfbones by S R Button

When Elfbones receives an invitation to the royal ball, he thinks he's hit the jackpot. But what begins as a night of enchantment quickly spirals into chaos as he finds himself on the run from the king's royal guard. With danger lurking in every shadow, Elfbones navigates a wild world filled with bizarre creatures, eccentric strangers, and absurd modes of transport, all while racing to find his way home. Just when he thinks he’s alone in his plight, he crosses paths with Soli, a determined young cadet, and Constance, an unusual individual who may hold a secret that could unravel reality itself. Together, they embark on a whirlwind adventure that challenges their courage, tests their wits, and reveals unexpected twists of fate. Packed with original characters, unpredictable plot twists, and a vibrant fantasy landscape, The Luck of Elfbones is a delightful escape for readers seeking a fresh take on the genre. With a pace that keeps you turning pages and an ending you won’t see coming, this is a story that promises to leave you eager for more. Dive into a world where nothing is as it seems, and prepare for a journey that defies the ordinary! Join Elfbones, Soli and Constance in this first instalment of an unforgettable trilogy—where the only certainty is that adventure awaits!

Adventures in Bodily Autonomy: Exploring Reproductive Rights in Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Horror by Nisi Shawl, Elizabeth Bear, Annalee Newitz, Ellen Klages, Cecilia Tan, Jaymee Goh, Raven Belasco, Kathleen Alcalá, Tara Campbell, Cynthia Gralla, K Ibura, Helena María Viramontes, Sonya Taaffe, Anya De Niro

The fourteen tales in Adventures in Bodily Autonomy flow across alternate universes and through space and time to consider the issues of reproductive justice through a fresh perspectives. There is an adventure here for everyone. An astronaut on her way to Mars discovers she’s pregnant — can she keep her baby? Bee-like entities try to force a human to be their queen. In1930s Philly, a vampire offers a novel form of birth control. From a ghost, lessons learned too late. Women who cannot find a comfortable fit in their mythic realities. Future worlds where reproductive choices are different, but individual choice and external battles for that choice are just as real. Adventures in Bodily Autonomy will be released on October 16th, 2023, a date important in the history of women’s healthcare rights. On October 16, 1916, in Brooklyn, New York, Margaret Sanger opened the country’s first birth control clinic. Just nine days later police shut down the clinic, and Sanger served 30 days in prison. For over 50 years, Reproductive Freedom for All (formerly NARAL Pro-Choice America) has fought to protect and advance reproductive freedom at the federal and state levels — including access to abortion care, birth control, pregnancy and postpartum care, and paid family leave—for every body. Authors include Kathleen Alcalá ~ Elizabeth Bear ~ Raven Belasco ~ Tara Campbell ~ Anya De Niro ~ Jaymee Goh ~ Cynthia Gralla ~ K Ibura ~ Ellen Klages Annalee Newitz ~ Nisi Shawl ~ Sonya Taaffe ~ Cecilia Tan ~ Helena María Viramontes One hundred percent of the royalties of Adventures in Bodily Autonomy are being donated to Reproductive Freedom for All to help them continue their vital fight for women’s bodily autonomy and basic human rights. “So satisfying to read a volume of new speculative fiction stories centered on women’s experience, women’s lives, women’s choices! You’ll find a pleasurable variety here: hard sf, fantasy, ghosts, vampires, horror, sweet lyricism and steel-edged noir — stories from well-known names, and stories from writers you've never encountered before. I guarantee that at least one story in this volume will make you punch the air in triumph, and another will work its way into your dreams, and not let go.” —Elizabeth Lynn, World Fantasy Award Winner “This anthology will be a breath of fresh air ins the ongoing fight for the right of women to control and make decisions about their own bodies.” —Chinelo Onwualu, author of “What The Dead Man Said” “Adventures in Bodily Autonomy is a fresh and bold collection. In our current political climate, these stories and imaginings are desperately needed.” —Myriam Gurba, author of Mean

Blood Triad by Raven Belasco

Blood Triad is a must-read for fans of vampire fiction and historical fantasy, especially those who value meticulously researched narratives that deliver immersive world-building, nuanced character dynamics and diverse perspectives, and thought-provoking explorations of love and resilience. — Booklife by Publisher's Weekly Blood Triad sweeps readers across eras and locations, from the ancient Norsemen and Picts of the 900s, to the turbulent colonial history of Haiti, to Prohibition-era Philadelphia, infusing each of these periods with her unique vampiric lore. Belasco’s action scenes are brisk, and her carefully-researched characters are memorable. Her vampires are so much more than the violence of their history—within their bloody hearts, they retain their humanity. — Tara Campbell, author of City of Dancing Gargoyles and TreeVolution BLOOD TRIAD is a collection of three novellas from the Blood & Ancient Scrolls series by Raven Belasco, giving a more intimate view into the lives of some of the am’r (the vampires’ name for themselves) that readers have met along the way. Standalone novellas, each story can be enjoyed without having previously read any of the series. TEETH ARE BONES is set after the events of Blood Ad Infinitum. Librarian Anushka “Noosh” Rossetti finds herself on a yacht with Zoraida, a mysterious am’r she admires but barely knows. To pass the time, Zoraida confides the story of her life first as a human and then an am’r, through the bloody events of the Haitian Revolution through the U.S. Occupation of Haiti, profound love and devastating loss made only more intense by the passion of a vampire’s heart. In BLOOD BROTHERS, Noosh finally gets Wulfhram and Dubhghall to confide in her the tale of their centuries-long-partnership. Meeting in opposing sides of a battle in the A.D. 900s, the two men take an unlikely path to both the am’r life and to a lasting love, fighting together as mercenaries across Europe and the Middle East in the last century of the first millennium before nearly losing each other in their calamitous transformation into am’r. ABYSSINIA is a story from the life of Astryiah, a powerful and important am’r. Set in 1930’s Philadelphia, Palmina is working at the Nabisco factory…and helping women who are “in a fix.” Palmina is feeling run down by all the pressures in her life…until a striking, mysterious woman shows up to change her life in astonishing, sensual, and dangerous ways. Palmina is confronted by the seductive power of the am’r world. Will she choose to join the am’r for strength, autonomy, and eternal life…or will she choose to stay in the human world, helping those in need?

Blood Eternal by Raven Belasco

The highly anticipated third installment of the Blood & Ancient Scrolls series, from the author of the Amazon Best Seller Blood Ex Libris Bringing the bloodshed and urgency of the Blood & Ancient Scrolls series to a deeply satisfying next level, this third book in the series features the astonishing revelation of the origin story of the am’r (the vampires’ name for themselves). In Blood Eternal, Noosh believes she is headed on a well-deserved vacation (a nighttime tourist view of London) when abruptly she and Sandu and Bagamil are facing new crises and ancient enemies. Noosh reunites with some intriguing characters from Blood Ex Libris and discovers more about her new underground world. But when the most powerful and ancient am’r Bagamil is summarily bidden by a mysterious am’r to a stately home in the north of England, Noosh and her allies must confront a formidable enemy who has hidden himself in plain sight for millennia, and who intends to take the title of “aojysht” for himself—and who has the power to compel Noosh’s obedience. Will the am’r blood already in her veins make her able to resist and save her beloveds?

Blood Demands by Raven Belasco

The exhilarating sequel to Amazon Bestseller Blood Ex Libris, book two of the Blood & Ancient Scrolls series. Now in audiobook! Picking up from Blood Ex Libris’s ending in an explosive-ravaged cave in the desert, Blood Demands takes Anushka “Noosh” Rossetti and Sandu (the supposedly-reformed Vlad Dracula) back to Romania, where Noosh assumes she will settle down to her archivist job for the am’r (vampires). But after the nightmares start, Noosh’s life is disrupted yet again when she realizes that Bagamil, eldest of the am’r, is communicating to them that something has gone very wrong. Despite the dangers to one who is only half-vampire, Noosh insists on accompanying Sandu to travel to Argentina, asking the am’r of South America for clues to finding Bagamil. Everything points to Tierra del Fuego, where in a cave system filled with booby traps and two opposing sets of enemies, Noosh must discover how to help a poisoned Bagamil to freedom, and when captured, must somehow outlive her enemies in a melee of revenge-thirsty vampires from South America’s colonial past. Despite intriguing allies and a bond with two of the most powerful am’r, Noosh must find her own way to survive in the brutal netherworld of the am'r.

Blood Ex Libris by Raven Belasco

How did I get here: covered in blood and holding a sword I can’t use? Raven Belasco’s vibrant debut and Amazon Best Seller, Blood Ex Libris, has captivated readers and earned praise from renowned authors. This tale of passion and survival follows Anushka “Noosh” Rossetti, a trained archivist stuck in her small-town library job—until a mysterious man claiming to be Vlad Dracula enters her life. As he proves himself to her, she’s thrust into an exhilarating underworld, where survival means navigating violent power struggles and facing Vlad’s deadly rival. With Blood Ex Libris, Belasco has crafted a rich, immersive universe that will thrill Anne Rice, Elizabeth Kostova, and Deborah Harkness fans. Her meticulous weaving of historical detail and supernatural intrigue breathes life into this pulse-pounding story of blood and fire. The adventure continues in Blood Demands and Blood Eternal, with a companion collection, Blood Triad, that delves deeper into the lives of beloved characters. Don’t miss the beginning of this mesmerizing series that will leave you craving more.

PERMAFROST by Kate Kelly

The key to the future is a book from the past. The world is a frozen wasteland. Oskar and his sister Mitzi are fleeing south, trying to escape the Northern Raiders who have slaughtered their people. They find sanctuary in a strange city where they are made welcome. But the Northern Raiders have followed, and the city is besieged. Oskar joins with his new-found friends and takes up arms to help them defend their home. But then he discovers an old diary hidden away in the library. The diary was written at the time of the city’s foundation and reveals the truth about what happened all those years ago – and what caused the world to freeze. Oskar soon realises that there is more than one way for him to save this city.

Supplicant by Delilah Waan

SEQUEL TO 2023 INDIE INK AWARD WINNER & SPFBO SEMI-FINALIST! In the depths of the Endless Gate, anyone can become a god—if they are willing to pay the price. Common-born Rahelu can’t afford principles: she had to sell her loyalty to the highest bidder in the Dominion to save her destitute family. Now she must work with her scheming House-born peers and her most detested rival to carry out her secretive Elder’s dubious orders: steal an artifact that can supposedly turn any desire into reality before the Dominion’s enemies can do the same. But when control of the future itself is the prize, temptation beckons. Even Rahelu, who has never dreamed of anything more than a debt-free life of simple comforts, is swayed. No blood feud is too old to set aside; no alliance is too unsavory and no method too ruthless to contemplate. House politics and hidden motives soon set Rahelu and her teammates at each others’ throats, as foreign operatives and treasure-seeking pirates pursue them across deadly seas, past the edge of the known world. All are oblivious to the dying cult manipulating fate from the shadows…and the ancient power stirring inside the Endless Gate. Torn between her own desires and new loyalties, guilt-wracked by the blood accumulating on her hands, Rahelu’s oaths force her to a devastating choice: who else is she willing to sacrifice in the name of success?

Alive by Sage T. Greene

It’s been seven years, and Mari has cut all ties with the Blaze. Even so, she just can’t manage to avoid their destruction; the Blaze is more powerful than ever. Leon took the power of the Attuned, and now Rhu is vulnerable. The villages are under constant threat of Blaze attack, and Valis might have been taken over completely. Mari has taken great pains to keep the Blaze out of Newhaven, but now there’s another threat: the Etheri villages themselves. Battle is looming on the horizon, and the Blaze is to blame. There will be a final showdown—but who will make it out alive? From author Sage T. Greene, ETHERI is an earnest, often-humorous quest for self-determination. Fans of reluctant protagonists and character-driven narratives will enjoy this series.

Gorgon - The Crimson Witch by John North

What is Power without control? Aurora dreams of surpassing the Demi-Gods, but her rare elemental magic comes from an unstable source within her that she struggles to keep in check. It doesn't stop her from wreaking havoc though, and she's nothing but excited about the rising bounty on her head. But when she garners the attention of Princess Polaris, the daughter of one of the most feared Demi-Gods on earth, her entire world is shaken. With secrets of her own identity revealed to her and a terrorist organization placing a giant target on her back, Aurora agrees to travel with Polaris back to their native homeland. They can barely tolerate each other, but with Aurora's erratic power growing stronger, and a vengeful, katana-wielding vampire seeking to steal it from her, they are forced to set aside their differences to survive and reach their home in one piece. That is, if Aurora's magic doesn't destroy them first. The Crimson Witch is the first book of the epic YA Dark fantasy action-adventure series Gorgon, full of thrilling battles, witty banter, fierce characters, and hints of brutal, bloodcurdling horror! Fans of Naruto, Percy Jackson, and Fullmetal Alchemist will be captivated by this action-packed tale with a fresh take on mythological and fantastical beings! Readers will also be in store for a heartwarming tale of the growing bond between sisters.

Welcome to the Dark Ages by Malory

When Merlin needs a hero to save the world, he gets... well, me. Fan-bloody-tastic. I was supposed to be dead. Instead, I wake up face-down in Dark Age mud, possessing some poor bastard's body, while the ghost of history's most famous wizard rambles on about being murdered, cosmic energy and the end of all reality. Just one tiny problem: I know about as much about cultivation as a pig knows about particle physics. Now I'm fumbling with mystical energy that feels like juggling nitroglycerin, trying not to get shanked by everyone and their grandmother, and dealing with Merlin's constant "helpful" commentary. Something dark is rising in Arthurian Britain. Something that made even Merlin scared. They say fate has a sense of humour. Turns out it's the kind that laughs while setting your hair on fire. Welcome to the Dark Ages, where cultivation meets chaos, and the only thing sharper than a sword is my questionable wit.

Etheri by Sage T. Greene

As an Etheri, Mari lacks physical strength and mana control. She feels destined to play the supporting role for her partner Rhu (a natural talent and future Lord of Newhaven) and her cousin Junie (the confident and beautiful one). But when Mari learns that Junie is a member of the Blaze—a mysterious criminal organization—she isn’t sure how to move forward. Mari finds herself learning about the Blaze and gets embroiled in their misadventures. By the time Junie’s identity is leaked to the Etheri villages and the Blaze comes under attack, Mari is no longer convinced that she can pick a side, but failing to do so begins to endanger not just herself, but the people she loves. Mari must choose where her loyalties lie: with her village, with her friends, or with herself.

Chasing Moonflowers by Pauline Chow

A gothic historical fantasy perfect for fans of These Violent Delights, House of Hollow, and Enola Holmes, Chasing Moonflowers is a coming-of-power tale that asks: What truly makes a monster? In 1925 colonial Hong Kong, young herbalist Ling Shaw witnesses a murder committed by a bloodthirsty creature. When her uncle is wrongfully arrested for the crime, Ling is the only one who can clear the family name and find the real killer. Teaming up with her private academy best friend and a Red Society thug from the Kowloon Walled City, she uncovers dark family secrets, occult rituals, a vampiric curse, and a sinister plot to bring down the Canton Labor Strikes. Ling must overcome ancient and eldritch forces to save her family—and all of Kowloon. Email paulinechowstories@gmail.com for a reviewer's copy or ARC.

The Acros Raiders: Down in Flames by Sara Tunder

The rebellion weakens. Threat still looms. Will the Acros Raiders survive or go down in flames? With the traitor’s reveal, the Acros Raiders seem to be at peace. Despite that, Scotty Sedgewig is haunted by paranoia, expecting her teammates to turn at any moment. The airships that devastated part of Ghent’s capital in an explosion of steam return, and the Raiders need to figure out how to stop them. Masks of lies lift and loyalties are tested. Deception is around every corner, nothing being as it seems. The clock is ticking and the Raiders must put an end to the airships’ fury or risk the rebellion going down in flames. Book 2 in Sara Tunder’s fantasy-adventure trilogy, Down in Flames, brings readers back to the land of Harkive with new steampunk technology, colorful fantasy settings, and shocking twists. Explore the lands with Scotty and the Acros Raiders as they continue their mission to take down High Priestess Tapscott and her Castist Regime.

Lexi the Coonhound Does Yoga by Meg Martin

Join Lexi the friendly coonhound as she has fun learning yoga in the second installment of the heartfelt Lexi the Coonhound Finds aNew Home! series, Lexi the Coonhound Does Yoga!. Lexi loves her new home but, even more, she LOVES to play! And sometimes it’s hard to stop (zoomies are so fun!).One evening as Lexi’s mom prepares to complete her own yoga routine, she realizes the best way to calm a very playful Lexi—and her as playful and curious young daughter, Zoey—is to show them how to do yoga too. What they learn is more than just yoga poses—they realize that sometimes all we really need is just to slow down and breathe.

A Madness Unmade by E.K. Larson-Burnett

Laurel Rumbroom is the sole living resident of the Underhallow, where dead moths have been showing up at the gates in neatly wrapped packages. Since the institution of the Revenant Accords, which prohibits ghosts from freely haunting the country, the Rumbrooms have acted as Guardians to the ghosts seeking refuge at their sanctuary. But when Laurel’s father suddenly passes, leaving her orphaned, the Underhallow falls in danger of losing its sanctions. Bewildered by the mysterious deliveries of dead moths, starting to question her grip on reality, and gradually realizing the precarious position of her home and the questionable circumstances surrounding her father’s death, Laurel begs the help of the Underhallow ghosts animated by her powers, struggling to come into her own and unmake her madness. With humor, whimsy, and elements of gothic mystery, A Madness Unmade is the first book in the Victorian-inspired Deathly Inheritance Duology, perfect for fans of Charlie N. Holmberg and S.L. Prater.

The Bear & the Rose by E.K. Larson-Burnett

Springtide has sprung, and the bear goddess Artio has awakened. For Rhoswen, sole Bearslayer of Hazelfeur, this means a season of overwhelm as vicious bears wreak violence upon her village. With one death too many and an insufferable anxiety haunting her, she sets out to liberate her people from Artio’s bearspawn for good, even though to end the goddess’s reign would mean to leave her without purpose. In her search for the vengeful Artio, Rhoswen stumbles upon an enchanting forest maiden with secrets in her eyes and mysteries in her veins, a beauty which suddenly and unexpectedly captivates the Bearslayer beyond reason. Then she discovers the maiden is bound to Artio’s forest and longs desperately for freedom, and Rhoswen’s resolution hardens with passion. She will unfetter Hazelfeur, and she will free her enchantress. For fans of Katherine Arden's The Bear and the Nightingale (Winternight Trilogy) and Naomi Novik's Spinning Silver, The Bear & the Rose is a tale told in lush prose which readers will find brimming with folklore, adventure, and a sweet sapphic romance.

Daughters of the Blue Moon by Millie Abecassis

Carmine, a seasoned huntress, has been protected from wolves by a powerful spell tattooed on her back for years. But one day, the magic fails, and she narrowly escapes a violent encounter with a furious she-wolf that was determined to kill her. As she recovers from her injuries, she experiences eerie dreams of a singing wolf. Though the dreams could be harmless, the singing wolf looks exactly like the she-wolf that almost took her life. Scarier, the dreams remind Carmine of those she had when she was younger, before a talking wolf tricked and almost devoured her in the waking world. Soon Carmine realizes the spell her grandmother put on her back isn’t what it seems to be, and her family knows more about herself than she does. A sapphic and dark retelling of Little Red Riding Hood, Daughters of the Blue Moon is a tale about retaking ownership of your own body and destiny.

What Did Not Die by Ruth Anna Evans

Jordan Sharp has been writing for the local newspaper for two years. But when a sinister ghost-child emerges from a suspicious house fire and brings to life her darkest memories, she finds herself in the middle of the story. After a life of isolating herself from others, Jordan needs to reach out for help. And there’s a handsome, sympathetic firefighter just waiting for her to ask. But as people around her start falling victim to the deadly haunting, is it worth putting him at risk? And can Jordan resolve her troubled past before it's too late?

This debut novella from Ruth Anna Evans is a creepy-as-hell ghost story with relatable characters and an ending you won’t see coming and won’t soon forget.

Resisters by Chris Campeau

January 1998. Record levels of freezing rain blanket eastern Ontario in a smothering sheet of ice. After days without power, cities and townships declare a state of emergency. Most folks find refuge in shelters, but some resist the call to leave—like 42-year-old Jeremy Skitter, whose countryside home is his only defence against an unfavourable world. But as his obsessive thoughts escalate, Skit finds himself less prepared than he thought, and up against something far more paralyzing than Mother Nature. A wintery version of Psycho meets The Fog, Resisters explores who we become when what haunts us won't loosen its grip.

Rise of the Nightbloods by Shannon Haffely

Everything ends. Even magic. Even the gods. As a Seer, Raven is a direct line to the divine and time itself. She can feel the decay spreading across her country, but all the help the gods will offer is a tormenting vision of a stranger's death. An infamous pirate queen, Rélia craves freedom at any cost. Raven is her ticket to liberty. But growing feelings and a web of secrets entangle her in a quest to save magic while her chance at freedom slips away. Born without magic, Tezin's life falls into turmoil when he shows signs of power, and he's not the only one to notice. The man who killed his father captures him, eager to use his newfound magic to bend the seas to his will. Each of them has a role in the fate of magic. But with vicious pirates and a relentless navy admiral impeding them at every turn, their window for the salvation of magic—and themselves—is closing. Forever.

The Black Bird of Chernobyl by Ann McMan

Two-time Lambda Literary Award-winning author Ann McMan takes readers inside the inner workings of the funeral home business as only she can in this remarkable and wholly unforgettable romantic comedy that proves life is for the living. Everything about Lilah Stohler is her clothes, mood, and outlook on life and death. That last part is important because Lilah’s father has just retired and left her in charge of the family funeral home. But Abel Stohler knows his daughter’s comfort level rests “downstairs,” so he hires one Sparkle Lee Sink, to help Lilah manage the living part of the business of death. Sparkle is everything that Lilah isn’t—an empathetic marketing whiz who is a true people person. Lilah isn’t happy about this new arrangement. Still, when business starts booming because of Sparkle’s bright personality, delicious baked goods, and knack for funereal commerce, Lilah thinks things might work out. But joy is fleeting in the funeral home business, and Lilah’s world is turned upside down when an unwitting Instagram post featuring one of her moods goes viral—and now, sightings of “The Black Bird of Chernobyl” have become an obsession across the Instaverse. Lilah knows that Sparkle needs to go, but before she can give her the send-off she deserves, Lilah must first find a way to deal with the inconvenient attraction she’s developed for the nemesis whose unconventional methods are single-handedly transforming the death trade—and quite possibly the Black Bird, herself.