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The First Rule by Steven William Hannah Venalia is going to die. When the newly ordained Priestess of the Mind's Eye returns home to bury her mentor, she meets the seer, Temple. In his dreams of the near future, Temple sees her go to certain death facing a horror from the world below, a choir of the dead whose song enslaves the living. Venalia's failure to protect the village is foretold, the village that has shunned her since childhood - but Venalia is sworn to an oath, bound by the first rule of the Priesthood to stand her ground against even the most hopeless of odds. Beset by corrupt leadership and an ungrateful flock, Venalia must decide what her life is really worth. Perhaps it is better to die for something than to live for nothing. The First Rule is a fantasy novel with elements of mystery, detective, progression and horror. It tells a story about redemption, forgiveness and duty in the face of overwhelming odds. |
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 lifeâand 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 townâa job Taunos is also hired for. Along the way, sheâs 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 sheâs 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); ďťżgay 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 |
The Old Love And The New by Alistair Caradec 'My priority is, and has always been to protect the citizens of our country. God save the King.' Twenty-five years after the infection started spreading across Britain and Ireland, most people have stopped asking questions. Nobody seems to care anymore what happened to the women in the provisional quarantine centres. Sid doesnât have the headspace to care. Since receiving a diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder at age nineteen, he has stuck to a strict regimen of routine, low expectations, and tuning out the world. When his best friend brings home the first woman either of them has seen since the epidemic, Sid has to push back the boundaries he set for his own safety and face outwards for the first time |
To Spy a Star (Agent Renault Adventures) by Jonathan Nevair
Worldbuilding: Aided the story
Plot: Straightforward Characters: Roles are clear
Storytelling: Descriptive
Immersion: Didnât want to put the book down Emotional Response: Engaging
Thought Provoking: New ideas came up
Cover: Matches the story well James Bond in space! Review by SKaeth writer on |
Worldbuilding: Aided the story
Plot: Straightforward Characters: Roles are clear
Storytelling: Descriptive
Immersion: Didnât want to put the book down Emotional Response: Strong emotions
Thought Provoking: New ideas came up
Cover: Adequately represents the story Review by SKaeth writer on |
Worldbuilding: Aided the story
Plot: Straightforward Characters: Roles are clear
Storytelling: Descriptive
Immersion: Didnât want to put the book down Emotional Response: Strong emotions
Thought Provoking: New ideas came up
Cover: Adequately represents the story Review by SKaeth writer on |
Salt Magic, Skin Magic by Lee Welch
Worldbuilding: Aided the story
Plot: Straightforward Characters: Roles are clear
Storytelling: Descriptive
Immersion: Didnât want to put the book down Emotional Response: Strong emotions
Thought Provoking: New ideas came up
Cover: Matches the story well Review by inferiorwit writer on |
From the Ashes by B. S. H. Garcia
Worldbuilding: Aided the story
Plot: Straightforward Characters: Roles are clear
Storytelling: Descriptive
Immersion: Didnât want to put the book down Emotional Response: Strong emotions
Thought Provoking: Did some research after reading
Cover: Matches the story well This tiny little novelette packs so much into the minimal number of pages that it's quite mind boggling. For its size it feels like it should be just a mere chapter in a much larger novel and yet it manages to tell a whole entire fleshed out story in so few words. Review by LynnS book blogger on |
Bring Out Your Dead by Heather Murphy Secrets from the past cannot be ignored forever. After her motherâs untimely death, Lucy Fray discovers the existence of family she never knew she had. But Adeline and Edmund Fray have been living with a tragedy of their own - three murders that have gone unsolved for 40 years. When Lucy and her six-year-old son are invited to visit Fray House, they discover that secrets often long to be revealed⌠and ghosts can haunt us whether or not we believe in them. |
Bonds of Blood & Silver by Sandy Butchers The Gods are Dead. All of them but Skjall. Haunted by dark magic, poor choices, and a lifetime of bad luck, Skjall spends his days hiding from heathens who wish to complete the deicide he survived centuries ago. When an ambush set by a member of the royal court reveals his identity, he finds himself thrown down a rabbit hole of kill-or-be-killed decisions. Without the vigilance of the gods, two remaining kings harvest their people in pursuit of immortality, and a twisted wish to ascend the divine throne. However, being the only deity left alive, Skjallâs blood is the key to said throne, and he stands powerless as divinity balances on the brink of extinction. With the war between the mad monarchs reaching a boiling point, the victims of their power struggle pile up. Skjallâs desperation leads him to a group of local, shape-shifting warriors and witches. But with the arrival of alchemically enhanced monster-soldiers, he finds himself on the losing end. Skjall must do everything he can to keep his blood from enemy hands, lest they use it to bend him to their will, reshaping the world into a breeding ground for monsters and false gods. |
The Early Girls by Yvette Joy Liebesman The Early Girls: -Hannah-- even at age three she was the natural leader; -Isha-- the most confident of the group; at first glance she appeared shy, but her smile betrayed that; -Mina-- she was petrified of being abandoned; -Francie -- her parents realized too late that a second child required a lifestyle change; -Vicky-- by far the brightest of the girls, much to the disappointment of her parents; -Amber-- her parents kept having children that they didnât wantâŚ. Together they are unstoppable. The reunion of six women who bonded in nursery school is interrupted when one of them is kidnapped, and the friends plot a daring rescue. The ransom: access to the priceless invention two of the Early Girls created. There is a deeper mystery, thoughâfor years, women in the area have gone missing, and the Early Girls inadvertently discover how and why. |
Salt Magic, Skin Magic by Lee Welch An entrapped lord and a magician whose sex life melts windows; will love destroy them, or set them free? Lord Thornby has been trapped on his fatherâs isolated Yorkshire estate for a year. There are no bars or chains; he simply canât leave. His sanity is starting to fray. When industrial magician John Blake arrives to investigate a case of witchcraft, he finds the peculiar, arrogant Thornby as alarming as he is attractive. John soon finds himself caught up in a dark fairytale, where all the rules of magicâand loveâare changed. To set Thornby free, both men must face life-changing truthsâand John must accept that the brave, witty man whoâs winning his heart may also be about to break it. Can they escape a web of magic thatâs as perilous as love? Genre: Fantasy historical m/m romance Novel-length standalone book, approx 80,000 words |
Falling Into Oblivion by Aaron M. Payne MODIFICATIONS COME AT A PRICE. Detective Sol Harkones is tangled in the wires of a deadly conspiracy involving defective body modifications causing permanent brain damage. A suspect is known, but something more dangerous may be lurking in the shadows. A city plagued by waste. Violence fills the streets. Oblivion is within reach. Falling Into Oblivion is the electrifying first book in the Tendrils of Chrome cyberpunk sci-fi series. If you're a fan of William Gibson's Neuromancer, HBO's True Detective, or Philip K. Dickâs Blade Runner, you will love Aaron M. Payneâs rapid-fire saga. |
Let Them Float by Katy Wimhurst In these short stories, Katy Wimhurst creates off-kilter worlds that illuminate our own. Apocalyptic rabbits invade a town. People overwhelmed by their lives float above an urban park. A woman turns transparent after a virus. The playful lens of magical realism is used to explore physical and mental illness and our fragile environment. Thought-provoking fiction with a good dose of whimsy. |
Snapshots of the Apocalypse by Katy Wimhurst In these dark, witty short stories, Katy Wimhurst creates off-kilter worlds which illuminate our own. Here, knitting might cancel Armageddon. A winged being yearns to be an archaeologist. Readers are sucked into a post-apocalyptic London where the different rains are named after former politicians. An enchanted garden grows in a rented flat. Magical realism meets dystopia, with a refreshing twist. |
An Orchid in My Belly Button by Katy Wimhurst Offbeat short stories that explore our fragile world These stories savour the surreal, flirt with magical realism, dabble with dystopia. A boy sees the ghosts of dead crabs. A girl with a fox tail is bullied. A disenchanted woman sprouts orchids from her belly button. Fashion models pursue the trend of having plants as hair. Electronic goods amassing all over London herald an apocalypse. Darkness and wonder, the strange and the ordinary, interweave to offer an environmental and social portrait of our times. Guaranteed to evoke a response, whether a giggle, a gasp, or a nervous gulp, these stories will stay with you, enriching your perception of the world. Surreal, absurdist, magical realist; Katy Wimhurst writes speculative fiction that meditates on our reality. Although bleak themes are examined â dystopian futures, the climate crisis, bullying â a quirky imagination and wry humour lift the tales above the ârealm of grimâ. |
How will she survive⌠Kidnapped, tortured, amnesiac and on the brink of death. This will not be pretty! |
Elysian Iris by Thanos Papathanassiou ¨T h e c h a l l e n g e a n d t h e b e t¨ Contents: 6 large-scale historical dramata of olden times; 3 petite stories, 1 petite theatrical play; 20 laconical miniatures, 8 poetical creations; 1 paraphilosophical portrait upon certain concepts; 1 quite extensive gnomicologion. Language-character: Language strikingly sophisticated [miles away from standard English]: of the so many peculiar and diversifying elements, the core- and leader-component being constituting the blatant presency of the participle [in various verb-tenses, statical (punctual, etc.), progressive (durative, continuative, iterative, etc.), primary, secondary (accessory, complementary, satellitary, subsidiary, etc.)]; apart from the current language, another 9 being encountered along the way [author's own artificial language, Latin, French, German, Spanish, Ancient Greek, old Modern Greek, Modern Greek, Italian]. Readers's rating: 5-stars and 10/10 [read. rat. of former indiv. books]. Film-making potentiality: most of the works well suited to filming. Elysian Iris by Thanos Papathanassiou is a masterpiece that will captivate readers who crave a rich, immersive experience that weaves together the threads of history, romance, and philosophy, transporting them to a world of timeless beauty and profound introspection. |
Reverting Scales by The Illogic Naydrus is a dragon born to immense parents who live with and serve humans. When the dragonling hatches, it is revealed that she doesn't look anything like her family and she has a passion for fighting. However, she also carries a deep hatred for the hominid 'caretakers'. This inspires her escape from the city through the sewer system and her search for other dragons that share her mindset. However, the world is a big place and very old. Much has happened and continues to happen without Naydrus being aware of it, causing her to cross paths with dangerous individuals and end up in hazardous locations. |
The Elf Witch by Jacquelyn Gilmore For fans of One Dark Window and From Blood and Ash comes a haunting, slow-burn fantasy romance about villains. It follows a formerly magicless elf as she suddenly comes into powers that her kingdom has never seen and the duplicitous prince she must bargain with to save them at whatever costâeven her soul. After her grandmother's execution, a formerly magicless elf is suddenly the most powerful witch in her village. Magic is disappearing, though, and Imani is thrust into the treacherous court of her kingdom, forced into trials against the most lethal witches in the world. As she unravels the perilous plan her grandmother plotted before her death to save magic, Imani unwittingly dives deeper into a web of magical and political intrigue that puts her on a collision course with dangers beyond anything she imagined. But Imani is harboring illicit knowledge of her ownâa forbidden dark magic thatâs getting more difficult to hide by the day. Now, she must decide whether to make herself a threat and an enemy to her country or risk becoming a pawn and the realm losing magic forever. Stuck in this predicament, Imani sees only one path forward: a dangerous deal with the duplicitous princeâone she might be falling for. |
2033: The Year Things Fell Apart by Rebecca Doll & James Gordon "A hyperreal tapestry of the death of a nation!" A disputed electionâŚa terrifying future! Em, with her partner Ava and stepdaughter Sophia, left a tiny East Coast apartment for a lucrative IT job in Louisville that could fund their future. A disputed 2032 U.S. election and the rise of a powerful neo-fascist demagogue lays waste to her dreams while Em struggles to survive in the belly of the beast itself. Her government contract job turns out to place her in direct proximity to the most hated media figures of the new regime. She can hurt them, but at what risk in a place where her familyâs queer identity makes them a target? In the rising fire of a Civil War, Em must struggle to survive and preserve something of her hopes, her family, or even herself. 2033: THE YEAR THINGS FELL APART Presents a realistic and chilling look at a dystopian world that may lie just around the corner. Beltway insider and political wonk James Gordon is writing again with Alternative Sexuality Educator Rebecca Doll to present a sobering look at a future that may be too close to our own for comfort. |
The Warm Machine by Aimee Cozza When a robot built for construction work first sees an angular, sleek prototype military robot slink onto the base heâs working outside of, he immediately falls in love. The problem is, only anomalous bots understand the concept of love, and the lowly laborbot has not deviated from his default programming once. So he thinks, anyway. When the laborbot is scheduled for decommission, the military bot cannot possibly live without him, and the two bots set out on a path to find the fabled anomalous robot utopia Root. |
The Fractured Balance by N.A. Soleil When emotionless, immortal genetic experiment Pheonix escapes the slaversâ arena and arrives in the utopian elven city of Terelath, he learns the metacosm is governed by an ideology known as âthe balance,â which claims the kind of evil Pheonix experienced while enslaved to be a tolerable part of the natural order. Unbeknownst to him, Pheonix is the long-awaited Ascended of Justice, and those drawn to Justice quickly gather around him. With their help, he hones his innate abilities and sets out to investigate the covert system supporting âthe balance.â As Pheonix begins to uncover that the metacosmâs governing bodies are chained to injustice at the core, he and his newfound allies vow to excise the corruption ⌠even if it means all-out war. |
How to be Jewish in 30 Seconds by Rabbi Kenneth Block Iâm here to tell you - You can be Jewish in 30 seconds or less. Hear me out. Many of my colleagues, both Jewish and Gentile, present their religions as all or nothing, insurmountable mountains of material. So, naturally, nearly everyone is going to shy away from it. Religion is like sailing. If you learn some of the basics, you can sail a boat. Youâre not going to be in the Americaâs Cup or sail around the world, but you can love it anyway. I think a disservice has been done to Judaism by presenting it as all or nothing âtelling Jews what they can and cannot do and that you have to give up this and that. The only thing that that results in is people walking away. But it doesnât have to be that way. You can practice Judaism in just 30 seconds a week by picking a Jewish activity and, well, practicing it. |
The Fragile Humans We Are by V. Walker Step into the delicate realms of emotion with the fragile humans we volume one, a poignant collection of poetry that navigates the intricate landscapes of love, grief, and depression. This collection invites readers on a transformative journey through the highs and lows of the human experience. In this beautifully crafted compilation, Walker delves into the complexities of love, loss, and being lost. the fragile humans we are, volume one is not merely a collection of poems. It serves as a testament to the resilience of the human spirit, celebrating the capacity for healing that resides within us all. This first edition features 13 original illustrations, beautifully crafted for the fragile humans we are volume one. |
The Battle of Euangelion: Reborn by S Steyn The first book in a coming-of-age series about the origins of evil on Earth and the supernatural struggle for humanityâs redemption. The epic unravels through the adventures and misadventures of 18-year-old Alexis Sharp and her unlikely friends as they navigate trials, quests, and secrets that transcend both time and space. If Alexis were offered a choice, she probably wouldnât have chosen this destiny for herself. And yet, it proved to be the most exhilarating rite of passage she could ever have dreamt of. Though initially antagonistic toward the crimes against all that is normal, natural, and proper, a skeptical Alexis slowly begins to embrace her new reality after being abruptly recruited to a mystical Island within the Kingdom of Euangelion where humans enjoy immunity and immortality. Presently safeguarded from outside intrusion by an invisible veil, this Kingdom truly appears to be paradise. But a prophecy linking the demise of the evil exiled Diabolus to a human bloodline and a clandestine operation to obtain a mysterious artifact will soon threaten to change that. |
Cicada Man: The Tale of Jonny Dice by Vincent Trezor Step into the wild, unregulated world of the crypto markets origins with âCicada Man,â where you'll meet Jonny Dice, an erratic trader wrestling with bipolar disorder. Jonny's quest for his manic version of the American Dream often leaves him clinging on to reality. His almost true tale unfolds across an unpredictable landscape where reality is constantly rewritten. |
Cicero James, Miracle Worker by Hal Emerson My name is Cicero James, and I died last Thursday. I know how it sounds, and the rest of what I have to tell you is just going to make it worse. But it's true. I died, and I came back. And the rest of itâwhy it happened, what it means, and most importantly what weâre going to have to do about itâis what I need you to hear. Iâm going to start at the beginning, and Iâm going to tell all of this as faithfully as possible. Iâm going to try to bring you along for the ride. Itâs all coming out in a rush, so if I donât tell it quite right, or if I muff a word or use bad grammar or something, try not to hold it against me. And if I donât manage to convince you⌠I understand. No harm, no foul, no hard feelings. This is all insane to anyone who hasn't lived it. But if you're in, then youâre in, and here we go. |
The Redstone Rescue by Ben Moxon âThey say the crown lies heavy on the head of the king, but in Sataminva our crown lies on a perfectly counterbalanced plate in a display case in the Hall of Voices.â Khatin Amatar grew up in the free realm of Sataminva after the last king died in a failed war of conquest. Now she works as assistant and bodyguard to the famous detective Farid Rassamouli, helping out where community justice cannot reach. After successfully wrapping up a high-profile case they are sent from the familiar streets of the capital to a small border town where a colleague seems to be the latest in a string of disappearances. As their investigation begins, every answer just raises more questions and the shadows around the town of Redstone grow ever darker. Before their adventures are over Khatin will need her wits, her convictions, and all the skills she learnt growing up around the family fighting arena. |
Short Tales: The Red Chaise and Church Business by G Barrett-Jones âThe Red Chaise" is a haunting tale set on Tree Valley Plantation, spanning generations and exploring themes of violence and retribution. At its heart, the story follows the tragic events surrounding a red chaise, a symbol of pain and suffering. From Rose's forced encounter with the enslaved Jed to the brutal re-enslavement under Dale Barrett, the chaise witnesses a cycle of torment. In a moment of supernatural retribution, Barrett meets his end, linking the fates of multiple characters and highlighting the ongoing struggle for dignity and justice. Through vivid storytelling, "The Red Chaise" captures the haunting legacy of slavery and a community's resilience. In "Church Business" The Memorial Baptist Church is rocked by scandal when Todd, a devoted member, discovers his wifeâs affair with the pastor. As the church council grapples with the fallout, emotions flare, and hidden grievances surface. Amid this turmoil, Pastor Diggums lies in a coma, facing his sins in a surreal, otherworldly struggle. This tale of betrayal, forgiveness, and redemption reveals the complexities of human relationships within a close-knit community. |
Air and Ashes by Margaret Mantor What if you found out everything in your life was a lie? After seventeen-year-old Emma Cross learns her mom didnât die of cancer but was murdered, her life is upended. Forced from her home, Emma is thrown into a world hidden within our own, where Elementumsâgenetically engineered super soldiers who control the elementsâare caught in a vicious war against the unstoppable Clinic. Emma is convinced she doesnât belong thereâuntil she herself is targeted as a rare Halfbreed. If she wants to survive and uncover the dark secrets of her momâs past, she must train to defend herself against the Clinic while resisting the distracting allure of the icy Kaden Haleâa powerful, driven Elementum with secrets of his own. When Emma discovers a highly classified project that somehow involved her mom and could change the entire course of the war, thereâs no turning back. Only three options remain: life in the Elementum world, death, or worst of allâcapture. Air and Ashes is a gripping tale of warring elements, heart-stopping romance, and devastating betrayals, perfect for fans of Jennifer L. Armentroutâs The Darkest Star and Leigh Bardugoâs Shadow and Bone. Donât miss your chance to join the fight against the Clinic! |
Of Wolves and Stags by Ria Parisi Tidesend is a simple village. About as boring as can be. Perfect for someone who needs to hide away. Someone like Dalia Arrowwood. She is a Crystalline, a living weapon granted magic through elven experimentation. Three very simple rules have kept her alive: stay as far north as she can, stay put for her sister to find her, and never use her powers. The final rule is the most important of them all. At seventeen, Dalia is no stranger to waiting. She has spent the last decade of her life concealing her true self to stay safe, but safety has a way of feeling like a cage. When Glenn Cahill, a human freedom fighter, washes up on the shore of her humble village, Dalia is faced with a choice. She can break the rules that so far have kept her alive or leave him to die. Unable to remain stagnant any longer, she chooses to use her magic to save his life. This choice not only exposes her to the world that views Crystalline as abominations but allows her to join the resistance in their fight to find the only hope of the humans ever winning their freedom from the elves: the last cache of magical crystals. A shadowy masked figure from Daliaâs past haunts this task, as a fearsome band of elves hunt the ragtag group. Wielding magic of their own, stolen from the hearts of other Crystalline, they change the search for the crystals into a deadly race. The comforts of her cage left behind, Dalia must learn to navigate a world that is set to see her as either one of two things: a weapon to be used or a monster to be feared. |
The Mystery of the Pale King by Sam Flynn "Tonight, my friends, the performance is real. To you, my most faithful, I dedicate this, the final production of 'The Mystery of the Pale King.'" As an orphan growing up in a distant border province, Faron took pride in the epic tales of the Hero of Hathur, a great and powerful warrior who ruled in the name of the sun-worshipping Church of the Sol Creator. That pride is shattered by accusations from the Hero's family that he squandered their entire inheritance on the production of a profane play with him at the center: "The Mystery of the Pale King." The Church proclaims him under interdict and dispatches Bishop Antonius, his devoted page Faron, and a cadre of soldiers downriver to repossess Hathur on its behalf. The cruelty they witness on their perilous mission forces them to confront the horrors at the heart of Hathur's past and question not just their devotion to the Church but their very beliefs in gods and heroes. Amid a storm of betrayal, murder, and sacrilege, Faron must survive fanatical cultists, their obscene rituals, and the evil hiding in the light in order to save Bishop Antonius from the Hero's final performance. Inspired by the historical legend of Gilles de Rais, The Mystery of the Pale King probes the roots of modern American dysfunction in a grim flintlock fantasy setting that reflects the best and worst of humanity. âWhile the dark, riveting The Mystery of the Pale King is set in a distant time and place, its sharp examinations of religious cults and hero worship are all too relevant to todayâs world. Flynnâs clear prose leads the reader through a short yet complex tale of dark fantasy and horrors both earthbound and cosmic. Itâs a gripping, highly recommended read." - Nicole Willson, Bram Stoker Award-nominated author of Tidepool |
Cursed Under London by Gabby Hutchinson Crouch Two strangers. Two Londons. Two hearts that wonât stop beating⌠In an alternative Elizabethan London, Fang awakes from his death to discover he is not quite human anymore. In fact, despite having somehow acquired the power of immortality, heâs also not quite vampire, zombie, werewolf or any of the other supernatural beings who roam the twin cities of Upper London and its underground counterpart, Deep London. A jaded traveller from the Ming Empire, Fang is desperate to find a way to reverse the spell and get on with being dead when he stumbles upon Lazare de Quitte-Beuf, a theatrical Frenchman who is afflicted with the same mysterious condition. Thrown together by the curse they share, the two men set out to undo the strange magic that binds them. As they are drawn further into the shadowy world of Deep London, they find themselves at the centre of a dangerous plot. And when in grave danger, surely the worst thing they could do would be to fall in love, wouldnât it? |
The Wisp and the Wolf by Jeanne Renee Meg Quinn has a promise to keep. A talented but withdrawn artist, she begrudgingly travels to the wilds of North Wales to fulfill her late motherâs dying wishâto make amends with her estranged and pregnant identical twin with whom she shares a clairvoyant bond. But before Meg can reach her sister, an inexplicable encounter with an eldritch yew tree thrusts her deep into the past. The year is now 1402 and the native people of Wales, the Cymry, are locked in an ambitious uprising against England. Here Meg meets Steffan Blaidd, a war-weary Welsh archer who finds himself outlawed by a powerful rival and forced to join the revolt after saving Megâs lifeâa revolt Meg knows to be doomed. Plunged into the harsh, vibrant world of the Cymry, Meg knows the mystical connection with her sister demands resolutionâas does her growing affection for Steffan and the world to which he belongs. Torn between desire and duty, the future and the past, Meg must discover her own strength if she is to survive the treacheries of war and grasp her true fate. |
Yield Under Great Persuasion by Alexandra Rowland Tam Becket has hated Lord Lyford since they were boys. The fact that heâs also been sleeping with the man for the last ten years is irrelevant. When they were both nine years old, Lyford smashed Tamâs entry into the villageâs vegetable competition. Nearly twenty years later, Tam hasnât forgiven the bastard. No one understands how deeply he was hurt that day, how it set a pattern of small disappointments and misfortunes that would run through the rest of his life. Now Tam has reconciled himself to the fact that love and affection are for other people, that the gods donât care and wonât answer any of his prayers (not even the one about afflicting Lyford with a case of flesh-eating spiders to chew off his privates), and that life is inherently mundane, joyless, and drab. And then, the very last straw: Tam discovers that Lyford (of all people!) bears the divine favor of Angarat, the goddess Tam feels most betrayed and abandoned by. In his hurt and anger, Tam packs up and prepares to leave the village for good. But the journey doesnât take him far, and Tam soon finds himself set on a quest for the most difficult of all possible prizes: Self care, forgiveness, a second chance... and somehow the unbelievably precious knowledge that there is at least one person who loves Tam for exactly who he isâand always has. |
The Haunting of Maddy McKenzie by Steve Rogan The Haunting of Maddy McKenzie Maddy McKenzie [mmm, why does that compel me to sing about darning my socks all by myself late at night?]. Oh well. Anyhoo. Maddyâs a 36-year-old Wollongong detective, and a hard-line sceptic to boot; she doesnât even believe in believing in the belief of believing those beliefs. After buying and moving into a house at Thirroul, which the realtor warned her was haunted, Maddy is forced to put her scepticism aside and come to accept that there may just be some substance to this spirit-world hoohah. As always, someoneâs mother is intrinsically involved. Delphine Morgan, psychedelic hippy-type beach bunny, was murdered in Maddyâs new house in August of 1969 and, as a result, missed Woodstock by a week and a rippinâ little grand final between the Tigers and the Rabbitohs in September. Unless her killer is caught, belted with a phonebook by an angry old desk Sergeant and brought to justice before he dies, Delphine will be stuck in the wrong realm and inherit her killerâs violence for eternity, thus rendering her one of those annoyingly nasty spectres that arenât too welcome at dinner parties. Delphineâs only chance is if Maddy reopens her cold-case investigation and tracks the old codger down before he runs out of puff. Thatâs the tear-jerker part of the story; the rest is just an utter load of old tosh! |
Silent is the Sword by Evelyn Grimald Stone Elyria Trevain is shrouded by silence and surrounded by books. She speaks only to those she trusts implicitly, using the signed language with the rest of the world. Her life in the Great Archives is full of quiet and the whisper of paper and ink that her scribe magic controls. It is a quiet life. A good life built upon the ruins of her past. Until one day her city is attacked and the man she thinks she loves is kidnapped. Elyria volunteers to go after him, knowing that the path will take her to the childhood home she swore to forget. Accompanied by a mysterious cat who speaks to her of books and magic, she ventures into the world beyond the Archives. Into a world of forgotten sorcery rediscovered. Into a world of dead gods and a tormented angel that fills her dreams. Into a world where her silence is not just a shroud, but a weapon. Silent is the Sword is an epic fantasy where the forgotten past is rearing its head, where magic takes hold, and where love crosses memory and magic to keep the world from burning. |
Dandera: Thunder Underground by H.T. Schwartz Dive Into the Depths of Dandera - An Inner-Earth Fantasy Adventure In the aftermath of the Civil War, Thomas Lloyd, a spirited young mine manager from Kentucky, is driven to breathe new life into his beleaguered town. But as townsfolk vanish without a trace, his quest for answers thrusts him into the mysterious underworld of Danderaâa place where ancient myths pulse with life and hidden cities glow with wonder. Within this vast cavernous underworld, Thomas finds himself entwined in an epochal clashâa war echoing with the primal forces of love and fear. Guided by the enigmatic Pharli, a princess of the radiant Ash-Asha, Thomas's journey becomes more than a quest for the lost but a pilgrimage of the soul. The strings of destiny whisper of a time prophesied where humanity's path would hinge upon a collective choice. Amidst this strife, where the machinations of the shadowy lord Kalaron threaten to tilt the cosmos into eternal darkness, it is upon Thomas and his new friends to tip the scales of fate. Dandera weaves subterranean fantasy, epic romance, and the stark realities of war into a rich tapestry of transcendental adventure. |
A far cry from his hollow log house, an upbeat and unruly ferret, sets out across Woodzley in search of an adventure. |
Liminal Space by Vicki-Ann Bush Two worlds, a desperate fate, and the secret that binds them. A weekend getaway turns dark when friends Jesse and Micah witness a woman drenched in blood screaming in the middle of a casino. Security quickly whisks the woman away and the two friends are left shaken. Trying to get past what they saw, they attempt to move forward with their plans. But when mysterious events continue to occur, like a town appearing and disappearing from the view in their hotel room, the girls begin to wonder if their weekend getaway is a weekend nightmare. Their curiosity drives them to seek out and investigate the vanishing town. Initiating a journey that leads to a truth much bigger than they could ever have imagined and changing their lives forever. |
The Darkest Light by Vicki-Ann Bush War is coming. As the star quarterback for his high school football team and local celebrity in the quaint town of Boulder City, Luke Jacob enjoys a charmed life. Everything's going according to plan, that is until the night he spots a mysterious and alluring girl in the crowd. Despite his father's cryptic warning to keep away from her, he's instantly drawn to Mary. The team plans a gathering to celebrate their homecoming win, and Luke decides to invite her. The evening turns dark when the demon Abezethibou appears and threatens them. When Mary steps in to save her peers, Luke sees her for what she truly is, forever changing their future and creating a bond between them. The revelation shatters what Luke believes about himself and forces him to face his destiny. Will Mary stand by Luke in the face of the coming storm, or will she be swayed by the allure of darkness? |
Vengeance Borne: Book Five of New Blood by W.D. Kilpack III The future of Mankind relies on the Guardian of Maarihk. Can Natharr, Ellis the Elder, and the Knights of Ril endure tragedy to stave off Mankind's dark future? The past and present collide, forcing Natharr and the rest of the Rilari to struggle with the consequences of their absence, past choices, and the power of the Usurperâs vizier left unchecked for far too long. The strain proves too much for some, requiring hard decisions to prepare for a dark future racing toward the Guardian of Maarihk, Ellis the Elder, and the Knights of Ril. All that two generations of Guardians have planned from what their Sight revealed is on the brink of failure. They split their forces to race against time, gambling that thinner numbers will endure on diverging paths toward victory. Meanwhile, Nathan fights to deal with great loss and a change of course in his life in the Maarihk Empire as it plants new seeds yearning for a single goal: vengeance. |
Sol Accords: Starbourne by DG Podporski Everyday life for Jaeden Starbourne has been challenging for as long as he can remember, which as it happens, isnât quite as long as one might think. In fact, Jaeden canât remember anything that happened more than five years ago. He woke up aboard a medical space station with no identity, no family, no friends, no money, and no clue what to do next. For someone without a past, finding work was never an issue. Finding honest work above-board that didnât include illegal activity was the challenge. Securing a dangerous job as an orbital shipbreaker was by no means Jaedenâs first choice, but in this galaxy and given his circumstances, beggars canât be choosers. As his life in this new and unfamiliar place begins to spiral uncontrollably around him, Jaeden quickly finds himself crossing paths with criminal syndicates, mercenary companies, and worst of all, a corporate Technologist; an agent with artificial enhancements that grant the user nearly limitless abilities. Not having a past is no longer Jaeden Starbourneâs biggest issue, because if heâs not careful, heâll lose his future as well. |
Gellert's New Job by Johannes T. Evans Gellert has worked as a business manager for the King family for nearly a decade when an error in judgement brings his employment to an abrupt end. Lucien Pike, a rival kingpin, employs his services instead. Fantasy, crime, and a good bit of dark humour. 21k. Rated M. Transgender, autistic manâs POV; both protagonists are autistic. |
How I Found Her by Brendan Halpin Jen lost her job and her husband (and the contents of their joint bank accounts) in the same week, going from wealthy to working class overnight. Struggling to make ends meet as a gig worker, she enters an apartment for a dog walk and finds the murdered body of the woman her husband left her for. The police believe Jen is the killer and arenât interested in any other suspects, so itâs up to Jen, with the help of her college-aged daughter and her fellow gig worker and new friend Susan, to find the real killer. |
Daughters of the Wind: Bloodline Progenitors, book 2 by Leigh Saunders Janek, Grand Vizir of Kushar, has done the unthinkable, kidnapping the last known weather witches â the twin daughters of the Gerlachi king â in an effort to claim the gift of their bloodline magic for the Kushari people. But rumors of weather witches in Kushar are spreading, sending Zoya, spymaster of Tzigane, on a quest to learn if they are, in fact, her queenâs missing sisters. At the same time, the twins, chafing at the gilded cage of their long confinement, have demands of their own â demands which may disrupt Janekâs carefully orchestrated plans, thwart Zoyaâs rescue efforts, and shatter centuries of fragile peace between their three countries. |
The Source of Strife by Alex Arch Energy can neither be created nor destroyed. Only stolen. Mages feed on catalysts like Dinnie to enhance their spells, and since sheâs the most formidable weapon alive, they will stop at nothing to control her. Even her parents, leaders of warring realms, wage a battle for her custody, imprisoning her to prevent the other from gaining the upper hand. No more. For the first time in her fourteen years, Dinnie isnât alone. With the help of Ghost, a glum deserter shackled to his past, she intends to flee this madness. But as they witness the horrors unleashed to retrieve her, one thing becomes clear: Her parents will never abandon their claim. Death and destruction follow in Dinnieâs wake, and she must decide if her freedom is worth the cost. |
Queen of Sand and Stone by Leigh Saunders For centuries, the weather witches have ruled Nizam, protecting the oasis city from the devastating sandstorms that threaten its existence. But the aging queen is dying, and Yolara, the heir to the throne, does not possess the gift of weather magic found only in her family line. Hers is the power over stone, the ability to command the shifting sands - but not the winds that drive them across the desert. Will those who question Yolara's right to rule be proven right? Or can Yolara find a way to defend the city that does not rely on weather magic? Time is short, for the storm season is upon them, and the next storm could reach the city any day... |
My Journey as an Author by M. C. Ryder I've always been a writer. My dream was to one day become a published author. That dream came true in October 2022. The dream was only the beginning as I had my work cut out for me. A published book does not sell overnight. There are many highs and many lows. I entered a world that I had no experience in. Choose the freedom of becoming an indie author, without a network. I had to build one from the ground up. A daunting task. The world is not what it used to be. Everything now is digitalized. It can be hard to recognize what is legit and what is a scam. It's a cutthroat business. Crafting stories was actually, believe it or not, the easy part. Follow my journey as I share the things that I learned during the course of a year as an indie author. |
How to Stand Up to Bullying by M. C. Ryder Bullying. Something that is done every second, daily. Don't need a statistic to be told otherwise. Many don't even realize they are a constant victim of bullying, as it tends to get buried as an underlying emotion. Many don't realize they are actually a bully themselves. There are several references for parents to go to in order to help their children stand up against it, but there's not much for adults or depicting in why a bully is a bully in the first place. That's the first step. Before we all can stand up to bullying, we must first understand why a bully bullies to begin with. |
When Darksome Falls by M. C. Ryder I used to be a vampire. Used to be able to run like a hurricane wind. Now I'm human again. Took the cure that turned me back to being weak. I was never strong to begin with. I was happy as a vampire. Now I'm miserable. All I see everywhere I go are happy couples. I made a happy life with Vince until I was forced to move on without him and it sucks. Made a promise to him that I would find happiness again. Tried to start a new life, but I can't find one here. Which is why I have to leave everyone I love behind to find out who I am and what I'm made of. Life is pretty dull until my path crosses with Danielson Cain. Everyone tries to warn me that he's not what he seems, but I just can't resist those dimples. I should have listened. Now I find myself in a precarious situation. |
The Darkened Enchantment by M. C. Ryder Lily Epler lives a double life on the high. Saving lives comes as natural to her as the air she breathes. Fresh out of fire academy she's living her dream as a firefighter. When she's not fighting fires, she lives with her vampire mom and weredog dad on the farm with a pack of werewolves. She is loyal to her family. Family means everything to her. She just has to make sure she keeps both of her worlds separate. Cleo Hedera lives a quiet life keeping her head down. She's eager to make it through high school and go to a place where she can meet people with the same interest as her. Her part-time job at the local feed and garden center is where she is the happiest. Plants don't judge or make fun like people do. She embraces the few people who accept her for who she is. Lily and Cleo live in two different worlds until tragedy strikes, forcing their worlds to collide. When the ground becomes shaky |