Ascendant (Songs of Chaos #1) Reviewed by 📖 rainanightingale author / book blogger

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Hills of Heather and Bone Reviewed by 📖 rainanightingale author / book blogger

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Perception Check Reviewed by 📖 tandewrites author / book blogger

Persuader Reviewed by 📖 rainanightingale author / book blogger

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Curse Breaker Books 1-3 Reviewed by 📖 rainanightingale author / book blogger

The first book is a lot different from the second. So different, you would not think they were in the same world, or the same author wrote them. It makes it hard to use the bar systems, since what I thought about Enchanted was so much different from what I thought about Darkens.

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Her Unbound Hallux by Haldane B Doyle

If only Mother would hurry up and die in the war. Then Miobeth can claim the mansion, take a husband and restore the family bloodline. But Mother insists on staying one more year for a final chance to produce an alternative heir. It should be easy for Miobeth to wait a little longer. To contain her impudent rage. Before she can claim her birthright a mesmerising manservant, a forbidden map and an adventure beyond the mansion walls change Miobeth forever. Can Miobeth fulfil her duty after glimpsing the outside world? “Our Vitreous Womb” is a series of four science-fiction novellas that explore a distant post-industrial future where biological technology has transformed humanity. “Makes my world look timid and old.” – Adolf Huxley “Sci-fi without robots and rocket ships? Impossible!” – Yusak Asimov “I too longed to snuggle with the giant beetle.” – Frank Kafka

Betrayal of Hope by Justin Doyle

Darynn, Fyra, and Kaylaa have solved the mysteries of the gods. But how can they unveil the secrets to save the starving Olan-Har without unleashing chaos upon Vastire? Even if they knew what to do, war with long-time adversary Erodia forces them to wait. Unfortunately, the Erodians are winning: they’ve taken Vastire’s capital and bombard the west coast nightly. With few options left, Commander Aseus turns to Darynn to attempt a daring mission to infiltrate Erodia, just like his grandfather did 80 years ago. With Fyra, Kaylaa, and a small team at his side, Darynn agrees to the treacherous mission across the dangerous, wild continent filled with powerful enemies. But he’s conflicted. Not only does magical power rampage within, but he starts to wonder who he’s fighting for: royalty and the clergy, or the people? That question will drive him to make impossible choices. If he chooses correctly, he can end the war and save the Olan-Har, but at a great cost. If he doesn’t, the Erodians will rule Vastire and the secrets of the gods will be lost.

Assassination of Hope by Justin Doyle

The destruction of the embargo has made Darynn Mark a lot of enemies: an interstellar bounty hunter, the Grand Cardinal, families of the fallen. On top of that, Darynn struggles with his new responsibility to discover the truth behind Vastire's gods, while battling his growing internal desire to destroy. Darynn and Fyra must travel to the frozen planet Yiptae to find the final pieces of the gods' puzzle. But Yiptae has problems of its own, from a violent revolution to the assassination of a key political figure for immigrant rights. In the middle of it all is Kaylaa, whose mysterious past leads to new opportunities, conflicts, and enemies. Darynn, Fyra, and Kaylaa must work with new allies to solve the secret to the past while navigating the revolution and solving the murder. If they don't, they will end up dead, and the truths of two worlds will be buried forever. Secrets ignite revolutions...

The Bone Spear by Alexander Layne

All ex-hero Ettarian Valost wants is to die. When a seraph saves his life, curses him with the gift of undying, and offers him a second chance at saving mankind, Ettarian reluctantly agrees to right the wrongs of his past. He sets out across the ruins of the world he’d tried so hard to protect over twenty years ago, guided by the gods and intent on uniting the remnants of civilization. It soon becomes clear, however, that the gods may not be exactly what they claim to be, and that Ettarian may very well just be another pawn in a game played between divinities. Kalia is too young to have known the world before it was invaded by the Flayed Gods. Determined to escape her abusive father, she flees alone across the desolation, seeking shelter in the ruins of an old city. Here she comes across a solitary monster, a priest of the gods who have enslaved her own race, who assures her that she is destined to guide humanity into a golden age. Guided by her monstrous mentor and by visions granted to her by her new gods, Kalia understands that the only thing that stands in the way of her ascension is an old man and his own plans. She intends on striking him down and then fulfilling her destiny. But Ettarian is no ordinary old man. He is the White Dove, and he will have redemption, no matter the cost...

Our Darkest Hour by Gabriella E. Mari

Coming into his psychic powers by accident, Adrian Sinclair finds he has the ability to see and communicate with spirits yet zero understanding of how anything works. So when the YouTube-famous Crossroads Paranormal Research Society offers to take him under their wing, he knows he is in no position to refuse. As Adrian learns what it means to be a paranormal investigator and how to navigate his newfound online celebrity status, he discovers that psychics are quitting en masse, and there are only vague rumors as to why... ... until something beyond his reach starts stalking him.

Stargun Messenger by Darby Harn

Astra Idari must keep the last living star alive in a galaxy lost to shadows. Astra Idari is a mess. She drinks too much, remembers too little, and barely pays for it all as a Stargun Messenger. She hunts down thieves who steal filamentium, the fuel that allows for faster-than-light travel. When Idari meets Gen Emera, she meets the girl of her dreams and the last living star. There's just one problem. Filamentium is only found in the blood of living stars. Everyone wields knives and justifications for butchering the living stars, but once Idari knows the truth, she faces a stark choice. Either she turns Emera over to her employers who control the filamentium monopoly, or risks everything to help Emera fulfill her quest to save her people. The choice should be simple, but it's not losing her life that terrifies Idari. It's finally living. Idari knows she's human despite outwardly appearing to be an android with a failing memory stitched together by her ship's irascible AI, CR-UX. She's been just getting by for longer than she remembers, assured in her humanity, but not enough to risk it. Idari has lived her entire life in darkness. The dark comforts and shields. The dark preserves in its cold, and Idari may not be able to keep her star out of her shadow.

Dead Sexy by Cameo MacPherson

A light-hearted and lightly steamy fantasy/paranormal romance.... because sometimes falling in love can be harder than hunting the undead. Cassie Jones, the head of Jones' Post-Mortem Tracking Agency, has been cursed with a capital "C." Thanks to an unfortunate incident with an angry wizard, any guy she falls for is guaranteed to betray her. So when David MacDuff - the most mouthwatering man she's ever had the misfortune to meet - hires her to track his recently deceased brother, Gideon, she knows she's got to keep things strictly professional. Yeah, like that's gonna happen. Maybe she should have stuck to hunting vampires after all.

Got Trouble by Dave Dobson

Trouble can find you anywhere. When your day starts at 11 pm, it’s a long way to sunrise. Glynnis Cary is stuck working as a night manager at the Gas-O-Mart. Her husband Keith’s idea of romance is buying her grocery store flowers, usually only when he comes home drunk. Her son is in trouble at school, skipping out with his girlfriend, and keeping secrets. Big secrets, ones that may turn out to be both lucrative and felonious. Keith’s bumbling unexpectedly makes Glynnis the target of multiple murderous enemies and a lot of bullets. Way more bullets than is reasonable. On the run with a new friend, one whose life she’s just inadvertently destroyed, Glynnis has to rely on her gut, her grit, and her ability to spin big lies to find a way to survive. Got Trouble is a new novel of suspense, thrills, humor, and one woman's attempt to just have something go right. For once. For crying out loud.

Words Like Promises by Susanne Schmidt

Dark poetry from European suburbia, Words Like Promises explores the discrepancy between what we wish we had, what we perceive as should be, and the reality in which we sometimes find ourselves. It searches for answers for a better future in a world that perhaps no longer cares.

What May Rise From the Ashes by Susanne Schmidt

Ofronia Mills is far too old to retire. She has spent all her life as a librarian, and when Grand-Director Lorn Van Shipplestorm threatens not only her job, but the integrity of the library itself, she has no choice but to act. Evading her boss and Tess Dingly, it-girl and reluctant librarian apprentice, Ofronia descends into the library's forgotten fourth basement, which once housed the collection of magic books. While Van Shipplestorm plots to bar the general populace from even entering the hallowed halls, Ofronia must decide what to do with what she finds. Will she entrust her fate to magic, although she once refused to learn anything about it? Or will she walk away quietly, like she has done all her life?

Heirs of War, Ordained by Fate by Mara Valderran

Seventeen-year-old Zelene had never believed in magic or prophecies; until the day she was attacked by an assassin with unnatural powers. Now, her life has been thrust into a war between two worlds she knows nothing about and told that she must fight against an enemy determined to snuff out her existence—all because of some ancient prophecy that claims five girls from her bloodline will unite and end the war between the worlds. The girls are taken back to their home world and discover the ties binding them together. Rhaya has always had an uncanny knack for reading people, but can't seem to unravel the mystery tying her to Isauria, the new friend she bonded with instantly. For years, Isauria has been dreaming of Terrena, a girl living her life on the run in a magical world ripped apart by the tragedies of war, completely unaware that she is psychically linked to the world she was born in. Zelene sees this connection as a prison rather than protection and can think of a place or two she'd like to shove the crown she supposedly inherited. When Zelene finds out her long-lost twin Ariana has been captured by rebels, her attitude changes abruptly. She doesn't know how she can go up against an army of powerful adversaries when her own ability to manipulate the elements remains dormant within her. But time is running out and all that matters to Zelene is rescuing her sister—no matter how much destruction it causes in its wake.

Gryphon's Escape: An Areaer Novella by Raina Nightingale

Sisel is a Gryphon of the Valor Hall, bonded to the Valor Knight Meir. She does not understand human society or why Meir and she have to do most of what they do, but she loves Meir and she accepts that humans are different. She does not need to understand them. Just as even Meir does not understand her. Until Sisel is asked to pluck information out of the mind of an uncooperative tortured prisoner. She does not understand what she is being asked to do, but when she touches the prisoner's feelings, she knows that, whatever else is going on, this is insane. Beyond even normal human insanity.

The Gifts of Faeri by Raina Nightingale

When Faeri is asked to use her magical song to assist in a birth that is not going quite right, she realizes that her power is greater and far more dangerous than she thought. And when shortly later a Nightmare creature appears, using its touch to taint her song-enchanted gifts, that newly-discovered danger escalates to nightmarish proportions. She thought she was helping people. But what if every one of her gifts is a liability, a way for the Nightmare to dig its touch, unsuspected, into people's souls? But when a rare Nightmare creature almost consumes Faeri's soul, her dragon friend Chrysanthemum saves her with her fire, and Faeri wonders if there's any way dragonfire can guard her enchantments against the Nightmare, or if the damage already done is irreparable and she should never sing again.

Hills of Heather and Bone by K.E. Andrews

The bones of the dead hold stories. On the fringes of Errigal, Morana longs to exchange a life of hiding for a peaceful one with her husband, Percy. While Percy's bloodgift lets him grow plants and heal broken bodies, Morana's a boneweaver, despised and feared because she can hear bones and raise the dead. Morana doesn't want to be seen as a villain from the old stories and instead spends her time gardening, writing the stories of the dead, and fending off a spiteful chicken. Morana and Percy's lives are shattered when a group of Failinis tasked with capturing boneweavers and rogue bloodgifted find them. On the run and battling the elements, ancient creatures, and the loss of all they called home, Morana and Percy search for any sanctuary left in Errigal. Morana must choose between the call in her blood or the family she holds so close to her heart if she and Percy are to survive. Please be aware that this book contains some scenes of violence, death, depression, mentions of miscarriage, birthing scenes, suicidal thoughts, suicide, and cannibalism.

The Story of Evil - An Epic Fantasy Saga by Tony Johnson

The Story of Evil is the first standalone novel in Tony Johnson’s literary universe, The Chronoverse. This book is a giant tome of epic fantasy made up of five volumes ( Heroes of the Siege, Escape from Celestial, Three Visions, The Cursed King, and Battle for the Kingdom ). During an annual jousting tournament, a mysterious villain attacks the capital with his army. Because of this disastrous event, Stephen Brightflame, an aspiring knight, embarks on a quest to save the kingdom from further destruction. He joins up with a convicted felon, an arrogant warrior, and a Halfling woman, but learns their tragic pasts are just as dark and disturbing as his own. This 430,000 word adventure features everything that makes the fantasy genre knights, castles, war, prophecies, magic, monsters, and dragons! Experience a book over ten years in the making!

Bodied by Eli Horowitz

Maya is a 20-year-old with a graveyard shift at the post office, a ma whose temper rises even faster than the rent, and all of the million daily headaches of life as a young woman of color in New York in 2011. Her one saving grace is her local arcade, home of New York's feisty, burgeoning fighting game tournament scene. But that respite is taken away from her after she gets banned for standing up to a trash-talker who goes too far. To get back into the arcade and fight for her independence and respect, Maya will partner with a team of up-and-coming players and learn to defeat not just her opponents, but also her own worst instincts. Beneath Maya's quest for FGC glory shines a deeper story about how all of us are made by history—and how we can make history in our turn. The connections between Maya, the women who raised her, and the generations who come after her, examine how our moment in time determines—often unjustly—the risks we take for the rewards we desire for ourselves, our families, and our communities. Bodied is a unique coming-of-age story with sneaky literary chops, a modern mashup between The Brief, Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao and A League of Their Own.

Kulebra by Wendelyn Vega

"If you ask my father who I am, he’ll tell you I’m nobility, daughter of a warrior and stepdaughter of a queen. And if you grabbed someone off the street, you’d probably hear that I was something that might just steal your children from their beds at night, but you didn’t hear it from them. But if you ask me, I’d say the term “misfit” is more appropriate." Kulebra Uhero — or “Kula”, as she insists everyone call her — doesn’t want to be a diplomat. She’s Ahktali’s least qualified princess, and she’s content to trade her royal duties of attending palace guests for overseeing royal animals instead. But after tragedy strikes, she’s left as her little sister and new queen’s only resort to quell the fears of an empire. When her mission of goodwill doesn’t go according to plan, Kula is left with several enemies and the threat of a province’s rebellion looming on the horizon. As she truly discovers her nation for the first time, she is forced to confront not only Derian’s shrewdest politicians but herself as well.

Persuader by Amy Campbell

When the enemy comes calling, this outlaw spitfire will gamble her freedom to save her friends. Vixen Valerie dreads her past. After more than a decade of life on the run, she fears the charade is over. When an enemy nation threatens to attack the outlaw mage’s chosen homeland, she’s desperate to stop them. Teaming up with her friends, Vixen travels deep into Confederation territory on a dangerous mission. But with a clandestine foe doubling down on their every move, Vixen fears that she and her friends have been dealt a bad hand. Will Vixen’s magic be the royal flush needed to save her friends, or will they be doomed by a losing bet? Persuader is the exciting fourth book in the weird western fantasy series Tales of the Outlaw Mages. If you like LGBTQ representation, magical cowboys, pegasus, and found family then you’ll love Amy Campbell’s sweeping adventure. Buy Persuader and saddle up for a fantasy ride unlike any other today!

No Demons But Us by AS Etaski

Among blood sisters, I find only misery. Among Red Sisters, I find ambition to thrive which leaves me breathless. I am a young Noble trapped in a most wretched spot: accused of assassinating my sister, the Matron's heir. If I take the blame, I am next on the sacrificial altar. Dark Elves live for intrigue in our underground matriarchy. We bend the rules for the cunning and the bold. To survive, I must play the game. Through court intrigue, demonic rituals, and mind-rending trials against deadly foes, pervasive webs surround me, all spun by our sadistic priesthood and the Queen’s brutal enforcers. Through it all, the Red Sisters delight in watching me. I must prove myself beneath their ravenous gazes, or I will become the next meal for our goddess. A.S. Etaski spins the first threads of an intense and epic tale with "No Demons But Us", in which the trials of a young Davrin test her resolve to rise from the depths of fear and hatred tearing her down. Sister Seekers is mature dark epic fantasy with an ever-broadening scope. Found family is a core theme throughout, and fans of Dungeons & Dragons will find familiar grounds. Perfect for fans of entwined plots, challenging themes, immersive worldbuilding, and elements of erotic horror. Sexuality and inner conflict play into character growth with nuance, intrigue, action, and magic. The series begins underground with an isolated race of Dark Elves whose intricate webs first ensnare then catapult us to places a Red Sister can only imagine in her dreams.

The Dent in the Universe by E.W. Doc Parris

It turns out "Move fast and break things" is terrible advice when developing a time machine. To resuscitate his fading celebrity, tech CEO Stephen Lucas would sell his soul for one more hit. When the subspace network for his holographic gaming empire crashes, his hardware guru makes a discovery proving that Einstein was right once again— information can be sent backward in time. Lucas sees a dream product for procrastinators. Want a pizza now? Send your order back in time 30 minutes. Forgot to make reservations at that chichi french restaurant two weeks ago? No worries. Buy that PowerBall ticket. Invest in that stock. Make a FaceTime call to a loved one that passed away a month ago. It’s the time machine for the rest of us. In a culture built on instant gratification, Lucas knows he has a hit that will seem like a dream come true on Wall Street. But when he rushes into beta testing before fully understanding the power he's unleashing, he learns that the stuff dreams are made of can quickly become the stuff of nightmares. The road to Hell is paved with cool inventions.

Affirmations For Entrepreneurs: Daily Mantras For Life, Love, and Liberty by Gafar Olawale Liameed

Affirmations for Entrepreneurs presents engaging principles for those who seek faith and enthusiasm in the pursuit of dreams and ambition. The journey of entrepreneurship is full of constant challenges and opportunities, but with daily mantras to boost your concentration and positivity, you'll have the tools you need to overcome obstacles and achieve success. Start each day with the positivity and focus you need to achieve your goals with Affirmations For Entrepreneurs.

Stormless by Nick Stitle

Auris is a place of storms and chaos where seven violent Tempests rule the land, wreaking havoc across the continent. Only the Summoners, bearers of powers not unlike those of the divine Tempests themselves, have the strength to stand against the tyranny of the storms. Society depends upon the enigmatic Summoner-empowering Crystals for survival... Yet when a Summoner bearing powers that should not exist appears on Arvendon’s doorstep, the world begins spiraling into chaos. Castien Varic, a common soldier, finds himself in the throes of a coming war. He embarks on a mission with the most legendary of Auris’s Summoners, hoping to discover the truth behind the resurfacing of the Ancient Summoner. Faelyn Titansworn, heir to the largest of Auris’s empires and one of the most powerful Summoners in the world, finds himself lost in his father’s shadow. When a conspiracy threatens to destroy all that he knows and loves, Faelyn takes it upon himself to save not just his kingdom, but all of Auris. Asteros Silverglade bears the powers of a god. Two years in the past, he, along with five others of his Sect, uncover the hidden secrets that the world has tried to erase. Yet they soon learn that the mysteries of the baffling event known as the Vanishing—the war that somehow caused over half of Auris’s Summoners to disappear without a trace—run far deeper than they could’ve ever imagined. These three heroes walk the threads of fate, together weaving an epic tale of magic, war, love, and loss. Together these individuals will forever change Auris’s future. Empires will shatter, Tempests will be Unbound, but destiny will prevail as these heroes face their fated ends.

Allowing the Night by T. S. Winterway

Jaq is a loner. He is completely happy with sharing his home with no one but his adopted dog and having as little to do as possible with the neighbors. Or so he thinks until he bumps into a grimling in the pouring rain. Whether he wanted it or not, the encounter in the murky woods changes his life forever. When Briar sets out hunting with his clan mates on a rainy day, little does he know of how revolutionary consequences a simple act of goodwill can have. The nocturnal fays avoid contact with humans far as they can, but when it comes to choosing between saving a life or closing his eyes to evil, to Briar, the choice is clear. But will anything good come out of the collision of the opposites? Is allowing the night to step over his threshold the foolest choice Jaq has ever made, or could it result in something positive?

Gothic Revival by Michael Mullin

The Psychological Thriller Inspired by the Creation of Frankenstein Chris, Anne, Fiona, and Lauren were inseparable friends while earning MFAs in Creative Writing. Years later they've grown apart and are surprised to receive an invitation to a reunion from the fifth member of their group, Eric, a successful screenwriter. Eric flies them to a remote lake villa where he reveals his new obsession: their group is a modern version of the famous one from Villa Diodati in 1816, the iconic literary event during which Frankenstein was created. Chris and Anne are their Percy and Mary Shelley. The free-spirited artist Fiona is like Claire Clairmont. Instead of Dr. Polidori, they have Lauren, PhD in Victorian History. That leaves Eric, the Hollywood player, as Lord Byron. Like Byron, Eric proposes they write ghost stories, an homage to their famous predecessors. Laughter, creativity, and reminiscence are soon replaced with deceit, suspicion, and fear. What is the self-proclaimed clairvoyant Fiona seeing and hearing? Why does Eric lie? What does the creepy old housekeeper know about their host? Tensions grow as relationships are tested until a shocking discovery reveals the true intention for the reunion.

River's Roar by C. R. Collins

The realm of Maldhonia was happy and prosperous, until strangers fell from the sky She’d given her life for power and a fresh start, but Calianthema had found a new trap—caught in a love spell with a dangerous nemesis. And this wasn’t the worst of her problems. RIVER’S ROAR is a standalone MAGE ERA prequel to the WOODPELL SERIES and one of the TALES OF ARDONNA. Content Advisory: Adult themes and situations

Poetry for the Blind by Atmos

How often do we reflect on the life we are living or the kind of future we are heading towards as a species? The way that we think of the world shapes the world that we live in and how we interact with it. Poetry for the Blind is a collection of poems about issues in the world, philosophy, consciousness, raising awareness of gratitude, promoting positive change, and concerns for the future of humanity. Through poetry, this book offers readers a way to explore the human condition through the eyes of the author and reflect on issues affecting the collective consciousness residing in human lives on a mass scale. Through turmoil and devastating circumstances, Poetry for the Blind progresses towards a sense of possibility and hope for a positive future—a future that we can still have. We have the power to change the world but we have to start with ourselves first.

The Baron's Ghost by Kyro Dean

Christina Rushing, a baroness and spy, is no stranger to the dark—her late husband can attest to that. But when she takes an espionage job for a shipping mogul and ends up double-crossing the nation of Oceana, she finds herself gun-deep in trouble that could destroy her plans to escape the suffocating life of a gentry. What’s worse, the late Baron’s name has appeared on an active shipping schedule, though he should be six feet under. Determined to make sure the despicable man is dead and find a secret worth selling, Christie heads to Ravensworth followed by deadly shadows. There, she learns her first love, Charlie Blackwell is tied up in her dirty work, too. As ballgowns and whispers devolve into bullets and secrets, the lady-turned-spy becomes a spy-turned-pirate. In a fast-paced political intrigue plot that aims for her heart, Christie must navigate backstabbing colleagues, snotty gentry, hidden caves, blazing guns, poison quills, the occasional assassin, and a dashing man’s knack for rekindling her heart. But the real trick isn’t necessarily how to stay alive—it’s how to keep her blasted gloves clean in the process.

The Hunter's Lament by Steve Pannett

Infamous bounty hunter Bitter Sweet has led his crew of like-minded miscreants for nearly three decades. They can track and capture any man or woman in the known world…for a price. But Sweet is tired. Decades of pursuing the lowest reaches that humanity has to offer have taken their toll. The grime, the lies, the danger, the death. He’s sick of it all. But it’s the only business he knows, and business is good in the aftermath of a long and bloody war. The unstoppable armies of the Vol Empire have conquered Pratia, obliterating all opposition and occupying the kingdom’s cities as they establish a brutal new order. The Pratian king is slain in the carnage, but his son—the Crown Prince and sole heir to the throne—has vanished. Eager to tie up the loose ends, the new Vol rulers turn to those who know the land and its people the best. Bounty hunters. Against his better instincts, Sweet accepts the contract and sets out in search of the fugitive Crown Prince. But his crew are not alone in the hunt. Danger rides with them every step of the way. Rival gangs, Vol soldiers, deadly trackers and dark magickers are all pursuing the heir to Pratia, too. Soon Sweet and his crew have a choice to make, hunt or be hunted?

Curse Breaker Books 1-3 by Melinda Kucsera

Curse Breaker Books 1-3 features the first three books of the Curse Breaker Series in one action-packed boxed set. Curse Breaker Enchanted Sarn wants to be like everyone else, not a mage with a power he can barely control. But he must hide his magic in a country run by a group that wants to destroy all magic. But that magic comes in handy when he wakes up far from home with only his cloak to protect him from monsters and murderous trees. How will Sarn return home in time and unravel the dark conspiracy that’s destroying it before his son pays the ultimate price? Curse Breaker Darkens When a disembodied voice warns him that a demon is after his mage, Jerlo sets off to find the man who could summon it. He swore an unbreakable oath to protect Sarn, no matter the cost. In a country run by a group that wants to destroy all magic, mages and demons shouldn’t exist. But they do, and Jerlo’s in a fight, not just for his life but for his soul. Even if he risks both, how will he save Sarn without magic? Curse Breaker Faceted Sarn spies on the men responsible for his best friend's death with his young son in tow. And those men are hunting for magic-stealing rocks to fuel a zealot's quest. When their greed leads them into a forbidden cavern, they release an ancient monster, and it's hungry for a certain mage and his son. Who will survive the dark terror lurking under the mountain? Curse Breaker Books 1-3 contains the first three books of the Curse Breaker Series: Curse Breaker Enchanted, Curse Breaker Darkens, and Curse Breaker Faceted. It’s an epic fantasy adventure starring a loving father, his young son, and the people and monsters that dwell in an immersive world of intrigue and adventure. Get Curse Breaker Books 1-3 now if you love found family, reluctant heroes, and magical mayhem, then this is the book for you!

Aboard the Timeline by Bastian Gregory

Aboard the Timeline It's the story of a bored boy, Pete who doesn't find anything interesting at school. One day he becomes so bored, and time stands still and he escapes to Outermind. Here he befriends various living beings in different worlds, and along the way becomes aware of a constant conflict going on in these different lands. Ultimately, Pete is asked to make a difference, and the question is whether he is up to the task? Anyone who has a passion for words and wordplay will enjoy reading “Aboard the Timeline” In this wonderful children’s book , Bastian takes us on an adventure with his main character Pete, a young boy who at first seems to be lost (in many more ways than one!) but who ultimately finds his way together with the help of his companions, the lovely dinosaur Reginald and the ancient Greek thinker, Philosophocles. Bastian manages to keep the reader engaged page after page, with clever puns and witty plays on words, which makes his story even more entertaining. Here is a quote from a teacher on Amazon: “My 10 year old son and I read this together and we both really enjoyed it. Redolent of Salman Rushdie’s Haroun and the Sea of Stories/Luka and the Fire of Life plus Walter Moers’ Captain Bluebear series, it’s a consistently chuckleworthy, highly imaginative, multi-layered yarn that carried us wackily along its narrative tracks from start to finish. There’s a great cast of characters - from a doddery old dinosaur to an ebullient Ancient Greek philosopher (“Philosophocles”) to some suitably dastardly demons - and the illustrations, which perfectly complement the text, are great fun too. Highly recommended!”

Echo: Part Two by Michael Listen

Death is not the end. Kai Randal’s future looks bleak due to the galaxy-wide bounty on his head and the catastrophic events at Zorb Keep. Meanwhile, Shreya holds onto hope amidst her despair, as she now possesses the means to find her missing husband. As the crew embarks on a journey through an uncharted region of the universe, Kai will come to comprehend the depths of despair like never before. Kai will face a deeply disturbing situation that will push him to his limits and make him doubt his own mental stability. The Echo series reaches a captivating conclusion that explores the profound impact of loss on individuals. The story takes a heart-wrenching turn, shifting the tone and keeping emotions high. Despite this, the novel remains engaging and ultimately provides a gratifying resolution.

Echo: Part One by Michael Listen

What lengths would you go to save a stranger? Kai Randal is a retired commander of the Colonial Navy who currently operates as an independent pilot in a galaxy torn apart by conflict. Although his profession is fraught with peril, he seems to possess a unique form of good fortune that allows him to survive while also making the situation worse. Being in the wrong place at the wrong time is typical for Kai. Although, when he becomes the sole witness to an alien attack on a Dynasty ship, he is put in an awkward position to help the victims. This one act of kindness will send him spiraling deeper into the affairs of Shreya Nova, the enemy, and her troubles have just started. The Echo series is a thrilling Space opera consisting of two books. It features endearing characters with complex problems that will keep you on the edge of your seat, engrossed in the intense drama and despising the antagonist.

Hiraeth by Ceril N Domace

War has come for the fae. When Owen Williams became a vampire, the world as he knew it shattered. The fae and the United States militaries are fighting in city streets and he is helpless to stop it. As Beira and her generals deal with the war’s rapid escalation, Owen is sent back to Tearmann to deal with the flood of refugees that now call it home. But despite months of training from Beira, Owen still struggles to control his burgeoning vampiric abilities and the hordes of terrified fae in Tearmann threaten to overwhelm him. Then Merlin, the enigmatic resident of Avalon, offers to teach Owen to manage his powers in ways Beira couldn’t. But he has an agenda of his own and he wants Owen’s help in exchange for his knowledge. After all, the halls of Avalon are in ruins. The beings that walked those halls are gone. If they were restored, Merlin might be able to stop the endless Changes that terrify the humans so much. They could bring peace to the beleaguered fae… or awaken things hidden deep within Avalon and lead them into a war worse than ever before.

Goddess Ascension by Jordan Tuck

"In the time of gods, there dared arise a Goddess" Through a life of struggle, Vantaiga and her mate build a mighty forest in a desert world. As leaders of a powerful Order, the couple must complete their realm by joining the gods and becoming a force of nature. Their rise to divinity, however, does not go as expected. The gods have been keeping secrets. The world is growing jealous. There is no place for a peaceful forest in this cruel land. Now the pair must battle a hostile desert, a disapproving heaven, and their own doubts, to keep their love and forest alive. For in the time of gods, it takes more than faith for those that dare arise a Goddess.

Manaborn by A.S. Frederiks

n vibrant pools hidden away by time and jealousy, in bright azure veins upon cavern walls, in the very air itself, emanates the power of Mana, granting powers unique and destructive to those strong enough to wield them. MANABORN is the story of three such people, unaware of their magical powers. Thrust into perilous adventures, their world unravels as the fate of a kingdom is thrown into flux due to events involving King Aradel himself and his mysterious Magus. Valory, a hard-nosed teen on the run with her father, searches for her true identity; Sir, a spirited noblewoman, leaves behind a life of nobility and abuse to become a knight; and finally, the carefree Lord Cassian Morrow and his Shieldguard Robert receive a sudden visit from the king. Bonds between friends and family are tested as their lives intertwine in the shadow of the crown. Danger looms and secrets are brought to light, but one question stands above the rest; What is honor?

The Bee King by Mathilda Zeller

When the crops fail, the monsters come. When the monsters come, they buy the daughters. Alice would do anything to keep her sister and cousin out of the hands of the monsters. She would even accept a marriage proposal from the Bee King, the mysterious honey magnate allegedly driving the prosperity of the empire. But when she arrives at the Apiary, the secluded estate of her betrothed, nothing is as it seems. The empire's wealthy and famous are converging upon the estate and she soon learns that the Bee King is not marrying her for love or lust, but third reason--a dark, strange, and deadly reason.

The Sons of Mil by L.M. Riviere

On the continent of Innisfail, Old Gods reign. Following five hundred years of vicious conflict, the High King has negotiated an armistice between the immortal Sidhe in the North, and the human populations of the South- the Sons of Mil. In this land of treacherous magic and ageless blood feuds, the peace is precarious at best.

Creatures Set Forth by Roppotucha Greenberg

An illustrated collection of tiny stories inspired and told by the Creatures of the Thicket.

Tears of Grief Hollow by Shawn Burgess

When a young autistic girl goes missing from a small Appalachian community, the residents of Harper Pass descend into chaos. Brooks Raker and his friends stumble across the police investigation, and as they dig deeper into the mysterious events, the boys realize the fate of their missing classmate pales in comparison with the evil lurking in the shadows of the quiet little town. With four boys who believe something sinister is at work, and an ambitious reporter breathing down his neck, Detective Holt of the Harper Pass Police Department must confront his doubts and follow the evidence. A chain of disappearances and suspicious deaths, leads Holt to the doorstep of the mysterious and reclusive Professor Wadlow who may know exactly what has come to collect in Harper Pass. Can the detective and the boys work together to unravel the dark secrets of Harper Pass before those secrets devour them all?

The Masters Chair by Mackenzie Morgan

Since the beginning of time, two sister worlds, Earth and Terah, have coexisted in different planes, surrounded by an immense field of energy. Long ago, magical and non-magical creatures lived together in harmony on both worlds, but as life on Earth evolved in the direction of science and technology, the use of magic deteriorated and soon magical creatures and sorcerers became the subject of myths and legends. Meanwhile magic flourished on Terah, and as sorcerers became more powerful, they became more influential, and soon they were the heads of government. The Council of Sorcerers became the ruling body, with the chairman, the Master Sorcerer, the highest human-held position on Terah. When Master Sorcerer Badec realizes that his unborn son, Myron, will be his one and only heir, he protects the child from his enemies by arranging for him to grow up on Earth. Myron is scheduled to be returned to Terah on his twenty-fifth birthday, at which time he’ll learn who he is and begin to study magic as well as everything else he’ll need to know in order to assume his role as Terah's next Master Sorcerer. For twenty-three years, things go as planned, and Myron goes about his life as Kevin, a typical nerd, who is more comfortable with computers than with people. Then Badec becomes quite ill and the decision is made to bring his son home early. One morning Kevin is an accountant living and working in Omaha, and the next he is in the middle of a field with six complete strangers, surrounded by huge stones and a forest. Before the day is out, Kevin learns that he is actually a sorcerer named Myron and that he’s next in line for the Master’s Chair. While he’s still reeling from that bit of information, he finds out that due to his father’s illness, he has a little less than one year to learn enough about sorcery to be able to defend his life and chair against sorcerers who have been practicing their craft longer than he’s been alive.

Hardening the Steel (Wandering Blacksmith) by Mark B Gilgam

To ordain the destruction of a whole people, Svalinir’s Spear was cast against the Kri, a nation of warriors—dangerous, cold-hearted sellswords threatening to bring down the Northern lands in a spiral of war. King Grimwolf of the Theusten leads the Northern host into Tridden Moor, where a generation of warriors perishes. All the Kri die there: men, women, and children, old and young, but for one boy. In the midst of this war and violence, a woman who has recently lost her two infants discovers the baby lying next to a dying swordsman. She decides to keep it for her own, despite the judgment against his vanquished people, and names him Kitt. A blacksmith helps her to keep the secret. Is it possible to teach healing to the last Kri and keep him from war? Blood will not be cheated; those are the words of a warrior dying in the Battle of the Bloodswamp. Kitt grows up on the island of Isenkliff in the grey northern Sea, where Brynnir’s forge stands. He works hard to become a master blacksmith, values books above gold, and has no doubt that he knows all about his parents, the smith Eckehart and the healer Aslaug. Warriors from many lands come to Isenkliff for the famous Aurora steel, and they teach Kitt to be a warrior. However, his mother wishes for Kitt to become a healer. Every now and then, he crosses the sea in an open boat to sail to the Dark Wood Murkowydir, where lost cities sleep and creatures that have died out elsewhere survive. Kitt faces Ice-Maidens and Ice-Giants, and once even a moonlight sword wielded by a silver woman. He runs for his life from the Feen Woodstalkers, feared for their stealth and cruelty. The young blacksmith turns in his masterpiece, and the code of the Red Lily Knights teaches Kitt to help, save, and serve.

The Scoundrel's Blade (Chronicles of an Outcast) by Alkiviadis E. Halkiotis

This is not the tale of a Great Hero, nor some great epic of a Champion of Good. It's about the struggles of a flawed scoundrel, a rogue, a self-banished elven man looking for redemption. An Outcast... It has been centuries since the Great War between the now Forgotten Gods and Great Demons ended with both sides forcefully banished from the mortal realm. Magic is now scarce and the few remaining elven races are hidden. One such elf is Avathar, a young orphan plagued by nightmares ever since his father brought upon destruction in a failed ritual summoning. Time passed and the dreams eventually stopped. The boy grew up into a carefree young man while in the care of his foster family. And now, years later, it is finally time for him to go through his ritual passing of age and take his place in Avaelin society, and his step-sister and best friend Anadriel will be his guide in his three-day ritual. By the final day of his trials, he is worn out physically and mentally. After all these years the nightmares return, worse than ever. And at the last night, a manifestation of a demonic version of him attempts to steal control of his body, taunting him while Avathar fights back in blinding rage. But in truth, it wasn’t the demonic elf the one that he had struck down; driven momentarily insane, he had unintentionally killed his sister. Filled with remorse and despair, he banishes himself, only taking with him a family relic his sister had, an ancient elven blade much more important than he then realized...

The Eye Of Syl (Sylmanara) by Michael Aguero

A chance discovery by two diplomats could not have come at a worse time. Ruins lost and treasures buried, rediscovered on a continent embroiled in war. The relics within could be a source of great danger, or just the thing to get the war moving. The Triple Crown may lack the resolve for a proper expedition, but the College of Wintermoore and the Church of Atterley do not. Rivals from centuries past, each desires the treasure for themselves, and will do anything to get it. A race is on, with a trophy of impossible danger, and the fate of the world in the balance. Eye of Syl is the first book in the Sylmanara trilogy but can be read as a standalone novel. Character driven, with a focus on worldbuilding, and a tight plot, Eye of Syl is a fresh epic for the modern reader.

The Signet Ring: A Trouvères Adventure by Ellis L Knox

Never trust a noble, even if one hires you. The Trouvères are invited to an island to perform at a celebration: a peace treaty between two long-time enemies and a betrothal to seal the deal. Val, the head of the troupe of humans, plus an elf and an ogre, has a plan: give a good show, get good pay, and get out.

Festival of the Night: Vellum I (The Scrolls of Vilenzia) by Wes M. Henshaw

An evil tinge to the annual darkness known as The Festival of the Night has set off a chain of events forever in the making. The evil, derived from its own darkness, is one that must be repelled for all would succumb, or far worse, to such. All is not lost. For in light of the darkness, the hidden forces, that of the Union of the Jenine, have been quietly, steadily preparing for this eventuality. The supposed saviour will be granted tools of knowledge from the Gods – The Scrolls of Vilenzia. But will this be enough to aid her and newfound friends, and sway the balance of forever more? I truly hope so . . . Grehn will break free of the clichéd shackles of palace life; to finally venture beyond the walls of a city she has only ever known, to distant lands unknown.

Those Mages (Philosophical Mages Saga Book 1) by Caesar Who

In 2022, coronavirus keeps reaping lives and mages are immune to it. Against mage-hating human sorcerers and the civillian mobs with their anti-mage ammunition, can they win the war against homo sapiens? Their power sources are called exousias, which are the crystalized aftermath of nuclear bomb detonations. Mages are, by default of their exousias, longevous, celibate, smarter and thus superior, but their critical thinking and philosophical spirits may fail them on this survival situation...

The Return of the Dark Sun: Book One of the Chronicles of a Higher Calling by S.B Zoltan

A thousand years ago, the art of magic suddenly vanished from the world. No one could explain exactly what had caused this unexpected event. Kingdoms and empires fell apart as their economies and societies collapsed, and only the strongest, richest empires survived this hopeless time, the Age of Chaos, which lasted two hundred years. Without magic and the power of wizardry, whole generations grew old and died. In the Free Realms, people no longer believed sorcerers had ever existed. One day, however, a glimpse of the past returns. Kara Primusignis, a princess, lives her everyday life in the Kingdom of Kallahia, traveling from town to town in search of a missing part of her past. Strange news arrives from a neighboring kingdom: a merchant has made an unusual discovery in the Gaenessi Mountains, a range to the far southwest. Kara, with a group of soldiers, immediately sets out to the location to investigate. Days before the arrival of the strange news, Kara witnessed the sun change colors for a few hours, but then it returned to normal. At that time, she didn’t suspect that this phenomenon would soon change her life forever…

Platinum Tinted Darkness by Timothy Wolf

The Kingdom of Boulom has been lost. The realms have already seen what happens when the Gods and their Harbingers are left unchecked. Destruction. Chaos. Death. The Gods can't be trusted. No one knows that better than David Williams, the Leader of the Guardians tasked to protect the Realm from the Gods and their powerful Harbingers ever since the fall of Boulom. Six Guardians take their pledge to leave the squabbles of the kingdoms behind and live only to stop the Harbingers and protect the Realms from the Gods. Serenna Morgan, a famed Crystal Mage and Guardian, struggles with the Guardian Pact when the Kingdom of Terrangus invades her home. She's supposed to stay out of it. But she can't. When she breaks her Oath and joins in the skirmish, she earns the favor of the God of Death when the conflict escalates to an all-out war. And he makes her an offer, one that'll make sure she'll never fail in her goals again. To become his Harbinger. To partake in the ecstasy of destruction.

Dark Inferno by Arleta Rae

Fire consumes. It is its nature to do so. Thea Knight has lost the battle to the Brais and is forced to live in their castle with the mission of honing her rare fire abilities. She must blend in with them, lest she be destroyed. To keep her witch best friend and the vampire who created her safe, she must tear the Brais from the inside out before they risk their own lives to save her. To do this, Thea needs to find and defeat the elusive King of the Brais. In the land of the Brais, being a double agent is a death sentence. And to defeat them, Thea must unravel the secrets behind the rogue group and their true intentions with her. But learning the truth could shatter everything.

The Negotiated Death of Sara Glen by Brady Koch

The results of an at-home DNA testing kit reveal the key to eradicating an emerging threat. Getting that key may cost Sara her life.