Moon's Lament by Iris Retzlaff

Betrayal took everything from him. His love, his home, his name. Years later, Suzu has built himself a new life, found a new home, and people he calls family. But the pain from the past is not so easily overcome, and the memories he tried to forget come crushing down on Suzu when he runs into the one person he never ever wanted to see again. Jin left behind the boy he loves to build a life for both of them, but five years have passed and he has hardly achieved anything. Worse, his love has vanished without a trace and the monks at the temple they grew up in pretend to have never heard of Kari. At least Jin has his best friend Niall and a boss who is like a father to him. When Jin and Niall sneak into a high society party to gather juicy gossip and useful rumours, they learn of a young couple in the employ of the Earl of Tsukikage that has gone missing, but not even their families seem concerned. To get behind the mystery of their disappearance they need the help of the Earl's lover – Suzu. Grudgingly, and only to prove the Earl's innocence, Suzu agrees. But what they find instead is a conspiracy that puts the whole empire at risk. And in its wake follow old enemies. Once again Suzu might end up losing everything and everyone he holds dear, until all that is left is revenge.

How To Become a Hero... Maybe by Iris Retzlaff

To be a hero like the ones in the stories he grew up with – this had been Bran's dream for as long as he could remember. And it seemed straight-forward enough: save a princess, be a hero. But what if every princess has already been saved and every evil been defeated? Not one to give up that easily, Bran keeps looking for that one princess that still might need a helping hand. Yet when he finally finds his damsel in distress neither the rescue nor the 'princess' are quite as expected. And have fairy-godmother's always been such rude, forgetful drunkards? Having nothing better to do, Bran and his new companions embark on a quest to turn the young man into an honest-to-goodness hero – maybe. Oh, and turning his whole world upside-down in the process.