The Pastel Grand Prix by Skyler Krenn

Together, they'll paint the town.When thirteen-year-old Alec learns about the annual bike race that combines racing with art, he's expecting a fun new experience. What he isn't expecting is Damian, the lanky, curly-haired boy who helps him out of his shell and becomes his first real friend. With Damian's help, Alec aims for first prize -- and learns some surprising things about himself along the way.

The Tome of Haren by Damien Francis

The Tome of Haren, a powerful book, made from magic, with vast stores of knowledge, that could shift the balance of a war brewing at the edge of Narean’s borders…and one young man will become the Keeper for all to survive… The nation of Narean is vulnerable. There hasn’t been a Keeper to protect and defend its people for over 150 years. As rumours of war grow, Narean needs a Keeper more than ever. Orphaned since birth, Aeidor has no expectations for life except surviving day to day, so when a legend from old stories claims that he is to be the next Keeper, the powerful champions entrusted with defending Narean, Aeidor must journey farther than he ever imagined in search of an artefact long thought lost, the Tome of Haren. Now Aeidor must contend with elite mercenaries, called Blooders, hired to retrieve the Tome for their mysterious dark master. As the challenges mount and time draws nearer to the war to come, Aeidor questions whether he can live up to the legacy of the Keepers and save the nation of Narean…

My Heart is Hurting by S.E. Reed

Jinny Buffett is lonely... She's never had the comfort of a white picket fence with a loving family. Her subsidized apartment in Hollywood Florida echoes with the void of her dead Daddy, and the nights drag long into twilight while her Mama works the block outside the Margaritaville resort. It's idealistic Ms. Fleming, who's brave enough to come knocking first. She wants to see Jinny rise up and use her ace scores to escape the wheel of poverty, convincing Jinny to start a school book club, where she finds the friends and boyfriend she never knew she needed. But when her Mama spirals out of control and threatens her entire existence, it's Jinny's Everglade ancestors who arrive in a mist of magic, bringing the swamp and hope with them.

Between Starfalls by S. Kaeth

SPFBO6 WriteHive Book Club Teacup Dragon Coop SFFOasis

Never leave the path.  It’s sacred law, punishable by exile. When her son goes missing in the perilous mountains, Kaemada defies the law to search for him. She enlists the help of her hero brother, a priestess berserker, and a fire-wielding friend. But the law exists for a reason. When the search party is captured by the mythical Kamalti, they learn that Kaemada’s son was sent to an ancient prison city. As they battle for freedom, they discover a horrible truth that will change the future of both races forever. With their world in upheaval, Kaemada must find a way to peace if she's to save her son—but tensions between the two races are leading to war.

Noose by Brennan LaFaro

"The Batman meet Django Unchained. LaFaro takes to the west with this story if Revenge and Blood." -Scott J. Moses, author of OUR OWN UNIQUE AFFLICTION It's been fifteen years since Noose Holcomb perpetrated the Buzzard's Edge Train Robbery of 1872, leaving Rory Daggett an orphan. Settled in with a new family and a second chance at life, Rory never quite sheds the thirst for revenge. When one of the gang members returns to Buzzard's Edge, Rory's life is violently upended once more. Capturing the rogue spurs on a furious chain of events that pits Rory against each member of Noose's gang, every one more twisted and terrifying than the last, in order to work his way to their leader. With the help of a fellow orphan whose life Noose turned upside down and the town's sheriff, Rory will stop at nothing to be the man who ends Noose's reign of terror, but can he do it without becoming the man he seeks to kill?

Bonkpocalypse by L. A. Guettler

Bonk isn’t a normal cat. It’s glitchy, rusty, its eyes don’t match—and it’s only getting worse. Red Darkling, its owner and all-around space babe, is determined to find out what’s wrong. Red’s investigation takes her across the galaxy, from Chuck’s Tap to the Whore’s Knuckles, from Dr. Mn’s Vet Clinic and Oil Change Emporium to The Meaty Noodle. Along the way, she’s joined by a lounge lizard, a government assassin and her busty wife, and some suspiciously hospitable monks. Will Red uncover Bonk’s secret? Who is Todhunter Balzac? And will she ever get that damn FlinkBar jingle out of her head? Advance praise for Bonkpocalypse “It’s just the book I was looking for." ~The Serendipitous Teh “A powerful exploration of a young woman’s struggle to find her place in the galaxy.” ~Fritzi Giggler “More fun than a C’longi bachelor party.” ~Dirk Largo

Curse of the Fallen (Fallen Light Book One) by H.C Newell

SPFBO9

This Child is not the chosen one. She is a demon to be destroyed. Born of magic, Nerana is labeled a demon and forced into hiding by the Order of Saro. Living with a curse that binds her to their leader, Nerana seeks to free herself from their hold and soon learns that the path to redemption may prove more fatal than the Order itself. But for Nerana, this is more than a quest for survival... It’s a promise of revenge.

The Golden Rose of Valenul by Enna Hawthorn

Gold can tarnish, roses can wilt, but love can last forever. Ariadne Harlow didn’t want to be the Golden Rose. With the prestigious title comes too much attention. But when the courting Season begins, she has eyes for only one the Valenul General. He cares for her, helped her recover after being abducted, and holds the power to keep the horrible monsters of her past at bay. A perfect match. Azriel Tenebra didn’t want to be the personal guard of the Golden Rose. Yet despite his misgivings, he ends up at her estate at the start of the Season. Before long, his struggles, and the real reason for his avoidance, a fae bond connecting him to Ariadne. She’s all he can think of, and it risks the safety of himself and everyone who gets between them. Night after night, Ariadne can’t help but be drawn to her quiet new guard, and Azriel’s resolve to leave her slowly cracks. For when the General’s intentions become evident, she must uphold her reputation, and that of her family, by accepting his hand. Anything less and the truth would be exposed, putting Azriel’s life on the line and opening her to the scandal of the ages.

Black Widow's Bite by Bella Reves

Addison has resigned herself to the fact that she’ll be alone forever, thanks to an unfortunate ‘gift’ that drives anyone who touches her to the brink of insanity. When a vicious attack sends her tumbling down a staircase, Addison stumbles upon four reclusive men who are just as troubled as she is. Wyatt, whose tortured soul screams for relief as he takes pain from everyone around him. Austin, whose affinity with snakes has left him stuck inside for fear of cruelty. Piper, whose ability to see the future comes at a terrible cost, leaving his mind fractured and his clarity waning with each passing day. Cain, the terrifying protector of this group of misfits, would gladly burn the world - Addison included - to keep them safe. Addison’s world is turned upside down as fate keeps pushing her towards these four men, and she begins to wonder if maybe this den of monsters is exactly where she belongs. On the heels of her arrival, the group receives a terrifying warning, and Addison’s dreams begin to look more like dark omens as they prepare to fight an unknown threat. What could be so evil that it would scare the monsters lurking in the dark?

Malediction by Katerina King

She’ll survive, or burn everything in her flames. Scarlette Petrova is only a shell of who she once was. A go-getter without a care in the world. But that changes when her stability is ripped away from her and her voice of reason disappears in the night, and all that’s left for her is an addict for a mom and memories. She already lost everything once, and now it's happening all over again. Scarlette's blood runs deep with ancient power built by witches of old. But she finds herself powerless when her estranged uncle demands she live with him after he starts making threats and in order to protect her drug-addled mother, she does. She hates Whitechapel. It’s her mom’s hometown and her uncle controls everything there, but the joke's on him when she finds a deeper connection to her roots and important traces of family history that furthers her magic and connection to herself. Not to mention the return of a childhood friend, Elijah Hutton, whose been outcasted by the overly religious town for being gay. Together, Scarlette and Eli learn about her past, and the closer they get to answers, the more everything and everyone seems to want to kill her. Scarlette's determined to survive, but she may not be able to make that choice anymore. But Scarlette runs hot. If she goes down, she's taking everything and everyone down with her…in the flames.

SpaceCooler by Mark Fenton

Two cops are sent to man a space station prison for a year. One is going with a vendetta the other is in for the ride of his life.

When Wildflowers Bloom by Ashley Manley

How would you live your life if you believed any day could be your last? Having the same genetic mutation that took both her mother and grandmother, Birdie Rose Hawkins meets her thirty-seventh birthday with the grim belief that this year will also be her last. While she normally spends her days living by lists, rules, and routines—alone—she starts her final year doing something she never does: having a one-night stand. When the stranger fatefully reappears in her life, this time carrying baggage of his own, it’s with an offer of friendship. Rather than doing what she thinks will keep her safe, he, along with the few people she has in her life, teach her how to lean into the things that scare her. But the more time they spend together, the harder it becomes for them to ignore the connection they’ve had since that very first night. When a secret is exposed and threatens to destroy everything they’ve built, Birdie has to decide if she wants to survive like she always has or trust in the unknown that comes with truly living.

Foreign to You by Jeremy Martin

The harmony between humans and fianna, a species of shapeshifting deer, begins to wither as racial tensions and deeply rooted resentment turns violent. Ruthless hunter Finn Hail and prophesied liberator Adelaide may be heroes to their own species, but they are enemies to each other. With war on the horizon, the reluctant pair must team up to find the most elusive of prey: the god of the Forest. As enemies press in from all sides, true intentions begin to show. For Finn to save the boy he cares for most, he might need to aim his gun at the very god he seeks. And Adelaide, with her festering hatred for mankind, will have to determine if peace holds true salvation for her people

Embers We Struck by Jeremy Martin

A year after Finn Hail stabbed a god, Marshall Luth is plagued with visions of a future bathed in blood and fire. Haunted by hallucinations, Marshall is thrust into the battle to save Norsewood. Adelaide, vowing to cull humanity and save the Forest, marches the fianna to war. Yet the Maiden herself is slowly unraveling as the feral’s curse consumes her. As the Foreign to You duology comes to an end, humans and fianna will clash, death will rule, and a familiar devil will ascend a throne once made for a god

Tropical Punch (Bubbles in Space Book 1) by S.C. Jensen

SPSFC 2022

HoloCity’s only cyborg detective really sucks at her job. Bubbles Marlowe is broke, newly sober, and hating her life. All she wants to do is find a girl and deliver a message. It’s supposed to be an easy gig. It’s supposed to pay her bills. It’s supposed to be exactly what she needs. Instead, the easy job devolves into a gruesome murder. Bubbles has to solve the case or take the fall, and a HoloCity prison sentence might be the only thing worse than her current apartment. But when she uncovers a conspiracy that threatens the entire city Bubbles has to get her act together quickly, or there will be more than one person’s blood on her hands…

The Long Nights by Tom Mock

SPFBO8

2021 INDIES TODAY AWARDS: RUNNER-UP IN HORROR A cry of pain, hard and desperate, tore through Carthage City one night … The Nightwalker Killings: bodies drained and tucked away in the abandoned corners of Carthage City Oldtown. The oddity of their stalled decay was a mystery … until the latest victim woke in a fury of teeth and claws. Joe Kellerman, a young telepath working with a group of occult “Specialists,” finds himself face to face with the vampire known as the Nightwalker—at least, what’s left of him. To stop the vampire's contagion of death from spreading, Joe searches the killer’s memories to find his missing victims before any more wake to feed. But as an alluring photojournalist with a history of blackmail starts to suspect his involvement in the Nightwalker case, Joe is stretched thin between past mistakes and his search for the missing, where every face he sees is a life seemingly doomed to a bad end. Maybe that's why he keeps having visions of a girl in yellow sneakers from the killer's past—the fleeting hope that someone made it out alive. Is there anyone left to save, or has Joe finally gone too far into the dark to find his way out again?

Winter’s Myths by Gage Greenwood

Indie Recs Indie

When the world ends, who will tell the story? After a disease ravages his underground community, Winter escapes with his daughters to the dangerous surface of Earth. Believing the planet is largely abandoned, he struggles to make sense of this strange new world while trying to keep his family alive... But the surface is not all complicated artifacts and relics of a deserted universe. Winter is certain something—or someone—is hunting them. He weaves wild tales to entertain and teach his daughters, turning celebrities into demigods and Abe Lincoln into an ice giant. As the journey grows darker and more dangerous, his mythologies keep not only his children from confusion and despair, but him as well. With tensions rising and danger at every corner, will Winter keep his family alive long enough to finish his tales? Winter's Myths is a multi-season serial currently publishing on Amazon's Kindle Vella. This book covers the first season. Each season will be available in book form upon completion.

A Dagger in the Winds by Brendan Noble

SPFBO9

A warrior shrouded in darkness. A witch sworn to revenge. A winter unbounded. Wacław is an outcast. Born with a curse he doesn’t understand, he’s hidden his power his entire life. But when the goddess of winter unleashes the darkness within him, his only hope for answers is the girl he’s forbidden to see. Otylia is a witch. There’s no one she hates more than the winter goddess—except her once best friend Wacław. But when she receives visions of endless blizzards and Wacław fighting by her side, she realizes he’s the key to uncovering the goddess’s plot. Facing monsters and magic at every turn, the pair must journey with friends and rivals alike to confront the cult of winter, but Wacław’s awakened darkness grows as death consumes the living realm. To contain it, they’ll have to mend their broken relationship and delve into the mysteries of their past. Mysteries that could destroy the winter goddess . . . or themselves. In this first book of an epic fantasy series rooted in Slavic mythology, dive into a new world with menacing magic and beasts, scheming gods, a group of allied misfits, and plenty of secrets to uncover.

First Contact: America by Matt Turner

What happens if First Contact doesn't go the way we want? A religious American family set's off on a delightful weekend away. Mom and daughter embark on a girl's getaway, while Father and Son have a guy's weekend. Just as the two pairs are starting their little vacations, aliens unexpectedly descend upon Earth; making First Contact. The family's torn asunder and their idyllic weekends take an unexpected turn as they grapple with this otherworldly encounter. The aliens come bearing ominous messages. Are they friends or foes? A family, torn apart, embarks on an adventure that tests their physical and mental fortitude, as well as their faith. Will they find unity once again?

Every Beautiful Mile by Ashley Manley

A widowed bartender, a summer road trip, the detour she never expected. Penelope ‘Nel’ Crawford is stuck. At least that’s what her family tells her. A year after losing her husband of seventeen years, she’s still so deep in her grief that she’s barely hanging on, let alone living. She hardly recognizes her teenage kids and finds no joy in doing the things she once loved. Her solution? An attempt to heal herself and the relationship with her kids with a summer road trip. From one destination to the next, Nel not only has to navigate life on the road, but the trials and tribulations of motherhood after loss. When a detour leads her to a flirtatious restaurant owner she’s been emailing off and on for months, she starts to remember that life—no matter how unpredictable—is made for living. And the heart, even if broken, finds ways to love again. Every Beautiful Mile will make readers laugh, cry, and remind them of the healing powers of nature, family, and love itself.

Defeating the Moose by Laura Bilodeau

It’s a story we’re all familiar with…Girl meets boy…Boy meets the streets. When drugs sink their poisons hooks into the love of her life, Arabella takes matters into her own hands. Armed with only her wits and feminine rage, she takes on an underworld of crime and drug lords. She hopes for a happy ending to her love story, but she will learn a hard lesson. When push comes to shove, how far can the bow bend before it breaks? There are no happy endings in the streets.

She Is Coming by Midori Anzai

Salt merchant Seijiro doesn't know how he ended up alone and far from the Japanese Salt Road... ...nor why a yuki-onna is hunting him. As Seijiro braves freezing temperatures, he must piece together what has happened to him if he is to escape the yuki-onna's clutches. But the truth might just be colder than the air he breathes.

Those Once Forgotten by N. C. Scrimgeour

They were a memory once forgotten. For millennia, they waited. Now, they are coming. The galaxy has been plunged into chaos, left reeling from the trap Alvera Renata triggered around the ancient alien waystations. As the leaders of the allied systems desperately try to prepare for what might be coming, Ridley and Kojan go on the hunt in search of answers. But the one person who might hold the key—the rogue starship captain who started it all—is missing in action, and her old friends aren’t the only ones looking for her… Meanwhile, tensions between the Coalition and the Idran-Var are at breaking point in the aftermath of a brutal attack. The only hope for peace may lie in a fragile alliance between Rivus and Niole, old enemies thrown unwillingly onto the same side. But even if they can bury their past, what will it take to overcome the centuries of bloodshed dividing their people? As the mysterious signal coming from the waystations counts down, only one thing is for certain: something is coming, and if the fractured factions of the galaxy can’t find a way to stand against it together, it may be the end for them all.

Beneath Black Sails by Clare Sager

SPFBO6

Pirate versus pirate hunter. To lose is death, but winning just might be worse. With weather magic on her side, Lady Vice is the bane of the high seas, but she isn’t captain of her own ship. Yet. If she can persuade her captain to give her a command, she’ll be in charge of her own fate at last. To pay off his family’s debts, Knigh Blackwood hunts pirates for the Royal Navy. And he’s damn good at it. When the bounty on Lady Vice grows, he’s determined to make her face justice, even if that means using unorthodox methods. Forced to work together, neither can deny their mutual attraction. As they face battles at sea and schemes amongst their crew, they discover hints about a long-lost treasure that could be the answer to both their problems. But treasure isn’t the only thing buried. Secrets best-forgotten lie in wait that could blast them apart. And the closer Vice and Knigh grow, the greater the threat – to her freedom and to his family. Because for one to succeed, the other must fail. If you love cunning heroes, feisty heroines, and enemies to lovers romance, you’ll love this new adult fantasy series that’s perfect for fans of Sarah J Maas and Miranda Honfleur. Buy Beneath Black Sails today to escape on rum-drenched adventures in a world where flags can lie, X marks the spot, and loyalties shift more than sand.

Legacy (Scion Book 1) by Jay Reace

Years after fleeing their homeland, Xolani and Raine have finally been able to find peace. However, that peace is shattered when receiving a royal command to return and answer for what they've done for so long age. Do they take their children and flee or do anwser the call and fight?

Cutting Your Teeth by Caylan MacRae

Ezra Santos is tired of running. Of burning bridge after bridge and going through new names like used matches. He desperately wants something he was never destined to have—a future all his own. Having escaped his hell of a home two years ago, he can’t go a day without looking over his shoulder. Putting down roots was never in the cards when the family that raised Ezra relentlessly hunts him across the country. Right as he’s about to restart the cycle—new name, new life, the whole nine yards—his plans come to a screeching halt when he crosses paths with a mysterious and charismatic vampire, Killian Hale. He promises a way out from a life on the run. Ezra knows there's no helping a man with the devil on his heels—but there's something about Killian that makes him believe he could finally break free of the Espinas once and for all. It’s only a matter of time before the clock winds down and the rest of Ezra's troubles come home to roost. There's something sinister in his blood—a dark fate passed down through generations. Can the two survive an ancient family curse or will Ezra doom them both?

How to steal a demon's heart and get away with it by Devi Letalis

Dante, a single father and demon hunter, has already completed multiple curious adventures in his life - from the elimination of minor demons to tracking down undead sheep. When he meets bloodthirsty Lariza and her inscrutable companion Layla as part of a new job, he becomes embroiled in a conflict with powerful demons. But the protection of his son has priority, even if he has to go to hell for him. And so a journey into a sphere where millennium old law prevails begins. This gripping urban fantasy novel takes the reader deep into a world where demons and human shadow beings live side by side. A story with plenty of action, tension, and dark humour - where anything is possible.

The Long Lost War by Jeff Walker

SFINCS

Far from Earth, in a distant solar system, clone soldiers are stuck in an on-going battle against colonial separatists. John 999801 must battle against an enemy that refuses to give up, and dreams of a woman he feels he's seen before. The life of this low ranking clone soldier is about to take a turn for the worst. Or is it going to open his eyes to the truth? Can one clone soldier make a difference? And who is the woman in his dream? Answers and horrors await him as he joins his fellow replicas to the surface of a planet called... Hell.

A Princess of Oldir by Bryan Wilson

"Whether (this book) is your initiation to the Power of the Stars saga or you're an experienced Solara wielder, this is a must-read for sci-fantasy fans." - The Dragon Reread: SFF Insiders The Ojurn family has guided the planet of Oldir for centuries, and as the ancestors of a prophet, the world’s citizens have always honored their bloodline. However, the people’s struggles are on the rise, and their solar system’s limited resources continue to dwindle. Rhanna, the daughter of the current Lord Supreme, considers it her duty to rid the planet of its troubles. She spends most of her days training to take up her family’s mantle. But when a popular young leader from a neighboring world arrives on their soil, it becomes evident that there are those with other wishes. Set more than three decades before the events of The Forsaken Planet, this is a story of one family’s struggle to do what is right, even if it costs them their legacy. A Princess of Oldir is both a standalone story in the Power of the Stars universe and a complementary addition for those familiar with the main books. You do not need to have read the other work to enjoy this novella.

Sairō's Claw by Virginia McClain

SPFBO7 SFFOasis

An action-adventure fantasy romp featuring sword lesbians, sea battles, and a grumpy wolf spirit. Torako has done many things to protect the valley that she calls home, but she’s never looted a corpse before. So when the katana she steals off the still-cooling body of a bandit turns out to be possessed by a grumpy wolf kami, she can only assume it’s because she’s somehow angered the spirits. An impression that’s only reinforced when she returns home to find her wife abducted and her daughter in hiding. But angry spirits or no, Torako isn't about to let bandits run off with the love of her life, even if it means taking their 3 year old on a rescue mission. In all Kaiyo's years as Captain of the Wind Serpent she has never once questioned her admiral’s orders. So when she receives the command to abduct a civilian scribe with the help of fifteen felons, she registers her objections, but does as she is bid. Yet, as the mission unfolds, Kaiyo finds herself questioning everything from her loyalties to her convictions. As Torako and Kaiyo’s fates cross like dueling blades, their persistence is matched only by their fury, until they uncover a series of truths they may never be ready to accept.

Bonds of Chaos by Zack Argyle

Bonds of Chaos is the final installment of the Threadlight trilogy, which begins with the multi-award-winning Voice of War. TO BREAK THE BONDS, THERE WILL BE SACRIFICES When all was lost, the Heralds returned, and the world embraced them as gods and saviors. But there are some who know the truth: the Heralds are not what they seem. Now, in a desperate attempt to stop them, Chrys and the others travel to Cynosure with hopes of enlisting the only Amber threadweaver with the power to help. Chrys, Laurel, Alverax, and those they love. Together, they will stop the gods...or they will die trying.

The Sun Prince by L. R. Schulz

THE BONDS OF KIN MUST HOLD The King-Radiant has fallen. Zapour has been liberated and the siblings triumphant, but at what cost? Two years have passed since their victory over the Eagles. Peace between the nations has not gone as planned. Gelvard has seized control of Lumindal and a cloud of war now surrounds Trost. The sun is dying… A new power has risen from the west. A man who calls himself the Sun Prince has his eyes set firmly on Zapour. But is he friend or foe? The bonds of kin will be tested as new threats arise, though not all threats are new. An ancient evil awakens, and new bonds must be forged if light is to shine another day.

The Dragon’s Reign: Heart of the Depths by Tim Mullins

After his mother suffers a life-altering brain injury during a tragic accident, Andy books two tickets aboard The Heart - a luxury cruise ship built for the super-rich, to give her the holiday she had always dreamed of. Shortly after the ship sets sail, catastrophe hits the mainland and the pair can only watch as the life they left behind is turned to ash. The Heart continues out to sea, hoping to put some distance between its passengers and the devastated mainland, but as the ship ventures into deeper waters Andy soon realizes that the ocean may not be the safe haven the ship's Captain first thought... For something lurks below, and now it's rising from the depths... Set during the events of The Dragon’s Reign, this short-story will tell a heartfelt tale about a mother and son that will test their definition of love as they learn just how far they will go for family.

Legacy of the Brightwash by Krystle Matar

SPFBO7 Indie Recs Indie SPFBO Finalist

Follow the law and you’ll stay safe. But what if the law is wrong? Tashué’s faith in the law is beginning to crack. Three years ago, he stood by when the Authority condemned Jason to the brutality of the Rift for non-compliance. When Tashué’s son refused to register as tainted, the laws had to be upheld. He’d never doubted his job as a Regulation Officer before, but three years of watching your son wither away can break down even the strongest convictions. Then a dead girl washed up on the bank of the Brightwash, tattooed and mutilated. Where had she come from? Who would tattoo a child? Was it the same person who killed her? Why was he the only one who cared? Will Tashué be able to stand against everything he thought he believed in to get the answers he’s looking for?

Lightblade by Zamil Akhtar

SPFBO8 SPSFC 2022

In three days, Jyosh will slay the God Emperor, or die trying. But first he must train his lightblade skills. While asleep. Each hour of sleep equals a day in a lucid dream, plenty of time to master the essential lightblade techniques and hopefully get skilled enough to defeat the monster who enslaved him and beheaded his parents and sister. When Jyosh awakens to learn that the God Emperor has surrendered to an even crueler foe, a mysterious lightblade master who can summon divine dragons to burn whole cities, he’ll face a trial by fire against forces far more frightening than he could ever dream. That is, if he’s not still in one.

Sigils of Spring (Inheritance, 7) by AK Faulkner

SFFOasis

We all fall down. When Quentin is accosted by YouTube ghost-hunters with a crackpot theory about his mother, he writes it off as nonsense — until they kidnap him right off the street in broad daylight. Not even his psychokinesis can save him, but Laurence will. He must. Except Laurence can't find Quentin. His powers have never failed him like this before. There's only one hope left: a stranger called Angela is willing to teach him more magic than he currently knows. Normally he'd write her off as bad news, but Quentin is running out of time, and Laurence is all out of options. He has less than 48 hours to save Quentin's life, and no price is too high. The clock is ticking.

Petrified Women by Jeremy Ray

Some pranks go too far. This one could be deadly. Harley has the perfect boyfriend. Why can’t her best friend see that? He’s nothing like the others, especially the one who still haunts her memories. She’s finally picked a “keeper” with Aiden. Sure, he’s a bit eccentric. His wood carving hobby is a little odd. His need for isolation while he carves his life-size female figurines is strange. And maybe his obsession with pranks, or "scares" on Harley goes a little too far. But what do you expect? Aiden’s an artist. Harley has finally picked the perfect boyfriend. That’s why this year, Harley ignores all her best friend’s warnings. She has the ultimate surprise planned for Aiden’s birthday, one that’s going to help her get even in their battle to out-prank each other. She hides in his apartment, excitedly waiting to pull off the scare of a lifetime… But then he comes home, and Harley witnesses a different side of her boyfriend. The side that exists behind closed doors when he doesn’t know anyone’s watching. Is this just one of his scares? Or is there something more sinister lurking behind his playful nature? Harley’s about to find out.

From the Ashes by B. S. H. Garcia

SFINCS

The civil war ends now. Igtheos and his rebels have fought tirelessly against a would-be dictator and his army for almost two years. The city they’ve holed up in has become a prison, soon to be a tomb if they cannot arrange a means of escape. When the enemy leader offers an armistice that’s too good to be true, Igtheos reluctantly accepts, thinking it will buy him enough time to smuggle those loyal to him out of the city. But he quickly learns the cost of choosing hope over caution as he finds himself caught in his enemy’s sinister plan, fighting a final unexpected battle. Failure means death, or worse, the loss of his loved ones. And he only has one night to determine everyone’s fate. From the Ashes is a prequel novelette that takes place over two thousand years prior to the events in Of Thieves and Shadows—volume one in the epic fantasy series, The Heart of Quinaria.

The Invisible Tether by JP McDonald

Cooper Belrose and his friends gear up for a sporting tournament in tropical North Queensland (Australia) for a week of carefree fun. In an unnerving twist of fate, a cryptic flight attendant hijacks the plane, altering their lives forever. After surviving the plane crash, Cooper and his friends learn the flight attendant was part of a much larger threat, not only to their existence but to the entire human race. In their desperation to return home and find answers, they discover abnormal abilities within themselves activated by the crash and the threat of an opposing force. Will these newfound abilities wield an edge over their enemies? As they strive to combat each twist and turn, Cooper and his friends learn the value of teamwork by navigating the space between life and death. If faced with an imminent threat to the human race, would you and your friends take up the fight? "The Invisible Tether," is a story of love, adventure and the pursuit of truth.

Don’t Bloody the Black Flag (Malitu #0.5) by James Lloyd Dulin

The fight for peace is often a war. To end nearly a century of war plaguing Ennea, a clan of nomads plans to bring leaders from the four nations together. They task a young water dancer named Isála to deliver a missive to a northern general, her estranged mother, and convince her to join the conclave. However, there are those who would do anything to defend their war from the threat of peace. After living a life sheltered from the violence, Isála will have to choose between her principles and shedding blood for the good of her people. Don’t Bloody the Black Flag is a novella set in the world of the Malitu series. It takes place more than 200 years before the events of No Heart for a Thief.

Miners of the Tempest by Penny Moss

In the depths of the Tesera Mine, Oliver’s hope of finding Tau again fades with each passing day. Just as despair consumes him, his Sentinel returns, only a shadow of the mighty being he once was. Oliver swears revenge against those responsible, but there’s no time to plan or savour being reunited, as a deadly mistake forces him and his friends to escape. With no other choice, and a weakened Tau, Oliver traces the steps of his missing teammate to war-torn lands. He’s wholly unprepared to discover the toll exacted by mining for magic, and it’s worse than Oliver could have ever imagined. His hunger for revenge becomes a desperate need to put a stop to the atrocities committed, even if it means forming an alliance with an adversary. In a sea teeming with horrors and growing distrust among his friends, Oliver and Tau find solace only in each other’s embrace.

Cursed Song by Samantha Krose

Bound by Song. Cursed by Fate Ruyne, Leader of the Dusksinger bards, travels with his band from town to town, thrilling crowds with inspiring music born from an ancient magic. He leads a charmed life with his brother, and two life-long best friends. Disaster strikes when Ruyne ignores a cryptic message from a loved one. The band’s idyllic peace is shattered by a monster from the past, and the horrifying truth behind their magic is revealed, leaving their lives in tatters and the hearts of the four men forever scarred. Scattered and broken, can they harmonize their Song in time to prevent a tragedy of apocalyptic proportions?

The Hiding by Alethea Lyons

Arcane archivist Harper has always been plagued by dreams of grotesque creatures and bloody deaths. When she bumps into a ghostwalker in the Shambles and has a visceral experience of his execution, she knows it’s a foretelling. Yet fear of the Queen’s Guard stops her speaking out. When her vision indeed comes true, the unusual markings on the ghostwalker’s corpse, combined with his neatly excised vocal cords, send a ripple of terror through York. The witch hunt is on. As the body count rises, Harper knows her magic is the only way to find the killer – if she can avoid being hanged as a witch. To protect both human and supernatural, Harper walks the thin line between their worlds. She and her demonhunter foster-sister form a multi-faith team with a forensic scientist, a spirit Harper accidentally summoned, and a techno-witch, to catch the killer before more people die.

Bloodwoven by G.J. Terral

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Road-weary soldier Lindel thought all he needed to do to return home was finish his current escort mission. Then he discovers one of his charges murdered with a wailing newborn in her limp arms and his ally Aemun holding the accused murderer at knifepoint. His new mission? Take the murderer, Tylle, to face judgment and execution. But then Lin is ambushed by monsters and gravely wounded. While unconscious, Tylle magically stitches Lin's wounds closed. An act forbidden by the Binding Tenets, laws that Lin's military faction aggressively enforces. Lin wakes to find himself marked by Tylle's magic, making him appear as an oathbreaker. Unfortunately, that's not Lin’s biggest problem. Tylle claims she can remove the markings if Lin helps her kill Aemun. What Lin doesn't know is that Tylle is part of a secret coterie working against the military faction Lin belongs to and is the sister of Lin's murdered charge. Unless Aemun is alive to vouch for him, Lin will face a death sentence by his own people. But if Tylle is telling the truth, Lin might not need Aemun. No one would need to know Lin was ever marked. All he has to do is help find and kill his former ally. On the other hand, with Aemun's support, Lin could find forgiveness for breaking the Tenets. Lin would betray his savior, Tylle, but he never asked her to save him.

Stone of Shadows by Camilla Vavruch

In the slums of Gereon, sixteen-year-old Will struggles to survive and keep food on the table for his siblings. Working each day in the fields, he endures regular torment from privileged bully Tristan Arrington. But when a dragon snatches Will, he discovers a stone that grants him the power of invisibility. Returning to the city, Will uses his new ability and stumbles across a much darker truth about Tristan and his powerful father. Suddenly, the world is no longer black and white. There are people who are much more dangerous than Will ever thought. As a tentative friendship forms amidst a web of secrets, one boy’s life hangs in the balance—and just how much of himself is Will willing to risk?

The Hound of Greyvor (Silver Sights Saga #2) by W.J. Long III

Since Minerva Prime, peace, quiet, and adolescence have driven a wedge between Claude and Vision. As tempers flare in their modest home, a new danger emerges behind the Sabien veil; Levine Drarri, a disgraced servant of the Imperium, arrives on their doorstep, seeking the aid of Silver Sights. In his wake comes chaos, tragedy, and the boundless fury of a Sabien Crown. Now, the weight of Drarri’s sudden arrival threatens to shatter the already fractured bond between father and daughter, while in the shadows, the weapons of the Imperium bear down on all they have built.

How to Bite Your Neighbor and Win a Wager by D.N. Bryn

"I WANT YOU TO BITE ME." Vincent Barnes has suffered four years as a vampire, and they’ve been the most miserable years of his pathetic life. Too poor for black market blood, he feeds from sleeping humans to survive. He tries to never intrude on the same prey twice, but after a single delicious taste of a long-lost childhood neighbor, he can’t help returning for seconds. Wesley Garcia has been waking up with fang marks. Lucky for him, he needs a vampire—to use as bait. He’s certain Vitalis-Barron Pharmaceutical killed his mother, but to gain access to their covert research labs, he has to bring them a bloodsucker for their experiments. Step one, a dramatic offer: Stay, and you can bite me. Vincent leaps at the chance to gobble Wesley up. Wes’s plan is perfect. He’ll befriend the vampire, then trick him into coming to the lab. No fighting, no fuss. But Vincent is more than Wesley has bargained for: sweet and shy, with intoxicating fangs that awaken new desires in Wes. As the two bond, Vincent believes he might have finally found someone worth putting his trust in... and Wes fears neither of them will survive the betrayal he has planned. How to Bite Your Neighbor and Win and Wager is a slow-burn paranormal mm romance full of laughter, angst, and thirsty pining. It is perfect for fans of fangs and scientific interpretations of vampirism, with a medium spice level that heats up further in the free bonus content. Content includes bite kink, bleeding (non-kinky), medical experimentation (not experienced by the point of view characters), one particular lesbian BFF who should be reported to HR, and the use of “bodice-ripping” as a verb.

The Gatherings by Jeremy Ray

The Gatherings were supposed to bring world peace. What they brought was the apocalypse. Celebrities, politicians, and other prominent figures put together The Gatherings, an event to be held worldwide promoting global peace. When a friend invites Emily to one of the gatherings in a secluded apple orchard, she obliges. Sure, she is an introverted writer, but the world is so fractured that The Gatherings are something even she can get behind. Everything is great until the dancing begins. Then it happens... In most apocalyptic tales, the end comes by way of viral plague, world war, or robot invasion. Never in a million years could Emily imagine it would be this way. Will Emily survive to see what happens after the end of the world?

Love Kills Twice by Rien Gray

She needs an assassin. They’re the best in the business. Falling in love was never part of the deal. Desperate to escape her abusive husband, Justine hires a contract killer. Campbell’s services come at a high price, and their dark, seductive charisma leads Justine right into their bed. Hiding an affair while Campbell designs the perfect murder has Justine walking a tightrope of stress, but each time the two of them sleep together, it’s harder not to get attached. Campbell struggles with their own traumatic past, convinced that the truth will drive Justine away. There’s a faint hope that things could work, save for one problem: Justine’s husband wants her dead too. Revenge is easy—heartbreak could cost both of them everything.

Of Darkness and Light by Ryan Cahill

The hotly anticipated second book in Ryan Cahill's break out debut series The Bound and The Broken. Heroes will rise. Nations will fall. Behind the towering walls of Belduar, Calen Bryer and his companions stand in defense of the city and its new king. In over a thousand years, Belduar has never fallen. It has stood as a bastion of hope. But the Lorian empire are at its walls once more, and the Dragonguard are coming. In the North, with Faenir by her side, Calen’s sister Ella arrives at the port of Antiquar. She holds no fear of the unknown. She will see this through, no matter what – or who – gets in her way. Meanwhile, at the embassy of the Circle of Magii in Al’Nasla, Rist Havel hones his newfound powers in preparation for the trials. Unbeknownst to Rist, he is being watched, measured, and judged. He was not taken into the Circle by chance. There is greatness in him. But great men can do terrible things. As Lorian forces land on southern shores and Aeson Virandr’s letters of rebellion find their way to the right hands, only the Knights of Achyron see the true danger. The danger that stirs in the darkness. The coming shadow will not stop. It will consume all in its path. It wants for nothing but blood and fire.