Silenced Beauty: A Wild Swan Retelling by Ashley Mendoza

An enchanted tale of love, betrayal, and courage. Alianna lives on a quiet farm with her brothers, happy and content until one day she receives a terrifying vision of the royal mage usurping the throne. She turns to the only people she trusts—her brothers, loyal palace guards. But instead of saving the realm, her warning unleashes a devastating curse. Her brothers are turned into swans and gifted to the queen, and Alianna is silenced by a curse that robs her of her voice. Desperate to free them and break their curse, Alianna enters the royal bridal competition, determined to get close enough to break the curse and expose the threat within the palace walls. Yet, as the contest unfolds, she realizes that her brothers’ fate is only the beginning. The kingdom itself is in danger, as well as some others. She must maneuver court intrigue if she wants to keep her wits about her and remain in the competition. Prince Calix never wanted his bride chosen for him by his parents, as tradition dictates. Disguised as a servant, he infiltrates the competition to find a bride of his own choosing—and perhaps, a bit of freedom. But the deeper he delves, the more he uncovers secrets that shake his loyalty and threaten everything he’s ever known. As shadows grow longer and danger draws near, Alianna and Calix must decide who they can trust—and whether love can bloom amid silence, secrets, and sacrifice. Perfect for fans of fairy tale retellings, magical curses, and friends-to-lovers romance, this is a story where silence speaks louder than words and the fate of a kingdom hangs in the balance. Silenced Beauty is one of the eight novels in the Cursed Brides series, a standalone, multi-author collection of no-spice fairytale retellings. Each book in this enchanting series tells the tale of a cursed maiden who is forced to participate in a royal bridal competition and, of course, finds love. Can be enjoyed in any order. *Warning there is mild violence and death in this book.

A Canticle of Two Souls by Steven Raaymakers

A magic sword forged of a demon. A broken boy seeking revenge. A grim coming-of-age tale with a Sanderson-esque magic system. Raziel watched the Rhotian Empire slaughter his family. When a sentient sword promises him the head of the emperor, Raziel carves a bloody path in an epic journey across a land filled with banshees and mercenaries in pursuit of his revenge. But forced to travel with a strange young woman with a dark past, will Raziel even reach his destination? Alicia has plans of her own. Gifted with a terrible magic that can bend others to her will, she also has revenge on her mind and Raziel in her sights. Can two enemies put aside their differences to seek a higher goal, or will mistrust and inner-demons condemn their fates? Magic is a dangerous thing. So is hope. The ‘Aria of Steel Trilogy’ is a heavy-metal power ballad of clashing blades, blood-soaked betrayal, and sweet revenge. Will you walk away or join the fight?

The Naughty or Nice Clause by Kate Callaghan

Being Naughty Has Never Been So Nice! When Lyla's father retired as CEO of the toy company which has been in their family for generations, she was meant to receive his shares. Instead, she discovers the company is bankrupt and her father has given her shares to Mason Klaus, an investor known in the corporate world for his cold and callous nature. Much to Lyla's frustration, her only option is to run the company with him, despite their evident loathing for one another. When Mason cancels the annual Christmas party, Lyla throws it anyway - only for the event of the season to result in a terrible fire. With the offices and Lyla's credibility ruined, Mason offers her a deal: he'll forget her part in the disaster, but she must join his family for the twelve days of their Christmas holidays. Taken to a fantastical winter wonderland, Lyla hopes that she might discover some of the secrets Mr Klaus is hiding, and maybe even a way to get her company back. However, when Mason introduces her to the secret village as his fiancée, she is horrified to realise she has no choice but to go along with the pretence - because the cost of bringing an outsider to their magical land is far too high. Can Lyla resist the devilishly handsome Mr Klaus and the enchanting village to win back her company, or will she give into temptation? Readers who fell in love with Yule: 'Definitely a must-read for anyone who likes Christmas books with a beautiful touch of fantasy.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Magical. Felt like stepping into a snow globe Christmas village.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'I'm a sucker for cheesy hallmark Christmas movies, so if you're like me you'll love this book!' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Adventure, romance, a bit of spice, and a sprinkle of gold dust to put you in the holiday spirit!' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Workplace rivals featuring Santa's hot son and forced proximity in the North Pole? Count me in.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Tropes & Themes: Low-Fantasy Romance Workplace, Enemies to Lovers Fake Engagement Forced Proximity Cosy, Christmas feels