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The Maestro's Mates by J.B. Warrick One grumpy gargoyle. One hopeful vampire. One chaotic witch. Three fated mates face a looming threat. Pavel has been called cranky, aloof, and an exacting musical genius, but what should people expect? He’s three thousand years old. He’ll soon be entering the final stage of a gargoyle’s life span, transforming into a statue and going dormant forever. So why would the universe throw his mates at him now, when he has so little time left? He desperately wants to protect them, to guide them, but he’s terrified he’ll be a burden as he descends into oblivion. Justin is working hard to overcome his anxiety and stay positive as he rebuilds after a disastrous few years. When he discovers his two fated mates at his new opera job, he rejects them out of hand. Sure, giving up control to these two men would fulfill every one of his fantasies, but love already screwed up his life once. Sebastian is a witch with a rare affinity—chaos—and that quality follows him wherever he goes. His opera career is taking off, and finding his mates is just the cherry on the sundae! Even if they may not be ready for the power of his seductive, mischievous personality. The three soon find that ignoring their connection is impossible, especially when they have to see each other every day. And they can’t escape each other when they’re trapped together in the opera house elevator. But whatever headway they’ve made is arrested by the return of Sebastian’s power-hungry sister. Can the three fated mates accept their bond in time to survive her attack and save their new family? |
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Foresyth Conservatory by A. L. Sterling Ninth House meets Mexican Gothic in a dark academia, gothic mystery where the cards are stacked against reason-and the price of knowledge is blood. Dahlia Blackburne is a failing bookstore keeper and Tarot reader who relies on deductive reasoning--not magick--to cast her fortunes. When a stranger calling himself the Meister walks into her shop after closing and offers three times her normal rate for a reading, curiosity and her growing debts compel her to accept. But the reading reveals that the Meister has a far more dangerous proposition: infiltrate Foresyth Conservatory, an elite occult arts graduate school, and investigate the alleged suicide of brilliant but troubled student, Julian Earhardt. Desperate to care for her ailing mother after her father's recent death, Dahlia agrees to investigate. But inside Foresyth's rose-thorned walls, Dahlia is thrust into the school's ruthless academic Circle, a cadre of students including the seductive "Trees," Aspen and Sequoia, who are obsessed with creating art that doesn't merely imitate life, but transcends it. As the line between performance and passion blurs, Dahlia must confront the truth about Julian, her peers, and a dangerous form of magick that isn't taught-but inherited. The cards at Foresyth have already been dealt . . . Now it's time for Dahlia to play her hand. |
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Signing Off for the Summer by Alyssa Delle Palme Signing Off for the Summer is a romance novel about an overwhelmed radio journalist who withdraws from her toxic workplace, a bad relationship, and city life and escapes to her family’s cottage for the summer where she rediscovers her voice and the magic of falling in love. When Maggie Taylor, an up-and-coming journalist, suddenly quits a prestigious radio internship at 880 News in Toronto, she infuriates her close-knit family. Unbeknownst to her overbearing parents and controlling boyfriend, Maggie suffered a traumatic abuse of power when her boss propositioned her, and she is too ashamed to talk about it. She escapes to her grandmother’s cottage on Cedar Lake for the summer. There she finds solace and healing and begins to develop a close friendship with her cottage neighbour, Thomas. Everything takes a turn for the worse when Maggie’s aunt shows up with surprising news. More trouble follows when her former boss makes an unexpected return to her life, threatening everything Maggie has built with Thomas. In order to move forward, Maggie must face her past and learn to use her voice. |
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Trans & Disabled by Alex Iantaffi To be trans and disabled means to have experienced harassment, discrimination, loneliness, often poverty, to have struggled with feeling unworthy of love. To be trans and disabled means experiencing ableism within our trans communities and transphobia within our disabled communities. To be trans and disabled means to love our fellow trans and disabled people harder than we could ever love ourselves. This anthology brings together vulnerable stories, poems, plays, drawings, and personal essays. They explore how we make sense of ourselves, our intersections of identities and experiences, of how we are treated, and how much love we are capable of, sometimes even for ourselves. |
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The Mean Ones by Tatiana Schlote-Bonne So what if Sadie hears talking dead animals and a strange, comforting male voice in her head? The therapist insists these are just symptoms of PTSD. It makes sense considering that she hid under the bed and watched as her best friends were slaughtered. But the murders were seventeen years ago, back when her name was Sabrina. Now, she’s Sadie: a perfectly normal 29-year-old. She works as a physical therapist assistant and lifts weights with her boyfriend, Lucas, who’s the sweetest, most considerate man—as long as he’s not angry. But when Lucas spontaneously agrees to join a couples trip to a cabin in the woods, the visions get worse, a strange figure stalks her during the night, and that male voice in Sadie’s head keeps calling, asking her to do things she’s never fathomed. Sadie’s not sure if it’s her paranoia or something else entirely . . . But she is sure of one thing—this time, she’s not going to sit idly by as everything starts to unravel. |
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Song of the Hell Witch by Taylor Hartley Once a vicious street rat, Prudence Merriweather has clawed her way to the top of society and now enjoys newfound power as the Duchess of Talonsbury. All she has to do to protect her fragile position is maintain the act of gentility, make her husband happy—and keep her monstrous magic a secret. Puck Reed, the Thief Lord of Talonsbury, once delighted in taking risks and humiliating the social elite at any cost, but now lives a quieter criminal lifestyle. With a daughter of his own to protect, Puck tries to lay low and stay safe for her benefit. His daughter, Bea, suffers from a mysterious illness bent on killing her, and Puck will stop at nothing to find a cure. When Prudence’s magic betrays her, she has no choice but to flee—and who better to smuggle her out of the city than her childhood best friend and former sweetheart, Puck Reed? With the help of old friends and new allies, they learn about Stormlash, a safe haven miles beyond the city walls where women and their magic can flourish beyond the oppressive eye of Leora’s religious fanatics. Stormlash may also hold the key to curing Bea’s illness. The challenge? Keep her alive long enough to get there. With Bea’s illness claiming more of her strength, Puck and Pru must work together to reach Stormlash and, in the process, confront a growing evil threatening to devour the country they call home. |
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A Draught for a Dragon by R.K. Ashwick Goodnight, sleep tight—don’t let the dragons bite. After Ambrose Beake’s kidnapping two years ago, he’s determined to return to normal life. A simple routine of running his potion shop, training his apprentice, daydreaming about his boyfriend Eli’s pending proposal… (Eli tries to hide it. Ambrose knows he bought the ring months ago.) But when an angry dragon trapped beneath the city demands help through Ambrose’s dreams, he realizes his adventure isn’t yet finished. He quickly concocts a plan: shrink the dragon with a potion and smuggle it to safety before the city discovers its presence. To retrieve the needed ingredients, however, he must take a cue from his customers…and go on a quest himself. While Ambrose, Eli, and friends fumble through heroics abroad, his apprentice Nat takes control of the shop. Before long, she struggles to keep the dragon problem—and her feelings for another apprentice—under wraps. Magical merchants both near and far must pull themselves together…before the city goes on its own quest to slay the dragon. |
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Wriggly Little Hands by Alex Knight Oli the goblin is the last creature anyone would send on a world-ending quest. But the Dark Lord's under siege and without his doomsday weapon, those pesky forces of Good might just get it done this time. Seizing the long-awaited opportunity to serve their Big Boss, Oli and his cousins strike out on a super secret mission to retrieve the doomsday weap- on a road trip to see their family. With the hopes of every creature sinister and foul riding on them, the goblins hurry directly to their destination. Mostly directly. Okay, so it's more of a zigzag. Also the wicked item delivery network is in shambles on account of the war, and since they're already headed that way, maybe the goblins could help out the Dark Lord's spies and deliver a few evil packages? Agents of Good await at every stop, but with empty heads and too-big hearts, Oli and his bumbling family deliver the packages (mostly), sabotage the forces of evil (accidentally), and save their Dark Lord (probably). All of this while facing down the dangers of road rage, unionization, and one genie wish gone terribly wrong. The final battle's brewing between good and evil, and the fate of the world rests in Oli's wriggly little hands. Gods help us all. |
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The Spirit's Curse by R.K. Ashwick The spirits have awoken—and can never sleep again.  After being roused to defend against a magical disaster, the nature spirits of Thalis have begun to leave their groves and mingle with humans. Eager to welcome their verdant new friends, Emry, Cal, and Aspen take center stage once more: they throw the country’s first spirit festival. Music and merriment abound—but when an angry lynx attacks Aspen onstage, demanding to know how to go back to sleep in his grove, Emry realizes that not every spirit wants this new life…and he has no idea how to return them to their old one.  The trio and their allies venture into an old-growth forest, seeking answers from Yarrow, the country’s oldest spirit. But Yarrow has grown treacherous—instead of helping them, it traps them in Raven’s Rest, a stubborn little village fighting for its place in the forest.  As Yarrow’s malice grows and the spirits question their place in the world, Emry, Cal, and Aspen must join forces with the village to subdue Yarrow—even if it means destroying the very answers they seek. |
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Cello’s Gate by Maurice Africh Returning from a harrowing heist involving a neon battery and a trash chute, Grey and his crew are approached by Dalia, the immortal daughter of the infamous ArchGovernor—and she has an offer. The job? Locate and steal the Stones of Indigo—seven fabled rocks invested with godlike power. The search for the first stone is a bona fide treasure hunt, guided by an ancient map to a deadly, uncharted island that’s protected by a mysterious guardian. The score? One million credits per crew member, per stone. The catch? Well, that’s where things get a little complicated. The stones don’t exist. They’re a myth. A bedtime story told to little pirates to make them believe that power and wealth are attainable if you just work hard enough. And to make matters infinitely worse, Grey’s never trusted immortals, and Dalia’s definitely hiding something. Something bad. And if they don’t figure out what it is, it might cost them their lives. ONE CREW OF SKY PIRATES SEVEN MYTHOLOGICAL STONES A RACE TO FIND THEM ALL |
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The Pig in the Derby Hat by M.A. Knights Young Clementine Trussel didn’t go looking for the supernatural. It found her. When a small pig wearing a derby hat falls out of her Granny’s window, Clementine is inclined to believe she’s seeing things. Only someone else saw it too, the mysterious Theophilius Gout, and he claims to be an expert in the paranormal. There is definitely something odd about the fat, tweed-clad man, and when her Granny falls deathly ill, Clementine is uneasy entrusting her recovery to a stranger. Even one as enigmatic as Mr Gout. Besides, he seems more interested in the cakes from her parents’ bakery than anything…otherworldly. But with her grandmother's life, and Clementine's own future, hanging in the balance, she is forced to follow him into a world of magic and monsters hidden in the shadows of her quiet hometown. Will they be in time to save her Granny? Is Mr Gout what he claims to be? And just what exactly is the pig in the derby hat? |
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The Great Tree of Iris by Jess Skultety 7 Unlikely Companions. 5 Libraries. 1 Hidden Prophecy. The Great Tree of Iris: a place of unmatched healing power for humans. Top scholar Lia Tovar protects the Tree in honor of her dead father, but she has visions of its tragic demise. When Rory Elatha, an elf from the hidden city of Kyrali, arrives seeking experts to save the decaying, sacred sunflower fields, Lia suspects their situations are connected. For once, her books cannot help, and she answers the call. To save the Tree, Lia must learn to trust six allies: - A youthful jeweler - A haunted scholar - A vibrant secret-keeper - An inkdelver on a mission - A wizard seeking a friend - A dragon looking for home When they discover one part of a deadly prophecy, Lia, Rory, and their party search desperately for a way to challenge fate. But as more natural disasters arise in their race across the continent, Lia must decide if she can let Rory into her heart, and if that will free or destroy her. The Great Tree of Iris combines a 30-year-old FMC's map-crossing, world-saving quest with fade-to-black sapphic romance in a queer-normative world. Perfect for fans of Samantha Shannon, L.R. Lam, S.A. Chakraborty, Saara El-Arifi, and J.R.R. Tolkien. |
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Lust and Found by Sylvie Helstaff Who knew you could summon a demon by accident? When Rowan’s eccentric great aunt died, they felt lost, now the lone queer sheep in a flock of faithful lambs. But when they move into the late woman’s house, a cleaning accident activates a dormant ritual and they’re suddenly confronted with two revelations: magic is real and demons are surprisingly hot. At least this one is. When opportunity shows up with lust in its eyes, you might as well grab it by the horns.voided. With their world upended, Rowan finds themself embracing newfound magical abilities with the help of an elderly trio of witches, navigating a budding relationship with an amorous archdemon, and nurturing a growing group of queer friends at their new bartending job. Life finally seems to be going their way, despite their pious family and the nosy neighborhood priest who keep trying to tempt them back into the fold. But sometimes Hell is other people. Just when everything seems perfect, a stunning betrayal sees them taking refuge in an infernal realm unlike anything they expected. Hell isn’t what they were taught and maybe “home” isn’t so much about “where” as it is “who.” Lust and Found is a high heat, insta-lust monster romance with slow burn romance, eventual polyamory, and heartfelt found family. |
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Paladin and Necromancer by Adrienne Miller Seven years ago, a Paladin married a Necromancer. It didn’t seem like a big deal back then, seeing as the world was ending. For better or worse, humanity survived. The extraplanar enemy was repelled, and the rifts in the Multiverse were patched up. In the ruins of the realm’s devastation, humanity recovered and rebuilt. Stuck in an uneasy marriage, Kassander and Silver couldn’t be less enthusiastic about the prospect. Perhaps it’s for the best that a noble house is slaughtered in what looks like a wine-soaked demonic ritual. At least solving crimes gives Kass and Silver something to do. Together, they uncover a conspiracy that threatens to tear apart the multiverse and its deities – and, most importantly, their already fragile marriage. A dark fantasy mystery-romance. |
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HALLOWED BE HER FLESH by Emryn Bird It had only been three days. Three days since Trella had been accused of being wicked. Three days since her flogging and excommunication. And three days since she began searching for a mysterious village deep within the Cantabrian Mountains. When a sudden, bright star becomes something more, this pious woman finds herself face to face with an entity she can only assume is one of God’s great celestials sent down to guide her. Terrifying yet beautiful, the creature vows to protect the woman as the pair journey together to find this promising new home. But will it be the safe haven Trella believes it to be? Or can safety only be found in this cosmic being’s embrace? Hallowed Be Her Flesh is an illustrated cosmic horror romance set in 1570s Spain where the ineffable horror of what lies beyond the stars meets Christian mysticism as an asexual woman questions her faith and her attraction toward a strange entity. |
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Queen of Thorns by Joel Flanagan-Grannemann Join Canin and his party of fellow Elenite (half-Human, half-Fairy) Thorn Brothers and Thorn Maidens as they complete their revenge mission in a nearby Human village. They're after a man who killed his wife years before. Canin had sworn to protect the wife, and was trying to help her escape to the safety of the Exile Forest. The husband also led a group who massacred those from the Forest who came looking for Canin when he fled in shame (leading to him meeting Talia and her party in Talia: Heir to the Fairy Realm, Book One of this series). After they find their vengeance, follow them as they rescue a sizeable group of weary and wary displaced Human women and children and convince the group to trust them and accompany them home to the Exile Forest. Sadly, not everything is as it seems in the Sanctuary village once they arrive. There's a traitor in their midst! War with the Human King and his Lions (evil Elenite blood users) is about to break out, and, as usual, Canin and his wife (the Fairy soldier Spearhead) find themselves in the middle of all the conflict, fighting for a safe home for their adopted daughter, the ever-growing baby Aurora. |
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Mother of Exiles by Joel Flanagan-Grannemann Canin, an Elenite — half-Human and half-Fairy — had left the Exile Forest in shame after a woman who had sought his help was killed by her husband, who framed Canin for the murder. ⚠Later, he found himself enveloped in the adventures of the Heir to the Fairy Realm and her company for a time, where he fell in love with one of the Heir’s Fairy Ladies. After being separated from his love when tragedy befalls the Heir’s party and his love is arrested, he finds himself dropped on the edge of the Exile Forest with the Fairy soldier named Spearhead (who lost her wings in the ordeal) and a baby they rescued from Blood Cultists at the Human king’s castle. While they believe the baby is the daughter of the king and his wife, the truth is ... ◆more complicated◆. Canin and Spearhead, pretending to be married and putting baby Aurora forth as their own flesh and blood, must beg the Mother of Exiles, whose disembodied presence leads the people of the Exile Forest, for sanctuary and the chance to start a new life for their found family in the forest. This book is an alternate entry point to the series for new readers who are more interested in the Elenite side of the story. |
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Chalupacabra Y2K by V.S. Lawrence Fast Food Just Got Freaky. In the summer of Y2K, a slow night shift at TicoTaco takes a turn for the cursed when a couple of bored employees deep-fry something they definitely shouldn’t have. Now something greasy, pissed off, and way too into hot sauce is leaving behind a trail of empty packets and drained bodies. Janet (burned out), Landon (baked), and Trina (bedazzled) are the only thing standing between the Chalupacabra and total chili cook-off carnage. They have no weapons training, no plan, and absolutely no business being the heroes in this story — but unfortunately, they’re all we’ve got. |
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For fans of Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn and Sarah J. Maas' Throne of Glass, Starhunt is a thrilling tale of enemies to lovers and conflicting morals that is sure to delight both epic and romantic fantasy readers alike. Do you revel in the darkness? Or are you for starlight, for everyone? He works for the King, hunting down the fallen stars to be returned to the night sky. She's a star-powered thief, willing to bend the laws of the Kingdom to return starmagic to her people. Both of them have proven that they can, and will, use their blades against anyone who gets in their way. But when the Stars and Moon deem that their paths should cross, will Kieran and Talla’s clash of causes be for the better, or will it be for blood? A thousand years after the stars fell from the sky over Larendi, King Armund has surprisingly discovered a way to send them and their magic back. Kieran, a renowned and rightfully cocky member of the King’s Guard, has been the King’s personal starhunter for almost a decade. With his charm, status, and expert negotiating skills, Kieran has recovered more stars than he can count. But as the number of uncollected stars is dwindling, Kieran’s need to call upon his extensive and unique training grows.. Because not everyone is a believer in the King’s vision. Beyond the castle walls, rebels are working to keep stars in the hands of the people. Talla, a skillful and star-powered thief, holds the rebellious views of the diminishing few that feel comfort in the darkness. She believes that keeping the stars on the ground is the key to saving her people. But after Talla is betrayed, she unexpectedly finds herself without starmagic and needing to rely on the last person she would ever choose to trust–Kieran. Despite his better judgement, he finds himself bringing the starthief with him across Larendi on his final starhunt. As their journey leads them to uncover hints to the night sky’s lost secrets, they both discover that the Stars and Moon may have led them to something they each didn't realize they needed–each other. |
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Till Death Do You Part by Marisa Billions Do you take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife, Sage Foster-Reed is frustrated and not at all content with her life or marriage. She’s restless and there’s nothing she can seemingly do about it. Her wife, Jules, has been asked to officiate a friend’s wedding, pulling them to a hotel out of town for three days. In Good Times and Bad, In Sickness and in Health … When Sage goes to run an errand, she encounters Cat, a sexy stranger who seems to appear everywhere after their chance encounter. Cat brings Sage out her fog of misery and now Sage must make a decision- work on her marriage and go forward with the woman she’s built a life with, or run off to chase an uncertain future with Cat. Fretting the decision to be made, Sage finds herself at a crossroads- until Fate steps in and makes the decision for her, and one of the two women she is torn between winds up dead. Is it a terrible accident, or did jealousy culminate in murder? Till Death Do You Part |
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Out of the Blue by Marisa Billions I AM HAUNTED. I LIVE A HAUNTED EXISTENCE. Sophia Martin and Eli were married for almost a decade, ran a successful spiritual empire bringing “a bespoke spiritual living experience” to vulnerable people looking to find a purpose in life. Then, Sophia meets a woman who turns her soul, and heart, inside out. Suddenly, Eli's empire is put at risk. I DANCE WITH THE PAST ON A DAILY BASIS. After escaping the marriage, and Eli's demands, Sophia starts again in a new town, and she can reclaim her identity. When she meets Frankie, a woman who teaches her that she is worth love and happiness, Sophia finally begins to heal and rediscover what it means to have peace. Until the bodies of murdered women wash ashore. I RELIVE MY MISTAKES AND QUESTION MY PRESENT AND DOUBT MY FUTURE. When she spots Eli in her newfound hometown around the same time the bodies have been showing up, Sophia knows it's not a coincidence. However, no one will believe her. Not even Frankie. Can she prove Eli is out to terrorize her for destroying the empire he built? |
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Our Bright Window by James Chance Once a loyal hellhound, Vincent now runs with a new pack: a ragtag group of werewolves, hiding from the supernatural authorities now swarming their college town. But he can’t get his past betrayals out of his head. Henry visits his dreams every night, tormenting him with visions of the happiness he almost had. And the people he couldn’t save still haunt him–literally. Ghosts are pouring out of the Underworld, spreading corruption and darkness in their wake. Vincent is responsible for it all, and he knows better than anyone: nothing ever truly stays dead. He must mend the broken pieces of both worlds, before everything he has come to care about is lost. In the end, the final price to save the mortal world–and the people he loves–may destroy everything he has ever known. |
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Into the Blue Again by Marisa Billions Emma Landry must now navigate life post-Bailey. The role she played in her ex-wife's untimely death still haunts her. Also, she needs to understand the mystery that is Morgan. A woman who came into her life at a most inopportune time. Emma is left pondering the reasons their lives intersected, and whether or not they truly belong together. When these women start to explore the consequences of their decisions, everything changes. You have to understand Jonathan is a demarcation in my life. Morgan Hale was once free-spirited and fun-loving. She avoided serious relationships and falling in love. Until she met Jonathan. A tortured and mercurial writer who turned her world upside down. There was my life before him. And the utter mess left in his wake. Emma is left to figure out how the broken pieces of their shattered lives are meant to fit together as she learns through Morgan’s story not only their lives' parallels but how love can be both destructive and rehabilitative. Will the ghosts of Morgan’s past drive Emma away or bring them closer together? |
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Our Dark Mirror by James Chance A stranger named Vincent emerges from a hole in the earth. He is a hellhound, bred and trained for one purpose: guarding the Underworld’s prisoners. At least, until he lets one escape. Disgraced, he is sent to recover the fugitive, disguised as an ordinary college student. But the mortal world holds its own secrets. Mysterious murders plague the school. Supernatural creatures hide in plain sight. And the fugitive has his own plan–one that may spell doom for both Hell and earth. To stop it, Vincent must team up with others like him that walk the line between light and shadow. The best of them is monster hunter and football star Henry Wellfellow. Kind and charismatic, he is beloved by all; and yet he takes an interest in Vincent, accepting him in a way no one has before. But Vincent has demons–literally. He can’t fall for the hero of the story. He doesn’t belong in this new world he has come to love. And yet, he may be the only one who can stop its destruction. But will the mortal world–and Henry–forgive him for what he will have to do to save it? |
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Like Sapphire Blue by Marisa Billions Your eyes are amazing. I’ve never seen a blue like that.” Emma Landry is tough, independent, beautiful, and smart. Being an outcast unable to identify with her classmates, she was willing to do whatever it takes to climb her way out of poverty. “What color would you say they are?” Like Sapphire Blue Having never known a mother’s love, her father “Bear”, raised her on the wrong side of the tracks in a wealthy town. When success beckons, the woman she’s been in love with is, finally, within her grasp. Life is now worth living and loving. That is, until a dark family secret is revealed. A secret tied into the very fabric of who she is, and what she spent a lifetime working to overcome. Faced with a foundation shattering treachery, Emma finds herself at the crossroads. Can she overcome a destiny stronger than death, destitution, and murder, to prove she is more than just her father’s daughter? Or will this new knowledge lead her to destroy the world she’s spent a lifetime building? |
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Derek and I have been best friends since we were kids. Now we’re halfway across the world on a gorilla-watching expedition in the Congo, and I’m finally working up the nerve to admit what I’ve been feeling for years. Somewhere amidst the jungle hikes, one bed, and far too many lingering touches, the lines between us start to blur and things start getting a little... slippery. The jungle is wild, but admitting my feelings for him might be the real adventure. Ripe & Ready is a friends-to-lovers, low-angst, 19k-word novella with a HEA and the wildly questionable use of a banana. It is the first novella in a series of queer love stories full of big feelings and extremely unconventional lube choices. Because who says silicone and water-based are the only options? |
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Smoke and Glass Slippers: A Dystopian, Gender-Flipped Cinderella Retelling by Ashley Willingham (From the author) She's the heir to a corrupt empire. He's the man coming to burn it all down. I know my place. I’m a Quartz. Meant to serve. For thirty years, I’ve slaved in the mines, stripping magic to fuel the empire’s precious Capital. But I refuse to die in the dark. The emperor’s competition for his daughter's hand is my one chance. If I can win a place among the nobles, I’ll get close enough to stop the tyranny once and for all. There’s just one problem: Princess Ysabelle is nothing like I expected. And as the Betrothal Games become real, I’ll have to make a choice. A choice that could change the world. Dive into the dystopian fairytale world of Smoke and Glass Slippers, a land of lies and deceit where the lines between heroism and villainy blur and nothing is as it seems. High-stakes fantasy adventure combined with swoony romance await in this clean, enemies to lovers romantasy! Perfect for fans of The Selection and Red Rising. |
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Matsdotter and Adrastus: When A Human Falls In Love With An Archdemon by Aelina Isaacs Elochian Adrastus is the pinnacle of demon nobility, and he hates it. When he’s not leading an aristocracy, in therapy, or rebelling against his birthright by running the most famous bar in Levena, he’s solving a millennia old mystery with his newfound friends. He’s particularly fond of the man he’s only known as an author, learning that there's much more to the human than meets the eye. For the first time in over a century, Elochian feels tempted by the prospect of finding his own happy ending. He’s also terrified that any future endeavors will end in death, like they did not so long ago. Quentin Matsdotter has one goal in life, and that’s to blend in. Unfortunately for him, that’s impossible when you’re a certifiable genius, an author, and are friends with some of the most unique people in the town. He’s got everything a man could want, except for someone to call his own. Quentin hasn’t been able to trust his heart to anyone again after experiencing an abusive relationship years ago, but there’s no mistaking how he feels for the enigmatic archdemon. As the snow builds, so does their friendship, and it’s only a matter of time before they open their hearts to each other. If only the past didn’t come back to haunt them. Be prepared to stand up for what you believe in, reveal the truth, and protect those you love, no matter the cost. |
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Fools Rush In by Sarah Clowder Leslie Glynore only wants one thing- to be able to retire from the paladin life. The problem? She's done something Very Bad but can't remember what. To get her fully funded retirement, she has to do something Very Good for the Church. All while stuck with Alik Visk- her always-glaring, eyepatch-wearing Knight of a partner, who hates her and makes her want to do anything but good. Fortunately for Leslie, their Commander has a mission that no one else is available to take: Please return the goddess home. It sounds like the perfect way to end her career, but nothing is ever that easy. Will she be able to face her own demons while stopping actual ones from breaking loose? Or will she run away like she's always done in the past? |
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The Voice of Wild Places by Noah Hawthorne Cornelius Sawyer is a man of many talents, but forgiveness is not one of them. Watt Johnson is a man of his word, but not once in his life has he spoken up for himself. Once connected by the bonds of childhood, threads now severed by the demands of life, the pair are brought together for a once in a lifetime an all expenses paid expedition to Brazil, searching for a man the world believes to be long dead, Percy Fawcett. And perhaps, even the Lost City that he was looking for. Under the guise of doing research work for their respective universities, a reluctant Cornelius and an exhilarated Watt accept the offer and delve into the unknown, trusting no one but themselves. Looking at a map, the route and its dangers seem to be known obstacles which can be easily conquered, a fact that Watt leans on heavily. But Cornelius is intimately aware that the river has teeth, that the land renders a siren song to those who are desperate to become lost in its mountains and basins. To survive the journey they'll have to face the enemies within, and trust the other to have their best interests in mind. After all, the Voice of Wild Places is calling, beckoning the adrift homeward. |
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A world plagued by sun sickness can be both terrible and beautiful. Senna Kane was plucked from his orphanage and molded into the perfect Goldheart—the personal bodyguard to the prince. It's a demanding job, made harder by the headstrong prince's desire to solve the tension between the darkness-bathed Talsura and the sun-welcoming Redwind, but Senna has vowed to do his best. Defying the law, Senna and the prince sneak out of their kingdom to meet with the Redwindan princess to work towards peace. There, Senna finds himself spending more time with the princess' charming guard, Emrys, who challenges Senna to try bold and impossible things—like harnessing the sun's power to grow plants from his own body. The quest for peace comes at odds with the two lovers as the sun sickness, terrifying monsters, and cruel rulers try to tear them apart at every turn. The danger leads Senna to what may be an impossible choice: to abandon his prince, his duty and life's purpose, or lose the chance to become the man he could've been if that duty had never found him. GOLDHEART is a story about chosen family, choosing love, and the impossible feat of staying good in times of darkness. |
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Let Sleeping Gods Lie by Ben Schenkman If jumping off a building to save a raccoon doesn’t kill Corbin Pierce then his next altruistic impulses just might.Pierce, ex-Ivy League community college adjunct and environmental activist, has his hands full keeping the local spirit-creatures out of the hands of poachers while teaching his students about history they shouldn’t repeat. As if he didn't already have enough on his plate, he and his new mentee-turned-apprentice discover the murder of a homeless man.As one murder becomes two, Corbin suspects the involvement of The Hand, a secret cabal of high magicians. It won’t be his first conflict with them, but if he can’t find a way to stop them, it could well be the last. Even worse, ancient spirits are waking to wreak havoc on the city as the bodies pile up. To end it all, Corbin must decide what he’s willing to sacrifice. If he doesn’t, the city and everyone he loves will be gone. Can Corbin take the final leap, knowing he might pay the ultimate price? |
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Undefined Tides by Briar Belmont Before they were pirates, they sought freedom. Rowan yearns only to be the master of his own fate. A year out from indenture in the navy, Rowan finds himself in the midst of a trafficking scheme he can’t stomach. Yves is transformed. No longer the victim he was. No longer fully human. The darkness within him pushes him toward violence and glory. Logan, newly released from the Marran navy, attempts to find the family he hasn’t heard from since childhood. Fox loves too hard. Trusts too easily. But he never thought it would be a mistake to entrust his heart to the one man who’s been by his side all along. John has spent his whole life working toward a higher rank, but when his superior officer orders him to do something appalling, he finally snaps and gives in to the flames that have always fought to rise to the surface. Henri’s mother is dead, and he cannot stand still anymore. Now he must embark on a journey to find the father that has been lost at sea since giving him a mysterious gift. Gaël gave in to his desires for one night, but fear drove him away. Now he must fight to get back to the one man he’s ever loved, even if it’s just to say sorry. Robin wanted a quiet life of bachelorhood, but his family has other plans. When they present him with his new fiancée, he runs, and finds himself face-to-face with pirates. Two pirate crews destined to clash, hurtle toward one another on the tide of their captains’ obsessions. Undefined Tides is a collection of interwoven short stories that follows each member of the Siren Song and Kraken’s Fury as they run, stumble, or murder their way into the life of a pirate. |
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The Midnight Carnival by Kenny Gould Max Plank is a down-on-his-luck handyman with no job, no prospects, and no plan. But when he discovers a million dollars hidden beneath his bathtub, he does what anyone would do: he buys a haunted, defunct amusement park. Now the reluctant ringleader of the Carnival of the Sun, Max finds himself swept into a world of monstrous politics. With the help of several unlikely allies, he sets out to rebuild the carnival, bridge the widening gap between humans and monsters, and maybe even find a little joy along the way. Perfect for fans of Legends & Lattes, Tress of the Emerald Sea, and Spirited Away, The Midnight Carnival is a cozy fantasy full of spooky fun and heartfelt friendship. |
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Let The Sun Shine On My Face by Ilis Trudie Palmer Let the Sun Shine on My Face - Micro Synopsis In this luminous collection of reflections, Ilis Trudie Palmer turns everyday Caribbean life into spiritual practice. With warmth and humor, she writes about yoga, gardening, friendship, and faith as paths to inner peace. Each story reminds us that enlightenment isn’t distant, it’s found in loving ourselves, trusting life, and letting joy rise from the ordinary. Let the Sun Shine on My Face is both a celebration of the Caribbean spirit and a guide to living lightly, gratefully, and awake. |
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Between the Stacks: Stories of Lusty Librarians, Amorous Authors, & Bawdy Bookstores by Elisabeth Dove (Editor), Johannes T. Evans , Gemma Moon , A. Boss, Jack Stein , Day S. Grant , Achilles King , Cheeky Boutée The wet dreams of book lovers come to life in these seven erotic stories of library liaisons, bookstore hookups, and book convention orgies. Gay, straight, sapphic, cis and trans--everyone has a place between the stacks. Twenty percent of proceeds will benefit EveryLibrary, which supports libraries and fights censorship. A bookstore meet-cute gets steamy. Closeted gay men find connection in libraries. Roommates act out scenes from a smutty book. A man meets his favorite author—and gets invited to the author's dungeon. A she-orc uses books to send messages to her human crush in the university library. An orgy at a book convention turns into a backdoor gangbang for one author. |
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Dudes Rock: A Celebration of Queer Masculinity in Speculative Fiction by Chase Anderson, Johannes T. Evans, Oliver Fosten, Jonathan Freeman, Rick Hollon, Sam Inverts, S. C. Mills, Franklyn S. Newton, Jay Kang Romanus, Aubrey Shaw, Simo Srinivas, Candy Tan, and Scott Vaughn. What does masculinity mean to you? Whether the answer is "toxic" or something more aspirational, speculative fiction can help you find the language to talk about it. The stories in this anthology visualize all the different ways masculinity might look in a world different than our own, for better or worse. Imagine living in a universe where you'd feel safe telling your best friend you've always loved him, or where smoking hot demons exist to indulge all your worst impulses. From buff aliens to gender-affirming werewolf bites, Dudes Rock is about celebrating everything that queer masculinity can become beyond the confines of a single world, and we want you to rock with us. |
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A Clean Pig by Johannes T. Evans Detective Inspector Phil Hutchinson, following up a last-ditch lead on an anonymous and impossible-to-locate narcotics distributor, attempts to get close enough to surveil her son, a young man called Adrian Gillespie, who uses a wheelchair. He gets closer than he intended, and is rewarded — and punished — as per. 13.6k, rated E, cis M/trans M. Written for an anonymous commission. Both parties are adults (49 & 27) and fully consenting throughout. Contains degradation and humiliation, age gap, dom/sub dynamics with the younger trans man dominating, mild cock & ball torture, sadomasochism, dirty talk, obedience & discipline, self-bukkake, mild drunkenness. Set in London in the 2020s. Set in my Magic Beholden universe, readable completely standalone. Phil Hutchinson is non-magical, but it is implied in several places that Adrian and his family are magical themselves. Work commissioned by an anonymous party. |
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Historic Brotherhood by Johannes T. Evans Novella. London, 1979: a young gay man seeks mentorship from a classmate’s flamboyant uncle. 23k, rated M, Gen. Mortimer Jones, a young gay man, comes from Tewkesbury to London where he meets Percival Campbell and, in short order, Percival’s beloved uncle — the flamboyant and loquacious Queen B. Uncle B soon takes Mortimer, shy and as-yet uncertain of his place in the world and in the gay community, under his wing, and serves as mentor. Focus on queer community in the 1970s, discussions of monastic history, science fiction, comedy, art and architecture, pop culture, connection, and cross-age friendship. Lots of body positivity for Mort and B, both fat men, in the aftermath of fatphobic bullying and homophobic isolation; lots of flirtation as a confidence and identity-building exercise even whilst B sets clear boundaries between them in terms of actual sexual activity; references to and discussion of historic and period homophobia throughout, but the tone is generally warm and companionable. |
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Strange Liberty by Johannes T. Evans Salvo Caine, a young man cursed with a magically sapping touch, is convicted of manslaughter and dispatched to an island prison. Once there, he’s offered limited freedom — and affection — by the cold and manipulative prison warden, Guillaume Villiers. Rated M, 27.5k, dark fantasy with some M/M dark romance on the side. Good bit of age gap sexiness, and some medical and care-giving kink as well. |
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Powder and Feathers by Johannes T. Evans Aimé Deverell, a depressed and lonely artist finishing up his degree in Dublin, watches the world go by, and paints it as it goes. Life is short, he thinks - and thank God! He’s tired of living it. That philosophy shatters like glass when his life is threatened by the beautiful Jean-Pierre, a Fallen angel. |
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An Uncommon Betrothal by Johannes T. Evans Alexos Fox, an introverted academic and polio survivor, is naturally quite sad when the long-time butler of his household, the man who all but raised him, retires. He is not at all prepared for the old man’s his exceedingly attractive and painfully tempting nephew. Unbeknownst to Alexos, his old butler chose Henry Sutton hoping the two of them might marry their interests together, and the gentleman is as suspicious as he is entranced when the new butler comes to him with talks of a secret marriage between them. M/M erotic romance, rated E, 100k. Set 1927, primarily in West Sussex, England. |
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SLAKE HOUSE by Idal Waves Hallot Alexandra T. Singer IVQKS159 fleshfeel Crane J. Alan Andrews cam Judas Salieri Max Banshees Johannes T. Evans b SLAKE HOUSE is a queer erotic horror choose-your-own-ending (CYOE) anthology featuring 13 author/artist pairs collaborating to create a sexy and horrifying multi-route story which will end in spectacular climax and abject terror. |
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Theology and science mix like oil and water. Never in his life would Eris Vandermere have thought The Effect of Divine Presence on Human Behavior would be the topic of his final research paper of the year—yet he finds himself combing the city streets with sophomore Miri Chase, tracking the footsteps of a real-life god who walks the mortal realm. When the god of the sea rescues a child from certain death, his divine blood heals the child’s wounds, and the mortal world hails him as a hero. An undercurrent of intrigue among the mortal population grows and slowly festers, which leads Eris and Miri to stumble across a horrifying truth: mortals will do anything to get their hands on God's Blood. What starts as a simple school project morphs into a frantic scramble for human survival. What must one do to appease an angered god? And how far is a god willing to go in the name of justice? After all, nothing is more devastating than divine rage. |
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Mere Flesh by Catherine Labadie Wynnifred Treloar has everything she needs to succeed as a budding occultist on the cusp of vowing her allegiance to king and country...and marrying the most tame yet influential man in society she can find. Yet everything is not enough for her when she knows more influence than she can dream of will be withheld from her because of who she is.Breaking one rule after another, she sacrifices portions of her body to summon a demonic entity to take over the world. There should be no harm in it: demons are only dark energy, after all, and Wynnifred is a prodigy. When the demon she summons into a circle vows she'll die screaming in his claws, and omens plague her friends and estate, Wynnifred begins to realize there are worse mistakes to make than marrying the wrong society darling. Like beginning to fall for the demon's allure. |
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When the tech company Kolton Moreau built with his brother experiences a surprisingly profitable quarter, the doors to high society open up to make way. Fancy parties, new business contacts, a seat at the adult’s table… It should have been a windfall and the logical reward for their years of hard work, but as Kolton begins to rub elbows with the societal elite, he realizes things aren’t quite so clear cut. From persistent attempts at corporate takeover to shady deals nudged towards him under the table, the risks begin to outweigh the potential rewards as Kolton finds himself pursued by a mysterious group keen on obtaining his allegiance, one way or another. It stood to reason that rising through the ranks would open doors. Kolton just wished he took the time to consider who—or what—would be waiting for him on the other side. |
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The First Stone by Teshelle Combs Sanaa of Rote exists only to please her father, the King, by marrying the High Prince of an allied realm. And she will succeed. She must. If she can bear to swallow her hatred for the man to whom she must yield every fragment of her power. |
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When a trip to India goes awry, Priyanka handles it the only way she knows how to, with liquor. The days blur together as she finds herself in a tumultuous tailspin, hanging on for dear life. One trip to the doctor's office, and her life is forever changed. Dr. Thalya Rishnya is nothing if not professional; however, when a drop-dead gorgeous woman winds up in her office, she can't help but feel for her. One random, coincidental meetup and her world will never be the same. Sparks fly as they relish each other's company. Follow along as these two fight to survive life and see if they will find their happily ever after, or will they mess it up for fate's sake? |
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The Old Goat and the Alien by Veo Corva Avari keeps to themself. They’re a goat-shape cosmoran, a member of the Cleaners’ Union, and a bit of a grump. That suits them just fine. They don’t have any friends, and that’s fine, because they have siblings. And if their siblings have all grown away from them to start their own lives, then that’s fine, too. Really. But then Avari meets a lost alien in the Elder Grove, and that is not fine. Everyone is telling Avari that this alien is their responsibility just because she’s lost on an unfamiliar planet. Avari can barely tolerate cosmorans; how are they supposed to cope with a human housemate? To get Jenna the human out of their home, Avari is going to have to do several unthinkable things. They’ll have to leave the house, talk to strangers, and even travel to the terrifying ocean planet that is the binary twin of their own. They’ll have to learn about Earth and go to board game parties and meet some of the strangest people in the city. They might even have to make friends. But the trouble is, Avari isn’t sure they deserve them. The Old Goat and the Alien is a cosy, slice-of-life space fantasy with an all-queer cast set on the binary planets of Geminus in a far-away star system. Geminus is populated by cosmorans, sentient creatures whose shape is determined by the stars at their hatching and who bear a striking resemblance to the animals and mythical creatures of Earth. |
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Witchborne by Rachel Grosvenor In medieval Locklear, Agnes harbours a dangerous secret - she can touch fire without being burned. As war rages beyond the town and whispers of witchcraft echo through its streets, Agnes navigates arranged marriages, rival’s schemes, and the threat of the hangman’s noose. When a desperate bargain with a local widow goes awry, Agnes’s world erupts in flames - she is accused of witchcraft. In a society that fears female power, can Agnes find the strength to forge her own destiny? |