|
Christmas in the Empty Cabin by E. Reyes Horror and the supernatural donât take holiday vacations⊠Take a holiday trip with E. Reyes to the dark side of the most wonderful time of the year. While youâre there visit⊠A hot holiday toy that brings terror to a department store. A man caught in a blizzard as he searches for help for a dying friend. A girl who wakes up to surprise visitors on DĂa de los Muertos. A man who recounts a sick and twisted Thanksgiving. A boy who becomes intrigued by a mysterious house and the girl who resides there during fall break. A family man who struggles with a dilemma that may cost him his soul. âA beautifully written collection⊠a unique and creative delight⊠I devoured it and loved it!ââJulie Hiner, author of Final Track âA great collection of thrilling and shocking tales that will get your heart pounding!ââEric Woods, author of Pummeled âA great range of short tales for anyone looking for a quick, mysterious read.ââM.E. Aster, author of Three Halves of a Whole âCaptures the melancholy, dark side of the holidays.ââElford Alley, author of Ash and Bone |
|
âFor who could love a beast, forever?â Jay is a sensitive, traumatized young man selling his body to pay his college tuition fees and to send money to his gravely ill mother. Roman is a centuries old vampire who has no control over whom he bonds with. When they cross paths, itâs supposed to be for only one bite, but it ignites the fires of love within Roman. Jay gets caught in his own feelings for Roman, who needs to feed on humans to survive, even if following his own moral compass. And although danger lurks in the form of another bloodthirsty predator, Roman and Jayâs journey through life is also wrought with human monsters, as dangerous as the mythical ones. Will Jay and Roman find the forever loveâa love transcending difference, mortality, and immortalityâthat they are both yearning for? |
|
Devilâs Hill: Stories by E. Reyes Stephen King has Castle Rock. R. L. Stine has Fear Street. E. Reyes has Devilâs Hill. Welcome to Devilâs Hill, Arizona; a place that runs rampant with the occult, paranormal, and supernatural. As Halloween approaches and a group of teenage witches inadvertently summon an ancient deity into a scarecrow, they set off a chain of events that unleashes true evil upon the town. In these interconnected stories, youâll encounter ghostly spirits, killers, malevolent deities, and other unexplainable horrors as the town of Devilâs Hill is plunged into darkness. Donât miss out on the terror that awaits in Devilâs Hill! Praise for Devilâs Hill: âWhere do fans of R.L. Stine's Goosebumps go when we grow up? There's plenty of room in Devil's Hill, Arizona...if you dare.ââJulia DeBarrioz, author of Cazadora âAbsolutely worth reading.ââHeather Miller, author of One Night Stand at the End of the World âI would FOR SURE recommend this book to horror lovers and horror newbies alike, and I will certainly be looking for more E. Reyes in the future!ââSpooky Octopus Reads |
|
Home by Maxime Jaz What if the edge of the world wasn't far enough to confront your biggest fears? Damian has it all: first-class ticket home, whisky to drown his fear of flying, snark, and arrogance to push away everyone. Just not the wife. Heartbroken flight attendant Gabe likes his flights uneventful. His training and gentle nature are enough to keep him from busting Damian's face in. Probably. A plane crash forces lives and worlds that couldn't be more different to become one. They fight each other, their biggest fears, a life so rough survival is just the beginning... can they win battles brewing far away, at home? |
|
The Warhog Paladins by Jer Patch Mia Lark is running out of options. Without a neural implant, she'll be shut out of the Corporate jobs on her home planet, but without the cash to pay for it, she's desperate to find a way in. There is one way to score that implant and pay it back later: the game planet Revivium. It sounds easy enough: enter the game, earn enough Bitz to cash out, and exit before the game finds a way to kill her. Once she's in-game, though, Mia realizes Revivium is anything but simple. A realm-wide quest is a great opportunity to score her Bitz and punch out, but she finds a magical artifact that links back to a forbidden quest line: the Helm of the dead leader of the Warhog Paladins. The helm's friendly AI, Hex, Leads Mia on an entirely different quest, to find the main guildhall where she can discover what became of the old Warhog Paladins--a quest that could get her killed in Revivium, where Game Over means death... |
|
Evening of the Mutated Undead by E. Reyes First, it was the UFO sightings. Then the monsoon began. And then residents of a shady neighborhood got what they never expected⊠Mutated zombies. Evening of the Mutated Undead is a heart-pounding survival horror novella centered around Jeff, a small-time drug dealer in Arizona. Chaos ensues on a seemingly ordinary evening as a horrifying zombie outbreak strikes during a relentless monsoon. To Jeff's horror, these undead creatures don't just eat their victims but mutate their bodies, leading to a gruesome blend of unworldly mutation and decomposition |
|
Jack Forest, Soul Collector by E. Reyes In the gripping novelette Jack Forest, Soul Collector, the town of Devilâs Hill, Arizona, becomes the stage for a chilling and morally complex tale. Jack Forest, a man returned from the dead on Halloween night, is compelled to serve as a soul collector for Hell. Tasked with branding the souls of woman abusers, he embarks on a haunting mission. As Jack navigates the shadowy realm between the living and the dead, he is torn between the ruthless directives of Hell and his own sense of justice. The line blurs when faced with a momentous decision that challenges his very nature. This gripping narrative explores themes of redemption, the consequences of oneâs actions, and the power of individual choice. Jack Forest, Soul Collector delves into the darkness of the human soul and the depths of compassion that may yet emerge from the most unlikely circumstances. |
|
When 16-year-old Kallis goes to see Aristophanes' latest play, she's inspired to sneak into the Assembly and try to make her name as an orator. Against the backdrop of steampunk antiquity â an Ancient Athens where automatons line the city walls â Kallis sets out to incite a revolution. Sheâs going to create a world where no one is forced to be someone theyâre not: a world where women can be artificers and orators, where oneâs future isnât determined by the track set out by their parents. |
|
Emelie has always known to stay away from the woodsâthe elders in her village wonât let her forget it. No matter how the wind between the trees calls to her, sheâs to stay away. When her exiled childhood best friend Halvar emerges from the woods unharmed, she begins to question the things sheâs been taught, and whether there is life outside of their village. But when Halvarâs reappearance coincides with a series of murders, Emelie must decide if she prefers the safety of her puritanical people, or the chance to escape to a new life with him. As Emelie explores who she really is and what she really wants, dark secrets of her village begin to come to light. As the bodies start piling up and lines are drawn, Emelie needs to decide which side she stands on, and she may just need to unleash her inner nature to survive the fallout. |
|
KNIGHT: The Shintori Chronicles Book III by Elle Samhain Avery isnât sure she should even still be alive after Morganaâs Legion left two Reapers dead⊠and one Saved. She and her friends have located the fifth and final Knight of Od placed in the realm of the living by the Beldam - the Knight of Spirit. The oddball Princess Yumi has waited with bated breath and uncertain heart for the Berserker Witch. Can she be trusted to resist the demon she harbors? The ragtag band of Reapers must confront the monsters of their own pasts before they can ever hope to save the future. |
|
The Orchid and the Lion by Gabriel Hargrave Dorian Vidales left his cushy but constrictive life on Earth behind to become the star femme Dom at a space station brothel. Convinced that love makes people stupid and will ruin everything heâs worked so hard for, Dorian remains happily married to his career. But when Laith Ritter, a gorgeous trans man, is hired at the brothel and Dorian gets roped into training him as a sub, heâll find it hard to follow his own âdonât get attachedâ rule. At first, having a bratty, inexperienced live-in sub is more chaos than he expects, but it soon becomes everything he could never admit he needed. As he trains Laith, Laith helps Dorian find himself outside of his high-strung, overly controlled work persona. With their relationship growing more and more serious, Dorian realizes this is what was missing in his otherwise glamorous life. But amidst the glitz and glamour of the space stationâa haven for people otherwise disenfranchised by Earthâs Purity Lawsâtrouble is brewing. When a pro-Purity politician gains power and begins pushing her political agenda, Dorian and the man heâs falling in love with will be thrust into a dangerous fight to keep the station free. The trials they face will test their burgeoning romance and change their lives forever. The Orchid and the Lion is the first novel in a kinky, sensual series about love, self-acceptance, and fighting for what you believe in. |
|
HEMLOCK: The Shintori Chronicles Book II by Elle Samhain Rumors of the Berserker Witchâs murders have traveled fast and far. Avery Porter and her friends barely escaped with their lives when two Knights of Od revealed themselves in battle. With the High Priestess of Centralia murdered by the Knight of Earth, Avery has no choice but to put her faith in the demon of the Crossroads. As the demon Balthazar and the Goddess of the Witches lead them to the ritual to put the Knights down for good, the final Knight has caught word of their search. Armed with their name, Avery must get to the last Knight before their beacon signaling the end of the world is ignited. |
|
In the Comfort of Shadows by B. Nacole Verona doesn't believe in Hell when her life is already a living one. After all, she's underemployed, reeling from a harsh breakup, and her graduate degree is slipping through her fingers. As if her life can't get any worse, a mishap with a cursed grimoire sends her to Limbo where she finds out that she's the reincarnation of the witch responsible for condemning Lo-the Archdemon of Wrath-to Limbo until the curse is broken. With death looming over Verona's head and a bargain burned into her skin, Verona agrees to help Lo before his patience runs out. But as Verona digs for answers, attraction between her and Lo spikes, secrets are unearthed, and untapped magic itches in her veins. |
|
Render to Silver by Catherine Labadie The Founts of Silver are holy women blessed by the favor of their God...or they are cursed vessels meant to be shattered. Given no other choice, Fount Marzanna clawed her way up their ranks until she was able to begin planning her escape with one of her fellow Founts from Aebbenary, the prosperous island ruled by Silver's decadent church. Instead, the accidental working of a Miracle sets her apart and attracts the notice of the High Priest. He intends to use her to spark a revival in the city, and eventually the world, which has begun to turn away from a religion that rewards greed and ambition as piety. He's not forthcoming with how, and while tensions in the city rise, while two rival houses contemplate war, Marzanna realizes the role she resents with all her heart won't let her walk away without untold sacrifice. |
|
AEGIS: The Shintori Chronicles Book I by Elle Samhain Avery Porter is a Reaper in the walled-off city of Ardua, tasked with the duty of sending souls to the afterlife. Her day-to-day life comes to a sudden halt when she is kidnapped by another Reaper and his exorcist companion, taking her far beyond the walls. At first their claims of a demonic force lurking in selected Reapers seem outlandish, until Avery sees them for herself. The Knights of Od were created by the goddess of the underworld to swallow the land of the living; fueled by the elements and the unrest among the Shintori gods. Their last chance lies with the Knight of Spirit, the last to be unleashed onto the world. Can they reach it before the Beldamâs Legion does? |
|
Davy Jones, the captain of the Flying Dutchman, has never believed in any of the superstitions his crew whisper about when they think he's not listening. Sirens? Mermaids? Selkies? All just myths perpetuated by lonely men on the sea. Davy is satisfied with his riches. He doesn't need anything else. At least, that is what he tells himself. But the truth is that he is not living, only surviving. And Davy is tired of surviving. What happens when one night he meets a beautiful creature who promises him everything he's ever wanted? Dead Reckoning is a historical erotic retelling of the legend of Davy Jones and is not recommended for readers under the age of 18. |
|
The Tenfold Tenants by E.V. Belknap Corvinian Hark thought he'd be the next great villain. What he ended up as, is a caretaker of magical tenants. This setback was supposed to have been temporary. It has been temporary going on eight years. But things are looking up, or at least he was told things are looking up. If you were to ask Corbin, things mostly keep looking sideways. Because his latest tenant might just be human. It means no more magic in the hallways and keeping skeletons from wandering out of the closet. But mostly it means that if he can't figure her out, he'll be out of a job. Which would be rather unfortunate, as it is where he keeps his bed, and all of his stuff, and all of his friends. He'll just stick her between the vampire and the harpy and hope she doesn't notice, shall he? |
|
ÎᜱÎčÎżÏ by Andromeda Ruins A queer and anti-establishment retelling of the fall of Icarus. The Elysians are here to protect us. They uphold order, they keep citizens safe⊠unless you are their kid. When you are the child of an Elysian you get to see what they are truly like. You get to see their fears, their anger, their hatred. You get to be subjected to their wants and whims. Most importantly, you get to be trained by the âbest of the bestâ to become an Elysian yourself. At least thatâs what we were told. We werenât told what that training would cost us. What it would do to our bodies and our minds. How it would make us into what the Elysians really are, mindless abominations. These monsters are in every corner of our society. They are heralded as Gods among men, but not for long. I am doing everything in my power to show who they really are behind their masks. Soon, everyone will see these nasty creatures for what they are⊠ÎÎŹÎčÎżÏ is a tragedy following Icarus as he takes a look behind the curtain of the Elysian Program and sees the disgusting framework that he was disillusioned to. Now the only thing on his mind is bringing down the program and the entire ATLAS corporation. Will he be able to when the world seems set against him? |
|
Atra Hart has spent the last seven years locked away in Vanishing Plains Psychiatric Hospital. In that time, her shadow has transformed into its own entity and is growing stronger by the day, threatening to devour her mind. She calls that shadow Dread, and only her missing father knows what it is. When a fire breaks out at the asylum, Atra makes her way to freedom just in time to see an electric-purple rift sunder the sky. Like Dread, the rift is only visible to her. Atraâs already loose grip on reality unravels when she learns the rift is a gateway to the world of the dead. And the Queen, an ancient evil lurking on its fringes, wants Dread for her own. Even worse, Atra canât tell if any of this is really happening. She might have escaped one asylum, but the closer she gets to unearthing answers about Dread, why her father knows itâs there, and its role in the Queenâs plans, the more she risks getting trapped inside her own mind forever. Maybe some truths are meant to stay buried. |
|
The Memory Tree by Ellie Lieberman "The Memory Tree reminds us that it is okay, and sometimes necessary, to remember the not so good during the holiday season... It almost feels like we are given permission to feel bittersweet, which is something I personally find comforting the older I get."- Roadside Reader A collection of old ornaments come alive to aid a grandmother, on her last Christmas Eve night, in telling family stories and imparting her final wisdom to her granddaughter. |
|
Rosemary & Iron by Dorian Valentine When a ritual to restore Mana goes wrong and sends him into the distant past, CĂ©lestin Edevane seeks the help of a strange man inhabiting an even stranger estate in order to prevent the calamity that destroyed Mana. Faced with a fascinating world unlike his own, filled with vampires, fae, witches and old gods and an unexpected love affair...will he even want to return to his time? |
|
The Reluctant Mage by Journey Windrow FAERIES, TROLLS, AND VAMPIRESâIS IT THE END OF THE MUNDANE REALM? I lost The Great War of the Elflands and everyone I loved. Then the Guild of Light Mages appointed me, Miranda Hunter, as Mage-in-Charge of Boston. Harpies and hornpipes! MUNDANES BREACHED THE VEIL TO THE REALMS OF MAGIC. How? Got me. I'm no quantum mechanic. Predatory preternaturals are pouring in like some joker put up a sign that says THIS WAY TO MUNDANIA . THERE ARE TROLLS IN TUNNELS. Canât mundanes identify troll stench? Nope. They donât believe in myth and magic. BABIES ARE MISSING. Changeling fae kids turn up, leaving mundane parents looking for their missing children. The mystery is how to get them back. A VANISHED GIRL Add one transportation spell to faery and itâs a magical abduction. WITH PRETERNATURAL PREDATORS STALKING ME WITH INTENT TO KILL, HOW DO I SAVE EVERYONE ELSE? There's only me, my hellhound, and my sidekick, Nigel-the-Absent, to protect the mundane world. I need sleep and calories to fuel my magic. WHAT COULD GO WRONG? With my sort-of-dead husband winding through my mind like a ghost, Iâm drowning in self-doubt. I SHOULD PACK SOME SNACKS! |
|
All Orbits Decay Homeward by Matthew Zakharuk Before xe died, M-741 was humanâbut a starshipâs systems wonât run themselves. Remade into a maintenance synthetic, xe is stripped of all but xir labour, to keep the rich in orbit while Earth festers. Or rather, thatâs what shouldâve happened. M-741 has an error in xir programming. A glitch of xir past, a call from someone xe once knew. To answer it is to risk being recycled. To ignore it is to forsake the only thing that remains of xem. |
|
In this dark fantasy set in a world of Machiavellian Angels and honour code demons, one outcast Angel and a vampire spirit of war must work together to prevent an atrocity causing a spiral into a deadly war between the races. Azshael is a disgraced Angel lost in remorse and shunned for falling in love with the enemy. Unexpectedly tasked with investigating the death of a vampire elite on Angelic soil, it quickly becomes personal when he discovers her murder bears similarities to that of his dead vampire lover. Seeking answers, he joins forces with the 'Serrate' Lytta, an ancient vampire war spirit and sacred warrior bound in flesh, and the potent pair unearth a conspiracy which could destroy the long-standing truce and reignite the war between the races. As a day of reckoning looms, Azshael will need all his wits to survive. But surviving is the one thing heâs always been good at. Heâs not the âdead angel walkingâ his enemies think he is. |
|
The Wizardâs Butler by Nathan Lowell "He thinks he's a wizard," they said. For five grand a month and a million dollar chaser, Roger Mulligan didn't care how crazy the old geezer was. All he had to do was keep Joseph Perry Shackleford alive and keep him from squandering the estate for a year. They didn't tell him about the pixies. |
|
Broken Wings by L. Stoddard Hancock After an ancient war that left the outside air toxic, the shielded city of Utopia is the only safe place left in the world. Or so its citizens are taught to believe. Many dismiss the lies fed to them by a familial line of crooked presidents and choose to live outside the city's walls. But when a new president takes control, he wages a war on these Outsiders, and their leader's daughter Deryn Leon is caught in the crossfire. Five years later Deryn is a slave. Beaten and starved, she has little will to go on. But when a chance encounter leaves her with a means for escape, the forgotten fire inside of her ignites once more and she takes the opportunity with one swipe of a knife to her owner's throat. But escaping Utopia isn't easy. While hiding in plain sight, Deryn is discovered by Xander Ruby, the Utopian Guardian inadvertently responsible for her capture in the first place. Xander, who is guilt-stricken by everything he has done as a Guardian, wants nothing more than to get Deryn home. He takes her in and they soon form a powerful bond that will not be broken, even when the reality of this cruel and beautiful world threatens to tear them apart. |
|
The Lion and the Dahlia by Gabriel Hargrave Itâs been months since Earth supported a pro-Purity coup on Baldwin, and Laith Ritter is settling into his new home on Europa Station. Heâs a hit at work, heâs building a life with his boyfriend and Dom, Dorian Vidales, and heâs found a family, one that he would do anything for. Heâs even caught the eye of his handsome coworker, Omar. On the surface, it would seem Laithâs star is on the rise and still climbing. But in reality, heâs struggling. And so is Dorian. Heâs desperately trying to find his boyfriend, Kenny, and figure out how to help his coworkers who got arrested the night of the raid. And unlike Laith, Dorianâs not as big a hit as he used to be, which is hurting his already fragile ego. With their relationship already shaky, the last thing they need is to get swept up in more chaos. But some always manages to find them... When a client is found murdered, itâs up to Laith to figure out who really killed him and why. But the list of suspects is longâand some of them are people he cares about. As he and Omar work together to clear an innocent manâs name, Laith uncovers secrets that heâd rather not know, ones that throw what he believed about some of the most important people in his life into question. Can he find the murderer before itâs too late? And can Dorian and Laithâs rocky romance survive the chaos? The Lion and the Dahlia continues the epic kinky queer sci-fi romance series that began with The Orchid and the Lion and sends Dorian and Laith hurtling towards a fierce battle to reclaim the home they lost. |
|
The Blue Fairy and the Pyromancer by Zeiss Schreiber An isolated fairy seeks answers. A sorcerer trying to lay low. An inquisitor determined to catch the sorcerer. And a secret that will alter the course of all their lives forever⊠As a fairy, Breeze has been taught never to talk to humans or leave the forest. But when she meets a human sorcerer, she learns that everything sheâs been taught puts fairykind in danger. She must find Nana, her caretaker, and learn the truth to save her people. Kieran, the sorcerer, knows magic is forbidden. On the run from a dangerous inquisitor, he must lay low or risk being caught. He has always had to hide his magic â any other action on his part would have him hunted by inquisitors; and inquisitors make witches and sorcerers pay in blood. Faith is determined to bring down the sorcerer. But sheâs hiding her own dark secret. A secret even she isnât aware of. The kind of secret that puts her â and everyone around her â in danger. Three lives, entwined by fate, converge. Will they find the answers they seek? Or will they destroy one another in the process? |
|
Levi Kaster and Orion Kaster are the perfect family. They have great jobs, perfect kids, a nice house. The problem is Levi is The Magpie, the city's most notorious thief, and Orion, the city's best PI, has no idea. That's the sitch. |
|
âDonât trust anyone, Lady Caitlin. Not even me. Especially not me. You can have allies here, but this court does not allow you the luxury of friends.â The land is dying, commoners are protesting, and workers are revolting. The king is ailing, but the prince is not stepping in to quell the unrest. Caitlin doesn't careâshe hasn't cared about anything since the day her world shattered and she lost everything. But fate intervenes to make her care, throwing first a rebellion leader and then the spoiled prince in her path, giving her the influence and power to rule the realm as queen or tear it all down from the inside. Caitlin would be more than happy to destroy the kingdom, but there's more to the story than the rebels know. Darker forces lurk behind the throne, and if Caitlin is to keep her head attached to her shoulders, she will need to learn more about court politics and ignore the fluttering of her heart whenever she sees a certain court lady. Caught in a web of deception and conspiraciesâmilitant revolutionaries, cryptic priestesses, and a secretive lady-in-waiting with a ruthless familyâCaitlin must unravel the truth of a long-hidden magical prophecy, or she will become yet another pawn of an enemy far more dangerous than a tyrannical king. An enemy that has been plotting in the shadows for centuries. And it has its sights set on making Caitlin into its weapon. |
|
A Vermilion Curse by DC Guevara Former scholar turned mercenary Ryesand Valafar rummages through a ransacked city for banned religious texts, seeking information about ancient and dangerous magic. While investigating an abandoned temple, he encounters a threatening woman with a price on her head high enough to fund his research. Wanted by both the crown for her involvement in the dead king's occult studies and a menacing cult, Cressida Benoit searches for a way to get rid of a brand that scars her in the besieged capital in order to make her grand escape. An encounter with a demon leaves her in bonds. When this unlikely pair of opposing personalities discover that they have similar objectives relating to the outlawed religion, they agree to work together to find the place where all dark magic stems from. This proves to be a difficult task when their journey is tracked by a war commander set on bringing them to justice, a family they must escort back to a circus, and the growing tension rising between Ryesand and Cressida, serving as a distraction from their individual goals. In the midst of shifting rulers, villages, disarray, and a scattered court of decadence - falling in love was never in the cards. |
|
A Corruption of Souls by Taylor Hubbard Deklyn Delonir , Captain of the Order of the Redemptor and Knight of the Hawkeron Kingdom, has spent his entire life serving his goddess and realm to earn redemption for his past sins. Everything he does is in service to his King and the people under his protection and leadership. For his entire life, Deklyn pushed away the deepest desires of his heart, burying them and praying that they never come to the surface. When his King calls on him for the most important job of his career, one that would put an end to a war against an unknown enemy simply called The Corrupted, Deklyn doesnât think twice before readily accepting it. Once the job is completed, the war will end and the people Deklyn swore an oath to serve will be safe and the bloodshed will end. Crown Prince Kai of Hawkeron has never known what freedom feels like. Everything has been lain before him before he was born. Swayed by the whims of a fate outside of his control and duty that is inescapable, Kai doesnât know who he is. Kai is a political entity, used for his fatherâs gain. When his father calls on him to fulfill his duty as the Crown Prince, Kai knows he is defeated. He will be sent to a neighboring kingdom to marry its princess to create an alliance that will provide his fatherâs military with the resources needed to put an end to the war they waged against The Corrupted. Knowing that his failure to complete his duty would lead to the deaths of many people and the annihilation of the Hawkeron Empire, Kai resigns himself to his fate. As Deklyn and Kai travel together, they quickly learn that through the struggles they face and the desires that come to the surface, they are more than their duty. As secrets about The Corrupted come to light, they must come to terms with their fate while grappling with the very real fact that they are falling for each other. With the fate of their homeland in the balance, Deklyn and Kai must choose between duty and desire. |
|
Shades and Silver by Dax Murray The birthright of every ĂstfrĂĂ°ur is to know each metal in the earth, command it, and bend it to their desires. To hear metal singing, some of it waiting just beneath the surface, so much of it deeper in the earth. If they wanted, they knew they could pluck that metal from the earth, melt it with a thought, and shape it as they pleased with a breath of air and their will. Each ĂstfrĂĂ°ur must choose which metal they would wear upon their heads, denoting the path they would walk. They craft beautiful horns to wear on their brow, forged with the metal they wish to identify with. But Britt does not know if they can choose the path they want; if they can overcome a past that has stolen their identity. The day has come for them to choose, and they have no idea if they have any right even to try to. And Astrid has never felt the pull of the metal at all. Wearing a forged circlet and horn, they try to navigate a world that they feel has rejected them, all the while fearing someone will learn their secret. The Veil of the ĂstfrĂĂ°ur has kept them hidden from the world and safe from intruders. Yet Britt and Astrid feel they are imposters in their own homes. Shades and Silver is a duology of novellas about identity, doubt, and acceptance. |
|
Small Town Problems by Chris Ritchey Comfortable in his simple rural life, widower Robert Potter never put much stock in Old Jim's moonshine-fueled conspiracy theories. But after he finds Har'elday, the lone survivor of a crashed spaceship, he begins to wonder if the Loch Ness Monster has relocated to Eufaula Lake. Much to Robert's dismay, the wandering eye of the federal government is casting a questioning gaze on his small farm town as well. Caught between relentless federal agents and the found family harboring him, Har'elday's freedom depends on the ingenuity of his new friends. A Sci-Fi novella, Small Town Problems is the first book in a three-part series that explores the impact a lone survivor from an advanced alien civilization can have on a sleepy farm town in the middle of Oklahoma. Robert Potter gifts us with his insights as we traverse this world-shattering event through his eyes. A close group of friends helps Har'elday adjust to his new life as he finds solace in the comfort of a hard day's work on the farm. But, how long can such peace last? In what has been called a throwback to the golden age of science fiction, you can expect to find the heartwarming feeling of a found family, the awkwardness of a budding romance, and genuine and funny characters. We also explore the toll of loss and hardships that are compounded by the advances of a threat looming on the horizon. |
|
A Slice of Mars by Guerric Haché Mars is a strange place these days. Corporate overlords, capitalism, and even aging are things of the past on a planet increasingly brimming with biodiversity - yet pizzerias are in short supply! Siblings Hett and San set out to change that. But a roboticist and a bureaucrat can't run a restaurant alone, so they bring on some help - a bioengineer, a communications scientist, and an unlikely grad student from Earth. Together, this gang of geeks will brave the fires of small business. But work is just a small part of life. People are complicated. Different brains, different wounds, different values, and one questionably tame wildcat will all collide as they try to grow and succeed together. What comes out of the oven, in the end, is anyone's guess. |
|
A Concrete Crown: MacBeth Retold by T.O. Tate DOUBLE, DOUBLE TOIL AND TROUBLE; SLIVER FALL AND CITY CRUMBLE A CONCRETE CROWN: MACBETH RETOLD is a post-apocalyptic novella set at the edge of a city corrupted by a mysterious contaminant. Micah, a seasoned scout, has seen firsthand the dangers of the desolate city, but as the contamination spreads, his cousin Dawson only grows more convinced that itâs safer inside than out. When their battle of wills escalates from argument to blackmail and murder, Micah must ask if his motives are as noble as he wants to believe. As each following decision causes more chaos and more devastating loss, concrete shards begin to grow from Micahâs head just as guilt and fear sprout in his mind. Haunted by a watchful ghost and followed by nagging, prescient crows, Micah returns to the unnamed city in search of answers. Soon, the real question works its way to the surface: do Micahâs impulses belong to him at all, or are they the whims of the city thatâs gotten under his skin? |
|
The Compound Network nearly killed them. Now theyâre the only ones who can save it. The rules have changed. 1. The compound canât be saved . . . unless it can. (Major Henry Mortimer is determined to fix the organization that almost destroyed him and everyone he cares aboutâeven if his âsupportersâ seem to be working against him.) 2. Empaths are doomed to self-destruct . . . unless they arenât. (Bastian Lucas thinks heâs accepted that his power is killing himâuntil a questionable ally offers him a dangerous way out.) 3. Failed experiments get buried . . . unless they donât. (Laurel was done looking back, but when a presumed-dead asset turns up at the compound very much alive, she has the opportunity to right past wrongsâor to make everything worse.) With their fledgling new compound sinking into chaos, Henry, Bastian, and Laurel must come together to unravel a conspiracy that starts where their pasts inexplicably meet . . . before everything they've been trying to rebuild goes up in flames. |
|
In The Garden Of Echo by H.S. Wolfe Echo and Ender have existed nearly as long as the earth itself. Theyâre hungry, in love, and indestructible. For centuries theyâve wandered across continents feeding from their favorite food source - humans. But the mess theyâve left in their wake starts their prey on the path of discovering that they are not what they seem. After being forced to curb their feeding and go into hiding, a tragic incident leads Echo and Ender to learn about what they are, and the power they are truly capable of. In The Garden Of Echo is an erotic botanical horror about two codependent monster of unknown origins born to torture the human race for their sins against the earth. Please see author's carrd for full TW's. |
|
For an empath, "How do you feel?" is never just a question. Not when it can kill you. These are the rules: 1. Rare and powerful empaths never escape the compound. (Bastian Lucas escaped a year ago, and just because heâs been dragged back doesnât mean he won't escape again.) 2. Compound officers donât ask questions. (Captain Henry Mortimer has always followed orders, but Bastianâs arrivalâand the disappearance of one of Henryâs teamâhave him wondering things he probably shouldn't be wondering.) When Major Valentine orders Bastian and Henry to investigate a series of murders committed by an asset with powers similar to Bastianâs, it brings to light more than just a cover up. Things like why an empath who shouldn't exist is killing senators, whatâs really behind the compoundâs sinister asset program, and whether Bastian and Henry will live to see the end of this case. Because they're in danger of breaking rule number three as well: 3. Donât fall in love. |
|
Set during an alternate Harlem Renaissance where new forms of magic created by Black joy strain against the white establishment, Bessie Knox is an investigator of magical mysteries. When her old colleagues at the Bronx Academy of Magic start turning up dead, Knox's weakened abilities are pushed to their limits, but if she can't solve the case, she'll be next. |
|
Up-and-coming necromancer, Nezael, has lived a quiet, solitary life with his lord, the Great Sorcerer Carrow deep in the woods of thorns and brambles to hide from those seeking to hurt them. For a time, Nezael was content, but now that he is ever closer to becoming a necromancer in his own right, he finds he wants more than this life. In that desire for more, he finds Yorick, a handsome woodsman from the nearby town⊠|
|
A Swift Kick to the Thorax by Mara Lynn Johnstone When space poachers release Earth animals on an alien world, threatening a fragile new alliance, they anger the wrong people. A veterinarian, an accountant, and a furious sign-language-fluent gorilla are coming for them. ~~~ Robin enjoys being one of the only humans around: an exotic outsider, strange and tall, with no shell and only two arms. Consulting for locals who want to keep Earth pets is a fine job. But when a swarm of rabbits invade town and humanity is blamed, everything unravels. If Robin wants to save the alliance between two planets â and keep from getting sent home in disgrace â she has to prove that a powerful crime ring is behind the crisis. Luckily for her, she makes friends who are eager to help: from planetside, from the nearby space station, and recently escaped from the poacher's ship. Those poachers may be bug aliens with an excellent range of vision, but they won't see this coming. |
|
A Promise Broken by S.L. Dove Cooper Itâs a rainy day when four-year-old Eiryn has to say goodbye to her mother. Scared, confused and unwilling to do so, Eiryn tries to summon water to stop the funeral from happening and her life falls apart. Her uncle is always sad and busy; she keeps hearing her motherâs voice asking her to follow; her best friend keeps getting into fights; and some of her classmates hate her for existing. ArĂšn never wanted children, but heâs desperate to protect his niece from his peopleâs extreme caution regarding magic and other races. Kerisaoina children arenât capable of using it and his niece is no exception. Despite being only half-kerisaoina, Eiryn is already starting to show that sheâll be one of her generationâs most talented magic-singers and those who donât approve of her existence are trying to take advantage of a young girlâs grief. Eiryn is determined to make her uncle happy, but itâs hard to make other people happy when you have to struggle through the day yourself. Sheâll find a way, though. Sheâs promised. And even if her mother wonât keep her word Eiryn will keep hers. Sheâll make everything right again. Youâll see. |
|
Seekers: The Winds of Change by Troy Knowlton After an assassination attempt that could lead to an all-out war, Tyras and Oren, two young Seekers of the Argan Empire, are each given secret missions in an attempt to thwart the coming chaos. Both tasks require the Seekers to venture through the war-torn continent of Tiarna where the young men face mortal danger, horrible monsters, and hostile groups â all challenges Seekers are trained to combat. Luckily, the two Seekers also find guidance, friendship, and romance along the way. However, powerful and mysterious forces are conspiring behind the scenes and both Tyras and Oren will have to overcome a host of obstacles, including their own inner demons, in order to maintain a glimmer of hope for success. With war imminent and the unknown ahead, will the Seekers triumph, or will they be swallowed by the turbulent, relentless Winds of Change? Set in a new, masterfully created high fantasy world, Seekers: The Winds of Change is perfect for fans of An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir and We Free the Stars by Hafsah Faisal. |
|
A Peddler Of Chains by Allegra Pescatore Asherah of Vine died five times in bloody service to her Queen, but now her Queen is dead. The cycle of reincarnation has ended, and Ash is ready to set her trusty bow aside and live out the rest her days in peace. All she wants is to live a quiet existence on the Rim, but her past, it seems, is intent on catching up with her. She's tried to outrun him, but he's not a man to be trifled with. Willow of Herb has been hunting the butcher Asherah for over two hundred years. She slaughtered his parents and his people, and he intends to bring her to justice. It is because of her that he was turned into a weapon of war, and it is her face that haunts his darkest nightmares. When he finally catches her scent nothing can stop him, but what happens when he captures his greatest enemy and finds out that not everything is what it seems? As they travel through the icy Lands of Nadir chased by a rival band of bounty hunters, Willow and Asherah must face their pasts and learn to work together if they wish to survive. Trust between enemies isn't easy to build, but as they fight Feral Fae, face down snowstorms, and run from Retribution, Will and Ash find that maybe they're stronger as allies than as enemies. |
|
These Gossamer Strings by Allegra Pescatore A Silence is Broken. The River Beckons. The Forgotten Wait. With eighteen days until her tribunal and Water Rite, Elenor must find a way to save her doena and keep her throne. The threat of war looms larger and only an alliance through marriage has the potential to save it. But who to trust when all her closest allies have secrets of their own? The past is creeping up on them, a web of maneuvers and lies spreading back to before the fall of the Empire. Gabriel can feel it constricting around them, drawing him ever closer to a future he never wanted. Confronting the truth of his heritage may be the only way to save Lirin, but at what cost? Perhaps one the desert has already paid. Shaken after the death of the Red, the Mondaer must choose their path forward. Protect the new Gatekeeper and Incarnate as they have always done, or embrace a future without reliance on Gifts? Fedrik and Fayâs safety depends on the answer, and itâs not looking good. Would they be better off trusting Daemon, or is North right that he intends to use them as a weapon? These Gossamer Strings is the final installment of the first arc of the Last Gift Series. Threads torn asunder are weaving back together and the Gatekeeper is coming for his Incarnate. |
|
A Contract in Sol Forne by Ălan MarchĂ© , Christopher Warman A standalone fantasy adventure featuring djinns, dangerous wishes, political factions, and militias. A djinn. A boy. A terrible contract. "I wouldn't have asked for that if I knew I could ask for anything." Vaelin is an ancient djinn on a quest to seek the artifact to which she is enslaved. Her centuries-long journey lands her in the southern port city-state of Sol Forne, where she is certain the artifact is held. There, she meets Dorovan, a disaffected youth from a dissolved noble house. Though their initial connection is cursory, their bond becomes one that may endanger the entire Cycle of Nature. |
|
Finally Lord and King of Eastrealm, Othrun aims to restore the glory of his drowned homeland, Atalantyx. But dangerous warlords are determined to stop Othrun from rising to further power. Furthermore, Eastrealmâs ruler must confront internal forces that could tear his new kingdom apart. Embattled Othrun is also devastated by personal tragedy. His belief in his Single God, and his ambiguous guiding spirit, has never been more tenuous. To fight his enemies, Othrun needs more than faith, or his formidable knights. He needs a mage on his side. Is the conniving Queen Lysi, with her divided loyalties, and her own designs for Othrun, the ally he needs? Or, are there other mages who can help the beleaguered young king, who he can trust? And, Lysi is not the only formidable queen Othrun must contend with. An inexorable power, tied to ancient founders of Eltnish civilization, is coming. A legendary ruler, the likes of whom has not been seen for centuries, plans to reclaim what's owed to her. She is named, Undala. Fear for Othrun, and anyone else who dares stand in her way. Othrun is clever, bold, resourceful. Yet, kingship comes with many challenges, including facing the cunning, powerful, vengeful enemies surrounding him, marking him for death. Will Othrunâs reign end on the battlefield, in blood, before it's barely begun? |
|
Life finds a way, they say. Well, maybe life went too far. A dying star always shines brightest. Thomas fights to beat cancer. Colette fights to save the human race. A colonial miner crippled with debt, Thomas must flee his home to cure his recurring cancer. With his health declining at an alarming rate, his options are limited. Spend his last days surrounded by his loved ones or leave them behind for a slim chance to live. The choice is impossible, the prospect grim, and not for him alone. A pragmatic military hero, Colette enrolls in a mission to thwart an alien invasion. She always gets the job done⊠unless Miaâs involved. She must then put her feelings aside as always or risk jeopardizing her assignment for the woman she once loved. Two battles. Two realities. For one to succeed, the other must fail. |