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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. |
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The Last of the Atalanteans by P.L. Stuart A painted mage. An unfaithful queen. A stolen throne. Three lords in disguise. Escaping Atalantyxâs destruction, Prince Othrun has forged alliances with Eltnish kings: former enemy Hert and King Wely, who has promised Othrun a kingdom of his own. When Welyâs realm was stolen by Welyâs wife, a powerful mage, and Welyâs brother, a feared warlord, Othrun hatched a daring plan to restore the rightful king. The bold scheme involved Othrun entering Lynchun in disguise, risking his life and the life of those with him, to topple the usurpers. But for Othrunâs plot to succeed, he must entrust his Atalanteans into the uncertain hands of Hertâon the cusp of confronting his own political challenges to kingship, while tasked with protecting Othrunâs followersâeven as Wely, a captive where he should be king, gambles both crown and the head upon which it sat on Othrunâs survival. Othrunâs abilities, faith, and trust in his mysterious guardian spirit are soon to be tested. The mage Lysi continues to entangle herself in Othrunâs affairs, tempting him, challenging his beliefs, and threatening to bring his plans to ruin. But Othrun, Lord of the Last of the Atalanteans, does not intend to fail. He will be a king. Or die trying. Othrun will go to battle, and he will triumph against the odds. If not, all will be burned to ashes, consumed in the fires of his ambition. And so, the ancient war banner of Atalantean kings will fly. One last time. A kingdom has fallen. A legend will rise. |
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The Binding of Bloom Mountain by Siggy Chambers âOne fool in search of money wins a cursed mountain and a lifetime of nightmares...â When Celeste Foster loses her job with the US Forestry Service, she finds solace in drinking herself stupid every night. But when she sees an ad that says âADVENTURERS WANTEDâ and âcompensation upon completionâ, she pulls herself together to head for the town of Milton. In the mountains of Northwest Virginia, she enters a portal to an alternate Shenandoah Valley. Here monsters and gods live alongside humans, and every family has magic in their blood. But a curse festers on the slopes of Bloom Mountain. A decade has passed with no one to bind the magic, and soon the curse will destroy Milton. Armed with a recording, a bag of ritual items, and fresh scones from the cute barista that housed her, Celeste starts up Bloom Mountain. The Binding tests her endurance, sanity, and ability to adapt to this new world. If she can survive the horrors on the mountain, there might be more than just money waiting for her at the end. |
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Stones of Light by Zack Argyle Stones of Light continues the story begun in Voice of War, the multi-award-winning start to the Threadlight series. FEAR THE ROSES. FEAR THE LIGHT. Chrys swore to never again let the Apogee take control but, in a moment of desperation, he gave in. Now, he will learn what the Apogee truly wants. In Alchea, Laurel will do anything to get her threadlight back, even if it means working for the leader of the Bloodthieves. But she has no choice...a life without threadlight is no life at all. To the west, Alverax travels with the Zeda people to the large port city of Felia, where they seek refuge after the fires in the Fairenwild. But he shattered the coreseal, and no one quite knows what the consequences will be. They only know it won't be good. Together, they changed the worldânow, they must save it. |
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The Tale That Twines by Cedar McCloud All we have is now. Forty years before THE THREAD THAT BINDS, Juniper Starstitch returns to Caspora City young and hopeful. Chosen to be Head Librarian Opaline Sweetfrond's last apprentice, June arrives at the Eternal Library looking to discover the magical manuscript art of Illuminationâand to recover the memories lost to the trauma of the massive earthquake that killed one of eir parents a decade earlier. June quickly discovers that these memories can be recovered through the ancient art of reading etheric Threads, the spiritual ties that link the world together. But remembering can be painful, and living in the past means missing out on the present. Even to the point that Juneâs beloved apprenticeship is threatened by eir inability to let go. It will take the help of friends both old and new for June to untangle the knotted threads of time, including the mysterious and stern Aeronwy Greengrove, who June may or may not be falling in love with, one song at a time. |
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The Thread That Binds by Cedar McCloud The books are restless. At the Eternal Library, books are more than the paper, ink, and thread they're made from--they're full of spirits. Only a handful of people will ever be invited to the Bindery to learn the craft of Illumination: the magical creation of intricate illustrated manuscripts, bound with a secret that will make them last forever. Tabby is a dreamwalker, a witch who escapes into the stories of sleep to avoid a birth family that's never loved em enough. Amane is a cartomancer, a medium who speaks for the Unseen, but doesnât know how to speak her own needs. Rhiannon is a psychic, an archivist who can See into the past, but only has eyes on the future. Their stories intertwine as they discover the secrets of Illumination, the Library's archives, and those of their mentors--the three of whom are competing to be the next Head Librarian, the Speaker for all the books. How do you know who's truly worth being part of your family? Sometimes we must forge connections in order to heal; other times, those bonds must be broken. |
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A Goddess snatched by a monsterâ and the priestess devoted to them both. I love my Godling, I love her more than the priestesses allow. After giving myself, giving my body and pleasure in service of the Rheavia, a punishment must be served. Descend into the mountain where the boarish monster, Pyx resides. I can not outrun himâ it is impossible to outsmart him in the labyrinth of his own creation. The very labyrinth where my Godling, my Rheavia remains trapped. Though not everything is as it seems. My Godling demands submission, patience, and above all elseâ devotion. I have a choice: maintain my virtue or give in to my monstrous desires, my need to belong to them both. I beg, I plea, and with any hope, I will receive what I crave⊠|
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The Severing Son by Vaughn Roycroft Tales of the Bringer of Urrinan had been told for generations, but never had the prophecy felt so near to so many. Elan wasnât sure if she even believed one man could cause the sort of upheaval that would change the world. And yet, just as the prophecy foretold, dark forces were on the riseâincluding the many Spali warbands raiding across the borderlands. It was in pursuit of one such warband when Elanâs host discovered the hidden compound of the Outcast. Sheâd heard how the former chieftain of the mighty Amalus Clan had been unjustly accused of murdering his rival. How the conflict had begun over a woman. How the Outcastâs sonâborn of that same womanâperfectly matched the prophecyâs foretelling of the Bringer. Prophecy aside, it seemed that fate had led Elan into the midst of a legend. Because of a choice made in the heat of battle, Elan found herself bound to an outlaw hunted by friend and foe alike. Whether she believed in the prophecy or not, she found herself entangled with a lone figure who vowed to seek the sort of upheaval that might just change the world. Could Vahldan, son of the Outcast, truly be the Bringer of Urrinan? |
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Phoebe's Festival by A.A. Fairview A dissatisfied wife finds herself in the hedonistic throws of a caravan of satyrs. I may have been betrothed to Taeon all my life but I hardly expected our marriage to be this unbearable. Itâs deep in the woods, after hunting for days, that we come across the satyr women. Beautiful, plump, and everything my husband is not. When I stop him from harming one of the satyrs, things between us only get worse. Who else comes to my aid, but the satyrs themselves. Soon I find myself torn between my lifelong duty to my betrothed and the promise of a life of pleasure. The path is uncertain. What is certain is my affection towards these satyr womenâan affection they return twofold. Theyâre not the only ones⊠There is a whole group of satyr women ready to welcome me into their arms! |
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Tale of Gael: Love for a Master and His Creation by A.A. Fairview A Master sculptor and his talented, dutiful, and madly in love apprentice. Under the tutelage of my Master Malion, Iâve grown as a sculptor and am on track to become a city artisan just like him. But that hardly weighs on my heart as much as my feelings⊠My utter devotion to him. Malion is oblivious and so I throw myself at other, less impressive men. That is till I kiss the lips of my Masterâs artwork, a sculpture of a young warrior⊠To think marble could make me feel more than any man. It must be wrong to take so much pleasure from something carved from stone. Yet my Masterâs creation breaks the cold temple surrounding my heart. I love my master still, but if he wonât have me Iâll take his creation instead. Gleefully. |
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A Doctor's Touch by A.A. Fairview Under the full moon, the town doctor Levi finds none other than Camron Coinin with a silver bullet in his gut. Being a vampire moonlighting as a doctor has never been easy. He took an oath, do no harm, but an exception must be made. Monsters need to stick together and Levi knows this attack means theyâre both in danger. Before now, Levi has assumed to be at odds with Camron but in nursing him back to health his feelings become clear⊠and Levi, though undead, feels alive with Camron in his bed. |
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The Descendants of Prontoth by Mark Raines An eight-hundred-year, galaxy-spanning hunt nears its conclusion setting up a confrontation thousands of years in the making. For eight hundred years Timion High Command has hunted the Descendants of Prontoth across the galaxy. Wars were fought, lives were lost, but the Descendants of Prontoth remained at large. Hamron Modestus knows Timion High Command has been doing it wrong. Their quest for revenge made them blind to the allies they would need to bring the Descendants of Prontoth to justice. In his new position of power, Modestus is on their trail, ready to succeed where High Command had failed. Caught in the middle of this inevitable confrontation is retired General Dash Cricken and the entire crew of the Prometheus. Dash and his crew discover evidence of a secret alliance formed to bring down the Descendants of Prontoth. The crew of the Prometheus is caught in the crosshairs of Timion High Command, forced to defend themselves against the hunter on their trail and dissension within their own ranks. Any failure could jeopardize everything they have worked toward. The Descendants of Prontoth is the action-packed sequel to Mark Raines' debut Novel, Felan's Rescue, following the crew of the Prometheus on another wild adventure. |
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Crystals and Contracts by A.A. Fairview My landlord is going to hate me for what Iâm about to do. Iâve never had a father and never wanted one either. To my dismay, I do have a father, Arthur le Fayâa crime lord witch. Afraid for not just my safety, but the safety of my friends and coven, I have no other choice but to make a deal with a devil. A little drastic? Maybe, but itâs certainly effective. At least it would beâif the devil would agree to make a deal with me! Now I have a devil in my apartment and no idea what to do about the le Fays. I just want them to leave me alone⊠or maybe I want them afraid of me. Fear is one hell of a motivator. But no amount of fear will get this devil of mine to behave. Heâs much more partial to exchanges, my body for his benevolence. Nothing good can come from feelings, especially when he insists he has none. |
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Teeth and Tarot by A.A. Fairview "It's not my fault, I tell myself. Daily affirmation. Unfortunately." I fled the comforts of my wealthy, witch family a decade ago. I like to think I've settled into a human existence; clubs, hookups, early morning coffee runs... And the nightmares could always be worse. But I find myself drawn to this stud, this guy at my local coffee spot, who just feels too good to be true. But a one-night stand can't hurt. Right? Like a curse I can't escape, I'm back in the world I fought so hard to leave. Witches, gangs, and werewolves abound. Nevermind that stud went and got himself bitten by a werewolf. I'm bad at letting go, at just forgetting. I don't want to forget this guy... Even if that puts us both in danger. |
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The Bloody Chorus by John Marco Two empires...one in decline, the other ascendant and hungry for conquest... Upon his fatherâs mysterious assassination, young Haru reluctantly becomes rulerâTainâof his once-fearsome island nation. Threatened by a world they once dominated, Haruâs people, the Cryori, struggle with the peace the old Tain championed, nostalgic for the violent glories of their past. But across the ocean, an alliance of old enemies has formed, led by a madman bent on righting old wrongs. Enigmatic and fanatical, Reius decries the Cryori and their living gods, determined to erase their influence and beliefs. Now Haru must get justice for his murdered father and defend his people from the coming scourge over the sea. Promising his ancient, grieving goddess to kill Reius, he reunites his fatherâs failed circle of protectorsâa magical band of avenging misfits known as the Bloody Chorus. |
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If You Really Knew Me: A Memoir of Miscarriage and Motherhood by Mary Purdie Mary and DeAndreâs dreams of having a child were halted when they discovered Mary couldnât carry a pregnancy beyond seven weeks, suffering multiple miscarriages in a devastatingly short amount of time. All hope was not lost, as their doctors pinpointed the cause and cure for Maryâs recurrent miscarriages. Mary and DeAndre tenderly stepped back on the path toward parenthood, celebrating every unfamiliar milestone that brought them closer to meeting their child. Misfortune ripped apart their dreams again, leaving Mary and her doctors shocked and without answers. Through embracing spiritual support and leaning on her art to help heal her immense grief, Mary emerged from the grips of controlâtrying to plan every chapter of her lifeâinto the warm embrace of surrender. Just as a new seed of hope began to bud and blossom, Mary found herself confronted with a devastating cancer at the age of 35. Stumbling forward into her new reality, she sought to find meaning among the sharp, glistening shards of her broken heart. âIf You Really Knew Meâ is a journey of heartbreak and healing, hope and resilience. Maryâs story shows us that healing is not linear and that motherhood cannot be defined in simple terms. |
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A story about a traveler going to evict a spider shifter lady and her children from their manor, and it goes about as well as you'd expect in a horror/dark fantasy. |
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My warped sense of morality embarrasses me. Ruta Pawlak is one of the most successful contract killers Pier-Upon-Pier City has ever seen. Convicted of five murders that landed her multiple life sentences, her kill count allegedly sits between fifteen and two hundred people. Some were just for practice, others for revenge, and others she executed for money to keep her potentially world-record setting reading collection going. For the first time, a biographer sits down with the legendary killer to hear her story in her own words. Get the details on her relationship with her depraved bosses and her eclectic arsenal of murder weapons from ice magic to poison to even the sun itself. From her impoverished upbringing to her introduction to the Syndicates to her bizarre affair with fellow killer Frieda Masters to Rutaâs eventual downfall, this account goes beyond headlines and court proceedings, weaving a story of love, family, survival, and murder. This novella is perfect for fans of true crime, fantasy, noir, The Last Podcast on the Left, and the interview portions of AMCâs Interview with the Vampire series. Humans killing other humans wasnât natural. Human killing monsters, however, might be. |
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Unburnt: a speculative firefighter novella by A.M. Weald A different kind of superhero story... After emerging unscathed from the house fire that killed his father, Ed Stoneman had recurring dreams about rescuing himself as a boy, sitting amongst the flames, unburnt. The dream stopped once he became a firefighter, later earning the nickname of "Dodge" by surviving a lethal flashover fire. Dodge embraced his supernatural imperviousness to the heat of fire by going in when no one should, breaking the rules of rescue because he had to, because he could. With the Wyoming steppe becoming increasingly arid and fires igniting every few days, his 'talent' is needed now more than ever. On his 50th birthday, Dodge dreams of the boy not on fire for the first time in over 30 years. Chalking it up to stress, he thinks nothing of it. With retirement from active fire duty in his near future, he's depressed and aimless. Other than firefighting, what purpose does he have? Twice divorced and childless, believing himself to be infertile in exchange for his superpower of unknown origin, he has no one to confide in but his cat, and he daydreams of walking into a wildfire just to see if he'd finally burn. But when he answers an emergency call about a local house fire, renewed purpose greets him in the flames, making him question everything he once believed. |
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Down Below Beyond by T. A. Bruno Lodespace is a collection of worlds dominated by the Fessenog Fleet trade empire. Thanks to the Voyalten portals, alien civilizations from all over the universe can gather for glorious trade. For the wealthy, there has never been a more lucrative circle. But the Fleet is hiding something from its investors. A secret that, if exposed, could bring the empire to its knees. Levort Aatra is a prospector on the planet Tayoxe. While scavenging the wastes of the abandoned world, he discovers a mysterious starship and stakes his claim on it. Little does he know, he just made himself the most wanted man in Lodespace. DOWN BELOW BEYOND is a stand-alone sci-fi fantasy adventure filled with aliens, planets, and portals set in a universe crafted by T. A. Bruno, author of the award-winning Song of Kamaria trilogy. |
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The Way of Edan by Philip Chase The Kingdom of the Eternal will awaken when the Way of Edan holds sway over all of Eormenlond. So say the prophecies. With unrivalled power in the gift, the Supreme Priest Bledla leads Torrlond and its mighty army to convert rival kingdoms by the sword and by the fang. Among the gathering resistance is the sorceress Sequara, whose mission is to protect her island and her Andumaic faith from the Torrlondersâ aggression. As holy war looms over the kingdoms of Eormenlond, a chance encounter bestows a terrible curse upon a young man. Dayravenâs curse may decide Eormenlondâs fate. But first, with the help of unlikely friends, he must survive the shattering of his world. Equal parts epic and lament, The Way of Edan is the lyrical opening of The Edan Trilogy. |
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On the moon of Knyadrea, the sea yields intelligent life. For a species shaped by tides, change is the only constant. Charismatic and innovative, Oklas Sayve has risen to prominence in Apidecca, the moon's capital city. A politician and college director, he has the resources to effect the changes he envisions for the world. But the sovereigns he serves oppose him at every turn and his status cannot protect the low-strata students attending his college. After a young knyad is wrongly linked to insurgent activity, Oklas must find a way to smuggle her out of the city while hiding his involvement from the authorities. Below the grand Assembly Chambers, a knyad in a mask sculpts, grasping for scraps of beauty in her shrinking world. Years ago, Prismer made a costly mistake and now has only her job at the projection booth and a few special interests to fill her days. But it is not her sculptures that draw the attention of a powerful client, and she is soon met with a request to undertake a dangerous mission. Will she answer the call and risk losing the little she has left? Mysteries surface. A supernatural substance is used in corrupt ways. As identities shift and predicaments are reshuffled, what alliances might be forged? |
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Marked for the Pyre by M.T. Fontaine To overthrow the Stewardsâ hold on the kingdoms, Kaianne and Andreiyes strike a tenuous alliance between their people â the Marked and the Carved. Yet uniting the two factions is proving a greater challenge than either of them anticipated. The Carved blame the Marked for centuries of genocide. The Marked are conditioned by the belief that all Carved are heartless and savage. If they cannot put aside their differences, the rebellion is doomed. As more Stewards close in and with the king nearly on his deathbed, their window of opportunity is closing. Meanwhile, Master Rau knows the royal couple is plotting. Torn between his allegiance to his Steward brethren and to his daughter, he struggles with how to proceed. When rumors surface that an old adversary has come out of exile for the benefit of the royals â the very same person who prophesied the Stewardsâ end â Rau must decide between what he knows is right and what is best for the person he cares for most. Plans are made. Objectives are drawn. But their futures depend on more than their choices. |
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A Path of Blades by R.E.Sanders Ingvar Darelle is a fighting knight, tasked with defending his country whenever he is called to battle. Violence and war provides no glory for Ingvar, who only wants to be at home on his rural estate. His dreams of a quiet life are shattered as he becomes a pawn in the ambitious schemes of others. How will his friendships and family cope with the forces that try to tear them apart? Which path will he choose? |
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City of Exile by Claudie Arseneault Nothing is going according to plan for Diel Dathirii and his allies. Hellion has entrenched his power in House Dathirii, Hasryan is in Lord Allastamâs clutches, and with no one left to poison Master Avenazar, itâs only a matter of time before he seeks revenge. While Nevian scrambles to put together his magical trap, Larryn reaches out to the only person he trusts to save Hasryan: Sora Sharpe. Their impulsive rescue will hurtle Isandor towards a final confrontationâone last opportunity to reclaim House Dathirii and face Master Avenazar. But in order to seize this chance, Diel Dathirii and his allies will need to answer one question: what price are they willing to pay to ensure the future of their loved ones within the City of Spires? City of Exile is the fourth and final installment of the City of Spires series, a multi-layered political fantasy led by an all-queer cast. Fans of complex storylines criss-crossing one another, elves and magic, and strong friendships and found families will find everything they need within these pages. |
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The Forbidden Realms by H.C. Newell Nerana is a sorceress. An exile. The Child of Skye. ï»ż ï»żAnd she isnât alone. ï»ż ï»żAfter a vicious attack against the Order of Saro, Nerana finds herself lost in the wastelands of Aragoth. Forbidden of humans or evae, the desert is a land teeming with fire and vengeance, and Neranaâs only hope for survival lies in the trust of another. ï»ż ï»żAĂ©lla, a powerful evaesh sorceress, travels the desert on a pilgrimage of sacrifice and strength. Determined to enter the Realm of Elements and see her quest complete, she must survive the hardened warriors of the desert, the vaxros, who banished her kind from their land centuries ago. ï»ż ï»żBut the vaxros arenât the only threat, and the weight of such imbalance could shift the fate of the world. |
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Shadows of Nyn'Dira by H.C. Newell Deep within the forests of NynâDira, darkness rises, and Neer finds herself hunted at every turn. Fleeing from relentless enemies and vicious creatures of darkness, she embarks on a treacherous journey through the dangerous woodlands in search of strength and salvation. As the humans push further into the forbidden lands, the Nasir and his men close in, finding strength in the blood of the innocent. With the balance beginning to shift, Neer is caught in a war she was never meant to be in, and is forced to make a decision that could change the tides of fate, or cause it all to collapse and burn. |
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All of Our Sins by Yuval Kordov âThe mountains became plains, and the seas boiled into deserts.â So went the earth. First came the World War, humanityâs suicide. Then came the War against Hell, humanityâs redemption. Esther, the Eternal One, led the way from darkness to light. A new order, by her will. So went civilization. For a time. But as history fades and the Eternal Oneâs yoke tightens, man turns upon man once more. Ancient dreams of independence rise in Cathedralâs shadow. Bastionâs vengeance awakens. War beckons. And Hell is watching. |
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From the Dark We Came by J. Emery Belar has made lying into an art form. His neighbors know him as a mild mannered music teacher, but to his fellow monster hunters heâs a senior agent with one of the best track records in the organization. Werewolves, malignant spirits, and other odditiesâyou name it, he can track it. And kill it if necessary. But when a vampire shows up in Belarâs parlor, his two worlds crash into each other. The vampire is named Cassian, and if he had any sense of decency he would be dead since Belar has already tried to kill him. Twice. Luckily, Cassian isnât interested in holding a grudge. He wants to hire the hunter. Someone in vampire society wants Cassian dead and theyâve been using Belar to do their dirty work. Finding the culprit will save them both. Their search for answers takes them through a nighttime world of ancient vampires, demon tailors, and monsters of pure shadow. But Belar hasnât been the only one lying, and enemies and allies are harder to tell apart in the dark. From the Dark We Came is a 50,000 word paranormal novel with a demisexual protagonist |
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A Lake of Feathers and Moonbeams by Dax Murray How many half-truths could loyalty shoulder before it broke from the weight of deception on its back? A sweeping LGBTQ and polyamorous retelling of "Swan Lake"! Strange things can be said of the forest that spans the border of two kingdoms long at war. An evil sorcerer has made it his dominion, or an elegant enchantress has claimed it as her domain and grants wishes to those who chance upon her, or maybe the forest is guarded by an ancient and wrathful spirit. Katya calls the forest home, living a life of magic and charms with her partner Ivan. But a threat looms over their forest, some darkness and danger that Ivan swears to protect her from. Katya finds herself caught up in a web of grudges and deception spanning generations, but most dangerous of all is the beautiful princess who stumbled into their woods. A princess who sets Katyaâs heart fluttering with both desire and fear. As forces rally to rescue the princess or go to war, Katya must take measure of her own powers and decide what she is willing to sacrifice. Will she retreat to the safety of what's familiar or give up everything she knows to spread her wings and fly? |
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Gloves of Eons by Andrew D. Meredith Factions rise - Zeal ignites - Bells toll Hanen and Rallia Clouw find themselves between power-hungry factions, forced to choose which tools to take up to reach their goals. With the Rotha revealed to be a thinking, breathing being, Katiam Borreau must tread carefully and pick her allies wisely. Ousted from their western holdings, the Paladins of the Hammer retreat to the west to face new and old intrigue set against them. Made the unwitting messenger of dark gods, Seriah YaledĂt seeks solace in the road, fleeing from the blind panic gnawing at her mind. Dark tools forged, scale-weights measured, cities made pawns of those in power, and the secrets of heresies long past come fully into the light to cast their dark shadows on everything. |
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Bone Shroud by Andrew D. Meredith Secrets deepen â Prophecies doom â Shadows grow The errors of yesterday continue to haunt Hanen and Rallia Clouw, though deeper secrets from their past reveal an even darker future. A rift in the order of the paladins threatens to tear wide open, and Jined Brazstein is all that stands in the gap. A dark prophecy wilts the sisterhood, as Katiam Borreau is cast away to a land beyond the edge of any dream. The blind monk Seriah YaledĂt has never feared death, until she becomes sole witness to a ghastly murder. While darkness stirs, nightmares become flesh, heretical schism looms, and contracts bind souls, an unseen figure walks in shadow wearing a cloak formed of countless bone made from his victims. |
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Common Bonds: An Aromantic Speculative Story by Claudie Arseneault, C. T. Callahan, RoAnna Sylver, B. R. Sanders Common Bonds is an anthology of speculative short stories and poetry featuring aromantic characters. At the heart of this collection are the bonds that impact our lives from beginning to end: platonic relationships. Within this anthology, a cursed seamstress finds comfort in the presence of a witch, teams of demon hunters work with their rival to save one of their own, a peculiar scholar gets attached to those he was meant to study, and queerplatonic shopkeepers guide their pupil as they explore their relationship needs and desires. Through nineteen stories and poems, Common Bonds explores the ways platonic relationships enrich our lives. |
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Failure to Communicate by Kaia SĂžnderby As one of the only remaining autistics in the universe, Xandri Corelel has faced a lot of hardship, and she's earned her place as the head of Xeno-Liaisons aboard the first contact ship Carpathia. But her skill at negotiating with alien species is about to be put to the ultimate test. The Anmerilli, a notoriously reticent and xenophobic people, have invented a powerful weapon that will irrevocably change the face of space combat. Now the Starsystems Alliance has called in Xandri and the crew of the Carpathia to mediate. The Alliance won't risk the weapon falling into enemy hands, and if Xandri can't bring the Anmerilli into the fold, the consequences will be dire. Amidst sabotage, assassination attempts, and rampant cronyism, Xandri struggles to convince the doubtful and ornery Anmerilli. Worse, she's beginning to suspect that not everyone on her side is really working to make the alliance a success. As tensions rise and tempers threaten to boil over, Xandri must focus all her energy into understanding the one species that has always been beyond her: her own. |
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The Children of the Black Moon by Joseph John Lee Torrential did the storms become. Torrential shall be the days to come. Exiled in disgrace and defeat after a vicious coup, Tez seeks an alliance with the militant Lake Tribe. Retaking the Stone Tribe is the key to a unified north in the face of the Invadersâ impending offensiveâŠif she can only stop her allies from warring amongst themselves. After finally successfully breaching the dense forest barrier dividing north and south, Aritz a Mata wants more. Seeing opportunity and resources in those untouched lands, he is eager to show the Tribes the full might of his forcesâŠand the fear he wields as the Sword of the Savior. Stripped of everything she held dear, Sen is given the opportunity to start anew among a group of fellow Eclipseborn. But quickly are her loyalties tested as she must choose between those who provided her a home and Tribe yet rejected her all the same, and her newfound kin who would see fit to destroy the Tribes entirelyâŠsomething they have sought for almost four centuries. The flames of war approach, and they seek to reduce all memory of the Tribes to nothing more than ash. |
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When sheâs not working at the bank or playing video games with her best friend, Anaâs nose is in a book. She is comfortable with her simple life until one night, on her way home from work, she is mugged and left for dead. Fate or luck, army medic Rafe was passing by and saves her life. Grateful as she is, she can't shake the feeling she knows him from somewhere. Their lives become intertwined as she learns more about him and more about herself. Is she ready to face the truth? Will it answer her questions or break her in the process? Ana must find her strength and become who she was born to be, before itâs too late. |
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Deny Me, The Nightshade Boy by Z.M. Celestaire A cozy queer romance against the backdrop of wild and dangerous Fae magic. For fans of A Marvellous Light, Holly Black, and TJ Klune. Andrew has been haunted by the Folk ever since his mother's addiction to Fae-spelled foods. It was never his intention to fall for Micah, whose mysterious nature suggests more than just human lineage, but Micah has a certain... charm to him that Andrew finds irresistible. While their ensuing romance seems to be going well, the Folk from Micah's past demand his attention, and demand that Micah stop denying his Fae nature to harness the power in his blood. |
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Kingdom of Forgotten Curses by Autumn Kaufer The prince is a bloodthirsty soldier who enjoys death, fine wine, and the company of beautiful women. Until one fateful night, when everything changes. 80 years later, the king's barrister, Marius, discovers a reference to the prince and is immediately sent upon a mission of discovery by the king, much to the dismay of his three daughters. At the chateau, Marius makes a deadly mistake, and now someone must pay the price... For fans of Beauty and the Beast, Dracula, and romantic fairytales, this is for you. A gothic tale as old as time... |
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The Wolf in Me: Survive by Alex Smith The 23rd century is nearing its end. Having been treated as subhuman (and worse) for over 300 years, the Wolves - a race of wolf-human hybrids - have reached their breaking point. With a clear threat of war rising daily, the US Military devises a plan to destroy the beasts they helped create. However, utilizing their intelligence and raw bestial instincts, the Wolves hatch a plan of their own: plunge the entire world into a war to end all wars! In the aftermath of a deadly airship crash, Percy - a six-year-old human boy - finds himself behind enemy lines; in the claws of the creatures he's been taught to fear his entire life. Xander - a twenty-eight-year-old elite black ops Wolf, finds himself with a very difficult choice to make; kill the innocent child he has found, or be ostracized by his own kind and protect the boy? What is a small, frail, boy to do when surrounded by beasts fighting to end his very existence? Survive! |
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A War to End All by Michael R Fletcher & Clayton W. Snyder A war, then. A war of our own. A war for perfection and cleanliness and order. A war to end suffering. A war to end filth and disease. A war to end immorality and injustice. A war to end blasphemy. The last war this world would ever see. A war to end all. |
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âBut I want to write poetry Describing her beautiful soul So the world can fall for her As easily I had done for years.â Only You is a poetry collection about unrequited love, expressing my love for someone for whom no words will be enough to explain. It has poems about the magical moments of falling in love with her and the unavoidable suffering. Poems I wrote to make the world understand her beauty and everything that made her perfect in my eyes. I hope these poems show that love can be pleasantly exquisite - even when it sometimes inflicts immense pain. Some poems showcase a perfect love story, while others show the pain often hidden beneath the happiness. They are all about love. Not the perfect kind of love, but the one that is real. |
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No Port in a Storm by Cal Black âThe Bayou wants its Butcher backâ Ghosts of Mildred Berryâs past stalk her dreams, dredging up memories sheâd rather forget. Struggling with the return to city life and a surprise marriage, Millie finds her strongest ally is distracted, preparing for the Colfield Massacre trial. When the trialâs key witness goes missing, a bloody message makes it clear to Millie that the city of Marigot is done waiting for its vengeance against the man who betrayed it⊠and the elf who burnt it down. Enemies new and old lurk in the bayou, while all of Millieâs old allies are long dead. If she goes after the witness, sheâll be walking into a city of vipers. If she doesnât, sheâll lose her closest friend. The Bayou wants its Butcher back, come hell or high water. |
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Shattered Spirits: The Fall of Ishcairn by Cal Black Legends say a dead god is buried under the stone city of Ishcairn, protecting its inhabitants by dashing enemy fleets into the jagged coast of Craeburn. Adjunct professor Corrie Ecksley doesnât believe any of that, but she knows from her work excavating nearby burial sites that the ancient Craeburn people believed it enough to name the city after their dead god, Ish. When the ripples of a great war finally reach Craeburnâs shores, a terrifying new weapon is unleashed on the city that not even Ish can deter. A bomb that tears souls from bodies, driving anyone who witnessed the blast insane. But it is not the living that Corrie fears. Displaced spirits are hungry for a body, and care not if it already plays host to a soul. No bullets can stop them, no walls are thick enough to keep them out. No help is coming. No one left but Corrie to stop the carnage, if she even can. |
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Obsidian Island by Arden Powell The storm should have killed them. The tropical paradise where they wash ashore just might. Emery Lapwing is only interested in two things: exploring the natural world, and pretending that he's not in love with his closest friend, Captain James Rawlings of The Achillean. The first is easy: James will sail him anywhere he wants to go. The second, Emery has been doing for the past ten years. Emery's routine is shattered when he and James are swept overboard in a lightning storm. When the storm passes, they find themselves on the glittering pink beach of an unmapped island where no one has ever walked before. The island seems like the perfect place to recuperate as they wait for rescue, brimming with miraculous new species to be discovered. And a thousand miles from civilization, it's all too easy for Emery to imagine kissing James. In London, it was unthinkableâa kiss between two men meant the gallows if they were caught. On the island, it means risking James' friendship when they most need each other to survive. But attraction isn't the only peril they face. The island hides a dangerous secret, and James and Emery aren't the only castaways falling under its spell. Monstrous creatures stalk their every move and something is taking root in their dreams, luring them deeper into the island's deadly, tropical heart. The island offers Emery everything he has ever dreamed of. But all dreams require a sacrifice. And the island is hungry. |
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The Faerie Hounds of York by Arden Powell England, 1810. The north is governed by a single rule. Faerie will take as it pleases. William Loxley is cursed. A pale and monstrous creature haunts his dreams, luring him from London to the desolate, grey landscape of his forgotten childhood. There, it will use him to open a door to Faerieâa fate that will trap Loxley in that glittering, heathen otherworld forever. His only hope of escaping the creature's grasp lies with John Thorncress, a dark and windswept stranger met on the moors. The longer Loxley stays in Thorncress' company, the harder it becomes to fight his attraction to the man. Such attraction can only end in heartbreakâor the noose. But Thorncress has his own bleak ties to Faerie. They come creeping in with the frost, their howls carrying on the winter wind. If Thorncress' past catches up with him before they can break the curse, then Loxley will not only lose his soul. He'll lose Thorncress, too. |
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All Yesterday's Papers by S.S. Genesee Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1974 Another body is found. Another one of Mauriceâs victims. But as the law draws near, everything starts to change⊠Kenneth thinks things are finally looking up in his life. He has a wonderful partner in Maurice, and a future that looks bright⊠or so it seems. As more murders occur, and the police learn more about the Western Michigan Serial Killer, Kennethâs world begins to crack. Maybe his perfect lover isnât as perfect as he thought. Maurice spirals further and further out of control, losing sight of who he isâis he an immoral, murderous artist, or a sweet, caring boyfriend? How long can he hide the truth from Kenneth before it all comes crashing down, ending his life as he knows it? Would Kenneth still love him if he knew? [All Yesterdayâs Papers is Book Two of the All Tomorrowâs Photos duology. It is not a standalone, and must be read after Book One. This duology is a dark MM romance story not intended for a young audience.] |
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All Tomorrow's Photos by S.S. Genesee Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1974 Maurice is an art student majoring in photography, and has become so invested in his craft he built his own darkroom inside his house. He sees an artistic view in everything, even things the average person sees as disgusting or macabre. So much so, that heâs become a serial killer in order to fulfill his disturbing artistic projects. But his murderous lifestyle gets flipped upside-down when he encounters a photo of the most beautiful man heâs ever seen. Kenneth is a registered nurse living day by day a dreary, monotonous life. When his sister tells him someone from her class wants him to be their model for the next school project, Kenneth takes a chance by trying something new. Little do the two men realize that meeting each other will set their hearts on fire, falling madly in love, changing their lives forever. [All Tomorrowâs Photos is Book One of a duology. It is a dark MM romance story not intended for a young audience.] |