Songbird by Karen Heenan

She has the voice of an angel, but one false note could send her back to her old life of poverty. Ten-year-old Bess is only good at one thing—singing, but music has no place in her family's bleak existence. When her father sells her to the king of England, she balances the loss of all she's ever known against a world of music and plenty, and builds a new life as a royal minstrel, earning the nickname "the king's songbird." Bess comes of age in the dangerous Tudor court, where the stakes are always high, and where politics, heartbreak, and disease threaten everyone from the king to the lowliest musician. Her life has only one constant: Tom, her first and dearest friend. But when Bess intrigues with a young Anne Boleyn and strains against the restrictions of her life in the shadows, will she discover that the biggest risk of all is listening to her own stubborn heart?

Red Darkling by L. A. Guettler

SPSFC 2023

Red Darkling’s ship is a weevil-infested piece of junk. Her smuggling business barely brings in enough credits to buy cheap beer. Alien creeps think a blaster can get them favors when their charm fails. Her only company is a glitchy cat and the occasional hook-up. Her life is dirty, dangerous, and lonely: just how she likes it. It all takes a turn for the worse when things start going well. A little too well. Partying with movie stars, weekends in paradise, troublesome people turning up dead—it’s maddening. Who is this anonymous benefactor, and why does he think she needs protecting?

Avalon by Ceril N Domace

The fae are on the brink of war. It’s been nearly a year since the Battle of Tearmann. With their last legitimate trade routes cut off, the fae increasingly rely on the Corps away teams to get essential supplies. Owen Williams, now a Corps member, has spent the last ten months running the border to get the haven what it needs to survive. But his last mission nearly killed him and his decision to join the corps threatened his fragile relationship with his family—a relationship that was already stressed to the breaking point by his son’s death. But after Percill, a battleborn vampire, reveals the location of a group of the fae captives, the corps leadership makes it clear that there isn’t much they won’t do to rescue them. When Percill refuses to say more without a guarantee that Owen will be on the team that rescues them, Owen agrees even though going on this mission could shatter what’s left of his family. Success means he gets to retire a hero and go home to his family. However, failure wouldn’t just risk the captives, but could end with him held alongside them and separated from his family forever.

The Third Shift: Collected Edition by D.S. Ritter

This is a collection of the first three books in The Third Shift series. Contains books 1-3. Sam's job has always been a nightmare, but when actual monsters begin to appear, it's not just the boredom that's deadly. In Cthulhu's Car Park, Sam faces off against an ancient evil buried beneath her feet. In Last Cull, she and her friends find themselves caught up in a secret vampire civil war, threatening to tear their city apart. In Dawn of the Brain-Dead, the gang finds themselves lost in a sea of zombie football fans. Catch all the thrills, chills, and spills with The Third Shift: The Collected Edition.

When They Turn: The Miller Massacre by D.S. Ritter

Debbie didn't exactly have a life other women would die for, and now it might kill her. When a group of housewives find themselves stranded in the suburbs and surrounded by inhuman monsters, there's only one thing to do: fight their way out. Armed with only what they can find, the women must face down threats from all sides, including their own friends and husbands. Their quiet, picturesque neighborhood is never going to be the same. Set against the backdrop of the red scare and the atomic 50's, When They Turn is a grisly story of brutality, murder and survival that'll keep you on the edge of your seat.

Dawn of the Brain-Dead by D.S. Ritter

Sam just wants a normal life. Is that so much to ask? Apparently, yes. Customers showing up drunk is nothing new, but now they're spewing black gunk everywhere, and a shadowy corporate entity seems to be lurking around every corner. Sam's done her best to hide her strange adventures from her new boyfriend, but will she be able to keep it up once Ann Arbor starts getting strange again? When the local weed festival and college football and paranormal weirdness collide, it might just be too much for one parking attendant to handle. Find out in "Dawn of the Brain-Dead," the third installment in the Third Shift series.

Last Cull by D.S. Ritter

Sam's job sucks. And it's about to get worse. After witnessing a bloody assault, parking attendant Sam is drawn into a world she never knew existed; a world of secrets and darkness. A world of vampires. A threat lurks on the horizon for those bent on keeping peace between the living and the living dead. Just when Sam thought she was done with monsters, something new is coming, and even worse, John, the cowardly magician is back in town. Can she find the source of this new violence? Will her friends save the city’s nightlife, or will they become a part of it? Find out in… Last Cull, the exciting sequel to Cthulhu's Car Park.

Bonkpocalypse by L. A. Guettler

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

Cthulhu's Car Park by D.S. Ritter

SFINCS

There's something creeping around in the parking structure. And this time it’s not one of Sam’s nightmare customers. Sam's job as a parking attendant has always been a drag. Until now. A hole straight to hell has opened up and evil lurks in the shadows of the garage. When management fails to help and her trainee gets possessed, Sam turns to her friends and coworkers. But, can a handful of burned out employees save a city? Especially when a tall handsome stranger is thrown into the mix who may know more than he’s letting on? If you’re brave enough to find out whether Sam will discover the secret of the parking garage without dying—or getting fired—get your copy of Cthulhu's Car Park today. Just so you know, this horror novella contains strong language and some violence. And, slime. Lots of slime.

Refraction by Terry Geo

Refraction is a LGBT+ technothriller for adults. Dinosaurs running around London, videos of spaceships in the sky and the largest, most technologically advanced museum is secretly hidden beneath the streets. A privately-funded facility has discovered a way to tap into our minds. The ability to observe and record our dreams is now in their hands. Working on the very outer-rim of science, they are making the impossible a reality. Searching for those with highly active brainwaves, four people from across the globe are brought together to spend the night in the facility, but there’s always someone actively seeking to shatter our dreams. Step into a world within ourselves and beyond the one we know. Embark on an adventure that spans this life and the next. Discover the secrets hidden within all of us and set your imagination free. THE WORLD YOU KNOW, IS ONLY HALF THE STORY.

Ask Me For Fire by Halli Starling

The tall pines, the thick mist, the birdsong above his head.. Barrett loves everything about living outside the remote mountain town of Lake Honor, but especially the peace and quiet. His days as a forest ranger are filled with unpredictable adventure, so home is the one place he knows he can count on. But even home has been a surprise of late, as his next door neighbor and good friend has suddenly passed away, and the house has been sold to someone new. He’s not sure this change will be good. When the new neighbor, Ambrose, arrives, Barrett realizes that the man is a loner, like himself, and clearly not looking for a friend. Which is a pity, because Barrett finds him fascinating and incredibly good looking. Ambrose didn’t move to the outskirts of nowhere to make a friend. But Barrett, his new neighbor, is kind and generous, and has soft brown eyes he can’t stop thinking about. As he slowly warms up to Barrett, fate finds a way to push them together when danger and sabotage strike. Barrett saves Ambrose’s life, and their bond is cemented. Ambrose isn’t sure about letting in someone new, but Barrett hasn’t proven to be anything but a good person. And a handsome one at that. As their lives entangle, and their relationship grows, neither man can ignore the attraction between them. But their pasts are complicated; an ex-boyfriend reappears, an estranged parent tries to get in contact, and Barrett’s nephew falls ill. On top of that, the sabotage of forest ranger equipment grows more dangerous and Barrett is pulled into the investigation. Both men want to take their relationship slow, even with all the drama swirling around them. Ask Me For Fire is a love story drenched in atmosphere, suspense, and heartfelt connections.

Twelfth Moon by Halli Starling

Elsie’s a small town with a lot of heart. Isn’t that how most small town romance stories begin? But this isn’t any love story. These five stories cross paths and connections, age, gender, sexuality, and different kinds of relationships. Stories like that of Harriet, the owner of Twelfth Moon perfumery and adopted mother to her nephew, Nu. Harriet always figured she’d be single for the rest of her life, but Dela Atwater appearing in her shop one blustery autumn day sparks something within her. A bit of romance and longing she’d long thought buried. And what about Nu, Harriet’s nephew? He’s quickly falling for Miles, who works in the coffee shop next door to Twelfth Moon. The shop is owned by Miles’s brother, Jones, who has his own ideas about sex and lust and romance (or lack thereof). Across town, Maeve is learning how to exist as a widower but when they meet Evie, a spark is lit. And Yuri, Nu’s best friend, is anxiously awaiting the holidays so he can see his girlfriend, Beckett, once more. It's about hope and joy and queer love in so many shapes and forms, from the author of the dark fantasy/romance novel Wilderwood ("...will shatter readers’ expectations with its bewitching complexities..." - The BookLife Prize).

Wilderwood by Halli Starling

Wilderwood is a haven for those who have been cast out of “proper” society: academics, artists, the eccentrics and undesirous. It is also home to other kind and having weres, mages, and even an ancient griffin living amongst mortals just isn’t done. Except in Wilderwood. Octavia Wilder cares for those who live in the town her ancestor built and when a feral vampire threatens the peace, she partners with the Ranger who has brought word of the threat. Ranger Roderick Arman hunts Corbin Luther, the feral vampire who killed his partner two years ago. When Luther’s trail leads him to the odd little town of Wilderwood, he quickly realizes there’s more to the town – and his hunt – than expected. Ranger Bellemy Eislen disappeared two years ago when what was to be a quick trip to the Faelands on behalf of the Rangers went entirely wrong. Trapped in another realm, they tirelessly sought a way back to their world. And to Wilderwood and Octavia. The three of them must fight to save Wilderwood from an invasion from another realm and protect the town from the Faelands Queen. Wilderwood is a fantasy/romance book with some violent and sexual elements. The story features a polyamorous, queer romance between three consenting adults.

The Scandinavian Aggressors by Rowdy Geirsson

An offbeat odyssey into the freezing heart of the modern Northlands The Scandinavian Aggressors chronicles Rowdy Geirsson's tireless quest to uncover the secret history of the early 21st century's resurgence of authentic viking activity known as the Modern Viking Movement. Along the way he meets modern viking luminaries such as Trond "Troll-Breath" Trondsen, who successfully raided a historic monastery's gift shop in England; Björn Svensson, who habitually recited classic rock lyrics at the site of each of his infamous berserkings; and Ingrid Törnblom, who founded an elite warrior sisterhood that drew comparisons to the Spartans of ancient Greece, the Samurai of feudal Japan, and perhaps most flattering of all, the Jedi Knights of the Intergalactic Republic. Encounters with additional Neo-Norse individuals augment the journey, revealing long-hidden details about the slaying of a creepy troll in Beowulf's homeland, the brewing of craft beer from within pagan burial mounds, and the suffering of horrendous digestive problems amidst the breathtaking natural beauty of Iceland's remarkable landscape. Topical, informative, and highly insightful, The Scandinavian Aggressors not only provides essential reading for anyone with even a remote interest in the Modern Viking Movement, but also spins a darn good yarn about the fragility of the Scandinavian condition.

Storytellers by Bjørn Larssen

Would you murder your brothers to keep them from telling the truth about themselves? On a long, cold Icelandic night in March 1920, Gunnar, a hermit blacksmith, finds himself with an unwanted lodger – Sigurd, an injured stranger who offers a story from the past. But some stories, even those of an old man who can barely walk, are too dangerous to hear. They alter the listeners’ lives forever… by ending them. Others are keen on changing Gunnar’s life as well. Depending on who gets to tell his story, it might lead towards an unwanted marriage, an intervention, rejoining the Church, letting the elf drive him insane, or succumbing to the demons in his mind. Will he manage to write his own last chapter? Bjørn Larssen’s award-winning, Amazon #1 best selling novel is an otherworldly, emotive Icelandic saga – a story of love and loneliness, relief and suffering, hatred… and hope. Eric Hoffer Grand Prize Award – Finalist Readers’ Favorite Gold Medal – Historical Fiction

Empire's Legacy: The Complete Trilogy by Marian L Thorpe

'a magnificent fantasy epic.' Readers' Favorite 5-star review. A country on the brink of defeat. A woman who answers a call to arms. A man to challenge an Empire. For centuries, women used weapons to kill for food, men to kill in war. Now Lena must break with tradition to save those she loves, but as she steps from her settled world into one of battle, intrigue and politics, her lover chooses banishment. Lonely and afraid, each decision Lena makes brings more terrible consequences, until even her own people turn against her. Her partner in exile, the enigmatic diplomat Cillian, has no survival skills. Lena’s quick wit and prowess with knife and bow keeps them alive as they search for a lost Empire of immense and ancient power. But how much will Lena sacrifice for a hopeless cause before the price is just too great? Individual Book Awards: Empire's Daughter: B.R.A.G Medallion Honoree; Eric Hoffer Finalist; BBNYA Semi-Finalist; (all 2021); Empire's Exile: Gold Medal, Historical Fantasy (2019), Coffee Pot Book Club Historical Fiction Awards Trilogy Awards: Reader's Favorite 5 star Award, 2021; Silver Medal, Historical Fantasy Box Set (2019), Coffee Pot Book Club Historical Fiction Awards

Empire's Heir by Marian L Thorpe

Eric Hoffer Award Category Finalist, 2022 Some games are played for mortal stakes. Gwenna, heir to Ésparias, is summoned by the Empress of Casil to compete for the hand of her son. Offered power and influence far beyond what her own small land can give her, Gwenna’s strategy seems clear – except she loves someone else. Nineteen years earlier, the Empress outplayed Cillian in diplomacy and intrigue. Alone, his only living daughter has little chance to counter the Empress's experience and skill. Aging and torn by grief and worry, Cillian insists on accompanying Gwenna to Casil. Risking a charge of treason, faced with a choice he does not want to make, Cillian must convince Gwenna her future is more important than his – while Gwenna plans her moves to keep her father safe. Both are playing a dangerous game. Which one will concede – or sacrifice?

The Collapse: A Zombie Outbreak Story (Aftermath) by Alice B. Sullivan

What else could the dead rising be other than a sick joke? Karen Gallagher is a mother, a wife, and a scientist, and her past is catching up to her. As the world falls victim to a viral pandemic, Karen struggles to keep her daughter safe, forced to turn to the people who burned her all while harboring an awful secret.

Tall Tales: Volume One by Tim McLaughlin

Father Benedict de Monte has been assigned to gather information on a small cult in America. He quickly learns, however, that the scope of the cult has been greatly underestimated. John Matteson's vacation to Chicago takes a turn when he meets Jackie Veracruz and a ghost woman who has been waiting for him. Will they be able to help her find peace before she endangers everyone they know?

The Blind Guides: A Tall Tales Story by Tim McLaughlin

A standalone short story that was originally available as convention swag in 2021, "The Blind Guides" introduces a group of WWII vets who find themselves uncomfortable with civilian life and head out for a cross-country road trip; but what they discover in the Utah desert changes their lives forever.

Tall Tales: Volume Two by Tim McLaughlin

With the consequences from Volume One still reverberating in their lives, the cast of Tall Tales must face growing challenges in their own way. Jackie's trust for Hecate wanes as she learns more about her divine patron's intentions. Benedict and Akshainie's crusade against the Brood of Nachash brings them into contact with Matteson, who is dealing with significant changes to the people in his life. But when lives are on the line, the group must decide what risks they're willing to take to stop the cult once and for all.

The Fate of Kings and Queens by Joseph S Samaniego

For generations, the Kingdom of Lotcala and the Queendom of Amazon were as close as siblings. Through the years of war and commerce, they built an alliance that allowed both monarchies to prosper. One kingdom bred from ancient raiders and a queendom known for the fiercest warriors in the world. Never had the two become one, though a few had tried. Now, after a broken engagement, Princess Syrena of Amazon follows a path to reunite with her lost love, Prince Gabriel of Lotcala. Some doubt their future success, but perhaps love could find a way. Fate, however, would intervene. The world knew them both as the King and Queen of Lotcala and their reign for its peacefulness. However, they had to fight before they could claim such a rule. In the earliest days of their reign, war consumed their lives. Journey to the Falcon Coast, to a time when war between the four major monarchies threatened to destroy a thriving land. Find out what really happened during a war that saw heroes rise and fall, all in a quest to end rivalries that had spanned generations.

Shadows Rise by The Shadows Crew

It's a common misconception that we all see ourselves as the heroes in our own stories. Sometimes, hunting down the ones who caused you harm comes with the hefty cost of becoming exactly what you hate the most. Shadows Rise is a story about grief, revenge, and the consequences one must face when overcome by either. It begins with two brothers who find themselves alone in the wake of a traumatic loss and become involved with a group of people set on taking revenge on one of the deadliest forces known to Valcrest.

APOTHEOSIS The Fifth Yanai: Book Two by Juniper Lake Fitzgerald

The Fifth Yanai is a story of the value of free will, the triumph of love, and the fight to live life on one's own terms. Apotheosis is the second installment. Through harrowing trials and godly visions, rival zealots became allies and an ancient prophecy has revealed itself to be true. Ohkai and Velyr are more intricately connected than they could ever have imagined, but the mystical ties that bind them raise more questions than they answered. The unforgiving season of Frost has arrived and Ohkai is called against his will to fulfill the wishes of the Yanai, leaving his life, his Sect and his friends behind, as he disappears beyond their reach. Velyr is left to navigate a strange new life and brand new home without him, and he struggles to find normalcy on the outskirts of the frozen Continent in the camp of his once sworn enemies. But still danger lurks, as the Temple reveals its own agenda, and a force is birthed into the world that will change the course of every soul alive, forever.

Structural Strain by Tabitha O'Connell

After realizing how badly he was failing his partner, Yaan promised to do better. Being open and vulnerable with Kel isn’t exactly easy, but it’s worth it for the closeness they now share. Kel, meanwhile, continues to combat his conflict-avoidant nature and be honest about his own wants and needs. The payoff includes not just an increase in affection from Yaan, but also Yaan getting to know his family, and even pledging to help get the old neighborhood theater—the catalyst for their reconciliation—open again. When Yaan begins noticing other ways the city government he works for has failed its working-class residents, his renewed commitment to Kel leads him to push back against his boss’s policies. Kel, however, is concerned Yaan might be taking on too much. When he’s proven right, their relationship will be tested anew, as Yaan is forced to decide what really matters to him and Kel must choose how far he’s willing to go for Yaan’s sake.

Shadow Of The Wicked by Douglas W.T. Smith

Twin brothers–a sorcerer and a warrior–are each tortured for their opposing convictions. Will magick be restored or extinguished? Magick had once ruled The Three Kingdoms, but now it is banished and condemnable. Jaromir and Talmage have been imprisoned for different convictions. Jaromir wakes up chained to a table filled with dread, while Talmage is thrown into an underground labyrinth. Jaromir has devoted his life to mastering weapons as the Empress’ Guard and forming a secret order to rid the world of magick. His lifetime devotion is useless when his limbs are chained. Unless he divulges the order’s plans. Jaromir is tortured and his body pushed to breaking point but he refuses to betray the order––until his wife is dragged into the room. Jaromir is forced to make a choice between his honor and his beloved wife. Which will he choose? Meanwhile, Talmage is thrown into an underground labyrinth. Since his parent’s death, he had practiced the art of magick in secret from his brother’s order. Magick had been his savor and his security through his troubled life. No matter what Talmage tried, the ghosts of his past haunt him––especially in the dark passages. At first, he thought he was alone, for one last trial, until familiar voices echo from the shadows. Both brothers must escape from their wicked fate, identify their outgrown relationship, and swallow their pride before it’s too late. If one of them fails; they both suffer.

The Chains of Fate by A. A. Night

When tragedy strikes, the victims ask why. Then, they look for someone to blame. For the Kharar of Beasthaven, the child DarHel is that someone. Born with snow-white skin and blood-red eyes in the midst of the worst plague in history, DarHel is deemed cursed and cast out of his village. Hungry and alone, his only hope for survival is to seek sanctuary with the Pale Folk of the White Wood. But the Pale Folk are fickle gods, and there is more to their chimeric paradise than meets the eye. Igor Enleyen knows nothing of gods or plagues, but finds his own curse in the shadow of his deranged father's tyrannical legacy. Unloved and unwanted in the town of his birth, he sets out to discover new lands...only to end up kidnapped by a cutthroat brigand. His usefulness exhausted once no ransom is offered, Igor is given up to the Pale Folk as tribute in exchange for divine favor. After a chance meeting in the sylvan halls of the Pale, DarHel and Igor's lives are changed forever. Bestowed with a glimmer of the Pale Folk's divinity, these two exiles hold the power to shape the world in their image. But, burdened with the abuse of their peers and the trauma of their pasts, what kind of twisted world will they shape?

Am I Alone? John K by Stephanie Vlahos

John K hurtles to Mars. He is a chance hero - the first person to travel to Mars. Alone. in a space capsule, lonely in his reflections, yet he finds love. He contemplates Earth - a failing planet with a collapsing ecology. The beautiful green and blue which is fast disappearing. What does the future hold for John K. and all those he has left behind.

Those Once Forgotten by N. C. Scrimgeour

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

Those Left Behind by N. C. Scrimgeour

SPSFC 2022

A dying planet. A desperate mission. A crew facing impossible odds. Humanity’s last hope lies with them… Time is running out for the people of New Pallas. Nobody knows that better than Alvera Renata, a tenacious captain determined to scout past the stars with nothing but a handpicked crew and a promise: to find a new home for humanity. But when a perilous journey across dark space leads to first contact with a galactic civilisation on the brink of war, Alvera soon realises keeping her word might not be as easy as she thought. Her only hope lies with the secrets of the ancient alien waystations scattered across the galaxy. The mysterious technology could be the key to humanity’s survival—or bring unwanted attention from the long-forgotten beings who built them. But remaining united in the face of annihilation is a lot to ask from a crew already splintering under the weight of their differences. A jaded pilot looks for a place he can start over. A young translator searches for meaning out in the galaxy's lawless frontier. And Alvera reckons with the aftermath of betrayal as she fights for a way to save them all. As they break apart to forge their own paths, Alvera and her crew all face the same question: what are they willing to sacrifice to save those left behind?

Empire's Bard by Marian L Thorpe

Omnibus edition of Oraiáphon and Empire's Reckoning Courage comes in many forms. The northern invaders are defeated, but the price is high. The Eastern Empire, gone from these lands for generations, now rules. For Sorley, the young lord of Gundarstorp, the war and the treaty he signed have stripped him of both his lands and the chance to be a scáeli, a bard. Now it threatens to take Cillian, the man he loves. Reluctantly accepting a diplomatic role, desperate to stay at Cillian’s side, Sorley is torn between promises: to his country’s leader; to his oath as an envoy; to his closest friend. Taking refuge in his music and the arms of another man, he finds a fragile peace – only to have it shattered by secrets revealed. But there is more than one side to a story, more than one song to be sung – if Sorley is brave enough to listen to his heart.

Fear of the Dark by Ross Harrison

A dark planet on the galaxy’s edge. A primordial predator. A desperate hunt for a dangerous secret. When the medical frigate Ruby Rose picks up an SOS from the planet’s lightning-ravaged surface, the medics do not hesitate to drop into the raging storm. But the innocuous little planet is home to something sinister. Something desperate. Something that will stop at nothing to find what it’s looking for. Across the galaxy, the crew of the Star Wraith receives a call for help. The captain of a medical frigate has lost his medics, and one of their names is all too familiar. But how could the Wraith’s crew know that a simple rescue mission will lead to a string of murders and a waking nightmare that will leave them forever changed?

The Night Dredes by Shayna Grissom

The island is all Destiny Sallows has ever known. It is her birthright to become the next matriarch and leader of her isolated family. The only catch is that she must marry Daniel; Mother insists on it. It’s not that she dislikes Daniel, he’s kind and clever. The problem is with her. Destiny suffers from a reoccurring night terror about a monster with green eyes. One glance in Daniel’s eyes sends her spiraling into a severe panic attack. Mother calls them the night dredes. Mother says Destiny will get over them, but when the monsters come out, the night dredes come for them all.

Pulsus Cordis Mei-The Pulse of my Heart (Omnia Vincit Amor Book 3) by Maxime Jaz

For when you breathe, I am your air. For when your heart beats, I am its pulse. For when you are far away, look at our star. When events out of their control split the family apart, Marius, Kyle, and Claudia are challenged beyond belief. In the desperate race for power, their enemies will stop at nothing to ensure they destroy Marius and those he loves. Kyle and Claudia have to navigate treacherous waters in Rome to deal with their adversaries, and separate allies from foes, whereas Marius has his own struggles to deal with, far from his loved ones. As an unexpected and shattering blow leaves them reeling, Kyle has to be stronger than ever before to keep them from sinking into despair. Will their enemies finally shatter the small family, or will their love prevail, and conquer all?

Avis Aurea-The Golden Bird (Omnia Vincit Amor Book 2) by Maxime Jaz

From the ashes of suffering, a new strength can be born. From embracing one’s demons, a new life can be found. Back in Rome after his perilous adventures, Marius makes a shocking discovery about his past. But life must go on. Not only does his child need raising, but he must also resume his duties amidst the plotting of Rome’s elite. To add to that, his love for Kyle burns even brighter, melting the walls behind which so many painful memories are trapped. And as feelings bubble to the surface more and more, Marius and Kyle’s love is revealed without hindrance, slowly and sensually, even though shadows of Kyle’s past come back to haunt him, and the people involved in his suffering are thorns in their emerging love. That, and the fact, Marius also brings home a new wife, Claudia. And as Claudia takes her place within the family, unexpected emotions emerge between them all, lacing themselves into Marius and Kyle’s world, resulting in unexpected bliss. Until shattering news about their enemies leaves all of them grappling for air, facing decisions none of them want to make... caught in the race for power. Will their love surmount the many painful obstacles put in their path? Or will their enemies drive a wedge, an unbridgeable chasm between them all? Are Marius, Kyle, and Claudia nothing more than victims of the cruel world they live in?

Donum-The-Gift (Omnia Vincit Amor Book 1) by Maxime Jaz

Coming home with his legion, Commander Marius receives an unexpected gift when he stops at a countryside noble’s estate for a celebration party. That gift is Kyle, a young Celt, captured by the Romans years ago, and used for pleasure by his callous owner. Marius quickly takes Kyle to Rome, utterly clueless about what to do with him. To Marius’ dismay, the young Celt is terrified, even after having escaped his cruel owner. In truth, Kyle doesn’t know what to expect from Marius, either. Despite all odds, including Marius’ flaming temper and unpredictable nature, and Kyle’s haunting past affecting his every waking moment, love blooms between the two men who find themselves up against the scheming nobles of Rome, and Marius’ inevitable duties to his ambitious father, and conniving family. As they begin to fall deeper and deeper in love, even greater obstacles block their path, leading to some desperate decisions. Can Marius’ and Kyle’s love survive despite the odds against them? Or will the might of Rome grind them into oblivion? For in a life of freedom, one can be trapped without relief. For in a life of servitude, one can find unexpected freedom.

Forgotten Evil by Quill Holland

If you had the power to rewrite people’s thoughts… would you? As a thirty-five-year-old farmer on a colony world, Raith is a kind and simple man, with a catch – he’s only existed for two years. His previous life is a mystery; the only clue to his past is a dark, ominous voice inside his head. When the Empire executes its triennial ‘Soul Harvest’, Raith’s partner, Amorina, is amongst the abducted colonists. Stowing away aboard one of the departing ships, Raith must navigate strange yet familiar territory in an attempt to save her. Haunted by his inner demon, the rescue becomes increasingly complex, as Raith finds himself caught between the Empire, the Insurgency, and the United Earth Republic, with new friends and enemies knowing more about Raith’s history than he does. Finally, as his past catches up with him, Raith discovers the dark truth about his former life and the powerful technology responsible for erasing it. With the burden of his disturbing past weighing upon him, Raith is forced into wielding that power once more; and the fate of humanity hangs on his decision.

What Mattered Most by Quill Holland

At the end of the world, you must choose: survive and succeed or make peace with your failure – which will it be? A.R.C Project Rebirth: a simple mission to outlive and outlast an inhospitable Earth and repopulate it once it has recovered. Yet, for Chloe, a cyborg member of the project, the operation is anything but simple. Extending well beyond its original completion date and with no signs of recovery, Chloe spends her days living in the past, avoiding her hot, dry, and barren reality, just waiting on the world to change. When events take a sudden and disastrous turn for the worst, Chloe must compete against herself, her fellow project members, and even time itself, to keep herself and her precious cargo alive; humanity’s fate depends on it. Faced with the possibility of not surviving, Chloe must reconcile between her past and present to decide – what mattered most?

The Last of Her Kind by Quill Holland

What would it feel like, to be the last? She is alone and on the run: from whom, she doesn’t know – it could be any one of the many alien travellers moving through the crowded spaceport. All she wants is to go unobserved and to continue living. But when an alien xenologist spots her, he sees the opportunity of a lifetime: a chance to speak with a surviving member of the Rav’ian race, and he is driven to engage with her – but she doesn’t want to be engaged with. For both the observed and the observer know the same, terrible truth: that she is the last of her kind!

Children of the Dragon by Melissa Stone

Orphaned at a young age and taken in by Telvan’s most notorious bandit gang, Kinrou had no real expectations in life. He knew nothing of his past, nor did he care to. Then, one day, with the death of a Dragon Warrior, everything changed. After a trip to Karath, the capital city of Telvan, he was told about a threat to the peace and that he had been hand picked by the Sky Lords themselves to stop it if only he could discover what this threat was in time.

Trying To Be So Quiet & Other Hauntings by James Everington

Trying To Be So Quiet & Other Stories presents three stories about love, loss and the horror that comes when grief removes our reason for living from the world. In ‘The Second Wish’, a son coping with the sudden death of his parents returns to his childhood home only to find that, despite everything being familiar, things inside seem increasingly unreal. In ‘Damage’ a grieving lover loses all sensation of pain as she tries to make sense of her enduring grief. The title story is a novella telling of a husband’s struggle with the reality of his wife’s death as he remembers their life together. Although haunted, he struggles to find the ghosts that assail him as meaningful as the bleak fact that he is now alone. But that doesn’t stop him seeing them…

Ripper Country: A Collection by Jack Harding

A darkly twisted feast of Gothic horror stories that will take you to the edge of darkness - and beyond... Welcome to RIPPER COUNTRY. A semi-alternate Victorian London where imagination runs wild and madness reigns supreme. Where the cobbled streets run red with the blood of the innocent, and unscrupulous fiends come out to play. Where the wicked stench coming off the old river pales in comparison to the foulness of the crimes that will forever haunt the annals of British history. Where the man you know as Jack The Ripper is the least of Whitechapel's worries. Inside these pages, you will find stories of fear, madness, suspense and terror that will stay with you long after you turn the last page. Enjoy this blood-soaked debut collection from Jack Harding, author of React and Driving in the Dark, a British horror author set to leave his own bloody legacy on this haunted land...

I Hear The Clattering of the Keys by Jamie Stewart

This debut collection from Jamie Stewart is a collection of macabre tales where ordinary lives find themselves shattered by forces that lurk on the fringes of existence. Meet Alan Madden, who only wants to offer his son advice, even after his death; or Susie Granger, who worries for her neighbour Jane, known to everyone else as The Witch of Denison Street; or Sabina Kyle, who gets a special birthday present that - for a price - can make her dreams come true. Jamie Stewart, co-editor of Welcome to the Funhouse, presents seven nightmarish tales that peel back the skin of normality to show that insanity and horror are only a scrape away.

The Lunchling by Jay Alexander

Orville and Ellie Taylor would do anything to get their son to eat his dinner. Lennon's a fussy kid, and desperate times call for desperate measures. Which is why they started using the puppet. "The Lunchling", they called it - an ugly little wooden doll with a funny voice. It was hideous, dumb, and a little bit terrifying, and it was the only thing keeping Lennon alive. Until it started trying to kill him. Now Orville will do anything to get rid of the demonic puppet, and it's not giving up easily. It's a part of the family now, and it's hungry... "The Lunchling" is a tale of fear and family, inspired by the iconic slasher films of the eighties and nineties. This novella from Jay Alexander, author of "The House That Falls" and "Starving Ground", will stick with you long after you're buried it underground...

Forget the Sleepless Shores by Sonya Taaffe

In Forget the Sleepless Shores readers should expect to be captivated by many ghosts and spirits who inhabit brine, some from tears of heartache and loss, some from strange bodies of water, not necessarily found on the map but definitely discovered through charting a course though the perilous straits of author Taaffe's imagination, which is eerie and queer (by every definition of the word).

Blazing Coffins by Jowsey Jones

Jowsey Jones is the newest comedy fantasy voice in town and he brings you a tumbling SFF farce with Blazing Coffins, the first in The Monster Twins series. Theda and Wolfie are The Monster Twins and boy, do they have their hands full in this madcap good vs evil romp with a mind-boggling cast of monstrosities. Sad sack Theda is woken from a horrible hex and finds there is more to life than drudgery in her uncle’s wonky funeral parlour. Something is tingling in her teeth, and wait…why has her dimwit hunk of a brother sprouted a tail? Before long, the twins are chasing around a bizarro America trying to save their parents from a lunatic sorcerer with pharaonic delusions. They face an army of crackpot enemies: a vampire haberdasher and his toothy cohort, bumbling claymen, and a beautiful, insatiable nightmare from the ancient Steppes. Even Santa gets a cameo, and he isn’t very nice at all. Thankfully, they have some monsters of their own to help: an old-school Frankencouple and a Green Man with his snippety eco-warrior wife. Plus a trio of cheerful dead people, the world’s worst paranormal investigator, and a lovelorn bogman in dire need of moisturiser. Welcome to a fearless frolic that sacrifices anything for a laugh. Get your giggles here with Blazing Coffins.

Through Withered Roots by William Sterling

Sylvia Thomas grew up in Ravenhill, Vermont. For her, the town had always been mired in tragedy and bad omens. It was the place where her mom and her brother died in their mysterious accident, it was the place where her father lost his mind, and it was the place where Sylvia learned ghosts truly did exist. She swore she would never return. Now though, in a desperate attempt to protect her family, Sylvia finds herself trapped; railroaded back to that dead-end town with its shallowly buried secrets. For Sylvia, saving those that she loves will mean finally confronting her gruesome past.

Through Frozen Veins by William Sterling

Five year old Heath Barnes just wanted to go home, but the worst blizzard in Georgia’s history seems to have other plans. Forced to seek shelter in a suspicious old farmhouse, the Barnes family feels blessed to have found a safe place to ride out their frozen nightmare. But the other guests in this haven may not be who they seem, and the pale, bloody girl floating through the snow seems to be a harbinger of bad news. As the blizzard picks up outside, so too does the storm inside...

Killer Be Killed by William Sterling

KILLER BE KILLED is a reverse camp slasher novel. Boone Hampton had been dreading this day forever. The day when his baby girl would leave "the nest" to embark into the world on her own. He had hoped this moment wouldn’t come until college, or maybe a rebellious streak in high school, yet here he was, leaving her at a pre-teen summer camp. Boone squeezes his daughter’s hands one last time and lets her go. The day would have been hard enough if it had just ended there. But now the counselors at Camp Green Pines have begun sacrificing the campers to resurrect a long-slumbering demonic entity, and Boone will have to risk everything to avenge his daughter. Killer Be Killed takes the traditional camp serial killer formula and turns it on its head in a Splatterpunk-light homage to the slashers of the 80s with healthy doses of demonic possession and anti-cult related sub-plots cooked in for good measure. Lanyards On. Masks Up. Machetes Out. It's time to play some camp games. "A killing spree to remember. Kick back, forget trying to guess what's coming, and enjoy the carnage!" -Mike Clark; Author of the PATIENCE OF A DEAD MAN trilogy "Just when you think you know the rules, the Slasher genre rises again, more powerful than before. Equal parts homage to the classics and a road map to the future of the genre, Sterling's KILLER BE KILLED is frightening and funny, horrifying, and full of heart as it endlessly morphs and evolves, bringing threats both personal and universal. This is not to be missed." -James Sabata; Author of FAT CAMP and THE CASSOWARY

Roots and Steel by Casey White

SPFBO9

Where monsters go, hunters follow. Hunters of the guild wait all year for the Festival of Knives, when they put their skills to the test and claim new ranks with every fiend they slay. Trapped helping the family business instead of pursuing his own career, Trellin has never been allowed to participate. But when he risks expulsion to sneak out and claim a kill beyond his rank, his hunt is spotted by a senior guildmember. Rather than turn him in, she offers him a chance for freedom: Join her, and sail to the distant isle of Deldynne to compete in the bloody race for the rank of Guildmaster. If they can kill the monster that calls Deldynne home before the other teams do, he'll soar to new heights as apprentice to the leader of the Hunter’s Guild. But not everyone wants his new mentor to be Guildmaster - and if they fail, neither will leave that island alive.