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Escape from OtherWorld Island by Sage Rooker Thereâs never a dull day when you and your older sister are the worldâs top teen-scientist-adventurers. But when your arch-nemesis manages to trap you on a remote tropical island (complete with a volcano about to explode)âŚWell, thatâs when things get really interesting. Itâs a race against time for Team Rugged Stuff and the inhabitants of the OtherWorld! Danae and Rachel Ruggâs scientific discovery of a brand-new world has been hijacked by their rival, the young evil mastermind Colin Null. The clock is ticking as they try to make their way home and foil his plans before he steals their research for his own and lays claim to the girlsâ latest inventionâa meteor-powered transportation portalâand the new world to which it leads! Joined by their cousins Noah and Levi (a pair of part-time special agents in their own right) and Colinâs sister, Nessa (smart, rich, beautiful and just whose side is she on, anyway?), the sisters of Team Rugged Stuff take on the challenge with their trademark wit and grit that is a celebration of the determination of tough young women everywhere! |
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Chasing Naomi by Mark Bossingham July 1969. Clive, Iowa, Earth. Sixteen-year-old Allie has a big decision to make: Watch the lunar landing with her mom in their run-down double-wide trailer or boost to the stars aboard a grumpy, sentient deep space exploration vehicle (DSEV-424) buried in her backyard for 5,000 years. Accompanied by Gem, a dead space captain, now a glitchy hologram, Allie stops on the moon and surprises Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin aboard the Eagle lunar lander. (Neil never mentioned the encounter to Houston). With Gem as her guide, Allie survives her first space battle and drops Gem off at a military regrow center in the middle of a spaceport casino. The teenâs adventure lifts off at a military space academy, where she faces danger, makes friends, battles enemies, and discovers her own surprising abilities. Along with Rin, Sky, and Gem, Allie sets out on a mission to locate and defeat a rogue fleet led by Naomi, a mad-as-a-hatter warship, all while navigating the complexities of growing up and finding her place in the galaxy. |
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ASH by Grace Walker The mission was supposed to be simple: go to Xeiryn, complete the objective, and leaveâbefore itâs too late. Of course, thatâs where everything fell apart. Kade, an underworld operative, fights for survival on Xeirynâa planet on the edge of the galaxy where crime syndicates control the only antidote to the deadly atmosphere. With no other choice as a human, he is caught serving the syndicates under his protector, a woman called Ash. However, when her secret against the syndicates is revealed, their world is torn apart. After a devastating separation, Kade is forced into a struggle for survival in a new galaxy. Working with a crew of mercenaries, he has only one goal: Find his way back to Ash. When a powerful client offers the crew a secretive mission to Xeiryn, Kade canât resist the opportunity that could lead him back to Ash. But the mission quickly becomes the least of his worries when Kade and his sharpshooter comrade Xiara suspect their assignment isnât at all what it seems. Now, torn between his past and his future, Kade has to face the bitter reality of what it will take to find Ash and if she is truly everything he once believed. |
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A Universe Upon Us by Marc DeGeorge When Ceri boarded the colony ship with her parents, they were escaping the destruction on Earth. Theyâd sleep in stasis for a thousand years, then wake on their new home, free from the ravages of war. But for Ceri, it was not to be. The adults of the Stratford stole her childhood and replaced it with terror. For seven years, they forced her and her squad to fight against a rival faction. They were called the enemy, but just like her, they were children, trying to survive. One day, Efa, her squad mate and friend, confesses a forbidden love that can only be considered treason. Ceri is furious, but also confused. They were like sisters. Why had Efa kept this from her? The reason forces Ceri into a choice. Should she do what Efa asks, or risk losing the only person on the ship she could trust? |
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Inarora's Excursion by Seraph Abell Inarora Beservera, daughter of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of End'oria, never felt concerned by her father's position. After all, politicians' families were only targeted in the Corporate States of Naa'ran, right? She's in for a rude awakening when Naa'ran Supremacists attack her and send her over 50 years into the past! Inarora finds her great-grandpas, who send a letter to the Council of Sorcerers to ask for help. While they wait for a response, Inarora learns more about herself, including scary powers she never knew she possessed. Meanwhile, Kaedanâs mounting frustration with the lack of help from the present day Intelligence Ward leads him to take matters into his own hands when another child goes missingâInaroraâs best friend. Can Kaedan find Inarora and her friend before more children go missing? Or will they remain forever lost due to the Intelligence Wardâs negligence? |
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Beautiful World Part 1 by Bill Sharrock In a broken future, ink-like stains have appeared on people's skin splitting the world in two. Now the beautiful people all wear masks and live in a luxurious haven kingdom where strict beauty laws are enforced. The others, âstainersâ, are segregated to a lawless life in the Outlands ruled by chaos and warlords. But when Chesterman, a mysterious, ruthless leader from the north rises to power with plans to bring the kingdom to its knees, people will have to find out what they truly want to live for beneath their masks. Beautiful World is a grand scale story of Anna, Barvarik, Talessa and the individuals who will shape destruction, hope, terror and change to a future where only the most beautiful can sit at its apex. |
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In a town where shadows hide secrets, Fred must unravel the truth before they become prey to something far more sinister than they could have ever imagined. Seventeen-year-old Fred McTire is counting down the days until freedom. The foster system has dealt them a hand of hardship, but one more year stands between Fred and escape from their nightmarish existence. That is until Genevieve 'Ginny' Chase, all blue eyes and freckles, sashays into Fred's life, unexpectedly brightening their bleak world. Yet, as Fred grapples with the complexities of adolescence - as if being queer in a rural town wasnât hard enough - an unsettling force within them begins to stir, marked by violent outbursts and dreams of wolves with amber eyes. The arrival of Mathusi Manebarn, a new student with familiar amber eyes, coincides with the discovery of a mutilated body on the outskirts of town, exposing a sinister supernatural cover-up. The truth is elusive, and Fred must navigate a treacherous path of betrayal and familial ties as they unravel the secrets of their past. âThey Them Wolfâ is a tale of self-discovery, identity, and the courage to confront the unknown, resonating with the howl of the wolves within. |
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Secrets Don't Stay Buried by J. D. Mills How far would you go to keep a secret? Lennon Larkin wants a run-of-the-mill college experience, but thatâs not what sheâs in for. Set to start her freshman year at a local university for deaf and hard of hearing students, Lennonâs chances at normal are yanked out from under her after a prank on her nemesis goes wrong. As the skeleton in her closet is picked apart bone by bone, someone inches closer to a long-buried secret: the private photos of her that were shared without her consent. When her roommate is killed in the crossfire, Lennon and her friends hatch a plan to unmask the killer's identityâbut could someone close to her be behind the plot against her? Maybe itâs the boy sheâs held a grudge against since her sophomore year of high school, or one of her new allies. Worst of all, it might be the girl across the hall that Lennonâs falling for. |
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Madame Eldridgeâs Wayward Home For Unruly Boys by Benjamin Ryan Deep in the heart of Virginiaâs dense backwoods, the Wayward Home for Unruly Boys hides more than just troubled youth. Under Madame Eldridgeâs watchful eye, three strict rules govern her behavior program: â 1. What happens here stays here. 2. You must complete all eight stepsâno exceptions allowed. 3. Forget your name; youâll be known only by your problem. â But, thereâs one unspoken rule that sends shivers down the boys' spines: never enter the forbidden third-floor bedroom of the boy who vanished, leaving nothing behind but whispers. When Vandalize and Stealer defy this warning, they uncover a treasure trove of bewitched artifacts, each with a strange and powerful ability. Using these relics, the boys tackle Madame Eldridgeâs whimsicalâand often bizarreâchallenges, only to learn magic always demands its price. â Amidst the chaos, Fibbsy stumbles upon a peculiar object that sends him hurtling back in time, revealing an unfathomable truth about Madame Eldridge, the eerie town, and the missing boyâs fate. But who will trust the words of a liar? â Bound by the houseâs darkest mysteries, Fibbsy, Defiance, Slob, and Secret form an unlikely friendship as they race to unveil the shrouded secrets surrounding the Wayward Home. Together, they confront their deepest fears, uncovering that the real magic lies in facing their own personal demonsâand each other. |
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When Oceans Rise by Robin Alvarez Submerged in a toxic relationship and disconnected from everyone, she turns to the sea to decide her fate. Its decision? Toss her to the sea witch. Seventeen-year-old Malaya is cursed. In her family, every girlâs first love ends in death after falling for someone evil. Good thing Malayaâs dream guy isnât monstrous. Except the curse is real and preventing Malaya from noticing how much he has gaslit and isolated her until she canât be saved. With no other options, the sea witch is the only one to help her. Bartering her voice for a new life where she and her abusive boyfriend never met, Malaya accidentally swaps places with an alternate timeline version of herself who didnât make her mistakes. As she tries to undo the switch, the sea witch uses Malayaâs voice to unleash Filipino mythological creatures into the worlds. Can a champion, an alternate timeline sister, and Malaya fight these beasts and stop the sea witch before she destroys both timelines? |
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Alistair Woodson is a loner by choice. Since the traumatic night that ended his only friendship, heâs isolated himself by letting his classmates believe heâs a criminal and an arsonist, best to be avoided at all costs. But on his graduation trip across Paris, Switzerland, and Italy, Alis discovers that isolation isnât so easy to maintain in hostel rooms and cross-country trains. Soon he finds himself growing closer to classmates who were once strangers to himânamely the class clown, Craig Miltenberg, whose frustratingly good hair and cheerful disposition donât irritate Alis nearly as much as they should. Yet, as his deepening connections stir up painful reminders of his last doomed friendship, Alis continues to cope the only way he knows how: drowning out the pain on the inside by hurting himself on the outside. When his self-destructive behaviours intensify and put him and his new relationships in jeopardy, Alis must find the courage to confront his spiralling mental healthâeven if it means letting someone in. Lex Carlow's gritty queer debut is perfect for fans of Alice Oseman, Kathleen Glasgow, and The Perks of Being a Wallflower. |
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Seventeen-year-old Angela Carter intended to pick out prom dresses with her best friend and fill out college applications during her senior year. But after her father abandons the family and her addict mother kicks her out, the now-pregnant teenâs new normal is keeping her pressure cooker older boyfriend, Dale, from erupting. When an intoxicated Dale loses control of her car one night, Angela fears sheâll never hold her unborn child. But something worse happens; they all survive. Desperate for what little stability he provides, and for fear of his retaliation, Angela lies to the police when questioned about the accident. Her lie not only protects him from a DUI but also conceals a darker secretâwhat happens behind the closed doors of their single-wide trailer. |
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Chloeâs Kingdom by Gregory Michael Six Motivated Thieves. One Deadly Heist. Chloe Espinoza is a wild-haired petty thief aboard the Kingdom, a drifting city spaceship. Once rich but now poor, Chloe is determined to break free from the Honeycombs and return to her life in the Gardens. Only one problem: she hardly has enough koin for a burrito, making a lavish apartment seem as distant as the stars. All that might change, however, when Chloe is offered a heist that could make her unimaginably rich. But she canât break into the impenetrable Koin Vault alone⌠A young mastermind who canât let go of her past. A mathematical genius in desperate need of koin. A privileged kid from the Gardens with a debt to pay. A bartender whoâs serving revenge. A mischievous raccoon with a bottomless appetite. A battered soul whoâs been wronged by the council. Gone are the days of stealing snacks. Chloeâs crew is aiming for the ultimate prize: the Koin Vault. Their plan? To rob the Treasury and bring down the corrupt council. But in a game where the stakes are jail or death, every move could be their last. |
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The House For Lost Things by C.G. Drews Stealing houses should be a thing of the past now that Sam and Avery Lou finally have their perfect home. But the De Laineys are being forced to sell the butter-yellow house and their family is crumbling. Sam is haunted by his time at juvie and he feels lost now that Avery doesnât depend solely on him. All he can do is focus on his builder apprenticeship and hurl himself into an extravagant sewing project lead by Moxie to raise money to save the houseâonly Samâs past has come knocking and itâs about to tear apart everything he loves. Learning how to build new houses is one thing, but maybe broken boys canât be rebuilt. |
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Towers of Nine by Alyssa Louttit The Towers of Nine School of Magic Study and Practice is an institution rich with ancient traditions and secrets. Serafina Stewart has grown up on stories of this place, passed to her by her witch mother. Now Serafina is finally old enough to attend. But getting in is the easy part. And Mother's stories never included ghosts or deadly spiders. |
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Wherever the Stars Call by S. Jean Living within the federation isn't all it's cracked up to be, so Laurel and Juniper decide to run away from it. If they can get past Jupiter where the fed's hold isn't as tight, they can figure out what they want to do with their lives on their own terms. Unfortunately, along the way, they find a busted federation ship with a vampire on board who may need their help... or their blood. |
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Who Will Hold the Universe by Kel E Fox The world doesnât have magic⌠but it should. You only get one Year 12 School Ball. For Gabby, thatâs a blessing, for Zenna, itâs a waste, and for Jairo, an ageless god whoâs forgotten who he is, itâs a chance to save the world. Come for a night of mystery, magic and dancing. But be warned: you might not leave with your memories intact. Who Will Hold the Universe is a prequel novella for the epic urban-science-fantasy-turns-queer-magical-space-opera Lightless Prophecy series. |
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The Whisperer in White by Y. R. Liu When the Whisperer speaks, the universe listens. Growing up, Talia had never given much thought to the gray-robed Whisperers and their powers over reality. Their business was protecting the world; hers was hunting in the forest around her village and trying to stay out of trouble. Unfortunately for Tal, one Whisperer in particular becomes her business when she accidentally injures his companion, a talking cat-shaped creature named Morel. As punishment, she becomes the Whispererâs prisoner, whisked away to his island home for a year and a day of servitude. There is much to do â for both the Whisperer and for Tal â as he prepares for the ritual that must be completed every hundred years to ensure the safety of the world. Tal does as she is told; her priority is to simply finish out her sentence and return home to her family. Yet there are many secrets on the island, many oddities, and they tug at Tal like an itch. As the year goes on, she learns more of the Whisperer, his duties, and the horrifying evils that he and the other Whisperers keep at bay. But secrets still remain: a room that is always locked, a stone monument in the woods, crimson flowers whose very name causes the Whisperer to storm away. Unbeknownst to Tal, something is watching her, and what she does now may alter the fate of the world. |
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The Odyllic Stone by Alex Scheuermann When Aster Rutherford, the postmaster's son and his childhood friend, Zinnia Hollyhock deliver a letter to the Pelware Mines, they are attacked by a birdlike monster that turns men to stone. Even worse, Buckwheat Village is plagued by an illness that's incapacitating villagers, including Aster's own father. A chance encounter with Kara Reeves, the brash quartermaster of the Blue Skies, leads Aster to hitch a ride to the capital city in search of a doctor. Aster's quest takes him from the dizzying spires of New Portsmith to the caves of Munayallpa and the forests of Tembour. Along the way Aster reconnects with his estranged mother and comes face-to-face with the god of a foreign land. Can Aster and the crew of the Blue Skies overcome pirates, politics, and monsters to cure Buckwheat Village before it's too late? |
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Wayward Daughter by Alyssa Frace 17-year-old Genesis Belle would do anything to leave the monster hunting world behindâeven make a deal with one of the worldâs most accomplished hunters: her mother. All she has to do is kill the creature lurking in the shadows of their town before her mom does. If she wins, she can follow her cross-country road trip dreams without slaying monsters on the way, but if she loses, sheâll have to keep working at a hunting outpost masquerading as a dingy diner. Sheâs sure this bet is exactly what she needs to finally be able to do whatever she wants. Thanks to the help of the apothecary-in-training, Red, she assumes winning will be easy enough. Heâll help her with the boring part (researching monsters) and sheâll do the important part (killing monsters). It should be as easy as the pie she serves at the diner, but the further down the rabbit hole she goes, the higher the body count. And sheâs pretty sure her momâs shady monster hunting tactics are to blame. Armed with a broken mermaid artifact, that annoyingly nosy apothecary, and lots of spite, Genesis must traverse the monster hunting world and utilize her skills to win the bet and save the town from the magic lurking in the shadows. |
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2023 Page Turner Book Awards - FINALIST 2023 Wishing Shelf Awards - FINALIST A healer on the run. A rebel knight after her heart. Will she betray him to save the England she loves? Eighteen-year-old healer Aliwyn is consigned to solitude after medical failures leave her alienated from her village. With a rebellion against William the Conqueror rumbling on the horizon, she longs to practice her medicine in peace. But when she agrees to hide an orphaned Norman girl, Aliwyn is plunged into the bloody war over the fate of England â a war sheâs done her best to avoid. A daring escape from enemy arrows entangles her with the young rebel leader, Tobias, and she is swept into a world of rival factions and secret alliances. Faced with the insurgent army, she must make difficult choices about treating those she despises. Worst of all, Tobias's compassionate nature turns her perceptions of the enemy upside down. After she unravels the fiery secret underpinning the rebel army, Aliwyn is challenged to take fate into her own hands and save England from sweeping destruction. Can she find the courage to fight for what she believes? And can she resist the magnetic charms of the man sheâs vowed to defeat? Step into a riveting & magic-free YA fantasy adventure with an authentic historical setting and irresistible slow-burn romance. Set in medieval England rocked by the early introduction of gunpowder and populated by Celtic-inspired tribes, Healerâs Blade is a page-turning read thatâs perfect for fans of alternative history. If you like stories with high stakes, political intrigue, and nail-biting action but prefer them to be free from language and sexual content, grab Healer's Blade today! |
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The Edge of a World by JD Rivers A monster lurks under Otar's skin. It has destroyed lives and Otar lives in fear when it will escape his grasp again. But he isn't the only thing that seems out of place in this world: a mysterious ancestor, the Ancients, left behind nothing but ruins and questions. After the monster causes a tragic accident, Otar chooses to travel the Seven Lands to find answers instead of being executed. But time is running out. When the summon for a newly discovered ruin comes, it's his last chance to clear his name. On his journey he faces down slavers looking for easy money, and his former lover - who still makes his heart beat faster. Then the excavation site finally reveals the truths about the Ancients, and it becomes clear that something bigger lurks in the shadows. Otar's connection to his monster could save them all from a catastrophe - but will he be willing to sacrifice it all? The Edge of a World is a Fantasy Sci-Fi story about self-discovery, destiny, and paving your own path. |
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The Scrivener's Apprentice by Michelle Salsbery Words have power. Especially hers. When slave-girl Levila Day is sold to a city scrivener, the last thing she expects is to gain magic powers. But her new master not only frees her and offers to teach her his trade, he bestows on her mystical ink that only she has the innate power to use. With this ink, Levila can create detailed illusions of events real or fictional--even places she's never been and people she'll never meet. Levila doesn't know how dangerous her magic might be or how to control it. Seeking answers, Levila and her master must journey overland, braving perilous and magic-riddled lands in hopes of reaching Jhast, the distant town where dwells a half-crazed hermit priest--the only person who might have the knowledge Levila needs. If Levila can reach him before her own power dooms her as it did her father. |
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A girl has gone missingânothing unusual for the corrupt, crime-filled megacity of Xi, where biotechnical mods make everyone as unique and dangerous as their imaginations allow. Soon enough, no one will remember that the girl ever existed. At least, thatâs what Chance believes, until a duo of ambitious bounty hunters snatch him from his mundane day-to-day in the slums and introduce him to the shiny, secretive world of Xiâs rich and powerful. Meanwhile, in the cityâs sparkling high-rises, a pair of siblings witness a murder and are forced into the violent bowels of the city, hunting for answers as they are hunted by a killer. A hard-punching, fast-paced cyberpunk fantasy, The Neons follows an ensemble cast of unlikely heroes as they untangle the wires of a twisted mystery and uncover a reality inhabited by cybernetic deities, android angels, and the resurrected demons of their own past lives. |
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Fair Market Value (The Body Shop Book 1) by Hailey Edwards Forgot to feed your goldfish before your untimely demise? Need to jot down a will? Say a goodbye? See the Grand Canyon? Then come visit us at The Body Shop, where unfinished business is our business. Mary Frances TalbotâFrankieâis a necromancer, probably. Hard to say since she never met her parents. She can see the dead, talk to the dead, and a few other things that arenât strictly legal. Itâs fine. No worries. As long as she doesnât get caught. The whole not getting caught thing was going well until Samuel Harrow blew back into town wearing a Savannah Police Department uniform. He might be a witch, but he hates magic. Heâs not a fan of Frankie either. Which explains why heâs her ex. When Frankieâs less than legal side gigs result in dead vampires, she knows sheâs in trouble. Big trouble. And thatâs before Harrow offers to help. With him waving a Get Out of Jail Free card in her face, Frankie doesnât have much choice but to accept. But that doesnât mean she has to forgive. Sheâll certainly never forget him breaking her heart or turning her over to the police or... Yeah. They were doomed from the start. Something tells her this investigation will be too. |
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Hall of Shadows by Mariah Stillbrook In the quiet life of Tess Moreau lies a remarkable powerâher touch revives ashes, defying nature's laws. When she uncovers a mysterious book linked to her grandmother and a witch's coven, her journey begins. Guided by a cursed deck of oracle cards, Tess delves into The Hall of Shadows, a realm crafted by her ancestors. With each dimension traversed, she uncovers her true lineageâa descendant of mythical beings. As Tess's humanity wanes, her destiny beckons. At journey's end, she faces a choice: preserve or destroy the hall. In a tale of magic and identity, Tess's odyssey may end, but her legacy is just beginningâa testament to the power within us all. |
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The Darkness of Dying in the Light by S.E. Reed Sultry Savannah is where we lay our scene, from a time that once, but never was. Two households, both alike in dignity, collide in the chaos of civil unrest igniting a forbidden romance between a pair of star-crossed lovers. â Seventeen-year-old automaton, Sephony Roulette, is beautiful and headstrong. Against her will, she's been betrothed to an ambitious politician desperate for her father's money. Sephony would rather die than marry him and her mechanical heart breaks to set her free. â Marcus Wexhaven is called in to use his micro-cogs to repair Sephony's damaged heart. When she wakes in his arms, the fiery passion between them cannot be denied. To prove to their feuding families their love is worth celebration, Sephony and Marcus work in secrecy to unravel a vicious political plot. When Sephony finds herself on the receiving end of a hideous crime, it's Marcus who comes to the rescue, again. â He is willing to fight to protect her, even if that means his own death. Sephony is far too proud to let Marcus die alone. For never was a story of more darkness than of Sephony and her Marcus. |
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Old Palmetto Drive by S.E. Reed Teen socialite Rian Callusa knows her privileged New York life is over as they drive down a backwoods road toward her new home. But instead of pulling up to a dusty shack, her jaw drops when her Mom parks in front of a stylish mansion. Maybe she doesn't know as much about her Mom as she thought. While Rian spends time in the Everglades with her cousins, Travis and Sam, and falls head over heels for vintage-loving Justine, she learns it isn't just her Mom keeping secrets. They've all got secrets too. Until one fateful night, the dark, murky waters of the swamp decide to tell the story about what really happened on Old Palmetto Drive. |
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The worlds behind her eyelids by Alexa Lee âTell me, kid... How do you feel about desecrating a graveyard?â Suffocated by her narcissistic mother's constant complaints, Grace retreats into the refuge of her mind. Her imagination becomes her only source of escape, and there she meets a grizzly treasure hunter, Mitch, with a history of rescuing strays. He takes Grace under his wing, allowing her to accompany him on his search for a long-lost artefact. Split between her mundane reality and the exhilarating new world she has created, Grace leads an exciting double life. In one, she is a normal teenager, but in the other, she travels with Mitch, slowly discovering more about the shadowy world he is involved in and those hunting him down. The lines between reality and imagination blur as Grace continues to delve into her daydreams whenever reality is too hard to deal with, but soon, she finds other worlds. However, they are not as welcoming as she expected, and escape may not be quite so simple... |
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Autumn Nights: Nine Stories to Nibble at Your Nape by Helen Whistberry, L.T. Ward, Stefanie Contreras, Jeff Ehrmann, Frank L Tybush V, Alexis L. Carroll, Eileen Curley Hammond, Jaecyn Bone, Fay Lane Falling leaves cover dying flowerbeds, chill gusts herald frosty nights, and pumpkins reach peak season. The denizens of darkness prowl earlier each evening. Weddings and changelings, carnivals and hauntings⌠creepy creatures, and murderous intent all meet in this cozy horror anthology. Bundle up with cider and gather 'round the campfire, or stay at home with the windows shut and the lights onâread however your heart desires. Autumn Nights Charity Anthology Series is proud to present the final volume: Nine Stories to Nibble At Your Nape. This finale provides autumn-themed horror thatâs safe for adults and later teens alike. No graphic violence, no SA, and minimal cursing is the promise of all Autumn Nights Charity Anthology books. This yearâs profits go entirely to the Trevor Project, an organization dedicated to providing crisis support and safe spaces for LGBTQ individuals through trained crisis counselors and advocacy. |
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Devil by the Tail by Caroline Lavoie In a small town in the Rockies, a mountain looms: the Devilâs Tail. According to local lore, a wicked trickster haunts its slopes, and whoever glimpses it is cursed to lose someone they love. Alex refuses to believe sheâs been cursed. She only ever saw the beast in her nightmares. Even if itâs real, it canât hurt her because she doesnât let anyone get too close to her heart. That is, until Amka moves to town. In no time, Alexâs carefully built walls begin to crumble. But what if Alexâs fear of loss is a curse of its own? There are a hundred ways to die on the Devilâs Tail, but only one way to break the curse. The path is treacherous, and the beast is waiting. |
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The Sorcerer and the Necromancer by Susan Ann Walker A young swordsman with a threatening secret. A rogue mage with a forbidden power. When they do battle, will the city survive? Daric came to ignore the slur of being called "blank." Growing up without magic of his own in a remote enclave of wizards, he left as soon as he could to make his way with his sword and his wits. Then the seventeen-year-old bodyguard accidentally discovers he has a hidden Gift for sorcery, enabling him to drain mystical energy from others, and he is terrified that his suddenly-appearing talent places everyone around him in deadly peril. Determined to master his new abilities, Daric finds a mentor to guide him and friends who support him, even though many fear him and demand his exile. But while he trains, a necromancer is killing elderly merchants and animating their corpses to rob them; and seers are dreaming of a devastating firestorm soon to come. As rumors swirl and panic mounts, the fledgling sorcerer realizes he may be the key to saving the place that's become his adopted homeâor the cause of its destruction. Can Daric wield his dangerous skills to stop a madman from burning everything and everyone around him to ashes? Or will he lose control, and bring about the very disaster he is desperate to prevent? The Sorcerer and the Necromancer is the third book in the "Tales from the City of Magic" sword and sorcery series. It can be read on its own, although there are some continuing characters from earlier books. If you enjoy stories of hidden powers, dark prophecies and found families, then you'll love Susan Ann Walker's exciting fantasy adventure. |
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Shadow of the Jade Cat by Susan Ann Walker A supernatural killer prowls the streets. Can a troubled guardian prevent a bloodbath? Lord Bastian carries the weight of the city on his shoulders. A master mage charged with keeping the peace in a mecca for those with magical gifts, he's challenged by powerful guild leaders who question his authority. When a prominent but unscrupulous merchant is gutted by a mysterious creature on the eve of a trade fair, the embattled magister scrambles to solve the crime while confronting accusations he himself wanted the victim dead. As more dismembered corpses turn up, Bastian is dismayed to learn the murderer is an agent of vengeance created by a deity that no mage or priest can hope to contain. Stalked by the arcane predator, harried by human assassins, and doubting his own abilities, he desperately seeks aid from an old rival and a devout but untrained young temple novice. Together, can these uneasy allies stop a relentless destroyer made by a goddess, or will a throng of arriving fairgoers become lambs to the slaughter? Shadow of the Jade Cat is the second book in the "Tales from the City of Magic" sword and sorcery series. (It can be read on its own, but you'll know more about the characters' backgrounds if you read book 1, How the Wraith Got His Soul Back, first.) If you're a fan of stories with dark magic, enigmatic gods, and mystical creatures, then Susan Ann Walker's spooky fantasy thriller is for you. |
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How the Wraith Got His Soul Back by Susan Ann Walker A young healer fleeing a dark wizard. A monster desperate to regain his stolen soul. Can a lost warrior guide them to refuge? Cayden i'Daubrin meant to turn his back on battle forever. After his men were slaughtered while he lay injured, the legendary fighter nicknamed "Deathgiver" wandered aimlessly, taking any job that didn't require leading others into combat. Until, discovering that a runaway girl he was hired to find is hunted by a blood mage for her healing gift, he chooses to help her escape rather than return her to certain death. Struggling to protect the adventurous teen, Cayden becomes even more alarmed when she befriends a wraithâa tortured creature whose spirit was taken by a curse. As they all race toward sanctuary in the magical city he once called home, with an army of blood slaves and mercenaries closing in, the weary swordsman steels himself to face the evil sorcerer blocking their only route to safety. Can Cayden win against a relentless foe who commands the powers of countless previous victims? Or will he lose his life, and the lives of the fugitives who gave him their trust? How the Wraith Got His Soul Back is the first book in the Tales from the City of Magic sword and sorcery series. If you enjoy stories with dark magic, thrilling swordfights, and reluctant but ultimately noble heroes, then you'll love Susan Ann Walker's fast-paced fantasy adventure. |
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Glintborn Fools by J.L. Knight Adventure is dangerously close to home . . . Strange events are occurring in the sleepy town of Colville. The sky cracks open, magic rains down, and eighteen-year-old Aria and her classmates Claire, Sorin, and Michael start to manifest supernatural abilities. But along with the rain, something sinister has arrived. Now, the quartet must not only uncover the mystery of who shattered the sky but find a way to use their new powers to stop a murderous creature with its sights set on Aria . . . Magic, danger, and romance invade small-town America in the first in this brand new young adult fantasy adventure series, perfect for fans of Holly Black, Samantha Shannon, and Lauren Robertsâ âPowerlessâ Trilogy. |
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The Hammersmyth Tales: A Steampunk Short Story Collection by Keith W. Dickinson A collection of tales to delight and amuse, introducing readers to the steampunk world of Hammersmyth and the many characters that live there. Meet Dexter the mechanical cat, Nomko the engineer, and Agnes Goodenough, everyone's favourite muscle for hire. And get to know Hammersmyth itself, a city at the forefront of the great steam revolution, and the setting for the two steampunk novels DEXTER & DETECTING AGENTS and THE DRAGONFLY DELIVERY COMPANY. |
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The Orphan Ark by Scott Pinkowski When Isabelle and her friends have a brush with a supernatural artifact that grants them otherworldly abilities, they handle it the only way that makes sense: they become amateur superheroes. But no power comes without cost and the fallout from their choices just may have xenocidal consequences. Caught between shadowy extraterrestrial hunters who will stop at nothing to prey on their power and an unscrupulous head of a bioengineering firm, the friends will need to learn that it takes more to being heroes than possessing superpowers. |
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Fate of the Drowned by Carrie Summers The Empire is shattered. From the northern ice fields to the storm-battered coast, chasms gash the landscape. Hordes of twisted beasts ravage towns and cities, and still, the people riot. But the prophecies offer hope. Bolstered by the newfound, if fragile, peace with Stormshard, Emperor Kostan begins to fortify his rule. Savra, torn between her desire to learn her familyâs fate and the duty she feels to her Emperor, delves deeper into her magic in hopes she can answer both calls. At the heart of the Empire, an ancient seal will soon fail. But Savra and Kostan will fight to the end. Together they represent the Empireâs last hope for salvation. |
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Rise of the Storm by Carrie Summers Two prophecies. Two heroes. Only one can be right. Kostan sits upon a splintering throne. Savra huddles in a makeshift cell, awaiting the judgment of those she betrayed. The land grows dark with the blood of Prov and Atal alike. But beyond the human struggles, a graver threat looms. Aided by the rogue mage, Havialo, the Breaking strains at the bones of the Empire. As the land shatters, a dark tide rises. Two prophecies offer slim hopes for humanity. One names Savra as the Empire's savior. The other envisions Kostan leading the war against the darkness. Both can't be right. But if the coming war decides who survives, humanity may find it has murdered its last hope. Scroll up and click to continue the Broken Lands saga, and follow the read with Fate of the Drowned, out now! |
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Heart of the Empire by Carrie Summers The Empire is heartless, but fate is crueler still. Tainted magic spills from a crack between worlds. Quakes rattle the Atal Empire, opening rifts that split towns in two. As the land shatters and betrayals cleave the Emperor's court, ancient power awakens in a flame-haired young woman. Savra, a miner on a remote coast, lives in relative innocence of her Emperor's savage rule. When she turns seventeen, she expects to be assigned sluice mining as her official Function. Everyone from her home village is a sluicer--unless they turn renegade and fugitive like Savra's father. But when she's suddenly torn from her home, turned pawn in the plots of madmen, a chance meeting with a young man provides the first glimpse of her tangled destiny. For nineteen years, Kostan has been groomed for one thing: ascension to the throne. One of thirteen imperial Scions, he bears a wound that won't heal until his twenty-first birthday. On that date, only the shape of the Scions' scars will determine the next Atal Emperor. Savra secretly fears she carries her father's rebel blood. Kostan despises everything the Empire stands for. Neither desires a fight, but as the Empire crumbles around them, they stand on opposite sides of a war. Each could be part of Empire's salvation, if only they could bridge the chasm dividing them. Tangled fates. Epic stakes. Join thousands who have entered the Broken Lands. |
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The Forsaken Prince by Madison Rosipal Born in a world where her people were once deemed criminal, Princess Celestine of Yulia walks a delicate path. Not only is she a descendant of the royal family that led the massacre of people with magic, she was also born a magician. In her search for belonging, she uncovers a family secret dating back centuries and a murderous plot that's been brewing for ages. Pulled between two worlds, she struggles to preserve peace, but will her efforts pay off? |
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The Lost Erwain by Mariah Stillbrook Embark on an enchanting journey with Makayla Wood, a 17-year-old prodigy destined for greatness in the human world. Makayla's life takes an unexpected turn when she discovers her true identityâa rare and magical being with the power to change destinies. Faced with the challenge of embracing her heritage, Makayla delves into the whimsical realm of Garlandia, where she must battle the darkness that threatens her homeland. As Makayla navigates her newfound powers and confronts the mysteries of Garlandia, she discovers an unlikely ally in Toby, the heir to the elven throne. Their forbidden connection, shrouded in intrigue and danger, adds a layer of complexity to Makayla's quest for justice. Unraveling the secrets of her past, Makayla confronts a malevolent force seeking dark magic at the cost of innocent lives. In a riveting blend of fantasy and self-discovery, Makayla's journey transcends worlds, weaving a tale of love, courage, and the pursuit of justice. Will she overcome the challenges of her magical heritage and return to her ordinary life, or will Makayla choose to embrace her destiny and confront the ancient prophecy foretelling her extraordinary future? |
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Heart of Vanris by Nikki McCormack Kasiel and his unit have made a name for themselves. Enough of one that they are now being sent to the northern capital to be paraded before the people as heroes and to escort the khevarinâs daughter back south with them. It is a mission that should give them all a much-needed break from fighting and allow Kasiel time to recover from his injuries. What starts as a simple assignment becomes more complicated when the khevarinâs strong-willed daughter decides Kasiel and his unit will continue serving as her personal guards. With the war ongoing and rumors of possible political alliances in the air, protecting her may prove far more dangerous and disruptive than they imagined. Still new to life as a soldier, Kasiel is unprepared for the complex matters of royalty and politics, especially while still learning to navigate the ever-complicated challenges of leadership and love. |
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Blood of Vanris by Nikki McCormack Kasielâs healing injuries still trouble him, almost as much as the memories of what he did at the Hall in Katovan. Though he trains to become a better fighter and mind-crafter, a deeper understanding of the roles he is expected to fill makes it harder for him to come to terms with his place in Vanrian society. Then the southern kingdoms emerge with a new weapon for fighting Vanrian mind-crafters. One that could change the course of the war. The situation leads to Kasiel being required to take a more active role in the conflict sooner than planned. With his countryâs growing need of mind-crafters like him, Kasiel learns what it really means to be at war, and what it feels like to lose. He is about to discover how far heâs willing to go to protect the ones he loves. |
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Embark on a thrilling adventure with Lea and Jake as they navigate the unexpected twists and turns at the biggest superhero fan convention of the year. When Lea finds herself trapped in an elevator during the event with superstar Jake, also known as The Amazing Boy, they realize something sinister is afoot. With everyone at the convention frozen, including Leaâs friends, Lea and Jake must team up to unravel the mystery behind the villainous acts plaguing Philadelphia. As they race against time, Lea grapples with whom to trust, while Jake uncovers startling truths about his own identity. A pulse-pounding journey filled with friendship, betrayal, and the ultimate quest for justice, will Lea and Jake save the day, or will supervillains prevail? Dive into this gripping tale that will leave you on the edge of your seat until the very end. |
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Gay the Pray Away by Natalie Naudus Valerie Danners is in a cult. She just doesnât know it yet. When she finds a queer book at the library and smuggles it home, her conservative Christian homeschooling world begins to crack. And when the cutest girl sheâs ever met shows up to Bible class, she starts to question everything. Riley is so confident and kind, and she and Valerie bond quickly over existing as multiracial teens in a very white Christian community. As Valerie explores her feelings for Riley, she begins to see that the world she knows is a carefully crafted narrative. Publicly, the girls are close friendsâholding hands in prayer, rooming together at a conference. Privately, they grasp at any chance to continue their forbidden romanceâuntil they are found out. Now Valerie must choose between staying with a family she fears will never accept her, or running away with the girl she loves. |
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The Ghosts of Nothing by Cecily Walters ** Winner - Indie B.R.A.G. Medallion ** ** Finalist - The Wishing Shelf Book Awards ** The town of Nothing is haunted⌠âŚor so its citizens believe. Sixteen-year-old Nelly is skeptical of the stories until one night she spots a strange light sneaking through the abandoned house on her familyâs farm. When she investigates, she finds ⌠fairies. Within hours of this discovery, Nelly's grandmother is catatonic, and the otherworldly trespassers are offering up a cure. But only at a terrible price. It turns out that Nelly is a rare find for the fae. And the shocking reason why is buried in a past only the dead can remember. The Ghosts of Nothing is the first book in a fantasy series based on traditional fairy mythology. It's like a spooky version of Harry Potter, but with fairies. Perfect for fans of Holly Black's The Cruel Prince series, Julie Kagawa's Iron Fey or Leigh Bardugo's Shadow and Bone. Now a Wishing Shelf Award finalist. |
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Xiapo Yellip Zump (book 1: Let the Adventure Begin!) by Yehuda Shapira Sure, the prophecy sounds fake. And it's a total cliche. But Xiapo lacks backbone, and is bullied into taking the responsibility to save the planet. Aided by his glowing dog and magical staff that doesn't do anything, Xiapo must face thugs, demons, mysterious Things, lack of toilet paper and â worst of all â boredom, on his epic mission to save Earth before it is destroyed by those bumbling humans. "This book is a work of art!" - Author's mother "I would suggest this book to people who donât mind spelling mistakes" - Christy E, Amazon customer |