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The Crystal Key: The Dream Rider Saga, Book 2 by Douglas Smith Sequel to the multi-award-winning The Hollow Boys "Give me the Crystal Key!" Will Dreycott is the Dream Rider, the agoraphobic teenage superhero who can walk in our dreams but never in the streets of his city. Case is his girlfriend, a survivor of those streets who hears voices that warn her of danger. Fader is her brother, who is very good at disappearing. Together, they defeated a body swapper and a witch to save the world (The Hollow Boys). Now, Case battles guilt over living sheltered in Will's tower home while her street friends still struggle. Blaming his affliction for Case's sadness, Will searches for a way to live a normal life with the girl he lovesāa way to go outside. But his efforts draw the attention of dark forces. Sinister figures hunt Will in Dream. Intruders scour the vast warehouse of antiquities "acquired" by Will's missing parents. And a masked swordswoman attacks Will, demanding "the Crystal Key" before disappearing into thin air. Are they all searching for the same thing? Something from Will's parents' shady past? For the swordswoman leaves behind a flowery scent, Will's only memory from the lost expedition eight years ago that gave him powers in Dream but cost him his parents and his freedom. A trail of dark secrets leads Will, Case, and Fader to a mysterious world. Trapped between warring cults willing to kill for the Crystal Key, the three friends must master strange new powers that grow stronger and wilder the closer they draw to the truth. This time it's not just the fate of the world at stakeā¦but the multiverse. Indiana Jones meets Teen Titans in The Dream Rider Saga, a fast-paced urban fantasy trilogy from "one of Canada's most original writers of speculative fiction" (Library Journal). Praise for The Crystal Key: "The richly inventive Dream Rider adventure continues in this second appealing entryā¦with an exciting plotā¦ always enlivened by the Smith hallmarks of crack dialogue, fun sleuthing and puzzle-solving, a strong throughline of emotion, a swift paceā¦and a principled refusal to settle for the familiar. Takeaway: This thrilling superpowered urban fantasy series continues to grip." (New readers should start with book one.) āBookLife (Editor's Pick) "The engrossing second installment of Douglas Smithās Dream Rider Saga trilogy. ā¦ Smith continues to demonstrate an ability to expertly weave multiple complex fantasy elements into a cohesive whole. ā¦ This fast-paced story delivers in a big wayāand Smith has all his ducks lined up for an explosive conclusion [to the series] that readers wonāt want to miss." āBlueink Review (ā Starred review) Praise for The Dream Rider Saga: "Vigorously imaginative... Thrilling YA fantasy" āBookLife (Editor's pick) "A must-read story for YA fantasy fans." āBlueink Review (ā Starred review) "Inventive, engaging, and boundless fun." āThe Ottawa Review of Books |
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The Chronicles of the Virago:: Book II The Apprentus by Michael Bialys Makenna Grace Gold is the Virago. At barely thirteen-years-old, she has been entrusted by the forces of good to protect her twin siblings Emi and Noah from the evil forces that seek to destroy them. The infant twins are destined to lead our world into its next age of Hope and Enlightenment; if and only if Makenna can protect them. As she begins to settle into her new role as the Virago, Makenna receives a cryptic warning from none other than the Grim Reaper himself. She is told that her immediate future promises to be life threatening to both her and her entire family. It will take all Makennaās new-found skills along with the assistance of her Fairy mentors Bree, Dee and Marigold, best friend Stephen and her sidekick Fluffy the wisecracking earthworm, to defeat the machinations of the malevolent, multi-billionaire Malvado Seaton. All this while Makenna and her family are on an international field trip with her classmates in China! And who is her mysterious new trainer Tai-Pan? |
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Shattered: The Awakening by Birdy Rivers Emmy's world is shattered on her seventeenth birthday. Everything she thought she knew was wrong. Emmy is thrown into the magic world, and at every turn, new secrets are revealed. Can she handle the truth? Can her old life and new life coincide together or will she have to choose? Will she remain shattered, or will she find a way to put herself back together again? |
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Empowered: Agent (The Empowered Series Book 1) by Dale Ivan Smith The world says those possessing superpowers are either heroes or villains. But what if youāre both? Mathilda Brandt isnāt the angry, out-of-control teenager she was before she got out of jail. Sheās hungry for a chance at a normal life, but when a gang threatens her sisters, she has no choice but to use her illegal superpower to protect them. A secretive government agency gives her a choice: go back to prison for life, or infiltrate a notorious super-villain group in order to stop a psychotic Empowered. To save her city, her family, and herself, Mat must become the last thing she ever wanted to be again: a criminal. |
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Destiny (A Seventeen Series Novel Book 6) by A.D. Starrling An enemy they never anticipated. A brutal attack that tears them apart. A chain of immutable events that will forever alter the future. Discover the destiny that was always theirs to claim. Four years after Lucas Soul is reunited with the last of his remarkable kin, the man who was once the most hunted individual in the Immortal societies is finally at peace with his life and his fate. But when a shocking confrontation robs him of the people he cares most for in this world, the Immortal who survived his seventeenth death must take up arms once more and return to the deadly life he thought he had left behind. Except, this time, he is not alone. With their friends at their side, Lucas and his Immortal circle plunge headlong into a desperate chase to uncover the identity of the unknown opponent lurking in the shadows. Old truths are overturned and fresh secrets are revealed when an army they thought was long gone rises to face them once more. But it isnāt until an unforeseen incident awakens a group of unlikely allies that Lucas and his family finally realize the true, horrific extent of the enemyās purpose. With the stakes escalating and the threat of war darkening the world, the Immortals marked by the divine must draw upon all the remarkable powers gifted to them to bring an end to a devious plot which has its origins in the distant past. As their destiny starts to unfold before their eyes, will Lucas and his kin be able to stop their enemy and embrace the future that awaits them? |
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Origins (A Seventeen Series Novel Book 5) by A.D. Starrling The gifts bestowed by One not of this world, to the Man who had lived longer than most. The Empire ruled by a King who would swallow the world in his madness. The Warrior who chose to rise against her own kind in order to defeat him. Discover the extraordinary beginnings of the Immortals and the unforgettable story of the Princess who would become a Legend. In a time when sickness covers the world in shadows, Romerus, descendant of the first man and woman to walk the Earth, ventures into the desert to find a cure for his dying sons. The gifts he receives from the mysterious stranger he meets on his crusade turn his children into beings who can defeat death itself, carving a destiny that makes them Immortal kings of an empire spanning hundreds of years and thousands of leagues. Mila, third daughter of Crovir and last-born grandchild of Romerus, knows the evil that resides in the heart of her father. When she dares challenge his increasing tyranny by sparing the life of a human governor, his twisted fear of her grows, triggering a chain of events that culminates in her witnessing his final, unforgivable sin. Accused of a crime she did not commit and forced to flee the empire of her birth, her path collides with that of an enigmatic captain who proves to be more than he claims. As the promise of war darkens the lands, the most powerful and fearless of all the Immortals must shatter old alliances and create fresh ones in order to forge a new destiny for her kin and mankind. |
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Legacy (A Seventeen Series Novel Book 4) by A.D. Starrling The Hunter who should have been king. The Elemental who fears love. The Seer who is yet to embrace her powers. Three immortals whose fates are entwined with that of the oldest and most formidable enemy the world has ever faced. 1599. While hunting a deadly adversary who has eluded him for two hundred years, Asgard Godard falls into an icy tomb that leaves him frozen in time. 1969. After more than a century on the run, Ethan Storm finds himself at the mercy of the man who ripped his family apart and sent him into exile. 2013. Following a hundred years of solitary existence, Olivia Ash wakes from a nightmare to find the home where she has lived her entire life under attack by a deadly foe. Linked by an incredible destiny and with time very much against them, Asgard, Ethan, and Olivia must keep ahead of their common enemy and the rogue branch of the US army at his command. But when an unlikely ally crosses their path, they come into possession of a set of clues that help them unearth their opponentsā devastating plans. With the future of the entire world at risk, the three immortals must form new alliances and draw on all their unique skills and abilities to defeat the man who has inflicted so much loss and misery upon their lives. |
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Empire (A Seventeen Series Novel Book 3) by A.D. Starrling An immortal healer. An ancient empire reborn. A chain of cataclysmic events that threatens to change the fate of the world. Retired Bastian covert operative Conrad Greene has but one wish left. To live out the rest of eternity away from Immortals and humans alike. But when a plane crashes into the Amazonian swamp where he has been hiding for half a century, the jaded immortal healer who was once the greatest asset of the Bastian First Council stumbles across a conspiracy involving the newly elected President of the United States. Caught in the middle of the intrigue is Bastian intelligence operative Laura Hartwell, the one immortal on Earth most likely to put a bullet through Conradās skull. Coerced into returning to the life he had left behind, Conrad reluctantly agrees to assist the American government with their investigation. But as disturbing events start to unfold around the globe, Conrad and his team of elite human and Immortal agents find themselves facing an elusive organization hellbent on shifting the power balance of the world. As chaos descends on Western societies and an old empire rises once more, can Conrad stop the deadly countdown that threatens to alter the course of human history and regain the trust of the woman he loves? |
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Warrior (A Seventeen Series Novel Book 2) by A.D. Starrling The perfect immortal warrior. A set of stolen, priceless artifacts. An ancient sect determined to bring about the downfall of human civilization. When a team of scientists unearth scriptures older than the Dead Sea Scrolls in a cave in Egypt, a mystery lost to the tides of time is uncovered. Heading the expedition is Dimitri Reznak, the Head of the Crovir Immortal Culture & History Section. But the monumental discovery is spoiled by evidence of looting and half the priceless artifacts Reznak has sought for centuries have disappeared. Alexa King is a covert agent for the Crovir First Council. Cold, deadly, unrivaled on the battlefield, she is the perfect Immortal warrior. When her godfather Dimitri approaches her for a mission that could elucidate the enigma of her lost past, Alexa is drawn into the dangerous and shadowy world of secret religious societies along with Zachary Jackson, a gifted human and Harvard archaeology professor assigned to help her.In their hunt for the missing artifacts, Alexa and Zachary cross path with a sinister sect whose origins are as mystifying as the relics they are searching for, and unveil a centuries-old plan that aims to shatter the very structure of civilized society. From North Africa to the doors of Vatican City and beyond, Alexa and Zachary must outwit the enemy and uncover the astonishing truth behind the missing artifacts and Alexaās own unearthly origins before all is lost. |
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Hunted (A Seventeen Series Novel Book 1) by A.D. Starrling My name is Lucas Soul. Today, I died again. An outcast of the Immortal societies, Lucas Soul spends the first three hundred and fifty years of his existence being chased and killed by the Hunters. One fall night in Boston, the Hunt starts again, resulting in his fifteenth death and triggering a chain of events that sends him on the run with his best friend and human business partner. From Paris to Prague, their search for answers leads them deep into the Immortal societies and brings them face to face with someone from Soulās past. Shocking secrets are revealed and fresh allies come to the fore as they uncover a new and terrifying threat to both Immortals and humans. To defeat his enemies, Soul must become the Hunter. But time is running out. Can he protect the ones he loves and prevent another Immortal War before his final death? |
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The Hourglass Throne by K.D. Edwards As Rune Saint John grapples with the challenges of assuming the Sun Throne, a powerful barrier appears around New Atlantisā famed rejuvenation center. But who could have created such formidable magic . . . what do they want from the immortality clinic . . . and what remains of the dozens trapped inside? Though Rune and his lifelong bodyguard Brand are tasked with investigating the mysterious barrier, Rune is also busy settling into his new life at court. Claiming his fatherās throne has irrevocably thrown him into the precarious world of political deception, and he must secure relationships with newfound allies in time to keep his growing found family safe. His relationship with his lover, Addam Saint Nicholas, raises additional political complications they must navigate. But he and Brand soon discover that the power behind the barrier holds a much more insidious, far-reaching threat to his family, to his people, and to the world. Now, the rulers of New Atlantis must confront an enemy both new and ancient as the flow of time itself is drawn into the conflict. And as Rune finds himself inexorably drawn back to the fall of his fatherās court and his own torture at the hands of masked conspirators, the secrets that he has long guarded will be dragged into the lightāchanging the Sun Throne, and New Atlantis, forever. The climax of the first trilogy in the nine-book Tarot Sequence, The Hourglass Throne delivers epic urban fantasy that blends humor, fast-paced action, and political intrigue. |
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Midnight Crow by C. R. Collins "Once upon a time, there was a girl who spoke with birds" Sheād used her mage powers to build a successful detective agency, but Dhanaās impressive skills might not be enough to save her family. MIDNIGHT CROW is a standalone sequel to the WOODSPELL SERIES and one of the TALES OF ARDONNA. Content Advisory: Contains adult themes and situations, including violence and assault, plus spoilers for previous Modern Era books |
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Investigation, Mediation, Vindication by Chris Tullbane The stakes are real. The mediator isn't. "Investigation, Mediation, Vindication." That's how the Yellow Pages ad starts, and if it sounds like the sort of thing a drunk teenager might come up with... well, you'd only be wrong about the teenager part. John Smith owns San Diego's smallest private investigation firm, but he doesn't know the first thing about mediation. Or vindication. On the other side of town, vampire Lucia Borghesi is having a terrible century. Stripped of her throne and banished from Italy, she's now somehow found herself in a dispute with the local demigod of nightmares and terror. And to top it all off, the long-time city mediator has been assassinated and her second-in-command just hired a human to fill that role. If he wants to survive, John will need to prove his value to Lucia and her people while keeping that demigod from sucking San Diego into an unnamed hell dimension. And he'll have to work fast, because his beloved Corolla is parked curbside in Logan Heights, like an open invitation to the neighborhood's graffiti enthusiasts. Come take a walk on the weird side of urban fantasy, in what Kirkus Reviews described as an "entertaining tale thatās sure to leave readers anticipating the protagonistās next misadventure." |
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The Hanged Man by K.D. Edwards Book 2 in The Tarot Sequence. Rune Saint John, heir to the fallen Sun Court, finds clues to his Companion Brandās past on a mission into the ruins of his family estate. But while heās still agonizing over whether to tell Brand, a more pressing matter arises. Runeās ward, Max, is nearly kidnapped by the Hanged Man, who has asserted a marriage claim on the young man. Rune isnāt about to lose Max to the Hanged Man and his court, the Gallows, which is known to have unhealthy interests in necromancy and mutilation magics. Urgency will lead Rune and Brand to the family of an old servant, whose own son has fallen into the Hanged Manās orbit. In going to her aid, Rune may find a way to free both young men, but only if heās willing to gamble everything on a decision that will change his life forever. |
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Tides of Change (Charley Deacon Book 2) by Andi R. Christopher Four months after she first arrived, the tiny settlement of Inver Aora is becoming home to Charley Deacon. Living in a studio high on the cliff, she's learning sea magic - and getting a handle on her own brain. For the first time in her life, she feels like she has a change of belonging. Even far from the city, though, things are never quiet. Charley's faced with a haunted artefact, a missing child, and a family that's not entirely human - and their safety depends on her magic, and her pushing through her barriers. And then there's True, mysterious and almost enchanting. Is Charley wasting her time on someone who is just being kind to her, or could there be more of a future for the two of them after all? |
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Tides of Magic (Charley Deacon Book 1) by Andi R. Christopher Meet Charley Deacon. She's failing out of uni, being near the sea makes her inexplicably ill, and now her sister has gone missing in suspicious circumstances. Her only hope of finding her may lie with an impossibly old woman who lives ā you've guessed it ā by the sea. Welcome to Inver Aora, a tiny settlement on the coast of New Zealand's South Island. It has a holiday park, a woman who may or may not be a witch, and not a lot else. Most people can't find their way here, but the locals find it hard to leave. If there's anything weird going on, they're not in the habit of talking about it. Charley might be the least likely person to show up in Inver Aora, but it also might just be the place she discovers new powers, her own purpose, and some people that make her want to stick around. |
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Alpaca and Apparitions (Windflower Book 3) by Andi R. Christopher Previously published as Alpaca and Apparitions by Andi C. Buchanan Mildred Windflower - witch and successful fibre artist - has been touring the world, demonstrating her craft and taking up prized residencies. Now back in Aotearoa, she hopes an isolated farm cottage will give her time alone to work out what to do next. She expected quiet. Instead she finds strange noises in the attic, and signs of an old mystery, while across the fence the quirky, gorgeous Anneke has returned to the family farm and is building up a herd of alpaca. Something supernatural is going on: it's up to Mildred to determine what is warning and what is threat. And ideally without making a total fool of herself in front of Anneke. Alpaca and Apparitions is the third in the Windflower series that started with Succulents and Spells, but can be read as a stand-alone. |
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Microscopes and Magic (Windflower Book 2) by Andi R. Christopher Previously published as Microscopes and Magic by Andi C. Buchanan Some magical problems take spells and potions to solveā¦ but others can only be understood through the lenses of a microscope. Marigold Nightfield's life changed when she absorbed the magic stored in a family heirloom. Now, she's part of a growing network of magic-working scientists who are trying to change the world for the better, and has a girlfriend from a sprawling, powerful, witchy family. Things should be coming together perfectly for herā¦ but her magic has a time limit. It's not hers for keeps and one day, she'll lose it for good. When her girlfriend's work is destroyed by possible sabotage, and strange things start appearing in Wellington's green belt, Marigold's amazing new life starts to unravel. With unknown motives and dubious players at work, she faces a destructive force spreading through the city and beyond. She'll have to not only draw on her scientific background and magical abilities, but make new connections and grow in confidence to face this new threat. This second edition also includes the bonus short story, Magic on the Waves. |
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Succulents and Spells (Windflower Book 1) by Andi R. Christopher Previously published as Succulents and Spells by Andi C. Buchanan Laurel Windflower is a witch from a family of magic workers - but her own life is going nowhere. Living in the damp, sunless side of Aro Valley, she works in a cafĆ©, unable to produce anything more powerful than the most basic herbal potions. Until, one winter morning, Marigold Nightfield knocks on her door. Marigold is a scientist, but she knows plenty about magic. There are strange things happening in her house, and her future discoveries require careful negotiation with monsters. Laurel can't walk away from a mystery ā and she can't walk away from Marigold either. But what lies ahead could reveal all of her shortcomings to the woman she's trying to impressā¦ or uncover the true nature of her power. This second edition also includes the bonus short story, First-years and Familiars. |
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Magnificent: A Superhero Novella by Novae Caelum The world wants me to be a ānormalā hero, but Iām genderqueer, and Iām never going to fit into their molds. So how do you save the world when youāre just trying to figure out who you are? Having a superpowered family is hard. My dadās a famous superhero and my mom used to be a villain. Toss in my older sister who loves showing off her powers almost as much as she loves boys and you basically have my life: far from ordinary. All I ever wanted to do was fly with my family and help save the world. But I didnāt get my own powers until bullies cornered me for not acting like the person they thought I was and I had to defend myself. Having a secret identity is hard, but thereās more than one kind of mask, and I canāt wear my masks much longer. Iāll soon find out if the worldās ready for a genderqueer hero. Magnificent is a nonbinary transgender superhero novella with lots of heart, big issues, a bit of snark, and a happy, triumphant ending. Please check content notes before reading. |
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Banshees and Boba by Nia Quinn Iām Gemma: witch and single mom to a twelve-year-old sass bucket. When my corporate job gives me the heave-ho, I decide itās time to try something new. Dragon manicurist? Golem artificer? How about monster-fighting mercenary? Have sword, will vanquish. Only my new job isnāt quite what I was expecting it to be . . . Iām too young for a midlife crisisāarenāt I? Read now on Kindle Vella and Laterpress! |
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Iām Immy. I suck at being a witch, but make up for it with style. If you donāt believe me, ask my demon roommates. I check in rental cars for supernatural customers leaving town, so I score whatever they ditch before they get on a plane homeāand lemme tell you, they leave some weird stuff behind. Weird enough that sometimes itās a toss-up if itāll help pay the bills, or cause the next best thing to an apocalypse. I really donāt want to start an apocalypse, but I gotta eat. Whatās a girl to do? Read now on Kindle Vella or Laterpress! |
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Lukie's father is trapped in the Underworld and it's all her fault. Twenty years after her murder, Lukie has returned to life and is ready to go home, but her father isn't willing to believe his beloved daughter is back from the dead. Before she can reconcile with him, a supernatural predator steals her father's soul. One that she's led straight to his door, after foolishly ignoring the signs that something was amiss. To get her father back, Lukie must uncover the true nature of the ancient horror haunting Thunderhead Ward before a spectral hunt of bestial ghosts is unleashed upon the world. And she only has until midnight on New Year's Eve, when the borders between the dead and living lands seal, or her father will be lost foreverā¦ |
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Lukieās been murdered. And she needs answers. Sheās cut a deal with the Underworld to return to the living lands. But when Lukie returns as an undead revenant, twenty years have passed. Her former sleepy beach-side town is now a roaring tourist hot-spot. Her memory is full of holes and she doesnāt know which of her old friends to trust. Worse, a monster hunter is stalking her. Lukie has to stay one step ahead, or return to the Underworld without knowing who killed her, and whyā¦. |
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Morganās home is a sanctuary for ghosts. The once-grand, now dilapidated old house they live in has become a refuge for their found family. From Morganās partner Araminta, an artist with excellent dress sense, to Theo, a ten-year-old with an excess of energy, to quiet telekinesthetic pensioner Denny, all of them consider this haunted house their home. In a world that wasnāt built for their queer, neurodivergent selves, theyāve made it into a place they belong. Together they welcome not just the ghosts of the houseās former inhabitants, but any who need somewhere to belong. Both the living and the dead can find themselves in need of a sanctuary. When a collection of ghosts trapped in old bottles are delivered to their door, something from the past is unleashed. A man who once collected ghosts ā a man who should have died centuries before ā suddenly has the house under his control. Morgan must trust their own abilities, and their hard-won sense of self, to save their home, their family, and the woman they love. |
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Wings of Fire by Stephanie Mirro Stealing objects for supernatural clients is my bread and butter. Murder? Not so much. As a phoenix, Iām used to burning hot and rising from the ashes. Thatās why I chose to make my living as a world-class thief. Some say itās dangerous. I call it fun. Or it is until someone beats me to my latest mark, stealing the prize and killing a fae duke in the process. To add insult to injury, I get blamed for the gruesome murder. With my freedom on the line, Iāve got three options. One, confess my failure and spend a few centuries as the caged pet of my sadistic, bloodsucking client. Nope. Two, take the blame and let the hotter-than-hell grim reaper take me to jail. Also a hard nope, unless he sweetens the deal with an offer to burn up the sheets. Is it any wonder I choose door number three? Iāve got to find the real killer, steal back the goods, and remind everyone how I got my reputation as the worldās best āacquirerā in the first place. Thereās just one problem. That sexier-than-sin grim reaper I mentioned? Heās determined to see me go down. |
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Over the Dragonās Gate by Juliana Jones & Riley Sanderson Treya has everything he needs in his pond: food, shelter, and other fish to swim with. Itās painful to wonder if he had another life once, so he ignores the fragments of disturbing dreams that plague him. But when a boy falls into his pond, Treya discovers heās more than a fish. He can also become a boy, and now he has a friend: the irrepressible Eli. During secret meetings in the garden surrounding the pond, Treya and Eli forge a bond that even dark magic canāt break. But when Eli starts asking questions about who and what Treya is, the two of them discover that questions are dangerous, answers have a cost, and their fates depend on unraveling the mystery of Treyaās past. |
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It's the end of the world ā but not as we know it. A woman wakes up in a motel on the outskirts of a remote Oregon city with no memory who she is and a gun at her bedside. As she explores the world around her it seems that civilization has come to a violent end. Thatās bad. It might also be the most normal thing that happens to her all week. |
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Ghosts of the Catacombs by Janna Ruth I'm a ghost whisperer, not a catacomb crawler. But when you live in Paris, sometimes you end up being both. Hi, Iām Alix. During the day, Iām a history student at the time-honoured Sorbonne University. After class, I hang out with the ghosts of the revolution, the many undead misunderstood Parisian artists, and adventurous scientists that glow in the dark. None of them are alive, but they come to me to solve their problems with the living. When a recently deceased catacomb tour guide asks me to retrieve a mysterious personal item from the underground, things take a turn for the weird. Suddenly, I find myself in a city of ghosts, hunted by murderous cave crawlers, and stumbling across haunting secrets. If Iām not careful now, I might end up a ghost myself. Urban Fantasy with a French twist. If you like cave-crawling adventures, hopeless romantics, and ghosts, you'll enjoy Ghosts of the Catacomb, the first instalment of the Parisian Ghosts series. Travel to Paris today to embark on your catacomb adventure. |
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Reckless Truth by Raven Elliot O'Connor When they were children, their brother was stolen and their mother killed. Elyan and Lydia Moore have dedicated their lives to finding out what really happened that night, and where their brother was taken - but the truth will throw them into chaos they could never predict. Combining science fantasy with interpersonal drama, Reckless Truth is a story of finding love and overcoming fear; about testing our deepest personal perceptions and learning to live and love beyond what is expected of us. It is about grief and trauma, and the different ways those things are processed and overcome -- and the scars they leave with us forever. |
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And so it comes to this. A showdown. An ending. But if we fail - if I end - then reality might follow along behind me. We've been through so much. Torture. Murder. Trap after trap mainly sprung by me blundering head first into them and one of my friends saving my stupid behind. But there's no room for mistakes now. We've got an inkling of what the scumbag we're up against is after. Enough to know what his next target is. Enough to know it's probably his last one. Enough to know it's everything he needs to complete his nefarious plans. If we don't get there first, he wins. Simple. And I'm not sure ... but my gut says if that happens, every living thing in the universe loses. No pressure, right? imPerfect Gods is the sixth book in The imPerfect Cathar series, and completes the first story arc. It is a darkly funny supernatural suspense mystery, containing dark humour and graphic violence. |
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At last a warm trail, through blood and bones and long dead kings. The hunt is onā¦ Weāre back in Toulouse, and for once we have the upper hand. Our foe has no idea Iāve escaped from his trap in Fairie and weāve got an actual lead. The famous discovery of a certain hunchbacked English kingās remains gives us a tantalizing clue, and now weāre hot on our enemyās heels with him none the wiser. Except nothing ever runs that smoothly. Hob kings, goth vampires and back-stabbing double-crosses are all lying in wait. And thatās just for starters. To make it back to France weāre going to need serious magic, might and high-level brainpower. Two out of threeās not bad, right? Because if we donāt manage it, the hunter might just become the hunted. imPerfect Hunt is a darkly funny supernatural suspense mystery that spans the south of France, England and Paris. Contains dark humour and graphic violence. WINNER - BEST SERIES 2023 - SUPERNATURAL THRILLER CATEGORY - AUDIOBOOK REVIEWER AWARDS |
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The good news? Thereās a way out of Faerie. The bad news? Itās through the heart of the Unseelie Court of Winter. And thatās not all. Maeve, Winterās ruler, has been stealing human kids for her own twisted delights. Not only do we have to find a way to sneak into her lands, but also weāve got to break in, rescue the stolen children and get them out again without her knowing. Or ... we go to war with the entire nightmarish Unseelie Court. Iām not so much running on empty as trying to push myself forward with the handbrake on. The odds of survival seem minimal. But who wants to live forever? 800 years is good innings by anyone's standards. I can't leave the kids behind to suffer her sadistic indulgences. Weāve got to get them out - or die trying. imPerfect Bones is the fourth book in āThe imPerfect Catharā series, a darkly funny supernatural suspense mystery spanning Fairie and the south of France. Contains strong language and graphic violence. WINNER - BEST SERIES 2023 - SUPERNATURAL THRILLER CATEGORY - AUDIOBOOK REVIEWER AWARDS |
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Body-jacking a legendary assassin when Iām running on empty. No problem, right? After the last few misadventures, Iām not so much broken as ruined, a shell of my former self. But I canāt stop. The trail of those who betrayed me is getting cold, and if Iām going to get any answers, I need to follow it, and now. Except it leads to Faerie. And the way is barred to all but the Fae. So Iām forced to go toe-to-toe with a mercenary assassin whose name has been spoken in terrified whispers throughout the ages. One who got the drop on me the only time our paths crossed. The Jack of Plate. Half-Marred Jack himself. A man who may be more than a monster. Survival isnāt just unsure. Itās highly unlikely. imPerfect Fae is the third book in The imPerfect Cathar series, a darkly funny supernatural suspense mystery following a trio of immortal heretics in the south of France. Contains strong language and violence. WINNER - BEST SERIES 2023 - SUPERNATURAL THRILLER CATEGORY - AUDIOBOOK REVIEWER AWARDS |
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The problem with ancient promises? There's always a price to pay. Iām exhausted. Done in. Needing a stiff drink and about a weekās sleep. But thatās not going to happen. Because Franc is dying, struck by a curse placed on him by the Sistren Of Bordeaux, one of the most powerful groups of Talented in France. And because of our deal, itās on me to find out what the hell is going on, and how Franc has offended the Sistren. Apart from by simply existing, of course. Except a simple trip to Bordeaux turns into a living nightmare as the past comes back to not just haunt me but to kick me square in the nuts, and I'm sent to the one place no Talented ever wants to go. Where those with magic either vanish or get ruined, left as nothing but empty husks. This time, it might not be the world at risk. It might be my very soul. imPerfect Curse is the second book in The imPerfect Cathar series, a darkly funny supernatural suspense mystery following a trio of immortal heretics in the south-west of France. Contains strong language and violence. WINNER - BEST SERIES 2023 - SUPERNATURAL THRILLER CATEGORY - AUDIOBOOK REVIEWER AWARDS |
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An imPerfect Samhain by C.N. Rowan The walls between the worlds are thin. The nights draw in. And monsters walk abroadā¦October 30th, 1958. Franceās papers are haunted by the spectre of the Algerian War of Independence. But that still doesnāt explain why theyāre silent about a childās skeleton, washed up on a French beach. No stories, no breaking news. Nothing but a set of police photos, delivered anonymously to my hands. And bite marks on the skeleton, too big for any human to have made.So my best friend, Aicha, and I head to the city of Nice to investigate. But what we find is more missing children, and an emerging pattern. One that raises some terrifying questions. Who would abduct and sacrifice children? Why isnāt the news getting out? What would demand such a sacrifice? And what terrors might it offer as payment in return?We need to find out fast to save the children, if they can be saved. And maybe save the whole of France at the same time.An imPerfect Samhain is a standalone novella in the best-selling āimPerfect Catharā series. You can expect dark humour, strong language and explicit violence. |
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The Limit of the Lonely Man by Becky James Evyn is running out of time. A princess could have a solutionāor be her downfall. Newly made Rangers, Thorrn and Aubin race to find the cause of Evyn's strange illness, seeking out Princess Sabatha of Rush. Aubinās self-doubt threatens the outcomes of the mission while King Gough is making political moves, hoping that Evyn continues her betrothal to Prince Gerlay of Dinahe rather than choosing anyone else. But destiny weaves around them, drawing the multiverses and their hearts together. What is Evynās calling as the Spirit Shaper, and what does it mean to be the Lonely Man? The third book in the thrilling King's Swordsman series, perfect for fans of sword and sorcery portal and multiverse fantasy. |
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The Bind of Blood and Bonds by Becky James āSpecial Forces is harsh. It could be a lot harsher.ā Treason takes many forms. Once trust is broken, it is hard to reforge. Thorrn discovers this all too clearly, much to his detriment. But someone wants Thorrn dead, and they donāt care how many lives they ruin in the process. Meanwhile, there is a spate of murders targeting Oberrotian officials, and Thorrnās contingent is sent to investigate. Back to being the lowest of the low, Thorrn struggles to trust again ā especially when he finds two of the most powerful mages in the world working together, and one of them is the woman he loves. |
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A Cup of Tea at the Mouth of Hell (Or, An Account of Catastrophe by Stoudemire McCloud, Demon) by Luke Tarzian BRIEFLY, A WORD ABOUT ORDER Order is the focal point around which existence revolves. Without order there is only chaos. And in the halls of Damnation (pronounced Dam-NAWT-ion, thank you kindly) the first sign of impending chaos is a cup of tea made without the water having first been well and properly boiled in a kettle. Why is this relevant, O nameless narrator, you ask? Who cares about the preparatory order of tea in the fires of Hell? Lucifer, dear reader. After all, how does one expect to properly greet the newcomers to Hell without having first had a hot cup of tea to bulwark the cold? Behold the Morning Star, frantic on the annual Morning of Souls, the arrival of Damnation's newest recruits. Someone has misplaced the kettle. |
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Can a path of blood lead to redemption? Is redemption enough to amend a wayward world? Morality and reality have shifted from their natural axis. Technology and ideology derive from the remnants of a world long dead and segregated by the monsters that now rule the seas. Crow, a young ranch hand, is swept into an odyssey of redemption and revenge as he strives to hold back the ravages of fate and the urges born of a curse shared with his new mentor. Callus, an exile struggling to find redemption whilst keeping his vampiric curse from tainting his new ward, pursues his prey across the sea. The new world they discover reveals a tyrannical society fixated on their councilās ascension to godhood. |
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Theyāre supposed to be together. The magic says they should be. So why is she trying so hard to get away from him? Every single one of us is fated to be with someone else. Thatās how the magic works in Atlantis. It chooses your soul mate at birth. And while I want Matt to be mine, heās fated to Sarahāto her dismay. One oneās ever tried to break their mating bondā¦until now. And itās not that easy. In fact, I think itās making him sick. But can I convince him to let Sarah go before her attempts to break away ruin him forever? |
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The Vampire's Mark by Rowena Aiello Someone crouched on the ground. They clung to somethingāa forearm, he realized. Scott went cold and shivered. āDad?ā The crouching figure turned and Mariaās shining eyes locked with his. Her mouth was covered in something dark that matched something on his fatherās arm. For a second, Scott froze, watching her like she was a wild animal twice his size. Maria stood up, her arms at her sides and her fingers splayed. A bolt of fear shot through his stomach until his bladder threatened to burst. He dropped the food. It landed with a weighty, crinkling thump that startled them both to life. āScotty,ā she whispered, in the same slippery voice that had prickled the hairs on his neck. Dry mouthed, Scott dashed for his bike. In the sleepy town of Northam, Massachusetts, not everyone is who they seem to be. Isolated by what he knows, Scott must stop Maria from draining his father's blood before she kills him, or worse: turns his father into a vampire, too. |
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My Name is Magic by Xan van Rooyen Taika Turunen has no magic. Despite coming from a long line of powerful Finnish mages, and their name literally meaning magic, Taika canāt perform the simplest of spells. Forced to attend MyrskyjƤrvi International School for the Magically Gifted on account of their mom being principal, Taika has a hard time fitting in. Sometimes, they wonder if not having magic has something to do with the fact theyāre neither a girl nor a boy and if theyāre fated to be Taika the Talentless forever. Life goes from bad to worse when Taika sees a liekkiƶ and recognizes the spirit's voice begging for help as that of their former BFF and major crush, Natalie Khumalo, whose recent absence from class hadnāt gone unnoticed. When more students go missing, Taika must take the lead in a race against time to save friends old and new before a powerful group of chaos mages can unleash the legendary Sampo, an artifact capable of either renewing the worldās waning magic or destroying everything Taika holds dear. To rescue Natalie, Taika will have to journey to the liminal space between worlds where theyāll be forced to battle mythical monsters and their own flagging self-esteem. In doing so, Taika might just discover that magicāand loveācomes in many different forms. For fans of witchcraft and wizardry looking for a new, inclusive story, My Name Is Magic, is a story about finding strength from within and potential where you least expected it. |
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In the Lab of Love by Melissa Bobe Genevieve loves her life as a witch in Dela City, even if the local witch authorities are a bit of a drag (and Genevieve should know, as her big sister is one such authority). But when the city at large catches word of a scientist who has supposedly invented a cure for all things love and romance, Genevieve is intrigued. Is Dr. Alta Anoma for real? Or is she just another witch trying to capitalize off of a basic love potion? Always a bit too curious for her own good, Genevieve decides to investigate. What she discovers makes her question everything she knows about the politics of magic in her beloved home city. Meanwhile, Dr. Anoma's work continues to garner attention, and the Dela City witch authorities are not about to take the threat of exposure lying downā¦ |
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Hot Button Issue: A Roller Derby Witches Romance by Catrina Bell After a surprising, new law passes restricting reproductive rights, a roller derby witch and the shifter she has a crush on must work together to plan a last minute protest. ~~~~ Good Blanca is a high-profile lawyer with a brilliant legal mind. She's everything her parents hoped she would be - impressive and successful. Bad Blanca is a beautiful mess. She dresses in fishnet tights, flirts with sexy werewolves, and just made the Hel Stars roller derby team. Oh, and sheās secretly a witch. Thorin is her opposite in every way. The happy-go-lucky flirt struggles with supernatural aggression he canāt quite control. His attraction to Blanca makes things even more complicated. When Blancaās powerful client, a state senator, proposes new legislation restricting reproductive rights, the line separating the good and bad in her life becomes blurry. Derby is chaos, and soon everything goes off the rails. How far will she go to defend her values and the people she loves? ~~~~ This steamy, cozy, paranormal romance has a strong pro-choice (bodily autonomy) theme. Please be aware and read accordingly. |
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Merchant Magician by John Champaign Exiled from his family of traders in mystical goods and services on his 23rd birthday, the merchant magician must make his way in the world: meeting mermaids in San Francisco, Midwestern leprechauns, Icelandic dwarves and the girl of his dreams, who happens to be a cultist devoted to the rise of the great old ones who will consume the world in ash and fire when they awaken. Blending real-world negotiation theory with a coming of age story in an urban fantasy setting, this book will appeal to fans of Jim Butcher, Charles de Lint and Neil Gaiman. |
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Far From Normal by Karen Eisenbray and LeeAnn McLennan The band St. Rage is on tour from Seattle, and they bump into the supernormal Brighthall family in Portland, just when the city is being overrun by monsters. Eisenbrey's Rage Brigade books smash into McLennan's Supernormal Legacy trilogy just in time to save the day. Truth. Justice. Rock'n'roll. And lots of superheroes! |
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Dante Alighieri, amateur grifter and recent college graduate, has no plans for the Summer after his senior year, except to finally have sometime off and relax. After several months in New York City, he strikes up a deal with Virgilio āVirgilā Eco Olivares, carefree and semi-well known writer on a visa always almost expiring : a two-week trip to Italy together to find their old bodies to beat those reincarnation blues. A journey that was meant to be about reconnecting with past lives and recovering what was lost in ancient times suddenly turns to peril. With danger at every corner and turbulent emotions running high, relaxation is quickly thrown out the window. In this satirical work of verse-novel, the trip of a lifetime leads to daunting revelations about Italian-American culture and the Western canonās perspective of literature, fraught with raising important questions about cultural collectivism and the complicated intersection between race, sexuality, disability, age, and gender identity under Capitalism. While in transit, the important personal questions revolving around both Dante and Virgilās present lives still persistā a truth that neither is ready to confront: What does it mean to love someone too late? What does it mean to be you when you donāt live in your own body anymore? |
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The Prism Effect (Skylight, #1) by J. Wint Just beyond Earthās atmosphere, orbiting like a shining beacon of hope, is the celebrated Skylight University and only the brightest students are accepted into its hallowed halls. Not surprisingly, Jet Stroud can hardly believe it when he receives his acceptance letter. Afterall, who would want a kid with glowing eyes and a deadly disease called āThe Youthful Deathā on their campus? Thanks to his rare condition known as ephebus mortem, Jet has always been avoided and feared because of his eyes. When he learns the legend claims he will die before his twenty-fourth birthday, his excitement at being accepted into Skylight University is suddenly crushed. Determined to find answers, Jet quickly picks himself up. Accompanied by another kid from his hometown, a loner named Cutter Jade, they seek out the other three students with ephebus mortem. Despite their differences, the small group develops a shaky friendship and begins a quest to find a cure. But not all is as it seems at Skylight University. Mysterious shadows lurk in the hallways and bizarre visions of serpents and prisms haunt Jetās dreams. While reading the obituary of a former student with ephebus mortem, Jet discovers several clues hidden in a trilogy of old paintings. As the group follows the breadcrumbs left behind by this former student, their quest takes an unexpected and deadly turn. The pace to find clues quickens when strange voices, ghostly apparitions and bizarre events threaten to splinter the small group apart. With the semester roaring to a close, and tensions running high, Jet fears they may not survive long enough to crack the code. Could the clues hidden in the paintings hold the cure to the strangest disease ever known to the human race? Can Jet and the others unravel the mysteries of ephebus mortem in time? In the end, Jet discovers something so profound that it will change his life forever. |