stories in and

Copper Skin, Oaken Lungs

Copper Skin, Oaken Lungs by Adam Bassett

For a thousand years, The Old Town has stood as humanity’s last bastion against the maalkonis, malignant black mists that reduced the rest of the world to ash. They are kept at bay by rusty machines on the town’s walls. In order to survive, the dwindling population depends on one another. Since a young age, JustÄ«ne has embraced the harsh responsibilities that accompanied her apprenticeship on the last farm in existence. Her younger sister, Anna, is beginning her own apprenticeship as well. Learning engineering was not Anna's first choice, but the town's last mage fell to the maalkonis years prior, leaving nothing behind but confusing books and strange runes. When food runs low during a particularly harsh winter, distrust spreads like a plague, and JustÄ«ne is blamed for it. As hunger leads to violence, she and her siblings are forced to flee The Old Town, embarking on a perilous journey into the very mists that had formed their cage. Their fight to survive in the dark develops into a hopeful mystery as they follow the breadcrumbs of a mage’s efforts to save the world. Meanwhile something pursues them through the maalkonis…


Impostor (Children of Lorcan Book 2)

Impostor (Children of Lorcan Book 2) by J. M. Rose

NIKOLAI PETROV HATES LIES. Finding out he’s supposed to be the next Vampire King of Raspien was not something Nikolai Petrov ever expected. Torn from his family and his home, Nikolai is thrust into an unfamiliar world with unfamiliar people. But it does not feel like the court of vipers he was warned about. Nikolai is surprised by the warmth of his new family and Lord Councilman Caius Varga, immersed in his new school and his new friends, and somewhere along the line, he stops counting down the days until his return home. His willingness to stay and take up his promised role only grows when he meets the enchanting Lord in Waiting of Amenti, Viktor Kamel. Swept up in romance, friendship and the prospect of learning under the Petrov Academy’s best healers, Nikolai finds himself more deeply entangled than ever in his role as a prince of Raspien. But things aren’t always what they seem. Nikolai’s warmth, kindness and honesty cannot protect him from lies told in decades past; in the end, the truth always comes knocking and the shadows of the past have teeth as deadly as the ugliest of secrets.


Usurper (Children of Lorcan Book 1)

Usurper (Children of Lorcan Book 1) by J. M. Rose

DMITRY PETROV WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THE NEXT VAMPIRE KING OF RASPIEN. On the night of his eighteenth birthday, Dmitry unwittingly finds himself at the center of a scandal that turns his life upside down. Stripped of his titles, inheritance, and everything he’s ever known, Dmitry has to learn to live like the other side. Forced to question everything he’s been taught to believe, Dmitry is determined to forge ahead and build a new life far from the intricate politics and poison of a family bound to a golden chair and the weight of a crown once promised. But dressing a prince in overalls does not a pauper make, and no matter the distance he travels or how hard he tries to forget, Dmitry has to face a harsh and inescapable truth; that a fate born into is not so easily shaken. When he finds himself at the beck and call of a boy king with too much power and no patience, Dmitry begins to understand that there is more to inheritance than a title and a crown, and blood—indeed—runs much thicker than water.


Austringer's Wrath

Austringer's Wrath by E.L. Lyons

The Austringer has fallen! A new Austringer is risen! Minalav is in pieces, needs are high but trust is low. After Axly's plan placed her on the throne, she is faced with the displeasure of High and Low Birds, the Nameless, and the humans of the city. In a bid to bring much needed supplies, Axly offers the one thing all nations covet: sprygan weapons. In the lands of Remorra, General Grimwalt is selected to represent his kingdom. Sent by his cousin, King Henry, who has more in mind than just the sprygan weapons, Grim must negotiate with a woman he doesn't remember.


A Legion of Bane and Embers

A Legion of Bane and Embers by KL Hill

A Knight sworn to protect the city from evil. A vampire bound in chains. A desire that could destroy them both. Atlas I was trained to kill monsters— Not crave the one chained beneath my home. As a Knight of Cindervail, I’m everything the Legion disciplined, deadly, untouchable. But on the night of my final trial, it wasn’t the Legion that saved me. It was a vampire. Emilian. Now he’s leashed and muzzled by the Vail, my illegal asset locked in my basement. I only let him out for missions that need a monster’s teeth. That’s the story we tell. But the truth is darker. Every night, I go back to him—for the heat, the hunger, the sin I can’t stop committing. Our connection is forbidden. Addictive. And when my best friend vanishes and demons begin tearing through Cindervail, I’m forced to face an impossible Save the city I swore to protect— Or surrender to the vampire who makes me feel alive. Emilian I wasn’t born a monster. I was made one—and then left to rot. In Cindervail, vampires like me aren’t given trials. We’re exterminated. I should’ve died the night I met Atlas, the Knight who should have put a blade through my heart. Instead, he let me live. Now I survive chained beneath his home like a secret sin. Muzzled. Bound. Used as a weapon while I fight the city’s nightmares by his side. We pretend it’s duty. But I see the truth in his eyes every time he touches me—the tremor in his hands, the hunger in his breath. The city is rotting. The rifts are widening. Demons are coming through the cracks. Soon, Atlas will have to choose— The city that made him a weapon, Or the creature he should have killed.


Law of Beasts

Law of Beasts by Aalis Blue

Book 2 of the ā€˜Testaments’ series. When your destiny is destruction, what remains of your soul? Hadassah, the last princess of a dying lineage, has been tasked with the impossible — she has been asked to die. But upon waking, her Harbinger lies broken, and her allies stand on the edge of ruin. She must cast aside her guilt, don the mantle of her mother, and rise as the last Queen of Emeris, the one fated to destroy the world. In a realm where the heavens demand obedience, and Queens betray their own, Hadassah will walk the path of no return. There is no future for you, Hadassah. There is only death.


The Undoing

The Undoing by Aalis Blue

Book 1 of the ā€˜Testaments’ series. If you wish upon a shooting star, you may find a small iridescent stone in your palm. And if you carve into it the words of a dead tongue, you may well destroy the world. For a thousand years, humans reigned unchecked. They subjugated, conquered, and consumed all in their path. Yet in the span of a 500-year war, the most feared race in history was annihilated. Their queen vanished, her daughters slaughtered, and their blood spills still into a world that rejoices at their extinction. In the heart of Valdemar forest, Hadassah—the last of a dying human line—lives unaware of the carnage tied to her name. Until the night her home burns and she is forced to flee into a realm that sees her kind as tyrants at best, vermin at worst. Disguised as a harmless rabbit, Hadassah travels with a beastman whose charm hides a shadowed past, a woman so beautiful kingdoms bend before her, a man whose strength humbles her, and a Harbinger forged for her protection alone. Through the power struggles of the formidable Vortigern Rabbit family, Hadassah begins to see the world’s fractures: grudges older than empires, histories written in lies, and a hunger for power that spares no race. Confronted by the cruelty of both beastmen and humans, she must face the question she fears most: Who deserves death, and who shall stand?


The Divines

The Divines by Eden Sandoval

A Life of War. A Diminishing Dream of Escape. The Power to Change Everything. Terah Alexander has been a soldier her entire life. From the moment she was old enough to walk and wield weapons, she’s fought and killed Demons for the Light Guardian side. But at the age of eighteen, she’s finally grown tired of being a frontline soldier in this endless civil war. In pursuit of freedom, Terah leaves her old life behind to attend Divine Academy—a college for those like her with powers bestowed by the gods centuries before. Notoriously neutral, the Academy’s grounds have never been breached by war. Instead, Divines of all factions coexist peacefully, learning and living together. Without the fighting, Terah no longer has a reason to suppress her emotions or ignore the toll that isolation took on her throughout her life as she was shunned for her unique and mysterious transformation. With the help of her new friend Gabriel and childhood friend Matt, Terah can finally begin to confront her fear of vulnerability and work through trauma to find herself, friendship, and perhaps even love. But as the semester progresses, the raging civil war begins creeping onto Academy grounds. Terah must decide whether this new, softer version of herself can survive, or whether she must revert to her old ways to protect all those she’s come to care about. *The Divines is a New Adult Contemporary Fantasy with Romance and is Book 1 in The Divine War Trilogy. Each book has a different protagonist but has significant character crossover. See author website (EDENSANDOVAL.COM) for trigger warnings, content warnings, and tropes.


Bound in Flames

Bound in Flames by Missy S Castillo

Captured by the enemy. Marked by ancient magic. Claimed by a beast... When Cleo is rescued by Dex, a ruthless orc chieftain of the Blackfoot Clan, she’s thrust into a world ruled by savage loyalty and primal power. For centuries, the humans and orcs have been locked in brutal war after the Ostelan Crown broke the ancient treaties, driving the orcs into hiding. Now, Cleo’s untamed magic is the key to saving the orcs—but it also tempts her with a darkness she may not escape. As her power grows and her bond with Dex deepens, she faces an impossible choice: choose to fulfill the prophecy, sacrificing herself, or surrender to the seductive magic and risk everything to be with the one she loves. Dex has vowed to protect his people at any cost, even if it means using the woman fate has bound to him. But Cleo’s fire stirs something primal in him—something far more dangerous than war. As tensions rise and the stakes grow higher, Dex must decide whether his duty to his clan outweighs the undeniable pull of his heart.


Escape from Null

Escape from Null by Rennae Kletzel-Gilham

Together until the end. It’s a promise Ash intends to keep. As a marked one living behind the stone walls of Null, Ash grows up knowing one truth: to prevent the curse from awakening inside her, she must die at the hands of the Keeper. Sixteen years of strict rules and cruelty is made bearable only through a secret friendship and a shared fate. Knowing she’ll be with Jace at the end is enough. Until it isn’t. Now her death is imminent and a desperation to live ignites in her soul. Torn between newfound hope and limited time, escaping into the forest is the only way to survive. Before she can convince Jace her plan is worth the risk, he’s ripped from her life to meet his end. A powerful connection to something beyond the walls thrums just beneath her skin, showing her a glimpse of an altered truth—one where Jace still lives. Ash makes a daring escape to find him, but nothing is as it seems. Bone-white trees act as beacons of safety from the creatures now hunting her, and vivid dreams blur the lines of her new reality. Embrace the darkness to save a friend. Turn away from the shadows to save herself. Shedding one version of who she is for another may be the only way to do both.


The Scion Conspiracy

The Scion Conspiracy by Mike Cahoon

What is The Scion Conspiracy? During a burgeoning Age of Exploration, a conspiracy of deadly politics and dark magic is abducting children from across the continent for unknown purposes. Disgraced Prince Cassius Roth delves into the tangled web of lies and violence, unprepared for the just how far it stretches. From an exalted performer to the Gifted son of a merchant sailor, to a notorious outlaw and a hardened conwoman, no one is above being ensnared in the mysterious conclave’s ambitions. But are they only pieces in a greater game or will they rise to orchestrate their own plans? As the greatest powers in the world fight for control over the New World, alliances shift by the moment and no one’s future is set in stone. The conspiracy weaves its plots and nations are dragged along in its wake, forever defining all that follows in the first installment of this dark fantasy epic.


A Forgotten Legend

A Forgotten Legend by T.M. Baylor

If one thing is true, it is that peace is a fragile thing in Eterin. The Lupegi province, Davegu kingdom, and the wilds of Andyse are anything but united, a tense alliance being the only thing stopping the world from plunging into chaos and death. When a Lupegi mission goes missing under mysterious circumstances and the Southern Coalition of Andyse is attacked during a time of peace, people from all across Eterin end up thrown into the fray. Ancient stories and long forgotten legends are their new truths as they must figure out how to navigate the now treacherous lands of Eterin and keep themselves alive against all odds. ​​--- A Forgotten Legend is an epic dark fantasy that follows six POV characters from across the world of Eterin. It centers themes of truth, the nature of resistance, propaganda, and the importance of knowing history to understand the present. Features LGBTQIA+ and women characters. Intended for mature audiences, please check the content warnings. First book of The Secrets of Eterin series.


Lamb, Stag & Wolf

Lamb, Stag & Wolf by Airic Fenn

Sanctimonious, hypocritical, manipulative—Shelby Blackwood is a priest of the worst sort. To keep his secluded little village peaceful, he’s learned to carefully balance preaching of faith and fear. Ives Thatcher, the reclusive woodsman at the edge of the forest, has neither; the villagers are not pleased. But converting Thatcher proves to be easier said than done when Shelby discovers there is something far more unnatural about him than his pagan ways, and Shelby can’t help himself from being tempted by the large man’s power and allure. Worse still, there’s a newcomer in town, and her curiosity and defiant personality may not just jeopardize Shelby’s secret, but the sanctity of the very system he’s worked to maintain.


Whispers of the Storm

Whispers of the Storm by Z.B. Steele

REDLIN OF THE WOLVES VANGUARD, LEGEND, ASSASSIN, REAPER Listen to my story I wasn't always the monster they see me as. Half of the songs they sing are stories of my grandeur. The other half are tales of my misdeeds. The sad truth is that they're all true. So, listen to my tale and learn why it all happened. Learn the reason for the war, the reason for all the death. Listen to my tale and listen well. I won't be alive long enough to tell it again. A moody, banter-laced, violent, and poetic framed story - Z.B. Steele presents Whispers of the Storm, book one of Song of the Damned.


Of Hollowed Stars

Of Hollowed Stars by Rowyn Adelaide

š—”š—œš—šš—›š—§š— š—”š—„š—˜š—¦ š—˜š—–š—›š—¢. When Gavrel vanishes into the twisted depths of the Nether Void, Seryn has no time to grieve. While dreams blur into nightmares and ancient power stirs within her, she unravels a prophecy rooted in her bloodline. Part demi-Ancient, part Nightshade, she may be the key to restoring—or destroying—the balance between realms. š—¦š—¢š—Øš—Ÿš—¦ š—”š—Ÿš—œš—šš—”. Though their souls are bound by a golden thread, even fate-woven ties can fray. With the Fates tightening their grip, Seryn and Gavrel face the truth of their bond: prophecy or choice, sacrifice or salvation. Together, they'll forge a path unwritten by the stars … and hope their love can endure the Void. š—¦š—§š—”š—„š—¦ š—–š—¢š—Ÿš—Ÿš—œš——š—˜. Across shifting nightmare-scapes and corrupted cities, Seryn must gather unlikely allies, awaken celestial magic, and confront the Ancient of Nightmares before the aether claims them. And in the chaos of colliding stars, she'll risk everything to save a world already slipping into the darkness beyond.


Of Blooming Embers

Of Blooming Embers by Rowyn Adelaide

š—˜š— š—•š—˜š—„ š—¦š—£š—”š—„š—žš—¦. As Seryn pieces together long-lost memories, dreams twist into reality, revealing truths more perilous than the nightmares she once feared. Forced to flee, Seryn and Gavrel embark on a search for answers—not only about the fate of those she loves, but also the mysterious power coursing through her veins. š—£š—”š—¦š—¦š—œš—¢š—” š—œš—šš—”š—œš—§š—˜š—¦. Although Seryn can’t forget how Gavrel once ripped their budding love from the roots, the feelings they once shared refuse to stay buried. But what shadowed secrets does Gavrel continue to hide? Truths that keep him from claiming what he wants the most. š—™š—”š—§š—˜ š—•š—Øš—„š—”š—¦. Whispers of rebellion rise, and stunning prophecies take root. Seryn never asked to be a pawn in Fate’s cruel game—but if she refuses, the mortal realm will perish. In a decaying world where lies masquerade as truth and power demands sacrifice, Seryn must reclaim the shattered pieces of herself before fate ravages their world. Because once you breathe life into ember, the inferno doesn’t just burn the wicked—it consumes everything.


Of Withering Dreams

Of Withering Dreams by Rowyn Adelaide

š——š—„š—˜š—”š— š—¦ š——š—˜š—–š—”š—¬. The Dormancy was meant to be the mortal realm’s salvation. From autumn to spring, citizens must enter a magically induced slumber to conserve dwindling resources. The divine Ancients, who gifted mortals magic, disappeared long ago, leaving humanity at the mercy of the Elders. These powerful and elusive oligarchs have one motto: "Through Dormancy, we blossom!" Yet, this seems more like a cruel jest than a promise. For Seryn, this Dormancy will change everything. Except for the little details… you know, like her realm progressively decaying and people vanishing. As the threads of reality unravel, she soon discovers her hidden identity as a Druik, one who wields magic. But her abilities are… unusual. Unpredictable. š——š—˜š—¦š—œš—„š—˜š—¦ š—•š—Ÿš—¢š—¢š— . While her inherited powers bloom, so do her desires for her charming best friend, Kaden. She wouldn’t dream of risking their friendship, but the Fates can’t be bothered with mortal dreams. š——š—˜š—¦š—§š—œš—”š—¬ š—Øš—”š—„š—”š—©š—˜š—Ÿš—¦. Navigating a treacherous path where dreams and nightmares blur, Seryn must confront haunting truths. Her newfound courage and magic might be the key to saving her realm, but will they be enough when even dreams can wither into oblivion?


Between Stars and Salvation

Between Stars and Salvation by Jeannin Counts

The gods are silent. The stars are merciless. Humans have killed for survival, but they’ll die for freedom. An assassin raised in the shadows, Alessiahas spent her life fighting a war she cannot win. The stars—powerful beings who fell from the heavens—have enslaved humanity for centuries, and no matter how many she and her partner Theo strike down, even more rise to take their place. Magic is vanishing from the world. Except in Alessia, whose abilities grow stronger—and more dangerous—with every battle. When the resistance leader’s son is taken hostage, Alessia and Theo embark on a desperate mission to rally allies and awaken the sleeping gods. But as loyalties shift, destinies beckon, and their bond grows fiercer, the cost of their magic rises. In a clash of mortals and stars, victory will demand not only strength but blood, betrayal, and a willing sacrifice. A rising rebellion. A fated power. A love forged in the heavens. The stars will fall. But who will rise from the ashes?


Deceit and Darkness

Deceit and Darkness by Jeannin Counts

The stars have fallen. With war on the horizon, the only way out is through death itself. The stars’ conquest is in full force, and their leader, Rigil, will stop at nothing to subjugate all of humanity. In the midst of their grief, Iyana and her companions must turn to the gods for guidance, and they’re not all welcoming to mortals. Only the first Aztia can teach Iyana how to banish the stars once again. But the only way to reach her is to send an emissary to the afterlife, and there’s no guarantee the gods won’t get to them first. Meanwhile, Rigil’s reign of terror is only spreading, and he’s hells-bent on ending any chance of retribution. When Altair is tasked with hunting Iyana down, his loyalties are put to the ultimate test. As intense as ever, he’s no one’s slave. But what does that mean when he’s commanded to kill his former lover? An unforeseen ally. A willing sacrifice. A voyage into the unknown. Can destiny overcome deceit? Or will humanity fall next?


Noxious

Noxious by Ayrton Silva

After the incidents in her village, Lina has a new goal: to journey to the city of Vrysta and become a Slayer. On the surface, it looks like it will be simple. A short trip, followed by a test, with her dream practically in arm's reach. She couldn't be more wrong. A series of mistakes upon arrival sees Lina not only failing the test, but being forbidden to take it again. Stranded in an unfamiliar city, now she must find a way to get by. More importantly, she has to find a way to keep her dream alive. She knows it won't be easy. Vrysta is a sprawling city, and the obstacles she has to navigate are just as daunting as the city's size. Slayers are stranger and messier than they seemed. The only familiar thing is the curse, the ever-present threat that Lina's world can fall apart at a moment's notice. Ironically, that curse is the very thing that Lina wants to fight.


The Pawns of Havoc

The Pawns of Havoc by Dave Lawson

No Mercy, No Questions Asked. Cork has quickly made a name for himself among the Kosellan mercenaries, but now his boss has come to him with an unusual job. Cork’s erstwhile countrymen, the Winn, have hired him to travel into the barren Frozen Lands and destroy a convoy, leaving only one survivor. Cork isn’t sure he can trust the Winn. He feels like a pawn in their political game. However, his mother is sick and the Winn have promised to heal her if Cork does the job. And killing is what Cork does best. To make matters worse. Cork’s crew has been decided for him: Arabella, an inexperienced and infuriating archer, and Nessa, a gloomy criminal with murder on her mind. Cork will have to figure out how to complete the job, avoid Winn treachery, and manage conflicts with Arabella and Nessa along the way. It's going to be chaos.


World of Dreams

World of Dreams by Riley Taylor

The Poison Princess series continues with World of Dreams. Life isn’t easy after their last fight, but they cannot give up. Kai is distraught, and Zuri has no way to make it better. In fact, she blames herself. If she’d just realised what her vision meant, then everything would be alright. She should have been stronger. After stepping up their training, the team gets the opportunity to go on an Alliance run mission. Someone has forced their way into the Fantasy Realm, a dangerous place belonging to Nature’s Royals and The Alliance wants to put a stop to Hideki’s terrible plans. They must make it through to the end alive, traversing through the sectors of Water, Orchid, Appleblossom, Cherry Blossom, and Poison, passing trials set by the Royals along the way. Zuri must be careful to hide her secret but it is difficult when the lives of her loved ones are on the line yet again. Exhausted and bloody, when they make it to the centre, they meet someone who turns their lives upside down. Everything they thought they knew is wrong. And the battle has only just begun…


The Paragon

The Paragon by Molly Collier

HARDSHIP BREEDS HEROES. PEACETIME INSPIRES PARAGONS. When the sacred artifact at the center of his society becomes mysteriously corrupted, Doha, a brilliant and reclusive engineer, is tasked with the greatest challenge of his career: dealing with other people. That, and solving the mystery to fix the Mirror before the complete collapse of his community. Isla, a talented mage reeling after the devastating loss of everything she’s ever known, becomes the sole keeper of dangerous secrets that could crack the crooked foundation upon which her nation was built. She's finally found something and someone to fight for, but sinister forces may prevent her from finding peace at last. Through love, loss, and loyalty, Isla, Doha, and the family they’ve found will see their convictions challenged as they fight to protect those they love and that which they believe in. In a beautiful disaster of complex characterization, imperfect people learn to understand themselves and each other, all while life as they know it hangs in the balance. The Paragon is an epic fantasy charged with science, romance, and mystery, perfect for fans of Blood Over Bright Haven, Attack on Titan, and Naruto Shippuden.


Gray Messiah

Gray Messiah by F.J.R. Halbertsma

Bound by blood and prophecy, a prince must master his powers before they destroy him, while his imprisoned sister's doomed rebellion may hold the key to the world’s salvation. Together, they are the last hope to free God... before the coming darkness consumes everything. For centuries, the world has waited for the Gray Messiah to liberate God from imprisonment in the Vortex. With an ancient evil awakening to threaten all, the souls of the dead stirring in the forgotten dark, and many of the empire’s provinces in near-rebellion, the world desperately needs its celebrated savior. Prince Azaleum is the Gray Messiah, but on the day he is meant to save the world, his powers awaken in a storm of fire that leaves hundreds dead and an empire in ashes. Branded a murderer and a traitor by the very people he was meant to save, Azaleum vanishes into exile, consumed by guilt and haunted by the legacy he can no longer bear. Driven by a desperate need to find his long-lost sister, he searches for redemption and the secret of their combined powers, the strength prophesied to liberate God. Iva, Azaleum’s forgotten twin, survived twenty years of death, misery and suffering on a prison island. When her powers as a Gray Messiah manifest, a mysterious young man entices her with the possibility of change and freedom from her tortured existence. When an ancient evil awakens beneath the island, and the prison colony turns into the center of a primordial war, she becomes the leader of a rebellion doomed to fail. Gray Messiah is the epic beginning of a saga exploring the weight of choices and the triumph of human will over any odds.


The Floating Castle

The Floating Castle by L. N. Holmes

ā€œ5 stars, no notes.ā€ —Millie Abecassis, author of DAUGHTERS OF THE BLUE MOON and A LEGACY OF BLOOD AND BONE ā€œHolmes’ fantasy novel churns with warring empires and palace intrigue. The novel boasts strong worldbuilding in the rich ceremonial details of Toguan’s court and the earthy rituals of the Gildacrest witchesā€¦ā€ —Kirkus Reviews In a world where demons control the supply of magic and dragons are both feared and sentient, three women combine forces to oppose an evil prince and escape his floating castle. She wants to control him. He wants to kill her. To secure her position as the emperor’s favorite daughter, Princess Fu Liling sails across a monster-infested sea to marry and subdue Elias of House Zartisval, crown prince of a rival kingdom. When she meets Elias, however, he unexpectedly refuses to marry her. At risk of being cut off from the imperial family, Liling tries to force the wedding, only to discover that Elias is a murderer and she is his disposable hostage. Liling resolves to expose this betrayal to her father and plots an escape, relying on a reluctant guard and a rebel witch to aid in her flight. Elias, who’d rather see them all dead than free, gives chase. The ensuing battle may cause the Floating Castle to literally fall, and Liling must decide: surrender and die to keep the peace or dishonor her father in exchange for her own life and liberty. The repercussions of her choice will ripple across a continent.


Riyati Ripple

Riyati Ripple by Kai Zeal

Every act of defiance steers you into the person you were always meant to become. After Nimaka’s death and the older selves returning to their own time, Kylie ran from all she’d known and grown up with at North Opal Pines, but she soon learns she can’t run far or fast enough. She thought she could leave it all behind: go back to being a normal high school student, make new friends, keep her grades up and her mother happy. But Nimaka’s death has only rallied the two others, and now they’ve stalked Kylie to her new school. Even worse, they have a mysterious new leader who no longer seeks to just kill Kylie but all those she knows and loves…. and the body count is rising. Kylie can’t get by on ā€œjust survivingā€ anymore: to protect herself — let alone those around her — she must become as strong and cunning as Siani was, or everyone she’s ever known and loved will die with her. Riyati Ripple is the third book in a new adult/adult contemporary, low dark fantasy series that seeks to explore themes of identity, legacy, generational trauma, and finding your own path in life. Riyati is set in the modern day fictional Southern US town of Opal Pines and includes multiple first person perspectives with characters across a range of queer, neurodiverse, and socioeconomic statuses.


The Flowers I Deserve

The Flowers I Deserve by Tamara JerƩe

Weeping luna is as common as wildflowers, and in the northern kingdoms, assassination by its floral poison is rampant. Those born with immunity are coveted by heretic clerical orders and the endangered aristocracy—and shunned by a superstitious society. One so gifted, or cursed, Carlotta embraces her newfound power as the currency to deliver her from a land in the grip of drought. Luxury and beauty, glimpsed only through the portal of her late mother’s letters, become an easy trade to consider in exchange for her life. And looming always in her imagination is the symbol of it all—King Emelia, a demon who rose to power under mysterious circumstances. Rumor claims her to be a monstrous woman like the poison girls who serve and adore her. Yet in the warnings of evil, Carlotta sees her own reflection. Once initiated into the world of sensual indulgence and ancient magic within the castle walls, however, Carlotta finds that not even a king’s devotion is enough to sate her. As the castle’s ghosts coalesce, Carlotta must also confront what her own dead want for her and, even at the heights of her seduction, what she truly wants for herself. The Flowers I Deserve is an FFF erotic gothic fantasy novel with lyrical prose.


The Outsiders of Orkland

The Outsiders of Orkland by Kenneth Feller

What would you sacrifice for your family? A plague ravages the Fringe, but a chance encounter with orcs from Bogan Island gives Boele hope for a cure. With his lad, Willem, a dodgy crew, and a huge pair of stones, he sets off on a mission to once again unite the humans with the horde. Or he could screw up and start a war. No pressure. For fans of The Grey Bastards and Dungeon Crawler Carl, The Outsiders of Orkland is a fast-paced, foul-mouthed, dark fantasy with an Australasian twist.


Trapped by the Alpha's Mate

Trapped by the Alpha's Mate by Rowena Aiello

A lost hiker. A dangerous shifter. A trap disguised as a choice. I just did the one thing you should never do while hiking—let alone backpacking— I got lost. Yes, I have my compass, and my map, but it was getting dark and I had to pee, and by the time I stepped back towards the trail… I don’t know. It was just gone. What can I say, it’s like a jungle out here in the forests of the Pacific Northwest. I have to find a place to sleep, before I get turned around anymore, so I wander just a little bit…and wouldn’t you know it, but in the middle of nowhere, there’s a huge estate parked in the center of the forest. It’s not on the map—I would know, I’ve been staring at it all evening. It’s also dark. places this big never, ever have all the lights off. But there’s no security cameras or fences or…anything. So you’d think no one would notice if someone just…I don’t know, casually set up a tent right at the very edge, close enough to the forest to not technically be on the property. But no. They do. And they’re not happy about it. They’re really not happy about me being here. So that’s Not Good. But they’re not letting me go, either, which is its own level of Very Not good. Now I need to what on earth have I just stumbled into? And now that I what will it take to get me back out of it?


Legends of Bone and Oath

Legends of Bone and Oath by Pedro Corzo

A cursed Alpha A stolen soul A war between Gods and Monsters Tyler Lockwood was born a monster. As he struggles to control the beast inside him, fate draws him into a hidden world of supernatural war and divinity. Seraphina Reyes might be the only one who can help him survive. But as gods wake, love and loyalty might not be enough to stop what's coming. Oaths will be broken. And Tyler must choose to remain a pawn of fate—or break the cycle and become legend. Legends of Bone and Oath is a myth-inspired dark fantasy about found family, tragic love, and the cost of becoming for than human.


When Blood Burns

When Blood Burns by Andrew Stevens

Magic is fading. The ancient races have all but vanished. Humans and dragons remain, a fragile peace offering a brief respite in their ancient struggle. On the outskirts of human lands, twins Kai and Mara still remember the deaths of their parents, murdered at the hands of a rogue dragon when they were young. Eager to avenge their family, they’ve sworn fealty to the Order, a legendary group of warriors who wield the magic of the dragons’ own blood against them. The problem is, that source has long since dried up, and the twins question if their true purpose has dried up with it. Until the rumors begin… Whispers speak of a strange sighting in the mountains, a group of hunters waylaid by a woman with inhuman qualities—her scarlet eyes burning with vengeance, her voice planting dark thoughts in the minds of men. Her arrival speaks of a new conflict, one with roots that extend far deeper than any in the Order could possibly know. And somehow, Kai and Mara seem to be at the very heart of it. Peace will not last. Vengeance will not rest. And before all is over, blood will burn.


That Lesbian Vampire Pirate Story

That Lesbian Vampire Pirate Story by Raven Belasco

Set in 1860s New York, Sadie ā€œthe Goatā€ Ferrell is one of the criminal superstars of the gangs of New York. Gallus Mag is her mortal enemy … and in an epic bar fight Gallus Mag bites off Sadie’s ear — and puts it in the pickle jar of other ears she has bitten off! — as the bouncer for the Hole-in-the-Wall bar in the notorious Fourth Ward. Sadie takes this as sign, gives up on being a criminal by land, takes over the Charleton Street Gang, and is soon sailing up and down the Hudson River with the Jolly Rodger waving on the mast! But there is so much more in store for Sadie than just being a small-time river pirate. She and her gang board the wrong ship, and suddenly Sadie is facing an all-too-real pirate queen — who is also a vampire. Will Sadie survive meeting this powerful vampire and rise to meet her fate? And will she ever meet Gallus Mag again, and find out that hate and love are two very intense sides of the same coin...? Set in the world of the Blood & Ancient Scrolls Series. ā€œThis delicious series has bewitched me. Raven Belasco has built a convincing, detailed world full of violence and romance. A sensuous, deeply-felt back story. Highly recommended!ā€ — Patrick Califia, author of Mortal Companion


Blade of the Wanderer

Blade of the Wanderer by Steven Raaymakers

The chronological short stories of Esterra Stake. Tractwalker. Mercenary. Exile. When the stars fell, the world died. Magic claimed Esterra's arm when she was a child. For her curse, she was exiled into the weird, pockmarked world of Verpace. The magic eats away at her, twisting her bones and psyche to its own will, the curse spreading with each use. Now an adult, she wanders the world as a tractwalker, making her living through hunting, mercenary work, and whatever opportunities arise. It is a dangerous life. Deranged cultists cry out to the red-dwarf sun, deformed beasts prowl in every shadow, creatures born from myth lurk in broken temples, and every night brings the threat of the lethal lichtvallen. Yet some greater danger seems to lurk on the horizon, and there are whispers in the dark. Will Esterra survive, or will she succumb to the incessant call of the magic? - The first volume of stories in Scars of Magic, a post apocalyptic sword-and-sorcery series overflowing with horror, mystery, magic and action.


Kiss of Seduction (Court of Chains #1)

Kiss of Seduction (Court of Chains #1) by Rawnie Sabor

A succubus's kiss is deadly... to everyone but her. Evie is trapped. Held captive by the vampiric Court of Night, she has experienced nothing but pain and terror for over a year. Treasured for her rare and delectable blood, Evie knows she will never see the outside of the dark estate that is her prison. She is fated to be forever ruined by cruel monsters. Her freedom is a concept lost. Natalya is the second-in-command of the Chicago-based Court of Chains. She is among the rarest monsters—a greater fiend, a succubus. A being of pure Sin, whose touch is agony and whose kiss is a death sentence. Following a less-than-diplomatic visit to the Court of Night, Natalya finds herself responsible for a human who was so hurt during her captivity that she is believed to be broken. But there's something different about this strange woman. She suffers no pain under Natalya's touch, and she can survive the infernal kiss of a succubus. But Sin does not invite peace. The vampire King of the Court of Night is a patient man who doesn't like when people take what he believes to be his property. Or which could be his property. And only few things are rarer or more precious than the bound powers of a greater fiend. Kiss of Seduction is an emotionally charged, sapphic love story of healing through trauma, reclaiming yourself after tragedy, and trusting another to catch you when you fall.


Sword of Vengeance

Sword of Vengeance by Chris Adams

In a land under siege by an immortal warrior mage commanding a ruthless empire, a desperate mission to rescue a kidnapped prince could save the world—or doom it. Magic, monsters, and betrayal collide as the journey reaches beyond the mortal realm—into Death’s domain—while gods stir, demons rise, and long-buried secrets threaten to destroy everything. Sacrifices must be made as the battle between light and darkness begins—with twists no one sees coming. Sword of Vengeance follows Guardian Knight Gerald Caelen as he confronts dark forces in a high-stakes race against time. As a newly sworn knight in the order once a victim of Adrian Zartun’s betrayal, Gerald must now face the immortal warrior-mage responsible for destroying his family and an entire empire. Accompanied by wizards, warriors, and a mysterious assassin, Gerald journeys deep into the heart of the Videronian Empire to rescue Prince Richard Calladorus before he is sacrificed in a dark rite that will grant Zartun ultimate power over the mortal world. Along the way, Gerald will battle demons, confront ancient secrets, and wield magic he barely understands, as he and his companions discover that the fate of heaven and hell itself may hinge on the success of their quest.


Mercy: Tears of the Fallen

Mercy: Tears of the Fallen by Chance Dillon

"GET IT... 'A gritty and fast-moving fantasy from a promising new voice.'" - Kirkus Reviews "This is one of the most dangerously ambitious and boldly imaginative debuts I have ever read." - GRIMDARK MAGAZINE (Esmay Rosalyne) "This is going to be something enormously special. This is a debut that demands people's attention." - John Minton, Talking Story and one of the Authors of Discovery "This will undoubtedly go down as one of the best fantasy debuts this year; if not the best." - Zachary Shaye of Shaye's Library "Dillon throws you into the deep end... His writing is good. Really good... He's doing something special here, bringing his fiery passion to the story in spades." - iSamwise, Book Reviewer "There will be emotional damage." - Zammar Ahmer, Author of The Book of Astea Mercy is for the Fallen. A world shattered by war. A relic that can rewrite destiny. And two men—one hero, one exile— who might be the key to everything. Alevist Lightseeker was once a legend. His reward? Betrayal and murder of all he held dear. Erevayn drinks to forget. But no amount of ale can quell his hearts desire to drive his blade through those that stole his future. A gifted minstrel carries a secret—a tale that binds the fallen hero and bitter exile together. A tale neither are ready to hear. Power and vengeance have a price. And in the war for the Tears of the Fallen, death follows from Mercy. For fans of Elden Ring, The Malazan Book of the Fallen, and Joe Abercrombie comes an epic series where blades crash, kingdoms fall, and fate is never as it seems.


TEETH: The Complete Meal

TEETH: The Complete Meal by Chele Cooke

Death is a bitch. But the afterlife… that’s where the trouble really begins. Spencer thought his afterlife was perfect. Little did he know, even being dead can change at the drop of a body. A dark urban fantasy trilogy, TEETH: THE COMPLETE MEAL is the complete collection of humorous and suspenseful paranormal thrillers.


Gallery of Nightmares: Lost

Gallery of Nightmares: Lost by Doug Hoppes

He dies. He lives. Then he dies again—six times, in fact, and each time is a living nightmare that he can’t remember. Jonathan inherits the Gallery of Nightmares and thinks that he has finally found a home… at least until the paintings in the Shadow Nook break him. His family and past may be the only thing that saves him from the mysterious shadow people. *Six young adult illustrated dark fantasy short stories of horror that are NOT ultra-violent, gory, or sexually explicit—just nightmare fuel for the imagination.


Fablenoir

Fablenoir by Vic Sinclair

Fifteen years after climbing the beanstalk, giants are the least of Jack’s concerns… Twisted fairy tale figures roam our world in this deliciously dark, exhilarating new Urban Fantasy series, featuring familiar characters from mythology and fables clashing and conniving in a metropolitan cesspit that runs on chaos. Surrounded by corruption, depravity, and dark magick, down-and-out Detective Jackson Slade of the NYPD is at his lowest. With nothing left to fight for, he finds himself winding up in the same grimy bars every night, nearly drinking himself to death and relying on mysterious magick beans to pick himself back up. Until one night, he stumbles upon a gruesome crime scene that will change the course of his life dramatically. When he finds the shattered corpse of egg-shaped media mogul Dick Dumpty, Jack finds himself reluctantly teaming up with the notoriously cold-blooded outlaw Goldilocks, and together they spiral into the horrifying magickal underbelly of New York City, caught in the middle of a war between the corrupt and the even more corrupt. Coming up against forces such as the grizzly gang leader Papa Bear and the crooked giant-descendant head of the NYPD Chief Cole, Jack and Goldilocks set in motion an explosive chain of events that will change the world, for better or for so much worse…


Blood Ties: A Collection of Three Covenant of Blood Shorts

Blood Ties: A Collection of Three Covenant of Blood Shorts by J.S. Living

Liz is trapped in a mind prison. Dmitri wants to marry the girl of his dreams. Angelo wants to keep his research from being destroyed. Blood Ties is a companion collection to The Covenant of Blood, and answers questions like how Liz came to exist in Elizabeth Bathory Tepes's subconscious; how Dmitri became the PI; and why Angelo agreed to a marriage he didn't want. If you loved The Covenant of Blood, this short story collection will be a perfect addition to your library.


The Covenant of Blood

The Covenant of Blood by J.S. Living

What would you do if someone granted your deepest desire for one tiny favor? What would you give up to gain your freedom? And, if it came down to it, who would you save: yourself, or a loved one? Elizabeth Bathory-Tepes wants to find the mother that abandoned her. She wants to find her father's soul. And she wants to know why she blackouts from time to time. But getting what you want comes at a cost. And, sometimes, the cost of blood is too high.


Shadow of the Elders

Shadow of the Elders by Will Elm

When a drought strikes the continent of Bas, family and friends are ripped apart, ancient grudges are revived, and a strange magic is sought that threatens to plunge the world further into chaos. Three people—Savique, Vaten, and Ajeau—search for a way back to each other. But each step they take casts them deeper into a world of mystery and danger. To survive, they will be forced to partner with old enemies, escape imprisonment, and fight against evil. Little do they know, their journeys are being watched by a powerful force. One that promises a reunion. And so much more.


Everlasting | Legacy of Blood And Hope

Everlasting | Legacy of Blood And Hope by Melanie Frome

The legacy of her blood has always come with a price. "Please just let me finish my final year of high school, preferably drama-free. And alive?" Sady Smith sends her plea up to the sky, already knowing it won’t be answered. Another year, another town, another fresh start. Her family does what it always does—packs up, moves on. Every home is temporary. Every friendship a risk. The rules are Don’t get attached. Don’t let anyone in. Start over. This year should be no different. Only… it is. First, there’s Greyson Black—her history teacher, of all people—who stirs up something she’s never felt before. Feelings she definitely shouldn’t be having. Before she can even start to unpack that little existential crisis, along comes Kelsey—a human wrecking ball of friendship, completely uninterested in the concept of boundaries. One day, she’s just a girl at the lunch table. The next, she’s there to stay. Effortless. Unshakable. Normal. Which means it’s doomed. Because mythical creatures? Yeah, they’re real. Her parents included. And Sady? She’s changing—fast. Power she can’t understand, or control. No rulebook to follow. And when her new friend, her only friend, is attacked—the storm inside her finally unleashes. And when the dust settles—it’s time to confront the demons of her bloodline and choose her own legacy. And then? Darkness takes her.


Her Shadowed Destiny

Her Shadowed Destiny by Rowena Aiello

"...a very strange book...in a magical land where odd things happen." They didn’t want to let her into their world. Now, she might just be their only hope. It takes a lot of guts to be a practicing witch in Lilaville. Then Aurora shows up, and Reine’s best friend goes missing at her house party. Now Reine’s powers might be the only thing keeping everyone safe. Without them, the true danger ahead of them can’t be stopped, and Reine could lose her best friend—forever. She just hopes her magic will be strong enough…


Shadows Lost

Shadows Lost by B.K. Cavaleri

A curse that drove a queen mad. A heroine that failed to stop her. A shifter that refuses to give up. A world that needs them both again.


Koala and the Darkness: A Bermuda Triangle Mystery

Koala and the Darkness: A Bermuda Triangle Mystery by Jared Michael Bull

When Koala, a teenaged orphan misfit living in an island seaport village, encounters a mysterious dark illness that is killing her hunting obsessed town, she sets off foot into the dark forest to discover a cure. But the forest is deadly, home to the village's greatest enemy, the Griffins, massive wolf-like creatures which hunt the villagers relentlessly at night and whose soul desire is to eat man flesh. As if the forest isn't dangerous enough there's even rumors of a dark witch that haunts unsuspecting townspeople making random appearances during the rising and settings of the sun. As Koala journeys the forest her adopting Father King Doti, the lead warrior of the elite griffin hunting team called the Gurkhas, must discover a new way to fight the threat across the ocean, the East Indian Company. Having just upped the quota for the island's fur production which is maintained by killing Griffins for their fur skins Doti must find and recruit more warriors and train them. If not, the East Indian Company will wreck, pillage, and burn their village. As Koala braves the forest with her trusted side-kick fox Fennec, she learns of her adopted Father's dark history, discovers the dark origin of the mysterious illness, finds her real mother, and races against time to find a cure and defeat the mercenaries of the East India Company to save her people.


Blood Triad

Blood Triad by Raven Belasco

Blood Triad is a must-read for fans of vampire fiction and historical fantasy, especially those who value meticulously researched narratives that deliver immersive world-building, nuanced character dynamics and diverse perspectives, and thought-provoking explorations of love and resilience. — Booklife by Publisher's Weekly Blood Triad sweeps readers across eras and locations, from the ancient Norsemen and Picts of the 900s, to the turbulent colonial history of Haiti, to Prohibition-era Philadelphia, infusing each of these periods with her unique vampiric lore. Belasco’s action scenes are brisk, and her carefully-researched characters are memorable. Her vampires are so much more than the violence of their history—within their bloody hearts, they retain their humanity. — Tara Campbell, author of City of Dancing Gargoyles and TreeVolution BLOOD TRIAD is a collection of three novellas from the Blood & Ancient Scrolls series by Raven Belasco, giving a more intimate view into the lives of some of the am’r (the vampires’ name for themselves) that readers have met along the way. Standalone novellas, each story can be enjoyed without having previously read any of the series. TEETH ARE BONES is set after the events of Blood Ad Infinitum. Librarian Anushka ā€œNooshā€ Rossetti finds herself on a yacht with Zoraida, a mysterious am’r she admires but barely knows. To pass the time, Zoraida confides the story of her life first as a human and then an am’r, through the bloody events of the Haitian Revolution through the U.S. Occupation of Haiti, profound love and devastating loss made only more intense by the passion of a vampire’s heart. In BLOOD BROTHERS, Noosh finally gets Wulfhram and Dubhghall to confide in her the tale of their centuries-long-partnership. Meeting in opposing sides of a battle in the A.D. 900s, the two men take an unlikely path to both the am’r life and to a lasting love, fighting together as mercenaries across Europe and the Middle East in the last century of the first millennium before nearly losing each other in their calamitous transformation into am’r. ABYSSINIA is a story from the life of Astryiah, a powerful and important am’r. Set in 1930’s Philadelphia, Palmina is working at the Nabisco factory…and helping women who are ā€œin a fix.ā€ Palmina is feeling run down by all the pressures in her life…until a striking, mysterious woman shows up to change her life in astonishing, sensual, and dangerous ways. Palmina is confronted by the seductive power of the am’r world. Will she choose to join the am’r for strength, autonomy, and eternal life…or will she choose to stay in the human world, helping those in need?


Blood Eternal

Blood Eternal by Raven Belasco

The highly anticipated third installment of the Blood & Ancient Scrolls series, from the author of the Amazon Best Seller Blood Ex Libris Bringing the bloodshed and urgency of the Blood & Ancient Scrolls series to a deeply satisfying next level, this third book in the series features the astonishing revelation of the origin story of the am’r (the vampires’ name for themselves). In Blood Eternal, Noosh believes she is headed on a well-deserved vacation (a nighttime tourist view of London) when abruptly she and Sandu and Bagamil are facing new crises and ancient enemies. Noosh reunites with some intriguing characters from Blood Ex Libris and discovers more about her new underground world. But when the most powerful and ancient am’r Bagamil is summarily bidden by a mysterious am’r to a stately home in the north of England, Noosh and her allies must confront a formidable enemy who has hidden himself in plain sight for millennia, and who intends to take the title of ā€œaojyshtā€ for himself—and who has the power to compel Noosh’s obedience. Will the am’r blood already in her veins make her able to resist and save her beloveds?


Blood Demands

Blood Demands by Raven Belasco

The exhilarating sequel to Amazon Bestseller Blood Ex Libris, book two of the Blood & Ancient Scrolls series. Now in audiobook! Picking up from Blood Ex Libris’s ending in an explosive-ravaged cave in the desert, Blood Demands takes Anushka ā€œNooshā€ Rossetti and Sandu (the supposedly-reformed Vlad Dracula) back to Romania, where Noosh assumes she will settle down to her archivist job for the am’r (vampires). But after the nightmares start, Noosh’s life is disrupted yet again when she realizes that Bagamil, eldest of the am’r, is communicating to them that something has gone very wrong. Despite the dangers to one who is only half-vampire, Noosh insists on accompanying Sandu to travel to Argentina, asking the am’r of South America for clues to finding Bagamil. Everything points to Tierra del Fuego, where in a cave system filled with booby traps and two opposing sets of enemies, Noosh must discover how to help a poisoned Bagamil to freedom, and when captured, must somehow outlive her enemies in a melee of revenge-thirsty vampires from South America’s colonial past. Despite intriguing allies and a bond with two of the most powerful am’r, Noosh must find her own way to survive in the brutal netherworld of the am'r.


Blood Ex Libris

Blood Ex Libris by Raven Belasco

How did I get here: covered in blood and holding a sword I can’t use? Raven Belasco’s vibrant debut and Amazon Best Seller, Blood Ex Libris, has captivated readers and earned praise from renowned authors. This tale of passion and survival follows Anushka ā€œNooshā€ Rossetti, a trained archivist stuck in her small-town library job—until a mysterious man claiming to be Vlad Dracula enters her life. As he proves himself to her, she’s thrust into an exhilarating underworld, where survival means navigating violent power struggles and facing Vlad’s deadly rival. With Blood Ex Libris, Belasco has crafted a rich, immersive universe that will thrill Anne Rice, Elizabeth Kostova, and Deborah Harkness fans. Her meticulous weaving of historical detail and supernatural intrigue breathes life into this pulse-pounding story of blood and fire. The adventure continues in Blood Demands and Blood Eternal, with a companion collection, Blood Triad, that delves deeper into the lives of beloved characters. Don’t miss the beginning of this mesmerizing series that will leave you craving more.


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