stories in and

No Safe Haven

No Safe Haven by James Lloyd Dulin

Anger will not be quenched by blood alone. The Missing, a rebel army that is little more than a rumor, may be Kaylo’s only path to exact his vengeance against the empire that claimed his home and killed his family. If it means a chance to balance the blood he owes, he will steal spirits and become the Missing’s tool, as long as they aim him in the right direction. Eighteen years later, a war is raging between factions for control of Ennea. With Tayen, Kaylo, and Nix caught in the middle of a power struggle—Kaylo will have to find a way to fulfill the promise he made to Tayen, Nix must face the consequences of her betrayal, and Tayen will have to choose between vengeance and her spirit. When blood is owed, virtues will be challenged.


The Devils' Crucible

The Devils' Crucible by Jacqueline Fellows

"Broken, shattered, empty husks driven by a whirlwind. The clans shall be riven from their heart and cast into the furnace. And this before the snows return." Three hundred years ago, the human race would have died out if not for a few who created and swore to abide by the Resolution, which bound the remnants together with a common purpose and gave them the tools to survive in a harsh land. Little by little, the clans grew and prospered despite innumerable disasters wrought by the relentless battering of talieth and vargoda. But now a new cataclysm approaches, one that will strain the very bonds the Resolution was meant to safeguard - and even salvation brings untold devastation.


Natural Outlaws and Fractured Sovereignty

Natural Outlaws and Fractured Sovereignty by S.M. Pearce

A precarious royal court. Two thieves with everything to lose. Caught robbing the Governor’s mansion, Blythe is given a choice: steal the crown jewel of Ostrait’s greatest enemy, or her papa and friends all die. Forced undercover as a candidate in the Fletch King’s marital competition, she must survive the cut-throat court under the watchful eye of the Governor’s pet assassin. But how much of herself will this mission cost her? Kalen got her into this mess. And now they must keep their head down in the servants’ quarters, enduring their new superior’s brutality and confronted with the terrors of their past. It’s no longer as simple as crafting bombs and letting the fire do the work—there’s nowhere left to run, and his real talent seems to lie in screwing everything up. Can a martyr learn what it means to live? Can a coward learn what it means to fight? They’re only a pair of outcasts. Failures. Will the cruelties of court tear their friendship apart? Or can they salvage a future together in a world that doesn't want them? **This queerplatonic dark fantasy novel contains themes/subject matter intended for a mature audience.


Lord of Thundertown

Lord of Thundertown by O F Cieri

In the movies, Thundertown was depicted like a real town, with boundaries, Folk-run businesses, and a government. In real life, Thundertown was a block here or there, three businesses on the same side of the street, an unconnected sewer main, or a single abandoned building. When an epidemic of missing person cases is on the rise, the police refuse to act. Instead, Alex Delatorre goes to Thundertown for answers and finds clues leading to a new Lord trying to unite the population. No one has seen the Lord, and the closer Alex gets to him, the farther Alex gets from his path home.


Exile

Exile by AJ Calvin

Andrew grew up in the royal palace of Novania, the eldest son of the queen. He went on to achieve fame and glory as a renowned soldier, and was eventually named commander of the king’s army. The kingdom believed he would be named heir to the throne, but he has long known he is ineligible. The king is not his father. The truth of Andrew’s lineage is only partially known to the king; the identity of his father is a mystery that even Andrew is unaware of. He knows only that his father was a dragon-mage, and the dragons have fled to another world. Andrew is a skin-changer, but the laws of Novania forbid his very existence. If the king were to learn the truth of what he is, he would face execution. The laws are equally hostile to humans born with the Mark of the Magi and the ability to wield magic. Andrew’s younger half-brother, Alexander, bears the Mark. The pair keep one another’s secrets into adulthood…Until the king dies unexpectedly and Colin ascends the throne. When Alexander’s Mark is revealed for all to see, Andrew is faced with a choice: To watch his brother be killed, or reveal his true nature in an effort to save him from the headsman’s axe.


Everything Is Wonderful Now

Everything Is Wonderful Now by Shane Blackheart

When Dark is good and Light is evil... Ten-year-old Sera is isolated and depressed; bullied at school and at home by her father. Her mind gives her no respite, suffering from a panic disorder and a second voice in her head that forces violent, intrusive thoughts. She meets the fallen angel Byleth one night while wanting to end her life. He isn't a fan of kids and intends to leave immediately, but Sera's aura catches his eye. It's dark, and it isn't from her trauma that pulls at his heartstrings. It's also attracted a corrupt angel who wants to rid the world of another Hellspawn child. Sera has a lot on her plate, but as she ages and transitions to Sean, a disabled trans man with C-PTSD, he not only meets more spirit guides from Hell, he realizes that his biggest threat has always been the 'other' that dwells in his own head.


Merchants of Light and Bone

Merchants of Light and Bone by Erika McCorkle

Sorrow in paradise. A parent’s worst nightmare. When grief drives one to revenge. Living in a tropical paradise with his spouses and kids, Amiere is a merchant of light, a sculptor who carves glowing crystals into spectacular and powerful, demon-killing works of art. When the ground opens up near his idyllic village to reveal a massive supply of crystals, the whole nation of Aloutia celebrates. The merchants are guaranteed money for decades and officials predict Aloutia will be safe from demonkind for generations. But Amiere isn’t rejoicing—when the ground split apart, his seven-year-old daughter fell to her death. Amiere’s grief turns to rage when an old enemy returns to the village with a young daughter displaying signs of starvation and abuse. Having witnessed his own daughter’s death, Amiere cannot bear the thought of watching another child die, especially when he can prevent it. Unable to ask police for help due to the village’s reputation of hostility toward authority figures, Amiere takes matters into his own hands, even at the risk of being exiled and separated from his family forever.


The Crownless King

The Crownless King by David Cocco

When the dead rise again, nothing is safe. Thousands of corpses have risen and mutated into aberrant horrors, engulfing Torme's world with terror. This legion of mindless creatures threatens the entire continent, and perhaps the world, with their insatiable hunger. The war against the undying has gathered people of all walks of life together. Some desire to prove their worth or obtain glory, while others aim to use this undead madness for more sinister schemes. A vanishing tower hidden among the ruins of the dead hides away the mastermind behind this horrific reality—and Torme is hellbent on tracking it down. As he battles rotting monsters with his legendary weapon, memories of his distant past resurface. Torme’s transformation from boy to man, his days as a gallant knight, and the false crimes that he is accused of all blend together into his journey for justice. But when the truth is revealed, can this gruesome reality truly be brought back from darkness?


The Dark Secrets of Oliveto

The Dark Secrets of Oliveto by Stefano A. Giovaannoi

The sleepy little town of Oliveto is full of secrets. Magical beings coexist amongst unsuspecting humans. Casting spells and enchantments are the norm amongst certain members of the community. And someone, or something, is abducting members of its fey community... When an unexpected and mysterious death in the family calls Nico home from college, he brings along his best friend Sofia for support. Their relaxing spring break visit suddenly turns into a wild adventure as they are thrust into a hidden world of magic that Nico never knew existed...or did he? Soon they are enlisted by prominent member of the town’s fey population to help find and stop the Oliveto Abductor, before another fairy is taken. Together Nico and Sofia must piece together all the clues, as they learn about his family’s magical past, in order to solve the many secrets that Oliveto contains. Will they learn enough in time to survive? Tags: dark magic, light magic, mythical creatures, grimoire, fairy doors, fae, fey, witches, Italian culture, banshee, curses, garden gnomes, secrets, graveyards, shapeshifters, vampires, tarot cards, spell casting, prophecies, magical realism, urban fantasy, paranormal mystery, young adult, new adult, college.


Oblivion's Forge: Book One of the Aona

Oblivion's Forge: Book One of the Aona by Simon Williams

For thousands of years they have sought the world from which they were cast out. Now, at last, Aona has been found. The younger races of this world will all be swept up in a struggle for survival, as their ancient, malevolent masters, guardians of all Aona's secrets, rise to do battle with their foes, remorseless destroyers of world after world throughout the known Existence.


The Six

The Six by Kirk Holland

Experience an explosive and page-turning young adult fantasy, filled with humor, suspense, spirits, diversity, and the brutal undead. Six diverse teens from across the country, all intertwined in a mysterious web of hidden secrets and concealed identities, are forced to confront their inner demons and embrace a reality they never knew existed as they evade the undead with the aid of spirits, a blood witch, a secret clan of warriors, and a colorful tapestry of allies. For Charlie, the unusually strong son of two bestselling fantasy authors whose books may be more than fiction, it's a chance to finally step up and take control of his own destiny. In Oregon, a juggler sharpens her blades for another day at the fair. On the streets of Manhattan, a young thief seeks to make a living, unaware that a man with his own broken secret is stalking her. And on the east and west coasts, the alluring twins of a media mogul revel and wallow in the high life. A predator hunts them from the shadows, playing a deadly game of cat-and-mouse with the help of the dead. No one in the six's world is who they seem and the journey to uncover the truth will turn out to be a thrilling and unpredictable adventure. Filled with passion, adventure and danger this explosive story is for fans of Stephanie Meyer and Stephen King. It's time for The Six to step into their destiny, ready or not.


The Dolor Chronicle

The Dolor Chronicle by Casey Hanner

Graham Grey, his name is as depressing as he found himself to be. Suicidal and unfulfilled in his life, he desperately attempts to find something, anything, that would help him connect and feel he belonged in his world. He dreamed of something greater than himself, some greater meaning in life, but never could seem to find what he was looking for. His story starts at the end of his life by the hands of fate and continues to expand as he discovers everything he had been longing for and more. Who would have guessed the great disco motel in the sky would bring Graham to some peace, but for how long? His thirst for excitement is not quenched in the comfort of the heavens and he is plunged into the world of Dolor at the hands of his gods to continue to fulfill his passion to learn, but at what cost? He encounters some dark and sinister truths to living. Will Graham be able to survive this world? Will he be able to survive himself? Can he survive the harsh realities that Dolor shares with his previous life?


FALL: THE LAST PRINCIPLE (Time)

FALL: THE LAST PRINCIPLE (Time) by M.A Essan

"And what would an angel like you know about intimacy? What it feels like, what it tastes like, what becomes of you when it is done?” ~Lilith to Hel'el (Lucifer) Adam had become a threat to all things, but with the help of Lucifer, can the Principles stop man, and the devices of El'Ohim? In this Epic dark fantasy romance and Adaptation of the creation story, Adam and all mankind became the most powerful weapon in Sion's arsenal and the potentials of Man terrified the PRINCIPLES (a Primordial force that governed Existence). Mankind was El'Ohim's masterpiece, and he created billions in males and females, but only twelve had attained self-discovery, and were conscripted into the Host as KNIGHTS OF SION. The potentials of a Knight rivalled the power of a Primordial being, and Adam, being the first among all men had a potential to rival his creator. Eniola’s late Father was an avatar of the Primordial Principle of Time (an anomaly created by El'Ohim to upset the Principles), and Eniola was a young beautiful woman with mystical powers granted to her by a Relic owned by the mighty leader of the Principles. The Principles compelled Eniola to travel back in time to arrest the Primordial Principle of Time, but the Primordial Principle of Time imprisoned her in a time loop that made her to witness and partake in the undocumented events that predated to the Fall of Man.


Elementas: Yamay

Elementas: Yamay by Haley Anna Marie

"Don’t tell me what I can and can’t do, and don’t assume I am a proper lady." -Yamay After she’s used as a bargaining chip, Yamay’s new life with Warden Drayker is as savage as the world she came from. She must adapt to her husband and new lands or face his unrelenting cruelty. On the verge of losing herself to her inner darkness, she finds refuge in the arms of Prince Garan, a stranger from an even stranger place. Yamay must make a choice, but the Gods have other plans for her…


Elementas: War of the Gods

Elementas: War of the Gods by Haley Anna Marie

The Realm of Elementas is a serene land with unique races based on their natural surroundings. After five centuries of prosperity, a new Lihtari king has taken the throne, envisioning a different order. The gods made an oath never to involve themselves in mortal disputes, but when genocide threatens the Dharkeri, nothing will stop their goddess from raising arms. She believed she would face no foe greater than a mere mortal, but she was blind. What world is this, where the gods are against each other?


Keeper of the Cob: Backworlds book 1

Keeper of the Cob: Backworlds book 1 by Thurston Leigh

Vrx Gnerghal is a ghoul with a family to feed in a world where his kind and their “liberal” dietary habits are frowned upon. With the help of a powerful magical artifact, he stumbles upon a portal to Earth, where the humans are fat, slow and delicious. When a teenager smoking weed in the forest catches Vrx sneaking through the woods with a sack full of fresh meat, he and his friends decide to follow the creature through the portal to the hidden world beyond, and are quickly roped into the machinations therein. They will be stabbed, bitten, transformed, stabbed again and have to put up with a lot of walking as they are dragged through the countryside by a reluctant bounty hunter in her quest to find Gnerghal, kill him, and retrieve the artifact he stole.


Sand to Glass (Tales from the Mythusian Empire)

Sand to Glass (Tales from the Mythusian Empire) by Remy Apep

“A tight examination of the line between monster and human.” Foreword Reviews Somewhere at the edge of the Great Being’s dream lies a desert kingdom ruled by four young siblings. One burns with rage like fire. One battles monsters to make his siblings smile. One laughs with ruthless charm. One itches with desperation. All teeter on the edge of madness. In Remy Apepp’s harrowingly beautiful Sand to Glass, the Kingdom of Ordyuk finds itself faced with destruction. Endlessly attacked by accursed beings, the kingdom relies ever more heavily on the four siblings. Under such a weight, their only choice is to grow into monsters themselves—


Necromancer Arising: Book One of The Asterisian Chronicles

Necromancer Arising: Book One of The Asterisian Chronicles by Devon Salvin

"His power flooded into dead flesh, forcing it to move. The flesh remembered how to work, and as Lyre commanded, limbs obeyed. Back muscles contracted, the spine snapped straight. Lyre fed more and more power into his Risen and imparted but one order: to kill." Hated and feared for their magic, Necromancers have been hunted to extinction- or so it was believed. After ten years of isolation, Lyre Asterisian escapes an enchantment containing the ruin of his town and plunges into a plagued world on the verge of war. Lyre is forced to develop his unique powers and uses Necromancy in ingenious ways to survive. By steel, bone, and Risen flesh, Lyre defies death and, instead, strives to control it.


Galaxy of Thorns: Rise of the Empress

Galaxy of Thorns: Rise of the Empress by Bogdan Tăbușcă

SPSFC 2023

Divided between great wicked minds and cruel beings of unnatural power, the world of Artia has long been under the cycle of war and suffering. A child is born, conceived in an unholy union. A mighty empress to bring the world within her grasp, through mercy and kindness, through sword and fire. But will she be any better than the horrors that came before her? Or will she succumb to the vices of power and rule this world as its new dark master?


Worthy of the Raven: Stalked by Darkness (The Raven's Chosen One #1)

Worthy of the Raven: Stalked by Darkness (The Raven's Chosen One #1) by Y L Zamora

The Raven chose you; a Skin demon told little Lara -a secret she's kept for almost ten years. She still can't understand the ominous message when her sick, insane father viciously attacks her mother in front of her and the Raven -always by her side when calamity strikes. Lara must seek shelter with her friends, the Condé brothers, who disguise her as their younger sibling and smuggle her into war to protect her, but the darkest, most dangerous magic quickly catches up to her when she meets the Skin once more. ​Nicola, the heir of Condé, became head of the family when his father, the greatest Longbraid warrior, lost his leg in battle and his will to live with it. Nic, an aloof intellectual who didn't inherit the Condé talents for combat, can't fill his father's shoes or his younger brother's -already General at twenty-one- and struggles in a war he doesn't believe in, training the woman his brother has always loved while coping with his own tumultuous feelings for her. ​Alessandro is a farmer boy turned reluctant Leader. His love for Lara isn't enough to prevent her brutal attacker the night before his army must go to war in a quest to steal the Magic only the ruthless Skin possess. He must keep his men alive against the most lethal predators in the Ucrian Peninsula and confront the Lords in a constant battle of political wits to keep his grip over the army while hiding Lara in plain sight as he deals with his own soul-crushing guilt.


A Sword of the Three Rivers

A Sword of the Three Rivers by Seth Hobbs

SPFBO9

Begin an epic journey in a forgotten time, where empires rise and fall, helping or destroying smaller provinces along the way. Follow the bloody and lusty adventures of young Bovir of the Woodlands, as his destiny becomes intertwined with the many colorful characters, beautiful vixens, kingdoms, politicians, priests, bankers, and terrifying warlords that he meets along the way, simply trying to return home and find his revenge for the many wrongs dealt to him. Alongside these quests, he must deal with the whims of the gods, ancient prophecies, and the corruption of the religious overlords that keep their secrets. An odyssey for a new generation of readers and fantasy fans.


Opanumbra

Opanumbra by N.R. Gravel

SPFBO9

The inlet battle has concluded. In its wake, a fleet bearing the departed travel across the Sequent Sea. What was thought to be a time of mourning converts into something worse. The Clergy leader of Vattarmere has been abducted, leaving only a trace of blood. With a staunch response, Hieronostad Castle is laid siege. After a swift victory, Coradryx and his companions discover a ransom letter indicating their troubles aren't nearing an end but have increased substantially. A journey west toward the lands of Har-mortrock must be taken while a pressing urgency beckons that they leave the realm of Verdoon. Each step toward their goal unravels a cumulative number of perils. Each peril, more drastic than the previous.


Bioshifter

Bioshifter by Natalie Maher

SPFBO9

Hannah has a routine. Wake up, take a shower, go to school, go to work, come home, and pass out. It's a perfectly normal routine for a perfectly normal girl who does not have to remember how her limbs work every morning because of haunting nightmares of being a very different creature in a very different world. But that's all she thinks they are—nightmares—until one night they're all too lucid, and her body on Earth starts to change. Slowly, Hannah's humanity starts to slip away... but surely she can continue just sticking to routine, right? It'll be fine. It has to be. A mix of urban and traditional fantasy, Bioshifter is a story in two worlds, with magic leaking in from one to the other. It's a story about love, self-acceptance, neurodivergency, and a whole lot of trauma. Strap in and enjoy!


Crystal Gunslinger - The Obsidian Outlaws

Crystal Gunslinger - The Obsidian Outlaws by Oliver Laws

SPFBO9

The Warped Scorch is known as the most dangerous area on the continent of Lux for good reason. Ever since a strange meteor hit the land and transformed it into a crystal hellscape, all four bordering nations have been trying to establish a foothold in the extremely dangerous new territory and lay claim to its many treasures. Cyrus is a crystal gunslinger, one of the individuals that face the horrors of the Scorch on a daily basis in order to make a living. With his trusty ruby repeater and plenty of experience, he is prepared to deal with whatever challenges the strange creatures and deadly environment can throw at him. But Cyrus will soon learn that the true horrors of the Scorch are much more human in nature, and no matter how hard he tries, escaping his past will be nearly impossible.


Darkstrider

Darkstrider by Aaron Hodges

SPFBO9

A man outside of space and time, Mikael Heaton wakes in a new world. One hostile to his very existence. Offworlders are not welcome in the Seventh Realm. But with his memories veiled in an enigmatic haze, Mikael must defy his physical limitations and forge new alliances if he is to survive. There is power in this world—magic. Impossible, his instincts scream. Here though, its secrets could mean the difference between life and death.

As his journey unfolds, Mikael uncovers pieces of his forgotten past. Tantalizing fragments. Of a world of technological wonders. And a dark secret, one best left buried. A mortal does not simply cut the ties of reality without sacrifice. But there are greater forces at play in the Seventh Realm, and Mikael will need every scrap of cunning and resolve he has at his disposal to outwit them.

Can an Offworlder reforge his destiny in a new world?
Or will the forces beyond the veil crush him before he has the chance? Discover a new fantasy world by New York Times Bestselling Author Aaron Hodges as the enigmatic Mikael Heaton struggles to survive in a world of gods, monsters and magic!


Fragmented Fates

Fragmented Fates by Nancy Foster

SPFBO9

The hero. The seer. The child. The condemned. After surviving two bloody purges that nearly exterminated both the Grey Clan and Orsenmuray City, the elf and harlequin survivors struggle to bring the tent city of Almjarhad to life. Surrounded by the ocean and desert, these inhospitable lands are slowly being developed with the aid of their magic. As the culprit of their misfortune, the condemned elf Lord Jamarnid is forced to rely on his son Jarahad to rule the city due to ending up disabled before his frantic escape. Bitter about his situation because he wanted to be executed, Jamarnid distrusts the true intentions of the seer Talgel. Unwanted by the Elf Kingdom and his harlequin great-grandfather Hurrujat, Jarahad struggles to accept his fate. As the interim ruler of Almjarhad, Jarahad wishes to complete his sword initiation to protect his people... and gain Talgel's unrequited love. Talgel is a woman of perpetual mystery with dubious morals. Upon awakening magic that grants her the ability to predict the future with absolute certainty, Talgel lost her eyesight. She now wears a masquerade mask to hide her true feelings. Embroiled in this story is a young hybrid elf named Tioja, who doesn't understand his role in the greater scheme of things. Four characters are about to have their fates manipulated, and their willpower tested. All for the sake of a demon inhabiting Talgel's body that will use them for its own nefarious purposes.


Little Secrets

Little Secrets by Alice Johnson

SPFBO9

One man cannot end the bloodshed, but he can try. The north rises. Enemies forge a new alliance. One man alone cannot end the chaotic bloodshed, but he can try. Harris Bearwood wants his name to be known throughout the world. His battle tactics have given the warrior a shady reputation, but those who know of him are terrified by him. His burning desire for revenge drives his blackened heart, his rage unshakeable. He will stop at nothing until he has found the justice he desperately needs. Finally promoted to commander of his country’s army, he sees his chance to find the vengeance he needs. A child pulled from the burning rubble of a village has dark powers that he is reluctant to use, but his tormented heart must find peace, even if it leads to untold bloodshed and a terrible massacre. Will her powers be the ultimate piece needed to tip the balance of war in Harris’ favour, or will she lead to his destruction? If you like fantasy adventures, quests for revenge, and dark magical forces, you’ll love Alice Johnson’s thrilling grimdark series, Bound by Blood. Grab your copy of Little Secrets today to find out whether Harris can survive his own animus.


Sealed Empire

Sealed Empire by Norbert Zsivicz

SPFBO9 SPSFC 2024

-Norbert Zsivicz first book, the Hungarian Literary Award winner Sealed Empire now available in English by the famous translator Tamás Pétersz (Game of Thrones). Blurb Ser Edward, an experienced sailor, embarks on perhaps the most daring expedition of the Kingdom of Esenworth so far. His mission is to try to earn the blessing of the Reverend Sven, who is none other than his love’s father, probably the most influential man in the realm. But on his journey beset by fierce storms, he and his men encounter something that could shake to the core not only their faith, but their very concept of the world as well. Meanwhile, far from the oceans, his love, Emma, is trying to disentangle herself from the spider’s web of intrigue and scheming, into which she is being drawn ever deeper by Erick the new king. And the dark clouds just keep gathering above – ancient beasts, stranger than ever, appear at sea, on land and even in the skies more and more frequently. They roar with a metallic screech, their eyes glow with an unnatural light, their skin hard and rigid as armor. Can order be upheld in this age blind to divine prophecy, in the largest kingdom of the North, where the monarch’s mind is coming undone just like reality itself? Our heroes must struggle ceaselessly to understand the hidden secrets of their world and their own origins. But what are they going to do once they have the answers?


A Searing Faith

A Searing Faith by Audrey Martin

SPFBO9

When sixteen-year-old Rena finds herself the sole survivor of the fire that destroyed her home town, the only thing keeping her going is the suspicion that the tragedy wasn’t an accident. She is determined to find those responsible, no matter how far her quest might take her. But no one in charge of the kingdom of Kal-Hemma seems to care that this isn't the first town destroyed by a mysterious fire. And according to Rena’s travelling companions, there’s a lot the members of the Royal Council aren’t telling their subjects. If Rena is truly the only survivor of the tragedy, why did she find her sister’s ring outside of their destroyed home? Who planted the strange bird figurines around the town’s church before the fire? And what do the old, forgotten Gods have to do with any of this? A Searing Faith is the first book in an epic fantasy series and based on the award-winning, interactive audio drama The Heart Pyre.


The Dungeon that Walks Like a Man

The Dungeon that Walks Like a Man by Alex Raizman

SPFBO9

It’s not easy being a house that eats people. Zaria was just a normal woman, living a simple life - until demons burst through her door and ate her heart. Reborn from tragedy, Zaria rises from the ashes as a Core, but with a twist. A rare mutation has turned her into a Mutant Core, destined to explode unless she forms a bond with a human witch to become a Striga. Her mutation? Legs. With the power of a full dungeon compressed into a walking house that is her body, Zaria sets out on a journey to find her Striga and avoid detonation. Along the way, she battles demons, builds her dungeon, and feeds her mimic mobs. This is not the life she once knew, but it's the one she's determined to make work, no matter who she has to walk through to get there. This book includes people that get devoured and language your grandmother wouldn't like.


The Monsters We Feed

The Monsters We Feed by Thomas Howard Riley

SPFBO9

The morning before he found the dead body, Jathan Algevin thought he had his whole life just the way he wanted it. He knows his city inside and out, and doesn't bother carrying a sword, trusting his wits and his fists well enough to get by, hustling extra coin by ratting out loathsome magi to the law for execution. He and his sister, Lyra, have watched out for each other ever since the day they were orphaned by a bloodthirsty rogue sorcerer, and now they finally have steady work, good friends, and the freedom to spend every night laughing at the bottom of a bottle. But nothing lasts forever.When he stumbles across a brutal murder, Jathan discovers a strange crystal lens that opens his eyes to an invisible world of magick and terror lurking just beneath the surface of his own, making him question everything he thought he knew. But will gazing into this new arcane realm lead Jathan to save lives, or help destroy them?With dangerous people hunting for the lens, monstrous lies unraveling his life, and a hidden underworld calling to him, it is only a matter of time before his whole world comes crashing down. Will he find the answers he is looking for, or will he only find a monster needing to be fed?Rated-R Dark Fantasy Noir in a city of hope, lust, and brutality, where swords are banned, and magick is just as likely to get you killed as it is to save your life.There are always things about ourselves that we don't want to see.There are always things we can't stop doing no matter how hard we try.We all lie. We all have secrets.We are all feeding monsters.


Fairywood Falls

Fairywood Falls by Steven Paul Watson

SPFBO9

An Appalachia Fairy Tale…. Naomi and Garrett are making big changes to their lives. Deciding to leave the city life behind, retire early, and move back to Eastern Kentucky to live a simpler life with their dog Growler and horses. They quickly realize something about their new property isn’t quite right. There is something or someone dwelling on their land and everything points to something straight out of a fairy tale. Do winged creatures really live among the earie woods of Kentucky? Naomi and Garrett will soon find out what tiptoes through the forest at night…but can they escape the crossfire from those that already know what lurks deep within? From the author of the Howling Moon series comes a new vision of what could be lurking out in the hills of Appalachia.


Shadows That Bind Us

Shadows That Bind Us by Amber L. Werner

SPFBO9

When magic comes at a terrible cost, who will pay the price? Kayda grew up believing she was only destined for a loveless political match. But when she overhears her bullying stepbrother plotting behind her beloved grandfather’s back, she vows to stop him. Even if it means mastering dangerous magic and allying herself with savage beasts. Conall only wanted a simple life. But after a wolf rescues him from a deadly betrayal, he learns of a plot that endangers his sister, Lark. Now he's determined to save her from trading years of her life away. A chance encounter lands him a traveling companion who offers to help, but can he afford to give her his trust? Lark’s always dreamed of becoming a healer. She jumps at the chance to train with the Palisade Mages, only to stumble into a trap. Now escape is all that matters. Can she outsmart her captors before being sold into slavery? To the east, an ancient evil sleeps. When its cage threatens to crumble, the Kingdom of Dracwood may never be the same…


The Fear of Moncroix

The Fear of Moncroix by Bryan Asher

SPFBO9

All the Waywards have Fallen… After a mission against the Royal Vampiric Court goes horribly wrong, all of the Waywards are slaughtered. All except one. Davion, the last surviving member, must consume potions to mask himself and hide amongst the very people who killed his brethren. After a decade of living this double-life, Davion has resigned himself to his new purgatory. But all will not remain calm for him or the Court. An unknown swordsman arrives, and after killing several Royal Vampires, rumor spreads that he’s searching for anyone still belonging to The Wayward order. Davion decides he must track down this mysterious swordsman. But will finding him bring freedom or his own demise.


Rise of the Empress

Rise of the Empress by Bogdan Tăbușcă

SPFBO9

Divided between great wicked minds and cruel beings of unnatural power, the world of Artia has long been under the cycle of war and suffering. A child is born, conceived in an unholy union. A mighty empress to bring the world within her grasp, through mercy and kindness, through sword and fire. But will she be any better than the horrors that came before her? Or will she succumb to the vices of power and rule this world as its new dark master?


Necrotown

Necrotown by Alexander Nader

SPFBO9

Sam is immortal...sort of.Private Eye Sam Flint lives in a world of creatures, and this makes not dying tough. Rebirth is something he’d rather avoid since it hurts like hell. When mogul Lloyd Burgess asks Sam to find his daughter, Sam sees a fat paycheck. A trip to the darkest corner of the city where Necromancers rule should be easy. Too bad Sarah Burgess isn’t just a spoiled rich brat. Her infatuation with the power of death leads Sam to two paths: Life or Death. The wrong choice will put him in the ground for good.


The Price of Power

The Price of Power by Michael Michel

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Prince Barodane could not hold back the darkness. Not even in himself. He laid an innocent city in its grave and then died a hero. In his absence, war whispers across the land. Power-hungry highborn dispatch spies and assassins to the shadows as they maneuver for the throne, while an even greater threat rises in the South. Monsters and cultists flock to the banners of a mad prophet determined to control reality…and then shatter it. Destiny stalks three to the brink of oblivion. A dead prince that isn’t actually dead. Barodane buried his shameful past in a stupor of drugs, drink, and crime, and now, he’d rather watch the world fall apart than wear a crown again. An orphan with hero’s blood who is forced to make a harrowing choice: betray her country or sacrifice her first love. And a powerful seer who has no choice at all–her grandson must die. If any of them fails to pay the price… The cost will be the world’s complete annihilation. "This book feels like a worthy successor to some of the greats of fiction, including Malazan, A Song of Ice and Fire, and Wheel of Time." - Andy Peloquin, Amazon #1 bestseller of the Darkblade series.


Liath Luachra: The Raiders

Liath Luachra: The Raiders by Brian O'Sullivan

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A gripping adventure in Ancient Ireland! As winter draws to a close, a troubled woman warrior's cold seclusion is disrupted by a desperate plea for help. Raising a warband to liberate a comrade’s kidnapped sister however, she quickly discovers this ‘simple’ rescue is far more perilous than she could have imagined. Traversing the wilderness of ancient Ireland, in pursuit of an enigmatic raiding party, she encounters old enemies who seek to undermine her, new allies who cannot be trusted, and harrowing secrets relating to her own past that threaten to undermine her leadership. Confronted by horrors she’d thought long forgotten, Liath Luachra must revert to the very worst part of herself to survive. But in the wilderness of the ‘Great Wild’, even the best laid schemes rarely go as planned. And the southern forests hide threats far more lethal than raiders. This book includes the complete adventure contained in Liath Luachra: The Seeking and Liath Luachra: The Metal Men.


If Light Above

If Light Above by Lily Anne Crow

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The kingdom's only hopes are a wounded soldier, a dead-beat noble, and a killer. Osmund Benwickery, former captain general in the king’s army, burdened by a useless left arm and a dwindling sense of self-worth, has been hired for the most important job of his life. The young queen is dead, the newborn prince is missing, and the king has narrowly survived assassination. Osmund must solve the treacherous plot before either the infant prince is lost forever or the king’s assassins return - and succeed. Phrai, a hired blade with a bloody reputation, wants nothing more than to numb the pain of the past. Tamrion Kinto, an idealistic young nobleman with a clever tongue, can’t seem to stay out of trouble. When their paths intertwine, Phrai and Tamrion find themselves dragged into dangerous complications that will change the way they view the world, themselves, and each other. Shinowyn Alva, castle seamstress and dressmaker to the late queen, slips among the shadows, watching the deadly game of power unfolding in the capital city. But what secrets does Shinowyn hide behind her peculiar smile and mismatched eyes? Is she simply another pawn, or will she have the nerve to play? The game is conspiracy and the pieces are set. As Fate weaves these four lives together, events unfold that will threaten their kingdom and challenge their very beliefs. Can they put aside their differences and band together long enough to hold back the darkness? If Light Above is the compelling first fantasy novel in Lily Anne Crow's series A War of Whispers.


Demons & Battleskirts Volume 1

Demons & Battleskirts Volume 1 by Belinda Crawford

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Enter a dark new urban fantasy filled with reincarnated superheroines, inter-dimensional demons and immortal enemies, from the acclaimed author of The Echo. Byrne Davin has lived many lives, from noblewoman to pioneer to slave, all of them filled with blood and death, all ending in pain and betrayal. This life, she would like to live in peace, or if not peace then to at least finish high school, maybe even meet a cute guy, go on a date, kick demon arse and be home in time to do her homework. But she can’t always get what she wants, not with an ancient, battle-crazed warrior sharing her soul, or fragmented dreams of an unseen enemy that threatens not just her own existence, but that of her reincarnated sisters. Sisters who doubt Byrne’s every word and hold terrible secrets of their own. A darkness is coming, a bitter cold rising from the depths of the universe on the ravening howl of a bloodthirsty demon horde. And the only thing standing between it and victory are Byrne, her sisters and the lies tearing them apart. Get ready for the first book in a brand new series, as Crawford masterfully weaves another action-packed tale of secrets and suspense, where your friends are your enemies and your enemies are your friends.


Deathbringer

Deathbringer by Blake Carpenter

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Inga Alenir is a Swordbearer. She is the latest in a long line of women to inherit a magical weapon called Deathbringer. She's also dead, murdered on her wedding day by the ruthless and covetous noblewoman Yenda Avard, who steals the sword after killing Inga and her entire family. And yet, some secrets won't stay buried. Deathbringer has a will and a consciousness of its own, and even has the power to raise Inga from the dead for a short time. It warns her that she has one week to find and retrieve the sword before death reclaims her—permanently. With each day bringing her doom and final demise ever closer, Inga will have to see just how far she's willing to go to achieve her vengeance. DEATHBRINGER is a compositional mix between the violent, grisly hunt for revenge in the film THE NIGHTINGALE and the tale of Vasher and his talking sword Nightblood in Brandon Sanderson's WARBREAKER. Fans of dark fantasy, of tragic love stories and tales about seeking revenge against long odds will enjoy this debut novel by Blake Carpenter in the world of Agareth where a scorned, young widow fights back against the powerful elites that wronged her, and begins a journey that might turn the entire world against her.


The Gardens of Ash

The Gardens of Ash by Sarah Cline

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The world of Azadia smolders in restless isolation, molten rivers splitting the earth, and curtains of ash dripping from a scarlet sky. The followers of Alrya - an empire that spans many worlds - believe Azadia to be the hell their faith condemns, but to Draden and his family, it is merely home. Once a feared warlord, Draden now wishes only to maintain a fragile peace in his corner of Azadia. But Draden's contentment ends swiftly when a Tear - a passageway between worlds - splits open in his kingdom, and a stranger comes tumbling through with the fury of Alrya licking at his heels. Draden decides to take the young man in, but Vessels - eerie creatures that appear to be women, wreathed in flowering overgrowth and puppeted by an unknown force - pursue Jak into Draden's kingdom, Lucia. The ensuing battle forces Draden to acknowledge that, as much as he hates to admit it, he can't face this threat alone. As a new war breaks forth from an ancient rivalry, Alrya fights to appease a god that has fallen silent, while the rulers of Azadia form an uneasy alliance against the waves of Alryan forces closing in on them from distant worlds. But even as these tentative new allies help Draden resist invasion, the conflict draws out Draden's own struggles with restless memories and the temptations of power. Meanwhile, Jak, now fleeing Alrya's endless war, seeks a new Tear in hopes that it will lead him to a place where he will be left in peace to study the stars. But his budding feelings for Edim and Tlia, companions met in his travels, and the revelation of his fascinating gift for Blood Craft, a forbidden magic of Azadia, complicate Jak's desire to leave the war-wracked world. Together with Sarien, a famous hero who has put her own adventures on hold to help her half-brother defend Lucia, and Epomina, a mercenary seeking the elusive magic of Storm Craft in a world where strength is all that stands between her and a bloody end, Draden and his allies make their stand. The Gardens of Ash is the first entry in an epic of gothic fantasy.


The Contessa of Mostul Ûbar

The Contessa of Mostul Ûbar by L. James Rice

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Awaking from death was just the beginning of Poleen’s troubles. A good girl from an idyllic country village shouldn’t find herself in a dark forest dead. But when her broken neck mysteriously heals, violence erupts, and she stands over her killer’s body wondering if she was such a good girl after all. With her brother killed and her mother taken prisoner by a powerful trade guild, the source of her troubles points to a box of cigars. Exotic and rare, no doubt, but it wasn’t worth her life. What secret does it hold that the rich and powerful are willing to kill and die for? More importantly, how can she leverage its worth to rescue her mother? Rumors of war with the Pirate Kings of Boboru swirl the politics of The Monsoon Straits as her pursuit for answers entangles her in a web of smugglers, pirates, sorcerers, secret societies, and her sweet mother’s involvement with them all. She defies death time and again, but she knows her luck will run out. She needs the help and influence of a man Poleen has never met, her father, the Count of Mostul Ûbar.


Deceit

Deceit by Sharon Rivest

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BETRAYAL - MADNESS - SECRETS
THEY THOUGHT THEY COULD BREAK HIM
THEY THOUGHT WRONG Mace is a disgraced ex-Houseman, now mercenary, newly returned to his homeland, a place ruled by a king but truly run by the Masters of the Houses of the Pentad. His one wish is to exact revenge against Fallon, Master of the House of Spears, an obsessed madman, who took away everything Mace loved. With little more than a dog, a spear, and an old warhorse, Mace must find a way to kill the powerful Fallon. His need for revenge leads him ever closer to discovering of the secrets of the Pentad’s power. Interweaving present and past, Mace’s journey unfolds. As he navigates his turbulent present, the past that molded him is revealed. A series of terrible mistakes in his younger days ultimately lead to the tragic events that haunt his soul and propel Mace down his present path of vengeance. A path filled with loss, deadly choices, tragic outcomes, and unforeseen answers.


The First Rule

The First Rule by Steven William Hannah

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Venalia is going to die. When the newly ordained Priestess of the Mind's Eye returns home to bury her mentor, she meets the seer, Temple. In his dreams of the near future, Temple sees her go to certain death facing a horror from the world below, a choir of the dead whose song enslaves the living. Venalia's failure to protect the village is foretold, the village that has shunned her since childhood - but Venalia is sworn to an oath, bound by the first rule of the Priesthood to stand her ground against even the most hopeless of odds. Beset by corrupt leadership and an ungrateful flock, Venalia must decide what her life is really worth. Perhaps it is better to die for something than to live for nothing. The First Rule is a fantasy novel with elements of mystery, detective, progression and horror. It tells a story about redemption, forgiveness and duty in the face of overwhelming odds.


Candle Children

Candle Children by Michael Baker

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A dark flintlock fantasy set in a city haunted by more than just ghosts.

Bluejay, the orphaned son of a disgraced knight, has dedicated himself to protecting Rosetta’s poorest from the city's many spirits. Alongside Beth, who knows all the old songs and stories of the city, he can outwit or outrun any spirit. But he has never been hunted by an emperor. When disaster strikes the emperor unleashes death on the city, sending in his fearsome personal guard to massacre those least able to defend themselves. Bluejay must turn to the very spirits that have been haunting him for help. They already have his soul, now they want something else. The spirits have been playing their own game. One where orphans and emperors are both pawns. As the city teeters on the edge of destruction Bluejay discovers that there is more power in the old stories than he ever realised. Enough to overthrow an emperor or doom an entire city. Contains violence and adult language.


Gods of the Deep

Gods of the Deep by Drew Montgomery

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For as long as anyone can remember, the Balance has always been kept, the sacrifice given to the Imakut and the Imakut providing their bounty from the sea. The small town of Aliit has long sat on the edge of civilization, but it is only recently that civilization has come to them in the form of whaling ships belonging to a powerful company, seeking the valuable oil that lies within the great creatures. First the sacrifices are rejected. Then, people begin disappearing, taken as they venture out to fish or farm kelp. Calls for help are rejected by the company and government alike. As tensions mount within the town, it becomes clear that the only path to survival is by fighting. With the help of former company soldiers, they begin to prepare to defend their home. But can they withstand the onslaught of the monsters they worship as gods?


Cold West

Cold West by Clayton Snyder

SPFBO9 SPFBO Finalist

Bastard. Killer. Husband. Father. His wife cold in the ground, and two young boys to feed, Wil Cutter turns to what he knows: Violence. But a bounty is never just a bounty, and blood is never spilled in drops. Forced to ever more violent acts, he’ll have to ask himself: Is Hell too far to ride?


Casual Business with Fairies

Casual Business with Fairies by J. W. Judge

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Not all fairy tales end with happily ever after. In a time when a new breed of fairies is not beholden to the old covenants that have governed the relationship between mankind and fairies for centuries, the Bone Collectors Guild has risen as a force that intends to forever shift the balance of power. Scott Warren finds himself in the middle of a conflict that is generations in the making. Not only did he not know the parties, but until now he didn't even know they existed beyond the lore and children's stories that were told to him and that he has passed on to his daughter. When someone shows up at Warren's law office claiming to be a fairy, he must decide whether the world is as he has always believed it to be. And if not, are the stakes great enough to warrant getting involved and placing himself in the crosshairs of the Bone Collectors Guild? Warren resigns himself to maintaining the status quo until his own daughter's lost teeth turn up missing and the tooth fairies give him a dose of what they have in store for those whose bones they've collected. Regardless of his decision, he is left with the lasting impression that doing business with fairies couldn't be a more treacherous endeavor. Buy now to find out if Scott Warren gets tangled up with factions on the brink of calamity.


Infernal Shadow

Infernal Shadow by Tayor Crook

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As shadows stretch across the land,
Her light becomes our hope. Thomaras lives by a strict set of rules: Get paid up front, never use your real name, and never be a hero. Little does he know that his next job will tear his rules, and his life, apart. Ashea is only safe when she’s on the move. Pursued by nightmares and the consequences of her own growing power, one small mistake traps her in a cell that could be her end. To escape, she is forced to trust a man that can’t be trusted. Half Granite Ogre, half Human, Torin travelled south into Haven to live among his mother’s people. Quiet and unassuming despite his size, Torin is about to be thrust into a conflict that threatens Humans and Granite Ogres alike. Watching it all from another plane of existence, a dark entity slowly exerts its power. Influencing. Manipulating. Waiting.


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