For the Betterment of the World (Gateway to Perdinok #1) by Jeremiah Cain

A quarter of the haggard populace must flee, hide, or die when faced with the question: what do you do when your own home declares you wicked and demands your death? Within this dark epic fantasy, the largest church of a medieval-like empire condemns a minority church as evil. Soon, a soldier struggles with orders to kill, as he must decide if what is “right” can change by Church decree. A normal townswoman must fight as her people are sentenced to death in the empire where they’ve lived all their lives. Far away, two men from conflicting nations attempt to forge a relationship while trying to forge an alliance. Farther still, an elf boy sees the destruction of his peaceful home for nothing but a would-be weapon. Finally, a small nation must call on the Dark for help when the Light betrays them. Throughout the world of Perdinok, a range of people have their lives upended as unrest turns to civil war and turns to war on other nations. In the end, the sanctimonious empire unearths an ancient power that threatens all. Only a Demoness can put things right, but she holds her own agenda.

Ochre Dragon: The Opal Dreaming Chronicles Book 1 by V. E. Patton

Three women who are so much more than what they seem. Three worlds mired in conspiracy and magic. One quest to save the Cosmos. And then… there be dragons! On Heavens Gate, a dying planet where magic and science have forged an uneasy alliance, Merindah is desperate to unlock the secret of the Timegates and save what's left of humanity. What she lacks in magical ability, she more than makes up for in ambition. And with the help of an impatient and not-so-extinct dragon, her magic takes on a twist with cosmic implications. Meanwhile, on tech-ruled post-Crack Earth, where magic doesn't officially exist, Ali's humdrum life under the disintegrating Melba Dome is becoming weirder by the day. Her fingers start glowing, a snarky dragon shows up, and people she thought were her friends keep trying to control, kidnap or assassinate her. Finally, on Reverie, where magic rules unfettered, a young orphan becomes burdened with tainted magical gifts. Dee is alone, trapped in a waking nightmare. When she finally surrenders to desperation, her out-of-control magic unleashes her dragon and propels her onto a path that could unravel the fabric of time and space. Three women, three worlds - and their time is running out. Unless Ali, Merindah and Dee can reunite their single soul in one year, all is lost.They must each make unimaginable sacrifices to become the Key, the Gatekeeper, and the Fire who will save the Cosmos - or ignite Armageddon.

Two Thousand Years (The Empire Saga) by M. Dalto

Two thousand years ago, the Prophecy of Fire and Light foretold the coming of the Queen Empress who would lead the Empire into a time of peace and tranquility. But instead of the coming of a prosperous world, a forbidden love for the Empress waged a war that ravaged the land, creating a chasm between the factions, raising the death toll of innocent lives until the final, bloody battle. Centuries later, Alexandra, a twenty-two-year-old barista living in Boston, is taken to an unfamiliar realm of mystery and magic where her life is threatened by Reylor, its banished Lord Steward. She crosses paths with Treyan, the arrogant and seductive Crown Prince of the Empire, and together they discover how their lives, and their love, are so intricately intertwined by a Prophecy set in motion so many years ago. Alex, now the predestined Queen Empress Alexstrayna, whose arrival was foretold by the Annals of the Empire, controls the fate of her new home as war rages between the Crown Prince and Lord Steward. Either choice could tear her world apart as she attempts to keep the Empire’s torrid history from repeating itself. In a realm where betrayal and revenge will be as crucial to her survival as love and honor, Alex must discover whether it is her choice - or her fate - that determines how she survives the Empire’s rising conflicts.

Darkwind (The Starchaser Saga) by Renee Dugan

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The Middle Kingdom of Talheim has enjoyed peace for decades. But with the threat of war rising from the ruthless South, the dream of a quiet life is fading. And for the noble but naive Princess Cistine, that means embarking on a dangerous quest to the Northern Kingdom, where she hopes to forge an alliance against their southern foes and save her people. But when Cistine is captured by an outlaw and his band of cutthroat warriors, she finds a more deadly adventure than she bargained for - and a greater power within herself than she ever knew. Swept up in the unpredictable tide of a tenuous and shadowy political climate, a ruthless land governed by the stars, and the unexpected revelations that come from her mysterious new companions, Cistine must learn how to fight, how to lead...and above all, how to trust herself. If the young princess can't be forged into a fighter, then her kingdom will fall.

Ascendant by Casey White

It’s time. There’s no more hiding, no negotiating truces or bargaining with half-allies. With Solune found, the last barrier to the war reaching its inevitable end has been cleared. But even with the Everdark distancing himself from the war, leaving his brother to fend off the onslaught of Shiina and Efren alone, it won’t be an easy victory. Drenwell is an old country, strong and well established, and it will fight fiercely to protect its god and people. The war cannot be fought without sacrifice - something each of them knows all too well. The fight will go beyond the battle lines as the four Ascended are locked into one city, left standing at the forefront of the conflict. They can’t all win, and they can’t all live - and even should Takio find himself victorious, the cost for fulfilling the pact he made with Shiina is steep. Win or lose, he knows his destination may well be the same. Even still, leaving things unfinished isn’t an option. With nowhere left to run, their final chance at revenge - and victory - is at hand.

Nightsworn by Casey White

After what had come to feel like an eternity, Takio has finally broken free. Ondria’s aid has been secured, along with the aid of the Wavebinder and his Tideborn. Darren’s army has been fought to a standstill, and the border belongs to the Riverguard. For once, it almost seems like things are looking up. With every second that passes, though, Drenwell and its Chosen have another opportunity to turn the tide. The race to Drenwell City is on, for the last of the Four has yet to reveal himself. The Everdark remains yet in hiding, lurking in the shadows cast by his brother, and whoever finds him first and claims his aid will tip the balance of the war in their direction. Takio and his allies have no choice but to seek out the reclusive Divine, hunting through the parts of the capital where Rellan’s light has yet to reach. That search, though, also means putting themselves within arm’s reach of the Order - and Darren. With the fight beginning to draw to a close, the deadly hunt is on.

Charred by Casey White

The mountain. Held as his goal for so long, it fades into the distance as Jas leaves it behind. The world is bigger than he’d ever thought, he’s rapidly coming to realize. Darren’s spell lingers, clinging to him, but he’s no longer powerless to its commands. He finally has the strength to stand against it and a new identity to call his own, both gifts of the Everburning, the goddess Shiina. His powers are still new and unfamiliar, though, and his goddess is weak from her slumber. Darren is still out there looking for his wayward once-friend, and will stop at nothing to end what he sees as a threat to Drenwell’s safety. He’ll need to learn his own limits, if he has any hope of standing against his rival. With the Chosen hot on his heels, the man who was Jas flees into foreign lands together with his new goddess. One goal unifies them - revenge. They’ll need allies to get it, but finding allies takes time. Time they’re running all too short of as Drenwell closes in.

Chosen by Casey White

WriteHive Book Club

Jas expected to hear a tale of glory and heroism. He hadn’t planned on living it. Drenwell is in trouble. The idyllic nation teeters on the brink of disaster as one trouble after another lines up before it. Crops fail. Animals flee. Earthquakes rattle the land. In the midst of it all is the mountain, rising tall over the plains and forests. Legends passed down over the years place it as the center of the kingdom’s woes, host to an ancient, looming threat. Tucked away in the countryside, Jas isn’t worried. Drenwell has a savior waiting, a man chosen by their god to defeat this evil. He knows it better than anyone, since this Chosen is his childhood friend, Darren. Jas knows that Darren will be the one to end the threat and keep them safe. But their Chosen is clever, armed with his god-given gifts and talents, and he’s no fool. He can see the truth of the mission laid in front of him, its dangers and risks. The expectations placed on him are strong, but the will to live is stronger still. When faced with his ‘heroic’ fate, he chooses an option no one expected - least of all Jas. With no way left to him but forward, Jas finds himself trapped into playing hero in Darren’s place.

Mark of the Empress by M. Dalto

An Empress ripped back to the life she left behind. A Prince desperate to save his people. One child lost within another realm, the other dependent on their constant protection. Betrayed by those closest to her, Empress Alexstrayna must figure out a way to get it all back - her throne, her people, her son. Fulfilling a two-thousand-year-old prophecy, Reylor, the banished Lord Steward, has stripped Alex of her rightful rule and set in motion a chain of events even he, himself, does not fully understand. Determined to strip his brother of happiness by any means possible, his actions send Alex and Treyan back to Boston and away from the Empire they called home. Blinded by vengeance with hate running thick within her veins, the Empress must consider the ramifications of their return, for better or for worse. But when an unexpected visitor offers help assist with their attempts, Alex and Treyan need to determine how best to reclaim their Empire without more lives lost before whatever time they have left runs out. It’s time to return to the Empire. Are you prepared to join the battle?

Sand Dancer by Trudie Skies

Only monsters summon fire by magic. It’s a sin against the sun god and a crime against the king. The punishment is death. But when sixteen-year-old Mina discovers fire magic runs in her family’s blood, it’s just the beginning of the secrets her father has been keeping from her. When her father is murdered, this half-starved peasant girl finds herself on the run—pursued across the desert by the soldiers and guards of the noble Houses. To survive, she knows she’ll have to abandon her past and learn the way of the sword. But only boys are allowed to carry a blade. There’s only one solution… Disguised as a young nobleman, Mina must make a new life for herself in the heart of her enemies. But she knows she can’t keep up the masquerade forever. With time running out, which will she choose to find—the truth or revenge?

The Lightning Rod by C.S. Ratliff

WriteHive Book Club

12,000 years since the last Lightning Elemental stood guard. The world is in chaos. Shadow magic is spreading beyond the walls of secrecy. A new savior must rise and bring balance, for the Fate of Gnariam. Will The Lightning Rod become the hero the world needs, or succumb to the darkness?

Windward by S. Kaeth

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When dragons fight, mountains weep. In nests high in the mountains, dragons and dragonbonded share their lives, thoughts, feelings, and ambitions. Palon and her partner, the dragon Windward, are renowned among their nest for their flying skill. Their days are filled with everything she loves, especially riding the wind. Even being tasked with teaching their way of life to Tebah, a rebellious newly bonded teenager, can’t bring her down too much. But when treasures from the dragons’ hoards are found in Palon’s collection, her idyllic life comes crashing down. She battles to prove her innocence, while her every move is cast as further evidence against her. Tebah’s suspicion, homesickness, and defiance would be frustrating even in easy times. With Palon in the spotlight while her rivals smear her name at every turn and stir up plots of revenge, her teenage charge’s behavior proves dangerous. Dragon tempers shorten, and challenges and disputes shake the ground. Palon will have to trust more than just herself if she hopes to once more own the sky.