stories in and

The Earl's Assassin

The Earl's Assassin by Kyro Dean

In a game of kill or be killed, a reformed assassin is at a serious disadvantage. **** Reviewers say about Rogue Royals: "Delicious dialogue." "So much fun." "I can't wait for more!" **** Rana Maathornefurer is the last assassin of the gods—scratch that—former assassin. But keeping her sapphire blade at her side is harder than it looks when she is forced to join with persnickety and rude Lord Sheffield in a business deal they both desperately need to work. Add in an assassin who is hot on Phillip's trail—though she can't for the life of her figure out why—and Rana finds herself in a comically ridiculous dance to keep him alive while wanting to kill him—at least until she no longer needs him. When sneaking feelings that could get her killed catch her off-guard, however, she realizes the charade can't last. With everything she cares about falling into deadly chaos, Rana must decide what is most important. Will she be the person Lord Sheffield wishes her to be and risk him dying? Or will she become the monster she's always been to save his life?


Moonlight, Roses & Murder

Moonlight, Roses & Murder by Lorri Moulton, Anna-Violetta Carsini

This is the first part of the story, so there will be cliffhangers! Selina is a woman with a secret...and she has been hiding it for a very long time. With her nieces, she runs Luna's, a nightclub in downtown Seattle, catering to Steampunk and Goth clientele. When someone leaves a body behind her club, she is drawn into a web of mystery and murder. Puncture marks on the body indicate a vampire might be responsible and as more women are killed, a red rose is left by their bodies. When a vampire hunter with secrets of his own comes to investigate, Selina wonders who she can trust...


Ice Flight (Flux & Flight Book 2)

Ice Flight (Flux & Flight Book 2) by Andi C. Buchanan

Chipped Cup

The mountain sanatorium on the edge of a glacier is a world away from the noise and hustle of Liquid City. For Rosalie, it offers a chance of health, and for Abra, Adùle’s daughter and a future art student, a thrilling taste of freedom. Things are rarely as peaceful as they seem. As Rosalie tries to piece together the past, a metal bird offers the first clue there is someone hiding in the mountains. Abra teams up with the doctor’s son Jem, to follow the mystery through the snow. As secrets come to light, and new are connections are made, their lives will take new trajectories and none of them will remain unchanged.


Liquid City (Flux & Flight Book 1)

Liquid City (Flux & Flight Book 1) by Andi C. Buchanan

Chipped Cup

Abandoned as a teenager on a strange planet, Casp Alkin earns a living transporting cargo through the ancient tunnels which lie beneath the rapidly industrialising Liquid City. It’s a dirty, dangerous game but one which affords them the independence they always longed for. But the offer of a lucrative contract persuades Casp to break with their established routine and journey into the unexplored parts of the tunnel network, deep underground. Accompanied by an ill-tempered cephalopod and the scientist daughter of their wealthy sponsor, Casp embarks on an increasingly dangerous journey. But they quickly find that success will mean an end to the livelihoods of the tunnel folk who have become their family, destroying the community which has relied on the tunnels for generations. Casp has little hope of saving the tunnelling industry, but they are persuaded to take to the tunnels one last time. Because some believe that humans weren’t the first to inhabit this isolated planet, and what they find will shift the balance of power in Liquid City forever.


Cast Off (Book Three of the Peridot Shift)

Cast Off (Book Three of the Peridot Shift) by R J Theodore

Chipped Cup

With the very survival of Peridot at stake, the crew of Fortune’s Storm sets upon a quest to reclaim pieces of the planet’s trapped soul before they can be seized by those who would sacrifice everything and everyone in their race for power over everything. The final entry in the Peridot Shift series is here! Praise for Cast Off and the Peridot Shift: “R J Theodore does a truly masterful job of heightening tension over the three books and bringing it to a satisfying conclusion.” — Emmie Mears, author of the Stonebreaker series “I had so much fun reading Cast Off! As a writer, I was freaking out over how Theodore handled the ensemble cast: I love that the world feels big and fleshed out, but familiar characters also run into each other in such organic ways. There’s an element of serendipity that the author pulls off so well. Cast Off feels like a masterclass in how to handle an ensemble cast. I love how the various factions overlap and separate in unexpected ways. The crew of the Not If We Don’t Get Caught was heaps of fun, and Hankirk is the kind of antagonist that I love to hate. When his comeuppance arrived my only coherent words were, “Holy shit, yes, he deserved that”; the rest of my mental capacity was taken up by gleeful screaming.” — Dominique Dickey, author of “Civilian Assumptions” (Lightspeed Magazine) “I can’t stop thinking about the world of Flotsam. Science-fiction, alchemy, and airships. It’s magic.” — Mary Robinette Kowal “Take a pinch of Jim Butcher’s Aeronaut’s Windlass, add a dash of Treasure Planet, some vivid imagery from Avatar, a generous helping of banter from Firefly, and you might have an idea of the feeling this story left me with. Rich language and imagery blend with a complex world, a story told with humor and heart, that left me breathless and wrung out. I want to know what’s in store next for this crew and their already shattered world.” — Ronda “A thrilling conclusion that rights wrongs both within the story and healing from historical ones, definitely a romp that will stay with me and a go-to recommendation for folks looking for a queer adventure expertly navigating the lines between science fiction and fantasy.” — Jo Ladzinski, Jo Writes Fantasy


Salvage (Book Two of the Peridot Shift)

Salvage (Book Two of the Peridot Shift) by R J Theodore

Chipped Cup

A crew of salvagers plot to expose the evil dealings of Peridot’s enemies, but to protect their secrets, those enemies will destroy the crew and everything and everyone they hope to save. Peridot is headed for its second cataclysm. War has broken ancient alliances, sealed borders, and locked down the skies. The Five, Peridot’s alchemist gods, have seen one of their number die and another fall in their efforts to protect their world from invaders beyond the stars. Defeated and diminished, they have ceased to answer the prayers of their people and have left the rapidly unraveling world to fend for itself. Talis and the orphaned crew of the lost airship Wind Sabre have a plan to set things to rights, but they’re stranded on a rock far from the heart of the conflict. When an old enemy comes and offers them a ship and a path forward, it comes with strings that will pull them further from the home they are so desperate to save. Can Talis and her crew chart a course through hostile skies, shifting allegiances, and subverted governments before the true enemies of Peridot claim a power that can destroy the world once and for all? Praise for The Peridot Shift series: “Combining the best elements of steampunk and space opera, placed in a lavishly detailed and imagined world, Flotsam will hold you firmly till the final page.” — Cat Rambo “Flotsam sucked me in and wouldn’t let me go. R J Theodore is a fresh voice who will soon be on your must-read list!” — Jennifer Foehner Wells “I can’t stop thinking about the world of Flotsam. Science-fiction, alchemy, and airships. It’s magic.” — Mary Robinette Kowal “Take a pinch of Jim Butcher’s Aeronaut’s Windlass, add a dash of Treasure Planet, some vivid imagery from Avatar, a generous helping of banter from Firefly, and you might have an idea of the feeling this story left me with. Rich language and imagery blend with a complex world, a story told with humor and heart, that left me breathless and wrung out. I want to know what’s in store next for this crew and their already shattered world.” — Ronda “Peridot is a fascinating, fractured world that truly comes to life on the page; it’s remarkable that Theodore manages to establish the world and its cultures and races so well straight off the bat. And as if that isn’t enough, she introduces an alien race and culture into the mix, juggling them all with aplomb.” — Alan Brenik “The worldbuilding is incredibly epic for a newly minted author and hints at uncovering even more as this series evolves.” — Koeur “1,000% here for the merger of scifi steampunk with fantasy. This is exactly the sort of thing someone who grew up on underappreciated masterpieces like Treasure Planet craves!” — Jenna R, NetGalley Reviewer


The Ice Mage

The Ice Mage by Julianne Munich

Marcel lives with one foot in each world. The first world feels as harsh and cold as the ice he casts from his fingertips. They want to use him as a bloodless and efficient weapon, nothing more. The second world is home to three friendly passengers who charter his coach for a journey. Luc, Emilie, and Adelaide are happy to travel to a prince’s castle as retinue servants, while Marcel's heart sinks in guilt and dread with each step his horses take. Luc's amnesia spell is all that separates the good man he's become, from the evil killer within. The coachman is driving him to where his spell will be broken—and his true self will be unveiled. Marcel is faced with a terrifying dilemma of his own. Either obey the orders of Le Conseil SuprĂȘme and become their henchman—or die a traitor. All the while, his feelings for a forbidden woman tempt him to risk it all.


Flotsam (Book One of the Peridot Shift)

Flotsam (Book One of the Peridot Shift) by R J Theodore

Chipped Cup

A scrappy group of outsiders take a job to salvage some old ring from Peridot’s gravity-caught garbage layer, and land squarely in the middle of a plot to take over (and possibly destroy) what’s left of the already tormented planet. Captain Talis just wants to keep her airship crew from starving, and maybe scrape up enough cash for some badly needed repairs. When an anonymous client offers a small fortune to root through a pile of atmospheric wreckage, it seems like an easy payday. The job yields an ancient ring, a forbidden secret, and a host of deadly enemies. Now on the run from cultists with powerful allies, Talis needs to unload the ring as quickly as possible. Her desperate search for a buyer and the fallout from her discovery leads to a planetary battle between a secret society, alien forces, and even the gods themselves. Talis and her crew have just one desperate chance to make things right before their potential big score destroys them all. Praise for Flotsam: “Combining the best elements of steampunk and space opera, placed in a lavishly detailed and imagined world, Flotsam will hold you firmly till the final page.” — Cat Rambo “Flotsam sucked me in and wouldn’t let me go. R J Theodore is a fresh voice who will soon be on your must-read list!” — Jennifer Foehner Wells “I can’t stop thinking about the world of Flotsam. Science-fiction, alchemy, and airships. It’s magic.” — Mary Robinette Kowal “Take a pinch of Jim Butcher’s Aeronaut’s Windlass, add a dash of Treasure Planet, some vivid imagery from Avatar, a generous helping of banter from Firefly, and you might have an idea of the feeling this story left me with. Rich language and imagery blend with a complex world, a story told with humor and heart, that left me breathless and wrung out. I want to know what’s in store next for this crew and their already shattered world.” — Ronda “Peridot is a fascinating, fractured world that truly comes to life on the page; it’s remarkable that Theodore manages to establish the world and its cultures and races so well straight off the bat. And as if that isn’t enough, she introduces an alien race and culture into the mix, juggling them all with aplomb.” — Alan Brenik “The worldbuilding is incredibly epic for a newly minted author and hints at uncovering even more as this series evolves.” — Koeur


Birthrights

Birthrights by David A Trotter

The old gods are dead. The new ones are silver and steam. A lone warrior must rediscover their identity, all while coping with copious amounts change. Gone from the hills and wilds of the north, Darius must acclimate to city life. He must learn to trust in a city filled with deceit, all while trying to discern the true meaning behind these strange dreams that take him far into other realms.


The Archimedean Heart

The Archimedean Heart by BJ Sikes

Paris 1880, the City of Electric Light Clockwork nobles of the Court promenade through the halls of Versailles, while Watcher spheres and cyborg police menace citizens of France in the streets. The Royal Scientist Doctor works frantically on an automaton designed to replace the failing sovereigns, but will it be ready in time to save the monarchy? In the cafes of Montmartre, Henri paints the common people chafing under the reign of the Augmented monarchs and dreams of a France free of machines. John yearns to capture the essence of beauty in his paintings with the luminous Marie-Ange his muse-and handmaid to the ancient Queen of France. With his brother Henri entangled in revolution, he must choose between the artificial beauty of Court and the movement to restore France. How much humanity can be lost before you are no longer human?


The Vitruvian Mask

The Vitruvian Mask by BJ Sikes

Are you intrigued by 19th century Paris with its artists and nobility? How about an alternate history version with forbidden technology and nuns with supernatural powers? 1881: The electric lights of Paris have been extinguished. The Naturalist revolution is over. Adelaide was on the losing side. Once the Royal Scientist Doctor for the now-dead cyborg monarchs of France, she's now a fugitive, hiding from the new king's Police SĂ©crĂšte. Pregnant and alone, she seeks refuge in a Parisian hospital but things have changed there too. What was once a cathedral of Science is now a bastion of ignorance and superstition. The battlefield veterans whose Augmented prosthetics she once created are shunned by the new regime and come to the hospital for her help. But her nemesis, the father of her child, has returned to France and threatens to reveal her illegal activities to the authorities. Can Adelaide repair her Augmented patients without losing her freedom ... or her life? The Vitruvian Mask continues the story of Adelaide Coumain, the Roboticist of Versailles, that began in The Archimedean Heart.


The Timespeaker

The Timespeaker by Brit Stanford

2023 Whitney Award Nominee Desperate to be a hero. Born a demon. Win JorHali can steal minutes and years, spreading death and decay with a touch. He should have turned himself over to the gods for rightful execution years ago, but he’s seen death, and he fears it. Determined to prove himself worthy of the life he clings to, Win struggles to smother his growing power and provide for his family. When his secret is discovered, Win chooses to masquerade as his god’s greatest hero: the glorious Timespeaker. As Chief Executioner for the gods, Win thinks he’s found his true purpose, but a violent rebellion is brewing among his people, and the girl he loves has joined its ranks. He has the power to destroy any enemy, but who is the enemy? His gods aren’t what they seem, his people are merciless in their destruction, and Time itself seems to be splintering under Win’s ignorant hand. The world is unraveling and Win has the power to save it, but at what cost? And in the end, what will he be? Hero or villain?


Callus & Crow

Callus & Crow by DB Rook

Can a path of blood lead to redemption? Is redemption enough to amend a wayward world? Morality and reality have shifted from their natural axis. Technology and ideology derive from the remnants of a world long dead and segregated by the monsters that now rule the seas. Crow, a young ranch hand, is swept into an odyssey of redemption and revenge as he strives to hold back the ravages of fate and the urges born of a curse shared with his new mentor. Callus, an exile struggling to find redemption whilst keeping his vampiric curse from tainting his new ward, pursues his prey across the sea. The new world they discover reveals a tyrannical society fixated on their council’s ascension to godhood.


The Inversion Solution

The Inversion Solution by Scott Marlowe

The city of Brighton is in chaos. Infernal science inverted half the population. The other half fights for survival. The Alchemancer series continues. Half of Brighton’s population paid the price when Aaron failed to stop the Nullification Engine. The situation worsens when eslar invaders, led by Ensel Rhe’s brother-in-law, Balrabbek, arrive in Brighton intent on completing Ingrid Kane’s work. Forced into an alliance with them, Aaron soon realizes the engine’s effect went well beyond the city’s borders and that much more is at stake than he ever imagined. When Ensel Rhe learns of Balrabbek’s arrival, he wants nothing more than to take revenge on him for the murder of his son. But his brother-in-law’s deceit and his ambitions went much further than he thought. Now, he must end those ambitions, no matter the cost. Meanwhile, Serena flees from the chaos consuming Brighton, only to find that escape is a fleeting thing as her inability to control her magic continues to haunt her. When she learns of the Griffin’s mission to retrieve the secrets of a lifesaving vitality serum, she sees it as a way to save both her people and herself.


The Nullification Engine

The Nullification Engine by Scott Marlowe

An infernal engine threatens all life. A sorcerer's apprentice has no idea how to stop it. The Alchemancer series continues. The city of Brighton promises new beginnings for Aaron, Serena, and the taciturn eslar, Ensel Rhe. But, upon their arrival, Aaron and Serena are arrested for their role in the Chaos of a week ago, while Ensel Rhe slips away on business of his own. The pair are allowed to plead their case before the earl himself, after which they are released and assigned a very special duty. The Chaos unearthed an ancient, infernal machine called the Nullification Engine, and the earl wishes to know everything about it. Dormant for hundreds of years, the device is now active and gathering energy for some unknown purpose. While Aaron and Serena struggle to unravel the machine's mysteries, Ensel Rhe confronts his past when he learns his daughter has come to Brighton, but in the company of one of his greatest enemies. A race against time begins as Aaron realizes that the Nullification Engine was never turned on for a reason, for once the machine reaches a state of full nullitivity, it will destroy Brighton and everyone in it.


The Assassin's Cunning

The Assassin's Cunning by Scott Marlowe

Some days it seems like everyone wants you dead. The deadline for the Black Guardsmen to leave Alchester has come and gone, and now it’s up to the Assassin Without a Name to act on his threat. While he’s not above killing every last mercenary for the trouble they’ve caused him, he decides on a different course of action when Gwendolyn Goddard requests a meeting. In exchange for killing a rival, she offers to call off her Black Guard watchdogs. The catch? The mark is Atticus Drake, a trusted friend and ally. Meanwhile, the Warders and Jakaree continue to pursue their dark agendas. For the Warders, frustration leads to more direct action against the Nameless Assassin and his continued interference. The Jakaree, however, recognizing the need for alliances, offer to make a temporary one in hopes of striking a blow against the Warders. Trusting a death priest is never a good idea, but with questions continuing to mount about the Warders, the Assassin Without a Name reluctantly agrees to join them. Whatever their ultimate goals, the Jakaree and Warders remain in balance until a blood witch comes to town looking for revenge against Mathilda. While the witch has an agenda all her own, her presence threatens to turn the tide in the wrong direction for good. Deception, intrigue, danger, infernal science run amuck, and half the city wanting him dead? It’s just another day in the life of the Assassin Without a Name.


The Assassin's Blade

The Assassin's Blade by Scott Marlowe

I had a name once, same as everyone else, but after one glorious night of murder, it was no longer safe to use. Small sacrifice for ensuring my sister's safety, I figured. So now I don't use one. In my line of work, it's not necessary anyway. What is my line of work? Murder, of course, though I fancy myself more than just an assassin. Gentleman, thief, wine connoisseur, adventurer, a man of a thousand names and none. I'm all of those things and more. My life was about as normal as one could hope when one particular job came along. Kill the artificer, steal the plans, make an exchange. Simple enough, until a band of fanatical priests ambushed and tried to kill me. Turns out the plans have something to do with a source of dark energy. The priests aren't the only ones interested in it, either. I've no interest in being a hero, but I'll do whatever I have to do to keep my city—and my sister—safe. There's already blood on my hands. What's a little more?


Engines of Alchemancy

Engines of Alchemancy by Scott Marlowe

Chaos erupts in the Barony of Fallmere when a surprise elemental attack destroys Norwynne Keep. Aaron Shepherd and Shanna Bonnerman survive, but Shanna is soon lost in the fallout of the keep’s destruction while Aaron is forced to flee for his life. Unbeknownst to Aaron, Shanna becomes a captive of the enemy who destroyed their home. This enemy, a savant who claims to follow the path of science, speaks of ancient, infernal devices and a quest to reclaim the greatest of them all. Certain the savant means to kill her, Shanna is instead surprised when she finds herself embarking upon the adventure of a lifetime. Meanwhile, only the worst of nightmares await Aaron. Pursued by dwarven raiders, mad sorcerers, and a host of demons who will not stop until he is dead, the only thing keeping him alive is his own wits and an eslar mercenary whose reputation as a killer might make him the worst threat of all. Though Aaron and Shanna travel different paths, their purposes align when they each learn of a mysterious device known as the Fifth Element. Shanna sees it as the final piece of the puzzle that is her destiny. To Aaron’s logical mind, it is an impossible ambiguity. Whatever the answer, the Fifth Element draws them back together and into a final confrontation where science and sorcery will collide.


The Dinosaur Hunters

The Dinosaur Hunters by Patrick Samphire

SFINCS

Mystery, murder, and adventure on Mars
 Mars in 1815 is a world of wonders, from the hanging ballrooms of Tharsis City to the air forests of Patagonian Mars, and from the ice caves of Noachis Terra to the Great Wall of Cyclopia, beyond which dinosaurs still roam. Sixteen-year-old Harriet George has never had the chance for an adventure. Now her older sister is determined to marry her off. Harriet can’t think of anything worse. Meanwhile, her brother-in-law, Bertrand, has a problem. He’s never been much of a police inspector. As far as Harriet knows, Bertrand has never caught a criminal in his life. But now the famous jewel thief, the Glass Phantom, has come to Mars, and Bertrand has been given the job of tracking him down. If he fails, Bertrand will lose his job and the whole family will be ruined. Harriet will not let that happen. So she comes up with a plan: she will capture the Glass Phantom herself. Even if that mean that she and Bertrand have to follow the thief’s intended victim, the Countess von Krakendorff, on a dinosaur hunt in the perilous Martian wilderness. But there is far more going on in this expedition than mere robbery, and the dinosaurs are not the greatest danger. If Harriet cannot solve the mystery, her family won't just be ruined. She and Bertrand may not make it out of the wilderness alive. The Dinosaur Hunters is a thrilling adventure set in the world of Secrets of the Dragon Tomb.


Blackcap

Blackcap by Benjamin Aeveryn

SFINCS

Kade Blackcap was once a famous detective. Overburdened with guilt at sending a man to the noose, he finds himself unable to take a case for fear of the consequences. But with the taxman breathing down his neck, he has to find work soon, or he'll lose the house his father left him. He has one hope left. Long has he suspected the myths of old were creeping back into the world, and with his detective background he has all the skills to hunt them. But once he finds himself on the trail of a monster, he realises how out of his depth he is. He might have the skills to track such a creature, but what will he do when he catches up with it?


The Prism Effect (Skylight, #1)

The Prism Effect (Skylight, #1) by J. Wint

SPSFC 2023

Just beyond Earth’s atmosphere, orbiting like a shining beacon of hope, is the celebrated Skylight University and only the brightest students are accepted into its hallowed halls. Not surprisingly, Jet Stroud can hardly believe it when he receives his acceptance letter. Afterall, who would want a kid with glowing eyes and a deadly disease called ‘The Youthful Death’ on their campus? Thanks to his rare condition known as ephebus mortem, Jet has always been avoided and feared because of his eyes. When he learns the legend claims he will die before his twenty-fourth birthday, his excitement at being accepted into Skylight University is suddenly crushed. Determined to find answers, Jet quickly picks himself up. Accompanied by another kid from his hometown, a loner named Cutter Jade, they seek out the other three students with ephebus mortem. Despite their differences, the small group develops a shaky friendship and begins a quest to find a cure. But not all is as it seems at Skylight University. Mysterious shadows lurk in the hallways and bizarre visions of serpents and prisms haunt Jet’s dreams. While reading the obituary of a former student with ephebus mortem, Jet discovers several clues hidden in a trilogy of old paintings. As the group follows the breadcrumbs left behind by this former student, their quest takes an unexpected and deadly turn. The pace to find clues quickens when strange voices, ghostly apparitions and bizarre events threaten to splinter the small group apart. With the semester roaring to a close, and tensions running high, Jet fears they may not survive long enough to crack the code. Could the clues hidden in the paintings hold the cure to the strangest disease ever known to the human race? Can Jet and the others unravel the mysteries of ephebus mortem in time? In the end, Jet discovers something so profound that it will change his life forever.


A Song for Octaven

A Song for Octaven by R.C. Ballad

Resenfeld Draper is a skilled violinist and knows it. As a second-year student at Octaven University, where musicians sing spells and perform enchantments, Resen’s talent is only matched by his vanity and ambition. But Resen’s attempts to be top of the class are foiled at every turn by distractingly brilliant rival Eric Jameson – and so is his pursuit of friendship with the bold and passionate teacher’s daughter, Bravura Tempesta. Bravura is intrigued by Resen’s sweet-talk and vainglory, but Jameson knows a bully when he sees one. As Resen tries to connect with his classmates, he soon learns that forging real relationships is harder than writing concertos or currying favour. When a mysterious quake shakes the University, Resen, Bravura and Jameson must put their personal issues aside. With more in common than they realise, the three of them might be able to make real magic and save their school – but only if Resen can swallow his pride. A Song for Octaven is a standalone cosy fantasy with a sweet central mmf poly romance featuring trans characters.


Emma's Dragon

Emma's Dragon by M. Verant

The award-winning Regency fantasy continues. Emma Woodhouse needs a dragon. Her life depends on it. But Emma’s dragon is claimed
 by Elizabeth Darcy. When Emma Woodhouse meets newly wed Elizabeth, a brush of their gloved hands unmasks the Darcys’ fantastic secret. Emma has discovered Yuánchi, the deadly dragon coveted by both Emperor Napoleon and England’s Secretary of War. Secrets are nothing new for Emma. She has her own: a deathbed promise, and a clever plan to achieve it. The Darcys’ power, forbidden to her, might even help. But clever plans go astray. As treason stalks a royal ball, an avenging queen rises to ravage England. Survival rests on a fabled alliance: Emma and her secrets, Elizabeth and her dragon, and the magical music of Mary Bennet and Georgiana Darcy. Will Emma, Elizabeth, and Mary unravel the mystery of the great wyves in time to save England and themselves? Emma’s Dragon is the second book in the award-winning Jane Austen Fantasy series. This boldly original story is filled with magical dragons, strong heroines, and a brilliantly reimagined Regency that challenges barriers of class, race, and love.


Strange Cargo

Strange Cargo by Patrick Samphire

What do a smuggling gang, a curse that won't go away, and a frequently lost dog have to do with each other? Answer: they're all here to disrupt Mennik Thorn's hard-earned peace and quiet. As the sole freelance mage in the city of Agatos, Mennik is used to some odd clients and awful jobs. But this time, one of his clients isn't giving him a choice. Mennik might have forgotten about the smugglers whose operations he disrupted, but they haven't forgotten about him. Now he is faced with a simple ultimatum: help them smuggle in an unknown, dangerous cargo or flee the city he loves forever. Time is running out for Mennik to find an answer, and things are about to get completely out of control.


Wishhobbler

Wishhobbler by Francis O'Dowd

Somewhere in the damp, twisting alleyways of an alternate 19th Century slum there lives a hideous freak of nature. Driven by poverty, Spin and her makeshift family move to the Songwynds in search of work. There they share a tiny, rat-infested tenement room with their adoptive Ma: a ferocious wishhobbler. A monster of a mother, and the mother of all monsters, the wishhobbler’s viciousness has caused fear and mayhem among the slum dwellers. Unable to hit back at the wishhobbler, her victims turn their attention to Spin. An outsider wherever she goes - haunted by thugs and bullies - Spin finds a way to enter the carefully guarded and lethal world of Victorian Racing Televisions. When the wishhobbler disrupts the carefully laid plans of the mysterious Racers, Spin finds herself at the centre of a deadly confrontation. But it’s with the revelation of a centuries old Knight of the Implicate Order that things really take a turn for the worse ... Featuring over 50 stunning illustrations, this dark urban fairy tale is a must for anyone who's ever been bored, bullied or lived with a monster.


Legacy of Brick & Bone

Legacy of Brick & Bone by Krystle Matar

Follow the law and you’ll stay safe. But what if the law betrays you? It all started with the girl from the river: mutilated, tattooed, murdered. TashuĂ© couldn’t help but look for answers and in the process, he uncovered the ugly truths being hidden by the very law he used to believe in—the law of the Authority. Now he’s fighting for his life. Mere survival isn’t enough; he desperately wants to save his son from the Authority, and he wants revolution. At any cost. Davik Kaine has been gathering power under everyone’s noses. Ruthless, ambitious, with a rebel army backing him, he wants revolution, too. He’s probably the only person powerful enough to protect TashuĂ© from the looming implosion of the political field. And he’s the only person with the connections to save Jason. He may also be responsible for the death of the girl from the river. Is making peace with Davik worth it, if it saves Tashué’s son from the Authority? If TashuĂ© plays along with what Davik wants, can TashuĂ© get retribution for the girl from the river?


Miss Bennet's Dragon

Miss Bennet's Dragon by M. Verant

Foreword INDIES Winner for Fantasy. Royal Dragonfly Award Winner for Fantasy. “A charming retelling”—Locus Magazine An unforgettable fantasy retelling of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice that is romantic, funny, and more relevant than ever. Elizabeth Bennet is hiding a forbidden power. She can speak to draca, the fire-breathing creatures kept as status symbols by English gentry. But Mr. Darcy has noticed, and he has his own dark secret. When Elizabeth’s sister falls deathly ill, the cure lies in the mysteries of draca. Elizabeth, aided by her brilliant sister Mary, defies restrictive English society to hunt for lost draca lore. She must hurry. England’s war with France has drawn other dangerous hunters. Elizabeth’s search leads her to the fabulous Pemberley estate, home of the entitled and infuriating man whose proposal she scorned. There, Elizabeth’s worlds smash together—protocol against passion, and exultation against the risk of love. But the stakes are greater than her sister’s life. Elizabeth must test herself against a distant war. And her enemy is not who she thought. “Thrilling, superbly paced, and moving. I highly recommend this novel to fans of Jane Austen, as well as to anyone who has ever pondered the mystery of dragons.” – Katherine Sturtevant, author of At the Sign of the Star “A historical romance that encompasses the Napoleonic Wars, arcane marriage laws, and women with the power to command the fiercest, most dangerous, and wisest of beasts” – Vanessa MacLaren-Wray, author of All That Was Asked Miss Bennet’s Dragon is a stand-alone story that begins a trilogy of Jane Austen Fantasy.


Andrion

Andrion by Alex Penland

When 16-year-old Kallis goes to see Aristophanes' latest play, she's inspired to sneak into the Assembly and try to make her name as an orator. Against the backdrop of steampunk antiquity – an Ancient Athens where automatons line the city walls – Kallis sets out to incite a revolution. She’s going to create a world where no one is forced to be someone they’re not: a world where women can be artificers and orators, where one’s future isn’t determined by the track set out by their parents.


These Gossamer Strings

These Gossamer Strings by Allegra Pescatore

A Silence is Broken. The River Beckons. The Forgotten Wait. With eighteen days until her tribunal and Water Rite, Elenor must find a way to save her doena and keep her throne. The threat of war looms larger and only an alliance through marriage has the potential to save it. But who to trust when all her closest allies have secrets of their own? The past is creeping up on them, a web of maneuvers and lies spreading back to before the fall of the Empire. Gabriel can feel it constricting around them, drawing him ever closer to a future he never wanted. Confronting the truth of his heritage may be the only way to save Lirin, but at what cost? Perhaps one the desert has already paid. Shaken after the death of the Red, the Mondaer must choose their path forward. Protect the new Gatekeeper and Incarnate as they have always done, or embrace a future without reliance on Gifts? Fedrik and Fay’s safety depends on the answer, and it’s not looking good. Would they be better off trusting Daemon, or is North right that he intends to use them as a weapon? These Gossamer Strings is the final installment of the first arc of the Last Gift Series. Threads torn asunder are weaving back together and the Gatekeeper is coming for his Incarnate.


No Port in a Storm

No Port in a Storm by Cal Black

‘The Bayou wants its Butcher back’ Ghosts of Mildred Berry’s past stalk her dreams, dredging up memories she’d rather forget. Struggling with the return to city life and a surprise marriage, Millie finds her strongest ally is distracted, preparing for the Colfield Massacre trial. When the trial’s key witness goes missing, a bloody message makes it clear to Millie that the city of Marigot is done waiting for its vengeance against the man who betrayed it
 and the elf who burnt it down. Enemies new and old lurk in the bayou, while all of Millie’s old allies are long dead. If she goes after the witness, she’ll be walking into a city of vipers. If she doesn’t, she’ll lose her closest friend. The Bayou wants its Butcher back, come hell or high water.


Shattered Spirits: The Fall of Ishcairn

Shattered Spirits: The Fall of Ishcairn by Cal Black

SFINCS

Legends say a dead god is buried under the stone city of Ishcairn, protecting its inhabitants by dashing enemy fleets into the jagged coast of Craeburn. Adjunct professor Corrie Ecksley doesn’t believe any of that, but she knows from her work excavating nearby burial sites that the ancient Craeburn people believed it enough to name the city after their dead god, Ish. When the ripples of a great war finally reach Craeburn’s shores, a terrifying new weapon is unleashed on the city that not even Ish can deter. A bomb that tears souls from bodies, driving anyone who witnessed the blast insane. But it is not the living that Corrie fears. Displaced spirits are hungry for a body, and care not if it already plays host to a soul. No bullets can stop them, no walls are thick enough to keep them out. No help is coming. No one left but Corrie to stop the carnage, if she even can.


Dragon Latitudes

Dragon Latitudes by Amy Campbell

s a dragon-hunter, he never imagined he’d be the one hunted – until a recruit tossed him overboard to prove that he was no different from the dragons they were after. And just like that, Elazar’s life changed forever. Not for the better, by the way. Now, Elazar grapples with his new dragon identity while his former crewmates, led by his aunt, the airship captain, are hot on his tail. They’re ready to avenge him by taking down the beast they believe is responsible. You know, Elazar. Lucky for him, his best friend and the jerk who threw him overboard are ready to help navigate this mess. Together, they’re on a quest to discover the truth about Elazar’s past and the dragon world’s secrets. But it’s not that simple. They’re facing betrayal, treachery, and the Jade Empress’s wrath. And there’s a prophecy hanging over their heads. No pressure, right? It’s just a fate that could change history forever and kill everyone Elazar cares about. So if you’re up for an adventure that’ll keep you on the edge of your seat, join Elazar as he embraces his inner dragon and fights to protect those he loves. Because with the stakes this high, death isn’t just a possibility; it’s a looming threat.


Tales from the Gunpowder Chronicles: A collection of Opium War steampunk stories

Tales from the Gunpowder Chronicles: A collection of Opium War steampunk stories by Jeannie Lin

Asian steampunk at its finest with three new tales of adventure from bestselling author Jeannie Lin East meets West in a clash of gunpowder technology versus steam in an epic and richly-detailed series. Features three standalone stories: Big Trouble in Old Shanghai The Island of the Opium-Eaters Love in the Time of Engines Big Trouble in Old Shanghai The signs are there. Gangs roaming the streets, the very earth shaking beneath their feet. Ming-fen could tell something was coming to Old Shanghai, but she didn't know exactly what until the city erupted in fiery rebellion — with her brother caught on the wrong side. With the streets in turmoil, Ming-fen must rely on her fighting skills and a blue-eyed foreign devil to survive the day, and perhaps keep an already broken city from all-out civil war. The Island of the Opium-Eaters Sagara Satomi hasn't set foot on land since she was exiled from Nippon and cast adrift upon a ship owned by a notorious Chinese rebel. Rogue alchemist, Yang Hanzhu has spent years chasing dark rumors, plotting a course toward an unmarked island with a mysterious past. Will they uncover the island's secrets? Or be buried there along with them


Webley and The World Machine

Webley and The World Machine by Zachary Chopchinski

SPSFC 2022

"This world within a world is such a fabulous concept! It's almost like Star Trek, Doctor Who, and the Bible all mashed up together with a steampunk twist." A strange coin. A mysterious elevator. And a war deep within the Earth that could destroy the world. Adal and Arija weren't concerned with what makes the world go round until they followed an old coin into a dark cave. Deep within the Earth is a world they never dreamed possible. A world that will challenge their most important beliefs. A world that will soon be torn apart by war. Webley controls the center of Earth, but not all his creations are happy. When the hidden plot to overthrow him turns violent, Adal and Arija are forced to choose sides. But the dangers are more than they could have predicted. Will their hidden feelings for each other help them through it, or rip them and the world apart? If you like Cassandra Clare, Quantum Leap, and Lindsay Buroker, you'll love this hilarious portal fiction adventure full of snark, sass, and one curious little robot boy.


The Unpleasantness at Baskerville Hall

The Unpleasantness at Baskerville Hall by Chris Dolley

SPSFC 2022

Wodehouse steampunk version of The Hound of the Baskervilles! “Jeeves and Wooster meet Holmes and Watson with a touch of steampunk in the hilarious first full-length Reeves and Worcester tale ... This laugh-out-loud parody works on several levels ... With razor-sharp wit and fast pacing that plays fair with the reader, this is an excellent genre mash-up that fires on all cylinders.” - Publishers Weekly An escaped cannibal, a family curse ... and Reginald Worcester turning up on the doorstep. Could things get any worse for the Baskerville-Smythe family? As the bodies pile up, only a detective with a rare brain – and Reggie’s is so rare it’s positively endangered – can even hope to solve the case. But... there is the small matter that most of the guests aren’t who they say they are, the main suspect has cloven feet, and a strange mist hangs over great Grimdark Mire. Luckily the young master has Reeves, his automaton valet, and Emmeline, his suffragette fiancĂ©e, on hand to assist. This stand alone novel is the fifth Reeves & Worcester Steampunk mystery


The Artist and the Anarchist (The Age of Invention)

The Artist and the Anarchist (The Age of Invention) by Harlow Banks

A mystery surrounds her heritage. Can she uncover why she’s the target of villainous men before her life runs out of steam? Scotland, 1884. Amy Carter is eager to open a new chapter. An ostracized orphan celebrating her seventeenth birthday, the budding artist is delighted to leave her snobbish boarding school and return to her adoptive family of inventors and scientists. But her happy immersion in mechanical experiments and a trip to London turns to dismay when she discovers she’s been followed home by a stalker. As her godfather and his son rally to protect her with their inventions, Amy beseeches a lawyer to reveal her secret inheritance
 but only receives a dire warning. And when her whirlwind journey through the marvels of France and Spain uncovers more mysterious clues, she fears the truth will only lead her deeper into peril. Can she unravel the deadly puzzle without getting ground up by the gears of intrigue? The Artist and the Anarchist is the fast-paced first book in The Age of Invention YA science fiction steampunk series. If you like engaging characters, aesthetic and historically rich backdrops, and a sense of wonder, then you’ll love Harlow Banks’s enriching story.


The Hangman's Owl

The Hangman's Owl by B.Y Yang

When the Hangman's Owl disappeared 20 years ago, it left a beleaguered nation in chaos, leaving the downtrodden and mighty alike with nowhere to turn. Now, a 'hero' has arrived to seek the legend out. Armed with ironclad destroyers and unmanned airships, they will venture into a world of the strange, weird, and downright magical. Who they will find when they finally run the Owl to ground, is another matter entirely. Take a thrilling adventure into a world of steampunk superheroics with this book. If you enjoyed Batman: The Animated Series or Sherlock Holmes mysteries, you'll love this story. Don't miss out on this exciting tale - buy now before the price changes!


Gunpowder Alchemy (Gunpowder Chronicles)

Gunpowder Alchemy (Gunpowder Chronicles) by Jeannie Lin

In 1842, the gunpowder might of China’s Qing Dynasty fell to Britain’s steam engines. Furious, the Emperor ordered the death of his engineers, eliminating China’s best chance of fighting back. Since her father’s execution eight years ago, Jin Soling has kept her family from falling apart. With her mother addicted to opium and her younger brother in danger of being sent off to the factories, Soling has no choice but to sell off the last of her father’s possessions. Unwittingly, her actions bring her to the attention of the imperial court—the same court that betrayed her father. The Crown Prince has launched a secret mission to bring together the remnants of the former Ministry of Science. To restore her family’s name, Soling must track down the rebel alchemist who holds the key to powering the imperial fleet. Her only ally is a man she’s just met—the engineer with a mysterious past who was once meant to be her husband



Clockwork Samurai (Gunpowder Chronicles)

Clockwork Samurai (Gunpowder Chronicles) by Jeannie Lin

The Gunpowder Chronicles continue as a woman left adrift by a dynasty in decline attempts to reclaim her family’s honor
 Appointed to the Court of Physicians, Jin Soling can see that the newly-crowned Emperor is cracking, relying on opium to drown his troubles. The Qing Empire is failing, and war with the British is imminent, but the man to whom Soling was once engaged has a bold idea to save it. A leader within the Ministry of Engineering, Chen Chang-wei suggests an alliance with the isolated island empire of Japan, whose scientists claim to have technical advancements that could turn the tide of the war. Seeking to escape the politics of the imperial court, Soling arranges her own passage on the airship to Japan. But once they land, Chang-wei and Soling become targets of the shogunate’s armored samurai assassins. Caught in an age-old battle between feudal tradition and innovation, and stranded in a land distrustful of foreigners, Soling and Chang-wei must find a way to fight back against the Western invaders—with the survival of both Qing Empire and the island nation of Japan at stake.


Lady of Vision (Daughters of Aether Book 1)

Lady of Vision (Daughters of Aether Book 1) by Amanda Labonte

A lady reporter? Preposterous. In a time when other young women are learning the art of pouring the perfect cup of tea, Lady Hazel Winchester dreams of a front page byline. Just because the war with the Americas is over doesn’t mean there isn’t a story hiding in the aether tinged streets of London and she means to uncover it. But perhaps the biggest story of all is the secret she’s keeping about herself. Combining steampunk and Victorian aesthetics, Lady of Vision is a clean romance for anyone who loves a good, slightly fantastical, historical mystery.


When The Stars Alight

When The Stars Alight by Camilla Andrew

A maiden of the stars. A monster from the shadows. A collision that rewrites their worlds. Princess Laila Rose is a fallen star in human form. A beloved guardian to humanity. Yet in spite of these fantastical origins, she has never much believed in prophecies. That’s why when a demon of apocalyptic legend is presented to her in a block of ice, she feels fascination rather than fright. Curiosity kindles into mutual desire once he breaks free of his captivity. Far from the rampaging beast of mass destruction everyone expects—he is monstrously handsome, deviously articulate and alluringly mysterious, a prince among his kind. Eager to discover his origins, Laila travels from her idyllic seaside realm into a land of unspeakable horrors, relying on her wits to survive her journey. She arrives aiming to establish peaceful contact with the aid of the besotted prince. However, it becomes clear that the heartless demon king does not desire peace at all, only war and conquest. When diplomacy fails, Laila turns to the king’s suave and manipulative bastard son in the hopes that she can inspire both him and his trueborn brother to go against their father. But soon it is her heart she must keep from being torn between their centuries-old dangerous rivalry. This gothic fantasy set in a vibrant gaslamp world is a must-read for fans of Catherynne Valente and Angela Carter. It’s written in lush, lyrical prose full of intricate worldbuilding, courtly intrigue, and magic that seeps through the pages. Beneath its light, romantic and whimsical veneer, you can expect darkness, brutality and passion.


The Mambo Wizard: Breakfast is Served!

The Mambo Wizard: Breakfast is Served! by Giordano J. Lahaderne

SPFBO9 SPSFC 2023

Meet Jeremy Fletcher, boy wizard and orphan extraordinaire. After years of study, Jeremy finds himself expelled from Pigpimples Academie of Magick. He only ever mastered the single spell of transforming everyday objects into breakfast food items (a novice trick at best, and one not found in any of the Headmage’s textbooks). But perhaps Jeremy's luck is due for a change. Moe and Zippo crash-land their starship on his family's property. They're space pirates on a quest to fish radio broadcasts out of black holes and build the ultimate night club. They also appear to be famished. Is this Jeremy’s chance to provide a complete and balanced breakfast? In the spirit of J.K. Rowling meets The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, enter an alternate history where humans made contact with alien races, and where magicians are still embarrassing! Featuring a cast of wizard school dropouts, small furry animals, and other various weirdos! Come join the gang in a swashbuckling adventure through dysfunctional magic academies, dwarven convenience stores, and night clubs on the moons of Jupiter!‹‹The Mambo Wizard: Breakfast is Served! Truly a gem of the orphaned wizard genre!


Murder at Spindle Manor

Murder at Spindle Manor by Morgan Stang

SPFBO9 SPFBO Finalist

Mysteries abound in Spindle Manor. For Huntress Isabeau Agarwal, the countryside inn is the last stop in a deadly hunt. Armed with gaslamp and guns, she tracks an insidious beast that wears the skin of its victims, mimicking them perfectly. Ten guests reside within Spindle Manor tonight, and the creature could be any one of them. Confined by a torrential thunderstorm and running out of time, Isabeau has until morning to discover the liar, or none of them—including her—will make it out alive. But her inhuman quarry isn't the only threat residing in Spindle Manor. Gunshots. A slammed door. A dead body. Someone has been killed, and a hunt turns into a murder investigation. Now with two mysteries at her feet and more piling up, Isabeau must navigate a night filled with lies and deception. In a world of seances and specters, mesmers and monsters, the unexpected is hiding around every corner, and every move may be her last.


Deathbringer

Deathbringer by Blake Carpenter

SPFBO9

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.


Candle Children

Candle Children by Michael Baker

SPFBO9

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.


Beyond the Filigree Wall

Beyond the Filigree Wall by Melissa Wright

SPFBO9

A dark curse. A deadly secret. The ill-fated girl at the heart of both. Antonetta Ostwind is about to get everything she’s ever wanted. If all goes to plan, she’ll end the fae, steal back what was stolen, and win the post she’s always dreamed of in time to dress for supper. There’s just one problem. His name is Gideon Alexander. Gideon holds the key to her coveted post. He’s fantastic with a sword, looks amazing in uniform, and commands even the adoration of his great, beastly dog. He’s living the life Etta needs. Gideon doesn’t believe Etta should have any of it. In fact, he’s planning to make sure she never does. And that’s a real problem, because if Etta can’t take her post as marshal, how can she have her vengeance and save the kingdom from the prince of the fae? Slow-burn with sweet kisses with properly stabby heroines--these regency and fairtyale inspired fantasy standalones are perfect for fans of Enchantment of Ravens and Little Thieves.


Trial of the Alchemist

Trial of the Alchemist by Trevor Melanson

SPFBO9

Aurora’s greatest entrepreneur has been murdered, and only the truth will save Alchemist Ortez from the gallows. Facing a heated courtroom of strangers, he must now recall the events that brought him here as a fellow alchemist probes his memory. Such is the job of alchemists: administering elixirs in order to see into the minds of men. Their dreams. Their nightmares. Their secrets. But while everyone believes him guilty, Alchemist Ortez knows what they do not. He was hired by the victim for a job unlike any they could imagine. Nor would they ever guess what other mysteries lie buried beneath the mountain metropolis of Aurora, a cave-enclosed city where countless gas lamps illuminate the endless night. Trial of the Alchemist is a gaslamp mystery rife with twists, adventure, and romance.


Night Demon

Night Demon by Stephen Wolberius

SPFBO9

Lilian, a thirteen-year-old factory worker in an industrialising town plagued by a serial killer, can see an invisible affliction within other people. When her search for her missing best friend ends with a confrontation with a demon — and learning that the affliction turns humans into demons — another demon named Lucian saves her life and promises answers. Her first clue is that demons are responsible for the many murders. Unfortunately, Lilian’s new lead has problems of his own — Demon Hunters, who claim Lucian is the serial killer and who see Lilian as an accessory. Night Demon tells a claustrophobic gaslamp fantasy and horror story with a dark fantasy twist and edge-of-your-seat suspense. If you're a fan of classic American and British horror fiction but also like dark fantasy world-building and epic fights, you're in for a treat. What can you expect from reading Night Demon? A strong female lead discovers that she needs to confront her mortality as well as her morality. Fast-paced, engaging and brooding at once. Plenty of unexpected twists. Well-developed characters, both major and minor. Language magic called Elilim, based on proto-indo-european, Mycenean and proto-Semitic languages. Set in Victorian times and written in the King's English, the classic gaslamp fantasy British horror fiction atmosphere. Classic strong prose, but that doesn't take away tempo. Demons and Vampires with compelling and terrifying worldbuilding and lore behind them Inspired by deep Saxon ghostly folklore. Tragic, tense and emotional. Terrifyingly brooding, doom impendent and action-packed story structure that will never bore... A satisfying ending!


The Wickwire Watch

The Wickwire Watch by Jacquelyn Hagen

SPFBO9 SPFBO Finalist

***WINNER OF THE 2023 REALM AWARD FOR BEST DEBUT NOVEL*** ***2023 REALM AWARDS FINALIST FOR BOOK OF THE YEAR*** ***AWARDED THE INDIE B.R.A.G. MEDALLION*** TRUST NO ONE. It's the first and greatest rule Inkwell Featherfield ever learned. It's also the only way he knows how to survive—besides picking pockets, dodging the law, and using every ounce of his plucky charm. But none of this will be enough to save him now. If only he'd never snooped around a dead man's house. If only he'd never found that pocket watch full of strange magic. If only he'd known the old man had snuffed it at the hands of the ghostly Spektors, or that such dark spirits even existed, because now they're after him. When Ink is approached by an enigmatic group offering to keep him safe, he accepts—only to discover his rescuers are a band of infamous fugitives. Who knew they had a flair for winemaking? Or a penchant for sing-a-longs? Thrust into a world of arcane horrors, powerful politicians, and dangers on every side, the boy has no choice but to finally break his rule and decide who to trust. But with all the secrets, magic, and mystery thickening around him—and the stakes so much higher than he ever imagined—it might just be downright impossible. The Wickwire Watch is the first book of the epic fantasy series The Riverfall Chronicles. For more information, visit jacquelynhagen.com.


The Fall Is All There Is

The Fall Is All There Is by C.M. Caplan

SPFBO9 SPSFC 2023 SPFBO Finalist

All Petre Mercy wanted was a good old-fashioned dramatic exit from his life as a prince. But it’s been five years since he fled home on a cyborg horse. Now the King—his Dad—is dead—and Petre has to decide which heir to pledge his thyroid-powered sword to. As the youngest in a set of quadruplets, he’s all too aware that the line of succession is murky. His siblings are on the precipice of power grabs, and each of them want him to pick their side. If Petre has any hope of preventing civil war, he'll have to avoid one sibling who wants to take him hostage, win back another’s trust after years of rivalry and resentment, and get an audience with a sister he's been avoiding for five years. Before he knows it, he's plunged himself into a web of intrigue and a world of strange, unnatural inventions just to get to her doorstep. Family reunions can be a special form of torture.


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