stories in and

Three Men In Orbit

Three Men In Orbit by Sandra Bond

"They're back... and they've got a sextant!" A steampunk extravaganza set in an early twentieth century where science has conquered gravity and colonised the Moon, but where other issues of the day remain as problematic as in our own timeline... such as the vexed question of votes for women. The beloved characters of Jerome K. Jerome's THREE MEN IN A BOAT take a pleasure-trip into space in an anti-gravity sphere, only to find themselves caught up in shenanigans and skullduggery millions of miles from anything to be found on the Thames. Will they be able to make it back to Earth with their skins and their reputations both intact?


The Mystery of the Pale King

The Mystery of the Pale King by Sam Flynn

"Tonight, my friends, the performance is real. To you, my most faithful, I dedicate this, the final production of 'The Mystery of the Pale King.'" As an orphan growing up in a distant border province, Faron took pride in the epic tales of the Hero of Hathur, a great and powerful warrior who ruled in the name of the sun-worshipping Church of the Sol Creator. That pride is shattered by accusations from the Hero's family that he squandered their entire inheritance on the production of a profane play with him at the center: "The Mystery of the Pale King." The Church proclaims him under interdict and dispatches Bishop Antonius, his devoted page Faron, and a cadre of soldiers downriver to repossess Hathur on its behalf. The cruelty they witness on their perilous mission forces them to confront the horrors at the heart of Hathur's past and question not just their devotion to the Church but their very beliefs in gods and heroes. Amid a storm of betrayal, murder, and sacrilege, Faron must survive fanatical cultists, their obscene rituals, and the evil hiding in the light in order to save Bishop Antonius from the Hero's final performance. Inspired by the historical legend of Gilles de Rais, The Mystery of the Pale King probes the roots of modern American dysfunction in a grim flintlock fantasy setting that reflects the best and worst of humanity. “While the dark, riveting The Mystery of the Pale King is set in a distant time and place, its sharp examinations of religious cults and hero worship are all too relevant to today’s world. Flynn’s clear prose leads the reader through a short yet complex tale of dark fantasy and horrors both earthbound and cosmic. It’s a gripping, highly recommended read." - Nicole Willson, Bram Stoker Award-nominated author of Tidepool


The Fall of Selvandrea

The Fall of Selvandrea by Tim J. McKay

Remember the wolf. Remember what's out there in the dark. Valdaris was a middling artillery captain before his people fell to a conquering rival. Then he fell further still, snatched from the battlefield by a ruthless cult and cast into the depths of ultimate evil. Transformed by powers he can’t begin to understand, Valdaris seeks revenge on those who tried to destroy him. Instead, he’ll face monsters beyond his most terrifying nightmares. He joins with allies caught in the chaos of his war with evil, oblivious to his true nature and the darkness closing in on their world. Full of dragons, monsters, found family, magical weapons, intense duels, and epic battles, The Fall of Selvandrea follows a vigilante’s quest against malice, greed, and the shadow within. Heroes and villains join against the rising dark, and against a tyrant whose schemes may destroy them all. And from calamity’s ashes, a new power shall rise.


Wild Skies

Wild Skies by K.E.Andrews

I’ll trade ya a story for a drink. It’s a story about a handsome son of a gun and his trusty dragon, Bean, on the hunt for the notorious train robber, Talon. In a land shaped by dragons, magic, and bullets, Dale Hartwell is just trying to make a living hunting down bandits and bounties while searching for his kidnapped parents. When the hunt for Talon takes him to the Melted Lands, Dale finds that he’s bitten off more than he can chew. He comes face to face with ancient dragons, old magic, and a new lead on his missing family. If he fails this job, not only will he lose his chance to find his parents, he might lose his life. In a showdown with a common enemy, unlikely allies will have to take to the skies, fighting tooth and talon for their lives and the future of the Melted Lands.


The Magpie Lord

The Magpie Lord by KJ Charles

A lord in danger. A magician in turmoil. A snowball in hell. Exiled to China for twenty years, Lucien Vaudrey never planned to return to England. But with the mysterious deaths of his father and brother, it seems the new Lord Crane has inherited an earldom. He’s also inherited his family’s enemies. He needs magical assistance, fast. He doesn’t expect it to turn up angry. Magician Stephen Day has good reason to hate Crane’s family. Unfortunately, it’s his job to deal with supernatural threats. Besides, the earl is unlike any aristocrat he’s ever met, with the tattoos, the attitude
and the way Crane seems determined to get him into bed. That’s definitely unusual. Soon Stephen is falling hard for the worst possible man, at the worst possible time. But Crane’s dangerous appeal isn’t the only thing rendering Stephen powerless. Evil pervades the house, a web of plots is closing round Crane, and if Stephen can’t find a way through it—they’re both going to die.


Chosen Of The Dark Realm

Chosen Of The Dark Realm by David Cornford

It has been over a thousand years since the seals between this reality and the dark realm of Kur were broken and the wraith-like gallus invaded the continent of Dannum. When the former priest of An, Adaru, escapes from the tower where the restored seals lay that prevent the gallus from crossing realms, war consumes the land with Adaru's machinations. A kingdom falls, ancient powers awaken and the power of Kur is unleashed again. The guardian Nanaya and her companions barely stopped the gallus last time, but the Darisam civilisation was annihilated those 1000 years ago, and the land reduced to a poisoned desert, but for one ancient tower. Nanaya is forced to confront the terrors of her past, terrors that took everyone she ever cared for. Nanaya, now advisor to the present king of Southcastle. fears the past will repeat itself. Elsewhere, Baraka, a desperate treasure hunter from the arid Fringe States that border the vast desert of The Territory, discovers secrets that irrevocably change him; and Samuel, a young man working on his family's farm in the western kingdom of Royaume d'Occident, realises his dreams of adventure, but in doing so loses his innocence. Kur corrupts the land as Adaru moves closer to realising his terrible ambition of breaking the seals again and Nanaya, now the last guardian in Dannum, knows she is not strong enough to stand against him alone.


Taking to the Skies

Taking to the Skies by Simon Brading

Many young men and women join the Royal Aviator Corps dreaming of one day being fighter pilots and Britain needs as many of them in the cockpits of Spitsteams and Harridans as it can get. It takes hard work, dedication and not a little talent to become a fighter pilot, though, and many don’t make the grade. The intake of recruits from the Midlands in July 1941 is disappointingly small, with only eight cadets joining up and only six of them wanting to be pilots. Will any of them prove that they have what it takes to form part of the front line of defence of the Kingdom of Great Britain against the imminent Prussian invasion? Taking to the Skies is the tenth in the Misfit Squadron series, but is the first that can be read as a standalone novel. It is also suitable for younger audiences.


Scythe and Pen

Scythe and Pen by A.C. Hobbs

Demetrius Raske strikes a deal with the Devil to stop a monster stalking the city, but he may have unleashed another villain entirely
 The Capital of the United League of Nations glitters like jewels on a dame’s neck—a city of wicked splendor and possibility. The deals struck in the Senate are as ruthless as the ones struck in the city’s criminal underbelly. No one knows this better than vampire politician Demetrius Raske, who walks both worlds. Demetrius fights for a bill that will grant humans and vampires equal civil liberties. But many citizens don’t share his sentiment, especially after the murders begin. Body after body, drained of blood, appear throughout the city, threatening the League’s tenuous peace treaty between humans and vampires. If Demetrius’s bill doesn’t pass the Senate, his campaign for a united future will be crushed. Only one man has the ability to apprehend the bloodthirsty monster—a man known simply as the Devil. And rumor has it, he isn’t a man at all. Together, they strike a deal to catch the murderer before Demetrius’s bill fails—a disaster that would push the League to the brink of civil war. But Demetrius’s calculated moves don’t go unnoticed. He catches the attention of Gabriella Rose, a journalist whose hunt for her next big headline pushes her right into the murderer’s path, costing her everything she holds dear. Now something dark grows within Gabriella—a power her allies wish to control and her enemies want to exploit. The only way Demetrius and Gabriella can save themselves—and the city they love—is to strike another deal with the Devil. But their villainous partner is playing his own game. And soon they will learn how the Devil earned his name.


The Battle Over Britain

The Battle Over Britain by Simon Brading

The Second Great War is going poorly for the Kingdom of Britain - the British Isles are under siege and the only thing standing between the all-conquering Prussian army and victory is a thin strip of blue water and the gallant men and women of the Royal Aviator Corps. Aviator Sergeant Gwen Stone is one of those women, but almost as soon as she begins her fight against the Prussian air force, Die Fliegertruppe, she is stripped of her wings and imprisoned in disgrace for illegally modifying her aircraft. As the battle over the skies of Britain progresses and it looks like the Prussians are going to be as dominant in the air as they were on the fields of the continent, the hopes of the beleaguered nation come to rest firmly on the shoulders of Misfit Squadron, an elite group of pilots who don’t always pay strict attention to military discipline, and Gwen is given a chance to redeem herself by joining them.


Undead Gods

Undead Gods by Caitlyn Battelle

WELCOME TO KAVA, WHERE THE UNDEAD GODS NEITHER HEAR NOR CARE
   Elysia Parker lives each day in fear it will be last.   The magic the gods carelessly gifted mortals disappeared years ago, and Elysia Parker is all too familiar with what happens when someone is found to be harboring magic in her land. Death.   Cursed but hiding in plain sight within Kava’s royal court, Elysia has her eyes on the crown and its prince. But an unexpected change in her magic throws her carefully laid plans into chaos. In love with the man who could order her death, she searches for an answer to her curse before it’s too late.   From underground tunnels to pleasure houses and rebels who demand payment of the highest kind, Elysia will journey to the death realm and back to find her answers.   But is she willing to face the harsh demands of the truth?     Inspired by Hades and Persephone, Undead Gods is a dark, moody fantasy filled with magic, danger, and a love that may be the heroine's downfall. Follow Elysia Parker into the soot drenched world of Kava as she navigates secrets, betrayal, and ultimately, finding herself amidst a world of lies.


Corrupted Tides

Corrupted Tides by S.M. Campbell

Centuries ago, the gods of earth and sea went to war and ravaged the worlds of humans. Now, the oceans have swelled and mortals have made their homes on floating cities, using precious sea glass as the key to their survival. Vila is one of those survivors, fighting every day for control in this brutal world as a Blue Lady and prize fighter. But when a strange corruption seeps through the waters of the Planks, Vila must find allies in an unlikely group to help the people she loves. Narrio is a master thief, making his way on wits, charm and luck; until a secret cult recruits him for a mysterious mission. Now he must travel to the Planks for what may be his most dangerous heist yet. Something is coming, and it threatens the existence of all. When the moon rises, the seas will change, and nothing will ever be the same. Welcome to the world of the Swell. Welcome to Corrupted Tides


The Acros Raiders: From the Ashes

The Acros Raiders: From the Ashes by Sara Tunder

While trying to escape the genocidal Castist Regime, Scotty Sedgewig and her fiancĂ© run into some grave misfortune. Amid the chaos, in a revenge-fueled fury, Scotty becomes entangled with The Acros Raiders, an elite rebel division. When it’s revealed there is a traitor in their ranks, Scotty is singled out to uncover the identity of the mole. She must figure out who the traitor is before The Acros Raiders are destroyed from the inside, or her fight for revenge will be in vain. Dive into Sara Tunder’s action-packed tale following Scotty and The Acros Raiders on their mission to end High Priestess Tapscott’s theocratic rule. An unorthodox fantasy series, The Acros Raiders tests the boundary between fantasy and science fiction, introducing readers to an exciting new world blended with steampunk elements.


The Spirit Well

The Spirit Well by R.K. Ashwick

When a bard saved the day, he never expected an encore. After saving their home from a magical disaster, Emry, Cal, and forest spirit Aspen ascend to high society: Emry and Aspen to the illustrious musicians’ guild, and Cal to the cutting edge of spirit research. But their new roles send them far beyond the concerts and balls they expected
and deep into a city of dying spirits. In the neighboring city of Matlock, a strange blight has withered their gardens—and the spirits living within. The trio rushes to investigate, whirling into Matlock’s social season in search of allies and gossip. Here, Emry frantically navigates the dazzle and decorum to seek information, start his debut
and propose to Cal. But when the glittering chandeliers illuminate more enemies than friends, Emry, Cal, and Aspen must race to stop the blight before it spreads—and the spirits shrivel away for good.


The Hallows

The Hallows by HL Tinsley

The Hallow serum was once sacred to the Auld Bloods. Used to gain access to their lost ancestral powers, now it is regulated and administered by the powerful Providence Company. Evolved from the echelons of the Auld Church, the company exists to maintain the balance between faith, science and politics. But keeping the peace between humans and Auld Bloods isn’t easy. Taking Hallow comes at a price. Providence Company Assessor Cam must deal with backstreet bootleggers, burnt-out addicts and floating nuns that won’t stay on the ground. When a string of Auld Blood deaths appear to have been caused by a corrupted batch of Hallow, Cam begins to suspect all may not be as it seems. Bodies are piling up. Someone is hiding something, and the consequences are becoming monstrous.


Possession

Possession by Kit Walker

Burgling a quarantined ship should have been easy money. It wasn't. Now Danny and Eli, Saintstown's pettiest thieves, have a traumatized former captive on their hands and the city's most powerful fixer breathing down their neck. And that's just the start of their problems.


The Scent of Blood

The Scent of Blood by Kit Walker

Caleb’s life has spiraled out of control ever since the day a stranger sank her teeth into his hand. Drifting from port to port in a haze of blood and guilt, he eventually lands in the city of Saintstown and is promptly arrested for murder. But the night before his execution, Caleb is offered both freedom and a job by the enigmatic Mr. Faulkner. Faulkner says he can teach Caleb to control the animal raging inside him — but what must Caleb sacrifice for the guidance that Faulkner offers?


The Familiar

The Familiar by Kit Walker

Grace Foster's hunt for her husband's murderer has brought her to the city of Saintstown. But her quarry has killed again, and she'll need to rely on new, unexpected allies to bring her hunt to an end.


City of Spores

City of Spores by Austin Shirey

Welcome to Madripol, city of artists and madmen, city of mushrooms. There’s something wrong with this city. When a strange plague infects Old Town, Johanna Kolibrik thinks the graffiti messages scrawled all over the city might be right. Kolibrik’s got her own problems, though—like paying the bills and keeping her PI business afloat—so when a well-dressed man from New Town offers to double her fee to find his missing wife, she ignores her gut and takes the case. But when she stumbles across a manuscript that shouldn’t exist, Kolibrik finds herself caught up in a vast web of conspiracy that will challenge everything she believes—a conspiracy that could shake the city of Madripol to its very foundations. Because in Madripol, everything is connected 



The Illusion of Fear

The Illusion of Fear by Kel E Fox

The best cure for a broken heart is to solve an art crime. Obviously. After his partner is killed on a mission gone wrong, disavowed spy and magician Del Fevre exiles himself to Acrusi, the only city in the world where his agency can’t find him. But his plans for a peaceful hideaway where he can make illusion art and avoid awkward questions are thwarted when his arrival coincides with a mysterious art theft, and Del might be a suspect. Danger, daring and a handsome detective conspire to make Del’s exile anything but peaceful. The Illusion of Fear is a prequel novella for the Whisperers series, a romantic gaslamp fantasy with art crime and political intrigue.


The Dragonfly Delivery Company: (The Hammersmyth Tales Book 2)

The Dragonfly Delivery Company: (The Hammersmyth Tales Book 2) by Keith W. Dickinson

Pirates rule the skies, robbing ships at will They're ruthless, efficient, and surprisingly well informed. There's a rat in the Air Courier's Guild, and to catch a rat you need a rat catcher. You need Dexter and Sinister. Up in the air and out of their depth, John and Dexter will have to watch their backs on this one. The Guild might be on their side but the captains sure aren't. They have secrets to keep, secrets that could get a man killed, and it's a long way down for those who stick their noses in where they don't belong. And their cats too, if they're not careful! With airship battles over the English lakes, marauding vegan chefs, and the return of everyone's favourite muscle for hire, Agnes Goodenough, The Dragonfly Delivery Company is a tale of heroism and high adventure, full of fun, laughs, and the sort of steam-powered shenanigans everyone can enjoy.


Dexter & Sinister: Detecting Agents (The Hammersmyth Tales Book 1)

Dexter & Sinister: Detecting Agents (The Hammersmyth Tales Book 1) by Keith W. Dickinson

John Sinister is not having a good week. Hired to look into some shady goings on at the airship factory, his investigation has barely begun before people start dying. Soon he's on the wrong side of some fairly unpleasant people, and that's before he meets Dexter, the world's only walking, talking, mechanical cat. That's when things get complicated. With secret societies, arrogant aristocrats, and criminal chocolatiers to contend with, John and Dexter will have to keep their wits about them if they're going to come out of this alive. And if John happens to fall in love with his employer's daughter along the way, well nobody said catching a killer was going to be easy now did they?


The Darkness of Dying in the Light

The Darkness of Dying in the Light by S.E. Reed

Sultry Savannah is where we lay our scene, from a time that once, but never was. Two households, both alike in dignity, collide in the chaos of civil unrest igniting a forbidden romance between a pair of star-crossed lovers. ​ Seventeen-year-old automaton, Sephony Roulette, is beautiful and headstrong. Against her will, she's been betrothed to an ambitious politician desperate for her father's money. Sephony would rather die than marry him and her mechanical heart breaks to set her free. ​ Marcus Wexhaven is called in to use his micro-cogs to repair Sephony's damaged heart. When she wakes in his arms, the fiery passion between them cannot be denied. To prove to their feuding families their love is worth celebration, Sephony and Marcus work in secrecy to unravel a vicious political plot. When Sephony finds herself on the receiving end of a hideous crime, it's Marcus who comes to the rescue, again. ​ He is willing to fight to protect her, even if that means his own death. Sephony is far too proud to let Marcus die alone. For never was a story of more darkness than of Sephony and her Marcus.


The Hammersmyth Tales: A Steampunk Short Story Collection

The Hammersmyth Tales: A Steampunk Short Story Collection by Keith W. Dickinson

A collection of tales to delight and amuse, introducing readers to the steampunk world of Hammersmyth and the many characters that live there. Meet Dexter the mechanical cat, Nomko the engineer, and Agnes Goodenough, everyone's favourite muscle for hire. And get to know Hammersmyth itself, a city at the forefront of the great steam revolution, and the setting for the two steampunk novels DEXTER & DETECTING AGENTS and THE DRAGONFLY DELIVERY COMPANY.


Non Omnis Moriar

Non Omnis Moriar by Sfarda L. GĂŒl

The city state of Vencenza rots, and Giorgianna, vengeful, enlightened, an outlaw and witch, seeks blood—the dues she’s owed for the crimes committed against her and those she loves. As summer withers to autumn, she is faced with a deadly quest: infiltrate the ministerial court, unspool the inner circle’s darkest secrets, and aid the resistance in bringing forth a revolution to finally break the shackles of tyranny. All while remaining under pretences amidst the state’s most violent and powerful men. But explosive tensions mount among the revolutionaries, bodies pile in the streets, the church gains frightening authority, and Giorgianna’s psyche teeters along its final breaking point—made only worse by a lovesickness more agonising than hunger. With winter looming upon the horizon, civil war seems inevitable, and love could never be a saviour. How dearly will those dues cost?


Non Serviam

Non Serviam by Sfarda L. GĂŒl

Expressing emotion is prohibited by law in the city state of Vencenza. Beneath its tyrannical shadow, Giorgianna, a deranged former playwright turned political fugitive, flees a brothel to seek justice for the murder of a beloved friend. When the last remnants of her bloodline are reaped by the incorrigible Minister of Dominion, Giorgianna’s crooked path to retribution crosses with Vencenza’s Machiavellian revolutionary hellbent on regime overturn. All the while, the weight of unending tragedy erodes Giorgianna’s psyche into a vengeful bloodlust plagued by cabbalistic visions hinting at an ever-darker face of the violent Powers That Be.


Shadows Dark and Deadly

Shadows Dark and Deadly by Andrea Marie Johnson

Slowly freezing in the snow and a knife to the gut are two awful ways to die. And Cerise would very much like to avoid both. A mysterious man steps from the shadows with an offer of food, a bed, and a roof over her head. The catch? She’ll have to become his assassin apprentice. Her hands are already stained with the blood of five men. What’s a little more? But training to be an assassin isn’t easy and learning to control her magic even less. To complicate things, Cerise can’t fight her attraction to her mentor, Keir, or his charming best friend, Damara. It wouldn’t be a problem if she wasn’t a dirty street rat. Well, that and society isn’t ready for two women to be together. Everything heats up as an arsonist stalks the streets. His targets? Brothel owners and Cerise’s aunt is at the top of his list. Can Cerise get strong enough to help Keir hunt him down or will her aunt become another tragic death that haunts her nightmares?


The Godsblood Tragedy

The Godsblood Tragedy by Bill Adams

An orphan, without a trueborn name, returns to the city of her birth to uncover her past. Hounded by the servants of the Dark God and dying from the poisonous mist that covers the land, her path leads to one of the magical seals protecting the holy ruin of Eminence. A father, murdered and reborn, aims to bring down the floating fortress hovering over his homeland. Burdened by loss, he’s willing to sacrifice his soul to free his city and get revenge for the destruction of his family. A mother, captured and bonded to a daemon, kills in the name of the Dark God so she can free her tortured daughter. Relentless in her vengeance, she hunts the one person who could end her suffering: the man who would destroy her vile master. A drake, the banished hatchling of a failed advisor, seeks his father’s stolen horns. Untested, he desires to right his father’s wrongs in the eyes of the gods and restore his family’s honor. As all converge in the occupied desert city where the world’s fuel source is mined, one family’s bond will be tested. Old betrayals will resurface, anger and resentment will flourish, but one thing remains clear: blood rules all.


A Witch in Isenshire

A Witch in Isenshire by Azalea Forrest

A Witch in Isenshire is a bold cup of coffee made with determination, personal growth, and adventure. Magnolia Hanna never thought she’d forgive Basil Olivander, the witch who inadvertently upended so many lives in Lightview. Yet four months after their battle, Basil’s learning to deal with his heartache and make amends. He’s become Maggie’s roommate, her technomancy teacher, and—just maybe—her friend. Now, they’re packing for a trip to visit Maggie’s family in the hidden hamlet of Emelle. Maggie and Basil face their grief together, finding closure at her late uncle’s grave and comfort among her friends and family. If it were up to her, she would stay for a fortnight, but their trip is cut short at the behest of Lightview’s mayor, who sends the two witches on an adventure of a lifetime—to the advanced city of Isenshire, the birthplace of the automaton. To Maggie’s dismay, Isenshire’s witches can only use magic with a permit, and their jobs have been reduced to fortune telling and parlor tricks. Magnolia’s fear of her skills being replaced by tech is reignited tenfold. Are the witches in Isenshire truly happy, or are they complacent to the powers that be? Magnolia’s only wish is to make magic relevant again, but she soon finds that the power of the automaton is too awesome to ignore. Book Two in The Witch of Emelle Series


A Dragon of the Veil

A Dragon of the Veil by Nick Snape

With the realm falling apart, the fate of a people falls upon Laoch and Sura’s shoulders and the Gods’ weapons they now bear ‒ a thousand years of faith and lies reconciled in a single moment of hope and redemption. For Laoch, the Crusades never ended, yet the embittered Ranger finds hope in his love for the dishonoured elven warrior, Sura. Together, they must face a new conflict when a powerful enemy crashes into a Meister’s alchemical experiment, setting off a wave of fear that ripples through the realm. With the secrets of the Gods’ scripture exposed and whispers of an ancient evil’s return, Laoch and Sura are left reeling by the power their enemy wields when an even larger threat rises from the forest depths. One even the Gods’ weapons fear. In a world no longer devoid of magic, a thousand years of secrets and lies spill out, and cracks form in the last bastion against an ancient foe. For cast in iron and spiritfire - here be dragons. “
artfully mixes elements of arcanepunk and high fantasy 
 this is a riveting start to a new fantasy series from an undeniably skilled storyteller” ★★★★★ SPR editorial review


The Songs That Beckon

The Songs That Beckon by M.A. Brown

SPFBO10

Their grief binds them The Song calls them The Darkness wants to claim them As winter wraps Areth in its frozen embrace, nightmarish beasts descend upon the Hastings household kidnapping Mr. and Mrs. Hastings and leaving behind their daughter, Bianca, as sole witness. In the wake of their abduction her quiet world is turned upside down and shaken revealing the secrets and lies her parents have buried. As truths unravel it binds her to those who have similarly lost. Together they must wade through the thorny tangles of growing love and grief to find those that they hold dear before the looming threat of darkness is unleashed to destroy them all. Travel worlds in this dark, dreamy and romantic debut filled with dusty books and pining looks.


Cursed Cocktails

Cursed Cocktails by S.L. Rowland

SPFBO10

When life gives you lemons, squeeze them into a stiff drink and stir. After twenty years defending the frozen north against some of the most dangerous threats in the nine kingdoms, Rhoren “Bloodbane” has finally earned his retirement. While the blood mage's service to the realm may have ended, burning veins and aching joints remain, and Rhoren soon learns that a warmer climate offers relief from his chronic pain. And a chance at a fresh start. In the warm and relaxing atmosphere of Eastborne, the umbral elf finds a new purpose and a sense of belonging. He may have left the frozen north behind, but he brings with him the skills and strength gained from a lifetime of defending the realm. Along with his most prized possession—a book of drink recipes inherited from his father. Spilled cocktails may not carry the same weight as spilled blood, but opening a tavern brings a unique brand of challenges. With the right friends and a little bit of luck, he might just have a recipe for success. Welcome to the enchanting world of Tales of Aedrea, where small-scale stories, low-stakes adventure, and cozy fantasy come to life within an epic, high-fantasy realm.


The Desert Heiress

The Desert Heiress by Shoshana Rain

SPFBO10

Nothing will stop Lis from regaining her family's power—not even the three tempting men standing in her way. In the desert port of Cenefra, the Sun Rose is life blood. A magic plant with the ability to grant people greater abilities. Sale of the plant is strictly forbidden, its growth restricted only to farms owned by the Empire's shipping company. Liseya Moroeste has only ever wanted one thing: to run the syndicate smuggling it. But her family has been cut off for over a century, forced to advise but never lead. When the government cracks down on all illegal export, Lis is ready to seize her chance. To do so, she must best her three rivals. Filip, Deo and Adrian each want to court her, control her, cajole her into doing what they want. Liseya finds herself drawn into their complicated web, but to survive, she must learn if she can trust them, or if she must cut them down before they can do the same to her. The Desert Heiress is the first book in The Seven Star Empire Series. It is a slow burn, MMMF why choose, second world fantasy with steamy scenes and a guaranteed HEA at the end of the series. It contains both MM and FF scenes, and involves the FMC in a relationship before getting involved with her main love interests.


The Stars Would Curse Us

The Stars Would Curse Us by Stephanie Combs & Valerie Rivers

SPFBO10

The Iris were sent to us from the stars, but their rule is controlling and oppressive. Every season, we send our brothers and sisters to the marriage drafts . . . but the selected never return. Aella My world falls apart when my best friend and I are drafted to compete for the hand of Esterra’s most eligible bachelor, the devastatingly handsome Iris prince. As an elemental fae, it should be the greatest honor, but the competition is filled with violence. I question my true purpose as we fight to survive in games rigged against us. Arianwen Life should be simple—go on my rite and return to marry a man I’ve never met—but when a handsome stranger falls from the sky, everything is turned upside down. Secrets and lies unravel, leading me to question everything as I find myself pulled into a rebellion. My heart longs for a better world, but am I willing to forsake duty in pursuit of it? We both face choices: LOVE or DUTY LOYALTY or ADVENTURE FIGHT or SURRENDER Is fate truly written in the stars, or have they abandoned us?


The Treachery of Ravens

The Treachery of Ravens by Steven D Nickell

SPFBO10

A daring robbery. Magic out of control. One last chance to do the right thing. All Meryl Gaspard ever wanted was to fly, but a life lived on her terms means turning her back on her mother and the Liberty Belle salon. So, she lives a secret double life: dutiful daughter by day, professional thief by night. Meanwhile, for a nameless young acolyte, living like a prisoner on an isolated island, using her magic to heal the sick would give meaning to all the suffering her powers have caused her. And, on the dark streets of Pelz, Inspector Michel Aubergon hunts an elusive thief while the greed and corruption around him tears at the fabric of his ideals, seeking to consume his very soul. Soon, a skyship will arrive in Pelz carrying an object of untold value, and Meryl must steal it. But her friend, the mysterious cleric possessing forbidden magic, is under threat, and the police inspector charged with apprehending her is closing in. Meryl must stay a step ahead and pull off a high-stakes burglary, but she can’t do it alone. She needs allies, and those allies might come from some very unexpected places. For fans of fantasy and steampunk, experience a tale of swashbuckling action and adventure set in a world where coal and steam are ascendent over alchemy and magic, and giant skyships rule the air.


Tall & Dark

Tall & Dark by Suzannah Rowntree

SPFBO10

Ghosts, grifters
and a missing heir in 1890s Europe. It’s easier to conduct a sĂ©ance when the dead aren’t trying to contact you. As Molly Dark knows all too well, the problem with being able to see ghosts is that they never tell you what you wish to know. For instance, how a proper young lady like Miss Dark is supposed to support an impoverished family after her father has died a ruined man. Or how she is going to impersonate a missing princess long enough to steal a fortune out from under the collective noses of a whole family of royal monsters. Or exactly why the charming imposter claims to be none other than Grand Duke Vasily Nikolaevich, when he certainly isn’t a prince
or a vampire. Alas, the dead normally have something far more unsettling to impart
 Return to the BĂȘte Epoque, an 1890s Europe ruled by monsters, in Miss Dark’s Apparitions! Leverage meets The Parasol Protectorate in this whimsical historical fantasy caper. Join Miss Dark in the spooky mansions of 1890s Europe - read Tall & Dark today!


Legacy's Price

Legacy's Price by T. L. Rolston

SPFBO10

When Lady Elizabeth "Liz" Bryne suddenly manifests ancient magic during a duel, she finds herself at the center of an ancient mystery that puts her at odds everyone around her. Complicating matters, her grandfather, the King, has gone missing on a diplomatic mission and everyone seems to believe that she is somehow responsible. In order to clear her name, Liz will have to save the King herself. Failure means the end of Segen as she knows it. But when her journey forces her to confront the truth behind the incident that stole her memories, will she be strong enough to complete her mission?


Rise of the Forgehearts

Rise of the Forgehearts by Emily Huffman

SPFBO10

R-0’s existence has always been dedicated to one simple directive: protect the king. Like all the constructs, they complete their orders without thought or feeling. But when a magical phenomena sweeps over Haiden, the constructs transform from mindless metal to fully sentient beings. Now R-0 sees the world through new eyes. Beauty, curiosity, and endless questions that used to be out of reach now overwhelm them. Despite their potential, not everyone views the change favorably. The organics they used to serve fear what the constructs have become and what they may be plotting. When constructs begin disappearing, Haiden’s council sees it as proof of the constructs’ nefarious intentions and threatens to decommission them all. While navigating their newfound thoughts and feelings, R-0 must solve the mystery of the missing constructs–even if the truth may put the king they’ve sworn to protect in danger. Because if they fail, the constructs’ lives could be over as quickly as they began.


Haelend's Ballad

Haelend's Ballad by Ian V. Conrey

SPFBO10

"Some call me Murderer, others call me Lord. I've been called Savior and Enslaver. But no one has ever called me Child." A young man signs his own death warrant when he joins an already failing militia. A teenage girl is haunted by her childhood abuse and begins to crave the very things she hates. A childless mother finds herself on the run as a convicted murderer. Yet they are all unaware that their own fates are tied to a young orphan who has drowned and come back to life in a foreign land where he will be the death of everyone he meets. HĂŠlend's Ballad is a grimdark fantasy/steampunk tale about what happens when men and women from two colliding cultures realize they may not be on the right side. Heroes are villains. The persecuted are oppressors. And when rumors begin to spread that the world is dying, the darkness of their own hearts betrays them.


City in the Dragon's Eye

City in the Dragon's Eye by Jordan Loyal Short

SPFBO10

Red Dragons. Black Comedy. White-Knuckled Adventure. Viktor’s magic is turning him into a dragon. And it’s not pretty. To save his friends who've bumbled into a deadly ambush, Viktor draws too deeply on the power of the Dragon Well, and now a magical tumor has begun to change him...one scale at a time. Viktor sets off on an irreverent quest for a cure that will lead him to a remote sanitarium. Here, he will uncover a mad doctor’s strange experiments, a stubborn dwarf with stinky feet, and rumors of an ancient mirror that may hold the key to Viktor’s very survival. As a mustache-twiddling secret society of dragon fanatics closes in, Viktor must choose between the power his transformation offers, and the hope of finding a cure. To the fabled Tyrant’s Tomb, Viktor races the mysterious Thule Society, where deadly traps and cryptic puzzles protect a treasure of unspeakable power. With every heartbeat the tumor’s corruption spreads. Can a court dandy and a disgraced scholar help Viktor find his cure? Or is it too late to save the city from a mad doctor’s dark designs?


Dawn of the Darkest Day

Dawn of the Darkest Day by K.C. Woodruff

SPFBO10

An artist plagued by a violent past. An heir destined never to take her own throne. A tyrant bound to life, consumed by his bloody trail.‹Dawn breaks over a dying land. Ever since surviving the bloody coup that cost Ara her home and Stedd his family, they’ve found solace in each other’s arms, dreaming of a life where Ara can cultivate her gardening and engineering talents while Stedd flourishes in his art. But the old magic that once held Evenia together has long faded, and when King Vayne Savant learns of Ara’s godly heritage and royal bloodline, she turns from a budding engineer into a reluctant bride, and a pawn in his cunning plan to dominate the continent amid its technological collapse. Desperate to escape her husband’s bloodstained grasp, Ara strikes a dark deal with the king: a child—the heir to two thrones—in exchange for her freedom. Her plan should have been simple, but in between sieges, squabbling, and sessions of pleasure are nights spent waking to assassins’ blades at her throat and the threat of sinister societies formidable enough to outsmart even Savant’s cunning. Unwilling to lose Ara, Stedd sets down his paintbrush and picks up a blade, entering a war he doesn’t understand. But the line between love and hatred is a thin one, and Stedd soon finds himself torn between rescuing the love of his life or pursuing revenge on the man who destroyed it. The fate of the continent lies in the hands of a ruthless conqueror and a pacifistic queen, their destinies far more than they understand. If they can find common ground, Evenia may be saved. But the obstacles that lie in their wake are more than they can anticipate, and the consequences for failure greater than they could imagine.


Landbringer

Landbringer by Karen Lucia

SPFBO10

The world must fall. Sade has always lived in the shadows of the Society, surviving only by risking her life in dangerous dives over the abyss during airship heists. But her time among the street gangs of Vale is coming to an end and she must get hers and get out before it's too late. Seeking an escape, Sade agrees to one last airship heist. When the job goes sideways, Sade finds herself in the refuge of an unlikely pair: a spiraling heiress and the ghost of her violently murdered sister. As Sade is hauled into the underworld of magic, she is thrust into the middle of a conspiracy that runs ages deep and Society wide. Forced to confront the reality of her repressed past and the complexities of her own abilities, she discovers the truth of the gods, and the lengths they will go to maintain a controllable populace. To free the world, Sade must risk all life.


Guarding Gus

Guarding Gus by Karryn Nagel

SPFBO10

What would you do if you found a rare magical animal? Nico, who has just begun passing as a transgender man, relishes the quiet life working as a bonsai bodyguard. But during a chance encounter one night amidst the aftermath of a territory dispute, he meets Brant, an excitable, good-natured cookie bodyguard, and the two strike an instant friendship. They form an irresistible bond with Gustopher, a baby gargoyle in need, setting off on a thrilling 3-day adventure to rescue the little creature and reunite it with its rightful owner. As they set out on their mission, the mismatched duo encounter predicaments unusual to new foster parents. Unscrupulous enemies lurk in the shadows, eager to exploit Gustopher on the black market. In order to ensure Gus's safety, Nico and Brant must quickly learn how to nurture (what do gargoyles eat, anyway?) and safeguard their newfound charge. Fortunately, their journey leads them to encounter Remi the vampire, an eccentric cheese guard from Wisconsin, and Jasper, a seasoned traveler, who faithfully accompanies the renowned Manley Cup, the cherished trophy of a championship hockey team. Together, this peculiar quartet must combine their unique talents navigating both gargoyle-raising and crime-boss hunting. As they traverse the mountain metropolis of Multnomah, their hidden secrets gradually come to light, forging unbreakable bonds and solidifying their motley chosen family. And in the midst of it all, Gustopher surprises them with delightful
qualities, adding an extra dose of astonishment everywhere they go.


Fortitude's Prize

Fortitude's Prize by Ceril N Domace

SPFBO10

The Master of Fortitude, the largest city in the Flying Isles, has been robbed. Normally, this wouldn’t concern Edward Bardsley. He’s an alchemist and surgeon on a small privateering vessel, and there are much larger and better equipped ships in Fortitude. It only becomes his concern when his crew is commissioned to retrieve the master’s stolen property. Between storms, injuries, and secrets that could see Edward exiled from the skies the way his father was, just getting to the thief’s hideout is enough to test the hardiest crew. Thrust into the middle of an adventure that will take him from one end of the Flying Isles to the other, Edward must use every ounce of his alchemical and sailing knowledge to keep the crew intact as they inch closer to their goal.


Dark City Rising

Dark City Rising by CL Jarvis

SPFBO10

He wanted to fix the archaic medical education system. He ended up changing the world. Scotland, 1748. Professor William Cullen has a secret: he’s developing a new, egalitarian system of magic. If Scotland’s aristocrats learn he threatens their stronghold of power – upheld through dark magical means and buy-in from the Edinburgh’s illustrious medical school – he’s dead. When a noble is murdered for daring to champion Cullen, he realises confrontation is inevitable and he must take his fight to the enemy. Aided by his prodigious former student Joseph Black, Cullen must navigate a hostile academic system, locating the source of the aristocrats’ power before his secret abilities are uncovered and the assassins return for him. Fans of The Embroidered Book and The Baroque Cycle will be enthralled by this sweeping reimagining of 18th century Edinburgh on the cusp of scientific and philosophical revolution.


Father of Constructs

Father of Constructs by Aaron Renfroe

SPFBO10

#1 Best Seller and #1 New Release - LitRPG with heart! Lorith's magic is fading. Centuries ago, heroic adventurers stopped the World Boss’ cycle of rebirth by reducing the creature to one hit point and sealing it away so no one would ever find it. But, by ending one calamity, they halted the natural flow of magic within the world and brought about the Havoc Plague. With all civilization now on the brink of collapse, humanity's only hope is to find and kill the World Boss in order to restart the monster's rebirth cycle and bring back magic. When the Plagued janitor Harvey stumbles into a mysterious wreckage and accidentally kills the missing World Boss, he gains a million experience points, making him the target of almost all the would-be adventurers of the world. Burdened with ancient knowledge, and hunted by countless rivals, he must join with unlikely allies to do the unthinkable: find the reincarnated World Boss and defeat it again, before it can ravage the world anew. Father of Constructs is an optimistic LitRPG novel with a dash of Slice of Life.


A Witch's Guide to Business

A Witch's Guide to Business by Alex Evans

SPFBO10

In the free port city of Barramar, the only law is the law of money. Here, the dingy taverns and the opulent teahouses alike thrum with the whispers of dark dealings. It's a place for the ruthless — spies and smugglers, or the desperate—refugees running from war, opression and poverty. Trust is a rare currency and alliances, as fluid as water. After spending their youth on opposing sides of a brutal war, Tanit Murali and Padma Amrithar are as different as night and day. One is a former spy, a rogue with a serious taste for violence, brandy and handsome men. The other is a compassionate surgeon and devoted family mother. They share but one thing: their rare magic gift. Forming an unlikely partnership, they run together an occult business. Their enterprise is thriving until two peculiar cases land on their doorstep: a murderous vampire ensnared by a hex and a string of deadly mishaps in a notorious factory operated by zombies. Pursuing the truth leads them to the city's influential high priest of the god of wealth. Soon, they uncover a web of intrigue and realize that humans are far more dangerous than magic creatures. A special note for readers: this book contains a lot of different characters and a lot of worldbuilding. If you prefer your settings conventional and your story focused on a few heroes and villains, you probably won't enjoy this novel.


Ferren and the Angel

Ferren and the Angel by Richard Harland

An angel falls from the sky and crashes to the ground! Miriael, the Fourteenth Angel of Observance, has been shot down in the thousand-year war between Heaven and Earth. Damaged and helpless, she prays for extinction. The young tribesman Ferren finds her lying in the grass. She ought to be an enemy, since his people are on the side of the Earth. But seeing her there, unable to fly, his curiosity outweighs every rule and every warning. Ferren knows almost nothing about the terrifying world he's grown up in. Now he's going to learn the truth about the war, the Humen army camp and what military service really means. His unique friendship with Miriael is about to change the course of history. Richard Harland, author of the Worldshaker books, creates a whole new world of angels and apocalypse!


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.


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