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Saints and Monsters by Ellen McGinty With her crooked spine and reckless heart, Princess Meera always knew she wasn't meant to become queen of Ezo. But when her sister, the rightful heir, is cursed on the eve of her coronation, Meera must defend her kingdom from ruthless invaders by taking the throne. Yet, while some countries have simple coronations, in Ezo . . . The princess must first claim a sea dragon. Only the dragon is vicious, perfect, and whole-everything Meera is not. And if the dragon doesn't deem her worthy, it will devour her. Turning to the Saints for help, she doesn't anticipate that her actions will transform the dragon into a mortal, or that she'll steal his heart . . . literally. Now, as two hearts beat inside Meera's chest, she's reminded that her life is entwined with a dragon, who despises her weaknesses. Despite their differences, they must work together to reverse the curse and save the kingdom before more is lost than their stolen hearts. |
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Salt Magic, Skin Magic by Lee Welch An entrapped lord and a magician whose sex life melts windows; will love destroy them, or set them free? Lord Thornby has been trapped on his fatherâs isolated Yorkshire estate for a year. There are no bars or chains; he simply canât leave. His sanity is starting to fray. When industrial magician John Blake arrives to investigate a case of witchcraft, he finds the peculiar, arrogant Thornby as alarming as he is attractive. John soon finds himself caught up in a dark fairytale, where all the rules of magicâand loveâare changed. To set Thornby free, both men must face life-changing truthsâand John must accept that the brave, witty man whoâs winning his heart may also be about to break it. Can they escape a web of magic thatâs as perilous as love? Genre: Fantasy historical m/m romance Novel-length standalone book, approx 80,000 words |
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The Wisp and the Wolf by Jeanne Renee Meg Quinn has a promise to keep. A talented but withdrawn artist, she begrudgingly travels to the wilds of North Wales to fulfill her late motherâs dying wishâto make amends with her estranged and pregnant identical twin with whom she shares a clairvoyant bond. But before Meg can reach her sister, an inexplicable encounter with an eldritch yew tree thrusts her deep into the past. The year is now 1402 and the native people of Wales, the Cymry, are locked in an ambitious uprising against England. Here Meg meets Steffan Blaidd, a war-weary Welsh archer who finds himself outlawed by a powerful rival and forced to join the revolt after saving Megâs lifeâa revolt Meg knows to be doomed. Plunged into the harsh, vibrant world of the Cymry, Meg knows the mystical connection with her sister demands resolutionâas does her growing affection for Steffan and the world to which he belongs. Torn between desire and duty, the future and the past, Meg must discover her own strength if she is to survive the treacheries of war and grasp her true fate. |
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Into the Fiery Woods by Riley Taylor When Prince Stark discovers that his beloved Lady Guinevere is set to marry the elderly Lord Arthur, he decides they must escape. However, their plans are disrupted when Gwen arrives at his room in the middle of the night, covered in blood. Fleeing the castle, they make their way toward the dangerous Land of Flames, believing they will find safety on its outskirts. Yet, upon arrival, they uncover a dark conspiracy and embark on a mission to save the kingdom from the King's corrupt knights. The fate of all in the Kingdom of Ailon rests upon their shoulders. |
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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 dameâs neckâa city of wicked splendor and possibility. The deals struck in the Senate are as ruthless as the ones struck in the cityâs 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 donât share his sentiment, especially after the murders begin. Body after body, drained of blood, appear throughout the city, threatening the Leagueâs tenuous peace treaty between humans and vampires. If Demetriusâs bill doesnât pass the Senate, his campaign for a united future will be crushed. Only one man has the ability to apprehend the bloodthirsty monsterâa man known simply as the Devil. And rumor has it, he isnât a man at all. Together, they strike a deal to catch the murderer before Demetriusâs bill failsâa disaster that would push the League to the brink of civil war. But Demetriusâs calculated moves donât go unnoticed. He catches the attention of Gabriella Rose, a journalist whose hunt for her next big headline pushes her right into the murdererâs path, costing her everything she holds dear. Now something dark grows within Gabriellaâa power her allies wish to control and her enemies want to exploit. The only way Demetrius and Gabriella can save themselvesâand the city they loveâis 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. |
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Coup de Coeur by Halli Starling A queer historical fantasy/romance set in a version of 1899 New York City where magic is common and convenient, Coup de Coeur follows the journey of three men whose fates are tied to the seemingly sudden appearance of a strange, possibly sentient, grimoire. Calix Addington, Earl of Batherton, has a complicated relationship with his friend and former classmate, Lawton Adler. Lawtonâs tendency to attract, and often cause, trouble leaves Calix sometimes holding the bag (which definitely happens). Calix is also harboring a secret â heâs an Oracle, like his mother, and in a world where small magic is meant for aesthetics and convenience, larger displays of magic are frowned upon, sometimes illegal, and very much what the church and several important organizations fear. When Calix is stuck with a strange book after Lawtonâs shady dealings go wrong one spring morning, he takes shelter in Ethaniel Harknessâs magical tailoring shop. Calix and Ethaniel know each other as customer and tailor, but Ethanielâs kind heart wonât let Calix stay in danger. As Calix hears the strange book speak in his mind, Ethaniel contacts his old flame Aubrey Lavigne. Aubreyâs expertise with magical objects as the curator for the Magnificus Collectio, an archive hidden behind a tourist trap museum, will be key to understanding what this book truly is. Magic, love, lust, fear, and danger run rampant as this strange book becomes the catalyst for a much larger plot conducted by a secret sect known as The Golden Order. With The Golden Order giving chase to retrieve the book, Calix, Ethaniel, and Aubreyâs lives tangle and they must flee the city to separate Calix from the book, shake off their pursuers, and find time for their burgeoning attractions. COUP DE COEUR has deep roots in the real-life queer history of New York City, but also in art and culture. |
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The Half Killed by Quenby Olson A dark apparition stalks the streets of Victorian London... Dorothea Hawes has no wish to renew contact with what lies beyond the veil. After an attempt to take her own life, she has retired into seclusion, but as the wounds on her body heal, she is drawn back into a world she wants nothing more than to avoid. She is sought out by Julian Chissick, a former man of God who wants her help in discovering who is behind the gruesome murder of a young woman. But the manner of death is all too familiar to Dorothea, and she begins to fear that something even more terrible is about to unleash itself on London. And so Dorothea risks her life and her sanity in order to save people who are oblivious to the threat that hovers over them. It is a task that forces her into a confrontation with her own lurid past, and tests her ability to shape events frighteningly beyond her control. |
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Time is a great wheel, and history repeats itself... unless it breaks, plunging the city of the living into the realm of death. Reaper volunteers to drive his sensei home to Yukiyama, believing the road trip will benefit his teacherâs spiraling mental health. However, unbeknownst to them both, a thousand-year-old enemy has resurrected and awaits them at Moonlight. Out of time and options, Ayame must go to the Immortal Court. But Jade Palace is a thicket of tall grass teeming with slithering snakes, and she must discern friend from foe if she intends to return to the floating world to help her family. Death descends upon Nara as Immortal Father comes to Sunlit City in search of the royal diviner. As the final hour approaches, everyone must choose their allegiances, including Ayame, whose father and lord are destined to clash. Keep Me is the conclusion to the Royal Diviner Trilogy and has content advisory for violence and intimate situations. |
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No crime is too atrocious to save a beloved. Storm spirit Reiko meets the peculiar girl, Yuki, at the Palace of a Thousand Rays to continue the story of Immortal Ayame and Warlord Kyuzo on the road to Sunlit City. Nara winter is harsh, and enemies wait around the bend. The entourage arrives at the capital with a loss of life. Yet the dying is only beginning. When the emperor crowns Sora, the Ishii clashes head-on with Prince Hissing Blade. In the twisted games the dark diviner plays Ayame becomes a hostage, and to save her Kyuzo must break an oath to his emperor. The Sinai War begins in the second installment of the Royal Diviner Trilogy, and heavy losses mount on both sides. Full of heartbreak, betrayal, magic, and morally grey characters, Find Me is a dark fantasy tale with a hefty dose of romance. Reader discretion is advised for violence and intimate situations. |
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Guard your heart and go home or fall for a stranger and perish. Reiko is the immortal spirit of the storm. Seeking to unravel a reoccurring dream that perplexes her, she visits the mortal realm during the Soul Festival and boards a train to the historical district of Sunlit City. There, in the imperial palace of old Nara, she finds no answers, only more questions as a peculiar girl indulges her with a tale of a disgraced deity and a mortal warlord. Ayame has a bad temper. She slapped the Immortal Emperorâs sorceress, and her punishment was to spend a decade on earth as a mortalâa task easier said than done. Nara is amidst its centuries long warring era, the age of the warlords. To navigate this treacherous new world, Ayame befriends a wine-loving, trickster fox spirit, and scrapes by as a servant in the household of one of the greater clans. Toiling day and night, sheâs made do for five years and dreams of the day she can return home. But war arrives. When death announces itself outside her door, she assumes the identity of a noble and finds herself betrothed to the youngest son of an enemy clan, his father a ruthless warlord. To live, Ayame must play her role, but she soon she finds herself dangerously drawn not to her intended husband, but to the infamous warlord himself. In the tumultuous world of a warring empire, trouble is always on the horizon. Betrayals run deep within families and clans, and nothing is as it seems. All Ayame wants is to survive her banishment and return home, yet she may risk it all for a mortal man. A vicious killer, twice her age, nothing is right about him, including his insanely possessive concubine out to get Ayame. She knows it, but can she control her temperament, or will she find herself at odds with yet another court, this time a deadly one? A slow burn dark fantasy, Remember Me is Book 1 of the Royal Diviner Trilogy, and comes with content advisory for violence and intimate situations. |
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Saba Vasili, a scholar of the astral sea, faces a harrowing accusation: an arcane device he designed has malfunctioned and an entire district of the city has been obliterated and a foreign dignitary has been killed. Charged with murder, Saba is incarcerated on the orders of Byrengrad's ruling council, the Triad. Ambassador Luan Zek of the Rezwyn Empire is dispatched to take custody of the alleged murderer of his countryman. But seeing Saba's pathetic state, Zek questions whether Saba is truly guilty or only the Triad's scapegoat. With Byrengrad's fate in the balance, Saba and Zek must uncover the truth behind the arcane catastrophe and stop the malfunctioning device that is jeopardizing the fabric of their whole world. Can one act of compassion save the world? |
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A Tragedy of Sacrifice by Kaylea Prime Freedom demands sacrifice, but only from those brave enough to inspire change. Haunted by a life-shattering decision she will forever regret, ArĂnor craves a sense of belonging instead of being branded as wicked. Feared for her Celestial magic and her ability to shape-shift into a lightning bird, she draws unwanted attention both from supporters and opposers of the evil Vashi. When her own people accuse her of treachery and threaten her familyâs lives, ArĂnor flees ArwĂŠ through a portal to Earth, sacrificing everything she knows to protect those she loves. Then she meets Clemency. Though restricted by societyâs expectations of a married woman and mother in 1769 Boston, Clemency longs to influence change with her astute political insights on the rising tensions between the Patriots and Loyalists. When she meets ArĂnor, a woman seemingly freed from the constraints imprisoning Clemency, she is inspired to start an empowering womenâs group and try publishing her political writing. ArĂnor, in turn, is inspired to use her Void magic for healing instead of deprivation. But as their friendship grows, and ArĂnorâs feelings for Clemency deepen, tensions escalate in Massachusetts. Rallies turn to riots, jealousy and fear weave webs of distrust, and rumours of witchcraft follow in ArĂnorâs wake. Faced with once again losing everything she loves, ArĂnor must choose whether to right her wrongs and sacrifice for the greater good or embrace her wickedness and become the person everyone fears her to be. A Tragedy of Sacrifice is a prequel novella set almost one hundred and fifty years before A Spark From Embers - volume one in the fantasy series, Tears of Flame. |
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A Spark From Embers by Kaylea Prime A spark smolders within every fading ember. Awaiting the right moment to reignite. To blaze into an inferno. Eighteen-year-old Sadieâs fiery ambitions have faded to embers. Her dreams of escaping the shackles of her conventional life and seeking heroic adventures have been doused by an arranged marriage. Women in 1914 were expected to be Helen of Troy, not Achilles. Doomed to the life of obscurity she always feared, Sadie takes a chance on an anonymous noteâand finds a mirror portal to ArwĂŠ, the parallel world featured in her shunned great-grandfatherâs book. But when she steps through, the portal closes behind her. Cut off from her brother Connor and stuck with Tristan, the enigmatic man sent to guide her to ArwĂŠ, Sadie learns it will take more than trading the mundane for the magical to reignite the embers of her heart. Controversial fire and forbidden celestial magics threaten to consume her, layered secrets mask friend from foe, and sheâs caught in a civil war she inadvertently accelerated. Walking through that portal should have been freeing. Empowering. So why did she feel more trapped? Convinced his sister is gone forever, Connor enlists in a war he doesnât believe in. Before long, he uncovers a dark conspiracy rooted in emerging electrical science. When her enemies offer her the chance to return home, Sadie discovers not even her wild imagination has prepared her for the sobering reality of what happens when you play with fire. A SPARK FROM EMBERS is The Ten Thousand Doors of January meets the Narnia series, except if Lucy had gone through the wardrobe alone, leaving Edmund to enlist and battle the demons of his inner Witch. |
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The Alphaâs Concubine by Claudia King Taken from her people. Claimed by an alpha. Forced into a new life. In a time before tools of metal and houses of wood, tooth and claw rule the wild places of the world. The Moon People have been enemies to Netya's kind for as long as the stars can remember. They are monsters, demons, men and women who take the shapes of beasts. The murderers of her father. An outsider taken as a prize by the pack, Netya must overcome suspicion, rivalry, and the division of her own heart as she grows to realise that monsters wear many different faces. Among the Moon People she uncovers the potential of a life she never knew existed. The chance for a woman to become something more than a prize, or a mother, or a concubine. But as the alpha and others vie for her heart, the powerful huntress Vaya seeks to purge Netya from her pack. Before Netya can decide where she belongs, she must endure the trials of love, hatred, and heartbreak. The girl taken as a trophy must become a woman. |
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The Sneaky Lass by Kennedy Sutton Jane has been many things in her life. A wife. A widow. A thief. A prostitute. Most recently, a woman seeking any means of escape from Grand Port. Flying no colors and desperate for crew, Sneaky Lass is a damaged brig in no position to look too closely at any volunteers, no matter how ill-suited to sea life they may be. After a series of decisions Jane canât turn back from, she commits one final act of desperation; she dons stolen boots, shorn hair, and the name Dixon Ables to take up with the crew of Sneaky Lass. Now she finds herself in a position where she must keep up her boyish disguise or be thrown into the briny deep. Concrete plans to leave the ship at the next port turn fluid as Jane becomes enamored by the mystery of the ropes, the lullaby of waves against the hull, and the wind in the sails. That the crewmen are far from the salty rogues she expected doesn't help her resolve. Among the filthy men, the roar of cannons, the critical eye of a whip-wielding quartermaster, and beneath the weight of her own lies, Jane finds something she long believed a fantasyâFamily. Even the frequent gaze of the fine and fair-minded captain isn't enough to send her towards shore⌠yet. She doesn't want to sacrifice everything until she is sure he knows her secret, or perhaps his attentions are something else, something more. The problem is her new life belongs to the man called Dixon, not the woman called Jane. The longer she stays aboard Sneaky Lass, the closer she grows to losing everything she's come to value; new friends, the only home she's ever known, her life. Deceptions are difficult on land, but in the close quarters of a pirate ship, they can be deadly. |
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The Potion Gardener by Arden Powell Desperate to escape a messy romance, Florian Mulberry flees London: tipsy, panicked, and without a plan. Itâs while hiding in a rural garden shed that he meets Kells, a potion witch, who agrees to shelter him in exchange for manual labor until he gets his life together. Leaving his pampered London existence to work on a secluded cottage farm is a shock, but Florian throws himself into it with passionate determination. And itâs not just gardening he's passionate about. In no time, Florian falls head over heels for his skillful, hardworking mentor. Thereâs just one problem. Florian is only disguised as a boy, and the enchantment hiding his real body is going to wear off. Florianâs main concern is how to explain himself when it happens. He's definitely not a girl, but he's not entirely a boy, either. With all the magic in Kellsâ garden, there must be a way for him to achieve his ideal androgyny. However he looks, Florian will have to face his past if he wants a future with Kells. Even if he avoids London forever, eventually his past is going to come looking for the girl he used to be. The Potion Gardener is a low-stakes, low-angst cozy fantasy novella in the Flos Magicae series, a collection of queer romances set in an alternate 1920s world with magic. All the Flos Magicae stories are standalones, and can be read in any order. |
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The Famine Witch by Stephen Black Belfast, 1847. They would come to call it Black â47. A town on the brink, ravaged by the Great Hunger sweeping across the island of Ireland. A town living in fear as a crazed killer stalks the streets at night, butchering young women. They call him Bloody Hands. Amidst the chaos, nineteen-year-old Maggie Malone and her young brother, Jinks, fight to survive each day. But there is worse to come when a mysterious ship limps into port, having miraculously emerged from a savage storm. A ship carrying death itself, summoned by a malevolent force that has haunted the mountain overlooking Belfast for centuries, hellbent on devastation and ruin. They call her The Black Lady. Maggie and Jinks become unwitting pawns as Bloody Hands and The Black Lady take their ancient feud to new levels of barbarism, threatening the future of Belfast and its hapless population. Can Maggie unlock the dormant power within her and save Belfast from toppling into the abyss? Can she transform into the savior that the people so desperately need? Can she become The Famine Witch? |
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The Assembly of Magic The Story of Myrddin in Ancient Atlantis: Book 1 of The Myrddin Chronicles by Sam Carnes Myrddin has lived for millennia, but his life truly began as a young scholar and magician in the Assembly of Atlantis. We follow his journey of self-discovery, from his thirst for knowledge and magic, to his coming out as gay and experiencing love and loss. Myrddinâs life in Atlantis is full of adventure, gay romance, and magic, but it's not all fun and games. Myrddin travels far and wide looking for answers that could change the world forever. He also endeavors to educate people against circumcision, always extolling the benefits of keeping oneâs foreskin intact. Join Myrddin on his first epic journey through Ancient Atlantis and discover the power of love, courage, perseverance, and friendship. The Assembly of Magic The Story of Myrddin in Ancient Atlantis is a captivating tale of love and romance, adventure and magic that will leave you longing for more. |
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Tom Jacob is bored with his life. Heâs stuck in a job he doesnât like, his love life is non-existent, and heâs tired of being seen as boring and dependable, so when his wayward twin brother convinces him to spend a night partying instead of doing paperwork, Tom reluctantly agrees. The following morning he wakes up in a field. In Wales. In 1889. Stranded more than a century in the past, Tom has to overcome language barriers and suspicion as he attempts to adapt to the world around him and find a way back to his own time, but with two people from the sleepy village of Cwm Newydd now missing, one local resident seems hell bent on pinning the blame for their disappearance on the strange Englishman who appeared out of nowhere. Determined to find his way home, the discovery of a long hidden family secret will change Tom's life forever, and when romance comes knocking he'll be left wondering in which timeline his heart truly lies. |
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The Dryburgh Chronicles Part 1: The Existence of Shadows by L. P. Halliday Scotland is a land steeped in magic and mystery, but Lilian Darling doesnât believe in such things. She has dedicated her career at Oxford University to clearing the names of those falsely accused of consorting with the devil, and that never involves any actual witchcraft. Until now. When she and her research partner, Edgar Falkirk, head to the misty hills of the Scottish Borders to meet a promising source, their journey takes an unexpected turn. Edgarâs accidental discovery of an ancient spell book, combined with an encounter with an overly enthusiastic research student, thrusts them back through time to the 16th century at the outbreak of the witch craze ensnaring early modern Scotland. In this perilous era, the pair of astute academics must navigate a landscape where their modern knowledge and skepticism could mark them as heretics. As they race to find a way back to their own time, they must confront the very myths they sought to debunk and uncover a truth that transcends reason. The Dryburgh Chronicles Part 1: The Existence of Shadows is a fast-paced magical mystery that combines quick wit with enchanting scene building weaving a time-traveling tale where nothing and nobody are what they seem. |
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The Spellmaster of Tutting-on-Cress by Sarah Wallace You canât orchestrate true loveâŚcan you? Spellmaster Geraldine Hartford has everything she could want â a successful spell shop and close friends and family â but sheâs still waiting on her own swoon-worthy romance. Her friends think their matchmaking efforts are helping, but itâs the tall, handsome stranger in town who immediately catches Gerryâs eye. Basil Thorneâs life has turned upside down. After his fatherâs death, heâs found himself uprooted from Bath to become the head of a family he barely knows. Overwhelmed by responsibilities, not to mention the clamor of Tutting-on-Cress locals wishing to befriend him â only the lovely spellmaster with a twinkling smile seems to soothe Basilâs heart. And heâs not the only one whoâs noticed⌠Soon it seems as though everyone in Gerry and Basilâs lives is determined to match them up. But Gerry is waiting for the surefire spark of romance and Basil is waiting until his life settles down. They may be perfect for each other, but it will take some meddling â and a bit of magic â to bring them together. This book is the fifth installment in the series Meddle & Mend. It can be read after Dear Bartleby or as a standalone. |
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Flowers for a Vinok, Roses for a Babushka, Poppies for a Grave by Solomon Skalozub Courage for his oath, vengeance for his breath, fearing not his death. This is the story of Amvrosiy, a Cossack swordsman. This tale tells of how he grew from a girl to a man, and of his home, and of those he loved. I will tell you of how he fought for them, protecting them no matter the cost. |
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Black Brilliance by Dr. Joel Anthony Hamilton The unheard ancient Egyptian tale of Aqil, the great musician and scientist. It was luck, or rather, fate that he stumbled upon a cursed microscope; stolen from the god Thoth himself. It gave him the power to see something no man had seen before: DNA. Aqil had the unusual gift of seeing DNA as music, could apply his knowledge of science, and performed miracles by playing his Egyptian ney; miracles that could replicate or even mutate DNA. Whispers spread that he could heal the injured, cause life-threatening afflictions, and cure the sick. Rumors also spread that he could change a frog into a fish and a mouse into a snake. Others say he could turn a human into a demon, or even a god. The truth to the rumors was unknown. However, one thing was certain. Any person who peered into the microscope was placed under a heavy curse. Aqil was often given difficult tasks, having to rely on his mind to keep himself, and others alive. When asked to do the impossible, he had to utilize his brilliance to combine his musical abilities, his knack for science, and the cursed microscope to perform miracles. His story will be heard across the world. However, pray you never hear the distinct melody of his prized instrument, his Egyptian ney, for that would mean one of two things. You could be in earshot of him performing a miracle, or you could be the target. Some have very different perceptions of what a miracle is. |
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The Sound of Starfall by Scott Palmer This is the end The Warlocks of Yehven have ruled over the Remembered Lands with their songs of dark sorcery since the skies were new. But now, beneath the shadow of an approaching comet, a mysterious death cult from the wild lands have arrived in the name of Nature to exterminate the Warlocks and their sorcerous Words with them. As the death cult breaches the walls of the Golden City and Ailar crumbles into anarchy, a Warlock, an enslaved man, and a guard are forced to make decisions that will shape the world for thousands of years to come. The sky is falling Nightmares are waking The sound of starfall eats all else |
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If you were chosen to save the world, would you do anything it takes? Ifry is the long suffering clerk to the wealthy and demanding Thomas Townsend. When the latter takes Ifry to the mountains to build a ski resort, they have their work cut out for them. The mountain town is overrun with carnivorous monsters and Ifry is woefully unprepared, but he finds help in Jos Nothernine, the reserved but charming local hunter. Yet the town is plagued by more than just monsters: it is home to Solyon, the god of summer himself. Each year, Solyon chooses a townsperson to defeat a sacrifice chosen by Lady Winter. If the chosen fails, winter will continue endlessly, meaning disaster for the world at large. A sacrifice must be made, and this year Jos has been chosen to kill someone, lest summer never return. |
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Garden of Secrets: Misselthwaite book one (Misselthwaite College 1) by Drake LaMarque Alistair Lennox is disagreeable. Isolated and miserable, with parents who donât care about him, his life has been equal parts privilege and loneliness. But when his parents die, his life is turned upside down. In order to gain his inheritance, Alistair is forced to attend a college he's never heard of - for good reason. Misselthwaite College is a school for the magically gifted Alistair has no magical gifts - unless being magically inept counts. What were his parents thinking? And what is the mysterious affliction plaguing William Carlisle, the affluent and arrogant heir to Misselthwaite? Is there a connection to the strange key Alistair discovers in a book, the stranger noises in the night, and, strangest of all, the multiple men who desire his friendship? Misselthwaite has no end of secrets. But if being disagreeable is good for anything, it's for getting to the bottom of mysteries. -- Garden of Secrets is book one in a duology, and the first installment in a magical new universe. A Secret Garden retelling with a queer twist and featuring MMMM polyamory. |
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The Phoenix and the Firebird by Alexis Kossiakoff & Scott Forbes Crawford A bullet-riddled train staggers into the station, delivering an ominous message that will change Lucy Markovâs destiny: her father, a Russian officer, has been kidnapped. A refugee who lost so much before she found a home in China, Lucy refuses to lose her last remaining family. Guided by a mysterious feather, she must cross into a realm of magic and monsters to find him. Lucyâs quick-witted, spirited friend Su joins her quest. Following the clues, they discover a warlord commanding an army of human soldiers and magical beasts has seized Lucyâs father â and now plots to invade their city. To save her father and their home, Lucy and Su must confront the criminal underworld, cross a haunted forest, and outsmart creatures they thought lived only in fairytales. With each step closer to the warlordâs lair, dangers test their courage and their bonds to each other. Will they unlock the secrets of the feather in time? The Phoenix and the Firebird melds the turmoil of 1920s China with the majesty of Slavic and Chinese myth. Join Lucy and Su as they soar into a world woven from history and folklore, and learn whether friendship is the strongest weapon of all. |
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The Legion of the Lost by Joseph John Lee All gods bleed. All gods die. Even those of our own making. The flames of war have left a scar through the Heart of the Land, and its once-pristine landscapes have been stained with divine blood. After a battle that has cast a shadow larger than anything the Tribes have ever seen, who memory permits to endure shall be determined by the hand to pen the tale, and for whom it may be penned: For Kamataa, who continues her centuries-long search for revenge, regardless of the cost. For Tez, who must find her place after being stripped of her greatest talent. For Aritz, who will stop at nothing to complete his conquest, and at any means necessary. And for Sen, who must rise above her gravest mistakes to carve a path for her people. But whether for friend or foe, memory shall ever remain a fickle thing, but it shall not forget the Harvests . . . and the legion who survived them. |
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Atlantis Land of Dreams by Edale Lane A handful of heroes; an impending cataclysm. Can Ariel and her friends save the world as they know it? Communicating with plants and animals has become a rare gift, one Ariel cherishes. She loves her farm and her family, especially her three-hundred-year-old oma. As she grapples to preserve her connection with the spirit world, she realizes something is dreadfully wrong. Lysandra, a gifted healer, lives in the most splendid city in the world, overflowing with culture and prosperity. Despite her meaningful career, she misses the love of her youth whom she left behind. Now something is causing more illnesses and deaths at increasingly younger ages than typical for Atlantans. When both Ariel and Lysandra are called to the Ring of Stones for a meeting of scholars, masters, and gifted individuals, they reunite for the first time in thirty years. Pushing personal feelings aside, they must focus on discovering whatâs wrong with their world and help fix it. Making a startling discovery, Ariel brings an ominous report to the council. Can the sharpest minds and most compassionate hearts of Atlantis create a plan to save their civilization, or is it doomed to be obliterated from the face of the earth forever? Captivating storyteller Edale Lane brings you an epic historical fantasy warmed with a second-chance sapphic romance. Atlantis, Land of Dreams, will transport you to a world of wonder and imagination, where myths of the past come to life and inspire a brighter vision for our future. Get ready to embark on an unforgettable journey of discovery and marvel at the beauty and magic of this legendary place that has captured the hearts and minds of generations. |
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2023 Lesfic Bard Award winner for Historical Fiction A battle-hardened shieldmaiden. A pacifist healer. Can the two find love amid the chaos of war? Tyrdis is a stalwart warrior raised to value honor, courage, and military prowess. When a traumatic injury renders the powerful protector helpless, she depends on the lovely, tender-hearted Adelle to restore her from the brink of death. Is it merely gratitude or true love that draws Tyrdis to the healer? Defying cultural norms, Adelle despises violence and those who propagate it, but when her shieldmaiden patient saves the life of her beloved little girl, she must reexamine her values. Could Tyrdis be more than a stiff, efficient killer with an amazing body? In a kingdom steeped in conflict with their neighbors and internal strife, shocking secrets are revealed, and both women strive to ensure justice prevails. Can they overcome their differences to safeguard their friends, end the war, and fall in love, or will fate prove to be a cruel sovereign? This Sapphic Viking Historical nursed-back-to-health, opposites-attract Romance is packed with action, intrigue, and mythical references. If you enjoy rich storytelling that brings the past to life, vivid characters you wonât forget, and a surprise twist on the way to a HEA ending, then youâll love War and Solace. |
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Legacy of the Valiant by Edale Lane All legends spring from a seed of truth. Humble Kai aspires to become more than the petite, inconsequential young woman her community sees. Persistence pays off when the village holy leaders reveal a prophecy - Kai might actualize her dream of being a hero if she completes three seemingly impossible tasks. Princess Solveig, descendant of the famous shieldmaiden Sigrid the Valiant, believes she was born to accomplish great things, but her poor eyesight, weak constitution, and lack of physical expertise hold her back. Convinced she can never realize her ambitions, Solveig settles for living vicariously through her warrior girlfriend. The appearance of a dangerous jĂśtunn wreaking havoc in the kingdom brings the two would-be champions together. Solveig feels both threatened and skeptical when Kai arrives in her fatherâs great hall with a âmagicâ sword, claiming sheâs there to save the day after more promising protectors have failed. With many lives at stake, will rivalry push Solveig and Kai apart, or will they inspire each other to realize the greatness both women desire to achieve - and to survive the coming battle? ËËË Epic Action! Gear up for action and the dramatic storytelling of Edale Lane in this heroâs journey sapphic Viking historical romance. If you like to root for an underdog, experience epic world-building, and enjoy women with swords, youâll love Legacy of the Valiant, the second book in the Tales from Norvegr series. |
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When secrets and lies threaten the throne, can a fierce champion tame her passion in time to stop a cruel enemyâs ruthless march? Jutland, Early 11th Century. Viking Warrior Princess Lena craves revenge. Hunting a killer after her husband is brutally slain, she discovers a shadowy traitor is at play behind the scenes, working to disrupt the balance of power. But she places her need for vengeance on hold when the king falls gravely ill, and sails out along with the pretty slave she rescued to locate a fabled healer. Gunnar is loyal to the core. But when his lord orders him to sabotage the princessâs royal mission, heâs plagued by an unfamiliar sense of doubt. And after he witnesses the courageous woman and her crew save his life in a vicious storm, heâs no longer certain heâs fighting for the right side. Beset by foul weather and an uncharted island of trolls, Lena fears sheâll never avenge her husbandâs death⌠even as her heart softens towards the lovely Celt girl she longs to embrace. And now Gunnar must decide where his fealty rests as the tides turn to war. Can Lena and Gunnar survive a bloody grab for power and find a true home for their hearts? Viking Quest is a breathtaking historical fantasy novel. If you like principled characters, battles of conscience, and tender F/F romance, then youâll love Edale Laneâs action-packed epic. |
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Attracted by passion, repelled by war. Can two shieldmaidens navigate battlegrounds of the sword and the heart? A Viking sapphic enemies-to-lovers action/romance Sigrid the Valiant is legendary throughout the kingdoms of Norvegr for her heroic deeds, but her love has yet to find a home. Now, racing on the heels of her fatherâs murder, a neighboring kingdomâs raids signal an all-out conflict. Elyn is a young shieldmaiden with a score to settle, fighting her own insecurities along with enemies who threaten her homeland, but she suspects a more menacing danger lurks on the horizon. When the two clash on opposite sides of their shield walls, sparks fly from both their swords and passions. But when they talk, the fierce women discover an antagonistâs plot has pitted their kingdoms against each other. Can Sigrid and Elyn move past their suspicions and differences to forge a binding love and foil the villainâs scheme, or will the enemyâs assassins end their search for the truth? Action, adventure, and intrigue ride together with romance in this enemies-to-lovers saga from the pre-Viking land of Norvegr. Award-winning, best-selling author Edale Lane brings history to life in this fast-paced sapphic novel. |
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The Book of One by Adam Gaffen Angels and demons are never meant to cross paths, or so the ancient lore dictates. In 10th Century Rome, a realm teeming with shadowy intrigue and covert power plays, the demon Kalili, aged six millennia, receives a seemingly simple mission: to charm Octavianus, a youthful potential pope. Yet fate takes an unforeseen turn when Faith, an unseasoned angel, is assigned to eliminate her. This extraordinary encounter ignites a conflict beyond their wildest imaginings. Bound by an enigmatic bond and an undeniable attraction, Kalili and Faith are thrust into a labyrinth of danger and deceit. As the last of the legendary Thirteens, their intertwined destinies are key to resolving an eternal battle between light and darkness. Pursued by the forces of both Heaven and Hell, they must unlock nascent powers and unravel millennia-old enigmas to avert an impending cosmic upheaval. Their decisions will forge a new path for the ages, as they journey through a riveting saga of love and fate, a journey marked by harrowing risks and dark enchantments. A saga that leads them to confront their own nature, in a world where every choice could reshape the very essence of life itself. Dive into this spellbinding tale, where the lines between good and evil blur, and the journey of two unlikely allies begins, culminating in a breathtaking saga of passion, destiny, and the eternal struggle between celestial forces. INCLUDING AN EXCLUSIVE BONUS: A DELETED SCENE! |
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Smile and be a Villain by Yves Donlon Something is rotten in the state of Denmark⌠and that 'something' is magic. HELSINGĂR, 1536. Ophelia is a disgraced handmaid to the queen, the cast-off lover of Prince Hamlet. She is also a witch, and a good one at that. And she can see that Denmark is rotting from the inside out, afflicted by dark magic. WITTENBERG, 1536. Hamlet is a useless son, a failed heir. He is the prince of a nation about to fight a war they won't win. He doesn't know about magic, but if he did he would use it to destroy their enemiesâno matter the consequences. â¨As Hamlet and Ophelia find themselves increasingly torn apart, they must decide: how much are they willing to sacrifice in order to save Denmark? And, by the end of it all, will they be beyond saving? |
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After Silence by Natalie Northwood Pity is he who rules the world. Inevitable is she who burns it. Norandia, a human-inhabited land abandoned by its slaughtered deities, is on the brink of war with the rest of continental Halivaara. But it isnât just humans who call Halivaara home. Here dwell eight other territories, seven nonhuman species called Dwellers, and six reigning kingdoms. Today, they know no peace; historically, they never have. Cerys Odessa is a mage hiding in Norandia, where Dwellers are burned at the stake for daring to cross the border; if they find her, they will kill her. But when Vanadey, one of Norandiaâs extinct deities, suddenly resurfaces to burn towns in an act of revenge, Cerys realizes that maybe her hidden magic can help stop the brewing war that Vanadey started a millennium ago. But Cerys canât rise against her on her own. With the aid of an outlawed shapeshifter, Cerys must cross enemy lines to seek alliances with the last living dragon, a mage queen who enslaves men, and the king of the werewolves if she hopes to stop Vanadey before war consumes Norandia and everyone she loves. After Silence is a dark, gritty tale of forced heroism in a land of murderous deities and brewing war, where every character has only those they love to loseâand love is everything. |
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The Song of Thyssia by S.J. Stiles The Thyssian Archipelago rose from the deep as six treacherous islands. Islands that were forged from stone and sand, with kings and conquerors alike. Long ago, the gods gave each kingdom a relic to protect. In return, their peoples would remain safe from the servants of the Void. Years bled into centuries as their respect rotted into complacency. Thyssia, the mother island, sheltered three kingdoms on its soil as it reached across the sea. In the east, Trejenâs forests neatly encircled the verdant meadows while new trees crept closer each spring. Cerulean river lands carved through the island under the watchful eyes of house Spessia and everyone drank from its meandering depths. All of this was overshadowed by a solitary broken mountain. Their peopleâs separation from the gods fractured its stony face into a chasm, a wound that released any magic the mountain held within its stone. Their relic was ruined by abomination in the wake of Haydrianâs touch. Haydrian, an alchemist who relished in the hope of immortality. As the kingdoms of Thyssia disregarded their duty to the nine, so waned their fear of the Void. |
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Tea and Empathy by Shanna Swendson Welcome to Rydding, the hidden village you might stumble across if you need a home and a fresh start. For Elwyn Howell, the village is a lifesaver when she finds it just as sheâs run out of strength and hope while running for her life. The abandoned healerâs cottage welcomes her, even though sheâs given up on that calling. She opens a tea shop instead, using her knowledge of herbs and her empathic gift that allows her to select the perfect tea for each customer. Soon, sheâs feeling at home in the village community. Sheâs afraid itâs too good to last, a fear thatâs confirmed when she finds a wounded man unconscious in her garden. Was he sent by the people who are hunting her? Not even he knows, since he has no memory of who he is or how he got there. As she nurses him back to health, they develop a close bond, but the specter of both their pastsâthe one sheâs fleeing and the one he doesnât rememberâgets in the way. He doesnât know what life he may have left behind, and she lives in constant fear that her old life will catch up with her and sheâll end up convicted of a murder sheâs not entirely sure she didnât commit. They canât hide forever, not even in Rydding, and if they want to have a future, theyâll have to confront their pasts. A new cozy cottagecore romantic fantasy from the author of Enchanted, Inc. |
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The Treachery of Ravens by Steven D Nickell 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 canât 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. |
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Tall & Dark by Suzannah Rowntree Ghosts, griftersâŚand a missing heir in 1890s Europe. Itâs easier to conduct a sĂŠance when the dead arenât 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 isnât a princeâŚor a vampire. Alas, the dead normally have something far more unsettling to impart⌠Return to the BĂŞte Epoque, an 1890s Europe ruled by monsters, in Miss Darkâs 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! |
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The Call of the Valkyries by T J Mayhew A god powerless against his fate. A girl determined to make her own destiny. A prophecy that binds them together... Freydis dreams of being a shieldmaiden but her parents have other ideas. When she learns of her their plan to marry her off to a local fishermanâs son, Freydisâ need to break free from her life intensifies. With Olaf the Redâs arrival, she sees her chance of escape and, with the help of her friends, begins to put her plan into motion. Leaving her home, and family, behind, Freydis embarks on the most dangerous adventure of her life. But life on the whale road is nothing like Freydis expected and sheâs soon asking herself: how will she survive her first raid if she canât even survive her first voyage? With forces beyond her control, or understanding, conspiring against her, how long will she be able to resist the call of the Valkyries? The Call of the Valkyries is the first in a historical fantasy adventure series, featuring some of the greatest Norse myths and legends. Download your copy and discover a new adventure today! |
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Legacy's Price by T. L. Rolston 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? |
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Surviving Westcliff by Thomas Perkins Westcliff was meant to be a new start. For Ash, her first voyage as a navigator is a chance to excel under her legendary mentor, prove to the world and herself that sheâs fit for the job. For Baron, the expeditionâs criminally-inclined security officer, itâs an opportunity to cash in on a supposed stashed fortune before debts get his knees smashed in. But from the moment their ship drops anchor and Westcliff is founded, things arenât quite right. Livestock go missing. Strange sounds echo in the darkness. Baronâs fortune seems more fiction than fact. And when tragedy suddenly strikes, Westcliffâs residents find themselves trapped and under-provisioned, with winter fast approaching. Forced to take charge of a desperate town on the brink of violence, Ash and Baron will have to use every trick they have to find out whoâs responsible. If they donât, nobodyâs surviving Westcliff. |
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Tears of an Indifferent God by Isom Ashe In Pelesia, quests are abundant, and genuine heroes are few. That doesnât stop many from trying, though. From the dusty streets of Petrolix to the perilous peaks guarding the giant Ruk's nest, Tears of an Indifferent God follows Sola, a sandal-maker driven by a burning need for vengeance. Orphaned at a young age, Sola blames the legendary hero Gordoneus for the untimely deaths of his parents. When fate cruelly throws them together, Sola finds himself banished and reluctantly journeying alongside the very man he has vowed to destroy. As they traverse a landscape populated with mythical beasts and hostile city-states, Sola's quest for revenge transforms into one of self-discovery. Amid the dangers of their monumental quest to seize the coveted egg of the giant Ruk, Sola encounters unexpected camaraderie, challenges that test his mettle, and a love that might just redefine his understanding of justice and heroism. Set in a world inspired by the Bronze Age Mediterranean, full of political intrigue and the whims of unpredictable gods, Tears of an Indifferent God is a tale of action, myth, and transformation, where personal vendettas collide with the destinies shaped by the gods. |
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Destiny Awaiting by Jan Foster She stole away to discover a new world, but interrupted a thief. Now Aioffe canât escape from him, the impending war or her growing curiosity. Lost and alone in Henry Vâs dangerous world, runaway fae Aioffe must rely on her newfound human captor, Tarl, to keep her safe. Yet his secrets could put both of them in greater peril than either could have imagined. Forced to enlist with Henry V's army, Tarl battles his conscience to keep flighty Aioffe hidden, while she struggles to find her place in medieval human society. As they travel through medieval Scotland, Wales, and England towards war with France, they must discover the power of true love and reveal themselves if they are to survive the destiny awaiting them at Agincourt. |
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The Thief's Keeper by Kyrie Wang A runaway thrall. A clever thief. Together, two orphans will defy destiny or fall trying.â¨â¨In the aftermath of a rebellion against William the Conqueror, northern England lies in ruins, its people scattered and starved.â¨â¨Aelfric, a 14-year-old thrall, flees from his master and stumbles upon a cache of stolen laundry. The thief? Aliwyn, a girl around his age ostracized for being âcursed.â In her care is a lost toddler she has rescued from the clutch of greedy thrall traders.â¨â¨Forced to cover each otherâs secrets, Aelfric and Aliwyn form an unlikely friendship...and maybe something more. They embark on a perilous journey to reunite the child with his family and seek a cure for Aliwynâs mysterious condition.â¨â¨But time is running out. Aelfricâs master is on the hunt, and the shadows of death loom ever closer over Aliwyn. Will they find the courage to press on and defy fate, or will their quest end in capture and ruin? Immerse yourself in a fast-paced tale of unforeseen twists and heart-stopping challenges. The Thief's Keeper is a thrilling young adult novel that transports you to an alternative medieval world, where Celtic-inspired tribes live alongside the last Vikings. Discover a heartwarming tale where friendship triumphs against insurmountable odds. Start your adventure today! |
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Echoes of Memory by M. Anthony Harris If you can't trust your memories, what can you trust?â¨â¨This question gnaws at Aris Ravenscroft after foreign memories invade his mind and nearly get him killed during an assassination attempt on the Emperor, a hero beloved by all. A hero he's sworn to protect. Kestrel, a street-smart orphan, also finds his mind filled with memories that aren't his. Memories that say that his world is nothing like it seems. Now the duo must make sense of the alien memories while unraveling the mystery of the Emperor's true colors while dodging attempts on their lives by the mysterious Inquisitors, crooked politicians, and a host of dangers in a world where the greatest villain is the biggest hero. |
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"Forged by Pain" is a gripping tale that follows Princess Amelia, a good-natured and slightly mischievous girl whose life takes a turn at fourteen. In a ruthless coup orchestrated by Duke Nicholas, she loses her parents and freedom, becoming trapped and tortured within the infamous Black Tower for four harrowing years. Though her mind shatters under the torment, her indomitable spirit remains unbroken. With the unexpected aid of a crippled Inquisitor named Pretty and his loyal, mute servant Victor, Princess Amelia manages to escape her agonizing captivity. Transformed into a vengeful monster by the horrors she endured, she sets her twisted plans into motion, directing her anger towards Duke Nicholas's relatives and loved ones, determined to make him suffer as he did her. And as her sinister machinations unfold, a war looms on the horizon, engulfing the three kingdoms in turmoil. |
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Fortitude's Prize by Ceril N Domace The Master of Fortitude, the largest city in the Flying Isles, has been robbed. Normally, this wouldnât concern Edward Bardsley. Heâs 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 masterâs stolen property. Between storms, injuries, and secrets that could see Edward exiled from the skies the way his father was, just getting to the thiefâs 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. |