Echo’s End by Claudia J. Filusch

THE WORLD IS COLLAPSING—QUIETLY. COMPLETELY. The sky rains golden ash. Villages lie swallowed in dust. And from the heavens it descends, silent, monolithic, like a sentence long awaited. A cuboid humming with a power no one dares to name. The story follows Caden, a quiet survivor with Echodust in his veins and Jira, a sharp-eyed healer bound to him by choice, not fate. Together, they navigate a dying continent littered with failed machines, ghost-towns of ritual, and warnings about “the one who walks without skin“. But the deeper they go, the more the past bleeds into the present, and the more the line blurs between memory, magic and machine. Echo's End is a story about grief and survival, love and legacy. A world at its edge. And the silence that cradles what we could not carry. With the emotional intimacy of The Book Thief, the haunting mystery of Annihilation, and the high-concept tension of Dune, Echo's End explores legacy, loss, and what it means to remain human in a world unmaking itself.

Daughter of Broken Light by Trisha Otis

On the eve of the sacred Stone Summit Ritual, Idrial, heir to the House of the Sun, the ceremonial Sun Stone vanishes without a trace. The ritual is broken, and with it, the fragile balance that has kept the realm from falling into darkness. Determined to find the lost Stone, Idrial sets out alongside her closest friend, the fierce and loyal Raewyn, to seek answers from the Oracles, mysterious seers who dwell beyond the known lands. But the trail they follow leads to hidden identities and lost history. One that speaks of a forgotten war and a girl born of sunlight who must choose what kind of leader she will become. Torn between past and present, duty and desire, Idrial must confront the truth about the stone, her lineage, and the light she was raised to wield. But light alone is not enough. In a world where alliances shift and she finds family in an unlikely group, Idrial will face a test not only of power, but of heart, and the courage it takes to stand in the dark and not be consumed.

Lurking Omnibus by D.A Lascelles

"I am sure it is also impolite to force a lady to dance by threatening others," she said through gritted teeth. "Perhaps it is, Miss Reid. Assuming that is your real name. After all, I know you are no mere lady's companion. Are you one of Langon's famous spies? I expected there to be some here to protect your senator. However, I am surprised they trust such delicate affairs to women. ”Do your feminine emotions not get in the way?" From Gods of Diplomacy Gathered in this single volume are the stories from both Lurking Miscellany and Lurking Miscellany II. Myriad worlds and magical ideas together under one title. 340 pages, Paperback Published March 23, 2025

The Ore Monger by Zaid Hasan

NO SHADOW FALLS DARKER than the one cast by a stranger. When a mysterious nymph stands in shapeshifter Salessa’s doorway, plan in mind and sword in hand, she must decide whether to cling to the familiar, or lead her twin sister on an unpredictable quest that could end in justice...or war. NO LIES RUN DEEPER than those shrouded by the powerful. When Unisa discovers deception in the Library, a city built to catalog the histories of the continent, the young woman is forced to learn that truth is only as trustworthy as the ones who share it. NO GRIEF PERSISTS LONGER than the one buried before acceptance. When Rafael is thrust onto a journey beyond his control, he’s compelled to confront the past that led him into exile as a boy. Two shapeshifters and a band of humans journey into the crosshairs of a faerie king desperately clinging to his throne amidst violent political fallout. New alliances and recent discoveries force each of them to face loss, disillusionment, and the expansive might of a ruthless THE ORE MONGER.

The Huxian Fox by Nikki Brooke

Captain Fan Sung has blown it this time. Not only was she caught stealing from a drug lord, she was also caught kissing his young wife. She needs to get to her ship, the Huxian Fox, and get off the planet—fast. Princess Eshan’ya is running from The Quain. They have attacked the palace and if they find her, they'll kill her. There’s no hiding on this planet, especially not when the royal guards are also looking for her. Her best chance is to sneak aboard the Huxian Fox. As the ship enters space, Fan thinks she’s made a clean getaway. But she's not impressed when she finds her stowaway—even if she is beautiful. She’s even less impressed when the Huxian Fox is attacked by the Quain and the Royal Fleet. The Quain are intent on taking over the galaxy, but Eshan’ya plans on stopping them—if only she can convince Fan Sung to help her.

Divide and you shall reign by Kassy Luca

In a parallel universe where there is an Earth containing an eighth continent named Einow and people of different species than humans, Jemma Auverfeng, a sylvan elf and former slave of an illegal elven trafficking ring, joins the Pranelf College with her two best friends and her adoptive sister. The Pranelf College is renowned for training othars, individuals whose job is to apprehend non-human criminals. As in all colleges for non-human beings, the students also learn to control and understand the biological source of their power, which they call koraghus. However, the lives of Jemma and her best friends will change forever when they discover that they have powers unknown to scientists. Between a serial killer on the loose, prisoners escaping from a penitentiary, and rampant racism propagated by the elites of elven society that divides them, the three young elves will have to learn to control their mysterious powers without the help of science.

The Electric King by Hugh C.N. Miller

By 2052, the world is ruled by artificial intelligence in the form of a ruthless android called King Cyrus. Society is divided into the 'Myriads’, who choose allegiance to his reign and live in perceived opulence and the ‘Indigents’, who live off-grid and fight for survival. An unthinkable tragedy transforms Scarlett into an unexpected warrior. With her kidnapped brother as her only focus, she is given the power to defeat the electric king and liberate humanity before it’s too late. But first, she must trust Ethan, a handsome thief who threatens to steal more than just her heart…

Castoff by Brandon Crilly

Six months after saving her city from destruction, Deyeri Renn is outrunning leadership she doesn’t trust herself to take on. Mavrin Leed chases secret knowledge beyond the business of a mere street magician, wondering where his friend Eyasu Temergon has gone, and how much his devotion to the god-like Aspects endangers him this time. All while the Raw wait to be freed from their prison—the extent of their patience unknown. And as the Highest Voices work to silence the gods who keep Aelda safe, dangerous truths at the edge of the world still find their way to light.

The Shard and The Serpent by Jinapher J. Hoffman

A high-stakes, spicy dark romantasy where assassins and criminally ruled cities battle for dominance, Fate twists bonds into violent obsession, and female rage fuels a revenge story as brutal and relentless as John Wick. In Mirror, ruined kingdoms have risen into darkly inventive criminal empires, each perfecting its trade through human trafficking and ruthless experimentation. Among the shadows, a secret league of female assassins with Fate-blessed powers exacts their ultimate punishment, vendettas paid only in blood. Rayze Angeline is one of them. A Shard Daughter. The Angel of Sin. She can fold oceans, warp gravity, and slip into minds. But her specialty is pleasure threads, entering a person’s mind by fulfilling their darkest desires and commanding them to spill their secrets. Her target? Warrick Ivor. Obsessive Heir to The Serpent. Her sworn enemy. The one man she should never touch. Unfortunately for Rayze, and to Warrick’s smug satisfaction, their souls are bound by Fate. She hates him almost as much as she craves the way he makes her his. Every glance is a challenge, every touch a dare, and neither of them ever walks away without drawing blood. Why would they? Killing is their favorite pastime. The more they push the limits of their Bond, the closer they edge toward a line that, once crossed, could turn passion into ruin. Dark secrets unravel, lust and empires collide, and revenge will be taken. For. Always. No matter the cost. If you crave a genre-bending dark fantasy/sci-fi romance with morally grey heroes, addictive spice, and twists that cut deep—where betrayal is as intoxicating as desire–The Shard and The Serpent will keep you up all night, gripping your Kindle, and screaming at the page. ✦ Tropes You’ll Find Inside ✦ ★ Criminal empires and assassins in a female-rage, John Wick–style revenge story ★ Unique twist on fated mates and fate magic ★ Medium-burn, addictive spice with a hard-earned HEA ★ Found family with women supporting women ★ Playthings to enemies to lovers ★ Masked, morally grey Heir who kneels only for her ★ Deadly female assassin with Fate-blessed superpowers ★ “You’re mine”, “Touch her and die”, “Who did this to you” ★ Primal chasing / primal hunting tension ★ Betrayal as foreplay, revenge as devotion ★ Pirates and flying pirate ships colliding with a grunge-punk cityscape of masked criminals ★ Dark secrets, memory loss and memory manipulation ★ Standalone in a series of interconnected standalones

Walking the Knife's Edge by Elise Carlson

It’s hard to focus on your studies when you’re from the wrong side of town, your dad’s an abusive prick and classmates are intimidated by your skills at hand to hand combat. But for Rarkin, getting into Sythe School means monsters, the chance to contain ones that stray into human occupied zones, and the opportunity to do something meaningful with his life. Even better; it includes an Electric Way pass out of town and travel beyond city limits.​ Rarkin seizes his chance at his dream job with everything he’s got, forcing down traumatic memories to focus on work he knows he could love. But it’s a dangerous time to be holding everything in, to have little contact with friends like brothers, or to be keeping new friends at arm’s length. Sythe’s nemesis, Organised Crime is no longer playing by the ‘rules,’ and Rarkin and his classmates are on the front line. Organised Crime’s bold new tactics tear at the bandages of Rarkin’s unhealed wounds and his unresolved CPTSD. To be the person Rarkin doesn’t believe people saying he can be, he must change his toxically masculine approach to emotions, and break the cycle of violence in his family. If he doesn’t make peace with his past and stop fighting EVERYTHING, he’s on the road to self destruction. In working for Sythe; Rarkin is Walking the Knife’s Edge.

Blessed is the Rot by Sheri Singerling

Fenrir is a mask. Before his fall from grace, he was Ashtin, a lauded surveyor responsible for containing distortions, corrupted pockets of space-time that twist all they touch into horrid creatures. Five years prior, Ashtin defied the teachings of the Church he once served, costing him privilege, purpose, and his old name. Now, he is Fenrir, a shadow of his former self, reduced to ringing a bell for his livelihood. When a distortion claims Fenrir’s bell tower, the Church sends Surveyor Sophie to assess and contain the threat. She is a painful reminder of all that Fenrir has lost, but as the weeks slip by, Fenrir falls for her. And her him, even after learning his true identity. But Sophie harbors an even darker secret. Her only hope of salvation? Commit an unforgivable sin by descending into ancient ruins festering with distortions and their horrifying victims. Fenrir accompanies Sophie on the journey, but the truths they uncover are heinous in their own right. He must make a choice—abandon Sophie to fate or throw the world into chaos. Blessed is the Rot is a dark science fantasy novel, the first in the Bit Trilogy and part of the Alfom shared universe.

The Gemini Games by Willa Hollis

Five games. Five opportunities. Persevere or perish. Zellie Toro has lived a simple life in the intergalactic unit stationed on the planet Lunara for twenty-seven years. But when an invitation from The Kosmos, the divine order, arrives, everything changes. Chosen as one of ten human participants in the treacherous Gemini Games in the city of Astralis, Zellie must collect moonstone fragments to restore the fading Gemini constellation and continue powering nearby worlds. The stakes are high: become a Celestial champion and gain unimaginable power. As Zellie competes, she uncovers a web of corruption, a rigid magical hierarchy, and a staggering imbalance of power. While the games progress, she realizes that the only way to spark real change for humans across the galaxy is to infiltrate the divine order itself. Faced with an impossible choice, Zellie must decide: surrender her humanity or stay true to her convictions and risk everything to do what’s right. In a new world where survival is the only rule, Zellie must decide: survive... or die trying.

Middle-Aged Man in a Trashcan by William Brian Johnson

Joe's lived here all his life, but he's not from around here. Street names are different, landmarks lie, and even money shows presidents he's never known. Some versions of Fort Wayne, Indiana are apocalyptic wastelands, others harbor darker secrets. When trouble strikes, Joe opens a trash can and tears a sixth-dimensional rift in reality. Inside lies a void where he glimpses the multiverse and rides unknown currents to another Fort Wayne, hoping this one might finally feel like home. He emerges at the same time, same date, in a different universe. With each crossing, his memories slip away. Only Nobuyuki, his shape-shifting kitsune companion, remain constant, and they are hiding secrets about Joe's past that he may never remember. In a multiverse where the next trash can might lead to salvation or doom, Joe must find his way back before he forgets what home is.

A Sky So Hollow by Craig Montgomery

Some wounds never heal. . . It’s been a few months since Casper Bell saved Novilem from crumbling under the pressure of revolution. The dust hasn’t settled, and neither has his nerves. A strange sickness is spreading in the city, and Casper is having visions about the tower Jacob sent to the Surface. Helix convinces him to bring his concerns to the Estellar council, but Helix’s trust in the system backfires. They send the pair to the last place Casper wants to be: Earth. Casper’s past is right where he left it and corrupted aether still creeps on the streets of Chicago. When they find someone who is aether sick, it is clear they haven’t finished uncovering the council’s secrets. With their friends and family falling sick, the fragile peace in Novilem collapsing, and the council ready to abandon the home they have fought so hard to protect, Casper and Helix must confront their inner darkness before Novilem is lost forever.

Werecockroach by Polenth Blake

Rin moves into a new flat on the day the aliens arrive. Their new flatmates are laid-back Sanjay and conspiracy theorist Pete. It doesn't take long to notice some oddities about the pair, like hoarding cardboard and hissing at people when they're angry. Something strange is going on, but it's not all due to the aliens.

Everlife by Alex S. Garcia

A magician, an alien mask, thousands of gods... What could possibly go wrong? Born an orphan and known throughout the empire as a powerful magician, Paul is on a lifelong quest to find answers about his past. Jack is a historian obsessed with the famous Face of Xian--an alien mask which has puzzled the universe for thousands of years. An obsession his friends can't understand, and which he himself cannot explain. Along with a detective, an archaeologist, and others, their destinies cross on a world brimming with alien artifacts. A world where thousands of gods walk among men, and where fanatics consider offworlders as heretics and raiders. Some might call it a recipe for disaster, and they'd be right. NOTE: Though this book is the first in a series, it has no cliffhanger and can be read on its own.

The Skald's Black Verse by Jordan Loyal Short

Brohr has a noose around his neck. When a soldier’s murder sparks rebellion in the tiny village of Skolja, Brohr’s violent past marks him as the prime suspect. Haunted by his infant brother’s raging ghost, he is heir to the dark legacy of the Skalds, and cursed by the forbidden magic of the Dreadbound. As loyalties in the oppressed village fray, Brohr must choose: sate his vengeance, or save his people. In the shadows, an all but extinct race of alien demigods have begun the endgame of their millennia-spanning war. And Brohr is a pawn in the closing gambit. But Brohr’s grandfather harbors a secret that will change everything. Above it all, a dire omen looms in the sky, spelling the death of Brohr’s world. With doom spiraling down, Brohr must lead an unlikely revolt, unearth the truth of his brother’s murder, and tame the raging spirit that haunts him. Can Brohr unite his fractured people, or will he succumb to his own terrifying bloodlust, and destroy the very souls he has sworn to save? Ragnarok Reimagined: Alien Gods, Eldritch Space Travel, and Black Magic! Unique worldbuilding, fierce anti-heroes, and vivid action await in this epic tale, stretching from the stars above to realms below.

The Ice Moves for No One by Arlo Z. Graves

Thalon was born to fight. A warrior, a selkie, a daughter of the Dread One herself. For years, she’s trained for the Dusk Trials and earn a place aboard one of the legendary Duskingr airships. But the Trials are only the beginning. Victory does not come clean. The game is rigged, the sponsors corrupt, and the selkie way of life is slipping through the cracks. Worse, her own body is beginning to betray her, and no amount of training has prepared her for what comes next. Nothing in this world bends easily. The odds are stacked against her, and the path ahead is nothing but locked doors and closed fists. But Thalon has never let anyone—man, woman, or god—decide her fate. The ice moves for no one—but it’s never met Thalon.

SHATTERED: A Sanguine Stars Novella by Nicholas W Fuller

Poey Targe's job was to stand at attention and look good in a uniform unless someone earned themselves an ass kicking. He spent years climbing the ranks to be a Master Sergeant in the Sorento Royal Senate Guard and now has the top tier gig - he's Guardian to High Senator Sara Brand, one of the leaders of the planet Sorento. Life is going pretty good for Poey and he’s looking forward to a future of settling down and retiring from his... but all that changes when High Senator Brand receives troubling news… SHATTERED is the story of doing the right thing... And the consequences of those actions. It's the story of Poey Targe, Sara Brand, and a few friends as they struggle to keep their planet safe. SHATTERED: A Sanguine Stars Novella - is a short, action packed science fantasy read that features political intrigue, a lot of fu

The Old Goat and the Alien by Veo Corva

Avari keeps to themself. They’re a goat-shape cosmoran, a member of the Cleaners’ Union, and a bit of a grump. That suits them just fine. They don’t have any friends, and that’s fine, because they have siblings. And if their siblings have all grown away from them to start their own lives, then that’s fine, too. Really. But then Avari meets a lost alien in the Elder Grove, and that is not fine. Everyone is telling Avari that this alien is their responsibility just because she’s lost on an unfamiliar planet. Avari can barely tolerate cosmorans; how are they supposed to cope with a human housemate? To get Jenna the human out of their home, Avari is going to have to do several unthinkable things. They’ll have to leave the house, talk to strangers, and even travel to the terrifying ocean planet that is the binary twin of their own. They’ll have to learn about Earth and go to board game parties and meet some of the strangest people in the city. They might even have to make friends. But the trouble is, Avari isn’t sure they deserve them. The Old Goat and the Alien is a cosy, slice-of-life space fantasy with an all-queer cast set on the binary planets of Geminus in a far-away star system. Geminus is populated by cosmorans, sentient creatures whose shape is determined by the stars at their hatching and who bear a striking resemblance to the animals and mythical creatures of Earth.

A Demon to Save Me by H.S. Kallinger

Gabriel Belmont's life is succumbing to a downward spiral when he accidentally summons a demon. After he refuses to make a contract, something ignites within him, inspiring him to strive for a real future—a real life. Two years later, he has everything he wanted, and his life is on track. But it's a fragile thing. A cascade of events threatens to destroy it all. He has to find it in him to not only save the people he loves, but also the demon who saved him in the first place.

The First Sin by Cheyenne Brammah

In the sweeping expanse of the Årdrakin Empire, the people fight and die for honor as elite warriors of the galaxy. But long ago, a prophecy was spoken that presaged the apocalypse. Everyone knows and fears the truth: one day, the empire will fall. Tårik is a guard for small, independent Clan Tsinna. Instead of pondering the end of his civilization, Tårik’s greatest concern is maintaining his honor while escorting a group of impertinent dignitaries across the treacherous Barren Gale. When the Mother Goddess speaks a passage from the prophecy to him, he has the good sense to be frightened, but he doesn’t heed the significance of Her visit. Then disaster strikes, and Tårik is branded as an exile, leaving him with no home, no honor, and no future. Forced into a desperate struggle for survival, all Tårik can focus on is living just one more day until luck—or maybe fate—gives him the opportunity to join a new clan. But even this is fraught with danger and uncertainty, and it takes him to an inhospitable world far from the empire where survival seems all but impossible. Faced with new challenges, including trying to navigate first contact with the low-tech locals, Tårik believes the prophecy can’t reach him. Yet it continues to loom, signaling that his fate and the fate of the empire are irrevocably entwined. This is a dark, spicy, adult science fantasy set in a world that includes war, violence, and other mature themes that some readers may find disturbing. Reading guidance can be found at the beginning of the book or on the author's website.

In the House of Root and Rot by Sam Weiss

Old Gramps always said the Deadmarsh family was cursed. Will never believed him—until now. In a last-ditch effort to pay his grandfather’s mounting medical bills, Will signs up for a shady sleep study, ignoring the warning signs. But everything changes the night his grandfather vanishes. In his place, Will’s dead sister returns. Convinced the sleep study is to blame, Will tracks down Spectre, the enigmatic research firm behind it, only to discover they’ve disappeared. His search leads him to a girl whose father vanished after her own harrowing encounter with Spectre. She also seems to know more about his family’s past than she’s letting on. Desperate to stop seeing his dead sister and unsure of who to trust, Will forms an uneasy alliance with the girl to find out what Spectre wants with them. Together, they plummet down a rabbit-hole of secrets, discovering Spectre’s true purpose and what it planted in Will’s bloodline centuries ago. Something ancient, something not of this world, has been feeding off his family for generations, growing stronger, hungrier, and desperate to be set free. The family curse is real. And it’s been waiting for Will to unleash it.

The Sundered Stars by H.E. Bauman

Betrayal is just the beginning… After a decade of hunting the Federation’s deadliest criminals, Mora “Mo” Cevi is done risking her life—but she needs a way out. So, when a lucrative military contract lands in her lap, she takes it despite her mistrust of the government. Steadfast leader Ezra Lyre has dedicated sixteen years to the Federation Space Command, climbing the ranks to become one of the military’s most revered Vanguards. But when he’s assigned to protect a group of archaeologists on a remote dig, he’s confused. The Federation is at war, and he should be on the front lines, not babysitting scholars. Mo has been fighting Ezra’s orders for days, until a group of traitors steal a treasured artifact, and he needs her to help him bring them to justice. With the Federation rejecting their concerns, they pursue the thieves on their own. But as their manhunt tangles them in a web of dangerous conspiracies, Mo and Ezra find themselves racing to stop a threat that could destroy the Federation—if their enemies don’t destroy them first.

FIRST ROSE by Jake Vanguard

Five years after the cataclysmic events in Tadena, Helio is living her best life—until her sister, Zalika, gets attacked and her niece, Nyssa, is kidnapped. And to make matters worse, Zalika has transferred her responsibility as the deity of technology to Helio. Desperate to find the culprit and her niece, Helio sets out on a journey with her best friend, Julyen, to enlist the help of two other deities, Zanoah and Caean. Not only is she worried about Nyssa, she's also having to deal with the new forces coursing through her, which she’s unable to fully grasp and control. Their journey brings them to Evergarden, the home of Ambroz, the deity of lust and Helio’s new mentor. But learning to control her powers from him isn’t the only connection they form. As the two fall for each other, Helio finds herself torn between her attraction to Ambroz, missing her peaceful life in Tadena, worries about Nyssa and Zalika, and her fear of facing her sister's attacker—who wants to vanquish every single deity and cleanse the world of them. Can she face the man she once loved? And what will happen when she does?

Even Angels Fall by E. V. Sauvage

300 years ago, my world collided with Earth. My kind has been ruling over the world ever since, passing as archangels. Doves, swans, cockatoo, their white wings in half shifted form are the sign of their power. I should have been the next in line. I should have been the new archangel Michaël. But my wings aren’t white. So instead I have to stay hidden. Instead, I’ve been trained my whole life. Instead, I’m their weapon. Because who would be best suited to kill the dragon shifter living inside of Notre Dame than a fallen angel? My name is Angélique. I’m a crow-shifter, and my mission is to marry Elhyor and to kill him on our wedding night. But nothing is the way it seems, and the dragon might be harder to kill than I thought. He might also be my only chance at freedom… Do I have any chance of surviving unscathed? Only time will tell…

The shadows beyond by Tj rose

An action-packed MM romance duology featuring magic, mayhem, and two broken boys finding love. Cinnamon ‘Cinn’ Saunders thought he’d learnt to control his little ghost problem. That is, until the moment he brings back a malevolent spirit from the shadowrealm, and quickly finds himself unjustly arrested for the murder of four people. After breaking free of foster care and a stint in juvie, all Cinn wanted to do was keep his head down and work his way up to become a professional chef. Now he’s forced to make a choice: life in jail, or allow a stranger to whisk him away to a mysterious institute in rural Switzerland with the promise of learning how to control his terrifying supernatural abilities. Julien, the French charismatic charmer who is charged with warding over Cinn, also has a problem: the murder of his sister is still unsolved. He needs help. Help that only Cinn can provide. He’ll do anything to get it, including making Cinn an offer that he can’t refuse. What Julien doesn't expect out of the bargain is their undeniable connection, which only serves to complicate matters as they navigate uncharted territories together. Between battling an uprising of deadly creatures that not only threaten the moteblessed community, but the entire planet, and fighting their ever-growing attraction, can this opposites-attract pair overcome their demons to save the world, and each other? The Shadows Beyond is part 1 of an MM urban fantasy romance duology, and contains explicit content. Full content warnings can be found within the book and on the author’s website. The overarching plot continues into book 2, with the end of book 1 offering a ‘happy-for-now’ for the main characters

Name Her Holy by Aubrey Ennis

Where the weave between worlds thins, a long buried shadow rises from its grave among the stars and seeks vengeance on the Vale. A Herald has been named to mark its ascension— a woman resurrected by The Seeker’s hand and placed in the pious care of the Vigil Order. A once disgraced daughter of her noble house, Kye Liatris is crowned a living saint, one tasked with stopping the coming cataclysm. Kye has lived on borrowed time since, aiding the Vigil while quietly enduring worsening ailments. When a strange blight brings death to the valley of Jude Arendell’s home village, she finds herself swept up in the Vigil’s fight. But in taking up her mother’s sword, Jude learns that her family legacy was not as it seemed. As stars extinguish and the threads that bind the Vale swiftly unravel, so do the long trusted stories of history past. Now Kye and Jude must decide whether to follow their divine callings or scorn the gods and place their trust in each other. Book One of the Hallowed Duology.

Spider Island by T. C. Duck

What happens to a reality show when the island disappears? Twelve contestants. Thirty-six days. One deserted island. Welcome to Far Island Warrior, where players from different island nations compete for a grand prize of one million farra. Enrick was a safety supervisor on FIW until a disagreement with the producer cost him his job. The studio invites him back as a consultant to investigate the mysterious death of a crewmember on set, but not everything on the show is what it seems. His investigation leads him to the secret labs of one of the studio’s sponsors, and a sinister conspiracy that could threaten the family he’s fought to rebuild. Jaz’s dreams have come true when he’s selected as a contestant on FIW. It’s his chance to leave his tiny, spider-worshipping home and prove to his family—and himself—that he can survive on his own. Blessed with the ability to climb walls, he believes he’s prepared for whatever the island throws at him. Then contestants begin disappearing. Jaz is left to wonder, is this another twist from the producers, or is something darker lurking behind the scenes? When a cataclysmic event throws the production into chaos, Jaz and Enrick must trust in their abilities, for strange, supernatural forces are stirring across the Far Islands, along with a season finale that could forever change their world.

The Paragon by Molly Collier

HARDSHIP BREEDS HEROES. PEACETIME INSPIRES PARAGONS. When the sacred artifact at the center of his society becomes mysteriously corrupted, Doha, a brilliant and reclusive engineer, is tasked with the greatest challenge of his career: dealing with other people. That, and solving the mystery to fix the Mirror before the complete collapse of his community. Isla, a talented mage reeling after the devastating loss of everything she’s ever known, becomes the sole keeper of dangerous secrets that could crack the crooked foundation upon which her nation was built. She's finally found something and someone to fight for, but sinister forces may prevent her from finding peace at last. Through love, loss, and loyalty, Isla, Doha, and the family they’ve found will see their convictions challenged as they fight to protect those they love and that which they believe in. In a beautiful disaster of complex characterization, imperfect people learn to understand themselves and each other, all while life as they know it hangs in the balance. The Paragon is an epic fantasy charged with science, romance, and mystery, perfect for fans of Blood Over Bright Haven, Attack on Titan, and Naruto Shippuden.

The Wish of a Dragon by JD Rivers

Otar comes to on a dingy space station and discovers two things: First, he's missing a good chunk of his memories. Second, Andres, his lover, has disappeared. Before he can retrace his steps, a knock at the door demands a debt be repaid—one Otar can't remember. Captain Veil Dreamcatcher is in search of the dragons with only ruins to guide him. Otar agrees to help in exchange for a reduced debt and information about Andres. On their travels, Otar realizes Veil is as adrift in this world as he is. Both are on a quest for the impossible: finding the ones they have loved and lost. All the while, the shadows are watching with red glowing eyes.

Lesbians in Space: Where No Man Has Gone Before by Edited by J.S. Fields, William C. Tracy, Heather Tracy

Peanut butter and chocolate. Cheese and wine. Sex and rock n' roll. History is full of great pairings. Get ready for your new Lesbians and Space! Join a host of intrepid explorers heading to the outer reaches of the galaxy, exploring planets, space stations, strange new worlds and interesting aliens. Launch into stories that span the cosmos, covering Space Opera, Xenobiology, Space Stations, Adventure, and Spaceships! From spaceship mechanics to intergalactic colony queens, heists, smugglers, gods, and sentient planets, Lesbians in Space explores the galaxy from the unique perspective of the lesfic world, blending the best of sapphic literature with modern sci-fi and space opera tropes. With stories Mary Robinette Kowal, Seanan McGuire, Travis Baldree, Emma Newman, MK Hardy, Ashleigh Martin, Nathan Chu, Stewart C Baker, Kayla Whittle, Joel Glover, Caye Marsh, Kira Neu, Jes Honard, Scarlet Passmore, Sylvie Althoff, Jasmine Gower, Siena Buchanan, Beáta Fülöp, Danielle Woolhead, J.S. Fields, and Heather Tracy

The Outsiders of Orkland by Kenneth Feller

What would you sacrifice for your family? A plague ravages the Fringe, but a chance encounter with orcs from Bogan Island gives Boele hope for a cure. With his lad, Willem, a dodgy crew, and a huge pair of stones, he sets off on a mission to once again unite the humans with the horde. Or he could screw up and start a war. No pressure. For fans of The Grey Bastards and Dungeon Crawler Carl, The Outsiders of Orkland is a fast-paced, foul-mouthed, dark fantasy with an Australasian twist.

Sixteen to One by Rhys Hylton

SIXTEEN PILOTS ONE ARENA NO SECOND CHANCES Weylin Bryna wasn’t supposed to be here. A street kid from nowhere with a beat-up mech and a broken home. He was only called up when a last-minute scandal left a desperate team scrambling. But now he’s inside the most brutal competition in the world: the Basilton Bash, a three-stage elimination tournament where glory is earned one round at a time, and survival means pushing others out before you’re thrown out yourself. Sixteen to One is a high-octane, emotionally charged sci-fi sport drama. A story of underdogs, fierce rivalries, found family, and the fight to hold onto your humanity in a machine built for war. In the Bash, friendships are forged in silence, enemies wear smiles, and every round brings you closer to the edge. In the Bash, pilots go head-to-head in high-impact, close-quarters mech combat, not to destroy, but to outmanoeuvre, overpower, and force their rivals out of bounds. Sixteen pilots enter each stage, and after every five rounds, the lowest scorers are eliminated. It’s a game of aggression, agility, and strategy, with reputations, careers, and entire futures on the line. Victory isn't about being the strongest, it's about staying in the fight longer than anyone else.

Tall People by Evan Witmer

Seiryu Tokinage is a two-hundred-foot-tall lizard living in Brooklyn. He is part of a community of “Tall people,” giants resembling animals trying their best to mesh into human society. Seiryu works as a one-man police unit protecting New York City from alien attacks. He feels unappreciated by the people he saves and has developed gripes with the people closest to him. Seiryu is jealous of his roommate Junior, a Tall bonobo, who New York adores because of his job as a window washer. His best friend, Sook, a giant fish-frog, has become an intolerant drunk. Chloe, his Cloverfield-esque girlfriend, is often too awkward and shy to interest him. Seiryu decides to leave town before his bitterness turns him into a kaiju—a rogue Tall man who destroys cities and eats humans. “While other writers reduce us to mere natural catastrophes, Evan finally grants us the dignity and agency we’ve long been denied.” —Godzilla “I never thought I’d see the day we got a giant monster story without some half-baked human drama shoehorned in. Give the giant monsters the problems, the feelings, and the emotional victories—finally, someone gets it.” —King Kong “A sweet, charming story that’s basically made to be read with your feet up on a beach chair... if you have those.” —The Blob

Iara's Crossing by Diana L. Pomeroy

First published in March 2022 via Barnes and Noble, Lulu Press and Ko-fi, Iara’s Crossing is a riveting tale about a feathered dinosaur discovering herself, her purpose, and the power of love as she crosses an entire continent to stop invasive tyrants from destroying the hub of her kind. Action-adventure, high fantasy, and dinosaur paleontology converge in this one-of-a-kind story that will leave you wanting to know more until the very end.

Blood of Drakgar: Bound by Freedom by Nadine Luis

The Dominion rules. The rebels bleed. The extremists burn. And the Drakgar are awakening. The galaxy is crumbling under the Dominion’s rule. Worshiping a Sentient AI Core as a god, the Dominion crushes all who resist. The rebels fight for freedom, while the extremists will burn the galaxy to end the Dominion’s reign. Rakasa wants no part of their war. As a former slave and pit fighter, her freedom is the only thing she’ll burn the stars to protect. But when her mentor is captured, she’s thrust into a mission with a rogue smuggler whose secrets could ruin them both. What was supposed to be a simple job shatters into chaos. The deeper Rakasa dives into the mission, the more she senses a connection to the force buried within her bloodline—a power both deadly and divine. Now, hunted by the Dominion, shadowed by rebels, and stalked by extremists, Rakasa must choose: keep running from what she is—or embrace it and carve her own fate. If you love sci-fi fantasy romance books with action-packed adventure, slow-burn romance, found family, and strong heroine, Blood of Drakgar is your next obsession. Perfect for readers of space opera, science fiction fantasy, and fantasy fiction for adults, this is a high-stakes blend of sci fi and fantasy, and action-adventure fiction books that hits like Red Rising and Gideon the Ninth—with a dragon-shaped twist.

The Nameless by Stuart White

For dystopian fans of THE LAST OF US, THE MAZE RUNNER, and THE HUNGER GAMES. The YA debut from award-winning author, Stuart White. IN A NAMELESS WORLD, ONE HERO RISES BY DISCOVERING THEIR IDENTITY. In a dystopian world dominated by genetic perfection and numbered gene pools, sixteen-year-old E820927, known as Seven, yearns for an identity beyond his assigned number. To escape a life as a Nameless Exile, and become a citizen of the Realm, he must pass a loyalty test to prove his allegiance to the totalitarian Autokratōr. But as the truth unfolds, Seven faces a difficult choice between revenge, love and discovering his identity.

Life After Dusk by Douglas Jern

Liv has awakened after decades of cold sleep, only to learn that the world she knew has ended. The ruins are covered in a toxic gas known as ether, which causes horrific mutations when inhaled. Liv sets out on a journey through the benighted wasteland, dodging bloodthirsty mutants and killer robots along the way, in a desperate gamble to save the future from the endless, lifeless twilight. Interspersed with Liv’s journey are glimpses into the world before the fall, from the creation of Y, an immortal being whose blood holds the key to eternal life, to the cataclysmic war between humanity and Y’s progenies. A combat android forced to fight, die, and fight again, seeks a way to break the cycle and reach the promised heaven beyond. A college dropout goes on a road trip that takes a turn for the nightmarish when he sets foot in an old house that hides a terrible secret. A young girl, created for a purpose she cannot understand and banished from her home, discovers the power hidden within her, and the meaning of her existence. The fate of the ruined world rests on Liv’s shoulders. Her journey will not be an easy one, but where there is life, there is hope, and Liv always finds a way.

The Finery by Rachel Grosvenor

Tyranny is in the air in the city of Finer Bay, and Professor Wendowleen Cripcot would like to be left alone, thank you very much. The memories of the last one hundred years are quite enough to be getting on with, if only these young upstarts from the government body, The Finery, would stop trying to control her every move. With the eyes of a dictator upon her, there are not many places to hide… but Wendowleen has never been one to back down from a fight (just ask her pet wolf), and insurrection is brewing underground.

The Fractured Balance by N.A. Soleil

When emotionless, immortal genetic experiment Pheonix escapes the slavers’ arena and arrives in the utopian elven city of Terelath, he learns the metacosm is governed by an ideology known as ‘the balance,’ which claims the kind of evil Pheonix experienced while enslaved to be a tolerable part of the natural order. Unbeknownst to him, Pheonix is the long-awaited Ascended of Justice, and those drawn to Justice quickly gather around him. With their help, he hones his innate abilities and sets out to investigate the covert system supporting ‘the balance.’ As Pheonix begins to uncover that the metacosm’s governing bodies are chained to injustice at the core, he and his newfound allies vow to excise the corruption … even if it means all-out war.

Everdark by N.A. Soleil

Sixteen year old Redd is a runaway with psionic powers and PTSD. While escaping the parents who experimented on her, Redd unwittingly opens a portal to a planet populated by the last remnant of the angelic species. Trouble follows. With nowhere else to go, she is caught up in an intergalactic conflict: the militant, space-faring Rangers and their allies must prevent the fortress Everdark, the angels’ last bastion, from being overrun by evil forces. The abuse Redd survived takes its toll in the form of nightmares, mood swings, and paranoia — but there is comfort in combat, so she joins the front line. There, she discovers that she can wield terrible power at the behest of a mysterious entity residing somewhere within her, though the transaction is not in her favor. Clinging to an often nebulous connection to shared reality, she becomes inextricably involved with more than just the battle to protect the angels. The events of Everdark are the key to a mechanism that, with Redd and her companions as integral gears, will start a countdown. And at zero … a shift in the core of the metacosm, one written into its very code before Time began.

Air and Ashes by Margaret Mantor

What if you found out everything in your life was a lie? After seventeen-year-old Emma Cross learns her mom didn’t die of cancer but was murdered, her life is upended. Forced from her home, Emma is thrown into a world hidden within our own, where Elementums—genetically engineered super soldiers who control the elements—are caught in a vicious war against the unstoppable Clinic. Emma is convinced she doesn’t belong there—until she herself is targeted as a rare Halfbreed. If she wants to survive and uncover the dark secrets of her mom’s past, she must train to defend herself against the Clinic while resisting the distracting allure of the icy Kaden Hale—a powerful, driven Elementum with secrets of his own. When Emma discovers a highly classified project that somehow involved her mom and could change the entire course of the war, there’s no turning back. Only three options remain: life in the Elementum world, death, or worst of all—capture. Air and Ashes is a gripping tale of warring elements, heart-stopping romance, and devastating betrayals, perfect for fans of Jennifer L. Armentrout’s The Darkest Star and Leigh Bardugo’s Shadow and Bone. Don’t miss your chance to join the fight against the Clinic!

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.

Journey Home by May Barros

Amara e Luiza are two witches in a queerplatonic relationship. When Luiza decides to embark on a journey throught the galaxy in search for the lost fortress of Laura, the Dragon Queen, she ends up finding more than she bargained for, while Amara follows her footsteps hoping it’s not too late.

Beats of Love by Jacqueline Westwoods

A spacecraft accident made her crash into a mysterious empire soldier. Valeria, a coming-of-age heir of a noble house within the Galactic Empire, was eager to prove herself through her piloting skills rather than dancing at parties. But her debut flight to Zafirah, the capital city of the empire, was nearly disastrous and led her into great danger, confronting rebellious native tribes. Valeria's last breath was almost gone, but she was luckily saved by an empire soldier, Geoffrey. These two young people face different identity issues. Their meeting sparked a flame, but class differences tore them apart. Can they discover and embrace true love, even if their desires clash with their family and political obligations? They ignited a fire, both within their hearts and among others. Things quickly spiraled out of their control. This novella, Beats of Love, is the prequel to the romantic space opera science fantasy trilogy, Starlight Sonat a. The prequel focuses on a young couple from the main trilogy, forbidden lovers like Romeo and Juliet in a futuristic galactic setting. Join Valeria and Geoffrey on their journey of love and rebellion. Get your copy of Beats of Love today and witness the spark that set the galaxy ablaze!

Fiery Magic by Niranjan

Time travel is risky and regulated, but breaking the law could save her life. Audrey is a hunter mage, employed by the largest magical corporation in the country. Temporal Corps has an exclusive license for time travel, but the laws are strict. It’s to be used only for exigencies approved by the government. When she’s sent to the past and poisoned on arrival, the only one Audrey can depend on is her partner Lyle, who is waiting safely in the future. He’ll have to break at least a dozen laws to help her. Unfortunately, getting caught is a life sentence. Changing the past is a serious crime, but when she receives a message from another version of herself, Audrey realises she may have no choice. It’s a race against the clock, each choice possibly changing her future so much she’ll never undo the damage. She might save her life, but she could lose everything and everyone that’s important to her in the process. Fiery Magic is a futuristic science fantasy adventure. If you enjoy fantasy worlds where magic and technology co-exist, strong female leads, and found families, you will love Niranjan’s novel. Buy Fiery Magic today for a trip back in time where you face danger and betrayal at every turn.

Falling Through the Black by E. A. Hendryx

SHE SURVIVED THE DESERT. HE’S REENTERED THE FIGHT. AND THE REBELLION IS RISING THROUGH IT ALL. Leef Verus is back in the fight and on his way to the planet Neba to carry out the next part of his mission, but the clock is ticking. With Dot still in pieces and Talie out of commission, the next stage of the plan rests heavily on a young woman once thought lost to the desert. Merritt fought the arid wastelands of Neba and survived, winning a place for herself in a ragtag family of misfits that have healed a part of her broken heart. Her life as a thief and part-time Rising supporter is enough for her, but all of that is put to the test when a roguish young man bursts in to shatter the tentative peace she’s come to expect. With an increased military presence enforced by High King Praxin, tensions in the galaxy are high and the disparity between the wealthy and the working class continues to grow. The Soldier finds himself in the midst of progressively difficult operations where not only are his skills tested, but his loyalties as well. Through it all, the Rising, the underground rebel force, seeks to arrange the pieces of a complex puzzle of power. Their aim to overthrow King Praxin rests solely on self-sacrifice and the belief in their plans for peace, but is it enough? Put to the test, Leef and Merritt must face the space-cold truth of where their loyalties lie, and if love really can conquer all.

The Vault by Cara Nox

No hidden maps. No secret words written among the dotted specks of white. His fingers itched to touch the paint and peel it away to whatever lie beneath—to whatever felt both so horribly familiar yet strange. With about half the keys in Noa’s possession and a horrible discovery that several members of a project to emulate lost magic through a device, it’s looking far more likely that this mission to find the Vault isn’t as much of a fabled fool’s errand as she originally thought. Every piece is seemingly falling into place, heralding the coming of the dark with the light of magic dwindling to sparks. As Noa’s priorities shift with the newly-planted thought that she’s the one chosen to see this task through after the loss of her would-be-Seer and surrogate father, Lazarus, she decides that it might be better to distance herself from that growing bond she’s found comfort in with Glacier. After all, his place is with his kingdom, and once they reach the end—whatever their fates might be—there won’t be any place for a group of killers and thieves in his life. However, Noa doesn’t realize that the other half of her quest’s fated set might actually be standing next to her. Glacier is starting to unravel, thanks to that echo of power rippling along the surface of his soul. Power that he’s not willing to accept, let alone acknowledge, with the crushing weight of what might be awaiting him back in Amarais. Being Miraltan is one thing, but a powerful Seer—a Mage—is another. And with one daemon-summoning adversary recognizing that potential, it’s only a matter of time before he’s hunted for his magic instead of just his blood.

Rift Bringer by Adrienne Renick

After her best friend is murdered by a shapeshifting eonite, Liana pours herself into her work for Terminus, the underground rebellion most superhuman anomalies look to for justice against such crimes. As an anomaly herself, it’s hard for Liana to balance hiding in the shadows with bringing dirty truths to light, and her slip-ups bring her to the attention of the ruthless leader of Terminus, Matthias Stryker himself. Terminus is cutthroat, but they’re not the only ones watching. The government agency, EVOS, is out for anomaly blood, and when Liana is caught in the crossfire, she has no choice but to play along. Especially after hotheaded Agent Wallace backs her into a corner with his deadly plan: deescalate the rising tension between factions and prevent war on a cosmic scale by using Liana as a double agent. It doesn’t help that Liana’s relationship with Stryker is shaky at best, and helping EVOS as an anomaly is like playing with dynamite. But unrest is stirring, Wallace is making some irritatingly excellent points, and Terminus’s reputation is growing worse by the minute. Liana is out of options. All eyes are on her, and it’s only a matter of time before she’s the one thing left that will make or break the peace between worlds.