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Memories Don't Lie by Pauline Yates *** 2024 Bookfest First Place Award - YA - Science Fiction *** 2024 Bookfest First Place Award - Sci-Fi - Action & Adventure *** 2024 Bookfest First Place Award - Sci-Fi - Genetic Engineering *** 2024 Author Shout Recommended Read Award *** 2023 Semi-Finalist - Indies Today *** 2023 Author Shout Cover Wars Winner Sarah Wilson, orphaned niece of Lieutenant John Wilson, is determined to escape his restrictive upbringing and find her place in the world. Her journey takes a deadly turn when she uncovers secrets about her past, hidden deep in her motherâs memories, that threaten everything Sarah wants. They could cost her everything she holds dearâand her life. |
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Alone in a new city, far from friends and family, Jackie's only real human contact is her neighbor: Connor, a troubled young man with six figures' worth of military hardware grafted onto his body. As Jackie and Connor bond over their efforts to jailbreak Connor's mechanical arm, Jackie discovers her old life isn't quite done with her yet. |
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Fates of Rebels and Men by Caleb J Stair On the moon of Delight, Ammon Karajan stumbles upon a fire burning in a field from a crashed starship. A machine alien delivers an unknown message, leaving Ammon reeling with questions about his future. Lieutenant Samuel H.C. Packett is assigned by the Commonwealth Intelligence Core on Augustein to prepare for something profound for all mankind: a deep secret of great importance, known only to Packett in small details. Thereâs a problem, howeverâAmmon found something he wasnât supposed to, and it is now Packettâs duty to bring Ammon to Augustein. Rebellion runs amiss beneath the city of Opalin on Delight. Destinies are altered. Conspiracy is uncovered. As the Galactic Commonwealth of Earth prepares for total war from a sudden attack, the future of Delight and its residents are thrown into question. Things are not as they initially seemed. Both men race against the clockâone to survive with a rebel commander named Joanna, the other to find his target and make it back home alive. Amidst the war and chaos, destiny is found through those who give them the will to continue. The future of humanity may lie with the woman Ammon begins to fall for, and the fates of rebels and men may depend on their survival. |
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The Magic Circle by Barry Ryerson Forty years ago, nuclear war devastated vast swathes of the world. Since then, the remaining countries strived to rebuild and grow stronger. Continents formed The Peace Accords, an agreement that cut all contact with each other to prevent such a war from ever happening again. Three strangersâan art student in Paris, a Russian spy, and a South African programmerâfind their lives intertwine as magic returns to Earth. Guided by the mysterious Celestials, they must choose how they use this force in a fight that will determine the fate of every single living thing on the planet. |
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Vermilion Flames by Adam Fernandez In the shadow of a ruined Earth, the Republic and its church claim to offer safety and security while burning ideas and people alike. No moon or planet is free of flames and bloodshed, even as the rebel organization, the Vermilion Coalition, seeks to dismantle the Republicâs oppressive regime. On a terraformed Mercury, Kaya al Vardan hopes to find the truth behind her motherâs murder; a difficult task when everyone insists it was a tragic accident. When Kayaâs adventurous spirit leads her into the forbidden Great Desert, sheâs sent to the Republicâs capital on Mars to study under the watchful eye of the all-powerful church she despises. There she unravels mysteries about her motherâs life and faces a choice: fall in line or risk everything to take up her motherâs mantle. Silas Beckett, High Commander of the Pandora Fleet and hero of the Republic, can feel his time running out. Fighting terrorists has been his lifeâs mission, but his nemesis Hexâleader of the Vermilion Coalitionâstill eludes him. As his failures mount and his allies abandon him, he has few chances left to bring Hex to justice. Can Silas secure peace for his family and for the entire solar system? Vermilion Flames is the first book in the Midnight War series, an action-filled epic set long after the destruction of Earth. |
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The Martian Incident by Ryan M. Patrick A crashed UAV on Mars. A top-secret recovery mission. Danger at every corner. When a mysterious aerial drone is shot down on Mars near the American colony of Columbia, NASA accident investigator John Cameron joins a joint DOD team to recover it. But, as a sandstorm moves in to blanket the area, the Americans are attacked by an overwhelming enemy force of EU soldiers in a surprise attack. Forced into a deep cave system beneath the Martian surface, Cameron and the team uncover a breathtaking discovery, left untouched for millennia. But what will happen when its original owners come back for it? Will Cameron survive and be able to return to Earth? Find out in The Martian Incident, a standalone sci-fi thriller with military elements, perfect for fans of Michael Crichton, Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child, and Andy Weir. |
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The Anubis War by David R. Packer At the end of human space, a warrior faces his final battle. Coming out of retirement once more, Vasco Alcazar al Madina del Goya joins another multi-year unification mission on the far flung edges of human expansion. The planet Rumi will join the New Ottoman Empire, whether it wants to or not. To ensure this, the Empire has sent its largest, most powerful battleship, the Tatar-class Alexi, armed with kinetic energy and bioweapons. The native Sumi, regressed from their spacefaring days donât stand a chance. Or at least, thatâs what everyone thinks. All Vasco wants is one last chance to prove himself to be the warrior he always knew he could be, one last shot at glory. The Anubis War and his fate, awaits. |
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Slipspace: Terra Nullius by Zachary Forbes Two brothers⊠Two empires⊠And two definitions of what it means to be alive⊠Slipp McMahon is a disgruntled veteran of the Terran Straits Republic, having retired from service when mechanical âartificialsâ slowly took the place of his living, breathing compatriots. He is caught up doing private work in the outskirts of the known galaxy when a strange job falls into his lap. It involves a girl, an ancient oil deposit, and all the money he needs to retire his aging mother. But his brother, Breth, who still works for the Republic, has sworn to uphold the law by any means necessary. A major promotion hangs in the balance, as well as the future of warfare across the galaxy⊠|
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Mercy Rising by Bowen Greenwood A Girl. A Mysterious Power. A Revolution The Archon Dominion crushes all dissent. Mercy Hail wants change, no matter the cost to herself. But freak accidents keep happening around her, and she canât explain why. So when she lights the fuse on an uprising, itâs not exactly a surprise when everything goes wrong at once. The Dominion sends Dante Matter to Mercyâs world with a simple set of orders: Find the girl with emerging telekinetic powers and put her to work for us. Nobody warned him sheâd be beautiful, though. Nobody warned him her gifts would be greater than his own. And nobody warned him that his hunt would be the first battle in an interstellar war. In a world where gifts like hers have been all but extinguished, Mercy must choose sides in a war that will spread across the stars. To survive, sheâll have to learn how to use her power, learn how she feels about Dante, and learn the true story of the past that made her who she is. |
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Flight of the Pangolin by Michael Moutinho Still reeling from its first extraterrestrial incursion, the solar system is attempting to return to normal. Amidst the chaos, a small team of visionaries and misfits hope to move forward with exploration. Their vessel: the Pangolin, a ship whose glory days are long past. But other forces in the system have their own thoughts on the mission. Can the crew of the Pangolin make it out of the system before running afoul of isolationists, megacorporate interests, regime collapse, oligarchs, and space pirates? Flight of the Pangolin is a thrilling sci-fi adventure, where a team of heroes follows their ambition to discover a fresh start out among the stars against improbable odds. |
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As the Second American Civil War wanes, Mary the Exoputian awaits her chance to contact the Folbulaeâa highly advanced species of extraterrestrial, only to be hunted down by the dictator of the Sovereign States of America, Vladimir Booth. With rising tides and thawing tundra, the Exoputiansâa new species of human genetically created to live in Space and communicate with the Folbulae, land in the Republic of Texas following a missile strike on their Space station. Mary and the other Exoputians learn of the lies their progenitor taught them, training the Space-bred crew to use their novel communication to cure the planet theyâd never set foot on. As Mary and the others road trip through racially segregated America, they encounter multiple attempts on their lives to follow through with their once-mission of saving the planet from the climate crisis. Discover with Mary whatâs worth saving on a planet prepared to destroy her entire species. |
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In a world of pirates and murderous ghosts, one naval cadet must choose between loyalty and survival. In the Levelâs Naval Academy, officer candidate Silas Hunt stumbles across a secret that could get him hanged for treason. The only hope he has to save his own life and to find justice is to join up with a ruthless pirate captain, a woman known as Mad Dogâeven if it means sacrificing everything heâs spent his life working for. The Verity is just a ship of the line, but for Stacks-born Captain Hollis Ives, itâs not just her first command. Itâs her one chance to prove that a woman from the slums can handle a high-ranking naval positionâeven if it means accepting a posting thatâs likely to be a death sentence. Treasure Island meets Master and Commander with a science-fiction twist in R.M. Olsonâs thrilling new space opera series, The Devil and the Dark. |
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Dawn of the Seekers by Alex OâConnor War rages between the Kaltari Empire and the United Celestial Alliance! Nova Team, a UCA special forces team, finds themselves on the front lines chasing a dangerous enemy leader. With rumors emerging of future battles, an unlikely ally is on the verge of discovery. As Nova Team courts the boundary of friend or foe, they must attempt a mission that could see the end of the war as a deadly new weapon emerges. |
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Cosmic Strife: Assault by Steve Gavin The Ragner family name carries weight amongst the United Global Navy. Colyn Ragner had been a hero of the war 15 years ago when he assisted in an attempt to defend the alien world of Casbaria from the evil Luyons. The humans were unsuccessful in fighting off the invaders and Casbaria was lost. The human fleet was able to escape back to Earth, at the heroic expense of Colyn sacrificing his life to make this possible. Colynâs children are now all grown up and in positions to assist the human plight in an upcoming rematch. Aalin is the eldest Ragner and a senator who is conflicted about re-entering a bloody battle. She is ambitious and morally driven but her anti-war stance is seen as a hinderance to some of her opposing senators, one of which is fully driven to stopping her efforts at all costs. Will she yield her position or hold her ground amidst a growing pro-war sentiment. Nolan is the middle sibling who is looking to pave his own way through the military ranks while at the same time battling peers who would otherwise see his career fail due to his popular family name. Assigned to the legendary Triton battleship Hyperion, he is immediately met with a superior who wishes to see him fail because of his lineage. Vance is the youngest Ragner who chose to follow in his fatherâs footsteps and become an elite fighter pilot for the Navy. Vanceâs rebellious nature inside the cockpit gets him into trouble and puts his career into jeopardy even before it begins. Will he be sidelined for the biggest fight that humanity has ever faced or will his skillset help win the day for the outgunned Earth Navy. Each sibling must play the role of hero in order to save everyone from certain death. As the battle soon rages, it will test the mettle of the Ragner family. As the humans plan an attack to go back and liberate Casbaria from the Luyons from its capture many years ago, the seemingly distant threat may be looming much closer than anyone realizes. There is an additional unknown malicious force dead set on hindering the Ranger family as they try to combat their individual plights. Follow the events of this cosmic strife as the characters fight for human existence against a power hungry Luyon race headed by a ruthless and fear inducing leader. Who will strike first? The fate of all humanity hangs in the balance. |
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Beautiful World Part 1 by Bill Sharrock In a broken future, ink-like stains have appeared on people's skin splitting the world in two. Now the beautiful people all wear masks and live in a luxurious haven kingdom where strict beauty laws are enforced. The others, âstainersâ, are segregated to a lawless life in the Outlands ruled by chaos and warlords. But when Chesterman, a mysterious, ruthless leader from the north rises to power with plans to bring the kingdom to its knees, people will have to find out what they truly want to live for beneath their masks. Beautiful World is a grand scale story of Anna, Barvarik, Talessa and the individuals who will shape destruction, hope, terror and change to a future where only the most beautiful can sit at its apex. |
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Decades of hostilities. A chance for peace. Caught between belligerent groups, will this operation be her last? Sam "Valkyrie" Ryan is reeling. Struggling with her brother's recent decision to make their next assignment his last, the recon specialist fights to change his mind. But she has no time to process her emotions when they're tasked to protect a pivotal reconciliation summit between the Altered and Humans from human-supremacist terrorists. Distracted by a charming female medic, the golden-haired marine struggles to stay focused as events quickly unravel. And with the conflict becoming dangerously unpredictable, secrets from the past catch Sam by surprise as she uncovers a plot to destroy all of humanity. Can she stop a violent and oppressive history from spiraling into a catastrophic future? Of Friction is the fast-paced first book in the Altered Earth dystopian military speculative fiction series. If you like strong women, tense action, and slow-burn LGBTQ+ relationships, then you'll love S.J. Lee's gripping story. |
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When a monster hunter's last mission is to capture a wasteland girl, his only chance of survival is to turn the hunt around. Hunt the monsters of the wasteland. Bring them back alive. Retire. Ninety years after the devastating global "Fracture," the biosphere has collapsed. The few remaining cities, once bastions of human survival, have become fortresses of power ruled by ruthless corporations. Axel Mercer, a former soldier, explores the hostile plains to recover organisms for scientific research. But the corporations who run civilization want more. As his last mission, Mercer is sent to recover a specimen that could bring eternal life to the corporate elites. He learns this organism is not a monster, but a teen girlâa wasteland fighter hardened by a life of survival. Her spirit and fierce determination challenge everything Mercer has believed about his job, his future, and his questionable past. In a world where power is worth more than life itself, Mercer must decide which side of the fight he belongs onâand what kind of future is worth fighting for. An action-packed dystopian novel with a simple premise, crazy twists, cruel desires, a pinch of humor, and all the blood and violence of an edge-of-your-seat action movie. |
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The Regrets I Have are Not the Ones I Say by Or M. Bialik Aviana Aquila does not have much, but she does have structure. No home but whatever she is currently assigned to, no family, and the closest to a relationship she has is a not very clandestine affair with her emotionally inhibited commanding officer, with whom she dreams to run away. As an Imperial soldier, ever on deployment, she knows she may die at any moment. As a commander, she knows she will need to order people to their deaths. After years on years, she is dull to all of that, existing to exist. But when an Alliance Admiral comes aboard on what was just supposed to be a routine mission, her structured semblance of a life is completely overturned. The Admiral is not a normal being, and possibly insane. Yet her presence may save Aviana in more ways than one and make her rediscover the woman she loves. |
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Battle Calm by W.D. Kilpack III When Badger succeeded his father, Red Skin, as Keeper Base Leader, he was well prepared, raised to handle anything the enemy threw at him. He was the best killer and the most respected tactician. He knew Red Skinâs Laws like he wrote them himself. Most importantly, he was always calm, no matter how frenzied the combat. These were only some of the reasons why he still had all his original parts. Trinity would die for him. Korry would follow him without question. They were Keepers. They fought, they killed, they lived to kill another day, even when it meant bugging out to another Base ... and another. That was life when life was war. They knew nothing else. But even war cannot last forever, regardless of the infallible truth of Red Skinâs Law #35: âUnder conditions of peace, men attack themselves; thus, there never has been, and there never will be a time without war. It is the greatest, most perfect thing men can do.â |
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Heroic Measures by Joel Shulkin, MD The medical examinerâs job is to speak for the dead, and protect the living. But what happens when the dead speak for themselves? Stephen Englehart, an Armed Forces medical examiner. dedicates his life to bringing peace to the families of fallen soldiers. Tagged as one of the best, heâs able to spot forensic clues others miss. But when the body of a US Marine, supposedly burned beyond recognition, shows up with hardly a scratch, even Stephen is stumped. Were the bodies switched? Then, in the middle of the autopsy, the impossible happens. The soldier wakes up. Something incredibleâand dangerousâis happening to the militaryâs elite, and Stephen may be the only one who can figure it out. And when Stephenâs sister, a Green Beret, goes missing, the entire military machine seems designed to stop him from finding her. To find the truth and save his sister, one man must stand against an army. Can he be the hero he never thought he could? |
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Ancient as the Stars by Maya Darjani For fans of Lower Decks, the Expanse, and Firefly: a found family time travel adventure with humor, snark, and lots of heart. One kickass immortal sailship captain. Captain Karenna Yilmaz of the Earth Union Fleet has it all. Adoring husband? Check. The enduring loyalty of her crew? Check. Transformation into a beautiful ageless immortal? Check. Check. Check. But when a dimensional rift brings her low-down, dust-sniffing, no-good younger self hurtling into the present, Karenna's carefully-constructed life wavers. One snarky dust-addicted loser. Flight Officer Ren Yilmaz is pretty sick of the hand she's been dealt. Her supervisor is an idiot. Her ex-husband is vindictive and has ruined her career. And now, here's her perfect future self, who everyone fawns over, while Ren is still ignored and alone. They're the same person, 60 years apart Both their ships are stranded: one in space, one in time. Karenna needs to get her crew home safe and sound. And Ren has to get back to her reality and out of Karenna's shadow. Working together would mean literally facing their pastâincluding old traumas and transgressions best kept hidden. But if they don't, they'll be stuck with each other until the end of time. |
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Selarial's Song by Laura Brewer Ignorance is the greatest danger of all! Selarial ne Talmanor is wary of going on patrol with the mostly human crew of the Ventura. They have a good combat record, but human suspicions run deep. Will they be willing to trust the Sorthian crew of the Equinox? Alcar Trent, Captain of the Ventura, knows the captain of the Equinox. Heâs skeptical of the Sorthiansâ psychic talents, but he does trust them as strong allies to watch his back in a fight. Can he learn to rely on their abilities â and admit to his own? The Coalition of Free Worlds is on the verge of open war with the Thessân Empire. As the incidents increase, Selarial and Alcar begin to see the Sorthians are high on the list of targets. When ancient weapons, long thought destroyed, begin to appear, Selarial must trace the source. On Sorth, the Singer Council searches equally ancient records for answers, but finds more questions â and an urgent warning. |
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Stars Like Fire by Marissa Lupe Fighting for their freedom was only the beginning, now they must do the hardest thing of all, they must live. Three journeys and one destination will bring them all together. Despite having never met in person, their years of communicating virtually cemented Eleanorâs love for the woman who has her whole heart long ago. But when her love goes missing, Eleanor leaves the safety of Sandstone Estate to rescue her, and ends up finding more than she bargained for. An entire town has had their children stolen, and itâs up to Eleanor to lead the fight to save them, along with the woman that she loves. Theo canât remember his past, but begins to build his future when a family takes him in as a farm hand. But then the farm is destroyed, a young boy is orphaned, and Theo finds himself slipping into the role of guardian. When the boy receives an urgent message from a mysterious voice through the radio, Theo must guide him across a dangerous and barren landscape in hopes of finding a safe place to call home. TĂ©a and her infant daughter have traveled the continent to restore the land for a grateful nation, but when strangers arrive on her doorstep looking for help, TĂ©a must decide if she can risk opening her heart again. Then tragedy strikes, and TĂ©a is forced to confront her past and meet a new challenge that has the power to rip the Earth to shreds. As Eleanor, Theo, and TĂ©aâs paths collide, the future of mankind is thrust into their hands, and they must work together to save not only themselves, but all of humanity. |
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Tone of Voice by Kaia SĂžnderby Xandri Corelel has spent six months living among the Ongkoarrat after her unceremonious firing from the crew of the Carpathia, and though she misses her home, she has settled into her new life. Then Diver arrives with news that changes everything. The Hands and Voices--squid- and whale-like symbiotic aliens--are masters of bio-engineering and grow a wide variety of species of coral. Now they are in the process of creating coral that can withstand vacuum, with a most stunning end goal: To grow entire spaceships out of living organisms. The Starsystems Alliance is desperate to lure the Hands and Voices into the Alliance and bring this new technology into the fold. And the Voices and Hands are willing, with one stipulation. They will only negotiate with Xandri and the crew of the Carpathia. Returned from exile, Xandri is given the lead on this new mission. She quickly discovers that willingness isn't the problem; the Hands and Voices want to join, but they want full equality in their membership--including the ability to attend council meetings in person. Amid the sunshine and surf of the tropical, idyllic planet of Song, it seems the biggest hardship Xandri and her friends will face is the task of re-rigging a spaceship to carry creatures the size of killer whales. Then the Last Hope for Humanity arrives, and this time they've brought an army. |
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The lingering mystery of a destroyed planet threatens to unravel the Commonwealth. Lacking answers, the alien races of its constituencyâHumanity among themâgrow restless. Captain and Fleet veteran Dash Anderton wants a crew, a contract, and to be left alone. Fate lands him in the spotlight when he accidentally saves renowned alien singersâand revolutionary covert agentsâSisters Celescia from deadly operatives of their oppressive homeworld government. The regime seeks secession from the Commonwealth against the wishes of its population. A move that risks a cascading exodus of other member states and a collapse of galactic order. Recruited into the troupe, the singers and crew discover an insidious conspiracy to defeat the Commonwealth. With the Commonwealthâs diplomatic fleet inbound and time running out, the Z Team must battle ruthless assassins, outwit scheming officials, and confront ghosts of the past to salvage peace on the edge of collapse and save countless livesâincluding their own. Blending The Expanse, Mass Effect, The Collapsing Empire, and The Fifth Element, this book is perfect for fans of science fiction and those new to the genre. |
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Galactic conspiracies, relentless bounty hunters, savage pirates, and ⊠dock sanitation fines? Something cracked the planet of Auturia in half. Fifty million souls lost to the great void. With them went the Commonwealthâs promise of galactic peace. As the repercussions sweep across the Commonwealth, captain and veteran Dash Anderton struggles to keep his freighter operation afloat, his crew happy, and his past on the dead planet buriedâuntil a new crewmember comes aboard, harboring a secret that has three âbounty huntersâ hot on his tail. A secret that may provide answers about Auturia. Now, Dash and crew must outwit deadly scoundrels and corrupt authorities to unravel the seeds of conspiracy before the dark times return. A job that calls for the A Team. But when all you have is the Z Team, strap in and prepare for a wild ride. Fans of science fiction past and present will love The Z Team, a new series from author Chris DeSantis. |
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The Cranes of Blackwell by J.D. Kellner Bergden and Alyssa Crane are dutiful citizens of the Regime. Bergden, a Regime blackjack and Alyssa, a faithful wife, do what they can to provide for their son, James even when it means sacrificing their very freedom. But when Bergden is accused of treason, the Cranes must flee for their lives to escape the terrible reach of the Regime. During the escape, Bergden and Alyssa become separated. â Now, Bergden and Alyssa will do whatever they must, and against all odds, to unite their family. With the tyrannical Chancellor Kroft hunting them night and day, both must discover their inner strengths to conquer their fears and find each otherâs arms. Little do they realize that a greater threat lurks in the shadows. |
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Hell Hath No Fury by David Dixon A terrifying figure known as The Pale Man has emerged from Carla's past to offer Snake and the boss a sadistic choice: find Carla and bring her to him or lose the Black Sun 490 forever. Snake and the boss have had their squabbles before, but this time they're playing for keeps. The boss can't bear to lose the ship, and Snake won't turn Carla over to The Pale Man, no matter the cost. When a bar fight between the two ends with pistols and blades drawn, they part ways, and it's a race to see who can get to Carla first. But they aren't the only ones involved. On the boss's side, a UNF covert ops team with a penchant for pulling triggers first and asking questions later, and in Snake's corner, a religious cult that holds the clues he needs to reach Carla. Both sides are racing to find her and it will come down to who is willing to shoot first. Snake and the boss may have quick trigger fingers, but will they be able to pull them when they're staring down the sights at each other? In the end, it's Carla's shocking secret that will set them all on course for a violent conclusion that may not leave anybody standing in... Hell Hath No Fury. |
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Six-Gun Shuffle by David Dixon Snake and the boss have made a lot of enemies, but up until their trip to Yaeger, theyâve never had any beef with Michael Ver, the galaxyâs most bankable popstarâmainly because they hadnât met him before. After the boss teaches Ver a lesson about the difference between looking tough and being tough, he finds himself a minor viral video star and catches the eye of a gorgeous redhead named Kell. Things are looking up. That is, until Kell goes missing and the boss goes after her. After a shootout with Verâs crew, things go from bad to worseânobody can find Ver, and Snake and the boss are the prime suspects in his disappearance. The next thing they know theyâve got a bounty on their heads and hardly a friend in sight. Carla and Kell are the only people they can count on, but has Kell been playing a different game all along? Itâs a mixed-up tale of bounty hunters, crooked cops, popstars and⊠insurance agents?... in Six-Gun Shuffle. |
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The Handler's Gambit by Ingrid Moon Play the game. Murder the innocent. Don't let them see you sweat. Commander Boone's treacherous secret could save thousands of livesâif he could only escape from the murderous warlord who employs him. He wears his game face while following orders to destroy enemy fleets and handles a reckless assassin with elemental powers. Behind the scenes, he is undermining the warlord's pursuit of an innocent rival. The duplicity and the horrors are taking their toll. Boone wants out. In a bold gambit, he crafts a plan to escape. But his superiors might be catching on, and the plan is not without its own horrors. With everything working against him, including the woman he thought was his salvation, he may not live long enough to execute it. "Absolutely epic action with a tug at the heartstrings.â Space Battles, Biological âMagic,â Ground Assaults, Betrayal, Unlikely Allies The Handler's Gambit is a dark, character-driven thrill ride across the galaxy, where the sacrifices made for freedom clash with the indomitable human spirit. |
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âFirst called, final star, they hold the line.â Years of war have taken their toll on the crew of Gold 1, but thereâs no rest to be had. Even as forty years of war seem to be ending, a new threat lurks in the shadows which could tip the balance of power against The United Systems Republic. As the danger grows and battle lines are drawn, Major Jason Harlem, and his fox like Holdren crew, will lead their veteran fighter group back into the fires of war. But with a fragile peace hanging in the balance, forces working behind the scenes of both governments, and an outside threat that may not be ânewâ at all, Gold 1, and perhaps others, will be tested in ways they never could have expected. Can the Gold Group hold the line one more time, or will the cost of fighting become too great to bear? |
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Hostile Contact (Weapons of Choice Book 1) by Nick Snape When faced with hostile aliens, do you stand down? Or stand by your fellow soldiers? An alien incursion pits a squad of army reserves against the might of alien technology as Military Sci-Fi meets First Contact. The modern-day world panics as alien spacecraft enter the Earthâs atmosphere for the very first time. With desperate governments helpless to act, the small alien force renders Earthâs defence technology ineffective as they race towards their goal. Insubordinate and on the edge, Finn is a War Hero racked by guilt, faced with dragging his rag tag squad of rookies through basic training. Suddenly caught up in a major global crisis, he faces a struggle of epic proportions as his squad are attacked by the alien marines, their advanced technology decimating the best Earth has to offer. Only Zuri, the strong-willed female machine gunner, and Smith, his dead but digitally copied Corporal, can keep him on track, as together they struggle to keep their trainees alive in the face of overwhelming odds. As governments circle, the prize of alien technology breeding greed and uncertainty, Finn and his remaining squad battle for Earthâs future. In this near real-time fight for survival, they discover the aliens are more than they seem, and that alien technology can be just as deadly in the hands of humans as they unearth the Weapons of Choice. An all action, brilliantly paced, and character driven sci-fi novel, Hostile Contact: Book One of the Weapons of Choice sci-fi series, will take you from the forests of Earth to the space between the stars. âThis is a moment in time humanity will never forget. Hostile Contactâ |
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The Badger Company (Chronicles of The Badger Company Book 1) by JP Weaver "If I die, youâd better come back and avenge me, you goddamn ghost in the machine." Malcolm Parker was poised to make history as the habitation engineer who made his country's colonization initiatives possibleâuntil a stealth missile strike destroyed the U.S. moon base. All thatâs left of him is his A.I. clone, who must carry on both his fantasy tabletop campaign and the original mission: find and secure the closest habitable system. Trapped inside a space probe with a computer for a brain and other AIs for company, Malcolm and his crew face hostile spacecraft alone. The same assailants in pursuit or an opportunistic third partyâeither way they seem intent on wiping out the last remnants of Americaâs space program. Artificial intelligence isn't recognized as people under U.S. law, so as far as the top brass in the U.S. military is concerned, the crew is on their own. Or are they? |
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The Widow's Tithe by T.R. Peers Sasha Michaels has it all. Sheâs got the looks, some natural, some bought-and-paid for. Sheâs got the fame, with over one-hundred million Omniverse subscribers and a shot at breaking into the coveted Top 100. Sheâs got the wealth that comes with both. And she has the ultimate accessory, an even more famous husband. Alex Michaels is a HotDropper, a cybernetic corporate mercenary whose missions are streamed worldwide. But when Alex is killed on only his second mission, Sasha soon finds out that everything she thought she owned is now property of his paymasters, who invested hundreds of millions in him and intend to collect on the debt. Now she must serve as a rank-and-file trooper in the militia of the LifeWise corporation, until she pays off or she dies. Some people call it indentured service, but the troopers know it by a different name. They call it the Widowâs Tithe. |
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Woe to the Victor by Nathan H. Green Earthâs been destroyed, but the fightâs not over! Nathan H. Green, author of The Galileo, and Treasonâs Temple, brings his degree in aerospace engineering to space combat in this action packed, hard science-fiction thriller. Itâs Earthâs last day and Captain Lewis Black drifts though space, watching it burn. The pilots under his command are dead. The war with the Maaravi is lost. Air hisses into space from around the stump of his severed arm. In the distance a Maaravi ship approaches. Whether to torture him for information, capture him as a prisoner, or take him as a trophy, heâll have one last chance to hurt them. Natasha Palmer, lead engineer on the failed Reaper missile program, knows humanityâs last, desperate, plan wonât work. Sheâs got one chance to change that, but it will mean a leap of faith beyond all others. Humanity is vanquished, but some battles bring only woe to the victor. |
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Reality Breaker by Daniella A. Gnollwood For years, the forces of earth have been tampering with genetics, constantly refining and exploiting their Breakers--humans with varying measures of alien DNA . During a routine mission, Breaker Sierra is attacked by a Xoa construct horde and is nearly overwhelmed. She's saved at the last minute by handsome Desmond Carro, a radio operator who's had his eye on her for some time. Neither Sierra nor Desmond know about the terrible secret nestled deep within the Breaker ranks, but when a superior officer orders Desmond to assassinate Sierra, they both know something is deeply wrong. As they traverse the labyrinthine interior of an occupied Xoa moon, they unravel the mystery piece by piece, while falling for each other in the process. Their investigation turns into a race against time when they discover the horrible truth about Sierra's creation. Without assistance, nothing less than humanity's very existence is at stake. With seemingly no one to turn to for help, their problems are compounded by the appearance of a being called the Reality Breaker, who only wishes to see a grim prophesy fulfilled. Thankfully, they aren't alone. |
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A Perfect Heresy by Courtney Maguire Dystopian science fiction perfect for fans of Ursula LeGuin's Left Hand of Darkness and The Hunger Games. The City was prosperous once, a beautiful utopia made up of perfect people unplagued by disease or infirmity, existing under the benevolent eyes of the Mother. Its high walls guarded it from the ugliness of the world, making it possible for its Citizens to live by the Motherâs will. But then, the Outsiders rebelled. Tired of being oppressed and exploited by the City for their resources, a Resistance rose up against the Cityâs rule, attacking its soldiers and drawing them into a genocidal war in which there were no winners. Jax, once a City soldier, now a Heretic, is just trying to make xyr way home when xe meets Koi, a sick Outsider in search of xyr last remaining family, a sibling abducted by City soldiers. Jaxâs fragile faith will be tested once again as their journey to the City center exposes truths neither of them were prepared for. Can two people from opposite sides of the wall help each other find what theyâre looking for? Previously published on Kindle Vella. |
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Birthright of Scars: Rising by Laurisa Brandt "The problem with a dead legend, is that there's always the threat of him resurrecting. And anytime he does will be inconvenient for those in power."âšThe Tourmaline Renegade rises in this epic new series.âšâšFalling in love with his bounty hunter was never part of the plan. After the Kobalt empire spent decades suppressing Pyron culture, Emperor Cinnabar designed the walled Pyron sector with only one purpose: extermination. Disrel of Tourmal has little left except his sister, but he wonât accept death without a fight. When the state mandates that all Pyrons relocate to the walled sector, Disrel does not hesitate to don a mask and replace the capitol flag with one that proclaims Pyron is free. What he didnât count on was a simple act of defiance becoming the symbol of an empire-wide revolution. By the time dawn breaks, a sable commander renowned for catching renegades is on his trail, and Disrel is driven into the center of the resistance against the state. Decorated Sable Commander Ambrosia is ready for the challenge of pulling Pyron resistors off Tourmalâs streets. But the layers of unrest in the capitol go deeper than a masked renegade inciting insurrection, locking her in a deadly dance between conviction and duty, comrades and terroristsâone that requires a flawless loyalty to the state to survive. And the unassumingly charming Disrel keeps getting in her way. Disrel and Ambrosia are thrust into each otherâs pathsâas renegade and sable, as citizens of the empire struggling to survive the upheaval. But as their feelings for each other grow, theyâll have to choose: one love destined to destroy them both, or the fate of an empire?âšâšBirthright of Scars: Rising is followed by Birthright of Scars: Choosing |
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Stars Like Acid by Marissa Lupe TĂ©a, a Latina soldier in training, is used to standing her ground in a world that seems hellbent on bringing her to her knees. Orphaned at age five and held captive on a military base for most of her life, she barely remembers a time before the government controlled her every move. Now, fifteen years later, the Earth is dying, a resistance is forming, and the corrupt government is hoarding resources and information that could save the world. When TĂ©a is forced to marry the son of a terrifying general, she stumbles across a dark secret that could finally dismantle her power-hungry father-in-lawâs regime and offer her a chance at freedom. Humans are evolving in dangerous and powerful ways, and TĂ©a may be the most powerful one of them all. Meanwhile, Annabelle, another of Earthâs many orphans, has lived a mostly charmed life. That is if you donât count the fact that sheâs technically a prisoner. Drifting among the stars on Space Station Lunaâthe top-secret government lifeboat built to save Earthâs ruling classâAnnabelle has everything she needs and the woman she loves by her side. But when TĂ©a ends up at the space station, she unravels a web of deceptions that send both women reeling and make one thing perfectly clear: the secrets that connect TĂ©a and Annabelle may be powerful enough to turn the tides of war, save the planet, and set the people free. |
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Hyvilma (The Kitra Saga #3) by Gideon Marcus [A damaged ship, a dying shipmateâcan she save both?] Under attack! The flight back to Hyvilma should have been the easy part for the crew of the Majeraâuntil a deadly ambush by pirates sends them reeling through hyperspace. Now getting to the planet in time is the only way Captain Kitra Yilmaz can save her dying friend. But landing at Hyvilma may be impossible: war has broken out on the Frontier. With illustrations by Hugo Finalist Lorelei Esther. |
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The Long Lost War by Jeff Walker Far from Earth, in a distant solar system, clone soldiers are stuck in an on-going battle against colonial separatists. John 999801 must battle against an enemy that refuses to give up, and dreams of a woman he feels he's seen before. The life of this low ranking clone soldier is about to take a turn for the worst. Or is it going to open his eyes to the truth? Can one clone soldier make a difference? And who is the woman in his dream? Answers and horrors await him as he joins his fellow replicas to the surface of a planet called... Hell. |
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Fugitive of Talionis by C.J. Milacci A treacherous journey. A devious enemy. The hunt for the fugitives has begun. Bria Averton and her friends have pulled off an impossible escape after being held captive in the city of Talionis for months. Now theyâre on the run and desperate to reach possible allies in Eryndale, but the Commanderâs hunt for them is fierce and relentless. Bria fights to keep her friends safe as each day becomes more perilous than the last. With Arkâs forces closing in and new dangers arising, she wonders who to trust and battles her growing fears. But one reality becomes clear: thereâs a greater peril than being a recruit of Talionis. Itâs being a fugitive. |
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Recruit of Talionis by C.J. Milacci When the world falls apart, one girl must find hope in the darkness. Seventeen-year-old Bria Averton grew up in a small town of survivors near the ruins of Portland, Maine, years after the Demise of North America. But when she is kidnapped and forced to become a soldier in the mysterious city of Talionis, she finds herself thrust into a world of danger and darkness. Unknown forces are at work in the city, and Bria soon realizes that escape is impossible. With her own guilt and the oppressive evil of the city threatening to drown her, Bria must find a way to surviveâŠand discover if hope is possible. Even here. |
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Kenai by Dave Dobson Jess Amiko is long past her days as a space marine, with all the glory of that time tarnished beyond repair by what came after. Trying to rebuild from the ashes, she's taken a job as a security guard on Kenai, a lonely world far from the Council systems. It's supposed to be easy duty - quiet and peaceful, on a docile world with no real threats, watching over an archeological dig at a site built by a race long vanished. Betrayed and attacked by forces unknown, and finding that nothing on Kenai makes sense, Jess is plunged into a desperate fight for survival that leads her deep into the mysteries of Kenai's past, and deep into the hardship and paradox the planet imposes on all who call it home. |
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The Forsaken Planet by Bryan Wilson The world is more than just a planet. Itâs an ancient tribute to the woman who guided it from ruin, a devastation she foresaw arising again. When mysterious aircraft wreak havoc across Earthâs skies, it is revealed that there are clusters of other planets where humankind resides, distant worlds where the people wield the power of the stars themselves. It is an energy force that can bring about miracles or, as the alien fleetâs ruthless leader displays, unleash horrors beyond imagination. After experiencing a loss during the onslaught, Colton Samson, an ordinary college student, vows to protect his loved ones at any cost. But to learn the power to do so, he must enlist into the Army of the Universal Throneâa second alien force with its own agenda. With the revelation of a secret prophecy foretelling humanityâs demise and Coltonâs improbable role in preventing it, he embarks alongside a diverse group of friends to the Throneâs capital, the planet of Vintara. There he faces prejudice from supposed allies, lifelike combat simulations that test him to his core, and the looming threat of a universal war. Only by embracing his true potential can Colton hope to secure the safety he seeks, in a universe that views him as nothing more than Forsaken. -A coming-of-age story about family, the bonds of friendship, and leaping blind into the dark to protect them both. Come learn the truth about Earthâs ancient past alongside Colton, journeying with him to Vintara, where action, mystery, and a side of romance await. Itâs time we all begin to grasp the true power of the stars |
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Divinityâs Twilight: Remnant by Christopher Russell Divinity's Twilight: Remnant is the much-anticipated sequel to the multi-award-winning epic fantasy novel, Divinity's Twilight: Rebirth. Power is a curse. As Vallen and his fellow cadets flee fallen Darmatia, he is forced to confront the ghosts of his past. The friend who perished that he might live. The girl whose smile haunts his nightmares. Now, a third voice joins themâsomething dark, something ancient. And the more Vallen uses his magic, the stronger it becomes. Tools exist to be used. The flames of Sylette's vengeance are all but quenched. With each passing day, the dominion of the Sarconian Empire grows, and her treacherous father's throat drifts further from her reach. Sylette's last hope is a coded message, one that promises a growing resistance against the Empire. But even if she gains the means to avenge her mother's murder, one question remains: how many 'tools' is she willing to sacrifice to see her vengeance through? What color is love? Renar has learned to hide a great many things: his emotions, his art, and one truly devastating family secret. But when he must face the man who's controlled his life from the shadows, will he choose the family he's always known, or the dysfunctional crew he's been shackled with? For every ending, a beginning. Embers of conspiracy flare in Nemare and Sarconia. A resurrected Sarcon plots to reclaim his imprisoned flesh. As the winds of war swirl and forgotten myths rise, the choices these cadets make could save their country . . . . . . or unleash something far, far worse. |
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Divinityâs Twilight: Rebirth by Christopher Russell âRussellâs new high fantasy series launch is well written with a definite steampunk vibe and sword-and-sorcery appeal.â âLibrary Journal A world consumed by war. An ancient evil resurrected. A millennia-old bargain comes due . . . When two blades clash, the third will fall, and the fate of all will be jeopardized. To save Lozaria, the failures of the past must be atoned for by a new generation of heroes. The time has come for mortals to cast off sight and, in doing so, truly come to see . . . Victory is never absolute. Seven centuries ago, the forces of order won the Illyriite War on the plains of Harâmuth. Darmatus and Rabban Aurelian slew their elder brother, Sarcon, the despotic architect of the conflict, then sacrificed themselves to banish the cataclysmic vortex opened with his dying breath. The first advent of the Oblivion Well was thwarted. Even without their vanished gods, the seven races of Lozaria proved themselves capable of safeguarding their world. Or so the story goes. The year is now 697 A.B.H. (After the Battle of Harâmuth). Though war itself remains much the same, the weapons with which it is waged have evolved. Airships bearing powerful cannons ply the skies, reducing the influence of mages and their spells. Long-range communication has brought far-flung regions of Lozaria closer than ever before. At the center of this technological revolution are the three Terran states of Darmatia, Rabban, and Sarconia, who have fought a near ceaseless campaign of seven hundred years in an attempt to best each other. The roots of their enmity lie buried beneath the wasteland of Harâmuth, a place all three nations consider best forgotten. However, an ancient power sealed within Harâmuth has not forgotten them, and the descendants of those who fought on that field must now take a stand to rectify the mistakes of the past . . . |
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The Descendants of Prontoth by Mark Raines An eight-hundred-year, galaxy-spanning hunt nears its conclusion setting up a confrontation thousands of years in the making. For eight hundred years Timion High Command has hunted the Descendants of Prontoth across the galaxy. Wars were fought, lives were lost, but the Descendants of Prontoth remained at large. Hamron Modestus knows Timion High Command has been doing it wrong. Their quest for revenge made them blind to the allies they would need to bring the Descendants of Prontoth to justice. In his new position of power, Modestus is on their trail, ready to succeed where High Command had failed. Caught in the middle of this inevitable confrontation is retired General Dash Cricken and the entire crew of the Prometheus. Dash and his crew discover evidence of a secret alliance formed to bring down the Descendants of Prontoth. The crew of the Prometheus is caught in the crosshairs of Timion High Command, forced to defend themselves against the hunter on their trail and dissension within their own ranks. Any failure could jeopardize everything they have worked toward. The Descendants of Prontoth is the action-packed sequel to Mark Raines' debut Novel, Felan's Rescue, following the crew of the Prometheus on another wild adventure. |