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Daughter of Shades (The Venatrix Chronicles #1) by Sylvia Mercedes A huntress with no past. A rival with a secret. A kingdomâs fate hangs in the balance . . . Ayleth and her shade move as one, ever hungry for the hunt. Under her mentorâs tight control, she fears her memories are being stolen. Now nineteen, apprenticed for as long as she can remember to the mysterious Holy Order, she longs to rise in the ranks and banish untamed spirits for the prophesied Golden Prince. When shadowy threats descend on the crown, Ayleth seizes a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to prove her worth in open competition. Seeking to win the princeâs favor and escape her scheming mentor, she resolves to hold her own against Terryn, a handsome, arrogant opponent who may be more than a match for her untested powers. But as the two rivals follow a trail beyond the Great Barrier and confront legendary evil, the stolen secrets of Aylethâs past may return to haunt her . . . Can Ayleth win the trial and reclaim her true self? Can she even survive her first day? |
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The Engineer by Darran M Handshaw Indie Recs Indie SFFOasis SPSFC 2022 "We are born in the shadow of fading memories and fallen dreams, living our days within the decaying bones of an age long gone." When the Engineer, Actaeon, arrives at Pyramid in the heart of Redemption, nothing goes according to plan. Mysterious raiders pursue him relentlessly across the shattered remains of the ancient metropolis, and the leaders of his homeland pay no heed to his ambitious ideas. Meanwhile, deep beneath Pyramid, a deadly creature stirs. And, when Actaeon meets a skilled young Knight Arbiter with brilliant blue eyes, he starts down a path he could never have imagined. The vast, fallen city of the Ancients is home to a new people who face the constant struggle to find resources needed to survive in the dangerous ruins. For the Engineer, however, Redemption is a treasure trove of technology, opportunity, and answers. But his unique skills make him a target for those who would use his talents to achieve their own dreams of power and control. In his endless quest for the truth, will Actaeon discover the fallen cityâs greatest secrets? Or will he share the same fate as the Ancients of whom nothing remains but a whisper? One thing is certain: in Redemption, everything comes with a cost. |
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In the Nine Kingdoms, lords and churches dance a familiar dance. A dance of wars and plots and murder. But unknown to the players, the dance is changing. The Tainted One has returned; harbinger of a cycle of destruction as old as humankind itself. An era is on the verge of collapse, humankind is on the fringes of annihilation â but the lords and ladies, the holy men and the apostates, the great and the small; they all just keep spinning with the music. Nihm is a young woman, living peacefully on the edges of the wilds. But as the hordes descend upon the Nine Kingdoms she finds herself at its forefront, in a race for survival. A race where truths will be revealed that will change her world. Challenging who and what she is. Renco is a student and a mute, suffering from a past trauma. His Master, an outcast from an Ancient Order, has raised him. Honed his skills and his art but for what purpose? Join an Epic Fantasy and follow Nihm and Renco as their journey unfolds. Can two people really change the fate of a world? |
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Bones and Bourbon by Dorian Graves Retz Gallows has been possessed by an ancient necromancer for almost his entire life. Heâs used to wicked schemes and body-stealing shenanigans, but waking up to a unicorn head in his passenger seat is a new low. Now heâs forced to carry out a gilded menagerieâs dirty deeds, but the task brings him face to face with the hope heâd long given up on: his older brother. Jarrod Gallows left home to rescue Retz from possession. Instead, heâs saddled with a dead-end job as a paranormal investigator, a Faerie curse, and a daredevil boyfriend who might be from another world. At least heâs got a new case to keep himself busyâbut why has his brother reappeared, and why does this sudden reunion feel more like a bane than a blessing? To survive, the half-huldra Gallows brothers will have to escape the forces toying with their lives, as well as the wrath of carnivorous unicorns, otherworldly realms, and even their own parents. Only time will tell if theyâll make it out aliveâŠor sober. |
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Angelâs Child, Devilâs Curse by Jennifer Pierce-Gaeta Isabella was a normal girl until a mysterious stranger turned her world upside down. Now she had been plunged into a world that she never knew existed with expectations on her shoulders far heavier than any before. She thought she was human but now is beginning to wonder what exactly she is? Zach tells her she is only half a person. How can that be? Will she fight to save the world or will she falter under the weight of a world of magic? |
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Miscreants by Jennifer Pierce-Gaeta Kira and her team are up shit creek without a paddle. The coordinates for the last key piece are in a compromised location that forces the team to work outside the rules. With every known power combing the Earth for our heroes, will they succeed in their mission? Under heavy fire, the team plunged into the Underworld with the hopes of saving us all. Join Kira and her band of misfits as they enter the final push to save the world from Hellâs hostile takeover. |
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Decayed by Jennifer Pierce-Gaeta Kira and her tag tag team are at it again. In a race against time and Hell, it remains to be seen who will come out the victor. The race for the second key piece is in full swing. Add a new virus that is affecting the supernatural and Were Animal communities and you have a recipe for disaster. Will Kira and her team survive the coming onslaught? Will they drop the ball? Will Hell win? |
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Pandoraâs Hell by Jennifer Pierce Gaeta Enter a world where the supernatural races are the human raceâs last hope. Hell has escaped its prison early and is devastating the human world. The humans are useless to help themselves and all worlds could be lost if the gates of Hell are not slammed shut. Thatâs where my team and I come in. I am Kira Gaetano and my team may be the worldâs only hope for salvation. We fight the big bad nightmares and push demons back. We are racing against the clock to stop Hell from taking over the world. The only question I have is; âCan we do it?â |
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Elemental: Shadows of Otherside Book 1 by Whitney Hill Enter an urban fantasy world where elves, vampires, weres, djinn, and fae maintain a precarious balance of power in North Carolina. Welcome to Otherside. Private investigator and sylph Arden Finch is determined to come out of the shadows and practice her forbidden magic. There's just one problem: the elves have a bounty on elementals like her. When an elf hires Arden without realizing what she is, she seizes the chance to gain leverage in the dangerous world of Othersideâ âeven if it means risking exposure. But as the case grows more perilous, Arden draws the attention of the region's deadliest power players. Fans of Kim Harrison, Faith Hunter, and the early Anita Blake series will find a kick-ass heroine in Arden. Content warnings: swearing, light consensual sex, physical violence, death, slurs (not toward any real racial or ethnic group/identity), threat of sexual violence. |
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The Necromancer's Prison by Alec Whitesell and Craig Bonacorsi She wanted to find her place in the universe. She never imagined it might not be on Earth. When Emily Murphy over slept the morning of her college entrance exam, she thought missing her test was the worst thing that could happen. She never expected she would wind up lost halfway across the galaxy, battling aliens with laser guns and mages hurling lightning. Like most seventeen year olds, Emilyâs main concern had been navigating the perils of high school, not surviving shootouts and sorcery. That changed when her school was attacked and a student was kidnapped. While everyone else smartly fled from danger, she recklessly ran toward it mounting an impossible rescue that would lead her on a journey unlike anything she could have imagined. Dropped into a strange world teeming with merciless criminals and ruthless aristocrats, surrounded by violence and betrayal, Emily must untangle a web of intrigue and deceit to solve the mystery behind the abduction, save her classmate, and discover the destiny which awaits her. It is either that, or die trying⊠|
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Michael McGillicuddy and the Most Amazing Race by Trevor A. Dutcher Puzzling Intrigue. Epic Adventure. Cut-throat competition. When a quiet introvert and gifted tinkerer, Michael McGillicuddy, is invited to participate in the annual race organized by a secret society called the Order of the Blue Cloak, he forces himself to take a chance. Participation in this yearâs race represents a dual opportunity: To honor his fatherâs legacy, and to win a prize sufficient to pay taxes on his motherâs land to avoid foreclosure. The action-packed adventure that follows features a vibrant cast of characters, and includes some of the brightest minds and most unscrupulous characters 1895 Europe has to offer, including a Luxembourgish railroad baron, a middle-eastern mystic, a lone-wolf bounty hunter, a British female spy and a Dutch female alchemist. A devious circus ringmaster, and his equally devious crew, including a strong-man with a mechanical arm and a ruthless female enforcer with a chip on her shoulder and a penchant for poison, provide the main antagonistic forces.Follow the racers over land, sea and air, from Londonâs outskirts all the way to Paris, as they risk life and limb to embark on a scavenger hunt-style race with few, but important, rules. The winner of this yearâs race will be the first to solve all the milestone puzzles and arrive at the finish with a complete and matching set of milestone tokens. Along the way, Michael will encounter intellectual challenges, fantastical creatures, games youâve never heard of, physical peril, sabotage, betrayal, love, heartbreak, and even a touch of magic, all while discovering himself and a newfound taste for adventure. But as a novice among experts, and with the odds so strongly stacked against him, how will Michael survive, let alone compete? |
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SPFBO6 WriteHive Book Club Teacup Dragon Coop SFFOasis Never leave the path. Itâs sacred law, punishable by exile. When her son goes missing in the perilous mountains, Kaemada defies the law to search for him. She enlists the help of her hero brother, a priestess berserker, and a fire-wielding friend. But the law exists for a reason. When the search party is captured by the mythical Kamalti, they learn that Kaemadaâs son was sent to an ancient prison city. As they battle for freedom, they discover a horrible truth that will change the future of both races forever. With their world in upheaval, Kaemada must find a way to peace if she's to save her sonâbut tensions between the two races are leading to war. |
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Of Rioters and Royals by M.L Greye Emry is a Royal - a princess of Enlennd. As is tradition, she must have a knight at her side as her protector. The only way to appoint one is through The Trials. Her Challengers from the five regions of Enlennd must compete for the infamous title of Princess's Knight. The problem, though, is that the people of Enlennd are split into two categories: Rioters and Royals. Finding the perfect knight may be the last of her worries. War is coming to Enlennd. Declan is a Rioter. An upriser. An anarchist. He mistrusts the Jewels - the sovereign family of Enlennd. Yet, he is offering himself up as a Challenger in The Trials. The Mistress, leader of the Rioters, has a mission for him. The first step is for him to become the Princess's Knight. He is ready for the task, until he actually meets Emry and discovers that betraying her would be much more difficult than he'd thought. |
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A Place to Run (Trials of the Blood Book 1) by Becca Lynn Mathis What if you learned that the things that go bump in the night are real? . . . What if you became one of them? When Lynn gets attacked by a crazed werewolf, every aspect of her entire lonely life changes. Her new pack helps her adjust to life as a werewolf, but that means living under the constant threat of vampires, their immortal enemies. Worse, Lynn learns a former friend â and vampire â is now targeting her, and the military wants to get their hands on her as well. Fearing the danger she brings to her pack, Lynn must decide whether itâs better to run from them all or to make peace with who and what she has become. |
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The Wretched (The Fateless Throne Book 1) by Brad Carsten No one knows what happened at Almswick, except that the King took an arrow to his chest, and his hundred-strong elite guard was slaughtered. Strangest of all, there was no indication that they had even faced an enemy. King Roderic 8th brought the kingdom of Thamaria into a golden age. It boasts the greatest scientists, physicians, soldiers, and artisans. For over a thousand years, nothing could approach its wealth and might for one reason: Thamaria could assess a child's potential, and then throw its resources into sculpting them into that which they were meant to be. Liam, a gifted tracker and archer, missed his first two assessments, and now at the age of twenty-five is too old for selection into the kingdom. He is left to make his own way in life with no hope of a better future until he meets Jaylene after her escort is attacked in the Dourbern forest. There's something "off" about her, and Liam is soon thrust into a plot that reaches into the heart of the kingdomâa plot that threatens to tear the immortal kingdom apart as well as everything else he cares about. But with war closing in, he may also have one last chance to prove to himself and the kingdom that he has what it takes to finally be somebody. Fast-paced with deep, likeable characters set in a rich and compelling world, The wretched will keep you guessing until the explosive conclusion. |
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Chaos (Tessa Avery #1) by Lucy Roy For most girls at eighteen, life is just beginning: graduation, college, getting their own place. Unlike them, however, Iâve trained my whole life to be an Ischyra, an immortal soldier of the Olympian gods, and when high school ends, Iâm going to Olympus to face my destiny, leaving all that I know behind. Iâm a nervous wreck, of course, but making the transition from mortal to immortal, not to mention finding out what my affinity will be, has me over the moon. Finally, Iâll be tasting what I was born for. But not all is a bed of roses. Meeting the gods and the grueling training is nothing compared to the nightmares Iâve been having. Controlling my newly awakened powers is more of a struggle than I'd anticipated. Add to the mix a hot guy who I canât make heads or tails of. And if that wasnât enough, a bunch of the Titans who were defeated thousands of years ago have begun to gather forces, hoping to retake Olympus for their own. As an Ischyra, my duty is to protect Earth from those who would seek to harm it, but first I have to get through my training year. Yet as my powers start to take on a mind of their own, I begin to realize the gods might have other plans in store. |
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City of Wishes: The Complete Cinderella Story by Rachel Morgan Cinderella retold: A human slave, a fae prince, and a Godmother whoâll grant any wishâif you pay the price. In a world of fae, vampires and shifters, where magic is real and wishes can be bought and bargained for, Elle is on society's bottommost rung: she's human. To make matters worse, she's also a slave, bound to her stepmother by magic. Her only hope at freedom is to wish for it. But the Godmother rules the illegal wish trade, and the price she demands is steep. Elle has never been desperate enough to summon her. Until now. This collection includes all 6 episodes in the CITY OF WISHES Cinderella retelling: 1. The Memory Thief 2. The Vampire Trap 3. The Moonlight Masquerade 4. The Eternal Night 5. The Starlight Quest 6. The Everafter Wish |
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The Elements of Kamdaria by Kay L. Moody Talise has a gift that could save her life. In an empire divided into three rings, seventeen-year-old Talise is from the outer ring. This dangerous and crime-laden land has one constant⊠death. Her only chance for escape is to become Master Shaperâan honored position in the palace court and military. Each year, the emperor chooses one student to receive the title. After ten years of training at an elite academy, Talise clearly has a gift for manipulating the elements of water, air, earth, and fire. But Aaden, a handsome student from the privileged inner ring, is poised to steal the title away from her. When they come before the emperor, he is impressed with the great skill both Talise and Aaden possess. He presents them with a set of trials, and she knows this is the chance she needs to prove herself. As long as Aaden doesnât ruin everything. But secrets hide in every corner of the palace, masking a conflict far more dangerous than her previous home in the outer ring. Now, she must play along with the emperorâs lies and games, or else she will lose her life to an enemy she never expected. This book includes novellas 1-4 of The Elements of Kamdaria: Ice Crown, Wind Crown, Dust Crown, and Flame Crown. |
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The Frost Eater by Carol Beth Anderson Sink your teeth into The Frost Eater, a new novel reviewers call âa great readâ that âsizzles along to an unexpected endâ with âheavy-hitting action,â âmagic and dragons,â and âa touch of romance.â ***** A lonely princess. A flying teen. A kidnapped girl who only remembers what happens at night. Seventeen-year-old Princess Nora is a frost eater who creates magical ice. Her royal life is luxurious but stifling. Krey West has a rare magical talent: when he eats feathers, he can fly. His one goal is to find his missing girlfriend, Zeisha. He thinks someone in power abducted her. Kreyâs daring feats of magic earn him an invitation to the palace. Craving adventure and friendship, Nora offers to help him find Zeisha. Heâs desperate enough to acceptâthough he hates the monarchy. The truth is more terrible than they could imagine. Every night, Zeisha wakes in a dark room full of sleeping people, unable to remember what she did in the light. Her dreams provide violent glimpses into her forgotten days. If Krey and Nora canât save her, Zeisha may lose herself forever. The post-apocalyptic fantasy world of The Frost Eater will keep you compulsively turning the pages. Devour it today. ***** Quotes are from Goodreads reviewers Mike, Clarissa Gosling, and K. Law, and Booksprout reviewer Beth H. |
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For the Betterment of the World (Gateway to Perdinok #1) by Jeremiah Cain A quarter of the haggard populace must flee, hide, or die when faced with the question: what do you do when your own home declares you wicked and demands your death? Within this dark epic fantasy, the largest church of a medieval-like empire condemns a minority church as evil. Soon, a soldier struggles with orders to kill, as he must decide if what is ârightâ can change by Church decree. A normal townswoman must fight as her people are sentenced to death in the empire where theyâve lived all their lives. Far away, two men from conflicting nations attempt to forge a relationship while trying to forge an alliance. Farther still, an elf boy sees the destruction of his peaceful home for nothing but a would-be weapon. Finally, a small nation must call on the Dark for help when the Light betrays them. Throughout the world of Perdinok, a range of people have their lives upended as unrest turns to civil war and turns to war on other nations. In the end, the sanctimonious empire unearths an ancient power that threatens all. Only a Demoness can put things right, but she holds her own agenda. |
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The Sorrow Passage: A Dark Fantasy Novelette (Gateway to Perdinok #0.1) by Jeremiah Cain Within this dark fantasy novelette for adults, the young elf, Valqyer, fights the loss of what little he has left, including his sanity, to save his mother and the remnants of his world. Brutal invaders upend the peaceful life of Valqyer and his fellow elven townsfolk. Many are slain or captured. Afterward, he faces the reality that his life of art is shattered as he goes mad in a dungeon. His mother is dying in another cell. He can do nothing to fight back. Seemingly, his only option for escape is to help the invaders start a war. |
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The Veiled River: A Dark Fantasy Novella (Gateway to Perdinok #0.2) by Jeremiah Cain Captured and tortured, Rohesia stays strong. But to fight back, she faces breaking her vows as a healer, an action that would destroy her magic completely. Rohesiaâa skilled, magical healer working in dire conditionsâhas spent years helping her people escape destruction and flee to a neighboring kingdom. Yet, when she saves a woman at deathâs door, she discovers a plan to unearth an ancient power that, by itself, would wipe out all of her kind worldwide. |
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The Lochlann Treaty, Complete Series by Robin D. Mahle and Elle Madison Over 225k+ words of enemies-to-lovers tension, alternate-fantasy adventure, and bold action. This box set contains all 4 books in the Lochlann Treaty series, and *never before seen* exclusive bonus content. PEACE AT ANY COST. Princess Charlotteâs entire life had been planned. Right up until the moment her fiancĂ© is kidnapped on her wedding day, sending the entire kingdom hurtling toward disaster. Charlie has never left the protective grounds of the castle, but to save her intended, sheâll trade her crown for a sword and forge into dangerous rebel lands alongside her fiancĂ©âs arrogant older brother, Logan. Logan thinks sheâs a spoiled princess. Sheâs about to prove him wrong. But each step deeper into the enemyâs world confirms nothing is what it seems. Not the love that was supposed to be easy. Not the allies sheâs supposed to trust. Not even the outlaws sheâs been raised to fear. Faced with brutal truths and the looming threat of war, Charlie must find her inner strength to not only fight back, but to trust her heartâno matter where it leads. From naive princess to Warrior Queen, The Lochlann Treaty will keep you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end. A sweeping fantasy for fans of Red Queen, Outlander, and Throne of Glass. |
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The Thief of Eyes by Michael McCaskill The world is not what it seems. Creatures of myth and legend walk among us. Some just living life like humans do, but others are less interested in such mundane pursuits. Enter the Choir, a clandestine organization that polices the supernatural world in secret and limits the damage from the world behind the veil. In the American northwest, a child away at camp drowns in the middle of the night. This sad but mundane event triggers a doomsday prophecy that could drag the world into oblivion. Allison Piper and Donna "Don" Kyle, agents of the Choir, must race against the clock to unravel the dark future before it is too late. |
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Sea of Treason (Pirate's Bluff #1) by Stacey Trombley Whatever you do, donât fall in love When Whitley winds up on the top of a pirate hit-list, she finds an unlikely savior. Bluff, a pirate who can transform his appearance to mimic anyone, sweeps her away and sneaks her onto his ship to avoid capture. But Bluff has his own reasons to ensure her safety and he has no intention of letting Whitley in on his secrets. Pirates and sirens alike are after the subject of the prophecy, and itâs only a matter of time until Whitley learns just how powerful she is. And just how much control she has over Bluff. Resisting fate is never easy. Resisting Whitley will be near-impossible. But if he fails, it could mean enslavement by sirens, or worseâby the girl he loves. |
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A Touch of Darkness (Hades & Persephone #1) by Scarlett St. Clair Persephone is the Goddess of Spring by title only. The truth is, since she was a little girl, flowers have shriveled at her touch. After moving to New Athens, she hopes to lead an unassuming life disguised as a mortal journalist. Hades, God of the Dead, has built a gambling empire in the mortal world and his favorite bets are rumored to be impossible. After a chance encounter with Hades, Persephone finds herself in a contract with the God of the Dead and the terms are impossible: Persephone must create life in the Underworld or lose her freedom forever. The bet does more than expose Persephoneâs failure as a Goddess, however. As she struggles to sow the seeds of her freedom, love for the God of the Dead growsâand itâs forbidden. |
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The Seas of Distant Stars by Francesca G. Varela Agapanthus was kidnapped when she was only two years old, but she doesnât remember it. In fact, she doesnât remember her home planet at all. All she knows is Deeyae, the land of two suns; the land of great, red waters. Her foster-family cares for her, and at first thatâs enough. But, as she grows older, Agapanthus is bothered by the differences between them. As an Exchanger, sheâs frail and tall, not short and strong. And, even though she was raised Deeyan, she certainly isnât treated like one. One day, an Exchanger boy completes the Deeyan rite-of-passage, and Agapanthus is inspired to try the same. But, when she teams up with him, her quest to become Deeyan transforms into her quest to find the truthâof who she is, and of which star she belongs to. |
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The Glooming (Wrath of the Old Gods Book 1) by John Triptych BOOK 1 OF AN EPIC POST-APOCALYPTIC SERIES! MYTHS ARE NO LONGER JUST LEGENDS, THEY ARE REAL. The end of the world is finally here. And it will be nothing like what youâd expect. All over the earth, strange and horrific events begin to unfold. A US combat team in Iraq comes under attack from mystical forces, an anthropology professor has an eerie encounter at Stonehenge, a runaway teen finds a very strange pet in Arizona, a young orphan in Siberia meets a terrifying old woman, and a pair of NYPD detectives discovers the ghastly doings of a supernatural cult. A large and diverse group of characters struggle to survive as civilization begins to collapse all around them. As each one realizes their true potential, every one of them must go through a personal, danger-filled journey in order to turn back the sweeping tide of chaos and destruction that threatens the entire world as we know it. Many will die, others will be corrupted, and the remaining few will be the humanityâs only hope. For the old gods have returned to cleanse the earth, and their revenge will be swift and merciless. |
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Harbinger (The Harrows, #1) by C. F. Bellairs Within polished stone walls that more resemble a giant's broadsword driven into the earth than a true keep, lies are the building blocks of discussion, and the infamously-immortal Harrowlord rules with impunity, challenging each of his sons to lethal duels when they turn twenty-one. One of his bastards, Willem, is a Harrow idealist - but has never seen eye-to-eye with his father all the same. However, that may change when the royal bastard is entrusted with a special task: rooting out and beheading a traitor whose ideals he secretly embodies. As Willem struggles to understand his father's web of deceit, an ancient evil lingers at the precipice of his understanding, eager to flourish once more. |
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Objects in Space by J.D. Jacobson This is the story of Deacon Antonius Pius Crete, First Deacon of The Enlightened Technocratic Order of The Empire, and his descent into the labyrinth within strange ruins of a foreign culture. His enemies, The Mags, are a magical society at direct opposition to The Empire, and through an unlikely partnership, and strange transformations, Crete uncovers the strange and impossible realities of the relationship between The Empire and The Mags. |
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Ochre Dragon: The Opal Dreaming Chronicles Book 1 by V. E. Patton Three women who are so much more than what they seem. Three worlds mired in conspiracy and magic. One quest to save the Cosmos. And then⊠there be dragons! On Heavens Gate, a dying planet where magic and science have forged an uneasy alliance, Merindah is desperate to unlock the secret of the Timegates and save what's left of humanity. What she lacks in magical ability, she more than makes up for in ambition. And with the help of an impatient and not-so-extinct dragon, her magic takes on a twist with cosmic implications. Meanwhile, on tech-ruled post-Crack Earth, where magic doesn't officially exist, Ali's humdrum life under the disintegrating Melba Dome is becoming weirder by the day. Her fingers start glowing, a snarky dragon shows up, and people she thought were her friends keep trying to control, kidnap or assassinate her. Finally, on Reverie, where magic rules unfettered, a young orphan becomes burdened with tainted magical gifts. Dee is alone, trapped in a waking nightmare. When she finally surrenders to desperation, her out-of-control magic unleashes her dragon and propels her onto a path that could unravel the fabric of time and space. Three women, three worlds - and their time is running out. Unless Ali, Merindah and Dee can reunite their single soul in one year, all is lost.They must each make unimaginable sacrifices to become the Key, the Gatekeeper, and the Fire who will save the Cosmos - or ignite Armageddon. |
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Two Thousand Years (The Empire Saga) by M. Dalto Two thousand years ago, the Prophecy of Fire and Light foretold the coming of the Queen Empress who would lead the Empire into a time of peace and tranquility. But instead of the coming of a prosperous world, a forbidden love for the Empress waged a war that ravaged the land, creating a chasm between the factions, raising the death toll of innocent lives until the final, bloody battle. Centuries later, Alexandra, a twenty-two-year-old barista living in Boston, is taken to an unfamiliar realm of mystery and magic where her life is threatened by Reylor, its banished Lord Steward. She crosses paths with Treyan, the arrogant and seductive Crown Prince of the Empire, and together they discover how their lives, and their love, are so intricately intertwined by a Prophecy set in motion so many years ago. Alex, now the predestined Queen Empress Alexstrayna, whose arrival was foretold by the Annals of the Empire, controls the fate of her new home as war rages between the Crown Prince and Lord Steward. Either choice could tear her world apart as she attempts to keep the Empireâs torrid history from repeating itself. In a realm where betrayal and revenge will be as crucial to her survival as love and honor, Alex must discover whether it is her choice - or her fate - that determines how she survives the Empireâs rising conflicts. |
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Darkwind (The Starchaser Saga) by Renee Dugan The Middle Kingdom of Talheim has enjoyed peace for decades. But with the threat of war rising from the ruthless South, the dream of a quiet life is fading. And for the noble but naive Princess Cistine, that means embarking on a dangerous quest to the Northern Kingdom, where she hopes to forge an alliance against their southern foes and save her people. But when Cistine is captured by an outlaw and his band of cutthroat warriors, she finds a more deadly adventure than she bargained for - and a greater power within herself than she ever knew. Swept up in the unpredictable tide of a tenuous and shadowy political climate, a ruthless land governed by the stars, and the unexpected revelations that come from her mysterious new companions, Cistine must learn how to fight, how to lead...and above all, how to trust herself. If the young princess can't be forged into a fighter, then her kingdom will fall. |
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The Chaos Circus by Renee Dugan All Tessa LaRoche wants is to be the most ordinary person on Barrow Island. After a stint in a mental asylum, she's had quite enough of being anything else, thank you very much. But when a commission at her new reporting job forces her into the path of a not-quite-human murder suspect, Tessa finds that the unordinary is not through with her yet. Spirited away by a devilishly charming Nicolai to the Mirror Lands-- a parallel reality manipulated by the immortal Deathless-- Tessa loses one of the most precious tethers to her sanity. In order to reclaim it, she must risk entering The Chaos Circus: a citywide fair where mortals trade years for prizes in vicious attractions from which the Deathless draw their power. But there's a catch: if Tessa can't defeat the Deathless at their own freakish carnival games, she will lose her mind...and Nicolai will lose his life. Forced to rely on one another despite the secrets that come between them, Tessa and Nicolai embark on a dangerous adventure through the deceptively beautiful life of the Circus, where little is as it seems--even the games, their pasts, and the strange whirlwind of memories that Tessa can no longer recall. |
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Warlocks of the Sigil by Peri Akman When Quinn was told he was deemed fit to learn magic as an apprentice, he didnât know what to expect. He certainly didnât expect to be plunged into a world of politics, demons, monsters, petty drama and angry primordial deities, all while being guided by an off kilter, rant-happy warlock, who has more secrets than Quinn has problems. Nothing he canât handle, right? |
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Dragon's Price by Daniel Potter Ishe likes to confront her problems with her fistsâtoo bad her current problem is a dragon. Her sister Yaki has always used her looks to get what she wants. But when she is injured, only a deal with the dragon will keep her alive. Together, these two sisters must escape the dragon or be forced into his service against the only home they have ever known. |
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After what had come to feel like an eternity, Takio has finally broken free. Ondriaâs aid has been secured, along with the aid of the Wavebinder and his Tideborn. Darrenâs army has been fought to a standstill, and the border belongs to the Riverguard. For once, it almost seems like things are looking up. With every second that passes, though, Drenwell and its Chosen have another opportunity to turn the tide. The race to Drenwell City is on, for the last of the Four has yet to reveal himself. The Everdark remains yet in hiding, lurking in the shadows cast by his brother, and whoever finds him first and claims his aid will tip the balance of the war in their direction. Takio and his allies have no choice but to seek out the reclusive Divine, hunting through the parts of the capital where Rellanâs light has yet to reach. That search, though, also means putting themselves within armâs reach of the Order - and Darren. With the fight beginning to draw to a close, the deadly hunt is on. |
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The mountain. Held as his goal for so long, it fades into the distance as Jas leaves it behind. The world is bigger than heâd ever thought, heâs rapidly coming to realize. Darrenâs spell lingers, clinging to him, but heâs no longer powerless to its commands. He finally has the strength to stand against it and a new identity to call his own, both gifts of the Everburning, the goddess Shiina. His powers are still new and unfamiliar, though, and his goddess is weak from her slumber. Darren is still out there looking for his wayward once-friend, and will stop at nothing to end what he sees as a threat to Drenwellâs safety. Heâll need to learn his own limits, if he has any hope of standing against his rival. With the Chosen hot on his heels, the man who was Jas flees into foreign lands together with his new goddess. One goal unifies them - revenge. Theyâll need allies to get it, but finding allies takes time. Time theyâre running all too short of as Drenwell closes in. |
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Running With the Wolves by J.E. Reed Kiuno is trapped... ...so are her friends. And no one is coming to save them. Kiuno, a twenty-three year old collage student, wakes to find herself in the middle of the woods with no explanation. And 'Kiuno' isn't even her real name. Suddenly, she is an unwilling player in a medieval world filled with monsters and magic. Survival isn't just a choice, it's her only option. In a place that threatens her life, her family, and may even shatter her heart, she will do things she's never done before. She'll fight, she'll kill, she'll rise, but will her strength be enough to save the people she loves? Running with the Wolves is the first installment in J.E. Reed's gripping new YA/NA fantasy series. If you like action-packed adventure, intricate characters, and a battle for survival then you'll love this award-winning novel. The story continues in Rise of the Wolves. |
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Jas expected to hear a tale of glory and heroism. He hadnât planned on living it. Drenwell is in trouble. The idyllic nation teeters on the brink of disaster as one trouble after another lines up before it. Crops fail. Animals flee. Earthquakes rattle the land. In the midst of it all is the mountain, rising tall over the plains and forests. Legends passed down over the years place it as the center of the kingdomâs woes, host to an ancient, looming threat. Tucked away in the countryside, Jas isnât worried. Drenwell has a savior waiting, a man chosen by their god to defeat this evil. He knows it better than anyone, since this Chosen is his childhood friend, Darren. Jas knows that Darren will be the one to end the threat and keep them safe. But their Chosen is clever, armed with his god-given gifts and talents, and heâs no fool. He can see the truth of the mission laid in front of him, its dangers and risks. The expectations placed on him are strong, but the will to live is stronger still. When faced with his âheroicâ fate, he chooses an option no one expected - least of all Jas. With no way left to him but forward, Jas finds himself trapped into playing hero in Darrenâs place. |
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The Reach Between Worlds by Cameron Hayden Posing as a sorcerer was never a smart idea. Now, it may cost Taro his life. Sixteen-year-old Taro lost his right leg years ago, but with a family to support, he doesn't let it slow him down. For years he's worked for a notorious crime lord named Victor Mathan; Mathan deals in stolen magical artifacts, and trusts Taro to finish his work with as few questions as possible. When an absurdly well-paying job comes up, Taro is quick to volunteer. Mathan wants him to break a powerful sorceress out of her magical prison, but her cell is under the control of an ancient military order called the Magisterium. To get to her, Taro must pose as a Magisterium recruit. The courses are grueling, the tests drive students mad, and the magic they teach can be as deadly to the caster as it is to the target. |
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Mark of the Empress by M. Dalto An Empress ripped back to the life she left behind. A Prince desperate to save his people. One child lost within another realm, the other dependent on their constant protection. Betrayed by those closest to her, Empress Alexstrayna must figure out a way to get it all back - her throne, her people, her son. Fulfilling a two-thousand-year-old prophecy, Reylor, the banished Lord Steward, has stripped Alex of her rightful rule and set in motion a chain of events even he, himself, does not fully understand. Determined to strip his brother of happiness by any means possible, his actions send Alex and Treyan back to Boston and away from the Empire they called home. Blinded by vengeance with hate running thick within her veins, the Empress must consider the ramifications of their return, for better or for worse. But when an unexpected visitor offers help assist with their attempts, Alex and Treyan need to determine how best to reclaim their Empire without more lives lost before whatever time they have left runs out. Itâs time to return to the Empire. Are you prepared to join the battle? |
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The Lightning Rod by C.S. Ratliff 12,000 years since the last Lightning Elemental stood guard. The world is in chaos. Shadow magic is spreading beyond the walls of secrecy. A new savior must rise and bring balance, for the Fate of Gnariam. Will The Lightning Rod become the hero the world needs, or succumb to the darkness? |
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SPFBO7 SFFOasis Indie Recs Indie When dragons fight, mountains weep. In nests high in the mountains, dragons and dragonbonded share their lives, thoughts, feelings, and ambitions. Palon and her partner, the dragon Windward, are renowned among their nest for their flying skill. Their days are filled with everything she loves, especially riding the wind. Even being tasked with teaching their way of life to Tebah, a rebellious newly bonded teenager, canât bring her down too much. But when treasures from the dragonsâ hoards are found in Palonâs collection, her idyllic life comes crashing down. She battles to prove her innocence, while her every move is cast as further evidence against her. Tebahâs suspicion, homesickness, and defiance would be frustrating even in easy times. With Palon in the spotlight while her rivals smear her name at every turn and stir up plots of revenge, her teenage chargeâs behavior proves dangerous. Dragon tempers shorten, and challenges and disputes shake the ground. Palon will have to trust more than just herself if she hopes to once more own the sky. |