The First Scars by Ivor K. Hill "A most enjoyable fantasy adventure ... Dark but fun." (Jon Oliver, proof reader of Way of Kings and Rhythm of War.)

Before resurrection, there must be death.

The immortal Branded are needed once more; the Druidic Curse has returned to the Fatherland, and an entire city has fallen. The Great One calls for aid, and the devout and the desperate come in droves to sear their skin with His mark. Niko Puchev, reeling from his banishment from the Old Magic Inquest, seeks to prove his detractors wrong, and can see no better path than to take the brand. But Tasha Zolanova volunteers with a single question on her lips; can the Cursed be saved? To end the nightmare, Niko, Tasha and the other Branded must destroy the source. They will scour the bloody, hate-ridden streets of Ranitsa City, their every step stalked by the ravening Cursed. And they will die, over and over, only to wake once more, clinging to their swords and the tatters of their wills. But the truth lurking behind the Curse will tear them from their souls.

Drenai Saga and Malazan meet Elden Ring and Bloodborne. |
Mother of the Fallen by J.R. Manga “HELL HAS NO FURY LIKE A MOTHER SCRONED”

Detective Garcia is plunged into a world of betrayal and darkness. Ritualistic murders are plaguing the city, and she is unknowingly linked to these phenomena. Demons are real, and they threaten the life of her son. What would a mother do to protect her child, what steps would she take to keep them safe? Natalia will have to answer these questions like any other parent, but the answers will take her down a path of blood and torment, a path she may never be able to come back from. This path may lead Natalia Garcia into the pit of Hell itself. |
Destiny Awaiting by Jan Foster She stole away to discover a new world, but interrupted a thief. Now Aioffe can’t escape from him, the impending war or her growing curiosity. Lost and alone in Henry V’s dangerous world, runaway fae Aioffe must rely on her newfound human captor, Tarl, to keep her safe. Yet his secrets could put both of them in greater peril than either could have imagined. Forced to enlist with Henry V's army, Tarl battles his conscience to keep flighty Aioffe hidden, while she struggles to find her place in medieval human society. As they travel through medieval Scotland, Wales, and England towards war with France, they must discover the power of true love and reveal themselves if they are to survive the destiny awaiting them at Agincourt. |
Visions of Snapdragon by Jana Sun Jack has always known she was a gifted psychic, her magic guiding her through life's mysteries enough to own a shop specializing in psychic readings. But when she discovers her magic stems from one of the ancient goddesses known as the Seer, her visions start to include her own life-possibly ending. Diego's punishment for shattering the links between Earth and the magical realm of Obius finally catches up to him, making his fractured heart run out of the magic to keep him alive even faster. Drawn to Jack's magnetic aura, Diego believes that only she can help him recover the fragments of his shattered heart and-maybe-restore the severed connection between the realms. As Jack and Diego join forces, a forbidden love ignites, but it's a tale Diego knows the ending to. Her visions are getting stronger though, and Jack can't shake the feeling that's a greater threat that comes along with Diego's desire to heal his heart. As the stakes rise, Jack's learning what it means to be a Priestess as her growing feelings for Diego intensify, testing the very bounds of her magic. In this enthralling urban fantasy, Jack and Diego's quest intertwines fate, love, and destiny. Can they mend the broken pieces of Diego's heart before it's too late? Or will Jack's dark visions come to fruition? Prepare to be enchanted by an unforgettable tale of magic, sacrifice, and romance as Jack and Diego's destinies collide, forever altering the fate of both realms. |
To Dance With Dragons by Jaq D Hawkins A young girl, Namah, flees her home and an unwanted marriage. Desperation takes her to the riverside, the site where as a toddler she was patted kindly by the goblin who had befriended Count Anton. But another memory of that day unsettles her as she pushes the small boat into the current. A memory of bubbles in the river, and of blood. There's something in the water still. Driven by a premonition that she belongs with the people across the river, she soon meets the children of Magicians...and of goblins. Yet there are greater challenges to face. In the midst of conflict between species, between generations, and between the ever combative northern and southern humans, a new enemy arises from over the sea. Foreign humans come to invade, expecting an easy conquest of the rich lands that Count Anton has so wisely kept productive of food supplies. The goblins see the danger of this invasion to their own uneasy peace with the familiar local humans, but they disagree among themselves as to whether they will best serve their kind by helping the surface dwellers, or by leaving all humans to kill each other once and for all. |
Princess of the Broken by Jasmine K Swinburne Princess Raylin has spent the best part of fourteen years isolated and alone, locked inside a tower, told it was for her own good—her own protection. Darkness writhes inside her, an endless battle against the light powers of her kingdom. A child born with the never wavering magic of the sun and the moon—the first in 300 years. There are those that would hunt her for her gifts, destroy her without hesitation. But that is the last thing on her mind when she flees her stone prison. Thievery has become second nature, but after being caught inside the palace gates, Raylin is given a choice, a chance at a new path. There’s just one catch, she must live among the royals of Sorrelle and play the part of another princess entirely. When her protector uncovers her secret escape, she gives Raylin a new task—find her long-lost heirloom; a pendant made of the blackest obsidian. With that, Raylin can do what she has always longed for—go home, and reunite with her family at last. Deception is a dangerous game, and around her, secrets and lies burn to ash. No one can be trusted, not even herself. As her powers come to blows, Raylin finds herself wrapped in the hateful fist of revenge. |
Dragon Princess by Jason P. Crawford To the commonfolk of Aetheria, the monarchy are the stuff of legends, descendants of the Uniter. To the lesser nobles, they stand as bastions of courage and political skill, deftly balancing the concerns of the people and the country. High Princess Amalia strives to live up to both expectations, forging herself into a Queen that her nation will one day be proud of. A hard task for any young woman, but for one blinded at birth, nearly impossible. Approaching her seventeenth year, and finding her worth under scrutiny from all corners, Amalia learns a devastating truth – dragons, the fabled foes of her ancestors, have returned. To defend her people and her kingdom, every last one must be destroyed…but her convictions are shaken when she discovers that they are not the unthinking beasts of her nation’s collective nightmares, but intelligent creatures much like herself. Amalia must uncover the secrets hidden in the shadows if she is to avert a war that could end in the deaths of everyone she holds dear. But some truths may be better left buried… |
Shadow of the Soul Blade by Jay Roland If you’re looking for an Epic Dark Adventure filled with magic and mystery, embark on a thrilling journey through the perilous world of Ashana. Join Bastian, a feral warrior, Xander, a gifted mage, Kumori, a stealthy rogue, and Reinhardt, a master swordsman, as they overcome personal differences and cunning foes in their quest to save themselves, and Ashana herself. Accompany these unlikely heroes, as they engage in epic duels and wield awe inspiring magic in the face of overwhelming odds. Order your copy today, to unravel the mystery of the Soul Blade, and uncover the true source of evil threatening this majestic world. |
A Bastard's Birthright by JE Payne Deep in the Marduk jungle, an ancient artefact is recovered. Unlike anything discovered before, it launches the powers of the world into a brutal contest. Fleets set sail, mages plot, and assassins strike from the shadows, all seeking to control the most powerful artefact ever created. Whoever succeeds will have the power to either control the world or destroy it. And then there’s Calris and Jasmine. Calris Telruson, Royal Calandorian Marine and bastard, is living his best life. Sailing the high seas, fighting and drinking to his heart’s content with his best friend and his squad, he can’t imagine it getting any better than this. Jasmine Fastra, apprentice mage with ambitions of fame and fortune, is finally on track for her dreams to come true. Her experiments are making headway, and her long sought Adept’s robes are within reach, provided she can keep her temper somewhat in check. Their lives take a sharp turn when they’re thrown into the struggle over the artefact. Caught between the most dangerous forces in the world, they must fight with everything they have. Fists. Flames. The ever reliable headbutt. They must protect the artefact. If only anyone knew what the damn thing actually did... |
The Burning Fire Rises by Jeff Walker A paranormal thriller with elements of science fiction and supernatural fantasy! Welcome to the mysterious world of Professor Darkk and Miss Shadow.

FBI Special Agent John Mathers is investigating a strange crime scene in a forest near Flint, Michigan. A large crater has been discovered with the charred remains of a group of people. It appears to be a case of spontaneous combustion. That's when he encounters Professor Darkk and Miss Shadow, a couple with supernatural powers, who are also investigating the strange event. Who are they? Why are they interested in aiding him in unraveling this unexplainable enigma? John Mathers is suddenly pulled into inexplicable events and must confront terrifying creatures that seem to come straight from nightmares and from an unseen realm that overlaps with our world. Navigating a never-ending labyrinth of unfamiliar dangers and peculiarities, he is guided by Professor Darkk and Miss Shadow. Can he trust them? Are they equally evil and lethal as the one he's attempting to locate for all those who were burned? Do they have secrets of their own? The adventure starts as Special Agent Mathers joins with this mysterious pair, a teacher and his gorgeous student, as they explore the dark and deadly world that's trying to break into our reality.

This is Part One of their epic first full novel! |
Cthoma's Fated by Jeffery A. Smith Every twenty years the red comet Cthoma lights up the night sky. Every twenty years, the emperor Shaucrim Vlaide must fear for his life. Throug Slagger was meant to be the chosen one. Born under the comet, he was fated to defeat the emperor and end Shaucrim’s reign of terror before it began. Leaving his family when he was ten years old, he trained with an ancient order of monks and embarked on a quest to find ten powerful Ixafore rings, set on fulfilling the prophecy. He failed. For nineteen years, Throug has been trying to forget his failure at the bottom of a flagon. With one year remaining before the return of Cthoma, he is offered a chance at redemption. Thrust upon a journey the length of the empire and beyond, can he find the tenth ring, recover what has been taken from him, and face Shaucrim Vlaide under the red light of the comet, or is it already too late? |
Evil's Unlikely Assassin by Jenn Windrow "Evil's Unlikely Assassin is a promising urban fantasy debut that features all that's great about the genre--action, attitude, and ass-kicking." -Jaye Wells, USA Today bestselling author of The Sabina Kane and Prospero's War seriesVampire Alexis Black is on a mission - to rejoin the human race.Coerced into signing an ironclad contract by an Angel-with-attitude, Alexis must hunt down and assassinate at least one vampire, werewolf, or creepy crawly every night for fifty years to become human again. Too bad the contract didn’t mention the badass vampire who now rides shotgun in her brain, insatiable bloodlust, or her new I-hate-everything-with-fangs sidekick. If she can fulfill her end of the bargain, her humanity is restored, if not she will be destroyed.But when a revenge-seeking bloodsucker threatens her city, Alexis must risk everything to ensure there’s a humanity to return to. Since her vampire nature is her greatest weapon to defeat the monsters that threaten her friends and future, Alexis must choose to accept her inner beast or watch those she loves die. |
Splintered Magic by Jilleen Dolbeare Brigid Donovan is down on her luck. Her husband dumped her for the biggest stereotype around, his secretary, and her family mansion is a decaying wreck. All she wants is to get it restored, enjoy the peace and quiet of living in eight hundred acres of primordial forest, and rebuild her life. Fate seems to be against her. First, her cat starts to speak to her. And what does he say? He's not what he seems to be—seriously? Like a talking cat is normal. He does tell her that she's the great-granddaughter of a fae lord, and very powerful. Only, that doesn't seem right. Where's her magic? Why didn't her family tell her? Things aren't as picture perfect as they seem in her hometown of Kilchis, Oregon. In fact, they haven't been for a long time. For one thing, her restoration team is a pack of werewolves, and her new bestie is a witch. What's going on? Brigid has to find out fast or she could lose it all—her mind, her magic, and her life. |
Crimson Spellscape by Jina S. Bazzar In the town of Gold Fields, evil wears a friendly mask, blood doesn’t always run red, and fire doesn’t always burn. Eight-year-old Innah McLeod witnessed a nightmare that shattered her innocence and left her with supernatural abilities. For years, she uses these gifts in service of law enforcement, spying on the dregs of the supernatural community. But when her partner and mentor falls in the line of duty, Innah’s only wish is to retreat to the country and the solace of beautiful sunsets. Now, Captain Bradshaw wants her back. If she accepts this one assignment, he will release her from her contract. Unable to refuse, Innah finds herself undercover in the town where she lost more than she ever knew. She knows the drills—go in, identify the members, get out. But Gold Fields is home to a dangerous cult, one that brings the past knocking on her door and awakens old nightmares. Once, Innah McLeod faced unspeakable horrors. In the town of Gold Fields, she will step into that darkness anew, where the line between savior and sacrifice hangs by a thread. |
Secrets of the Sorcerers by Joan Marie Verba A vengeful plan. An impossible impasse. When confronted by the magnitude of past deeds, will she be caught in a spellbound standstill? High Sorcerer Marlys has earned the respect of her colleagues. Twelve years after freezing her ruthless predecessor in time to protect her region, the powerful leader has worked hard to bring about peace and tranquility. But while presiding over a beautiful double wedding, a rival enchantress traps Marlys’s friends with an identical spell in malicious payback. Denying the intruder’s demand to free Marlys’s predecessor after more than a decade bespelled, Marlys and her companion sorcerers frantically search for a way to crack their adversary’s magic. And with each side refusing to compromise and driven by distrust, they face a mountainous task—to find the legendary Library of Sorcery, which they hope contains the knowledge to restore their friends. With their opponent also on the passage to the Library, can Marlys and her companions reach their destination first to end the magical deadlock? Secrets of the Sorcerers is the refreshing first book in a quest fantasy series. If you like strong characters, gentle humor, and action-filled adventure, then you’ll love Joan Marie Verba’s enthralling story. Join the sorcerers on their quest. Buy Secrets of the Sorcerers to break the spell today! |
The Black Crown by John A. Douglas It is the dying days of the Age of Adventures and the Orc Wars have ended. The Crown Pantheon, authoritarian rulers of Allspire, slaughtered the marauding Orcs by the tens of thousands and returned peace to the continent of Evergrad. But among the many half-orc bastards left in the wake of the war, one was Prince Ragoth Brightsorn, son of the notorious Warlord Thorgoth and Seranna, Queen of Namaria, the sole human-ruled kingdom. After seventeen years of isolation, Ragoth is cruelly forced out of his life of luxurious comfort and into exile on the eve of his royal Crowning before he can receive his gilded mark, the magic sigil that proves his royal birth. Unable to prove who he is or return home, he embarks on a quest to reach his father’s tribe, the Sunderfang, in the lawless wilds of Dreadmour. But his venture is not taken alone. He earns the company of Cortland Lowhelm, a pugilistic human farmboy hellbent on finding a legend to fill, and Denith, a compassionate, if helpless, elvish goodwill worker. To ensure safe passage, they acquire the services of Val’Mora, a world-weary veteran adventurer down on her luck. Together, they cross the kingdoms of the Crown Pantheon with nefarious forces seemingly at every step. The Black Crown is a coming-of-age epic fantasy packed to the brim with action & adventure, political intrigue, found family, vengeful dragons, dark abominations, and, most of all….ORCS! |
Dimensional Traveler by John Champaign Stephen Crawford is trying to finish his PhD dissertation when he's transported to a magical land he's previously only experienced through gaming. With a strange new capability that causes him to capture (and remove from existence) places, things, and people, he's trying to make sense of his situation and make his way back to Earth. |
The Saga of Bjorn Unfrid by John Simons The omens are not good. Ancient forces are at play… …and ancient forces are known to be assholes. Bjorn knows this because he’s not like other people. He sees the past and future, ghosts and gods. Sometimes he talks to them. But he never expected or wanted to get dragged into the business of the spirit world. He already has his own problems, like how to start a conversation with the woman he followed all the way to Texas so he could stay close to her. He’s pretty sure that wouldn’t go over as a great opening line. Unfortunately, the spirit world and the physical world are tied together and Bjorn is tangled up in all of it. It’s a lot to handle all at once in your freshman year of college, and UH is not the college experience he was expecting. But when things turn dark and the lives of his loved ones are at stake, it’s the place where he must awaken to his destiny whether he wants to or not. |
City in the Dragon's Eye by Jordan Loyal Short Red Dragons. Black Comedy. White-Knuckled Adventure. Viktor’s magic is turning him into a dragon. And it’s not pretty. To save his friends who've bumbled into a deadly ambush, Viktor draws too deeply on the power of the Dragon Well, and now a magical tumor has begun to change him...one scale at a time. Viktor sets off on an irreverent quest for a cure that will lead him to a remote sanitarium. Here, he will uncover a mad doctor’s strange experiments, a stubborn dwarf with stinky feet, and rumors of an ancient mirror that may hold the key to Viktor’s very survival. As a mustache-twiddling secret society of dragon fanatics closes in, Viktor must choose between the power his transformation offers, and the hope of finding a cure. To the fabled Tyrant’s Tomb, Viktor races the mysterious Thule Society, where deadly traps and cryptic puzzles protect a treasure of unspeakable power. With every heartbeat the tumor’s corruption spreads. Can a court dandy and a disgraced scholar help Viktor find his cure? Or is it too late to save the city from a mad doctor’s dark designs? |
Here There Be Monsters by Josh Wright 800 years ago, Witches from another dimension tried to take over the world. 300 years ago, the paranormal beings they left in their wake came out of the shadows to join human society. Now, a knight cursed with immortality, a mummy with eldritch powers, and a werewolf police captain are on the trail of a serial killer hunting paranormals. The reasons why will lead them deep into a world of corruption where religion mingles with politics, humanity's xenophobia is on full display, and the monsters aren't necessarily the ones with claws and fangs. |
Black Dot White by JPS Marinho Balance is a hard thing to maintain. Even more when a war is brewing… The Two Continents used to be one until the Almighty Greysui separated them and forbidden Yin and Yang from meddling with mortal affairs; and for 3000 years, the Sacred Books of the two gods have been kept hidden by their orders. Sam, a thatcher who thinks that the life he lives must not be all that is destined for him, finds the incomplete Book of Yang. At the cost of his mother’s life, he manages to escape his pursuers, and sets on a quest to try to find the Temple of the Order of Yang. Lax’Bo, wielder of the Book of Yin and a gladiator fighting for the everlasting glory in the Eternal Battle, finds himself climbing the power ladder in the northern city of Barverm, through a series of chance events, that entangle him in the web of the Royal Family’s own political games, which he is not sure he wants to be in. Both try to cope with their newly-found power while managing the threats around them; but they have to be careful, for their Sacred Books can take them down the same path that led to The Breaking of the Continent. |
Dawn of the Darkest Day by K.C. Woodruff An artist plagued by a violent past. An heir destined never to take her own throne. A tyrant bound to life, consumed by his bloody trail.
Dawn breaks over a dying land. Ever since surviving the bloody coup that cost Ara her home and Stedd his family, they’ve found solace in each other’s arms, dreaming of a life where Ara can cultivate her gardening and engineering talents while Stedd flourishes in his art. But the old magic that once held Evenia together has long faded, and when King Vayne Savant learns of Ara’s godly heritage and royal bloodline, she turns from a budding engineer into a reluctant bride, and a pawn in his cunning plan to dominate the continent amid its technological collapse. Desperate to escape her husband’s bloodstained grasp, Ara strikes a dark deal with the king: a child—the heir to two thrones—in exchange for her freedom. Her plan should have been simple, but in between sieges, squabbling, and sessions of pleasure are nights spent waking to assassins’ blades at her throat and the threat of sinister societies formidable enough to outsmart even Savant’s cunning. Unwilling to lose Ara, Stedd sets down his paintbrush and picks up a blade, entering a war he doesn’t understand. But the line between love and hatred is a thin one, and Stedd soon finds himself torn between rescuing the love of his life or pursuing revenge on the man who destroyed it. The fate of the continent lies in the hands of a ruthless conqueror and a pacifistic queen, their destinies far more than they understand. If they can find common ground, Evenia may be saved. But the obstacles that lie in their wake are more than they can anticipate, and the consequences for failure greater than they could imagine. |
The Oathsworn Legacy by K.R. Gangi Rawley and Baelin make a living the only way they know how—protecting the people of Centrum by slaying the dark things that stole their childhood: monsters, and everything evil. Though the work never ends, and there’s plenty of coin to go around, Rawley and Baelin discover a sinister secret hidden deep within the crevices of Centrum’s past. Centuries of lies and deceit unravel before them, and they soon find themselves shifting from mere mercenaries to a force that will last generations. At least, that’s their hope. Dwarves in the west, Wroughtmen in the north, Elves in the east, and a tyrant king ruling with an oppressive fist, Rawley and Baelin find themselves balancing on the precipice of total chaos. With friends and allies at their sides, will everything they’ve accomplished be enough to save them from the shadows rising, or will a plot that’s generations old finally drag everything into the abyss? |
The Handwarmers of Immortality by Karen McCompostine “Nae woman isna as deadly with a blade” Set in the 16th Century, the 20th Century and some other centuries as well, this daring fusion of epic fantasy, grim dark realisticness, historical inaccuracy, heartwarming romance and illogical magic tale will take you, the reader, on a thrilling journey as the powers of good and evil do epic battle though those centuries. This is not a boring story, though, because it has been expertly (I underline this word for emphasis) edited. (Which means it’s shorter than all the centuries involved.) Within these pages of this book you will follow the adventures of our plucky and limber, greatly emancipated Highland heroine, Connie McSplunge. Connie believes her life as a Highland warrior is her life, yet fickle fate has other ideas and soon young Connie’s life will be turned upside down. And stretched. Will good triumph over evil and will Connie’s aching heart find solace in the arms of a fitness instructor? Find out all this, and much more, besides in The Handwarmers of Immortality! |
Blood of the Stars by Karyne Norton Harnessing the power in her blood could turn the tides of war—if it doesn’t destroy her first. It’s been fourteen years since Prince Gaeren lost Aeliana, the childhood friend he’d sworn to protect. Haunted by the unfulfilled promise, he searches for a way to bring her home. But with threats against the kingdom from both a rebel faction in the south and Mayvus, a power-hungry priestess in the east, he only has time to follow one last clue across the seas. Kidnapped as a child, Aeliana is desperate to be rid of the chaotic magic in her blood, magic her captors use to ravage the land. When she’s found by Gaeren’s rebel enemies, she joins their fight to rescue her mother from Mayvus, but her unwieldy power only serves to attract Mayvus' attention. Aeliana must learn to control her magic before they reach her mother, or risk becoming the weapon Mayvus needs to take complete control of the kingdom. Blood of the Stars is the first book in an epic fantasy series full of magic, intrigue, found family, reluctant royalty, & descendants of Stars on the brink of war. |
Splitting Dawn by Katherine D. Graham Envied by Her Enemies, Loathed by Her Loved Ones, Frantically Seeking Freedom for Herself... A Reluctant Royal... Princess Kierra never wanted to rule. Inheriting a doomed kingdom besieged by Demons holds no charm for her. Nor does the arranged marriage her mother has set in place to shackle her to the throne. All she longs for is freedom... and something she's forgotten that waits beyond the safety of the castle walls. Enemies, or Lovers? Running away from home on the eve of her wedding feels like the best decision Kierra has ever made. Until she lands in Demon King Draco's all-too-eager arms. The hated nemesis of her people, and reason behind the death of so many loved ones, awakens something dark in Kierra's mind, heart, and soul. Is she who she thinks she is? Is he truly her enemy at all? Salvation, or Damnation? In the midst of a world veiled by secrets and deceit, Kierra must navigate between Humans, Demons, Vampire-Elves, Oracles, and even gods and goddesses, if she is to survive. When all roads lead home in the end, though, she is forced to face the one decision she dreads most: Which path will save her? And does she even want to be saved? Be swept away in the shadows of forbidden love, adventure, and sacrifice in USA Today Bestselling Author Katherine D. Graham's newest dark fantasy romance novel. |
If The Walls Fall by Kay Malady A romance obsessed teen. A fantasy world demanding she save it. Can Grace prove she’s not their prophesied hero without losing her life or her heart? If you live life like you're in a romance novel, ending up in a fantasy saga would surprise anyone. For serial romantic and reader Grace, she's less surprised and more disbelieving. When she arrives in the Kingdom of Dalner, she assumes it's all a dream. After all, Dalner is a world full of magic and attentive love interests, something no rational seventeen year old could believe is real. Even more improbable are the hints that Grace was brought to save the Kingdom from their northern enemies, magical immortals like the mysterious Woman, who seek to tear down the walls caging them in. But as a non-magical human with no special powers (unless turning every situation into a romantic plot counts), Grace can barely keep herself alive, much less harness the skills needed to save the world. While Grace struggles to prove she’s not the girl they’re looking for, outside forces drag her towards a deadly conclusion, one that may cost more than just her new friendships. To escape the evils threatening to destroy the Kingdom and protect her first love, she must confront her own definition of heroism and discover her inner power before it's too late. This book includes some scenes of violence, age appropriate sexual content, an attempted but unsuccessful assault, diversity representation, a fae-like race, a HEA, and no cliffhangers.

For fans of the A Court of Thorns and Roses series by Sarah J. Maas, Uprooted by Naomi Novik, and the Folk of the Air series by Holly Black. |
The Light Must Hold by Kriss Gallom In a world without stars, divine crystals shield the folk of Esiaga from fiends that prowl the darkness. When Lior, a priest who communes with the crystals, prays to the deities and asks for their guidance, he is met only with silence. Guidance is something he yearns for as he watches his convent brothers either fall to creatures that lurk in the shadows or lose their minds trying to harness the power of the crystals’ light. That is, at least, until travelers arrive on behalf of the Queen. Sworn to come to their kingdom’s aid in times of need, Lior and his convent brothers must make the hazardous pilgrimage to the capital, Bangol. The guidance Lior has always sought comes in the form of Elouan, the paladin sworn to guide the convent’s caravan. Where Elouan leads Lior, however, deviates from the known path. The Light Must Hold — a classic dark fantasy adventure that combines fanciful prose and sisyphean struggles. |
Blood Runs True by Kyle Johnson A new weapon is forged in the defense of the Empire, a weapon whose blood runs true, but this blade may bring destruction to all he holds dear... Amarl is a hizeen, a half-spirit, and the first of his kind ever to enter Askula Academy, whether he wants to or not. There, he joins the other novices seeking to become ithtaru, the supernatural defenders of the Umpratan Empire. He'll learn the arts of battle and magic, and the secret to the powerful abilities that make ithtaru an invincible force. Askula isn't welcoming to any novice, though, much less one of his unique heritage. He faces challenges from without and within his school: jealous classmates, violent older students, murderous monsters, and instructors who will stop at nothing to forge him into the weapon he must one day become. Amarl's blood runs true, and the power hidden within him is vast and deep. Will it be enough to keep him alive when entire worlds want nothing but to see him dead? Askula Academy is a LitRPG magic and superhero academy fantasy set in another world. |
The Thief's Keeper by Kyrie Wang A runaway thrall. A clever thief. Together, two orphans will defy destiny or fall trying.

In the aftermath of a rebellion against William the Conqueror, northern England lies in ruins, its people scattered and starved.

Aelfric, a 14-year-old thrall, flees from his master and stumbles upon a cache of stolen laundry. The thief? Aliwyn, a girl around his age ostracized for being “cursed.” In her care is a lost toddler she has rescued from the clutch of greedy thrall traders.

Forced to cover each other’s secrets, Aelfric and Aliwyn form an unlikely friendship...and maybe something more. They embark on a perilous journey to reunite the child with his family and seek a cure for Aliwyn’s mysterious condition.

But time is running out. Aelfric’s master is on the hunt, and the shadows of death loom ever closer over Aliwyn. Will they find the courage to press on and defy fate, or will their quest end in capture and ruin? Immerse yourself in a fast-paced tale of unforeseen twists and heart-stopping challenges. The Thief's Keeper is a thrilling young adult novel that transports you to an alternative medieval world, where Celtic-inspired tribes live alongside the last Vikings. Discover a heartwarming tale where friendship triumphs against insurmountable odds. Start your adventure today! |
Temper the Dark by L Ryan Storms Servant girl Alaris Kahlanik finds out about her family's gift the hard way when she discovers her ability to dreamwalk after being condemned to the Cells. With thoughts of escape, she uses her newfound ability to spy on the emperor and his secret search for something important. Nothing the emperor wants could possibly be good for the people he rules, and so whatever the emperor is looking for, Alaris must find first. Throlani Guardsman Kagan Liis has served the Empire since Emperor Patuk's reign began eight years ago. He can also communicate with a vicious oracle referred to only as the Darkness. When the Darkness tasks Kagan with investigating the Servant girl in the Cells, Kagan takes on a special mission that will require more than his usual interrogation methods of brute strength and intimidation. From vastly different echelons of the same tribal society, Alaris and Kagan are surprised to learn they share one important goal - ensuring the best for the people of their island nation. Alaris discovers what the emperor is looking for - a dragon! But warning a senile dragon against impending danger is no easy task. Together, Alaris and Kagan must save a forgetful dragon and a divided nation...which may mean giving up any hope of saving themselves. |
Susan, You're The Chosen One by Lauretta Hignett Starting over isn’t easy when your whole world is a pile of rubble and everyone thinks you’re insane. One moment, Susan Moore had the perfect life—a handsome husband, a fabulous career, wonderful friends, and a gorgeous home in Pacific Heights, San Francisco. The next minute, it was all gone. And Susan found herself in a straitjacket, locked in a padded room. An optimist at heart, Susan’s clawing her way back, rebuilding her life brick by brick—not an easy feat when you’re over the hill and it feels like the whole city hates you. But when a group of ridiculously gorgeous models in Fae cosplay barge into her tiny apartment and declare her to be the chosen one, Susan decides to play along. She’s off to save the world. Except they’re not in cosplay. Either Susan has really, truly gone insane this time… or all this magic is real.

Susan, You're The Chosen one is book one in the fun, fast-paced and thrilling new paranormal women's fiction series Welcome To Midlife Magic, by bestselling urban fantasy author Lauretta Hignett. |
A Heart of Bones by Lily C. Strauss Run away to a small coastal town. Leave your dark past behind. Start over. It was a pretty good plan. And Jack Parker is happy living the boring life of a small-town bookstore owner. A life outside of the world of magic. But when a new ghost shows up on his doorstep, followed by an irritatingly attractive detective investigating the murder of his partner, Jack knows his dream of a quiet life is about to magically disappear. Because Detective Richard Zuraw is about to pull him back into the world he hoped he’d left behind. A world of warring magical houses, powerful talismans, and evil cultists who would rather kill a mage like Jack than talk to him. Can Jack and Richard work together to stop the coming apocalypse? And if not, can Jack at least figure out how to get a little action before the whole damn world ends? |
The Highwayman Kennedy Thornwick by Lisa Kuznak Framed for murder and horse theft, Tommy Fellham is stuck in Magelock Penitentiary, rotting like a bad pickle in too small of a crock. Capital punishment was banned, how convenient—instead of getting hanged he spends his time learning how to fight, steal, gamble, and drink. There isn't much else to do with himself until his best friend and teacher, the notorious highwayman Kennedy Thornwick, confides in Tommy his plans to escape. When Tommy receives a visitor that promises fortune at the expense of a newly built bank, that settles it. He has to help Kennedy. But what Tommy doesn't account for is how much the prison has shaped him, and not only will he have to get used to magic outside the walls, but come to terms with who he has become . . . All while trying to avoid the mage hunters after the price on his head. Kennedy might have been too good of a teacher. |
Echoes of Memory by M. Anthony Harris If you can't trust your memories, what can you trust?

This question gnaws at Aris Ravenscroft after foreign memories invade his mind and nearly get him killed during an assassination attempt on the Emperor, a hero beloved by all. A hero he's sworn to protect. Kestrel, a street-smart orphan, also finds his mind filled with memories that aren't his. Memories that say that his world is nothing like it seems. Now the duo must make sense of the alien memories while unraveling the mystery of the Emperor's true colors while dodging attempts on their lives by the mysterious Inquisitors, crooked politicians, and a host of dangers in a world where the greatest villain is the biggest hero. |