stories in and

Casual Business with Fairies

Casual Business with Fairies by J. W. Judge

SPFBO9

Not all fairy tales end with happily ever after. In a time when a new breed of fairies is not beholden to the old covenants that have governed the relationship between mankind and fairies for centuries, the Bone Collectors Guild has risen as a force that intends to forever shift the balance of power. Scott Warren finds himself in the middle of a conflict that is generations in the making. Not only did he not know the parties, but until now he didn't even know they existed beyond the lore and children's stories that were told to him and that he has passed on to his daughter. When someone shows up at Warren's law office claiming to be a fairy, he must decide whether the world is as he has always believed it to be. And if not, are the stakes great enough to warrant getting involved and placing himself in the crosshairs of the Bone Collectors Guild? Warren resigns himself to maintaining the status quo until his own daughter's lost teeth turn up missing and the tooth fairies give him a dose of what they have in store for those whose bones they've collected. Regardless of his decision, he is left with the lasting impression that doing business with fairies couldn't be a more treacherous endeavor. Buy now to find out if Scott Warren gets tangled up with factions on the brink of calamity.


Springtide Harvest

Springtide Harvest by J.D. Mitchell

SPFBO9

Haskell wants to be a legend, a hero like his grandfather who broke the orcish hordes. Froba just wants to survive. She knows what Haskell doesn't: that the deck is stacked against them, and there are no heroes in the world. After assembling a band of misfits, Haskell must face a labyrinthine dungeon, an exploitative, monster-hunting guild, and his own failings, while Froba must decide where her loyalties lie—with her naïve mark or corrupt master. If traitors and woodland monsters don’t murder them first.


The Return of the Knights

The Return of the Knights by Gregory Kontaxis

SPFBO9

The Palace of the Dawn will soon be stormed. The most ruthless man of all time is one step away from assailing on Iovbridge and dethroning Sophie Delamere. The Queen of Knightdorn is now alone, with neither allies nor an army capable of rebuffing the enemy which is approaching her city. Everything appears to be over, until a mysterious young man, Elliot, makes his appearance. Entangled in a web of lies and politics, Elliot will try to draw Walter away from Iovbridge and face him in the stronghold of Wirskworth. He will attempt to rekindle relations and revive the old alliance between the Queen of Knightdorn and Syrella Endor, the Governor of Wirskworth. Elliot’s mission will take every fibre of his will and if he fails, so shall the kingdom. Game Of Thrones meets Greek mythology in this explosive epic fantasy story, packed with war, medieval lore, magic, loyalty and bravery. The first book in the series, The Dance of Light, will take you on an epic journey to a fantasy world of men and mythical creatures which will keep you spellbound till the very end.


Written in Water

Written in Water by Elizabeth Schechter

SPFBO9

Aven's world is frustratingly simple. He lives far out at sea for reasons that his parents will never discuss with him, telling him only that life on land isn't safe. Then the discovery of a storm-damaged ship with a single survivor reveals the truth. He is the Waterborn, one of the five chosen by the Mother Goddess to save the world. And the world is far more complicated than he ever dreamed, and far more terrifying. Forced to leave behind the only life he's ever known, Aven must learn quickly how to survive on land, and how to protect his newfound loves from the unknown menace hunting them. Can Aven fulfill his destiny and save the world? Or will this quest cost him everything?


Infernal Shadow

Infernal Shadow by Tayor Crook

SPFBO9

As shadows stretch across the land,
Her light becomes our hope. Thomaras lives by a strict set of rules: Get paid up front, never use your real name, and never be a hero. Little does he know that his next job will tear his rules, and his life, apart. Ashea is only safe when she’s on the move. Pursued by nightmares and the consequences of her own growing power, one small mistake traps her in a cell that could be her end. To escape, she is forced to trust a man that can’t be trusted. Half Granite Ogre, half Human, Torin travelled south into Haven to live among his mother’s people. Quiet and unassuming despite his size, Torin is about to be thrust into a conflict that threatens Humans and Granite Ogres alike. Watching it all from another plane of existence, a dark entity slowly exerts its power. Influencing. Manipulating. Waiting.


The Way of Unity

The Way of Unity by Sarah K. Balstrup

SPFBO9

The Seven Lands of Velspar put their faith in the Intercessors, a psychic priesthood responsible for the purification of the spirit. Where passion flares, they soothe its intent. Those who cannot be soothed, are cast out, their spirits destroyed by fire. The Intercessors are mystics of the highest order, but Velspar’s ruling Skalens believe their power has grown too great. Surviving the Intercessor’s murder plot against her family, Sybilla Ladain rises to power. The Skalens come together under the banner of her grief, bringing the practice of Intercession to its brutal, bloody end. Yet victory brings Sybilla no peace. In time, she will have to face the people of Velspar, forced to live in a psychically alienated world, and a band of rebels led by an escaped Intercessor set on her annihilation.


Humanborn

Humanborn by Joanna Maciejewska

SPFBO9

In the war, the mythborn killed her friends, but now humanborn Kaja needs to work with them to uncover a conspiracy or Dublin's streets will run red with blood once more. Less than a decade ago, the Magiclysm, a tear between Earth and another place, brought magic to Ireland—and worse, it brought back the mythborn. The war that followed left Dublin scarred, and cursed Kaja Modrzewska with chaotic magic that will eventually claim her life. Struggling with wartime nightmares, Kaja seeks normalcy amongst the volatile peace working as an information broker when a series of explosions across Dublin threatens to reignite the war. Both sides are eager to blame the other, so Kaja reluctantly agrees to investigate. But finding the terrorists responsible means working alongside the mythborn’s elite killers, and uncomfortable wartime secrets coming to light. Kaja, who had saved a mythborn’s life during the war, finds out she has a life debt of her own, and as she juggles her allegiances and obligations, she’ll have to decide where her loyalties lie, with her old human allies or the mythborn.


Cold West

Cold West by Clayton Snyder

SPFBO9 SPFBO Finalist

Bastard. Killer. Husband. Father. His wife cold in the ground, and two young boys to feed, Wil Cutter turns to what he knows: Violence. But a bounty is never just a bounty, and blood is never spilled in drops. Forced to ever more violent acts, he’ll have to ask himself: Is Hell too far to ride?


Through Dreams So Dark

Through Dreams So Dark by Angela Boord

SPFBO9

Sergei’s mother sacrificed herself to get her family through the Iron Curtain. Now it’s Sergei’s turn to save her…even if he has to cross realities to do it. Sergei is determined to put his broken family back together, no matter the danger. Not-rats and bugs hiding in his walls, listening to his conversations? He can live with that. The shadowy government organization trying to dig encoded information out of his nightmares? He’ll play along to learn what they know about his mother. If he has to destroy his college career, his love life, and the best friendship he’s ever had—with his roommate Cam—he’ll do that, too, if that’s what it takes. He’s the only one who believes his mother is still alive. Nobody else needs to get hurt if he doesn’t tell them what he’s doing. But however hard Sergei tries to keep his double life a secret, Cam still shows up to save him whenever he’s in trouble, like Cam has some kind of magical sixth sense—a sense that keeps them bonded together no matter what. And when Sergei finally breaks through his dreams into a world where monsters lurk and reality changes on a whim…where having magic carries a death sentence…the stakes of this game could be far higher than Sergei wants to pay. Now it’s not just his life on the line—he’s dragged people he cares about into danger with him. He thought he could risk himself alone. But will his single-minded mission to find his mother be worth the price everyone he loves has to pay? Stranger Things meets epic fantasy in award-winning author Angela Boord’s new Cold War portal fantasy set in a world of ever-shifting conspiracy and quantum magic, where even reality itself can’t be trusted, and family isn’t just about who you’re related to.


Of Deeds Most Valiant

Of Deeds Most Valiant by Sarah K. L. Wilson

SPFBO9

Eleven paladins walk into a monastery. Only one knows it’s a trap. When Victoriana Greenmantle is summoned to represent her paladin order in an unusual quest, the timing couldn’t be worse. Having just witnessed the horrific death of her mentor, she is barely a paladin at all. Worse, she has a trapped demon on her hands and if anyone discovers she hasn’t quite managed to cast it out, she will be made to suffer consequences worse than death. The summoning requires Victoriana to journey to the newly revealed Aching Monastery and there to search for and recover the fabled Cup of Tears on behalf of her order. But her order is not the only one seeking this relic. And her rivals are stronger, smarter, more experienced and just as motivated as she is. Will this cynical paladin have the faith to find the truth? When Adalbrand Von Menticure is summoned to the Aching Monastery he is unamused. Far from his holy work healing the sick and injured, this quest seems a waste of his time. But when the murders start and he’s thrown together unwittingly with a young female paladin who keeps breaking all the rules and drawing everyone’s ire, he is forced to confront ghosts of his past. Can he push past his guilt to accept this tempting ally? Together, these two holy paladins may be the only ones who can discover what or who is killing their compatriots and whether the Cup of Tears is really worth the bloodshed and danger within the monastery walls before time runs out and they are trapped forever. A complicated mission, you say? Oh, but it gets worse, because forbidden love is slowly stalking them both, complicating everything, and leaving them each more vulnerable than they can afford to be in the face of a danger worse than either of them ever imagined. Will this pair find strength in their strict discipline and holy orders in time to escape, or will they fall before the twin dangers of a rogue killer and an attraction more deadly than the simple risk of death?

This adult romantic epic fantasy stand-alone novel features paladins in all their aspects and is perfect for lovers of T. Kingfisher, Tamsyn Muir and Danielle L. Jensen. Though this book is a part of a collection of books linked by the same world it is a complete story in itself and does not bleed out into the other books in the series.


The Liar Charms

The Liar Charms by Lorain O'Neil

SPFBO9

Remy’s just graduated college and... been kidnapped! Sent to auction. And she doesn’t have the vaguest idea why. But intractable businessman Isaiah Grommet knows why, knows what he’s purchased, knows what Remy was bred for, knows what she is: a Liar Charm. Remy and her newfound little genetic talent will be invaluable to Isaiah’s billionaire empire ―voluntary or not. Awakening in a locked room in New York City with other bewildered young women, Remy is thunderstruck when informed by Isaiah what her new future is: after the requisite training from Pakken, Inc., Remy will be working for him. Or, she can face the wrath (not to mention the executioner!) of Pakken itself, an old and powerful company of very patriarchal men siring very special daughters for very special remuneration they are not about to give up. But one Pakken father has had enough ―and he’s secretly doing something about it. Another one is too but in a decidedly lethal direction. And Remy? Remy has a whopping big secret herself, one Pakken sure hasn’t bargained for. ’Cause when it comes to enslaved servitude, hipster Remy has some pretty intractable ideas of her own, creatively inventive ones if you want to be charitable, brain-bleached hilarious ones if you want to be accurate. So if Remy can just turn her “screw yous” into “yessirs” instead of launching her barmiest blast of fake-the-funk evah, she might not only stay alive but land the whole Pakken lot of ’em smack in the Hudson! Unfortunately Remy has never managed a “yessir” in her life.


Truth of Crowns

Truth of Crowns by Carl D. Albert

SPFBO9

“Secrets, secrets are so fun. Secrets, secrets – cut my tongue.” In a land where magick is heresy and ancient forces manipulate human whims, secrets will tear a fragile peace asunder. Four people stand at the heart of this burgeoning war. An unproven prince who married a woman forbidden to him. A sickly boy with a connection to an eldritch beast. An outcast knight who hides the infidelity of her liege lady. And a traitorous duke caught between the contradictions of his ideals. Two will die. Two will rise. And the Age of Terkir will march toward its end. Truth of Crowns is the tragic first installment in The Ash Eternal series, an epic fantasy rife with blood-soaked politics, arcane mysteries, and the human heart at conflict with itself.


The Undead Sorceress

The Undead Sorceress by JF Garrard

SPFBO9

Ever since Tamara became a vampire, things have gone downhill. Her grandmother runs off with her daughter’s soul and her husband thinks she is going crazy. Caught in the middle of a war between vampires, sorceresses and warlocks, she discovers an alternative history to the world she thought she knew.Meanwhile, strange jiangshi corpse zombies and other supernatural creatures start attacking civilians across the globe. Magic appears to be making a comeback, threatening the modern civilization which the vampires have built throughout the ages. The timeless battle between good & evil seems to be beginning once again.As Tamara gathers her courage to hunt down her grandmother, she isn’t sure if she can sacrifice one family member over another. Is it so wrong for grandmother to want to live forever?


Twilight Kingdom

Twilight Kingdom by HJ Tolson

SPFBO9

On the eve of her 16th birthday, Candle Enys discovers her brother has sold her soul to a demon. Scared for her life, Candle runs away. But the mountains of Hanternos are dangerous, especially for soft-hearted girls who have never learned to fight. At dawn and at dusk spirits crawl from the shadows, searching for bodies to steal. Evil stirs in the deep caves, and the wind smells of black powder.

A chance meeting with an ancient being sets her on the path to power she never knew she possessed. It also places a target on her back.

If she is to survive, Candle must defeat her monsters, or risk becoming one herself. A dark fantasy with steampunk and horror elements. Content warning for emotional abuse, some gore.


Defenders of Myth: Beginnings

Defenders of Myth: Beginnings by Michael Gisman

SPFBO9

On their world, myths spread their shadow across the land as legends creep from the dark of night. Some seek refuge. Others seek destruction and death. Meanwhile, something hidden, buried in the shadows of our world, hungers for release… A young man, Kalend, raised in a monastery without ever knowing who his parents were, is forced to flee that home by Warlocks and creatures from the mists of those myths. During his flight, Kalend comes face to face with a twin sister he never knew existed. A young woman, Hollilea, raised in the mountains by witches to learn the art of magic of another place and time, struggles to realize her full powers while being hunted by monsters from legend. Myths and legends have seeped from our world into theirs…and they bring chaos. A hidden hand has yet to reveal itself or its true designs as it desperately seeks the siblings. Brother and sister must unite, only together can they face their true calling. Only together can they face the darkness closing in on their world. Drawn into an ages-old struggle, as allies and foes from their world and another much older one gather around them, they confront the emerging evil and search for what lurks behind the veil of myths. Worlds converge as magic, armies, and creatures are unleashed on both sides. Thus begins a journey to save not just the people of their world but others from a faraway land. A land not so different from our own… Our world and their world. Myths and legends. Darkness spreads over all. Celtic, Arthurian, Greek, and other legends from two worlds, ours and theirs, mixed with sword and sorcery, are woven into a classic epic fantasy.


Wild Eyed Southern Boys

Wild Eyed Southern Boys by Shawn McGee

SPFBO9

Rebecca dumped him and then his mentor, Old Donnie, died, so Corey decided that he didn't need people and became a loner. He is nearly killed in his first encounter and his buddy from High School, Miles, and his codependent friend, Rachel, saved his life. He continued to go alone to gigs, even though injured, despite Rachel begging him not to go alone. Gargoyles are trying to come back to Earth faster than they ever have before and Corey is the last person on Earth who can banish them. The problem is, he'd rather find a new woman in his life, brew a better batch of beer, and relax in nature. If Corey can't go over his obsession with being a loner and accept the help of others, Atlanta, and the rest of the world is doomed.


Credible Threats

Credible Threats by Daniel Meyer

SPFBO9

Sam Adams, sixteen-year-old wizard, has zero interest in saving the world—but staying out of the line of fire isn’t an option for wizards. When a new designer drug hits the streets, giving ordinary humans magical powers and leaving a trail of bodies in its wake, it threatens to turn his city of Williamsport’s long-simmering conflict between the haves and the have-nots into a full-scale war. The only one with the skills to protect the city, Sam finds himself thrust into a conspiracy far darker and more dangerous than he ever imagined, with tentacles stretching into the criminal underworld and the wealthy elite—and into the spirit world. Fighting for his life, surrounded by enemies, Sam has to dig deeper than ever before to keep Williamsport from going up in flames. But even magic has its limits.


Sisters of Jade

Sisters of Jade by James Downe

SPFBO9

Adventurers. Treasure Hunters. Thieves. Long have the infamous Sisters of Jade raided the islands of the Sovanti Strait. Once, their names were whispered in fear. Now, their legacy is beginning to fade. Their leader, Kylan Tier, is a woman adrift. Returning to the city of Mgen Riy, Kylan learns an old friend is a prisoner of the corrupt Gorgon Court. After a failed coup, Baron Iro Mezakis has been maimed, his family executed. Only his youngest daughter survives, taken across the strait by a villainous rival. Hunted by agents of the Court, Kylan strives to hold her sisters together long enough to rescue the baron and reunite him with his daughter. Few have ever stood up to the Gorgon Court, but fewer still have lived to tell the tale. About Sisters of Jade. Sisters of Jade is set within the Legacy of Rukara. It is the first book about the sisters and their adventures. It is in the same world as the short story collection Salt & Cinder, but there is no need to read one before the other.


Shadow of the Winter Mood

Shadow of the Winter Mood by Cam Sinclair

SPFBO9

Drunk … Scoundrel … Thief … Vagabond … Fool … Reelum Hangs has been called many things, and at one time or other has resembled them all. Reelum, however, knows a dark and terrible secret—one that delves right to the heart of Kraven city. Sharrock is a grisly veteran from the harsh lands north of the Riven Expense—a brutish man with a hard temper and harder reputation. When a business opportunity presents the seemingly simple task of locating Reelum Hangs and providing a solution to his money woes, Sharrock is set on a course that will forever alter his life. Foul conspiracies that may threaten the very fabric of society will be uncovered. Scores will be settled, violence and mayhem unleashed, and bestial lusts unfettered to rampage without restraint. The notion of right and wrong, hero and villain, action and consequences will forever be skewed and tainted. Welcome to the Kraven Kronicles …


Danu's Curse

Danu's Curse by Nicole Pierman

SPFBO9

She endured an arranged marriage to help preserve peace in her country. But faced with familial betrayal, can a courageous young woman stop a brewing war between the Irish clans? Neas is no ordinary woman. Born with Fae magic in her veins, she is the only mortal with immortal abilities in Ireland. Due to her powers, she has always been protected by her uncle, a leader of a powerful Irish clan. But war continues to hang in the air, and Neas agrees to marry a prized warrior from another village in a desperate bid to strengthen peace between clans, even though she loves another man. When Fomorians rise from the Underworld and begin to attack, Neas begins to question her uncle's motives. Her uncle keeps her hidden behind the walls of his stronghold, away from the outside world as her people are slaughtered. Even though her magical abilities could easily end the bloodshed, she is pushed to the side until Neas uncovers the truth of his plan. Can Neas stop her uncle's bid for ultimate power without losing those she loves? Danu's Curse is a sweeping standalone Irish fantasy novel. If you enjoy independent female heroines, Irish mythology, and a thrilling magic-fueled story, then you will love Nicole Pierman's epic story. Buy Danu's Curse to join the ancient Irish rebels today!


The Third Crossing

The Third Crossing by Karim Soliman

SPFBO9

A prequel novel to the SPFBO Semi-finalist Army of the Cursed The drums of war are beating in Koya. By the Light’s will, the Red Cloaks shall cross the sea under His holy banner, the ancient homeland will be restored, the slaughtered ancestors will be avenged, and the damned occupants will all perish. By the Light’s will, the Third Crossing shall happen. Akira will be one of the heroes of the upcoming holy war; that’s the seer’s promise to his mother. He will outshine his fellow mages, don the red cloak, and join the Light’s own soldiers. He will bring victory to his people and honor to his family, clearing its name from his father’s shame. Or that’s what Akira thinks. Because seers can be devious sometimes. From the rural side of Koya enters Natsu as she assumes her late husband’s place and takes the smuggling underworld by storm. Her shocking rise provokes not only the Koyan navy, but also her rivals, and a fierce war ensues on land and sea. A war she can only win if she shakes hands with the smugglers' deadliest enemies; the Red Cloaks themselves. For honor and coin, Akira and Natsu will forge a shaky alliance, both knowing that one of them will eventually have to betray the other. Trust could be a grave mistake in these dark times of war. If you wish to be the last one standing, you must be ready to be the first to stab in the back.


The Way of Renegades

The Way of Renegades by Steve D. Wall

SPFBO9

An action-packed flintlock fantasy book about guns, mages, bards and dragons! Ulric, former war hero, has been living a quiet life of exile in the frontier city of Quinport and wants only to continue hiding from the mistakes of his past. But then he discovers the invention of a revolutionary new kind of rifle, and worse, the ruling Coalition discovers his identity. Rather than be blackmailed into service, Ulric goes to leave the city with the new rifles, but first he will need more money, or more help. Enter Dellioph, no mere bard, who just arrived to Quinport and wants only to play his music and to keep his secrets. But trying to do both lands him directly in the path of one of the Coalition Chancellors, who wants to use Dellioph, and his secrets, for himself. Unable to scheme his way out entirely, Dellioph must choose to keep his secrets, his freedom, or his music. But when the choice is between anything and his music, it’s no choice at all. And Gali, future chief of the Odagna, who wants nothing more than to save her people, even if that means forcing them to change. She disobeys her father, lies to her people, and travels to the Coalition city to learn how to do some of the things they do— making and using muskets foremost among them. But the people of the Coalition are not ready to accept the Teo, and Gali will be forced to learn the hard way that a renegade’s only friend is another renegade. Meanwhile, two mysterious strangers from opposite sides of the world come hunting a sorcerer who has unbelievable power, a hunger for more, and dragons… but they are nothing like the stories. Order your copy and join the action-packed journey of flintlocks, magic and dragons!


The Briar Crown

The Briar Crown by Helen Rygh-Pedersen

SPFBO9

They say love conquers all… but can the conquered ever love the conqueror? Twenty-five years ago, there was life. Twenty-five years ago, there was peace when the descendants of the dryads and naiads kept all life in balance. Until one fateful night when the Oderbergs invaded, executed the royal house of Domonov and took Domovnia for their own, ruling with an iron fist and an edict of fear. Roslyn Pleveli, like most of the orphans of that night, wants revenge and an end to the persecution of her kind. Yet, even if the Domovnian’s use of magic was permitted, she wouldn’t be much help, able to command only a few lowly weeds. But everything changes when she saves the life of an injured young man in the forest not knowing it was the prince of the Oderbergs himself. Ordered to see to the rest of his treatment, Roslyn is snatched from her home and all that she loves by his soldiers. Now, in the Oderberg stronghold, she has the chance to change things. With the royal family within her grasp all she has to do to free her people is kill them… but can she do it, or will something more powerful than revenge heal the wounds of the past?


Mrs. Covington's

Mrs. Covington's by K.R.R. Lockhaven

SPFBO9

When Jacob Bright strikes out on his own and moves to a new island, he quite unexpectedly finds himself the owner of a failing, capybara-themed pub named Mrs. Covington's. He quickly learns that he's going to have to make new friends and innovate if it's going to succeed. But when he learns that a neighboring Faun food restaurant, run by his kindhearted new friend, might have to close its doors, his priorities change.  Years ago, a reclusive wealthy woman lived on the island, and she wrote a clue in poem form which leads to a mysterious buried treasure. The treasure may be just the thing they need to save the restaurant, but they aren't the only people seeking it. Mrs. Covington's is a cozy fantasy book brimming with kindness, empathy, found family, and nachos.


The Bachelor's Valet

The Bachelor's Valet by Arden Powell

SPFBO9

Alphonse Hollyhock is blessed with wealth, class, and more beauty than brains. Though he hasn't got a lick of wit or magic to his name, he's perfectly content living life as an airheaded bachelor with his valet—the clever, unflappable Jacobi—by his side to ensure everything runs smoothly. All he lacks, according to his mother, is a wife. Despite Alphonse's protests, he's to marry Aaliyah Kaddour: a bright, headstrong young woman who would probably be charming company if she didn't threaten everything about Alphonse's way of life. Marrying means giving up his fashionable flat, his fast car, and, worst of all, it means losing Jacobi. Perhaps most distressingly, this talk of marriage is bringing all sorts of confusing feelings to the forefront. Because rather than falling for the beautiful girl being pushed into his arms, Alphonse seems to be falling for his valet. Except a man can't fall in love with another man. Can he? Meanwhile, Aaliyah has plans of her own. She's as devious as she is pretty, but if Alphonse wants to get through this marriage business in one piece, he'll have to trust her. Her and Jacobi, and, most dangerously, his own feelings. The Bachelor's Valet is a novel in the Flos Magicae series, a collection of queer romances set in an alternate 1920s universe with magic. All the stories are standalones and can be read in any order.


Heliotrope

Heliotrope by Palmer Pickering

SPFBO9

Teleo is a retired soldier descended from Mages, who were cast out of power generations ago. After years of war and sorrow, he wants nothing more than to live a quiet life on his farm and work his stonemason’s craft. His wife and daughter had been murdered during a war raid several years earlier and his young son stolen by the enemy side. He spent years unsuccessfully searching for his son and returned home broken-hearted. At the local castle, he comes upon a war orphan stolen by his side from the enemy and rescues him from abuse, adopting him as his foster son. Teleo is working as a mason at the castle when he finds himself in the middle of a coup. This launches a journey to protect his new family, uncover the secrets of the ancient ways, and reclaim the magic of the Mages. "Heliotrope," by Palmer Pickering, is a Sword & Sorcery title by the award-winning author of the science-fantasy sensation, "Moon Deeds."


Trial of the Alchemist

Trial of the Alchemist by Trevor Melanson

SPFBO9

Aurora’s greatest entrepreneur has been murdered, and only the truth will save Alchemist Ortez from the gallows. Facing a heated courtroom of strangers, he must now recall the events that brought him here as a fellow alchemist probes his memory. Such is the job of alchemists: administering elixirs in order to see into the minds of men. Their dreams. Their nightmares. Their secrets. But while everyone believes him guilty, Alchemist Ortez knows what they do not. He was hired by the victim for a job unlike any they could imagine. Nor would they ever guess what other mysteries lie buried beneath the mountain metropolis of Aurora, a cave-enclosed city where countless gas lamps illuminate the endless night. Trial of the Alchemist is a gaslamp mystery rife with twists, adventure, and romance.


Jagged Emerald City

Jagged Emerald City by R. K. Brainerd

SPFBO9

Meet Fairian Leynthall. She’s irreverent, the unwilling heiress of her family’s business empire, and obsessed with learning magic. She’s also got two big problems. One, there’s evidence the magical being who killed her sister is in town. Two, there’s this supernatural jerk interfering with her field research. He keeps spouting nonsense about danger, treating her like she matters, and distracting her with big lonely eyes. Not to mention it’s aggravating how much being around him makes her feel like her true self. Then it turns out that her supernatural jerk, Daimyn, is some kind of lynchpin in the magical community, and people are desperate to control the power he holds. As Fairian struggles to unravel the truth about her sister’s death, a ridiculous rumor of Daimyn’s affection for her spreads, and she becomes a target. Fairian convinces Daimyn to work together to fix it, but she won’t let herself get close to him. Because the last magical being she trusted? Killed her sister. History threatens to repeat itself as Fairian falls further into the tangled web of supernatural politics. Becoming a pawn would be the easy path. The hard path will mean believing in herself, being vulnerable enough to trust, and take back power to be her own piece on the board. Jagged Emerald City is the first in the OBSIDIAN DIVDE series, set in an eco-city and following the adventures of Fairian Leynthall as she discovers and finds her place in the magical underworld.


Eleventh Cycle

Eleventh Cycle by Kian N. Ardalan

SPFBO9

GRIMDARK MAGAZINE: "Eleventh Cycle checks all the boxes of a grimdark masterpiece. It is a stunning achievement, establishing Kian N. Ardalan as one of the most exciting new voices in speculative fiction." 
It has been a thousand years since the last Seed abandoned their duty. The mists are closing in. Finally, the Morning Bell tolls. A new Seed is born, but is it too late? The rot eats away at mortals. The Witnesses pray so that they may not turn into one of the forgotten. And the constricting mists infect the lands with fear. But there is more to this tale than just the Elders and their Seeds. Four mortals will have a part to play in Minethria’s fate. A farmer girl with only love in her eyes. A warrior born to the life of a refugee. A highborn stuck between the realm of gods and men. And a woman running into front lines and away from home. Will the cycle finally be completed? Or will the mist swallow all? A seed is born and the evil is slain, so doth another cycle commence. Yet the last Seed born hath turned traitor, and the mists which had been pushed back, returneth.


The Shattered Spire

The Shattered Spire by Ted Cross

SPFBO9

The magic of the Spire of Peace has banished evil from the Known Lands for more than twelve hundred years. When a dragon destroys the spire and murders the king, the realm is thrown into turmoil. As civil war looms, can the royal Kaldarion family regain control over the kingdom and restore peace? Livia, 20, is the eldest child of the slain King Varun Kaldarion. Though the wisest and most learned of the surviving family members, tradition says she cannot inherit the throne. Balmar, 18, is too feeble-minded to rule, but his uncle, Duke Erol, crowns him anyway in order to appoint himself regent. Darus, 17, was exiled by the spire's magic due to his bitterness that his father never named him heir. By force of personality and skill at arms, he has risen to command the army of exiles at the fortress of East Gate. Now he plans to invade the realm and take back what he feels is rightfully his by birth. Imric, 13, was disavowed by his father after his mother died birthing him. Raised by his sister Livia, few in the realm even know he exists. Little more than a pawn in the conflict between Duke Erol and his brother Darus, Imric may hold the key to reuniting the fractured realm.


Scarlet and Sunder

Scarlet and Sunder by Mike Rousseau

SPFBO9

Giant magical mecha, transforming heroes, and titanic monsters clash in this love letter to Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers, Pacific Rim, and Godzilla, blended into an epic fantasy journey of self-discovery. Every step is a choice. Seven years after being kidnapped and forged into a Pilot—a magical knight tasked with slaying giant beasts sent from another world—Maia Sunderland is ready to give up the battle. Most of the world blames her for the lives she’s failed to save as she continues to wage a war she never wanted to fight. Her family and allies are gone. All she has left is Scarlet, her magic-fueled, walking war machine. As the last of the Vanguardians, Scarlet is the only weapon capable of standing against the invading menace. As an incurable disease ravages Maia from within, a young officer emerges from an oppressive empire with orders to claim Scarlet for her emperor. Though reckless and inexperienced, this new Pilot somehow shares Maia’s ability to command Scarlet, making her uniquely suited to succeed Maia when she passes. With little time left before she succumbs to her illness, Maia is left with a deadly choice: train an unlikely apprentice to take her mantle, placing the most destructive weapon in the world in the hands of a tyrant, or save her would-be successor from walking the same bloody path Maia was forced down, leaving the world without a defender.


Fae Gods: Maze

Fae Gods: Maze by Philinna Wood

SPFBO9

Greek mythology and fae fantasy romance collide in this sweeping story of divided loyalty and forbidden love. I am the daughter of the king, and he is the fae monster my father sent me to kill. For years, the people of my kingdom have whispered tales of the monstrous Minotaur in the depths of an underground maze. Every night, he enters my dreams. His golden eyes capture mine. His horns caress my spine. And I always wake drenched in fear. He’s waiting for me, I know. But when I venture into the darkness, I find that the monster is in fact a handsome man, cursed by the fae gods to roam the maze. Trapped in the labyrinth with him, I start feeling something that I know I should not—a strange desire wells up within me. My heart is torn between my loyalty to my kingdom and the man whose loneliness echoes my own. As we attempt to escape the treacherous maze, secrets that were meant to remain hidden in its depths beg to be revealed, and with them comes a love so forbidden yet so powerful that it could forever change my life. Author’s note: The story is a loose reimagining of the Greek myth of the Minotaur, and it is a standalone fae fantasy romance with an HEA.


The Untold Prophecy

The Untold Prophecy by R. R. Hunter

SPFBO9

Lord Berik Eddingson, a man known for his ability to handle any situation, faces his toughest challenge yet when he is tasked with unraveling a one-thousand-year-old prophecy that foretells his failure. Fate seems to be against him, and his only leads are a heinous crime, a cursed artifact, and an orphaned girl named Joell. On the continent of Karata, athier-powered machines have propelled society from an agricultural to an industrial age in a time when magic is slowly dying. Those few with the talent possess abilities to see through past, present, or future, or the ability to alter the very world around them. The ancient Templar, a powerful and overbearing force, are struggling to maintain order in the provinces of the Karatian Palatinate as unseen forces chip away at civilization's foundations. Berik soon realizes that the fate of his homeland is inextricably tied to the secrets he seeks to uncover, and he must decide what he is willing to sacrifice to hold onto his beliefs. When everyone and everything has a secret, he must not only pay a steep price but also justify it when that price is too high. Do the gods of Fate stand by and watch as the world crumbles, or can fate be changed?


The Ring Breaker

The Ring Breaker by Jean Gill

SPFBO9

Shortlisted for the 2022 Chaucer Award. 'A skilfully written, beautifully researched coming-of-age story set in Viking Orkney.’ Lexie Conyngham, the Orkneyinga Murders series Loyalty has a price the children pay In the twilight of the old gods, when the last Vikings rule the seas, two cursed orphans meet on an Orkney beach and their fates collide. Stripped of honour, facing bleak loneliness ahead, Skarfr and Hlif forge an unbreakable bond as they come of age in the savage Viking culture of blood debts and vengeance. To be accepted as adults, Skarfr must prove himself a warrior and Hlif must learn to use women’s weapons. Can they clear their names and choose their destiny? Or are they doomed by their fathers’ acts? The award-winning author of The Troubadours Quartet returns to the 12th century, with skalds instead of troubadours and Viking warriors instead of crusaders. Get ready for authentic medieval adventures steeped in poetry, politics and passion. Perfect for fans of Bernard Cornwell Matthew Harffy and Madeline Miller.


Carved Amidst the Shadows

Carved Amidst the Shadows by M.T. Fontaine

SPFBO9

When the gods shaped the continent into five kingdoms to be ruled by their progeny, they did not account for the greed of men. When they created the Order from their god-blessed followers to mediate between realms, they neglected to plan against the hoarding of power. War between the royalists and the godly was inevitable. Five centuries later, the borders between kingdoms are impenetrable. No branded-born Marked can cross them without burning to ash, except the Order’s Stewards. But a damaging new war has been prophesied, one that haunts the Order, one that will come to pass if Carved traitors roam free and brandless-born Flawed are left alive. It starts with one girl that survives the impossible. Kaianne, the Carved. It takes shape through one prince with ambition. Andreiyes, the Marked. It hinges on one grieving man who is ready to give up hope. Rau, the Steward. Three people bound by fate – whether they like it or not. The first book in an epic new saga about family, vengeance, and determination with a varied cast of characters. *Please note: This book contains explicit content and dark elements that might be triggering to some. It includes mature scenes of a sexual nature, violence, death including that of an infant, drug references, addiction, childhood trauma, and mentions of suicide.


Sul: From Gold to Iron and Rust

Sul: From Gold to Iron and Rust by Jacqui Davis, Katy Grierson

SPFBO9

A king destined to rule. A priest determined to protect his land. A demon out to Create chaos. A princess with her eyes on the throne When a demon murders the regent, young King Elmes leaves his island palace and sails north to conquer a frozen wilderness rich in resources his people have squandered –and of course, hunt down the demon. Elmes has no doubt he’ll prevail. After all, he is great like his ancestors. But the land is already home to half-wild barbarians led by an immortal priest, who are used to weather more savage than any warrior. With a court losing confidence and a wife set on keeping the crown no matter whose head it sits on, the decisions at home prove the greater danger. With mounting threats on all sides, Elmes wins his empire, but his arrogance leaves him cursed and trapped in the north. Without his armies, his magic, or even his own name, Elmes must face his selfishness and irresponsibility to preserve what truly matters: his young son’s life.


The Woods

The Woods by Em McDermott

SPFBO9

A brooding wolf. A heroine who doesn’t need protecting. And a curse that only love can overcome. Gran's stories of horror and violence have dictated Red's whole view of the forest outside her village and the wolves who live there. Sheltered but bold, Red longs to explore that forest for herself, but the Huntsmen who guard her village keep her trapped. When Gran is injured, Red sees her chance. To save Gran’s life, Red ventures down a path Gran hoped she’d never follow. In the woods, Red finds a secret, hidden world full of death and danger. The beasts in it all try to kill her...so why does she feel so alive? The Huntsmen will stop at nothing to get Red back. They will kill every wolf in the woods, and there’s one in particular Red is determined to save. The villagers have magic on their side, and all Red has is love. Will it be enough?


Twelve

Twelve by Joan Marie Verba

SPFBO9

His love is locked inside an enigma. Can he solve the mystery to make himself a home? A hidden kingdom. The 18th century. Alden grew weary of battle long ago. And now the honorable soldier seeks to put the horrors of war behind him to settle in a land of peace and start a family. And while an attractive shopkeeper catches his eye, he finds himself caught up in the kingdom's greatest riddle: the twelve daughters of the king and queen vanish every night and reappear in the morning with their shoes worn out. Drawn to a shared passion for dancing as he spends more time with the woman of his dreams, Alden can't avoid a growing involvement with the land's enchanted magic. And as he does so, he starts to realize that the alluring woman he's falling for may hold the key to answering the perplexing mystery. Can Alden unravel a magical entanglement and find his way to happily ever after? Twelve is a charming fairy tale retelling. If you like upstanding heroes, picturesque romance, and delightful surprises, then you'll adore Joan Marie Verba's heartwarming story.


Echoes of Dragons

Echoes of Dragons by C. Borden

SPFBO9

A decade after Mythnium’s suns eclipse each other, the White Lord’s malignant shadow stretches north to Mythos once more. There, he unleashes his secret weapon: a massive dragon long thought to be extinct. Three groups of travelers set off on separate journeys, drawn toward the elven city of Elmnas and the answers they hope to find within. Along the way, they face strange factions of creatures united against them as the White Lord's influence grows. As their paths intersect, the travelers face an uncertain new world where echoes of dragons come to life.


The Ghosts in the Flames

The Ghosts in the Flames by Seann Barbour

SPFBO9

For centuries, the Four Kingdoms have lived in fear of the dragon Raksen-Kal, who roosts upon the peak of the Black Mountain. To satiate his hunger, a noble maiden is sent to the dragon as tribute every Autumn, with each of the kingdoms trading off the duty of sending the sacrifice year by year. Shivuri is the youngest princess of Endaru, the smallest and poorest of the Four Kingdoms. Today, her cousin is sent to the dragon, and in four years' time, she will be as well. As the day of her death draws ever closer, the young princess seeks solace in darkness, and explores the forbidden art of witchcraft. In doing so, Shivuri learns of secrets that would once have filled her with terror-- and of freedom that she never before could have imagined. ---- Please be aware this novel contains depictions of violence, gore, abuse, sexuality, and assault.


Watchers of the Evenfall

Watchers of the Evenfall by Joe Field

SPFBO9

The Vampire Prince. The Werewolf Brawler. The Dark Elf Warlock. The Girl. Even monsters can become heroes 
Resurrected through strange necromancy, sixteen-year-old Hazel Enda adjusts to her new life and loss of emotions. Uncertain of the future, she receives a strange invitation to join the Evenfall Vigil, a group dedicated to protecting the kingdom from nocturnal supernatural threats. Hazel unites with three fearsome outcasts to hunt the criminal genius known as "The Alchemist." They must battle monsters, magic, and a religious cult to discover the Alchemist's identity and save the kingdom, and themselves, from the mastermind's increasingly lethal schemes. Will they fulfill the oaths they've sworn or die as Watchers of the Evenfall?

Watchers of the Evenfall is a high fantasy story filled with monsters, magic, and mystery.


Night Demon

Night Demon by Stephen Wolberius

SPFBO9

Lilian, a thirteen-year-old factory worker in an industrialising town plagued by a serial killer, can see an invisible affliction within other people. When her search for her missing best friend ends with a confrontation with a demon — and learning that the affliction turns humans into demons — another demon named Lucian saves her life and promises answers. Her first clue is that demons are responsible for the many murders. Unfortunately, Lilian’s new lead has problems of his own — Demon Hunters, who claim Lucian is the serial killer and who see Lilian as an accessory. Night Demon tells a claustrophobic gaslamp fantasy and horror story with a dark fantasy twist and edge-of-your-seat suspense. If you're a fan of classic American and British horror fiction but also like dark fantasy world-building and epic fights, you're in for a treat. What can you expect from reading Night Demon? A strong female lead discovers that she needs to confront her mortality as well as her morality. Fast-paced, engaging and brooding at once. Plenty of unexpected twists. Well-developed characters, both major and minor. Language magic called Elilim, based on proto-indo-european, Mycenean and proto-Semitic languages. Set in Victorian times and written in the King's English, the classic gaslamp fantasy British horror fiction atmosphere. Classic strong prose, but that doesn't take away tempo. Demons and Vampires with compelling and terrifying worldbuilding and lore behind them Inspired by deep Saxon ghostly folklore. Tragic, tense and emotional. Terrifyingly brooding, doom impendent and action-packed story structure that will never bore... A satisfying ending!


The Fractured God

The Fractured God by Gerard Howard

SPFBO9 SPSFC 2023

Jaded mercenaries Aelred and Xyla have come across the most clichéd of contracts: rescue a missing princess to end a series of brutal wars waged in her name. Much to everyone's surprise, the rescue does not pan out too well. A god gets involved and hurls the three of them into another universe where technology rules in lieu of magic. It's not too bad, though. Saving the multiverse from the destruction of a bored god who wants to experience nonexistence is an additional responsibility that could've fallen on anyone. Despite their social skills, they'll find a decent set of companions to help ease their burden: a speechless outcast from a species of arachnoids living inside a giant space worm, a disgruntled soldier living on a deserted prison planet, and a chirpy salvager with a horrific past and a droid that has a difficult time ignoring its primary torture functions. Take a trip through the multiverse in this humorously dark adventure where bad things definitely don't happen to good people and everything is always fine!


The Wickwire Watch

The Wickwire Watch by Jacquelyn Hagen

SPFBO9 SPFBO Finalist

***WINNER OF THE 2023 REALM AWARD FOR BEST DEBUT NOVEL*** ***2023 REALM AWARDS FINALIST FOR BOOK OF THE YEAR*** ***AWARDED THE INDIE B.R.A.G. MEDALLION*** TRUST NO ONE. It's the first and greatest rule Inkwell Featherfield ever learned. It's also the only way he knows how to survive—besides picking pockets, dodging the law, and using every ounce of his plucky charm. But none of this will be enough to save him now. If only he'd never snooped around a dead man's house. If only he'd never found that pocket watch full of strange magic. If only he'd known the old man had snuffed it at the hands of the ghostly Spektors, or that such dark spirits even existed, because now they're after him. When Ink is approached by an enigmatic group offering to keep him safe, he accepts—only to discover his rescuers are a band of infamous fugitives. Who knew they had a flair for winemaking? Or a penchant for sing-a-longs? Thrust into a world of arcane horrors, powerful politicians, and dangers on every side, the boy has no choice but to finally break his rule and decide who to trust. But with all the secrets, magic, and mystery thickening around him—and the stakes so much higher than he ever imagined—it might just be downright impossible. The Wickwire Watch is the first book of the epic fantasy series The Riverfall Chronicles. For more information, visit jacquelynhagen.com.


A Magical Imperative

A Magical Imperative by Edith Pawlicki

SPFBO9

One binding destroyed her family; could another save it?

At thirty-six-years-old, history professor Aurelie is resigned to a childless existence. It's not her age - it's the absence of male Unseen. Her species has been so desperate to hide among humans that it is quietly dying out. Now her family is broken; eager to leave behind a painful past, Aurelie accepts a teaching position in Nara, Japan. But she's unprepared for the future she finds...

Twenty-two-year-old Kazuki is the favored son of the Hayashi family - a clan of Unseen that has not only survived in Japan, but thrived. Though he knows hundreds of Unseen, he’s unprepared for Aurelie and the overwhelming attraction he feels for her, a biological imperative to mate.

Or perhaps a magical one because, as Kazuki and Aurelie grow closer, the reasons for hiding come out.

And they are hungry. A Magical Imperative treads a delicate line between reality and fantasy, painting a detailed picture of cross-cultural romance while also adding subtle strokes of whimsy and fate. The first book of a series, it’s a sure winner for fans of atmospheric writing, intelligent fantasy, and character-driven plots. Visit a magical Japan with A Magical Imperative today!


The Dark Heart of Redemption

The Dark Heart of Redemption by Darran M Handshaw

SPFBO9 SPSFC 2024

"Some secrets are best left undiscovered." Pyramid, the great heart of Redemption, lies under siege by tribal invaders that threaten to destroy the very civilization that the Dominions have created. The Engineer, Actaeon, leads a force of Raedelleans from the south, where they pause to investigate the secrets of abandoned Travail in search of aid for the battle to come. At the same time, the new Princess of Raedelle, Eisandre, sails down the River of Arches with her Thyrian allies to attack from the Great Sea to the west. Travail's secrets are darker than expected, and the reason behind the Loresworn evacuation may soon spread to the rest of the city. Meanwhile, far to the north, Ajman and Shield fight over the lands of Czeryn, left desolate by an artifact that just might extinguish all life in the city at the hands of an unseen enemy known only as the Veiled One. In his quest to save Redemption, will Actaeon be able to overcome the old enmity between the Dominions to unite against these threats? Or will all civilization fall, just as the Ancients had ages ago? One thing is certain: in Redemption, everything comes with a cost.

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The Dark Heart of Redemption is Darran M Handshaw's second novel and is a standalone sequel to The Engineer (an SPFBO semi-finalist!).


Western Invasion

Western Invasion by Shan Syed

SPFBO9

In the fertile lands of the River, squabbling city states continue thousands of years of bloody warfare. Some fight for land, others for food, others still for personal glory. Unknown to all, a storm brews in the West. Will one man stand against the storm as it sweeps away his life? Can the River States put aside their old rivalries to face a bigger threat? Or will slow simmering hatred lead to bitterness and murder?


Doll Girl Meets Dead Guy

Doll Girl Meets Dead Guy by Lidiya Foxglove

SPFBO9

It’s not easy being a doll girl in a flesh-and-blood world. Although her race was created from magic as second-class citizens, Sorla’s baked goods are now famous for miles around thanks to her hard work and unrelenting optimism. She’s even attracted the notice of Prince Seldon, who invites her to work at the royal bakery in the capital. The one thing Sorla’s life is missing is love. Her youthful crush ditched her for a normal girl with generous curves (of course), and technically she is unsexed (parts sold separately). Flesh girls certainly don’t have to save money to buy themselves lady bits before they can even date. Her ride-for-hire to the capital? Dorr, a soldier revived from a battlefield death, as is the way of his necromancing clan. He might rather have been left to die with his comrades. Instead, a few parts of their bodies were stitched on to fix his. Scarred and broken, Dorr wants to drop off his overly cheerful companion as quickly as possible—until he realizes that her pastries are the only thing that’s tasted good since his revival. As they slowly open up over dog rescues (her idea), graveyard strolls (his idea), and of course, delicious pastry, love and trust grows between these two misfits. But the war isn’t over, and when the royal family expect Sorla’s pastries to save the life of the hero of the realm, she might lose Dorr and everything she’s worked for. Cross a Ghibli movie with The Nightmare Before Christmas, add a little spice, and you might have the quirkiest of romcoms.


Dream of the Sphere

Dream of the Sphere by Jay S. Willis

SPFBO9

Three thousand years of tradition torn asunder. When the truth comes out, will a hero emerge to pick up the pieces? Dashira Eisenheart takes ultimate comfort in her community. So she’s thrilled when her brother ascends to the coveted order chosen to protect the world from safely sealed-away, millennia-old, dangerous magic. But her faith in her beloved parents’ loyalty cracks after she spies her mother sneaking about town to meet with the enemy. Striving to stay focused on her own academic studies, Dashira becomes caught in family tensions that soon reach a boiling point. And as her father’s Brotherhood and her mother’s rebel group head toward a cataclysmic clash, the young seeker finds herself trapped by conflicting choices. Will she face her fears and accept her role in a grand destiny? Dream of the Sphere is the intricate first entry in the expansive The Sphere Saga epic fantasy series. If you like gargantuan conflicts, jaw-dropping twists, and deep explorations of humanity’s beliefs, you’ll love Jay S. Willis’s hard-hitting tale.


The Book of Zog

The Book of Zog by Alec Hutson

SPFBO9

What were the Great Old Ones like before they were old? In the shadow of cosmic horrors, newly-birthed entity Zogrusz must come to understand his true nature, learn how to wield his dreadful powers, and search for meaning in the mad spaces between the stars. Hopefully, he’ll make some friends along the way. Also, there’s a cat. A Lovecraftian cozy fantasy.


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