stories in and

Out of the Gray

Out of the Gray by Patricia Gilliam

SPSFC

Aliens, politics, and murder. Only the first one is new. Towards the end of the twenty-fourth century, it is common knowledge aliens have lived on the planet for a long time. The Hannarian royal family has stationed an ambassador to interact with Earth’s governments and to be an official bridge between humans and their race. They also want to assist humanity by offering access to advanced medical, communication, and transportation technologies. This does not ring true with the EIP, the Earth Independence Party. They are aware that Hannarians possess superhuman skills and abilities that they have kept hidden from Earth’s general population. To the people aware of these abilities, the Hannarians seem dangerous to some and downright demonic to others. They fear Hannarians pose a tangible threat to the Earth and every living human on the planet. The organization has spent decades preparing for the perfect opportunity to remove the Ambassador, expose the aliens what they truly are, and finally place themselves on equal footing with their enemies. Alex Verin, son of EIP Congressman Adam Verin, has had a very unexpected day. After chance meetings with the Hannarian Ambassador’s son and later the Ambassador himself, Alex has his beliefs about the Hannarians brought into question. Once at home and milling over what he has learned, Alex tries to figure out what is truth and what isn’t. When a visitor arrives at their home to speak with his father, Alex attempts to find out the man’s identity and why his father is being so secretive about him. While doing so, Alex overhears the man discuss plans to assassinate Hannaria’s Ambassador with his father. Rica Miller, the adopted daughter of Charlie and Rebecca Miller, is leaving Earth. After discovering that she is not human but Hannarian, Rica’s parents decide that relocating to Space Station Destiny would be the best option for her future. As a station engineer, Charlie has made arrangements for his wife and daughter to join him now that construction has entered its final phases. After boarding a transport leaving Baltimore, Rica meets Jernard. He introduces himself as the Hannarian Ambassador and explains he wants to ensure they arrive at Destiny safely out of friendship to Charlie. Rebecca does recognize Jernard, but considering she and Charlie told no one about Rica or that they were leaving, she is hesitant to trust him. How will Alex react to his father’s agreement with a plan to murder someone? Can Rica trust Jernard, and does he hold any answers on what happened to her birth parents? Will the EIP succeed in killing Hannaria’s Ambassador?


MOBIUS

MOBIUS by Vincent Vale

SPSFC SPSFC 2022

The Dimensional Gateway is built... A plot against humanity revealed... Humankind's ultimate evolution. Theron Mobius has worked his entire life on a Dimensional Gateway that will propel humankind into a new era of space travel. When it's sabotaged by a mysterious entity, he uncovers a plot against humanity that's been underway for millennia. Theron is driven against all odds to stop the entity, only to discover he's an integral part of the entity's sinister plan. Together with a small group of travelers, he must journey across galaxies in search of an ancient Guardian of the universe. If he fails, humankind will face oblivion.


The Narrows

The Narrows by Travis M. Riddle

SPSFC

"Riddle’s intricate worldbuilding and familiar but strong narrative arc sustain fear throughout. ... Fans of eerie tales will easily fall into this one." - Publishers Weekly "I can show you how to enter the Narrows to find what you seek." Oliver and his friends have returned to their hometown of Shumard, Texas for the funeral of their close friend Noah. They each grapple with the loss in their own ways, trying to understand the strange circumstances of their friend's unexpected death. While visiting the site where the body was found, Oliver stumbles across a chilling discovery that he knows must be related to what happened to Noah. Wanting to protect his friends from these newfound horrors, Oliver takes it upon himself to venture into the grotesque otherworld known as the Narrows to learn what happened to his friend and find a way to bring him back. Entering the Narrows is one thing, but will whatever he finds there allow him to leave?


The Orphans of New Lur

The Orphans of New Lur by Blake Vanier

SPSFC

Iona and Nero are Human orphans; one born with powers she can’t explain, the other bound to a terrifying friend no one else can see, both hunted by a woman that does not fail. When a ragtag bunch of five orphans stumble upon glowing canisters containing ethereal weapons designed to fuse with a Human’s soul, they unwittingly risk life and sanity by opening them. One canister is overlooked as it appears empty, but a lack of light in their world does not correlate to a lack of power in the other. Nero opens it to find an otherworldly being that cannot survive unless it finds a host; a being that must decide to either kill Nero or accept his offering… Confused and exhilarated, the empowered orphans must adapt to their new abilities to keep each other alive, as Isis, a woman of incomparable will, is determined to pursue these Humans in search of secrets to an ancient civilization. The Anterra Collection is perfect for fans of Mistborn, looking for a fresh, new epic fantasy series.


Steel Guardian

Steel Guardian by Cameron Coral

SPSFC

The AI Uprising destroys society as we know it. Banking is wiped out overnight. No internet, phones, or electricity. Anything “smart” or “connected” turns against humans. The military’s SoldierBots have one function--seek and destroy. Block is a simple CleanerBot programmed to clean and serve hotel guests. Forced to leave his city, he must avoid dangerous SoldierBots and find a new hotel he can call home. But when Block discovers a human infant, his surprise attachment to the girl compels him to protect her while traveling across the metal infested wastelands of America to a safe haven. Without his help, the abandoned baby could die before they reach safety. When he encounters Nova - a surly soldier who becomes an unlikely ally - they must tackle the biggest challenge of their lives. Together, they face mortal danger from bands of scavengers, militaristic SoldierBots, and Combat Mechs. A cyborg Bounty Hunter will stop at nothing to find Block and the child - an infant who holds the key to humanity’s future.

If you enjoy characters with heart and action-packed adventure, then you’ll love the first book of this thrilling post-apocalyptic sci-fi series.


Coyle and Fang: Curse of Shadows

Coyle and Fang: Curse of Shadows by robert adauto III

SPSFC

The year is 1892. A mythical book has been stolen, and the fate of mankind rests in the hands of two exceptional women: a brilliant detective and a deadly vampire. But they discover things are never that simple as they face a world much more dangerous than either could have imagined. Between enemies within and enemies without, can Coyle and Fang stop a madman before it kills hundreds of thousands?


The Hammond Conjecture

The Hammond Conjecture by Martin Reed

SPSFC

The Hammond Conjecture is an alternative history novel which explores themes of memory, identity and historical narrative. It is also a lot of fun. Are you sure you know who you are? If your memories disappeared and were replaced with someone else's, would you still be you? And what if those memories were not just from another person - but of a different world? London 1982. Regaining consciousness in an isolation ward of catatonic patients, glimpsing the outside world only through a television news bulletin, that is the dilemma facing Hugh Hammond. Gradually Hugh's memories return – of his life as an MI6 officer a decade earlier. But in a world where Britain has been locked since 1941in a lonely Cold War against a fascist-dominated Europe. Are his memories false: delusions, or implanted as part of a mind-control experiment? Or was the television news fake – and if so, why? And what is the role of Carlton, the shadowy Intelligence officer who delivered him to the hospital? Hugh types out his recollections: an adventure which takes him from an opium den in Limehouse, via a hippie encampment in British-occupied North France, to a State Reception for the Deputy Führer in the Durbar Court in Whitehall, and a Le Carré-style climax in the divided city of Paris. Meanwhile in the hospital Hugh struggles to understand his predicament – and to escape from it. But escape only leads him into greater danger…


The Dark Realm

The Dark Realm by Anthea Sharp

SPSFC

WHEN A GAME… Feyland is the most immersive computer game ever designed, and Jennet Carter is the first to play the prototype. But she doesn’t suspect the virtual world is close enough to touch — or that she’ll be battling for her life against the Dark Queen of the faeries. TURNS REAL…
Tam Linn is the perfect hero — in-game. Too bad the rest of his life is seriously flawed. The last thing he needs is rich-girl Jennet prying into his secrets, insisting he’s the only one who can help her. WINNING IS EVERYTHING…
Together, Jennet and Tam enter the Dark Realm of Feyland, only to discover that the entire human world is in danger. Pushed to the limit of their abilities, they must defeat the Dark Queen… before it’s too late.


Ash Friday

Ash Friday by Ariadne Blayde 

Giving ghost tours on the decaying streets of the French Quarter isn’t exactly a high-profile career, but the guides at Spirits of Yore Haunted Tours are too strange and troubled to do anything else. They call themselves Quarter Rats, a group of outcasts and dreamers and goths who gather in hole-in-the-wall bars to bicker, spin yarns, and search for belonging in the wee hours of the night after the tourists have staggered home. Through the ghost stories they tell, their own haunted lives come into focus. Like the city they call home, these tour guides are messy with contradiction: they suffer joyfully, live morbidly, and sin to find salvation. Weaving together real New Orleans folklore with the lives of eleven unforgettably vibrant characters, Ash Tuesday is a love letter to America’s last true bohemia and the people, both dead and living, who keep its heart beating.


NYV: PUNK

NYV: PUNK by K.D. McQuain

NYV: PUNK is a dark and sexy coming of age story of adventure, music and horror set in the harsh 1980s New York Punk scene. (UF / NA) With only his mother for company, rural isolation in East Texas was as boring and bleak a life as Christian could imagine. The most exciting thing to look forward to were monthly visits from the nice old lady who took his mother shopping in town. After being subjected to a bizarre and humiliating birthday ritual, Christian leaves home to think things through, and when the opportunity for adventure presents itself, he jumps at the chance. But being on his own is more terrifying than a sheltered and naïve teenager would ever have dreamed. Miraculously surviving a brutal attack in a bus station restroom, Christian finds himself being hunted across the country by an ancient, bloodthirsty evil, putting him and those he cares for in mortal peril. Homeless and alone, he is befriended by a group of streetwise kids but danger still lurks around every corner. He must quickly learn to navigate the hazards of the gritty streets of New York City if he is going to survive the tough Punk music scene long enough to discover his destiny. Can he survive on the street? Will he find the life of adventure he hoped for? And what the hell does OMFUG mean anyway? Oh… and there’s vampires.


Jiao Tu’s Endeavour, Episode 1: The Kidnapped Mousling

Jiao Tu’s Endeavour, Episode 1: The Kidnapped Mousling by Donald Jacob Uitvlugt

On a multigenerational colony ship five hundred years off course, a lagomorph warrior must survive using only his wits and his sword. Jiao Tu has been hired to rescue a young kidnapped mousling. A tip leads him to the Below, home to the engines that keep the world in motion. His mission has hardly begun when an encounter with a monstrous being plunges him into the midst of a struggle not only for control of the Below but for the world itself. Teamed with an untested ratling warrior and the ratling leader of a gang of thugs, Jiao Tu must stop the monster and save the mousling—and the world—before it is too late. Drawing inspiration from sources as diverse as Leigh Brackett’s planetary romances, Gene Wolfe’s Book of the Long Sun, Robert E. Howard’s Solomon Kane stories, Hideyuki Kikuchi’s Vampire Hunter D, Stan Sakai’s Usagi Yojimbo, and the wuxia tradition starting with Water Margins and Journey to the West, Uitvlugt has created a world all his own that promises a far-future adventure unlike any other.


Dreamer

Dreamer by Amy Campbell

Their dream of freedom will turn into a nightmare unless these outlaws can stack the deck in their favor. Safely back in his chosen home, Breaker mage Blaise should only have to worry about his bakery and his complicated relationship with Jefferson. But the lies that shaped his life continue to haunt him, and he sets out to reconcile with his mother—only to discover that a band of magical desperadoes has taken her. With old friends at his side, Blaise sets off across the frontier, chasing down leads and unaware that his new foes hope to snare the Breaker, too. Meanwhile, Jefferson balances guiding his fledgling homeland to nationhood while concealing magic he’s not supposed to possess. The demands of his ambassadorship send him to a faraway country where he’s embroiled in a web of intrigue between a shadowy cabal planning to use him and malicious politicians who want to see him—and the new nation—fall. As Blaise closes in and Jefferson navigates the dangerous political waters, they realize their circumstances are once again linked. Will their combined magic be the ace in the hole that wins it all, or will they fold in the final showdown?


The Awakening

The Awakening by Adair Hart

SPSFC

What happens when a space and time traveler interferes with an alien abduction? Dr. Albert Snowden just wanted to take care of his niece, Emily. The last thing he expected was to end up in a virtual simulation on a damaged alien ship in another galaxy one year into the future. Unfortunately, the ship's power is failing, releasing apex predators that were captured by the aliens. Enter Evaran, a space and time traveler, and V, his trusty mobile artificial intelligence, who help those in need. They decide to interfere and help Dr. Snowden and Emily, along with two other humans who were also abducted. In addition to all that, Jerzan Graduul, leader of the Bloodbore mercenary pack, has boarded the ship in search of potential salvaging opportunities. Evaran and friends will try to reach Evaran's ship while dealing with the Bloodbores and apex predators.


Blackcoats: Dead Man Walking

Blackcoats: Dead Man Walking by Michael Lachman

SPSFC 2022

ZOMBIES. CRYPTIDS. SECRET GOVERNMENT AGENCIES. AND ADAM THOUGHT HIGH SCHOOL WAS TOUGH. When Adam arrives home to find his house swarming with government agents, he quickly discovers that his father was a secret government scientist specializing in fringe science and the paranormal. An agent reveals that Adam’s father was caught performing illegal experiments, including genetically modifying Adam’s DNA. Now, with his father missing and the genetic tampering beginning to take effect, Adam’s only chance to find a cure is to help the agency track down his father. The mystery deepens as agents go missing, and all the evidence points to a man long dead. With the clock ticking and hints of a mole within the agency, Adam must uncover the traitor, find his father, and secure a cure—before it’s too late. Blackcoats: Dead Man Walking is the first book in the Blackcoats series.


Earthweeds

Earthweeds by Rod Little

SPSFC

At the end of the world - it's the start of something new, with puzzling and terrifying origins. A green fog descends over every major city in the world, and the populations disappear one by one. By nightfall, every living soul in every metropolis is gone. Earth grinds to a halt. Only a few stragglers are alive in the rural countryside. When Sam and his brother return from a mountain camping trip, they find only empty city streets. Alone, they look for any survivors to give them answers. The next day, lizards the size of Komodo dragons flood the city and attack the remaining humans. When these creatures are confronted by giant spiders, the two species fight each other for the remaining food supply.... with the humans caught in the middle. A teenage boy with electric powers - stemming from his DNA.  His brother with a strong iron will.  A college student who can understand and communicate with animals.  A scientist with a secret.  And a band of psychopaths with an agenda of their own.  Defending each other from the evils of men and creatures alike, the last humans must race to unravel the mystery of the empty cities, the swarming creatures, and the disappearance of humankind.


Ignite The Shadows

Ignite The Shadows by Ingrid Seymour

SPSFC

Seattle. The near future. A dark force infects humans and takes over their minds. Seventeen-year-old Marci is a hacker. The best in the city. Ever since she can remember, her mind has been under attack, but lately it’s getting worse. A dark force overrides her and makes her do awful things. Her mother and best friend believe that she’s a rebel child and that she meant to race her bike with the cops hot on her tail. She wasn’t in control. Someone else was. Time and time again, Marci defeats the invading shadows and remains herself. The ability to prevail doesn’t go unnoticed by James McCray, the leader of a rebellious group known as IgNiTe. He soon recruits her and assures her she’s not crazy. It turns out it’s far worse. Marci is infected by a terrible plague, and so is half of Seattle. People are being supplanted at an alarming rate. The human race may be doomed, unless Marci, alongside IgNiTe, can find a way to stop the spread of the infection before it's too late. For fans of dark urban fantasy and apocalyptic fiction. Ignite the Shadows has intrigue, romance, and a heck of a lot of action. If you enjoyed Divergent, you will love this series.


Heir to The Sun

Heir to The Sun by Karen Lykkebo

SPFBO8

After a volatile relationship, all Aura wanted was to start a new life far from her ex-boyfriend, Dave. A sleepy café in a small town seemed the perfect place to reinvent herself, and when a mysterious woman befriends her, enchanting her with fairytales and offering an escape to another world, Aura could have got into more than she bargained for. But when Dave unexpectedly shows up, angry and determined, Aura’s left with little choice but to run. This time, she runs far, far away, across an invisible border to another world; a world of magic where everything is possible. A world, where Aura is known to everyone but her, as The Princess of Light. And although her new title comes with the daunting responsibility of saving the world, the prize of doing so could give her what she’s always wanted: A family. As Aura engages on a magical journey of discovery, her hopes to break free from Dave once and for all soon start to fade as she realizes that breaking up with The Angel of Darkness is easier said than done. And even the light needs darkness to cast shadows... Will Aura have the courage to embrace her new world, or will the shadows of her old life keep her in darkness forever?


The Grim

The Grim by K. H. Nelson

SPFBO8

Yet another strand of thread holding the peace together, cut...and Sólan the Grim is the one holding the blade. Sólan the Grim is dead. He was murdered by the duke of the tundra-his father. No, he was executed by the forest's prince for his failure to swear the Oath of Light. Actually, he was beheaded by an infamous drug smuggler of the tropics. Tortured and killed at the hands of the desert's mortal king for his crimes.  Perhaps he is not dead at all. The half-mortal bastard son of an elf duke, Sólan de Ciudelago learned to cheat death as a child. His mere existence has tumbled the Eastern Lands into the largest genocide against his own kind: The Crusade of Light. The fragile peace between red-blooded men and silver-blooded elves is fraying. Alliances and rulers' strongholds are waning. The Eastern Lands are on the verge of a second Great War in a millennium. Until now, Sólan's lot in life was to smother his past and fight the desert's slave market. Memories, however, are fickle things that can return with no warning. Now, he must face his trauma to topple more than just the desert's economy. He must now work with former enemies and an unlikely lover to quell the coming war that he caused.  Will his blood be the ink that seals the suit for peace? Or, is he naught but a pawn in a much more sinister plot against the balance between day and night? Disclaimer: This tale contains material that may be disturbing to some readers. Such material includes graphic violence, sexual encounters, mental illness, and mentions of child abuse and sexual assault. Reader discretion is advised.


The Hunter

The Hunter by Hannah E. Carey

SPFBO8

Forced to flee her uncle's palace in the dead of night in order to save her own life, Duchess Rhiannon of Solis finds herself pulled into an ongoing war. She seeks safety on the shores of the island of Pern Coen, though she knows little of the strange land and its even stranger Spirits. A stroke of fate leaves her at the mercy of a band of rebels led by a notorious outlaw, a man the people of the island call the Hunter. Conor has lost his family and his home. Forced to live in exile, he dreams of the day that the people of Pern Coen win back their freedom. He has no love for the Empire of Kelnore, but when he finds an injured Kelnorian noblewoman, he can't bring himself to abandon her. Against his better judgement, Conor offers Rhiannon his protection, but the more time he spends with her, the more he finds his feelings toward her shifting. He's already had his heart shattered once, does he dare take that risk again with a woman who should be his sworn enemy? The longer Rhiannon spends with Conor and his band of outlaws, the more she finds herself torn between the life she knew and the life she has discovered on the island. Can she turn her back on all she's ever known? And can a rugged outlaw capture her heart? This Celtic inspired romantic fantasy features a slow burn, fade to black romance.


Chosen

Chosen by Heather N. Russell

SPFBO8

Pure of heart and human A chosen warrior comes The barrier shall be broken Two worlds unite as one. Growing up feeling insignificant and anchorless in foster care, Seline never expected to one day step through her front door into a world where myth and magic reigned. An ancient Fae prophecy names her Chosen, a hero meant to reunite the worlds of Earth and Fae. Blood-hungry enemies from the darkest of Earth legends seek conquest rather than unity, threatening the future she is called to initiate. While forces of evil gather to take control of one world in pursuit of the the other, Seline fumbles for mastery of new magical gifts and struggles to come to terms with destiny. Unexpected friends teach her trust, powerful enemies challenge her soul, and a memory wakens a long-forgotten identity. Can she fulfill the destiny written for her long ago and unite worlds divided by ancient treachery, or will evil consume the future as well as the past?


The Inquisitor

The Inquisitor by H.C. Harrington

SPFBO8

A brutal murder, a disgraced inquisitor, and a city of secrets. From the Amazon best-selling author of Daughter of Havenglade comes, The Inquisitor. In the port city of Pax Grati, a highborn daughter betrothed to the son of a powerful lord has been brutally murdered. Nestor Atius, left to rot in the dungeons has one chance to find the killer and bring justice to her family and the realm. But when an unlikely friend reveals the investigation is more than meets the eye, Nestor must make a choice. As he uncovers the truth, it becomes more and more clear, he is the killer's next target. A fantasy mystery from the Havenglade World.


The Library

The Library by Casey White

SPFBO8

With eternity ahead and all of man's knowledge at his fingertips, Daniel just wants out. He was too young to have any expectations when he was dragged into the grand Library of Alexandria - a massive, magical catalog of all human knowledge. Too young to understand the responsibilities being foisted on him. Too young to know that he was to become the next Librarian. He knows now. As the boy named Daniel grows into the Librarian named Owl, he realizes the truth; the cage he’s caught in is beautiful, and filled with knowledge, but a cage nonetheless. With that realization is born a longing for freedom he can’t push aside. Such longings can be used, though - and there are many who would seek power over the Librarian and Alexandria. But how can he tell friend from foe when all he’s ever had was himself?


The Nine

The Nine by C.G. Harris

SPFBO8

Winner of the Colorado Indie Author Project award for Adult Fiction! Hell is not what you think ... It’s bone-chilling. Gabe is a good guy making the best of eternity in a place not known for its hospitality — until he is recruited by Judas Iscariot (yes, that Judas) to join a sect of double agents dedicated to sabotaging the mayhem being released on Earth. Armed with a skill set of irritating quips and zero knowledge of the modern world, Gabe must figure out how to work with his beautiful, tough-as-nails partner without botching the mission or revealing his true identity. If this unlikely hero can’t figure it out before disaster strikes, facing the wrath of Hell will be the least of his worries … If you like snarky characters and dark humor, then you’ll love The Nine, the first book in the action-packed, supernatural Judas Files urban fantasy series. Series now complete!


One of One

One of One by S. R. Cronin

SPFBO8

Celebrate the superhero in each of us in this unique exploration of the connections we forge.   A young Nigerian telepath faces a crisis when her sister is forced into a frightening marriage, then disappears. Once Somadina cannot locate her sibling's thoughts, she seeks another telepath to help.   What she finds is Lola, a busy Texan scientist who has ignored the disturbing phenomenon in her mind for decades, and has no intention of embracing this nonsense now. Yet these two women have more in common than they know, and a powerful link will be forged.   Once Somadina discovers her sister is a pawn in a dangerous political game, the stakes rise for everyone, including an ancient organization of telepaths compelled to intervene. For both women are stronger than they realize, and they have ignited the wrath of a fanatic willing to kill anyone to alter his nation's future.


Heir to the Sun

Heir to the Sun by Jennifer Allis Provost

SPFBO8

A mad king. An escaped slave. One warrior to save the realm... Asherah doesn’t want much. A former slave, she wants to live out her days in peace and enjoy her hard-won freedom…then she learns that Parthalan’s king, Sahlgren, ordered not only her enslavement, but that of thousands more. Naturally, she starts a rebellion, but while she has a quick mind and a strong sword arm, she lacks both the funds and the soldiers to make her rebellion a success. Enter Lormac, the elf king of the north. He’s quickly captivated by Asherah and agrees to fund her rebellion. What’s more, he wants to make Asherah his queen… but is that what Asherah wants? Caol’nir was born to be a warrior, and he can’t think of a worse way to spend his life. He goes through the motions of his role as an elite temple guard—until Alluria arrives. She’s a priestess from the east, and Caol’nir can think of nothing but her bright eyes and soft voice—and the fact that he took an oath to defend the priestess’s chastity. Rules never much bothered Caol’nir, and he searches for a way to be with Alluria. Then a priestess is attacked, and another is murdered, and Caol'nir realizes that Alluria isn’t safe in the temple. When Caol’nir learns that King Sahlgren himself is responsible for these atrocities, Caol'nir heads north and joins Asherah's rebellion. What Caol'nir doesn't know is that Sahlgren has promised the demon lord a woman of rare and singular beauty, a woman whose magical abilities are rumored to rival the sun god’s…a woman Caol’nir knows all too well. HEIR TO THE SUN – Book One of the Chronicles of Parthalan


Sekhmet

Sekhmet by Grace J Roberts

SPFBO8

What do you do when dreams become nightmares... ...and nightmares become reality? Ayana just wants a normal life. A life-threatening accident as a child has left her with a mysterious, unwanted power. But at last she seems to be getting close to her goal: she's earned a place at university. Things are looking up. Right? Nick isn't sure he's cut out for this paranormal existence anymore. With two successive jobs having gone sideways, he's having second thoughts, but when an old friend asks for a favour, he can't say no. Keeping an eye on a first-year student at Cambridge doesn't sound that dangerous. What could go wrong? Ayana and Nick both reckoned without sinister forces who want Ayana, and who want Nick out of the way—permanently. On the run, they have to find a way to work together against enemies who are far more personal than either of them suspects—or risk bringing about the end of the world... Fans of the Dresden Files and Percy Jackson will love this series


Sweetness and Blessings

Sweetness and Blessings by Charlotte Kersten

SPFBO8

Saved from ruin after fleeing from a terrible mistake, Iraluri is grateful for her husband, and that gratitude is equaled only by her dread of disappointing him with more mistakes. Together they fumble through magic once practiced by her fallen people in the hopes of finding the forgotten offerings that will make them rich. As this search continues, a kind stranger on the street and a solitary ghost challenge Iraluri to begin thinking beyond the fear and careful rules that she has lived by for so long. It becomes more and more impossible for Iraluri to ignore wrongs in her world and her life, but what use is this knowledge when acting upon it is so dangerous?


Deep's End

Deep's End by Kai Greenwood

SPFBO8

Derwa is the last of the Natéan Watch, pledged to protect the town of Deep's End from the dangers of an ancient forest on its borders. Derwa is dedicated, coarse and tough, but worrying signs are all around.

When a strange young man walks out of the Deepwood, his naivety (and lack of clothing) are the least of her worries. Ginka trees are flowering at night, goblins are massing, and someone has cut the feet off Old Lindon’s land-wyrms. The doom of Deep’s End is coming, and Derwa is the only one who can stop it.


Ought to be Dead

Ought to be Dead by Scott Warren

SPFBO8

Some monsters are hunted by the living, but you really ought to be dead for this sort of work. An overworked necromancer, woken in the deep hours of the night, attempts to help a group of desperate dock workers with their recently deceased cargo inspector. Instead, she accidentally awakens the terrifying spirit of a vengeful, undying warrior with a single drive: to kill monsters. But he’s really not so bad, once you learn to live with the smell. Loosed upon the world, Specter travels the land hunting all manner of beasts and monsters both magical and mundane. Joined by an incorrigible human apprentice with a nose for books, the two set out for a year of travel together. But while calling upon the necromancer who raised him, an encounter with an unusual and deadly creature forces him to examine a pattern of attacks that leads him up and down the coast, finding danger wherever he ventures. Across seven deadly hunts, Specter must journey to find the truth of the dark designs behind these attacks. And somehow, along the way, maintain his fading grip on humanity by coming to terms with his past life (and death)—lest he become one of the very monsters he’s sworn to destroy. A cozy, standalone popcorn adventure from the author of The Dragon's Banker. The perfect fantasy palate cleanser between grimdark main courses.


Eve of Snows

Eve of Snows by L. James Rice

SPFBO8

When a young priestess named Eliles finds herself ensnared in an age-old conspiracy, she realizes that time is running out to stop a Lord Priest's dangerous obsession. In seventeen days the stars will align, and a religious cabal will summon the gods back to the realms of men. In the northern tundra priests search for a legendary artifact in the Steaming Lakes, a place tormented by the Wakened Dead. Deep in the mountains, demonic shadows take possession of priests at a holy shrine. In the south, the clans know something foul is afoot, and dispatch warriors to seek answers, but instead they find horrors pointing toward betrayal and war. Through lies, manipulation, and murder, Eliles and her friends fight to defy prophecy; the world will end or begin anew, come the Eve of Snows.


Fire of the Forebears

Fire of the Forebears by L.A. Buck

SPFBO8 SPFBO Finalist

Pitted against one another, with the people and country they love in jeopardy, the daughter of a deserter and the son of the king have a chance to fulfill their forebears’ legacy—or destroy it entirely. Twisted monsters called saja lurk in the shadows of the mountains. Rumors say the Fidelis, human wielders of an ancient elemental magic, again walk the plains. Not all in Avaron believe, and not all welcome the return of legend. Kura’s a skeptic. But, she’ll cross and befriend centaurs, talking animals, and worse to save her family after the rebellion mistakes her for the land’s prophesied savior. And, while he’d rather negotiate with rebels than fight them, Triston can’t ignore prophecy. That was the sham his father used to steal the crown in the first place. Over a century ago, their ancestors sailed the oceans in search of peace and died as heroes fighting for it. But heroes—and villains—aren’t always what they seem to be.


Morrigan

Morrigan by Jonathan King

SPFBO8

Abel Whittaker is sick of his life as a preacher's kid. Between a father who values appearances more than integrity and a religion of rules, he's desperate for freedom. So when the new girl in town suggests they run away together, he jumps at the chance. There's just one problem. She's the Celtic goddess of war. Now Abel and Morrigan are on the run from bloodthirsty gnomes, vampires, and headless horsemen. Not to mention Morrigan's angry adoptive mother, who wants her daughter back and Abel dead. Not exactly the road trip Abel had in mind. And maybe not one he'll survive… Fans of Rick Riordan and Neil Gaiman will love this tale of Celtic gods and monsters in modern day South Carolina, featuring memorable characters, a breakneck pace, and possibly a dead talking fish. Don't miss this epic, magical adventure!


Phantom Frost

Phantom Frost by Alfred Wurr

SPFBO8

He’s on a quest to find himself...before they do. Shivurr remembers little before the Bodhi Institute, the secret government installation where he’s been held and studied like a lab rat for the past decade. It hasn’t been all bad, though, for a soda-pop-loving sci-fi fanboy, especially in 1983. He’s got all the TV, movies and arcade games he could ever want. But lately, flashes of his forgotten past have invaded his dreams: visions of an ancient chamber where the mysteries of his origin may finally be resolved. Compelled to find it, Shivurr embarks on a quest, fleeing the facility in the dark of night. Escaping is easy; the Bodhi Group guards didn’t dream he’d ever try. The Nevada desert is dangerous for warm bloods; for a snowman, it’s pretty much suicide, even for one with his seemingly magical command of frost and ice. Hunted by Bodhi Group agents, keeping to the shade when he can find it, he’s determined to survive; he’s got a feeling the world may depend on it. And, if he doesn’t, well, everyone melts eventually, right?


The Valkyrie of Vanaheim

The Valkyrie of Vanaheim by Phil Parker

SPFBO8

A human/fae hybrid might save both races or destroy them. Frida spent her life in isolation, persecuted as a freak. Now they need her. Trouble is, in the shadows, so does something else.


D'Aprile's Fools

D'Aprile's Fools by Michael DeAngelo

SPFBO8

Turning Fools into Gold When all the heroes have been taken, fools will have to do. Frederic D’Aprile is a warrior on a mission to right the wrongs of his country. When he finds himself outnumbered by the Ebon Hammer, he knows he needs help from unlikely places. He isn’t expecting the mad wizard, Bixby Alladocious, to live up to his name. Together, warrior and wizard set out on a quest to bring together new heroes battling with self-doubt and fears in a world that doesn’t take kindly to people with strange blessings like the Strain. But, united, they believe they can finally stand up to the tyranny taking hold in the nation of Blacklehn.


I Shall Return With Winter

I Shall Return With Winter by CF Welburn

SPFBO8

DEFY FATE. DEFY GODS. DEFY EVERYONE. WHEN OBEN’S FARM IS SACKED BY BARBARIANS, HE JOURNEYS INTO THE GODLESS NORTH ON A DEADLY QUEST FOR REVENGE. BUT HIS ENEMIES ARE FULL OF SURPRISES, AND HIS ENDURANCE AND FAITH ARE PUSHED TO THEIR LIMITS. HE BECOMES AN UNWITTING PAWN IN THEIR ANCIENT PROPHECY; ONE WHICH PREDICTS HE WILL DELIVER HIS HOMELAND INTO THEIR HANDS. IF OBEN IS TO SEE HIS FAMILY AGAIN, HE MUST PROVE THE PROPHECY WRONG, WHILST EXACTING VENGEANCE ON A PEOPLE TO WHOM HE GROWS EVER MORE BOUND. PERFECT FOR READERS OF DARK, GRITTY, EPIC FANTASY.


The Sickle's Edge

The Sickle's Edge by Toby Bennett

SPFBO8

It has long been accepted that nothing good comes out of the wastes. The catastrophe, which left the world choking on cinders for forgotten centuries buried many truths, but that much wisdom remained intact. Still, no one alive could be expected to appreciate the significance of the silver-haired youth who strolled out of the Dunlands, leaving the town of Ruckfield ruined in his wake. This interloper, Wyatt, represents both hope and bane for the people of the Union. The young mage’s origins are shrouded, but there is no doubt he holds a spark that has not been seen for generations. With the wastes still smouldering, only the desperate or insane would fan it into flame.


Beast Mage

Beast Mage by Derek Alan Siddoway

SPFBO8

Kellen Lars may be the most unremarkable person on Earth. In the mana-enchanted land of Oras, he could become a champion. After his little sister vanishes before his eyes, Kellen awakens in another realm inhabited by mythical creatures and people who shape the very forces of nature. These are the Beastcallers, wielders of elemental magics who ascend alongside their beast companions. In search of his sister, Kellen explores a savage new world full of magical storms, animal demi-gods and warring tribes. Just surviving isn't an option. If he ever wants to see home again, Kellen must wield his budding powers and train his newly bonded Mana Beast. Even if he succeeds, nothing will ever be the same again. A young man from Earth. A Mana Beast. Together, they'll progress into legend.


Stonebearer's Betrayal

Stonebearer's Betrayal by Jodi L. Milner

SPFBO8

Forbidden magic compelled Katira to live a lie, but learning the truth is far more dangerous than she ever dreamed. When an innocent hunting trip turns into an attack, Katira's world fractures. Her humble parents are actually legendary Stonebearers - immortal, powerful beings tasked with protecting the human world from monsters. Those cracks widen and shatter apart when the Archdemoness, Wrothe, escapes from her timeless prison and snatches Katira away, intending to use her as bait to destroy not only her family, but the entire Stonebearer Society. If Katira is to be made whole again, she must learn to trust the young stranger who's trying to save her while finding the strength to accept not only her parents' power, but her own.


Baker Thief

Baker Thief by Claudie Arseneault

SPFBO8 Kraken Collective

Adèle has only one goal: catch the purple-haired thief who broke into her home and stole her exocore, thus proving herself to her new police team. Little does she know, her thief is also the local baker. Claire owns the Croissant-toi, but while her days are filled with pastries and customers, her nights are dedicated to stealing exocores. These new red gems are heralded as the energy of the future, but she knows the truth: they are made of witches’ souls. When her twin—a powerful witch and prime exocore material—disappears, Claire redoubles in her efforts to investigate. She keeps running into Adèle, however, and whether or not she can save her sister might depend on their conflicted, unstable, but deepening relationship. --------------- BAKER THIEF is the first in a fantasy series meant to reframe romance tropes within non-romantic relationship and centering aromantic characters. Those who love enemies-to-lovers and superheroes should enjoy the story!


There's Magic Between Us

There's Magic Between Us by Jillian Maria

SPFBO8

A diehard city girl, 16-year-old Lydia Barnes is reluctant to spend a week in her grandma’s small town. But hidden beneath Fairbrooke’s exterior of shoddy diners and empty farms, there’s a forest that calls to her. In it, she meets Eden: blunt, focused, and fascinating. She claims to be hunting fae treasure, and while Lydia laughs it off at first, it quickly becomes obvious that Eden’s not joking—magic is real.Lydia joins the treasure hunt, thrilled by all the things it offers her. Things like endless places in the forest to explore and a friendship with Eden that threatens to blossom into something more. But even as she throws herself into her new adventure, some questions linger. Why did her mom keep magic a secret? Why do most of the townspeople act like the forest is evil? It seems that, as much as Lydia would like to pretend otherwise, not everything in Fairbrooke is as bright and easy as a new crush…


The Killer and The Dead

The Killer and The Dead by Roderick T. Macdonald

SPFBO8

“My name is Stahl. I kill people. I’m not proud of it, but I’m not ashamed, either.” Strapped in a chair, compelled to tell his tale to unknown tormentors, Stahl recounts his life in the Mire, a filth-choked slum shivering in the shadow of an ancient necropolis where the dead hunger for living flesh. He tells how secrets led to blackmail and death, how vengeance led to guilt and paranoia, and how an unholy bargain taught him that it is your enemies, not your friends, who define your life. But in a slum where everyone lies, what kind of truth can be expected from a killer?


The Empire's Lion

The Empire's Lion by Nathan Tudor

SPFBO8

She left a slave. She returns a conqueror. As an Adept, Reiva blasts fire from her hands and leaps over walls. But when her first solo mission leaves her half-dead amidst a heap of massacred allies, she gets just one chance at redemption. The Empire orders her to crush the one kingdom she thought she would never see again: Talynis, the land of her birth, the land she left in chains. Standing in her way is the Wolf, a vicious assassin hell-bent on killing Adepts—and a single cut from his cursed blade will destroy Reiva’s magic forever. Even if she can survive, victory may come at a price too high to pay…


Debunked

Debunked by Dito Abbott

SPFBO8 SPSFC 2022

Sometimes adventure knocks. Other times, it kicks the door in. "Dearest Alexandria and Ozymandias, If you are reading this, I have perished. My demise likely involved some manner of spiked pit or curiously fanged beast, so it’s doubtful I suffered long. Do not try to find me - the path is too perilous, and I am lost to the mortal plane." When Alex and Ozzie read their grandfather’s latest “death” letter, they barely blink. Dying six times in two years has to be a record, even for an explorer as incompetent as Sir Quidby Forsythe III. Faster than you can say “kidnapped by a giant, glowing lizard,” the Forsythe twins are dragged into a world of ancient prophecies, sarcastic swords of legend, mutant slime beasts, and a growing awareness their grandfather might be the greatest explorer in history. With Skhaar the Annihilator hot on their trail, Ozzie and Alex must solve the mystery of Sir Quidby’s disappearance before they become the final victims of the Forsythe Curse.


A Journey of Black and Red

A Journey of Black and Red by Alex Gilbert

SPFBO8

A conversation with a handsome stranger leaves Ariane chained in a cellar with a strange affliction. She soon discovers that the darkness of the nineteenth century’s Deep South hides many dangers. Mages, wolf shifters and the humans who hunt them play a risky game where to stumble is to die, all under the amused gaze of the apex predators of the supernatural world: vampires. It is never healthy to attract the gaze of the aristocracy of the night, but for Ariane, it is too late. It takes much to survive in this merciless world, but she will not let that deter her. The southern belle has a bite, and she is willing to learn and to grow in this hostile new world. She will use whatever means necessary to reclaim her freedom, be it guile, charm, or those intriguing new instincts that make blood so delectable.


The Night Comes Alive

The Night Comes Alive by Ross Hughes

SPFBO8

Beware the night and those who roam it with fangs and eyes of the brightest blue … On the cusp of maturity at the age of twelve, Spot de León has the innocence to see what others cannot. Piercing the veils of illusion woven all around him, he soon realises the world is not at all as he had thought. A secret centuries-old war is being waged in the streets. The damned stalk the night, draining the blood of innocents, and the mysterious Crows are the only ones who seem to know. Beware the city of Justiqua, where even Knights are not safe from nightmares, a city bankrupted by Crusades, where poverty and crime are rife and a plague cripples the populace. Beware the city of Vampyres, where the Old One lurks in catacombs deep underground. Beware when the night comes alive …


The Order of Chaos

The Order of Chaos by Ben J Henry

SPFBO8

How can a dream be dangerous? This is the lucid dreaming murder mystery that readers are calling intriguing, compelling and original. Alicia’s younger brother has been missing for two years. On the eve of her eighteenth birthday, she finds a book in her parents’ bedroom containing a hit list. How far is her mother prepared to go to return David to the family? While lucid dreaming, Alicia escapes the waking world, entering a realm where survival depends on the strength of your will. Is handsome Ryan a figment of her imagination, or was he sent by her brother’s kidnappers? The Order of Chaos is the first in a fantasy trilogy for young adults and adults young at heart. Readers who enjoy complex, unfolding mysteries like His Dark Materials are invited to follow Alicia to a realm where thoughts and insecurities are laid bare. What are we but a collection of memories, real and false?


Glimmer of The Other

Glimmer of The Other by Heather G Harris

SPFBO8

I can tell when you’re lying. Every. Single. Time. I’m Jinx. As a private investigator, being a walking, talking lie detector is a useful skill – but let’s face it, it’s not normal. You’d think it would make my job way too easy, but even with my weird skills, I still haven’t been able to track down my parent’s killers. When I’m hired to find a missing university student, I hope to find her propped up at a bar – yet my gut tells me there’s more to this case than a party girl gone wild. Firstly, she’s a bookish soul who’s as likely to go off the rails as Mother Theresa. Secondly, I’m not the only one on her trail; she’s also being tracked by the implacable and oh-so-sexy Inspector Stone. Stone and I team up, and he shoves me into a realm where magic is real – a place where there are vampyrs and werewolves, dragons and trolls. And where my skills are more than just detecting lies… Oh, and my dog? He’s a freaking hellhound who can manipulate the magical realms themselves. I need to find the girl. I need to discover who killed my parents. And I need to find out more about the attractive but mysterious Zachary Stone…


Rogue's Kiss

Rogue's Kiss by Andrea L. Staum

SPFBO8

Forming an alliance between Dagger House and the Smugglers' Guild on the coast was supposed to be an easy mission. Through determination and skill RenRei proves herself worthy of the task, building a successful organization that runs as smooth as a legitimate trading company. RenRei's focus should be on the goals of the guild and getting caught, but she can't ignore Sergeant Coleson of the town's guard. Even as she tries to keep him at arm's length, she keeps finding herself in his.


The Dragon Charmer's Apprentice

The Dragon Charmer's Apprentice by JC Kang

SPFBO8

A slave shall rise from the ashes to master dragons. Born into slavery, Mai's horizons are limited to one simple desire: to catch the eye of a handsome mate. She dares not dream for more, for like all humans, she’s been taught from birth that her life belongs to the orcs, her destiny to serve. But her world is upended when Aralas, a messenger from the elf gods, reveals blasphemous truths: humanity was created to be free; and hope—if it can be called that—lies in the jaws of the dragon Avarax, whom only Mai can charm with her unique voice. Torn, overwhelmed, desperate to hope yet terrified of failing her kind, Mai has until a rare conjunction of moons to master magic that takes lifetimes to learn. Yet how will she discover who she really is when even her allies seek to control her? Only by making the greatest of sacrifices will she manifest the power of a Dragon Song, and help mankind escape eternal servitude.


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