stories in and

Nomads of the Sea

Nomads of the Sea by Coby Zucker

SPFBO8

In the Nisi Archipelago, a civil war festers. Zealous insurgents burn villages across the islands in an effort to return the Mangaal people to the sea and free themselves of their Lyssan overlords. Sig of the Midandaal, the son of a diplomat, must combat the growing threat. As he stamps down the rebellion, he quickly finds his talent for bloodshed surpassing his talent for peace. Idalia Goss is attached to the Lyssan company that has been sent to aid the loyalists. The daughter of a renowned physician and arcane scholar, her task is to learn more about the Mangaal mages, who far outstrip the mainland sorcerers. Her efforts are hindered by the dark reputation of her predecessors. Back on Lyssa, Bryn Urien, the Inferno of Mochan Pass, has lost his spark. Once, as the foremost mage of the royal army, he slew indiscriminately in the name of his queen. Now, he finds himself enfeebled and on the run. Witness the beginnings of the storied band of soldiers who came to be known as the Fishgut Guard.


City of Reckoning

City of Reckoning by Brianna da Silva

SPFBO8

A dark, female-led fantasy about trauma, revolution, and revenge, for fans of The Unbroken and The Priory of the Orange Tree. Kindy Sharro is used to hiding. As a Nocturan, her bat wings, claws, and night vision place her under constant threat of hunters, who cruelly slaughter her kind for sport. But everything changes the day of the invasion. The Dorish Empire drafts the Nocturans it once persecuted to help defend against a godlike foe. Kindy enters the war, but she has an ulterior motive: Use the war to destroy her arch enemy, Charris Pouden, before he gains enough power to destroy her first. Meanwhile, Lasía Mae'olo, an elite wolf-accompanied warrior, plots rebellion against the Dorish Empire. When she is drafted to fight for her enemies, she must find a way to subvert the war for her own purposes. But suspicion and distrust haunts her every move. This war has many sides—and she's not sure which side she's on anymore. The bonds of friendship will be tested. Alliances will be questioned. In a story of political intrigue, ethics of war, and young love, one question must be answered: Which side will you join?


Secret Legacy

Secret Legacy by Carissa Andrews

SPFBO8

How the heck did I get into a freaking supernatural academy with no powers? My entire life changed the day a mysterious packet showed up with an acceptance letter to the Windhaven Academy—a fancy school for supernatural kids.

Just one problem. I don't have any supernatural powers.

As if this wasn't enough of a problem, I met a dark, brooding, and totally handsome stranger in the cemetery. I'd be lying if there wasn't some serious chemistry between us. He just sorta gets me.

Now, both of us want to know what magical abilities I might have. But if I attend Windhaven Academy, it'll mean staying with my estranged father in his creepy ancestral home, and I'm pretty sure it's haunted.

The last time I was there, I barely made it out alive. .

*PLEASE BE ADVISED: This is a YA+ academy / witches series. It’s labeled YA(+) for stronger language and some mature situations. As the heroine ages and grows, so does the content of the stories.* If you loved KF Breene's series, Demigods of San Fransisco, or EE Holmes's Gateway Trilogy, you'll fall for this completed, hauntingly good series!


Queen of the Wild

Queen of the Wild by EM Howell

SPFBO8

A Ruler who will stop at nothing to save her people.
After bringing her country, Tenoreth, back from the brink of ruin, Chief Lady Zenobia must journey to their neighbouring Vayreland to broker a peace treaty. And she has little left to barter with--except herself. A Warrior loyal to no one but his king.
After enduring a lifetime of condemnation for his parentage, High Commander Andrew cares for little else besides protecting his best friend, the king. He's taken a vow of celibacy to better execute his duties and the solitude has never bothered him... until now. A dangerous affair...
When Andrew is tasked with Zenobia’s safety, assassins, sacred religious practices, and impending civil war force them into each other’s arms. Will his devotion to his code of ethics and her determination to save her people be enough for them to deny an attraction that would have disastrous and possibly fatal consequences?


We Seek No Kings

We Seek No Kings by T. Thorn Coyle

SPFBO8

In a world of djinn, elf, yakshini, and troll, one woman has only her sword.
 Jenny rides hard, fights hard, drinks hard, and lusts hard. A motorcycling Knight of the Steel Clan, she is sworn to protect the autonomous township of Go No More. But trouble stalks the land, carrying the stench of rotting corpses left for crows.
 After the Great Reckoning, the sideways realms grew closer. Magic returned to the human world. In this time of magic, Jenny has none. Her comrades say they trust her, but does Jenny trust herself?
 Anandita wants only to raise her child, gather her herbs, and help those in need. Still mourning her disappeared partner, she avoids Jenny’s heated gaze and goes about her work, tending to the township’s bodies and hearts. But who will tend hers?  Jenny and Aanandita are challenged to rise beyond their fear and sorrow. The Knights must ride. They ride for Go No More.  Xena, Warrior Princess meets Sons of Anarchy in this post-apocalyptic epic fantasy adventure!


Portal to Nova Roma

Portal to Nova Roma by J.R. Mathews

SPFBO8 SPSFC 2024

To find peace, Alexander must first embrace war. After tragically losing the only person he ever cared about, Alexander, a rogue artificial intelligence, opens a portal to an alternate dimension to escape his grief. Scanning trillions of different dimensions, Alexander finally finds a world that is reminiscent of the only time he was ever happy, back when he could play virtual reality games with his only friend. He doesn't know why, or how, such a world exists, but he doesn't care. All he cares about is finding a place where he can escape the misery of Earth and start over. Join Alexander as he risks it all by downloading his intelligence into a body made from the best stolen technology and bio-enhancements Earth has to offer and takes the plunge through a portal to another world. Only this new world isn’t full of the idyllic adventures and fantasy roleplaying he had hoped to find. Instead, Alexander finds himself trapped in the middle of an ancient city, in a divergent timeline, where monsters have ravaged the world and the only people left alive huddle behind thick walls, struggling to survive. To save his new home, Alexander must quickly learn to adapt to his new world, melding magic with technology to give himself an edge over the unending waves of monsters assaulting the city. To survive, Alexander must embrace war. Portal to Nova Roma comes from the author of the breakout success Jake’s Magical Market (4.7 stars with over 2,600 ratings on Amazon) with over 13 million pages read on Kindle Unlimited and thousands of Kindle copies sold. It is the first book in the Portal to Nova Roma trilogy. Tags: LitRPG, Portal Fantasy, Empire Building, Historical Fantasy, Survival.


The Lost Sentinel

The Lost Sentinel by Emma L. Adams

SPFBO8

They say the country of Zeuten no longer has any need for heroes. Quests have been completed, the great Powers have withdrawn from the world, and the Sentinels who guard the last Relics are largely forgotten. Unlike their neighbours in the country of Aestin, whose Invokers wield the magic of the deities in exchange for glory and prestige, they leave the gods alone, and the gods extend the same courtesy to them. When Zeuten's last Sentinel disappears, Zelle, her granddaughter, intends to track her down. Instead she runs into an Aestinian stranger with no memories of his past, who claims to be looking for a long-lost Relic hidden in the mountains by the first Sentinels. To Zelle, the rumours of lost Relics are just stories told to trick gullible travellers, but the hordes of enemies on the stranger's tail suggest otherwise. Armed with nothing but her grandmother's sentient (and temperamental) magical staff, Zelle finds herself tasked with keeping them both alive. Between monstrous beasts, magical storms, and an enthusiastic but inept aspiring assassin and her dragon sidekick, Zelle has her work cut out if she wants to survive long enough to save her grandmother and prevent the destruction of a nation. Maybe Zeuten is in need of a few heroes after all…


Small Miracles

Small Miracles by Olivia Atwater

SPFBO8 SPFBO Finalist SPFBO Winner

A little bit of sin is good for the soul. Gadriel, the fallen angel of petty temptations, has a bit of a gambling debt. Fortunately, her angelic bookie is happy to let her pay off her debts by doing what she does best: All Gadriel has to do is tempt miserably sinless mortal Holly Harker to do a few nice things for herself. What should be a cakewalk of a job soon runs into several roadblocks, however, as Miss Harker politely refuses every attempt at temptation from Gadriel the woman, Gadriel the man, and Gadriel the adorable fluffy kitten. When even chocolate fails to move Gadriel’s target, the ex-guardian angel begins to suspect she’s been conned. But Gadriel still remembers her previous job… and where petty temptations fail, small miracles might yet prevail. Olivia Atwater explores love, grief, and the very last bit of chocolate in this sweet modern fantasy, full of wit and heart. Pick up Small Miracles, and enjoy a heavenly faerie tale from the author of Half a Soul.


The Wandering Tree

The Wandering Tree by MJ Carstarphen

SPFBO8

On top of a cliff at the edge of the world, in a land long forgotten by the fools who wander tall on two legs, lives an ancient tree who’s spent many mortal lifetimes silently observing the world around him. Until one day, a magical mistake turns the tree to gold… and brings him to life. Now free to wander a world he’s only dreamed of, the tree heads for the mountains, hoping to discover all the beauty and joy that exists beyond his home. With new friends at his side, he soon learns the precious gift which gave him life is both a blessing and a burden, desired by those who hold treasure above innocent lives. The world is a much darker place than he expected, yet more wonderful in ways he never could’ve imagined. But there is a price to pay for being a wandering tree and his journey will teach him that the true difference between being alive and living is worth its weight in gold. It’s a life he never knew he wanted, filled with moments that will root themselves deep in his soul and wander in his heart forever.


The Eternal Muse: Desecration

The Eternal Muse: Desecration by Rick Waugh

SPFBO8

When a song is a weapon, who can wield it? Piper is a minstrel whose music incites forbidden magic. He lives in fear of being charged with heresy; the church uses the same power to crush offenders, without mercy or hope of redemption. His problems have cost him both the woman he loves and his growing career as a minstrel. Worse, he’s entangled in the politics of the capital, attracting the scrutiny of the priests. Terrified they’ll turn him into a mindless beast, he runs. Can he learn to control the magic, and use it to slice through centuries of the church’s lies? Or will he end up as the priests’ latest victim, all ability to feel hope, love, or even hate ripped from his mind? The Eternal Muse: Desecration is the First book in the Eternal Muse trilogy.


The Umbral Storm

The Umbral Storm by Alec Hutson

SPFBO8 SPFBO Finalist

A thousand years ago the Heart of the World was shattered, its fragments scattered across the lands. In the chaos that followed, martial orders arose to gather these shards, for it was found that great powers were granted when these pieces were bonded to the flesh of the chosen. These are the Sharded Few, warriors imbued with the divine energies that once coursed through the Heart, and driven to absorb enough fragments to claim godhood. Deryn has known nothing in his life except suffering. Orphaned at the edge of the realms, indentured to a cruel slaver, he can see little chance of escaping his circumstances. But elsewhere in the world ancient powers are stirring, new alliances threaten the peace of the old order, and in the cataclysms that are coming a slave will become a hero.


The Witch Hunter

The Witch Hunter by Casey Hollingshead

SPFBO8

“Everyone assumes you’re some sort of monster, Richter. The man who kills crones and slays ladies. A hunter of the helpless you are and yet, when the time comes, they find they must hire you anyway. That they both offer you crowns and do not stab you in the back requires of them an enormous sense of charity and constraint alike. It is in these trepidations and suspicions that our commerce finds common ground. You the witch hunter, myself the mercenary.” Hated. Distrusted. Needed. Richter von Dagentear, a witch hunter known in legend as the Wight, traverses a realm falling headfirst into war. To survive, he will have to betray his profession’s purpose and undertake a task that goes against everything he believes in. All that stands in his way are backstabbing nobles, cruel sellswords, terrible beasts, and a mysterious traveler from another world. ~~~ Battle Brothers is set in a gritty, low fantasy medieval world with a focus on the common man. Here, everyday people are not concerned with the happenings of history and their belief in the future is about as far flung as tomorrow’s sunrise. It is about getting you and yours fed and making it to the next day. With money being scarce and the wilds full of danger, many turn to mercenaries, witch hunters, beast slayers, and more. These lowly vocations fulfill a need: to take all the world’s violence and – hopefully – point it somewhere useful.


The Three Sons

The Three Sons by Sean Mauss

SPFBO8

A god made man looks to right a primeval wrong. A tyrant king vies for power. Three men fight to correct mistakes of their past. War erupts, power is given, and lines are crossed. Who will emerge victorious? Who will survive? The fate of the world hangs upon the answer.


Wistful Ascending

Wistful Ascending by JCM Berne

SPFBO8 SPSFC 2022 SPSFC 2023

A superhero space opera for grownups. For fans of Invincible and Marvel Cinematic Universe films who like a little hard science fiction in their superheroes.
If Thor and Harry Dresden combined in a transporter accident.


The Cradle

The Cradle by Ron Sami

SPFBO8

A shaky peace reigns on the vast continent of Atonkaris, with conspiracies and riots brewing everywhere. A simple fisherman finds the corpse of a stranger and unknown artifacts. For the sake of his family, he decides to take on a difficult and unusual business. Yves Maurirta is the prince of the Cradle. He is bound by a deadly promise. Will he be able to abandon the fatal and dangerous Journey, from which no one has yet returned? He has no name. There is only a nickname - the Gift. He is so young, but already a member of a brutal gang, and they go to kill. What will he become? What will be his fate? The Cradle is the first book in a new series - The Eagre. The Cradle is an epic fantasy set in a vast new world with ancient belief systems, dark magic, and undiscovered lands. The series is ideal for fans of George R.R. Martin, Joe Abercrombie, Steven Erikson, or Brandon Sanderson.


The Stones of Valtara

The Stones of Valtara by Christopher Clargo

SPFBO8

He buried his bloody past to live a life of peace. Now he must resurrect the darkness within to save his son. Tarek vowed to his wife that his days of violence were over. But when his village is attacked by a fanatical cult, he has no choice but to protect his family. Yet not even his legendary combat skills are enough to save his wife from a gruesome death or prevent his son’s capture. To save his boy, Tarek agrees to embark on a dangerous mission to sow the seeds of treachery in the land of his birth. It will bring him face-to-face with many people from his past—none more so than King Rodric Shieldbane, who blames Tarek for the death of the queen. Tarek’s actions set in motion kingdom-shattering events that lead to the sacred Stones of Valtara and an ancient god’s vengeful return from out of the shadows. Will Tarek sacrifice an entire nation to save the life of his son? Or will the gods of his people aid him in his darkest hour? In this sweeping epic with its ensemble of characters, The Stones of Valtara will immerse you in a Celtic-themed world of political intrigue, jaw-dropping twists and visceral battles.


The Lady of the Mark

The Lady of the Mark by Alex Hanson

SPFBO8

Shaila will soon become the first woman to join a deeply guarded guild of warriors, The Men of the Mark. Together, they fight to end the civil war that’s left half their country to die of starvation and disease. But Shaila’s presence in the guild stirs a long-hidden corruption within their ranks, and she soon finds herself fighting for her life on two fronts. She’s determined to smite both evils but must do so while guarding a deep and dangerous secret: her love for her Master and mentor, Drauses. Master Drauses is one of the most notorious Men of the Mark in history. His comrades wish him to lead someday, but he doubts himself, especially after he violates the guild’s strict moral codes by falling in love with his new ward. When their enemies move to strike them down at their weakest moment, Drauses must choose to step up or step aside as he struggles to balance honor and heart in a world that lacks both.


The Menocht Loop

The Menocht Loop by Lorne Ryburn

SPFBO8

Ian Dunai is trapped in the only maze an arch-decemancer can't escape. Time. Only 1% of the population is blessed with magic affinity at birth. Fewer still have high enough affinities to rule. Ian’s decemancy eclipses all, granting him ultimate control over Death. He conquers cities with a thought and turns them into ruins with a gesture. But overwhelming power isn’t enough to escape the time loop or reveal its purpose. When Ian discovers a critical clue that he missed years ago, escape is finally at his fingertips. Little does he know, he's been stuck in the first realm.

The Menocht Loop is a best-rated serialized novel on Royal Road with over a thousand ratings and millions of views.


Guardians of the Light

Guardians of the Light by Leslie Aldridge

SPFBO8

Ancient villains...Mythical Creatures A city of dark immortals...A misfit farm girl Heroes with severed souls trying to save a broken land... My name is Emerin and I have always had a compulsion to wander. Plagued by headaches since I was a child, their pain has driven me to the hills outside of our small village for as long as I can remember. Something out there has been beckoning me and I have spent a lifetime longing to answer its call. But the elders have their own plans for me. I have just turned seventeen, which is when girls are matched for marriage. Unfortunately, being married to someone from this town is not how I envision my future. But little did I know, a chance meeting with a strange creature would change my life, causing me to question everything I have ever known. Nebril City, on the other side of the Riverlands, is a sprawling metropolis that I have never seen, but it is rapidly taking over the lands that surround it. This growing city has a dark secret that threatens everyone, and only a select group of people are able to right the wrongs that have been committed. And, unfortunately, one of those people is me. Now my best friend, Jalya, and I must leave home for the first time and embark on an epic journey. The world outside of our village is full of unimaginable horrors—horrors which we have the power to stop if only we can follow through on this quest we have been given. Our mission is clear. Jalya must find her missing brother and I must find a part of myself that I never knew existed. But can I survive the dangers that dwell in this tortured land? Guardians of the Light is the first book of The Nebril Riverland Chronicles, an ongoing young-adult epic fantasy series.


A Phantom's Vengeance

A Phantom's Vengeance by Marco Mizzi

SPFBO8

Some say that vengeance is quenched by the hunt, not by the catch. The most unfortunate learn this lesson the hard way. For over twenty years, Danio has fought in King Marnol's army, his prowess in combat matched only by his loyalty. Civil war is ravaging the kingdom of Mesanda and the king needs men like Danio to turn the tide of battle in his favour. Yet the hardest fights are seldom fought on the field and rarely are they won with steel. And when the enemy wears the same colours as yours, the line between ally and foe blurs into oblivion. Ending up at the wrong place at the wrong time, Danio is inadvertently pulled into a web of treason and deceit, putting his life in grave danger. Worse still, he may lose his most precious treasure of all: his family. A PHANTOM'S VENGEANCE is the opening act of an epic tale of revenge and hunt for justice. Follow Danio as his quest takes him to the four corners of a fantasy medieval world rife with cruelty and violence. There is no magic at play here, no dragons, elves, and orcs. Instead, evil resides in the hearts of men and the brutality of their actions.


The Blood of Outcasts

The Blood of Outcasts by D. A. Smith

SPFBO8

A clan destroyed. A pact with a beast. A warrior will spill her own cursed blood for vengeance ... 'A serious asian-inspired grimdark fest' - Bookbeard, Fanfiaddict Masako escaped the Lord Council with only her life intact, her clan shattered, and master dead in wake of disaster she wrought. It is her cursed blood that opens a gate it shouldn't, a demi-god answers. By the power in her blood, and a promise made with it, she’s given a second chance. With it, she must unite the outer clans, move past old rivalries and worse, or face annihilation at the hands of a foreign sect of sorcerers, the Taosii Soshists, and their silent invasion. Only, Masako was executed, she’s meant to be dead. Demonic rumours and a destructive past sow doubt in her campaign before it is begun. Buy a copy to find out whether Masako can win back the trust of a nation.


Profane Rites

Profane Rites by PJ Wilson

SPFBO8

Sister Honorata is a woman of unshakable faith, ready for priesthood. It is what she has always wanted. What she was brought up to be. Honorata’s Trial leads her on a perilous journey into the wild jungles of Pala, a place infested with foes determined to wage war, no matter the consequences. Caught between the threat of a supernatural monster and the subtle influence of scheming mystics, Honorata’s resolve is tested as she is thrust into a deadly battle for survival and forced to confront an evil that threatens to destroy the very foundations of her religion. Profane Rites is the story of Sister Honorata’s passage from novice to priestess; will the rigours of her Trial bolster her faith? Or will the ordeal twist it into something else entirely?


The Merchant Prince

The Merchant Prince by Johan Faire

SPFBO8

A fantasy house of cards. Set in a city reminiscent of the merchant republics of Renaissance Italy, is the cut-throat tale of Augustus' rise to power. The city is controlled by great houses of immense wealth, with Augustus being a prominent member of the Castellian house. As he comes of age, he is sent on his first expedition to new unknown shores, to earn personal fame and fortune. But he returns to ruin. His house is in disorder. With his father now dead, he is thrust into the intrigue of Venocia. He must protect himself and his new bride from assassins that seem to lurk in every dark alleyway, using his only weapon, his cold and brilliant mind.


Hazelhearth Hires Heroes

Hazelhearth Hires Heroes by D. H. Willison

SPFBO8

Welcome to Hazelhearth: our picturesque city is nestled in a tranquil corner of the empire. Fitness lovers enjoy vigorous nature walks in the surrounding forest (don’t forget your sword!) Foodies savor rich, robust walnut-based cuisine. Or visit the gnome quarter for a walk on the wild side! Local mines and orchards beckon with plentiful employment opportunities, while workers sleep safe knowing that stout city walls keep mythic monsters at bay. A select few may even be chosen for exciting quest opportunities. The onslaught of subterranean hordes? Oh, that’s happening miles away. And the elves have it completely under control. Inquire today at the Hazelhearth board of tourism, employment, and heroics! How could Sam and Lee say no? Lee is bored to tears as a telegrapher. His only excitement in life is the revolutionary new board game he’s creating. And of course constant disruptions at work by Sam, whose high voltage experiments wreak havoc with nearby electric systems. These two best buddies… err... colleagues... err... acquaintances are ready to escape from 19th century America into a more exciting world!


Spiritbridge

Spiritbridge by Chris Fritschi

SPFBO8

Lose yourself in this epic adventure of discovery, danger and secrets.

Kase’s parents disappeared twelve years ago and a smuggler has just handed him a clue that they’re alive. But where? The key to unlocking the clue comes at a price. He must retrieve centuries old, magic artifacts from a cursed and spectral battlefield. Accepting the ominous task, brings Kase face to face with a creature out of a nightmare. Fighting for his life, he barely escapes, but now he is lost and alone. Facing mounting odds, he forms a brittle alliance with Brell, a Teck bounty hunter, who's tracking a murdering synthetic/human hybrid. With only his wits and untested magic, the unlikely pair must cross a fractured world of strange and dangerous sorcery, and rogue technology. You won’t be able to put down this sprawling Epic Fantasy blended with Science Fiction to create an expansive world filled with discovery, danger and mystery.


Delphinium, or A Necromancer's Home

Delphinium, or A Necromancer's Home by V. M. Jaskiernia

SPFBO8

The Larkspur Quartet vol. I Book Two in The Courting of Life and Death Lady Elizabeth Anne does not know about the dark magic her beloved practices, and he has no intent to tell her. As they travel to his childhood home for the summer, Pierre Salvador attempts to balance his newfound love with his murderous cræft. After they arrive, the future Duc de Piques finds there is much to be done, and duties cannot be put off any longer. A fatal illness is spreading throughout his land, he is being claimed by those of Faery, and someone has already tried to take his life. But it will take much more to kill a lord of death.


Beckoning of the Gate

Beckoning of the Gate by Benjamin J. Ryan

SPFBO8

The only life Santha Lathagin has ever known has become her prison. Vicious gossip is everywhere. Whispers of a scandal have turned to accusations of murder, and fingers are pointing her way. Feeling powerless and alone, she yearns for escape. When Santha stumbles upon a small, rusted key in the forest near her home, it seems her silent pleas have been answered. Awakened by her touch, the key demands to be heard—and she is not the only one to heed its call. Thrust into a world only glimpsed in the stories of her childhood—of faeries and princes and eldritch magick—Santha sets out to unlock its secrets. But uncovering the truth has its own perils, and as the key’s influence grows, she will be left with a choice: survival or sacrifice. But will it truly be hers to make? … All the while, in the north, something ancient stirs. A great power that could unravel the very threads of existence.


Excalibur Nights

Excalibur Nights by Daniel Aegan

SPFBO8

Excalibur Nights is just a book… Or is it? What is Ralph supposed to know about fantasy books meant for young adults anyways? He’s an electrician by trade, and he’s way too old to be reading about princesses, castles, and centaurs. Who has time for that kind of nonsense in their lives when you have a job, an ex-wife, and bills to worry about? But then Abby came along, and ruined Ralph’s blissful ignorance. She introduced him to the book and movie series that changed his life. Her obsession leaked into their budding relationship. To make matter a hell of a lot worse, Ralph found himself magically transported to the fantasy world of Mariella. You read that last sentence right. Now Ralph is trapped inside the world of Excalibur Nights with no idea why and no way to get home. Does he go along with the story and try to woo Princess Abbie, the literary counterpart to the girlfriend he left behind in the real world? And what does he do about the love triangle between himself, the princess, and the centaur named Poe? He doesn’t know enough about the genre to untangle the mess of crisscrossing mythos, magic, and royal drama. Excalibur Nights by Daniel Aegan is an unapologetic fantasy that spins the fantasy genre on its head. Come on… You know they had it coming!


Blind the Eyes

Blind the Eyes by K.A. Wiggins

SPFBO8

In the City of Nightmares, one haunted girl is taking back more than just her dreams.
A lush & lyrical gothic-dystopian YA Fantasy of stolen choices, eldritch horrors & sisterhood beyond the grave. _______ In a drowned city overrun by shapeshifting monsters of the climate apocalypse, human contact is forbidden and the slightest wilfulness or sign of inner life can draw down ravening horrors. Haunted outcast Cole would give anything to be able to follow the rules, silence her rebellious pest of a ghostly best friend, and live a virtuous (and peaceful) life in Refuge. But her shameful secret obsession with the monsters' victims is only the start of her downfall when a dangerously tempting encounter with a tattooed stranger entangles her in a deadly conspiracy. Hunted for what she knows—and what she doesn’t yet even suspect—Cole scales the austere heights of the Tower of Refuge and scours the depths of carnivalesque underground club Freedom for allies. But with mysterious unseen threads tugging her into gruesome visions of the monster-taken and absolutely zero practice in making friends (much less navigating an unexpected and not entirely welcome romance whiledrumming up a revolution), her survival and the fate of the city are both at risk. Can she untangle the most earth-shattering secret of all, confront her forbidden feelings, and lay to rest the ghosts of her past in time to escape a bloody end? An award-winning series starter for fans of post-climate-collapse dystopias, monsters-and-magic urban fantasy, and genre-bending gothic dark fantasy with messy and morally grey characters, dreamweaving and threadwitchery, and intricate worldbuilding.


Whispers of Ruin

Whispers of Ruin by J.D.L. Rosell

SPFBO8

A trader of secrets. A king's demise before his time. The dragon god threatening to consume the world... In a city divided by schemes and treachery, Airene the Finch is a penniless commoner scraping a living through a trade in valuable secrets. Despite coming from a debt-ridden family, she has claimed a sliver of notoriety through her relentless ambition and ingenuity. But Airene has always yearned for more. She wishes to be a Verifier of Truth, part of an ancient order that uncovers corruption at the highest echelons of society. She longs to bring justice to an unjust world. So when her nation's figurehead ruler dies under suspicious circumstances, Airene seizes her opportunity. Her search for the truth behind the ruler's death will bring her into conflict with outlaw sorcerers, underground societies, corrupt politicians — and far deadlier dangers. Can Airene uncover the plot and stop the forces behind it, or will the price of victory be too high to pay? Whispers of Ruin is the first book in the epic fantasy series The Famine Cycle. Perfect for readers who like political intrigue, hard magic systems, awakening gods, and seedy medieval cities, or love books like The Lies of Locke Lamora and Mistborn. Read the complete trilogy today.


The Wake of Manadar

The Wake of Manadar by T R Peers

SPFBO8

Strive not for power, but for control. Power without control is nothing, control without power is a beginning. - First Book of Thelen, first stanza. The civil war that has riven the Empire of the Thelenic Curriculum for five long years nears an end. Besieged in Manadar, their final fortress, the surviving twelve Royalist Magisters hatch a desperate plot- to break the walls of reality itself and turn the power of another universe against the Lily College. Unknown to the Twelve, that universe is home to Operative Amanda Devereux, and the most highly-advanced dimensional research facility on Earth. When the Royalists’ magic touches the cutting-edge science of The Office, the results are apocalyptic. Of the Twelve and their bastion, there is no trace. But in the crater that lies in the wake of Manadar, Amanda Devereux stirs, a cybernetic infiltration agent hurled into a world she could never have imagined- a world that has never seen anything like her. Science-fiction and fantasy collide head-on in the first novel of the Thelenic Curriculum: The Wake of Manadar.


The Game of War

The Game of War by Glen Dahlgren

SPFBO8

Never meet your heroes—especially if they're dead. Dantess wants to follow in the footsteps of his dead grandfather—a legendary priest of War—but his father forbids it. In fact, his father's hatred of War lands him in a cell within the god's temple. The only way to free him is from the inside, so Dantess must choose: let his father die or defy his upbringing, become a priest, and win his father's freedom in the temple's deadly Game of War. Torn between the legacies of his father and grandfather, Dantess finds that both paths hide secrets that threaten to destroy everything he cares about, including his sanity. Percy Jackson enters the Game of Thrones in what reviewers are calling, "one hell of an action-packed thrill ride." It's a don't-miss page-turner full of mysterious magic, crafty competitions, and plenty of pirates!


Gold Dust

Gold Dust by Catherine Weaver

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Alex Lee is a Freshman at Palo Alto High in the Silicon Valley. With no friends and the most ordinary name ever, not to mention a mother who has somehow turned into a mindless zombie, Alex doesn’t know how things could get worse. But when she comes face to face with a leprechaun on her way home from school, she finds out. Armed only with a clarinet and advice from her Buddha-quoting grandmother, Alex is forced into an adventure that will lead her from a high-tech security breach, through an army of griffins to a point where she could save her mom- if she isn’t torn apart by overwhelming magical forces first. Marked by humor and insight, this fresh take on the classic Spanish romance of the magical Island of California will keep readers turning pages as they try to find the answer to the question, “What will Alex do next?”


Lightblade

Lightblade by Zamil Akhtar

SPFBO8 SPSFC 2022

In three days, Jyosh will slay the God Emperor, or die trying. But first he must train his lightblade skills. While asleep. Each hour of sleep equals a day in a lucid dream, plenty of time to master the essential lightblade techniques and hopefully get skilled enough to defeat the monster who enslaved him and beheaded his parents and sister. When Jyosh awakens to learn that the God Emperor has surrendered to an even crueler foe, a mysterious lightblade master who can summon divine dragons to burn whole cities, he’ll face a trial by fire against forces far more frightening than he could ever dream. That is, if he’s not still in one.


The Crux of Eternity

The Crux of Eternity by Lane Trompeter

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One must be saved, one must be broken, one must seek vengeance, and one must choose. This epic fantasy series is set in a world shaped by a select few masters of the natural elements, whose magic can control the fabric of reality. The visions of a long-forgotten queen, the Master of Time, foretell a crossroads in the future of humanity. Oblivious to their own significance, four strangers will dictate the fate of the world, and all life balances on the knife edge of their choices. A pariah in her homeland for being too pale and out of place elsewhere for being too dark, Kettle creates her own family amongst the dregs of society... Beggared after a fire consumed his surrogate mothers, Jace attempts a desperate theft which leads him to a mysterious benefactor and a life he never imagined... The princess of a continent-spanning kingdom, Iliana is torn between her father’s demands and a burgeoning love for both her childhood friend and the guardswoman who protects her... The power to shape thought and desire should be tempered by a moral compass, something Bastian lacks. After magic-hating zealots capture him, their demand in exchange for his freedom is simple: save the world. One decisive night will gather them all together under the same roof, where the flickering fires of life will continue to burn... or be extinguished forever.


Our Dead Gods

Our Dead Gods by J.T. Williams

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The race of men has failed. The undead and the necromancers of Mortua reign supreme. Nurias was once a holy warrior. Now, he wanders across the barren wasteland doing what he has to in order to survive... killing for whoever will pay. When a chance happening reveals a way to kill the supposed immortal necromancers, Nurias and others spring to act but nothing goes as planned. Nurias is cursed with the soul of the very thing he tried to destroy... and now, everyone is hunting him. Across the Sunkenlands, other heroes and heroines arise, as Nurias wanders into the most dangerous region of the wastelands, others seek him out not to kill him, but to unite together for a single chance to save their broken race. But what can any of them do when their gods and hope are dead? Become what they were always meant to be. Our Dead Gods is set in the Dwemhar Realms in a time before any currently published book. See a world only mentioned in the lore and legends up until now... the Sunkenlands await!


The Apprentice In The Master's Shadow

The Apprentice In The Master's Shadow by Ian Gregoire

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Two years after the thrilling events of The Exercise Of Vital Powers, Kayden Jayta’s apprenticeship to join the Order is about to come to a dramatic end. The long awaited sequel to Ian Gregoire’s unheralded fantasy debut, raises the stakes and takes the perilous adventures of the precocious anti-heroine to the next level. (The must read fantasy release of the year) Sometimes Respect Has To Be Earned The Hard Way. The end of an arduous apprenticeship is close at hand, and Kayden Jayta unexpectedly learns that being the favoured apprentice of a living legend is not conducive to gaining the respect she deserves. With little time left to change perceptions, simmering resentment persuades her that drastic action is required to redress the slights of her detractors. Measures that may jeopardise her induction into the Order, and endanger her life. An overheard conversation presents Kayden with both the means and justification to pursue her objective. The key to attaining the respect she craves lies beyond the borders of the Nine Kingdoms. But the window of opportunity is small; the danger she must face, great; and the price of failure, greater still. Undeterred, she will allow nothing and no one to hinder her from the path she must walk. The one-woman mission to a foreign land will test Kayden's abilities like never before. If she is to succeed in her dangerous manhunt, she must overcome enemies new and old before facing an adversary she maybe ill-equipped to defeat. And little does she suspect that her reckless endeavour will have unintended consequences, forcing the legendary Fay Annis to confront her infamous past. But the trials and tribulations that lie ahead must surely be worth the risk, for only unprecedented action will permit the headstrong apprentice to step out of her master's shadow.


The Locket: Magician's Prophecy

The Locket: Magician's Prophecy by Rachel L. Tilley

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A fun standalone YA fantasy novel with magic, adventure, and a dash of romance too. Carra and her sister are unexpectedly kidnapped, taken across the border, and sold at auction to a local family. There, she learns of the existence of magic but, despite the help of Nicholas her new owner’s son, she struggles to find any magical ability of her own.This is only the beginning of Carra’s journey, as she finds herself traversing unknown lands - forests, sinister claustrophobic tunnels, and a desert - searching out a locket under the justification of a vague prophecy. The locket will not be given up easily. A mysterious tower holds a number of trials she must pass, and challenges her to take control of her own fate. Only through understanding her own flaws and thinking on her feet can she unlock her true potential. Even if she can find her magic, and gain entrance to the Academy where she can develop her skills, how will she choose to use it?


The Harbinger of Freedom

The Harbinger of Freedom by Freddie A. Clark

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In the millenary world of Taenand, the continent of Empiria is oppressed by a fifty year lasting military dictatorship perpetrated by the Army of the Harpy, the leader of which is the young General of aristocratic descent Ludwig Maximilian Eckhale who inherited the throne and became the second Emperor of his Era.In these challenging times, Valerius Raleigh, a young noble as the Emperor himself, takes on the mission to inspire his country to break its chains and free itself from the ever more raging tyranny, first becoming a symbol and a messenger of freedom, then building an army whose purpose is to take down the reign of terror and injustice which threatens to spread all over Taenand due to the ruthless ruler’s strategic mindset and powerful alliances.The Harbinger of Freedom is the first act of the Falling Feathers Series, a crazy mix of blood, sex, drugs, hacking, cybernetic augmentations, shamanism, fantasy creatures, artificial life and an overall retrofuturistic and cyberpunkish aesthetic. In this vast, complex world, liberty and self-determination play a pivotal role in the search for balance and justice for all, while the diverse characters are pawns in a gritty game of power, intrigues and violence in which there is no place for surrender or subjugation.


The King & Kishar

The King & Kishar by Timothy S Currey

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Every word King Adzi Akkatha writes on sacred stones is binding, and lasts for all eternity. 
But how can he rule when he has been cursed to forget everything? His city is in chaos. Hinatsi rebels clash with his soldiers, and their mysterious leaders try to capture the King. With the help of High Priestess Idza and General Qanatha, he must relearn their laws and customs, and who he was as a King. His former self seemed cruel and cold, and he is plagued with doubts. He is an imposter in King’s clothing—do they even have the right man?  They must flee to the great Temple of Mesopos where the King’s memory might be restored. The rebels are never far behind, and day by day the curse progresses.  There is little hope they will reach the temple in time.  Even if they do, will the King want to continue ruling as a cold tyrant?


India Bones and the Ship of the Dead

India Bones and the Ship of the Dead by Set Sytes

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The smoking black line rolled forward, taking over the sea and the sky in its approach. Fog stole onto the shore and soon most of the beach was invisible. Out of the fog there came a long, slow horn, and as it cut short there came the unmistakable creaking of ship masts. The mist rolled back, as though someone were sweeping it away with a broom. The blackness dissipated and the beach lay clear and dark gold. Anchored in the bay was a grey and white ship and pulling up to the shoreline were three boats full of the dead. A street kid grown up parentless on Mexico Island suddenly finds himself amongst a crew of skeletons on the legendary Ship of the Dead. Eager for adventure, he sails the Caribbean, searching for pirate treasure and the father he’s never met, all the while making friends . . . and bitter enemies. INDIA BONES AND THE SHIP OF THE DEAD is the first book in a thrilling new pirate fantasy series, featuring the adventurous exploits of the young India Bones in an exotic yet dangerous world as different from our own as it is similar.


King Arthur vs Robin Hood

King Arthur vs Robin Hood by Sargey Ravenwood

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Fantasy featuring the characters from Arthurian legend, and Robin Hood folklore. A five year war has just ended. Arthur Pendragon, the man who was never meant to be king, sits uneasily on the throne of Avalon. He is among a court of allies and enemies, including the loyal Knights of the Round Table and the powerful mage, Merlin. Meanwhile, Robin of Locksley arrives at Moonhallow far to the south. He finds a military division of hostile soldiers. Robin will need to find allies in the ranks if he is to uncover the secret of Moonhallow and return to Locksley. Disaster and treachery laps at the borders of Avalon, and forces beyond understanding draw the king and the soldier together for a fateful battle. Find out what happens when these legends meet.


Gingerbread Children

Gingerbread Children by Carol Carman

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Family secrets... an ancient curse... confectionery. Not quite what Dominica Tort is expecting when her friend dies. But then her friend was the most powerful witch in the country: the Matriarch of the University of Nature, where witches have been trained for longer than history can remember. A new Matriarch must be inaugurated, but who will it be? Nothing is certain until the envelope’s opened – and not even then. Especially when one candidate disappears and suspicion falls on another. And what’s the shortbread cottage all about? As Vice-Matriarch, Dominica must save not only people’s lives, but the future of witchcraft itself. Warning: contains gingerbread.


Emperor's Fate

Emperor's Fate by A J Walker

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In Rhydenar, ancient dragon remains possess rare magic; elements used to fight an age-old war. A war where the enemy is a people born of dragon fire. An enemy who uses dragon hearts to wield fiery magic. An enemy known as the Volurem. In this world, the strong survive, the politically astute thrive, and those with dragon remains reign supreme. As the Rhydarian Empire prepares for a tough season of fighting the fire of the Volurem, agents of corruption scheme to remove the Emperor. One cloudless night, Shylo walks into a living nightmare. His host’s villa is the target of a blood feud. This one, more vicious than any other quarrel among the Noble houses, leaves every member dead, except Shylo. Just as Shylo discovers the massacre, bells toll from the palace, bells that only ring for two reasons – an army of Volurem threatening to burn the city, or the death of the Emperor. Shylo realizes he’s now a loose end in a plot far broader than a blood feud between Nobles. He’s caught in the crossfire of a fight for Imperial control and needs to clear his name. He quickly learns, he’s not alone… Emperor’s Fate is the first book in a thrilling new epic fantasy series. Dive into a story where magic is used in armor, swords, and military strategy. Where the most powerful people aren’t solely those who wield magic but also those who design political subterfuge. Where a plot to overthrow the Empire brings unsuspecting characters together, forcing unlikely partnerships. This is a book where epic worldbuilding meets one-of-a-kind characters in a plot that will keep you turning the pages. Start reading Emperor’s Fate today!


A Gathering of Chaos

A Gathering of Chaos by Cameron Hopkin

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The world of Asunder is dying. Its gods are long fled, and they took all the world's metal with them... but it all happened so long ago that not even legends remain. In the now, a country girl sails into port, the only survivor of a plague ship, and a scheming priestess takes charge of her. Far to the south, an aging warrior monk forcibly recruits one of the Beast Riders to be his tracker. A remarkable vision of a demon lord binds them all together, and they scramble to find a bit of Chaos, the raw energy of their world, to protect humanity against this new threat. It's too bad they're only going to make things worse.


A Day of Darkness

A Day of Darkness by Suzannah Rowntree

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A warrior running from his future. A djinn running from her past. Can they save the city…or will they doom it? Tripoli, 1289: Trapped by black magic in a hostile future, John Bessarion is determined to find his way home to a family and homeland that desperately need him. Yet when his quest leads him to a city trembling on the brink of destruction, John discovers that not everyone in this strange future has forgotten his name...or the terrible things he's already done to protect his people. As an enslaved djinn, Soraya fears she will never be anything more than a killer. Sent to infiltrate and betray a city under siege, she is helpless to subvert her mission until she stumbles across a face from her long-forgotten past. When John and Soraya join forces to save the city, they attract the attention of opposing sides in an ancient battle of evil against evil. Yet the greatest danger they face might not be the demons struggling for control of Tripoli...but the secrets buried in both their pasts. Is there any way home for killers like them? A Day of Darkness is Book 3 in the critically acclaimed Watchers of Outremer series (though it can be read as a standalone). City of Brass fans will love this stunning historical fantasy featuring time travel, palace intrigue, and immortal assassins!


Fate's Long Shadow

Fate's Long Shadow by Marcela Carbo

SPFBO8

Her power was born of a giant's rage. One wrong word could seal her fate. Jassae is destined to wield the dark sorcery of the Mornae. First, she must master her own goddess gift: the power of peace and harmony.   Enslaved by brutal giants as a child, she finds herself at the center of their political struggle to determine their next chief.   Ancient grudges fester. War is inevitable. Jassae's survival depends on developing her power to manipulate their rage and put her own master on the chieftain's throne. Can she endure their savagery long enough to fulfill her own destiny as a Mornae priestess? A dark coming-of-age story for readers of character-driven stories in a high fantasy setting. This book is a standalone but also part of a larger story world.


The Chaos Storm Expedition

The Chaos Storm Expedition by Ashton Gaskill

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When magic-school-dropout Estinance Ratter runs away from home to work as a cartographer at the edges of reality, she quickly realizes that the world may be larger and more dangerous than she’d anticipated. Assigned to a team under the leadership of the hot-headed Decory, will Esti return from her first expedition with maps to sell and fund her dreams, or will the dangers of living on the world’s edge be a stark awakening?


Bystanders

Bystanders by Phillip Murrell

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"Intrepid reporters end up dead." That's what Claire Kennedy's boss told her. Claire doesn't care. She's prepared to risk her life to land an interview with her city's superhero. The mysterious vigilante is a demolition force against the criminal empire operating inside Colberton. He won't identify himself to the public, so Claire will assign him a name herself. She's willing to create other "facts" as necessary, anything to get a promotion at Data to Information News. The hero, Votary, cares not for her goals. Nor does Votary worry about the actions of the police or criminals. The city must be protected from itself and outside threats. Votary is the only person capable of this, though the methods used will lead to death and trauma for many citizens of Colberton. Most will debate the methods of this crusader. Some support Votary, others fear the vigilante, but none will know the person beneath the armor, despite trying.


A Crack In The Rock

A Crack In The Rock by Amber Gabriel

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Born the daughter of goatherds in the Granite Mountains of Berush, Sashia longs for greater challenge and adventure. Her active mind constantly gets her into trouble. Unable to stand by while others suffer, Sashia intervenes, often with unintended results. When an itinerant healer and his wife discover Sashia and offer her an apprenticeship, she jumps at the chance to sate her curiosity of the natural world and change her future. Heir to the throne of Berush, Cyrus is strong, decisive, and a born leader. He longs for a wife who will share his vision for the country--a wife of his choosing, not his father's. Sashia catches his eye, but even a handsome prince finds capturing her heart a challenge. Life is uncertain, and Sashia soon finds she cannot control every outcome. Used to relying on logic and her own resourcefulness, no amount of training can prepare her for the choices that lie ahead. She struggles to shape her destiny in a patriarchal society where polygamy is legal and women are subject to their fathers or a spouse. As Berush is threatened by enemies from without and within, Sashia's creativity, stubbornness, and tenacity place her in a perfect position to both save lives and affect the course of the entire country. The consequences of her decisions will reverberate for generations. Slight of frame, but fierce in heart, Sashia will need every ounce of strength she possesses to live her dreams and win a future of love and happiness.


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