stories in and

The Thief of Eyes

The Thief of Eyes by Michael McCaskill

The world is not what it seems. Creatures of myth and legend walk among us. Some just living life like humans do, but others are less interested in such mundane pursuits. Enter the Choir, a clandestine organization that polices the supernatural world in secret and limits the damage from the world behind the veil. In the American northwest, a child away at camp drowns in the middle of the night. This sad but mundane event triggers a doomsday prophecy that could drag the world into oblivion. Allison Piper and Donna "Don" Kyle, agents of the Choir, must race against the clock to unravel the dark future before it is too late.


Sea of Treason (Pirate's Bluff #1)

Sea of Treason (Pirate's Bluff #1) by Stacey Trombley

Whatever you do, don’t fall in love When Whitley winds up on the top of a pirate hit-list, she finds an unlikely savior. Bluff, a pirate who can transform his appearance to mimic anyone, sweeps her away and sneaks her onto his ship to avoid capture. But Bluff has his own reasons to ensure her safety and he has no intention of letting Whitley in on his secrets. Pirates and sirens alike are after the subject of the prophecy, and it’s only a matter of time until Whitley learns just how powerful she is. And just how much control she has over Bluff. Resisting fate is never easy. Resisting Whitley will be near-impossible. But if he fails, it could mean enslavement by sirens, or worse—by the girl he loves.


A Touch of Darkness (Hades & Persephone #1)

A Touch of Darkness (Hades & Persephone #1) by Scarlett St. Clair

Persephone is the Goddess of Spring by title only. The truth is, since she was a little girl, flowers have shriveled at her touch. After moving to New Athens, she hopes to lead an unassuming life disguised as a mortal journalist. Hades, God of the Dead, has built a gambling empire in the mortal world and his favorite bets are rumored to be impossible. After a chance encounter with Hades, Persephone finds herself in a contract with the God of the Dead and the terms are impossible: Persephone must create life in the Underworld or lose her freedom forever. The bet does more than expose Persephone’s failure as a Goddess, however. As she struggles to sow the seeds of her freedom, love for the God of the Dead grows—and it’s forbidden.


The Seas of Distant Stars

The Seas of Distant Stars by Francesca G. Varela

Agapanthus was kidnapped when she was only two years old, but she doesn’t remember it. In fact, she doesn’t remember her home planet at all. All she knows is Deeyae, the land of two suns; the land of great, red waters. Her foster-family cares for her, and at first that’s enough. But, as she grows older, Agapanthus is bothered by the differences between them. As an Exchanger, she’s frail and tall, not short and strong. And, even though she was raised Deeyan, she certainly isn’t treated like one. One day, an Exchanger boy completes the Deeyan rite-of-passage, and Agapanthus is inspired to try the same. But, when she teams up with him, her quest to become Deeyan transforms into her quest to find the truth―of who she is, and of which star she belongs to.


The Glooming (Wrath of the Old Gods Book 1)

The Glooming (Wrath of the Old Gods Book 1) by John Triptych

BOOK 1 OF AN EPIC POST-APOCALYPTIC SERIES! MYTHS ARE NO LONGER JUST LEGENDS, THEY ARE REAL. The end of the world is finally here. And it will be nothing like what you’d expect. All over the earth, strange and horrific events begin to unfold. A US combat team in Iraq comes under attack from mystical forces, an anthropology professor has an eerie encounter at Stonehenge, a runaway teen finds a very strange pet in Arizona, a young orphan in Siberia meets a terrifying old woman, and a pair of NYPD detectives discovers the ghastly doings of a supernatural cult. A large and diverse group of characters struggle to survive as civilization begins to collapse all around them. As each one realizes their true potential, every one of them must go through a personal, danger-filled journey in order to turn back the sweeping tide of chaos and destruction that threatens the entire world as we know it. Many will die, others will be corrupted, and the remaining few will be the humanity’s only hope. For the old gods have returned to cleanse the earth, and their revenge will be swift and merciless.


Harbinger (The Harrows, #1)

Harbinger (The Harrows, #1) by C. F. Bellairs

Within polished stone walls that more resemble a giant's broadsword driven into the earth than a true keep, lies are the building blocks of discussion, and the infamously-immortal Harrowlord rules with impunity, challenging each of his sons to lethal duels when they turn twenty-one. One of his bastards, Willem, is a Harrow idealist - but has never seen eye-to-eye with his father all the same. However, that may change when the royal bastard is entrusted with a special task: rooting out and beheading a traitor whose ideals he secretly embodies. As Willem struggles to understand his father's web of deceit, an ancient evil lingers at the precipice of his understanding, eager to flourish once more.


Objects in Space

Objects in Space by J.D. Jacobson

This is the story of Deacon Antonius Pius Crete, First Deacon of The Enlightened Technocratic Order of The Empire, and his descent into the labyrinth within strange ruins of a foreign culture. His enemies, The Mags, are a magical society at direct opposition to The Empire, and through an unlikely partnership, and strange transformations, Crete uncovers the strange and impossible realities of the relationship between The Empire and The Mags.


Ochre Dragon: The Opal Dreaming Chronicles Book 1

Ochre Dragon: The Opal Dreaming Chronicles Book 1 by V. E. Patton

Three women who are so much more than what they seem. Three worlds mired in conspiracy and magic. One quest to save the Cosmos. And then… there be dragons! On Heavens Gate, a dying planet where magic and science have forged an uneasy alliance, Merindah is desperate to unlock the secret of the Timegates and save what's left of humanity. What she lacks in magical ability, she more than makes up for in ambition. And with the help of an impatient and not-so-extinct dragon, her magic takes on a twist with cosmic implications. Meanwhile, on tech-ruled post-Crack Earth, where magic doesn't officially exist, Ali's humdrum life under the disintegrating Melba Dome is becoming weirder by the day. Her fingers start glowing, a snarky dragon shows up, and people she thought were her friends keep trying to control, kidnap or assassinate her. Finally, on Reverie, where magic rules unfettered, a young orphan becomes burdened with tainted magical gifts. Dee is alone, trapped in a waking nightmare. When she finally surrenders to desperation, her out-of-control magic unleashes her dragon and propels her onto a path that could unravel the fabric of time and space. Three women, three worlds - and their time is running out. Unless Ali, Merindah and Dee can reunite their single soul in one year, all is lost.They must each make unimaginable sacrifices to become the Key, the Gatekeeper, and the Fire who will save the Cosmos - or ignite Armageddon.


Two Thousand Years (The Empire Saga)

Two Thousand Years (The Empire Saga) by M. Dalto

Two thousand years ago, the Prophecy of Fire and Light foretold the coming of the Queen Empress who would lead the Empire into a time of peace and tranquility. But instead of the coming of a prosperous world, a forbidden love for the Empress waged a war that ravaged the land, creating a chasm between the factions, raising the death toll of innocent lives until the final, bloody battle. Centuries later, Alexandra, a twenty-two-year-old barista living in Boston, is taken to an unfamiliar realm of mystery and magic where her life is threatened by Reylor, its banished Lord Steward. She crosses paths with Treyan, the arrogant and seductive Crown Prince of the Empire, and together they discover how their lives, and their love, are so intricately intertwined by a Prophecy set in motion so many years ago. Alex, now the predestined Queen Empress Alexstrayna, whose arrival was foretold by the Annals of the Empire, controls the fate of her new home as war rages between the Crown Prince and Lord Steward. Either choice could tear her world apart as she attempts to keep the Empire’s torrid history from repeating itself. In a realm where betrayal and revenge will be as crucial to her survival as love and honor, Alex must discover whether it is her choice - or her fate - that determines how she survives the Empire’s rising conflicts.


Darkwind (The Starchaser Saga)

Darkwind (The Starchaser Saga) by Renee Dugan

SPFBO9

The Middle Kingdom of Talheim has enjoyed peace for decades. But with the threat of war rising from the ruthless South, the dream of a quiet life is fading. And for the noble but naive Princess Cistine, that means embarking on a dangerous quest to the Northern Kingdom, where she hopes to forge an alliance against their southern foes and save her people. But when Cistine is captured by an outlaw and his band of cutthroat warriors, she finds a more deadly adventure than she bargained for - and a greater power within herself than she ever knew. Swept up in the unpredictable tide of a tenuous and shadowy political climate, a ruthless land governed by the stars, and the unexpected revelations that come from her mysterious new companions, Cistine must learn how to fight, how to lead...and above all, how to trust herself. If the young princess can't be forged into a fighter, then her kingdom will fall.


The Chaos Circus

The Chaos Circus by Renee Dugan

SPFBO6

All Tessa LaRoche wants is to be the most ordinary person on Barrow Island. After a stint in a mental asylum, she's had quite enough of being anything else, thank you very much. But when a commission at her new reporting job forces her into the path of a not-quite-human murder suspect, Tessa finds that the unordinary is not through with her yet. Spirited away by a devilishly charming Nicolai to the Mirror Lands-- a parallel reality manipulated by the immortal Deathless-- Tessa loses one of the most precious tethers to her sanity. In order to reclaim it, she must risk entering The Chaos Circus: a citywide fair where mortals trade years for prizes in vicious attractions from which the Deathless draw their power. But there's a catch: if Tessa can't defeat the Deathless at their own freakish carnival games, she will lose her mind...and Nicolai will lose his life. Forced to rely on one another despite the secrets that come between them, Tessa and Nicolai embark on a dangerous adventure through the deceptively beautiful life of the Circus, where little is as it seems--even the games, their pasts, and the strange whirlwind of memories that Tessa can no longer recall.


Warlocks of the Sigil

Warlocks of the Sigil by Peri Akman

When Quinn was told he was deemed fit to learn magic as an apprentice, he didn’t know what to expect. He certainly didn’t expect to be plunged into a world of politics, demons, monsters, petty drama and angry primordial deities, all while being guided by an off kilter, rant-happy warlock, who has more secrets than Quinn has problems. Nothing he can’t handle, right?


Windswept

Windswept by Kaitlin Bellamy

"Somewhere to the north, something terrible was happening. In the same way that he could smell the snow, and the same way he knew when the caravan would arrive, he could feel something in the air. A fire, in some town a day or so away. And there was a hint of fear in the air, the wild panic of a trapped animal before the slaughter." The wind has always spoken to Fox, but it was just instinct, wasn't it? Not a god's Blessing ... not magic. But his powers are growing, and soon, he cannot ignore it anymore: he has a gift. And he is the only one. Why the gods chose to make his homeland magically barren generations ago, he doesn't know. Why he's been chosen now is an even greater mystery. Now, he must learn to control his mysterious Blessing, before it controls him. Or worse.


Dragon's Price

Dragon's Price by Daniel Potter

Ishe likes to confront her problems with her fists—too bad her current problem is a dragon. Her sister Yaki has always used her looks to get what she wants. But when she is injured, only a deal with the dragon will keep her alive. Together, these two sisters must escape the dragon or be forced into his service against the only home they have ever known.


Ascendant

Ascendant by Casey White

It’s time. There’s no more hiding, no negotiating truces or bargaining with half-allies. With Solune found, the last barrier to the war reaching its inevitable end has been cleared. But even with the Everdark distancing himself from the war, leaving his brother to fend off the onslaught of Shiina and Efren alone, it won’t be an easy victory. Drenwell is an old country, strong and well established, and it will fight fiercely to protect its god and people. The war cannot be fought without sacrifice - something each of them knows all too well. The fight will go beyond the battle lines as the four Ascended are locked into one city, left standing at the forefront of the conflict. They can’t all win, and they can’t all live - and even should Takio find himself victorious, the cost for fulfilling the pact he made with Shiina is steep. Win or lose, he knows his destination may well be the same. Even still, leaving things unfinished isn’t an option. With nowhere left to run, their final chance at revenge - and victory - is at hand.


Nightsworn

Nightsworn by Casey White

After what had come to feel like an eternity, Takio has finally broken free. Ondria’s aid has been secured, along with the aid of the Wavebinder and his Tideborn. Darren’s army has been fought to a standstill, and the border belongs to the Riverguard. For once, it almost seems like things are looking up. With every second that passes, though, Drenwell and its Chosen have another opportunity to turn the tide. The race to Drenwell City is on, for the last of the Four has yet to reveal himself. The Everdark remains yet in hiding, lurking in the shadows cast by his brother, and whoever finds him first and claims his aid will tip the balance of the war in their direction. Takio and his allies have no choice but to seek out the reclusive Divine, hunting through the parts of the capital where Rellan’s light has yet to reach. That search, though, also means putting themselves within arm’s reach of the Order - and Darren. With the fight beginning to draw to a close, the deadly hunt is on.


Charred

Charred by Casey White

The mountain. Held as his goal for so long, it fades into the distance as Jas leaves it behind. The world is bigger than he’d ever thought, he’s rapidly coming to realize. Darren’s spell lingers, clinging to him, but he’s no longer powerless to its commands. He finally has the strength to stand against it and a new identity to call his own, both gifts of the Everburning, the goddess Shiina. His powers are still new and unfamiliar, though, and his goddess is weak from her slumber. Darren is still out there looking for his wayward once-friend, and will stop at nothing to end what he sees as a threat to Drenwell’s safety. He’ll need to learn his own limits, if he has any hope of standing against his rival. With the Chosen hot on his heels, the man who was Jas flees into foreign lands together with his new goddess. One goal unifies them - revenge. They’ll need allies to get it, but finding allies takes time. Time they’re running all too short of as Drenwell closes in.


Running With the Wolves

Running With the Wolves by J.E. Reed

Kiuno is trapped... ...so are her friends. And no one is coming to save them. Kiuno, a twenty-three year old collage student, wakes to find herself in the middle of the woods with no explanation. And 'Kiuno' isn't even her real name. Suddenly, she is an unwilling player in a medieval world filled with monsters and magic. Survival isn't just a choice, it's her only option. In a place that threatens her life, her family, and may even shatter her heart, she will do things she's never done before. She'll fight, she'll kill, she'll rise, but will her strength be enough to save the people she loves? Running with the Wolves is the first installment in J.E. Reed's gripping new YA/NA fantasy series. If you like action-packed adventure, intricate characters, and a battle for survival then you'll love this award-winning novel. The story continues in Rise of the Wolves.


Chosen

Chosen by Casey White

WriteHive Book Club

Jas expected to hear a tale of glory and heroism. He hadn’t planned on living it. Drenwell is in trouble. The idyllic nation teeters on the brink of disaster as one trouble after another lines up before it. Crops fail. Animals flee. Earthquakes rattle the land. In the midst of it all is the mountain, rising tall over the plains and forests. Legends passed down over the years place it as the center of the kingdom’s woes, host to an ancient, looming threat. Tucked away in the countryside, Jas isn’t worried. Drenwell has a savior waiting, a man chosen by their god to defeat this evil. He knows it better than anyone, since this Chosen is his childhood friend, Darren. Jas knows that Darren will be the one to end the threat and keep them safe. But their Chosen is clever, armed with his god-given gifts and talents, and he’s no fool. He can see the truth of the mission laid in front of him, its dangers and risks. The expectations placed on him are strong, but the will to live is stronger still. When faced with his ‘heroic’ fate, he chooses an option no one expected - least of all Jas. With no way left to him but forward, Jas finds himself trapped into playing hero in Darren’s place.


The Reach Between Worlds

The Reach Between Worlds by Cameron Hayden

Posing as a sorcerer was never a smart idea. Now, it may cost Taro his life. Sixteen-year-old Taro lost his right leg years ago, but with a family to support, he doesn't let it slow him down. For years he's worked for a notorious crime lord named Victor Mathan; Mathan deals in stolen magical artifacts, and trusts Taro to finish his work with as few questions as possible. When an absurdly well-paying job comes up, Taro is quick to volunteer. Mathan wants him to break a powerful sorceress out of her magical prison, but her cell is under the control of an ancient military order called the Magisterium. To get to her, Taro must pose as a Magisterium recruit. The courses are grueling, the tests drive students mad, and the magic they teach can be as deadly to the caster as it is to the target.


Mark of the Empress

Mark of the Empress by M. Dalto

An Empress ripped back to the life she left behind. A Prince desperate to save his people. One child lost within another realm, the other dependent on their constant protection. Betrayed by those closest to her, Empress Alexstrayna must figure out a way to get it all back - her throne, her people, her son. Fulfilling a two-thousand-year-old prophecy, Reylor, the banished Lord Steward, has stripped Alex of her rightful rule and set in motion a chain of events even he, himself, does not fully understand. Determined to strip his brother of happiness by any means possible, his actions send Alex and Treyan back to Boston and away from the Empire they called home. Blinded by vengeance with hate running thick within her veins, the Empress must consider the ramifications of their return, for better or for worse. But when an unexpected visitor offers help assist with their attempts, Alex and Treyan need to determine how best to reclaim their Empire without more lives lost before whatever time they have left runs out. It’s time to return to the Empire. Are you prepared to join the battle?


Silvertongue

Silvertongue by Casey White

After another long day at work, all Jon Christensen wanted was a cheap burger and some peace and quiet. When he pulled into the McDonald’s, Jon only had the usual cares on his mind. His sister. The bills. A career with seemingly nowhere to go. But after a confusing encounter at the cash register triggers a violent episode in the parking lot, he’s quickly pulled into a world he doesn’t understand. His few careless sentences - and the odd gift of languages he’s kept hidden for years - wind up thrusting him right into the middle of a chaotic magical free-for-all, a battle taking place in the shadows of society. Entangled in an increasingly complex web of violence and lies, he's left with a choice: adapt, or die. Surrounded by strangers, Jon must struggle to survive, searching out friends amidst a sea of foes. If he can get his group of strays and rejects to work together, there’s a chance they might just make it out alive. Should he fail, the consequences will be dire - not only for Jon, but also for those he loves.


Sand Dancer

Sand Dancer by Trudie Skies

Only monsters summon fire by magic. It’s a sin against the sun god and a crime against the king. The punishment is death. But when sixteen-year-old Mina discovers fire magic runs in her family’s blood, it’s just the beginning of the secrets her father has been keeping from her. When her father is murdered, this half-starved peasant girl finds herself on the run—pursued across the desert by the soldiers and guards of the noble Houses. To survive, she knows she’ll have to abandon her past and learn the way of the sword. But only boys are allowed to carry a blade. There’s only one solution… Disguised as a young nobleman, Mina must make a new life for herself in the heart of her enemies. But she knows she can’t keep up the masquerade forever. With time running out, which will she choose to find—the truth or revenge?


The Lightning Rod

The Lightning Rod by C.S. Ratliff

WriteHive Book Club

12,000 years since the last Lightning Elemental stood guard. The world is in chaos. Shadow magic is spreading beyond the walls of secrecy. A new savior must rise and bring balance, for the Fate of Gnariam. Will The Lightning Rod become the hero the world needs, or succumb to the darkness?


Windward

Windward by S. Kaeth

SPFBO7 SFFOasis Indie Recs Indie

When dragons fight, mountains weep. In nests high in the mountains, dragons and dragonbonded share their lives, thoughts, feelings, and ambitions. Palon and her partner, the dragon Windward, are renowned among their nest for their flying skill. Their days are filled with everything she loves, especially riding the wind. Even being tasked with teaching their way of life to Tebah, a rebellious newly bonded teenager, can’t bring her down too much. But when treasures from the dragons’ hoards are found in Palon’s collection, her idyllic life comes crashing down. She battles to prove her innocence, while her every move is cast as further evidence against her. Tebah’s suspicion, homesickness, and defiance would be frustrating even in easy times. With Palon in the spotlight while her rivals smear her name at every turn and stir up plots of revenge, her teenage charge’s behavior proves dangerous. Dragon tempers shorten, and challenges and disputes shake the ground. Palon will have to trust more than just herself if she hopes to once more own the sky.


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