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A Harmony of Water and Weald by Dove Cooper She warned of the pain. She did. But no warning can prepare you. Nothing can. Maris has always been intrigued by humans, whether new among them or having lived with them for a year, her curiosity remains. A Harmony of Water and Weald is a collection exploring some of Marisâs darker moments as she learns what it means to be human and a glimpse at what her life and family is like after the Sea Witchâs deadline has passed. Though her desire to learn about humanity is insatiable, her new life isnât all sweetness and love. Sheâs abandoned her sisters to live among a people she doesnât understand, walking on feet like she was never meant to. Sometimes her life is homesickness, sometimes frustration, often confusion. Always, though, it is wonder and fierce delight at life. A Harmony of Water and Weald is a companion to Sea Foam and Silence and contains pieces set both during and after events in that verse novel. |
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A Promise Broken by S.L. Dove Cooper Itâs a rainy day when four-year-old Eiryn has to say goodbye to her mother. Scared, confused and unwilling to do so, Eiryn tries to summon water to stop the funeral from happening and her life falls apart. Her uncle is always sad and busy; she keeps hearing her motherâs voice asking her to follow; her best friend keeps getting into fights; and some of her classmates hate her for existing. ArĂšn never wanted children, but heâs desperate to protect his niece from his peopleâs extreme caution regarding magic and other races. Kerisaoina children arenât capable of using it and his niece is no exception. Despite being only half-kerisaoina, Eiryn is already starting to show that sheâll be one of her generationâs most talented magic-singers and those who donât approve of her existence are trying to take advantage of a young girlâs grief. Eiryn is determined to make her uncle happy, but itâs hard to make other people happy when you have to struggle through the day yourself. Sheâll find a way, though. Sheâs promised. And even if her mother wonât keep her word Eiryn will keep hers. Sheâll make everything right again. Youâll see. |
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These Gossamer Strings by Allegra Pescatore A Silence is Broken. The River Beckons. The Forgotten Wait. With eighteen days until her tribunal and Water Rite, Elenor must find a way to save her doena and keep her throne. The threat of war looms larger and only an alliance through marriage has the potential to save it. But who to trust when all her closest allies have secrets of their own? The past is creeping up on them, a web of maneuvers and lies spreading back to before the fall of the Empire. Gabriel can feel it constricting around them, drawing him ever closer to a future he never wanted. Confronting the truth of his heritage may be the only way to save Lirin, but at what cost? Perhaps one the desert has already paid. Shaken after the death of the Red, the Mondaer must choose their path forward. Protect the new Gatekeeper and Incarnate as they have always done, or embrace a future without reliance on Gifts? Fedrik and Fayâs safety depends on the answer, and itâs not looking good. Would they be better off trusting Daemon, or is North right that he intends to use them as a weapon? These Gossamer Strings is the final installment of the first arc of the Last Gift Series. Threads torn asunder are weaving back together and the Gatekeeper is coming for his Incarnate. |
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The Shimmering Prayer of SĂ»kiurĂąq by S.L. Dove Cooper A deliciously queer magical person story in a secondary world with floating cities and airships, perfect for fans of She-Ra and Steven Universe. All thaes life, Oibe EkĂȘmai has wanted to become a lĂȘqnaemi, a travelling dancer skilled at nudging the worldâs magic into making everyoneâs lives a little easier. Thae has trained years for their chance at the Festival of Paths, where new apprentices will be chosen. But the lĂȘqnaemi have secrets they only reveal to those chosen to join their ranks and Oibe EkĂȘmai and thaes new friends soon find themselves thrust into an age-old conflict. With almost no preparation and certainly no training, their group will have to face the horrors all lĂȘqnaemi have sworn to face and triumph, or the entire world may be lost to darkness forever. |
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The Tale That Twines by Cedar McCloud All we have is now. Forty years before THE THREAD THAT BINDS, Juniper Starstitch returns to Caspora City young and hopeful. Chosen to be Head Librarian Opaline Sweetfrond's last apprentice, June arrives at the Eternal Library looking to discover the magical manuscript art of Illuminationâand to recover the memories lost to the trauma of the massive earthquake that killed one of eir parents a decade earlier. June quickly discovers that these memories can be recovered through the ancient art of reading etheric Threads, the spiritual ties that link the world together. But remembering can be painful, and living in the past means missing out on the present. Even to the point that Juneâs beloved apprenticeship is threatened by eir inability to let go. It will take the help of friends both old and new for June to untangle the knotted threads of time, including the mysterious and stern Aeronwy Greengrove, who June may or may not be falling in love with, one song at a time. |
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Sea Foam and Silence by Dove Cooper She warned of the pain. She did. But no warning can prepare you. Nothing can. Long, long ago, a little mermaid became intrigued by the way tall-crabs donât act at all like the prey sheâs more comfortable chasing. Her quest to understand will take her places she had never dreamed possibleâonto land and beyond the endless cold. But quests always come with a price and hers is no exception. If she cannot find love within a year, sheâll become sea foam. With only a month left and no closer to understanding âloveâ at all, what is Maris to do? Tall-crabsâhumansâare confusing and contradictory and love comes in so many forms, how can she ever know which one is right to win her life amidst friends and family on land? Fantastical worldbuilding meets verse novels in this queerplatonic retelling of The Little Mermaid, the first story in a series of queer fairytale retellings. |
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The Thread That Binds by Cedar McCloud The books are restless. At the Eternal Library, books are more than the paper, ink, and thread they're made from--they're full of spirits. Only a handful of people will ever be invited to the Bindery to learn the craft of Illumination: the magical creation of intricate illustrated manuscripts, bound with a secret that will make them last forever. Tabby is a dreamwalker, a witch who escapes into the stories of sleep to avoid a birth family that's never loved em enough. Amane is a cartomancer, a medium who speaks for the Unseen, but doesnât know how to speak her own needs. Rhiannon is a psychic, an archivist who can See into the past, but only has eyes on the future. Their stories intertwine as they discover the secrets of Illumination, the Library's archives, and those of their mentors--the three of whom are competing to be the next Head Librarian, the Speaker for all the books. How do you know who's truly worth being part of your family? Sometimes we must forge connections in order to heal; other times, those bonds must be broken. |
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A Goddess snatched by a monsterâ and the priestess devoted to them both. I love my Godling, I love her more than the priestesses allow. After giving myself, giving my body and pleasure in service of the Rheavia, a punishment must be served. Descend into the mountain where the boarish monster, Pyx resides. I can not outrun himâ it is impossible to outsmart him in the labyrinth of his own creation. The very labyrinth where my Godling, my Rheavia remains trapped. Though not everything is as it seems. My Godling demands submission, patience, and above all elseâ devotion. I have a choice: maintain my virtue or give in to my monstrous desires, my need to belong to them both. I beg, I plea, and with any hope, I will receive what I crave⊠|
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Phoebe's Festival by A.A. Fairview A dissatisfied wife finds herself in the hedonistic throws of a caravan of satyrs. I may have been betrothed to Taeon all my life but I hardly expected our marriage to be this unbearable. Itâs deep in the woods, after hunting for days, that we come across the satyr women. Beautiful, plump, and everything my husband is not. When I stop him from harming one of the satyrs, things between us only get worse. Who else comes to my aid, but the satyrs themselves. Soon I find myself torn between my lifelong duty to my betrothed and the promise of a life of pleasure. The path is uncertain. What is certain is my affection towards these satyr womenâan affection they return twofold. Theyâre not the only ones⊠There is a whole group of satyr women ready to welcome me into their arms! |
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Tale of Gael: Love for a Master and His Creation by A.A. Fairview A Master sculptor and his talented, dutiful, and madly in love apprentice. Under the tutelage of my Master Malion, Iâve grown as a sculptor and am on track to become a city artisan just like him. But that hardly weighs on my heart as much as my feelings⊠My utter devotion to him. Malion is oblivious and so I throw myself at other, less impressive men. That is till I kiss the lips of my Masterâs artwork, a sculpture of a young warrior⊠To think marble could make me feel more than any man. It must be wrong to take so much pleasure from something carved from stone. Yet my Masterâs creation breaks the cold temple surrounding my heart. I love my master still, but if he wonât have me Iâll take his creation instead. Gleefully. |
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A Doctor's Touch by A.A. Fairview Under the full moon, the town doctor Levi finds none other than Camron Coinin with a silver bullet in his gut. Being a vampire moonlighting as a doctor has never been easy. He took an oath, do no harm, but an exception must be made. Monsters need to stick together and Levi knows this attack means theyâre both in danger. Before now, Levi has assumed to be at odds with Camron but in nursing him back to health his feelings become clear⊠and Levi, though undead, feels alive with Camron in his bed. |
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Crystals and Contracts by A.A. Fairview My landlord is going to hate me for what Iâm about to do. Iâve never had a father and never wanted one either. To my dismay, I do have a father, Arthur le Fayâa crime lord witch. Afraid for not just my safety, but the safety of my friends and coven, I have no other choice but to make a deal with a devil. A little drastic? Maybe, but itâs certainly effective. At least it would beâif the devil would agree to make a deal with me! Now I have a devil in my apartment and no idea what to do about the le Fays. I just want them to leave me alone⊠or maybe I want them afraid of me. Fear is one hell of a motivator. But no amount of fear will get this devil of mine to behave. Heâs much more partial to exchanges, my body for his benevolence. Nothing good can come from feelings, especially when he insists he has none. |
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Teeth and Tarot by A.A. Fairview "It's not my fault, I tell myself. Daily affirmation. Unfortunately." I fled the comforts of my wealthy, witch family a decade ago. I like to think I've settled into a human existence; clubs, hookups, early morning coffee runs... And the nightmares could always be worse. But I find myself drawn to this stud, this guy at my local coffee spot, who just feels too good to be true. But a one-night stand can't hurt. Right? Like a curse I can't escape, I'm back in the world I fought so hard to leave. Witches, gangs, and werewolves abound. Nevermind that stud went and got himself bitten by a werewolf. I'm bad at letting go, at just forgetting. I don't want to forget this guy... Even if that puts us both in danger. |
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A story about a traveler going to evict a spider shifter lady and her children from their manor, and it goes about as well as you'd expect in a horror/dark fantasy. |
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My warped sense of morality embarrasses me. Ruta Pawlak is one of the most successful contract killers Pier-Upon-Pier City has ever seen. Convicted of five murders that landed her multiple life sentences, her kill count allegedly sits between fifteen and two hundred people. Some were just for practice, others for revenge, and others she executed for money to keep her potentially world-record setting reading collection going. For the first time, a biographer sits down with the legendary killer to hear her story in her own words. Get the details on her relationship with her depraved bosses and her eclectic arsenal of murder weapons from ice magic to poison to even the sun itself. From her impoverished upbringing to her introduction to the Syndicates to her bizarre affair with fellow killer Frieda Masters to Rutaâs eventual downfall, this account goes beyond headlines and court proceedings, weaving a story of love, family, survival, and murder. This novella is perfect for fans of true crime, fantasy, noir, The Last Podcast on the Left, and the interview portions of AMCâs Interview with the Vampire series. Humans killing other humans wasnât natural. Human killing monsters, however, might be. |
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City of Exile by Claudie Arseneault Nothing is going according to plan for Diel Dathirii and his allies. Hellion has entrenched his power in House Dathirii, Hasryan is in Lord Allastamâs clutches, and with no one left to poison Master Avenazar, itâs only a matter of time before he seeks revenge. While Nevian scrambles to put together his magical trap, Larryn reaches out to the only person he trusts to save Hasryan: Sora Sharpe. Their impulsive rescue will hurtle Isandor towards a final confrontationâone last opportunity to reclaim House Dathirii and face Master Avenazar. But in order to seize this chance, Diel Dathirii and his allies will need to answer one question: what price are they willing to pay to ensure the future of their loved ones within the City of Spires? City of Exile is the fourth and final installment of the City of Spires series, a multi-layered political fantasy led by an all-queer cast. Fans of complex storylines criss-crossing one another, elves and magic, and strong friendships and found families will find everything they need within these pages. |
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From the Dark We Came by J. Emery Belar has made lying into an art form. His neighbors know him as a mild mannered music teacher, but to his fellow monster hunters heâs a senior agent with one of the best track records in the organization. Werewolves, malignant spirits, and other odditiesâyou name it, he can track it. And kill it if necessary. But when a vampire shows up in Belarâs parlor, his two worlds crash into each other. The vampire is named Cassian, and if he had any sense of decency he would be dead since Belar has already tried to kill him. Twice. Luckily, Cassian isnât interested in holding a grudge. He wants to hire the hunter. Someone in vampire society wants Cassian dead and theyâve been using Belar to do their dirty work. Finding the culprit will save them both. Their search for answers takes them through a nighttime world of ancient vampires, demon tailors, and monsters of pure shadow. But Belar hasnât been the only one lying, and enemies and allies are harder to tell apart in the dark. From the Dark We Came is a 50,000 word paranormal novel with a demisexual protagonist |
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A Lake of Feathers and Moonbeams by Dax Murray How many half-truths could loyalty shoulder before it broke from the weight of deception on its back? A sweeping LGBTQ and polyamorous retelling of "Swan Lake"! Strange things can be said of the forest that spans the border of two kingdoms long at war. An evil sorcerer has made it his dominion, or an elegant enchantress has claimed it as her domain and grants wishes to those who chance upon her, or maybe the forest is guarded by an ancient and wrathful spirit. Katya calls the forest home, living a life of magic and charms with her partner Ivan. But a threat looms over their forest, some darkness and danger that Ivan swears to protect her from. Katya finds herself caught up in a web of grudges and deception spanning generations, but most dangerous of all is the beautiful princess who stumbled into their woods. A princess who sets Katyaâs heart fluttering with both desire and fear. As forces rally to rescue the princess or go to war, Katya must take measure of her own powers and decide what she is willing to sacrifice. Will she retreat to the safety of what's familiar or give up everything she knows to spread her wings and fly? |
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The Ice Princess's Fair Illusion by Dove Cooper All Marian wants is for society to accept that she's just not interested in... whatever society thinks she ought to be interested in. A princess with a reputation for insults and snide remarks, she's afraid to show anyone who she would be if people would let her. In a fit of temper at her refusal to marry, her father creates her worst nightmare: she is to be wed to the first beggar who arrives at the gates. Edel was visiting purely for diplomatic reasons, aiming to ensure her daughter inherits a strong and peaceful kingdom. She sees something in Marian that is achingly familiar and when Edel hears the king's proclamation, only one thing is on her mind: to protect Marian from the fate that had befallen Edel herself. Their lives threaded together by magic, Edel and Marian will have to find their way in the world in this queerplatonic, sapphic verse novel retelling of King Thrushbeard. |
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Cheerleaders from Planet X by Lyssa Chiavari Aliens are among us. And humanityâs only hope just happens to carry pom-poms. Laura Clark thought she was just your average college freshmanâuntil the day she saw a cheerleader on a skateboard get into a superhuman brawl with a lightning-wielding stranger in a trenchcoat. And the weirdest thing of all? Nobody else saw it happen. Nobody, that is, except the beautiful but standoffish Shailene, one of the mysterious (and possibly super-powered) cheerleaders from Lauraâs rival school, Bayview University. When girls start disappearing all over the City, Laura suddenly realizes that she may have seen more than she should. And if she wants to keep from disappearing herself, she needs to find some answers. But though Laura canât shake the feeling that theyâre somehow connected, Shailene is more than a little reluctant to share her secrets. With strange, bug-like creatures and a sinister man in a dark coat stalking her every step, Laura will have to uncover the truth fast if she wants to survive. The fate of the planet just might hang in the balance. |
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Fourth World by Lyssa Chiavari IAMOS, S.C.D. 8378 Nadin's planet is dying. As its atmosphere drains away, her people are forced to live huddled in domed cities for protection. With only enough resources to support the population for one more year, time is running out. Nadin thinks she's found a way to save Iamos, but it will mean defying the planet's rulers, the geroiâand betraying the geroi could cost her everything. When a strange boy from another world appears out of nowhere outside the citidome's glass walls, Nadin knows for sure that her plan will work. But to build the device that can save her people, Nadin must first find the legendary city of Elytherios. And to do that, she'll need the help of the mysterious alien boy named Isaak. MARS, 2073 C.E. All Isaak wanted was to get through his senior year at the Academy in one piece. Everything would have been fine if he hadn't found that ancient coin among his missing father's possessions. The coin seems to have a strange connection not only to Isaak's family, but to Mars' ancient past. But how is that possible, on a planet that was supposed to be dead until just forty years ago? Now Isaak's got agents of the Earth's government on his tail and a deranged factory worker stalking his every move. Everyone is desperate to get their hands on something called the Key. And the only way to escape is to unlock an even bigger secret, one that could change his lifeâand the fate of Marsâforever. |
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Common Bonds: An Aromantic Speculative Story by Claudie Arseneault, C. T. Callahan, RoAnna Sylver, B. R. Sanders Common Bonds is an anthology of speculative short stories and poetry featuring aromantic characters. At the heart of this collection are the bonds that impact our lives from beginning to end: platonic relationships. Within this anthology, a cursed seamstress finds comfort in the presence of a witch, teams of demon hunters work with their rival to save one of their own, a peculiar scholar gets attached to those he was meant to study, and queerplatonic shopkeepers guide their pupil as they explore their relationship needs and desires. Through nineteen stories and poems, Common Bonds explores the ways platonic relationships enrich our lives. |
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Failure to Communicate by Kaia SĂžnderby As one of the only remaining autistics in the universe, Xandri Corelel has faced a lot of hardship, and she's earned her place as the head of Xeno-Liaisons aboard the first contact ship Carpathia. But her skill at negotiating with alien species is about to be put to the ultimate test. The Anmerilli, a notoriously reticent and xenophobic people, have invented a powerful weapon that will irrevocably change the face of space combat. Now the Starsystems Alliance has called in Xandri and the crew of the Carpathia to mediate. The Alliance won't risk the weapon falling into enemy hands, and if Xandri can't bring the Anmerilli into the fold, the consequences will be dire. Amidst sabotage, assassination attempts, and rampant cronyism, Xandri struggles to convince the doubtful and ornery Anmerilli. Worse, she's beginning to suspect that not everyone on her side is really working to make the alliance a success. As tensions rise and tempers threaten to boil over, Xandri must focus all her energy into understanding the one species that has always been beyond her: her own. |
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Sohmeng Par is sick of being treated like a child. Ever since a tragic accident brought her mountain communityâs coming-of-age ritual to a halt, sheâs caused nothing but trouble in her impatience to become an adult. But when she finally has the chance to prove herself, sheâs thrown from her life in the mountains and into the terror of the jungle below. Cornered by a colony of reptilian predators known as the sĂŁoni, Sohmeng is rescued by Hei, an eccentric exile with no shortage of secrets. As likely to bite Sohmeng as they are to cook her breakfast, this stranger and their family of lizards are like nothing sheâs ever seen before. If she wants to survive, she must find a way to adapt to the vibrant, deadly world of the rainforest and the creatures that inhabit itâincluding Hei themself. But Sohmeng has secrets of her own, and sharing them could mean losing everything a second time. |
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Deny Me, The Nightshade Boy by Z.M. Celestaire A cozy queer romance against the backdrop of wild and dangerous Fae magic. For fans of A Marvellous Light, Holly Black, and TJ Klune. Andrew has been haunted by the Folk ever since his mother's addiction to Fae-spelled foods. It was never his intention to fall for Micah, whose mysterious nature suggests more than just human lineage, but Micah has a certain... charm to him that Andrew finds irresistible. While their ensuing romance seems to be going well, the Folk from Micah's past demand his attention, and demand that Micah stop denying his Fae nature to harness the power in his blood. |
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The Wolf in Me: Survive by Alex Smith The 23rd century is nearing its end. Having been treated as subhuman (and worse) for over 300 years, the Wolves - a race of wolf-human hybrids - have reached their breaking point. With a clear threat of war rising daily, the US Military devises a plan to destroy the beasts they helped create. However, utilizing their intelligence and raw bestial instincts, the Wolves hatch a plan of their own: plunge the entire world into a war to end all wars! In the aftermath of a deadly airship crash, Percy - a six-year-old human boy - finds himself behind enemy lines; in the claws of the creatures he's been taught to fear his entire life. Xander - a twenty-eight-year-old elite black ops Wolf, finds himself with a very difficult choice to make; kill the innocent child he has found, or be ostracized by his own kind and protect the boy? What is a small, frail, boy to do when surrounded by beasts fighting to end his very existence? Survive! |
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Obsidian Island by Arden Powell The storm should have killed them. The tropical paradise where they wash ashore just might. Emery Lapwing is only interested in two things: exploring the natural world, and pretending that he's not in love with his closest friend, Captain James Rawlings of The Achillean. The first is easy: James will sail him anywhere he wants to go. The second, Emery has been doing for the past ten years. Emery's routine is shattered when he and James are swept overboard in a lightning storm. When the storm passes, they find themselves on the glittering pink beach of an unmapped island where no one has ever walked before. The island seems like the perfect place to recuperate as they wait for rescue, brimming with miraculous new species to be discovered. And a thousand miles from civilization, it's all too easy for Emery to imagine kissing James. In London, it was unthinkableâa kiss between two men meant the gallows if they were caught. On the island, it means risking James' friendship when they most need each other to survive. But attraction isn't the only peril they face. The island hides a dangerous secret, and James and Emery aren't the only castaways falling under its spell. Monstrous creatures stalk their every move and something is taking root in their dreams, luring them deeper into the island's deadly, tropical heart. The island offers Emery everything he has ever dreamed of. But all dreams require a sacrifice. And the island is hungry. |
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The Faerie Hounds of York by Arden Powell England, 1810. The north is governed by a single rule. Faerie will take as it pleases. William Loxley is cursed. A pale and monstrous creature haunts his dreams, luring him from London to the desolate, grey landscape of his forgotten childhood. There, it will use him to open a door to Faerieâa fate that will trap Loxley in that glittering, heathen otherworld forever. His only hope of escaping the creature's grasp lies with John Thorncress, a dark and windswept stranger met on the moors. The longer Loxley stays in Thorncress' company, the harder it becomes to fight his attraction to the man. Such attraction can only end in heartbreakâor the noose. But Thorncress has his own bleak ties to Faerie. They come creeping in with the frost, their howls carrying on the winter wind. If Thorncress' past catches up with him before they can break the curse, then Loxley will not only lose his soul. He'll lose Thorncress, too. |
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All Yesterday's Papers by S.S. Genesee Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1974 Another body is found. Another one of Mauriceâs victims. But as the law draws near, everything starts to change⊠Kenneth thinks things are finally looking up in his life. He has a wonderful partner in Maurice, and a future that looks bright⊠or so it seems. As more murders occur, and the police learn more about the Western Michigan Serial Killer, Kennethâs world begins to crack. Maybe his perfect lover isnât as perfect as he thought. Maurice spirals further and further out of control, losing sight of who he isâis he an immoral, murderous artist, or a sweet, caring boyfriend? How long can he hide the truth from Kenneth before it all comes crashing down, ending his life as he knows it? Would Kenneth still love him if he knew? [All Yesterdayâs Papers is Book Two of the All Tomorrowâs Photos duology. It is not a standalone, and must be read after Book One. This duology is a dark MM romance story not intended for a young audience.] |
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All Tomorrow's Photos by S.S. Genesee Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1974 Maurice is an art student majoring in photography, and has become so invested in his craft he built his own darkroom inside his house. He sees an artistic view in everything, even things the average person sees as disgusting or macabre. So much so, that heâs become a serial killer in order to fulfill his disturbing artistic projects. But his murderous lifestyle gets flipped upside-down when he encounters a photo of the most beautiful man heâs ever seen. Kenneth is a registered nurse living day by day a dreary, monotonous life. When his sister tells him someone from her class wants him to be their model for the next school project, Kenneth takes a chance by trying something new. Little do the two men realize that meeting each other will set their hearts on fire, falling madly in love, changing their lives forever. [All Tomorrowâs Photos is Book One of a duology. It is a dark MM romance story not intended for a young audience.] |
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A Thief and a Gentleman by Arden Powell Sebastian is a con artist with expensive taste. Unfortunately, he has no hope of living the high-class life he craves without stealing it. So, thatâs exactly what heâs going to do. He might be a pathetic ex-convict by day, but by night, heâs Londonâs most notorious jewel thief. All he needs is someone to provide him with food, money, and a place to stay while he plans the heist that will secure his future once and for all. When a friend dares him to seduce Morgan Hollyhockârich, handsome, and incredibly boringâSebastian thinks heâs found the perfect mark. Thereâs just one problem. He and Morgan have history, and heâs unprepared for the flood of emotions when he sees Morgan again for the first time in twenty years. For once, Sebastian wants to be honest about who he is and what heâs done. But Morgan has always been a stickler for the rules. If Sebastian opens up about his crimes or his past, Morgan might turn him in, or worse, reject him. And that won't just jeopardize Sebastian's criminal career. After a lifetime of cheating and lying, Sebastian is appalled to realize that he does in fact have a heart to break. A Thief and a Gentleman is part of a series of standalone queer romances set in a 1920s universe infused with magic. |
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A Novel Arrangement by Arden Powell A dressmaker who secretly publishes thrilling romances. Her handsome war-veteran fiancĂ©. And his best friend, a charming artist of ill-repute determined to ruin their relationship. There are two things standing between Elizabeth Turtledove and her happily-ever-after: her fiancĂ©âs best friend, who despises her, and the blackmailer scheming to steal her savings. Arthur and Coxley have been inseparable since their schooldays, and Coxley will stop at nothing to keep Arthur for himself. Although heâs all bite and bad manners, Elizabeth can tell thereâs a better man hiding beneath that prickly exterior. As she gets to know Coxley and the depth of his friendship with Arthur, she finds another thing in the way of her happy ending. Sheâs taken their case of mutual pining and inadvertently turned it into a love triangle. She has a plan to deal with her ridiculous blackmailer by summerâs end. Unfortunately, as much as sheâd like to handle this love triangle with equal efficiency, matters of the heart are rarely so simple. A Novel Arrangement is a full-length FMM novel in the Flos Magicae series, set in an alternate 1920s universe with magic. All the books are standalones and can be read in any order. |
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Tell Me How It Ends by Quinton Li Iris Galacia's tarot cards do more than entertain gamblers. With the flip of her fingers she can predict the future and uncover a person's secrets. Under the watchful eye of her mother, she is already on thin ice for pursuing a passion in the family business, but then cracks start to form, and eventually she falls through. She is given an ultimatum: earn a thousand coins or leave the business, and the family. Enter Marin Boudreau, a charming young person who can scale buildings and break off door knobs, who comes for her help to rescue a witch who's been falsely imprisoned in Excava Kingdom. And Marin is willing to pay a high sum for her talents. But saving a prisoner from royal hands isn't easy, nor is leaving home for the first time in eighteen years. Now Iris must learn to trust in herself, Marin, and this new magical world, while racing the clock before the royals decide the fate of the witch, and before any secrets catch up to her. TELL ME HOW IT ENDS features LGBTQ+, disabled, neurodivergent, cultural, and mental health representation. The main character, Iris Galacia, is a lesbian tarot reader with anxiety and autism. The second main character, Marin Boudreau, is an aromantic asexual non-binary person with ADHD. |
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Royceâs childhood was anything but calm. As an adult with famous parents, he preferred to live away from the public eye. All he needed was a boat, a crew, and his best friend Pete. That changed when Royce made a mistake that dropped him into the Gulf. Struggling for survival, his rescue isnât from above, instead it comes from the sea itself in the shape of a legend long thought extinct and relegated to stories. Fascinated with life above the waterline, Troller happens upon a fishing boat with a lone person on deck. When the sailor falls overboard, he doesn't stop to think about the consequences of rescuing the human. When he comes face to face with Royce. Heâs instantly enamored, but his people haven't shown themselves in centuries. Troller swims away, afraid he's risked his people's safety, unable to forget the man he saved. A year later, Troller uncovers a secret that has his people below the waves. Its knowledge could cost him his life. He swims to the one place he might be safe and arrives on Royceâs boat, naked and exhausted. Their mutual attraction quickly becomes more as they build a life together. When their secrets threaten to separate them, will love and trust be enough to keep them together and alive? Prince's Tide is a spicy merfolk romance with a HEA. The Mythical Desires Universe is a queer-centric world where myth and legends exist alongside advanced science and technology. |
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JUNKER SEVEN by Olive J. Kelley A romantic, queer sci-fi epic about changing the galaxy, one girl at a time. Castor Quasar is a junkerâ a bounty hunter making a living off of collecting and selling valuable scrap. They live a quiet life, bouncing from job to job and not worrying about the brewing galactic rebellion. Except, when they get a job offer for an irresistible amount of money, they find themself embroiled much deeper than expected. Their task? To smuggle transgender activist Juno Marcus across the galaxy under the watchful eye of the Intergalactic Police Force and a propaganda-informed galaxy. Itâs too dangerous to accept, but too valuable to refuse, and it doesn't help that Juno herself is charming and beautiful. Agreeing drags Cas into a whirlwind race against those who want Juno dead to make it across the galaxy to safety, risking it all for a cause they canâtâ or wonâtâ believe in. |
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As the Light Goes Out by Olive J. Kelley A cozy & honest romance novella about mental health and finding the right person. When Boston born and bred Simon Abbott buys an obsolete lighthouse on the coast of Maine, he envisions turning it into a short-term rental with nothing but a HGTV understanding of renovation and heaps of gay audacity. The current caretaker of the lighthouse, Bruce Cadogan, sees right through Simonâs confidence and, in a last ditch attempt to save his quaint New England hometownâs charm, asks for three days to convince Simon not to go through with his plan, or heâll help him with the renovations himself. What follows is nothing either man expectedâ A violent ocean storm brings them together for a night, which turns into a day, and another day; by the time Simonâs three days are up, heâs saddled with feelings for the other man, and Bruce canât help but wish Simon would stay. With the lighthouse standing between them, the two men have to choose between nurturing the new spark into a flame, or their original agreement, returning to the lives they led before. |
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Wolf, Willow, Witch by FreydĂs Moon A vicious romance imbued with magic, thievery, and necromancy⊠When Tehlor Nilsen stumbles upon an abandoned corpse hidden in her friendâs empty house, she canât ignore the energy lingering around the broken albeit familiar body. Entranced by the promise of ritualistic power, she seizes her chance to secure a vorĂ°r. Miraculously, Hel, the goddess of death, grants Tehlor an audience. But Lincoln Stone has no interest in becoming a magical sentry and raising him from the dead comes with violent consequences. When a mysterious neo-church arrives in Gideon, Tehlor catches wind of a rare relic. Despite Lincoln's troubling enthusiasm for demonology, she strikes a deal with her unruly vorĂ°r, hoping to mend their strained relationship⊠Work together. Steal the Breath of Judas. Control the dead. As the magically bound pair infiltrate Haven and their heist becomes a hunt, Tehlor isn't sure if she's the predator or prey⊠|
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Heart, Haunt, Havoc by FreydĂs Moon Laced with romance, gothic imagery, Catholic mysticism, diaspora, and horror⊠When lonely transgender exorcist, Colin Hart, finds himself challenged by an unruly haunted house in Gideon, Colorado, heâs kept awake by ghosts, demons, ghouls, and the handsome nonbinary owner of the house, Bishop MartĂnez. Unlike the simple hauntings Colin is accustomed to, Bishopâs house is a living beacon, attracting a plethora of inhuman creatures, including a vengeful wolf-headed spirit who might be the key to quieting their sleepless nights. But as a heartbreaking mystery unravels, Colin comes face-to-face with the past Bishop tried to bury, opens a closet full of bloody skeletons, and trips into an accidental romance. As paranormally skilled as Colin might be, this particular haunting may be too messy for him to handle⊠|
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The Necessity of Rain by Sarah Chorn It begins with a butterfly in chains. Since the dawn of time, life has been comfortable and predictable. The gods have wrested pockets of Creation from Chaos, formed civilizations, and built entire realities. Now, the nature of Creation is changing and the Divine are losing their divinity. Rosemary, daughter of the God of Creation, can no longer deny this when a strange delegation from Dawnland braves the paths through Chaos and survives. Come to negotiate trade and protection agreements with the Divine of Meadowsweet, it is the butterfly woman who so captivates Rosemary. The weight of her sorrow, the heaviness of her secrets. For the soul is a battleground. Clouds are massing along the horizon, and Rosemary... She must survive the storm. |
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The Erstwhile Tyler Kyle by Steve Hugh Westenra Tyler Kyle doesnât believe in monsters. A washed-up thirty-year-old actor and reluctant cryptid investigator, Tyler is used to playing the Scully to his best friend Joshâs Mulder on their stupidly popular YouTube channel. But when Tyler receives previously unseen footage of the B movie bombshell mother who abandoned him eighteen years agoâfootage linked to an isolated island in the Canadian wildernessâthe mystery is one conspiracy heâs determined to investigate. The fact that following the scent gives Tyler an excuse to run away from the âstraightâ Josh, whom he drunkenly made out with, is just the cherry on the shit sundae. But Echo Island isnât what it seems. Its eerily scenic veneer hides a twisted secret buried in its roots as a gay conversion camp, and as Tyler retraces his motherâs footsteps, he discovers a supernatural connection between the residents and the islandâone they seem to think Tyler and his mother share. Even worse, the footage of Tylerâs mom came from someone on the islandâa stalker whose obsessive fascination with both Tyler and Josh is about to make Tyler wish he hadnât gone this one alone. Puppeteered by his stalker, searching for his mother, and debating whether itâs possible to queerbait yourself, Tyler comes to realize that it doesnât matter so much whether you believe in monsters, if they believe in you. THE ERSTWHILE TYLER KYLE is an adult horror comedy for fans of GHOST FILES, BUZZFEED UNSOLVED, and TWIN PEAKS. |
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The Forgotten Lyric by Carolina Cruz How can an assassin retire and live with everything theyâve done? Some men turn to drink, while others choose to live in denial. Kennet Peders, on the other hand, is just trying to be a better person. Saving a young girl from death by poison seems to be the perfect place to start, yet even as he takes a job that does nothing but good, Kennet canât fully escape his past⊠With the supernatural ability to influence other peopleâs emotions, Asa never felt quite comfortable in the society they were raised in. Luckily, being a bard means they can easily leave that society to find a home somewhere newâand the country of Bladland is very new to them. Here Asa finds themself presented with an opportunity: use their influence to help save a young girl and befriend a mysterious (and handsome) sword-for-hire in the process. Itâs an adventure theyâd be a fool to pass up on. The Forgotten Lyric is the second book in the Creed of Gethin trilogy. |
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Open Wound by Shane Blackheart Continued from Everything Is Wonderful Now ... After the angel that threatened his life, Sean faced his frightening alter, Vexis, who haunted his dreams. With the help of Byleth, Zagan, and Darokin, he thinks his troubles are finally behind him. Little does he know that PTSD is a beast lying dormant in waiting to emerge. It ends up influencing everything, including the way he perceives reality. Vexis was the reason Sean remained in a trauma loop for so long, but something changes within them as they decide to finally work with him; they want to help him heal from trauma after years of prolonging it. Being a sadist who is unable to feel love, it results in a twisted and sexual masochistic relationship that Sean becomes addicted to. As Vexis takes Sean through various liminal space voids and dark memories â theirs included â they reveal that they are something much more frightening and ancient than an angel or a demon. Can Vexis really be trusted? Or are they opening Sean's wounds to let something sinister slip inside... |
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Stronghold Fair Haven by the Sea is a beacon in a sometimes harsh world, open to all and deliberately, stubbornly kind. It also holds the honour and responsibility of hosting an atelier, a workshop for the rare and highly-prized magical engineers known as Mancers. Hazel lives a comfortable, contented life in Stronghold Haven as a member of the team of elite bodyguards protecting the resident Mancer. But when another Mancer comes knocking on Haven's door to plead for refuge from the stronghold zhey've just escaped from, zhey bring a growing threat of invasion in zheir wake. Ash is disruptive to Hazel's peaceful routine in more ways than just that: to his own astonishment, he's hopelessly attracted to the prickly, secretive Mancer. This might be the start of something precious...or the end of everything he holds dear. |
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Child of the Forest by Audrey Simmons Even as bait, Neoma thought she would have a little more time to have fun with her best friends on Tour before things got serious. But Tobiasâ words still ring in her ears. A chilling prophecy about tangled destinies, one that Tobias refused to expand on. Only a hint that a relationship with Luca will mean she never comes home. Almost as soon as the journey being Neoma is given yet another dire prophecy from the Mountain Herself: Hold close the stars in your soul or the Mad God will win this fight and chaos will reign. Neoma has a decision to make but the clock is ticking. Aurinkun warships have been spotted off the coast of Manena. |
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Natural Outlaws and Fractured Sovereignty by S.M. Pearce A precarious royal court. Two thieves with everything to lose. Caught robbing the Governorâs mansion, Blythe is given a choice: steal the crown jewel of Ostraitâs greatest enemy, or her papa and friends all die. Forced undercover as a candidate in the Fletch Kingâs marital competition, she must survive the cut-throat court under the watchful eye of the Governorâs pet assassin. But how much of herself will this mission cost her? Kalen got her into this mess. And now they must keep their head down in the servantsâ quarters, enduring their new superiorâs brutality and confronted with the terrors of their past. Itâs no longer as simple as crafting bombs and letting the fire do the workâthereâs nowhere left to run, and his real talent seems to lie in screwing everything up. Can a martyr learn what it means to live? Can a coward learn what it means to fight? Theyâre only a pair of outcasts. Failures. Will the cruelties of court tear their friendship apart? Or can they salvage a future together in a world that doesn't want them? **This queerplatonic dark fantasy novel contains themes/subject matter intended for a mature audience. |
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BACKMASK is written in the style of 60s horror pulp. Inspired by pop music history, BACKMASK is the fake history of a conspiracy theory surrounding the Satanic agenda to control children's minds. Nicholas Hush, 1960s record producer, has a vision for the future of pop music. After a series of prophetic dreams he wants to combine occult imagery with upcoming trends to create a new, groundbreaking look. His secretary, Valerie Chill, is tasked with finding consultants and funding while he crafts the perfect album. Quickly their project becomes entangled in other, larger machinations, and two teenage pop acts become responsible for international intrigue, brainwashing, and an occult massacre. Taking inspiration from the lives of Joe Meek, Phil Spector, and Timothy Leary, BACKMASK is a speculative look at how hidden messages got into pop music. |
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Lockdown Laureate by O F Cieri A 22 tale collection, with 22 illustrations by Soren HĂ€xan. Dark, introspective, grimy, urban, strange. âLike a puddle of blood in a back alley of New York City that whispers to you of what could have been via a static-slathered Bluetooth connectionâŠâ |
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Lord of Thundertown by O F Cieri In the movies, Thundertown was depicted like a real town, with boundaries, Folk-run businesses, and a government. In real life, Thundertown was a block here or there, three businesses on the same side of the street, an unconnected sewer main, or a single abandoned building. When an epidemic of missing person cases is on the rise, the police refuse to act. Instead, Alex Delatorre goes to Thundertown for answers and finds clues leading to a new Lord trying to unite the population. No one has seen the Lord, and the closer Alex gets to him, the farther Alex gets from his path home. |
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Last Train Home by Sienna Eggler Meikeâs cozy train ride left them stranded in Glasend, a world where magic and man-eating plants are the norm. With their knowledge of botany and healing herbs, Meike aspires to become a reputable herbalist and mage. They make many friends along the way, including a quick-witted swordswoman, an axe wielding corgi, and other quirky characters. Later seasons explore magic and proper questing, and introduce monster taming. Updates weekly, on Thursdays! |