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Of Stars and Lightning by Melanie Mar âDestiny wasnât meant to be tested. Then again, neither was she.â Sol Yarrow didn't ask for much. A nice day for hunting. A peaceful shift at her gods-awful job. A steaming bowl of her Aunt's famous stew. Easy. Simple. But after twenty-five years of simplicity, everything she thought to be true was rewritten when four strangers came to her town of Yavenharrow to take her back to a shielded land known to be inhabited by ruthless Elemental Magic Wielders, a land only known by rumors and bedtime stories. A kingdom where her Mother had been the Queen. A kingdom that, by order of succession, now belonged to her. But what would a human with no magic and a short temper have to offer the Wielders? Sol didn't think much. Her Court thought otherwise. |
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Garner for Gold by Catherine Labadie Bettina has wealth, freedom, and power as Goddess Marzannaâs favored Saint. Divine influence has grown over the years as Goddess and Her consorts rebuild what Silverâs vanquished order destroyed with each of their fertile joys. The early years of Bettinaâs immortality should be equally exalted, but there is a fly in the ointment: her daughter Cosima has been granted Godling status and eternal life. Her firstborn son Cristoval has not. As the Bright Age luxuriates in its golden afternoon, unhallowed forces conspire to challenge Marzannaâs audacious regime. Bettina returns from self-imposed exile to find Aebbenary more perilous than she remembered and her children grown almost beyond recognition. Old wonders and interest in a curiously constructed Grand Archivist both help and hinder Bettina in her plan to ensure neither of her beloved, wayward children will be lost to the grim march of timeâŠor Goddessâs gluttony. |
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He Who Bleeds by Dorian Valentine London. 1874. Religious devotion was a learned skill, and even the most pious of men have felt the tug of The Devilâs influence. Lord AurĂ©lien Saint-Orlant found he was no exception, always toeing the line between being a true god-fearing man and a barbaric sinner who reveled in hedonism. This monotonous life of his changes when his world crashes down around him and wolves in sheep's clothing are revealed, leading AurĂ©lien to discover his true origins. As one of many devilspawns, he is locked in a contract with a greedy human who uses him to commit unorthodox killings among the upper echelon. When his contract is partially broken, AurĂ©lien finds himself whole again, and his desire to create his macabre art only grows. The spawn seeks retribution and craves the freedom to create his art in utter peace. With the help of his incubus lover, Lord AurĂ©lien Saint-Orlant will paint the streets red with that humanâs gore. |
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Spark and Tether by Lilian Zenzi Working odd jobs across the Outer Ring gets a little lonely sometimesânot everyone loves having a synchronist with supraliminal perception around. But all Sacheri wants, he tells himself, is to wander the stars. Then he takes a salvage run to an abandoned moon where he meets the wry, reserved, strictly-by-the-rules archivist Jin. Mesmerized by their confidence and charm, Sacheri canât resist showing off his abilitiesâand instead of the damaged ai he was tracking, he stumbles onto a signal left by a synchronist who went missing decades earlier. Sacheri knows from previous experience that pursuing the truthânever mind justiceâcould destroy everything he loves. He would defy his employers, the institution responsible for the myconeural networks that make him a synchronist, and the leadership of several worlds. And it would complicate his new, passionate, and impossibly sweet relationship with Jin. They might be the best thing thatâs ever happened to him, but they work for the very entities that ended Sacheriâs last investigation. He knows better than to risk it. But heâs never been able to turn away from someone in need, and thereâs a voice in the void calling for aid⊠|
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A Song for Mary is a period piece set in Tudor England about two gay musicians in the court of Mary Tudor prior to her ascension as queen. Mary Tudor is looking for a new court musician. Henry plays the viola da gamba well enough but has the voice of an angel. Thomas doesn't sing very well but is a brilliant lutist. After the auditions, in a surprising move, Mary hires them both. Thomas and Henry are not pleased with this and find themselves rivals. But Mary has ordered them to work together. After weeks of tension, Mary commands them to drink a cask together and either work it out or else she might have to look for a new musician. Well into the evening, (and more than a little drunk) Henry and Thomas finally start talking. Will they be able to resolve their differences or will they be sent packing? And how will they navigate being gay in such a time and place? |
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Talio's Codex by J. Alexander Cohen Is LOVE WORTH DESTROYING HIS REPUTATION? Ten years ago, the theft of his codex destroyed Talio Rossa's career as a magistrate in the four cities. But when his ex-wifeâfinally willing to forgive finding him in bed with a manâpresents him a long-shot legal case, he has the chance to get his career back on track. While fighting to rejoin the legal community, Talio uncovers a conspiracy so big it threatens the origins of the four cities themselves. Their prosperity is only thanks to their connection by magical floating waterways and the brilliance of their legal system, now regarded as near scripture. To save his career, Talio must work with both the one who doomed his marriage and the hooded, heretical man who sets his heart aflame but is determined to plead guilty to a murder he didn't commit. To stand a chance of winning the case. saving his career and the man of his dreams, Talio will have to uncover an explosive secret destined to blow the legal system apart. |
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The Crack at the Heart of Everything by Fiona Fenn He accidentally cursed himself... When the consequences get him exiled to the land he helped terrorize, can this evil wizard find redemption... and love? Orpheus can't believe it's come to this. After helping his childhood friend conquer the realm by raising an army of hell-beasts, the befuddled dark sorcerer finds himself banished when the price of his magic endangers the palace. Isolated and betrayed, Orpheus isn't exactly thrilled when his irritating and handsome rival keeps stepping between him and certain doom. Ill at ease in the barren wasteland his powers created, Orpheus slowly warms to the charismatic ex-general's relentless overtures. But as his feelings grow more intense, the former villain struggles with an inconvenient calling towards heroism. Will dabbling in good deeds get him killed or open the doors to happily ever after? The Crack at the Heart of Everything is the charmingly swoon-worthy first book in an epic LGBTQ+ fantasy series. If you like character-driven stories, snarky humor, and well-earned redemption arcs, then you'll adore Fiona Fenn's unexpected hero's journey. |
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Forever Red by Harvey Oliver Baxter In the beginning, there was a band. A band of kids who had the world at their fingertips. Follow Ben and Casper throughout their lives as they rise to fame as the goth icons of the band Forever Red, and watch through interviews and their own narration as they navigate their passions, relationships, and eventually, their undead lives. The rockstar life is not always as it seems, but some bonds were never meant to be broken. |
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Alistair Woodson is a loner by choice. Since the traumatic night that ended his only friendship, heâs isolated himself by letting his classmates believe heâs a criminal and an arsonist, best to be avoided at all costs. But on his graduation trip across Paris, Switzerland, and Italy, Alis discovers that isolation isnât so easy to maintain in hostel rooms and cross-country trains. Soon he finds himself growing closer to classmates who were once strangers to himânamely the class clown, Craig Miltenberg, whose frustratingly good hair and cheerful disposition donât irritate Alis nearly as much as they should. Yet, as his deepening connections stir up painful reminders of his last doomed friendship, Alis continues to cope the only way he knows how: drowning out the pain on the inside by hurting himself on the outside. When his self-destructive behaviours intensify and put him and his new relationships in jeopardy, Alis must find the courage to confront his spiralling mental healthâeven if it means letting someone in. Lex Carlow's gritty queer debut is perfect for fans of Alice Oseman, Kathleen Glasgow, and The Perks of Being a Wallflower. |
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Fallen Thorns by Harvey Oliver Baxter âA great death is in the air.â Arlo is lost. He thought he had everything figured out. Go to university, fall in love, get a job. But life doesnât always work like that, and before he has a chance to figure it out, he dies. In the space of a night, Arlo is plunged into a new world of immortality and finds a group of people who swear to always have his back. Dying is never easy, but they promise him eternal safety. But something is after him. Something no one could have ever predicted. He craves to figure out his purpose before he falls into something he can never come back from. |
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Demon of the Deep by Briar Belmont âDo you know the other reason they call me the Deep Water Demon? Youâre about to find out.â Rowan Faine, captain of the fastest pirate vessel on the seas, has always hated the Deep Water Demon. His rival pirate captain is infamous, brutal, and ⊠handsome? After a years-long game of cat and mouse theyâve never come face to face, until Rowan ventures into deeper waters and falls right into the Demonâs trap. When Rowan and the Demon finally meet, he doesnât expect to find himself inexplicably drawn into the manâs dashing good looks, nor his elegant yet ruthless nature. Something dark pulls them together, like a creature lurking just beneath the surface. While Rowan canât help but give in to the Demonâs charms, heâs not the only one sating his curiosity in a strangerâs bed; their crews get up to shenanigans of their own âfrom first loves reunited, to tentative new beginnings; no one is immune to the tides of love and lust. Yet when a betrayal by one of their own threatens to reveal all their secrets, can Rowan and the Demon learn to trust one another enough to keep their crews safe? Join Rowan, the Deep Water Demon, and their chaotic crews on this swashbuckling erotic romance adventure. |
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Nate didnât need a savior, a guardian angel. Nathaniel has never known happiness or a life free from struggle. Stuck in an abusive relationship and damned to work minimum-wage jobs, he has no energy or motivation to make himself better. That is until he meets a mysterious stranger. Raziel, Archangel of Heaven, was wrongfully stripped of his grace and banished to life on Earth. Lost on his own and haunted by loneliness and the injustices inflicted on him, he meets Nathaniel. Struggling to navigate free will, he starts exploring the human world and falls in loveânot just with the world but with the human guiding him through it as well. Will they save each other from their demons? Or will they drag each other deeper into Hell? |
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The House For Lost Things by C.G. Drews Stealing houses should be a thing of the past now that Sam and Avery Lou finally have their perfect home. But the De Laineys are being forced to sell the butter-yellow house and their family is crumbling. Sam is haunted by his time at juvie and he feels lost now that Avery doesnât depend solely on him. All he can do is focus on his builder apprenticeship and hurl himself into an extravagant sewing project lead by Moxie to raise money to save the houseâonly Samâs past has come knocking and itâs about to tear apart everything he loves. Learning how to build new houses is one thing, but maybe broken boys canât be rebuilt. |
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What if you only exist because you're the splinter of someone else's soul? After spending his whole life in his brother's shadow, Zanoah gets banished from his home, paying the price for his brother's crime. Thrown into a world unknown to him, he'll have to find himself and a purpose to live for. Crossing a half-sentient jungle, he's bound to find his destinyâa forgotten deity of all things. |
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To choose what is right would bring him in conflict with the vampires, but can he avert his eyes yet again when a child needs his help? In a world where Vampires make the rules, the hunters are bound by the terms of an ancient agreement and the witches are hunted. Ken is a vampire hunter having an affair with the vampire, Frederick. Navigating a relationship with a vampire while trying to help those he terrorises is not easy. If Frederick finds out what heâs doing, their relationship isnât the only thing in jeopardy. When a situation arises when Frederickâs ward, Mabel, needs his help, Ken knows his actions will pit him against Frederick. With his very life at stake, will he choose to do the right thing or follow the path of least resistance yet again? Life Remains is a queer, paranormal, dystopian fantasy novel with morally grey characters, found family and themes of redemption and making the right choice. If you love dystopian worlds with vampires, hunters, and witches, you will love this book. |
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Can he learn to trust after being betrayed or will his fears lead to damnation for him and his kind? Vampires, werewolves and other supernaturals have been at odds for centuries, and humans have been picking them off easily. When Alvin Rayes, a vampire crime lord, is resurrected after being killed, he only wants revenge on his ex-boyfriend and killer, Jason. But to find Jason, he has to strike an alliance with the local werewolf pack whose alpha used to be Jasonâs friend. But the more he gets to know the wolves, the more he realises the wrongness of the world they live in, where supernaturals are considered little more than animals and are hunted for sport. Before long, Alvin finds himself leading a movement for supernatural rights, aided by the worldâs ignorance regarding his true nature. As a crucial vote for supernatural rights approach, Alvin finds himself in the cross hairs of assassins who had already taken out some of his friends. To survive, he has to put his life, and trust, in the hands of his bodyguards, both of whom are hiding their own secrets. Without Alvin and his leadership and money, the movement he started will flounder, but Alvin has already been betrayed once by someone he trusted. Can he learn to trust before whoeverâs after him succeeds in their aims? Bleeding Gold is a queer science fantasy book set in space. If you love morally grey characters, redemption, forgiveness, found family and friendship, you will love this gritty tale. |
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When he discovers that his bloodline is part alien and has a magic that is fatal to humans, can he trust the aliens to help when he has put one of them in jail? Undercover missions are one of Barry's favourite things. Getting in deep and completing a dangerous mission has always brought him a sense of pride -until this latest task. Now it's just personal. Given the job of going undercover to bring in Mortimer is going to be difficult. The man, if he can be called that, is Barry's biological father: a disgusting fiend with a sketchy past. When Barry starts to dig more into Mortimer, he learns a complicated truth. Mortimer is an alien with magic in his bloodline that is fatal to humans. Barryâs clock is ticking and the only ones who can help are the aliens who consider him an enemy. Can he convince them to help before it is too late? Colliding Forces is a science fantasy novella with aliens, found families and complicated relationships. If you love morally grey characters, complex social and familial structures, advanced technology with a mix of magic, investigations, soulmates and high personal stakes, you will love this book. |
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Angels & Exorcists: The Rosary Rejects Book 1 by Finnely Ray The deep dark below had tried to take her once...Maryam would be damned if she let it take her again. Maryam Bishop is demon-kissed. Her mother was possessed while pregnant and now a dark shadow haunts her life. To keep the darkness at bay, she keeps her distance from the occult. Her godfather is a rebellious angel fighting for his redemption and her roommate is an illegitimate faerie prince, but hey - everyone has their faults. Everything else is perfectly, normally normal... Until her charming new neighbor attracts a powerful Duke of Hell. And her neighbor isn't the only one in danger. The duke wants vengeance on Heaven and dominion over Earth. Maryam just might be the key to both. Can Maryam and her found family of rejects save her neighbor and stop the duke? Or will Heaven and Earth fall in a blaze of hellfire? |
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Chrysalis and Requiem by Quinton Li At Adraredon Academy, fervent passion, contemporary companionship, and forbidden desires intertwine with tall gothic spires, ancient halls, and centuries of history. Veaer Rosell can't imagine a better place to satiate her craving for beauty, knowledge, and art. Yet senior year shatters her illusion of tranquillity and civil intellect when she witnesses the headmaster's daughter murder another student and is confronted by an unthinkable choice: avenging her fallen peer or taking this secret to the grave, one way or another. But fate laughs at Veaer's expense when the headmaster's daughter requests her aid. Driven by an all-consuming thirst for answers, Veaer becomes an untimely partner in solving a murder they both know the answer to, unaware of the intricacies that come with learning the bigger picture and playing with death. Chrysalis & Requiem is a haunting thriller of tragic obsession and relentless grief, weaving two young, queer women in a spiral of clandestine violence and illicit love. |
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Flowers for a Vinok, Roses for a Babushka, Poppies for a Grave by Solomon Skalozub Courage for his oath, vengeance for his breath, fearing not his death. This is the story of Amvrosiy, a Cossack swordsman. This tale tells of how he grew from a girl to a man, and of his home, and of those he loved. I will tell you of how he fought for them, protecting them no matter the cost. |
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ROTGUT by H.S. Wolfe All I want to do is play drums in Cluster Headache, but I canât even get that right. Between my on-again off-again shituationship with one of my band mates, the drinking problem-I-donât-really-have and losing my job along with my will to live... Iâve kind of botched up my life. As if things werenât crummy enough Iâm being followed by strange creatures that no one else seems to notice. Right before a big show too, that canât be a good sign. I've got a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach about it. |
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Almost a year after Aden follows his ex-dealer Gage across the country, he finds himself mostly alone in the dead of winter as Gage hides in plain sight as a bartender. The hasty introduction to Gage's new âbusiness partnerââa silver-tongued local named Travisâdoesnât help. Desperate for details and beguiled by Travis's easy going nature, Aden tentatively places his trust in him, only to develop feelings equally forbidden and undeniable. Strung between two dangerous men willing to kill for him, Aden eventually learns more than the simple truth of what Gage and Travis are planningâand that heâs just as capable of making bloody decisions to protect them. WHITE SMOKE is a 58k m/m dark erotic novella. As it's the direct sequel to BLACK CLOUD, reading as a standalone is not advised. Content warnings and tags are located in the front matter. |
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The Shepherd in Shadow by M. Daniel McDowell To forge a new destiny, he must confront the demons of his past. Mehren Tevaht wasnât supposed to survive his desperate gambit. Throwing himself into the abyss along with the truename of the demon prince should have been the end of as worthy an end as Mehren can picture for such a coward as himself, anyway. When Mehren awakens in a shadow-realm heâs only seen in dreams with his beloved, the warrior princess Vierrelyne du Talorr, at his side, he knows the spell he meant to do went horribly awry. Together, they traverse a realm both familiar and hostile while the sorcerer tries to figure out what went wrongâand how to fix itâif only to restore Vierrelyne home without him. Haunted by his own past history, and the dawning revelations of the doomsday cult which once held his undying loyalty, Mehren must choose a fate that will define the future for himself, for Vierrelyne, and for all the realms beyond... ...the realm of bodies, the realm of beasts, the realm of spirits, the realm of dream... the Scourgelands beyond the Known Lands of Derebor itself. |
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Callista's Adventures: Preventing a War by Joharra Harper Centuries before the Monster Realm is created, Callista had many adventures. One being with Joan of Arc. The two women are sent by the Goddess Athena to retrieve the only item that can prevent a full-blown war. But it isn't an easy journey. A demon and a saint working together, nobody expected smooth sailing. But as the days turn to nights, both realizes that looks can be deceiving, and they may just learn that what they need, is each other. |
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The Church of the Mountain of Flesh by Kyle Wakefield THE CHURCH OF THE MOUNTAIN OF FLESH is a cosmic horror novel about mad artists, bodies spiralling out of control, and a trans man's merciless desperation. Sole De Gasinis drowns his grief in wine and buries his hatred of his body in twisted sculptures. When, one drunken night on the beach, God orders him to rebuild his village's church, he knows he wasn't chosen for his piety. Instead, he and God make a deal. If Sole rebuilds the church, God will give him the body of a man. As Sole works in a frenzy for salvation, lifelong friendships decay, a village united to tear down its church fractures into pariahs and zealots, and power and grief reshape the prophet into a tyrant. Grief for a boy he fell in love with ten years ago, who claimed to be a virgin birth, who died in agony in the church crypt when the God inside him wanted out--and whose monstrous remnant Sole must commune with for every piece of his prize. |
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Towers of Nine by Alyssa Louttit The Towers of Nine School of Magic Study and Practice is an institution rich with ancient traditions and secrets. Serafina Stewart has grown up on stories of this place, passed to her by her witch mother. Now Serafina is finally old enough to attend. But getting in is the easy part. And Mother's stories never included ghosts or deadly spiders. |
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The Curse's Light by Joharra Harper Skylar Prescott is the only girl who knows the truth about their small little town. The town of Lawnsdale is cursed. No one believes the town's crazy girl. Until a strange boy finds himself thrown into the town, and now he can't leave. With Will by her side, Skylar may be able to finally figure out the missing details of the curse, including who's behind it. As Skylar and Will get closer, they can finally uncover all the secrets. But Skylar may find out how she's truly connected to this. |
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Wherever the Stars Call by S. Jean Living within the federation isn't all it's cracked up to be, so Laurel and Juniper decide to run away from it. If they can get past Jupiter where the fed's hold isn't as tight, they can figure out what they want to do with their lives on their own terms. Unfortunately, along the way, they find a busted federation ship with a vampire on board who may need their help... or their blood. |
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Love at the Rock Show by Katta Kis A burnt-out former pop star A sweet, broke psychic⊠who hates him The festival tour that changes everything Broke pansexual psychic Judit is scraping by. Sheâs got chronic pain and survives (barely) on Tarot reading gigs. When her rent skyrockets, she jumps at the chance to work a merch booth on a festival tour. Itâs the perfect escape until Judit spends a lovely evening with her friendâs ex-flame (itâs complicated)âand he ends up touring with the festival. Ex-boy band idol Patrick didnât want to play the Endfest tour with the guy who stole the love of his life. He was about to quit the label they started together when a last-minute emergency forces him to join the tour. Worse, the mystery woman who turned his anxiety attack into a magical night is there tooâand she knew exactly who he was all along. Judit and Patrick are forced to share a bus while navigating the drama of a mismanaged festival, other peopleâs exes, and drunk drag queens. The more time they spend in adjoining bunks, the less they find to hate about each other. But can this summer fling last, or will what happens on tour stay on tour? |
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Heir To The Autumn Court by Elle Porter A collection of sordid tales centered around Princeling Fenyr, heir to the throne of the Autumn Court, as they prepare for their upcoming coronation. THE HEIR TO THE AUTUMN COURT takes place in a fae land caught in perpetual harvest season. Each high-heat story centers around a nonbinary princeling and a partner of their choosing, ranging from a minotaur, a stoic warrior from a neighboring land, and a former lover turned palace guard. |
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Aden suspects his dealer Gage is involved in something dangerous and deadly, but so long as their unique arrangement continues, heâs fine with not asking any questions. Then, when a routine hookup turns out to be their last, Aden impulsively decides to go on the run with a man he barely knows. BLACK CLOUD is a 13k m/m dark erotic novelette with a transmasc main character. Please review author's note and content warnings in the front matter before engaging with this work. |
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Itâs hard to imagine dating when I secretly share a bed with my best friend every night. When we can barely spend an hour apart. When heâll kill anyone who tries to touch me. We finally escaped the trailer park, but maybe we werenât ready for freedom. My best friend Beck doesnât know how to leave the gang heâs always known, even if it costs him his life. And I donât know how to find my purpose and confidence as a trans man. Weâre too lost in our fears to see whatâs right in front of us. But when I almost lose him, it only takes five words for us to fall: I heard about a game. I run. He hunts me. And if he catches me⊠there are no limits in the dark. Daylight is a different matter, full of the ghosts of everything weâve lost. Until we stumble across someone who needs us, who forces us to take the broken pieces of our pasts and put them together into something strong. The courage it takes to become who we were all along. |
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The Illusion of Fear by Kel E Fox The best cure for a broken heart is to solve an art crime. Obviously. After his partner is killed on a mission gone wrong, disavowed spy and magician Del Fevre exiles himself to Acrusi, the only city in the world where his agency canât find him. But his plans for a peaceful hideaway where he can make illusion art and avoid awkward questions are thwarted when his arrival coincides with a mysterious art theft, and Del might be a suspect. Danger, daring and a handsome detective conspire to make Delâs exile anything but peaceful. The Illusion of Fear is a prequel novella for the Whisperers series, a romantic gaslamp fantasy with art crime and political intrigue. |
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Once Upon a Dark October by Jessie Thomas All curses made in blood must be broken with blood. Dreadmist Harbor sleeps under a near-perpetual veil of coastal fog, home to mortals, vampires, and those somewhere in between. Already down-on-her-luck, mortal charwoman Elspeth finds herself the target of a rogue vampire, shattering the peaceful coexistence. Forced to seek help from a reclusive vampire coven, she barely makes it to their dreary seaside perch before she succumbs to the bite. Morrigan and her coven are haunted by a bitter rivalry that has left them devastated and fractured. As their old feud is once again rekindled, she is inexorably tied to Elspeth, who now carries an ancient vampiric power within her. The two are quickly swept up into a tangle of bloodlust and sorcery after the fraught transformationârealizing that matters of the heart are complicated, especially in undeath. While something sinister gathers in the shadows of their quiet town, they are pulled deeper into a world of curses and magic, dark dealings and betrayal. But Elspeth and Morrigan soon learn that all power must come with a price, for curses are not so easily broken. |
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Decades of hostilities. A chance for peace. Caught between belligerent groups, will this operation be her last? Sam "Valkyrie" Ryan is reeling. Struggling with her brother's recent decision to make their next assignment his last, the recon specialist fights to change his mind. But she has no time to process her emotions when they're tasked to protect a pivotal reconciliation summit between the Altered and Humans from human-supremacist terrorists. Distracted by a charming female medic, the golden-haired marine struggles to stay focused as events quickly unravel. And with the conflict becoming dangerously unpredictable, secrets from the past catch Sam by surprise as she uncovers a plot to destroy all of humanity. Can she stop a violent and oppressive history from spiraling into a catastrophic future? Of Friction is the fast-paced first book in the Altered Earth dystopian military speculative fiction series. If you like strong women, tense action, and slow-burn LGBTQ+ relationships, then you'll love S.J. Lee's gripping story. |
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A Sharper, More Lasting Pain by Alex Harvey-Rivas After their girlfriendâs best friend is wounded in a monster attack, Simone Allard stumbles across a plot much deeper than they anticipated. As they work to find a cure to their own forming illness and find out the truth, one question remains: how was Nadia involved in this? Nadia DuPont doesnât know how much time she has or even what is ailing her, but it all gets more complex after meeting Simone on a field trip. As they both work to find a cure to her ailment, all Nadia is certain of is she's on the path to ruin. |
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Against Fearful Lies by Vivian Moira Valentine In this second book in the series, Amelia Temple's world has changed. As a test subject to a shady government entity, it is 1954 and she has finally been given limited freedom to move around after being kept captive and studied since birth. That freedom came with a price, however. She now has friends, people she cares about. People who care about her. She has a girlfriend, but she manages to hide that fact, knowing how society would respond. And she has enemies, those who want to study her, dissect her, see what she is. Amelia is not sure what they will find. Something strange is going on at the hospital where her friend Ralph is being kept. And not a normal kind of strange, either. The kind of strange that means Ralph is no longer himself, the nurses at the hospital are keeping secrets, and somehow memories are stolen. In trying to save her friends, and herself, Amelia must not only deal with the creature now living inside her, but she must learn more about who she is and what, exactly, she is capable of. Because one thing has become clear: it's not just her and her friends' lives at stake... there are worlds within worlds and a universe of extranormal activity that just might depend on her. |
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Under the Dragon Moon by Mawce Hanlin To break the thread of weaverâs fate, those who witness must weave anew⊠Mael Nguyen doesnât believe in fate, but he does believe in magic. His entire life revolves around the study of the arcaneâspells and rituals, potions and illusions. As far as Mael is concerned, all he needs is a book in one hand and magic in the other. Anything outside of his bookshop, hidden away in the streets of New Orleans, isnât worth his attention. But when a strange human stumbles into his life and hires him for a job, bringing along his blinding smile and curious magic, Mael finds that Fate is just as dangerous as Magic. Leo Greyson refuses to believe in fate, but he desperately wishes to believe in magic. As a small time rockstar, full time radio host, Leo has never been one to shy away from experience and adventure. Heâs always lived his life on the edgeâalways moving, never standing still. But when his twin sister is murdered, and he gains custody of her strangely magical daughter, that constant motion comes to a screeching halt. Instead, he is launched into an entirely new world hidden right beneath his nose, and Leo finds himself wondering if Fate really does exist, and if sheâs led him right where he needs to be. A queer take on magic, murder, and romance, fans of The Dresden Files, Howls Moving Castle, and A Marvelous Light will find family, acceptance, and a fantastical new world to get lost in within the pages of Under the Dragon Moon, the first book in the Belamour Archives Saga. |
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The Cradle of Eternal Night by Ladz In a land lit only by the counterfeit warmth of magical technology, the Kler prays for the return of the sun, the moons, and the stars. Ceaseless night and the beasts lurking in the darkness keep the congregation within the Kolebka Wiecznej Nocy trapped in mirthless vigil. Their towns remain quiet as graveyards as they wait for day to come again. What no one knows about this ceaseless night is that the Kler themselves can end it. But they havenât, and they wonât. Long ago, the Kler banished the sun worshipers, but a heretical sect made the journey back to the land of darkness. Now, only one remains carrying their purpose heavy on her shoulders: a maverick technomancer named Basia. She alone will bring back the light, or no one will. Armed with naught but her own cleverness and a sword imbued with sun-embraced charms, she searches for the Klerâs secrets and finds herself in Tawerna. With the Kler on her heels, she infiltrates a private feast and catches Hanka, a docile bard, in the middle of planning her own escape into the world beyond. Hanka wants nothing to do with the heretical outsider until she discovers that her purpose aligns with the darkness buried inside herself. Hanka knows the secrets the Kler keeps, and she knows just where to go to expose their lies. With only each other and their heretical magic to rely on, Basia and Hanka face the eternal night and wonder, are they truly enough to bring light back to the world? |
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With great power comes your past incarnations and future self playing chess with your existence. Kylie Rae thought she was an average honors high school student but discovered during a life-threatening incident that sheâs the reincarnation of an ancient magic kingdomâs crown princess. Now people sheâs never met want her dead, and she must learn how to survive in this new world while maintaining the façade that nothingâs changed. Forget making Aâs, how will Kylie survive to the end of the year when sheâs constantly looking over her shoulder? Riyati Rebirth is the first book of a new adult/adult contemporary, low dark fantasy series that seeks to explore themes of identity, legacy, the greater good, and finding your own path in life. The Riyati series includes multiple first person perspectives and multiple queer characters (currently including demisexual/romantic and lesbian representation with more to come in future books), set in the modern day United States. |
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The Flowered Blade by Taylor Hubbard Crown Prince, the elf Silvyr Quilen is the family disappointment. His father, High King Keryth Quilen of Athowen, wanted a son to follow in his image. A warlord who rules with no regard for those around him and will do anything to maintain his power, the king finds Silvyr's desire to spend his days in the flowers and libraries to be pathetic and useless. Even so, Silvyr strives to receive his father's approval. On a diplomatic journey to Xeatia, where he was meant to collect taxes and return with a report on their financial situation, Silvyr is suddenly forced to confront the consequences of his fathers actions when the Orcs of Ghizol attack his caravan. Chief Brokil of the Ghizol Orcs has been tasked with leading and protecting his people. For years he sacrificed and waged war to ensure the people who voted for him to lead could live in peace. For that reason, the risk was worth the reward. With the approval of the Ghizol council of Elders, Brokil executes his plan: Kidnap the Prince of Athowen, Silvyr Quilen, and send their ultimatum to the King. Leave Ghizol alone, or have his heir be killed. Keeping Silvyr as his ward, Brokil finds that while the prince was the most annoying person he's ever met, he is also nothing like his father who carries the name Tyrant King. Absolutely bewildered and exhilarated, Silvyr and Brokil are forced to confront themselves and each other while the looming threat of Ghizol's demands hang over them. |
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The Stars Want Blood by Morgan Lawson When a summer's wind whips through the spring gardens, when air meets earth, a fate that has long since been written amongst the stars will unfurl itself⊠There was only so long that anybody could handle living while disregarding every single piece of advice from their psychiatrist, and Hazel Culhane was reaching their breaking point. Hoping to recharge themself enough to handle the challenge of getting better, they tuck themself into a hidden cabin for a week. It wasnât a bad idea, but they couldnât have predicted that something would be waiting for them in those woods, something significantly more frightening than their own crumbling sanity⊠All of the Constellites â the celestial gods borne from the stars of the zodiac constellations â knew what fate had planned for them. It was the same in each generation of them. And as the Virgo god, Ezra Thompson should have been no exception. He doesnât know why his Gemini counterpart came along so late, or why their newfound divinity doesnât fit them, but it doesnât take him very long to figure out that the quirky and unstable Hazel â the Constellite of Geminorum â is still his fate. Fate has given them love, but with it, destruction. Will they be able to rewrite fate and save themselves? Or will they get pulled into the event horizon that fate has waiting for them? ... and it will demand blood. |
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The Cat and the Brat by D.T. Brandt What happens when unstoppable grump meets immovable sunshine? Samiel is trying to keep his head down, but the other castle guards are keen to remind him he isn't worthy of the job he'll probably inherit - his father's as captain and royal confidant. Of course, âkeeping his head downâ is not how they'd put it; Samiel's defensiveness is spiky, and keeps even his most likely allies at a distance. When Prince Rapuska of Tyria, a Felien, arrives at the guard corps as a diplomatic envoy to Corniss, his highest priority is getting the lay of the land. His most readily available source of information there is his new the enigmatic Samiel. Even with this chance at a fresh start, Samiel tries to keep Rapuska away so the princeâs reputation isnât tarnished by association with him. Rapuska sees Samielâs fire differently, howeverâas a keenness and conviction that may be exactly why heâs still positioned for the future he is. Their mutual concern starts small, but when Samiel is sent to accompany Rapuska back home to Tyria for the Queenâs birthday they find the whole capital has entered Felien heat season and their feelings for each other are pushed to their limits. The Cat and the Brat is a cisbi M / transgay M fantasy romance novel, with a nonbinary AMAB author. |
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Those Summer Nights by D.T. Brandt Brandon, a fast food worker with a lead in Victoria, BC's Pride production of Hello, Dolly!, has had nothing but swings and misses in the city's dating scene. He's settled for chatting with his former high school crush when he comes around for his breakfast and coffee every morning. Xander is now a history teacher up Vancouver Island in Duncan and assistant coach for a successful local Under-18 baseball program, the Malahat Mashers. His chats with Brandon brighten his mornings, but memories of failing to get signed to a major league team (and his old independent league summer flings) always haunt him on his hour-long commute from Victoria. Living in Duncan might work out if the rent, the roommates, and the accommodations are right. When Xander and Brandon finally meet somewhere other than the drive-thru, they knock the chemistry out of the park and the whole summer lays ahead for them⊠once Pride and baseball season wind down. Even then, real life has a pesky way of always lurking around the corner. As the next school year waits on-deck, is a little summer lovin' enough for Brandon and Xander to become hopelessly devoted? |
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The Reanimator's Remains by Kara Jorgensen An autistic necromancer, his undead love, and a covenant that must be broken. Oliver Barlow never knew what happened to his parents. With a note from his mother as his only lead, Oliver had given up hope of ever learning the truth. But when the dead start rising in the town of Aldorhaven, Oliver jumps at the chance to take the case if it means he can investigate the last place his parents were seen alive. Felipe Galvan would like to be anywhere but Aldorhaven. Between protecting Oliver and Gwen, dealing with distrustful townsfolk, and an unexpected letter from his estranged parents, Felipe is already stretched thin. But when he is suddenly plagued by whispers from the woods and nightmares from his past, Felipe fears he is only one misstep away from becoming the monster he was meant to be. Far more sinister things than the dead lurk in Aldorhaven's woods. A centuries old bargain has been broken, and the only thing that can satisfy it is Oliver's blood. Together, Oliver, Felipe, and Gwen must finish what Oliver's parents started or they too will be ensnared by their devil's bargain |
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Snowed in at The Sunny Day CafĂ© by A.L. Davidson Eli is a fallen angel living his second life in the quaint town of New Eden, where every day is filled with magic and cheer in his bakery, The Sunny Day CafĂ©. Housing a near-obsessive love for the holidays, Eli goes all out with the decorations and cookies as he awaits the arrival of Christmas. This Christmas is anything but sweet, however, as Eliâs tree is lacking presents and his little shop is empty for the second holiday season in a row. To make matters worse, the furnace is on the fritz and a blizzard is on the way. Just when he didnât think his Christmas could be any crappier, in walks Des, his handsome (literal) demon of an ex-boyfriend. Des offers to fix up Eliâs furnace in exchange for a cappuccino and some company, but as the storm picks up and the winds grow stronger, a power outage drapes The Sunny Day CafĂ© in darkness! The exes soon find themselves snowed in and unable to do much more than chat and huddle together for warmth. Eli and Des are forced to face the unresolved issues that drove a wedge between them years prior, and the chilly Christmas Eve may just turn into one hell of a holiday theyâll never forget. |
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Lover, Thy Name Is Pestilence by A.L. Davidson Dakota and Ed Hollander have lived quiet, isolated lives deep in the Smoky Mountains for nearly a decade without much trouble â despite the pious locals who scrutinize their way of life. Everything changes overnight when a brutal civil war decimates the United States, leaving behind a wasteland of decay and ruin in its wake... Now, in a world recovering from famine and war, Dakota and Ed fight to prepare themselves for the harsh winter that will soon arrive on their doorstep. But Dakotaâs sense of safety is rattled when lost travelers come knocking, and everything Ed told them about the world post-disaster is scrutinized as the secrets hidden in the cellar desperately claw their way to the surface. The carnage of Edâs devotion is strewn across the snow in blood red streaks, and Dakota finds themself making drastic choices that threaten to strip away their humanity like flesh off a carcass. At the end of the world, love is written with the blade of an axe, and the most haunting plague of all may just be manâs own hubris. |
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This Hole Was Made For (You And) Me by Sienna Eggler Despite constant setbacks, from giant carnivorous plants to fetch quests disguised as life lessons, Meike quickly adapts to life in Glasend. Armed with their growing knowledge of magic, and a thirst for adventure, Meike and friends turn their sights to the neglected Silverstone Mine. But thereâs more than gold and silver lurking in its depths⊠Trolls and kobolds haunt the area, having run out the miners and ransacked the nearby village of Ashfort. Abandoned by their own country, the citizens are desperate for any help they can get. But as the gang comes to find, thereâs a reason many have failed to liberate the mine⊠This Hole Was Made For (You And) Me is the second book of the Last Train Home series, a portal fantasy in a queer normative world. |
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The Threads That Weave by Sienna Eggler Tormented by memories of past lives and a general distaste for structure, Sloane dropped out of a prestigious magic college to find themself. During their travels, they came across a curious little creature: a chatty spider that fit snugly in their hands. Unbeknownst to Sloane, this wasnât a harmless garden or cellar spider. The spider had a craving that mere flies couldnât quench. It demanded blood and flesh, and when mice failed to suffice, moved on to bigger and dangerous prey. Sloane appeased it as best they could, but as the spider rapidly shot up in size, turned their focus from butcher shops to farms. Together, they concocted a plan to âsolveâ a manifested loss of cattle. The spider got a steady supply of food, and Sloane got street cred as a âmonster slayerâ. âWhat could possibly go wrong?â â Famous last words of any irresponsible pet owner. So now Sloane has a very real infestation to contend with, along with suspicious rangers and wannabe hunters edging in on their turf. ââŠIâm gonna need a bigger boot.â |