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At the Crossroads of Tomorrow Being the youngest of the Sua royals never stopped Saritrah from scheming to take the throne. But violent insurrectionists shattered those plans when they stormed the palace and decimated her family. In the years since, she has amassed an army and will return to claim her crown. However, Ashur, her one remaining sibling, has done the same, and she must act soon if sheâs to secure her prize before he snatches it from her claws. After Ashur razes the Temple of Yshuld, the surviving Seers promise her the power to ensure victory. But it will mean abandoning her legion to venture into the endless desert and locate a lost city. Soon, however, she suspects that none of the women are who they claim to be, even to each other. One woman cryptically alludes to a paradisical past; another awakens in the night plagued by dreams of a frightening future; the last woman never speaks. But the more she questions her new companionsâ motives, the more she must question her own. Is the vision of calamity an omen of what will happen if she fails? Or a promise of what will come if she succeeds? |
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How to Bare Your Neck and Save a Wreck by D.N. Bryn âI only take whatâs owed me, and you, my little swan, owe me blood.â A single kiss from a masked vampire during Shaneâs last journalistic endeavor has left him with an obsession and a mission: uncover the secrets of the black-market blood trade and find his mystery vampire in the process. But this investigation is dangerous. One knock at the wrong door and he could have fangs at his throat instead of lips. Andres had been trying to forget his kiss with Shane Crowley by drowning himself in his work as a thief for the blood trade. When he finds itâs Shaneâs blood his boss has decided to steal, Andresâs only option is to buy him for every drop heâll ever produce. This act awakens something in Andresânew thoughts of ownership and chains that he believes could only ever be the desires of a monster. Andres needs blood to live though, and heâs going to have it from Shane, even if it means donning a mask once more. Between the strange desires Shaneâs life as a part-time blood slave is stirring in him, and his investigations into the cycle of injustice that so many fanged citizens face, and texts with an odd new friend who feels vaguely familiar, Shane feels pulled in all directions. Little does he know all those paths lead back to the same vampire⌠|
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Party of Fools by Cedar McCloud Aleâs Well That Ends Well⌠Resistance members Reed Thorley and Gladys the Destroyer canât believe their luck when the Immortal Emperor herself wanders into their favorite bar, unguarded and playacting an ordinary citizen. This is their chance to give the rebellion the upper hand against the Empireâafter a few pints, of course. The middle-aged halfling musician and his elderly barbarian partner are seasoned enough to know that when Emperor Vallora invites them to join her worldwide food tour, their best bet is to say âYes, chef!â and wait for an opportunity to strike. But hot as a greased griddle behind them comes Captain Andromeda Stagge, Valloraâs personal bodyguard, intent on returning the Emperor to the palace. Sheâs only doing her job. She isnât pissed off at being left behind. Itâs not as if the Emperor is her only real friend, given the difficulty of fitting in when youâre a 200-year-old autistic elf from a lower-class socioeconomic background. It isnât that at all! Valloraâs worldwide food tour hinges on her ability to escape the capital city with Reed and Gladys without being caught. The Emperor isnât supposed to be sampling local cheeses in the company of commoners. Though why the most powerful person in the Endless Empire needs to be under lock and key in Zenith Palace is anyoneâs guess⌠Join the party on this brand new adventure comedy as the chase ensues. Make sure you have some good food on hand, because youâre bound to get hungry along the way. |
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Heart of the Covenant by S.L. Dove Cooper In Heart of the Covenant, five stories explore ties of friendship, family and culture, embracing our differences and our similarities. Having applied to be an ambassador for her people within the Galactic Covenant, Hedriar has relocated to Cerulean Station, one of the Covenantâs largest residential stations. There, sheâll spend the next years sharing her own culture and learning about the Covenantâs as part of an exchange programme between the two. Hedriar may not have the most detailed of plans of what, or even how, to share the aspects of her culture that matter most to her, but sheâs got enthusiasm, family and new-found friends at her side. Sheâll figure it out, and along the way sheâll learn that what people value most may not be so different at the core. Heart of the Covenant is a cosy, low-stakes science fiction collection with a strong focus on slice-of-life narratives. |
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When twenty-three-year-old surly, and slightly tipsy, Frankie finds her hag of a grandmother dead on the sofa, her best friend, playful Ben Bowen, introduces her to the magical underbelly of Aspen Ridge, Utah. Ben is a witch, a seer to be exact, and he guides Frankie into her new identity as a healer, a restoration witch. With the help of Ben and his coven-mate Cleo, Frankie navigates the treacherous classes of witches: dragons, shifters, and the abhorred vampireâlife-drinking witches. It was a vampire that killed Frankieâs grandmother, and sheâs after Frankie. But, much to the chagrin of best friend Ben, it isnât Frankieâs vitality that the vampire wants. Frankie must work her newfound magicâdespite her fear, her self-doubt, and her desire to have one more drinkâwith her friends to eliminate a common enemy. Sheâll have to endure nightmares and commit horrors unspeakable, or risk losing them all. It will take guts ⌠whosever they may be. |
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The Scientist, The Spaceman, and The Stars Between Them by A.L. Davidson Theyâve incited deicide, and the old gods are angry⌠In a desperate attempt at saving humanity from its own destructive hubris, the Zeus Project set out to explore the untouched reaches of deep space. Now, countless light years later, the colonizing efforts are well under way, but the vast universe has been anything but kind. After surviving a near-fatal revival from their cryo-pod that permanently damaged their lungs, Dr. London Davies has spent the last two years trapped within the confines of a sterile, sanitized outpost far away from the rest of humanity and their loving husband, Temple. Acting as the chief embalmer for Zeus, London grows more and more concerned as cadavers filled with writhing worms and unusual forms of decay overrun their cold storage. With their husband off fighting for humanityâs survival under the brutal, watchful eye of Zeus, anxiety, and claustrophobia test the limits of the embalmerâs sanity. The once quiet morgue has transformed into a playground for something otherworldly, and London's only hope is that Temple can breach the stars between them before it's too late. |
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Flooded Secrets by Claudie Arseneault Fate and friendship brought Horace, Rumi, and Aliyah together in Rumiâs Wandering Wagon of Wonderful Wares, a sentient self-propelling wagon. They seek the forest haunting Aliyahâs dream, hoping for answers about their past and their unique abilitiesâbut for that, they need to traverse a world haunted by Fragments, dangerous shards that can possess travellers. With the Fragments in the wilderness, banditry was the last danger Horace had expected on the roadâbut not even that could stop Keza Nesmit. Swift and deadly with a staff, Keza drops on the Wagon crew, claiming most of their provisions before vanishing back into the Tesrima Ridge. As if to compound their bad luck, the tunnel that serves as the only pass through the mountain is flooded and impassable. Keza reappears, and sheâs willing to show them the source of the flooding, a waterway blocked by Fragments, in the hopes that they can unblock itâand just like with the stolen food, she wonât answer any questions about her motives, no matter how friendly. Abrasive, confident, and eager to bicker, Keza makes for a thorny companion, but theyâll need to work together to free the pass and continue their travel. As they unravel the Fragmentsâ blockage, so, too, do they chip away at Kezaâs walls. But the cost of breaking both is far higher than anticipated, and Horace is about to learn that some secrets are better left untouched. |
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The Book of One by Adam Gaffen Angels and demons are never meant to cross paths, or so the ancient lore dictates. In 10th Century Rome, a realm teeming with shadowy intrigue and covert power plays, the demon Kalili, aged six millennia, receives a seemingly simple mission: to charm Octavianus, a youthful potential pope. Yet fate takes an unforeseen turn when Faith, an unseasoned angel, is assigned to eliminate her. This extraordinary encounter ignites a conflict beyond their wildest imaginings. Bound by an enigmatic bond and an undeniable attraction, Kalili and Faith are thrust into a labyrinth of danger and deceit. As the last of the legendary Thirteens, their intertwined destinies are key to resolving an eternal battle between light and darkness. Pursued by the forces of both Heaven and Hell, they must unlock nascent powers and unravel millennia-old enigmas to avert an impending cosmic upheaval. Their decisions will forge a new path for the ages, as they journey through a riveting saga of love and fate, a journey marked by harrowing risks and dark enchantments. A saga that leads them to confront their own nature, in a world where every choice could reshape the very essence of life itself. Dive into this spellbinding tale, where the lines between good and evil blur, and the journey of two unlikely allies begins, culminating in a breathtaking saga of passion, destiny, and the eternal struggle between celestial forces. INCLUDING AN EXCLUSIVE BONUS: A DELETED SCENE! |
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The Spark by Katrine Buch Mortensen "The Spark is a madcap tale of rebellion and getting caught up in forces beyond one's control, set in a truly strange, magical world. I couldn't put it down until it was done." John Bierce, Mage Errant "The Patron Wars utilizes a magic and combat system where clan warriors can harness the attributes of various animals: wolves, bears, vipers, big cats, ravens, and more. The fight scenes are visceral and beastlike; if you've ever wondered how someone imbued with the strength of a full-grown moose would fare in a fight, you'll find your answer here." - Alexander Darwin, The Combat Codes Daina has always dreamed of flight. To soar above her problems, her doubts, and the conflicts of her clan. And here, where shapeshifting is as normal as breathing, flight is indeed possible. Just not to a mix like her, a barely tolerated member of the clan, not belonging to any of the tribes within it. With parents long gone and no friends except for a curmudgeonly old boss, she has little for her except her dream and a burning rivalry with her longtime enemy, Aisma. So when two of the clanâs gods approach her, offering to fulfill her dream, how can she not accept? But there is a price for everything. As civil war besets the clan, and the gods draw up battle lines, the time for dreams and petty rivalry is running out. There is a price for everything, and Daina might have to pay more than she ever imagined. |
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Evangeline is a cleric at the Church of Stars - an institution dedicated to healing and taking care of the people of Lovern amid a mysterious plague. After being warned that there is a cult infiltrating her beloved home, she starts her investigation. She aims to uncover the truth of who they are and what they want while maintaining her secretive relationship with her childhood friend. Dianthus, memoryless and with nowhere else to go, has been living with the city's royal family ever since they awoke five months ago, found confused and delirious by the youngest prince. They've become accustomed to the family's lavish lifestyle, ignoring the burden of discovering their past identity in favor of the comfort they offer, but as the days move forward and a courtship with the crown prince begins, they start to find that they can only turn away from themselves for so long. Harr is a wayward assassin who recently joined a strange circle of collaborators pursuing immortality. Haunted by the memories of her past and profession, she works to find the key to living forever while trying not to lose her head in the process. The Fate of is the first novel in a seven book series set in a dark fantasy world with inspiration taken from the cosmic horror and gothic genres. It follows three protagonists as they slowly uncover parts of a larger conspiracy that threatens the peace of their city but none of that will matter if they can't overcome themselves. |
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Fruits of the Gods by William C. Tracy Taste the magic of the gods! Sisters Kisare and Belili uproot an ancient box in their ownerâs orchard and find a miracle inside: a fifth godfruit in a society that knows only four. It is punishable by death for non-nobles to eat godfruit, so the sisters hide the discovery and plot to escape servitude for good. With the power represented in the box, they could live as nobles themselves. But Kisare finds her new freedom more difficult than she imagined, and Belili has many secrets she strives to keep hidden. With the help of a people slowly losing their culture and technology to the powerful nobles, the sisters lead an infiltration of the highest levels of noble society. While Kisare finds she cares for the captured leader of the people helping them, Belili comes to love her noble suitorâs guardâa fierce woman with a similar past to her own. In the end, the fifth godfruit may bring harmony to the world, but the sistersâ only hope of succeeding lies in deciphering ancient mythologies surrounding the godsâ original plan for their people. Genres: Fantasy / Mythology / Adventure / Lesbian / LGBT |
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The Will of the World by M.J. Lindemann "May the will of the world guide your path." Plagued by the relentless husk, the populace must seek refuge behind barriers powered by crystal pylons provided by the Guild. But maintaining these safe havens comes at an extortionate price. As settlements are lost to greed, the tide of abominations surge, threatening to sweep humanity away. Four lives intersect amidst the storm: A mercenary with a penchant for thievery and a hunger for glory. An assassin on a path of vengeance for her lost life. A senator with machinations to save the world from inevitable collapse. A mystic with immense potential and little control. All four possess the power to save the world. Will their efforts avoid the coming calamity? Or incite catastrophe? If you enjoy the magic and intrigue from books and series such as The Sword of Kaigen, The Wheel of Time, and Shadow and Bone, you should check out The Will of the World. |
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Mateo Ălvarez-Moreno is an undercover agent at the Department of Supernatural Activity (DOSA) and has recently been assigned his worst mission yet: as the lead on the reality TV dating series Red Flags. As if being the first gay and non-white lead suitor wasnât overwhelming enough, intel from DOSA suggests that one of the other contestants is secretly a demon. Mateo has been tasked to apprehend the monster before it can kill or maim the other contestants and crew members. Thereâs just one tiny problem. One of the guys heâs falling for might be the demon heâs supposed to kill. Now Mateo must put aside his feelings until the mission is complete or he risks starring in the most murderous season in Red Flags history. |
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A missing giant. A sinister conspiracy. A decision that will change the fate of a jarldom. The bone trade is big business. Black market buyers will offer many silvers for fresh giant bone, to carve into charms or use in dark enchantments. When cloaked men kidnap the giant Njal Frostborn, everyone knows why. He's destined to be murdered and sold in that terrible trade. His best friend, apprentice wizard Idun Wintermoon, is determined to save him from that terrible fate. But to do so, she must defy the head of her order, and face powers far beyond her ability. To survive, she's going to need an ally. Luckily for her, Lissette Forlatt - a down-on-her-luck sellsword - is on the case. Together, they'll brave worse than the elements and rogue mages in their quest to save Njal. What they discover might shake the jarldom to its core. If they live long enough to tell the story. |
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Legends say when the skies grow dark and scourge starves the land, a star will fall in order to save humanity. Only when the star is sacrificed at the end of their journey will light return. It's a cycleâone humanity refuses to break because stars are plentiful and their sacrifices easier than learning the true nature of the scourge. When Sol finally falls, it's not because of humanity. It's because he's had enough of watching his brethren be sacrificed. He has one goal: end humanity and end the cycle. Unfortunately, he has to pretend he cares before humans get wise. It doesn't matter how soft the princess who catches him isâCelena will be dead by the time his journey ends. Nor how kind his assigned companions areâthe outgoing Mira with her ballads, the brave Nebora with her axe, and the hero Loren with his soft voice and friendly smile. For centuries, humanity has lied and their kindness is a ruse to bring about Sol's own destruction at the end of his tale. He will not be fooled. No one cares about the cries of the stars they've destroyed over and over again and Sol will make sure this time, humanity is the one sacrificed. At least, that's the plan until his traitorous heart begins to care for the humans he sought to eradicate. |
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Cursed Cocktails by S.L. Rowland When life gives you lemons, squeeze them into a stiff drink and stir. After twenty years defending the frozen north against some of the most dangerous threats in the nine kingdoms, Rhoren âBloodbaneâ has finally earned his retirement. While the blood mage's service to the realm may have ended, burning veins and aching joints remain, and Rhoren soon learns that a warmer climate offers relief from his chronic pain. And a chance at a fresh start. In the warm and relaxing atmosphere of Eastborne, the umbral elf finds a new purpose and a sense of belonging. He may have left the frozen north behind, but he brings with him the skills and strength gained from a lifetime of defending the realm. Along with his most prized possessionâa book of drink recipes inherited from his father. Spilled cocktails may not carry the same weight as spilled blood, but opening a tavern brings a unique brand of challenges. With the right friends and a little bit of luck, he might just have a recipe for success. Welcome to the enchanting world of Tales of Aedrea, where small-scale stories, low-stakes adventure, and cozy fantasy come to life within an epic, high-fantasy realm. |
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The Desert Heiress by Shoshana Rain Nothing will stop Lis from regaining her family's powerânot even the three tempting men standing in her way. In the desert port of Cenefra, the Sun Rose is life blood. A magic plant with the ability to grant people greater abilities. Sale of the plant is strictly forbidden, its growth restricted only to farms owned by the Empire's shipping company. Liseya Moroeste has only ever wanted one thing: to run the syndicate smuggling it. But her family has been cut off for over a century, forced to advise but never lead. When the government cracks down on all illegal export, Lis is ready to seize her chance. To do so, she must best her three rivals. Filip, Deo and Adrian each want to court her, control her, cajole her into doing what they want. Liseya finds herself drawn into their complicated web, but to survive, she must learn if she can trust them, or if she must cut them down before they can do the same to her. The Desert Heiress is the first book in The Seven Star Empire Series. It is a slow burn, MMMF why choose, second world fantasy with steamy scenes and a guaranteed HEA at the end of the series. It contains both MM and FF scenes, and involves the FMC in a relationship before getting involved with her main love interests. |
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The Humane Society for Creatures & Cryptids by Stephanie Gillis The Lambros family has never fit in with the town of Pandora, even from the very beginning. Since their ancestors immigrated from Greece with magical creatures in tow, the townsfolk have never trusted them and that hasn't changed in the centuries since. Now, Melpomene, Calliope, and Thalia struggle to live their every day lives. When new girl, Asha Singh moves to town, everything changes. Thalia, once determined to escape Pandora upon graduation, finds herself growing closer to the heiress of the new resort in town and puts her plans on hold as their relationship develops. All the while, a man has entered the grounds, sent by their mother to help prepare for the newest creature en route to the house. His intentions come into question as he tries to befriend the distrustful Calliope, whose own abilities with the animals seem something out of a fairytale. With their mother missing, Melpomene struggles to keep the house together amidst the changes in the town, the newcomers to their lives, and the impending threat of their secret life being exposed to the community and the world. As the three sisters deal with their own personal problems, the divide between them grows wide when they need to band together the most or else it may end with one of them in the hands of their greatest enemy. |
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The Forest at the Heart of Her Mage by Hiyodori After years of city life, Tiller is finally ready to revisit the magical forest where she grew up. But the forest has turned deadly, and Tiller has no magic of her own. To survive, sheâll need a bodyguard. Tiller finds only one mage willing to escort her. A woman named Carnelian: a soldier with a pretty face and a dodgy reputation. Carnelian loves parties, drinking, flirting, big spending, and taking risks that others would find downright unthinkable. Sheâll happily lead Tiller to the heart of the Devouring Forest. But she won't do it for free. The two of them live in a country where magic-users like Carnelian labor under lifelong legal restrictions. The fastest ticket to greater liberty: getting married. Which is why Carnelianâknown far and wide as the mage who no one would wedâdemands Tillerâs hand in marriage as her payment. Cautious, reserved Tiller never lets strangers invade her personal space. She's horrified by the prospect of marrying a mischievous gambler. But she still needs Carnelianâs magic to overcome the wild monsters blocking the path back to her childhood home. And the deeper they go in the forest, the greater the danger. Tiller will have to learn very quickly how to deal with the darker side of her would-be wife. The Forest at the Heart of Her Mage is a slow-burn f/f romance with two polar-opposite heroinesâboth hiding enormous secretsâreluctantly engaged to be married for the sake of convenience. This novel takes place in the same contemporary fantasy world as The First and Last Demon and the Clem & Wist series, but can be read and enjoyed as a standalone story. |
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In Eldingar, magical ability is a gift granted by the One Above. Those born without it, the ungifted, are sentenced to serve in the church or be executed as heretics. Theodore Tolliver can't cast a spell to save his life, but he'll be damned before he resigns to a life of servitude. When he's conscripted into a shadowy band of ungifted bandits, he begins to make a life for himself as their Sneakthief. At home in the shadows, it's not the life he imagined, but it's better than what he'd been headed for. Nicholas Alcyon watched, helpless, as one of his best friends was taken into church custody two years ago. As the scion of Eldingar's oldest family line, his whole life has been curated to position him for success, and he's intent on using that to make good on his promise to change the world. When the Sneakthief is sent into the capital city of Umbrial to rob the church itself, it should be the heist of a lifetime. Instead, it sets in motion events that could help them both achieve their dreams--if they're willing to work together. And if they can survive. |
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Would you betray your kingdom for your soulmate? Shapeshifter Theodori Hunter Wolfborn must conquer the kingdom of Siacchi to prove his worth. To do so, he kidnaps a man known for his strategic genius â a champion in the much-revered and ancient game of dominance and submission, Cesse. A man who will help Theo secure a clean, bloodless victory. Only, Theo has kidnapped the wrong person. Luka Lockehart, renowned Cesse player, has trained all his life to hide his stigmatized abilities to shapeshift, guided by the unwavering hand of his mother. He never expected he would have to put his training into practice when he is kidnapped by a northern warlord â and he certainly didnât expect to find this man â this monster â so attractive. Now he must hide his feelings and his identity, for if Theo finds out that he is not the man he says he is, it is not only Lukaâs life that is forfeit, but his entire country. Luka and Theo are locked in a deadly game. As the secrets between them only continue to grow, so does the unmistakable pull they feel toward each other, even when such feelings might very well ruin all theyâve ever hoped to achieve. Something has to break. It will be their kingdoms â or their hearts. |
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The world must fall. Sade has always lived in the shadows of the Society, surviving only by risking her life in dangerous dives over the abyss during airship heists. But her time among the street gangs of Vale is coming to an end and she must get hers and get out before it's too late. Seeking an escape, Sade agrees to one last airship heist. When the job goes sideways, Sade finds herself in the refuge of an unlikely pair: a spiraling heiress and the ghost of her violently murdered sister. As Sade is hauled into the underworld of magic, she is thrust into the middle of a conspiracy that runs ages deep and Society wide. Forced to confront the reality of her repressed past and the complexities of her own abilities, she discovers the truth of the gods, and the lengths they will go to maintain a controllable populace. To free the world, Sade must risk all life. |
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The Light Must Hold by Kriss Gallom In a world without stars, divine crystals shield the folk of Esiaga from fiends that prowl the darkness. When Lior, a priest who communes with the crystals, prays to the deities and asks for their guidance, he is met only with silence. Guidance is something he yearns for as he watches his convent brothers either fall to creatures that lurk in the shadows or lose their minds trying to harness the power of the crystalsâ light. That is, at least, until travelers arrive on behalf of the Queen. Sworn to come to their kingdomâs aid in times of need, Lior and his convent brothers must make the hazardous pilgrimage to the capital, Bangol. The guidance Lior has always sought comes in the form of Elouan, the paladin sworn to guide the conventâs caravan. Where Elouan leads Lior, however, deviates from the known path. The Light Must Hold â a classic dark fantasy adventure that combines fanciful prose and sisyphean struggles. |
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A Heart of Bones by Lily C. Strauss Run away to a small coastal town. Leave your dark past behind. Start over. It was a pretty good plan. And Jack Parker is happy living the boring life of a small-town bookstore owner. A life outside of the world of magic. But when a new ghost shows up on his doorstep, followed by an irritatingly attractive detective investigating the murder of his partner, Jack knows his dream of a quiet life is about to magically disappear. Because Detective Richard Zuraw is about to pull him back into the world he hoped heâd left behind. A world of warring magical houses, powerful talismans, and evil cultists who would rather kill a mage like Jack than talk to him. Can Jack and Richard work together to stop the coming apocalypse? And if not, can Jack at least figure out how to get a little action before the whole damn world ends? |
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Clysm Games: Dark Seeds by Dom Sabasti [must be read in *movie guy* voice] In the wake of an arcane cataclysm, in a storm of lust and deceit, swirling in shadows of ancient magic, a brilliant light shines, eager to breed. |
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Tomb of Heart and Shadow by Cara N. Delaney Their marriage was a simple bargain. Love was not supposed to complicate things. When her reputation-obsessed family issues her an ultimatum â get married or be disinherited â Saria seizes upon what seems like a most convenient solution. She strikes a deal with a stranger â marriage and a child in exchange for freedom and security. That her bride is a sorcerer from the mysterious city of Neeth is not a problem. Or so Saria thinks. Taleysin doesnât expect much from her second marriage. A child and heir to carry on her sworn duty to the city of Neeth, and more importantly, a wife who wonât ask too many questions. The deal with Saria seems to be everything she wants â and nothing more. She will have her heir, and Neeth will remain safe for another generation. But soon enough, their resolve over their practical decision begins to crumble. While Saria grows ever more curious about Neethâs magical secrets, Taleysin finds herself falling for a woman who was supposed to be nothing more than a means to an end. When a mysterious assailant begins to hunt down sorcerers, Saria and Taleysin must find a way to work through this shift in their relationship â to save both their marriage and the city. |
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Counsel of the Wicked by Elizabeth Schechter Matthias has spent his whole life on the edge of a very small world. The bastard child of a fallen woman, he's known nothing but judgment and hatred from the harsh, religious people of his enclave--except for Balthazar. The son and heir of the High Elder, Balthazar shows Matthias kindness, love... and desire. But when the High Elder discovers what his son has been doing, Matthias is arrested and sent to an isolated prison known as the School. There, and in the wastelands beyond, Matthias learns the secrets behind the hypocrisies of the Council of Elders, and his true heritage, true power, and true love. |
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Seeds of Inheritance by Aimee Kuzenski A decade ago, Berenike, adept of the Fingertip Order, conspired to put her son on the throne at the head of a group of rebels who only wanted their futures back. Â She failed. Â Her son and husband dead, her dreams and reputation in tatters, Berenike makes the only bargain she can - she gives her magic-sealed oath to serve emperor Leontios the Unbending in exchange for the life of her young daughter, Evrim. Â Now, after her failure to help the rebels and her years of slavery and humiliation, Berenike is dealt yet another blow. Evrim, frustrated with her mother's dedication to a lost cause, rejects Berenike's plans. She will not fight the battles Berenike cannot. Â Berenike must find a way to unseat Leontios and redeem her promises to the rebels, all while navigating an almost unbreakable oath. Alone and disregarded, she will use any weapon that comes to hand - even if that weapon is her own daughter. |
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Disobedience by Daniel Sarah Karasik Shael lives in a vast prison camp, a monstrosity developed after centuries of warfare and environmental catastrophe. As a young transfeminine person, they risk abject violence if their identity and love affair with Coe, an insurrectionary activist, are discovered. But desire and rebellion flare, and soon Shael escapes to Riverwish, a settlement attempting to forge a new way of living that counters the campâ s repression. As the complexities of this place unfold before Shael, Disobedience How can a community redress harm without reproducing unaccountable forms of violence? How do we heal? What might a compassionate, sustainable model of justice look like? This is a remarkable work of queer and trans speculative fiction that imagines how alternative forms of connection and power can refuse the violent institutions that engulf us. |
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Vengeance Is Our Legacy by M.C. Burnell The difference between justice and revenge may come down to having a friend. The Tabbaqeran Empire is defended by the Scolate, governed by the Illiumate, guided by the Hakam; its people worship and quarrel with a thousand-thousand gods. But there are none more revered than the masters of martial arts who serve as living cages to the Archetypes of War, primal spirits created by Chaos before the dawn of time to destroy the mortal world. A complex class system holds Qanath back from her chosen career, sitting on one of the senates. Her mother, a Senator herself, could change that with ease; itâs a matter of convincing her. Ink drying on her diploma from Magic U, the next step in Qanathâs perfect plan is to get herself apprenticed to Xar anKebbal, the Embodiment of Vengeance. Everyone thinks they know he stopped taking students several years ago, and she isnât prepared to run up against the prickly, hostile foreigner who is secret heir to Xarâs Legacy. When calamity strikes, she follows her new enemy out the door without a strategy. Havec is determined to go home, to find out who had him disappeared six years ago and punish them. Qanath canât stand in his way; he has become Kebbalâs Embodiment and vengeance is his calling. The border between Tabbaqera and his homeland is restive, though, tensions swelling between their peoples. They find rampaging giants, tight-lipped spies, an unnatural winter season that doesnât want to end. Innocents killed in the name of ambition. The cynical, bitter, frightened, angry person Qanath first met wouldnât have been willing to involve himself. That man refused to care about anyone else. Then he got to be friends with a stubborn young woman with a chip on her shoulder and a pocket full of crystals. Come learn more about the power of an unexpected friendship. Pick up this new adult fantasy adventure now. |
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In the Shadow of Truth (Shadow #3) by J.E. Leak She thought she wanted the truth. Now sheâd give anything to forget it. New OSS trainee Jenny Ryan is brimming with equal parts excitement and fear. She is one step closer to serving her country overseas, but when her ambition costs her dearly, she realizes the fight has come to her and love has turned to lies. OSS instructor Kathryn Hammond is no stranger to sacrifice. But when doing her job means sending the woman she loves into the churn of war, her devotion to duty is tested like never before. When shocking revelations and the cruel march of time threaten their love, will Kat and Jenny embrace the truth and find each other again before itâs too late? |
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Waiting for the Flood by Alexis Hall Twelve years ago, Edwin Tully came to Oxford and fell in love with a boy named Marius. He was brilliant, an artist. It was going to be forever. Ten years later, it ended. Now Edwin lives alone in the house they used to share. He tends to damaged books and faded memories, trying to build a future from the fragments of the past. Then the weather turns, and the river spills into Edwinâs quiet world, bringing with it Adam Dacre from the Environment Agency. An unlikely knight, this stranger with roughened hands and worn wellingtons offers Edwin the hope of something he thought he would never have again. As the two men grow closer in their struggle against the rising waters, Edwin learns he canât protect himself from everythingâand sometimes he doesn't need to try. Because love doesnât only leave scars; oftentimes, it heals them too. |
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Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall Luc O'Donnell is tangentially? and reluctantly? famous. His rock-star parents split when he was young, and the father he's never met spent the next twenty years cruising in and out of rehab. Now that his dad's making a comeback, Luc's back in the public eye, and one compromising photo is enough to ruin everything. To clean up his image, Luc has to find a nice normal relationship...and Oliver Blackwood is as nice and normal as they come. He's a barrister, an ethical vegetarian, and someone who has never inspired a moment of scandal in his life. In other words, heâs perfect boyfriend material. Unfortunately, apart from being gay, single, and really really in need of a date for a big event, Luc and Oliver have nothing in common. So they strike a deal to be publicity-friendly (fake) boyfriends until the dust settles. Then they can go their separate ways and pretend it never happened. But the thing about fake-dating is that it can feel a lot like real-dating. And that's when you get used to someone...start falling for them...don't ever want to let them go. |
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Evil Omega (Darkstar Pack Book 1) by S. Rodman Gay. Necromancer. Werewolf. Supervillain. Silas Northstar is an omega with plans. Become a supervillain Embrace necromancy Enjoy being a boss in the bedroom Not part of his plans, Being captured the night he goes into heat Liking the stupid alpha guarding him Having way too much fun with him It's all good though, as by the morning he has escaped. He can put the fiery night behind him and forget it ever happened. It's not like Dean, the stupid alpha, is going to come looking for him, is it? Please note this book touches on dark themes, contains strong survivors and emotional growth. It is high heat and knotty. There is no mpreg. HEA guaranteed. Although this book is first in a series that follows the same couple, there is NO cliffhanger and it can be enjoyed as a standalone. |
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A Betrayal of Storms: Realm of Fey by Ben Alderson With the political intrigue and high heat of A Court of Thorns and Roses and From Blood and Ash, A Betrayal of Storms is perfect for readers who enjoy stories full of magic, romance, and adventure... but with added spice. Half-fey Robin Vale has grown up amongst humans, but that doesnât save him from being captured for coin by fey hunters. When heâs rescued by a fey princess, heâs taken to Wychwood, the fey realmâwhere everyone is focused on preparing for war against the humans who hate, hunt, and kill them for coin. Robin doesnât understand how he fits into the feyâs plansâuntil heâs revealed to be the lost heir to the Icethorn Court. Aided by the unclaimed, destructive power of the Winter Court, which had been thought destroyed with Robinâs motherâs death, the fey ready their numbers for complete domination of the human realm. But by claiming the throne with the help of his devastatingly handsome personal guard, Erix, Robinâs very presence opposes the long-planned invasion. Along with his alliesâincluding Althea, a stern princess hellbent on stopping the human hunters from killing her kinâRobin is thrust into a world of betrayal, murder, and lies. He must survive long enough to have the choiceâlisten to fate and claim his familyâs power, or let it wreak havoc on a realm that turned its back on him for becoming who he was truly meant to be. |
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Beast's Mercy (MM Fairytale Retelling) (Iranora Tales) by Rebecca Massey Four years ago, the Kingdom of Creatia closed its doors on the world. Now, the gates are open. Dalvin has returned to fix the wrongs of the past and help Prince Vincent find a worthy bride. But something dark has taken up residence inside the palace, and Dalvin has to find a way to slay the beast before it takes his prince from him. For Dalvin, it was a tale as old as time. For Vincent, it was a dark path to happily ever after. It is time for the beast to tell the real story. *This book contains subject matter suitable for a mature audience. |
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Built on Ruins by Kate S. Toll Generations after The End, there are two ways of living â Gangs of scavengers roam the Wilds and hunt for relics of lost times, while the re-settlers spend their lives building a new civilization on the ruins of the old. Jan Xiaoli is the leader of Ryningare City â one of the largest and most prosperous settlements this side of the Rift. With the purist movement growing stronger, the scavengers getting more hostile, and the incurable disease spreading, ruling the city feels like sitting on a ticking time bomb. When he meets Shi Saxe, the infamous Vulture, who lives alone in the Wilds, Jan Xiaoli feels as though the storm raging around him is sneaking its way into his heart as well. |
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Hurricanes 2007: The Virus of The Extermination by DarĂo Aguilar Peregrina After concluding the Climatic Crisis War, a new illness had appeared on the planet, its name⌠"The Virus of the Extermination." In a matter of weeks, the epidemic began to spread at extremely rapid levels, causing those infected to suffer from various symptoms ranging from a simple flu to severe tuberculosis. In an attempt to halt the infection, Misaki Nami Kisaragi, Akira Mikuni Koizumi, Housen Daisy Gallagher, along with Akane Shizue Koizumi, would try to find those responsible for spreading this disease around the world. Meanwhile, RĂo Pedroza would reunite with her lost girlfriend named Charlotte Raven Brock, who was a possible key to curing the virus. |
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Hurricanes 2007: The Climatic Crisis by DarĂo Aguilar Peregrina One year after the fall of humanity, the war between the "Hurricanes" and the humans continued. In her eagerness to capture Darcy Ember Phoenix and convince Rio Pedroza to stand by her side, Katrina Fernandez began to create abnormalities in the weather, causing irreparable damage to the Earth's ecosystems and creating horrors of destruction that wouldn't stop until she got what she wanted along with the dark intentions of Akane Shizue and Akira Mikuni Koizumi, Misaki Nami Kisaragi along with Housen Daisy Gallagher. Meanwhile, Rio, Darcy, Emily, Frank, Marquinhos and Julieta would try to survive the so-called climatic crisis alongside the people who had endured the attacks of Katrina and her supporters. |
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The Space Ace of Mangleby Flat by Larre Bildeston On paper, things look fine. Sam Dennon recently inherited significant wealth from his uncle. As a respected architect, Sam spends his days thinking about the family needs and rich lives of his clients. But privately? Even his enduring love of amateur astronomy is on the wane. Sam has built a sustainable-architecture display home for himself but hasn't yet moved into it, preferring to sleep in his cocoon of a campervan. Although they never announced it publicly, Sam's wife and business partner ended their marriage years ago due to lack of intimacy, leaving Sam with the sense he is irreparably broken. Now his beloved uncle has died. An intensifying fear manifests as health anxiety, with night terrors from a half-remembered early childhood event. To assuage the loneliness, Sam embarks on a Personal Happiness Project: 1. Get a pet dog 2. Find a friend. Just one. Not too intense. As Sam comes to terms with the shameful family secrets revealed in a series of letters left to him by his deceased uncle, Sam falls in love again: first with his adopted poodle-cross, and then, much more slowly, with a kind and generous trans woman from his tennis club. Reina is so visibly and proudly queer Sam canât imagine the two of them share a single thing in common. If only humans came with a guide book... |
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A Taste of Earth by Nico Silver Facing the reality of life apart, Fionn and Kiernan grab at the chance to be together, if only temporarily. But can they choose their own happiness over the wellbeing of two Monarchies? Kiernan has made the fatal mistake of defying his mother, the Queen of Morven Forest, and in return, she has chosen the one punishment that is worse than death for a Sidhe. Severed from his connection to his beloved forest, Kier must learn to cope without his deepest magic. Fionn, separated from the man he loves, has no choice but to attempt to fit in at the Eyrie. Thereâinstead of fulfilling his true calling as seer and healerâhe is expected to act as a symbol, a figurehead to bolster his Kingâs rule. But his presence is not the only thing his King requires, and Fionn isnât sure he can continue pretending to adore the vain and possessive monarch. When the Vogel Monarchy is invited to send a delegation to Morven Forest, Fionn knows it is his chance to see Kiernan again. What he doesnât know is whether or not Kier still wants him. After all, the half-fey is a Prince, a creature of court and forest, and has surely realized by now that he can have anythingâor anyoneâhe wants. |
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Heart of Outcasts by Nico Silver Change is coming to the Autumn County werewolves, and someone would kill to keep it from happening. Justin thought a nice long run in the woods would help sort out his problems; heâd get some fresh air and exercise, and if he just happened to disappear then he wouldnât need to worry about losing his job, his apartment, and his future. But when he wakes up in the dirt, bloody and confused, with a naked man leaning over him, asking if heâs all right, he suddenly wants very much to live. Because even if Bjarni is way out of his league, he canât deny the spark between them. Bjarni is the asshole of the family. Heâs the middle of three werewolf brothers, and a womanizing, hard-drinking, fight-starting disgrace. So when he finds a newly-changed werewolf in the woods, everyone he knows would have expected him to just dump the young man on his older brother and pack leader. Instead, Bjarni finds himself unexpectedly attracted to Justin. When it comes to light that someone in the Autumn County pack is changing humans into werewolves without their consent, Justin may be the only one who can figure out who it is. But heâs busy trying to cope with his new werewolf abilities and his doomed attraction to his mentor, and heâs messed up everything else in his life anyway, so what can he do? But if he doesnât do something, more wolves will end up dead. |
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Dear Sylvia, Love Jane: Detective Molly Malone by Erin Hall 1943, San Francisco. In a city overrun by corruption, sticking to the shadows is the safest option, especially for patrons of gay bars like Whiskers, Dukeâs, and the Hot Spot. But when city officials have a personal score to settle, even the shadows are dangerous. Join Detective Molly Malone on her first queer noir adventure as she faces deadly stakes that threaten her friends and family. |
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In a galaxy that set her up to fail, Etriaâs journey to capture stars redefines acceptance. Etria, a determined stella, defies expectations and becomes a Star Catcher despite her disfigurement. Teaming up with Maron, her own personal Star Keeper, they set off on a mission to catch stars. Through their partnership, Etriaâs self-perception changes and echoes into her cluster, challenging the stella cultureâs narrow ideals. Join these mesmerizing space mermaids in this short and tear-jerking sci-fi adventure as they defy conventions and ignite the spirit of acceptance, inspiring others to embrace their differences. |
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Song of the Spring Moon Waning by E.E. Ottoman Upon waking up one morning, Wen Yu is surprised to find a note asking him to return the song thrush given into his care while the owner was sick. The only problem is that Wen Yu was never given a song thrush. Though he has no time for distractions from his studies for the palace examination, Wen Yu goes in search of the unknown Liu Yi who left him the note. What he finds is a beautiful imperial eunuch, a talking tortoise, and a collection of mysterious moon poems that force Wen Yu to question what path in life he is truly meant to be walking... |
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The Only Exception by Allie McDermid Izzy Barbour tells everyone sheâs an accountant, little do they know sheâs really a hired companion. Sadly, thatâs where her love life ends. Doomed to be a serial dater, Izzy is close to giving up on finding her one.Lady Ingrid Munro has one focus in work. When a family scandal threatens to dredge up the past, sheâs forced to think quick to save face and the palace.Izzy wants to do her job and keep a low profile. Ingrid needs to uphold the familyâs reputation. Can they keep things professional, or will lines get blurred when it comes to romance?Set in the fictional world of an Ayrshire Palace, The Only Exception is bursting with sexual tension, fake dating, and forbidden love. Find out today if secrets can stay hidden for longâŚor are some things too good to be true? |
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Caroline's Heart by Austin Chant Caroline is dead, leaving her lover with nothing but the clockwork heart that once beat in her chest. But Cecily, a witch of unconventional reputation, is not one to be defeated by the laws of nature. After years of careful assembly, her resurrection spell is nearly complete and grows more powerful by the day. When Cecily meets Roy, a soft-spoken cowboy who shares a strange kinship with Caroline, Cecily thinks she's finally found the key to bringing her lover back-but when Roy is mortally wounded, she finds herself torn between finishing the resurrection spell and saving the life of a stranger. A queer Weird West romance by the author of Peter Darling in a new, expanded edition. |
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Tempting Olivia by Clare Ashton Olivia Sachdevaâs life is flawless. With a first from Oxford and as the youngest partner at Bentley lawyers, she expects high standards from everyone. Her only indulgences are eating iced desserts and repeat watching romcoms, especially those featuring Kate Laurence â pure escapism and cinematic perfection. But, when the actor walks into Oliviaâs office with a bag full of divorce and a messy personal life, that perfect bubble bursts. Kate seems nothing like the screen goddesses she plays, and Olivia must put aside her comfort viewing and handle the case like the true professional she is. It requires secrecy, especially with indiscreet friends. Will best-friend Charlotte ever read the room? And will Millie, who instantly reads the room, ever stop commenting loudly? And Kate? She doesnât know what to think about this frosty lawyer. But she needs a quick divorce from a mistake of a marriage, which was over before it started, and Olivia Sachdeva is the best. But little by little, Olivia and Kate glimpse behind the mask, to find someone they werenât looking for, who may not even be perfect, but might be the right person for them. Read as a stand-alone romance or book two of the Oxford Romance series. |