stories in and

This Hole Was Made For (You And) Me

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 there’s 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, there’s 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.


The Threads That Weave

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 wasn’t a harmless garden or cellar spider. The spider had a craving that mere flies couldn’t 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 “solve” a manifested loss of cattle. The spider got a steady supply of food, and Sloane got street cred as a “monster slayer”. “What could possibly go wrong?” – 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. “
I’m gonna need a bigger boot.”


Crossed Over

Crossed Over by Santana Knox

From international best-selling author Santana Knox, comes an LGBTQ, women’s fiction, coming out story like nothing you’ve ever read before. A tale that grips the hearts of those who failed to see eye-to-eye with a parent, and anyone who’s ever denied the truth about themselves. Nia da Silva is dead
 Dead serious about moving on from her past, from roller derby, and the traumatic injury that was a crushing blow to not just her body but her mind. Running away from her problems wasn’t the fix she had hoped for. Five years later, she returns to the town that left her with permanent scars. Healing her physical wounds was the bare minimum. She’ll finally have to face herself, and rediscover who she’s always been beneath the lies she’s worn like shredded fishnets over bruised knees. Pretty crossovers, and strong thighs won’t be enough to champion through her problems. Especially when they challenge who she may be at her very core. Crossed Over is a Sapphic, coming out story about healing, facing your fears, and becoming the hero you once needed for yourself. Please check content warnings, this story features adult themes and language that may not be suitable for readers under 18.


The Hands of the Emperor

The Hands of the Emperor by Victoria Goddard

An impulsive word can start a war. A timely word can stop one. A simple act of friendship can change the course of history. Cliopher Mdang is the personal secretary of the Last Emperor of Astandalas, the Lord of Rising Stars, the Lord Magus of Zunidh, the Sun-on-Earth, the god. He has spent more time with the Emperor of Astandalas than any other person. He has never once touched his lord. He has never called him by name. He has never initiated a conversation. One day Cliopher invites the Sun-on-Earth home to the proverbially remote Vangavaye-ve for a holiday. The mere invitation could have seen Cliopher executed for blasphemy. The acceptance upends the world.


Motherly Stones

Motherly Stones by Merlina Garance

Rish and Toni have been friends almost all their lives – despite Rish’s life long crush on her. When one day, Toni shows up excited to have been appointed to appraise the abandoned castle on Paicrich Island, off the coast by which Rish lives, he has a bad feeling and offers to go with her. Little did they expect the castle to have a life of its own
 A dark, mysterious romance with bisexual and a-spec representation.


Mending Bones

Mending Bones by Merlina Garance

Claire, a Detective Inspector in her late forties, has known and worked with Estelle for many years. Ever since they met, it felt like there could have been something more there: Estelle's gentle flirting and compliments have been a constant in Claire's life, but her self confidence never allowed her to truly believe the other woman meant anything by it. Until one day, Claire breaks her leg and finds out soon after that Estelle has decided to retire from the police, at only 56. Something doesn't feel right there, but before Claire can begin to ask more questions, Estelle offers to take her away to her seaside cottage for a week. After all, with Claire on sick leave and Estelle retired, they both have the time. Surely a week of lazy mornings, too much food and wine, and walks through the countryside aren't enough to make Claire fall when she’s resisted for so long?


The Flourishing

The Flourishing by Merlina Garance

When Andy Campbell, Detective Inspector in Leicester, gets assigned the case of Mr Parry’s disappearance, she expects to find nothing else than an umpteenth marriage ruined by a husband taking off with his mistress. Instead, she ends up investigating a murder case, and struggling to fight her attraction for Mrs Parry. When she realises the feelings are mutual, things definitely get complicated



Wrath of the Never Queen

Wrath of the Never Queen by Storm Lomax

A doomed prince with a monstrous curse. A sadistic king with a dark history. And the witch who will be his reckoning. Shivani, a talented witch, has so far avoided the annual Summoning. In her village, women are sent to the King each year and given six months to win the Prince’s heart and break his beastly curse. Anyone who can do so will be named Queen. No one has succeeded. Deep in debt and with the promise of a handsome reward, Shivani’s father volunteers her for the Summoning. Shivani is drugged to dull her witchcraft and taken to the castle against her will. With no magic and no allies, Shivani attempts a desperate escape through her only window. When she falls, Prince Theo sees her in time to catch her. An unlikely friendship forms as Shivani and Theo realise they are as trapped as each other – Theo cursed to uncontrollably transform into a beast and Shivani with a six-month countdown to an execution. When Shivani finds a long-forgotten tunnel deep in the castle, she could leave the horrors of the Summoning and the cruel King behind. But it wouldn’t save the Prince and it wouldn’t free the imprisoned servants. Or Shivani could stay – if she’s shrewd enough to decipher the curse before the executioner’s axe drops.


A Starless Eye: Othello Reloaded

A Starless Eye: Othello Reloaded by T.O. Tate

BUT WHY SHOULD HONOR OUTLIVE HONESTY? LET IT GO ALL. In this post-apocalyptic novelette, Ollie, a former sniper, has been forced into retirement by a mysterious disease known as sliversickness. A perpetual outsider in an isolated underground military base, Ollie’s only solace is her lover, DJ. But that relationship is forbidden, putting Ollie’s already uncertain future in jeopardy, and her only protection is DJ . . . whose fidelity has been called into question by one of Ollie's few allies. As Ollie’s illness worsens, eating away at her right eye, her vision becomes more warped, and everything begins to look like evidence. A lost good luck charm, a glance that lingers too long, a poisonous whisper. And at the center of it all stands a man who claims to be Ollie’s friend. As Ollie’s life crumbles before her eyes, it’s no longer a question of when her illness will kill her, but whether it will burst free and kill everyone else, too.


Devil by the Tail

Devil by the Tail by Caroline Lavoie

In a small town in the Rockies, a mountain looms: the Devil’s Tail. According to local lore, a wicked trickster haunts its slopes, and whoever glimpses it is cursed to lose someone they love. Alex refuses to believe she’s been cursed. She only ever saw the beast in her nightmares. Even if it’s real, it can’t hurt her because she doesn’t let anyone get too close to her heart. That is, until Amka moves to town. In no time, Alex’s carefully built walls begin to crumble. But what if Alex’s fear of loss is a curse of its own? There are a hundred ways to die on the Devil’s Tail, but only one way to break the curse. The path is treacherous, and the beast is waiting.


Girls Night

Girls Night by I.S. Belle

Gossip queen ALEX longs to be seen. Cheerleader TULSI is sick of cutting people on her sharp heart. New kid CLEMENTINE can’t escape the violence inside. And wallflower SUNJU is tired of keeping quiet. When a twist of fate brings this unlikely quartet together, sparks and punches fly. They call it ‘Girls Night,' an underground fight club that’s girls only. Soon every girl at Sterling High is showing up to class with bruised knuckles and split lips. Alex, Tulsi, Clementine, and Sun have never felt more alive. Until demonic head cheerleader, Quentin Scarhill, steps in the ring with her eyes on Alex. As Quentin’s hold over Alex tightens, Girls Night spirals out of control. Can they take back the reins before things turn deadly? And if Girls Night ends will they throw in the towel on their newfound friendships?


Earth Hagiography

Earth Hagiography by Sfarda L. GĂŒl

Written during a time of turmoil and heavy-heartedness, EARTH HAGIOGRAPHY collates prose poetry and lyric essays in a poignant, frank discourse of grief, police state upbringing, loss of heritage to colonialism, political ideology, earth veneration, queerness, and psychological wounds, seeking to weave and unfold the bloodied yarn of remembrance and histories forgotten or unknown.


Non Omnis Moriar

Non Omnis Moriar by Sfarda L. GĂŒl

The city state of Vencenza rots, and Giorgianna, vengeful, enlightened, an outlaw and witch, seeks blood—the dues she’s owed for the crimes committed against her and those she loves. As summer withers to autumn, she is faced with a deadly quest: infiltrate the ministerial court, unspool the inner circle’s darkest secrets, and aid the resistance in bringing forth a revolution to finally break the shackles of tyranny. All while remaining under pretences amidst the state’s most violent and powerful men. But explosive tensions mount among the revolutionaries, bodies pile in the streets, the church gains frightening authority, and Giorgianna’s psyche teeters along its final breaking point—made only worse by a lovesickness more agonising than hunger. With winter looming upon the horizon, civil war seems inevitable, and love could never be a saviour. How dearly will those dues cost?


Non Serviam

Non Serviam by Sfarda L. GĂŒl

Expressing emotion is prohibited by law in the city state of Vencenza. Beneath its tyrannical shadow, Giorgianna, a deranged former playwright turned political fugitive, flees a brothel to seek justice for the murder of a beloved friend. When the last remnants of her bloodline are reaped by the incorrigible Minister of Dominion, Giorgianna’s crooked path to retribution crosses with Vencenza’s Machiavellian revolutionary hellbent on regime overturn. All the while, the weight of unending tragedy erodes Giorgianna’s psyche into a vengeful bloodlust plagued by cabbalistic visions hinting at an ever-darker face of the violent Powers That Be.


 The Hound of Greyvor (Silver Sights Saga #2)

The Hound of Greyvor (Silver Sights Saga #2) by W.J. Long III

Since Minerva Prime, peace, quiet, and adolescence have driven a wedge between Claude and Vision. As tempers flare in their modest home, a new danger emerges behind the Sabien veil; Levine Drarri, a disgraced servant of the Imperium, arrives on their doorstep, seeking the aid of Silver Sights. In his wake comes chaos, tragedy, and the boundless fury of a Sabien Crown. Now, the weight of Drarri’s sudden arrival threatens to shatter the already fractured bond between father and daughter, while in the shadows, the weapons of the Imperium bear down on all they have built.


The Forsaken Prince

The Forsaken Prince by Madison Rosipal

Born in a world where her people were once deemed criminal, Princess Celestine of Yulia walks a delicate path. Not only is she a descendant of the royal family that led the massacre of people with magic, she was also born a magician. In her search for belonging, she uncovers a family secret dating back centuries and a murderous plot that's been brewing for ages. Pulled between two worlds, she struggles to preserve peace, but will her efforts pay off?


Bitterbound

Bitterbound by A.Z. Louise

A PROMISE SEALED IN FLESH AND BLOOD Kin Jole is an indentured assassin, forced to serve those who ripped her soul from her body and stripped her of her conscience. When Kin is ordered to kill Verias Hartwell, a beaten-down sorcerer unwillingly bound to a war machine, she sees his power as an opportunity to do the one thing that will set her free—reclaim and destroy her own soul. Kin offers Verias a trade. She’ll spare his life in exchange for his help stealing her soul. To retrieve it, Verias must join the very guild of sorcerers that turned Kin into a killer. With the fate of her soul in his hands, Kin must now protect Verias from enemies new and old, including a former friend with a bitter grudge. But the closer Verias gets to Kin’s soul, the closer he gets to her darkest secrets. And if the enemies closing in on all sides don’t destroy them, those secrets just might.


Someone Else's Shoes

Someone Else's Shoes by Aldrea Alien

Stepping out in borrowed shoes has never been so dangerous. Stripped of her inheritance as a child by a greedy stepmother, Alla’s future hovers between drudgery and slavery. Having spent years toiling in the mansion that was once her happy home, tending to her stepmother’s every whim, she has long since put aside any thoughts of a better future. When a chance encounter in the marketplace leaves her with an invitation to the upcoming ball, her only opportunity to play out an old dream of seeing inside the palace walls is by being someone she’s not. A farce that could see her executed or sold. But will she be able to maintain the illusion once she meets Princess Viktoriya?


Walks with Spirits

Walks with Spirits by Edale Lane

Bound by love, separated by a tragic mistake; can two Indigenous women realize their happy ending? Long ago, in an age of mysticism, Walks with Spirits, a two-spirit woman, perceives voices whispering on the wind and they empower her with the gift of calling animals. But who she truly wishes to call to her side is her childhood friend, Laughing Brook. Daughter of a shaman and an herbalist-midwife, Laughing Brook holds a prominent place in her society and bears the responsibilities it entails. She is training to be a healer like her mother, but her most compelling desire is to spend her life with Walks with Spirits. When a misunderstanding crushes their dreams of happiness, both women must learn to face the trials that await them in a land where danger lurks behind every tree and honor means more than life. Will the spirits intervene on their behalf, or are they fated never to manifest their visions of love? Walks with Spirits is a historical fantasy set in an ancient time. Packed with Native American themes, heart-touching imagery, and an epic love story, Walks with Spirits will immerse you in an inspiring view of life. ˃˃˃ Are you into history, spirituality, or a romance with a happy ending? Walks with Spirits demonstrates how one woman learns to communicate with the spirit world in a way that is just as viable today as centuries ago. It gives the reader a peek into another culture, and demonstrates how true love conquers all.


Gay the Pray Away

Gay the Pray Away by Natalie Naudus

Valerie Danners is in a cult. She just doesn’t know it yet. When she finds a queer book at the library and smuggles it home, her conservative Christian homeschooling world begins to crack. And when the cutest girl she’s ever met shows up to Bible class, she starts to question everything. Riley is so confident and kind, and she and Valerie bond quickly over existing as multiracial teens in a very white Christian community. As Valerie explores her feelings for Riley, she begins to see that the world she knows is a carefully crafted narrative. Publicly, the girls are close friends—holding hands in prayer, rooming together at a conference. Privately, they grasp at any chance to continue their forbidden romance—until they are found out. Now Valerie must choose between staying with a family she fears will never accept her, or running away with the girl she loves.


Body Check

Body Check by J.J. Arias

To win it all, rivals will have to get dirty and play together Fabiola Santos never expected to be back on Cutthroat Island, the reality competition show she lost six years earlier. But when the opportunity to redeem herself and win half a million dollars comes along, she can’t pass it up. It’s a decision she regrets the moment she sees Cameron - the woman who stole her prize and broke her heart once already. All Cameron Herrera wants to do is rewrite history. Walking away from Fabiola was her biggest mistake in a long line of wrong choices. Now that she has a second chance to play with her, Cameron is determined to win Fab back. Forced to compete as a team, Fabiola finds that her feelings for Cameron aren’t in the past like she wished they were. The more they work together, the harder it is for Fabiola to focus on her anger and ignore their undeniable attraction. Find out whether love gets a second chance in this slow burn, enemies-to-lovers, reality show romance where the games are hard and the nights are hot.


The Earthly Blaze

The Earthly Blaze by Alice Poon

The Earthly Blaze is the concluding part of the Sword Maiden from the Moon duology. This duology is a blend of the wuxia and xianxia genre that evokes vibes of cdramas like The Untamed, Nirvana in Fire and Word of Honor. In this propulsive sequel to The Heavenly Sword, the heroine Sai’er is beset with grim challenges as she leads the White Lotus Sect to oppose Emperor Zhu Di. When the Green Dragon threatens to kill villagers to punish Sai’er for wounding Zhu Di, she is forced to fight the demon in an undersea battle. Aided by her immortal friends and found family, Sai'er engages in violent clashes with the enemy camp. All the while, she yearns to start a new life with her lover Sanbao, but is haunted by the prospect of a final showdown with Zhu Di. The Earthly Blaze is the second and concluding part of Alice Poon’s magnificent duology combining Chinese mythical folklore and speculative history into a sweeping tale of family love, fellowship loyalty, loss, sacrifice and kung fu rivalry.


DreamRealm Unleashed

DreamRealm Unleashed by Sahasra Nistala

Twelve-year-old Tara is good at one thing and one thing slaying her enemies. You know, in a video game. DreamRealm is a kids-only haven for young gamers, and it’s the reason Tara simply hasn’t had time to mourn her sister. But she can’t ignore everything else, like the fact that her childhood friend is now an unbearable enemy, or that her GPA is sinking lower than her self-esteem. Just when it seems life can’t get any worse, DreamRealm is released from virtual containment, trapping all the adults in an alternate dimension. To get the world back to normal, Tara and her friends must embark on a monster-filled quest across San Francisco and rack up enough points to get to the top of a global leaderboard. Enter the Minors Establishing A New Order of Society, a teen-run organization that doesn’t want the adults to return. When Tara learns that the MEANOS’ leader caused the car accident that killed her sister, it’s game on. Hungry for revenge, Tara vows to beat the MEANOS to the finish line. She fights giant dragons, finds treasure, and heroically fends off teens (they’re smellier than the dragons, that’s for sure). With the help of her neighbors, a kid who runs a magic arcade, and her actually-not-so-bad frenemy, she gets closer and closer to finishing the mission. But as her inner boss battle looms, she must come to terms with her past before she’s captured—or else, it’s game over.


Chef’s Kiss (A Gia, San Francisco Romance)

Chef’s Kiss (A Gia, San Francisco Romance) by Stephanie Shea

Valentina Rosas has always known what she wants. Mostly. Sort of. At least, she does now. And what she wants is the coveted staging role at Gia, San Francisco. With four years at the top of her class in culinary school and enough tenacity to fuel the entire Mission, no one doubts she is about to land the job of her dreams—including the three-person cheer squad made up of her best friend and adorably overbearing parents. Renowned chef Jenn Coleman is not a people person. Her rise to the top of the culinary industry stems from a cultivated blend of top-tier schooling—from her nonna—and bouts of carefully managed misanthropy. Owning and operating two Michelin starred restaurants doesn’t leave time for much else anyway. Just ask her ex. When the new stage at her restaurant trips into her with all the grace of a baby giraffe, it’s a sure recipe for disaster. But for all of Jenn’s reserve, Valentina has twice the allure, and the chemistry between them is just
 chef’s kiss. If only Jenn wasn’t Valentina’s boss with nearly ten years between them.


Don't Break Hearts

Don't Break Hearts by Gwen Leonhard

"I don’t have many rules that I follow during my travels here. Don’t fall in love. Don’t get attached. Remember what you came for. But most importantly: Don’t break hearts." ---------- NSFW’s Tales tells the Story of a Succubus named Natt Serene Fiona Williams. With her cold demeanor, it may be hard to believe that she fights for the oppressed and weak, to give them the tools they need to find a new strength to get through their life, but you better believe that this is the case. She may be doing this with some unconventional methods, but the results are just as effective as they are kinky. While this story is definitely “not safe for work.” It focuses on some of its parts on the explicit sexual depiction in some form, but it is way more than just simple porn.


Guava Flavored Lies

Guava Flavored Lies by J.J. Arias

All’s Fair in Love and (Pastry) War Sylvie Campos and Lauren Machado have hated each other since before they were born. For generations, the Campos and Machado families have blamed each other for stealing pastry recipes they claim their great-grandfathers originated before fleeing Castro’s Cuba. Having spent their lives as rivals, Lauren and Sylvie are now in their early thirties and primed to take over their respective family bakeries. That means working long, hot, seasons of outdoor food festivals where they are forced to endure each other - albeit with a lot of bantering and barb-trading. After all, no one knows how to get under Sylvie’s skin like Lauren. Sick of dealing with Lauren and her thieving family, Sylvie sets out to unmask the Machados for the traitors they are. But when the truth is not what Sylvie expects, will the fiery exchanges between her and Lauren turn into something hot enough to melt away generational baggage? Could they get the chance to rekindle what they almost had in high school? Find out in this laugh-out-loud hilarious, enemies-to-lovers, romantic comedy featuring plenty of steam, tension, and delicious Cuban food.


Stars Like Fire

Stars Like Fire by Marissa Lupe

Fighting for their freedom was only the beginning, now they must do the hardest thing of all, they must live. Three journeys and one destination will bring them all together. Despite having never met in person, their years of communicating virtually cemented Eleanor’s love for the woman who has her whole heart long ago. But when her love goes missing, Eleanor leaves the safety of Sandstone Estate to rescue her, and ends up finding more than she bargained for. An entire town has had their children stolen, and it’s up to Eleanor to lead the fight to save them, along with the woman that she loves. Theo can’t remember his past, but begins to build his future when a family takes him in as a farm hand. But then the farm is destroyed, a young boy is orphaned, and Theo finds himself slipping into the role of guardian. When the boy receives an urgent message from a mysterious voice through the radio, Theo must guide him across a dangerous and barren landscape in hopes of finding a safe place to call home. TĂ©a and her infant daughter have traveled the continent to restore the land for a grateful nation, but when strangers arrive on her doorstep looking for help, TĂ©a must decide if she can risk opening her heart again. Then tragedy strikes, and TĂ©a is forced to confront her past and meet a new challenge that has the power to rip the Earth to shreds. As Eleanor, Theo, and TĂ©a’s paths collide, the future of mankind is thrust into their hands, and they must work together to save not only themselves, but all of humanity.


Holidays Ablaze

Holidays Ablaze by Lucy LimĂłn

When an arrogant demon with a taste for the finer things meets a salty chef with an attraction to fire, sparks fly. Sofia, a talented chef whose culinary dreams have flamed out, is spending her holiday season hiding away in a cabin atop Mout Winter Bliss until her solo retreat is disrupted by the arrival of Samite, a maddeningly pretentious demon. Sofia is no stranger to facing down big egos in the kitchen. With plenty of salt and steely resolve, she sets the ground rules and strikes her first bargain with a demon. Samite, a demon whose business ambitions have been dashed, finds himself stranded atop Mount Winter Bliss at the mercy of an infuriatingly unhelpful human. He is hell-bent on escaping this mountain, and she would gladly whip him up a swift exit except for one major obstacle. An avalanche has buried the only road down the mountain, trapping them together. Their initial clash ignites a simmering tension, and as they navigate the close quarters of her tiny one-bedroom cabin, more bargains are struck, and the heat continues to rise.


Samson & Domingo

Samson & Domingo by Gume Laurel III

Samson and Domingo fall in love during the summer before their junior year of high school. But Samson is the star player of Weslaco North’s football team and Domingo is a French horn player for Weslaco South’s marching band. Once school starts, their new love is challenged by those who don’t agree with their rival schools mixing, especially Domingo’s older brother, Pablo, a football player for South. As if that wasn’t enough, Samson’s Olympian-like athleticism is shrouded in mystery; the source of his strength is a secret he has vowed to keep his entire life. As Samson and Domingo’s love blossoms, Samson learns to trust Domingo more than he has ever trusted anyone before, and Domingo opens his heart once again after heartbreak. But will their love be Samson’s downfall?


Bearly Gold

Bearly Gold by N. D. Jones

On Earth Pact, no species is as feared as the Impundulu shifters of the United Wake of Benekal. For Fayola, a veteran nearing the end of her compulsory military service, being a soldier had never been more than reluctant duty. As she prepares for her final special operation, her goal remains the same: Complete her mission so she can return home to her father. Tasked with rescuing a humanitarian doctor from a war zone, but not the orphaned children under her care, Fayola must decide how much she is willing to risk for the future she deserves. Jwahir, a human in a nation of warring shifters, finds herself holed up in a medical clinic with other orphans, praying for a miracle or a painless death. But when an Impundulu soldier arrives, stoic and determined but with a reserved tenderness she tries to hide, Jwahir knows she has met her Dela Eden–her savior. However, people are not always who they seem, and crimes against children are too often ignored. For Jwahir, her true test of bravery begins not in a medical clinic in a war-ravaged country but in a bear shifter's cabin home in a peaceful forest. For Fayola, twenty-five years of retirement planning changes in the blink of an innocent child's golden-brown eyes. But what will she do when her goodwill pact goes horribly wrong?


The Coven of Ruin

The Coven of Ruin by T. K. Tucker

The merciless God of War, a healer witch, and that meddlesome thing known as Fate. Trista was a healer. But that was before. Before she was dragged to Olympus for a crime she didn’t commit. Before she almost died. And before she made a life debt to the god who saved her. The very god who killed the Mothers and damned all of witchkind centuries before—Ares, the God of War. The Witchbane. Now she can’t stand the sight of blood, and her simple, duty-filled life is upended. When she receives an invite to the capital of Witch Country to attend the social season, though, she is hopeful the time away will help her heal. What she doesn’t expect to find there is something much more sinister than political games and poorly disguised attempts at matchmaking. Between masquerades and tournaments, Trista is pulled farther into the dark and bloody history between witches and gods. And amidst it all is Ares. Since Trista is the only witch in existence who knows who he is, Ares keeps her close. So close that the lines between enemies and allies begin to blur and she doesn’t know who or what to trust. But before she can figure that out, an ill-fated choice and an ancient prophecy may lead them both down a path they can’t survive. The Coven of Ruin series is a Greco-Roman myth-inspired, slow burn, adult romantic fantasy set in a different world.


Ember and Eclipse

Ember and Eclipse by T. K. Tucker

There’s a bounty on her head. After committing a brutal crime against Romul’s prince, Rel fled the mortal-dominated north to Witch Country. She wasn’t welcomed in the covens, though, so she found a sanctuary in an empty swamp instead. And that’s where she’s been hiding ever since. Until the Wolf of Romul, the deadliest witch hunter, somehow finds her after two years. Even as she fights with knives and teeth to get away, the witch hunter continues to hunt her and ruins any of her escape plans. As they journey further from her swamp, they’re forced into situations that reveal more of their truths, and it soon becomes apparent both are more than what they seem. Lines are blurred, morals questioned, and touches stolen until the hunter becomes just as trapped in his snare as she is. And neither of them may survive it. Ember and Eclipse is a steamy, enemies to lovers, witch X witch hunter, adult fantasy romance. As a Coven of Ruin series standalone, it can be read before or after book 1, The Coven of Ruin.


Awakening

Awakening by Octavia Atlas

Armando Medina suffered a tragic loss at the hands of some Nitelvosa, supernatural beings who control his world. For decades, he’s been unable to forget the horrific night when his life changed. Izdahl Amasi, a member of a prominent Nitelvosa family, has been fascinated by Armando for years. Izdahl’s heart grows heavier, as Armando’s stubborn streak denies them the happiness they could have. While the two were close childhood friends, Armando’s trauma drove a painful wedge between him and Izdahl. Now, as adults, they find themselves connected in unexpected ways. Despite how much Armando tries to avoid the truth, he’s drawn to Izdahl. Looming over them are the events from Armando’s youth and the mystery of who's responsible for his anguish. Can Armando open his heart and trust Izdahl? Or will Izdahl stop believing they have a chance?


Elemental Inferno

Elemental Inferno by A.J. Locke

Rielle can’t have sex – unless it’s winter. As a Winter Aura she brings the good and bad of winter to NYC, and while she can unleash snowstorms for a few months, the rest of the year she can’t do anything that could cause her to lose control of herself and accidentally make it snow in June. That means hot, passionate sex is strictly forbidden. No sex life for most of the year used to be Rielle’s biggest problem until the Summer Aura for her area winds up dead and the sun almost scorches the city into oblivion. Aden, a sexier than sin Summer Aura, arrives and cools things down, but heats Rielle up. The attraction between them is magnetic, but Aden’s appearance puts the Elders who guide all Auras on edge, and it suddenly seems like both the Elders and Aden have secrets they don’t want coming to light. Despite the air of danger, Rielle is drawn to Aden, especially when he promises he can show her a way for them to indulge their passions without repercussions. And boy do they indulge. But the fun can’t last when an Aura is dead with no explanation. And when Aden’s secrets are revealed, the Elders take drastic measures to ensure their own sins remain buried. And their plan could land Rielle in fatal trouble. Aden and Rielle will have to untangle a deadly plot against them before they can continue getting tangled up in each other.


The Vanish Tide (Kitaine Neris #2)

The Vanish Tide (Kitaine Neris #2) by A.J. Locke

Kitaine Neris is a Vanish Witch who fell victim to her own magic. Fortunately, her disappearing act didn’t stick. After escaping Elsewhere, a chaotic pocket world full of violent criminals, Kit and Marrik return to their lives and try to heal their fractured relationship. But they have to contend with Marrik’s witch-hating family, who want Kit out of his life. And after her failed attempt to Vanish a high ranking, corrupt witch, Kit is in the crosshairs of the powerful High Coven. To keep her safe, Kit and her tale of Elsewhere are thrust into the spotlight. Kit’s heightened visibility makes the High Coven hesitant to retaliate, but stirs up anti-witch groups especially because, thanks to Kit, witches can now become stronger. Not only that, a disruption caused by a magical surge will bring a disaster down on Kit’s city. With her stronger Vanish magic, Kit is the only one who can stop it. But saving her city will be easier said than done when the anti-witch groups zero in on Kit. And when they unleash a devastating strike, no matter how strong Kit’s magic is, it might not be enough to stop her from losing everything.


The Vanish Witch (Kitaine Neris #1)

The Vanish Witch (Kitaine Neris #1) by A.J. Locke

There are a few things that could land a witch in hot water. One is having stronger magic than most. Like a Vanish Witch who can make not only objects but people disappear. Another is being in possession of amulets that contain ghosts whose touch is death. Kitaine Neris has both. But she keeps the flirtatious ghost hidden, stays off the High Coven’s radar, and keeps up appearances with her local coven while secretly using her magic to Vanish the corrupt and violent from her city. Until a hit goes horribly awry and Kit ends up Vanishing instead. She’s shocked when she ends up in a chaotic, parallel world, and realizes that everything Vanish Witches made disappear wound up there. Including her boyfriend, Marrik, who Kit never meant to make disappear at all. Kit and Marrik’s reunion is passionate, but they need to get back home. But that’s easier said than done when every bad soul Vanish Witches used their magic on are gunning for Kit, wanting their pound of flesh. When a mysterious and powerful witch presents a way home, Kit and Marrik will do whatever it takes to fulfill the conditions that will free them before the enemy enacts a vanishing act on them that sticks.


Wolf of Withervale

Wolf of Withervale by JoaquĂ­n Baldwin

SPFBO10

Lago was only a child when the shapeshifter entrusted the wolf-like mask to his care—an artifact so powerful that it could come to shape the entire world of Noss. Now that he is coming of age, Lago is growing ever more fearful of the ominous relic’s influence, of the empire who has scented its trail and is coming after it. Coming after him. Aided by his best friend, an enigmatic scout, and his trusty dog, Lago seeks refuge in the vastness of the Heartpine Dome. The eighty-mile-wide structure had remained sealed for centuries, safeguarding more than mere secrets. Now that the dome’s entrails are stirring, the mysteries of the long-vanished Miscam tribes are coming to light, and the shapeshifting animal spirits are making their return. Powers untold hide behind the blinkless eyeholes of the canid mask, powers that could tip the balance in the war. Lago is barely beginning to learn how to wield the dark visage, but he can already feel its potential. 
 And he can feel a different change coming, deep in his marrow.


The Heavenly Sword

The Heavenly Sword by Alice Poon

The Heavenly Sword and its sequel are a unique blend of an epic wuxia story and Chinese myths. Set in a world of human conflicts, fantastical martial arts, sorcery and celestial magic, Alice Poon’s debut fantasy follows a martial maiden’s heartbreaking adventures in her quest for love and justice. The goddess Chang’e is sent to the mortal world to rein in the tyrant Zhu Di, formerly a Sky Wolf. Reborn as Tang Sai’er, a simple village girl, her celestial mission requires her to master a special martial arts skill, but to succeed, she must fight her growing feelings for a member of Zhu Di’s court, Ma Sanbao. When Zhu Di incites a civil war that imperils her village people, she is forced to lead the White Lotus Sect in direct combat. But even though she gets help from the gracious immortals in the violent feuds, she finds that her mission is on a collision course with her dreams.


The Aqua Human

The Aqua Human by J. Elizaga

A teenager in the Pacific during World War II, evades capture by escaping to sea. She survives a tragedy and discovers new physical abilities underwater. Alone, she grapples to survive on land. But under the sea, she finds friendship from the most intelligent marine creatures. Over the decades, Amaya searches for the answer about her mysterious transformation while hiding her secret. But her secret may have finally been captured on film.


Dragon Your Bones

Dragon Your Bones by Tatiana Obey

Rasia is determined to slay a dragon for her Forging, a trial each child must succeed to come of age. All she needs to do is find the dragon’s den, slay the winged bastard, and haul it home before the deadline ends. Not so easy. But Rasia has Kai on her team—who may or may not have some secrets up his shroud. Nico needs to prepare for the bloodrites, a ritual ceremony as bloody as the name. If she succeeds, she’ll earn the title of Ohan, but first she’ll have to dodge assassins and hunt whomever placed the hit on her head and hopefully kill them before they kill her. In the Grankull, coming of age isn’t easy. There are always greater dragons to slay. DRAGON YOUR BONES is the introspective sequel to BONES TO THE WIND, full of political intrigue and a coming-of-age exploration. The novel includes strong female characters, LGBTQIA+ representation, and mature themes. It is appropriate for a NA/Adult audience, 18+.


The Tree of Azathoth

The Tree of Azathoth by C.T. Phipps

"The Dreaming City has a million stories." The world has finally reached its final hours with Yog-Sothoth devouring time itself. John Henry Booth is not content to die and seeks out an old enemy to provide him an escape from the dying Earth. This results in him being transported to a strange monster-filled city where millions of humans live in a bizarre hodgepodge of eras. John soon finds out he's been here before, or at least some variant of him has, and he is soon founded by faces long thought dead. And what is his lost son's connection to the mysterious metropolis? The Tree of Azathoth is the third novel of the Cthulhu Armageddon series, a post-apocalypse continuation of H.P. Lovecraft's popular Cthulhu Mythos.


Tower of Zhaal

Tower of Zhaal by C.T. Phipps

"Is it better to live as a monster or die as a man?" It has been a year since John Henry Booth's exile from New America and the fall of the Black Cathedral. Cursed with a slow transformation into a monster, he has begun a doomed relationship with fellow escapee Mercury Halsey as they seek some way to arrest his transformation. Dubious hope arrives in the form of the University, the deranged scientists and cultists descended from the staff of Miskatonic University. Except, their offer of help comes at a price. Having sold themselves to ancient aliens called the Yith, they wish John and Mercury to join a group of rogues in hunting down a wayward member of their faculty: a man who intends to release the last of the sleeping Great Old Ones on an already ravaged planet. If they're telling the truth, John and Mercury will be heroes. If. The Tower of Zhaal is the second novel of the Cthulhu Armageddon series, a post-apocalypse continuation of H.P. Lovecraft's popular Cthulhu Mythos.


Mud Crab Kingdom: My People or My Peace?

Mud Crab Kingdom: My People or My Peace? by Dr. Joel Anthony Hamilton

Following the Indie Ink nominated book, the Soft-Shelled Prince, this slow-burn sequel shows Marcious LeojĂš's life after creating his Mud Crab Kingdom. Like that of his childhood, the walls of his kingdom keep discrimination and persecution at bay. However, they also keep the true Marcious locked inside. Marcious must constantly choose between what's best for his kingdom and himself; the advancement of mud-skins and the pursuit of love; his people or his peace. The demands of his citizens, opinions of outsiders, and thoughts in his head create an inescapable constant roar. Even so, he must make choices that leave some, or someone disgruntled, disowned, or dead.


V

V by Aura Marquez

Being an autistic Chicana in L.A. isn’t easy
especially when you’re a vampire. V’s undying love for humans doesn’t allow her to fit in, and nobody understands her but Mya, her best friend, soul mate, and fellow vampire. V's inherited an ancestral gift that intensifies once she becomes a vampire and creates a psychic connection to those she feeds on, an ability she desperately wants to learn to control. Living with Mya allows her to have the lavish lifestyle she’s always wanted, but V still can’t seem to find peace. As she works to discover who she is as a vamp, all she has to do is not fall in love with a human. She cannot fall in love. No big deal, she just needs to not fall in love. 
and then, she meets Madís


Breaker of Fates (Broken Song verse 1)

Breaker of Fates (Broken Song verse 1) by Vaela Denarr & Micah Iannandrea

SPFBO10

Perilous quests give rise to heroes. And broken songs call for Chosen Ones to be mended. Roderick and Keeva, once friends, now orphaned by a dragon’s wrath that fractured the harmony between the great clans, spend their days locked in battle
 until they are reunited, realizing that they’re both dating the same guy: Mateo, whose overdue transformation into a dragon is complicated by feelings of self doubt after the disastrous attempt to broker peace. Choosing to get along is one thing, but forgiving one another—or themselves—for the hurt they’ve inflicted is another. Keeva keeps seeing the face of her dead best friend in her dreams, and Roderick’s suspicion and distrust keep him up at night. Soon, though, a great threat unites them against a common foe. Someone has stolen a song from the gods, disrupting the tenuously rebuilt harmony of their homeland, and the very beast that tore them apart threatens to be set loose. True heroes of Koor Kosma are required to serve as vessels for the other four godly songs and reforge the divine harmony. Neither Roderick nor Keeva are such heroes, but unless they can unite the divine and broken songs, unless harmony brings the shattered clans together, all will burn. They are not chosen. They are not the heroes of this story. They are broken. And they must be forgiven. The Broken Song Duology is a story about queer grief, trauma, forgiveness and finding your place in the world.


Play it Back

Play it Back by Vanessa Lopez Aziz

27-year-old Carmen Santos thought she had the perfect life until the question “what do you want?” transports her ten years in to the past to relive the worst year of her life. She must navigate her senior year of high school all over again, complete with bad wardrobe, a dysfunctional Filipino family, and a best friend who’s still in the closet. Yet, the knowledge of the future is on her side, right? But her knowledge isn’t guaranteed to help her get the guy, fix her parent’s marriage, or even save someone’s life.


The Unwanted Prophet

The Unwanted Prophet by Carolina Cruz

Quincy Sauer is in jail. As far as she’s concerned, that's where she belongs - until a god of death decides otherwise. He’s got a plan to undermine his own priests and Quincy is his pawn of choice. Going from criminal to prophet would be a difficult transition under even the best circumstances, but Quincy’s luck is about to turn from bad to worse as corrupt priests, cults, and threats unknown stand between her and the answer to her greatest questions: Has the god of life and death made a terrible mistake? And if he has, who is going to pay the price for it? The Unwanted Prophet is the debut novel of Carolina Cruz. If you enjoy low-magic fantasy, character-driven stories, and diverse fictional worlds, the Unwanted Prophet has something for you to enjoy!


Siren's Call

Siren's Call by T.J.J. Klamvik

SPSFC 2023

In the Doomsday Cycle there are no heroes. The future could have looked different, but the path has been corrupted and only the inevitable awaits. Something lurks in the darkness of space, and it cares little for humanity’s petty squabbles. The apocalypse is here, but will anyone hear its call? Councilor Justynia Freid – an ambitious politician of Earth’s most prominent colony – never saw it coming. A scheme by her own Chancellor to restart a war that they themselves had a hand in ending? All without her knowledge? Tossed into a harsh world of intrigue and backstabbing, Justynia has to discover what led to the drastic decision that is going to send humanity into chaos. Only with all the answers can she decide whether to listen to her own conscience or follow the path to power. Detective Adelia Duarte does not care for politics – it only ever made her job harder. Tasked with investigating a series of murders that plague Capital City, Adelia has to confront her own past in order to understand the methods and motivations of the serial killer that seems impervious to the security systems that track each citizen down to the centimeter. As the bodies keep piling up, it is difficult to maintain faith. Would someone with a less troubled history be a better fit for the investigation? For now, all the city has is Adelia, and the bodies keep coming. Sergeant Jones is also haunted by his past – decisions taken in a war he never truly understood. His only refuge is more fighting. Recruited to join Special Operations, and reunited with old comrades to escort a scientist to an abandoned colony, he quickly learns all is not what it seems. Surrounded by mystery and an unknown enemy, he needs to warn mankind of what is coming. But will they truly listen? Siren’s Call is the first novel in the Doomsday Cycle. It weaves complex interpersonal journeys with a backdrop of an overarching threat. It is never about the destination – only the journey to get there.


In the House of Transcendence

In the House of Transcendence by Amanda Ross

Zora is a necromancer. Some say she’s gifted, others say she’s cursed, but her abilities always terrify her. Hoping to start a new life, she flees her childhood home and travels to Savannah, but she soon learns that some things can’t be changed. There, she meets an alluring and powerful witch named Birdie. She offers Zora a proposition: she’ll give Zora a place to stay, a job dancing at a magical burlesque club called Nightingale’s, and help controlling her powers if Zora can solve her lover’s murder. Zora accepts Birdie’s offer and is soon drawn into the magical community of Savannah, where rituals and magical fights are performed in grand old homes, potions can make people float on air, and three magical houses vie for dominance. As she tries to put the pieces together and solve the murder, Zora gets caught in the sight of the very forces responsible for the killing. Can she rise up and learn to control her powers and solve the murder or will her fears cause her to lose it all?


Rootwork

Rootwork by Tracy Cross

Set in a small parish in Louisiana in 1889, Rootwork follows sisters, Betty, Ann and Pee Wee. When school lets out for the summer, the girls head off to stay with their hoodoo-practicing aunt, Theodora, an empowered woman equally feared and revered by the local townspeople. They learn how to make “hot foot powder” and the secrets of a good “black cat bone”. Need to get back at an enemy? A little goofer dust will help that. The girls delight in their new hoodoo adventure, until a tragic event strikes, involving the malicious town sheriff, transforming not only their lives but also the sisters themselves. A story of love, folk magic, redemption and independence, Rootwork explores the strength of family and the darker side of the heart.


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