|
Reborn in Ash by Gabrielle Steele Magic abandoned humanity millennia ago. Now it returns, bringing ruin to a wanted thief, and her chance for redemption. When ash fell like snow, everyone it touched grew ill with fever. Most died. Ada Renwick didn't. She endured the ash plague, food shortages, and brutal riots, only for one merchant's greed to threaten her livelihood. To keep her jewellery business afloat, Ada turned to thievery. Now she wants revenge. Breaking into the merchant's manor, Ada discovers unfamiliar gems that carry a shocking truth. Earth magic hides within them, and she can wield it. But the first time she does, she makes a mistake that leaves a man dead. Sickened by her crime and hunted for it, Ada runs. Yet, using magic feels as natural as breathing. She'll do anything to keep it, even join a war she wants no part of. It's not until Ada meets a woman who can wield fire magic that she realises some things are worth fighting for. But fire burns anything that gets too close. |
|
A Chord of Silver Moons by Tylisha Washington Aryam Sinanan has spent her life training to fulfill her bloodline oath to defend the princess of Beldemar. An ancient seal keeps the vengeful creatures known as the akbarrin trapped in a devastating wasteland called The Shadows, and Aryam believes they will never return. So why should she sacrifice her youth and happiness for such an unlikely calling? Instead of dedicating her every breath to her training, Aryam pushes the boundaries of her oath, trying to lead a somewhat normal life. But on the day she turns sixteen, the captain of the royal guard arrives and summons Aryam to duty with dire newsâthe king has been assassinated, and the princess is in danger. Worse, the captain believes akbarrin are responsible and that the seal is weakening. Too soon, Aryam is forced to leave behind everything and everyone she loves, joining her sister guardians to battle the akbarrin with their spirit weapons. The problem is Aryam doesn't have one. And without it, she might not only fail Beldemarâshe might doom it. |
|
That Girl Who Ran Off and Kissed a Vampire by K.R.S. McEntire Eighteen-year-old Raven has always had a college, a stable job, and marriage to her high school sweetheartâall within the safe boundaries of her comfort zone. As a neurodivergent girl adopted into a family of high achievers, she understands the importance of stability. But when a single disastrous day leaves her without a job, her best friend, or her boyfriend, Ravenâs carefully planned future unravels. Desperate for a fresh start, Raven takes a leap of faith in the form of a mysterious job offer that lands her in a magical realm where humans coexist with fae, dragons, vampires, and other fantastical creatures. Her unlikely guide is Hunter, a snarky and secretive vampire who insists her bloodline holds the key to breaking an ancient curse. Reluctantly, Raven agrees to help, embarking on a quest filled with impromptu hip-hip concerts in medieval taverns, sassy talking unicorns, and growing feelings for Hunter. But as sparks fly, so do her suspicions about his true intentions. To save a kingdomâand herselfâRaven must uncover the secrets of her heritage and decide if sheâs willing to risk everything for a magical world and a love that feels too impossible to be real. |
|
Return of the Sistah Samurai by Tatiana Obey Afro Samurai meets The Boondocks in this anime-inspired novel I've wanted nothing more than to become a Sistah Samurai. When I was expelled from the training academy for sneaking in my stupid ex-boyfriend, I still had hope that I could cry enough to convince them to take me back. Then, demons invaded the capital and decimated the clan, and there went my dreams of ever naming my own pair of pink swords. Until I heard a rumor of one last Sistah Samurai. I packed my favorite outfits and my trusty teddy bear, and recruited my forever bestie to help me find her. If we could manage not to interrupt her lunch, maybe we could convince her to train us? We were ready to do whatever she asked, even if that meant confronting old flames and taking down the patriarchy. As long as we looked good while doing it. The sequel of Sistah Samurai is an Action Fantasy novella that is an homage to the anime, Afro Samurai. Both works feature a feudal Japan-inspired setting that is rife with anachronisms. In the words of Samuel L. Jackson, âIs that a motherfâing RPG?â |
|
Death Among the Stars by C.M. Lockhart âThis is not what I had in mind when we agreed âtil death do us partâ.â Kyra Johnson is married to an alien. At least, she was until he was murdered. Left with only his ship and a gaping hole in her life where her husband used to be, she takes to the stars with his crew as their unwilling captain. But grief isnât a thing so easily discarded, and sheâll have to confront his memory â and the man who killed him â before she can face a future without him. And the best thing for heartbreak is revenge. |
|
May Chaos Reign Over You by La Purvis Hezi is the purveyor of wine and chaos at Wayward Sip, the safe haven she created to escape her abusive ex. As chaos incarnate, she bestows her golden apples at her discretion and it is there that she meets Edno. The young dragon carries a darkness that threatens unmeasurable destruction and Hezi can't help but offer him the thing he wants most -- power. But when he returns days later with Emry, the alpha of his coven, Hezi realizes she made a mistake. Edno was consumed by chaos. But rather than feeling remorse, Hezi is amused and Emry is incensed. Emry decides that Hezi's life will be a suitable replacement for Edno's, but when their eyes lock, Emry's demands become far more personal than she'd anticipated. Bigger problems arise however as Emry is called back to her home to deal with the growing mistrust between her coven and The Regime, while Hezi's ex is trying to force his way back into her life. Hezi knows that getting attached to anyone is a risk, but she doesn't know which is more terrifying -- pushing everyone away for fear of losing them, or succumbing to the love of a dragon hellbent on claiming Hezi as her own. |
|
Our Funny Love Story (Resistance #1) by Byrd Koto Normal People meets 10 Things That Never Happened with a literary whodunit twist in this Achillean romantic mystery set in Tokyo. A comedy of errors, until fate decides to reveal its twisted sense of humor. Kamada Eizo, a popular young web novelist, lands his dreamâa flagship fantasy series with an ambitious publisher. Miyamoto Ran is the brusque, uncompromising editor assigned to turn his series into a hit. Perfect opposites, they clash at the start. Eizo is skilled at spinning tales; Ran hates liars. Eizo is quick to notice Ranâs aversion to touch; Ran sees through Eizoâs polished smiles. What follows is a frustrating series of one-upsmanship games with no clear winners, only bruised egos. As the weight of their high-stakes project closes in, Ran senses something amiss about Eizo. He begins to uncover the man behind the writer, a truth that forces Eizo to double down on his defenses, fighting not just for his story but to keep Ran out. But exposing the truth will come at a cost; Ran isnât prepared to pay, not when his long-suppressed feelings are becoming as complicated as the mystery heâs trying to solve. Expect dual third-person perspective, layered narratives, and banter teeming with romantic tension and psychological intrigue. This is Book 1 of a duet that ends in a happily-ever-after. |
|
Haroun and the Study of Mischief by Lynn Strong âDonât get a torch too close to his djellaba.â âIt might catch fire?â âYou might see it.â Venerable Haroun, the blind saluqi priest of the dog-headed god Yepuet, has come to the wild and collarless Tel-Bastet, the City of Cats, for an education in mischief. And Haroun has never met a crime of fashion he wouldnât commit. Shai Madhur, the disabled human priest of Upaja, thought accepting Harounâs leash meant being Harounâs seeing-eye human. He wasnât prepared for the political machinations⊠or for Harounâs sense of humor. When a kind prophet-prince goes missing, Haroun smells iniquity in the air. (Iniquity, it turns out, smells like kumiss spilled on a tomcat in dire need of a bath.) The problem with everyone in Tel-Bastet knowing what a Good Boy their Shai Madhur is, is that people keep trying to rescue him, whether he needs it or not. Not that heâs complaining, exactly. But Madhur swears he is never going carousing again⊠no matter how soulful Harounâs puppydog eyes are. With a splash of Studio Ghibli, a sprinkle of Roshani Chokshi, and a dash of Terry Pratchett, when the cats and dogs need to learn to live together, Haroun and Madhur take on the difference between what is seen and what is true. |
|
The Witch who Chases the Sun by Dawn Chen Sometimes, true love is not the answer. â A decade after the Second War, Aixauhan Alchemist Ying Cai-Li seeks to rekindle her relationship with her ex-lover, the Inabrian Oracle Anne Barberry. However, the war changed them both. Estranged by their losses, Cai-Li has gained a notorious reputation as the dark magic-wielding Blood Hawk and Anne barricades herself in a castle on a hill where her familyâs dark secrets lie. Rumors in the village say Anne is a monster, responsible for the disappearance of innocent visitors. But when the two witches reunite and begin unraveling the mysteries of the village, it becomes clear that scars left by the war do not easily fade. Things are not as they seem. Old ghosts come back to haunt them. Past truths are revealed. Can the witches be each otherâs salvations or are they doomed to repeat the past that tore them apart? Fans of The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang and The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon will fall in love with Dawn Chenâs sapphic high fantasy epic about anti-colonialism, grief, generational trauma, and the cycles of war. |
|
Tales of Yamato by Odessa Silver Yamato. A land of lavish forests, full of life⊠and loss. The beautiful string of islands, surrounded by expansive seas, hide a harsh reality: Wrathful gods, dangerous yokai, and humans who could end your life with a slice of the sword. Follow the lives of those surviving in any way they can, while cherishing love found along the way. When the great sea god Susanoo is controlled more and more by the destructive part of his soul, he must do all he can to keep himself from harming humanity. A tanuki father goes on a quest to prepare his young pup to blend in to the dangerous human world and causes mischief and mayhem along the way. Lightning brings both luck and tragedy to a young boy who desperately picks peaches to save his sick mother. Fourteen tales will take you on a journey with humans, gods, and yokai, showing how each one isnât so different from the other. And that, even in death, there will always be those who will honour your life. |
|
A Legend in the Sky by Faye Oliander Odd things shadow Naila Groenhartâs life. Her touch can bring a flower to bloom and sometimes her eyes flash with gilded flames. For as long as she can remember, she believed this power to be a figment of her imagination. Until they find her. Ruthless hunters. Their prey? Her flames. When they lure her from Earth to an archaic world, everything she thought a lie turns out to be a dangerous truth. Until a princeâan heir to the very people who see her power as their heritageâoffers to help her find a way home. But this quest is a dangerous one, that may demand an unspeakable price. With her hunters tailing her every move, Naila must decide what sacrifice sheâs willing to make to find a way back. Especially since her presence put something long feared into motion⊠and ancient secrets, dormant for ages, are starting to stir. Perfect for fans of plot-heavy, character-driven tales with a touch of romance, A Legend in the Sky launches a spellbinding New Adult epic fantasy series inspired by the ancient Middle East. |
|
The Betrayal of the Guardians by Diana Calanguia When Arisa joined the trials to become a new Astral Guardian, she never thought she would have to fight for her survival. Arisa, Kazuya, and Zen have been friends since childhood. For Arisa, their friendship is what makes her smile and what made her develop deep feelings she had to forget. Living in a world that suffers attacks from other worlds' creatures, the chosen Guardians once fought for her world's survival. Blessed with the powers given by the Stars, those same Guardians have now become threats themselves. Despite hearing tales of when Guardians were still heroes, Arisa refuses to grow a liking for them. Even when one is always there to save her from troubles, she doesn't believe that they will ever return to the heroes they once were. Due to their more recent despicable behavior, she wishes she could do something to stop them. Her wish is granted when she is chosen as a candidate to compete for a spot to become a new Guardian. Even though she hates the Guardians, she has to become one of them if she wants to overthrow them. She accepts the challenge. But she never knew that the road to becoming a Guardian would be more challenging than she ever imagined. |
|
Werecockroach by Polenth Blake Rin moves into a new flat on the day the aliens arrive. Their new flatmates are laid-back Sanjay and conspiracy theorist Pete. It doesn't take long to notice some oddities about the pair, like hoarding cardboard and hissing at people when they're angry. Something strange is going on, but it's not all due to the aliens. |
|
Silk and Foxglove: A BIPOC Erotic Eco-Horror Anthology by Z. K. Abraham In the anthology Silk and An Erotic-Eco Horror anthology, our thirteen authors explore the space where horror, the erotic, and nature meet. In these tales of uncontrolled, unknowable, and visceral nature, we explore folk tales, modern dating woes, filthy body horror, delicate and dark magic, psychological torment, and the dark humor of natureâs revenge. These stories range from creepy to horrific, from sensual to sultry, and from grounded to entirely strange. Edited and curated by Z. K. Abraham Stories ZH Sun "Flower Power" Shantell Powell "All That Came From Our Lips Were Lilies" Toshiya Kamei "The Last Garden" Annika Ancheta "Pop" Cindy Phan "All Her Darling Little Ones" Simo Srinivas "The Hilltop Eel" Cristian Presgraves "A Blueberry Delight" Mae Tang "Down by the River" Psyche ChimĂšre "The Human Project" Candice Zheng "Merge" Maxine Nwigwe "Tinderfish" Winifred Burton "Miss Kaiyah Regrets, She's Unable to Text, Today" Kofi Brown "Deadly Pleasure" |
|
Kissed By The Gods by Caty Rogan Leina has spent a lifetime submitting. Kneeling. Enduring. Then soldiers came for her brother, and divine fury surged through her veins. She expects execution for the bodies she left in her wake. Her people have met bloody ends for far, far less. Instead, Ryot, a godsworn warrior born to privilege and raised in order, drags her into a world that was never meant for her. One of divine armies and death demons, winged war horses and monsters, sacred power and royal secrets. A kiss from a goddess changes everything. No longer a criminal, Leina is a prize. The kingdom's most powerful men want what the goddess touched. Leina wants only one thing, though: freedom for her people. And she'll trade herself for the strength to destroy the kingdom that broke them. Conscripted into a war she never asked for, fighting for gods she doesn't believe in, Leina must decide how far she's willing to go and what she's willing to lose. Because her power is more than a threat to the kingdom's buried secrets. It's a death sentence. |
|
Soft Launch (Zeta Love Story #1) by Olivia Carter A high-heat, emotionally grounded queer romance about burnout, vulnerability, and falling hardâon camera and off. Remy: I wasnât trying to go viral. I was just doing my job. Glitter, spandex, party chaos. Then suddenly I was internet famous, and everything got louder. Too many eyes. Too much pressure. I couldnât keep up. Enter Karim El-Amin. Ex-wellness star. Content whisperer. Calm-in-a-storm kind of guy. He says he can help me build something sustainable. Iâm trying to be cool about it. Iâm failing. Karim: After I burned out, I swore I was done. No more cameras. No more public anything. Just yoga, hot tea, and quiet mornings above a queer cafĂ©. Then Remy showed up. Loud. Glittery. Overwhelmed. He asked for help and I said yes. I thought I could stay detached. I thought I could keep it professional. I was wrong. Now weâre building something together. A platform. A relationship. A life. If we can stop spiraling long enough to hold onto it. Soft Launch is a high-heat, emotionally grounded queer romance about burnout, creator chaos, mutual support, and falling hardâonline and off. It features slow burn to explosive heat, soft dom energy, neck kisses as a love language, and a tender third act separation with a guaranteed happily ever after. Itâs book one in the Zeta Love Story series and can be read as a standalone. |
|
Cinnamon Soul by Quinn Lawrence "The two of us against all of them? How unfair for them." In Velles, a cosmopolitan city of fading magic, the princeâs daughter, and heir to the throne, has gone missing. That she appears to have done so voluntarily is of little consolation to the prince. He hires Hokuren, a newly independent private investigator who demands perfection of herself and works tirelessly until sheâs solved the case. And she always solves the caseâeven if most of them so far have been finding lost pet cats (donât tell anyone that part). Her assistant is Cinna, an elf hired fresh off the streetsâliterally. Sheâs everything Hokuren is not: sloppy, uneducated, and lacking in restraint or filter. But Cinnaâs impulsiveness and willingness to get her hands dirty makes her the perfect foil for Hokurenâs reserved, thoughtful nature. As the two chase down the princess, their case develops into a much bigger conspiracy. Hokuren doggedly pursues secret after secret, unraveling a scheme to find a long-lost goddess thatâs been running in the background of Vellesâs seedy underbelly for over two decades. And she might find out that her unassuming assistant hides the biggest secret of them all... A lighthearted and fast-paced fantasy adventure full of action, mystery and sly humor, Cinnamon Soul is also the heart-warming exploration of an unbreakable bond of friendship forged between two women as they struggle against the forces of the elite and powerful. |
|
The Mean Ones by Tatiana Schlote-Bonne So what if Sadie hears talking dead animals and a strange, comforting male voice in her head? The therapist insists these are just symptoms of PTSD. It makes sense considering that she hid under the bed and watched as her best friends were slaughtered. But the murders were seventeen years ago, back when her name was Sabrina. Now, sheâs Sadie: a perfectly normal 29-year-old. She works as a physical therapist assistant and lifts weights with her boyfriend, Lucas, whoâs the sweetest, most considerate manâas long as heâs not angry. But when Lucas spontaneously agrees to join a couples trip to a cabin in the woods, the visions get worse, a strange figure stalks her during the night, and that male voice in Sadieâs head keeps calling, asking her to do things sheâs never fathomed. Sadieâs not sure if itâs her paranoia or something else entirely . . . But she is sure of one thingâthis time, sheâs not going to sit idly by as everything starts to unravel. |
|
Trapped in the Past by Indira Merritt What if the only way to fix your future⊠was to confront the past that broke you? Seventeen-year-old Lennox Merritt is tired of holesâthe ones in his story, his home, and his hope. When a glitch in an experimental beat machine hurls him three decades into the past, he lands in 1995 with nothing but a backpack and music the world hasn't heard yet. In a world of boom boxes, beepers, and block parties, Lennox meets people who feel too familiarâand a version of someone who never got the future they deserved. But getting back home isn't just about rewiring time. It's about feeling the grief he buried, the silence he inherited, and the choices he still has the power to make. Set in a rhythm-rich world where hip hop holds memory and healing moves through basslines, Trapped in the Past is a time-bending debut novel about rewriting what hurt you, reclaiming what made you, and remembering that the story isn't over just because the page turned. |
|
Grim Portents by Christian Akins Bill Baker wants nothing more than to marry the woman he loves, but when his wedding is interrupted by a rampaging hell-beast, his life is thrown into disarray. Desperate for a second chance, he will do anything to set his future back on track. Now, with the help of a soul-collecting reaper named Sonny, he must uncover who is releasing monsters from Hell, in order to earn back the life that was stolen from him and prevent the oncoming end of days. Faced with the choice between what is right and what is easy, Bill may have to sacrifice all he holds dear for one last shot at life. Grim Portents is a paranormal odyssey that takes a man through Heaven and Hell in a satirical exploration of the institutional pitfalls of the afterlife. Though desperate to return, death may have been the very thing he needed to learn how to live. |
|
Shattered Queens Series: Serena by Inez Ocon Serena Safe. Predictable. Logical. Numbers donât hurt you. People do. I built my life on stability and earned my dream job as VP of Finance. I live in armorâmy body trained, my mind guarded, my heart locked tight. Then Ian walks into my life. He says he'll protect me. He says he'll kill for me. But is he my saviorâŠor my captor? And now, someone else is watching me, and I donât know whoâs more dangerous. Ian CEO. Heir. Killer. I erase anyone who threatens whatâs mine. But nothing consumes me like her. Serena. My obsession. My undoing. Every step she takes is already under my watch. She thinks she rebuilt her life on safety. The truth? I am her safetyâand her danger. Willing or not, sheâll belong to me. Because Iâll burn down this world before I ever let her go. |
|
Solace of Dusk by K. V. Meadows Those who play with prophecies will get burned⊠23-year-old Undesirable, Durvla Garrick, has a dangerous secret. Being both deaf and having a chronic ailment, her very existence is treasonous. So, when the Queenâs mercenaries accuse her of stealing a dress, she comes quietlyâbetter to be arrested for her knitting skills than her illness. Under the watchful eye of the broody royal guard, Tiernan Kilkennyâthe embodiment of the very people sheâs spent her life hiding fromâDurvla is appointed dressmaker to the princess. But castle life isnât quite what she expected, and nor is its staff⊠With the Queen dying, Princess Carys Meredyth fa Rhodri is reluctant to inherit the throne of a broken Kingdom when she feels so broken herself. Magic has been outlawed for a millenniumâso why are her memories filled with whispers of enchantment? When Carys finds a book that only she can read, more questions unravel. Are the fairytales that have provided her comfort since childhood really only stories? Or has the truth been right there all along? |
|
The Shadowbearer's Promise by Jasmyn Morning Whispers of unrest echo through the Shadowrealm. As tensions rise and long-buried fears resurface, a mysterious cult emerges from the darkness, vowing to challenge the rule of the Shadowbearer. As the shadows close in, Edan finds his guarded heart unraveling and his growing affection for Ryuji and Micah pulling him deeper into a bond that defies fate. But with betrayal lurking in every corner, love may be the most dangerous promise of all. In this soul-shattering final instalment of the trilogy, the Shadowbearer must decide how much heâs willing to sacrifice, and whether their love is strong enough to survive the chaos. |
|
The Shadowbearer's Burden by Jasmyn Morning The High King of Aetheria stands at the crossroads of duty and desire. Bound by his love for the Shadowbearer, he navigates a fragile bond with the man cursed to wield the darkness. But as a Shadow warrior claims his place in their star-crossed union, their hearts wrestle with jealousy and doubt. With his kingdom demanding unwavering strength and the Shadowbearer's burdens growing heavier, the High King must face impossible choices. Can he bridge the growing chasm between love and duty, or will the shadows tear apart everything he's fought to protect? In this gripping sequel, betrayal and passion entwine as the trio discover that the path to peace is paved with sacrifice. |
|
Africa's Ashiest Warrior by Dr. Joel Anthony Hamilton Ashy is a term used to describe dry skin and is commonly used within the Black community. Our skin turns a harsh grayish-white, becomes rough, cracks, and invites criticism. Ashy is grotesque, not beautiful. Ashy is ghetto, not professional. Ashy is undesirable, not valued. That is what many people think. This book takes back the negative association with being ashy and turns it into a right, a privilege, a power⊠a superpower. Ashburn is born in a haunted region of Africa known for its enthusiastically ashy citizens. Their skin allows them to create the friction needed to birth weak flames. They were the first to discover, create, and harness fire. Their powers are used for general house duties and occupations. Although their powers are useful, they are not strong enough to defeat the spirits and deities that lurk in the night. Due to the arid climate, young children are lathered in oil and grease to prevent them from prematurely igniting their powers. Oh, how they yearn to be free of the crude moisturizer and become ashy like the adults. Upon completing kindergarten, they are allowed to be ashy and use their powers. Ashburn discovers that his ash powers are much more powerful and destructive than everyone else's. Is he one of the legendary burning warriors, the Mpiganaji wa Kuchoma, the ones strong enough to defeat the monsters of the night? All will be revealed in this story of adventure, African folklore and mythology, as we reclaim the word ashy. |
|
My Harimau King by Annie McCann An ancient king, a modern-day kid, and a life-changing prophecy that binds them. 13-year-old Sumaiyah Jackson is living her best life in Parramatta until a family drama spirals out of control, mysterious events start happening, and loved ones begin to disappear. Suddenly, Sumaiyah and her friends find themselves trapped in the ancient kingdom of Pajajaran, Indonesia, where Sumaiyah discovers she is 'the chosen one' from descendants of ancient royalty. But this doesn't mean fun and untold riches. Instead, she needs to break a mystifying curse and prevent a prophecy from destroying her family. Now Sumaiyah's in a race against time to discover her true purpose, combat terrifying creatures, and fulfil her destiny, or risk losing her family and friends forever! "... a beautifully crafted debut from a gifted storyteller...' - Karuna Riazi, author of The Gauntlet. '... a truly unique and enthralling world...' -- Wai Chim, author of The Surprising Power of a Good Dumpling. "A fresh new fantasy with fascinating insights into West Javanese culture and history." - Leanne Yong, author of Two Can Play That Game. |
|
Volatile Reaction by Magnus Thorne A hitman gets swept up protecting the younger man who lives next door. VOLATILE REACTION is an 18k MM erotic suspense thriller featuring a transmasc main character. |
|
Chapel at Enderâs Ridge by Beckett Krane Decker Belmont loathes being a vampire. Leaving his bloody past behind him, Decker finds refuge in the quiet town of Enderâs Ridge where creatures like him thrive, and strikes up a tenuous balance between survival and sanity. When a troubled preacher arrives to fix the chapel next door to the saloon, Decker discovers heâs not the only one struggling with his nature. Laurie Lane is eager to start his new life away from seminary, but the townâs history doesnât favor preachersâneither does Decker, especially when change follows Laurie like a plague. As the veil protecting Enderâs Ridge cracks, and tensions rise, Decker and Laurie are forced to find peace in who they are and what they mean to each other before Enderâs Ridge succumbs to a disaster of biblical proportions. |
|
A Seething Heart: Ophelia Requited by T.O. Tate SHOW ME THE STEEP AND THORNY WAY TO HEAVEN On the unpredictable waters of the Great Lakes, the cargo ship Squall sails from port to port in a world torn apart by a mysterious illness. Orris is an oddity, born wrapped in thorny vines that have lain silent inside their body for decades. Since then, theyâve dedicated their life to caring for those in the last stages of a mysterious illness known as sliversickness, well aware that someday soon, they too will die. After the death of the Squallâs captain under suspicious circumstances, Orris finds themself in the middle of a struggle for power between their lover Hunter and his stepfather Charles. Rumors of ghosts creep through the Squallâs passageways, and Hunterâs behavior becomes more and more erratic. Everyone looks to Orris to help him, worried that he, like so many others, has fallen ill. But as vines begin to stir inside their chest, Hunter kills Orrisâs father, leaving vengeance as their only option. |
|
Physical Magic by William C. Tracy **Book Bloggers' Novel of the Year 2025 Semi-Finalist!** Welcome to the Shifting Lands. Silluka was born with only one arm and could never practice the exacting motions to summon the favor of the gods. Caught stealing, she is forced to test her powers or be branded an outcast. She fails, and loses citizenship to her village. In a fit of desperation, Silluka tries to steal a badge of citizenship from a mysterious elder, but instead, Elder Quilqi shows Silluka a different path to gain the powers of the gods, aided by an octopus-like technological wizard who worships their own eldritch divinities. Time is short for training however, because a new island is speeding toward the coastal town, throwing deadly hurricanes and tidal waves before it and threatening all who live there. Only the gods and godlike storm warriors protect the village from destruction, but all of them fail when a mysterious creature bursts through the wall. It's only one forerunner for a species of terrifying fast, deadly, and ready to invade the larger island. The village must flee inland before the invasion, while Silluka is weighed down by her outcast status and her brotherâs failing abilities. To save herself, her family, and her village, Silluka must overcome stigma and self-doubt. She must learn the scope of the world outside her village. She must learn Physical Magic. |
|
Only a Chapter by Heather Tracy A call to change a lifetime⊠Clare OâDonnell is in a dead-end relationship with her girlfriend, until she receives a phone call that changes her lifeâliterally. In one timeline, her biopsy results are positive for cancer. In another timeline, her results are benign. In one timeline, the faceless person she has romantic dreams of becomes masculine. In the other timeline, they become feminine. Her world begins to diverge, sending Clare on differing journeys of self-discovery and romance. In both, her dreams seem to show what might happen, and she realizes they all started after she survived the fatal car crash that took her parents. There is one constant: that no matter the challenges she faces, this is only a chapter of her life. Explore how one phone call could change your life forever. |
|
The Celeste Files by Sienna Eggler Difficult clients, questionable technological advances, and the much despised holiday of love torments our protagonist, Ryn Casler. Detective Winters surprises Ryn with yet another case outside their wheelhouse: a missing dog. The pooch in question is Celeste, beloved Doberman, once ensnared in a custody battle. But the police have better use of their time than searching for the pup, allegedly stolen from a high-rise apartment with no signs of forced entry. A reluctant Ryn accepts, thinking it would be a nice change of pace from their stressful case logâbut this dog quickly becomes the bane of their existence. Especially when Celesteâs tracker is found at the bottom of the Cuyahoga River⊠âJust what the hell have you gotten me into this time, Detective?â |
|
The Dhampir's Acolyte by Nyx Coronado Rescued from the brink of death by a mysterious, solitary dhampir, Tasmin finds an unexpected sanctuary in Vicente's crumbling castle. As their fragile bond deepens into something more, the arrival of his ruthless vampire family threatens to shatter her newfound safe haven. With a hexed wolf shifter at her side who is eager to show his interest in her, Tasmin is just a human trying to figure out what to do with her life but decisions have consequences. Pulled into a dangerous conflict, she must decide if trusting the monsters who healed her is worth the risk of losing her heartâand her life. The Dhampir's Acolyte is a vampire/human/werewolf romance with why choose love interests, open door spice and quick chapters to keep the action moving. |
|
The Flowers I Deserve by Tamara JerĂ©e Weeping luna is as common as wildflowers, and in the northern kingdoms, assassination by its floral poison is rampant. Those born with immunity are coveted by heretic clerical orders and the endangered aristocracyâand shunned by a superstitious society. One so gifted, or cursed, Carlotta embraces her newfound power as the currency to deliver her from a land in the grip of drought. Luxury and beauty, glimpsed only through the portal of her late motherâs letters, become an easy trade to consider in exchange for her life. And looming always in her imagination is the symbol of it allâKing Emelia, a demon who rose to power under mysterious circumstances. Rumor claims her to be a monstrous woman like the poison girls who serve and adore her. Yet in the warnings of evil, Carlotta sees her own reflection. Once initiated into the world of sensual indulgence and ancient magic within the castle walls, however, Carlotta finds that not even a kingâs devotion is enough to sate her. As the castleâs ghosts coalesce, Carlotta must also confront what her own dead want for her and, even at the heights of her seduction, what she truly wants for herself. The Flowers I Deserve is an FFF erotic gothic fantasy novel with lyrical prose. |
|
The Traitor & The Wretch by Jasmine Walls, Rowan MacColl THE TRAITOR & THE WRETCH is a dark fantasy adventure with a surprisingly tender romance between two very unlikely allies. Written by Jasmine Walls and illustrated by Rowan MacColl, set to be released in Fall 2025. In a world of Prophecies and Heroes, who cares about the henchmen? KNELL was just another nameless cultist trapped under the thrall of the Great One, Bringer of Chaos and fully expected to die on the battlefield. Much to his surprise heâs still alive, but not for long unless he can escape before his distinctive chaos-tainted looks get him captured and killed. PERCY was the former right hand man of the Prophesized Hero. Disillusioned and bitter, he turned traitor during the great battle against the risen chaos god in an attempt to prove this Hero false. Instead, he lost his hand and became the most wanted man in the kingdom. These two unlikely allies must work together to survive pitch black tunnels full of mutated creatures, angry mobs, old enemies, and their own haunted pasts. Theyâll find unexpected strength in each otherâand the possibility for moreâif they donât end up dying before they can make it out of the kingdom. They werenât meant for a happy ending, but rules are for good guys and theyâll do whatever it takes to change their fates. |
|
How to Flaunt Your Chains and Surrender a Vein by D. N. Bryn âWhat else is this shed for, if not torturing unsuspecting vampires?â Rahil Zaman has good reason to keep his distance from the worldâand his fangs are only part of that. He hides in his crumbling home, acquiring blood through the risky one-night stands he finds on hunter-infested hookup apps. After one such fling turns sour, Rahil ends up trapped in the work shed of the one match he wishes would respond to his flirtations. Finding the hot twink heâd been ghosting inside his work shed was not on Mercer Bloncourtâs agenda. Between his work as a craftsman and his tumultuous relationship with his chronically-ill daughter, he doesnât have the time or heart for a relationship. But Rahil is not the only intruding presence in Mercerâs life. A hostile hunter and a manipulative research scientist both insistâon threat of his daughterâs lifeâthat he recreate versions of his âholy silverâ: a vampire-killing metal forged in the wake of his wifeâs murder, bound up in all the grief and destruction heâs striven for years to overcome. To complicate matters, Rahil is the rare vampire whoâs immune to the deadly silver, providing Mercer the perfect lab rat to test a kinder vampire-affecting metal. As Rahil and Mercer rush to the forge, they must face their past wrongs once more, and in time, discover that no mistake is worth the sentence of eternal loneliness. |