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A Promise Broken by S.L. Dove Cooper Itâs a rainy day when four-year-old Eiryn has to say goodbye to her mother. Scared, confused and unwilling to do so, Eiryn tries to summon water to stop the funeral from happening and her life falls apart. Her uncle is always sad and busy; she keeps hearing her motherâs voice asking her to follow; her best friend keeps getting into fights; and some of her classmates hate her for existing. Arèn never wanted children, but heâs desperate to protect his niece from his peopleâs extreme caution regarding magic and other races. Kerisaoina children arenât capable of using it and his niece is no exception. Despite being only half-kerisaoina, Eiryn is already starting to show that sheâll be one of her generationâs most talented magic-singers and those who donât approve of her existence are trying to take advantage of a young girlâs grief. Eiryn is determined to make her uncle happy, but itâs hard to make other people happy when you have to struggle through the day yourself. Sheâll find a way, though. Sheâs promised. And even if her mother wonât keep her word Eiryn will keep hers. Sheâll make everything right again. Youâll see. |
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Goldilocks and the Three Bears: Understanding Autism Spectrum Disorder by Amy Nielsen We all know the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears. But what you may not know is that this familiar fairytale can also help us understand autism spectrum disorder. As a mother of a child with ASD, Amy struggled to find materials to share with her sonâs cousins and peers on the complexities of ASD, what to expect, and how to interact and have fun with a person on the spectrum. So, she created her own! Goldilocks and the Three Understanding Autism Spectrum Disorder is a retelling of a beloved classic. In this unique version, Goldilocks exhibits many of the characteristics of a child with autism, such as sensory sensitivities and challenges in understanding social norms. As an added bonus, this one-of-a-kind story includes an ASD glossary of terms as well as discussion questions. It is perfect for libraries, classrooms, families of children with autism, or readers of all ages who want to learn more about ASD. While every personâs autism presents differently, Goldilocksâ autism can help the reader understand the autism of someone they know a little better. |
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The Tale That Twines by Cedar McCloud All we have is now. Forty years before THE THREAD THAT BINDS, Juniper Starstitch returns to Caspora City young and hopeful. Chosen to be Head Librarian Opaline Sweetfrond's last apprentice, June arrives at the Eternal Library looking to discover the magical manuscript art of Illuminationâand to recover the memories lost to the trauma of the massive earthquake that killed one of eir parents a decade earlier. June quickly discovers that these memories can be recovered through the ancient art of reading etheric Threads, the spiritual ties that link the world together. But remembering can be painful, and living in the past means missing out on the present. Even to the point that Juneâs beloved apprenticeship is threatened by eir inability to let go. It will take the help of friends both old and new for June to untangle the knotted threads of time, including the mysterious and stern Aeronwy Greengrove, who June may or may not be falling in love with, one song at a time. |
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Failure to Communicate by Kaia Sønderby As one of the only remaining autistics in the universe, Xandri Corelel has faced a lot of hardship, and she's earned her place as the head of Xeno-Liaisons aboard the first contact ship Carpathia. But her skill at negotiating with alien species is about to be put to the ultimate test. The Anmerilli, a notoriously reticent and xenophobic people, have invented a powerful weapon that will irrevocably change the face of space combat. Now the Starsystems Alliance has called in Xandri and the crew of the Carpathia to mediate. The Alliance won't risk the weapon falling into enemy hands, and if Xandri can't bring the Anmerilli into the fold, the consequences will be dire. Amidst sabotage, assassination attempts, and rampant cronyism, Xandri struggles to convince the doubtful and ornery Anmerilli. Worse, she's beginning to suspect that not everyone on her side is really working to make the alliance a success. As tensions rise and tempers threaten to boil over, Xandri must focus all her energy into understanding the one species that has always been beyond her: her own. |
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Sohmeng Par is sick of being treated like a child. Ever since a tragic accident brought her mountain communityâs coming-of-age ritual to a halt, sheâs caused nothing but trouble in her impatience to become an adult. But when she finally has the chance to prove herself, sheâs thrown from her life in the mountains and into the terror of the jungle below. Cornered by a colony of reptilian predators known as the sĂŁoni, Sohmeng is rescued by Hei, an eccentric exile with no shortage of secrets. As likely to bite Sohmeng as they are to cook her breakfast, this stranger and their family of lizards are like nothing sheâs ever seen before. If she wants to survive, she must find a way to adapt to the vibrant, deadly world of the rainforest and the creatures that inhabit itâincluding Hei themself. But Sohmeng has secrets of her own, and sharing them could mean losing everything a second time. |
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All Yesterday's Papers by S.S. Genesee Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1974 Another body is found. Another one of Mauriceâs victims. But as the law draws near, everything starts to change⌠Kenneth thinks things are finally looking up in his life. He has a wonderful partner in Maurice, and a future that looks bright⌠or so it seems. As more murders occur, and the police learn more about the Western Michigan Serial Killer, Kennethâs world begins to crack. Maybe his perfect lover isnât as perfect as he thought. Maurice spirals further and further out of control, losing sight of who he isâis he an immoral, murderous artist, or a sweet, caring boyfriend? How long can he hide the truth from Kenneth before it all comes crashing down, ending his life as he knows it? Would Kenneth still love him if he knew? [All Yesterdayâs Papers is Book Two of the All Tomorrowâs Photos duology. It is not a standalone, and must be read after Book One. This duology is a dark MM romance story not intended for a young audience.] |
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All Tomorrow's Photos by S.S. Genesee Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1974 Maurice is an art student majoring in photography, and has become so invested in his craft he built his own darkroom inside his house. He sees an artistic view in everything, even things the average person sees as disgusting or macabre. So much so, that heâs become a serial killer in order to fulfill his disturbing artistic projects. But his murderous lifestyle gets flipped upside-down when he encounters a photo of the most beautiful man heâs ever seen. Kenneth is a registered nurse living day by day a dreary, monotonous life. When his sister tells him someone from her class wants him to be their model for the next school project, Kenneth takes a chance by trying something new. Little do the two men realize that meeting each other will set their hearts on fire, falling madly in love, changing their lives forever. [All Tomorrowâs Photos is Book One of a duology. It is a dark MM romance story not intended for a young audience.] |
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Tell Me How It Ends by Quinton Li Iris Galacia's tarot cards do more than entertain gamblers. With the flip of her fingers she can predict the future and uncover a person's secrets. Under the watchful eye of her mother, she is already on thin ice for pursuing a passion in the family business, but then cracks start to form, and eventually she falls through. She is given an ultimatum: earn a thousand coins or leave the business, and the family. Enter Marin Boudreau, a charming young person who can scale buildings and break off door knobs, who comes for her help to rescue a witch who's been falsely imprisoned in Excava Kingdom. And Marin is willing to pay a high sum for her talents. But saving a prisoner from royal hands isn't easy, nor is leaving home for the first time in eighteen years. Now Iris must learn to trust in herself, Marin, and this new magical world, while racing the clock before the royals decide the fate of the witch, and before any secrets catch up to her. TELL ME HOW IT ENDS features LGBTQ+, disabled, neurodivergent, cultural, and mental health representation. The main character, Iris Galacia, is a lesbian tarot reader with anxiety and autism. The second main character, Marin Boudreau, is an aromantic asexual non-binary person with ADHD. |
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JUNKER SEVEN by Olive J. Kelley A romantic, queer sci-fi epic about changing the galaxy, one girl at a time. Castor Quasar is a junkerâ a bounty hunter making a living off of collecting and selling valuable scrap. They live a quiet life, bouncing from job to job and not worrying about the brewing galactic rebellion. Except, when they get a job offer for an irresistible amount of money, they find themself embroiled much deeper than expected. Their task? To smuggle transgender activist Juno Marcus across the galaxy under the watchful eye of the Intergalactic Police Force and a propaganda-informed galaxy. Itâs too dangerous to accept, but too valuable to refuse, and it doesn't help that Juno herself is charming and beautiful. Agreeing drags Cas into a whirlwind race against those who want Juno dead to make it across the galaxy to safety, risking it all for a cause they canâtâ or wonâtâ believe in. |
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The Erstwhile Tyler Kyle by Steve Hugh Westenra Tyler Kyle doesnât believe in monsters. A washed-up thirty-year-old actor and reluctant cryptid investigator, Tyler is used to playing the Scully to his best friend Joshâs Mulder on their stupidly popular YouTube channel. But when Tyler receives previously unseen footage of the B movie bombshell mother who abandoned him eighteen years agoâfootage linked to an isolated island in the Canadian wildernessâthe mystery is one conspiracy heâs determined to investigate. The fact that following the scent gives Tyler an excuse to run away from the âstraightâ Josh, whom he drunkenly made out with, is just the cherry on the shit sundae. But Echo Island isnât what it seems. Its eerily scenic veneer hides a twisted secret buried in its roots as a gay conversion camp, and as Tyler retraces his motherâs footsteps, he discovers a supernatural connection between the residents and the islandâone they seem to think Tyler and his mother share. Even worse, the footage of Tylerâs mom came from someone on the islandâa stalker whose obsessive fascination with both Tyler and Josh is about to make Tyler wish he hadnât gone this one alone. Puppeteered by his stalker, searching for his mother, and debating whether itâs possible to queerbait yourself, Tyler comes to realize that it doesnât matter so much whether you believe in monsters, if they believe in you. THE ERSTWHILE TYLER KYLE is an adult horror comedy for fans of GHOST FILES, BUZZFEED UNSOLVED, and TWIN PEAKS. |
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Never Too Much by Sienna Eggler Romance was never a priority in Cyrille's life; her work on the local nature reserve came first. And compounded by her upbringing in a small town, finding a girlfriend seemed out of reach. "If it happens, it happens." But now that she's in her late 30's, Cyrille realizes it's better now than never. And a lot has changed over the last twenty years, leading to a steadily progressive attitude in town. A not yet out Cyrille braves a speed dating event, where she meets three potential partners: a childhood friend, a fellow park ranger, and a self-proclaimed "Goblin of the Forest." A hopeful Cyrille has one person in mind, but life is full of surprises. Never Too Much is a sapphic romance about an asexual lesbian navigating the dating scene, happy ending included. |
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Tamika Wood's Birthday Party by Le Kendall Follow the stories of Alan Sebastian Parker and his family as they navigate life, love, family and parenting, queerness and neurodivergence. |
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Merchants of Light and Bone by Erika McCorkle Sorrow in paradise. A parentâs worst nightmare. When grief drives one to revenge. Living in a tropical paradise with his spouses and kids, Amiere is a merchant of light, a sculptor who carves glowing crystals into spectacular and powerful, demon-killing works of art. When the ground opens up near his idyllic village to reveal a massive supply of crystals, the whole nation of Aloutia celebrates. The merchants are guaranteed money for decades and officials predict Aloutia will be safe from demonkind for generations. But Amiere isnât rejoicingâwhen the ground split apart, his seven-year-old daughter fell to her death. Amiereâs grief turns to rage when an old enemy returns to the village with a young daughter displaying signs of starvation and abuse. Having witnessed his own daughterâs death, Amiere cannot bear the thought of watching another child die, especially when he can prevent it. Unable to ask police for help due to the villageâs reputation of hostility toward authority figures, Amiere takes matters into his own hands, even at the risk of being exiled and separated from his family forever. |
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Fierce Heart (Elven Alliance Book 1) by Tara Grayce Essie would do anything for her kingdomâŚeven marry an elf prince she just met that morning. When a diplomatic meeting goes horribly wrong, Essie, a human princess, finds herself married to the elf prince and warrior Laesornysh. Fitting in to the serene, quiet elf culture might be a little difficult for this talkative princess, but sheâs determined to make it work. With impending war and tenuous alliances, it will be up to Essie to unite her two peoples. And maybe get her hands on elven conditioner while sheâs at it. |
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Elf Prince (Elven Alliance Book 7) by Tara Grayce Farrendel would do anything to keep from killing again...even marry a human princess. Farrendel Laesornysh, the younger elf prince of Tarenhiel, has become the elves' foremost warrior, thanks to his deadly magic. He is no stranger to death. But when the humans propose a marriage alliance during a diplomatic meeting, he is desperate enough to avoid more killing to agree. Even if an elf should never trust a human bargain. The human princess is probably a spy. Or an assassin sent to kill him on his wedding night. Yet if he can make this marriage work, as his grandmother seems to think, it might be the first breath of hope Farrendel has had in over a decade. Elf Prince gives Farrendel's perspective on the events of Fierce Heart (Book 1). |
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Death Wind (Elven Alliance Book 3) by Tara Grayce Essie should be planning her happily ever after, not planning a war. Although they once were enemies, the humans of Escarland and the elves of Tarenhiel have allied to fight the trolls from the far north. But alliances are tricky things even in the best of times, and with Farrendel, the elvesâ foremost warrior and Essieâs husband, captured by the trolls, the circumstances appear dire indeed. But Essie wonât give up, and she will make her two peoples work together to fight this war if itâs the last thing she does. One way or another, she will get Farrendel back, no matter what it takes. The Elven Alliance series continues in this epic, no spice fantasy romance / romantic fantasy adventure featuring elves and happy endings. |
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War Bound (Elven Alliance Book 2) by Tara Grayce Marriage to an elf is complicatedâŚespecially bringing him home to meet the family. Princess Elspeth of Escarland married the elf prince and achieved peace between the elves and her human people. But after a recent ambush by the trolls, it is clear the trolls are trying to start a war between the elves and humans once again. To keep their peoples at peace, Essie and Farrendel travel to meet Essieâs family and negotiate peace. Yet in Escarland, not everyone is happy with peace. Traitors lurk in both Escarland and Tarenhiel, and it will be up to Essie and Farrendel to flush them out. The consequences of failure might be more personal and deadly than they fear. |
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Cassandra Clare's THE MORTAL INSTRUMENTS series meets V.E. Schwab's THE INVISIBLE LIFE OF ADDIE LARUE with a dash of Disney+'s LOKI in this new adult urban fantasy. WELCOME TO NEW ATLAS: A CITY WITHIN A REALITY JUST BEYOND OUR OWN. Evie is a nobody. Spending her days in college classes and her nights studying, having a social life has never really been a priority. With her sights firmly set on the future to keep away her thoughts of the past, she loses her grip on the present when her world is ripped out from under her. And itâs all thanks to two mysterious strangers showing up on her doorstep, claiming that she can turn back time. Cade is a notorious troublemaker. Heâs never been afraid to throw around his name to get what he wants as someone whoâs clawed his way to the top. But power is quick to change hands in this city, and when he chooses to blatantly disregard an order from his leader, his older brother, heâs tossed back down to the bottom again. Heâll be more than lucky to regain any sort of trust when everyone knows heâs one of the best spies there is, sliding in and out of shadows in the blink of an eye. Ren is a bored teenager. Always labeled as the âgolden childâ or âgifted student,â he finds himself writing down cryptic messages and following strange leads, rather than putting on the same old song and dance for his family. Especially once he discovers his little stolen fragments of the future are starting to take a darker turn. Perhaps chasing the life everyone wants him to have isnât necessarily in the cards for him, but thereâs only one way to find out. So when someone within the secret society known as the Custodians targets Evie for her power, the clock starts in the final sprint to hunt down the culprit. In order to uncover whatever hidden clues are lurking in the past, the three of them have no choice but to peel back the layers of obscurity built up between their factions to figure out why sheâs being hunted and how they might be able to fix their bleak futures before itâs too late. Just remember: time is nothing but a trick. |
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The Kings of Nowhere by C.G. Drews Avery Lou has given up stealing houses â now heâs meant to build them. Forced to stay with the De Lainey family until Samâs return from juvie, Avery feels like heâs drowning. He hates that Sam chose the De Laineys instead of running away with him. And he hates working in their construction company while Vin, the thief who hurt Sam, still walks free. Avery wants revenge. Swapping the sharp-edged world of burglary and car theft for the homey chaos of big family life is a wild adjustment, and Averyâs determined to sabotage his time with the De Laineys and get locked up with Sam instead. Avery just has to stay immune to Jeremyâs charming shenanigans. EasyâŚsort of. But Averyâs war against Vin has brought trouble to the De Lainey door and he canât survive this fight alone. |
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I Think of You Often: a small town paranormal romance by Sienna Eggler For Evangeline âEvanâ Miles, Honeycutt Academy is more than just a prestigious school of magic. Itâs home. Before graduating, it was the first place theyâd ever felt comfortable enough to be themself. Now, as a school librarian, itâs also where Evan might have finally found the promise of love - with Mimi, the bright and bubbly potions professor. But when Evan meets Hester, the half-sister they never knew they had, everything suddenly changes. Hester is being stalked by their murderous, vampiric father - an experience Evan remembers only too well. United, the two siblings agree that their days of running and hiding from their father are over - and itâs time to finally end his wretched existence. But to do so, they must turn to Svenja - a witch, a wolf-shifter, and the only creature they know powerful enough to take down their monstrous father. However, the paranormal private investigator is also Evanâs former lover - and as the hunt for their father draws them closer together, the flames of their romance begin to rekindle. Evan feels forced to choose between their chemistry with Svenja, and their commitment to Mimi - and that distracts them from a dangerous truth: That as Evan and Hester prepare to confront their centuries-old father, theyâve forgotten heâs also had decades to prepare for them. I Think of You Often is the first installment of the St. Acton series by Sienna Eggler - a small town sapphic PNR by an author praised for writing âengaging tales of emotions and strugglesâ and âsweet, realistic romance between two people figuring their way in life.â |
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Fluid Bonding: a sapphic paranormal romance by Sienna Eggler Itâs not that Vi Davis wanted to be alone. Itâs just that the outside world doesnât seem very welcoming for a shy, nonbinary introvert - especially one who can read minds. But when the gorgeous Hester MilojeviÄ approaches Vi in a crowded sports bar, it doesnât take telepathy to figure out that they share a mutual attraction - even if Vi suspects this towering blonde is way out of their league. That suspicion deepens even as the two get to know each other better - especially as Vi struggles to reconcile so many emotionally overwhelming first experiences, along with Hesterâs mysterious hot-then-cold behavior, and her claims to be something impossible: a vampire. But even in a world that seems intent on tearing them apart, Vi and Hester canât help but grow closer to each other - that is until the past and prejudice of their own families threatens to drive a stake through the heart of their relationship once and for all. Fluid Bonding is engaging and emotional paranormal romance between nonbinary and neurodivergent characters - described by one reader as âa sweet, realistic romance between two people figuring their way in life.â |
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The Southern Magicks by Ashton K. Rose A month ago, a demon tore the thin veneer of a normal life Iâd crafted apart when it almost killed me. Revealing my husband, Eli, as the prodigal son of a powerful magic family. When I grew up, I walked away from magic. Left my remote hometown and pretended the ghosts Gran taught me to see werenât there while I went to university to become a librarian. Our one secret tightly held to my heart. Never let them know! Two years later, with no other financial option, I moved back to my small hometown. It was easy to pretend the fuzzy gaps in my memory werenât there as I got a job under the strict woman who almost killed my childhood love of books. I thought everything was perfect when I married my dream guy. Then the attack happened. The "good" folks at the local magical law enforcement agency knew about me the whole time. They've pressured me to work for them as an exorcist because theyâre convinced I was a vigilante who committed multiple murders. My odd, intriguing mentor Cory watches for any misstep as I avoid the seduction attempt heâs been asked to perform. Now theyâve accused my estranged older brother of taking over my âcrimes.â I know I was framed, despite the gaps in my memory. The worst part? The only people who seem to believe me are my friend June and my journalist cousin Kat. Eli, filled with spite for the local magical rulers, seems to know something I DONâT and thinks I should play them at their own game and seduce my mentor, so we can interrogate him together⌠|
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The Heretic's Guide to Homecoming, Book One: Theory by Sienna Tristen âLife is transformation. You change or you die.â Ashamed of his past and overwhelmed by his future, Ronoah Genoveffa Elizzi-denna Pilanovani feels too small for his own name. After a graceless exit from his homeland in the Acharrioni desert, his anxiety has sabotaged every attempt at redemption. Asides from a fiery devotion to his godling, the one piece of home he brought with him, he has nothing. That is, until he meets Reilin. Beguiling, bewildering Reilin, who whisks Ronoah up into a cross-continental pilgrimage to the most sacred place on the planet. The people they encounter on the wayâchildren of the sea, a priestess and her band of storytellers, the lonely ghosts of monstersâare grim and whimsical in equal measure. Each has their part to play in rewriting Ronoahâs personal narrative. One part fantasy travelogue, one part emotional underworld journey, The Hereticâs Guide to Homecoming is a sumptuous, slow-burning story about stories and the way they shape our lives. |
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Return of the Dragonriders (DragonBirth, DragonWing, DragonSword) by Raina Nightingale The dragons are extinct. None have been seen in a lifetime, and it is all to the good of the world that the soul-devouring demons are no more. In a small village in the foothills, a devout girl named Silmavalien and her agnostic fiance, Noren, find two mysterious objects. When an albino dragon hatches in her room and Silmavalien's soul is bonded to the dragon's in a song of fire, her world is changed forever. Everything she has been taught is a lie, and everyone she knows is to be feared. Before she can marry Noren, she flees into the wilderness, where the challenge of winter in the mountains almost proves her and Minth's end. Noren fears for Silmavalien's disappearance. When his object hatches the dragon Elninya, just outside the gates of the Oracle's city, Noren finds his answers, but questions why Silmavalien would not trust him. He half-heartedly tries to find her, while struggling to hide his identity and his growing dragon in kingdoms where to be discovered is to be burned alive. But his fear could turn him into the monster he fears. No matter how far they run, neither Silmavalien nor Noren can escape the Nightmare that seeks to devour their souls and slay their dragons. But if they accept it, the Gift of the Volcano, born in fire and darkness, will be enough to win their battle. Includes an exclusive short story and over 40 illustrations. |
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Chronicles of My Alien Invasion Life by Jes McCutchen Chuck and her friends lost a good one last summer, but none of them are convinced that Ghost is truly gone. Once she recovers from her accident, she's ready to find the truth behind where he went. With the help of her friends, Bailey, Corrin, and Pacey, Chuck will do what she can to track down Ghost, even if it means she maybe kinda gets abducted. It's complicated. Will Chuck be able to reunite her crew, and, more importantly, will she do it without embarrassing herself? Probably not, but she's gotta try. |
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Everybody's Missing (Somebody) (Stake Sauce Arc 2) by RoAnna Sylver Arc 2, In Which: Our friends, some old and some new, must awaken a powerful, centuries-old magical force - before an old enemy gets there first... Life for Jude is finally getting back to normal - or as normal as it gets when your new boyfriend has fangs, your old maybe-boyfriend isn't dead after all (and has even bigger fangs), and everyone's scrambling to adjust their lives accordingly. There's enough to worry about without evil, ancient vampires closing in, preparing dark rituals, and threatening to undo everything Jude, Pixie, and their loved ones have built together. But as they've all seen, normal doesn't tend to last for long. And it's hard to shake the feeling that something's missing. But then, it seems like everybody's missing somebody. |
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A bitter war with Raazenia has seized Sylva. Beaten-down revolutionaries fight for survival in the dark world. As the Order searches for a way forward in the face of rampant uncertainty, Mianna is forced to confront dark secrets about the Order she has served all her life that will shake the foundation of everything she has ever known. As Z'xolkuloth's iron grip increases on the dark world of Hatheg Kla, the last scraps of revolt may at last find the leader they have long searched for... |
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When a young daemon becomes host to his father, the eons-old progenitor of his kind, it seems his only purpose is to kill and kill again, to build a new world fit for the dark to rule. Unseen by humans, the world has long been controlled by the strings of a shadowy secret society of immortal beings, the Order of Azoth. As the organization fractures and begins to unravel, he may be the last hope of the Order to quell the spread of corruption and change the path of the future. Just as they may be his only hope to discover his own humanity. |
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String of Stardust by James Margaret Rose "It is a farce for a wildflower, so meek and common, rooted firmly in the Earth, to fall in love with the Moon..." Despite her status as a noblewoman, Suzette always dreamt of becoming a baker; however, she never had the courage to fly away from her gilded cage. But once an ill-arranged marriage pushes her to the brink, she escapes with the help of her dear friend Hikaru, a mysterious man who lonesomely wanders the Earth. By his side, Suzette discovers a magical world unlike any she believed could existâand most surprising of all, that this is not the first time she has known Hikaru...nor the first time she has been in love with him. But that life ended long ago. Suzette is an entirely new person, and much has changed in their decades of absence. As much as she wishes to recreate the idyllic life of her new memories, there may be no choice but to also recreate its tragedy. Note: Contains mature content that may not be suitable for younger readers. |
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Gerald Poole And The Pirates by Johannes T. Evans Gerald Poole, a young Englishman, is miserable when he is dispatched abroad aboard a naval vessel, and is reluctantly attended to by the cold and put-upon Lieutenant Jack Wicks - this tense relationship is interrupted and put under pressure when the two are kidnapped by pirates. A novella with a little bit of adventure, M/M/M romance, and queerness in the 18th century Mediterranean! CONTENT THEMES & WARNINGS (POTENTIAL SPOILERS): This story is set at sea in the late 18th century, and throughout there is language and behaviour typical to the period, including racism, homophobia, and ableism throughout, as well as blood and violence. Itâs a kidnapping narrative, and therefore consent could be considered coerced, although everybody is enthusiastically consenting. Although there is no label applied due to the period, two protagonists are depicted as ADHD, Gerald Poole and Orion Thwaites. |
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Heart of Stone by Johannes T. Evans The year is 1764, and following a glowing recommendation from his last employer, Henry Coffey, vampire, takes on a new personal secretary: young Theophilus Essex. The man is quite unlike any secretary - or any man, for that matter - that Henry has ever met. --- 'Heart of Stone' is a slowly unfolding period romance between a vampire and his inimitably devoted clerk: lushly depicted in flowing, lovingly appended prose, we follow the slow understanding these two men grasp of one another, and the cross of their two worlds into each other's. Henry Coffey, immortal and ever-oscillating between periods of delighted focus upon his current passion project, is charming, witty, and seems utterly incapable of closing his mouth for more than a few moments; in contrast, Theophilus Essex is quiet and keenly focused, adopting an ever-flat affect, but as time goes on, he relaxes in his employer's presence. Craving resounding intimacy but with an ever aware of the polite boundaries for their situation, Coffey and Essex perform a slow dance as they grow closer to one another, and find themselves entangled. |
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The Case Files of Sheridan Bell: The Vanishing Beast by Em Rowene A strange woman comes to Detective Bell with an even stranger problem: sheâs about to be arrested for murder and needs Detective Bell to clear her name. When the police confuse a simple protection charm for something more sinister and arrest the wrong person, Bell must untangle cons, confront powerful sidhe families, and find the mysterious beast that roams the streets of his city. |
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This is a work of neurodiverse, culturally diverse, gender-bendy, socio-politico-economic, drunken-arguments-in-the-pub science fiction â not bang-bang-pew-pew science fiction. Other stories will take you to Mars. This one will take you inside the boardroom, the pub, and the bedroom with the people planning the mission. Gurdeep is an engineer and a soldier. Georgieâs a food scientist. One is pragmatic with a tough outer shell; the other's an optimist, a person of ideas and compassion. In the span of a single afternoon, the couple find themselves in charge of planning a self-sustaining colony on Mars. Together, theyâre humanityâs last hope for survival. They have 160 slots to fill with experts from all over the world as they set about designing an all-new society with its own government, economy, and culture â and thatâs just the tip of the iceberg. Among those chosen for the mission is Devon, an autistic scientist with a unique skill set who finds life on Earth strange and alienating. Maybe a whole new planet is exactly what's needed. With 1,114 days until the launch, excitement and tensions run high. Earthâs second chance hangs in the balance. Between strict genetic requirements and the dangers of the dystopian almost-present, will everyone make it to the final countdown? |
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Jack of Thorns (Inheritance, 1) by AK Faulkner Youâd think seeing the future would make life easy, but Laurence Riley knows better. No matter how hard he tries to master the chaos, everything slips out of control. His violent ex-boyfriend, his supernatural talents, his drug addictionâseeing whatâs coming doesnât help with any of them. He needs help and he knows it. Help that only a god can provide. The answer to his prayers is Jack, who offers aid with reining in his powers and mastering his life. In exchange, all Jack asks is regular offerings of sexual energy from Laurence's conquests. A month ago, that would have been just fine with Laurence. If not for Quentin, it still would be. Devastatingly handsome, incredibly desirable, and so far out of Laurenceâs league itâs not even funny, Quentin is the flame to Laurenceâs moth. Laurence doesnât want anyone else, he canât think of anyone else, and neither Quentinâs frustratingly chaste behavior nor his uncontrollable telekinesis are enough to put him off. Not even if his focus on Quentin means breaking his bargain with Jack and facing the consequences of disappointing a god. Laurence doesnât need to see the future to know thatâs a bad idea, but he has no clue how dangerous Jack really is⌠|
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Merchants of Knowledge and Magic by Erika McCorkle On one of the many planes of the Pentagonal Dominion, priestess Calinthe trades in information, collecting valuable secrets for her demonic employer. Calinthe has a secret of her own: she's intersex, making her a target for the matriarchal slavers of the Ophidian Plane whose territory she must cross in her search for hidden knowledge. But thanks to her friend Zakuro's illusions, Calinthe presents as a womanâa comfortable, if furtive, existence in a world determined to bring her to heel. But when, instead of a mere secret, the priestess uncovers an incalculably powerful artifact, Calinthe finds herself in a high-stakes negotiation with the same matriarchs who sought to enslave her. On the table: Calinthe's discovery, a charm powerful enough to transform a mortal into a god⌠against a secret so deadly it could quell all life on every plane of the dominion. If Calinthe plays her cards perfectly, she and Zakuro could escape Ophidia wealthier than either of them ever dreamed possible. But if she plays them wrong⌠âŚshe'll learn slavery in her pursuers' hands is a fate far worse than death. |
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Pretend to read this book to avoid talking to strangers by Cassie Bailey Description âPretend to read this book to avoid talking to strangersâ is the new e-book by Cassie Bailey. Six short stories explore love, loneliness, and the human search for connection. ABOUT THIS BOOK: We all seek to belong somewhere. But what does it mean to really feel that sense of belonging? To feel truly connected â to our Earth, and to each other? Wires doesnât mind being alone when the world ends, but sheâd rather be with the girl she loves. Sharon connects with others through her daydreams, even when she canât talk to them in person. Kelly and Adam seek connection through their art, but is it at the expense of their relationship? And somewhere, deep at the bottom of the ocean, a woman speaks to the sea and stars, as they help her remember where she belongs. Each tale was written at a different point in the authorâs 20s, and the scattered but reflective story structures explore the inner workings of her neurodiverse brain. At times humorous, other times devastating, this debut collection fuses poignant poetry and open dialogue. âPretend to readâŚâ will leave you thinking a little deeper about how the human mind experiences and searches for connection. 24,968 words ADVANCED READER REVIEW: âFrom the moment I began reading dizzy & wires, I was awed by Cassieâs ability to turn her heartfelt thoughts into poetry. Her neurodiverse brain is an absolute gift and the magic, depth, and originality she produces within these pages is a thing to behold. Raw, vulnerable, at times quirky and at other times thought-provoking, these short stories are the kind youâll want to come back to again and again and youâll keep discovering fresh delights you missed the first time around.â |
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Skellyâs Square by Stephen Black They want him to save the world. But, first, he must save himself. Kirkwood Scott is having a bad day. Languishing in a dead end job and recently dumped by his girlfriend he struggles with a crippling form of OCD which manifests itself in the form of Colonel Augustus Skelly, a phantom voice from Kirkwoodâs childhood who controls his every waking moment via a series of tortuous routines, âThe 49â. Kirkwood has little to look forward to, bar a weekend of drunken oblivion in Belfast with his equally deadbeat friends. All that changes when he meets Meredith Starc, a young homeless woman struggling to survive on the streets and come to terms with her own troubled past. Kirkwood realises Meredith may hold the answer to him finally being free of his mental demons. But what if Skelly is more than just a voice? Kirkwood and Meredith join forces to unearth a supernatural battle raging on the cityâs back streets between ancient forces of good or evil, the outcome of which will decide the fate of the planet. Between them, they hold the key to saving mankind from a new Dark Age but can they survive long enough to do so as Skelly unleashes a legion of vicious ghost soldiers upon the unsuspecting city? âThe Kirkwood Scott Chronicles: Skellyâs Squareâ is a fast paced and darkly humorous supernatural fantasy guaranteed to keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. |
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Twin Time by Olga Werby and Christopher Werby Alex and Sasha are twin sisters, physically identical down to their freckles. But the resemblance is only skin deepâSasha is profoundly autistic, while Alex is not. Sasha canât communicate and acts bizarrely, and the family revolves around her and her intense needs. Yet the aged, wealthy, and mysterious Aunt Nana seems to have a particular interest in both girls. Offering a helping hand, she encourages the family to move to San Francisco to be near her. And when the young twins discover a tunnel in Nanaâs tool shed, it leads them on a journey across the world and back 100 years in time. The tunnel is a pathway to the Firebird Estate, the home of their ancestors, located in rural Russia at the beginning of the twentieth century. Even more remarkable, through the effect that twisting time has on cognition, Sasha is not autistic when sheâs at the Firebird Estate. Now, growing up in two strikingly different times and places, the twins must face their separate destinies among the ravages of the incipient Russian Revolution. Can they save their families on both sides of the tunnel? Can they simultaneously stay true to their own hearts, to each other, and to the people they left behind? Each sister must face her own personal challengeâbut only together can they discover their own future within their familyâs past. |
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Humans are finally going to colonize another world, an exoplanet in Tau Ceti. Three people are specially selected, each sent in isolation on the long journey, accompanied only by the voice of Saia, a powerful Spaceflight AI Aide. Each partition of Saia interacts with one of the future colonists: Null, a neuroatypical who desires to leave humanity behind; Aliza, an immune-compromised biologist charged with keeping Earth flora alive on the long journey; and Rachel, an eleven-year-old genius. To keep its crew alive and sane for the twenty-four lonely years it would take them to reach their destination, Saia can play games, read books, and carry on conversations on almost any topic and in any language. But soon there are hints that either this AI is not completely stable, or it has received orders that run counter both to the mission and the safety of these isolated would-be colonists. "Good Girl" presents intriguing questions about consciousness and individual agency within the framework of a fascinating multiple-point of view narrative. Itâs a story about meanings and hidden context buried in words. As we teach our AIs to take on more and more difficult tasks, their learning algorithms become black boxes to us. What are they really learning? What are they thinking? |
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A psychopathic wizard. An immortal mage. An epic battle of wills. Nikolai doesnât want much out of life: sex, immortality, and the power to disembowel anyone who crosses him. But with dark magic forbidden, his only option is Medeaâa mage so deadly even the Enforcers give her a wide berth. Despite dire warnings that her apprentices donât survive, Nikolai wonât stop until she agrees to train him. After all, heâs a killer himself. Barbaric and brutal, the training is a far cry from what Nikolai expects. When a mysterious illness strikes Nikolai down, he suspects heâs found the secret to Medeaâs longevity. He resolves to find out what happened to her previous apprentices. If he can locate the source of her power, he can turn it against her. Medea swore off training dark wizardsânone of them take the craft seriously and the ungrateful bastards always try to kill her. This one definitely seems the backstabbing type, but magic is dying out and she hasnât felt such magical strength in centuries. If she can control the boy, show him that magic is more than curses and necromancy, he might obtain the power he desires. If not, well . . . Whatâs one more dead apprentice? If you enjoy dark fantasy with quirky, morally grey characters and humorous banter (but no romance), this is the book for you! |