stories in and

A Case of Madness

A Case of Madness by Yvonne Knop

Andrew Thomas just got sacked. He's permanently drunk. He's got cancer. Is inescapably gay. Was hit by a bus. And he's fallen in love with a stranger whose life he saved. As a newly-unemployed Sherlock Holmes scholar, Andrew knows only Holmes can help him untangle the madness his life has become, but Holmes isn't real. Except he absolutely appeared in Andrew's house, told him he's in love with a man he just met…and then in a fit of pique Andrew sent him away. Sure Holmes is probably a hallucination or a specter or a ghost, but now Andrew desperately needs his help. So to find the answer to his case and the man of his dreams, Andrew takes to chasing a fictional character through London with his very own Watson.


Dusk Undone

Dusk Undone by Bri Mooney

Waking up dead has its perks. An outcast, Raeden, had always lived on the fringes of society. So when she mysteriously vanished, her absence went unnoticed, much like her life. Little did anyone realize that her absence was the result of her death. But death has its own sticky consequences. It not only takes away a person's life but also clings to their memories and emotions. As Raeden's soul departed, it left her with a choice: recover her memories and find closure or remain a restless spirit forever. For most, the decision would be a no-brainer. But Raeden? Well, she's never been one to shy away from a challenge. With two reapers assigned to her case, she's catapulted back into the mortal world. Now, Raeden must navigate the intricacies of the living while grappling with her own mischievous ambitions. After all, who says a dead girl can't have some fun along the way? But this isn't your typical murder investigation. Raeden's journey unveils a treacherous web of secrets lurking in unexpected places, and a convoluted tapestry of dark humor. In the midst of her quest, she finds solace and companionship with the reapers, Booker and Sonja. These otherworldly beings, who are already entangled in a romantic relationship, become unexpected allies in Raeden's twisted fate. As they unravel the wacky circumstances of her demise, Rae's journey is laced with her own unique challenges. Panic disorder, Autism, and ADHD dance their way into the mix, adding an extra layer of complexity to her already adventurous life. Through wild encounters, perilous situations, and unexpected twists, Raeden's vibrant spirit shines as she navigates the realms of the paranormal. So buckle up and prepare for a tale that blends dark fantasy, paranormal romance, and a dash of dark humor. Join Raeden as she embarks on a journey that will make you laugh, gasp, and fall in love with her resilient spirit. Discover the extraordinary in the ordinary and embrace the enchanting chaos that accompanies life, death, and everything in between. Indiana Jones meets The Librarians.


Teacher of the Year

Teacher of the Year by M.A. Wardell

Love: Not as easy as ABC. They were supposed to keep things casual. Who’d expect they’d be schooled in love? Those who can, teach. Marvin Block is one of the best kindergarten teachers out there. And despite his anxiety, Marvin’s life is sweet. He knows what he wants. And what he wants is the Teacher of the Year Award. Not just for himself – his school needs him to win. Returning from break, the New Year finds Marvin all set to welcome a new pupil to his class. But when Illona walks in with her cute-as-hell single dad beside her, Marvin’s focus starts to slide. Sure, his students always come first, but he deserves to have a life outside the classroom, too, right? As their friendship starts to deepen, Marvin realizes Olan has the potential to teach him things about love he never thought possible. But with the Teacher of the Year award and his school’s future on the line, now’s not the time for anything complicated. Education has always been Marvin’s world. And he needs to keep a cool head if he wants to win the award and save his school. But will it be worth it if he loses Olan in the process? With Olan’s past and Marvin’s present colliding, their experiment in love hangs in the balance. Marvin knows what he wants out of life. But now he’s forced to consider what he wants out of love. Will Marvin chalk the relationship up to experience? Or can they revise their story into a textbook romance?


Non-Player Character

Non-Player Character by Veo Corva

Not all fantasy worlds live only in our imaginations. 32-year old Tar feels like a Non-Player Character in their own life. They’ve been utterly sidelined by their anxiety and they spend all their spare time playing video games. Then they get invited to play Kin, a tabletop role-playing game their friend swears will change their life. And it does, but not in the way Tar expects. Friendship, it turns out, is even better than escapism. But what none of them knew was that it would change their life a second time. Because the world of Kin is real. And the whole party soon discovers that changing your setting doesn’t change you. Non-Player Character is a cosy, queer portal fantasy for adults featuring a non-binary autistic protagonist and their found family of fantasy-loving nerds.


How to steal a demon's heart and get away with it

How to steal a demon's heart and get away with it by Devi Letalis

An exiled demon. A murderous vampiress. Undead sheep. One fateful night. One bad decision. And suddenly, it’s not just hearts on the line — it’s the whole damn realm. Single father and mercenary Dante has hunted demons his whole life. From lowly fiends to undead sheep, his bizarre quests have tested his blade and his wit. A new job draws him into the orbit of the dangerously alluring vampiress Lariza and her enigmatic companion Layla, and Dante finds himself reluctantly allied with forces as unpredictable as the enemies they face. When his son is kidnapped, Dante’s buried past resurfaces, along with estranged family members who stir up conflicts he never imagined. Forced to team up with Lariza and Layla, Dante is dragged into a deadly clash with powerful demons, his sole focus fixed on saving his son, even if it means descending into hell itself. Yet even these battles pale beside the shadow of a greater threat—one that could turn rivals and allies alike into pawns. A dark urban fantasy thriller brimming with razor-sharp action, wicked humour, and unrelenting suspense—where ancient laws collide with modern horrors, and family ties may be the deadliest curse of all.


The Reanimator's Soul

The Reanimator's Soul by Kara Jorgensen

An autistic necromancer, his undead lover, and the case that could destroy everything. When a necromancer turns up dead, Oliver and Felipe think it will be the perfect, straightforward case for their new partnership. That is, until it leads them to a clinic promising a cure for magic, but they aren’t the only ones investigating the Institute for the Betterment of the Soul. Oliver’s ex, Ansley, is in town, and he’s certain the clinic isn’t the paragon of righteousness it claims to be. Forced to help Ansley infiltrate the institute, Oliver fears he is out of his depth in his work and in love as old wounds and bad habits resurface. But Oliver isn’t the only one struggling. Pulled between his cases, Oliver, and his daughter returning home for the summer, Felipe is drowning. Just when he thinks he finally has everything under control, a new reminder of his untimely demise threatens to throw his life into a tailspin once more. Between festering wounds and secrets, Oliver and Felipe’s lives stand upon a knife’s edge. To face the evil lurking behind the clinic’s genteel smiles, they must stand together or face the destruction of the place they call home.


The Reanimator's Heart

The Reanimator's Heart by Kara Jorgensen

A reluctant necromancer, a man killed before his time, and the crime that brings them together. Felipe Galvan’s life as an investigator for the Paranormal Society has been spent running into danger. Returning home from his latest case, Felipe struggles with the sudden quiet of his life until a mysterious death puts him in the path of the enigmatic Oliver Barlow. Oliver has two secrets. One, he has been in love with the charming Felipe Galvan for years. Two, he is a necromancer, but to keep the sensible life he’s built as a medical examiner, he must hide his powers. That is until Oliver finds Felipe murdered and accidentally brings him back from the dead. But Felipe refuses to die again until he and Oliver catch his killer. Together, Felipe and Oliver embark on an investigation to uncover a plot centuries in the making. As they close in on his killer, one thing is certain: if they don’t stop them, Felipe won’t be the last to die.


Ardent Tears: Awakening

Ardent Tears: Awakening by Ren Carlisle

On the verge of Awakening, Rowan is taken from her family by slavers intent on forging her into a weapon. Why? She doesn't know. She doesn't care. All that matters is freedom, vengeance, and reunion. In this world of harmony and dissonance, where Resonance and emotions reign supreme, Rowan must learn what it means to be an Ardent before it's too late. She must find unity and purpose. She must not break. She cannot do it alone. Who will be there for her?


Fiorenzo

Fiorenzo by Sebastian Nothwell

Fiore has a plan. Find a wealthy elderly gentleman, delight him until the end of his days, and retire on the resulting inheritance. It’s the best outcome a low-born courtesan in the city of Halcyon can hope for. And it seems a perfect scheme… until a mysterious masked man upends it. Banished from university after a disastrous duel, Enzo wanders the city searching for scraps of the affection he’s lost. His public mask conceals private agonies. A single night in the company of a courtesan, however, balms his wounded heart, and he finds himself returning again and again to Fiore, revealing more of himself than he’s ever dared before. Furthermore, and more astonishing still, Fiore finds he returns Enzo’s affections. But while Fiore wears no mask, he nonetheless has secrets of his own. And when the ghosts of their pasts return to haunt them, only the bond of trust between them will carry them through. ~ Fiorenzo is a queer fantasy-of-manners romance featuring secret identities, hurt/comfort, and a happily-ever-after.


Throw His Heart Over

Throw His Heart Over by Sebastian Nothwell

Sir Lindsey Althorp, spectacularly wealthy baronet, has sat in the saddle since the day he was breeched. Aubrey Warren, threadbare telegraph boy turned engineer, has never ridden a horse in his life and had no intention of starting—until now. When a portrait-painting holiday in the country provides an opportunity for riding, Lindsey is eager to teach Aubrey the ropes. Aubrey works to overcome his well-founded caution regarding large beasts of burden. Harder to dispel are his insecurities about his scarred body in the wake of the Rook Mill boiler explosion—particularly as these scars are put on display to model for the painting Icarus Fallen. As the painting progresses, so do the riding lessons, until a potentially deadly accident may put a stop to both for good.


Mr Warren's Profession

Mr Warren's Profession by Sebastian Nothwell

Lindsey Althorp, the only son of a wealthy baronet, has never worked a day in his life. Aubrey Warren was born in a workhouse and hasn’t stopped working since. Buoyed by Lindsey's optimism and fuelled by Aubrey's industry, the two men strive to overcome the class gulf between them. But a horrific accident reveals a betrayal that threatens to tear them apart forever.


Season One: Iris and the Crew Tear Through Space!

Season One: Iris and the Crew Tear Through Space! by Cait Gordon

In a galactic network known as the Keangal, where space is accessible… Lieutenant Eileen Iris and the command crew of the S.S. SpoonZ haven’t a clue what it means to be disabled. An unexpected conversation with an intergalactic janitor brings up the question but offers no answers before he’s ’ported away. Unfazed, duties resume as Iris manages an overprotective guidebot; Security Chief Lartha and her sentient prostheses offer kick-ass protection; Mr. Herbert’s inventiveness is a godsend (although he’s not quite grasped how to flirt); Commander Davan’s affable personality comes through whether trumpeted, texted, or signed; and Captain Warq’s gracious but firm leadership keeps everyone at their best. Until on one mission, where the crew tears through space. Just a little bit.


Off The Beaten Path

Off The Beaten Path by Sienna Eggler

Fresh out of college, Meike boarded a train for their new destination: volunteering on a small farm. Aside from dorming, it was the first time they’ve been miles away from home, and were looking forward to expanding their horizons and padding out their resume. Unfortunately for Meike, their train took a drastic detour, leaving them and a fellow passenger stranded in the world of Glasend. With nowhere to go but forward, Meike is determined to utilize their knowledge of botany, and eke out a living as an herbalist. Along the way, they encounter a colorful cast of characters, study magic, and tame wild beasts and monsters. Off The Beaten Path is a queer portal fantasy, and part of an ongoing web serial.


Once Upon a Wave of Witches

Once Upon a Wave of Witches by Eli Belt and Helen Whistberry

Amelia Arrowheart is a homebody. Beatrice Buttons most decidedly is not. When these two ladies of a certain age meet and become fast friends, neither expects the extraordinary challenges they will face together and apart. Welcome to Lichen, a place like no other, where fungi are revered, cloud creatures crowd the skies, and sea witches wield their power for the good of all. Two mischievous little boys, a space pirate, and a monster that reaches out from the depths of the ocean will change their lives forever. Join Beatrice and Amelia on the adventure of a lifetime as they take to the skies and plunge into the depths of the sea to save a friend and break a curse! A unique and uplifting fantasy tale celebrating friendship, loyalty, and love. Includes 33 original illustrations!


How To Sell Your Blood and Fall In Love

How To Sell Your Blood and Fall In Love by D.N. Bryn

Kraken Collective

No romantic story has ever lived up to Dr. Clementine Hughe’s reality but at least he has his steamy two-million-word fanfic and a prestigious research position at Vitalis-Barron Pharmaceuticals, where their benefits are superb and their experimentation on vampires highly unethical. When a mysterious accident turns Clementine into a vampire, discovery would demote him to lab rat and his growing thirst for his coworker’s veins forces him to the streets to hunt. Justin Yu is usually the one attacking villains in alleys, not the other way around. After the tragedy he brought upon his local vampiric community in his youth, he’s struggled tirelessly to keep their vampires safe. So when a panicking Clementine botches a bite attempt, Justin takes pity—and advantage—and offers the vampire a trade: his blood in exchange for an exorbitant fee. In desperation, Clementine accepts. Justin’s blood is bland and unappealing, but the more Clementine learns to appreciate the man’s sharp humor and persistent compassion, the more he acquires a taste for Justin. Justin is determined not to let Clementine’s good looks and thoughtful intellect distract him as hunters from Vitalis-Barron close in on Justin’s neighborhood, and it turns out someone there knows Clementine’s vampiric secret…


Odd Blood

Odd Blood by Azalea Crowley

Stuck That’s what Josephine Pajimula felt like. A burnout millennial on the verge of losing her housing, her roommate, and maybe even her best friend. It made perfect sense to go to a Halloween party, ignore her feelings, and spend the time searching for apartments instead. A Chance She hadn’t expected meeting him. A man in a vampire costume took a hard fall in front of her. Against her better judgment, Josephine is determined to make sure this stranger makes their way home safely. Alarm bells in her head be damned. Luck Eadwulf is charming, silly and is super committed to whatever performance he’s putting on. Despite herself, Josephine enjoys their conversation, even indulges in his claims that he’s a vampire. Except, he isn’t pretending. Unexpectedly, Josephine is offered a way out of her dilemma. All she has to do is become the nanny to Eadwulf’s elderly granny roommate. That should be easy… right? Thrust into the spooky, quirky world of vampires; are things falling apart or falling into place? Odd Blood is a romantic comedy featuring diverse characters, a slow-burn romance, and creative expletives. This story has horror elements, such as gore, and has adult content suitable for 18+. Odd Blood is the first in a series with a guaranteed HEA/HFN. Please find a full content advisory on the author’s social sites. Please note: This is a demisexual late bloomer love story with NO SPICE and is the first act in a series with no major cliffhanger.


Bloodbound

Bloodbound by Kaija Rayne

An assassin makes a terrible ambassador. Rhian’s greatest skills aren’t based around negotiation but delivering the final word. However, the Dark God Arawn saw something else in her. Or he was desperate. Either way, he assigns his favourite pwca, a Welsh black-dog shapeshifter, as the newest ambassador for Ontario—it’s a thankless job. She needs to preserve the myth that the supernatural is only an illusion. Otherkin are terrible at hiding, and it’s Rhian’s duty to tidy up after them. In between that and keeping the veil in place, she has to investigate her predecessor’s murder, which doesn’t lean into Rhian’s lethal prowess. That means working with her estranged partner, Kai, who was first on the scene. The only man Rhian ever needed, and the one man she can’t forgive. That complicates everything. Acting on the desires she’s repressed for three hundred years will violate her vow of loyalty to Arawn. If she neglects her duty, the veil could fall. War breaking out between humanity and the supernatural would doom the world. And if she breaks her vow of loyalty... well, Arawn is known as the Dark God for a reason


The Realm of Monsters

The Realm of Monsters by Joharra Harper

The Realm of Monsters is a place where monsters can go and be free to be themselves, without fear of humans hunting them. But their centuries long peaceful civilization is threatened when an enemy of Calista's finds her after a thousand years. With monsters suspiciously at each other's throats, Callista knows her worst fear is happening. Her past has returned for her, Callista, and a group of misfit monsters, must travel to Athens, Greece and reunite with some old friends, as this war they were a part of so long ago, continues. They must stop him from destroying humanity, so that monsters can take over the human world.


Love Kills Twice

Love Kills Twice by Rien Gray

She needs an assassin. They’re the best in the business. Falling in love was never part of the deal. Desperate to escape her abusive husband, Justine hires a contract killer. Campbell’s services come at a high price, and their dark, seductive charisma leads Justine right into their bed. Hiding an affair while Campbell designs the perfect murder has Justine walking a tightrope of stress, but each time the two of them sleep together, it’s harder not to get attached. Campbell struggles with their own traumatic past, convinced that the truth will drive Justine away. There’s a faint hope that things could work, save for one problem: Justine’s husband wants her dead too. Revenge is easy—heartbreak could cost both of them everything.


Martis the Brazen

Martis the Brazen by Rien Gray

Follow a fellowship of sapphic knights as they’re seduced by witches, queens, goddesses—and each other—in a dark, lush fantasy inspired by Arthurian legend. Under the reign of King Theomacha the Exalted, the Land of Maidens flourishes. Her knights protect and explore the realm, seeking artifacts lost to time and fending off wicked, cunning magics. Martis, sole daughter of a dragon and a witch, was raised in the legendary Gorsedd mountains. After her mother's tragic death, Martis' monstrous rampage of grief tore the land apart until she was saved by Theomacha's intervention. Sworn as a knight to the king's court, Martis took on a new name and identity. Ten years later, her sire—the dragon Thouros—is dying. Martis returns to Gorsedd for the first time in a decade only to find a cult worshipping the dragon, and the beautiful woman they've captured to sacrifice. Martis saves the mysterious Amoret, but the tangle of desire that rises between them is complicated by her companion's true identity, pitting Martis' grief against the honor keeping her life intact.


Δάιος

Δάιος by Andromeda Ruins

A queer and anti-establishment retelling of the fall of Icarus. The Elysians are here to protect us. They uphold order, they keep citizens safe… unless you are their kid. When you are the child of an Elysian you get to see what they are truly like. You get to see their fears, their anger, their hatred. You get to be subjected to their wants and whims. Most importantly, you get to be trained by the ‘best of the best’ to become an Elysian yourself. At least that’s what we were told. We weren’t told what that training would cost us. What it would do to our bodies and our minds. How it would make us into what the Elysians really are, mindless abominations. These monsters are in every corner of our society. They are heralded as Gods among men, but not for long. I am doing everything in my power to show who they really are behind their masks. Soon, everyone will see these nasty creatures for what they are… Δάιος is a tragedy following Icarus as he takes a look behind the curtain of the Elysian Program and sees the disgusting framework that he was disillusioned to. Now the only thing on his mind is bringing down the program and the entire ATLAS corporation. Will he be able to when the world seems set against him?


A Corruption of Souls

A Corruption of Souls by Taylor Hubbard

Deklyn Delonir , Captain of the Order of the Redemptor and Knight of the Hawkeron Kingdom, has spent his entire life serving his goddess and realm to earn redemption for his past sins. Everything he does is in service to his King and the people under his protection and leadership. For his entire life, Deklyn pushed away the deepest desires of his heart, burying them and praying that they never come to the surface. When his King calls on him for the most important job of his career, one that would put an end to a war against an unknown enemy simply called The Corrupted, Deklyn doesn’t think twice before readily accepting it. Once the job is completed, the war will end and the people Deklyn swore an oath to serve will be safe and the bloodshed will end. Crown Prince Kai of Hawkeron has never known what freedom feels like. Everything has been lain before him before he was born. Swayed by the whims of a fate outside of his control and duty that is inescapable, Kai doesn’t know who he is. Kai is a political entity, used for his father’s gain. When his father calls on him to fulfill his duty as the Crown Prince, Kai knows he is defeated. He will be sent to a neighboring kingdom to marry its princess to create an alliance that will provide his father’s military with the resources needed to put an end to the war they waged against The Corrupted. Knowing that his failure to complete his duty would lead to the deaths of many people and the annihilation of the Hawkeron Empire, Kai resigns himself to his fate. As Deklyn and Kai travel together, they quickly learn that through the struggles they face and the desires that come to the surface, they are more than their duty. As secrets about The Corrupted come to light, they must come to terms with their fate while grappling with the very real fact that they are falling for each other. With the fate of their homeland in the balance, Deklyn and Kai must choose between duty and desire.


A Promise Broken

A Promise Broken by S.L. Dove Cooper

Kraken Collective

It’s 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 mother’s 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 he’s desperate to protect his niece from his people’s extreme caution regarding magic and other races. Kerisaoina children aren’t capable of using it and his niece is no exception. Despite being only half-kerisaoina, Eiryn is already starting to show that she’ll be one of her generation’s most talented magic-singers and those who don’t approve of her existence are trying to take advantage of a young girl’s grief. Eiryn is determined to make her uncle happy, but it’s hard to make other people happy when you have to struggle through the day yourself. She’ll find a way, though. She’s promised. And even if her mother won’t keep her word Eiryn will keep hers. She’ll make everything right again. You’ll see.


Goldilocks and the Three Bears: Understanding Autism Spectrum Disorder

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 son’s 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 person’s autism presents differently, Goldilocks’ autism can help the reader understand the autism of someone they know a little better.


The Tale That Twines

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 Illumination—and 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 June’s 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.


Failure to Communicate

Failure to Communicate by Kaia Sønderby

Kraken Collective

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.


Two Dark Moons

Two Dark Moons by Avi Silver

Sohmeng Par is sick of being treated like a child. Ever since a tragic accident brought her mountain community’s coming-of-age ritual to a halt, she’s caused nothing but trouble in her impatience to become an adult. But when she finally has the chance to prove herself, she’s 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 sãoni, 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 she’s 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 it—including Hei themself. But Sohmeng has secrets of her own, and sharing them could mean losing everything a second time.


All Yesterday's Papers

All Yesterday's Papers by S.S. Genesee

Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1974 Another body is found. Another one of Maurice’s 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, Kenneth’s world begins to crack. Maybe his perfect lover isn’t as perfect as he thought. Maurice spirals further and further out of control, losing sight of who he is—is 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 Yesterday’s Papers is Book Two of the All Tomorrow’s 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.]


All Tomorrow's Photos

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 he’s 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 he’s 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 Tomorrow’s Photos is Book One of a duology. It is a dark MM romance story not intended for a young audience.]


Tell Me How It Ends

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.


JUNKER SEVEN

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 junker— 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. It’s 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 can’t– or won’t– believe in.


The Erstwhile Tyler Kyle

The Erstwhile Tyler Kyle by Steve Hugh Westenra

SPFBO10

Tyler Kyle doesn’t 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 Josh’s 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 ago—footage linked to an isolated island in the Canadian wilderness—the mystery is one conspiracy he’s determined to investigate. The fact that following the scent gives Tyler an excuse to run away from the “straight” Josh, whom he drunkenly made out with, is just the cherry on the shit sundae. But Echo Island isn’t 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 mother’s footsteps, he discovers a supernatural connection between the residents and the island—one they seem to think Tyler and his mother share. Even worse, the footage of Tyler’s mom came from someone on the island–a stalker whose obsessive fascination with both Tyler and Josh is about to make Tyler wish he hadn’t gone this one alone. Puppeteered by his stalker, searching for his mother, and debating whether it’s possible to queerbait yourself, Tyler comes to realize that it doesn’t 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.


Never Too Much

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.


Tamika Wood's Birthday Party

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.


Merchants of Light and Bone

Merchants of Light and Bone by Erika McCorkle

Sorrow in paradise. A parent’s 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 isn’t rejoicing—when the ground split apart, his seven-year-old daughter fell to her death. Amiere’s 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 daughter’s 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 village’s 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.


Fierce Heart (Elven Alliance Book 1)

Fierce Heart (Elven Alliance Book 1) by Tara Grayce

Essie would do anything for her kingdom…even 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 she’s 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 she’s at it.


Elf Prince (Elven Alliance Book 7)

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).


Death Wind (Elven Alliance Book 3)

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 elves’ foremost warrior and Essie’s husband, captured by the trolls, the circumstances appear dire indeed. But Essie won’t give up, and she will make her two peoples work together to fight this war if it’s 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.


War Bound (Elven Alliance Book 2)

War Bound (Elven Alliance Book 2) by Tara Grayce

Marriage to an elf is complicated…especially 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 Essie’s 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.


Trick

Trick by Cara Nox

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 it’s all thanks to two mysterious strangers showing up on her doorstep, claiming that she can turn back time. Cade is a notorious troublemaker. He’s never been afraid to throw around his name to get what he wants as someone who’s 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, he’s tossed back down to the bottom again. He’ll be more than lucky to regain any sort of trust when everyone knows he’s 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 “golden child” or “gifted student,” 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 isn’t necessarily in the cards for him, but there’s 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 she’s being hunted and how they might be able to fix their bleak futures before it’s too late. Just remember: time is nothing but a trick.


The Kings of Nowhere

The Kings of Nowhere by C.G. Drews

Avery Lou has given up stealing houses — now he’s meant to build them. Forced to stay with the De Lainey family until Sam’s return from juvie, Avery feels like he’s 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 Avery’s determined to sabotage his time with the De Laineys and get locked up with Sam instead. Avery just has to stay immune to Jeremy’s charming shenanigans. Easy…sort of. But Avery’s war against Vin has brought trouble to the De Lainey door and he can’t survive this fight alone.


I Think of You Often: a small town paranormal romance

I Think of You Often: a small town paranormal romance by Sienna Eggler

For Evangeline “Evan” Miles, Honeycutt Academy is more than just a prestigious school of magic. It’s home. Before graduating, it was the first place they’d ever felt comfortable enough to be themself. Now, as a school librarian, it’s 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 it’s 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 Evan’s 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, they’ve forgotten he’s 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 “engaging tales of emotions and struggles” and “sweet, realistic romance between two people figuring their way in life.”


Fluid Bonding: a sapphic paranormal romance

Fluid Bonding: a sapphic paranormal romance by Sienna Eggler

It’s not that Vi Davis wanted to be alone. It’s just that the outside world doesn’t seem very welcoming for a shy, nonbinary introvert - especially one who can read minds. But when the gorgeous Hester Milojević approaches Vi in a crowded sports bar, it doesn’t 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 Hester’s 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 can’t 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 “a sweet, realistic romance between two people figuring their way in life.”


Echoes of Bellek

Echoes of Bellek by Morrigan Gaines

Memory is a gift. It's also a curse. When Cyrus Arbritrem refuses to marry the crown princess of Osmaria, his father disowns him. He is cast out into the world, plagued by loneliness and memories of his troubled childhood. He’s becoming the man he never intended to be, finding solace in drugs and alcohol. His life is spiraling out of control. It's only a matter of time before he gets caught up in another dangerous situation - one that may cost him everything. Tessa, a fiery woman with a passion for flowers, lights the spark of hope for a better future in his heart. She holds tight to her own secrets as she cares for her ailing father. Secrets that may threaten their budding relationship. Cyrus grasps his second chance, determined to move beyond the memories that haunt his nightmares. His chance at happiness is within reach, but a darkness is rising that desires the power Cyrus doesn’t know he possesses. Will he survive to shine brightly, or will the darkness destroy him? This book contains themes and situations some adult readers may find triggering.


The Southern Magicks

The Southern Magicks by Ashton K. Rose

A month ago, a demon tore the thin veneer of a normal life I’d 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 weren’t 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 weren’t 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 they’re convinced I was a vigilante who committed multiple murders. My odd, intriguing mentor Cory watches for any misstep as I avoid the seduction attempt he’s been asked to perform. Now they’ve accused my estranged older brother of taking over my “crimes.” 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 DON’T and thinks I should play them at their own game and seduce my mentor, so we can interrogate him together…


The Heretic's Guide to Homecoming, Book One: Theory

The Heretic's Guide to Homecoming, Book One: Theory by Sienna Tristen

“Life is transformation. You change or you die.” 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 way—children of the sea, a priestess and her band of storytellers, the lonely ghosts of monsters—are grim and whimsical in equal measure. Each has their part to play in rewriting Ronoah’s personal narrative. One part fantasy travelogue, one part emotional underworld journey, The Heretic’s Guide to Homecoming is a sumptuous, slow-burning story about stories and the way they shape our lives.


Return of the Dragonriders (DragonBirth, DragonWing, DragonSword)

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.


Chronicles of My Alien Invasion Life

Chronicles of My Alien Invasion Life by Jes McCutchen

SPSFC 2022

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.


Everybody's Missing (Somebody) (Stake Sauce Arc 2)

Everybody's Missing (Somebody) (Stake Sauce Arc 2) by RoAnna Sylver

Kraken Collective

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.


Nightfall

Nightfall by M.A. Vice

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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