Through the Shards of My Heart by Machelle Berglund

Ah, love! A powerful emotion. It can bring a spring into the steps of the lucky. The twinkle in their eye tells of the endless joy and laughter love had brought them. Loving hands cradle their hearts at all times. Others, however, may throw their hearts into the fire again and again. They hope for the warmth of a loving hand rather than to feel the pain of the blaze. And for a while, their wish may be granted; maybe for a short time, or for a blessed eternity. There are, however, the most unfortunate of souls whose hearts are forever twisted, forever scarred, and forever broken. But that doesn’t mean that their love is forever lost. They may not be whole, but through the shards of their heart, they can find and give love still. In “Through the Shards of My Heart”, you’ll find poems that explore the lows and the woes, the highs and the smiles, and the messy in betweens that love brings in all its forms.

Whimsy and Weirdos: Poetry for the Unique by Machelle Berglund and Andrea Standifer

Never underestimate the whimsy of a weirdo! In this collection, two weirdos dug deep into their whimsical souls to conjure up poems full of deep expression and unique outlooks on all sorts of topics. You can find poems about Dungeons and Dragons, the beauty of nature, the ups and downs in life, ducks, and an unsettling poof. All in one little book! These poems were made for the weird by the weird, for everyone of all ages to enjoy!

Monitored Activity by Mitch Miller

When a dancing mob feeds a woman to the food court escalator, security guard Shaw Price knows he is in for the worst shift of his life. Visitors speak in tongues. Somewhere in the building, a man has been scalped by a floor polisher. The security cameras have gone rogue, and strange, small objects reject visual perception. But Shaw can’t focus beyond the insatiable hunger driving him mad. While he could blame it on a late coming-of-age, the last time he checked, visions of his supervisor gloating over the bodies of missing girls isn’t exactly a common side-effect of teenage hormones. And then there’s the whole thing about the mall maybe being alive. MONITORED ACTIVITY is a queer, sci-fi horror novella set in the early 2000s. Perfect for fans of THE BACKROOMS and digital indie horror.

Common Bonds 3 by Claudie Arseneault, Em Ishii, and RoAnna Sylver

TBBSB2026

Common Bonds strikes a third time with a new volume of 18 speculative short stories and poetry featuring aromantic characters and centering platonic relationships.

Common Bonds 2 by Claudie Arseneault, Em Ishii, and RoAnna Sylver

Common Bonds returns in this second volume of speculative short stories and poetry featuring aromantic characters. Housed within this anthology are a scientist who makes a terrifying discovery at the bottom of the ocean, a baker who must fulfill a prophecy, a priest and a witch who must form a family to escape a war, and a woman whose survival might just unravel time itself. Through nineteen stories and poems, Common Bonds 2 explores the bonds that impact our lives from beginning to end: platonic relationships. From friends with benefits to mentors to life partners, this collection explores platonic relationships strong enough to overcome barriers of species, alien invasions, and the power of the gods themselves.

The Chosen One Con by Trudie Skies

TBB2025

Magic is a rich man's game. Archons control magic in the great city of Aefenhold. Brand-name spells, addictive potions, and celebrity TV keep the poor entertained while they toil in the factories manufacturing magic. That should have been the fate of Max and his childhood friend Lyle, until a violent workers’ strike tears their lives apart, condemning Lyle to the aetherstone mines and leaving Max orphaned with no choice but to sell his labour to a brothel. Life under the Archon's rule has given Max a taste for magical narcotics, and left Lyle with aether dust in his lungs and a deep resentment for magic. So when Aefenhold's rulers announce a televised contest to find the chosen one—a prophesized distraction to unite the city against its detractors—both Max and Lyle see an opportunity to con their way into the contest. Where Max seeks to steal magic for his freedom, Lyle views magic as a tool of oppression to be destroyed. Their old friendship will be tested as they're forced to become adversaries against famous rival mages in a series of magical trials. Whoever becomes the chosen one will change the shape of magic forever. But magic is a rich man's game, and should Max or Lyle be discovered as frauds, their deaths will be televised next. The Chosen One Con is the first book in the Lost in the Aether duology—a gaslamp fantasy of industrial magic in a world of designer enchantments and celebrity-branded potions. This is an adult book containing strong language and mature themes that some readers may find disturbing. For a full list of content warnings, visit Trudie Skies's website.

The End of Time by Trudie Skies

WHEN THE SAINTS FALL, THE SINNERS RISE. Calamity has befallen the steam-powered city of Chime as the gods declare war on each other, choosing Chime's streets as their battleground. Kayl has the means to end their reign for good and create a new world free from their whims. But recruiting an army against divine beings is no easy task, and as her allies fall one by one, Kayl is left to shoulder her burden alone. Finally free from his own god's shackles, Quen is bound in service to Chaos, who only wants revenge against Quen's former master. Torn between his desire for vengeance and justice, Quen is no stranger to the gods' cruelty and will do whatever it takes to see Kayl's vision through—even if it destroys his soul. To ensure a new future, Kayl and Quen must unite mortals against their makers and decide the gods' fate before time itself comes to an end. For the era of gods is over. The End of Time is the third and final book in The Cruel Gods series—a gaslamp fantasy featuring magical portals, gothic cosmic deities, quaint Britishisms, and steampunk vibes. This is an adult book containing strong language and mature themes that some readers may find disturbing. For a full list of content warnings, visit Trudie Skies's website.

Court of Snakes: Bitter Truth, Honeyed Justice by Tycho Dwelis

TBBSB2026

The city of Segeno is on edge. Terran, nearing his 18th birthday, struggles with the burdens of leadership. The people are restless, resources are dwindling, and chaos looms. Parisa, now happily engaged, aids where she can but is haunted by her father’s legacy. A stranger, Aumi, brings shocking news: the Great War never happened. The world outside Segeno has thrived, and the city’s isolation is built on lies. As this truth threatens to spark a riot, Terran and Parisa must decide whether or not to reveal it, risking their city’s collapse. In this gripping sequel, Terran and Parisa navigate power, identity, and truth in a city on the brink of revolution. Can they lead their people through the storm, or will Segeno Fall?

Aloe by Artemis Quinn

TBBSB2026

Aloe is Book 2 in the Tales From The Night Garden series. Acanthus and Cypress, an age old Vampire and a young new Werewolf, have accidentally started a war. Nekane, the Werewolf in charge, will go to any means necessary to capture Acanthus; meaning even humans are in danger. On the run, our non-binary heroes encounter others caught up in Nekane's hatred of vampires, witches, and any werewolves that fraternize with them! As Acanthus and Cypress regroup with the Night Garden, an underground organization committed to liberating any in Nekane's crosshairs, they're tasked with some of the hardest challenges they've faced yet! Friend or foe? It's hard to judge just who to trust in a world wrought with danger. In this second book of the Tales From The Night Garden universe, our protagonists continue their adventure in this game of chess with very real consequences. A gaggle of strays begin to expand their found family and a love that blazes bright in the night starts to break out of the darkness. What can Acanthus and Cypress do to convince Nekane to stand down, or are words not enough? How will these two fugitives handle inviting more refugees into their growing resistance? How will The Night Garden continue to save the disenfranchised Supernaturals when Nekane shows up at their Head Quarters' door!? No one knows, but both Cypress and Acanthus have decided they can't run anymore. It's time to stand up for what is right and just. Will you stand up with them on their next journey?

Lemon Balm by Artemis Quinn

Cypress Borne is 22 years old, a dashing young non-binary lad with a fairly easy life in New York City. That is — fairly easy until their routine is interrupted by a vicious dog attack on the way home from the gym. Their life turns upside down after that one singular event-- blackouts, unexplained fits of rage and lost time plague him. Two years of medical tests, therapy, and a life that's spiraling down the toilet later, they navigate their way through the panic attacks and the hopelessness to an old, derelict, and a seemingly abandoned church in the woods, away from the noise and the people. Little do they know, the church isn't abandoned but rather occupied by a vampire hoping to die and rotting in a coffin. Acanthus Sylene believes that a fine wine should never have an age attached, and neither should a fine being. Nonbinary in such a way that gender is completely irrelevant, Acanthus has lived a very long life and is frankly exhausted by it. Embroiled deeply into the politics of the World of Shadows, they have abandoned their duties to The Night Garden, a refugee path that they forged. But, something changes when a lost, scared, ignorant werewolf shows up on their door step. Both of these preternatural beings are looking for answers. Somehow, instead of finding their place in the world, they find each other. However, in the process of finding and growing with each other, they may have put their entire lives — and The Night Garden — at risk.

Troubled Bodies by Jake Vanguard

We can be monsters together. Curiosity has led Payne down a path of experimentation filled with corpses, connections to the underground–and a dead partner. When he finds Blaze, broken and lifeless, on a crime cleanup scene, Payne’s knowledge of anatomy and his created serums assist in bringing Blaze back to life… The only hitch in this plan? They come back different. Together, Payne and Blaze must navigate their new life, filled with a ravaging hunger for fresh meat and opioids, while keeping their urges secret from a powerful don. And things get even more complicated when they find themselves entangled with a third unexpected person who has more to give than financial freedom. Care to take a bite? Troubled Bodies is a tale of obsession, of devotion and addiction, of care and primal urges - and, above all, of love.

Prometheus: A Queer Futuristic Horror Anthology by Jake Vanguard; Ezra Wren

TBBSB2026

THE YEAR IS 2099. A dark web dweller, a curious space explorer in a library, a forbidden queer couple seeking new horizons… Prometheus stole fire and gave it to humanity. To this day, we carry it in our hearts: an innate spirit no machine can replicate. Sixteen authors bring you tales of imagined futures, spanning vast worlds and a wide breadth of queer, human, and post-human experiences. From a surgeon’s backstreet office to a city of dreams to motherships, AI-dominated worlds, and cults, enter a universe of horrors that will make your heart race and your skin prickle. THE FUTURE IS HUMAN.

No Man's Daughter by Justine Lombardi

Fugitive Kára, the bastard daughter of a legendary hero, builds a new life on the mountain frontier, until bounty hunters find her, shattering her family’s cherished peace. To earn a pardon, she joins a hunting party sent to retrieve a wampus cat’s hide for the High King. It’s a perilous task, as the cat stalks the domain of the fierce and immortal Jotun. To survive, Kára plunders her father’s tomb, tearing Tyrfing, the last arcane weapon, from his undead hands. The rifle can slay any monster, but such strength comes at a terrible price: bloodlust and an unquenchable thirst for power. Immersive, propulsive, and compelling, No Man’s Daughter combines Norse paganism with Appalachian folklore in a darkly magical nineteenth-century world, focusing on a woman’s fight to return to her family.

A Divided Life a memoir of hiding from myself, survival, and becoming whole by Todd Boler

What does it mean to survive by hiding — and what does it cost? A Divided Life is a deeply personal memoir about growing up in a time and place where silence felt necessary. In a small Midwestern town shaped by faith, family expectations, and unspoken rules, Todd Boler learned how to divide himself in order to endure. Outwardly, life continued as expected. Inwardly, pieces of the self were carefully guarded. Rather than centering on a single moment of revelation, this memoir follows the quieter, more complicated path of endurance: how coping strategies form, how they protect, and how they eventually limit the life they were meant to save. Through friendships, belief, longing, and loss, the book explores the emotional and psychological cost of living divided from oneself. Neither polemic nor manifesto, A Divided Life offers no easy answers— only honesty, reflection, and recognition. It speaks to anyone who has lived with invisible struggle while appearing “fine,” and who wonders what it might mean to finally live whole.

The Lineman by Christina K. Glover

GRASPING AT THREADS If there’s one thing Henley Yu has learned, it’s that nothing is easy when it involves Chief Operator Kittinger. The pair can finally face the world together, focused on the pursuit of the Ethereal lord who escaped into the Actuality. This time the mortal world won’t be a silent victim, and Kit and Henley will hunt their quarry with the help of mages who have plenty to lose. But Kit punched through something he shouldn’t have in the battle for the Order Headquarters. His transgression has opened him up to a darkness that swallows him whole, leaving him cold and his body empty. What is broken can only be mended by the hand of the maker. In his fight for Kit and their future together, Henley will need help from the only one who knows the real story behind the Between—but only if the Lineman is willing to lend his aid. Secrets will be revealed and the final battle unfolds as the Connections series comes to a close!

The Constellation Caves (PearlHeart Book 2) by Keilani McConnell

A group of sailors travels together across a tropical country, meeting new people and solving the mystery affecting those there. The crew of PearlHeart is on break after their most recent journey. Rath, One-Eye, his Spirit Lion, and others have chosen to spend it on Delphy, Rath's homeland. However, while traveling to where they are staying for the Summer, cracks begin appearing in different parts of the country and the group agrees to help find the cause in order to protect the Constellation Caves, which lay underground. ​For readers who love rich characters, mysteries, and traveling across fantasy worlds.

Together is a Distant Star by A.J. Calvin, V. Carvajal Leiva, Nancy Foster, Andrea Marie Johnson, Natalie Kelda, C.B. Lansdell, Karen Lykkebo, Erika McCorkle, Branwen OShea, Alyse N. Steves, Delilah Waan, Isabelle Wagner

How far would you go to find where you belong? A shapeshifting alien changeling raised by humans. The “wicked” child selected as the village sacrifice. People trapped in rigid belief systems, oppressive regimes, well-intentioned families, complicated relationships, and their very own bodies. Is it better to succumb and survive, or escape by staking everything on a slender hope? What triumphs in the end, love or vengeance? And if all that remains is ashes, is it still worth it? Grapple with these questions by diving into twelve new science fiction and fantasy stories. Together is a Distant Star is a collaborative anthology that encompasses authors hailing from Europe to Australia, South Africa to South America, and celebrates a kaleidoscope of perspectives—female, nonbinary, BIPOC, queer, and more. Featuring stories from: A.J. Calvin, C.B. Lansdell, Nancy Foster, V. Carvajal Leiva, Karen Lykkebo, Erika McCorkle, Branwen OShea, Alyse Steves, Delilah Waan, and Isabelle Wagner.

Shadows We Cast by James Chance

After their return from the Underworld, Vincent, Henry, and their pack find themselves with a new mission: break open the portals to Heaven and Hell, so every spirit can find their way to a peaceful afterlife. The catch: figuring out how to do it without a human sacrifice. The second catch: Vincent’s hellhound kin also have a new mission–to hunt him down, and kill anyone who gets in their way. With hellhounds and Shadowhand closing in fast, they need all the help they can get–even from some old friends they would rather have left behind. But together, they might be able to carve out one last chance to right the wrongs of history. To do it, they must travel across the ruins of Heaven, back through the depths of Hell, and even to the deepest crevices in the mind of a vengeful god. But they may just find that the doorway to saving mortalkind resides not in the mind, but the heart…and Vincent and Henry’s love could be the only key.

The Inescapable March by Hana Carolina

Arran, a widely feared warrior-mage who can manipulate time and space, and his best friend, Hyacinth, an almost-famous actor and talented singer adored by (too) many, find themselves trapped in a recurring nightmare ending with their deaths. Separated amid a blood-soaked war, they keep meeting again, lost in a hazy space between winter and spring, dream and reality, friendship and love.

The Storm and the Rose by T.L. Johnson

Obsession leaves marks deeper than any wound. Arden Rivers has rebuilt her life brick by fragile brick, determined not to be defined by the shadows of her past. But when roses begin to appear at her door—perfect, blood-red, deliberate—so do the notes. Intimate. Intrusive. Written by someone who knows her too well. Each gift is beautiful. Each gift is a threat. The stalker who calls himself her admirer isn’t the only man watching. Gideon Blackwell, heir to a powerful legacy, is as relentless as he is protective. Calculated where others are reckless, he offers her safety—but at a cost: letting him past the walls she’s built. Torn between the protector who sees her strength and the predator who worships her fire, Arden must decide which man holds the greater danger. Because obsession doesn’t always hide in shadows—sometimes it comes wrapped in devotion. In book one of this slow-burn romantic suspense duology, passion and peril entwine. Love may be her refuge or the deadliest trap of all.

God's Scar by Ivy Margriette

"I was born from love, yet I am heaven’s greatest heresy." Born of angel and demon, the half-breed is raised in captivity until the day he escapes, carrying only a single forbidden tenderness from a healer angel who defied Heaven to hold him for a single night. When the healer is taken into the Demon Realm as a sacrificial offering, the half-breed tears through demon arenas, claims a throne he never wanted, and crosses the void where souls face eternal erasure. He encounters angels of all ranks, demon lords and fallen beings, all to reach that one love that he was never allowed to want. This is a journey that asks whether a soul born as heresy can claim the right to love, and to be loved in return. “Let them see it. Let them feel the weight of everything I was never allowed to be. I will not cower.” God's Scar is a slow-burn, emotionally intense, M/M dark fantasy romance of forbidden devotion, visceral worldbuilding, and the quiet violence of choosing to love in a cosmos built to destroy you. “I just want you. Painfully. Desperately. Endlessly. You are the only reason worth living for. The only thing that makes this world bearable.” - Slow-burn, non-explicit M/M romance. - Gritty, lyrical storytelling. - The ache, yearning, and grief that love demands. - Touch him and die. - Who did this to you? - Forced proximity. - Found family. - Vivid, immersive, theological worldbuilding. - Epic fantasy grounded in philosophy and emotional depth. - Character-driven saga - Morally grey demons and angels. - Not a fast read. A lasting one. “Because love was not the warmth they sang about in hymns. Love made you vulnerable, exposed to the sheer, naked terror of caring enough to lose everything.” For readers who love 'Angels Before Man' by Rafael Nicolas and 'Paradise Lost' by John Milton. For readers who want prose that reads like prayers. For readers who want vivid, epic Heaven and Hell. For readers who need love to cost everything, but then cost more. For readers who choose to be emotionally devastated. For readers who want an ending that will leave them quiet.

Amity in the House of Her Enemy by Hiyodori

It was an undeserved hatred, but she knew one day she would earn it. Amity already got her revenge. Since childhood, she's secretly worked to bring down the wealthy mage who destroyed her family. After succeeding, she runs away to start a new life under a stolen identity. Years later, she turns thirty, and the mage’s daughter—Juniper—tracks her down. Amity (a born servant) and Juniper (heir to a magical lord) have a long and unpleasant history. They clashed as children, and again in college, while Amity pursued vengeance against Juniper's clan. Amity shamelessly wielded every weapon at her disposal: her wits, her looks, her healing abilities, and her fearlessness. In those days, lying and sabotage were her bread and butter. Icy, uptight Juniper couldn't be more different. She’s always been a stickler for the law. But now the government wants to make an example of Amity for her crimes, and Juniper steps in to protect her. This can't possibly be an act of compassion… yet, given the choice between going with Juniper or going to jail, Amity chooses Juniper. A dangerous gamble. Juniper still has the legal right to claim her as an indentured servant. By trapping Amity in the desolate old mansion where it all began, perhaps Juniper can finally start to exact her own long-awaited revenge. Amity in the House of Her Enemy is a twisty and extremely slow-burn f/f romance featuring childhood enemies, hurt/comfort, family drama, and the very tentative beginnings of a movement against the greatest foe of all: the mageocracy itself. This novel takes place in the same contemporary fantasy world as the Clem & Wist series, but can be read and enjoyed as a standalone story.

Tied to Life (Monsters of Brimrey Island #3) by Vee Debras

He has the keys to save her…and me. When I get the news that my cat Melody is dying, I know there’s nothing I can do but watch her suffer… Until one night I wake up to a hand reaching for me from inside a tomb. Oliver St. James should not be alive, but he is here and begging me to get him out of the mausoleum that’s been his prison for the past twenty years. I will—with one condition: he has to tell me how he came back to life. The problem is that he doesn’t remember what happened to him, and his family has put their millions behind keeping it a secret. Press-backed lies, bought silence, NDAs. All to pretend their heir never existed. The more time I spend with nerdy, charming Oliver, the less I understand what he could’ve done for his family to hate him like they did. And the more pieces of the puzzle I find, the more scared I get of the price I will have to pay to save Melody. Tied to Life is an MM monster romance with a trans main character, a couple of nerds falling in love, lots of angst, and bad science. Though best enjoyed as the third book in the Monsters of Brimrey Island series, it can be read as a standalone and has a HEA. Check out the rest of the series for more queer characters finding love in this small town on a haunted island.

Shades of Onyx by TJ Williams

Medusa’s story didn’t end. It went on, and on and on… Now her time is up. The gorgon of mythical infamy now goes by Onyx; the latest in a long line of reincarnations. She gets by, avoiding attachments that make immortality more unbearable. She wouldn’t have chosen this life. But gods have never cared what she wanted, not even the ones who saved her from Athena’s wrath. Now, sinister whispers about the vengeful goddess and a sudden change in circumstances have Onyx spooked. Perhaps, if she tracks down something Athena wants, she can earn a reprieve. Blake Mihara’s research skills are important, but so is the way they look at Onyx. She should be focused on the task at hand, not how they make her feel after centuries of loneliness. When they both end up stuck in the Underworld, Onyx’s choices narrow to almost nothing. The Goddess of War wants to kill her, and now the Lord of the Dead wants to keep her. But with Blake stubbornly at her side, hope isn’t entirely lost. Maybe there’s a way out of this hell. The question is, which one? The one inflicted on Onyx, or the one she inflicted on herself? Shades of Onyx is a single POV, sapphic romance containing reimagined elements of various Greek and Roman mythologies—it is not a retelling. There are content warnings in the book and at www.tjwilliams.uk

A Myth of Ancient by T.M. Baylor

Goddesses. A dead king. A long lost people. Old stories long thought to be myth that now walk free through Eterin. After a devastating battle, Andyse is in shambles and the Davegu kingdom, Lupegi province, and the forgotten mountain city are not far behind. The once-strong foundations of the things that used to be believed are shaky and cracking more with every day. With new, unsteady alliances and shifting motivations, no one knows who or what to trust. Long buried secrets have been revealed and the world itself is changing because of it. Something dark is coming… After the gods of Lupegi learn the truth of the vicious battle and a new king in Davegu is crowned, a war is brewing. One with the power to change Eterin forever. ​​--- A Myth of Ancient is the second book in The Secrets of Eterin, an epic dark fantasy series that follows multiple POV characters from across the broken world of Eterin. It centers themes of power, the nature of resistance, erased histories, and the importance of knowledge to fight hatred. Features LGBTQIA+ and women characters. Intended for mature audiences, please check the content warnings.

The Land of Flames and Other Stories by Riley Taylor

Book two in The Kingdoms Set Ablaze contains nine short stories following the characters of Into the Fiery Woods and a prequel to book three, set in the neighbouring kingdom of Ithesha. Two years after saving Ailon, Gwen and Stark are forced to return to the legendary Land of Flames to discover why the fire is spreading and stop it. But when Gwen’s magic is blocked, and they find more than ancient ruins in the castle of Zivisea, their mission grows much harder. If they don't succeed, the flames will never stop. Sakda of the West was an elusive soldier travelling the kingdom to protect those in need. Kaew Chayanan was a lonely woman who wanted nothing more than to return home to her love, but had been gone so long, she worried she’d no longer be welcome. While Kaew is busy as one of the king’s most trusted knights, Eliza grows closer to Queen Guinevere. When the day finally comes to bring their child into the world, the midwife is nowhere to be found. Prince Erebus never thought he could love a boy and everything turn out okay. And though he was wrong about that, he’s not sure everyone will appreciate his new sense of fashion. Lucien was once willing to give up everything for their love to bloom, and now has a very important question to ask. Lady Sonya Blackwater knew becoming Queen of Ailon would take away many freedoms she enjoyed, such as swordfighting, but she never expected to both love and hate her husband. Solace came with her children, her two dear sons and the sweet princess who lost everything when Beihaal fell. Though Adrastos’ father was cruel and strict, that didn’t stop him from sneaking into closets with a pretty serving boy. Sent in disgrace to the castle, he meets the most beautiful girl to have ever existed, so beautiful she could be a goddess; he’ll do anything to protect her. Thomas cannot wait for Adrastos, finally his husband, to meet his parents, but, when they get there, their smiles are strained and the town is quiet, hardly the place he remembered from his childhood. Lady Divya won’t take Lord Donovan’s cruelty any longer, so she escapes to the castle with shocking news for her stepson. Once upon a time, Lilith loved a boy. Finn, the baker’s son, was as sweet as the pastries he snuck to her when they met in the woods. But one day, her father caught them and sent her off to wed a miserable Baron to preserve the family’s honour. When she finally escapes, innocent child in tow, she meets Sylvan. A mysterious man with dubious ideas, but working with him might just give her the power she craves. And more...

Dream the Deep by Clara Ward

You don’t need to reach Mars to reach your dreams. Robbed of their chance at leaving Earth to pursue green-energy innovations, Ryn embraces new dreams—fighting deep sea threats in conjunction with a giant cephalopod. It’s 2139 in the Cali-Coastal Corporate Zone, and Ryn struggles with their own body and brain as they fight to survive five days locked up with academic rivals and the military-backed billionaires who’ve misled them all since their teenage years. Ryn needs an exit strategy but doesn’t know whether to trust Akira, the hacker-spy who may have saved their life, or Jay, the geeky military rebel with a secret stash of hot chocolate. Not to mention, Jay keeps falling asleep in their bed, and Ryn’s not sure if either of them is interested in more—but at least they like the same shows! Five Days. One Ocean. Unlikely allies connect to Dream the Deep.

The Color of Time by Millie Abecassis

A science-fantasy retelling of Charles Perrault’s fairy tale “Peau d'Âne,” The Color of Time blends the whimsy of classic fairy tales with the sapphic romance of Fable for the End of the World and the large-scale politics of The Mercy of Gods. Princess Cyrelle has always been faithful and true to her family, country, and Goddess. But now her brother, King Elias of Cicia, has asked for—no, commanded—her hand in marriage. Desperate to avoid this incestuous union, Cyrelle requests a series of increasingly impossible gifts and petitions the Goddess for a sign to sway her resolute brother’s proposal. As Elias persists undeterred, Cyrelle must risk everything to escape the only life she’s ever known. Soon, she becomes Green Scales, hiding and struggling to survive on her own, far across the galaxy. But Phau isn’t the peaceful refuge Cyrelle had hoped for, and when the leader of its burgeoning rebel faction recognizes the runaway princess, she is forced to choose between safety and freedom. With the fate of two kingdoms on the line and nowhere left to run, Cyrelle must decide what it means to be true to herself, to her people, and to her heart.

They Meet in Dreams by H. B. Wasiak

It’s 1999, and Max Reid’s summer takes a strange turn when a boy in his dreams starts feeling way too real. Seventeen-year-old Max seems to have it all—friends, attention, the kind of effortless charm that makes people look twice—but inside, his life feels hollow. He drifts through his days avoiding his mother’s meltdowns and going along with whatever life puts in front of him. Everything changes when he starts dreaming of a boy named Andy. Andy is nothing like anyone Max has ever met. He’s unguarded, honest, a little bit weird—the kind of person Max didn’t realize he’d been missing in his life. He makes Max feel truly seen. But here's the weird part: Andy insists he isn’t just a dream, but a real person, sharing the dreams with Max. Max doesn’t believe him, of course. That would be insane. And yet, night after night, he escapes into that hidden world, forming a bond more vivid and intense than anything he experiences when he wakes up. But the dreams are changing. Andy is hiding something. Whenever Max asks him to meet in real life, he refuses. He won’t explain why, leaving Max questioning everything, including his own sanity. Max is determined to prove Andy exists, because if the dreams end… what is he supposed to do with feelings for someone who might not be real at all? And sooner or later, everybody wakes up. They Meet in Dreams is a bittersweet, coming-of-age story about identity, emotions, and depression. It explores what it means to love someone you may never truly have.

Chai and Charmcraft by Lynn Strong

What’s a prince to do when his lover doesn’t want a crown and his cat-familiar is banned from the palace? His Imperial Highness Faraj al-Nadhir has never thought himself a charming sort of prince. He’s shy, round, middle-aged, and always dutiful. But he has also secretly spent years dreaming of a man tending jasmine in a sun-lit window — prophetic visions that led him at last to one blissful night with someone who sees his heart, not his crown. He did not expect to wake up with a cat walking on his face. Cat-familiars are forbidden in the Imperial fortress. They might be spies. They might be soul-charmers. They might even sharpen their claws on thousand-year-old tapestries. But Faraj cannot regret that sweet little Sahar chose him — just as he cannot regret Asharan bir Chameli, the enchanting owner of the House of Jasmines. Asharan wants nothing to do with Faraj’s title and power, only his kindness. And Faraj hadn’t expected either the delights or the dilemmas of Asharan’s magical, soft-pawed little gift. The rules have always been different for the God-Emperor's brother. Faraj never before realized how much. Now he's breakfasting from community cauldrons in back alleys full of children and kittens. His foresight shows him a thousand paths toward disaster, but not the way through. His devoted chamberlain fears that Faraj has been bewitched by a purring agent of chaos, and Faraj can’t exactly say he’s wrong. When the choice comes down to betraying his lover's name, his cat-familiar’s life, or his own use of forbidden magic, Faraj does the only thing he can: He gets himself put on trial for heresy, trying to change the laws of the Empire itself. If his visions always lead him into trouble, he might as well make useful trouble. Chai and Charmcraft is the first book in a cozy and queer Middle Eastern M/M fantasy trilogy brimming with charm, intrigue, later-in-life romance, body positivity, and so many kittens. Here, nobody needs a magical makeover to be loved exactly as they are — and their night of joy together isn't where the story ends. That's where it begins...

Bittersweet Nightshade by Shelley Crowley

Ainsleigh Harper is one of the Gifted. Unlucky enough to manifest strength too immense to control, she spends most of her time drinking and avoiding her fraught relationship with her mother. There’s only so many times she can handle being called a monster. The dream is to escape. To run away and start a new life with her best friend and famous fellow Gifted, Cassidy ‘Healer’ Drake. But when Cassidy disappears without a trace, something within Ainsleigh finally snaps. Drunk and bleeding out after a savage wolf attack, Ainsleigh is found by a mysterious stranger and learns that she's not as stranded and alone as she feared. Now Ainsleigh has three questions; Where is Cassidy? Can her secretive saviour really be trusted? And why does whiskey taste so good?

Righteous Desires by Florence Wolfe

Under the lights, they are gods. Behind the curtain, they are ghosts. Silas Reed made the impossible choice: break Cal Kincaid’s heart to save his career. But the grief followed him to the ring. One botched move later, Silas was exiled with a shattered shoulder, leaving Cal alone to become the ruthless King of the industry. Seven years later, the exile is over. Silas returns to a world that moved on without him. But the man waiting for him isn’t the boy he left behind. Cal is now the untouchable Heavyweight Champion of the World, and he hasn’t forgiven a damn thing. Scripted rivals. Real life strangers. Inescapable lovers. The hatred turns to heat. The rivalry turns to obsession. While the cameras roll, they tear each other apart. But when the locker room clears, the dynamic shifts. Their collision is violent, desperate, and anything but scripted. Silas wants his legacy back. But the only way to the top is through the man he destroyed. Ring the bell, the main event is underway.

Blood & Blarney by Noah Bodie

What happens when you look death in the face, and it stares back? When a charismatic stranger steps into Hugh King’s classroom, desire and danger follow. Rory is beautiful, calculated, and hungry in ways that have nothing to do with food. Their charged encounters begin to unravel into ritual, blood, and myth, and Hugh discovers that being claimed is not the same as being seen. Blending queer gothic erotica with Irish folklore, Blood & Blarney is a dark, intimate novella about hunger, consent, and what it means to touch death without being consumed.

Speaking Out In Silence by Sienna Eggler

The life of an adventurer is hard. People get maimed, die, or go missing all the time, but the world keeps spinning. Meike was never big on monster hunting or collecting trophies. They're happier foraging, mixing potions, and befriending monsters and critters. A fact that's further cemented when one of their friends suffers a grievous wound during a quest. But they aren't ready to hang up their cloak just yet! There are plenty of quests that don’t require a blade, quests devoted to healing, not inflicting pain. And as Meike comes to find, social quests can be stressful in their own way, but just as fulfilling.

Beecham's Infirmary for the Affluent Afflicted by Briar Somseret

A Victorian Gothic Paranormal Romance Novella by Briar Somerset In a town where health is currency and longing is lure, a reluctant investigator and seamstress must uncover whether hunger will anchor a man already slipping into the dark. Behind the decrepit doors of an Infirmary said to offer miraculous cures to London's ailing elite, people are vanishing. Private Investigator and estranged heir to French aristocracy Jacques Valmont is summoned across the channel to sleuth, despite the lingering sickness of his own—one of grief that stirs in his blood and shadows his mind. Amidst the fog and fever, he finds an unlikely ally in Annie, the quick-witted seamstress working next door to Beecham's Infirmary, whose presence seems to quiet the storm inside him. When she suggests the only way to breach the infirmary's guarded walls is becoming a patient himself, Annie's grandmother warns them both of curses that fester with longing. Unnatural aches that transform a person entirely, if not quelled. As Jacques nears the truth, desire and dread twist together. Annie may be the last tether holding him to his humanity—or the final thread that unravels it.

A Slice Of Mystery by Sophie Maddon

When you’re lucky enough to land on a project in your hometown, nothing can ruin it—right? That is, until your boss disappears and you’re given her job, the police suspect you, and the cheesemonger runs out of your favourite Gouda. When socially-awkward IT consultant Abigail Palmer is sent to work on a local factory’s new computer systems, she’s looking forward to daily get-togethers with best friend Hannah and cozy nights with Jasper the cat—NOT being blackmailed by boss Lynn into investigating a threatening note. Between managing the IT project, untangling lies, and trying to decode a cute colleague’s attentions, Abigail’s plate is full—though there’s always room for Giuseppe’s insanely delicious pizzas. Perfect for fans of cozy mysteries and awkward heroines with a side of tech. Warning: may cause cravings for artisan cheese and late-night pizza.

Accelerated Growth Environment by Lauren C. Teffeau

Dr. Jorna Benton is proud to be the Principal Scientist for the Climasphere, a massive, sea-going ecological nursery capable of supporting nearly every biome on Earth. On its inaugural mission to restore and re-wild collapsing ecosystems along the Atlantic coast, Jorna manages the Climasphere’s habitat and harvest, while her colleague—and inconveniently attractive commander—Ava Kaysar directs the rest of the vessel’s critical operations. When an explosion rocks the Climasphere, Jorna’s carefully-managed world is thrown into chaos, threatening both her personal and her professional future. And she’s the prime suspect. To clear her name, save the mission, and preserve her chance at a future with Kaysar, Jorna must finally confront the secret she’s been running from all these a family and a faith that could destroy her.

The Lunar Quartz Library by Melanie Steele

At thirty-five, Esme thought her life was set—until a magical book offered her a whole new chapter. Esme has lived the same quiet, bookish life for as long as she can remember—mornings spent sorting rare tomes at the beloved Goldsteins' Bookshop, evenings sipping tea in her tiny flat, and weekends buried in classics and comfort reads. Then a curious delivery arrives: an oversized book with a lock, but no keyhole. It doesn’t appear on any inventory list—and it doesn’t seem to belong to this world. When the Goldsteins' bookshop, where Esme has worked for half her life, suddenly shuts its doors, she finds herself adrift. Her routine is gone, her future uncertain, and the quiet, bookish life she’s always known begins to unravel. When a mysterious stranger shows up claiming the book belongs to another realm—and that Esme is the only one who can unlock its secrets—she’s offered a chance to start again. But stepping into her new role as Librarian of the Quartz Falls Library won't be easy. Esme must learn to wield magic, confront enemies who want the library sealed forever, and—most daunting of all—believe that she’s worthy of a life beyond the quiet edges of the world. A heartwarming, whimsical tale of transformation and quiet courage, this low spice cosy fantasy is perfect for fans of The Spellshop, Legends & Lattes, and The House in the Cerulean Sea. 🌙 Tropes & Themes You’ll Love 🙋 Midlife Protagonist ✨ Sweet romance 🏡 Found family 📚 Light academia 💐 Strong female friendships 🌈 LGBTQ+ rep 🧠 Neurodivergent rep ❤️ A comforting, low-stakes fantasy full of heart

Wound Archive by Anna Veprinska

Wound Archive is a collection of minimalist poems that document the concurrent ending of a relationship and the onset of a chronic invisible illness. These fragmentary pieces turn woundedness—both emotional and physical—into an act of linguistic reformation. The symbol of the wound recurs throughout, tracing the ways heartbreak and illness inhabit the body, and how the corporeal becomes a portal to the incorporeal: god, ghosts, healing. Tender and precise, Veprinska’s work reveals how brevity can hold the vastness of ache.

We Gladly Feast on Those Who Would Subdue Us by Roxanna Bennett

We Gladly Feast on Those Who Would Subdue Us marks a striking formal shift for Bennett, moving away from the recombinant sonnets that defined her previous three volumes. Infusing disability poetics with concepts of collage, Bennett enacts the improvised experience of disabled persons navigating an inaccessibly constructed world, using whatever comes to hand to make meaning and survive. Though her approach has evolved, her voice remains as singular, incisive, and powerful as ever.

Gitwaałtk by Crystal AJ Smith

Gitwaałtk tells the story of a young Indigenous woman who loses her sister to the Highway of Tears and embarks on a journey with her nux nux (spiritual beings) to find—and bring to justice—the person responsible. Weaving prose, poetry, and oral tradition, Smith’s novel traces a path through grief toward healing, where family, community, and culture become sources of strength and reclamation. The story is at once a personal act of remembrance and a larger statement on resistance, love, and spiritual continuity.

Here's to Letting Go by Blaine Thornton

The city’s quietest stories are often found in its homeless population. Blaine Thornton weaves their audience through their life as they learned that safety wasn’t necessarily at Home. Blaine leads us through the loneliest places, and brings us back into resilience through poetry, prose and narrative. Thornton takes us through sleeping under the pines, sketchy rooming houses, and couches that come with the worst cost. They also reveal how just looking for assistance can sometimes further endanger a young trans, non-binary person. Through poems and prose, Blaine shines a light on what it takes to come back, to survive, and how Love sometimes wins.

The Fate of Lenn by Dylan Madeley

"Like a book already written, turn a page forward or back, read a line or a page, yet all the words in that book exist at once, unchanging; is this how you see it? Like fate? Do we fall no matter what I do?" Future generations will mythologize Duke Lenn Wancyek, but he is a person like any other. He feels hope, worry, loss, pain, and the weight of a kingdom on his shoulders. When his responsibilities place him in a catastrophic situation from which he may not escape, his values will resonate through his actions more thoroughly than any speech he could ever make. You will meet everyone who looks to him and you will see their struggles which run concurrent with his: a friend and adviser who wishes to steer him right; three musicians who think they have landed the greatest job in the kingdom; a gardener who does so much yet asks so little; a woman who works to free her people. The list goes on, but time grows short. You will meet the man who becomes the legend. You will know the fate of Lenn. Cover by Jenn St-Onge

Prince Ewald the Brave by Dylan Madeley

"No, father. You have gotten your way for too long. This ends here." Meet the Kenderleys, the wealthiest and most powerful family in the world. The youngest, Prince Bonifaz, takes his lessons and trusts no one. The middle child, Princess Isabel, sneaks away to a secret regency of her own making. Their mother, Queen Dulcibella, watches out for her children just as readily as she watches over them. Their father, King Jonnecht, is a capricious tyrant who hopes to control his family as strictly as he does the largest empire, and his violent rage threatens all under his rule. Then there’s Prince Ewald, eldest and heir to the throne. No one is more aware of the threat his father poses to everyone. No one has better legal standing to do anything about it. How can he save everyone he loves while upholding his mother’s kind values? He must learn the lessons required to be the best regent, choose allies wisely and earn their trust, and enact a thoughtful and detailed plan. And even if he succeeds in all that, can one who draws the line and conducts a plan with honour defeat one whose rage, selfishness, and deceit know no bounds? Can Prince Ewald stop his father? A standalone prequel to the Gift-Knight Trilogy. Cover by Jenn St-Onge.

Sense & Irritability by Emma Lee Jayne

A few months ago, I was the star chef at one of Austin's hottest restaurants. Then it all came crashing down. Now, I’ve lost my job and my living situation is … questionable. Oh, and I owe my mother money. Don’t ask. When I get offered a job as a live-in, personal chef for a man I think is a rich, elderly, shut-in, I jump on it. Except, he’s not elderly. In fact he’s young, brilliant, and stupidly hot. I can't walk away from this job. What’s a down-on-her-luck girl supposed to do? Fall in love?

The Curse of Dragon Tail Island (A Pirate Fantasy Adventure) by Jonathan Nevair

Set sail with a once-legendary pirate and his reunited crew in this swashbuckling fantasy filled to the rum-soaked brim with second chances, daring capers, and salty sea adventure. Captain James R. Hawk, aka Trusty Jack, and his Salty Scoundrels are do-gooder buccaneers leaving a trail of mischief and mayhem in their wake. Their credo: ignore the corrupt laws of the Jewel Island's greedy regent and sail the tropical seas in search of enchanted treasure. But when the royal navy teams up with a powerful mage, Trusty Jack’s sordid past catches up with him. Lost love, lost lives, and a lost ship haunt the legendary pirate, none more than Marian, his once-betrothed. That’s when a cunning gnome arrives from the mainland with a daring proposal. Will Jack muster his sea dog courage and sail through the illusion-filled mists to reach a forbidden island? The ghostly horrors and powerful curse at his destination will test more than his pirate mettle. He’ll have to weigh the price of gold against the risk of peril to himself, his crew, and those he loves… and face the rising tide of a haunting past.

Forged in Ruin & Turmoil by Kiana I. Alexandria

Fans of Powerless by Lauren Robert’s, Throne of Glass by Sarah j Maas & Crave by Tracey Wolf will love this thought provoking, fast paced romantasy novel. Strength. Heartache. Betrayal. Reyna was born a drudge—voiceless and invisible in the ruthless Blood Kingdom, where power is everything, and love is a dangerous weakness. Where she’s spent her life enduring cruelty, but when the High Council commits an unforgivable act, Reyna finally breaks. Escaping with nothing but her pain and determination, she flees into the unknown. Welcome to Ellyshia—a land full with power, danger, and fractured alliances. Reyna struggles to survive in a land that feels just as cruel as the one she left behind. But fate isn’t done with her. Captured by a cold, duty-bound fae prince with emerald eyes and a brooding temper, Reyna finds herself torn between fury and something far more dangerous—hope. While her heart still carries the scars from a love ripped from her grasp, new feelings begin to spark where she least expects them. As war brews and ancient enemies rise, Reyna must confront the truth about who she is and what she’s willing to fight for. Loyalties will be tested, blood will be spilled, and secrets buried in the shadows will come to light. Will she rise and answer fates call—or be consumed by the vengeance she’s carried for too long?

Love Mediation by D.C. Emerson

Love. Four seemingly innocuous letters that have caused James a lot of grief. Growing up, he thought he had his mom and dad’s love, and his first boyfriend had said lots of pretty words—“love" included. But when push came to shove, the only one whose love stuck around was his mom. And yes, he knows how pathetic that sounds, especially given that his mom is now busier than ever, happily planning Valentine’s Day for her two partners. Things are changing, though. James also has a beloved partner. A man he’s ready to introduce to his mom, and maybe even say those terrifying three words to… He just has to make it perfect. Leon, on the other hand, is far from perfect, and has no plans to try and be anything other than what he is: the office bad boy who is finally facing his ADHD head on…while also reckoning with the fact that he's head over heels for his ridiculous, adorable boyfriend. With the help of new friends and his loveable cat Yarmen, he’s sure everything will work out just fine. Love Mediation is the third novella in the Conflict Mediation series. The series is MM romance novella with trans rep and follows James and Leon as they explore their relationship, form new, long-lasting friendships, and dote on everyone’s favorite cat, Yarmen.

Conflict Resolution by D.C. Emerson

James: James really thought he and Leon left all their struggles behind at the haunted house. His mom is healthy and happy, dating not one but two wonderful people, and James’ own relationship is off to a great start. Unfortunately, as the year draws to a close, James comes face-to-face with a new obstacle: intimacy. While James is by no means a stranger to physical intimacy, it’s been a long time since he had to introduce someone to his parts and preferences. Taking this next step in their relationship comes with lots of conversations…and James wouldn’t call himself an expert conversationalist. Leon: Well, it’s been quite a year. Going from enemies to friends to soon-to-be lovers with James has been a journey, but Leon wouldn’t trade a second of it. What he could do without is the dual diagnosis of anxiety, which he discovered in the middle of a haunted house, and ADHD, which James’ office subordinates noticed before any of Leon’s therapists did. He really thought he’d gotten all his self-discovery out of the way as a teen, but it seems there’s always room to grow. At least this time he won’t be doing it alone. Conflict Resolution is a steamy MM romance novella with trans rep about self-discovery, growth, New Year’s resolutions, and, of course, lots of snuggles with a very needy cat. This is the second novella in a series of novellas following the same couple through various stages of their journey toward a happy-ever-after. This book focuses primarily on the exploring intimacy stage, so if that’s not your vibe, skip to the next novella, Love Mediation, for more James and Leon. The Conflict Mediation novella series should be read in order and is a spinoff from the Not So Normative series, but can be read separately from the other Not So Normative books. The reading order is: Conflict Mediation, Haunted Mediation, Conflict Resolutions, Love Mediation, and a finale.

Haunted Mediation by D.C. Emerson

It’s been six months since workplace rivals James and Leon were sent to conflict mediation, only to end up in couple's counseling. Since then, they’ve become friends, and James would even go so far as to call them best friends. Which is great. Truly. James is so grateful for their lunch dates and weekend hangouts...even if his feelings for Leon moved way past platonic months ago. What matters is his mom is doing better now. She’s been in remission for almost a full year and is becoming increasingly independent—right in time for her all-time favorite holiday: Halloween. All James has wanted for years is for her to be healthy enough to enjoy the small things in life, like having her new “friends” over for scary movies and pumpkin flavored treats. So why does he feel so lost and aimless now? He knows he should talk to Leon about it. Halloween night doesn’t seem like the right time, though, especially not when they get tricked into visiting a house of horrors. If James can get through it, maybe then they can talk, even if doing so feels scarier than anything they’ll face in the haunted house. Haunted Mediation is an MM novella with trans rep, featuring a troublesome neighbor, a needy cat, and a Haunted House. The Conflict Mediation novella series should be read in order and is a spinoff from the Not So Normative series, but can be read separately from the other Not So Normative books. The reading order is: Conflict Mediation, Haunted Mediation, Conflict Resolutions, Love Mediation, and a finale.