Magica Riot by Kara Buchanan

The last night of Claire Ryland's old life in the closet was pretty normal, aside from the alley fight with interdimensional monsters. Fortunately, the drummer of her favorite local band transformed into a magical girl and saved her. Then Claire became a magical girl as well. Things got a little complicated after that. Now Claire is juggling two new living as a girl and as a member of Portland's super-secret supernatural defense squad, the hard-rocking magical girls known as ... Magica Riot! The story of a young transgender woman who's discovering herself at the same time she's learning how to be a magical girl, Magica Riot is an action-filled musical adventure inspired by classic magical girl anime, tokusatsu shows, and the vibe of the American Pacific Northwest. Featuring a cast of LGBTQ+ magical girls, mysterious monsters, and villains that are more than they appear to be, Magica Riot shows that finding your true self is the first step toward saving the world. The debut work in the Maidensong Magica universe of magical girl stories!

13 County Road 666 by CL McCollum

It’s the full moon again, and that means Melanie Smithson’s job just got a lot harder. She’s got a demon boss, a drunken werewolf tearing up the place, a long-time crush on her straight trans girl best friend, a toxic witch-with-benefits situation, and brand new interest in the aforementioned drunken werewolf. But Mel’s relationship problems are hardly her worst problems. A stranger appears on the property after a vicious attack by what looks like a rogue werewolf, but may be something even more sinister. Worse yet, one by one, Mel’s tenants turn up possessed and violent, forcing Mel to kill in order to protect herself and her other residents. Mel has to track down the one responsible for all the carnage before she risks losing one or more of the people she cares about. But finding that killer may not save her from a monster much closer to home, and that confrontation may change Mel in ways she could never predict.

The Language of Roses by Heather Rose Jones

A Beauty. A Beast. A Curse. This is not the story you know. Join author Heather Rose Jones on a new and magical journey into the heart of a familiar fairytale. Meet Alys, eldest daughter of a merchant, a merchant who foolishly plucks a rose from a briar as he flees from the home of a terrifying fay Beast and his seemingly icy sister. Now Alys must pay the price to save his life and allow the Beast, the once handsome Philippe, to pay court to her. But Alys has never fallen in love with anyone; how can she love a Beast? The fairy Peronelle, waiting in the woods to see the culmination of her curse, is sure that she will fail. Yet, if she does, Philippe’s sister Grace and her beloved Eglantine, trapped in an enchanted briar in the garden, will pay a terrible price. Unless Alys can find another way… This is the third volume of the Queen of Swords Press Mini Series.

A Life in Too Many Margins by S. E. Thomson

David is dying, or maybe he isn't. Hard to say, really, because no one ever gives you a timetable when you're disabled, autistic, queer, and stuck improvising your way through existence. What he does know is this: if life is going to keep punching him in the gut, he might as well write it all down first. A Life in Too Many Margins is the story of a man looking backward while time keeps nudging him forward. From childhood misunderstandings to medical disasters, David is collecting the fragments of a life shaped by truths he didn't discover until far too late: that he's neurodivergent, that his body will never play by the rules. That gender was never the box people insisted it had to be. If you've ever felt like the world wasn't built with you in mind, or if you just enjoy a dark laugh in the middle of disaster, David's story will remind you that sometimes real life only happens… in the margins.

Ambrosia by Lenia Lenient

At fourteen, Katya signs her life over to entertainment monopolist W-Media to be broken down and reshaped into the perfect superstar. At twenty-one, now under the name Ambrosia, she is the centerpiece of wildly popular girl-group Moxxy, female lead in hit-block-buster S.L.Y., and firmly cemented as one of W-Media's most lucrative creations ever. She, also, hides a mental-breakdown-induced shaved head under her wig, keeps bleeding out of her nose due to experimental performance-enhancing drugs, and is about to turn the most prestigious award ceremony of the year into a whirlwind of shattered glass and bloodshed. AMBROSIA is a non-chronological story with a frame narrative that spans only a single day, while the story-within draws from anywhere within the past seven years of management-dictated shower times, content-factory dorms, and a life made for consumption that slowly but surely turns the pleasure of being looked at by everybody into the overwhelming urge to claw out eyes.

World of Dreams by Riley Taylor

The Poison Princess series continues with World of Dreams. Life isn’t easy after their last fight, but they cannot give up. Kai is distraught, and Zuri has no way to make it better. In fact, she blames herself. If she’d just realised what her vision meant, then everything would be alright. She should have been stronger. After stepping up their training, the team gets the opportunity to go on an Alliance run mission. Someone has forced their way into the Fantasy Realm, a dangerous place belonging to Nature’s Royals and The Alliance wants to put a stop to Hideki’s terrible plans. They must make it through to the end alive, traversing through the sectors of Water, Orchid, Appleblossom, Cherry Blossom, and Poison, passing trials set by the Royals along the way. Zuri must be careful to hide her secret but it is difficult when the lives of her loved ones are on the line yet again. Exhausted and bloody, when they make it to the centre, they meet someone who turns their lives upside down. Everything they thought they knew is wrong. And the battle has only just begun…

A Hidden's Witch's Spell for Freeing a Captive Olympian by C.N. Rowan

Save the house, or save my best friend? There’s no way to do both. Our hunt for the magical amulet my mum left me has finally borne fruit. But the trail leads somewhere completely off-world—Olympus. Home to the so-called gods of legend… who, as it turns out, aren’t all that friendly to regular mortals. But that’s not even the worst of it. Tisha—my brilliant, reckless, fiercely loyal best friend—was poisoned saving my life. And the location of the only cure? Yep, it's Olympus too. So now I’m heading into enemy territory to face immortal beings who’ve never learned to share. The clock is ticking, and the stakes are brutal. If I choose the amulet, I might never heal the Portal. If I choose the antidote, I might lose Tisha forever. There’s no winning move… and if I get this wrong, I’m not the only one who’ll pay the price. A Hidden Witch’s Spell for Freeing A Captive Olympian is Book Two in A Broken Hotel for Magical Misfits—a series that’s custom-made for lovers of strong heroines, quirky magical characters and found family, all woven together with heart, humour and action-packed adventure. And that’s to say nothing of the slow-burn romance that spans the series…

A Hidden Witch's Spell for Making a Tiny Giant Mighty by C.N. Rowan

This morning, I’m worried I might lose my business and my flat. This afternoon? I’m worried I might be losing my mind... I’ve been struggling to keep my little bookshop afloat for years, and closure seems inevitable—until a mysterious letter arrives on my doorstep. Apparently, I’ve inherited a crumbling hotel from a grandmother I never even knew, complete with long-term residents who redefine “quirky.” Especially Silas—the brooding, infuriatingly hot recluse who always wears black and never opens the curtains. In a moment of frustration, I slip on my grandmother’s old mood ring. Pro tip? Maybe don’t try on emotionally reactive magical jewellery while having a meltdown—unless you want your kitchen to catch fire. That’s when things get properly weird. Turns out, the hotel is a magical portal. Not just to one world… but many. And someone—or something—is willing to do anything to take it. Now I’m fighting for my new home, my found family, and a future I never asked for… armed with zero training and a flair for chaos. A Hidden Witch’s Spell For Making a Tiny Giant Mighty is Book One in a A Broken Hotel for Magical Misfits series that’s custom-made for lovers of strong heroines, quirky magical characters and found family all woven together with heart, humour and action-packed adventure. And that’s to say nothing of the slow-burn romance that spans the series…

Where The Soul Goes by Katherine Silva

1989: Floods and record rainfall have turned the United States into little more than a drowned world. People left and right lose their wills to live and are coming down with a degenerative disease called The Ash. It burns people up from the inside out, numbing the senses, erasing memories, turning people into nothing more than crumbling, shambling echoes of who they used to be. Eliot Lamb, a once successful chef, is terrified when he discovers he has the Ash. Just when he thinks there is nothing left for him, he encounters Death in the form of his deceased protegee, Alexis. She has a proposition that might turn the tide against the Ash for the human race and he's the only man for the job: find four people and change their lives. Inspire them. Eliot is skeptical but convinced only after a run-in with the FBI forces him out onto the road with a well- meaning plumber sidekick, Terry. As they journey from flooded New England to the swamps of the American South and across the fog-saturated midwest, Eliot and Terry are pursued by an agent hell-bent on finding the source behind a string of domestic terrorist bombings that seem to be connected to the Ash and a man of the cloth convinced that Eliot is a devil in need of cleansing. For Eliot, the road ahead gets murkier and murkier as the person he once was slips through his fingers with every bite he takes. Inspired by Anthony Bourdain's No Reservations and Simon Stalenhag's dystopian tales, Where The Soul Goes explores the abyss of human connection through the culinary arts amidst an alternate 80's backdrop.

The Dragon Next Door by Vanessa Ricci-Thode

Tollar’s got a stolen dragon egg, and that’s the least of her problems. Tollar is a hero for hire who just wants to deliver a stolen dragon egg to its kin and get on with her next adventure. But when the dragon hatches, imprints on her, and refuses to leave, Tollar enlists her pyromancer best friend and neighbour, Beenala, to help keep the dragon alive. Tollar’s chaotic life exacerbates Beenala’s overwhelming anxiety, and being stuck at home leaves Tollar feeling stifled and unwanted. To make matters worse, in order to hide an entire dragon from local and foreign hostile factions, Tollar must risk exposing the truth behind her unprecedented power as an aquamancer and face being chased out of the only home she’s ever known. When Draminedes, perhaps the worst spy in the world, lets slip that the people Tollar stole the dragon egg from are much worse than she thought, Tollar and Beenala realize their home is in danger. Now Tollar needs to stop making herself the outsider and Beenala needs to find some courage so they can team up with this unlikely ally to save everything they love, including each other. This sapphic ace romantasy is complete with mutual pining and odd-couple energy and is full of marginalized characters out living their best lives and having adventures while being nurturing and supportive in their relationships, including bonds between humans and dragons.

First Oaths by C.J. Tuma & Quinn Cameron

“We weren’t meant to burn our dead.” After escaping the cult that nearly destroyed him, Kit Mosel has built a new life. He’s sure that no one in town knows his real name or what he did, until Penwell Oliver appears, desperate for help retrieving his father’s stolen remains from the very cult Kit fled. Kit knows he should say no, but there's something about Penny he can't refuse. Together, Penny and Kit plan to infiltrate the cult and earn their trust. Kit knows how to blend in and play their games, but Penny isn’t like him; he’s always been too soft. Too quick to trust. Worse, Penny draws attention from people who would gladly hurt him just to punish Kit. The deeper they go, the more Kit unravels. Penny isn’t just a liability—he’s a temptation. A reminder of everything Kit thought he didn’t deserve. And in a place where weakness is punished and love is weaponized, wanting each other could cost them both everything.

Dove's Eyes by Kienn Nguyen

Queer horror in the style of House of Leaves and Cormac McCarthy. Hallucinatory. Hidden ciphers. No quotation marks. This is a challenging read. Proceed with caution. Consult sample chapters and content warnings. A disgraced detective is hired to investigate a ritualistic killing in an isolated prison town. Falls into the hands of a charming doctor on a crusade to cure mankind of sin. a queer gothic neo western horror novel, ergodic literature, psychological horror, religious trauma, lobotomies, m/m, trans, biromantic, ace, 70k Bentham, Wyoming. A deserted ghost town built upon abandoned coal mines. Once windtorn woodrot, now a private penitentiary set in a reformative community pledged to clinical testing. Neurosurgeon Dr. Wayne Sykkes truly believed he had found the cure for all sin. But one year into testing and Belle Rivera, twenty-four, was found dead. Bloodied in the underbrush. A sprig of hyssop pressed to her lips. Enter Corey Handler Delgado. Fallen angel scorned. Five years ago he was nothing more than a scruffy detective. For an act of brutal justice he was arrested in the attempted murder of an innocent man. One call and the charming doctor has convinced him to take a second chance. Insists that he can be saved. But something is wrong. Something is wrong with this town. Something is wrong with this body. Something is wrong with this cure. Cora isn't dead.

Chapel at Ender’s Ridge by Beckett Krane

Decker Belmont loathes being a vampire. Leaving his bloody past behind him, Decker finds refuge in the quiet town of Ender’s Ridge where creatures like him thrive, and strikes up a tenuous balance between survival and sanity. When a troubled preacher arrives to fix the chapel next door to the saloon, Decker discovers he’s not the only one struggling with his nature. Laurie Lane is eager to start his new life away from seminary, but the town’s history doesn’t favor preachers—neither does Decker, especially when change follows Laurie like a plague. As the veil protecting Ender’s Ridge cracks, and tensions rise, Decker and Laurie are forced to find peace in who they are and what they mean to each other before Ender’s Ridge succumbs to a disaster of biblical proportions.

Held In Her Storm by E. Rosa

To escape a political marriage, a princess apprentices under the powerful Fae queen she's always idolized. But in a court of deadly magic and dangerous politics, their forbidden attraction could ignite a war... or stop one.

Dead Malls by Darby Harn

Sometimes, you can take retail therapy too far... You work the night shift as a security guard in a dying mall. You're living out of your car. Suffice to say, you're looking for an escape. One night in the mall, you happen upon an intruder dressed as if she’s an extra from a Mad Max movie. You discover the mall is a gateway to another world. But it's not a world anyone wants to escape to. Diane's world ended in 1983 in a nuclear holocaust. Ever since, she's clawed out a broken existence in a scorched wasteland, clinging to a ragged department store Christmas catalog from her youth. You have more questions than answers, but you do have choices, and the first presents itself when an armored knight riding a radioactive snake arrives in search of Diane and her book. Make your choice. Protect Diane, fight her strange pursuer, flee the mall as it becomes a surreal trap deformed by his unusual powers, but always go back to the start: what is the secret of the catalog? Why does Diane's pursuer want it, and why is Diane so determined not to let him have it? Can you find out before your world ends, too?

Loyalty to the Max by Maya Darjani

Max Dupont stars in his own standalone adventure in the second installment of the Broken Union series, taking place one year after Ancient as the Stars. Captain Maxime Dupont of the Earth Union is a rogue. A maverick. A clear-headed arbitrator of right and wrong– rules be damned. But even Max stumbles when he encounters his latest challenge. The Union is collaborating with former enemy Mars to fix the collapse of interstellar travel–but at the cost of vulnerable citizens. Max has to figure out where his loyalties lie–and if treason is a price he's willing to pay for doing the right thing. Meanwhile... Lieutenant Ren Yilmaz has finally found a crew. A home. A rewarding career, on the ESS Knight. But Ren gets drawn into a web of espionage. Her captain, Max, has shady dealings with anti-Union rebel groups and assigns her shipmates off-the-books tasks. It's Ren's duty as an officer to investigate. But snooping can be disastrous. Not only would she be betraying her newfound family, but Ren has secrets too–and if she digs too far, her own past as a spy could get spectacularly exposed. As tensions mount, the choices Max and Ren make will test their loyalty not only to the Union, but to each other--and the crew they call family.

The Wish of a Dragon by JD Rivers

Otar comes to on a dingy space station and discovers two things: First, he's missing a good chunk of his memories. Second, Andres, his lover, has disappeared. Before he can retrace his steps, a knock at the door demands a debt be repaid—one Otar can't remember. Captain Veil Dreamcatcher is in search of the dragons with only ruins to guide him. Otar agrees to help in exchange for a reduced debt and information about Andres. On their travels, Otar realizes Veil is as adrift in this world as he is. Both are on a quest for the impossible: finding the ones they have loved and lost. All the while, the shadows are watching with red glowing eyes.

Riyati Ripple by Kai Zeal

Every act of defiance steers you into the person you were always been meant to become. After Nimaka’s death and the older selves returning to their own time, Kylie ran from all she’d known and grown up with at North Opal Pines, but she soon learns she can’t run far or fast enough. She thought she could leave it all behind: go back to being a normal high school student, make new friends, keep her grades up and her mother happy. But Nimaka’s death has only rallied the two other, and now they’ve stalked Kylie to her new school. Even worse, they have a mysterious new leader who no longer seeks to just kill Kylie but all those she knows and loves…. and the body count is rising. Kylie can’t get by on “just surviving” anymore: to protect herself — let alone those around her — she must become as strong and cunning as Siani was, or she’ll not only become trapped in the incarnation cycle but everyone she’s ever known and loved will die with her. Riyati Ripple is the third book in a new adult/adult contemporary, low dark fantasy series that seeks to explore themes of identity, legacy, generational trauma, and finding your own path in life. Riyati is set in the modern day fictional Southern US town of Opal Pines and includes multiple first person perspectives with characters across a range of queer, neurodiverse, and socioeconomic statuses.

The Devil Owns Primetime by Sirius

Josiah Tucker is the richest televangelist in East Texas, whose fame and fortune seemingly skyrocketed overnight. He is the charismatic face of the Last Chance for Faith megachurch and the voice of every late-night Southern Gospel radio station. Even more excitingly, he has taken his sermons to the television screen, preaching the word of the Lord live several times a week at primetime. There are very few who see the man he is when he steps down from the pulpit. In a fast-moving, free-spending world of sex and drugs, Josiah is a cold narcissist who never stops listening to his own sermons. He keeps a secret boyfriend hidden from his congregation while stringing along his dutiful secretary after (and during) church office hours. But like the walls of Jericho, Josiah’s world is about to come tumbling down. He will find out that success has come at the price of his immortal soul, and the ink is still wet on the infernal deal he struck six years ago at his most desperate hour. Now the devil is tired of waiting for his due and will take everything Josiah has until the debt is paid. And there is truth in the saying: the higher they are, the harder they fall.

A Seething Heart: Ophelia Requited by T.O. Tate

SHOW ME THE STEEP AND THORNY WAY TO HEAVEN On the unpredictable waters of the Great Lakes, the cargo ship Squall sails from port to port in a world torn apart by a mysterious illness. Orris is an oddity, born wrapped in thorny vines that have lain silent inside their body for decades. Since then, they’ve dedicated their life to caring for those in the last stages of a mysterious illness known as sliversickness, well aware that someday soon, they too will die. After the death of the Squall’s captain under suspicious circumstances, Orris finds themself in the middle of a struggle for power between their lover Hunter and his stepfather Charles. Rumors of ghosts creep through the Squall’s passageways, and Hunter’s behavior becomes more and more erratic. Everyone looks to Orris to help him, worried that he, like so many others, has fallen ill. But as vines begin to stir inside their chest, Hunter kills Orris’s father, leaving vengeance as their only option.

Away From Grace by Jess Autiero

The Archangel Michael had one mission: to stop Lucifer from escaping Hell. He failed. Trapped in a young human body, stripped of his immortality and angelic powers, Michael faces a new life he never wanted. Finding small joys in his new existence, he vows to avoid angelic wars at all costs—until a tragedy forces him to reconsider his promise. As chaos brews and haunting dreams grip him, will Michael have the courage to protect humankind once again? And when his deepest love is his greatest enemy, will he be able to confront the creature he cherishes above all?

Physical Magic by William C. Tracy

**Book Bloggers' Novel of the Year 2025 Semi-Finalist!** Welcome to the Shifting Lands. Silluka was born with only one arm and could never practice the exacting motions to summon the favor of the gods. Caught stealing, she is forced to test her powers or be branded an outcast. She fails, and loses citizenship to her village. In a fit of desperation, Silluka tries to steal a badge of citizenship from a mysterious elder, but instead, Elder Quilqi shows Silluka a different path to gain the powers of the gods, aided by an octopus-like technological wizard who worships their own eldritch divinities. Time is short for training however, because a new island is speeding toward the coastal town, throwing deadly hurricanes and tidal waves before it and threatening all who live there. Only the gods and godlike storm warriors protect the village from destruction, but all of them fail when a mysterious creature bursts through the wall. It's only one forerunner for a species of terrifying fast, deadly, and ready to invade the larger island. The village must flee inland before the invasion, while Silluka is weighed down by her outcast status and her brother’s failing abilities. To save herself, her family, and her village, Silluka must overcome stigma and self-doubt. She must learn the scope of the world outside her village. She must learn Physical Magic.

Crying Out for Magic by P.S.C. Willis

A meet-cute across worlds! Draven Montrose’s world, Galdorsfarne, is like a soggy firework; so much potential, so little sparkle. Magic is running out, and so are his dating options. Whilst he should be grateful for a cruelty-free world, he’s never known anything else. His (entirely realistic and modest) goals for the year are to solve the magical energy crisis…and get a proper boyfriend. Niall Silverstein lives in Northern England, wishing fantasy stories were real and he had the guts to talk to cute boys. He isn’t out to his parents, he’s never kissed anyone, and he’s convinced he’ll die alone in a corner of the library, a spotty and unloved nerd. A magical portal between worlds and a chance meeting might be all that’s needed to fix both their broken worlds. But does Draven’s world contain enough magic to keep their meetings going? Find out in Crying Out for Magic, by P.S.C. Willis!

It's You, Isn't It? by Antony Paschos

Who are the heirs to the colony? On the world of Terra-Octa, colonists Avra, her sister, and their friend Penko are the first to catch sight of a massive guardian of the native trees producing Chloron, vital to building the colony. Three years later, the colony is destroyed by an uprising of chlorobots, powered by that same resource. But all is not as it seems. What at first is a childhood memory to Avra turns deadly as her alien caretaker reveals herself to be more than Avra could understand. At the same time, her father, the general, firms his grasp on how the colony is run. Told in the past and the present, Avra’s story unravels in time and meaning until she finally understands her family, her blossoming romance with Penko, her alien caretaker, the origins of life, and the betrayal at the base of the colony. Get ready for It’s You, Isn’t It? by Antony Paschos!

Waves Take Your Bones by Athena Giles

Tallis and Finn, simple farmers, find their quiet village overrun by shriekers, a horde of undead revenants. After a devastating attack and heartbreaking losses, they must flee the only land they’ve known for the capital of the kingdom of Okaesa. Along the way, Tallis and Finn are separated from the other refugees, with their only escape across the Nightmare Bridge, a thing of horrific legends, which leaves them both scarred from the experience. In the capital, there is still no safety, for Tallis and Finn are drafted into the navy aboard separate ships, under dueling commanders. Amid struggling with the loss of their home they might find themselves crossing blades with those dearest to them who have fallen to the mysterious undead disease. The capital, an island fortress seems to be the last refuge of the kingdom, until Tallis discovers the undead have learned to sail… Check out Athena Giles debut book, Waves Take Your Bones!

Isaac by Allee Mead

When Eleanor Lane, estranged from her family, makes the drive to her deceased father’s house to arrange his funeral, she discovers Isaac, a care-bot. Isaac had been caring for her father ever since the incident six years ago, when her father, confused, accidentally cut her with a kitchen knife. Eleanor convinces her sister to let her take the care-bot home, beginning a new relationship with him despite herself. As she learns more about Isaac, she also discovers a caring, sensitive person in the android. He fills the void in her life created from her fear of connecting with others, and starts to reconnect Eleanor to how her fathers, John and Javi, met and fell in love. But is Isaac a replacement for human contact? For that matter, what is Isaac? A simple programmed construct, or a person who can grow and learn? Explore love, community, and what it means to be human in Allee Mead’s debut book, Isaac.

Lesbians in Space: Where No Man Has Gone Before by Edited by J.S. Fields, William C. Tracy, Heather Tracy

Peanut butter and chocolate. Cheese and wine. Sex and rock n' roll. History is full of great pairings. Get ready for your new Lesbians and Space! Join a host of intrepid explorers heading to the outer reaches of the galaxy, exploring planets, space stations, strange new worlds and interesting aliens. Launch into stories that span the cosmos, covering Space Opera, Xenobiology, Space Stations, Adventure, and Spaceships! From spaceship mechanics to intergalactic colony queens, heists, smugglers, gods, and sentient planets, Lesbians in Space explores the galaxy from the unique perspective of the lesfic world, blending the best of sapphic literature with modern sci-fi and space opera tropes. With stories Mary Robinette Kowal, Seanan McGuire, Travis Baldree, Emma Newman, MK Hardy, Ashleigh Martin, Nathan Chu, Stewart C Baker, Kayla Whittle, Joel Glover, Caye Marsh, Kira Neu, Jes Honard, Scarlet Passmore, Sylvie Althoff, Jasmine Gower, Siena Buchanan, Beáta Fülöp, Danielle Woolhead, J.S. Fields, and Heather Tracy

Only a Chapter by Heather Tracy

A call to change a lifetime… Clare O’Donnell is in a dead-end relationship with her girlfriend, until she receives a phone call that changes her life—literally. In one timeline, her biopsy results are positive for cancer. In another timeline, her results are benign. In one timeline, the faceless person she has romantic dreams of becomes masculine. In the other timeline, they become feminine. Her world begins to diverge, sending Clare on differing journeys of self-discovery and romance. In both, her dreams seem to show what might happen, and she realizes they all started after she survived the fatal car crash that took her parents. There is one constant: that no matter the challenges she faces, this is only a chapter of her life. Explore how one phone call could change your life forever.

Tavern Tale by Kristina W. Kelly

What if the side quest is really the main quest? Divine, a healer of the Goddess of Souls, has chased the thief who stole her talisman across half of Trelvania. The talisman is the key to accessing her magic well, and without it, she is powerless. While chasing her betrayer, former girlfriend, and servant of the Goddess of Condemnation, Divine meets Saph, a flirty tavern owner with an eyepatch and a proposition. Saph will help Divine locate her talisman if Divine helps her complete a mysterious quest in a chest. Inspired by RPGs and set in scenic autumn, prepare for an adventure with gods and goddesses, deceitful exes, axe throwing, and fantastical creatures. Can Divine learn to trust again and find romance in the middle of finding her magic?

The Awakening of Lora Abernathy by MJ Anthony

After a disastrous birthday ceremony and coming-of-age ritual gone wrong, Lora flees home, taking her new lycanthrope form for a test drive on the streets of Glenhurst, and hoping to prove her worth. When she answers a local job posting at random, Lora lands in the company of two other strangers: Nic and Art. Nic has sought redemption from his own past failings on his fiancé's family farm. When that security is threatened, he takes matters into his own hands, seeking out a connection from his sister's college days, who is rumored to have experience with magic blades and killing tyrants. Art longs for the past about as often as he longs to forget it, pouring his time into cooking, mutual aid efforts, bounty hunting gig work, and studying crosscosm theory (the idea of travel between worlds). This job will pay his rent, and, if he's lucky, not give him time to think about his trauma. The job? Enter the forest and eliminate the threat that's been causing townsfolk and travelers to go missing. But the woods are dark, and they have eaten adventurers before. When their pasts come back to haunt them, can the fledgling party survive?

The Celeste Files by Sienna Eggler

Difficult clients, questionable technological advances, and the much despised holiday of love torments our protagonist, Ryn Casler. Detective Winters surprises Ryn with yet another case outside their wheelhouse: a missing dog. The pooch in question is Celeste, beloved Doberman, once ensnared in a custody battle. But the police have better use of their time than searching for the pup, allegedly stolen from a high-rise apartment with no signs of forced entry. A reluctant Ryn accepts, thinking it would be a nice change of pace from their stressful case log—but this dog quickly becomes the bane of their existence. Especially when Celeste’s tracker is found at the bottom of the Cuyahoga River… “Just what the hell have you gotten me into this time, Detective?”

Voracity by Sienna Eggler

They’ll do anything to prevent another mauling... Frankie had it all in their youth; they were a talented musician and dancer with a promising career in ballet. But that all fell apart in one night, after an encounter with a fellow jaguar left them scarred for life. With the help of their former rescuer and partner, Nikita, and close friend, Dasha, Frankie put on a little muscle, learned to fight, and even kill. All skills needed for their partner’s walk of life—but not Frankie’s. When Dominique offered them a job as a piano player at her dance studio, Frankie took it—and her heart. Their mutual love for the arts helps keeps Frankie grounded. But she only knows them as the tortured soul and fallen dancer. But the careful image Frankie has crafted for themself begins to unravel when the alluring Sophie enters their life. Sophie, who may be the next victim in a string of violent cat attacks…

HOLIEST by Sancta Seraphina

Deep in the heart of Hell, the Fallen Host is living with as much peace as their Father allows them to have, until one day when a treacherous cherub is cast down into their realm like the star Wormwood from Revelation. Yet all of the other portents from Revelation seem to be missing, with the exception of a mysterious manuscript that begins haunting the Devil's dreams and eventually his waking world as well.

The Dhampir's Acolyte by Nyx Coronado

Rescued from the brink of death by a mysterious, solitary dhampir, Tasmin finds an unexpected sanctuary in Vicente's crumbling castle. As their fragile bond deepens into something more, the arrival of his ruthless vampire family threatens to shatter her newfound safe haven. With a hexed wolf shifter at her side who is eager to show his interest in her, Tasmin is just a human trying to figure out what to do with her life but decisions have consequences. Pulled into a dangerous conflict, she must decide if trusting the monsters who healed her is worth the risk of losing her heart—and her life. The Dhampir's Acolyte is a vampire/human/werewolf romance with why choose love interests, open door spice and quick chapters to keep the action moving.

The Flowers I Deserve by Tamara Jerée

Weeping luna is as common as wildflowers, and in the northern kingdoms, assassination by its floral poison is rampant. Those born with immunity are coveted by heretic clerical orders and the endangered aristocracy—and shunned by a superstitious society. One so gifted, or cursed, Carlotta embraces her newfound power as the currency to deliver her from a land in the grip of drought. Luxury and beauty, glimpsed only through the portal of her late mother’s letters, become an easy trade to consider in exchange for her life. And looming always in her imagination is the symbol of it all—King Emelia, a demon who rose to power under mysterious circumstances. Rumor claims her to be a monstrous woman like the poison girls who serve and adore her. Yet in the warnings of evil, Carlotta sees her own reflection. Once initiated into the world of sensual indulgence and ancient magic within the castle walls, however, Carlotta finds that not even a king’s devotion is enough to sate her. As the castle’s ghosts coalesce, Carlotta must also confront what her own dead want for her and, even at the heights of her seduction, what she truly wants for herself. The Flowers I Deserve is an FFF erotic gothic fantasy novel with lyrical prose.

Canvas of Scars by Shane Blackheart

Wandering alone late at night in the dark. Searching for meaning as your heart melts in your ribcage. A longing to be alive, but you're dead and staring through a veil to experience a semblance of life. + + + Canvas of Scars is a collection of dark poetry, short prose, and art with themes of PTSD, depression, psychosis, and other dark subjects.

The Traitor & The Wretch by Jasmine Walls, Rowan MacColl

THE TRAITOR & THE WRETCH is a dark fantasy adventure with a surprisingly tender romance between two very unlikely allies. Written by Jasmine Walls and illustrated by Rowan MacColl, set to be released in Fall 2025. In a world of Prophecies and Heroes, who cares about the henchmen? KNELL was just another nameless cultist trapped under the thrall of the Great One, Bringer of Chaos and fully expected to die on the battlefield. Much to his surprise he’s still alive, but not for long unless he can escape before his distinctive chaos-tainted looks get him captured and killed. PERCY was the former right hand man of the Prophesized Hero. Disillusioned and bitter, he turned traitor during the great battle against the risen chaos god in an attempt to prove this Hero false. Instead, he lost his hand and became the most wanted man in the kingdom. These two unlikely allies must work together to survive pitch black tunnels full of mutated creatures, angry mobs, old enemies, and their own haunted pasts. They’ll find unexpected strength in each other—and the possibility for more—if they don’t end up dying before they can make it out of the kingdom. They weren’t meant for a happy ending, but rules are for good guys and they’ll do whatever it takes to change their fates.

How to Flaunt Your Chains and Surrender a Vein by D. N. Bryn

‘What else is this shed for, if not torturing unsuspecting vampires?’ Rahil Zaman has good reason to keep his distance from the world—and his fangs are only part of that. He hides in his crumbling home, acquiring blood through the risky one-night stands he finds on hunter-infested hookup apps. After one such fling turns sour, Rahil ends up trapped in the work shed of the one match he wishes would respond to his flirtations. Finding the hot twink he’d been ghosting inside his work shed was not on Mercer Bloncourt’s agenda. Between his work as a craftsman and his tumultuous relationship with his chronically-ill daughter, he doesn’t have the time or heart for a relationship. But Rahil is not the only intruding presence in Mercer’s life. A hostile hunter and a manipulative research scientist both insist—on threat of his daughter’s life—that he recreate versions of his ‘holy silver’: a vampire-killing metal forged in the wake of his wife’s murder, bound up in all the grief and destruction he’s striven for years to overcome. To complicate matters, Rahil is the rare vampire who’s immune to the deadly silver, providing Mercer the perfect lab rat to test a kinder vampire-affecting metal. As Rahil and Mercer rush to the forge, they must face their past wrongs once more, and in time, discover that no mistake is worth the sentence of eternal loneliness.

Speculative Shorts: Stories that fell out of my brain by Cait Gordon

From the award-winning author of Season One: Iris and the Crew Tear Through Space... A nonbinary Alice accidentally enters their own clubbing wonderland because of a smiley app and Bong Guy. An autistic writing instructor who hates ABA but loves ABBA becomes an unexpected hero. A "silent" mermaid-siren noted for keeping the sea safe from poachers is guided to a Lander who might not be like the others. A disabled space pilot couriers precious cargo for the Network while trying to evade the eugenics-based brigade who wants to keep people like her "safe at home." A descendant of Frankenstein's monster is having her sweet sixteen party, but her mother's gift stops the teen in her rollators tracks. Explore these stories and more in this collection of fifteen tales of queer life, disability, romance, power, defiance, and resilience. Advanced praise: "Cait Gordon writes with infectious joy and energy, and with a sense of humour that is never far from the surface even in the darkest moments." Kate Heartfield, Prix Aurora Award-winning author of The Embroidered Book "Speculative Shorts is a fun, delicious taste of the range of Cait's spice-rack of writing skills, and she blends together those elements incredibly.” Derek Newman-Stille, Prix Aurora Award winner of the digital humanities hub, Speculating Canada

Hyperspeed by Lily James

Kai Mercer was made to race and born to win. A three-time galactic champion, Kai dominates every track he hits. But after years of standing on the podium, the thrill is fading, and the trophies have lost their shine. All he wants is one thing: a challenge fierce enough to reignite his fire. But they say you should be careful what you wish for . . . Rev Arathiel is a rookie with stars in his eyes and a mission heavier than any trophy. An endangered alien whose skin glows like a supernova, Rev has clawed his way up from illegal street races to the prestigious Astro Space League. Racing isn’t just a game to him—it’s the key to a better future for his people. When Rev starts disrupting Kai’s perfect season, their rivalry ignites more than just speed and skill. With the championship hanging in the balance, neither expects the boundaries between competition and connection to blur . . . or their hearts to race for more than just the finish line. Hyperspeed is an MM sci-fi racing romance with rivals to lovers, opposites attract, and an ego bigger than Jupiter. Perfect for fans of Formula 1, this is the first instalment in a series of interconnected standalones. Expect high-speed races, adorable first times, and some creative uses of prehensile tails.

Familiar by Cara Nox

After years of helping his father fight the monsters that killed his mother, Jules is ready to step out of his role of being a glorified errand boy for his dad and his vampire-hunting crew. But when the idea is quickly shot down for the second time, Jules lets one drink to blow off steam domino into accidentally becoming a vampire’s familiar overnight. And the biggest problem is that he can’t remember what happened. With tensions high after his father discovers the possibility of a vampire spy in their midst, Jules scrambles to keep his mark a secret and prove himself to the entire crew by hunting down his vampire, following every clue that feels familiar.

A Legacy of Blood and Bone by Millie Abecassis

“A gothic gem, rich with dread, desire, and a magic system as haunting as it is original.” —April Yates, author of Ashthorne For fans of Shannon Fay’s Innate Magic and Alix E. Harrow’s Starling House comes A LEGACY OF BLOOD AND BONE—a spellbinding debut set in an alternate Belle Époque France, brimming with intrigue, dangerous magic, and a swooning, slow-burn sapphic romance. “Blood is life. Bones are strength. Flesh is control. Skin is death.” Every blessed family knows this mantra, and Aubeline—gifted with blood magic and heiress to the powerful Sterraux line—is no exception. When her father dies unexpectedly, Aubeline inherits the title of Countess. But her brother Renan soon challenges her claim, demanding the title of Count for himself—and quietly coveting guardianship of their young niece, Damarisse. As sinister forces gather around Renan and his allies wield forbidden, deadly power, Aubeline must seek out unlikely companions to protect Damarisse, expose her brother’s true intentions, and stop a catastrophe that could unravel their world. She never expected her greatest ally to be Damarisse’s new private teacher, Vinnie—a clairvoyant woman cursed with uncontrollable visions. Nor did she expect to fall in love with her, defying every rule of polite society and risking everything for a chance at love in a world built on blood and secrets.

There Will Be Other Summers by Tegan Anderson

Ryn is morbidly fascinated by the ocean, and he constantly thinks of ways he might let it consume his life. But each time, something good, no matter how small, stops him from drowning. He might see past his sadness if he could still...well, see. Asher lives for the future, counting the days until she turns eighteen when she'll be old enough to move out of her mother's house and feel some control over how she spends her time. She tries to see the good in everyone, probably for the best since she blocks out what they say about her. Not by choice, but she does it. When Asher and Ryn meet in a group therapy exercise where they have to exchange letters, it's unclear who saves whose life overnight. And when they make a pact to trade their lives for the remainder of the summer, it's evident that they've both found the person who truly understands them: it's only with Asher that Ryn can be himself—a lonely blind boy who might not be so alone after all. And it's only with Ryn that Asher stops feeling so self-conscious about her deafness that she can forget to count down the days and start living them. They spend their summer trading letters and the brightest days of their lives, but when Asher finds a tearstained letter from a mysterious writer, it becomes clear that she’ll have to choose between whom she cares more about saving.

The Inn Between by Wendra Colleen

Teenagers J.T. and Sylvia have no memory of dying, only how much they hate each other. Trapped at The Inn Between, a B&B of the afterlife, they have nine days to discover how they died. If they solve the mystery, they can choose to evolve; if they don’t, they will be reborn with their memories wiped, destined to die young again. In the realm of the living, Dr. Jillian Flaggerty, a young, newly minted parapsychologist, suppresses her childhood ability to rescue earthbound ghosts. She wants to avoid another trip to an institution and succeed in her first job. On a ghostly visit to Earth, J.T. realizes that only Jillian can see and hear him and begs for her help. Jillian denies J.T.’s existence until she uncovers a personal connection to the teen ghosts. Then Jillian has to choose between saving souls or her sanity as time winds down for J.T. and Sylvia to reconcile their differences, face the truth of their deaths, and avoid being reborn. If you’re looking for an escape like Cemetery Boys, Neverworld Wake, and The Girl Who Ignored Ghosts with a dash of The Good Place, don’t wait to read this high-stakes supernatural novel.

Lavender & Gin: A Sapphic Historical Romance by Abigal Aaronson

Taking on her brother’s identity has given Kasia almost everything she wants: money, power, a gang to call her own in Prohibition-era Detroit. Until a new police chief threatens to destroy everything she’s worked for, and a beautiful woman tempts her to expose her secret. After a decade disguised as her missing twin brother, Kasia leads a gang running liquor for the most powerful mob in the city. The ruse gave her a foot in the door, but in order to keep her position—and more importantly, to keep money flowing in for her and her sick mother—she has to be willing to do whatever it takes. And what it takes is cold calculation and a ruthless hand. She needs both in spades when a new police chief is determined to eliminate Detroit’s mafia, a threat to destroy everything she’s built. When Kasia learns Sophia—a glamorous flapper who owns an underground queer club—has an unusual hold on the supposedly-incorruptible chief, Kasia wants in on Sophia’s secret. Blackmailing Chief Harding could protect her gang and give her a leg up in the mob’s ranks. But her plan unravels when she falls for Sophia’s fiery spirit and sophisticated charm. After years of avoiding relationships to protect her identity, her feelings for Sophia lead Kasia to take bigger risks than ever. Risks that endanger her gang, her secret, and her life.

The King's Time (The Brass Machine: Book Three) by Isaac Grisham

Damian Traynor leaves home for the first time, hoping to escape grief by throwing himself into his art. Not long after he departs, disaster falls upon his home. From a distance, he watches as friends, family, and history disappear in flames. Worst of all, he believes himself responsible. Now, the only hope to fix everything is the brass machine. Stuck in a strange land, Damian encounters the demon Gokko, who bends his will and alters his life's trajectory. With the demon's unique powers, he makes it his mission to kill the Yokai, siphon their magic, and force the brass machine into submission. In another place and time, Kitsune and Myobu celebrate their reunion. Plans are disrupted when the brass machine alters their path. Together, they learn the story of Tsukumogami, relive past traumas, and discover the truth of Kitsune's father, King Oni. The pieces of history fall into place, and Kitsune and Myobu find themselves hurtling on a collision course with Damian and Gokko. As past and present intertwine, the evil plaguing Kitsunetsuki becomes clear. All must work together alongside the brass machine to rid the world of malice for good.

Bad Girl Pie by Marilyn Horowitz

Bad Girl Pie follows the tumultuous journey of Dorothy Sherlock, a celebrity cookbook ghostwriter. After the death of her father, Dorothy has a vivid dream warning her that she must write her own book or risk becoming a ghost herself. Spurred on by her best friend and agent, Suzanne, Dorothy embarks on writing a book about how eating dessert first can help with weight loss. With her book outline complete, Dorothy heads to Cancun for a week of tango dancing, where she meets a sexy fireman. Their passionate interlude reignites Dorothy's long-dormant desires, a flame that had been extinguished since her heartbreak over a fellow tango dancer. Dorothy finishes her book and Suzanne promptly betrays her by selling it to a Food Network diva. Devastated, Dorothy seeks comfort in her ex, but after a steamy reunion, she finds out that he has been living with his cleaning lady. The final blow comes when Dorothy learns her father cut her out of his will. Overwhelmed, she takes a near-lethal dose of Oxycontin, but survives, finding humor in her paradoxical situation. This moment of levity marks the beginning of her recovery. In her quest for a fresh start, Dorothy receives an unexpected opportunity to co-write a tango book with a renowned teacher preparing a famous actor for a film role. Despite her initial skepticism about the book's commercial prospects, Suzanne’s remorse and a promise of success persuade Dorothy to take on the project. When the actor heads to Hollywood, he insists that Dorothy join him as his on-set tango coach. While filming the climactic dance scene, the actor freezes and Dorothy steps in, leading to an unexpected cameo. This boosts the book's success and establishes Dorothy and her co-writer as a formidable team in the tango world. Yet, Dorothy realizes that while tango is a passion, it is not her career. She decides to quit and reflect on her next steps. One evening, as Dorothy cleans up her computer files, she finds a recipe for Bad Girl Pie, a decadent confection. She shares it with Suzanne who immediately recognizes its potential as the foundation for a new bestseller and lifestyle brand. This discovery gives Dorothy her second chance at true success.-------------------------------------- **A feminist, Jewish and smart and dynamic main character who goes through hell and back to take a courageous step to claim her life and her dreams. This is empowering, funny and sharp!**

The Night Farm: The Sweet Sounds of Summer by A.L. Davidson

Summertime arrives in Wylder Wood! After recovering from his surprise possession at the end of spring, Rhys Anderson’s life has mostly returned to normal - well, as normal as it can be when his neighbors are literal monsters. His farm is thriving, his friendships are growing, and the warm days of summer have swept through the town of Wylder Wood. If only he could figure out why Vic started avoiding him, things would be perfect. With the town's beloved summer festival on the way and visitors arriving to experience the magic, Rhys finds himself overwhelmed by the supernatural pull of the season, made all the more heavy by his still-declining health and a growing list of dreams that may never come true. Despite the chaos, Love is definitely in the air, but what’s a hopeless romantic to do when the guy he likes doesn’t seem to like him bacK? Enter Lex, a handsome half-gorgon who sets his sights on the fledgling farmer with a fanged smile and outgoing personality. The artist offers Rhys the chance to enjoy a whirlwind summer romance that he simply can’t refuse. But when feelings develop too fast, Rhys is forced to make a choice that could change the course of his life forever. -------- The Night Farm is a 2023 Queer Indie Ink award nominee for "Best Web Serial", "Best Lead Character", and "Best Supporting Character". Volume one is a 2024 Indie Ink Award nominee for "Best Book Cover and Cover Artist", "Best Friendship", "Best Light Read", "Best Setting", and "Side Character MVP". It was a 2024 Inkies finalist on Tapas for "Favorite Community Novel". It was featured on Tapas' LGBTQ+ Supernatural Series list for Pride in 2024 as a recommended read, has been featured on their Staff Pick's list several times, and was a featured title in their 2024 Halloween scavenger hunt. The Night Farm is a cozy paranormal romance web novel originally published on Patreon and Tapas.

All For The Blood of The Lamb by A.L. Davidson

It was a Good Friday... On the third Friday of every month, a young priest named Connor makes the long trek through the isolated countryside to visit his stoic lover, Ivan. The humble shepherd welcomes him with open arms and a ravenous appetite. They lose themselves to the throes of passion until the sun comes up on Saturday, then Connor leaves to tend to his own flock in the city - much to the dismay of Ivan who longs to have him give up the priesthood and call the cottage home. Though Connor knows he cannot give in to those desires, his heart yearns for a simpler life at Ivan's side. During one of their Friday visits, a storm forces Connor to stay longer than he'd planned. Despite his bubbling guilt, he begins contemplating the risks of accepting Ivan's pleas to stay, igniting a crisis of faith and identity that rattles the priest’s constitution. As the storm rages, red lightning cracks overhead, and a demonic entity appears at the gates of the pasture, leaving behind a trail of carnage in its wake. The towering figure begins closing in, mutilating any living creature that dares to cross the threshold of the ranch, all the while counting down the days with a raised hand and malicious intent. Trapped with time running out, the panicked priest and his skeptical shepherd soon realize that they may be next for the slaughter if they can't overcome their own demons in time to exorcise the one on the other side of the door...

Don't Date the Haunted: A Dark Romantic Comedy by C. Rae D'Arc

"Certain to have the reader laughing out loud . . . a highly intoxicating story . . . unexpected plot twists." - Readers' Favorite Does the heart beat faster from love or terror? As a born-and-raised citizen of Horror, Pansy Finster has survived Hauntings such as mad killers and poltergeists by living her brother's rules, including, "Avoid dolls, clowns, and masks." But after the death of her fiancé, Pansy finds herself alone--which is a dangerous status in Horror. When she flees to Heartford, Romance, she's startled that a masquerade has Regency ladies screaming... in excitement. Culture-shocked, Pansy struggles to avoid any ill omens, such as repeated glances from the curiously handsome Lord Theo, from Fantasy. With a seemingly useless magical ability, he could be the Romance Pansy never knew she needed... or her most deceitful Haunting yet. Pansy must learn to love like a Romantic and teach her new friends to survive like a Horror before the masquerade becomes a massacre. Follow Pansy Finster's hauntings and romance in "Don't Date the Haunted," first book of the Haunted Romance trilogy, by C Rae D'Arc. If you like Seth Grahame-Smith, Isaac Marion, or Christopher Moore, then this dark romantic comedy will keep you up! Don't forget; it's never just a power-outage.