stories in and

Trans_lucent

Trans_lucent by Wayward Sparx

A collection of cyberpunk stories carving space out for Trans+ characters in near-futures ravaged by rampant capitalism, terminal environmental decline, state surveillance, poverty, and the rolling back of human rights. Trans_lucent comprises six deeply empathetic stories exploring sex, technology, community, and what it means to be trans in a world where transhumanism has become business as usual. Told with sharp wit, precise prose, and own voice observations, Trans_lucent goes beyond neon lights and empty aesthetic. A testament to human connection in a cold world. Cumulative Realities Transbians Navi and Tash run a bookshop digitally preserving comics, novels, fanzines – anything written by Trans+ folks through history. After their server’s hacked, they risk losing everything. In Wait of Obsolescence What does it mean to be transgender when environmental catastrophe keeps everyone sequestered forever alone in their capsules? Progeny Reproduction is a government interest and job roles are defined before birth. But when Alana Khoury’s progeny open fires on a biotech academy, she’s drawn into rabbit hole about what it means to be a mother. Risingson For cyberware blogger, advisor, and investigator Violet, meeting trans masc cyborg Calder is so much more than another job. The Mnemosyne Cycle Memory, self-determination, and identity in a world where memory wipes are as commonplace as the broken infrastructure and insidious state surveillance. Venus as a T-Boy, Saturn as a Femme Pregnant T4T couple Lacewing and Tawn smuggle themselves into England a decade after they fled. The aim: avoid the law and get safely to Tawn’s family where the baby has a chance at life.


Fortitude Waters

Fortitude Waters by Fox N. Locke

The man who solved his past life’s murder is about to face the cold case of a lifetime. Armed with his soul dowsing pendant, pet hand of glory, and stellar sense of smell, Fortitude Waters specialises in solving cold cases. With souls reborn into new bodies and the economy running on inheritance funds accrued over lifetimes, this perfume-loving private detective peeks behind the veil to find and decipher clues. When he’s reluctantly paired with disabled literary critic, Matilda Tame, on his latest case, the investigation unravels the long-hidden crimes he’s helped conceal. Fort is forced to confront the unresolved trauma of his past life, while Matilda must reconcile motherhood, her professional life, and her own intimate role in proceedings. With a Swiss inspired setting, this sensuous queer-normative novel tells a story about the power of parenting, generational trauma, and the importance of breaking the cycle in order to heal.


A Designer Magick

A Designer Magick by Fox N. Locke

Vlyn Adare is an illegal magick user hiding in plain sight, a seamstress going nowhere fast. When she’s not dreaming of being Vlyn’s beau, socialite Shirley Hollister fantasises about being a fashion designer but is stuck in a rut as a receptionist. To escape his fundamentalist family, Ellory Miller begrudgingly becomes a mage, even if he only wants to make magickal couture. Rejected by both the mages and gender critical witches, Niven is forced to become a freelancer, hunting rogue magickal users to avoid arrest themself. Lien Bassett, a trans journalist living stealth, has been trying for decades in vain to hold the mage Tower to account. All five are brought together after Ellory blows the whistle on the Head Mage’s criminal activity. Hidden prisons, protests, dramatic magick battles, and plenty of fabulous fashion await them. Unashamedly queer – and built around a slow burn F/F romance – A Designer Magick investigates mental health, gender, and freedom of speech in an evocative 1920s style setting. For fans of V.E. Schwab and C.L. Polk.


Black Velvet

Black Velvet by Fox N. Locke

After a near death experience, troubled trans boy Aaron Phillips is haunted by the ghost of Elvis Presley. As if that wasn’t enough, he soon discovers he can bring things back from the dead. 2005 casts a long shadow as Aaron navigates a barely breathing music career, a fraying romantic relationship, and fragile mental health seven years after his dad disappeared. Wracked with academic ennui, depression, and gender dysphoria, Aaron and the afterlife will have to get reacquainted before he can finally find solace. An exploration of love, loss, and queerness, Black Velvet balances the supernatural with the agonies and apathies of confronting adulthood in the Myspace age. For fans of The Lovely Bones, Cemetery Boys, Life is Strange, and Turtles All The Way Down.


Touched: PINK Edition

Touched: PINK Edition by Sage T. Greene

Touched is available in TWO unique editions 1 - PINK clean, “closed door” (romance without crude language or explicit erotic scenes) 2 - BLACK spicy, “open door” (mild crude language with explicit erotic scenes) Choose the edition which best suits you (or a recipient - the PINK Edition was edited for my mother!) The royals of Ephtas are Touched, esteemed for their pointed ears and ancient blood. They are beloved by their kingdom, but the Ephtas Manor is harboring secrets. Prince Erryn has been instructed to marry Lady Helm, yet a surprise romance with stablehand Rolfe complicates the arrangement, and Erryn must navigate the royal expectations of perfection without disappointing his kingdom—or revealing the true nature of his lover’s identity. Prince Drake is the playboy cavorting with maids, but he hides a secret affair beneath his carefree demeanor, and to be found out could result in death. King Merit, ever devoted to his kingdom and sons, finds his own desires growing difficult to repress. “Kingdom before self” is a tall task when pining for a fresh-faced noblewoman and navigating threats to tradition and order. Ancient blood stirs within the kingdom. The Touched are more numerous than is commonly known. Some, lurking in shadow, bide their time, waiting to make their appearance. The Ephtas men must reconcile their private hearts before they may truly be vulnerable with each other and with their kingdom. Touched is a heart-fluttering “romantasy” following the relationships of three couples. You will find slow-burn, fast-burn, queer representation, secret relationships, and journeys of self-acceptance.


Touched: BLACK Edition

Touched: BLACK Edition by Sage T. Greene

Touched is available in TWO unique editions 1 - PINK clean, “closed door” (romance without crude language or explicit erotic scenes) 2 - BLACK spicy, “open door” (mild crude language with explicit erotic scenes) Choose the edition which best suits you (or a recipient - the PINK Edition was edited for my mother!) The royals of Ephtas are Touched, esteemed for their pointed ears and ancient blood. They are beloved by their kingdom, but the Ephtas Manor is harboring secrets. Prince Erryn has been instructed to marry Lady Helm, yet a surprise romance with stablehand Rolfe complicates the arrangement, and Erryn must navigate the royal expectations of perfection without disappointing his kingdom—or revealing the true nature of his lover’s identity. Prince Drake is the playboy cavorting with maids, but he hides a secret affair beneath his carefree demeanor, and to be found out could result in death. King Merit, ever devoted to his kingdom and sons, finds his own desires growing difficult to repress. “Kingdom before self” is a tall task when pining for a fresh-faced noblewoman and navigating threats to tradition and order. Ancient blood stirs within the kingdom. The Touched are more numerous than is commonly known. Some, lurking in shadow, bide their time, waiting to make their appearance. The Ephtas men must reconcile their private hearts before they may truly be vulnerable with each other and with their kingdom. Touched is a heart-fluttering “romantasy” following the relationships of three couples. You will find slow-burn, fast-burn, queer representation, secret relationships, and journeys of self-acceptance.


Hounded fire & brimstone

Hounded fire & brimstone by Quinn Cameron

Loren sold his soul for love and, for love, he may risk eternity. As a hellhound, Loren has given his life to the service of his demonic owner, but he keeps one thing for himself: his relationship with a phoenix named Indy. Protecting Indy from those who would exploit his power has always been paramount to Loren, but it becomes far more difficult when word of the phoenix reaches Hell. Rumors that a phoenix’s tears can purify even the most corrupted soul make Indy a valuable asset to any demon, and Loren’s owner is no exception. Intervening in the hunt for the phoenix would reveal Loren’s treachery and guarantee his death, but he can’t stand by and allow the destruction of the man he loves. His devotion cost him dearly before, and now he may pay the ultimate price.


Of Monsters and Mainframes

Of Monsters and Mainframes by Barbara Truelove

Spaceships aren’t programmed to seek revenge—but for Dracula, Demeter will make an exception. Demeter just wants to do her job: shuttling humans between Earth and Alpha Centauri. Unfortunately, her passengers keep dying—and not from equipment failures, as her AI medical system, Steward, would have her believe. These are paranormal murders, and they began when one nasty, ancient vampire decided to board Demeter and kill all her humans. To keep from getting decommissioned, Demeter must join forces with her own team: A werewolf. An engineer built from the dead. A pharaoh with otherworldly powers. A vampire with a grudge. A fleet of cheerful spider drones. Together, this motley crew will face down the ultimate evil—Dracula. The queer love child of pulp horror and ​classic ​sci-fi, Of Monsters and ​Mainframes ​is a dazzling, heartfelt odyssey that probes what it means to be one of society’s monsters—and explores the many types of friendship that make us human.


The Goshawk and the One-Eyed Dragon

The Goshawk and the One-Eyed Dragon by Lila Mina

A missed shot on the battlefield. A desperate plan to save her clan to redeem herself. The explosive origin story of a love that will span four centuries. In the heat of battle, fearless warrior Kyoko strikes with unmatched precision, guided by an unyielding spirit. Her arrows, like whispers of fate, hit their mark every time. One shot is all it would take to bring the Date clan to their knees, until the damning smile of the One-Eyed Dragon disrupts her focus, altering the course of her life. As her clan faces ruin, Kyoko sets out to right her wrongs, willing to sacrifice it all - love, joy, and her relationship with her kin. Nudged by invisible hands pushing her on the path of her destiny, she steps into the dragon’s lair, unaware that the ruthless warlord within will walk by her side until the very End… and Beyond. For fans of powerful lady warriors and LGBTQI protagonists, a gritty and highly explicit enemies-to-lovers, altar-diplomacy, fated-souls romance with a supernatural twist. This is a prequel to the author’s TEMPER saga, but it can also be read a standalone.


Burn Up In Victory

Burn Up In Victory by Jennifer R. Donahue

When her brother Marco unexpectedly elopes, Serafina of House Galeazzo is left alone with their distant father and domineering mother. Forced to step up and take part in the magical dueling society that Marco always shielded her from, Serafina must find her footing and manage to move forward, all the while wishing she escaped with her brother. Lorenzo of House Valier was Marco’s best friend, and had no idea that he was going to vanish into thin air. Now he’s left without his closest confidante since childhood and, and that damnable sister left to fill that hole in their dueling circle. Why couldn’t she have been the one to depart? As the circle works to hone their skills, practice and occasional bloodshed bring them closer together. Serafina learns more about her magical spark, unable to disentangle herself from Lorenzo, until one fateful night after a tournament when he is the only place she can turn.


A Hex For Hunger

A Hex For Hunger by Alistair Reeves

Ambrose, a trans knight serving the medieval witch king, spent his life trying to be a hero. Instead, he died a villain in the name of a love he hungered for in secret. That would have ended his story, except a suspicious necromancer, Emery, resurrects him and gives him two things: a second chance and a job. He needs Ambrose to kill Morcant, a cult leader who is terrorizing a small group of students. Ambrose thought he was done with killing, but this modern world whet his appetite. If he can bring his king back from the grave, they could finally enjoy the love they’d been starved of. The witch king’s voice tells him how it can be achieved: kill Emery. But while Ambrose’s magic might hunger for Emery’s blood, his heart hungers for Emery another way entirely . . . Another delightful MM romantic fantasy from Alistair Reeves, A Hex for Hunger promises to captivate with more magic, wonder, and adventure.


The Courtesan's Eye

The Courtesan's Eye by J.C. Smith, Kate Hyers

A courtesan-spy on the hunt for a killer. Cordè is an agent of allure, trained to pull secrets from even the stiffest of lips. But when a prestigious assignment ends in a shocking death, she'll have to navigate her city's shadowy underbelly to find the culprit. A cursed priest desperate for redemption. Aelus is a holy warrior, devout in his faith, plagued by his own complicated lineage. Given one last chance to prove himself, he's sent to unravel the plot threatening his order—a mission that puts him in Cordè's employ. A conspiracy so deep, everyone's a suspect. Aelus's uptight personality and austere lifestyle clash with Cordè's free-spirited world of parties and indulgence, creating friction that breeds suspicion. However, they must put their animosity aside when they discover a bigger threat lurking beneath the streets—one that's stolen the power of the gods themselves. As the bodies pile up, Cordè and Aelus will be forced to choose: trust each other, or let the city burn.


Memento Mori Station

Memento Mori Station by Shannon Knight

A thousand years have passed. Nyle, the only raven still on Earth, dutifully continues to tend the dead. His mind-reading assistant, Em Collins, helps him return to the present when memories pull him into echoes of the past. However, a mysterious invitation from a distant space station breaks Nyle’s routine. He’d had no intention of leaving Earth, but the message ends with a coded SOS from his old friend Ethan West. Nyle doesn’t hesitate. As his spaceship approaches the station, Nyle has plenty of time to consider the deep cold that signals a massive quantity of untended dead. Records show that multiple ravens had traveled to the station, yet no raven has ever left. Nyle refuses to abandon either Ethan or the dead, but the vast distances of space mean that whatever mysteries or obstacles surface, Nyle will have to face them with only the aid of his small team. The past and the future come together in the final installment of the Grave Cold trilogy!


Death Rights

Death Rights by Shannon Knight

Grave Cold introduces a world overrun by mutations where the dead remain in their bodies till a raven releases them. Each raven is a long-lived individual steeped in the culture of the time and place they originated. However, the District of Portland is using the dead as an energy source. Nylewulf, an Anglo-Saxon man who has spent centuries hiding from humanity, and Cait, a beautician who happens to be a necromancer, team up to protect the dead. In Death Rights, Nyle and Cait have reached Angel’s Rest when a raven even older than Nyle appears. Lucius, known as the Kingmaker, is part of the council that regulates the elusive ravens. While DP aims to destroy every raven sanctuary in the district, Lucius unfurls his own plot. Once again, Nyle and Cait strive to stay alive and protect the dead. But survival alone doesn’t satisfy either of them. Justice requires that they face the government head on.


A Fate Unwoven

A Fate Unwoven by Rachael A. Edwards

A heretical storyteller partners with an ancient spirit to undo the magic that subjugates her to the crown, in this chilling debut fantasy filled with monsters, forbidden rituals, and corrupt deities. The Emperor of Wyrecia is dying, and 17-year-old Lena has just gained the power to control fate itself, binding her to the young prince Dimas as the empire's next Fateweaver. Hunted by the empire's most ruthless soldiers, Lena escapes with a handsome smuggler toward enemy territory. But a former lover betrays Lena, and her magic becomes agony—compelling Lena to submit to a gilded cage. Still, an ancient spirit offers hope: to sever her bond to the throne, Lena must unroot a ritual hidden beneath the palace. As Prince Dimas struggles to forge friendship with Lena and bring his empire under peaceful rule, sinister cultists unveil a twisted plan to unleash an ancient evil that could tear the realm asunder. With every step Lena takes on her quest to freedom, she uncovers a troubling imperial past that tarnishes the nation’s matron goddess. Perhaps the oral histories passed down to Lena are not foolish heresy, after all. Written with captivating mystery, queer romance, and a dual point of view narrative, this dark fantasy features a gorgeously detailed map and roots its magic system in mythological lore. An enchanting selection for young adult readers who don’t mind a little terror with their adventure!


The Ice Moves for No One

The Ice Moves for No One by Arlo Z. Graves

Thalon was born to fight. A warrior, a selkie, a daughter of the Dread One herself. For years, she’s trained for the Dusk Trials and earn a place aboard one of the legendary Duskingr airships. But the Trials are only the beginning. Victory does not come clean. The game is rigged, the sponsors corrupt, and the selkie way of life is slipping through the cracks. Worse, her own body is beginning to betray her, and no amount of training has prepared her for what comes next. Nothing in this world bends easily. The odds are stacked against her, and the path ahead is nothing but locked doors and closed fists. But Thalon has never let anyone—man, woman, or god—decide her fate. The ice moves for no one—but it’s never met Thalon.


Beyond the Border Forest

Beyond the Border Forest by Molly Haniszewski

Two kings rule the woods-the Oak King in Summer and the Holly King in Winter-and no mortal may enter their realm without permission. But when Rowan GwĂłzdek's older sister goes missing, Rowan must search the forest for her, risking the kings' wrath. She enlists the help of her sister's hunting rival Keziah, a trans (and very handsome) hunter with a mysterious connection to the Oak King. He offers to lead her through the forest to find a magical wish granter called the Bear Maiden. Together, Rowan and Keziah face mossmen, a wood dragon, and other fearsome creatures who serve the Oak King. To make matters worse, Rowan stumbles upon the Holly King, the Oak King's nemesis, and becomes tangled in the conflict between the two kings. To get her sister back, Rowan will have to join in the battle, even if it means she can never return home.


Kissed By The Gods

Kissed By The Gods by Caty Rogan

Leina has spent a lifetime submitting. Kneeling. Enduring. Then soldiers came for her brother, and divine fury surged through her veins. She expects execution for the bodies she left in her wake. Her people have met bloody ends for far, far less. Instead, Ryot, a godsworn warrior born to privilege and raised in order, drags her into a world that was never meant for her. One of divine armies and death demons, winged war horses and monsters, sacred power and royal secrets. A kiss from a goddess changes everything. No longer a criminal, Leina is a prize. The kingdom's most powerful men want what the goddess touched. Leina wants only one thing, though: freedom for her people. And she'll trade herself for the strength to destroy the kingdom that broke them. Conscripted into a war she never asked for, fighting for gods she doesn't believe in, Leina must decide how far she's willing to go and what she's willing to lose. Because her power is more than a threat to the kingdom's buried secrets. It's a death sentence.


Drift

Drift by Anita Morenos

Drift is a story of personal healing, reclaiming identity, and being loved with a romantic MM ending. After an earthquake, 27-year-old Damian Palomo is in a coma and wakes up as his boss's new custom Audi RS4. Damian's also stuck in Southpoint, the Central Valley town he ran away from almost a decade ago. Relying on his boss, 25-year-old Ethan Reynolds, proves difficult as Ethan's gotten himself involved in the local, dangerous racing scene—and he owes people a race. He must put up his shiny new car, now possessed by his assistant, Damian. They must work together to keep Ethan and the car out of criminal hands. Damian unravels as he faces the traumatic past he spent years suppressing and hiding from Ethan, the only person he can depend on.


When the Leaves Fall

When the Leaves Fall by Chelsea Jean

Drew’s world is forever changed when her mom collapses upon returning from their annual mother/daughter trip. Instead of flying back home to Colorado, she is staying in Wisconsin with her dad while her mom recovers. Luca chose to become a Critical Care Unit nurse because he knows how it feels for the world to fade away around you, and the only thing you can see clearly is the pain and stress of caring for a loved one. When the pair meets, they bond over their shared experiences, sweet gestures, and an undeniable attraction. But Drew lives states away, and Luca is on her mom’s care team. There is a boundary there that they know they shouldn’t cross. But the more time they spend together, the harder it is to resist.


Just a Peck

Just a Peck by Chelsea Jean

Mavis Meyers is thrilled to be teaching at her high school alma mater. However, organizing the end-of-year carnival might be enough to send her back to substitute teaching in Milwaukee. Who knew trying to get a group of teachers and parents to focus on the task at hand would be so hard? The most difficult person is none other than Lena Laei-Johnson, a local farm owner and co-chair of the carnival. She is used to taking the lead on planning the carnival and despises change. After the first planning meeting with Lena, Mavis understands why no one volunteered to take on this role. From the theme to the decorations, the two clash over every little detail. But underneath, a simmering attraction grows. Can the two women stop trying to be right long enough to notice how right they are for each other?


Killer Quill

Killer Quill by Shida Ketzer

Murdered in cold blood and resurrected through forbidden powers, Quill becomes her world’s legendary assassin. She can never part with her eponymous quill. The mythical quill keeps her alive, heals her wounds, and enables her to transform colors into animate objects doing her bidding. In exchange, the quill feeds on her victims’ souls. When her latest mission sparks the higher power’s wrath, Quill must avenge the death of her people and her own murder. Failure will cost more than just her life. A Wisteraverse Novella


A Minor Inconvenience

A Minor Inconvenience by Chelsea Jean

At 30 years old, Murphie has everything she thinks she wants. A steady job, a handsome boyfriend, the best friend you could ask for, and her lovable dog. She isn’t ready for a minor inconvenience to be thrown her way. She is determined to make her relationship work and not get distracted by Gavin's thick arms, dimpled smile, and good heart; especially because she is his boss. 22-year-old Gavin is a senior in college with plans to attend veterinarian grad school in Scotland. And even though she has a boyfriend, he can't keep his eyes or thoughts off of Murphie—her flowing auburn hair and the freckles covering her nose and arms. He thinks she is the funniest and sexiest woman he’s ever met. She thinks he's too young. Can Murphie keep Gavin in the friend zone when he is determined to become so much more?


Knowledge Itself

Knowledge Itself by Shelly Campbell and Megan King

After solar flares wipe out electrical grids worldwide, a small community survives by selling data recovered from decrepit hard drives and rare books. Nostalgic for the days of big business, the commune’s founding members call themselves Corporate and micromanage everyone. ​ Raised into the hustle, Iris Ecosia’s ADHD brain rebels at Corporate’s strict structure. It’s not all bad though. She attracts the attention of Robert Lycos, the son of one of the Shareholders, but their relationship comes to a crashing end when she loses focus at a critical moment and a vital piece of equipment is destroyed. ​ The mistake plunges her into debt. Corporate demotes her to an indentured gardener. Her romance with Robert dissolves. Worse, there are no paid sick days in the post apocalypse. So when Iris’s whole family falls ill, starvation is soon knocking on their door. Meanwhile, the Shareholders live like tycoons. Iris and her family are not alone in their poverty or their impotent rage at the corporation who keeps them poor, hungry, and dependent. An underground revolution intent on toppling Corporate wants to recruit her. She can still do big things if she joins them, but if she’s caught, the Shareholders won’t stop at destroying her. They’ll go after her family too.


An Amateur Witch's Guide to Murder

An Amateur Witch's Guide to Murder by K. Valentin

A wannabe witch tries to break a curse on a clueless client in this laugh-out-loud debut, for fans of queer romantic fantasy by T. J. Klune and Tamsyn Muir. Mateo Borrero has 99 problems—and all of them hinge on his missing bruja mother and the demon she trapped inside his body. Mateo's mother forbade him from ever using magic, but now that she’s gone, magic’s his only marketable skill, and he’d really like an exorcism—which costs money he doesn’t have. What’s the harm in making a quick buck by calling himself an Occult Specialist and chanting a few half-remembered spells in his crappy Spanish? Enter Topher, a naive nepo baby with a curse that keeps killing people around him. Most importantly, he’s rich and too clueless to clock that Mateo—and his (absolutely-not-the-assistant) astral projecting best friend Ophelia—have never actually had a client before. Lifting Topher’s bad luck curse should be simple, but as luck would have it, nothing is simple, and Topher–who Mateo sort of, kind of likes–might be at the center of a deadly magical conspiracy. To make matters worse, the more magic Mateo does, the stronger the demon inside him grows and the more he wants to eat people. But would caving to the urges of an ancient evil really be that bad if it helps him get a payday? Legends and Lattes meets A Grim Reaper’s Guide to Catching a Killer in this hilarious and charming queer romantic fantasy readers won’t want to miss.


Growing Home

Growing Home by C.M. Howes

In an irreparably polluted world, civilization was on the brink of collapse. When the apocalypse finally came in the form of behemoth trees that destroyed the infrastructure, but cleared the air, it was called the Rejuvenation. Marlow, a former programmer, was fine surviving on his own. But when a young girl in need of protection that he can’t provide and a charismatic artist on the run from his former community stumble into his life, he’s forced to reassess the detachment he’s so carefully cultivated. Against a dominating background of fantastical woods born from the corpses of humanity, Marlow must reckon with questions of faith and love as he asks himself, how much can he dare to hope for in a ruined world?


Ranger

Ranger by Dietrich Stogner

Jaina Creighton has always known what it means to sacrifice. When both her brothers are marked for conscription into the Dominion’s wars, she makes a desperate choice—trading her own freedom to join the rangers, an ancient order bound by oath to walk the wilds and guard the people. Her decision will spare her brothers from service… but binds her to a life of duty from which there is no return. Far to the south, Antoinette DeLuca—scion of one of Vetticci’s most powerful houses—has secrets carved into her every masterpiece. An artist, a spy, and a woman trapped by her family’s ambitions, she has learned to shape beauty from duty and deceit alike. When her path collides with Jaina’s, the chemistry between them is as dangerous as it is undeniable. But the Dominion is shifting. The dukes raise armies. Shadows lengthen across the land. And as the days slip away, whispers of something vast and terrible grow louder. To protect the ones they love, Jaina and Antoinette must each come to understand the truth of who they are—and choose between loyalty and desire, between what they owe and what they yearn for. The countdown has already begun. And when it ends, nothing will be the same.


Once Upon A Song

Once Upon A Song by Nadine Bells

Welcome to the Hôtel de Neige. Let yourself be swept away by its grandeur and glamor but beware - the cold may swallow you whole. When lonely waitress Ana lands a job as a singer at the prestigious Hôtel de Neige, she believes it to be the beginning of her fairytale. Yet she soon finds that in those eerie halls, the line between Cinderella story and Gothic nightmare blurs. Sinister dreams cause her to sleepwalk, a ballerina makes ominous threats, and a phantom in white haunts the hotel - and Ana. As Ana discovers that the hotel’s last singer lost his life under mysterious circumstances, she needs to decide if happily-ever-after is worth it. She knows she cannot trust her secretive colleagues or the charming but elusive hotel manager, Dimitri. All Ana ever wanted was to belong, but at the Hôtel de Neige, that may mean never leaving again…


Artifice & Access

Artifice & Access by Ella T. Holmes, Ashley N.Y. Sheesley, M. Stevenson, Lynne Sargent, Kara Siert, Adie Hart, Harper Kinsley, Natalie Kelda, Rascal Hartley, Casper E. Falls, Zira MacFarlane, Tam Ayers, Elior Haley, Rory G.

It’s long been acknowledged that disability representation is lacking in the fantasy genre landscape, so in this cozy anthology, fourteen writers from around the globe come together to bring you wonderful fantasy stories centering disabled and chronically ill characters. Teeming with magic, otherworldly creatures, discoveries, and journeys, every story is as thrilling and fascinating as it is passionate and meaningful. Worlds are discovered, lives are changed, and swords are drawn. Disabled and chronically ill characters go questing, fighting dragons, healing, and enacting strange magics. Familiar fairy tales are reimagined, and new fairytales are forged, with each story shattering stereotypes and challenging traditional narratives. Come see yourself reflected—or discover something new. Stories included: One Cream, Five Sugars by Harper Kinsley A Witch's Tale by Rascal Hartley Use Your Words by Zira MacFarlane The Changeling of Brushby by Natalie Kelda To Make Her Eat by M. Stevenson Hope, Be It Never So Faint by Ashley N. Y. Sheesley A Night For Mischief by Elior Haley Lessons in Botany by Casper E. Falls Stroke of Midnight, Shoes of Glass by Adie Hart In Another World, I Twist The Knife by Rory G The Knife That Makes The Cut by Lynne Sargent Angharad ferch Truniaw by Tam Ayers The Girl & The Gum-riddle by Ella T Holmes City of the Sun by Kara Siert


Soft Launch (Zeta Love Story #1)

Soft Launch (Zeta Love Story #1) by Olivia Carter

A high-heat, emotionally grounded queer romance about burnout, vulnerability, and falling hard—on camera and off. Remy: I wasn’t trying to go viral. I was just doing my job. Glitter, spandex, party chaos. Then suddenly I was internet famous, and everything got louder. Too many eyes. Too much pressure. I couldn’t keep up. Enter Karim El-Amin. Ex-wellness star. Content whisperer. Calm-in-a-storm kind of guy. He says he can help me build something sustainable. I’m trying to be cool about it. I’m failing. Karim: After I burned out, I swore I was done. No more cameras. No more public anything. Just yoga, hot tea, and quiet mornings above a queer café. Then Remy showed up. Loud. Glittery. Overwhelmed. He asked for help and I said yes. I thought I could stay detached. I thought I could keep it professional. I was wrong. Now we’re building something together. A platform. A relationship. A life. If we can stop spiraling long enough to hold onto it. Soft Launch is a high-heat, emotionally grounded queer romance about burnout, creator chaos, mutual support, and falling hard—online and off. It features slow burn to explosive heat, soft dom energy, neck kisses as a love language, and a tender third act separation with a guaranteed happily ever after. It’s book one in the Zeta Love Story series and can be read as a standalone.


Cinnamon Soul

Cinnamon Soul by Quinn Lawrence

"The two of us against all of them? How unfair for them." In Velles, a cosmopolitan city of fading magic, the prince’s daughter, and heir to the throne, has gone missing. That she appears to have done so voluntarily is of little consolation to the prince. He hires Hokuren, a newly independent private investigator who demands perfection of herself and works tirelessly until she’s solved the case. And she always solves the case–even if most of them so far have been finding lost pet cats (don’t tell anyone that part). Her assistant is Cinna, an elf hired fresh off the streets–literally. She’s everything Hokuren is not: sloppy, uneducated, and lacking in restraint or filter. But Cinna’s impulsiveness and willingness to get her hands dirty makes her the perfect foil for Hokuren’s reserved, thoughtful nature. As the two chase down the princess, their case develops into a much bigger conspiracy. Hokuren doggedly pursues secret after secret, unraveling a scheme to find a long-lost goddess that’s been running in the background of Velles’s seedy underbelly for over two decades. And she might find out that her unassuming assistant hides the biggest secret of them all... A lighthearted and fast-paced fantasy adventure full of action, mystery and sly humor, Cinnamon Soul is also the heart-warming exploration of an unbreakable bond of friendship forged between two women as they struggle against the forces of the elite and powerful.


Hounded - Ashes to Ashes

Hounded - Ashes to Ashes by Quinn Cameron

Some creatures are born to burn; only a few can rise again. Indy remembers everything now: the failed cross-country escape, the moment he lost Loren, and the demons that are hunting him. His past is less of a mystery, but his present grows more dangerous by the day. Loren’s return is far from the solution to Indy’s myriad problems. The archdemon Nero still wants his tears and is willing to enlist every one of the newly made hellhounds to get them. With his powers fading and the threat on his existence looming larger than ever, Indy is running out of options. Even with aid from a new group of allies, survival is far from guaranteed. In the end, no force in Heaven or on Earth can save Indy except, maybe, himself. If only he knew how.


Tethered

Tethered by TJ Williams

One boy, his mother, and a captain with secrets from her crew. Amongst the stars, all things lost are found. Marlowe Rose has been fighting her ex, Dominik, for a decade. When he kidnaps their son, she sneaks onto his starship, planning to give him hell. Instead, she ends up caught, sequestered and questioned by the captain. But Tanisira Sekmith isn’t what Marlowe thought she was, and when it becomes clear that they’re all just puppets in Dominik’s eyes, Marlowe convinces the stoic captain to help rescue her son. Tanisira promised herself she’d make no waves, catch no one’s attention, and cruise under the radar. Misplacing her trust once changed the trajectory of her whole life. After the fallout from her last job, flying a pleasure yacht is supposed to be boring and easy—exactly what she wants. But finding Marlowe on the ship changes everything. Marlowe sees her, shadows and all, and it forces Tanisira to face things she tried to leave behind. Marlowe doesn’t expect to find, on this journey that she dreaded, something she’d given up. And Tanisira doesn’t know if she deserves happiness, but she doesn’t want to lose this: a kid with big, green eyes and his fierce, captivating mother. Described as Becky Chambers meets Delilah Green Doesn't Care, Tethered is a Sapphic, soft science-fiction romance. There are content warnings in the front matter and on my website.


The Kraken's Castaway

The Kraken's Castaway by Cassandra Medcalf

I drowned in Lake Superior. I was rescued by some ancient god monster in the depths of the lake. I've got gills now, that's fun. And I'm apparently the smokin' hottest thing this Viking octopus shifter has ever seen. Cool. Cool cool cool. Lillian and Erik have a problem. They were cursed by two wayward Titans holed up in Lake Superior, trapped on an island, and won't be set free until they agree to be surrogate and seed donor for an entire hoard of monster babies. The solution? Simple. No funny business, no matter how tempting the tentacles. But the longer they’re held captive, the closer they become. Giving into their feelings could mean the end of the world as they know it, but eternity is a long time. And as the two of them develop a stronger and stronger connection, the torture of staying apart becomes all the more impossible to bear. With the world at stake, are they strong enough to keep their hands off each other? Or is their attraction even greater than the forces they’re keeping at bay?


The Maestro's Mates

The Maestro's Mates by J.B. Warrick

One grumpy gargoyle. One hopeful vampire. One chaotic witch. Three fated mates face a looming threat. Pavel has been called cranky, aloof, and an exacting musical genius, but what should people expect? He’s three thousand years old. He’ll soon be entering the final stage of a gargoyle’s life span, transforming into a statue and going dormant forever. So why would the universe throw his mates at him now, when he has so little time left? He desperately wants to protect them, to guide them, but he’s terrified he’ll be a burden as he descends into oblivion. Justin is working hard to overcome his anxiety and stay positive as he rebuilds after a disastrous few years. When he discovers his two fated mates at his new opera job, he rejects them out of hand. Sure, giving up control to these two men would fulfill every one of his fantasies, but love already screwed up his life once. Sebastian is a witch with a rare affinity—chaos—and that quality follows him wherever he goes. His opera career is taking off, and finding his mates is just the cherry on the sundae! Even if they may not be ready for the power of his seductive, mischievous personality. The three soon find that ignoring their connection is impossible, especially when they have to see each other every day. And they can’t escape each other when they’re trapped together in the opera house elevator. But whatever headway they’ve made is arrested by the return of Sebastian’s power-hungry sister. Can the three fated mates accept their bond in time to survive her attack and save their new family?


Foresyth Conservatory

Foresyth Conservatory by A. L. Sterling

Ninth House meets Mexican Gothic in a dark academia, gothic mystery where the cards are stacked against reason-and the price of knowledge is blood. Dahlia Blackburne is a failing bookstore keeper and Tarot reader who relies on deductive reasoning--not magick--to cast her fortunes. When a stranger calling himself the Meister walks into her shop after closing and offers three times her normal rate for a reading, curiosity and her growing debts compel her to accept. But the reading reveals that the Meister has a far more dangerous proposition: infiltrate Foresyth Conservatory, an elite occult arts graduate school, and investigate the alleged suicide of brilliant but troubled student, Julian Earhardt. Desperate to care for her ailing mother after her father's recent death, Dahlia agrees to investigate. But inside Foresyth's rose-thorned walls, Dahlia is thrust into the school's ruthless academic Circle, a cadre of students including the seductive "Trees," Aspen and Sequoia, who are obsessed with creating art that doesn't merely imitate life, but transcends it. As the line between performance and passion blurs, Dahlia must confront the truth about Julian, her peers, and a dangerous form of magick that isn't taught-but inherited. The cards at Foresyth have already been dealt . . . Now it's time for Dahlia to play her hand.


Trans & Disabled

Trans & Disabled by Alex Iantaffi

To be trans and disabled means to have experienced harassment, discrimination, loneliness, often poverty, to have struggled with feeling unworthy of love. To be trans and disabled means experiencing ableism within our trans communities and transphobia within our disabled communities. To be trans and disabled means to love our fellow trans and disabled people harder than we could ever love ourselves. This anthology brings together vulnerable stories, poems, plays, drawings, and personal essays. They explore how we make sense of ourselves, our intersections of identities and experiences, of how we are treated, and how much love we are capable of, sometimes even for ourselves.


Blue Ridge Calling

Blue Ridge Calling by Olivia Neal

The Appalachian mountains are some of the oldest in the world. They say ancient magic runs through these rivers and valleys. Two years ago, a car accident on a perilous mountain road sent a family into freefall, and none of them have been the same since. Sage used to have everything under perfect grades, record times on the swim team, and carefully medicated ADHD. But ever since her mom died, she' s just been going through the motions, and no one in her family seems to notice. Kora has known Sage' s family her whole life, so losing Sage' s mom was like losing her own. At the end of the summer, she' s supposed to abandon her beloved Blue Ridge mountains for a prestigious art school in New York, but leaving now feels wrong. And an unexpected romance with a new girl in town might complicate things. Then there' s Sam, Sage' s older brother. He' s spent the last two years traipsing through the mountains, trying to find evidence of local ghost stories. He said he would be back by now, but no one has heard from him. To find him, Kora and Sage will have to dig deeper into the myths and legends of the mountains they call home — before it' s too late.


The Mean Ones

The Mean Ones by Tatiana Schlote-Bonne

So what if Sadie hears talking dead animals and a strange, comforting male voice in her head? The therapist insists these are just symptoms of PTSD. It makes sense considering that she hid under the bed and watched as her best friends were slaughtered. But the murders were seventeen years ago, back when her name was Sabrina. Now, she’s Sadie: a perfectly normal 29-year-old. She works as a physical therapist assistant and lifts weights with her boyfriend, Lucas, who’s the sweetest, most considerate man—as long as he’s not angry. But when Lucas spontaneously agrees to join a couples trip to a cabin in the woods, the visions get worse, a strange figure stalks her during the night, and that male voice in Sadie’s head keeps calling, asking her to do things she’s never fathomed. Sadie’s not sure if it’s her paranoia or something else entirely . . . But she is sure of one thing—this time, she’s not going to sit idly by as everything starts to unravel.


Song of the Hell Witch

Song of the Hell Witch by Taylor Hartley

Once a vicious street rat, Prudence Merriweather has clawed her way to the top of society and now enjoys newfound power as the Duchess of Talonsbury. All she has to do to protect her fragile position is maintain the act of gentility, make her husband happy—and keep her monstrous magic a secret. Puck Reed, the Thief Lord of Talonsbury, once delighted in taking risks and humiliating the social elite at any cost, but now lives a quieter criminal lifestyle. With a daughter of his own to protect, Puck tries to lay low and stay safe for her benefit. His daughter, Bea, suffers from a mysterious illness bent on killing her, and Puck will stop at nothing to find a cure. When Prudence’s magic betrays her, she has no choice but to flee—and who better to smuggle her out of the city than her childhood best friend and former sweetheart, Puck Reed? With the help of old friends and new allies, they learn about Stormlash, a safe haven miles beyond the city walls where women and their magic can flourish beyond the oppressive eye of Leora’s religious fanatics. Stormlash may also hold the key to curing Bea’s illness. The challenge? Keep her alive long enough to get there. With Bea’s illness claiming more of her strength, Puck and Pru must work together to reach Stormlash and, in the process, confront a growing evil threatening to devour the country they call home.


The Great Tree of Iris

The Great Tree of Iris by Jess Skultety

7 Unlikely Companions. 5 Libraries. 1 Hidden Prophecy. The Great Tree of Iris: a place of unmatched healing power for humans. Top scholar Lia Tovar protects the Tree in honor of her dead father, but she has visions of its tragic demise. When Rory Elatha, an elf from the hidden city of Kyrali, arrives seeking experts to save the decaying, sacred sunflower fields, Lia suspects their situations are connected. For once, her books cannot help, and she answers the call. To save the Tree, Lia must learn to trust six allies: - A youthful jeweler - A haunted scholar - A vibrant secret-keeper - An inkdelver on a mission - A wizard seeking a friend - A dragon looking for home When they discover one part of a deadly prophecy, Lia, Rory, and their party search desperately for a way to challenge fate. But as more natural disasters arise in their race across the continent, Lia must decide if she can let Rory into her heart, and if that will free or destroy her. The Great Tree of Iris combines a 30-year-old FMC's map-crossing, world-saving quest with fade-to-black sapphic romance in a queer-normative world. Perfect for fans of Samantha Shannon, L.R. Lam, S.A. Chakraborty, Saara El-Arifi, and J.R.R. Tolkien.


Lust and Found

Lust and Found by Sylvie Helstaff

Who knew you could summon a demon by accident? When Rowan’s eccentric great aunt died, they felt lost, now the lone queer sheep in a flock of faithful lambs. But when they move into the late woman’s house, a cleaning accident activates a dormant ritual and they’re suddenly confronted with two revelations: magic is real and demons are surprisingly hot. At least this one is. When opportunity shows up with lust in its eyes, you might as well grab it by the horns.voided. With their world upended, Rowan finds themself embracing newfound magical abilities with the help of an elderly trio of witches, navigating a budding relationship with an amorous archdemon, and nurturing a growing group of queer friends at their new bartending job. Life finally seems to be going their way, despite their pious family and the nosy neighborhood priest who keep trying to tempt them back into the fold. But sometimes Hell is other people. Just when everything seems perfect, a stunning betrayal sees them taking refuge in an infernal realm unlike anything they expected. Hell isn’t what they were taught and maybe “home” isn’t so much about “where” as it is “who.” Lust and Found is a high heat, insta-lust monster romance with slow burn romance, eventual polyamory, and heartfelt found family.


HALLOWED BE HER FLESH

HALLOWED BE HER FLESH by Emryn Bird

It had only been three days. Three days since Trella had been accused of being wicked. Three days since her flogging and excommunication. And three days since she began searching for a mysterious village deep within the Cantabrian Mountains. When a sudden, bright star becomes something more, this pious woman finds herself face to face with an entity she can only assume is one of God’s great celestials sent down to guide her. Terrifying yet beautiful, the creature vows to protect the woman as the pair journey together to find this promising new home. But will it be the safe haven Trella believes it to be? Or can safety only be found in this cosmic being’s embrace? Hallowed Be Her Flesh is an illustrated cosmic horror romance set in 1570s Spain where the ineffable horror of what lies beyond the stars meets Christian mysticism as an asexual woman questions her faith and her attraction toward a strange entity.


Till Death Do You Part

Till Death Do You Part by Marisa Billions

Do you take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife, Sage Foster-Reed is frustrated and not at all content with her life or marriage. She’s restless and there’s nothing she can seemingly do about it. Her wife, Jules, has been asked to officiate a friend’s wedding, pulling them to a hotel out of town for three days. In Good Times and Bad, In Sickness and in Health … When Sage goes to run an errand, she encounters Cat, a sexy stranger who seems to appear everywhere after their chance encounter. Cat brings Sage out her fog of misery and now Sage must make a decision- work on her marriage and go forward with the woman she’s built a life with, or run off to chase an uncertain future with Cat. Fretting the decision to be made, Sage finds herself at a crossroads- until Fate steps in and makes the decision for her, and one of the two women she is torn between winds up dead. Is it a terrible accident, or did jealousy culminate in murder? Till Death Do You Part


Out of the Blue

Out of the Blue by Marisa Billions

I AM HAUNTED. I LIVE A HAUNTED EXISTENCE. Sophia Martin and Eli were married for almost a decade, ran a successful spiritual empire bringing “a bespoke spiritual living experience” to vulnerable people looking to find a purpose in life. Then, Sophia meets a woman who turns her soul, and heart, inside out. Suddenly, Eli's empire is put at risk. I DANCE WITH THE PAST ON A DAILY BASIS. After escaping the marriage, and Eli's demands, Sophia starts again in a new town, and she can reclaim her identity. When she meets Frankie, a woman who teaches her that she is worth love and happiness, Sophia finally begins to heal and rediscover what it means to have peace. Until the bodies of murdered women wash ashore. I RELIVE MY MISTAKES AND QUESTION MY PRESENT AND DOUBT MY FUTURE. When she spots Eli in her newfound hometown around the same time the bodies have been showing up, Sophia knows it's not a coincidence. However, no one will believe her. Not even Frankie. Can she prove Eli is out to terrorize her for destroying the empire he built?


Our Bright Window

Our Bright Window by James Chance

Once a loyal hellhound, Vincent now runs with a new pack: a ragtag group of werewolves, hiding from the supernatural authorities now swarming their college town. But he can’t get his past betrayals out of his head. Henry visits his dreams every night, tormenting him with visions of the happiness he almost had. And the people he couldn’t save still haunt him–literally. Ghosts are pouring out of the Underworld, spreading corruption and darkness in their wake. Vincent is responsible for it all, and he knows better than anyone: nothing ever truly stays dead. He must mend the broken pieces of both worlds, before everything he has come to care about is lost. In the end, the final price to save the mortal world–and the people he loves–may destroy everything he has ever known.


Into the Blue Again

Into the Blue Again by Marisa Billions

Emma Landry must now navigate life post-Bailey. The role she played in her ex-wife's untimely death still haunts her. Also, she needs to understand the mystery that is Morgan. A woman who came into her life at a most inopportune time. Emma is left pondering the reasons their lives intersected, and whether or not they truly belong together. When these women start to explore the consequences of their decisions, everything changes. You have to understand Jonathan is a demarcation in my life. Morgan Hale was once free-spirited and fun-loving. She avoided serious relationships and falling in love. Until she met Jonathan. A tortured and mercurial writer who turned her world upside down. There was my life before him. And the utter mess left in his wake. Emma is left to figure out how the broken pieces of their shattered lives are meant to fit together as she learns through Morgan’s story not only their lives' parallels but how love can be both destructive and rehabilitative. Will the ghosts of Morgan’s past drive Emma away or bring them closer together?


Our Dark Mirror

Our Dark Mirror by James Chance

A stranger named Vincent emerges from a hole in the earth. He is a hellhound, bred and trained for one purpose: guarding the Underworld’s prisoners. At least, until he lets one escape. Disgraced, he is sent to recover the fugitive, disguised as an ordinary college student. But the mortal world holds its own secrets. Mysterious murders plague the school. Supernatural creatures hide in plain sight. And the fugitive has his own plan–one that may spell doom for both Hell and earth. To stop it, Vincent must team up with others like him that walk the line between light and shadow. The best of them is monster hunter and football star Henry Wellfellow. Kind and charismatic, he is beloved by all; and yet he takes an interest in Vincent, accepting him in a way no one has before. But Vincent has demons–literally. He can’t fall for the hero of the story. He doesn’t belong in this new world he has come to love. And yet, he may be the only one who can stop its destruction. But will the mortal world–and Henry–forgive him for what he will have to do to save it?


Like Sapphire Blue

Like Sapphire Blue by Marisa Billions

Your eyes are amazing. I’ve never seen a blue like that.” Emma Landry is tough, independent, beautiful, and smart. Being an outcast unable to identify with her classmates, she was willing to do whatever it takes to climb her way out of poverty. “What color would you say they are?” Like Sapphire Blue Having never known a mother’s love, her father “Bear”, raised her on the wrong side of the tracks in a wealthy town. When success beckons, the woman she’s been in love with is, finally, within her grasp. Life is now worth living and loving. That is, until a dark family secret is revealed. A secret tied into the very fabric of who she is, and what she spent a lifetime working to overcome. Faced with a foundation shattering treachery, Emma finds herself at the crossroads. Can she overcome a destiny stronger than death, destitution, and murder, to prove she is more than just her father’s daughter? Or will this new knowledge lead her to destroy the world she’s spent a lifetime building?


Ripe & Ready

Ripe & Ready by Elliot Kyle

Derek and I have been best friends since we were kids. Now we’re halfway across the world on a gorilla-watching expedition in the Congo, and I’m finally working up the nerve to admit what I’ve been feeling for years. Somewhere amidst the jungle hikes, one bed, and far too many lingering touches, the lines between us start to blur and things start getting a little... slippery. The jungle is wild, but admitting my feelings for him might be the real adventure. Ripe & Ready is a friends-to-lovers, low-angst, 19k-word novella with a HEA and the wildly questionable use of a banana. It is the first novella in a series of queer love stories full of big feelings and extremely unconventional lube choices. Because who says silicone and water-based are the only options?


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