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How to Juggle Ballads & Blades by Jess Galaxie Get ready for something Silly, Sapphic, and Romantic at the Albion Renaissance Faire! Chicot and her best friend Elijah have finally landed their first season at a Renaissance Faire with their show The Jester and Bard, Forever at Odds, but Chicot is quickly discovering there's more to surviving their first Ren Faire than beating the heat. When her new friend Lyza asks Chicot to take her place as 'Wee' in the incredibly popular The Pirates Three: Big, Middle, and Wee show, Chicot jumps on the opportunity without thinking. Chicot wants to help her friend, especially if it means making her and Elijah look better the next time they apply to perform at a big faire. There's just one detail that Chicot neglected to think about: Monty, Lyza's younger sister who is both a major distraction, and doesn't seem to like Chicot very much. Chicot decides to push through for Lyza's sake, even if it means Chicot has to spend countless hours in Monty's arms as they prepare and perform. Worse, as Chicot tries to keep her crush in check, Monty suddenly drops the surly attitude and starts actively flirting with Chicot. Adding a show to her roster shouldnât be so complicated, but Chicot's caught between not knowing what state she'll be living in after Albion's season finishes and Monty's strong hands. At this rate, Chicot's going to melt before the season is overâand not from the heat of the sun. |
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The Prince and His Stolen Groom by J.E. Ridge A magic spell protects the Desolated Lands from evil mages and their nefarious schemes. As a condition of this spell, Princess Francesca of Woe and Prince Brendon of Bane must marry. Rick knows his sister will be miserable in this marriage, so he concocts a half-baked plan to kidnap the groom and stall the wedding. He just needs time to find an alternative way to keep the spell active. Everything seems to go smoothly until someone else arrives at the castle claiming to be Prince Brendon. Now Rick has to juggle two grooms: the real one he stashed in a magic tower, and the imposter romancing his sister. Because Rick disrupted the wedding, the spell begins to weaken, allowing an evil mage to slip past the magical defenses. Chaos ensues as Rick struggles with imposters, evil minions, and his growing feelings for Brendon. Who knew stealing one groom would cause so much trouble? |
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Creatures Like Us by Ally Avery Noah The same night Iâm meant to end it all, I find a golden-haired angel passed out in the snow. Iâm just supposed to bring him home and nurse him back to health. To save him. To take care of him. But then I get greedy. I want him to stay. After all, heâs the only thing standing between me and my ruin. Asher The start of the new year is going down the drain along with my sanity, and thatâs even before I wake up in some weirdoâs basement. He keeps me under lock and key, claiming itâs for my own goodâthat if he lets me go, Iâll spiral back into the dark hole he pulled me out of. I should want to run. To escape as soon as I have the chance. But as the days pass and the lines blur, everything turns on its head, and Iâm no longer sure whoâs the captive and whoâs the captorâwhoâs in control, and whoâs desperate to submit. |
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Dance With Me by Livia J. Elliot A haunting and poignant fairy tale for adult readers, blending delicate imagery with psychological depth. In a world of beauty, a ceramic-made ballerina awakens atop her music box. She must dance for her elven owners, and so her ballet goes on and on. They praise her elegance, her poise and balance, until one day she falls and her ceramic fracturesâbut the ballerina dances again, ignoring her ever-increasing fissures. The music plays, captivating and demanding... but should she dance? Even when what she once loved becomes a trap? This is a dark fairy tale fantasy exploring the confines of depression. |
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Aurethia Rising by Atlas Laika Two centuries ago, House Henly of Aurethia and House Volkov of Griea penned an engagement, promising a union between rival houses and their respective homeworlds. Elio Henly has been preparing for marriage his entire life. As the Henly heir and future steward of Aurethia, he will inherit great power, including control of a lucrative trade route, and ownership of the most precious substance in the Greater Universe â Avara. The mysterious blue crystal native to Aurethia is the sole treatment for parsec sickness, an epidemic ravaging space travelers within the Greater Universe. But when he meets Cael Volkov, the charming heir of the outfitted military planet, Griea, everything he thought he knew about his homeworld, his family, and his heart is turned upside down. Cael Volkov has been raised to conquer. Champion in the Tupinaire, commander of the Royal Reserve, and son to the mighty Legatus, Cael knows his mission is simple: gain the Aurethian heirâs trust, learn everything he can about the forest moon, and prepare to take it by force. But the longer he spends with Elio Henly, the quiet, brilliant Aurethian prince, the more he questions everything he was taught, and begins to push back against the rhetoric seeded in him by a lust for vengeance. |
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A Ballad for Slayers & Monsters by Rita A. Rubin Kas of Veldenier is a Slayer, a travelling monster hunter for hire. Claudia of Trulio is half-human, half-vampyric. Half monster. They should be nothing more than enemies. But when the long-lost remnant of the dragon Ombral turns up, and with it the possibility of unleashing the dragons to wreak havoc on Vil Tresar as they did long ago, Kas and Claudiaâs paths converge. Through a shared desire to keep the dragons from returning, they embark on a quest to see the remnant destroyed. Along the way, they will encounter fearsome monsters as well as a burgeoning desire for each other. Can a monster and a monster slayer truly find love together? Pursuing them from the shadows is Serisa, a vampyric who wishes to see the world burn. And she will need the remnant to make that wish a reality⊠|
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Africa's Ashiest Warrior by Dr. Joel Anthony Hamilton Ashy is a term used to describe dry skin and is commonly used within the Black community. Our skin turns a harsh grayish-white, becomes rough, cracks, and invites criticism. Ashy is grotesque, not beautiful. Ashy is ghetto, not professional. Ashy is undesirable, not valued. That is what many people think. This book takes back the negative association with being ashy and turns it into a right, a privilege, a power⊠a superpower. Ashburn is born in a haunted region of Africa known for its enthusiastically ashy citizens. Their skin allows them to create the friction needed to birth weak flames. They were the first to discover, create, and harness fire. Their powers are used for general house duties and occupations. Although their powers are useful, they are not strong enough to defeat the spirits and deities that lurk in the night. Due to the arid climate, young children are lathered in oil and grease to prevent them from prematurely igniting their powers. Oh, how they yearn to be free of the crude moisturizer and become ashy like the adults. Upon completing kindergarten, they are allowed to be ashy and use their powers. Ashburn discovers that his ash powers are much more powerful and destructive than everyone else's. Is he one of the legendary burning warriors, the Mpiganaji wa Kuchoma, the ones strong enough to defeat the monsters of the night? All will be revealed in this story of adventure, African folklore and mythology, as we reclaim the word ashy. |
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Inside a Dark Space by M.J. James Finch was sent to the moon as a canary. They were one of the expendableâa soul desperate enough to risk their life for the safety of the ârealâ astronauts. A decade later, they are the last canary left alive. Alone at the first lunar water mining station, Finch finds peace in solitude and the safety of routine. Ray grew up hearing her father rant about corporations âmaking the moon gay.â For her, that sounded like hope. She shaped her life around reaching a place where she could finally come out. Except when she arrived on the moon to start a research project, Ray was left at a station with only one occupantâFinch. Finch may have sparked Rayâs journey, but life together in a dark crater proves far more complicated. Finch struggles to connect. Ray craves belonging. Both are haunted by what they left behindâand what the moon has in store for them. Inside a Dark Space is the first book in the Lunar Abyss seriesâa queer, autistic science fiction story about survival and the quiet rebellion of staying alive on your own terms. |
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Ruined History by Claudie Arseneault Fate and friendship brought Horace, Rumi, Keza, and Aliyah together in Rumiâs sentient self-propelling wagon. They seek the forest haunting Aliyahâs dream, hoping for answers about the elfâs past and unique abilitiesâbut first, they need to traverse a world haunted by Fragments, dangerous shards that can possess travellers and react to Aliyahâs presence. When the Archivistsâa mysterious organization that has trailed the crew from the very startâcapture everyone but Aliyah, however, their journey grinds to a halt. Still reeling from revelations about themselves, Aliyah must infiltrate the Archivistsâ base to rescue their group. The place is half ruined city, half magical wonderâa labyrinth to navigate which will require the help of two unlikely allies: Fragment motes from past citizens willing to guide Aliyah. To confront the Archivists is to uncover more of the inextricable truths between Aliyah and the Fragments. With every new revelation, the fractures in the Wagon crewâs cohesion and Aliyahâs determination widen. Before they can travel onward, they will need to find the strength to bear the weight of their ruined history. |
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Motes of Inspiration by Claudie Arseneault Fate and friendship brought Horace, Rumi, Keza, and Aliyah together in Rumiâs sentient self-propelling wagon. They seek the forest haunting Aliyahâs dream, hoping for answers about the elfâs past and unique abilitiesâbut first, they need to traverse a world haunted by Fragments, dangerous shards that can possess travellers and react to Aliyahâs presence. Theyâve reached Virze, a marvel of art and engineering and a city in which all acts of creation are beloved. A perfect occasion to explore and rest before the next leg of their journey⊠except that Rumi desperately wants to avoid his hometown and the demons of his past. When the Wagon crew realises half of those might be fears of his own making, however, they refuse to leave. But between the curse that ran him out of town and the source of his engineering skills, Rumi has been keeping even more secrets than theyâd expected. Heâll need all their support to face the loved ones left behind and prove to all, himself first and foremost, what he is truly capable of. |
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Stories from the Deep by Claudie Arseneault Fate and friendship brought Horace, Rumi, Keza, and Aliyah together in Rumiâs sentient self-propelling wagon. They seek the forest haunting Aliyahâs dream, hoping for answers about the elfâs past and unique abilitiesâbut first, they need to traverse a world haunted by Fragments, dangerous shards that can possess travellers and react to Aliyahâs presence. They finally leave the coast to undertake a long ocean crossing filled with the sailorsâ brand-new games and fearsome myths, but no one expects the latter to come to life. At sea, the Fragments that roam the world have coalesced into a gigantic beastâthe kraken of legendsâand unfortunately, it shares its landbound cousinsâ obsession with Aliyah. The crew may have bested countless storms, but no amount of sea-worthiness can save the ship from the wrath of its colossal tentacles. If they want to escape the kraken and continue their journey, the wagonâs team will need to unravel more of the Fragmentsâ mysteries, and learn to listen beyond the murmur of the sea. -- Stories from the Deep is the fourth novella in The Chronicles of Nerezia, a queer fantasy series of found family road trips with aroace nonbinary leads. |
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The Death Made Prince by Lisette Marshall A runewitch on the run has only one option left: join forces with the sarcastic, unpleasantly gorgeous necromancer she loathes The man Thraga loved is dead, and her future is in shambles. When she's sentenced to the gallows for killing her lover's murderers, it's a relief more than anything⊠until, the night before her execution, a necromancer is thrown into her cell. Escaping with him is her only chance to bring Lark back to life - and also the start of all her troubles. Because her new almost-ally is not just any man returned from death. Fire mage, rogue prince, and son of the man who killed her mother, sharp-tongued Durlain Averre is everything Thraga hates. Worse, he won't revive her lover unless she joins him on a mission of his own first, using her forbidden rune magic to free his sister from the dungeons of an enemy king. But their quest turns into a deadly chase when Thraga's violent past catches up with her. And as the net of court intrigue and old fears closes around them, she begins to find out Lark was not at all the man she thought he was⊠And neither is Durlain. The Death-Made Prince is the first book of the Runewitch Saga, an epic enemies to lovers fantasy romance featuring two morally grey leads, OCD rep, and a Norse mythology-inspired world. While it is a slow burn romance, the first book does contain spicy content intended for 18+ readers |
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Bite Marks and Broken Hearts by TJ Rose Book overview How to destroy your life: Leave Ireland in the dead of night to flee to London; Get yourself dragged into an alley by a demon, marked, and doomed to die; Gain a mysterious, fatally attractive stalker/saviour. One with strangely sharp teeth⊠Flynn I never asked for this. Okay, maybe a little. After all, the demon was undeniably hotâthe perfect way to mend my broken heart. But I certainly didnât sign up to become his preyâbecause now my chest burns with ice as dark magic grows inside me⊠and heâll be back to collect it. Thankfully, I have a saviour. Tall, dark and handsome, though his vintage dress sense is slightly pretentious and his aversion to sunlight is a bit strange⊠But if he keeps looking at me like I'm something worth devouring, I might just let him. What's one more bad decision? SebastiĂĄn Five centuries has taught me three rules: stay detached, stay focused, and never, never feel too much. I built Killigrew Street to control London's supernatural underbelly. We keep order in the shadows, we maintain the balance, and we absolutely do not rescue pretty Irish boys and lock them up in our hotel. Except, apparently, we do now. He's marked. He's stubborn. He has an infuriating habit of throwing himself headfirst into danger with zero self-preservation. And heâs my problem to solve. When my protective instincts quickly twist into feelings, I know I should walk away. But my cold, dead heart seems to have other ideas. For how long can I keep my true vampiric nature from him? In the meantime, at least watching him try to figure out why everyone keeps making bat jokes in front of me is⊠admittedly entertaining. Bite Marks and Broken Hearts is an adult MM PNR romance. It contains one touch-starved, emotionally guarded vampire, the golden retriever human whoâs determined to break down his walls, a found family like no other, snarky wolves, sizzling scenes, some serious fang action, and a HEA. The Killigrew Street Case Files is a series of standalone paranormal romances where family is forged in the shadows. Each story features a different couple and mystery, connected by their growing supernatural team and overarching plot threads. |
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Painted Flock by Claudie Arseneault ClĂ©mence Voyerâs one and only priority is Alain, ols five-year-old brother. Ol had been ready to kill countless witches to keep him safe. With Montrant Industriesâ crimes exposed, ClĂ©mence is freed from their clutches and under witness protection, granting ol a rare opportunity to give the boy a sense of normalcy and indulge his bird obsession. The city of Val-de-mer is left with one obvious problem, however: over a thousand witches trapped in exocores need to be transferred safely into new bodies, and ols involvement in the creation of exocores is not so easily forgottenânot by the lovely Emmanuelle Duclos, the scientist in charge of devising the exocore transfer, not by the witch community ol betrayed, and not by Montrant Industries, who needs ol dead to protect itself. Mired in the middle of the exocore restoration project, ClĂ©mence is forced to face the people ol harmed. Ol will need to learn to trust again determine what it means to be accountable if ol wants to move forward and finally give Alain the idyllic life he deserves. |
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Songs of Broken Bells by Lilly Lockwood The hungry flame inside LĂadan has been silent, kept hidden, for the last fifteen years. But something has called out to it, awakening it from its slumber. And it is oh so ready to burn. Vasil, her best friend and the one sworn to end her life should her magic reappear, defies his pact and spares her. He vows to keep LĂadan safe, no matter the cost. Minno, a follower of the saint of truth, was never meant to find themselves caught up in the wildfire of LĂadan's life. But the fates must have had another path in mind for them. Aila, the god of entropy's daughter, promises herself as LĂadan's only chance at surviving the torment of the hungry flame. Though, perhaps even the child of a god lacks faith sometimes. Their fates are intertwined in the never-ending motion of the Maelstrom, and it is their choice alone to decide if they walk the road The Fates set before them, or choose another path. |
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My Lips, Her Voice by L.L. Madrid Copper Cityâs bloody history is steeped in ghost stories and whispers of serial killers, but three girls have caught the attention of something far more sinister. A grandmother tormented by visions tried to warn the town, but no one listened. Now, a haunted inheritance has passed to her granddaughters, Audrey and Mara. When Maraâs body is discovered in the old mine, Audrey fears her grandmotherâs premonition is manifesting. The nightmare begins as Maraâs spirit returnsâlurking under Audreyâs skin, hellbent on vengeance and desperate to rekindle things with her former girlfriend, Zadie. Willing to hijack Audreyâs body to get what she wants, Mara drags them both into a deadly pursuit. When another girl in town goes missing, Audrey, Mara, and Zadie know the killer has struck again. In a fight to solve Maraâs death and uncover the mystery of disappearances in Copper City, the girls soon find themselves at war with each other. How do you survive long enough to hunt a murderer on the loose if the person inside you might kill you first? |
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The Frog Prince: An MM Romance Fairytale Retelling by A.M. Rose A man without a crown could still be a prince. But what about a monster? Adalwin has always been a prince. Born into royalty as the heir to the throne of Hallin, he was raised to rule a kingdom. Only, the one he receives is not the one he expected. Cruelly cursed and presumed dead by all who once knew him, his kingdom is now made up of a murky glen where water-splashers dwell and crooked linden trees block the light. Sitting on a throne built from bracken and moss, his only subjects are those creatures that wonât run in terror at first glance. After all, who could swear fealty to a monster? Only the bravest cross the borders into the Frog Princeâs kingdom, drawn by whispered rumors of a boon should you meet his price. An opportunity for him to show the man underneath the monsterâa chance to break the curseâs shackles and return home. When a beautiful, kind-hearted man with hair blessed by the sun itself stumbles into his lair looking to make a deal, more than just Adalwinâs interest is stirred. Maybe his lonely heart is too. But when the man tries to break the deal, the Frog Prince must come to collect. Each book set in the GriMM fairytale world can be read as a standalone and contains its own Happily Ever After story. But we do recommend reading each one, as the tales are connected to each other in multiple magical ways. |
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A Forgotten Legend by T.M. Baylor If one thing is true, it is that peace is a fragile thing in Eterin. The Lupegi province, Davegu kingdom, and the wilds of Andyse are anything but united, a tense alliance being the only thing stopping the world from plunging into chaos and death. When a Lupegi mission goes missing under mysterious circumstances and the Southern Coalition of Andyse is attacked during a time of peace, people from all across Eterin end up thrown into the fray. Ancient stories and long forgotten legends are their new truths as they must figure out how to navigate the now treacherous lands of Eterin and keep themselves alive against all odds. ââ--- A Forgotten Legend is an epic dark fantasy that follows six POV characters from across the world of Eterin. It centers themes of truth, the nature of resistance, propaganda, and the importance of knowing history to understand the present. Features LGBTQIA+ and women characters. Intended for mature audiences, please check the content warnings. First book of The Secrets of Eterin series. |
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Lamb, Stag & Wolf by Airic Fenn Sanctimonious, hypocritical, manipulativeâShelby Blackwood is a priest of the worst sort. To keep his secluded little village peaceful, heâs learned to carefully balance preaching of faith and fear. Ives Thatcher, the reclusive woodsman at the edge of the forest, has neither; the villagers are not pleased. But converting Thatcher proves to be easier said than done when Shelby discovers there is something far more unnatural about him than his pagan ways, and Shelby canât help himself from being tempted by the large manâs power and allure. Worse still, thereâs a newcomer in town, and her curiosity and defiant personality may not just jeopardize Shelbyâs secret, but the sanctity of the very system heâs worked to maintain. |
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Nights in New Eden: A Mystery at The Upshur Manor by A.L. Davidson There's a mystery afoot in New Eden! After an eventful summer full of romance, sweet treats, and not-so-mild panic for café owner Eli Hawkins, the much anticipated Halloween season is a breath of fresh air. With the joys of the 'ber months on the horizon, Eli aims to make the many upcoming holidays as memorable as possible. The most exciting event on the calendar? The annual Murder Mystery Party at the Upshur's beautiful manor, an exclusive event that he's been dying to attend for years. But balancing the cake orders, a new hire, and his boyfriend's failing health has made New Eden's favorite fallen angel a tad frazzled. Meanwhile, Des Upshur is feeling anxious - but the fact that his soul-fire went out and his heart literally stopped over the summer probably has more to do with it than he wants to admit. Des tries to stay strong for Eli as they head into the fallen angel's favorite time of the year, but his sugary sweet boyfriend's obvious worries are starting to bleed into their romance. Hoping the party at his parents' house - and a visit from his favorite cousin, Daedalus - may help lift both of their spirits, the half-demon tries his best to make the days leading up to Halloween magical. Little does he know, the mystery that awaits them at the manor will change their lives forever. |
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The Night Farm: The Alluring Ache of Autumn by A.L. Davidson Changes Blow into Wylder Wood with the arrival of Autumn With the revelation of Rhysâ lineage coming to light following the terrifying first meeting with his long-thought-dead father, the residents of Wylder Wood are forced to accept hidden truths about the founding family that have been buried in the graveyard for generations. The new understanding of what it means to be a Wylder extends to every member of the clan, setting off a chain of events that force each of them to question the long standing traditions that became the very foundation of not only their identities, but the town as a whole. Changes are on the way alongside the falling leaves and cooler winds, and Rhys is excited for a calm autumn that will soon arrive in the Wood. With a fresh outlook and hope in his heart for a better tomorrow, the young farmer looks forward to the blessings of harvest season and shifts his focus to better appreciate the important things in his life. Diving headfirst into farmerâs market planning and nurturing his sweet as pumpkin pie romance with Lex, life on the Night Farm is busier than ever. But with deeply buried secrets and ghosts coming to the surface, family drama on the rise, and a mysterious contract on the farmerâs very soul threatening to upend their happiness, Rhys and the gang must learn to endure the aches alongside the joys if they want to make the most out of the final months of the year. Halloween is on the horizon, and life on The Night Farm will never be the same. |
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His Horns Are Mine To Hold by A.L. Davidson The legends are real... and they walk among us! When the Myth Movement brought fiction into the real world, humans and myths started to coexist, reshaping society in an unexpected way. Dragons have taken to the skies, orcs now work in offices, the fae have invaded the beauty industry, and every day is full of magic and opportunity. Diego Delgado is a performer with a dream and a mighty family legacy looking to make a name for himself. After coming across a lost minotaur named Atticus, Diego offers the quiet giant a job opportunity that neither of them can turn down. The unlikely pair join a troupe called the Cirque des Ătoiles that highlights the wonders of legends and storytelling, and quickly become the stars of the show. With their âbeast slayingâ performance wowing the crowd every night, Diego and Atticus turn an age old tale into a mesmerizing choreography that blends tradition and mystique. But as the touring season comes to an end and the troupe is set to go their separate ways, Diego and Atticus are faced with a choice: say goodbye until the next season or finally admit their feelings and see where the road takes them... |
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The Night Farm: The Wylder Years by A.L. Davidson Before they were the last reaper in Wylder Wood... Casper Wylderâs focus is on one thing and one thing alone: learning how to be a mortician. After moving to New Orleans to finish their studies at the prestigious Bloodworth Family funeral home, the fledgling reaper finds the courage to embrace the truth and become the person theyâd always knew they could be - if only for a moment. Despite their newfound freedom, nothing matters more than their studies, and Casâ quiet life is uneventful to say the least. Things change when a handsome blue-eyed coffin maker named Canaan Michaels walks into the funeral home and sweeps the shy mortician off of their feet. A whirlwind romance, set against the magic-filled backdrop of New Orleans in the springtime, begins to blossom between them. Each new day is sweet, but Knowing theyâll have to return home to Wylder Wood come autumn - and say goodbye to their southern gentleman forever - makes Cas wonder if falling in love is worth the risk. Desperately in love with the moon-eyed mortician and eager to please, Cane is determined to break down Casâ walls. but when he discovers the haunting truth behind his partnerâs penchant for the paranormal, he realizes that life as he knew it will never be the same. The coffin maker must decide if giving up his first true home after years of hardship is worth it for an eternity with the mysterious grim reaper who stole his heart, and his choice sets off a chain of events that will change the Wylders, and their beloved town, forever... |
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My Harimau King by Annie McCann An ancient king, a modern-day kid, and a life-changing prophecy that binds them. 13-year-old Sumaiyah Jackson is living her best life in Parramatta until a family drama spirals out of control, mysterious events start happening, and loved ones begin to disappear. Suddenly, Sumaiyah and her friends find themselves trapped in the ancient kingdom of Pajajaran, Indonesia, where Sumaiyah discovers she is 'the chosen one' from descendants of ancient royalty. But this doesn't mean fun and untold riches. Instead, she needs to break a mystifying curse and prevent a prophecy from destroying her family. Now Sumaiyah's in a race against time to discover her true purpose, combat terrifying creatures, and fulfil her destiny, or risk losing her family and friends forever! "... a beautifully crafted debut from a gifted storyteller...' - Karuna Riazi, author of The Gauntlet. '... a truly unique and enthralling world...' -- Wai Chim, author of The Surprising Power of a Good Dumpling. "A fresh new fantasy with fascinating insights into West Javanese culture and history." - Leanne Yong, author of Two Can Play That Game. |
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Volatile Reaction by Magnus Thorne A hitman gets swept up protecting the younger man who lives next door. VOLATILE REACTION is an 18k MM erotic suspense thriller featuring a transmasc main character. |
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Pistols and Plush Toys by D. Dove Being the son of the head of the Russian mafia means that Nikolai has learned from a young age how to be hard. Ruthless. And with the Italians taking liberties on his turf, he knows he has to send a strong message. If that message has to come from Elliot Brooks, Mattia Vitale's sobbing boyfriend, tied up in an abandoned warehouse, then so be it. But Nikolai is not a cruel man. And as he learns that being Mattia's lover might not have been⊠easy for Elliot, Nikolai starts to treat Elliot with a softer touch... Pistols & Plush Toys has a 3 dove rating for some on-page SA and DV (not overly graphic and not between MCs), gaslighting, manipulation, food issues, trauma, mafia-typical violence, hurt/comfort, and plushophilia. It has a guaranteed happily ever after. |
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Thicker Than Blood by Sera Quim EDEN VAUGN IS DEAD. ONLY JUDE ST. JAMES REMAINS. When Jude St. James came out as trans nearly a decade ago, his mob boss father, the widowed, sadistic Damian Vaughn, made him an ultimatum: Eden Vaughn could disappear, but the man he became was to be Damianâs secret weapon. Now, after being used as such for nearly half of his young life, Jude is tired of being controlled. It's time to take his life back. And after one hot, perfect night with two of Damian's greatest rivals, Jude makes up his mind. It's time to stop keeping his father's greatest secret. It's time to find out what's thicker than blood. |
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Deceit and Darkness by Jeannin Counts The stars have fallen. With war on the horizon, the only way out is through death itself. The starsâ conquest is in full force, and their leader, Rigil, will stop at nothing to subjugate all of humanity. In the midst of their grief, Iyana and her companions must turn to the gods for guidance, and theyâre not all welcoming to mortals. Only the first Aztia can teach Iyana how to banish the stars once again. But the only way to reach her is to send an emissary to the afterlife, and thereâs no guarantee the gods wonât get to them first. Meanwhile, Rigilâs reign of terror is only spreading, and heâs hells-bent on ending any chance of retribution. When Altair is tasked with hunting Iyana down, his loyalties are put to the ultimate test. As intense as ever, heâs no oneâs slave. But what does that mean when heâs commanded to kill his former lover? An unforeseen ally. A willing sacrifice. A voyage into the unknown. Can destiny overcome deceit? Or will humanity fall next? |
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A Promise Of Sirens by V.L. Barycz Brigitte Fitzpatrick Laveau is about 99% sure she's cursed. As Senior Pilgrim of Detroit, she's supposed to be keeping humanity--and magic folks--safe from each other. Instead, she's babysitting fallen gods, dodging djinn trying to con her, and finding homes for orphaned seers. Why is it her job to keep Detroit running smoothly? Oh, right: It's the family business. So now--because she's a good daughter, thank you very much--she has accepted her fate to become the next Divine Arbiter. With more magic come more problems. Problems like sirens being murdered across Detroit, problems that feel a little too personal and a whole lot bloodier than she bargained for. It's going to take more than a shot of luck in her latte to bring them justice. |
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Monsters-in-Law by Jeannin Counts Huck finally feels like he has it all: His own place in New York City, far away from his tiny, idyllic hometown. His dream job as an investigative journalist. And now, Kai, the cute new trainee heâs been assigned. Every minute they spend together makes them both fall a little harder, and before long theyâre in âmeet the parentsâ territory. Should be simple enough, right? For Huck, nothing has ever been simple, and now he has to take the next Explaining to his boyfriend that he isnât quiteâŠhuman. Or rather, that he inherited the human sides of both his very inhuman parents. Also, that âtiny, idyllic hometownâ? Itâs actually a pocket realm full of monstrous and mythical citizens, from mothmen, harpies, and sirens, to Huckâs hung-like-a-centaur-ex-boyfriend. Even with Kaiâs support, making a trip back to The Vale isnât easy for Huck. Between the cozy gazebo concerts in the town square and the beautiful nature hikes, he canât help but revisit the most difficult parts of his childhood. But the longer they stay, the more Kai seems to feel at home. If he wants to keep the man he loves, Huck might just have to face everything heâs been running from and learn to embrace the best of both his worlds. |
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Ourselves and Immortality by Logan Sage Adams John Hall, a shy man with a persistent stammer, has always had trouble connecting with people. Ashamed of both his eccentricities and his nearly lifelong fascination with mortality, John mostly keeps to himself. But when he lets his caring-yet-often-critical brother convince him to open his own funeral business, he finds himself overwhelmed by the more people-centric parts of funeral planning, and soon realizes that he needs to find someone personable to work with or else risk his business perishing. Calvin Wright, a charming con man with a tragic past and mini-library of stolen books, is struggling to survive in the city of Philadelphia without resorting to work as a laborer. Desperate for money, Calvin tricks a woman into handing over her necklace, and by selling it, brings about a series of events that leads him to becoming John Hallâs business partner. Once John and Calvin begin working together, they easily become friends. Captivated by each other's opposing personalities, it isn't long before the two men fall in love. But John's struggles with navigating emotional intimacy cause Calvinâs insecurities to worsen, and soon, John's brother's continuous mistrust of Calvin threatens to break their still-tenuous bond. When Calvin's trauma is fully unearthed, it leads him to make a mistake that could put his and John's relationship in peril. Ourselves and Immortality is a heartfelt MM historical romance set in 1902 that explores the importance of connection, the consequences of feeling othered, and the fragility of love. |
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Well of Souls: a queer romantic tragedy by Harmonia Grey An ancient katabasis, retold. Eurydice, a superstitious bard-turned-huntress living the good life with her sellsword wife, is compelled to venture into the depths of the Underworld to save the souls of her estranged once-lover and fellow bard Orpheus and that of his new wife after their royal wedding ends in tragedy. With only Hecate to help and guide her, Eurydice must survive not only taunting spirits, but her own psyche as well. Nestled between Xena: Warrior Princess and the works of Madeline Miller, Well of Souls is a queer reimagining of the mythological tale of Eurydice and Orpheusâa novella filled with love and tragedy in equal measure, featuring a trans bi Eurydice prone to anxiety and a bi Orpheus. |
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Fimbulvinterâs Fires: a queer apocalyptic sci-fi horrormance by A.M. Weald Worlds and hearts will be set aflame⊠Within moments of his escape pod crash-landing in a night-clad frozen forest, musician Asher Hollin is frostbitten, bleeding, a thief, and a killer. If not for technology looted from a dead prison guard, heâd be long dead, either from hypothermia or from being attacked by battleaxe-wielding not-quite-human marauders. Without hope of rescue from those heâd fled, thereâs only one choice: keep going. Fight. Survive for those who didnât. Somewhere out there is food, shelter, civilization. Indeed, just as the darkness threatens to consume him, help comes from an initially unwilling source. Compassion and a yearning for companionship spark an unlikely relationship, but a lack of understanding of language and culture endangers Ash and everyone around him. Inspired by the tale of Ragnarök and its harbinger, Fimbulvinterâs Fires combines achillean love stories with first-contact sci-fi, survival horror, and apocalyptic tragedy. This snowpocalypse contains violence and death, steamy scenes, strong language, deep snow, and high heat. Tread carefully. |
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Hunt Monsters, Do Magic, and Fall in Love: a contemporary fantasy triptych by A.M. Weald A little spooky, a little sparkly. Father Winter is a malevolent ancient spirit. The veil between worlds really is thinnest on Halloween. Dragons exist, but theyâre just demons. And demigods walk the earth, protecting humanity from it all. THE HUNTER & HER GIRLFRIEND: 2020. When Margot invited her new girlfriend Emili to meet her parents over Christmas, she should have realized that Father Winter might show up⊠and try to kill her. THE MAIDEN & THE LIAR: 1990. When a hunter fails to slay Father Winter, Poeâs family holiday road trip is waylaid by the ensuing dangerous blizzard, and theyâre forced to take shelter in a highway rest stop. Thank goodness other teens are there, including a cute boy and his high school hockey team. THE HEALER & THE HAMMER: 1989. Noraâs on the run for murder, hiding out at a hunter academy where famous Thom âThe Hammerâ is currently contracted to hunt and kill the Jersey Devil. A rare healer, sheâs assigned to his detail because the asshole is a f*ckinâ demon magnet. Great. Hunt Monsters, Do Magic, and Fall in Love is a triptych of modern fantasy stories interrelated by familyâstories with myths and demons and ghosts (oh my), and with romance and secrets and lies (and someone dies). |
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Campus of Shadows: A Psychic Battle for the Soul by Jo Loveday When the mind breaks, who walks in? Something dark has found Dave Everest at collegeâsomething hungry. A neurodivergent freshman craving independence, Dave steps onto the sun-baked campus of the University of Mann with high hopes and a shaky sense of self. But freedom quickly spirals into chaos when heâs drawn into the orbit of Zane Maddox, his dangerously charming, party-obsessed roommate. While Dave chases acceptance in all the wrong places, his childhood friend Maria Vasquez warns of forces that go far beyond hangovers and heartbreak. She carries psychic insight and the burden of guilt, sensing something ancient and malevolent stalking him. Zane mocks her as a âcrazy religious freak,â but his grudge isnât spiritualâitâs personal. As Dave's loneliness deepens, he reaches out into the voidâand something answers. A whispering voice named Ivan slithers into his mind, awakening memories soaked in addiction and violence. As family tensions erupt over Thanksgiving and Daveâs grip on reality slips, the boundary between madness and possession begins to blur. Ivanâs ghostly power grows. And the vulture circles closer. Maria may be the only one who can help him. But will she reach Dave before the darkness does? |
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13 County Road 666 by CL McCollum Itâs the full moon again, and that means Melanie Smithsonâs job just got a lot harder. Sheâs 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 Melâs 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, Melâs 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. |
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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, Philippeâs 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. |
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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. |
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World of Dreams by Riley Taylor The Poison Princess series continues with World of Dreams. Life isnât 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 sheâd 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 Natureâs Royals and The Alliance wants to put a stop to Hidekiâs 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⊠|