|
Burning Snow: A Retelling of The Little Match Girl & The Snow Queen (Displaced Fairytales Series) by Abigail Manning Princess Safara wanted nothing more than to marry the prince of Averglas and secure protection for her suffering kingdomâuntil her fiancĂŠ left her to freeze to death. Til death do us part comes early for Safara when a brutal winter sweeps through her betrothedâs kingdom, forcing everyone to evacuate or be buried by the snow. To make matters worse, toxic trees have been burned in fireplaces in a desperate attempt for warmth, infecting Safara and many others with a slow-acting paralysis. Abandoned and alone, Safara uses the last flick of her fingers to light a match, wishing for a chance to have been a better queen. By some miracle, life returns to Safara as she wakes up months in the past. No longer diseased or trapped by snow, she decides to make good on her wish and do everything in her power to be the queen she should have been in the first placeâthe snow queen. Now knowing what the future holds, sheâs not aligning herself with the losing side. The only way to stop this winter is to win over the snow king who created it. Can Safara claim his frozen heart? Or is her life destined to always burn away? Torn from one fairytale and trapped in another: The Displaced Fairytales series is a collection of standalones from your favorite no-spice, young adult romance authors. Burning Snow is a Little Match Girl meets The Snow Queen reimagining with the perfect blend of marriage of revenge, grumpy x sunshine, and a pet rock named Douglas. |
|
All The Queen's Horses And All The Queen's Men (Once Upon A Rhyme #7) by Abigail Manning All The Queenâs Horses and All The Queenâs Men⌠Could never put her soul back together again. Princess Amirah of Sarnold has been shattered ever since the day her family was killed in front of her. Before her parentâs death, the ruling king and queen embraced the use of magic by containing their fickle emotions in rare magic stones with the intention of making them fairer rulers, doing the same for their royal children. But when their soulless rule brought unrest among their people, only Amirah remained once the dust had settledâher soul stone shattered. Prince Soren is the most legendary bachelor in all the kingdoms, willing to stop at nothing to find himself a proper bride that wonât leave him to run a black market or scurry off with a gargoyle. After hearing that Princess Amirah has come of age to ascend to the throne, the eager prince makes his way to Sarnold to support the new queen in anyway he can. He knows hardly anything about her other than her appreciation for magic jewelry, but as a magic scholar himself, at least his chances with her arenât entirely abysmal. With her coronation coming, and her soul split into shards of jewelry, Amirah welcomes the neighboring prince with the hope that his knowledge can help her repair her shattered stone. But help comes too late when the princess discovers that a piece of her magic jewelry has gone missing, taking part of her soul along with it. No longer able to access all of her emotions, only Prince Sorenâs endless optimism can motivate her to track down her missing pieces. Can they finally put her back together? Or will someone in the shadows ensure the queen suffers a great fall? Once Upon A Rhyme is a collection of clean, intercepting stories, best enjoyed when read as a series. For more information on Once Upon A Rhyme sign up for my free monthly newsletter at: Abigailmanningauthor.com |
|
The Curious Voyage: A Retelling of Alice in Wonderland and The Odyssey (The Fairmyth Chronicles Book 5) by Abigail Manning Alice in Wonderland meets The Odyssey Alyssiusâs wedding day was meant to be blissful, peaceful, and not interrupted by a panicked divine one who desperately needed her help. Being an accomplished doctor occasionally meant making house calls, even those that include jumping into a hole that sends her to the Kingdom of Underworth. The job is quick, but the journey home is long. Alyse has no trouble sailing her own vessel after growing up on a quiet island, but she quickly learns that it isnât the sea that is complicating her journey. Percival knew what he was getting into when he married the island doctor, but he had also hoped it would keep all of the swooning island girls away from his modest palace. Being the king of Ithar doesnât come with much power, but that doesnât dissuade all the young ladies from offering him company in his new wifeâs absence. Heâs already chosen the queen of his heart, but fending off the debutantes might require a club. Curious islands appear before Alyse in spades, pulling her boat in, trapping her, tricking her, and often nearly claiming her life. Getting killed isnât an option while Percival awaits her, but even time begins to stand in her way as the clock suddenly turns her back to the start of her journey. Then turns back again, and again, again⌠Such a wonder would surely drive any voyager mad. How long had she been at sea again? Will this curious voyage ever lead her home? The Fairmyth Chronicles is a collection of clean interconnecting fantasy romance novels that can be read in any order. For more updates on The Fairmyth Chronicles and my other series, sign up for my free newsletter atabigailmanningauthor.com |
|
Crimson Claws (The Ruby Realm #1) by Abigail Manning A girl and her grandma... separated by an entire pack of beasts. A Retelling of Little Red Riding Hood. Roisen Karro and her grandmother run the most beloved bakery in the province of Omaira. Ever since her father disappeared seven years ago, Ro has decided there is no place for a man in her heart, especially an obnoxiously flirty woodcutter. Unfortunately, her granny has no issue encouraging the young manâs advances toward her. At the far end of Omaira, a strange foreigner washes up on the shores and finds himself amongst the ranks of a nefarious group of beasts. With no knowledge of the Ruby Realm or even a grasp on their language, the foreigner agrees to do their dirty work until he gets back on his feet. All they asked him to do was kidnap some girl from a bakery, anyway... As Ro discovers there is more behind her fatherâs disappearance than she knew, she finds herself entangled in the schemes of a sly new foe. With only the clothes on her back and a pack of wolves on her heels, Ro must find her way back to her granny before itâs too late for them both. Will Ro be able to survive the hunt? Or will the beasts swallow her family whole...? The Ruby Realm is a collection of clean, intercepting stories, inspired by classic fairy tales. |
|
Framed in Florals (The Emerald Realm, #3) by Abigail Manning A shoeless girl stumbles into the prince's garden... A Retelling of Cinderella. Kalina Aristi hasnât had much time to stop and smell the roses after her loving father passed, leaving her in the tender care of her greedy stepfamily. Her scheming stepmother has successfully swindled every penny of Kalinaâs inheritance, and now she only has a few weeks until she turns eighteen. With nothing left to her name, Kalina must find a way to support herself without even a simple pair of shoes to call her own. Just a few miles away, Prince Jasper is tasked with finding a wife at his upcoming betrothal ball as his fatherâs pick, Queen Arabella, was already spoken for. Will he be able to pick a suitable bride in only one night? He hopes his elusive pen-pal will make an appearance, but he doesnât even know her true name. Can Kalina determine the right moment to be brave? Or will she only dig herself deeper into a bed of thorns and lies? Only a night with a magic dress, a handsome prince, and a deathly dance will determine her fate. This book can be enjoyed as a standalone, but is best enjoyed when read in order due to potential spoilers. For more information on The Emerald Realm sign up for my free monthly newsletter Abigailmanningauthor.com |
|
The Spindle Box: A Retelling of Pandora and Sleeping Beauty (The Fairmyth Chronicles) by Abigail Manning Pandora meets Sleeping Beauty A Fairmyth Chronicles Short Story All Princess Twyla wants for her birthday is a box. Not a pillow, not a dress, and certainly nothing else thatâs round. She wants a nice squared box with sharp edges so she can prove to both the king and her charming guard, Felix, that there's no reason for her to fear them. Now that Twyla is eighteen, she should finally be allowed to learn why the king insisted she grow up in a round tower with round furnishing. However, the king shows no interest in explaining himself to Twyla when he has other ambitions for her circular little world... Getting a box seems far less exciting when one learns they are already cornered. The Fairmyth Chronicles is a collection of clean interconnecting fantasy romance novels that can be read in any order. For more updates on The Fairmyth Chronicles and my other series, sign up for my free newsletter atabigailmanningauthor.com |
|
Cupcakes for My Orc Enemy (Fairhaven Falls, #1 / Sweet Monster Treats, #3) by Honey Phillips One very large orc. One very small human. Does size matter? When Elara flees corporate life to open a coffee shop in the small southern town of Fairhaven Falls, the last thing she is looking for is a relationship. But when she meets Grondar, the gruff orc owner of the bakery next door, sparks fly. Literally. Grondar has been burned by human females before. He has no intention of letting the feisty little female next door get under his skin - no matter how attractive he finds her. And it certainly doesnât mean heâs going to let her get away with sabotaging his business. Despite their disastrous first meeting, Elara still finds herself having inappropriately heated thoughts about the massive orc next door. The attraction seems to be completely one-sided - until he reluctantly comes to her rescue and she discovers a very different side to the grumpy male. Can they overcome their initial animosity, their ongoing rivalry, and their very obvious differences to find a future together? * * ~ * * "Cupcakes for My Orc Enemy" is the third sweet and steamy monster romance that make up the Sweet Monster Treats multi-author, shared world collection. Each book is a standalone, containing its own 'Happily Ever After', and can be read/listened to in any order -- (but the series is likely enjoyed most when read/listened to in order, as characters may appear throughout the stories!) Be sure to explore all the titles brought to us by three bestselling authors: ⢠Book 01: "Cookies For My Orc Neighbor" by Michele Mills (2023) ⢠Book 02: "Candy For My Orc Boss" by Ava Ross (2023) ⢠Book 03: "Cupcakes For My Orc Enemy" by Honey Phillips (2023) ⢠Book 04: "The Single Mom and the Orc" by Honey Phillips (2023) ⢠Book 05: "Single Dad Orc" Ava Ross (2023) ⢠Book 06: "Twins For The Wild Orc" by Michele Mills (2023) ⢠Book 07: "Undercover Orc" by Ava Ross [2024] ⢠Book 08: "Protected by the Orc" by Honey Phillips [2024] ⢠Book 09: "Arrested by the Orc" by Michele Mills [2024] * * ~ * * "Cupcakes for My Orc Enemy" is also the first story in Honey Phillips' Fairhaven Falls series: ⢠Book 01: "Cupcakes for My Orc Enemy" ⢠Book 02: "Trouble for My Troll" ⢠Book 03: "Fireworks for My Dragon Boss" ⢠Book 04: "The Single Mom and the Orc" ⢠Book 05: "Mistletoe for My Minotaur" ⢠Book 06: "Valentine for My Vampire" ⢠Book 07: "Protected by the Orc" |
|
A Filling of Fables and Firelight: A 1,001 Nights Retelling (Enchanting Confections) by Sarah Beran A slice of bridal competition A dusting of mistaken identity And a whisk of love that might be nothing more than a fable. Rana Schehera is fully content with her simple life. Newly employed as a seamstress under one of the most sought-after tailors in El Huram, sheâs paid enough for her beautiful creations to both provide for her aging grandmother and keep a steady supply of her favorite sweets. That simple life is threatened, however, when the new Sultan decides to select his bride the traditional wayâthrough competitionâand Rana is one of the lucky seamstresses chosen to attend the competitors. Still, it should all be fairly straightforwardâŚuntil the Sultan mistakes her for one of the princesses heâs meant to be courting and inexplicably keeps coming back. Kamaran knew the throne was inevitable, but he wasnât prepared for it to be his so soon. Now, reeling from loss and weighed down by the crown he never wanted and the responsibilities he never cared for, his council of viziers has added insult to injury by arranging for him to select a bride. His plan is Go through the motions, eliminate a prospect each week, and hope that by the end, the last one standing will be at least tolerable. What he didnât plan for was the pragmatic princess with an obsession for needlework and stories that capture his imagination. With each evening that passes, Rana begins to see that Kamaran is more than the fickle, irresponsible Sultan he pretends to be, and she wants to be the one to fill the empty spaces in his heart. But as the end of the competition draws near, it becomes all too clear that the story sheâs weaving may never have a happy ending. A Filling of Fables and Firelight, a retelling of 1,001 Nights, is a standalone novella, complete with tropes such as Mistaken Identity, Commoner x Royalty, and Forbidden Love. It is part of The Enchanting Confections series, a collection of clean and cozy stories guaranteed to delight your sweet tooth. |
|
Never Text a Minotaur: A Cozy Monster Romance (Wrong Move, Right Monster) by Honey Phillips She wanted a ladder. She got a minotaur. Clara Bellweatherâs professional life is a meticulously organized system of color-coded calendars, perfectly cataloged books, and emergency backup bookmarks. Unfortunately, her personal life is a chaotic mess of tripping over air and failed online dates. In desperate need of a ladder for the annual spring reading event, Clara does what any socially awkward librarian would doâshe texts her handsome new neighbor. Or, at least, she thinks she texts him. A series of awkward texts leads to an even more awkward meeting where she discovers that sheâs actually been exchanging messages with a massive, horned minotaur. Rion is gruff, reclusive, and intimidating but he's also unexpectedly kind and ridiculously handsome. After recruiting Rion to help with her event, she starts to realize that the grumpy minotaur might be the only male in town who isn't completely and utterly wrong for her. The library needs a ladder. The town needs a festival. And Clara needs to stop having feelings for a minotaur who's probably allergic to sunshine. (Each book in the Wrong Move, Right Monster series can be read as a standalone. These sweet and spicy romances are intended for mature readers.) |
|
A Goblet of Guises and Gooseberries: A Goose Girl Retelling (Enchanting Confections) by Abigail Manning A basket of berries, a dash of wild goose chases, and an identity swap that is nothing to honk about. Princess Emaline has waited long enough for her betrothedâs family to invite her into their kingdom after the lengthy acquisition of a workersâ agreement. Accompanied by her new handmaiden and joined by a freeloading goose who rides valiantly on the carriage roof, Emaline is eager to explore her new kingdomâuntil her first exploration gets up close and personal with a local mud puddle. A less-than-cordial exchange with their goose stalker leaves Emaline completely unsuitable to meet her future in-laws. In a desperate attempt to save face, her handmaiden kindly offers to greet the royals in her honor. Which would have been a grand solution had they not mistaken the polite maid for Princess Emaline⌠Muddy, lost, and ready to pluck a goose, Emaline hunts for a discreet place to tidy up before rescuing her maid from the mix-up. But during her hunt for clean water, she stumbles onto the slave master's property and is taken in as a new worker. With no way to prove her identity or get in touch with her maid, Emaline must rely on the help of a smooth-talking farmhand who just so happens to be head over boots for the new princess. Now tasked with making the gooseberry wine for her own table, can Emaline reclaim her crown? Or is it all destined to be a wild goose chase? A Goblet of Guises and Gooseberries, a retelling of the Goose Girl is a standalone novella, filled with Identity Swaps, Crazed Geese, Forbidden Romance, and a Cozy Berry Farm Setting. It is part of The Enchanting Confections series, a collection of clean and cozy stories guaranteed to delight your sweet tooth. |
|
Bluebeard's Bride (Displaced Fairytales) by Mary Mecham She ran from one monsterâŚstraight into the arms of another. When Alia traded her future for her sisterâs freedom, she knew exactly what awaited herâa murderous husband with a trail of vanished wives. Upon discovering a hidden lamp, she makes a desperate wish to save her life, not knowing that genie magic always comes with a cruel twist. Alia is hurled halfway across the world and straight into the clutches of Zafir, a villainous vizier with ambitions of his own. Now Alia is trapped in a foreign kingdom, her sister is in more danger than ever, and the murderous husband she fled is hunting for her. So Alia strikes a dangerous bargain with the one man she absolutely should not trust. The problem isâŚan overdose on a highly illegal love potion leaves them questioning which feelings are real and which are not. With her sister out of reach and a villain chained to her side, how is she supposed to save anyone, least of all herself? Bluebeardâs Bride is a standalone no-spice fantasy romance packed with villain vibes, sharp-tongued banter, forced proximity, and love potion shenanigans perfect for fans who love their fairy tales clever, edgy, and delightfully unhinged. |
|
Brownies for My Grumpy Bunny: A Cozy Monster Romance (Fairhaven Falls #10) by Honey Phillips Sheâs sweet, stubborn, and far too tempting. Heâs big, grumpy, and determined not to fall. Sara Cartwright came to Fairhaven Falls for a fresh startâquiet mornings, kind neighbors, and maybe a few furry friends hopping through her garden. She wasnât expecting her next-door neighbor to be six-foot-plus of scowling muscle and twitching ears. Ben Hollowell likes his peace, his pub, and his solitude. The last thing he needs is a relentlessly cheerful kindergarten teacher moving in next door with flower boxes, laughter, and curves that make his pulse race. But when Saraâs warmth starts melting his defensesâand her brownies start showing up at his doorâBen finds himself craving things he swore he didnât need. Will spring in Fairhaven Falls turn out to be mating season for the most reluctant of bunnies? Each book in the Fairhaven Falls series can be read as a standalone. This sweet and steamy small town romance is intended for mature readers. |
|
The Name and the Key by Kristina Elyse Butke Some doors are sealed for a reasonâand some names should never be spoken aloud. At thirteen, Lily Bellamy finds her motherâs body in the marshes. What haunts her afterward is worse. A corpselike spirit that looks like her mother follows Lily through every reflective surfaceâmirrors, glass, still waterâwhispering for Lily to open the door and let her out. Lily has no idea what the door is, how to stop the visions, or whether saving her mother is even possible. The haunting stretches into her young adulthood, eroding her sanity and dragging her closer to a breaking point she can feel but cannot escape. When Lily is eighteen, Andresh Zatavier returnsâthe boy who once knew her better than anyone, and perhaps still does. Changed by years overseas, Andresh confesses his study of dark magic and forbidden knowledge beyond human limits. He believes he knows the key to Lilyâs curseâand how to end death itself. But every secret Andresh carries comes at a cost. As Lily is drawn deeper into a world of dark gates and dangerous names, she must decide how far she is willing to go to save the woman she lost⌠and whether opening the door will free her motherâor unleash something far worse. Kristina Elyse Butke launches a chilling new dark fantasy series with The Name and the Key, weaving grief, forbidden magic, and aching connection into a story where love tempts fateâand some doors should never be opened. |
|
The Sorrow of Bees by Andie Holman Dark magic comes at a cost, one that Jelly, warrior mermaid, must pay. After enduring a brutal ritual to give her Fae powers, a vital piece of her soul goes missing. She must abandon everything and everyone to find it. It is her journey alone. If she fails her mission, her loverâs brother will never again see the sun, trapped in a horrifying dimension called the Hellhole. If she fails, her lover Mako may not forgive her. If she fails, she will never be whole. Sheâs sent to a queendom so foreign she can barely breathe, transformed into a body she canât possibly understand. Grappling with the enormity of her task, she struggles to appreciate the sorrows of the pollinators. But she must if she wants to succeed. Kirkus reviews: "The intricate details and person growth of major and minor characters make for a welcome continuation of this saga... The detailed depth of the fantasy world will delight those who enjoy all-consuming magical realms that integrate cleanly with contemporary, nonmagical locales... An often rousing personal quest that will have audiences looking forward to the next book." |
|
The Mermaid's Wrath by Andie Holman The ocean is dying. A mermaid vows to save it. The Mers are barely surviving in a magical marine bubble, isolated from the rest of the world. Jelly, warrior mermaid and champion of sea life, battles against the choking, accelerating pollution, living beneath the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. When Jelly's mind opens to terrifying premonitions, she must leave the ocean, collaborating with estranged magical beings on land. Sheâs seen one of theirs in a vision, a woman abducted for the power in her veins, and Jelly is the key to this woman's freedom. The black pearl at her throat holds a secret. When it wakes, it sends Jelly on a tumultuous journey, changing her life forever. Kirkus review: âA lighthearted novel that simultaneously features heavy environmental themes, multifaceted characters, and lots of charm. Holman weaves elements of humor, magic, romance, and environmental activism in a quirky ocean-set romantasy.â |
|
Falling for the Wolf: A Villainous Twist on Little Red Riding Hood and Cinderella (To Win a Dark Heart) by Megan Charlie A woman who betrayed her family A rogue hiding a hairy secret And a blackmail arrangement with unexpected consequences After her stepsister marries the crown prince, Tasia is shipped out of the country to live with relatives sheâs never heard of before. Blamed and scorned for her role in that debacle, Tasia struggles to make a new life for herself amongst a community that doesnât care for outsiders. But even that is less nerve wracking than her weekly trips through the woods to deliver a basket of âgoodiesâ to the sinister old woman known only as Grandmother. Mitch helped a naive girl travel through the woods once before. After having his heart viciously yanked out and stomped on, heâs not doing that ever again. When Tasia comes along, all innocent smiles and no sense of self-preservation, he vows to stay far away. But she stumbles upon his furry little secret and he reluctantly agrees to play protector in exchange for her silence. What seems like a simple arrangement soon becomes complicated as enemies from the past begin cropping up in unexpected places. When Mitch and Tasia stumble onto a villainous plot with far-reaching consequences they must choose between looking out for themselves or risking everything for faceless strangers. With livesâand possibly their heartsâon the line, how will two recovering villains decide what to do? And will their choices be compatible? Or just another betrayal? Falling for the Wolf is a retelling that combines elements of Little Red Riding Hood and Cinderella. Set after the events of each of these stories, this no spice romantasy is the 8th book in the To Win a Dark Heart series which retells fairy tales as old as time, but this time itâs the villainâs turn to get a happy ending. |
|
A Tangle of Iron and Feathers (Tales of Eukarya #4) by Sarah Beran Mulan meets The Goose Girl... Malana never aspired to wear a crown, but after years of war have decimated the royal family of Brisia, she finds herself in the unexpected position of being the closest thing to a princess her country has leftâŚand also the chosen candidate for the marriage treaty that will finally seal the peace between Brisia and Cabriole. If only she werenât keeping a secret that could ruin everything. After treachery and betrayal occur on the journey to her new home, Malana arrives in a much different position than she expectedâa fact she is almost grateful for when she realizes sheâs met her fiancĂŠ before. On the battlefield. Her forced position as Keeper of the Geese seems like the perfect cover to keep her secrets, until she stumbles upon an assassination plot and finds herself caught in a web of lies and secrets that threaten to destroy the tenuous relationship just starting to build between the two countries. Will she be able to salvage a future with the prince who has slowly begun battling his way past her defenses, or will the tangle of iron and feathers lead them right back to war? |
|
Cursed Climb (Displaced Fairytales) by Sarah Beran A swan, a bird catcher, and the plot they both intend to keep from hatching⌠Working under her father as the Assistant Keeper of the Menagerie, Odessa Rothchild has always believed two things to be true: animals are much better listeners than people, and Boris Rothchild is the most brilliant man in all of Kovskia. All of that changes when an unfortunate discovery in her fatherâs workroom leaves her the recipient of a curse. Stuck in the body of a swan until the sun sets, Odessa begins to think that her search for the truth is hopelessâuntil, that is, a mysterious man crash-lands in the middle of her lake. If thereâs one thing in life that Jax should understand, itâs birds. As the fourth generation of a family of bird catchers, his future nest egg should be secureâand it would be, if he didnât have his sights set on a different kind of winged creature. But after his search for a rare and elusive dragon egg goes wrong, Jax wakes up to find himself in the company of the one kind of bird he canât seem to understand. She needs his help to break her curse. He needs her to get his dragon. But as they work together, secrets are uncovered that create ripples bigger than either of them could have imagined, and they both must decide whether or not a happy ending is worth the climbâŚor the fall. Torn from one fairytale and trapped in another: the Displaced Fairytales series is a multi-author fairy tale retelling series of standalones from your favorite no-spice, closed door young adult romance authors. CURSED CLIMB is Jack and the Beanstalk meets Swan Lake with He Falls First, Found Family, and a dragon companion who doesnât understand why he canât be a swan. |
|
Rescued by the Cursed Phoenix (Rescued From Ruin) by Vala Stone Have I just stumbled from one monster, straight into the clutches of another? Ava I have a habit of doing what people tell me I shouldnât. Like eating that extra cookie, or you know, dating the bad boy. When I try to get out of this latest pickle, running is my only option. A dark gloomy mansion in the middle of the woods, surrounded by an ominous fence. Yeah, thatâs not where you expect to find salvation. But the man that swoops down on me, pulling me from the snapping jaws of danger⌠He sets my blood on fire and makes my heart melt with his care and his cute pet cat. Lucius I just want to be left alone. The world is a dangerous place and I want nothing to do with it. But when pretty Ava stumbles onto my doorstep, I canât help myself. Parts of me ignite that I thought had long ago turned to ashes. To keep her safe, to keep us both safe, I must let her go. I should send her away. To break my curse, to rescue her from ruin, I might have to break all my rules. I might have to ignite all the flames and make the ultimate sacrifice. Rescued by the Cursed Phoenix is a short, steamy novella that is part of the Rescued From Ruin shared author series. It features one sexy, cursed Phoenix, a plucky damsel in distress, and a very wise matchmaking cat. |
|
The Lunar Quartz Library by Melanie Steele At thirty-five, Esme thought her life was setâuntil a magical book offered her a whole new chapter. Esme has lived the same quiet, bookish life for as long as she can rememberâmornings spent sorting rare tomes at the beloved Goldsteins' Bookshop, evenings sipping tea in her tiny flat, and weekends buried in classics and comfort reads. Then a curious delivery arrives: an oversized book with a lock, but no keyhole. It doesnât appear on any inventory listâand it doesnât seem to belong to this world. When the Goldsteins' bookshop, where Esme has worked for half her life, suddenly shuts its doors, she finds herself adrift. Her routine is gone, her future uncertain, and the quiet, bookish life sheâs always known begins to unravel. When a mysterious stranger shows up claiming the book belongs to another realmâand that Esme is the only one who can unlock its secretsâsheâs offered a chance to start again. But stepping into her new role as Librarian of the Quartz Falls Library won't be easy. Esme must learn to wield magic, confront enemies who want the library sealed forever, andâmost daunting of allâbelieve that sheâs worthy of a life beyond the quiet edges of the world. A heartwarming, whimsical tale of transformation and quiet courage, this low spice cosy fantasy is perfect for fans of The Spellshop, Legends & Lattes, and The House in the Cerulean Sea. đ Tropes & Themes Youâll Love đ Midlife Protagonist ⨠Sweet romance đĄ Found family đ Light academia đ Strong female friendships đ LGBTQ+ rep đ§ Neurodivergent rep â¤ď¸ A comforting, low-stakes fantasy full of heart |
|
Forged in Ruin & Turmoil by Kiana I. Alexandria Fans of Powerless by Lauren Robertâs, Throne of Glass by Sarah j Maas & Crave by Tracey Wolf will love this thought provoking, fast paced romantasy novel. Strength. Heartache. Betrayal. Reyna was born a drudgeâvoiceless and invisible in the ruthless Blood Kingdom, where power is everything, and love is a dangerous weakness. Where sheâs spent her life enduring cruelty, but when the High Council commits an unforgivable act, Reyna finally breaks. Escaping with nothing but her pain and determination, she flees into the unknown. Welcome to Ellyshiaâa land full with power, danger, and fractured alliances. Reyna struggles to survive in a land that feels just as cruel as the one she left behind. But fate isnât done with her. Captured by a cold, duty-bound fae prince with emerald eyes and a brooding temper, Reyna finds herself torn between fury and something far more dangerousâhope. While her heart still carries the scars from a love ripped from her grasp, new feelings begin to spark where she least expects them. As war brews and ancient enemies rise, Reyna must confront the truth about who she is and what sheâs willing to fight for. Loyalties will be tested, blood will be spilled, and secrets buried in the shadows will come to light. Will she rise and answer fates callâor be consumed by the vengeance sheâs carried for too long? |
|
Falling For the Trickster: A Villainous Twist on Rumpelstiltskin & The Goose Girl by Lucy Tempest Rumpelstiltskin meets The Goose Girl. An opportunistic maid. A manipulative faerie. A gilded deal that binds them both. Ottoline has had enough. After years of enduring Princess Gertrudeâs cruelty, the maidâs patience snaps during their voyage to the foreign kingdom of Orcage, where the princess is to marry the crown prince to settle a royal debt. There, she crosses paths with a silver-haired, silver-tongued man with a penchant for deals and deception. Cunning and Ambitious, fae nobleman Lord Roderick von Ravenstock offers Ottoline the opportunity of a to switch places with her tormentor and claim the life of a princess. With a snap of his fingers, she is set to live the life she had dreamed of at the glimmering court of Orcage...until its superstitious king demands she fulfill her kingdom's debt by turning everything into gold. Trapped by her own masquerade, Ottoline turns to Roderick again, and he offers to save her, in exchange for a kiss. One kiss. One favor. One step closer to ruin. As the kingâs demands escalate, so do Roderickâs bargains, each adding another layer to his plot against the royal family, and drawing her deeper into a deadly game of magic and court intrigue. But when the kingâs greed spirals beyond control, Ottoline has no choice but to escape into Faerie where she falls from one monsterâs grasp into the next. Risking his plans, Roderick saves her and, as she recovers under his watchful gaze, the forced proximity begins to crack their defenses, revealing who they are underneath their roles as the trickster and the fraud. Villains in the lives of others, but heroes of their own stories. Together, they plot one last con to bring the king to his knees. But nothing ever goes to plan, especially when hearts are on the line.Falling For the Trickster is the first book in the To Win a Dark Heart series which retells fairytales as old as time, but this time itâs the villainâs turn to get a happy ending. |
|
The Forgotten Five: Levelling up Together by Anka B. Troitsky Fantasy novella inspired by games and their players In a world fractured by magic and time, I, the humble storyteller, find myself piecing together a tale I can scarcely believe. It begins with a halfling bard named Digram, whose discovery of a forgotten melody sets him and his companions on a dangerous quest. The dwarf Beryl, the human noble Minelira, and the elven warrior Lord Vaelior all carry their secrets, scars, and simmering tensions into this perilous journey. Together, they brave forests alive with menace, tunnels steeped in shadow, and caves where trolls plot their next meal. The magic rings promise a wish fulfilled, but as I uncover their history, I see how much more dangerous it is to seek what lies within oneâs deepest heart. Perhaps I am no more than a scribe to their adventureâbut if youâre reading this, you too are caught in its spell. |
|
Touch of Clandestiny by Catie O'Neill Some secrets are meant to be kept. Some powers are meant to break free. Behind the impenetrable walls of a fortress-like castle, a princess harbors magic that makes even her father, the king, tremble. Billed as a spoiled brat and kept locked away from the world, Cecilia never questioned why she must remain in the shadows. Until now. When a mysterious ghostly stag appears at the castle walls, possessed by a dark and forbidden magic, the carefully constructed barriers around her begin to crack. Her father assigns his top guardâCaptain Thomas Lovelaceâto keep her in line. Amidst a world of swirling secrets, it may be the Kingâs biggest mistake. Cecilia and Thomas begin to uncover the mysteries long buried in the hopes of finding any way they can to save their people and the Kingdom of Revell. Along the way, they discover the involvement of the Original Gods thought to have disappeared generations ago. Together, they must decide which is more dangerous: the wild magic threatening to take down the eight kingdoms, or the power within her fighting to break out? In this spicy fantasy romance, one woman's journey to self-discovery threatens to unravel a kingdom built on fear. The most dangerous person in any kingdom isn't always the one with the crownâsometimes, it's the one who's finally discovered her worth. |
|
Til Dust Do Us Part by Catie O'Neill Every story has a villain. But would you know if the murderer was someone close to you? After the death of her mother, fire witch Anna Leighis decides to finally take up her duty as head of the Leighis Legacy: becoming the healer of Dracht. Believing the town is now safe, she arrives at her familyâs Chateau, which had remained abandoned for the past forty years. Her late Aunt Astrid, whom she had never met, was the last member to reside there until she was forced to run for her life during the Dracht Purge: her hometownâs persecution of Witches. When dead bodies begin turning up without their eyeballs, Anna learns that Dracht is not the haven she thought it was. Thrust into aiding the investigation by the handsome Constable Sheehan, she is introduced to the Triumvirate â the magical leadership trio of the town, including their youngest warlock, Killian. Feeling pulled to both men while searching for answers about her Aunt, whose death is too mysterious for her liking, she agrees to work with them to uncover the killerâŚas long as they donât find her first. In this magical game of cat and mouse, prophecies, feelings, and revelations blur the lines between right and wrong. Because in a world of witches, warlocks, and murder, perspective is everythingâand sometimes, the most terrifying discoveries are not about others, but are about ourselves. A wickedly twisty spicy fantasy romance mixed with spellbinding mystery, where nothing is black and whiteâŚexcept maybe the magic. |
|
THE ONYX BOUGHS OF KEONIS by Enna Hawthorn Onyx can shatter, boughs can break, but love can rise victorious. Ariadne, the Golden Rose and Dhemon Queen, never imagined herself at the head of an army. Now, after walking down the aisle for a second time, she has entangled herself in a game she does not want to play with the King of Valenul. With hardly any time for preparation, she must locate the dhemon ritual, save her husband from an eternal darkness within himself, and lay siege to her own kingdom. But time is running out for Azriel, the broken and fading Dhemon King. Unable to hold back the images of his wife in the arms of another man or dead in his hands, his bond and mind is in tatters-unreachable by anyone other than Ariadne. With the shadows creeping in from all sides, he has two critical tasks: complete the ritual and kill the Vampire King. Collecting unlikely allies from across Northern Myridia becomes a critical piece to the puzzle now that their enemy has discovered their secret. Everyone now knows the threat that dragons pose and Valenul is ready. Together, Ariadne and Azriel must use every possible avenue to ensure victory or die trying, because failure guarantees a life of misery. |
|
The Alpha King's Fated Mate by Rowena Aiello An obedient daughter. A mysterious king. The chance to save their pack...or watch it crumble beneath their feet. I've been crushed and I can only blame myself. Literally, it's my fault. I wasn't careful enough with the Magic Academy's potions, and ended up Bonding myself to our Alpha King. Seriously. This was such a dumb move. I've worked with magic before. I thought I was better than this. Guess not.Not only is this the opposite of what I wanted to do, it's the very thing my parents have been working so hard for, despite the target this position now paints on my back. So I'm trying my best not to get killed by my bloodthirsty rivals, and guess what? It turns out, the Alpha King isn't the person my family led me to believe he would be, and that the people I call family are not only wrong, but traitorous. They expect me to obey them, but if I do, everything in our world will be destroyed. If I explain my side, will they listen to me, given my new role as Alpha Queen? Or will my refusal to do as I'm told make me more enemies than friends out of my loved ones? THE ALPHA KING'S FATED MATE is book one in the Shifter Country trilogy. |
|
The Sin Of Angels by Enoli Lee Leliel is unsure of her place in heaven, constantly feeling left out and forgotten as the angels around her form connections and partnerships. Enter Verchiel and Sachiel, the archangel and cherub couple who seem to be smitten with her. Leliel is wary, wanting something permanent and not just a few rolls in the sheets with the two. Together, they explore and find pleasure in each other while the couple tries to convince Leliel that the feelings they have for her are real and not fleeting. A novella about three angels exploring each other, relationships, and what it means to love. Featuring an autistic, disabled transfem angel, an audhd transmasc angel, and an autistic cis man angel. |
|
An Obsession Of Angels by Enoli Lee Amiel loves his garden, it's his safe space away from the judging eyes of heaven. He never had reason to suspect someone was watching him there as well, someone willing to lay a bear trap in his path. Luckily for Amiel, Ben is there to find him and nurse him back to health. But as he starts to fall for his caretaker, he soon begins to feel like Ben is hiding something as well, and maybe not all is as it seems. |
|
Queen of Blood by Nicola Zhang King Anden of Vindra stands against High Queen Telmaine, a clash of crowns that will determine the fate of the continent. The Berossian Empire launches its forces in a great crusade, but an unexpected voice rises in the form of a barefoot priestess, whose messages of peace spread like wildfire, threatening to derail the empireâs war effort and shake its very foundations. Cities will burn. Generals will fall. History repeats itself as Anden finds himself at sea, torn between saving his kingdom and the man he loves. The final book of the CELESTIA trilogy is a breathtaking tale of love and sacrifice, choices and destiny. When Celestia is drawn for the last time, who will shape the world to come? |
|
Prince of Dawn (Book 1 of the Celestia Trilogy) by Nicola Zhang An exiled prince searching for the truth. A curious squire desperate to prove himself. An epic romance that will change the world. Sixteen-year-old Prince Anden has spent eight years in the shadows â banished, forgotten, blamed for the death of a king. When he returns to his tense and divided kingdom, he meets an eager squire with a talent for trouble and a smile that disarms Andenâs guarded heart. As their friendship grows into something deeper, Anden begins to believe he might deserve more than vengeance. He might even deserve love. But treason runs deeper than either of them imagined. As assassins close in and war brews across the continent, Anden must rally allies, confront buried truths, and risk everything â not just for the crown or his family, but for the boy who believes in him. Prince of Dawn is the spellbinding first volume in a queer fantasy trilogy about loyalty, legacy, and the courage to choose your own future. |
|
Valley of Secrets by H. L. Moore This city of fools will be brought to order! Deposed, her father presumed dead, her friends slaughtered and the cavern in chaos, Grace Harrington is on the run and entirely alone. The only ally she has left is the man she hates most in the world: Nathaniel Morgenstern, the assassin who murdered her mother and seduced her father. Graceâs only hope of reclaiming the throne and saving her people is to seek the aid of Ăamon Tadhg, the High Druid of Arajon. But she needs to survive the hostile streets of Iole City before she can even think about fleeing to the Violet Valley. Nathaniel made a vow to Doran to protect Grace, but he could never have imagined how quickly and horrifically their lives would fall apart. Grieving the dual losses of the man he loved and his new friend Tsa Lien, Nathaniel devotes himself to the service of the overthrown Lady Archon who despises him â even if it costs him everything he is. |
|
The Young Foreigner by V. Ananya Yor Castel is an alchemist in Sahara fresh out from under the wings of his wizard master and sets off on a journey around the world to seek the fortune calling out to him. With him is a gift from his a belt that contains the most important potions and a flute that can calm even the most disturbed creature. Elmeida Yuri is the eldest daughter of the Dark Queen of Sahara and has just escaped the most gruesome incident of her life. She seeks shelter and comfort with the only person she her maternal aunt, Alia Hudson, who resides in a neighbouring country. On the other end of the world, the Master of Darkness is rising, after having been asleep for centuries, and that begins a chain of processes unimaginable by mages of the present day. The Light and Dark wizards of yore awaken just in time to stop him, but now, it seems as if the enemy has grown even more powerful than the last time he had been engaged in battle. So, Yor and Elmeida team up and decide to help keep him at bay. |
|
Arboriah Lux by Kathleen I. Lyons In a world where social discourse and injustices destroy the world around it, only an Aster-Blood can correct it. In a field of dead flowers and tall grass, Lux awakens to a sky of cool gray and a white sun. As she journeys to the city of Obsiditourma, she's met with danger as well as friendship in those who save her life. As she's plagued by visions of another Aster-Blood -- the twin sister of a dhampir named Esilas, the one who saved her life -- she's called to solve the mysteries surrounding her: her sudden appearance, the death of Esilas' sister, and the imbalance that has caused poverty and discourse in the city of Obsiditourma. Lux must learn vital lessons in order to survive. Keep your nature hidden. Protect those who need it. And trust very few. |
|
the promise before time by n morgan Before the first dawn, a vow was spoken. Before the stars burned, a promise was broken. Now, as shadows fracture the heavens, two souls are drawn into a war older than memory. One carries the weight of a lineage erased from history. The other hides a truth that could unravel the fabric of existence itself. Bound by love, hunted by destiny, they must decide: Will they honor the promise before time⌠or surrender to the silence after it? For readers who crave cosmic fantasy, gothic romance, and thrillerâpaced tension, The Promise Before Time is a haunting journey through fractured skies, forbidden vows, and the eternal cost of devotion. |
|
A Murder of Secrets & Lies by Deja Colleen Welcome to Monster Island, a reality television competition where monsters of all kinds compete for a chance of a lifetime: to live on the forbidden island on which they compete. But before they can even earn the chance to fully compete, they have to navigate the academic setting of one of the islandâs most prestigious universities. After twenty-five years of providing thrills and chills to the world wondering what secrets this island holds, this year is sure to be life changing. Promising plot twists and cliffhangers, this is sure to be your greatest guilty pleasure. |
|
Time Thief (Eclipse Book 1) by Lindsay French In a world in which Prophets wield the power of wayward gods, a banished woman is determined to regain her own powers and free her people. When Max learned her world and its advanced race posing as gods were not all they seemed, her powers were sealed off by an unbreakable curse. Banished from the Mountain of the Gods, she devotes her life to protecting the village that adopted her as their ownâuntil the Prophet of the Valley captures her and her people, intent on using them as a blood sacrifice. Max vows to escape and return to the mountain to reclaim a power she hates in order to save the people she loves. But sheâll need the help of one of the Prophetâs fiercest warriors, Nash the Unknown, who has his own reasons for joining her, and she isnât sure she can trust him. The journey will be a grueling one, made even more dangerous by the draw Max feels to the charming Nash. Together, the pair must climb the Mountain of the Gods and steal back Maxâs powers. Only, the mysteries of the mountain reveal ever more about the godsâ cruel intentions and the reality-breaking secrets of her world, leading her to a harrowing discovery. Come what may, Max will destroy the Prophet and reach beyond her world to rescue her home from the ruthless godsâin this life and every other. |
|
Stars Above the Never Sea by Evelyn Flood It was said that to be loved by a Faeyte was beyond words. That when the ability to fall in love was ripped from them, they grieved for a loss they could no longer recognize. And it cost them everything. *** Selene Amaris is finally going home. After ten years of enslavement in the red lands of Terrosa, she finds herself chained once more, her wings bound and held in the cargo of a silent ship heading back to her homeland, Asteria. No one is waiting for her. Her people were wiped out ten years ago before the Great Shift, when the air turned to wind and water in a single violent moment, and the sea became an endless inky starlight. But the beat of her heart calls her back, and she will answer. One last time. *** Callan Edgeborn has one plan. Survive. To keep those he cares about safe, he follows orders and transports desperately-needed goods across the Never Sea â a sea made entirely of starlight, where one fall can send a man tumbling into unending night. Heâs the only one with the ability to make it through. Selene has no patience for a cocky, lazy, irreverent ship captain, and Callan has no time to watch over an emotionless, cold female with infuriatingly captivating eyes. But as they both know all too well; it only takes a second for the world to shift. As Selene navigates her return, Callan finds himself risking everything he cares about to keep her safe. And with every passing day, it becomes clear that Selene has been sent back to Asteria for a reason. One meeting will change their lives forever. And one Faeyte will tear the heavens apart for a love that was never supposed to exist. Stars Above the Never Sea is the first installment in a brand-new romantasy series from bestselling author Evelyn Flood filled with magic, found family, emotional angst, rage and a love that defies the gods themselves. |
|
Luxe in Between by Cara Blaine A prophecy. A ruthless queen. Three hot fae males. And Luxe, in between. After her parentsâ mysterious disappearance and the recent loss of her aunt, Luxe is determined to keep her auntâs business alive and finish grad school, even as grief threatens to pull her under. But when a dangerously handsome stranger appears with secrets about her family and her past, Luxeâs life is thrown into chaos. Her dormant magic awakens, a deadly prophecy is unleashed, and the queen of the fae sets her sights on the halfling who should never have existed. On the run and hunted through realms, Luxe finds herself relying on three powerful fae males, each protective, tempting, and hiding wounds of their own. Between the banter, the battles, and the one bed theyâre forced to share, sparks start to burn. This is her destiny. Their fight. Where falling for one might mean losing them all. Luxe in Between is a slow-burn, Why Choose romantasy filled with danger, magic, and irresistible tension. Expect three swoon-worthy fae males, found family bonds, a fierce heroine discovering her power, and yesâonly one bed. Perfect for fans of A Court of Thorns and Roses and The Serpent and the Wings of Night. |
|
A String of Fate in the Darkness by Azzie Drauch It had been three long years since Lilliana St. James vanished without a trace and Persephone had nearly resigned herself to the heart-wrenching reality that she might never see her best friend again. But, just as her last flicker of hope was about to extinguish, Lilliana was found. Not by any ordinary being, but by the one god Persephone's mother had warned her to avoid at all costs. Hades, the enigmatic God of the Dead. Determined to uncover the truth behind her best friend's disappearance, the Goddess of Spring decides to throw caution to the wind. She seeks out Hades, the one being in all the realms that may be able to help her stop other mortals from going missing. Driven by his own desires to solve the case, Hades proposes a daring plan; Persephone will go undercover as his favored mortal to lure out the culprits behind the kidnappings. But as they dive deeper into the case, the proximity between Persephone and Hades ignites a forbidden attraction. Hades, despite his stoic nature, finds himself captivated by Persephone's strength and determination. The tension between them sizzles as they navigate the dangerous waters of their new found feelings. Every moment they spend undercover bring them closer, the lines between their ruse and reality quickly blurring. But with that closeness comes a target painted on Persephone's back. Will Hades protect her from the rising threat, or will their fate unravel as the darkness threatens to consume them? |
|
Falling for the Winged Witch: A Villainous Twist on Wild Swans and Jack and the Beanstalk by Sarah Beran A widowed queen trapped by her past. A giant who just wants to be left alone. A fowl curse that could cost them both everything. Lindy never wanted to get married or have childrenâespecially not seven stepsons old enough to be her brothers and a doddering royal husband. Just when it seems like things couldnât possibly get any worse, the king suddenly dies, and her sinister reputation for casting curses means that all eyes and fingers are pointed at her. Rather than support their new mother, her stepsons seem determined to do everything they can to make her life miserable. When the youngest fills her room with water fowl as a prank, Lindy finally decides to take things into her own handsâand everything goes wrong. Atlas lives with his head in the clouds, and he likes it that way. His ancestral home is hidden away so high in the mountains that itâs practically inaccessible. But somehow the secret has slipped, and he keeps chasing away unwanted visitors. After the latest break-in ends with his prized goose missing, Atlas is forced to do the one thing never wanted: climb down the beanstalk. Unfortunately, the scoundrel who took his goose is now a swan, and the only way to get him to tell Atlas where she is is to help the witch who cast the curse in the first place. The nettlesome woman wonât give him the time of day, refusing to speak until the sun goes down. When she does, itâs to instruct him in the most ridiculous task heâs ever heard of. But Atlas really wants to get his goose and go home, and if knitting is the way to achieve that, so be it. If only the task didnât threaten to knit his heart to hers in the process⌠Falling for the Winged Witch is a combined retelling of Jack and the Beanstalk and The Wild Swans, featuring tropes such as Unlikely Allies, Found Family, and Opposites Attract. It is the third book in the To Win a Dark Heart series, which retells fairy tales as old as time, but this time itâs the villainâs turn to get a happy ending. |
|
Stableshoes by Jo Morgan Sloan Why would a prince need a ball to pick a bride? He's in love with the palace stableman, of course! Prince Darian has met all the requirements necessary to claim his fatherâs throne; at least, he thinks he has, until his sinister cousin Bertram reveals a law that states Darian must marry by his twenty-fifth birthday, or lose the crown. With only four weeks to find a bride, Darian turns to his beautiful, irreverent, clever friend Ashley for help before a grand ball is to be thrown in his honor. But there is another who catches the prince's living in perpetual silence is Eric, the stronghold stableman, whose kindness disrupts Darianâs plans to hide his nature. Each day that passes is another day closer to Bertramâs takeover, and heâs counting on Darian to fail. While Eric has the princeâs heart, the stableman also carries a secret mark that could jeopardize Darianâs claim to the throne. To protect the nation he loves from a tyrant, Prince Darian must choose between true love and living a lie. |
|
A Fire So Lovely by Violetta Brooks Searching for a sense of purpose after her harrowing experience in the dungeon, Aislinn returns to the one place that made her whole and broke her: House Woodthorne. This time, a new mission arisesâprotect the realm. Under the banners of Isolde, Daegyn, Aislinn, and Landyn march to gather an army. The trio embarks on a journey across Carafye, meeting new faces and going through hardships. While the brothers still quarrel over bygones and Aislinn's affection, Aislinn's love for Daegyn only grows, and the two of them dream of a life of peace and solitude together. But will their love be enough to sustain them through their discovery of life-altering truth? Will it be enough to chase away the demons of the past? Can true love conquer all, or does it crumble to pieces when the weight of the realm rests on its shoulders? |
|
The Great and the Dark by Violetta Brooks Aislinn Lockmereâa talented baker in the realm of Carafyeâhas known struggle as a widow and single mother, but she enjoys her independence, no matter the hardships. Her entire world is flipped upside down when she's taken away from her self-built life by charismatic half-elf lord Landyn Woodthorne. He brings her to his estate, where she is forced to have a hand in his plans to unite two kingdoms. There, she meets Landyn's younger brother Daegynâa half-elf headsman with a calling for vengeance. House Woodthorne provides her with friendship and rouses forbidden feelings inside her that she swore off long ago. As if things aren't difficult enough, a terrible tragedy befalls the kingdom, and Aislinn's will to survive is tested. Will she trust true love or remain as she's always knownâalone? |