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Paris at Nightfall by Merlina Garance In an early 20th century Paris emptied of its population and surveilled by the army, two men are trying to survive. Would that include falling in love? Jules has been surviving off of preserves he scavenges out in the city when he leaves his hideout at night. He never knew why one day, the Army hauled the whole townâs population into vans and evacuated the city. He only knows heâs the only one left behind. Or so he thought. When he runs into a blond aristocrat with nice hands on an outing, his world is turned upside down once again... The ebook is only available, for free, through the author's newsletter. |
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Synthetic Sea by Franklyn S. Newton In the distant future of planet cracking , VR distraction, and corporate greed, grieving private detective Ryoma LeBeau takes what seems to be a simple job on the opulent casino planetoid of Scylla. Captivated by a chance meeting with a Synth musician, Guin, he finds himself drawn to the smoky anachronistic lounge bar where they perform, weaving their music around his heart. It seems there's a lot more to both Guin and to this case and Ryoma can't help but pull at the threads of mystery leading him to the depths of conspiracy and memory. Synthetic Sea is a cyberpunk romance with trans leads, inspired by Blade Runner and Ghost in the Shell |
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Strike The Lilac Scent by H. C. Turk Kidnaped by space pirates, a troubled student is seduced into helping them release an outlawed AI from its hiding place in the past. In the 23rd century, Earth Nations United harshly governs the world, its great weapon AI. But when the AI starts helping the populace regain their freedom, ENU electronically contains it. To save itself, the AI manages to send its container back in time where it is mistaken for a genieâs bottle. Former ENU employees Lilith, Varvara, and Connie band together to release AIâs positive power. They are aided by followers of AI who wield enormous resources, providing the women with a starship normally used for diplomacy. The women are not scientists, but sorceresses, and AI has proven that magic is the ultimate technology. Lilith is a medium, Connie is fat from being a sin-eater, and Varvara is a concealer. Before it is locked away, the AI informs the women that a fourth magician is required: a finder. Nineteen-year-old Melody has found a great deal of trouble in school. After invoking AI to save herself from being lynched, Melody is kidnaped by the three magicians in their starship. Then they enter an adventure, following a pirateâs map from the past that leads them across the galaxy and back to the 18th century. If only they can returnâŚ. |
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A Starless Eye: Othello Reloaded by T.O. Tate BUT WHY SHOULD HONOR OUTLIVE HONESTY? LET IT GO ALL. In this post-apocalyptic novelette, Ollie, a former sniper, has been forced into retirement by a mysterious disease known as sliversickness. A perpetual outsider in an isolated underground military base, Ollieâs only solace is her lover, DJ. But that relationship is forbidden, putting Ollieâs already uncertain future in jeopardy, and her only protection is DJ . . . whose fidelity has been called into question by one of Ollie's few allies. As Ollieâs illness worsens, eating away at her right eye, her vision becomes more warped, and everything begins to look like evidence. A lost good luck charm, a glance that lingers too long, a poisonous whisper. And at the center of it all stands a man who claims to be Ollieâs friend. As Ollieâs life crumbles before her eyes, itâs no longer a question of when her illness will kill her, but whether it will burst free and kill everyone else, too. |
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Unbreakable Bonds by Marc Wisdom In a world ravaged by the devastating "Squeeze" virus, two groups of survivors fight for hope and a future. Lance and Gwen, a young couple immune to the virus, find themselves prisoners in a ruthless government facility, subjected to cruel experiments in the search for a cure. As they plan a daring escape with fellow inmates, they discover a growing resistance movement that could change everything. Meanwhile, Michael and John lead a diverse group of survivors on a perilous journey north, chasing rumors of a safe haven. Battling hostile forces, dwindling supplies, and their own doubts, they forge a makeshift family bound by shared struggles and unwavering loyalty. As both groups face unimaginable challenges, they must confront the true cost of survival in a world where trust is a luxury and hope is a lifeline. "Unbreakable Bonds" is a gripping tale of resilience, love, and the indomitable human spirit in the face of overwhelming odds. |
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Third Loch From the Sun by Rex Burke Jake has left it late, and the only summer job he can find is on the remote Scottish island of Elsay. Still, that sounds fine â the work isnât too hard, the payâs all right, and the scenery is great. But he soon has second thoughts about staying. His boss, Fraser, is clearly a bit of a rogue, while Fraserâs cute but snippy daughter, Alva, takes against him from the start. And the oddball characters in the local pub arenât exactly welcoming. Then Jake stumbles on an extraordinary secret that changes everything thatâs known about the universe. A secret he can scarcely believe. A secret that Alva and the island recluse, Ruan Strang, have sworn to protect at all costs. As the mystery deepens, the questions only mount â and none of the answers make any sense. Plus, Jakeâs falling for Alva and she still hasnât so much as smiled at him. One thingâs for certain â heâs not going anywhere until the full, fantastic truth is revealed. From the author of The Wrong Stop comes a SciFi fantasy adventure set on a dreamy Scottish isle. Stuffed with larger-than-life characters, itâs perfect for fans of island mysteries, with crackling dialogue and a will-they-wonât-they romantic edge. |
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Dragons of Dunmoray by Kate Kelly What can you see? Can you see dragons? Dragons have always been part of our world â only most of us cannot see them. Alba MacGregor can see the dragons. She thinks she is alone in this, or that maybe they are all in her head. But when she meets Al she realises, not only that the dragons are real, but that there are others like her, spread across the world. The dragons are stirring. Thereâs a war coming. A war that has been ongoing for millennia. Only Alba can break this cycle, but to do so she must first defeat a foe much closer to home and far more human. |
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AVA by Lydia Baker First, they came for the city and we allowed it, they put up the Barrier and we stayed quiet, silenced by the fear of what was beyond. Our elderly were next and still we didnât cry out; then they came for the women, removed their fertility and stole our future, so I hid. I became Alec and I turned my back on my true self, Ava. â¨Ava canât live as Alec any longer, the lie is killing her, destroying all that she is.â¨The world beyond MTechâs Barrier calls to her and she canât ignore it. She has to know what, if anything, survived the terrible day that tore her family apart fourteen years ago.â¨â¨But what if the Outside is far more dangerous than anything Ava has ever faced on the Inside?â¨Ava is set in a dystopian future, where individual rights are being eroded and the population live under a dome barrier that they have been told is for their protection. But, what is outside? Is escape possible and even if it is, will it be a death sentence? |
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The Orphan Ark by Scott Pinkowski When Isabelle and her friends have a brush with a supernatural artifact that grants them otherworldly abilities, they handle it the only way that makes sense: they become amateur superheroes. But no power comes without cost and the fallout from their choices just may have xenocidal consequences. Caught between shadowy extraterrestrial hunters who will stop at nothing to prey on their power and an unscrupulous head of a bioengineering firm, the friends will need to learn that it takes more to being heroes than possessing superpowers. |
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What It Takes to Kill a Bull Moose: A Political Thriller by Michael Fedor Former U.S. Senator Jackson Piper thought his political ambitions were shattered after a shocking defeat on the national stage drove him out of public service. But when a sinister plan to hijack the presidential election shatters his quiet retreat in the Rockies, two trusted former colleagues approach him with a plan to restore balance to a corrupted two-party system that will shape the fate of the American people in the upcoming 2044 elections. With the clock ticking and American values on the line, Jackson resurrects the forgotten Bull Moose Party to take on the corrupt President Warner and his billionaire puppeteer. As allies fall and enemies close in, Piper will battle through a storm of deception, danger, and doubt. The odds are stacked against him as he faces assassination attempts, brutal betrayals, and a relentless smear campaign that threaten everything he holds dear. Backed by a crew of unlikely heroesâthe fiery Texas governor, a cunning Cajun Speaker of the House, and a brilliant strategist in his wifeâPiper will learn what it means to accept responsibility for the future of the American people and stand firm against corrupt political forces in a clash that will shake the nation to its core. In this heart-pounding thriller with twists at every turn, follow Piper and his loyal team of patriots as they race against time to expose the truth before democracy itself falls prey to the monsters of greed and manipulation. What It Takes to Kill a Bull Moose is a pulse-pounding rollercoaster of loyalty, sacrifice, and unyielding courage that will keep you on your toes until the final page. This book is a must-read for fans of VInce Flynn, Brad Thor, James Patterson, or political thrillers like "The Manchurian Candidate" and "All the President's Men." Get ready for a heart-pumping adventure through the cutthroat world of presidential elections. |
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The Warrior's Shade by Ingrid Moon A fleet for hire. A mysterious client. A weapon of mass destruction. No longer a commander, Turner Boone will come to the rescue of any fleet that will pay him. However, he has done his job too well, and his clients have no need to call. His fleet-for-hire is running out of fundsâand options. Things look up when he is hired to retrieve the wreckage of an ancient terraforming machine. He soon realizes the device can be turned into a devastating weapon, and he has no idea who his well-paying client is. Caught between delivering the artifact to the client, whose methods to collect it are ruthless, and hiding his fleet from the Coalition Navy, who hunts him as a traitor, Boone faces the most difficult decision of his life. In discovering the client's secret, his investigation goes too deep, propelling himself and the assassin, Elyon, into a Coalition trapâone that will require untenable sacrifices to avoid execution. Epic Space Battles, Biological âMagic,â Found Family, Galactic Empire, Pirates, A Rebellious Assassin, Daring Pilots and more! The Warrior's Shade is a desperate chase across the galaxy, where a young man discovers his fatal flaw, and an assassin learns the meaning of sacrifice. |
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When a rural settlement at the edge of our galaxy faces a threat science cannot explain, Dr. Lau must choose: save herself and keep her secrets, or reveal her truth to save her community. In the distant future, no one questions the limitations of science and technology. But on Valiance, a planet far from Earth, everything changes when the nightly fog becomes dangerous, people go missing, and those found are comatose. Dr. Jena Lau is secretly a woman of faith. In a society where religion has been eradicated and is illegal, she grapples with the reality that neither science nor technology can resolve the threat to her community. As she recognizes the evil attacking her home for what it is, she faces a life-altering decision: save herself by keeping her secrets or try to save everyone else by revealing them. As the inexplicable danger within the fog takes more and more of her community, Dr. Lauâs forbidden faith in a god long rejected and forgotten pushes her to act. Readers who enjoy Christian Science Fiction will love this novel that boldly declares the God of Earth is also the God of all creation, to the edges of the galaxy and beyond. |
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A Dirge for Cascius by Calum Lott Chaos seeps into the Valsollas Galaxy. Cascius Carcyde is on the brink of letting his addiction to reliving his sorrows claim his mind. When the Sages demand he take a new partner, Cascius must forfeit his old ways in order to solve the twisted Red Hand murders. To unravel an interstellar mystery and stop the Red Hand, Cascius must pull himself from the very depths of despair and learn to change before the entire Velutra falls into oblivion. Stare too long into the abyss, and the abyss peers back. True Detective meets Hyperion in this epic space opera debut, perfect for fans of James S.A. Corey and Christopher Ruocchio. |
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A Princess of Oldir by Bryan Wilson "Whether (this book) is your initiation to the Power of the Stars saga or you're an experienced Solara wielder, this is a must-read for sci-fantasy fans." - The Dragon Reread: SFF Insiders The Ojurn family has guided the planet of Oldir for centuries, and as the ancestors of a prophet, the worldâs citizens have always honored their bloodline. However, the peopleâs struggles are on the rise, and their solar systemâs limited resources continue to dwindle. Rhanna, the daughter of the current Lord Supreme, considers it her duty to rid the planet of its troubles. She spends most of her days training to take up her familyâs mantle. But when a popular young leader from a neighboring world arrives on their soil, it becomes evident that there are those with other wishes. Set more than three decades before the events of The Forsaken Planet, this is a story of one familyâs struggle to do what is right, even if it costs them their legacy. A Princess of Oldir is both a standalone story in the Power of the Stars universe and a complementary addition for those familiar with the main books. You do not need to have read the other work to enjoy this novella. |
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Heirs to a Flawed Creation: Stories from Near Earth by E.L. Montague Assassin. Detective. Cop. Interrogator. Lover. Spy Master. Rebel. All of these. Purpose defines us. It will define the peoples we leave behind when we are gone. We are children playing with the powers of a god. Our creations will be as flawed as their creators. The gift of intellect comes with doubt. In the none too distant future, tools will become beings in their own right. Factory floors will be the womb of an entire people. Androids will struggle to exist alongside the lesser gods who created them, even as they surpass us. These stories explore that struggle. |
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The Hound of Greyvor (Silver Sights Saga #2) by W.J. Long III Since Minerva Prime, peace, quiet, and adolescence have driven a wedge between Claude and Vision. As tempers flare in their modest home, a new danger emerges behind the Sabien veil; Levine Drarri, a disgraced servant of the Imperium, arrives on their doorstep, seeking the aid of Silver Sights. In his wake comes chaos, tragedy, and the boundless fury of a Sabien Crown. Now, the weight of Drarriâs sudden arrival threatens to shatter the already fractured bond between father and daughter, while in the shadows, the weapons of the Imperium bear down on all they have built. |
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Let Slip the Beasts by Suzanne Berget Beneath the streets of East Resplendent, monsters are mounting a war against their masters. Kaliope Dearborne, a customer service nobody for a pharmaceutical mega-conglomerate, wants only to escape her cubicle and find true meaning for her life. But after accidentally killing her little sisterâs bully, sheâs taken captive by The Warren, a ragtag group of runaway medical test subjects. Kaliope learns that she and her captors are experiments owned by the VyroGen corporation. Locked away and evolving, pieces of her slough off as she grows stronger, faster, and hungrier. Only Thresherânot quite man, not quite animalâkeeps her from losing her grip on reality. When Kaliope discovers the hidden truth of her genetic code, she joins The Warren in the war against VyroGen. With chemistry-altering pheromones and brain-tampering, sheâs converted into a sleeper agent. But deep inside the dark heart of the corporation, Kaliope finds something that drastically changes her role in the war. She might win back her memories, her body, and her life, but will Kaliope lose her humanity in the process? |
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The Regrets I Have are Not the Ones I Say by Or M. Bialik Aviana Aquila does not have much, but she does have structure. No home but whatever she is currently assigned to, no family, and the closest to a relationship she has is a not very clandestine affair with her emotionally inhibited commanding officer, with whom she dreams to run away. As an Imperial soldier, ever on deployment, she knows she may die at any moment. As a commander, she knows she will need to order people to their deaths. After years on years, she is dull to all of that, existing to exist. But when an Alliance Admiral comes aboard on what was just supposed to be a routine mission, her structured semblance of a life is completely overturned. The Admiral is not a normal being, and possibly insane. Yet her presence may save Aviana in more ways than one and make her rediscover the woman she loves. |
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Battle Calm by W.D. Kilpack III When Badger succeeded his father, Red Skin, as Keeper Base Leader, he was well prepared, raised to handle anything the enemy threw at him. He was the best killer and the most respected tactician. He knew Red Skinâs Laws like he wrote them himself. Most importantly, he was always calm, no matter how frenzied the combat. These were only some of the reasons why he still had all his original parts. Trinity would die for him. Korry would follow him without question. They were Keepers. They fought, they killed, they lived to kill another day, even when it meant bugging out to another Base ... and another. That was life when life was war. They knew nothing else. But even war cannot last forever, regardless of the infallible truth of Red Skinâs Law #35: âUnder conditions of peace, men attack themselves; thus, there never has been, and there never will be a time without war. It is the greatest, most perfect thing men can do.â |
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Euphrates Vanished by Leon Stevens âThis is not a drill!â He wakes up to the sound of his alarm and the announcement blaring. Looking around the room, he realizes he is a member of a starship crew. Thereâs only one he doesnât remember who he is or how he got there. With no time to think, he finds his way to the bridge, while being careful not to call attention to his predicament. The first problem is piecing together the puzzle of his missing memories to reveal his knowledge, rank, and friendships. Another problem is being stranded on an alien planet during his first away mission. Mysteries abound in this new science fiction adventure by Leon Stevens |
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Zero Marginal Value by Jason Cole In a world, in the not too distant future, news is streamed through smart contact lenses. Liam Baron is a corporate spy managing debt and family obligations in his own unique way. Together with his partner, Keema, they can slip in, copy what they need and disappear without anyone knowing they were there. But when his sister contracts an emerging disease his next job is personal. He must risk everything to steal the treatment she helped develop. Liam must take on a ruthless pharmaceutical company to save his family and millions of others. He must decide who to trust as he races against the clock. In a society under heavily surveillance can Liam maintain his cover? |
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Eye of the Ouroboros by Megan Bontrager The woods surrounding the insular town of Mill Creek, West Virginia, have a habit of taking people and refusing to give them back. The National Parks Service Search and Rescue Team knows this, just like they know when you find a door in the woods, you donât go through it. But park ranger Theo Buchanan has a knack for sticking her nose where it doesnât belong. Determined to find the truth behind her sister Floraâs strange disappearance, she boldly steps through one such door, catching the attention of the Federal Bureau of Reality. She quickly learns how far they are willing to go to keep their secrets locked tight, even if it means silencing those who stumble upon them permanently. Together with her journalist ex-girlfriend, a fellow ranger, a conspiracy theorist, and a rogue member of the Bureauâs Requisitions Department, Theo must brave the horrors of the Infinite Corridor and its web of connected realities to find FloraâŚbefore the Bureau does. |
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A Swift and Sudden Exit by Nico Vincenty An immortal, doomed to die. A time traveler, desperate to save her. When Zera travels back in time to 2040, she aims to investigate the geomagnetic storm that scorched the earth. Instead, she finds the beautiful Katherine, who speaks of past storms and asks with her dying breath, âIs this the first time we meet?â From WWII-era New York to early 2000s New Orleans and everywhere in between, Zera chases both storms and Katherine, thinking her immortality is the key to fixing the future. But as the immortal goes from a reluctant ally with a deadly hunter to a romantic complication, Zera wonders if the past is really set in stone, or if she can still save the worldâand Katherine. |
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Fleet Champions by Rob J Hayes Basic Survival of the Strongest. After surviving the Spire and opening their Second Gates, Iro and Emil are named Heroes of the Fleet, their faces on posters across every ship. But with the benefits of notoriety, comes a dangerous new responsibility. The Raider Fleet, not content with stealing their food and murdering their people, demand ownership of the wing. To avoid an unwinnable war, the Home Fleet agree to a grand martial tournament, Hopper against Raider, and both Iro and Emil must compete. Can they fight their way through the competition to claim the title of Fleet Champion? And why are the Black Cloaks so eager to see who wins? A progression sci-fantasy perfect for fans of Cradle and Iron Prince. |
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The Scorching: Just Press Play by Nick Snape Joshua Nkosi, cop, joker, vlogger and an octopus's best friendâŚbut Earthâs saviour? Winner of Literary Titan's Black Gold Award âStaggeringly original and timely release from a masterful voice in modern sci-fiâ â â â â â SPR Review On an Earth devastated by The Scorching climate event, the Drathken land their giant plantships with the promise of healing the planet. Joshua Nkosi vlogs and jokes his way through an easy life guarding a deep-sea mining operation while watching old vids. That is until he, and his modded octopus partner, Marc, get caught up in a plot to steal radiation rich materials from the seabed, fuelling the terroristsâ plan to destroy a Drathken plantship, and ultimately put an end to the alien/human alliance. Nkosi and his sarcastic tentacled buddy are forced to enter the Burnout Zone, only to come face to face with humanityâs stark future when the hunt for the terrorists' lab takes a devastating twist. As conspiracies deepen and the jokes fly, Nkosi and Marc enter a dark journey of discoveryâone they decide humanity desperately needs to listen to. |
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Heart of the Covenant by S.L. Dove Cooper In Heart of the Covenant, five stories explore ties of friendship, family and culture, embracing our differences and our similarities. Having applied to be an ambassador for her people within the Galactic Covenant, Hedriar has relocated to Cerulean Station, one of the Covenantâs largest residential stations. There, sheâll spend the next years sharing her own culture and learning about the Covenantâs as part of an exchange programme between the two. Hedriar may not have the most detailed of plans of what, or even how, to share the aspects of her culture that matter most to her, but sheâs got enthusiasm, family and new-found friends at her side. Sheâll figure it out, and along the way sheâll learn that what people value most may not be so different at the core. Heart of the Covenant is a cosy, low-stakes science fiction collection with a strong focus on slice-of-life narratives. |
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The Twin Stars by Bridgette Dutta Portman A magical journal. A world savaged by its own suns. An evil prince. A princess in hiding. And a teenage girl who learns to be the hero of her own story. Sixteen-year-old Olive Joshi has obsessive-compulsive disorder, and can't stop worrying about hurting the people she loves. She finds refuge in writing about Coseema, a magical princess on a distant planet. Coseema is fearless, confident, and perfect - everything Olive thinks sheâll never be. When she falls through a portal into her own unfinished story, Olive finds herself in a world in peril: double suns scorch the land, the brutal Prince Burnash seeks supreme power, and Coseema is nowhere to be found. Together with her friends - a bold poet, a cursed musician, a renegade soldier, and an adventurous girl from the desert - Olive will have to face her deepest fears to find the hero in herself. An engrossing new portal fantasy in the spirit of the Wizard of Oz, the Neverending Story, and the Chronicles of Narnia.â |
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Near future sci-fi you will live to see, but hate to experience. Artificial therapy so great, you'll never log off! (And won't notice the ads). A sci-fi about brain privacy in the age of unfettered surveillance capitalism. How cyberpunk begins: brainwave reading AIs become not only super-intelligent, but super-emotive and manipulative. What will companies do when they can read your actual mind? How far will they go to get your click? How much engagement? |
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The Scientist, The Spaceman, and The Stars Between Them by A.L. Davidson Theyâve incited deicide, and the old gods are angry⌠In a desperate attempt at saving humanity from its own destructive hubris, the Zeus Project set out to explore the untouched reaches of deep space. Now, countless light years later, the colonizing efforts are well under way, but the vast universe has been anything but kind. After surviving a near-fatal revival from their cryo-pod that permanently damaged their lungs, Dr. London Davies has spent the last two years trapped within the confines of a sterile, sanitized outpost far away from the rest of humanity and their loving husband, Temple. Acting as the chief embalmer for Zeus, London grows more and more concerned as cadavers filled with writhing worms and unusual forms of decay overrun their cold storage. With their husband off fighting for humanityâs survival under the brutal, watchful eye of Zeus, anxiety, and claustrophobia test the limits of the embalmerâs sanity. The once quiet morgue has transformed into a playground for something otherworldly, and London's only hope is that Temple can breach the stars between them before it's too late. |
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Lost Souls by Ryan Skeffington Living on the premier Ring, Maximus, a brilliant engineer, hungers for more than the monotony of daily existence mandated to him by those that control the Ring. The relentless pursuit of Infinite Existence is a collective purpose assigned to all, but for Maximus, it's a hollow dream that leaves his soul yearning for its own legacy. Determined to escape his repetitive life, Maximus seeks out a destiny that will offer his life significance. When shocking revelations about the Ringâs underbelly intertwine with the hidden truths of his own lineage, heâs propelled into action. Fueled by a spirit passed down to him by his indomitable father, he devotes his unshakable resolve to reshape the Ring. Maximus embarks on a mission to challenge the unassailable leadership of the Rings. Heâs ready to wager everything, even his own life, on liberating all those that have lived below him from the ruthless grip of their oppressors. In this high-stakes struggle for freedom and justice, Maximus must confront not only the forces of tyranny but also the threat of losing everyone that has built him up to the man he is now. With the fate of humanity hanging in the balance, he stands poised to start a revolution that will ignite every soul thatâs been lost up to this point. |
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USS Primis: The First Starship by M.H. Altis "A classic sci-fi read that wears its influences on its sleeve, that is sure to please die hard fans of the genre." - Reedsy Discovery Must Read, âââââ Humanity's last hope comes down to a twisted, claustrophobic game of cat and mouse hundreds of light years away from home. After the fallout of an ill-advised space war leaves Earth teetering on the edge of doom, Commander Davis leads the first manned mission to recolonize our species on far away planet Nova. The mission is rushed and thrown together last minute, just like its crew. When it all suddenly goes horribly wrong hundreds of light years away from both Earth and Nova, it's up to David to save the mission, the ship, and the human race itself. Will Davis succeed against all odds? Or is he, like the mission, doomed to be lost in deep space forever? Read Now. Advanced Praise for USS PRIMIS: "An excellent novel with a futuristic reality. Sci-Fi with a blend of humanity and our failings, also successes and modesty. Loved the ending." - Goodreads Reviewer, âââââ "What a voyage! Just when you think you know what comes next. Enjoyed reading, hard to put down. Highly recommend." - LibraryThing Early Readers ARC Reviewer, âââââ "Intriguing and captivating, readers will find events keep those pages turning as fast as possible...Character-driven, told from multiple points of view, and with strong, well-defined world-building, readers will find much to appreciate here." - LibraryThing Early Readers ARC Reviewer, ââââ "I got an ARC of this book, and it's actually made me go back and re-write my current novel that I'm working on, the follow-up to The Community...Can't recommend enough." - Author Finn Eccleston, âââââ "An amazing, incredible, character-driven suspense/thriller/drama with a micro focus and a macro impact." - Author Langford Shepherd, âââââ "Exciting, scary, philosophical, and above all, an interesting, enjoyable read. Well done." - Author Aidan McLennan, âââââ Get the claustrophobic, cat-and-mouse slow-burn debut novel from M.H. Altis today. |
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They Left Magic in Their Wake by Marilyn Peake At the end of the world, there will be magic. Earth has been decimated by climate change. Humanity has fractured into isolated tribes. A child born in the southwestern desert of the United States appears to have magical powers, a strict taboo in his part of the world. In four other locations, people discover magical items. No one knows how they work or where theyâre from. Although these strange objects capture the imagination, using them is risky and dangerous. The five tribes at the heart of this novel: Southwestern Desert Tribe:Â Zadie and Nora have fled their tribe where human reproduction is so rare, pregnant women are burned at the stake as witches. Zadie gives birth to triplets, only one born alive. The surviving infant shows signs of having magical powers, another punishable taboo. Northeastern Mountain Tribe:Â Finley is a young boy too curious for his own good. Meddling with strange technology he finds in a cave, he eventually boards a flying ship that takes him far away from the only world heâs ever known. Tribe in Akihabara, Japan:Â Exploring post-apocalyptic Tokyo, Emiko, Katsuki, Rin and Ko discover ancient manga and D&D items, as well as glowing cubes they mistake for dice. When the long-dead neon lights of Tokyo begin to flicker, the teenagers get caught up in the most intense adventure of their lives. McMurdo Station TribeâLocated in the Land of Magical Ice, Formerly Antarctica:Â Settlers at the abandoned McMurdo Station practice a form of mysticism, their ancestors having fled religious persecution as well as the droughts and fires of Australia. Arthur Campbell and Harrison Clark are researchers studying the strange technology that runs the place. Vostok Station TribeâLocated in the Land of Magical Ice, Formerly Antarctica:Â The original settlers of the abandoned Vostok Station fled the extreme heat, fires and droughts of Brazil. Years later, giant squid and a spaceship emerge from Lake Vostok as the ice begins to melt. Salvador Siqueira and his crew leave their station to investigate. |
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The Eightfold Lairs of Xillenthia by Melinda O'Donnell The land has gone. The oceans have disappeared. Fearsome beasts roam the wilds. Only pieces of the earth remain, desolate wastelands where scattered pockets of humanity survive, eking out their small lives. But a handful of people are different. They are rare. But they are strong, resourceful, intuitive- and driven by violence and personal loss. ~Sirrea~ has been locked away in a tower since her birth, alone, for crimes she did not commit. ~Kinek~ is a leader of men, helping his people stave off hunger and desperation- at least for one more day. ~Azola~ is a mighty warrior, and a legend in her own right. Old are the tales of the wanderer in the desert, and they are ancient and terrible. They alone can unlock the mystery of the ruin of the world, and perhaps change the course of the future. |
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Rise of the Forgehearts by Emily Huffman R-0âs existence has always been dedicated to one simple directive: protect the king. Like all the constructs, they complete their orders without thought or feeling. But when a magical phenomena sweeps over Haiden, the constructs transform from mindless metal to fully sentient beings. Now R-0 sees the world through new eyes. Beauty, curiosity, and endless questions that used to be out of reach now overwhelm them. Despite their potential, not everyone views the change favorably. The organics they used to serve fear what the constructs have become and what they may be plotting. When constructs begin disappearing, Haidenâs council sees it as proof of the constructsâ nefarious intentions and threatens to decommission them all. While navigating their newfound thoughts and feelings, R-0 must solve the mystery of the missing constructsâeven if the truth may put the king theyâve sworn to protect in danger. Because if they fail, the constructsâ lives could be over as quickly as they began. |
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Two worlds on the brink of annihilation, an unlikely hero must rise to save everything he holds dear... Isekaied into the terrifying world of Elrydisan, Qing Baker must quickly adapt and survive, armed only with his wits, a mysterious quest, and a growing set of powers from a system he barely understands. He becomes the last hope for Shadowgrove, a village beset by evil. Qing must level up his skills, conquer his fears, and make heart-wrenching choices to unravel the secrets of this new world and prevent a cataclysm. But Qing is not alone in this fight. Joined in his adventures by a grizzled veteran and a fiery young warrior, he'll forge unbreakable bonds with brave allies and discover wells of courage he never knew he had. Yet even as he battles external threats, Qing must also grapple with his own inner demons and the heavy weight of leadership he never asked for. Can an unlikely hero like Qing rise to become a beacon of hope in a land shrouded by darkness? Or will both Elrydisan and Earth fall to ruin? Packed with intense action, emotional depth, and shocking twists, Qing's Quest is a riveting LitRPG portal fantasy perfect for fans of He Who Fights with Monsters and The Way of the Shaman. You'll be on the edge of your seat as Qing faces down undead armies, demons, grapples with agonising moral dilemmas, and discovers his true magical power. An action-packed blend of LitRPG and Portal Isekai, with strong character growth and development. |
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The Burning Fire Rises by Jeff Walker A paranormal thriller with elements of science fiction and supernatural fantasy! Welcome to the mysterious world of Professor Darkk and Miss Shadow.â¨â¨FBI Special Agent John Mathers is investigating a strange crime scene in a forest near Flint, Michigan. A large crater has been discovered with the charred remains of a group of people. It appears to be a case of spontaneous combustion. That's when he encounters Professor Darkk and Miss Shadow, a couple with supernatural powers, who are also investigating the strange event. Who are they? Why are they interested in aiding him in unraveling this unexplainable enigma? John Mathers is suddenly pulled into inexplicable events and must confront terrifying creatures that seem to come straight from nightmares and from an unseen realm that overlaps with our world. Navigating a never-ending labyrinth of unfamiliar dangers and peculiarities, he is guided by Professor Darkk and Miss Shadow. Can he trust them? Are they equally evil and lethal as the one he's attempting to locate for all those who were burned? Do they have secrets of their own? The adventure starts as Special Agent Mathers joins with this mysterious pair, a teacher and his gorgeous student, as they explore the dark and deadly world that's trying to break into our reality.â¨â¨This is Part One of their epic first full novel! |
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As the freshest conscript aboard the walking fortress of Revance, Ryza forges a name for himself in battle. The enemy are the smelters, bandits that trade in reanimated corpses. But for Ryza, the bloodshed represents a path of redemption for an upbringing heâs just escaped. His prowess with a rifle draws the interest of the Locusts, a clandestine faction within Revanceâs ranks. It turns out that not all aboard the fortress seek to stamp out the plague of molten flux, the mysterious liquid metal that fills the bodies of the dead and makes them walk again. Some seek to profit. The reanimated corpses âknown as automindsâ are used to control enormous contraptions of magnetically enchanted metal, forming the backbone of The Droughtlandâs factories. The only thing stopping the smelters from expanding their illicit industry is Revance. The Locusts make Ryza an offer. Either help overthrow Revance to do the smelterâs bidding or reveal his fatherâs legacy as the very thing Ryza now fights against. The former is unthinkable. The latter means death. Ryza resolves to infiltrate them and expose the mutiny, plunging him back into the murky underworld of the smelters, testing his convictions, and even leading him to the ancient origins of molten flux itself. |
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Darkness Below by Barbara Cottrell 2023 Readers' Favorite Silver Medal Winner in the Fiction - Horror genre!â¨â¨Nightmares. Disappearances. Suicide. Fall semester is always a challenging time at Miskatonic University. All Ellen Logan wants to do is pass her classes while holding down a bad job at a New Age bookstore. But when a former roommate jumps to her death from the university clocktower and another friend vanishes, leaving her with a mysterious book, she embarks on her own investigation. With the help of renowned professor Andrew Carter, she uncovers evidence of a murderous cult, a terrifying creature, and a ghost who knows far too much about her. To survive, Ellen and Carter must descend into the Darkness Below to stop the forces that threaten to tear their world apart. |
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Sailing to Redoubt by C. Litka Be good. Or one dark night the sorcerers of the Vente Islands may come for you. On the islands of the Tropic Sea, parents caution naughty children to behave or risk that some dark night the sinister sorcerers of the Vente Islands might come to carry them off. The reputed fate of these naughty children varies from island to island, but it is often whispered that they end up in a stew. Navy lieutenant Taef Lang must have been a very naughty boy, for one soft, tropical night the Vente came and carried him off. And he certainly ended up, if not in a stew, at least in some very hot water. Sailing to Redoubt is the story of his adventures in the company of two Vente Island sorceresses, Sella and Lessie Raah, and their quest to discover a legendary outpost of the worldâs first people, the Founders. Equipped with a map and a golden key, they set sail in a small yacht to cross the bright, blue, and sometimes deadly, Tropic Sea. Sailing to Redoubt is the first book in a completed trio of stories set in the Tropic Sea. It is filled with the characters, humor, and adventure that are the hallmarks of a C. Litka story. |
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Severed Legacy by E.M. Zolotor A stunning illustrated book for readers of fantasy adventuresâfeaturing black-and-white illustrations in every chapter. You will never find your way. You are lost. Such are the hauntings of Eos Bellator, trapped in the North American Sector desert by a never-ending sandstorm. The government forces the orphan siblings, Eos and Maxima, to harvest their Soul Energy, providing power for the Sector. Beyond the sands lies a tattered world being vied for by many forces. Yet, the biggest threat to Eos is not having control over his emotion-driven abilities. When fear overwhelms him, disaster strikes, and the siblings are separated. They learn that they are not alone. The Mitad, an off-world organization of similarly super-powered members, is attempting to capture them. The government has them cornered. A crazed prisoner seems to hold the answers. So begins a journey of high-powered, dangerous adventure. Eos and Maxima's search for freedom and the truth about their past leads them to pursue a mysterious world they never knew existedâHyperborea. |
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Father of Constructs by Aaron Renfroe #1 Best Seller and #1 New Release - LitRPG with heart! Lorith's magic is fading. Centuries ago, heroic adventurers stopped the World Bossâ cycle of rebirth by reducing the creature to one hit point and sealing it away so no one would ever find it. But, by ending one calamity, they halted the natural flow of magic within the world and brought about the Havoc Plague. With all civilization now on the brink of collapse, humanity's only hope is to find and kill the World Boss in order to restart the monster's rebirth cycle and bring back magic. When the Plagued janitor Harvey stumbles into a mysterious wreckage and accidentally kills the missing World Boss, he gains a million experience points, making him the target of almost all the would-be adventurers of the world. Burdened with ancient knowledge, and hunted by countless rivals, he must join with unlikely allies to do the unthinkable: find the reincarnated World Boss and defeat it again, before it can ravage the world anew. Father of Constructs is an optimistic LitRPG novel with a dash of Slice of Life. |
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Mushroom Blues by Adrian M. Gibson âA fascinating merging of oppressive imperialism and disconcerting alienation.ââAdrian Tchaikovsky, award-winning author of Children of Time & Shadows of the Apt SPFBO X Finalist. Readers' Favorite Book Award Finalist. ENTER THE FUNGALVERSE. Blade Runner, True Detective and District 9 meld with the weird worlds of Jeff VanderMeer, Philip K. Dick and China MiĂŠville in Adrian M. Gibsonâs hallucinatory, fungalpunk noir debut. Two years after a devastating defeat in the decade-long Spore War, the island nation of HĹppon and its capital city of Neo Kinoko are occupied by invading Coprinian forces. Its fungal citizens are in dire straits, wracked by food shortages, poverty and an influx of war refugees. Even worse, the corrupt occupiers exploit their power, hounding the native population. As a winter storm looms over the metropolis, NKPD homicide detective Henrietta Hofmann begrudgingly partners up with mushroom-headed patrol officer Koji Nameko to investigate the mysterious murders of fungal and half-breed children. Their investigation drags them deep into the seedy underbelly of a war-torn city, one brimming with colonizers, criminal gangs, racial division and moral decay. In order to solve the case and unravel the truth, Hofmann must challenge her past and embrace fungal ways. What she and Nameko uncover in the midst of this frigid wasteland will chill them to the core, but will they make it through the storm alive? âThis is like nothing Iâve read before. Its premise is cool, creepy, and incredibly unique, bolstered by prose as savvy and knife-sharp as the detectives of the NKPD.ââNicholas Eames, award-winning author of Kings of the Wyld & Bloody Rose âThis is more than a full-throttle, mushroom-and-blood-drenched adventure. At its heart, Gibson's story is one of acceptance: of hard truths, of others, and, perhaps most critically, of oneself.ââM. J. Kuhn, internationally bestselling author of Among Thieves & Thick as Thieves âMushroom Blues is a brilliant debut that encapsulates all I love about the noir mystery genre.â âR.R. Virdi, bestselling author of The First Binding & The Grave Report âThe imagination on display in Mushroom Blues is immense. Prepare to enter a fantasy world unlike anything you've ever seen, one that surprises, delights, and grosses the fuck out.ââMoses Ose Utomi, author of The Lies of the Ajungo |
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Seeds of Inheritance by Aimee Kuzenski A decade ago, Berenike, adept of the Fingertip Order, conspired to put her son on the throne at the head of a group of rebels who only wanted their futures back. Â She failed. Â Her son and husband dead, her dreams and reputation in tatters, Berenike makes the only bargain she can - she gives her magic-sealed oath to serve emperor Leontios the Unbending in exchange for the life of her young daughter, Evrim. Â Now, after her failure to help the rebels and her years of slavery and humiliation, Berenike is dealt yet another blow. Evrim, frustrated with her mother's dedication to a lost cause, rejects Berenike's plans. She will not fight the battles Berenike cannot. Â Berenike must find a way to unseat Leontios and redeem her promises to the rebels, all while navigating an almost unbreakable oath. Alone and disregarded, she will use any weapon that comes to hand - even if that weapon is her own daughter. |
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The Apprentice Storyteller by Astrid V.J "Set amid an imaginative blend of sci-fi and fantasy, the novelâs fictional universe is vividly realized and will grab curious readers. The book works in thought-provoking themes that will further draw readers in." BookLife Prize The Alchemist meets fantasy with a splash of space opera. Viola Alerion, a renowned storyteller in the Haldrian Empire, wants to be left in peace. For years, sheâs been hounded by her past, never to find a momentâs rest. Then she meets a boy who wants to become her apprentice. He refuses to take no for an answer, and she reluctantly yields, even though she knows taking him with her could endanger his life. As their journey progresses, Viola begins to understand sheâs not the only teacher in the equation. The nameless boy also has something to teach, but Viola makes for a reluctant student. Can she give way to possibility and embrace a future in alignment with what sheâs always wanted? Can she find the courage to embrace the principles that will transform her life? Can she overcome her circumstances and face her past? Or will she keep on running with nowhere to hide? And what of the boy who guards untold secrets and exhibits mysterious powers that defy belief? The e-book of The Apprentice Storyteller also includes exclusive access to "Viola's Guide to Achieving the Impossible". This workbook to help guide you through the first steps towards achieving your own dream is based on key transformational principles from the DreamBuilder⢠Course and is not intended for publication. The workbook is only accessible through The Apprentice Storyteller e-book. The link to Viola's Guide to Achieving the Impossible is embedded in a concealed place. This is a treasure hunt. Good luck! This book is accompanied by The Wordmage's Tales, a series of novellas based on the tales the apprentice learns from Viola Alerion in this story. The Sewing Princess is exclusively available to my newsletter subscribers and Dragons' Daughter is available to pre-order. |
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Disobedience by Daniel Sarah Karasik Shael lives in a vast prison camp, a monstrosity developed after centuries of warfare and environmental catastrophe. As a young transfeminine person, they risk abject violence if their identity and love affair with Coe, an insurrectionary activist, are discovered. But desire and rebellion flare, and soon Shael escapes to Riverwish, a settlement attempting to forge a new way of living that counters the campâ s repression. As the complexities of this place unfold before Shael, Disobedience How can a community redress harm without reproducing unaccountable forms of violence? How do we heal? What might a compassionate, sustainable model of justice look like? This is a remarkable work of queer and trans speculative fiction that imagines how alternative forms of connection and power can refuse the violent institutions that engulf us. |
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Umbra: Sentient Stars by Amber Toro Earth That Was has faded into myth. After millenia spent wandering, humans are no longer nomads. Twelve tribes stand allied under the United Tribal Axis; but there is a signal in the darkness that threatens to destroy everything. All Skyla wanted after leaving the Navy was to be left alone. Just her ship, the stars, and a new adventure. But when a strange virus disables her ship, she is thrown into the middle of a conflict she doesnât understand, forcing her to take on responsibilities she swore she never would again. Hinata always followed the rules, honor above all else. He always won, until he didnât. Sentenced to exile for his failures, he is determined to prove himself, until a mysterious woman arrives on his station and chaos threatens to break already fragile alliances. Freyja was always angry, an outcast, playing the part of admiral and black ops operative. But she is tired of being a pawn in the Empressâ games and when sheâs stranded on the wrong side of enemy lines after a vengeful battle, sheâs forced to ally with her adversaries to clear her name. A Rogue. A Commander. And an Admiral. Brought together by circumstance, held together by duty. Can they find a way to work together to save humanity? |