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Heart of Stone by Johannes T. Evans The year is 1764, and following a glowing recommendation from his last employer, Henry Coffey, vampire, takes on a new personal secretary: young Theophilus Essex. The man is quite unlike any secretary - or any man, for that matter - that Henry has ever met. --- 'Heart of Stone' is a slowly unfolding period romance between a vampire and his inimitably devoted clerk: lushly depicted in flowing, lovingly appended prose, we follow the slow understanding these two men grasp of one another, and the cross of their two worlds into each other's. Henry Coffey, immortal and ever-oscillating between periods of delighted focus upon his current passion project, is charming, witty, and seems utterly incapable of closing his mouth for more than a few moments; in contrast, Theophilus Essex is quiet and keenly focused, adopting an ever-flat affect, but as time goes on, he relaxes in his employer's presence. Craving resounding intimacy but with an ever aware of the polite boundaries for their situation, Coffey and Essex perform a slow dance as they grow closer to one another, and find themselves entangled. |
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"Eugene didnât know if he believed in the devil beyond the wicked things people did of their own accord, but if the devil had a face, it would look like Johnny Walkerâs." Small-town Louisiana, 1935. When Eugene was twelve, a girl from town disappeared. Everyone said the gators must have got her when she strayed too near the bayou. No foul play, just a terrible accident. But Eugene can't shake the conviction that Mary Beth's death had something to do with the man who used to haunt herâthe man no one else could see. Now, nearly two decades later, there are more dangerous things than gators in ChanlarivyĂš. People are disappearing again, and this time, no one can find the bodies. As the town's unease grows, charismatic fugitive Johnny Walker arrives on the scene, shedding bullet casings and stolen bank notes in his wake. He tangles himself up in Eugene's life and awakens memories Eugene thought he had laid to rest years ago. Memories of the mysterious man who followed Eugene into his dreams, and memories of the bayouâ And of the horrifying entity that lurks beneath the water's surface, slowly seeping into the town like a stain. |
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The Feast of the Innocents by Colin Harker In the spirit of Mary Shelley and Thomas Ligotti, a new novel that unites the charismatic, scheming villains and chilling atmosphere of classic Gothic horror with visceral, supernatural terrors and historical intrigue... Winter 1665. Cyrus flees England to escape the human monster who murdered his father, but the horrors of Laughlin Priory are as inescapable. Pursued by a mysterious killer from France â haunted by a one-eyed chimney sweeper with sinister motives and an insatiable curiosity â in the Priory, Cyrus learns some secrets are worse than death. |
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When broken-hearted Carrie Rickard falls in love with a ruined house, her life changes forever - especially since this house loves her back. Fairwood House, known locally as The Crows, is no ordinary ruin. As Carrie pours herself into its restoration, she learns that it comes with a curse and an unsolved sixty-year-old child murder... and a mind of its own. As she digs into the secrets of The Crows, Carrie is dragged into a world of witchcraft, blood magic and the supernatural, aided by her eldritch soothsayer neighbour, Ricky Porter, who's as obsessed with the house as she is. Ricky, desperate to become the master of Fairwood and of the arcane artefact it guards, sees Carrie's future is set in stone - and so is her death-date. But is his offer of help sincere, or is he the reason she's doomed? |
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A Canticle of Two Souls by Steven Raaymakers A magic sword forged of a demon. A broken boy seeking revenge. A grim coming-of-age tale with a Sanderson-esque magic system. Raziel watched the Rhotian Empire slaughter his family. When a sentient sword promises him the head of the emperor, Raziel carves a bloody path in an epic journey across a land filled with banshees and mercenaries in pursuit of his revenge. But forced to travel with a strange young woman with a dark past, will Raziel even reach his destination? Alicia has plans of her own. Gifted with a terrible magic that can bend others to her will, she also has revenge on her mind and Raziel in her sights. Can two enemies put aside their differences to seek a higher goal, or will mistrust and inner-demons condemn their fates? Magic is a dangerous thing. So is hope. The âAria of Steel Trilogyâ is a heavy-metal power ballad of clashing blades, blood-soaked betrayal, and sweet revenge. Will you walk away or join the fight? |
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Game of Strength and Storm by Rachel Menard Every year, merciless Olympian Empresses organize a lottery, granting 10 wishes in exchange for individualsâ trades and labor. Two of this yearâs supplicants include Gen and Lady Castor. Gen, an animal-controlling MindWorker and the last known descendant of the Mazon race, requests her fatherâs release from unjust imprisonment. Castor, of the wealthy weather-bottling StormMakers, wants her father to break patriarchal tradition and name her as his heir instead of her impractical twin brother Pollux. The Empresses pit Gen and Castor against each other, tasking the teens with granting the requests of their fellow entrants. Whomever can complete the most challengesâwhich are inspired by the labors of Hercules and include killing a Hydra and recovering a lost shipâwill attain their desire; the other will leave empty-handed. |
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The Case Files of Sheridan Bell: The Vanishing Beast by Em Rowene A strange woman comes to Detective Bell with an even stranger problem: sheâs about to be arrested for murder and needs Detective Bell to clear her name. When the police confuse a simple protection charm for something more sinister and arrest the wrong person, Bell must untangle cons, confront powerful sidhe families, and find the mysterious beast that roams the streets of his city. |
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Norse Mythology for Bostonians: A Transcription of the Impudent Edda by Rowdy Geirsson Norse Mythology for Bostonians is a humorous retelling of the trials and tribulations of Odin, Thor, and the other Norse gods. Regarded as an authentic, new "Edda" (as the original Icelandic source material is called), the main narrative is told in the charmingly quaint dialect of a foul-mouthed Bostonian. New mythological episodes, such as Thor's attempt to renew his driver's license and Odin's mysterious journey to Boston Common, supplement the more traditional stories such as Odin's acquisition of the mead of poetry and the theft of Idunn's apples of youth. Substantial historical background information about the myths is provided in the introductory material, as well as in the footnotes that occur throughout the volume. Based on the long-running McSweeney's Internet Tendency column Norse History for Bostonians, Norse Mythology for Bostonians, introduces readers to a fresh, new perspective on both familiar and previously unknown narratives of Norse mythology. |
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The Chrysillium Tree by Laken Honeycutt There is a language beyond words, in the forests and sacred places, if we can remember how to listen... Separated from her family and her homeland, MĂŠve FaolĂĄi struggles to navigate her new life in the Palace of Light. With the cruelty of her abductors, and the lecherous advances of a Crown Prince lurking around every corner, she longs for freedom and to find her parents. But once MĂŠve learns the vile truth involving the Azantium exploitation of the Lumaniâs sacred chrysillium trees, she shares these secrets with a Lumani man in the woods. When things take an unexpected turn, MĂŠve finds herself caught between a forbidden love and a burgeoning rebellion as she awakens a part of herself long forgotten. An enchanting blend of adventure and lore, sacred trees and found family, The Chrysillium Tree is an adult fantasy story about the struggle for freedom amidst tyranny and remembering forgotten magic. |
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Skylark in the Fog by Helyna L. Clove So when the universe falls to pieces, it doesnât mean your life has to, right? That comes later. Jeane Blake, captain of the spaceship Skylark, makes her living by looting dead worlds, planets fallen prey to naturally occurring wormhole-like rifts plaguing the cosmos. She survives the only way she knows how: avoiding commitment and arguing with her dead foster father's ghost. But when her crew stumbles upon an alien device that could collapse the wormhole network and wipe out all sentient life, they catch the hungry eyes of the Union, a tyrannical empire hunting the sinister tech. As she flees the Unionâs brainwashed agents, Jeane is forced to take on a shady mission and gets stuck assisting the runaway monarch of a technocrat planet. Queen Maura Tholis is seeking the aid of an interstellar resistance to reclaim her war-torn world, with another trouble-magnet device as her bargaining chip: a glove that allows her to command AI systems. Jeane couldnât care less about the whole deal, but things become personal when the Union annexes the place she calls home. And it might be her fault. Reluctant to become weapons in the hands of power-hungry militants and desperate rebels, smuggler and queen join forces. But to save their homes, they must redefine themselves, work with the enemy, and face personal traumas theyâd buried long agoâand only stars know which challenge might break them in the end. |
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The Syren Stories: Meraki & Kairos by Naomi Kelly MERAKI and KAIROS come together to form THE SYREN STORIES in a never-before-seen duology collection. In Meraki, seventeen-year-old Wren believes she has just swum away from the greatest threat in the sea. That's until she finds herself being hauled upon a warlord's boat. With her life at the mercy of a young, temperamental King, Wren must decide who is her ultimate enemy, and figure out what the Hel do the gods have planned? Syrens are bound to tell the truth, but that doesnât mean their lives cannot be riddled with lies. And in Kairos her adventure continues. Having survived the battle against Kestrel, and with spring arriving, everything appears to be going swimmingly for Wren- that is until an arrow knocks her out of the sky. When the mortals she defeated last winter come seeking retribution, Wren learns that although these mere men are not immortal, they have no problem biding their time. Revenge, after all, is a dish best served cold. And forgiveness is a gift which can swiftly be retracted. |
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Meraki: A Syren Story by Naomi Kelly Her song is a gift bestowed by the gods; so why does it feel like a curse? Seventeen-year-old Wren thinks she has just swum away from the greatest threat in the sea. That's until she finds herself being hauled upon a warlord's boat. With her life at the mercy of a young, temperamental King, Wren must decide who is her ultimate enemy. Can Fate be altered? What do gods have planned? Syrens are bound to tell the truth, but that doesnât mean their lives cannot be riddled with lies. |
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Thief of Souls by Emma L. Adams I'm Liv Cartwright, mage, thief, and unapologetic nerd. Magically talented people like me have two choices: use our powers at the beck and call of the Order of the Elements or be exiled to the realm of monsters. Sounds like an easy choice, right? Not so much. Since my mentor dabbled in forbidden spirit magic and left me to take the fall, I have to pay off his debts without using my magic. I'd rather spend my free time gaming than retrieving valuable objects for the Order, but my latest retrieval job goes from mundane to deadly when I end up on the wrong side of the terrifying King of the Dead. Turns out he doesnât like thieves, and he likes the Order even less. To make things worse, I run into my ex-boyfriend, a fire mage who's carrying as many secrets as I am, and find my simple thieving job has landed me in the middle of a conspiracy. A second elemental war is brewing, and the key to stopping it lies in my long-buried memories of my mentor's lessons. The catch? If the Order finds out, they'll show me no mercy this time -- and everyone knows there's a good reason spirit magic was banned. People who use it tend to end up dead. |
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Dreamtaker is the sequel to ReBirth: Zodiac Book One. While darker than its predecessor, Dreamtaker continues Jase and Liya's story as they face the consequences of their actions. Fate walks Gaea once more, but in an unexpected form. Familiar faces join Jase and Liya in their journey, including Tokei Fairaway, June, and of course Reve, the guardian. Along the way they make new friends in the form of one called Crowâa spindly mercenary who doesn't always listen. The story expands on Undall, Chall and their tenuous relationship. Gaea just got a lot bigger, and more dangerous. Fate smiles upon a thriving Chall under the rule of its new king. A time of celebration has come to the once guarded metal walls. Flowers bloom, and people arrive in anticipation of the royal wedding of the King of Chall to his princess. But... An unknown evil lurks beyond the eastern mountains. Smoke billows out of an abandoned outpost where a mad scientist tinkers with the blood of a titan. A new threat is born. Will Fate have the strength to endure? Only Time will tell... |
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When I Grow Up I Want to Be a Chair by Ryan Rae Harbuck Her story has (not) defined her. From where she sat, her perspective of the world was both quite ordinary and rivetingly extraordinaryâfrom a paralyzing car accident in her teens to traveling overseas on a journey of self-reflection to becoming a mom. Throughout everything she experienced, she fervently believed in following her given path. She wanted to trust its trajectory. She wanted to be sure. Her story is not about a chair. Her story is about her strengths and how they rose out of her instinctive vulnerabilities. Her story is about her struggles and how they became her victories. Her story is about being willing to hold it all, for herself and the whole of her world. Everyone has a chair. That thing you are bound to or unwillingly defines you. An element that makes you different from the rest. One that you have little choice in the matter. Whatâs YOUR chair? |
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A Dragonbird in the Fern by Laura Rueckert When an assassin kills Princess Jiaraâs older sister Scilla, her vengeful ghost is doomed to walk their city of glittering canals, tormenting loved ones until the murderer is brought to justice. While the entire kingdom mourns, Scillaâs betrothed arrives and requests that seventeen-year-old Jiara take her sisterâs place as his bride to confirm the alliance between their countries. âMarrying the young king intended for her sister and traveling to his distant home is distressing enough, but with dyslexia and years of scholarly struggles, Jiara abandoned any hope of learning other languages long ago. Sheâs terrified of life in a foreign land where sheâll be unable to communicate. Then Jiara discovers evidence that her sisterâs assassin comes from the kingâs own country. If she marries the king, Jiara can hunt the murderer and release her family from Scillaâs ghost, whose thirst for blood mounts every day. To save her family, Jiara must find her sisterâs killer . . . before he murders her too. |
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Soulmate, Stage Right by Bixby Jones Drama teacher Abby Devlin has always dreamed of being a world-famous actress. While stardom has, so far, proven elusive, she has made quite a name for herself at McMillan Playhouse, where sheâs just been cast in a self-written production. Her triumph quickly turns to dread, however, when she learns that McMillan has cast a soap star as her new leading man. After a painful divorce, Dean Altman, former soap star and a single dad, readjusted his priorities, moving back home to Galveston, Texas with his young daughter, Preslie. It doesnât take long for him to feel the itch to dust himself off and step back into the acting world, which brings him to McMillanâs stageâŠand Abbyâs attention. There is a fire between Abby and Dean when they meet in rehearsal, and not the good kind. Sizzling tension leads to drama both on and off-stage, but when they are forced to work together for the sake of the play, they slowly begin to give in to the undeniable chemistry between them. Before they truly have a chance to understand what they might have, however, an opportunity presents itself to Deanâone that could make or break what they have come to find in one another. Soulmate, Stage Right is an enemies-to-lovers, single dad romance, with quick progression and high-stakes emotion. It will appeal to contemporary romance fans, as well as fans of Hallmark movies. It is low on the heat, but high on the sweet, and can best be described as a romantic dramedy. |
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BOB: NON-UNION PSYCHIC - The Big Book of Bob Volume 1 by Lance Lucero Follow your friendly neighborhood Renegade Psychic, Professional Hairstylist! His Gramps calls his abilities a gift. But Bob doesnât consider his psychic powers to be a gift; more like an overwhelming nightmare. When a powerful ancient creature called the Hux, a beast that has been the scourge of his bloodline for the last millennia, is accidentally unleashed by a fortune-hungry archaeologist, Bob has no choice but to follow in Grampsâ footsteps and show off his psychic skills. He must fight before the beast kills again. And keep up with those hair appointments as well⊠|
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Secrets Of The Volkovs by Ellie Jay Disappearances, deaths, threats... The local police are beginning to suspect all these crimes are linked. They're being committed by the sinister and mysterious Volkov family. There's just one problem: They can't prove it. In order to take down the Volkovs and put a stop to these crimes, they call in a young, ambitious policeman, Antonin Jelennski. Antonin travels hundreds of miles, leaving his fiancee behind, to go undercover and infiltrate the Volkovs' organisation. He pins down incriminating evidence, but he finds far more than they ever expected. Can he expose the dark secrets of the Volkovs and stop their crimes before it's too late? |
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Allison by Marisa Silva-Dunbar Allison is an important take on the actions of Allison Mack and her experience with Keith Raniereâs NXIVM. This collection spotlights the gaslighting and trauma responses in a way that gives insight into the phenomenon of the cult mindset and how it victimizes its participants. Itâs beautifully written, and Silva-Dunbar has made something unique with the addition of the remixed blog entries. |
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Querencia Summer 2022 by Querencia Press Querencia Press's first anthology features 66 contributors of Poetry, Fiction, & Non-fiction work. Themes of the collection vary widely and the editor would like to include content warnings for self-harm, addiction, grief, domestic violence, religious trauma, sexual trauma, gender dysphoria and politics, as well as some blood and body horror. Edited by Emily Perkovich |
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Mud Crab Kingdom: The Soft-Shelled Prince by Dr. Joel Anthony Hamilton In a time ruled by fair-skinned kings and racial divides, the son of a fair-skinned king and mud-skinned peasant, Marcious Leojé, spends his days far beyond his father's kingdom in the muddy mangroves with his best friend, Etel Duetman. Here, they form an unusual kinship with the native crabs and build a mud kingdom. These two mud-skinned teenagers feel invincible within this playground-sized fortress. The discrimination within the kingdom cannot reach them and the mud walls provide a sense of security. However, they soon learn that their kingdom is nothing more than a mud wall, as it is unable to protect those they love. Cast into despair and the unknown world, they must learn to build a kingdom capable of protecting those they love. Along their journey they encounter people who show them the products of love, war, and despair. However, Marcious cannot envision his product, his own kingdom. Everywhere, being mud-skinned is worse than murder, and being "different" is worse than being mud-skinned. Will his vow to create a kingdom withstand the rising tides or will it wash away like that of his childhood? |
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Sons of Darkness by Gourav Mohanty SOME BALLADS ARE INKED IN BLOOD. Bled dry by violent confrontations with the Magadhan Empire, the Mathuran Republic simmers on the brink of oblivion. Krishna and Satyabhama have put their plans in motion within and beyond the Republic's blood-soaked borders to protect it from annihilation. But they will soon discover that neither gold nor alliances last forever. They are however not alone in this game. Mati, Pirate-Princess of Kalinga, has decided to mend her ways to be a good wife. But old habits die hard, especially when one habitually uses murder to settle old scores. Brooding but beautiful Karna hopes to bury his brutal past but finds that destiny is a miser when it comes to giving second chances. The crippled hero-turned-torturer Shakuni limps through the path of daggers that is politics only to find his foes multiply, leaving little time for vengeance. Their lives are about to become very difficult for a cast of sinister queens, naive kings, pious assassins and ravenous priests are converging where the Son of Darkness is prophesied to rise, even as forgotten Gods prepare to play their hand |
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Anamnesis by Susana ImaginĂĄrio Mistakes were made. The future is uncertain. And Time doesn't care. As the story ends, we'll finally learn how it started. The world is breaking apart. Only the combined willpower of Hades and Hel can save it. But Love has other plans. Meanwhile, the gods need to deal with the outcomes of their choices; everyone else needs to survive them. And Psyche must finally face her greatest foe. Can free will cheat fate, or is fate the consequence of free will? |
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Son of Thunder by James Jakins Berun Toirnach is a prince, a priest, and a mage. With the power of Lightning he fights to protect what is important to him. When Berunâs friends and family are put in danger the young prince must rely on his power and his allies, old and new, to save them. With him is his father's most trusted bodyguard, a disgraced assassin known for his skill and ruthless precision. A young God Mage and her companions, linked together with powerful magic. And a coward with a power he's afraid to use. All of them will be needed to save those threatened. But time is against them and their enemies have secrets of their own. |
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The Savior's Rise by Talli L. Morgan WHEN GODS FALL, LEGENDS RISE. Taja Ievisin thought the Oracle Stone would fix all his problems, but all itâs left him with are a city in shambles, shocking truths about his gods, and a role he canât possibly fill. He is Sawwia Setukkda, the Second Savior of his people, but without a drop of magic in his blood and no idea how to get his people to trust him, how is he supposed to save anyone? Jekku Ajâere is finally free ââ from his maddening curse, from the Royal Sorcerer who wished to control him, and from the influence of the Oracle Stone. But now what? Grappling with ghosts from his past and torn between two paths, Jekku has to figure out where to turn, even if it means leaving someone behind. But before either of them can move ahead, theyâve got a mess to clean up. BĂ„thĂ€lla is divided ââ and most Elshalans remain stubbornly loyal to the gods. If Taja canât win over his people, itâs only a matter of time before the gods strengthen their hold and snuff out BĂ„thĂ€llaâs magic for good. Return to the magic-rich world of THE ORACLE STONE for another adventure in Talli L. Morganâs page-turning duology. |
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The Last Roman: Exile by B.K. Greenwood Some debts you cannot repay, even if you live forever... Seasoned imperial officer Marcus Sempronius Gracchus leads the 9th Roman Legion into a bloody battle against a fierce barbarian rival. It's a battle he won't survive. When he awakens three days later, clawing his way from a shallow grave, Marcus must face the reality of his new existence. He cannot be killed--but that won't stop him from dying time and again over the next 2,000 years. Meanwhile, others like Marcus plan to bring the world crashing to its knees. Can he prevent the inevitable and find redemption? |
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Bring Inner Greatness Out: Personal Brand by Dr. Mansur Hasib When we think of deserts, we think of sand, drought, and harsh conditions - hardly a place for beautiful flowers with sweet nectar to attract butterflies and hummingbirds. Yet, that is exactly what the beautiful Fairy Duster on the cover does. With her bright red flower clusters, stamens ornately shaped in the form of tiny dusters, and juicy nectar she drives butterflies and hummingbirds wild with ecstasy. Her leaves resemble those of the sensitive plant but you can touch her and she will not wilt in apprehension, because she is confident in her greatness. She has adorned her stalks with very fine hair; you can touch her stalk as well without hurting yourself. She generously teaches the smaller buds around her to bloom with similar efflorescence; together they will attract and sustain more hummingbirds and butterflies. Regardless of where we are born or what the color of our skin is, we too can choose to be extraordinary like the Fairy Duster and be beacons of hope and inspiration for others. While we do not choose the circumstances of birth, we have the power to choose our destiny by building a unique and compelling personal brand to enhance our value and change the trajectory of our success. We can choose to solve our problems and harsh conditions so they lose prominence and fade into the background. We can welcome others to join our circle of greatness so everyone can enjoy a better life. We do not have to look for greatness outside because we are already born unique. In a world of several billion people we are a supply of one! We must find the unique gifts we have inside, our likes and dislikes, things we can be good at, polish them, showcase them, and monetize them for multiple customers all over the world. All of a sudden we cease to be a common flower and become the extraordinary and valuable flower that we are. That is what this book is about. Begin your journey to a lifetime of greatness today! |
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Rememory: A Science Fiction Novelette by Frasier Armitage In the future, memory is currency. Felix is broke, on the run, with nothing in his head but a combination of numbers. Someone robbed him of his mind. Now it's time he took it back. |
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Jack Bloodfist: Fixer by James Jakins Jack Bloodfist fixes things. That's what his card says, anyway... When the orcs and goblins of Summervale, Virginia need something done they call Jack. He's the one who convinces the local PD to ignore any orcish violence. The guy who makes sure the goblins aren't evicted whenever they do something decidedly goblin. He also does the little things that no one else is willing to do. Like handing keys over whenever a prodigal son returns, or identifying the body of said prodigal. He's always believed himself capable of fixing any issue his extended family needs fixed, even those they create for themselves, but when a powerful paladin comes to town and starts killing orcs, Jack may be out of his depth. With the help of a drow detective, a reporter that is more than she seems, and a wizard with plans of his own, Jack hopes to, if not fix the problem, at least make sure it doesn't get worse. That's when the paladin's angry god shows up with a whole army of holy knights. All in a day's work. |
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The Old Love And The New by Alistair Caradec 'My priority is, and has always been to protect the citizens of our country. God save the King.' Twenty-five years after the infection started spreading across Britain and Ireland, most people have stopped asking questions. Nobody seems to care anymore what happened to the women in the provisional quarantine centres. Sid doesnât have the headspace to care. Since receiving a diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder at age nineteen, he has stuck to a strict regimen of routine, low expectations, and tuning out the world. When his best friend brings home the first woman either of them has seen since the epidemic, Sid has to push back the boundaries he set for his own safety and face outwards for the first time |
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The Chronicles of Spoony, Vols. 1-3 by Jim Larsen Spoony is a kid with a heart of gold. He loves hugs, he loves affection, and he values friendship and family. But there is something about him that isnât quite right. He canât kick a ball, he canât play Duck Duck Goose, and he confuses regular people for clowns. He thinks a fictitious character on an old TV show is his dad, and he just has a general way of ruining things for other people while remaining blissfully unaware. His mom isnât much better. Embarrassed by the drunken one-night stand that created Spoony, she has perpetrated numerous lies to save face and avoid humiliation over the truth that Spoonyâs father real father is the lanky Burt Peppermill, and that an overindulgence of lime flavored Jell-O shooters led her to lower her standards enough to let him touch her in that way. All her lies, however, come crashing down on them both the day Spoony finally kicks a ball in P.E. class, resulting in a trip to the emergency room where a number of surprises await. The Chronicles of Spoony, Vols. 1-3 offer delightfully dark reminders of how our words and actions around children shape their beliefs and affect their lives in profound and often invisible ways. |
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A Love Extreme is the greatest double debut album you've probably never heard -- but really should! B is for Benji, an aspiring musician with a bad case of writerâs block and a love story heâs not allowed to tell (but does anyways). C is for Count, Benjiâs roommate who wants to help him get his groove back. D is for DJ, Câs love interest who may or may not be D as in dead. E is for Evilon. (Heâs the villain, if that wasnât clear from his nameâŠ) F is for Frank, the strong silent neighbor down the hall. G is for genre, a difficult concept to apply here. Is it a) Comedy? b) Romance? c) Fairy Tale? d) Magical Realism? e) Faux Biography? f) Infomercial? g) Album-oriented Fan Fiction? Letâs go with⊠H) All of the above! IJK are letters weâre skipping in this very absurd blurb. L is forâŠwell, nobody really knows what L stands for. Thatâs part of the mystery that makes her extreme. M is for Mmmmmm, the title of a dreamy chapter near the midpoint. N is for Narrator. Thatâs me, your guide on this journey. Oh boy! Presenting Quarkle's ramshackle story the universe values with Xtreme youthful zest. (That rounds out our alphabet, but only scratches the surface of our wild tale.) L EXTREME: An original novel by JL Civi, based on the songs of Benji Hughes A novel based on an album is a book with a killer soundtrack. |
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A Bargain with the Fae King (Courts of Faery Book 1) by Megan Van Dyke For Lia Ashmore, the only thing keeping her grief and guilt in check after an accident nearly killed her little sister, May, are her recurring dreams of Riven, a shadowed man whoâs become her confidant, a pleasant escape from the pain of reality. When May is taken by animalistic dark Fae, Lia journeys to Faery, desperate to save her sister. There, she comes face to face with three shocking truths: Riven is real, heâs not human, and in fact, heâs the King of the Forest Fae. They strike a bargain. Heâll help her save May in exchange for what he wants: Lia as his consort. But saving her sister is not as easy as either expected, and a failed rescue attempt reignites an age-old conflict between Fae courts. As her relationship with Riven blossoms, Lia becomes increasingly entangled in bitter rivalries and political power plays. In a world where no one can lie but everyone has secrets, Lia will have to decide who to trust. The choice alone could cost her heart, but the wrong one may demand her lifeâand her sisterâs. |
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She Steals Justice by J. Clark She Steals Justice is a powerful urban retelling of the Robin Hood legend set in the American Southâfrom an author who knows the area intimately. When her sister becomes pregnant, Robyn Carter starts to take a stand against the abuse she's suffered for years at the hands of her sister's boyfriend. But as she gets deeper into her fight, Robyn uncovers secrets that force her to reckon with what it truly means to be justice-minded and community-oriented, as well as what it costs to protect those around her. To the reader: This book contains scenes that may depict, mention, or discuss abusive relationship, blood, cheating, death, misogyny, murder, physical abuse, poisoning, pregnancy, racism, sexism, violence. Please read with caution, and protect your mental health as needed. |
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"In 'Ope (More), Yulu Ewis opens the world of oral tradition-the same, timeless, pre-Columbian world of our Indigenous ancestors that is still present, but unseen by most-to all of her readers. Grounded in the language and world views of her Miwok and Pomo ancestors, Ewis definitely gives us 'more' as it grapples with cultural perseverance, along with the 'sovereignty' and 'civil rights' the US has 'given' to her people in the aftermath of its genocidal and assimilative tactics that attempted to destroy them." Dr. Kimberly G. Wieser, Associate Professor, University of Oklahoma, author of Texas...to Get Horses and Back to the Blanket |
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Revenge and Forgiveness by A.J. Torres Torn between the love of a brother and sworn duty to your kingdom, would you trade the comfort of a cage for freedom bought with blood? Kaius Braveheart has just been granted the rank of knight to the Ligera royal family of Rosado. His first task, seek out the Grand Mage Vincent Braveheart, his older brother, and Princess Alaia Ligera. He is to inform them that King Cecilio Ligera wishes to speak with them. A simple task surely, were it not for the rising tensions in his relationship with the two. His brother's growing mistrust for the Ligera family has caused a rift between the brothers. As for Princess Alaia, though he holds feelings for her, their difference in class forbids him to act. Though apprehensive about his mission, orders are orders. He delivers his message to Vincent and escorts the Princess to the palace throne room. There Kaius is forced to relive memories long sealed away as creatures of darkness attack. Joined by an unexpected ally, he must face the truth of his past and uncover a mysterious evil. This standalone story is perfect for fans of Kingdom Hearts and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. |
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The Call for Finis: Pride by A.J. Torres Seven sins. Seven hosts. One city purged. After everything youâve learned, can you still stand with your faith, or finally rise up against it? Salvia VerdaderaFe has signed a pact with Ultor, a demon of Infernos, to enact the end of all and purge the world of sin. Ultor and six others were granted permission to enter the middle world of Eldara, bound to mortals by the Seraphim of Hevellum. Upon his arrival a messenger of Hevellum should have been waiting to assign him his task, unfortunately the messenger did not appear and thus his mission is a mystery. Along their journey through the country of Marlela, they are set upon by a group of Templar Equitums, bearers of virtue and enforcers of the Cirine faith. From their encounter their destination is revealed. Their journey to Lumen Magnum begins. |
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Moonlight Love and Witchcraft by Vaela Denarr & Micah Iannandrea âI love you. And I need you like the blood in my veins. Without you I wouldnât be me.â A werewolf and a vampire with an unbreakable bond. A cute witch fleeing her home for a crime she may or may not have committed. A burning desire for something more between them. Years after becoming a vampire, Logan is finally on track to their goal: Making it big in the music industry with the support of their band and their girlfriend Kay, protector of the local supernatural community. For all its issues, with her by their side, Loganâs life is perfect. But when a new girl comes to town, Nemo, everything abruptly becomes much more complicated and Logan canât ask Kay for help anymore. Because to do that, theyâd have to admit to her that theyâve fallen for someone else⊠Nemo, having fled her home for a crime she totally didnât commit, finds a welcome distraction in Loganâs friendship. But her thoughts quickly become haunted by them and their gorgeous girlfriend⊠As Kay realizes that whatâs going on between Logan and Nemo exceeds the bounds of friendship, she has to make a choice: Keep her partner all to herself, or encourage them to explore their feelings, and explore her own. To let love make them one, or perhaps tear them apart. |
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The Underground by Azalea Forrest In the country of Lornesse, the city Anen harbors more than just high-rises and technology. Deep beneath the architecture, unbeknownst to humans, roam incredible and terrifying creatures. The Underground isnât the only place these people reside, however. Most humans donât know that a third of their population are actually blood suckers and moon howlers, changelings and ghosts, disguised and living among them. Ashai is a young vampire of humble origins just trying to bridge the gap between supernaturals and humans with her blood bar. Sheâs happy to deal with human, vampire, and werewolf alike. When an old vampire is rumored to have come back from the dead to build an army, it bristles the fur of many a werewolf. This sheds new light on the truth of past transgressions and the prejudice between their peoples. Ash is unwittingly caught in the middle and must fight her way to find her own truths. |
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Witch in the Lighthouse by Azalea Forrest Witch in the Lighthouse is a warm cup of tea full of magic, hope, friendship, and forgiveness. Moving to Lightview was supposed to be a new beginning for Magnolia Hanna, a piece of closure, a connection to her past. Inheriting her uncle's lighthouse wouldn't make her life easy, but she never expected such hostile neighbors. She was a witch from the hidden mountain hamlet of Emelle, after all, and Lightview hadn't housed a witch in more than a decade. Unfriendly villagers are the least of her problems, however, when a witch named Basil Olivander arrives on her doorstep, weighed down by his own grief. Maggie soon learns why Lightview harbors such disdain for witches â and who is to blame for her troubles in this new town. Book One in The Witch of Emelle Series |
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If Asheel Won't Burn by Jenn Jarrett Another month. Another night haunted by an immortal Reaper. Another grieving family. The hopeless cycle never ends. Only Asheel can sense the Reaperâs next victim, but instead of praise for her gift, sheâs blamed for the abductions and despised. Even worse, the neighboring cities have heard rumors of the girl with the Reaperâs eyes and seek her magic for themselves. Asheel doesnât know if she should continue her predictions since they cause more harm than good or if she should start a new life away from the magic. But none of that matters when the Reaper comes for her. Follow the Reaper into the Monster Realm. |
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We All Have Our Demons by Gerrard Tyson Frok is a demon who thinks his smarts are his ticket out of Hell. In 1992, Akuma is the president of her college goth club (but don't call it goth club. That's so lame!) Evan is the mysterious stranger who has a secret to share with Akuma and her friends. Is the secret that he's a psycho? The book is funny, sexy, and spooky, but itâs not horror or romance, and itâs not for children, itâs for very childish adults. |
