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The Covenant of Shihala by Laya V. Smith and Kyro Dean For ten years, street musician Ayelet has been on the run from the faceless slave master who tormented her childhood. Every time she sees a wisp or the jewel-toned face of a djinn lurking in the shadows, she knows her tormentor is close and it is time to move on. Nobody else can see the wisps or the nightkeepers, so Ayelet must trust only in herself and her beloved lyre. Secretly, she longs for a home, but she knows anyone she gets close to will share in her terrible fate when the Faceless Man inevitably finds her. Jahmil Amir, djinn prince and heir to the throne of Shihala, has lost his army and with it his hope. The fierce drakonte riders are his only chance of retaking his fallen lands and avoiding an arranged marriage to the despicable queen of a neighboring kingdom. The desire for revenge has blackened his heart and stolen his sense of humor. Only when he hears music does Jahmil allow himself to dream of peace and to hope for a new home. When the prophecy of a traitor sends Jahmil into the human world in search of his lost cavalry, he finds Ayelet playing her lyre in the streets. She quickly plucks her way into his heart, while his diamond eyes tempt her with the dream of a real home. But the eight moons of Qaf harbor a different fate. A dark plan is unfolding that will open a rift between the human and djinn lands and unleash a power unknown in either world. To stop it, Ayelet must realize her tortured existence has forged her into an instrument of cataclysmic destruction. Meanwhile, Jahmil must let go of his thirst for vengeance and face the truth that love may be the only thing strong enough to save both of their worlds. |
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I Am Not Brad Pitt and Other Stories by Ross Dreiblatt I AM NOT BRAD PITT is the first of three riotously absurd tales in Ross Dreiblattâs debut short-story collection sending up Americaâs sometimes-fatal celebrity obsessions. âI Am Not Brad Pittâ opens in a prison cell in which Mr. Pittâs clone-like doppelganger, Tobey Crawford, remorsefully recounts the sequence of unlikely events that resulted in his wrongful conviction for murder. The second story, âPlease Allow Me To Introduce Myself,â considers the possibility that Keith Richards (along with, for good measure, Dolly Parton) is, indeed, a vampire. Nobel-Prize laureate Bob Dylan, the storyâs vampire-killer, is equipped with more than just a harmonica and tambourine. The final work in the collection, âKeeping Compliant With The Kardashians,â examines whether Kardashian family members are, in fact, aliens from another galaxy and what precisely is their interest on Earth. Each of the stories are told with engaging humor, and each pokes fun more at American culture than they do, generally, of the celebrities themselves. |
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Traitors Unseen by Dave Dobson Provisional Inspector Emerra Denault is working on a case with her mentor investigating some stolen money. Everything seems straightforward, but then she is accused of a crime she would never commit. On the run from both her enemies and her friends and not sure of which is which, Emerra must solve the mystery of her betrayal and uncover the plot that led to her misfortune. That plot, still in motion, is deep and deadly. It would give the city she loves over to relentless murderers bent on power. Emerra faces criminals, corruption, magic, villanous nobles, and rot within the Guild she serves. She must overcome them all to save Frosthelm and to stay alive. |
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The Warrior's Path: An Epic Fantasy Adventure (Tales of Gorania Book 1) by Karim Soliman #1 Bestseller in Arthurian Fantasy (Amazon UK & Amazon Canada) #1 Bestseller in Dark Fantasy (Amazon Australia) #1 Bestseller in Sword & Sorcery Fantasy eBooks (Amazon Canada) Blood is his sin. Blood will be his redemption. Forced to slay his father to prevent a massacre, Masolon and his name will be cursed until the end of days. To escape the shame of kinslaying and the justice of his clansmen, the young warrior braves the haunted desert to reach the fabled lands of Gorania. A journey he survives with his body, but not with his mind. Tormented by the guilt of his sin, Masolon seeks redemption through the war he wages against the armed gangs that infest every corner of his new home. But Masolon has to be careful; the war he has started might grow bigger than he can handle. The lords of Gorania do not take vigilantes so lightly. Now enemies and false friends close in from all sides. And Masolon, betrayed and outnumbered, must win one decisive battle to earn the peace he has been pursuing. But in the brutal world of Gorania, peace could just be a delusion. Masolon's path to redemption could be a lie after all. THE WARRIOR'S PATH is the first book in Tales of Gorania: a series for epic fantasy fans who are ready to immerse themselves in a world of flawed heroes and false legends, a world of political games and battles to the death. |
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Oath of Blood by Karim Soliman Masolon is determined to prove himself worthy of being the coming Chief of the most powerful clan in Ogono. Unfortunately, the young heir faces one of the hardest times Ogono has ever witnessed. As the unstoppable wrath of the Light reduces Ogono to scorched, cursed grounds, men turn into beasts, and mercy becomes a sin. If Masolon wants to rule his people one day, he has to show everybody he is one of them. A beast. |
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Sorceress of the Dryads by Raina Nightingale The magic of the dryads does not come at a price, but it binds the Singer to the Pact of the forests. To keep her nature or be corrupted. When the corrupted elven prince, Anakrim, takes the throne in the aftermath of the deaths of King Orenduil and Queen Alaria and promises the elven people the return of their long-lost magic, the forests of Elethri begin to languish⊠The dryads and Tara-lin must join their magic as never before to bring his menace to an end in a way consistent with their natures and the healing of the forests. In the midst of the upheaval, Tara-lin finds herself in a position of influence she never wanted. With the help of the dryads, she must find and stay true to her song and try to lead the elves to discover and nurture their individual magic. |
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When a royal conspiracy topples the noble House Falco, Sofia must take up the burden of her father's mantle and assume guardianship of his Greatmask. Yet the sentient bone mask, powerful enough to Compel those around her, will not speak - and Sofia is left defenceless. Hunted by the king, she is driven from the palace where she alone must fight for survival in the cold streets of Anaskar... that is, until she crosses paths with Notch, a bitter mercenary. Notch has survived both war and the betrayal of his king on the very battlefield where they were victorious and though the former soldier burns for revenge, he finds himself unable to turn his back on Sofia and her own struggle for justice. But if they want to take back their city and cast down the tyrant on the throne, they must face the blades of Anaskar's robed assassins, the rage of a mighty sea beast and finally the mysterious Lupo, a man with his own Greatmask and who has masterminded vicious terrorist attacks on the city that spurned him. Follow unlikely heroes on an epic fantasy adventure where the struggle over the Greatmask and its power threatens to tear their city - and kingdom - into shreds. |
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Erika continues a rocky relationship with Arell as they travel the Nisi Sea, still haunted by her mistakes. Arell, determined to secure Cho Nisi's allegiance with Erika's father, oversees the elders in their healing of Erika's brother. But crisis strikes the kingdom when Barte son of Moshere's army invades Prasa Potama, orchestrated by the demon SkotĂĄdi. One by one, the men she loves fall into peril, and Erika alone must make crucial decisions for the good of her people. |
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The Flameweaver Saga by Casey White In times of trouble, heroes are called to serve. Some rise to the occasion - and others are dragged along kicking and screaming. Secluded in the sleepy village of Goldenvale, Jas expected life to continue in the same peaceful track it always had. The days would come and go, settling into a comfortable routine. The mountain changed everything. When it rumbled to life, filling the world with hastily-awoken legends of old monsters and ancient evils, Jas knew better than to be afraid. Their nation had a secret of its own: a hero, in the form of his best friend Darren. Whatever threatened Goldenvale, theyâd face it together But when the day came, Darren turned - and ran. Forced to take up the mantle of hero in his place, Jas begins his journey up the mountain. But the road is long, with enemies around every corner and answers waiting at the summit that threaten to shake his world to its very foundation. And in the end, Jas realizes his enemies were closer than he ever suspected. |
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A Wizard's Forge by A.M. Justice Wizards are forged, not born. Victoria of Ourtown lived through a nightmare to become the ruthless soldier known as Vic the Blade. Once she wished to explore the world settled by her spacefaring ancestors; now she thinks only of revenge. Prince Ashel's carefree days are filled with music, revels, and dreams of a life with Vic. Those hopes die when the thrust of an assassin's knife drives him to war. The target of Vic's and Ashel's wrath is Lornk Korng, a tyrant whose schemes stretch across a continent and a lifetime. A mysterious alien race holds the key to a legendary--and lethal--power. The one who possesses this power would hold the world in their hands, but they might just doom it too. A gripping tale of empowerment and revenge plays out against a breathtaking backdrop of dark fantasy and science fiction. Honors Booknest Top 100 of this Century 2017 Next Generation Indie Book Awards 2017 Readers Favorite Book Awards |
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Broken Crossroads by Patrick LeClerc The city of Laimrig, once a mighty hub of commerce and a seat of power sinks into corruption and decay. Slavers, crime lords and corrupt officials hold sway while the ruling nobility wallow in decadence. War rages beyond the borders, while within rebellion simmers and sinister plots unfold. Trilisean is an acrobat turned burglar. Conn is a jaded former mercenary. Against the background of deadly blades, subtle schemes, glittering treasures, dark sorceries and fell servants of forgotten gods, fate has thrown them together. Fate has a sense of humor. Broken Crossroads is a fast paced, witty, swashbuckling modern pulp fantasy adventure in the tradition of Fritz Leiber and Robert E Howard. |
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"Oh then I see Queen Mab hath been with you..." Everyone knows Romeo & Juliet, but what if it isn't the whole story? What if Queen Mab, mentioned in only one speech in the entire play, is actually responsible for all the tragedy about to strike the Houses of Montague and Capulet? And her love for Mercutio the key to everything... Weaving Shakespeare's original text into a new story, fans of The Woodcutter will love this latest retelling by award-winning author Kate Danley. Experience the romance of Romeo & Juliet from a different point of view - through the eyes of the bringer of dreams... Queen Mab. |
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The Adventures of an Intergalactic Bordello Worker by Sinnamon Carnelian A cheating ex-husband. An old-fashioned, religious family. A break for freedom and her own life. Running away to a new planet was the only adult way to handle the situation. Side by side with her new friend, Rusty builds the life she wants with the experiences she desires. |
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Sugar Plum Tea by Sinnamon Carnelian Humanity needed the Tahli to chase the invading Borie from Earth. The Tahli needed Earth since their dying sun was giving off radiation that sterilized most of their women. They can either make it work, or both go extinct. At the age of seven, Winnie was pulled from the rubble of a dying world by Tahli soldiers. She became their reason to fight to protect the women and girls of Earth, even if it meant going against their peopleâs desperation to save their species. In her adult years, Winnie wanted nothing more than to marry and have children after starting her successful tea and sweet shop in the colonies set up by the Tahli. Backstabbers, terrorists, and hate that still filled the rebuilding world always seemed to get in the way. That is until she has a chance meeting with a newly relocated Tahli on Kinship Day. |
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A Trashy Medieval Romance by Sinnamon Carnelian Lust and love are such fickle things. One day you are pursued by one, the next day, the other pounces. Teagan devoted her life to caring for war orphans in her kingdom, focusing solely on their welfare until circumstances compelled her to do otherwise. She quickly becomes the object of affection for two very different suitors, while her heart and convictions are put to the test. Theo, a battle-scarred baron's son, finds himself hopelessly enchanted by her grace. However, Lord Nin, a seductive nobleman, seeks only to satisfy his insatiable cravings. In this tale of conflicting desires, choices must be made, and the consequences of love's unpredictable dance may unravel life as they know it. *This book is not meant to be historically accurate. It is also not as trashy compared to my other books with the word 'trashy' in the title. |
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A Trashy Pirate Romance: Book One by Sinnamon Carnelian Some plans sail with the wind and waves, where greed and lust walk hand in hand. When Charlieâs father dies, sheâs devastated. Then her worst nightmare begins. The king wants young, beautiful Charlie to marry the admiralâs son, ensuring her safety and security for life. However, such a union would cut off her greedy Aunt Kathy financially forever. With too much to lose, Aunt Kathy concocts a harebrained scheme to seize Charlieâs inheritance, paying devious pirates to abduct her vulnerable nieceâa perfect idea, at first. What Aunt Kathy doesnât account for is Charlieâs strength, determination, and resilience to reclaim what is rightfully hers, exact her revenge, and escape the shackles of her forced marriage to Finn. With a couple of loyal and trustworthy friends by her side, Charlie rolls up her sleeves, preparing for the most ferocious fight of her young life. Can she flee Finnâs manipulative clutches without injury? Can she confront Aunt Kathy and recoup what is rightfully hers before itâs all spent? Find out in this thrilling pirate adventure, where romance and a strong, feisty female protagonist take you on a journey youâll never forget. |
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Emma and the Prince of Shadows (World of Light Book 2) by Jon Herrera A dangerous journey across a dark, desolate landscape. Having passed through a portal to the World of Light, eleven-year-old Emma Wilkins and her brother, Will, find themselves in a place called Perdition by some, a dead land shrouded in darkness where ash falls from the sky. But a guide awaits them: the mysterious Prince of Shadows. Together, they must make the long, dangerous journey through Perdition and pass through the Teeth of the World in order to survive. But time is running out. A fallen god has awakened. Its Shade, unstoppable and unrelenting, is in pursuit of Emma and her power. At the same time, another race is taking place: The moment drew near when it would all begin again. The turning point in the hunt eternal. Laelaps had run forever. She would run forever more unless the legend was true. The man who could break eternity. The Prince of Shadows. The hound looked up. She yearned for the moon and the stars. Raising her head, she howled into the roiling black sky. Her prey, Cadmes, the fleeing fox, ever out of reach, turned his head and glanced back at her, acknowledging her longing. The chase continued. Who is the Prince of Shadows? |
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Flirting with the Tempest by A.R.K Horton Eya is done running from her enemy. Now, the very people who took her home and threatened her life should be scared of the exiled princess with newfound powers. Reunited with her brothers and bonding with new friends, Eya fights against the Pescelean invasion of Hicares with the might of Kandum's army behind her. Success in battle comes easy, but something doesn't sit right with her. She's not sure she's fighting on the right side. Is she truly fated to destroy an entire nation, or is there a way out of this prophecy? Eya learns that sometimes your enemies are the people you allow closer than anyone else. Flirting With the Tempest is the second book of The Telverin Trilogy, a fantasy war story that takes place between several countries in the world of Telverin. |
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The Buried Secret of Fairyloom (Tremendous Ten Chronicles - Book Two) by Niranjana Siva and Archana Sujai Life has changed so much for the students at the Elite academy. With the threat of the culprits lingering in the air of Illusia, the Tremendous Ten continue their mission. Two shocking discoveries threaten to shatter the friendship that they share. They get involved in a life or death mission, which endangers the life of each other. Old allies and new rivals emerge to increase the challenge of their already deadly mission. Wearing the wings of hope, they travel to uncover the long kept secret. The Sarkon's Gem had only just been the beginning of the greater destruction. Will the Tremendous Ten survive the attacks that are about to follow? Are they ready to make the sacrifices needed to protect Illusia? Will Sarkon really come back? |
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The Missing Piece of History by Niranjana Siva and Archana Sujai Cathy Wilde, a 15-year old girl, leading a normal life suddenly experiences some weird happenings in a day. She is more terrified when two strangers appear in her home out of nowhere. She follows them to a world known as Illusia. Little did she know that her Academy was in grave danger. She and nine of her friends discover the hidden truths behind their history. Tremendous Ten are up to something for which they are not completely prepared yet. Will the ten of them be able to stop the dangers or will they fall prey into the hands of destruction? Read to find out . . . A New World . . . New Academy . . . New Life . . . New Friends . . . New Dangers . . . AWAITS . . . |
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Love Where You Work by Anna Pulley Warning: No mimes were injured in the making of this queer, workplace rom-com For Clare Kolikov, her work is her life. A successful HR manager with a heart of gold and a prejudice against beach camping, the uptight Clare has no time for relationships or anything else that might distract her from climbing the career ladder at a San Francisco Bay Area matchmaking startup, W;nkdIn. When sheâs force-volunteered as an LGBTQ beta date tester at W;nkdIn, the buttoned-up Clare teeters on the edge of despair, especially when the âexperiencesâ involve pole dancing meet-n-greets, plant healing workshops, and miming. But Clare has her real work cut out for her when she meets Julia Dawes, the hot coworker whoâs organizing her dates. Julia is a free-spirited, multiracial fashionista with âroller-blade confidenceâ and a Kristen Stewart haiku fan blog, whose attraction to Clare is as immediate and crippling as the debt sheâs drowning in, thanks to the failed essential oils business her ex left her saddled with. Workplace rules aim to keep Clare and Julia apartââespecially after Clare becomes Juliaâs bossââbut their attraction only grows like an out-of-control Excel spreadsheet. When an office rival threatens to expose their budding, secret relationship, Clare is left with an impossible choice: Give up her dream job or lose out on the girl of her dreams. |
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Bluffing for Beginners by Merren Tait Em never imagined she'd use "covert" and "shameless" in the same sentence. Until she had nothing left to lose. Em Stewart is no pushover. She can hot wire a car, torpedo a beer in under ten seconds, and make the most curse-hardy trooper blush with her colourful tongue. But when she's abandoned by her long-time boyfriend twenty minutes into starting their new life together on a remote island, she's in a tailspin. Somehow, she must forge their fresh start on her own in a place full of strangers and find her groove within the small island community - even with its songbird-loving eccentricities. The problem is Em isn't very good at hiding the truth. Her face syphons blood off her organs every time she meets the local ranger, and she accidentally gives up the island's greatest secret to the one person most willing to exploit it. Now Em has to perform the biggest bluff of her life to protect her new home against corporate interest, even if it means ruining a fresh shot at love before it's had much of a chance. But Em's not afraid of going down in a blaze of glory. And one thing's for sure: She's about to take the islanders on the ride of their lives. Bluffing for Beginners is the second of four stand-alone novels in the award-winning Good Life series. |
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Love and Other Games by Lyndsey Gallagher Successful beauty business queen, Emma Harvey is not quite as astute when it comes to relationships. Ghosted, following an epic one night stand with a notorious Irish rugby Hooker, she vows no more players, concentrating instead on securing the perfect beachfront property for her new luxury spa. Irish rugby Hooker, Eddie Harrington is the team joker. Except the tragic events of the past year weren't funny at all. Determined to set things right, Eddie scours Dublin for the perfect beach front property to ease his brothers discomfort upon his difficult return from the States. Crossed wires at a mutual friends Croatian wedding result in Emma and Eddie reluctantly agreeing to share the honeymoon suite for a week. Their exotic reunion results in a seductive game, highlighting what they almost had, and could potentially have again... Unless the two happen to want the same beach front property more than they want each other.... Will Emma stick to her game plan and put business before pleasure? Or will Eddies practiced tactics win out? |
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The Ticket by Heather Grace Stewart Now an optioned book! Fasten your seat belts for a journey filled with humor and adventure. Bachelor & newscaster Pete McCarney buys two plane tickets for a trip around the world with his girlfriend, but they split up shortly before the trip, and he can't get a refund. In a gutsy last minute move, Pete goes on social media asking for women with his girlfriend's exact name to apply to join him on the trip. Twenty-one women apply, and the ensuing interview process is both awkward and hilarious. When he finally chooses a feisty, headstrong, recently-divorced lawyer, he has no idea what to expect from their world wide adventures - and neither does Allie James. She has pretty much sworn off men since her divorce. Will either of them get the vacation they were so desperately hoping for? |
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Loving Callie by Julia Jarrett A doctor walks into a bar⊠Doctor Callie Scott kept it professional when handsome pub owner, Jake Evans, ended up in her ER. But when she sees him again at the Lucky Strike pub, sparks fly a second time, igniting a powerful chemistry between them. This new relationship could be a love greater than she has ever dreamed of. Her family is a roadblock, though, and it's harder than Callie expected to have to negotiate her parents' expectations. They will never approve of Jake. A pub owner does not fit into their political ambitions, and if Callie keeps seeing him, she risks losing her only family. Her entire life has been about trying to earn her parents' respect and approval. Now she has a chance to have the love she has waited a lifetime for, and Callie faces an impossible choice. Read the debut novel reviewers say is âEverything I Want In A Contemporary Romanceâ and âAn Insta-Love Story Done Right.â |
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Josh is a legend in his own mind, and Elle has no time for it. She has a job to do, and a winery hangs in the balance. Unfortunately, it's his family's winery. They'll either screw up each other's lives or... end up screwing. Crushing is the story of two people who hate each other but rumor has it, with enough wine, anyone can fall in love. Set in Sonoma, California's Wine Country, this is the first book in the 5 Families Vineyard Series and, of course, the LaChappelle/Whittier Winery Trilogy. |
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What we Deserve by Lizzie Stanley Iâm used to being alone, until she changed everything... When my ex-wife left, she said the cruelest words she could think of, and I took them all to heart. Now I work at my loveable bastard cousinâs tattoo parlor and keep most people at armâs length. I have the occasional one night stand to take the edge off, but there can never be anything more than that for me. I donât let myself think about how lonely I am. At least Iâm not ruining anyoneâs life, right? Then Emily walks into Wishbone Tattoos, asking about the receptionist job. And this shy, smiling, kindhearted woman is everything Iâve ever wanted. I canât help falling for her, even though I know I mustn't, for both our sakes. But thereâs something about Emily I donât know. Something that will make her the exception to my hard and fast rule... Sheâs battle scarred herself, and running scared from a dark past which snaps at her heels, but Iâm not going to let anyone hurt her ever again, I swear to god. And maybe, if weâre lucky and we both want it hard enough, the two of us will finally get what we deserve. |
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Pretend to read this book to avoid talking to strangers by Cassie Bailey Description âPretend to read this book to avoid talking to strangersâ is the new e-book by Cassie Bailey. Six short stories explore love, loneliness, and the human search for connection. ABOUT THIS BOOK: We all seek to belong somewhere. But what does it mean to really feel that sense of belonging? To feel truly connected â to our Earth, and to each other? Wires doesnât mind being alone when the world ends, but sheâd rather be with the girl she loves. Sharon connects with others through her daydreams, even when she canât talk to them in person. Kelly and Adam seek connection through their art, but is it at the expense of their relationship? And somewhere, deep at the bottom of the ocean, a woman speaks to the sea and stars, as they help her remember where she belongs. Each tale was written at a different point in the authorâs 20s, and the scattered but reflective story structures explore the inner workings of her neurodiverse brain. At times humorous, other times devastating, this debut collection fuses poignant poetry and open dialogue. âPretend to readâŠâ will leave you thinking a little deeper about how the human mind experiences and searches for connection. 24,968 words ADVANCED READER REVIEW: âFrom the moment I began reading dizzy & wires, I was awed by Cassieâs ability to turn her heartfelt thoughts into poetry. Her neurodiverse brain is an absolute gift and the magic, depth, and originality she produces within these pages is a thing to behold. Raw, vulnerable, at times quirky and at other times thought-provoking, these short stories are the kind youâll want to come back to again and again and youâll keep discovering fresh delights you missed the first time around.â |
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Falling for the Competition by Jen Smith Itâs going to be the best summer ever for ambitious, overachieving Quinn. A huge history buff, not only has she landed her dream job interning in the archives department of the local castle, but her best friend will be working there too. However, Quinn isnât the only one to be working in Archives this summer; Quinnâs academic rival, Patrick, is sharing her office in Muniments. Theyâre competing for the Letter of Recommendation (singular) from the research historian that Quinn needs to get her dream future placement. Their emotionally-loaded and competitive rivalry turns into a reluctant friendship, as they spend every day working together in silence (and sharing the occasional Twix). Until the Re-Enactors arrive. Between Patrick and Harry â the Golden Knight of the jousting team â Quinnâs carefully planned summer is thrown into complete disarray. Meanwhile, her best friendâs relationship may look perfect on the outside, but Quinn is starting to realise that thereâs more going on than there seems. Although Quinn is determined and single minded about planning every detail of her sparkling future, she comes to discover that the best things in life are the spontaneous ones â and that some people are more important than any Letter of Recommendation (singular) could ever be. |
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The Coffee Shop Girl by Maya Asher Hartford City was where dreams were made realities. Or where you meet the love of your life whoâll eventually rip your heart to shreds. Coffee shop part-owner, Bailey Johnson, and CEO, James Worthington, knew all too well about heartbreaks and cheating conniving exes. But, âcaffeine conquers allâ, or whatever the quote said. *The Coffee Shop Girl is a semi-clean romantic comedy perfect for readers who enjoy short laugh-out-loud love stories with a guaranteed HEA! |
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1675 -- Plymouth Colony -- Verity Parker promised to look after her family. Raised among the bookshops and turmoil of Reformation London, Verity now finds herself in Puritan New England, where she must learn to keep her head down and her mouth shut, or risk dire consequences. The only person who values her tenacity is Kit, the heretical ironworker she has been forbidden to see. When King Philipâs War breaks out, Verity must stay silent as the Puritan elders spread hateful rhetoric about the âsavagesâ in the forest. When she witnesses a young girl die in childbirth, Verity must stand by as neighbors blame Godâs vengeance. But when tragedy strikes her own home, Verity must choose between her duty to her family and her love for Kit. Will she choose to keep the peace, or will she defy the leaders of the colony for a chance at happiness? Set against the backdrop of King Philipâs War, the bloodiest war per capita in American history, Iron & Fire explores the experience of a clever, educated woman at a time when being so often resulted in death. Perfect for fans of Amy Belding Brownâs Flight of the Sparrow, or Elizabeth George Speareâs The Witch of Blackbird Pond, Iron & Fire was written for those who read the original American Girl series as children and are now all grown up. |
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The Crusade for Vengeance by Joe Ettle A shocking crime . . . a mysterious clue . . .how does it all connect? Intrepid artifact recovery expert Rex Fletcher is tasked with tracking down a brazen group of criminals after they steal the Crown Jewels of England. But the closer he gets to them, the deadlier they become. With his erstwhile partner, Ruby Clarkson, by his side, can they uncover this mysterious group before all is lost? Or will they be allowed to enact their deadly plan to bring world powers to their knees through fear? The Crusade for Vengeance follows the exploits of ARROW (Artifact Recovery and Repatriation Organization Worldwide) agent Rex Fletcher on another daring mission. |
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The Last Gifts of the Universe by Rory August SFFOasis SPSFC 2022 SPSFC Winner Indie Recs Indie A dying universe. When the Home worlds finally achieved the technology to venture out into the stars, they found a graveyard of dead civilizations, a sea of lifeless gray planets and their ruins. What befell them is unknown. All Home knows is that they are the last civilization left in the universe, and whatever came for the others will come for them next. A search for answers. Scout is an Archivist tasked with scouring the dead worlds of the cosmos for their last gifts: interesting technology, cultural ritualsâanything left behind that might be useful to the Home worlds and their survival. During an excavation on a lifeless planet, Scout unearths something unbelievable: a surviving message from an alien who witnessed the world-ending entity thousands of years ago. A past unraveled. Blyreena was once a friend, a soul mate, and a respected leader of her people, the Stelhari. At the end of her world, she was the last one left. She survived to give one last message, one final hope to the future: instructions on how to save the universe. An adventure at the end of a trillion lifetimes. With the fate of everything at stake, Scout must overcome the dangers of the Stelhariâs ruined civilization while following Blyreenaâs leads to collect its artifacts. If Scout canât deliver these groundbreaking discoveries back to the Archivists, Home might not only be the last civilization to exist, but the last to finally fall. |
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Of That Which Makes Glass by Ayo Tijani Of That Which Makes Glass is Ayo Tijani's debut collection of poetry. In this 38 poem collection you will find honesty, humour, anger, fragility and strength. Exploring themes of friendship, identity and healing the collection is nostalgic and evocative. Reflections on society are also prominent in this debut. Succinctly written and split into four sections this collection intricately describes the human condition. |
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Whispers of Stone by Allegra Pescatore A God is Dead. A Queen is Missing. Secrets are Unraveling. On trial for the murder of the King, Elenor and Gabriel must become allies if they want to survive. His magic is spiraling out of control, awakening a mystery hidden in the very walls of the palace. She has one month to pass her Water Rite and find a way out of the marriage her parents set up. But things are about to get much more complicated. Between sadistic family members intent on taking Elenorâs throne, Tirit Mindel breathing down Gabrielâs neck, and a Golden Dragon appearing in the sky above the Mondaer Desert with an ominous warning, more than the Kingdom of Lirin is at stake. If that werenât bad enough, time is ticking down for Fedrik and Fay as well. With the desert turning against them and Daemon as a questionable new ally, figuring out how to control Fedrikâs Gift has become a matter of life and death. Picking up in the fallout of Where Shadows Lie, In Silence Abiding is the long-awaited and non-stop second installment of The Last Gift. Dive back into the world of Dracona and hold onto your hats. Things are about to get⊠salty. |
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A Bond of Thread by Allegra Pescatore & J.P. Burnison Enter the Nine Lands of the Mountain Fell. Skye has only ever known pain and solitude since waking up with neither memories or magic. Hunted for being a Ruler in a time when they are scarce, she has survived in the wilds near the Rim, always on the run from the rest of her kind. Only starvation could draw her close to a village, but when a chance encounter and a bit of bad luck launch her into the arms of a man whose soul is bonded to hers, hiding who she is may no longer be possible. Ilyas is a hunted man. Wanted for killing the last High Queen of Vine, he is plagued by his past of wholesale slaughter. He never wanted another Queen, and certainly not a half-feral, distrustful girl who gave up on the Fae a long time ago. Unfortunately, Soulbonds are not so easily walked away from, no matter how hard they both may want to, especially when trapped together in a cave with a pack of Feral Fae right outside. With long-held enmities breaking out between the besieged villagers and all their lives on the line, Ilyas and Skye must learn to work together and trust each other if they want to survive. |
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Struggling with the Current by A.R.K Horton Princess Eyaâs life changes forever with the discovery of the Statue of the Goddess Winds, just as sheâs coming of age. The long over-looked kingdom of Hicares finds itself in a war it isnât prepared for against the far more powerful empire of Pescel. To survive, Eya must flee her home, losing everything and everyone she loves in the process. Yet, by leaving behind all sheâs ever known, she learns that her sheltered life didnât prepare her for the real worldâs strange and frightening nature. She encounters people, places, and creatures beyond anything she ever imagined, along with sinister enemies from every direction. Perhaps her most surprising revelation is that she is developing terrifying powers of her own. Will Eya be able to find happiness in her new life, or will she continue struggling with the current? |
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Where Blood Runs Gold by A.C. Cross Sheriff Errol Thorpeâs life is chaotic, brutal, and above all, solitary. After an unimaginable loss years ago, all he feels is the compulsion to seek vengeance. But when a vulnerable family arrives in town, facing an ugly future, he is pulled headfirst into a web of violence, secrets, and things he never imagined. In search of truth and answers, Thorpe finds himself battling deadly flesh-eating Dust, acidic golden blood, and the political designs of powerful people â all the while learning how to be a person again. When Dust rises in San Dios, people hide indoors. When Sheriff Thorpe arrives, people run. |
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In the aftermath of the Norman Invasion of 1066, William the Conqueror was uncompromising and brutal. English society was broken apart, its systems turned on their head. What is little known is that a fractured network of guerrilla fighters took up arms against the French occupiers. In The Wake, a postapocalyptic novel set a thousand years in the past, Paul Kingsnorth brings this dire scenario back to us through the eyes of the unforgettable Buccmaster, a proud landowner bearing witness to the end of his world. Accompanied by a band of like-minded men, Buccmaster is determined to seek revenge on the invaders. But as the men travel across the scorched English landscape, Buccmaster becomes increasingly unhinged by the immensity of his loss, and their path forward becomes increasingly unclear. Written in what the author describes as âa shadow tongueââa version of Old English updated so as to be understandable to the modern readerâThe Wake renders the inner life of an Anglo-Saxon man with an accuracy and immediacy rare in historical fiction. To enter Buccmasterâs world is to feel powerfully the sheer strangeness of the past. A tale of lost gods and haunted visions, The Wake is both a sensational, gripping story and a major literary achievement. |
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The Allfather Paradox by Ian Stuart Sharpe What if an ancient god escaped his fate and history was thrown to the wolves? Churchwarden Michaels thought it was just a run-of-the-mill crazy old man who stood in the graveyard, hellbent on studying the 1,000-year-old Viking memorial there. But when things start changing and outright disappearing, Michaels realizes there is more to this old man than meets the eye. Now, Michaels finds himself swept up in an ancient godâs quest to escape his destiny by reworking reality, putting historyâand to Michaelsâs dismay, Christianity itselfâto the Viking sword. In this new Vikingverse novel, storied heroes of mankind emerge in new and brutal guises drawn from the sagas: A young Norse prince plots to shatter empires and claim the heavens... A scholar exiled to the frontier braves the dangers of the New World, only to find those ânew worldsâ are greater than he imagined... A captured Jötunn plants the dreams of freedom during a worlds-spanning war... A bold empress discovers there is a price for immortality, one her ancestors have come to collect... With the timelines stretched to breaking point, itâs up to Churchwarden Michaels to save reality as we know it⊠|
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Forged by Iron by Eric Schumacher From the bestselling author of Hakonâs Saga comes Forged by Iron, the first in a series of thrilling tales about Olaf Tryggvason, one of the most legendary and enigmatic kings of the Viking Age. Norway, AD 960. The fabric that has held the Northern realm together is tearing. The sons of Erik Bloodaxe have returned and are systematically killing all opposition to the High Seat. Through treachery, Harald Eriksson slays Jarl Trygvi, an heir to the throne, and then comes for Trygviâs wife, Astrid, and son, Olaf. Astrid and Olaf flee their home with the help of Astridâs foster father, Torolv Loose-beard, and his son, Torgil, who are oath-sworn to protect them. The group escapes east, through the dark, forested land of the Swedes and across the treacherous East Sea, all the while evading the clutches of Haraldâs brutal henchmen. But the gods are fickle and the group is torn apart, forcing them to fend for themselves in Forged by Iron, a must-read for all who enjoy action-packed historical fiction. |
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The Everspring by Joshua Gillingham Torin Ten-Tree's debt of service as a trollhunter in Gatewatch has been paid. Now he must decide whether to return home to take up his father's seat in Ten-Tree Hall or to become a Greycloak of Gatewatch along with Grimsa and Wyla. Torin grapples with an unexpected revelation, the long-hidden identity of his mother, just as a delegation brings urgent news of King Araldof Greyraven's grave and sudden illness. Heirless, the Greyraven's death would plunge the land into chaos as the Jarls of Noros entered a struggle of succession. The last desperate hope to keep the realm from wreck and ruin is the legend of a powerful source of healing, the Everspring. Yet, greater questions and graver answers await Torin and his company on the road north through the land of the immortal giants. As long-forgotten secrets are unveiled, they learn not only the cause of the Greyraven's illness but the insidious origins of the evil that first spawned the trolls in the wild woods beyond Gatewatch. |
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Journeys: the Archers of Saint Sebastian by Jeanne Roland 15-year-old Marieke disguises herself as a boy to infiltrate the archersâ guild of Saint Sebastian, where she becomes the squire of the dashing young Journeyman Tristan. Soon sheâs vowing to help him win the guild competitions to become the princeâs new Guardsman, without ever letting him find out sheâs a girl who loves him. Robin Hood meets Mulan and Princess Bride in this immersive adventure set in 14th century Belgium and packed with romance, wit, and longbow archery. |
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SHE by Tiffany Christina Lewis For a rare moment in his life, newly promoted Det. Sergeant Michael Taylor is failing. The same day he began supervising an all-star group of four detectives, Taylor and his partner Det. Alex Jamison, get the case of an 18-year-old young man, shot dead in a fellow classmatesâ bed. The seemingly perfect victim has one problem: girls. The case is made more challenging by the fact that the high schoolers involved are living secret lives and trying to save their own skin at every turn. At the same time, Taylor is being emotionally destroyed by his love interest, Azlynn Matthews. In turn, he is aiming his vexation at the detectives on his team. Due to his domineering and forceful management style, the team is on the verge of breaking down. Taylor must now combat his personal failures in order to pull his team back together, prevent the woman he wants from leaving him, and catch a maddening killer. |
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Detective King Book I: Magic and Mystery by LionBolt Whatâs a detective to do when faced by criminals he doesnât believe exist? Ghosts, magical creatures, demons, and was that a talking mouse? The son of Dr. John Watson strives to overtake the legacy of Sherlock Holmes but finds himself cast into another world filled with the paranormal, mythical and impossible while sinister plots threaten the fabric of society. When a mysterious woman who looks just like his late mother makes off with an ancient demon, can the teenage detective unravel the web of supernatural mysteries and take his crown as the detective king? And seriouslyâIâm certain that mouse just spoke. Whether fighting a witch raising the dead, fighting a mythological, or simply solving your run-of-the-mill serial murderâcome along with Arthur and his Detective Knights in the first installment of their roaring twenties fantasy adventure. |
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Oxford Girls; Michaelmas ~ Alex by P.D. Kuch Alexandra's ordinary teenage life is about to change â dramatically. Unaware of her altered DNA, Alex and her family are of interest to unethical scientists. Her parents' plane crash is just the onset of disturbing discoveries. When it becomes apparent that it wasn't an accident, Alex needs to figure out who's behind it or share a grim fate of a lab rat. The first part of this exciting adventure thriller presents the world's different faces: from beautiful to ugly, from frightening to comforting. Besides the stormy drama, the book is about friendship, intimacy and growing up â a heartening story mixed with educational, funny and even steamy threads. Full of action and with a great dose of humor, the story races to a surprising and gripping twist. |
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The Thirteenth Hour by Trudie Skies SPFBO8 SPFBO Finalist SPSFC 2024 When the saints fail, the sinners step up. Cruel gods rule the steam-powered city of Chime, demanding worship and tribute from their mortal subjects. Kayl lost her faith in them long ago, and now seeks to protect vulnerable and downtrodden mortals from their godsâ whims. But when Kayl discovers powers that she didnât know she hadâand destroys a mortalâs soul by accidentâshe becomes Chimeâs most wanted. Quenâs job was to pursue sinners, until the visions started. Haunted by foreboding images of his beloved cityâs destruction, Quen hunts soul-sucking creatures made of aether who prey on its citizensâand Kayl is his number one target. To ensure Chimeâs future, Kayl and Quen must discover the truth of Kaylâs divine abilities before the gods take matters into their own hands. For a city that bows to cruel gods, itâll take godless heathens to save it. The Thirteenth Hour is the first book in The Cruel Gods seriesâa gaslamp fantasy featuring magical portals, gothic cosmic deities, quaint Britishisms, and steampunk vibes. This is an adult book containing strong language and mature themes that some readers may find disturbing. For a full list of content warnings, visit Trudie Skies's website. |
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Bang to Begin by Jethro Weyman Reality is Relative. There is no such thing as universal truth. But lies are always lies. From auctions to assassinations, from cosmos to subconscious mind, the roots feeding into these short stories start fine, but thicken and tangle as they grow deeper. Follow these wayward souls through their darkest moments, each beginning with a bang and each trying desperately to avoid ending with the same. A metaphysical, visionary exploration of the human psyche and all that it means to be real - discussed via an anthology with a difference. |
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Haunted pasts. Terrifying apparitions. Dark secrets. Quentin Strange is ⊠well, strange. But it isnât just his anachronistic sayings and dress sense, the fact that heâs a socially awkward, book-loving loner whoâs possibly still a virgin at nearly thirty. Heâs seeing and hearing things. Odd things. Ghostly things. Getting the gig as photographer for The Cricklewood Gazette, he travels with his new partner, journalist Katrina (make sure you call her Kat) Brannigan, to Hilderley Manor, an enormous manor house nestled in the remote countryside of Northern England that is believed to be one of Britainâs most haunted buildings. The pair join a ghost hunting team and a group of fellow guests for a long weekend of ghostly activities. But something dark haunts the draughty corridors of the house. And it links to a decades-old mystery that is about to be uncovered. A mystery like no other. A story of the supernatural. Of death, and what it does to the living. The first book in a new series, Chasing Ghosts is a quirky British mystery that explores the supernatural elements of our world with touches of LGBT romance, humour and horror. |
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A myth as old as civilization. The boy who donned wax wings and flew too close to the sun. Follow the tale of Icarus. And that of the father who tried to save him ... but brought his life to an end. You will come to love him. Then you will watch him fall. Live the tragic story as you never imagined possible. |