stories in and

The Fall Is All There Is

The Fall Is All There Is by C.M. Caplan

SPFBO9 SPSFC 2023 SPFBO Finalist

All Petre Mercy wanted was a good old-fashioned dramatic exit from his life as a prince. But it’s been five years since he fled home on a cyborg horse. Now the King—his Dad—is dead—and Petre has to decide which heir to pledge his thyroid-powered sword to. As the youngest in a set of quadruplets, he’s all too aware that the line of succession is murky. His siblings are on the precipice of power grabs, and each of them want him to pick their side. If Petre has any hope of preventing civil war, he'll have to avoid one sibling who wants to take him hostage, win back another’s trust after years of rivalry and resentment, and get an audience with a sister he's been avoiding for five years. Before he knows it, he's plunged himself into a web of intrigue and a world of strange, unnatural inventions just to get to her doorstep. Family reunions can be a special form of torture.


The Werewolf of Whitechapel

The Werewolf of Whitechapel by Suzannah Rowntree

SPFBO9

Murder, monsters
and a disreputable Victorian lady’s maid. A killer stalks the grimy streets of Whitechapel—but Scotland Yard seems determined to turn a blind eye. With one look at her best friend's corpse, Liz Sharp already knows the truth: the killer is a werewolf. No one important will hold a werewolf accountable—after all, the monsters rule Europe. Certainly, no one will believe a werewolf victim like Liz: the very scars that make her determined to investigate Sal’s death also condemn her as the sort of female who’d sell her blood for easy money. As it happens, Liz’s best hope for justice might well lie with her emotionally repressed employer, Princess May. Though the princess has connections with werewolf royalty, there’s no one else Liz can turn to. Certainly, she can’t risk trusting the irritatingly personable Inspector Short, who dogs her steps from the slums of Whitechapel to the palaces of St James. But as corpses mount up, Liz discovers that no one is precisely who she thought: not Sal, not herself, and certainly not the werewolf. Luckily, she has a few tricks hidden in the pockets of her trusty bloomers
 The first novel of Miss Sharp’s Monsters is a witty historical fantasy adventure, perfect for fans of The Parasol Protectorate or Pride and Prejudice and Zombies! Pick up The Werewolf of Whitechapel and join Miss Sharp on the uncanny streets of Victorian London



The Lady Jewel Diviner

The Lady Jewel Diviner by Rosalie Oaks

SPFBO9

Diamonds, Death, and Devonshire tea
 in a magical Regency England Miss Elinor Avely's proper upbringing cannot prepare her for the tiny, spinster vampire who crashes into her sitting room and demands to be fed with a sheep. Elinor already has enough troubles without having to catch ruminants. First, her secret gift for divining jewels has landed her in scandal, exiling her from London society. Second, a nobleman of dubious repute wants her to find a cache of smuggled jewels, hidden somewhere along the Devon coastline. Last – and worst – she is invited to cream tea at the local manor. And while the autocratic and magnificent Earl of Beresford might be there (and perhaps the jewels themselves too), Beresford is the last person Elinor wants to meet over cream tea. When a dead body is discovered along the cliffs, of course, such delicate considerations become secondary. Fortunately, Elinor now has a small vampiric chaperone – even if said spinster has a habit of appearing stark naked – and together they are ready to risk the hard questions. Where are the jewels hidden? Who killed the smuggler? And just when is the cream tea being served? The Lady Jewel Diviner is the first book in the Lady Diviner series, set in Regency England with generous servings of magic, manners, and romance.


Warlock of Muscovy

Warlock of Muscovy by Brien Feathers

SPFBO9

When words fail, bring out the guns, swords, and death spells. Marina is the daughter of Tsar Alexander the Cruel, the most powerful warlock. She's also a princess of the Court of White Rose. The only problem is that she's mundane—she has no magic. On her sixteenth birthday Marina fled from her father's tsardom to the revolutionist side of Muscovy, and five years later she's doing all right, working as a seamstress in the United Workers' Factory. Despite the political police, the never-ending witch hunt, and her best friend living as an orange cat, she's happy. She gets along with her cottage mates and is even seeing a guy... until the city blows up, she's implied in the sabotage, her guy turns out to be an enemy, her friends are murdered, and an alchemist maniac hunts her down for a blood vendetta. With the Red Army and the Alchemist Federation on her heels, Marina runs back to the Court of White Rose, but when death follows her home she must uncover a prophecy, reconcile with the warlock, and stop an oncoming war. It's a tall order for a seamstress. The first book in the Sun War Trilogy, this intensely dark tale of magic and mayhem is full of grey characters that blur the line between good and evil. Content warning for strong language, graphic violence, and intimate situations.


The Heron Kings Rampant

The Heron Kings Rampant by Eric Lewis

SPFBO9

The Vril has changed everything. The kingdom of Greater Argovan stands on the verge of an industrial age ushered in by the mysterious energetic substance. But revolutionary technology brings revolutionary ideas. When Master Alchemist Castamar's apprentice is wounded by a terrorist bomb, he demands answers. Cast's search leads him to the Heron Kings, folk heroes of old thought lost to history and legend. But some legends die hard. Ellyx, the band's thief and forger, joins Cast to hunt the terrorists down and plumb the depths of his past for clues. When they learn that fanatics led by a shadowy Duchess have devised a terrifying variant of Vril that can decimate cities, Cast and the last of the Heron Kings must race to prevent mass destruction.


Salt in the Wound

Salt in the Wound by Benjamin Aeveryn

SPFBO9

Our world is lost to time. Only our myths remain. Once rain was a symbol of hope and harvest. Now it brings only death. Humanity survives in sheltered cities and canvas-covered towns. Travel between these patches of safety is rare and dangerous. It’s what Galahad lives for. But while seeking a lost cache of salt—a fortune he plans to use to build a shelter over his hometown—Galahad is betrayed by the friends he holds dearest. They leave him for dead. Unfortunately for them, he lives. Torn between seeking justice or revenge, Galahad knows one thing for certain: that treasure is his, and he’ll do anything to reclaim it.


The Heart of Jesparia

The Heart of Jesparia by Alex Hanson

SPFBO9

Eight years ago, Amii ended a civil war in her country when she became sovereign with the help of a guild of warriors called The Men of the Mark. Now, as a plague sweeps through their capital city leaving enough unrest to give Amii’s uncle an opportunity to challenge her rule, Amii finds herself at odds with the guild in her greatest hour of need. This time, she must trust her own strengths if she’s to cure her people and defeat the usurper, but there’s one Man of the Mark she can’t help but lean on, the one who’s been at her side from the beginning and stolen her heart along the way: her Master Shield and personal guard, Aro. Aro was appointed as Amii’s protector by his guild’s leader when she became sovereign, but falling for her was never part of the job. Just when he decides to finally act on the feelings he’s found for her in their years together, illness strikes and leaves Aro disabled. He’s not sure he can protect Amii anymore, and a bitterness grows in his heart that threatens to end their relationship before it begins. As Amii’s partnership with the guild becomes strained and her uncle makes his move to overthrow her, Aro must find the strength to fight with her or walk away and let someone else stand beside his sovereign and the woman he loves. **Each book in this series is a standalone romance, but conflicts, side characters, and plot elements often carry over into future books. Though these books can be read individually, you'll get the best experience if you read them in order.**


Fierce Heart (Elven Alliance Book 1)

Fierce Heart (Elven Alliance Book 1) by Tara Grayce

Essie would do anything for her kingdom
even marry an elf prince she just met that morning. When a diplomatic meeting goes horribly wrong, Essie, a human princess, finds herself married to the elf prince and warrior Laesornysh. Fitting in to the serene, quiet elf culture might be a little difficult for this talkative princess, but she’s determined to make it work. With impending war and tenuous alliances, it will be up to Essie to unite her two peoples. And maybe get her hands on elven conditioner while she’s at it.


Elf Prince (Elven Alliance Book 7)

Elf Prince (Elven Alliance Book 7) by Tara Grayce

Farrendel would do anything to keep from killing again...even marry a human princess. Farrendel Laesornysh, the younger elf prince of Tarenhiel, has become the elves' foremost warrior, thanks to his deadly magic. He is no stranger to death. But when the humans propose a marriage alliance during a diplomatic meeting, he is desperate enough to avoid more killing to agree. Even if an elf should never trust a human bargain. The human princess is probably a spy. Or an assassin sent to kill him on his wedding night. Yet if he can make this marriage work, as his grandmother seems to think, it might be the first breath of hope Farrendel has had in over a decade. Elf Prince gives Farrendel's perspective on the events of Fierce Heart (Book 1).


Shield Band (Elven Alliance Book 6)

Shield Band (Elven Alliance Book 6) by Tara Grayce

Julien always thought he knew his duty...until an arranged marriage upends his future. Prince Julien of Escarland was the kingdom's spare. His duty is to quietly stand in the background at his brother's side, protecting him and his heirs. When it becomes clear that one more marriage is needed to secure the three-way alliance between the kingdoms of Kostaria, Tarenhiel, and Escarland, Julien agrees to an arranged marriage with a troll. He doesn't know their language and he might not be strong enough to fit into their battle-focused culture, but other than that, how bad could it be? As King Rharreth's shield sister, Vriska is duty-bound to protect him and his queen. But she never expected her duty to include a marriage with a human. An empire-hungry kingdom is lurking, seeking any weakness in the alliance. Will this final bond keep the alliance from crumbling? Can Julien and Vriska find love in a union based on duty? Return to the snowy mountains of Kostaria in this installment of the bestselling Elven Alliance series, a no-spice, humorous fantasy romance / romantic fantasy featuring elves and arranged marriages!


Pretense (Elven Alliance Book 5)

Pretense (Elven Alliance Book 5) by Tara Grayce

Essie and Farrendel are living their happily ever after
until Farrendel’s greatest secret leaks to the Escarlish press. With his reputation set to be forever ruined, they race to do damage control. Yet, an even greater danger lurks behind the leak, threatening more than just Farrendel’s reputation. To save his brother-in-law and rescue the alliance, Prince Edmund of Escarland proposes a fake courtship to Jalissa, the elf princess who has broken his heart not once, but twice, even if she doesn’t know it. Edmund and Jalissa struggle to unravel the conspiracy, save Farrendel, and attempt to keep their fake romance from becoming all too real. It might be more than this spy prince and elf princess can handle. From the pen of best selling author Tara Grayce comes the next installment in the Elven Alliance series, a no-spice, humorous fantasy romance / romantic fantasy series featuring elves and happily ever afters.


Troll Queen (Elven Alliance Book 4)

Troll Queen (Elven Alliance Book 4) by Tara Grayce

Essie has her elf back...but his mind is still stuck in that dungeon. The war is over. A peace treaty has been signed. But Farrendel and Essie still have a battle ahead of them. Will Farrendel be able to build a new life with Essie now that he no longer has a war to fight? Melantha has ruined her life and the lives of all those around her. Now that she finds herself far from home and married to a troll who was once her enemy and captor, can she figure out what love and honor truly mean before it is too late for all of them? Not everyone in Kostaria is happy with peace or with their new elven queen. If Rharreth and Melantha cannot find a way to bring peace to their troubled kingdom, war threatens not only their happily ever after, but Essie and Farrendel's as well. The epic adventure and slowburn romances of the Elven Alliance series continue in this clean, romantic fantasy perfect for fans of K.M. Shea and Kenley Davidson.


Death Wind (Elven Alliance Book 3)

Death Wind (Elven Alliance Book 3) by Tara Grayce

Essie should be planning her happily ever after, not planning a war. Although they once were enemies, the humans of Escarland and the elves of Tarenhiel have allied to fight the trolls from the far north. But alliances are tricky things even in the best of times, and with Farrendel, the elves’ foremost warrior and Essie’s husband, captured by the trolls, the circumstances appear dire indeed. But Essie won’t give up, and she will make her two peoples work together to fight this war if it’s the last thing she does. One way or another, she will get Farrendel back, no matter what it takes. The Elven Alliance series continues in this epic, no spice fantasy romance / romantic fantasy adventure featuring elves and happy endings.


War Bound (Elven Alliance Book 2)

War Bound (Elven Alliance Book 2) by Tara Grayce

Marriage to an elf is complicated
especially bringing him home to meet the family. Princess Elspeth of Escarland married the elf prince and achieved peace between the elves and her human people. But after a recent ambush by the trolls, it is clear the trolls are trying to start a war between the elves and humans once again. To keep their peoples at peace, Essie and Farrendel travel to meet Essie’s family and negotiate peace. Yet in Escarland, not everyone is happy with peace. Traitors lurk in both Escarland and Tarenhiel, and it will be up to Essie and Farrendel to flush them out. The consequences of failure might be more personal and deadly than they fear.


King of Tricksters: Fae Fantasy Romance (Fae Tricksters Book 2)

King of Tricksters: Fae Fantasy Romance (Fae Tricksters Book 2) by S. L. Prater

Rain clings to life by her fingertips. She’s lost too much blood. The assassin circles her, waiting for her to succumb, but Rain made a vow to her mate, the Duke of Night. She promised him the head of his enemies, and she longs to seat him on the empty throne. Night only offered her a marriage of convenience. Now she’s determined to win his heart and keep hers beating. Succumbing just isn't in the cards. The looming war between Seelie and Unseelie threatens to overwhelm all that she holds dear, but Rain has a will unmatched by death. When knocked down, she always gets back up again. She'll search through the mysteries of her past to recruit every available ally. She'll face each adversary who threatens her new unconventional family with her dagger in hand and her demon familiar at her side. The duke doesn’t believe in love, but Rain just might trust in it enough for the both of them 



Court of Tricksters: Fae Fantasy Romance (Fae Tricksters Book 1)

Court of Tricksters: Fae Fantasy Romance (Fae Tricksters Book 1) by S. L. Prater

The fae Duke of Night doesn't believe in love—but he'll claim his mate nonetheless. Mating is a matter of politics for Night, not the heart. To prevent a forced union that will plunge the Lunar Court into war, he must find and bond his true mate. When he lays eyes on Rain, he knows the shy forest witch is the bond mate he's been searching for. Unprepared for the intensity of his attraction, Night makes an offer that would keep his priorities straight and his court safe: a marriage of convenience. Any eligible woman—mortal and immortal alike—would leap at the chance to become the powerful duke's bride. But Rain isn't interested. She’s lived outside of society too long to ever fit into Night's world of shapeshifting tricksters and back-stabbing politicians. And Rain demands more than the trappings of marriage. She wants a match with heart. Night doesn't have the luxury of time to change his mate's mind. War looms closer and the Lunar Court is caught in the middle. Out of options, the fae duke sees only one choice. Kidnap his bride.


Street Witch: The Complete Trilogy: Steamy Fantasy Romance

Street Witch: The Complete Trilogy: Steamy Fantasy Romance by S. L. Prater

A bold witch. A reluctant ruler. A forbidden love that will challenge an empire. Marnie is a gifted witch—but magic has a mind of its own. Left unrestrained, it will always misbehave. When a demonic curse threatens Lord Bran, a man she’s loved since childhood, Marnie uses her abilities to save him. After years of suppressing their feelings—knowing the relationship is prohibited by the Church of the Cloth—the two succumb to their passion. Her growing power triggers a dangerous political war—and their relationship is doomed before it begins. Now the couple must decide whether to keep their love a secret or face imminent persecution . . . knowing they may not survive.


Whispers in the Waters

Whispers in the Waters by Sarah Chislon

Ladies don’t shame their families. Ladies don’t confront Otherwordly threats. Ladies certainly don’t admit some taint of the fae has touched their souls—unless they wish to find themselves confined to an Institution. Gently-bred herbalist Jessa Caldwell is trying to be a lady. She conceals her true nature amongst her plants and her sketches—where she can almost shut out the whispers she alone hears. But a threat to her beloved aunt forces her from the comfort of home to a town perilously near an Otherworldly Crossing, with its ever-present risk of fae incursions. To protect her aunt and the townsfolk she comes to care for, she must uncover the individual responsible for a series of increasingly dangerous attacks—but to find this saboteur will require embracing the part of herself she fears most, an act that could cost her dearly. In a world where Vigilists lock up fae-touched mortals, Jessa must decide if she’s willing to risk exposing her true nature to obtain the truth and protect those she loves. Whispers in the Waters, a gaslamp fantasy novella, serves as the prequel to Tattoo of Crimson, the first book in the Blood of the Fae series. If you like quick-minded heroines who solve cases with logic and intuition, beautiful yet deadly fae, and Otherworldly intrigues, then you’ll love this mystery set in a world of manners and mythical monsters.


Tattoo of Crimson

Tattoo of Crimson by Sarah Chislon

Society, suitors, and
serial murders? As much as she desires to please her family, gently-bred herbalist Jessa Caldwell has no intention of making a suitable match—not when she’s seeking the truth about the taint of the fae that lies within her. If she’s to escape the madness brought on by fae-touch, she must devote her energies to seeking a cure. But then mysterious tattoos begin to appear on the citizens of Avons. None recall receiving these harbingers of death, but all die at the hand of an untraceable killer days or weeks after being marked. When the tattoo appears on her beloved mentor, Jessa seeks the Magistry with information on the case—yet they refuse to consider her findings, so she must risk both social censure and her own safety to hunt for the killer herself. Her one possible ally represents her greatest fear—the encroaching Otherworld consuming her mind—and may well undo all her efforts to control her fae-touch. Yet if she forsakes the offered aid, the killer will go free. Something sinister stalks the streets of her city, and she must decide
how far will she go to stop the killing? Tattoo of Crimson, a gaslamp fantasy novel, is the first book in the Blood of the Fae series. If you like quick-minded heroines who solve cases with logic and intuition, beautiful yet deadly fae, and Otherworldly intrigues, then you’ll love this mystery set in a world of manners and mythical monsters.


The Baron's Ghost

The Baron's Ghost by Kyro Dean

Christina Rushing, a baroness and spy, is no stranger to the dark—her late husband can attest to that. But when she takes an espionage job for a shipping mogul and ends up double-crossing the nation of Oceana, she finds herself gun-deep in trouble that could destroy her plans to escape the suffocating life of a gentry. What’s worse, the late Baron’s name has appeared on an active shipping schedule, though he should be six feet under. Determined to make sure the despicable man is dead and find a secret worth selling, Christie heads to Ravensworth followed by deadly shadows. There, she learns her first love, Charlie Blackwell is tied up in her dirty work, too. As ballgowns and whispers devolve into bullets and secrets, the lady-turned-spy becomes a spy-turned-pirate. In a fast-paced political intrigue plot that aims for her heart, Christie must navigate backstabbing colleagues, snotty gentry, hidden caves, blazing guns, poison quills, the occasional assassin, and a dashing man’s knack for rekindling her heart. But the real trick isn’t necessarily how to stay alive—it’s how to keep her blasted gloves clean in the process.


Stormborn: A Steamborn Novel

Stormborn: A Steamborn Novel by Eric Asher

A throne claimed. A city reborn. A family broken. Thanks to the help of Jacob’s Titan Mechs, much of Belldorn survived the battle that ravaged its shores. But the war is far from over. Demands to chase Ballern’s surviving forces across the sea meet more resistance than Jacob could have imagined when Lady Katherine ignores her allies’ protests and shifts her focus to reinforcing the city. Alice knows they’ll need to grow their numbers if they’re going to stand a chance against Mordair on the other side of the Crystal Sea. Their hopes rest on Furi bringing the Skyborn into the fold. But Samuel has another plan that will take them back to where it all began 
 behind the towering walls of Ancora. Whether they await Mordair’s return or bring the fight to him, their survival once more depends on Jacob’s allies. As hope begins to fade 
 so come the Stormborn.


The Doctrines of Fire

The Doctrines of Fire by CL Jarvis

SPFBO9

Edinburgh, 1779. An academic rivalry turns deadly. George Stephens is a lousy medical student. Lacking the social and financial resources to succeed in Edinburgh’s elite medical school, his dream of becoming a physician appears over before it began. Then George comes to the attention of two famous professors, William Cullen and Joseph Black. Medical students are dying mysteriously - the professors suspect a disgraced former student is to blame - and they need George’s help uncovering the truth. Believing the partnership will bolster his academic standing, George agrees. Their investigation pulls them into the murkiest, most dangerous corners of Enlightenment Edinburgh. The professors are secret wielders of fire magic, but their foes are courting even darker forces. With violence threatening to erupt, and George struggling to navigate this confusing city, getting justice for the dead will be harder than he imagined. Ninth House meets A Declaration of the Rights of Magicians in this thrilling fantasy debut from CL Jarvis.


Speakeasy Times

Speakeasy Times by M. W. McLeod

Vinny's living it up on easy street. His crew's latest job hitting the police station for their confiscated booze will keep his speakeasy running for a few weeks, and, with that success, he's cemented himself firmly in the hierarchy of the family. When he received an invitation to dinner between the lords and the Queen of faeries, he knows that the crown will be his, only to have his world suddenly turned on its head with news of the line of succession. Now, Vinny finds himself torn in two directions. Do what is right by the monarch or back the uncle he owes a favor. If he chooses wrong, everything he's built will crumble at his feet, and buying out comes with an impossible task. He must figure out how to dodge the FBI, break into the most secure bank vault he's ever seen, and avoid a mythical creature even the faeries don't believe exists anymore.


The Children of Chaos (The Cruel Gods #2)

The Children of Chaos (The Cruel Gods #2) by Trudie Skies

WHEN THE SAINTS CALL, THE SINNERS ANSWER. Chaos stalks the steam-powered city of Chime and threatens the existence of the gods and their domains. Kayl swore to protect Chime's mortals from their gods' cruel whims, but when she agrees to represent the mortals of a god long thought dead, Kayl is thrust into a political role that goes against everything she's ever stood for. As the newly appointed ambassador to the god of time, Quen's goal is clear - protect Chime and the domains by any means necessary. But as the gods make their demands, Quen is caught between his loyalties and his conscience. To ensure a future for all mortals, Kayl and Quen must unite the gods against the threat of chaos and decide what they're willing to sacrifice for Chime - before the gods choose for them. For the gods are capricious and have their own divine plans. The Children of Chaos is the second book in The Cruel Gods series—a 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.


Tethers: the Tethers trilogy

Tethers: the Tethers trilogy by Jack Croxall

‘You can’t save someone from their own decisions.’ In the wake of a cold Victorian winter, Karl Scheffer and Esther Emerson discover an anonymous journal filled with strange passages and bizarre scribblings. The journal soon draws them into a covert and sinister conspiracy, a conspiracy centred around an otherworldly artefact with the power to change everything 
 Karl and Esther have spent almost every day of their thirteen years in the quiet market town of Shraye. Stifled by their rural surroundings and frustrated by their unfulfilled ambitions, they find the allure of the journal’s mysterious pages impossible to ignore. The book seems to be beckoning them away from Shraye, away from their homes and towards the coast where an unsolved disappearance has set a dark chain of events in motion. The voyage Karl and Esther soon find themselves undertaking is one of desperate importance and true peril. It will change the way they see the world, and each other, forever.


Spit and Song (Ustlian Tales)

Spit and Song (Ustlian Tales) by Travis M. Riddle

Kali is a merchant who yearns to leave the harsh deserts of Herrilock and travel across the sea, trading goods and soaking in the sights and cultures. With a new potion on the market undercutting her profits, though, her seabound dreams are put on hold indefinitely. Failed musician Puk hits rock bottom after yet another catastrophic performance. Wandering the city streets in search of any sip of booze or whiff of fire-spit he can get his hands on, he resigns to the fact that he’s stuck in the desert with no way back home to Atlua. Until one day, their paths cross with an illicit job opportunity. With its hefty payday, Kali and Puk could afford to finally escape the desert heat and set sail across the gulf. The black market job would see them travel endless dunes on a road made from a massive dead beast’s ribs and out to a mythical city in the sea, scuffling with monsters and thugs in search of a long-lost book that might be the most dangerous object in the world. How hard could it really be?


IronBlood: Magic and Iron don’t mix.

IronBlood: Magic and Iron don’t mix. by C.H Knyght

Magic and iron don’t mix. The balance is tentative, but in an era of peace comes progress. Progress, success, is what Hezekiel strives for. Human through and through, his magic is that of heated steel, the solid strike of his hammer, the rumble of a new engine. Hezekiel aims to claim first prize at the expo with his revolutionary machine, the Crawler, and build a forge and a name for himself; a name worthy of renown, and courting Ms. Baba. But, an insidious darkness creeps through the night, leaving death in its wake. When his neighbor dies, Hezekiel gets snared in the mystery as he tries desperately to protect his family, even from themselves, and find the source of the strange deaths before the city is crippled.


Shadow of the Swan (Hidden Empire)

Shadow of the Swan (Hidden Empire) by Nicole M Cameron

Few know that beneath the British Empire lies a world of supernatural creatures, dangerous magic, and passionate romance. Enter if you dare
 In the golden years of the Victorian era, historian Louisa Wallingford is shocked to learn that an ancestor’s pact has promised her hand in marriage to a sadistic Fae king. Her only chance of escape from an eternity of torment is another marriage—to a vampire. Louisa’s impromptu wedding sweeps her into a hidden world of dangerous magic users and seductive supernatural beings. And her new husband, vampire knight Henry Carstairs, is one of the most deadly creatures in this new domain. But what begins as a marriage of convenience unexpectedly turns into a passionate love affair between the innocent historian and the sensual vampire—until a conflict between the British Empire and the Land of Faerie threatens to tear them apart. Now Louisa and Henry must find a way to outwit their enemies in both realms 
 or be separated forever.


The Magnificent Death of Mira Meadows

The Magnificent Death of Mira Meadows by Nadia Jovie

What if you died and slipped into another world? Mira Meadows never thought she’d end up dead at thirty-three, but
here she is. Trouble is, here isn’t at all what she expected. She didn’t go to heaven or hell – she went somewhere else entirely. Turns out, Mira is a Traveler, a lost soul, who tripped into the mysterious world of Pontos. And if she can just follow the rules – which include parading her Earthly memories in front of a panel of judges and resisting the temptation to mess with magic – she might have a chance at getting back to her real life. Too bad Mira has never been good at following rules. After running into some old enemies (and some long-lost friends) from her time on Earth, she quickly finds herself in trouble – pursued by a murderous (yet strangely charming) gangster, at odds with an oppressive government, and dangerously close to a secret that could result in her exile to an island full of dragons. Who knew dying could be so exhausting? A delightful, magical page-turner from start to finish, The Magnificent Death of Mira Meadows is a remarkable story about the love that follows us – even after death. Get your copy today and get ready for a new kind of afterlife.


Oblivion Abduction

Oblivion Abduction by Grant Hamlin

Khelbar and his father, Landis, believe Adrennis to be a simple forest town. That simplicity is uprooted when a mysterious fire breaks out at the inn, and Landis' brother goes missing. Desperate and angry, Landis sets out to track down his brother, and Khelbar follows for a journey to the unknown he has hoped to undertake for years. With the help of a worn yet knowledgeable hermit, who claims to have answers to their many questions, Landis finds that his past is not exactly what he remembers, and a terrifying new war is brewing between Adrennis and its rival nation, Baladar.


Turquoise Traveller

Turquoise Traveller by David John Griffin

Stave Swirler is lost in someone else’s nightmarish dream that is overlaying reality. His given mission is to save his Realm before it’s too late. A fantastical journey of strange discovery, in conflict with the malevolent agents of Tremelon Zandar. Stave must summon the powers of his mind to overcome their evil influences. A seductive, surreal and imaginative tale of fantasy and love that will captivate you from beginning to end. "another solid story from a gifted writer" "a psychological adventure into the dreaming mind"


On Dark Horizons (The Infinity Machine Book 2)

On Dark Horizons (The Infinity Machine Book 2) by Anthony Laken

After the events of the previous weeks, which led to the decimation of an entire city, Lady Bellina Ressa must return to the man she once called father, with more questions than answers. The most powerful cognopath of the Estrian Empire is now trapped in a game of political strategies and power struggles, unsure of who to trust. They made her do it. They removed her restraint. They turned her into Death. And now Death is coming for them.


One Cog Turning (1) (Infinity Machine)

One Cog Turning (1) (Infinity Machine) by Anthony Laken

Nominated for the BSFA Awards 2017 and the Gemmell 'Morningstar' Awards 2017! Bellina Ressa, daughter of the Lord Chancellor, has lived a sheltered life. Shunned by the rest of the nobility due to her Cognopathic abilities, she has become strong willed and independent. But in the blink of an eye, she finds herself betrothed to the arrogant Elvgren Lovitz and on a diplomatic mission to save the Estrian empire. Joined on this perilous quest by her fiancé and the resolute Major Cirona Bouchard, Bellina is about to discover that intrigue lurks just beneath the surface and danger lies in wait around every corner. One Cog Turning is a rip-roaring new Steampunk adventure, featuring a cast of foul-mouthed, irreverent and memorable oddballs.


Clockwork Heart (Clockwork Heart trilogy Book 1)

Clockwork Heart (Clockwork Heart trilogy Book 1) by Dru Pagliassotti

Flight is freedom, but death hangs in the skies... Taya soars over Ondinium on metal wings. She is an icarus, a courier privileged to travel freely across the city’s sectors and mingle indiscriminately amongst its castes. But even she cannot outfly the web of terrorism, loyalty, murder, and intrigue that snares her after a daring mid-air rescue. Taya finds herself entangled with the Forlore brothers, scions of an upperclass family: handsome, brilliant Alister, who sits on Ondinium’s governing council and writes programs for the Great Engine; and awkward, sharptongued Cristof, who has exiled himself from his caste and repairs clocks in the lowest sector of the city. Both hide dangerous secrets, in the city that beats to the ticking of a clockwork heart. Books in the Trilogy: - Clockwork Heart - Clockwork Lies: Iron Wind - Clockwork Secrets: Heavy Fire About Dru Pagliassotti Dru Pagliassotti is a professor of communication at California Lutheran University, where she teaches media theory and practice. She published and edited The Harrow, an online literary magazine for fantasy and horror, from 1998-2009, and she currently runs The Harrow Press, which publishes horror anthologies.


The Bandalore - Pitch & Sickle Book One

The Bandalore - Pitch & Sickle Book One by D K Girl

His second chance at life could well be the death of him. Silas Mercer has been hauled from his grave with no memory of who he was, or who he is supposed to be now. Bewildered and very much lost, he finds himself in London, in the service of the mysterious Order of the Golden Dawn. An organisation specialising in all things supernatural. But so far it seems they have no greater plan for him than to amuse London society with his terrible dancing skills and the occasional badly organised sĂ©ance. Silas’s new life takes a startling turn when the Order partners him with the scandalous rake, Tobias Astaroth. A quick-tempered, dangerously beautiful man who harbours some hellish secrets. Their unlikely, and downright infuriating, partnership will soon face its first frightening challenge. A creature straight out of a nightmare is haunting the woods of Leicester, and the Order want Silas to stop it, with Tobias at his side. But nothing in this world is as it seems. Not the Order. Not Silas himself, and certainly not his vile, yet undeniably beguiling companion. Surviving this new world will be fraught with peril. Surviving the devilish wiles of Tobias Astaroth may be a battle already lost.


Tea and Sympathetic Magic (Teacup Magic)

Tea and Sympathetic Magic (Teacup Magic) by Tansy Rayner Robert

There's nothing more dangerous than an eligible duke... Every unmarried young lady of the Teacup Isles wants to marry the Duke of Storm, except Miss Mnemosyne Seabourne, who is quite content on the shelf, thank you very much. All she wants is a quiet life and a good book. At a house party full of ruthless debutantes willing to employ sneaky sympathetic magic to win a husband of quality, Mneme joins forces with an enigmatic spellcracker to rescue the duke from being married against his will, and to find out who is responsible for his abduction. Can Mneme save the Duke of Storm without becoming his bride? Will this caper ruin her reputation forever? Can teacups and hedgehogs be used as projectile weapons in emergencies? Why are attractive men more devastating when they roll up their sleeves? If you enjoy Regency house parties, witty romantic banter and high society sorcery, you'll adore this magical comedy of manners cozy mystery novella.


A Queen's Game (Aithyr Uprising Book 1)

A Queen's Game (Aithyr Uprising Book 1) by Eri Leigh

A commoner turned noble. A Queen cast aside. A lady half forgotten. A court filled with lies. Marietta: A half-elven commoner, kidnapped and forced into marriage with an elven lord. Valeriya: A Queen without power, undermining the husband she loathes for the legacy she craves. Elyse: A lady with untold potential, determined to remain unseen. In Enomenos, everyone is equal. In Syllogi, the elves rule over all. When war breaks out between them, Marietta finds herself at the center of the conflict in the elven city-state of Satiros. She must make a choice: fight for her freedom or fight for her people. When Queen Valeriya first learns of Marietta, she digs into her past. What she finds is a weapon to wield against the court—and a chance to dethrone the King. Elyse is thrust from the shadows and into the light when the King learns of her innate ability to control magic. Her life grows more complicated when a flirtatious foreign lord fights for her love. All three soon discover their choices shape the future of Satiros. Who can they trust, and which lies will be the most devastating of all? If you love books with royalty and aristocracy, elves and humans, and strong female leads, then you will love this adult fantasy romance book. A Queen’s Game blends royalty, fantasy, romance, and political intrigue for an unforgettable story that will leave you guessing until the end.


Cogs, Crowns, and Carriages: A Steampunk Anthology (Second Edition)

Cogs, Crowns, and Carriages: A Steampunk Anthology (Second Edition) by Phoebe Darqueling

Twelve international authors have come together to bring you a fresh collection of Steampunk and Gaslamp Fantasy inspired tales. Our stories range from light and comedic to dark and full of drama, so fans of the genre both old and new are bound to find something they love within these pages. Featuring: Secrets and Airships - An airship pirate's daughter schemes to escape the reach of her father and discover a long lost treasure. By A. F. Stewart Regicide and Prejudice - An unexpected inventor has the chance to prove his mettle when he is asked to protect Prince George from assassins. By Paul Michael Gho-Power - A steam carriage designer harnesses an unusual new energy source with surprising consequences. By Michael Chandos Nihon Daitan'na - The Americans will stop at nothing to force Japan to open its borders, but they can't predict what the Emperor has in store for them. By T.J. O'Hare Monster of the Deep - A steamship signals for help, but when it arrives, the crew has disappeared without a trace. By Thomas Roggenbuck Where the Light Enters - An apprentice's loyalty is tested when an inventor's young wife looks to him for an escape from her loveless marriage. By Crysta K. Coburn


For the Love of Gears: A Steampunk Fairytale

For the Love of Gears: A Steampunk Fairytale by Maita Rue

Journey to a world where fantasy and gears collide!Three stories set in an alternative world, three fairytale-inspired stories with a Steampunk twist.This collection contains:* The Shoemaker’s Daughter* The Doll House* Battle Opera ArenaIf you don’t follow the Steam Theatre Series, you can still enjoy the stories in this book. You can follow the characters in my series or see snippets of their lives on my various social media pages.Enjoy!


From Russia With Tassels: The Second Hannibal Smyth Misadventure (The Hannibal Smyth Misadventures Book 2)

From Russia With Tassels: The Second Hannibal Smyth Misadventure (The Hannibal Smyth Misadventures Book 2) by Mark Hayes

Queen Victoria is in the 200th year of her reign, and her Glorious British Empire faces a grievous threat due to the Machiavellian machinations of that most notorious instigator of insurrections Herbert George Wells. An agent of The Ministry, the shadowy branch of the British government that deals with things other Ministries neither need or want to know about. Hannibal Smyth finds himself languishing in a cell on a mountain side in Tibet. A prisoner of the very man he was sent to find. While all around him a fleet is gathering that could set the Empire aflame and plunge India into insurrection. Hannibal must strive to face this plot down, with nothing but his raw courage and the cutthroat razor hidden in his boot. So just the cutthroat then.... Will Hannibal become the hero the Empire needs? Will he face down the dangers of international conspiracies, psychotic maids, bullet trains, crazed scientists, air pirates, clockwork Geisha, Sleepmen, and those blasted fools who want independence? Will he rise to the occasion? Will he defend Queen, Country, indeed the Empire with his life if necessary? Not if he can help it, but unfortunately no one has given him much choice in the matter... Praise for A Spider In The Eye


A Spider In The Eye: A Hannibal Smyth Misadventure (The Hannibal Smyth Misadventures Book 1

A Spider In The Eye: A Hannibal Smyth Misadventure (The Hannibal Smyth Misadventures Book 1 by Mark Hayes

Queen Victoria is in the 200th year of her reign, and her Glorious British Empire faces a grievous threat due to the Machiavellian machinations of that most notorious instigator of insurrections Herbert George Wells. The Ministry, the shadowy branch of the British government that deals with things other Ministries neither need or want to know about, needs to send its best available man. But as the best available man is not available, they are going to have to turn to someone else. Enter Hannibal Smyth, a gentleman of nefarious repute. Formally in the service of ‘She whom is seldom amused’ as an officer in the Royal Air Navy, thief, scoundrel, gambler, drinker, arsonist, womaniser, convicted murderer, and currently resident in the New Bailey, awaiting the shortest of short walks to the gallows. Will Hannibal become the hero the Empire needs? Will he face down the dangers of international conspiracies, psychotic maids, crazed scientists, air pirates, and those blasted fools who want independence? Will he rise to the occasion? Will he defend Queen, Country, indeed the Empire with his life if necessary? Not if he has anything to say about it


Diary of an Atmospheric Sailor

Diary of an Atmospheric Sailor by William A. Lasher

"A neo-Victorian science fiction/fantasy spectacular with memorable characters and a measure of dry wit.” Meet Kit Keagan and his bricky girlfriend Hailey, a pair of plucky teenagers in the Allegheny Highlands of 1851 Virginia. Hailey and Kit follow three river otters into a limestone cave, and inexplicably, travel three decades into the future, to the post-Hydrogen War 1880s. Conscripted into the British military, our reluctant time travelers join an expeditionary airship squadron and begin an epic journey around the world. Deep down inside, they both feel like they’re still sixteen, and neither one of them can remember the thirty years they somehow left behind. Is there a way back home? Diary of an Atmospheric Sailor is a science fiction/fantasy concept extravaganza featuring alternate history, bizarre mutant beasts, haywire automatons, and shapeshifting extraterrestrials. At 92,500 words, it’s a full-length novel recommended for high school age to adult readers. Exclusive eBook release.


Spirit: An Epic Steampunk Adventure (Mechanical Dragons Fantasy Series Book 2)

Spirit: An Epic Steampunk Adventure (Mechanical Dragons Fantasy Series Book 2) by Bobbi Schemerhorn

Family isn't defined by blood. Journals written in code... ...the cypher that can’t be opened. What secrets are they protecting? Khaly, creator of dragons, struggles to understand the mystery language as well as the reason behind her mother hiding the journals. Man-made beasts with no name... ...made to do one thing... ...kill. When Khaly and her friends fight to free Guild prisoners, they are forced in a battle against the man-made beasts. No matter the outcome they must push forward to stop the Guild. Their reign of terror must be brought to an end. Outmatched in numbers and brute strength can Khaly and her dragons win, how many lives will be lost? What new nightmare has the Guild created? Spirit is the second book in this epic steampunk fantasy. Mechanical Dragons fantasy series promises to have you on the edge of your seat, with unexpected gut wrenching and tear jerking moments! Don’t miss out on another exciting adventure and meeting a new dragon!


Fire & Water: An Epic Steampunk Adventure (Mechanical Dragons Fantasy Series Book 1)

Fire & Water: An Epic Steampunk Adventure (Mechanical Dragons Fantasy Series Book 1) by Bobbi SchemerhorN

Mixing magic and inexperience may result in dragons! Khaly accidentally brought her school project to life. And now she has a dragon. Khaly knew something was wrong when the dragon wasn’t where she left it. She had no idea how it happened or that it was her fault. But now Khaly must run because the Guild was coming for her. Power and domination is the Guild’s desire... ...Elementals stand in their way. The Guild is a true force of evil. Sweeping through Vlarlee they wipe out those with magical gifts, known as Elementals. No matter the age. Who is the real threat? Can Khaly figure it out before the Guild finds her? Fire & Water is the first book in the Mechanical Dragons Fantasy Series. It's full of twists and turns you will never see coming! Join the Adventure!


The Accidental World

The Accidental World by K.A Griffin

If my return is delayed, then you are in danger.Set your plan into motion.Appropriate dress is required . . . Ethan Scott lives with his grandfather above Bingham’s Rare Artifacts, an unusual store with even more unusual customers. He’s a whiz at a board game only he and his grandfather seem to have heard of, and rather than friends, he surrounds himself with the trappings of an unknown past. Until his grandfather goes missing, leaving behind a cryptic letter, a valuable gift, and a very confused grandson. To save him, Ethan must conquer time and space and embrace an unlikely destiny. But as he plays the part that seems to have been written for him, Ethan is swept up in his grandfather’s secret but not-so-distant past, and discovers that his own future is wrapped up in it. And when his lines run out, Ethan must choose between becoming the hero he was born to be or losing his grandfather forever.Unless he can find another way. The Accidental World is for all readers who understand there’s more to reality than meets the eye, who dream of another world just beyond reach, and who sometimes wish time ran a little bit differently.


The House That Walked Between Worlds (Uncertain Sanctuary Book 1)

The House That Walked Between Worlds (Uncertain Sanctuary Book 1) by Jenny Schwartz

A tornado of chaos is tearing through Reality and in its path is the newest House, a bleak and forbidding fortress built of magic and grief by the most unlikely of sorcerers, a human. A reckless act of compassion costs Dr. Kira Aist her family and her future on Earth. To escape her enemies, she calls on her heritage as a descendant of Baba Yaga and walks between worlds. As Kira roams the paths of Reality, strangers are drawn to her House. Some seek refuge, some seek power, and one just wants kitty treats. With the fate of multiple worlds hanging in the balance, Kira must discover what it means to be a sorcerer and the keeper of a House.


Grimm, Grit, and Gasoline: Dieselpunk and Decopunk Fairy Tales

Grimm, Grit, and Gasoline: Dieselpunk and Decopunk Fairy Tales by Various

Dieselpunk and decopunk are alternative history re-imaginings of (roughly) the WWI and WWII eras: tales with the grit of roaring bombers and rumbling tanks, of 'We Can Do It' and old time gangsters, or with the glamour of flappers and Hollywood starlets, smoky jazz and speakeasies. The stories in this volume add fairy tales to the mix, transporting classic tales to this rich historical setting. Two young women defy the devil with the power of friendship. The pilot of a talking plane discovers a woman who transforms into a swan every night and is pulled into a much more personal conflict than the war he’s already fighting. A pair of twins with special powers find themselves in Eva Braun’s custody and wrapped up in a nefarious plan. A team of female special agents must destroy a secret weapon–the spindle–before it can be deployed. Retellings of The Little Mermaid, Hansel and Gretel, Rapunzel, Cinderella, The Monkey King, Swan Lake, Pinocchio and more are all showcased alongside some original fairy tale-like stories. Featuring stories by Zannier Alejandra, Alicia K. Anderson, Jack Bates, Patrick Bollivar, Sara Cleto, Amanda C. Davis, Jennifer R. Donohue, Juliet Harper, Blake Jessop, A.A. Medina, Lizz Donnelly, Nellie Neves, Wendy Nikel, Brian Trent, Alena Van Arendonk, Laura VanArendonk Baugh, Sarah Van Goethem, and Robert E. Vardeman.


A Binding of Blood: A Gaslamp University Hard Fantasy (A Practical Guide to Sorcery Book 2)

A Binding of Blood: A Gaslamp University Hard Fantasy (A Practical Guide to Sorcery Book 2) by Azaela Ellis

To study magic at the University, Siobhan sacrificed her name. She sacrificed her body, and her past. Magically disguised as a boy named Sebastien, she is learning wondrous secrets of the thaumaturgic sciences. As Sebastien, she mingles with the young nobles who will one day rule their country. But danger is closer than ever, and she cannot escape her past. The coppers investigating the theft of Siobhan’s priceless transformation artifact have given her a new name. The Raven Queen. As Siobhan does favors for the gang that loaned her the University tuition, the Raven Queen’s mystique only grows. And keeps growing
 
Snowballing out of control until Siobhan’s other identity takes on a life of its own, a fear-inducing bogeyman well beyond the truth of her real capabilities. With the whole city out to get her and trouble hounding both sides of her double life, how will Siobhan ever survive to become the world’s most powerful sorcerer?


Welcome to Gale City (Gale City Charge Book 1)

Welcome to Gale City (Gale City Charge Book 1) by Jennifer San Fillippo

Beware the ones with glowing eyes! Teo remembers his father’s final warning before being sent to death row two years ago. The strange words didn’t make headlines, but everything else about the case did: Alberto Gonzales the crime boss, the thief, the murderer. Teo has resolved to leave that past behind at all cost—until the night he comes across a man with glowing blue eyes. AJ and her father have come to live in Gale City in response to a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for a geologist: to study chargers, the mysterious glowing rocks that hold an electric charge, mined exclusively on the Galian Islands. AJ can’t ignore the growing apprehension of coming to the place her mother was murdered two years ago, but she’ll soon find more mysteries than she could’ve asked for. Including the son of her mother’s murderer. Stranger Things meets The Legend of Korra in this dieselpunk series of mystery, suspense, and adventure.


Halayda (Star-Fae Trilogy Book 1)

Halayda (Star-Fae Trilogy Book 1) by Sarah Delena White

A mortal alchemist. A faerie king. A bond that transcends death. Betrayed by a trusted mentor, Sylvie Imanthiya hides on the fringes of society, caring for half-fae orphans and trading her alchemical creations on the black market. She lives for the one night each season when she can see her dearest friend—a man whose destiny is far above hers. King Taylan Ashkalabek knows better than to exchange halayda vows with a mortal. Even their friendship is a risk; love is an impossible dream. Then a brutal alchemical attack poisons his realm, unearthing a dark power within him—and leaving Sylvie with the ancient mark of Faerie’s savior. Manifesting unpredictable abilities and aided by allies with their own secrets, Sylvie and Taylan journey into the wilds of Faerie to heal the damage and confront Casimir, an invincible star-fae determined to claim the realm as his own. But only their enemy knows Sylvie’s true capabilities—and Taylan’s weaknesses—and how to use them in his vicious schemes. Her fate is life. His fate


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