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Suspended in the Stars by E. A. Hendryx A girl in hiding. A boy on the run. The fate of the galaxy between them. When Talie Zarna is forced to hide rogue soldier, Renner Cartha, her life isnāt the only thing threatened. Living as the famed Soaring Staress on the circus spaceship Midway masks her true identity, but Rennerās very presence threatens to draw unwanted attention. As a former royal guard, Renner holds secrets of his own. Like evidence of a political assassination he is on a mission to deliver to the Xerus Galaxyās governing council. Renner's flirtatious confidence is at odds with the seriousness of his mission, but when his former guard captain, Jas Uli-Tai, discovers him hiding among the circus performers, Talie risks everything she's come to cherishāgoing so far as to leave the safety of the Phenomena circusāto do what is right. With Jas closing in at every turn, Talie and Renner come close to finding the High Council only to discover corruption at its core. Their only option for escape is a cocky smuggler whoās not quite what he seems and an underground resistance group called The Rising thatās fighting for change in the galaxy. Faced with the weight of her true identity and the cost of embracing it, Talie must decide if she is willing to give up everything for the sake of saving the Galaxy, even if that means giving up the boy she loves. --- Suspended in the Stars is the first book in the Xerus Galaxy Saga. It is a no spice romantic space opera perfect for fans of The Lunar Chronicles, The Starboard Trilogy, and The Illuminae Files . |
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The Magic Surrendered by Dax Murray "I havenāt been trying to build a weapon! I have been trying to prevent a war. Ellie, please don't make me do this." A short story about a brilliant mage and an insecure empress; of love and ethics, partnership and conflict. After generations of relentless expansion, Empress Eleanor is ready to put her family's habit of conquest behind her, content to cease her army's forward march and solidify her position as the ruler of the territories already in her possession. But these countries her fathers' conquered are eager to leave the Empire and willing to resort to revolution. Amalthea grew up poor, her homeland destitute after being invaded and occupied. But her new status as a citizen of the sparkling empire gives her access to the Academy of Mages and all of their teachings. However, once there, she defies their rules and pursues her own experiments with dangerous and forbidden magics. Despite this, she catches the Empress's eye and is soon the first official Imperial Scientist and the unofficial consort. Together, the two have the power to sow cohesion, spur innovation, and improve the lives of everyone in the Empire; or they could obliterate any resistance at a perilous cost. |
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Too fondly have I loved these stars; all these galaxies we once called ours. A beautiful love story in verse. The relationship between two goddesses is tempestuous at best. Seya is the embodiment of a galactic creation and Tia of cosmic destruction. They create and they destroy and then they do it all over again. Seya and Tia use their divine magic to make pulsars and nebula, to set planets spinning around stars and bind a galaxy together with a central black hole. But when one of Seya's favorite stars goes missing, she blames Tia. What was once a symbiotic cycle of life and death becomes a game of broken hearts and promises betrayed. These tensions and insecurities are explored in sonnets and villanelles; the arc of their love tracked in meter and verse. These poems touch on queer love, betrayal, trust, acceptance, and forgiveness cast against a backdrop of stardust and celestial detritus. |
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Fool's Play by David R. Packer, Tao Wong Not everyone falls during an apocalypse. Some rise to the occasion. For Fool and Jackal, the System Apocalypse was a chance to start again. A chance to rise, and be who they were meant to be. Now, they're trying to offer others the same opportunities as part of a secret organization helping humanity survive the System. Today's mission? Nothing big, just your typical save-the-princess quest. But when you're the Acolyte of a Trickster god, typical is the last thing you should expect. Just ask Fool's cat. Fool's Play is the first book in a new series in the System Apocalypse universe. Written by David R. Packer in Tao Wong's bestselling post-apocalyptic LitRPG universe, System Apocalypse: Kismet follows a different path through a post-apocalyptic world, one of hope, redemption, and second chances. |
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A Circle of Stars by Craig Montgomery Sometimes you have to leave home to find itā¦ All Casper Bell has ever wanted is to belong. But now, abandoned by his friends and family after being outed, he has nothing left to lose when the people of Novilem abduct him. Except Earth. Teleported to a world where stars grant humans magic, Casper discovers he has the rare ability to draw power from all twelve astrological signs ā a gift that makes him a political pawn for the Estellar Council. But Novilemās inhabitants seem as hard and cold as the stone their city is carved from, and Casperās new role leaves him more isolated than ever. Until he meets the grandson of the councilās most powerful woman. Helix is kind, playful, and heartbreakingly handsome, yet itās how Helix makes him feel that gives Casper hope. As rebellion brinks in the city, even the Council starts to fracture, reaching for extreme measures that could cost Casper not only his newfound abilities, but the first place he has ever wanted to call home. Together with Helix, he must uncover the secrets of his full potential ā because the survival of Novilem hinges on Casperās powers, whether heās using them or not. Set inside a hidden lunar city, where astrology is magic and your birth sign defines your social status, A Circle of Stars is a queer young adult fantasy filled with political intrigue and romance. |
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Step through a gateway hidden inside your dreaming mind. From the gritty streets of San Francisco to labyrinthine dream worlds conjured from humanity's collective psyche, this is a philosophical, page-turning, dark-fantasy odyssey. Meet Kid, an American foster system survivor turned clandestine courier for an underground syndicate, The White Lotus. With the disappearance of their previous runner, Kid must navigate through a harrowing night filled with deranged stalkers and nightmarish creatures born of his darkest fears. Then there's Alice, a teen prodigy from The Young School ā an enigmatic institute for violent psychics, also known as travelers. These travelers have the power to traverse The Dream, a parallel universe birthed from humanity's collective consciousness, capable of manipulating society, acquiring superhuman abilities, and even discovering immortality. Alice yearns to harness these mystical forces to gain her freedom. When an assignment goes dead wrong in Chinatown, Kid and Alice's paths intersect. This streetwise runner and covert operative of parallel worlds find themselves in a reality-defying struggle for the survival of humanity. Can they channel their abilities, love, and determination to mend the very fabric of existence, defeat an ancient evil, and safeguard both realmsāThe Dream and The Real? This visionary dark-fantasy novel, woven with elements of thriller, horror, science-fiction, and the supernatural, resonates with readers who appreciate intricate world-building, in-depth characterization, and an engaging, fast-paced narrative. Praise for The Rivener āThe Rivener' offers a profound, immersive experience resonating with wisdom and truth. With endearing characters and a formidable villain, it's a soulful, thrilling narrative akin to The Sandman and The Matrix." - A Page of Words and Wishes "Littered with feeling and philosophy, violence, and mythology. This had me gripped from start to finish.ā - Christopher Badcock, Those You Killed "Absolutely brilliant. An epic mix between Gaimanās āThe Sandmanā and everything I wanted but never got from Kingās āDark Towerā.ā - The Misfit Bookshelf "The Rivener pulls you in from the very first page and doesnāt let go. You emerge completely invested in the world and its characters and are left questioning the nature of reality.ā - Book Naked |
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The Elements of Time: The Winds of Change by Sam Paisley Destiny, personal responsibility, what the future holds ā common concerns for anyone graduating high school. But usually not because of a cosmic war between timeless beings where youāre the central player. (Download the first seven chapters for free at www.elementsoftime.ca) As the end of school quickly approaches, and Cooper Bailey watches his perfect world slip away, his only concern is savouring every last minute of his high school career. For his best friend, Reid Patterson, graduation is a doorway to the future, where his discipline and focus will finally allow him to meet his true potential. When a mysterious mirror-masked man begs for their help to stop a dangerous heretic, Cooper and Reid find themselves thrust into unknown worlds, wrestling with a destiny as old as time itself. As the truths about their roles in the universe unfold, and enemies disguise themselves as allies, their only hope is to trust each other - and learn fast! Far from home and in mortal peril, Cooper and Reid attempt to hone their newfound abilities and come to grips with their purpose for being. Inspired by classic and modern science fiction and fantasy, and drawing upon timeless themes of destiny and personal responsibility, The Elements of Time is a series written for anyone who loves an escape into a rich and deep world. With references to Star Wars (the Original Trilogy), Avatar: The Last Bender, Stargate SG-1, Supernatural, and much more, The Elements of Time: The Winds of Change is fun action-adventure, with itās own unique magic system, and themes that touch what it means to grow up and take on the challenges of life The Elements of Time - Book 1: The Winds of Change For more story information, behind the scenes details, and additional content visit www.elementsoftime.ca |
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Divinityās Twilight: Remnant by Christopher Russell Divinity's Twilight: Remnant is the much-anticipated sequel to the multi-award-winning epic fantasy novel, Divinity's Twilight: Rebirth. Power is a curse. As Vallen and his fellow cadets flee fallen Darmatia, he is forced to confront the ghosts of his past. The friend who perished that he might live. The girl whose smile haunts his nightmares. Now, a third voice joins themāsomething dark, something ancient. And the more Vallen uses his magic, the stronger it becomes. Tools exist to be used. The flames of Sylette's vengeance are all but quenched. With each passing day, the dominion of the Sarconian Empire grows, and her treacherous father's throat drifts further from her reach. Sylette's last hope is a coded message, one that promises a growing resistance against the Empire. But even if she gains the means to avenge her mother's murder, one question remains: how many 'tools' is she willing to sacrifice to see her vengeance through? What color is love? Renar has learned to hide a great many things: his emotions, his art, and one truly devastating family secret. But when he must face the man who's controlled his life from the shadows, will he choose the family he's always known, or the dysfunctional crew he's been shackled with? For every ending, a beginning. Embers of conspiracy flare in Nemare and Sarconia. A resurrected Sarcon plots to reclaim his imprisoned flesh. As the winds of war swirl and forgotten myths rise, the choices these cadets make could save their country . . . . . . or unleash something far, far worse. |
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Divinityās Twilight: Rebirth by Christopher Russell āRussellās new high fantasy series launch is well written with a definite steampunk vibe and sword-and-sorcery appeal.ā āLibrary Journal A world consumed by war. An ancient evil resurrected. A millennia-old bargain comes due . . . When two blades clash, the third will fall, and the fate of all will be jeopardized. To save Lozaria, the failures of the past must be atoned for by a new generation of heroes. The time has come for mortals to cast off sight and, in doing so, truly come to see . . . Victory is never absolute. Seven centuries ago, the forces of order won the Illyriite War on the plains of Harāmuth. Darmatus and Rabban Aurelian slew their elder brother, Sarcon, the despotic architect of the conflict, then sacrificed themselves to banish the cataclysmic vortex opened with his dying breath. The first advent of the Oblivion Well was thwarted. Even without their vanished gods, the seven races of Lozaria proved themselves capable of safeguarding their world. Or so the story goes. The year is now 697 A.B.H. (After the Battle of Harāmuth). Though war itself remains much the same, the weapons with which it is waged have evolved. Airships bearing powerful cannons ply the skies, reducing the influence of mages and their spells. Long-range communication has brought far-flung regions of Lozaria closer than ever before. At the center of this technological revolution are the three Terran states of Darmatia, Rabban, and Sarconia, who have fought a near ceaseless campaign of seven hundred years in an attempt to best each other. The roots of their enmity lie buried beneath the wasteland of Harāmuth, a place all three nations consider best forgotten. However, an ancient power sealed within Harāmuth has not forgotten them, and the descendants of those who fought on that field must now take a stand to rectify the mistakes of the past . . . |
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Child of Awareness by Abigail Silver Follow Gracie Usuriel, a young firebird, as she grows up among an eccentric family of immortal psychics. Making friends with her sister's ghost and falling for a cybernetic diplomat-in-training are average days for the daughter of the most (in)famous man in the world. If Gracie's flames can't illuminate her father's dark past, they may consume everything she loves. |
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Samantha Havardson is in hiding. All things considered, it could be worse. For the time being, sheās safe from the immortal warrior hellbent on settling a thousand-year-old vendetta against her. However, an unknown assailant has been inside Samanthaās head, turning her into a liability to the very people trying to protect her. Meanwhile, Adrestus enacts the final stages of his plan, positioning himself to subjugate all of civilization. Options are slim, time is running out, and Samantha must come to terms with the fact that some villains can only be taken down from the inside, even if it means running the risk of becoming a weapon to be used against those closest to her. |
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Atra Hart has spent the last seven years locked away in Vanishing Plains Psychiatric Hospital. In that time, her shadow has transformed into its own entity and is growing stronger by the day, threatening to devour her mind. She calls that shadow Dread, and only her missing father knows what it is. When a fire breaks out at the asylum, Atra makes her way to freedom just in time to see an electric-purple rift sunder the sky. Like Dread, the rift is only visible to her. Atraās already loose grip on reality unravels when she learns the rift is a gateway to the world of the dead. And the Queen, an ancient evil lurking on its fringes, wants Dread for her own. Even worse, Atra canāt tell if any of this is really happening. She might have escaped one asylum, but the closer she gets to unearthing answers about Dread, why her father knows itās there, and its role in the Queenās plans, the more she risks getting trapped inside her own mind forever. Maybe some truths are meant to stay buried. |
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After Bleu, Rana, and their new friends narrowly prevent war between the star beings and humans, they hope the upcoming negotiation will secure the peace. Newly emerged from their subterranean haven, the Northern Haven humans are clearly not suited to Earth's ice age, and require assistance from the enlightened star beings to survive long term on the Surface. But Commander Savas doesn't trust the suspiciously kind star beings and their unexplainable abilities. When both sides reluctantly negotiate a joint mission to find the other Havens, Bleu must somehow cooperate with the manipulative commander to keep his friends safe. As their team confronts unexpected dangers, Bleu and his teammates begin to suspect the star beings don't know as much about the Surface as they claimed, while Rana is torn between remaining true to her nonviolent ways or becoming more human to survive. When an unnatural predator attacks, even the nearly all-knowing Kalakanya can't explain it. Now the team must pull together or their new discovery will pull them apart, limb by limb. |
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All of Our Sins by Yuval Kordov āThe mountains became plains, and the seas boiled into deserts.ā So went the earth. First came the World War, humanityās suicide. Then came the War against Hell, humanityās redemption. Esther, the Eternal One, led the way from darkness to light. A new order, by her will. So went civilization. For a time. But as history fades and the Eternal Oneās yoke tightens, man turns upon man once more. Ancient dreams of independence rise in Cathedralās shadow. Bastionās vengeance awakens. War beckons. And Hell is watching. |
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The Soul of Chaos (Litanies of the Lost Star) by Gregory Wunderlin Exiled from his home and his noble heritage in disgrace, Rurik toils in the mines of an ancient, underground ruin as foreman to a group of breakers: prisoners, cutthroats, and dregs of society forced into indentured servitude. His responsibility to his crew weighs heavily on his conscience-for even the most minor job can prove fatal, and earning his life back can only be paid for with the lives of his friends. With his absence, his twin sister, Arkalis, is left to deal with Rurik's failures. With a hostile occupation of her family's lands and new responsibilities as her ailing father's heir she finds herself trapped in an impossible situation, one she'd rather drink her way through. Accosted on all sides, neither could foresee their actions as the spark to an apocalyptic war, one responsible for the emergence of dark gods long since thought defeated. Chaos, it seems, is their last hope. |
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Shadow of Hyperion by JCM Berne Rohan once served the Empire. At great cost, he earned his freedom, and has since sought nothing more than to finish his shift in peace and figure out where his love life is going. Then he receives a message from Earth, calling in a favor. A plea for the kind of help only The Griffin can provide. Reluctantly, he recalls his mentor. The man who taught him how to live with his cursed Power. A man who had been the galaxyās greatest hope, before the ilāDrach sent him to his death. What would Hyperion do? |
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Last Train Home by Sienna Eggler Meikeās cozy train ride left them stranded in Glasend, a world where magic and man-eating plants are the norm. With their knowledge of botany and healing herbs, Meike aspires to become a reputable herbalist and mage. They make many friends along the way, including a quick-witted swordswoman, an axe wielding corgi, and other quirky characters. Later seasons explore magic and proper questing, and introduce monster taming. Updates weekly, on Thursdays! |
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Moon Deeds by Palmer Pickering It's 2090: the last outpost of freedom is the moon, the best defense against technology is magic, and the only hope for humankind rests in the hands of the Star Children. Twins Cassidy and Torr must save Earth from a ruthless enemy at a time when the only force more powerful than alien technology is magic. Moon Deeds launches the siblings' journey across the galaxy, where they must learn their power as the Star Children, claim their shamanic heritage, and battle dark forces that threaten humankind. The Star Children Saga follows Cassidy and Torr as they slowly awaken to their destiny as the twin Star Children, born every millennium to reconnect with the source of all life. They come to discover the sheer enormity of their task: to find our ancestors on a lost planet across the galaxy and save humanity from a spiraling descent into darkness. The powers they must wield to accomplish this task are truly frightening and put at risk everything they love. Come along with 20-year-old twins Cassidy and Torr, who inherited deeds to land parcels on the moon. They want to use their moon deeds to get off Earth and escape a brutal dictatorship. But first they must unlock their shaman powers. A rollicking yet poignant adventure in the not too distant future, when we have colonized the moon and nearly lost Earth to a dictatorship. Only the shamans remain free, plus the lucky ones who escaped to the moon. Join the adventure! An addictive space opera, science-fantasy series. |
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The Last of the Time Lords by Athena Stamelou Centuries after the Great War between the Time Lords and the Syndicate of the Five Planets, a Bounty Hunter accepts a job that ties directly to that past. Meanwhile, a Gypsy is having dark visions he doesn't want, two planets will do anything to win the war between them, the last Time Lord is being hunted by Vampires, and a Witch from Earth believes that her neighbor is a demon. |
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Webley and The World Machine by Zachary Chopchinski "This world within a world is such a fabulous concept! It's almost like Star Trek, Doctor Who, and the Bible all mashed up together with a steampunk twist." A strange coin. A mysterious elevator. And a war deep within the Earth that could destroy the world. Adal and Arija weren't concerned with what makes the world go round until they followed an old coin into a dark cave. Deep within the Earth is a world they never dreamed possible. A world that will challenge their most important beliefs. A world that will soon be torn apart by war. Webley controls the center of Earth, but not all his creations are happy. When the hidden plot to overthrow him turns violent, Adal and Arija are forced to choose sides. But the dangers are more than they could have predicted. Will their hidden feelings for each other help them through it, or rip them and the world apart? If you like Cassandra Clare, Quantum Leap, and Lindsay Buroker, you'll love this hilarious portal fiction adventure full of snark, sass, and one curious little robot boy. |
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A Space Girl from Earth by Christina McMullen Yesterday, her biggest worry was failing an exam. Today, it's saving the galaxy. From her six foot four inch height to the uniform white dots that peppered her skin in perfect geometric patterns, Ellie Whitmore was certainly unusual, but an alien from the other side of the galaxy? Of course not. That's just what the tabloids said to sell papers. Or so she thought. Turns out not only is Ellie an alien, but an ancient and powerful relic housing the forbidden knowledge of a lost civilization is hidden deep within her genetic code. Suddenly she's on the run from a malevolent Emperor who sees her as the key to ruling the galaxy. Even her own mother can't resist the draw of ultimate power and the one person Ellie might be able to trust is an unrepentant assassin who may be responsible for her lifeās upheaval. Now, she must travel to a distant planet and unlock the secrets to restoring peace and ending tyranny. But how can anyone expect her to save the galaxy when she canāt even pass organic chemistry? |
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The Last Nehisi by Warwick Eden War. Corruption. A dying empireā¦ And the only means of escape wiped out in genocideā¦ For millennia, Ageronians have prospered beyond imagination, aided by the Nehisi, an ancient tribe with the ability to bridge worlds. But now the tides have turned. The Realm is dying. In the face of imminent destruction, Supreme Commander Draeger must find a way to save his people. As the prophecy of doom plays out, a chance encounter with a thief sparks the beginnings of a cat and mouse game, between commander and crook, in a world of political and moral dilemmas, corruption, and murderā¦ ā¦and the revelation that the fate of billions could depend on the actions of a single amoral thief. Combining the storytelling of Rothfuss with the richness of George RR Martinās world building, this epic saga, cast against the sweeping setting of alien worlds and warring races, tells of adventure, intrigue, murder and romance across the generations. Read thisĀ unmissable immersive debut novel of the Red Realms series! |
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A robot yearns to remember. A thief struggles to forget. A galaxy on the verge of collapse. On the fringe of a broken civilization, a robot awakens with no memories and only one directive: find his creator. But in the village of Korthe, Beetro finds only radioactive pestilence, famine, and Mireeāa tormented thief with dreams of retiring after her final score. Meanwhile, the fiefdom is plunged further into chaos when a new warlord seizes control, recasting serfs as refugees and leaving derelict robot peasants in his wake. With a shared interest in survival, Beetro and Miree team up to pull off an impossible castle heist: steal a single flake of dark matter, the worldās most valuable and mysterious ore. But as they trek through the feudal wasteland in search of answers, they realize the true extent of the chaos surrounding them: the stars are disappearing from the sky and the entire galaxy is unraveling. As he uncovers his origin, Beetro discovers he may be the key to the salvation of the cosmosāor its destruction. Time, space, and loyalty become relative as he learns the real reason he was created. A mind-bending science fiction epic with the bones of a fantasy traveling quest, Dark Theory unfolds through a journey of betrayal, identity, and unlikely friendships in a world of darkness set at the edge of space and time. |
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Scribes' Descent by Dylan West People worship technology on Planet Daishon. With inventions that prolong life and eradicate disease, it's little wonder. Death seems obsolete until an earthquake kills thousands, including Mallory's parents. They should have lived for a thousand years, not just fifty. Mallory scrambles for answers. Such a disaster shouldn't be possible. Quakes have never happened on this world before. Suspecting the top research center had triggered it, her best friend's father investigates. When he turns up missing, Mallory goes on site after him as a geology intern. She can't bear to lose anyone else. An old mine sits at the epicenter of the recent quake, and an unbreakable alien barrier seals it off. But a door hidden in its surface opens for Mallory when she translates its engravings. Once inside, she evades underground predators while cut off from the tech that's always protected her. Some graves run much deeper than six feet, and this place could be one of them. Within this self-contained world lie the remnants of a universal war, revealing that Daishoni folklore is more than superstition. To survive, Mallory must trust in something more than science and logic. She must follow the voice of one she can't see down to the very bottom. Something deadlier than a quake is trapped there, and it is trying to escape. |
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Aztra's Mirror by Charles Freedom Long Beneath the surface of Trychnos and its twin, Saecula, lie a galaxyās wealth of gemstones. The Trux have despoiled their world through mindless quarrying. The Saec rejected wealth and all modernity. They detest each other. To the point where their saints have abandoned them. With Trychnos on the verge of ecological collapse, the Trux plan to invade Saecula and repeat the mining calamity. Centuries of hate cannot simply be erased. But deep within the bowels of Trychnos, lies a magical mirror, made of one perfect diamond by the god Aztra herself. Whoever gazes into Aztraās Mirrorāif they survive the mirrorās gazing back into themāwill have power beyond their wildest dreams. Power to bring about whatever change they desire. If they do not survive, they will pay a price beyond imagination. Neither Zakan nor his twin Javek ever wanted more than to live as simple acolytes in their pastoral village. But the God Aztra herself calls Zakan to the challenge of the Mirror. Despite Zakanās recurring dream that he will die in this quest, driven by Aztraās calling, aided by saints, sinners, sorcerers, and the dead of both planets, Zakan sets out to find Aztraās Mirror and use its power to save both worlds. If he fails, both the simplistic Saec and avaricious Trux will die, and their planets with them. The mirror has its price. And it will be paid. |
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Always being connected to technology is nothing new for Daj, a young Maglan with dreams of flying. With constant access to vid streams, friends, legions of fans, and everything digital, thereās nothing else he needs. When he stumbles upon an anti-tech group, however, he begins to see the other side of a world controlled by technology. |
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Framed for a crime he didnāt commit. Haunted by the ghosts of his past. Incarcerated in the most notorious prison in the Freeholds. Fate has mauled Mattias Temple, a failed cadre necromancer, leaving him with little hope. Until a rogue military squad kidnaps the governor and threatens the city with a magical plague, giving him a shot to redeem a lifetime of mistakes and be the one thing he never thought possible: A hero. As the body count rises Mattias finds himself neck-deep in trouble and drowning in ghosts. Outnumbered and outgunned, he has one choice left: Cut a bloody swathe through his enemies or die trying. |
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The Trouble With Love by Maurice X. Alvarez Teenage thief, KormĆØr LezĆ l, tumbles through his inter-dimensional portal to the distant future and into the middle of a fire fight on a distant world. Swept into a web of industrial espionage, an impossible jewel heist and romantic intrigue, there's trouble at every turn, but he'll do whatever it takes to win over Averia's beautiful chief of police... if she doesn't arrest him first. |
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It's in the Cards (Zelda Harcrow Series Book 1) by Lisa Hogan On a planet ruled by magic and invention, the space race to reach one of Gaiaās moons is in full swing. In the country of Tesla, this race is led by Harcrow Alchemy Inc. and, more specifically, Dr. Zelda Harcrow herself. A brilliant alchemist gifted in magic and intuition, Zelda buries herself in her work, driven by the pleasure of discovering new formulas and creating new technologiesāand not least by her love of blowing stuff up in the name of alchemy and science. But when an explosion destroys her lab and nearly kills her assistant, Zelda must open her eyes and face the world beyond her lab and family company. With a persistent assassin on her tail, a handsome inspector knocking at her door, and an old flame reappearing out of nowhere, Zelda must learn that things arenāt always as they seem. Especially when her mother is reading her tarot. Can Zelda decipher the truth in time, or is her fate written in the cards? |
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Blood for Blood: Volume One Part I: (The Blood of Houses, Vol.1) by J.A Garza Game of Thrones with Lightsabers A secret is trivial for one, adequate for two, and fatal for three. Thereās power in blood. Such is the legacy of House Vega, a Sovereign fiefdom standing on the brink against General Basil Zeren of Taras. There, Jase Vega of Attica declares neutrality in his familyās war, in vein and virtue. A militant pacifist, he ventures beyond the neon city to train his clandestine daughter, Seva, how to wield their inherited powers: the roaring tides of Hydrokinesis and the collateral-inducing damage of Super Strength. Far across the Royal Strait, along the secular shores of Siteia, lie devote conjurers and moreāan innate power severed from the dynastic kings during the generation-long uprising, yet emerging with grievous consequences and divine authority not seen in centuries. But a more civil disturbance rises to the east, where Shoshana Vega, the General of War, has decreed an ultimatum for her heretic brother: join the destructive conflict or face execution for treason. Now, Basil is charging west to Attica, bringing his daughter, the apostatized but fierce Rome, her daughter, the infamous, immeasurable acolyte Seva, and the indomitable genetic powers of House Zerenāthe first an inferno like Dragonās breath, the second a psionic enhancement of hearing. All are colliding in Attica, unaware of a fifteen-year mystery condemning Sevaās birthright that will link the two feuding houses in blood forever. Game of Thrones with lightsabers in Blood for Blood, Volume One Part I, in the Series The Blood of Houses. Part II will release later this year. This novel features supernatural abilities, battle sequences, and political intrigue. |
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Courage Iro will shatter the Gates of Power to protect his fleet. Born talentless, Iro has all but resigned himself to a life of drudgery, watching his sister hop across to the massive space titan for supplies. But when the titan explodes and his sister is killed, Iro finds a new determination to take her place. He's not about to let weakness prevent him. When the fleet encounters a new titan, filled with powerful monsters, deadly traps, and mysterious cloaked figures, Iro is the first to spontaneously manifest a new talent. Now sent to a different ship, to train with others far beyond his strength, Iro will have to train twice as hard just to catch up. To protect his fleet, and to uncover the mysteries of the titans, Iro won't just open the Gates of Power. He'll break them. |
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SPFBO9 SPSFC 2023 Indie Recs Indie Those who cross into Rheta from other worlds donāt usually arrive alive. Berro collects the crosser bodies for a prestigious secret project headed by his academic mentor, and heās proud of his role, but when a living, breathing woman arrives in the forest through a crack in reality, the project and Berroās ordered life are thrown into disarray. On Rheta, nature is thriving and conflict is a distant memory. Chaos and cruelty are things belonging to other worlds, other times, and most Rhetari have lapsed into blissful complacency. But Berro is at the epicentre of an event that calls the delicate balance into question. As the crossing project unravels, he confronts the ugly truths about the civilisation he lives in, the work heās committed to, and the broken parts of himself. |
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Winter Sun: A Fantasy Romance (Warriors of the Five Realms Book 2) by Hollee Mands Heād do anything to keep her safe...except give her up. Declan lost her once. Never again. He is an archmage. Fearsome. Terrible. Divine. Yet deadly whispers dare echo in his ear. None more threatening than those of his still-incomplete mate bond and his loveās failing health. In a twist of irony, he must now protect his mate from the greatest danger she's ever faced...Himself. Evangeline was raised to be an apothecarist, not an archmageās queen. She knows nothing of the subtle maneuverings of court life, and despite her awakened memories, she remains painfully human. Too human to claim an archmage for a mate. But Declanās contentious council and her questionable mortality arenāt the only things she has to worry about. The secrets of her past are catching up, and even her all-powerful lover may not be able to keep her safeā¦ Winter Sun is the seductive sequel in the Warriors of the Five Realms adult fantasy romance series that will submerge you in a dazzling court of deadly secrets and deception lurking in every shadowā¦ Authorās Note: While Winter Sun is a full-length, interconnected standalone with a guaranteed HEA, reading Little Fire (Book 1) will enhance your reading experience. Mature themes and content. Reader discretion is advised. |
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Little Fire: A Fantasy Romance (Warriors of the Five Realms Book 1) by Hollee Mands She's broken from a past she can't remember. He's scarred from a past he can't forget. Declan can kill with a blink of his eye. Jaded and cold, he rules his kingdom the same way he does his heartāwith merciless pragmatism. So why does he risk all to protect a little mortal during a slave-trade uprising? Now stuck in the Shadow Realm, the loss of his powers are the least of his troubles. The woman may have a frustratingly tender heart, but she has enough fire in her soul to thaw the ice in his veins. He could take her by right, but he wants more than acceptance. He wants her willing surrender... Evangeline is chained by a past she can't remember. Her fractured memories keep her shy and single. When she is thrust into a demon realm in the arms of an indomitable archmage, he becomes her only chance of survival. But soon, she realizes her unnerving protector may not be as callous as he appears, and her heart may be as much at risk as her life. His desire for her is no secret, but she wants more than scalding lust. She wants his icy heart... Can they survive the Shadow Realm long enough to break down each other's walls? Author's Note:Ā Little FireĀ is Book 1 in The Warriors of the Five Realms fantasy romance series. If you love the works of Laura Thalassa, Sarah J Maas and CL Wilson, then you will love this. Little FireĀ is a standalone, with a guaranteed HEA. Mature themes and possible triggers of sexual abuse. Intended for readers aged 18+. |
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Identity Revealed (Tue-Rah Chronicles Book 1) by J.M. Butler, Jessica M. Butler Amelia prepared for the wrong destiny--and it might cause the death of millions. Cursed as a blood child and isolated as a pariah, the young princess Inale lives with one goal: to defeat Naatos, the shapeshifting warlord, in his march of terror across the thirty-six worlds. Then Naatos conquers her home of Libysha in a murderous midnight ambush before she has even learned how to throw a knife. Whisked to Earth by the mysterious Tue-Rah, an interdimensional portal, and now dubbed Amelia, she trains night and day to prove her worth and rescue her people. But when the Tue-Rah delivers Amelia home, she discovers her family captured, the royal court slaughtered, and her people imprisoned. A desperate attempt to free them only reveals more horrific truths: Amelia is a damaged psychic, the last of her kind, cursed by her birth mother, and if she kills Naatos, it will destroy her. Moreover, Naatos is her betrothed in an arranged marriage from birth and he vows to claim her by any means necessary, even as he continues to wreak savage bloodshed in his goal to bring the worlds under the control of him and his two brothers. Outmatched and outflanked, Amelia must defend her nation. But her traitorous empathic powers and connection to Naatos and his family war for her heart. Moreover, her new allies are equally manipulative. Amelia must take control of her true destiny or condemn the worlds to Naatos's rule and millions to death. |
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Lullaby Scars: A Fantasy Romance: Warriors of the Five Realms by Hollee Mands Heās the only man sheās ever wanted. Sheās everything he can never have. Killianās scars are all people see, but with his wretched past, he doesnāt want them to look closer. He resigned himself long ago to living as an indentured slave to a powerful and capricious high mageāuntil a chance meeting with a temptress outside a brothel teaches him to wantā¦ If only he hadnāt asked her price for the night. Lady Mailinās escape from her tyrannical father is so close she can taste it. All she has to do is to fake her magical prowess long enough for the high mage to sign a marriage contract and whisk her away. Then sheāll lose him and start a new life. The last thing she needs is a tortured bondsman mistaking her for a woman who works on her back... If only she could forget his gentle, callused touch. When a stormy sea strands them together on Prison Island, Mailin and Killianās illicit desires may prove deadlier than the convicts out for blood, or worse... Author's Note: Lullaby Scars is a full length, standalone prequel for the Warriors of the Five Realms fantasy romance series. No cheating. No cliffhangers. HEA guaranteed. This book contains explicit content and darker themes, including mature language, violence, and sexual content. Intended for readers aged 18+.āØFor a comprehensive list of possible triggers, please visit the authorās site. |
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Blood Song: A Fantasy Romance (Warriors of the Five Realms Book 3) by Hollee Mands She owes her blood. Heāll pay with his life. Ruthless assassin Gabriel has little fear and even fewer scruples. Every head has a price, and every hunt is a thrill. He saunters through life on a tightrope, mocking fate and defying death with every step. So when heās forced to hunt down and deliver a prophesied blood sacrifice, Gabriel has no reason to expect trouble. Until he realizes just who the mark isāa wildcat of a woman with dark eyes and an even darker secretā¦ She may be voiceless, but she speaks to his soul, and giving her up may be a cost too steep to bear. Shyaree has lived her whole life under the weight of a terrible sin and the shame of her Changelessness. When her brother falls prey to a curse, healing him is her one chance at atonement. Only she never expected to be kidnapped by an arrogant and insufferable fae. She canāt trust him or his bargainsā¦or can she? Heās a cutthroat bent on using her, yet working with him may be the only way to surviveā¦ He demands her blood, but she canāt deny the way he calls to her body, or the danger he poses to her heart. Author's Note: Blood Song is Book 3 in The Warriors of the Five Realms adult fantasy romance series. This book features a standalone couple with a guaranteed HEA, but for full enjoyment of the overarching fantasy arc, please start with Book 1, Little Fire. Blood Song is intended for readers aged 18+. It contains mature language and explicit scenes of violence and sex that may be offensive or upsetting to some readers. For a comprehensive list of possible triggers, visit the author's website. Please read with care. |
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The Levitation Game by Sharon Wagner A botched magician and a chef simmering with secrets unite to solve a supernatural puzzle as profound as gravity. The Levitation Game explores the power of sound, love, and magic! |
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River in the Galaxy by Natalie Kelda When Merlon's parents disappeared, his world fell apart. When his best friend died, he lost the ability to enjoy life. For Captain Merlon Ricosta, Lanier's death, two years prior, feels like yesterday. But when a map from his parents is discovered, he decides to push aside his grief to get closure and follow the route they vanished along eighteen years ago. Despite political trouble, Merlon leads his crew into the unknowns of strange galaxies in his quest to find out why his parents never returned. In River in the Galaxy Merlon fights to keep his crew alive and suppress his prolonged grief and depression. But he must face his own struggles in order to protect the ship and the people aboard. |
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Bloodstained Skies: The Vanquisher of Kings I by Dagmar Rokita After a bloody revolution, a royal warrior named Erilaz and his companions are exiled from their kingdom. They subsequently choose to hide on a distant planet, where they risk their lives every day. There are only three things that give him hope to carry on: his loyal friends, love for his land and the legend of a mysterious warrior and a clever strategist: The Chromed Emperor. One day he will return. Meanwhile, the king of his planet makes a single mistake that calls into question all his plans and hopes, leading him to become increasingly paranoid. His concerns are justified; however, there is a much worse danger than a band of local rebels. |
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Veridian's Curse by Kyle Harvey The Society of the Leaf Chronicles Continues, Veridianās Curse (Book Two) In a search for answers, Cedric and his companions travel to the capital city of the Holy Order of the Verdant Guard. A simple mission to find answers becomes fraught with danger upon the Grand Lordās death. Political intrigue, sinister plots, and the race to find the Cube threatens to throw the Empire into chaos. Cedricās personal struggles mount as he confronts the death of loved ones and his inability to grasp his newly acquired Spark. Only closure and a return to normalcy can save him. In the midst of his personal struggles, Veridianās foundation crumbles with the death of the Grand Lord. High Lord Pellor seeks power at all costs to assure his Ascension to the throne. The Lady Eliza Dertian, Keeper of the Sigil and daughter of the Emperor, confronts Pellor and reveals a secret about the demise of her cousin and Worlin. Loreckās search for the whereabouts of the Cube in the famous Archives of Veridian leads to shocking discoveries about the undercurrents of power in the city. The squabbles of the world of men intertwine with the awesome power of the spiritual world. Dark powers swirl in the Empireās holiest city along with a secret better left uncovered. Be on the lookout for updates on Book Three of The Society of the Leaf Chronicles at https://kyleharveybooks.com and @kyleharveybooks! |
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Salvation's Path by Kyle Harvey Here begins The Society of the Leaf Chronicles, Salvationās Path (Book One) The Cube is gone. The very essence of the Green God in the world has disappeared setting off a desperate search by good and evil to discover it. Young Cedric is thrust against his will into a race for the preservation of a grim world, struggling with loss, love, and the yearning to fulfill a dying wish. Cedric meets both good in the form of his best friend, a strong-willed noble girl seeking a way out, and a guide who gets more than he bargained for along with evil on his journey as he tries to puzzle out the whereabouts of the Cube and his own identity. Powerless and unworldly, Cedric must make up for the many failures of character and strength by those tasked with defending the world. Be on the lookout for updates on Book Two of The Society of the Leaf Chronicles at https://kyleharveybooks.com and @kyleharveybooks! |
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Thralls of a Tyrant God by Mars G. Everson A Dark Fantasy Epic, The God Engine trilogy is the start of a unique and exciting universe, perfect for fans of Brandon Sanderson's Cosmere and Steven Eriksonās The Malazan Book of the Fallen. What would you sacrifice to be free? For Senn, former slave turned rebel leader and now the powerful Herald of the Lord of Greed, the answer was everything. He thought he had left hope behind forever. But when a ghostly child with sparkling blue eyes appears to him, Senn's loyalty is tested. His own God and army turn against him, forcing him to flee into the harsh desert wasteland alone and powerless. But as he searches for revenge and a new source of power, he must confront his past, including the woman he left behind at the mercy of the Forever King and his Chainkeepers. A new path that may lead him to Hope, even if he's not yet ready to embrace it. Will Senn find redemption and a new purpose, or will he fall to the forces that seek to destroy him and turn all of humanity into thralls? |
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The Thirteenth Key by Cara Nox The chaotic crew of heisting misfits in Leigh Bardugo's SIX OF CROWS meets the familiar yet fantastical, modern landscape found in Robert Jackson Bennett's CITY OF STAIRS. āThe thirteen emblems given to the original rulers werenāt just symbols. Theyāre keys to the Vaultāone that no oneās ever opened.ā Noa has lived her life as an unsuspecting, ID-burning, face in the crowd that disposes of āproblemsā for her miscellaneous, secretive employers. So, when Noaās surrogate fatherāa Seerāhands her a long-lost emblem, telling her with his dying breath that it's her responsibility to reignite magic, she laughs at the idea that the fate of their world rests on the shoulders of a killer. Instead, she uses his words and the key he gave her as an excuse to go on one final suicide mission to seek out the power supposedly waiting for her to annihilate his murderer. Prince Glacier Caelius has lived his life trapped inside a gilded cage, pushed down by the ever-present threat of death as the bastard son of Amaraisās late king. But when the rebels attack during a nationalist party, Glacierās rescued by none other than Noa and her merry band of thieves, who are scrambling to salvage a failed attempt at stealing his countryās emblem: the Soul of Amarais. When the dust settles, heās the only person left alive to unlock the palace vault and give the Soul to Noa in exchange for saving his life. Well, once theyāre able to formulate a plan to take the palace back. Struggling with their tentative, newfound freedom, Noa and Glacier must learn to work together to survive the urban landscape of Avariaās greatest cities fortified by technology in the wake of dwindling magic. The goal: steal as many keys as they can before their pasts catch up. But the further they go, the more they realize that something worse may be lurking on the horizon, and they may very well be the only ones able to stop it. |
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Betrayal of Hope by Justin Doyle Darynn, Fyra, and Kaylaa have solved the mysteries of the gods. But how can they unveil the secrets to save the starving Olan-Har without unleashing chaos upon Vastire? Even if they knew what to do, war with long-time adversary Erodia forces them to wait. Unfortunately, the Erodians are winning: theyāve taken Vastireās capital and bombard the west coast nightly. With few options left, Commander Aseus turns to Darynn to attempt a daring mission to infiltrate Erodia, just like his grandfather did 80 years ago. With Fyra, Kaylaa, and a small team at his side, Darynn agrees to the treacherous mission across the dangerous, wild continent filled with powerful enemies. But heās conflicted. Not only does magical power rampage within, but he starts to wonder who heās fighting for: royalty and the clergy, or the people? That question will drive him to make impossible choices. If he chooses correctly, he can end the war and save the Olan-Har, but at a great cost. If he doesnāt, the Erodians will rule Vastire and the secrets of the gods will be lost. |
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Assassination of Hope by Justin Doyle The destruction of the embargo has made Darynn Mark a lot of enemies: an interstellar bounty hunter, the Grand Cardinal, families of the fallen. On top of that, Darynn struggles with his new responsibility to discover the truth behind Vastire's gods, while battling his growing internal desire to destroy. Darynn and Fyra must travel to the frozen planet Yiptae to find the final pieces of the gods' puzzle. But Yiptae has problems of its own, from a violent revolution to the assassination of a key political figure for immigrant rights. In the middle of it all is Kaylaa, whose mysterious past leads to new opportunities, conflicts, and enemies. Darynn, Fyra, and Kaylaa must work with new allies to solve the secret to the past while navigating the revolution and solving the murder. If they don't, they will end up dead, and the truths of two worlds will be buried forever. Secrets ignite revolutions... |
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War has come for the fae. When Owen Williams became a vampire, the world as he knew it shattered. The fae and the United States militaries are fighting in city streets and he is helpless to stop it. As Beira and her generals deal with the warās rapid escalation, Owen is sent back to Tearmann to deal with the flood of refugees that now call it home. But despite months of training from Beira, Owen still struggles to control his burgeoning vampiric abilities and the hordes of terrified fae in Tearmann threaten to overwhelm him. Then Merlin, the enigmatic resident of Avalon, offers to teach Owen to manage his powers in ways Beira couldnāt. But he has an agenda of his own and he wants Owenās help in exchange for his knowledge. After all, the halls of Avalon are in ruins. The beings that walked those halls are gone. If they were restored, Merlin might be able to stop the endless Changes that terrify the humans so much. They could bring peace to the beleaguered faeā¦ or awaken things hidden deep within Avalon and lead them into a war worse than ever before. |
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Motherhood and Other Magical Realms by Raima Larter Motherhood can be magical, or it can be trouble. Children, if they come along, can grow up, or not, or even go to the moon. The world is not always what it seems, and salvation can happen in unexpected placesālike a copy shop. And sometimes, although not always, thereās a ghost in the cellar. |