Just a Peck by Chelsea Jean

Mavis Meyers is thrilled to be teaching at her high school alma mater. However, organizing the end-of-year carnival might be enough to send her back to substitute teaching in Milwaukee. Who knew trying to get a group of teachers and parents to focus on the task at hand would be so hard? The most difficult person is none other than Lena Laei-Johnson, a local farm owner and co-chair of the carnival. She is used to taking the lead on planning the carnival and despises change. After the first planning meeting with Lena, Mavis understands why no one volunteered to take on this role. From the theme to the decorations, the two clash over every little detail. But underneath, a simmering attraction grows. Can the two women stop trying to be right long enough to notice how right they are for each other?

Ice Born by Adam Fernandez

"You can't sit wishing for the world you deserve and lament no one has given it to you. It is up to you to fight for it, to grasp it from the maw of the universe. The future is yours for the taking, if you're strong enough to hold it." On the Saturnalian moon of Titan, Sergeant Arabella Smith, Republican Guard soldier turned revolutionary, is at a crossroad. Face to face with the shadows of her past and the promises of her future, she must make a embrace her new identity, or shatter it to reclaim her birthright. Arabella was the daughter of two worlds and a resident of none. Her father came from the ruling elite and her mother from the marginalized Armanic people. Arabella’s privileged upbringing guarded her from prejudice, until her father’s murder sent her to the working-class districts. There she must take on a new name and avoid the bounty hunters who seek her family. Only by confronting her past, can she reimagine her future. Ice Born is a standalone novel set in the award winning universe of the Midnight War series.

Killer Quill by Shida Ketzer

Murdered in cold blood and resurrected through forbidden powers, Quill becomes her world’s legendary assassin. She can never part with her eponymous quill. The mythical quill keeps her alive, heals her wounds, and enables her to transform colors into animate objects doing her bidding. In exchange, the quill feeds on her victims’ souls. When her latest mission sparks the higher power’s wrath, Quill must avenge the death of her people and her own murder. Failure will cost more than just her life. A Wisteraverse Novella

A Minor Inconvenience by Chelsea Jean

At 30 years old, Murphie has everything she thinks she wants. A steady job, a handsome boyfriend, the best friend you could ask for, and her lovable dog. She isn’t ready for a minor inconvenience to be thrown her way. She is determined to make her relationship work and not get distracted by Gavin's thick arms, dimpled smile, and good heart; especially because she is his boss. 22-year-old Gavin is a senior in college with plans to attend veterinarian grad school in Scotland. And even though she has a boyfriend, he can't keep his eyes or thoughts off of Murphie—her flowing auburn hair and the freckles covering her nose and arms. He thinks she is the funniest and sexiest woman he’s ever met. She thinks he's too young. Can Murphie keep Gavin in the friend zone when he is determined to become so much more?

Gulf by Shelly Campbell

Hello. My name is David Rawlingson Junior and I’ve accidentally opened a door into Hell. When my brothers and I found the locked door to the newly built extension on our rental cottage, the race to find the key was on. Little did I know that exploring the room beyond would create a bridge to countless alternate realities where humans have been eradicated. Ravenous creatures stalk the night, and they want nothing more than to get onto my side and feast. But time is running out. I can’t get the bridge to break, and the more time I spend on the wrong side of the door digging for clues, the more I fade in my world. Whatever these creatures are, I’m the only thing in their way.

Knowledge Itself by Shelly Campbell and Megan King

After solar flares wipe out electrical grids worldwide, a small community survives by selling data recovered from decrepit hard drives and rare books. Nostalgic for the days of big business, the commune’s founding members call themselves Corporate and micromanage everyone. ​ Raised into the hustle, Iris Ecosia’s ADHD brain rebels at Corporate’s strict structure. It’s not all bad though. She attracts the attention of Robert Lycos, the son of one of the Shareholders, but their relationship comes to a crashing end when she loses focus at a critical moment and a vital piece of equipment is destroyed. ​ The mistake plunges her into debt. Corporate demotes her to an indentured gardener. Her romance with Robert dissolves. Worse, there are no paid sick days in the post apocalypse. So when Iris’s whole family falls ill, starvation is soon knocking on their door. Meanwhile, the Shareholders live like tycoons. Iris and her family are not alone in their poverty or their impotent rage at the corporation who keeps them poor, hungry, and dependent. An underground revolution intent on toppling Corporate wants to recruit her. She can still do big things if she joins them, but if she’s caught, the Shareholders won’t stop at destroying her. They’ll go after her family too.

An Amateur Witch's Guide to Murder by K. Valentin

A wannabe witch tries to break a curse on a clueless client in this laugh-out-loud debut, for fans of queer romantic fantasy by T. J. Klune and Tamsyn Muir. Mateo Borrero has 99 problems—and all of them hinge on his missing bruja mother and the demon she trapped inside his body. Mateo's mother forbade him from ever using magic, but now that she’s gone, magic’s his only marketable skill, and he’d really like an exorcism—which costs money he doesn’t have. What’s the harm in making a quick buck by calling himself an Occult Specialist and chanting a few half-remembered spells in his crappy Spanish? Enter Topher, a naive nepo baby with a curse that keeps killing people around him. Most importantly, he’s rich and too clueless to clock that Mateo—and his (absolutely-not-the-assistant) astral projecting best friend Ophelia—have never actually had a client before. Lifting Topher’s bad luck curse should be simple, but as luck would have it, nothing is simple, and Topher–who Mateo sort of, kind of likes–might be at the center of a deadly magical conspiracy. To make matters worse, the more magic Mateo does, the stronger the demon inside him grows and the more he wants to eat people. But would caving to the urges of an ancient evil really be that bad if it helps him get a payday? Legends and Lattes meets A Grim Reaper’s Guide to Catching a Killer in this hilarious and charming queer romantic fantasy readers won’t want to miss.

Bathed in Ink and Blood (Ink, Brand, and Knife Book 1) by Robert C. Laymon

War made him. Betrayal broke him. The Butcher of Greenlake will go to any lengths to find the truth and punish those who wronged him. He will dismantle their world stone by stone and raze it all to the ground. Signamancy opens a world of possibilities for a low-born teen. However, a power that gives can also take away. Dacre Caeinn finds himself in the company of the Butcher of Greenlake. Will the most wanted man in Camoria help Dacre save the one he loves most or will he be another victim buried in the Butcher's trail of revenge? The life of the standard noblewoman was one Raya Adan never wanted despite her father's insistence. Now, she finds herself betrothed and the idea of being shipped across the sea as little more than a commodity does not sit well with her. To gain her father's approval and show her worth as more than a bargaining chip, she dives into the investigation of recent attacks on the family's ventures. However, not all is as it seems and Raya slowly unravels truths that will upend the world she knows.

After the Syzygy by J.D. Sanderson

In 1977, humans placed the Golden Record on the Voyager spacecraft with the hope it would be found by an alien civilization in the future. In 2036, the alien equivalent arrived on Earth. When the news leaks to the press, a global wave of fear, panic, and disinformation leaves people to wonder if the damage can ever be undone. In an attempt to quell unrest, several world governments begin an open exchange of ideas and information, hoping to understand the alien signal. As decades and centuries pass, humanity works together to answer one question. Will We Find Them?

A Footstep Echo: The Complete Collection by J.D. Sanderson

Who is the Mystery Girl? Bernard Abbey's lonely, monotonous existence was forever turned upside down the day a mysterious young woman saved his life by taking him to another time. Soon Bernard realizes his new friend cannot speak or remember. Confronted with conflicting origins of her past, Bernard comes to believe his Mystery Girl is somehow linked to humanity's idyllic future. No matter when in time, someone is hunting the Mystery Girl, with government scientists, future eco-terrorists, and a host of others all in pursuit. It's a race against time for Bernard and his new friend to discover the truth about the future – and themselves.

The Construction of Shadows by Dakota Jackson

In a world where 74% of the population possesses unique abilities passed down by the 16 Divinities of the Sun and Moon, it takes a miracle to stand out… Or a disaster. Meiling Katz is a nobody. With no Divine blood and a mysterious illness that’s plagued her since the Lunar Eclipse Massacre killed her parents thirteen years ago, she’s powerless. Nevertheless, Meiling is determined to attend the prestigious Zialitos Academy for Sun-Gifted Children and rise in the ranks of their country’s lawmakers. Suraya Zialitos is a living legend. As the heir to the most powerful lineage in the world—those descended from Ataru, Divinity of the Sun—Suraya is destined for greatness. But Suraya does not want greatness, she wants revenge for her family slaughtered by the notorious Miyako family in the Massacre. When the childhood best friends arrive at the Academy only to find a string of terrorist attacks linked to the Miyakos, their initial plans go up in flames. With their friendship unraveling and the country in terror, they realize there’s only one way to solve this: together. The Construction of Shadows is the first in a YA fantasy series for fans of Percy Jackson, My Hero Academia, and Avatar the Last Airbender!

Void's Vengeance by Emma L. Adams

Former captain Yala Palathar is once again in exile, while a tyrant sits upon the throne of Laria. The armies of the dead stalk the lands, while across the country, the orders of Disciples are falling, one by one. Amid the chaos, Yala is offered an opportunity to return to the battlefield as a soldier of the highest rank. Accepting might be her only chance to get close to her enemy, but at the cost of being drawn deeper into the god of death’s domain. Niema, too, faces a raging battle in her heart, between the promises she swore to the god of life and the knowledge that the god of death has marked her, too. As the gods of life and death prepare to wage all-out war, Yala and Niema face choices that will shape the future of the nation and the world at large. Either they will bring an end to a conflict years in the making, or else watch everything they hold dear fall into the ruinous void.

Corruption's Claw by Emma L. Adams

In Laria, the truth cuts as sharp as a blade. Former captain Yala Palathar and her allies prevented the god of death from claiming another city, but at a cost. Now, war threatens between Laria and their rival nation of Rafragoria after half a decade of peace, and tensions in the capital are at an all-time high. While the unprepared monarch tries to keep everything under control, it seems inevitable that Yala and her surviving squad-mates will be called to battle once again. To complicate matters, bodies are washing up on Laria’s shores, corrupted by Mekan’s insidious magic. Yala is certain that someone is trying to push their nation into a fight that will achieve nothing but a fresh wave of souls to feed the god of death, but the Disciples of the Flame are determined to burn away the evidence - literally. As Dalathar comes ever closer to boiling over in chaos, Yala must choose whether to reveal the secrets that will either save everyone from an avoidable war… or shatter the fragile peace holding Laria together.

Traitor's Tome by Emma L. Adams

Several weeks have passed since the capital of Laria narrowly escaped destruction at the hands of the god of death and His followers. Former Captain Yala Palathar is attempting to lie low, but the dead no longer rest easily in their graves, and her role in the battle has drawn attention from potential allies and foes alike. Niema, too, has been profoundly changed by the choices she made during the battle of Dalathar, and journeying home to the Disciples of Life reveals the devastating consequences of her actions. Niema grapples with her desire to protect Yala’s secrets, but when monsters start appearing in the forest, she fears that she’s brought doom upon her own people. When the Disciples of the Flame come to Yala with the news that a dangerous book used by the god of death’s followers has gone missing, Yala is compelled to seek it out to avert further disaster. Her quest takes her to Setemar, home of the Disciples of the Earth, where her path soon crosses with Kelan and the Disciples of the Sky. It isn’t long before Kelan’s alliance with Yala puts him at odds with his fellow Disciples, and the closer Yala treads to the domain of the god of death, the louder Mekan’s voice whispers in her own ear. With threats stirring above and below ground, ally is set against ally, and not everyone will survive the calamity that will follow…

Growing Home by C.M. Howes

In an irreparably polluted world, civilization was on the brink of collapse. When the apocalypse finally came in the form of behemoth trees that destroyed the infrastructure, but cleared the air, it was called the Rejuvenation. Marlow, a former programmer, was fine surviving on his own. But when a young girl in need of protection that he can’t provide and a charismatic artist on the run from his former community stumble into his life, he’s forced to reassess the detachment he’s so carefully cultivated. Against a dominating background of fantastical woods born from the corpses of humanity, Marlow must reckon with questions of faith and love as he asks himself, how much can he dare to hope for in a ruined world?

Ranger by Dietrich Stogner

Jaina Creighton has always known what it means to sacrifice. When both her brothers are marked for conscription into the Dominion’s wars, she makes a desperate choice—trading her own freedom to join the rangers, an ancient order bound by oath to walk the wilds and guard the people. Her decision will spare her brothers from service… but binds her to a life of duty from which there is no return. Far to the south, Antoinette DeLuca—scion of one of Vetticci’s most powerful houses—has secrets carved into her every masterpiece. An artist, a spy, and a woman trapped by her family’s ambitions, she has learned to shape beauty from duty and deceit alike. When her path collides with Jaina’s, the chemistry between them is as dangerous as it is undeniable. But the Dominion is shifting. The dukes raise armies. Shadows lengthen across the land. And as the days slip away, whispers of something vast and terrible grow louder. To protect the ones they love, Jaina and Antoinette must each come to understand the truth of who they are—and choose between loyalty and desire, between what they owe and what they yearn for. The countdown has already begun. And when it ends, nothing will be the same.

Flames That Bind Us by Noah Isaacs

Dreams shape both the future and the past. This is the story of Aerym's first; the story of a fire that bound him to an eternity of torment. To Aerym, his life consisted of foraging in the woods around his village, passing the time beneath towering pines and bounding over the moss-laden ground underfoot. Well, not anymore. For Aerym is visited in the night by a strange premonition, warning him of a fire so great it will burn his entire village to the ground and everyone along with it. The only problem? Who is going to believe a nine year old boy who spends more time in the deep forest than with kids his own age? His work cut out for him, Aerym fights to prevent the fires from consuming all that he knows and loves. But time is not on his side. Nobody else is, for that matter. What is a dream, if not a sign of what is yet to come?

Echoes of the EtherStone by Lucy A. McLaren

Beth lives a seemingly perfect life of luxury in the city of Alpinside. Her upcoming betrothal to the eligible Lord Ashford is all she can focus on… until she meets El, a young woman from the slums whose father was a victim of the Scrubbers’ Stalker, the ruthless killer haunting the city.  Thrown together by the dreadful murders, the two decide to investigate. The catch? The evidence points towards Beth’s own brother as the Stalker. Their new-found friendship is tested as their investigation begins to reveal far deeper secrets than either of them were prepared for, uncovering a truth which rots the very core of Alpinside.

Once Upon A Song by Nadine Bells

Welcome to the Hôtel de Neige. Let yourself be swept away by its grandeur and glamor but beware - the cold may swallow you whole. When lonely waitress Ana lands a job as a singer at the prestigious Hôtel de Neige, she believes it to be the beginning of her fairytale. Yet she soon finds that in those eerie halls, the line between Cinderella story and Gothic nightmare blurs. Sinister dreams cause her to sleepwalk, a ballerina makes ominous threats, and a phantom in white haunts the hotel - and Ana. As Ana discovers that the hotel’s last singer lost his life under mysterious circumstances, she needs to decide if happily-ever-after is worth it. She knows she cannot trust her secretive colleagues or the charming but elusive hotel manager, Dimitri. All Ana ever wanted was to belong, but at the Hôtel de Neige, that may mean never leaving again…

Illusions of Lust by Kylie Doyle

Calliope I never asked to be a savior. This island has become my prison and my penance. It has rotted my soul and hollowed me into something unrecognizable. Redemption slipped through my fingers long ago, and now all I dream of is escape. Death waits for me at every turn, whispering promises of peace. Then he arrives. My Nightmare is tall, dark, and vengeful—vowing to bury me. Perhaps I’ll let him. I suppose real freedom only comes when your last breath has been stolen. Aztyn Calliope Veritas took everything from me. My brother’s blood stains her hands, and I’ve sworn to balance the scales with her soul. I’ve hunted monsters, and delivered justice wrapped in agony to many but she is different. There is something in her silence that sings, something in her gaze that drags me under. My obsession grows like a thorned vine, strangling reason. I think I’ll keep her close—my Little Muse—until I carve the truth from her bones

Blood of the Kami by Baptiste Pinson Wu

For centuries, the Yaseki have fought the corrupted souls who seek to plunge Japan into darkness. But the fragile balance is now shifting toward the forces of evil. Ren Fudō, a young Soul Hunter blessed with the blood of the kami, receives a mission from Amaterasu Ōmikami. This simple errand is a spirit-given chance to pay off his debt to the Yaseki. But as he and his new companion, a shrine maiden possessed by a violent land kami, take to the road, Ren remembers that spirits never give for nothing. The mission turns more dangerous and crucial with every step. The future of Japan now rests on their shoulders, and an army of Yōkai stands on their path.

Artifice & Access by Ella T. Holmes, Ashley N.Y. Sheesley, M. Stevenson, Lynne Sargent, Kara Siert, Adie Hart, Harper Kinsley, Natalie Kelda, Rascal Hartley, Casper E. Falls, Zira MacFarlane, Tam Ayers, Elior Haley, Rory G.

It’s long been acknowledged that disability representation is lacking in the fantasy genre landscape, so in this cozy anthology, fourteen writers from around the globe come together to bring you wonderful fantasy stories centering disabled and chronically ill characters. Teeming with magic, otherworldly creatures, discoveries, and journeys, every story is as thrilling and fascinating as it is passionate and meaningful. Worlds are discovered, lives are changed, and swords are drawn. Disabled and chronically ill characters go questing, fighting dragons, healing, and enacting strange magics. Familiar fairy tales are reimagined, and new fairytales are forged, with each story shattering stereotypes and challenging traditional narratives. Come see yourself reflected—or discover something new. Stories included: One Cream, Five Sugars by Harper Kinsley A Witch's Tale by Rascal Hartley Use Your Words by Zira MacFarlane The Changeling of Brushby by Natalie Kelda To Make Her Eat by M. Stevenson Hope, Be It Never So Faint by Ashley N. Y. Sheesley A Night For Mischief by Elior Haley Lessons in Botany by Casper E. Falls Stroke of Midnight, Shoes of Glass by Adie Hart In Another World, I Twist The Knife by Rory G The Knife That Makes The Cut by Lynne Sargent Angharad ferch Truniaw by Tam Ayers The Girl & The Gum-riddle by Ella T Holmes City of the Sun by Kara Siert

Tails of Battle: the Fox, the Jaguar, and the Mysterious Island by Timothy Robare

In a world of humans, elves, and animal humanoids; the fox and jaguar are at war. The two are at odds as another powerful enemy arises and begins a journey for the Mysterious Island for help. The Tournament of Kings is taking place across the sea. One queen destroys peace in the kingdoms with one choice.

The Waking of Storm and Flame by N.A. Betts

You can defy a crown. You can outrun a war. But no one escapes their bloodline. Alira Verbrandt never wanted a crown—only the quiet pursuit of knowledge. But when the ruthless Illyrian Empire marches on her homeland, the princess of Namelle is forced into a war that began long before her time. On the eve of invasion, Alira discovers a dangerous truth: she is a Fate, the heir of a divine bloodline tied to ancient power and prophecy. Hunted for what she is and burdened with what she must become, Alira must unite others like her to awaken a rebel god—their last hope against annihilation. But even the gods have something to fear. An ancient prophecy stirs, warning of their creator’s return—and with him, a final judgment that could erase both mortals and immortals alike.

Soft Launch (Zeta Love Story #1) by Olivia Carter

A high-heat, emotionally grounded queer romance about burnout, vulnerability, and falling hard—on camera and off. Remy: I wasn’t trying to go viral. I was just doing my job. Glitter, spandex, party chaos. Then suddenly I was internet famous, and everything got louder. Too many eyes. Too much pressure. I couldn’t keep up. Enter Karim El-Amin. Ex-wellness star. Content whisperer. Calm-in-a-storm kind of guy. He says he can help me build something sustainable. I’m trying to be cool about it. I’m failing. Karim: After I burned out, I swore I was done. No more cameras. No more public anything. Just yoga, hot tea, and quiet mornings above a queer café. Then Remy showed up. Loud. Glittery. Overwhelmed. He asked for help and I said yes. I thought I could stay detached. I thought I could keep it professional. I was wrong. Now we’re building something together. A platform. A relationship. A life. If we can stop spiraling long enough to hold onto it. Soft Launch is a high-heat, emotionally grounded queer romance about burnout, creator chaos, mutual support, and falling hard—online and off. It features slow burn to explosive heat, soft dom energy, neck kisses as a love language, and a tender third act separation with a guaranteed happily ever after. It’s book one in the Zeta Love Story series and can be read as a standalone.

Summon D for Demon by Dove Soleil

The book said “Pleasure.” This is apparently what the universe thinks I mean by that. Silvia didn’t expect the spell she found in the old hall closet grimoire to work at all, let alone summon a demon. She certainly didn’t expect to summon only one… very specific and enormous part of him. But what starts as loneliness quickly turns to connection. She brought him here by accident, but she brought him back on purpose. Each time, there’s more of him, no matter how much he tries to hide. Ari isn’t ready to be seen yet, but he’s falling for her just as hard as she’s falling for him.

Cinnamon Soul by Quinn Lawrence

"The two of us against all of them? How unfair for them." In Velles, a cosmopolitan city of fading magic, the prince’s daughter, and heir to the throne, has gone missing. That she appears to have done so voluntarily is of little consolation to the prince. He hires Hokuren, a newly independent private investigator who demands perfection of herself and works tirelessly until she’s solved the case. And she always solves the case–even if most of them so far have been finding lost pet cats (don’t tell anyone that part). Her assistant is Cinna, an elf hired fresh off the streets–literally. She’s everything Hokuren is not: sloppy, uneducated, and lacking in restraint or filter. But Cinna’s impulsiveness and willingness to get her hands dirty makes her the perfect foil for Hokuren’s reserved, thoughtful nature. As the two chase down the princess, their case develops into a much bigger conspiracy. Hokuren doggedly pursues secret after secret, unraveling a scheme to find a long-lost goddess that’s been running in the background of Velles’s seedy underbelly for over two decades. And she might find out that her unassuming assistant hides the biggest secret of them all... A lighthearted and fast-paced fantasy adventure full of action, mystery and sly humor, Cinnamon Soul is also the heart-warming exploration of an unbreakable bond of friendship forged between two women as they struggle against the forces of the elite and powerful.

Hounded - Ashes to Ashes by Quinn Cameron

Some creatures are born to burn; only a few can rise again. Indy remembers everything now: the failed cross-country escape, the moment he lost Loren, and the demons that are hunting him. His past is less of a mystery, but his present grows more dangerous by the day. Loren’s return is far from the solution to Indy’s myriad problems. The archdemon Nero still wants his tears and is willing to enlist every one of the newly made hellhounds to get them. With his powers fading and the threat on his existence looming larger than ever, Indy is running out of options. Even with aid from a new group of allies, survival is far from guaranteed. In the end, no force in Heaven or on Earth can save Indy except, maybe, himself. If only he knew how.

Tethered by TJ Williams

One boy, his mother, and a captain with secrets from her crew. Amongst the stars, all things lost are found. Marlowe Rose has been fighting her ex, Dominik, for a decade. When he kidnaps their son, she sneaks onto his starship, planning to give him hell. Instead, she ends up caught, sequestered and questioned by the captain. But Tanisira Sekmith isn’t what Marlowe thought she was, and when it becomes clear that they’re all just puppets in Dominik’s eyes, Marlowe convinces the stoic captain to help rescue her son. Tanisira promised herself she’d make no waves, catch no one’s attention, and cruise under the radar. Misplacing her trust once changed the trajectory of her whole life. After the fallout from her last job, flying a pleasure yacht is supposed to be boring and easy—exactly what she wants. But finding Marlowe on the ship changes everything. Marlowe sees her, shadows and all, and it forces Tanisira to face things she tried to leave behind. Marlowe doesn’t expect to find, on this journey that she dreaded, something she’d given up. And Tanisira doesn’t know if she deserves happiness, but she doesn’t want to lose this: a kid with big, green eyes and his fierce, captivating mother. Described as Becky Chambers meets Delilah Green Doesn't Care, Tethered is a Sapphic, soft science-fiction romance. There are content warnings in the front matter and on my website.

House of Muir (Shadow Twins Book 2) by Luke Tarzian

ONCE MARKED, ALWAYS MARKED… The war that was won is lost. His country razed and friends dead, Cailean Catil seeks the miserable solace of inebriation. But fate has other plans for ill-lucked men. An ocean away, he returns to the Galrun Muir, the order from which he was previously exiled. Seeking answers as to why they now worship the monster haunting his dreams, Cailean embarks on a quest to confront the ghost of Gabriel Muir and seal his tomb. Should he succeed, all will be made clear. But some truths are better left dead. THE GUILT WILL ALWAYS CALL YOU BACK… Fiel has lost everything. Her niece is dead at the hands of Te Mirkvahíl and her country has been razed by the demon’s legions. But fate has other plans for ill-lucked women. An ocean away, in the city Harbanan, Fiel resumes her search for Vare Tal-úlm. Her journey leads her to the monster-hunting Galrun Muir who claim not only to have knowledge of Vare, but of Fiel’s previous visit to their hallowed grounds. Lady Mirkvahíl, they say, has returned. THE DEAD RISE… Behtréal has won. Helveden is a ruin, the Ariathan Empire is dead, and The Keepers’ Wrath is his to wield. With it, in the dead city Banerowos, he can rewrite history and reclaim lives lost—he can bring his people back. But things are not so simple as that, for within the dead city Behtréal must contend with the guilt of memory and all its ghosts. MADNESS IN TRUTH… The doors have opened. Welcome in.

Liminal Monster by Luke Tarzian

IN THE CENTER OF THE FOREST SITS A HOUSE OF LEAVES AND ASH. INSIDE THE HOUSE, HIS HEART AND LIES. Inside the house called Sempiternity there is a lake, at the center of which an island sits. Upon the island, a spire of stone. Surrounding the spire, an orchard of dreams. Beneath an apple tree sits faceless Self, who writes of sorry things. "What an awful place. What a cruelty it is, being birthed of pain." But when a dog that should not be wanders into Sempiternity through a door that should not be, Self learns a terrible truth: Sempiternity is no longer safe, no longer theirs. Fictional failures come in search of proper ends, in search of slaughter quelled by Self's prosaic hand. In search of lies. Thus, Self departs Sempiternity for the forest dark, for at its center is the ruined town of Own. The place where the nightmare began.

The Demon of Elderstay by I. Ribbon

Magical makeovers are a messy business. But how was junior arcane lecturer Gerome to know his attempt to improve a part of his anatomy would open a portal to the Shade Planes? Or, worse, unleash the all-powerful “Harbinger of the New Dark” – fondly or not nicknamed Al? Utterly broke and burdened with demon (literally), Gerome begrudgingly joins a shady nobleman’s quest to free the stronghold of Elderstay from a powerful curse. His dysfunctional crew – the insufferable siblings Bijan and Najib, the perpetually moody Polly, and the enigmatic green-skinned Sha-sha – have more problems than they can wave a wand at. Walking corpses and ritual blood circles aside, Gerome is running out of time. At any moment, Al might break free and end the world. As for the horrors that await them in Elderstay? Let's just say the "New Dark" is the least of their worries…

Grim Reflection by A. Lawrence

Ghosts are real. Shay and her friend Max are searching for evidence of ghosts in a haunted house when things go horribly wrong. A spooky house turns out to hold an entity that can not only touch Shay, but tries to drag her into an antique mirror. Trouble escalates when her brother is seemingly possessed and disappears. Someone, or something, is riling up and gathering ghosts in the little town of Teton Falls. Shay, with the help of friends and new acquaintances, has to solve the mystery of who, or what, is responsible for this paranormal activity – before they destroy the town and everyone she cares about.

SHATTERED: A Sanguine Stars Novella by Nicholas W Fuller

Poey Targe's job was to stand at attention and look good in a uniform unless someone earned themselves an ass kicking. He spent years climbing the ranks to be a Master Sergeant in the Sorento Royal Senate Guard and now has the top tier gig - he's Guardian to High Senator Sara Brand, one of the leaders of the planet Sorento. Life is going pretty good for Poey and he’s looking forward to a future of settling down and retiring from his... but all that changes when High Senator Brand receives troubling news… SHATTERED is the story of doing the right thing... And the consequences of those actions. It's the story of Poey Targe, Sara Brand, and a few friends as they struggle to keep their planet safe. SHATTERED: A Sanguine Stars Novella - is a short, action packed science fantasy read that features political intrigue, a lot of fu

The Kraken's Castaway by Cassandra Medcalf

I drowned in Lake Superior. I was rescued by some ancient god monster in the depths of the lake. I've got gills now, that's fun. And I'm apparently the smokin' hottest thing this Viking octopus shifter has ever seen. Cool. Cool cool cool. Lillian and Erik have a problem. They were cursed by two wayward Titans holed up in Lake Superior, trapped on an island, and won't be set free until they agree to be surrogate and seed donor for an entire hoard of monster babies. The solution? Simple. No funny business, no matter how tempting the tentacles. But the longer they’re held captive, the closer they become. Giving into their feelings could mean the end of the world as they know it, but eternity is a long time. And as the two of them develop a stronger and stronger connection, the torture of staying apart becomes all the more impossible to bear. With the world at stake, are they strong enough to keep their hands off each other? Or is their attraction even greater than the forces they’re keeping at bay?

The Seventh Sister by Millie Abecassis

Seer Éliane is destined to a brilliant future as a servant of Aurië, the Sun-God. Everything changes when the High Seer, her superior, becomes jealous of Éliane's abilities and chases her from the temple. Having no family, Éliane has no choice but to find refuge in Sanctuary, the mysterious mansion of Lady of Clairemont, alongside six women living there as sisters and refugees. When the sisters begin to disappear, Éliane must find the truth about Sanctuary and its secretive owner before she disappears, too. A horrific retelling of Bluebeard and Snow White, The Seventh Sister is a tale about sisterhood and overcoming adversity.

Luxuria by Colette Rhodes

Ophelia has a dirty secret. Well, it’s not really a secret anymore. Ophelia was born into a family of Hunters, tasked with protecting the humans from the creatures of the night who feast on their fear. Except Ophelia always found the idea of monsters kind of intriguing. She even made the grave sin of committing some X-rated monster thoughts to paper—which in hindsight may not have been the best idea because her parents were mortified—but you live and learn. Well, everyone finds out your secret, you get banished from society, and then you learn. But the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity Ophelia has been waiting for to make good on some of those fantasies has arrived. The King of Shades requires a hunter bride, and Ophelia is the best fit for the job. Now she just needs to convince her surly monster husband, Allerick, that she’s the best fit for him.

Ensnared by Tiffany Roberts

Ketahn did not want a mate. Fate has a different plan for him. When the queen he despises declares her intention to claim him, he retreats into the jungle. What he finds there changes his world. Small, delicate, and pale skinned, Ivy Foster is nothing like the females Ketahn has known. She’s not of his kind at all. Yet the moment he sees her, he knows the truth in his soul—she is his heartsthread. And now that he has her, he won’t let anything take her away. Not the jungle, not the gods, not the queen and her warriors. Whether Ivy agrees or not, their webs are entangled. No one will ever sever those threads.

The Maestro's Mates by J.B. Warrick

One grumpy gargoyle. One hopeful vampire. One chaotic witch. Three fated mates face a looming threat. Pavel has been called cranky, aloof, and an exacting musical genius, but what should people expect? He’s three thousand years old. He’ll soon be entering the final stage of a gargoyle’s life span, transforming into a statue and going dormant forever. So why would the universe throw his mates at him now, when he has so little time left? He desperately wants to protect them, to guide them, but he’s terrified he’ll be a burden as he descends into oblivion. Justin is working hard to overcome his anxiety and stay positive as he rebuilds after a disastrous few years. When he discovers his two fated mates at his new opera job, he rejects them out of hand. Sure, giving up control to these two men would fulfill every one of his fantasies, but love already screwed up his life once. Sebastian is a witch with a rare affinity—chaos—and that quality follows him wherever he goes. His opera career is taking off, and finding his mates is just the cherry on the sundae! Even if they may not be ready for the power of his seductive, mischievous personality. The three soon find that ignoring their connection is impossible, especially when they have to see each other every day. And they can’t escape each other when they’re trapped together in the opera house elevator. But whatever headway they’ve made is arrested by the return of Sebastian’s power-hungry sister. Can the three fated mates accept their bond in time to survive her attack and save their new family?

Foresyth Conservatory by A. L. Sterling

Ninth House meets Mexican Gothic in a dark academia, gothic mystery where the cards are stacked against reason-and the price of knowledge is blood. Dahlia Blackburne is a failing bookstore keeper and Tarot reader who relies on deductive reasoning--not magick--to cast her fortunes. When a stranger calling himself the Meister walks into her shop after closing and offers three times her normal rate for a reading, curiosity and her growing debts compel her to accept. But the reading reveals that the Meister has a far more dangerous proposition: infiltrate Foresyth Conservatory, an elite occult arts graduate school, and investigate the alleged suicide of brilliant but troubled student, Julian Earhardt. Desperate to care for her ailing mother after her father's recent death, Dahlia agrees to investigate. But inside Foresyth's rose-thorned walls, Dahlia is thrust into the school's ruthless academic Circle, a cadre of students including the seductive "Trees," Aspen and Sequoia, who are obsessed with creating art that doesn't merely imitate life, but transcends it. As the line between performance and passion blurs, Dahlia must confront the truth about Julian, her peers, and a dangerous form of magick that isn't taught-but inherited. The cards at Foresyth have already been dealt . . . Now it's time for Dahlia to play her hand.

Signing Off for the Summer by Alyssa Delle Palme

Signing Off for the Summer is a romance novel about an overwhelmed radio journalist who withdraws from her toxic workplace, a bad relationship, and city life and escapes to her family’s cottage for the summer where she rediscovers her voice and the magic of falling in love. When Maggie Taylor, an up-and-coming journalist, suddenly quits a prestigious radio internship at 880 News in Toronto, she infuriates her close-knit family. Unbeknownst to her overbearing parents and controlling boyfriend, Maggie suffered a traumatic abuse of power when her boss propositioned her, and she is too ashamed to talk about it. She escapes to her grandmother’s cottage on Cedar Lake for the summer. There she finds solace and healing and begins to develop a close friendship with her cottage neighbour, Thomas. Everything takes a turn for the worse when Maggie’s aunt shows up with surprising news. More trouble follows when her former boss makes an unexpected return to her life, threatening everything Maggie has built with Thomas. In order to move forward, Maggie must face her past and learn to use her voice.

Trans & Disabled by Alex Iantaffi

To be trans and disabled means to have experienced harassment, discrimination, loneliness, often poverty, to have struggled with feeling unworthy of love. To be trans and disabled means experiencing ableism within our trans communities and transphobia within our disabled communities. To be trans and disabled means to love our fellow trans and disabled people harder than we could ever love ourselves. This anthology brings together vulnerable stories, poems, plays, drawings, and personal essays. They explore how we make sense of ourselves, our intersections of identities and experiences, of how we are treated, and how much love we are capable of, sometimes even for ourselves.

Blue Ridge Calling by Olivia Neal

The Appalachian mountains are some of the oldest in the world. They say ancient magic runs through these rivers and valleys. Two years ago, a car accident on a perilous mountain road sent a family into freefall, and none of them have been the same since. Sage used to have everything under perfect grades, record times on the swim team, and carefully medicated ADHD. But ever since her mom died, she' s just been going through the motions, and no one in her family seems to notice. Kora has known Sage' s family her whole life, so losing Sage' s mom was like losing her own. At the end of the summer, she' s supposed to abandon her beloved Blue Ridge mountains for a prestigious art school in New York, but leaving now feels wrong. And an unexpected romance with a new girl in town might complicate things. Then there' s Sam, Sage' s older brother. He' s spent the last two years traipsing through the mountains, trying to find evidence of local ghost stories. He said he would be back by now, but no one has heard from him. To find him, Kora and Sage will have to dig deeper into the myths and legends of the mountains they call home — before it' s too late.

The Mean Ones by Tatiana Schlote-Bonne

So what if Sadie hears talking dead animals and a strange, comforting male voice in her head? The therapist insists these are just symptoms of PTSD. It makes sense considering that she hid under the bed and watched as her best friends were slaughtered. But the murders were seventeen years ago, back when her name was Sabrina. Now, she’s Sadie: a perfectly normal 29-year-old. She works as a physical therapist assistant and lifts weights with her boyfriend, Lucas, who’s the sweetest, most considerate man—as long as he’s not angry. But when Lucas spontaneously agrees to join a couples trip to a cabin in the woods, the visions get worse, a strange figure stalks her during the night, and that male voice in Sadie’s head keeps calling, asking her to do things she’s never fathomed. Sadie’s not sure if it’s her paranoia or something else entirely . . . But she is sure of one thing—this time, she’s not going to sit idly by as everything starts to unravel.

Song of the Hell Witch by Taylor Hartley

Once a vicious street rat, Prudence Merriweather has clawed her way to the top of society and now enjoys newfound power as the Duchess of Talonsbury. All she has to do to protect her fragile position is maintain the act of gentility, make her husband happy—and keep her monstrous magic a secret. Puck Reed, the Thief Lord of Talonsbury, once delighted in taking risks and humiliating the social elite at any cost, but now lives a quieter criminal lifestyle. With a daughter of his own to protect, Puck tries to lay low and stay safe for her benefit. His daughter, Bea, suffers from a mysterious illness bent on killing her, and Puck will stop at nothing to find a cure. When Prudence’s magic betrays her, she has no choice but to flee—and who better to smuggle her out of the city than her childhood best friend and former sweetheart, Puck Reed? With the help of old friends and new allies, they learn about Stormlash, a safe haven miles beyond the city walls where women and their magic can flourish beyond the oppressive eye of Leora’s religious fanatics. Stormlash may also hold the key to curing Bea’s illness. The challenge? Keep her alive long enough to get there. With Bea’s illness claiming more of her strength, Puck and Pru must work together to reach Stormlash and, in the process, confront a growing evil threatening to devour the country they call home.

A Draught for a Dragon by R.K. Ashwick

Goodnight, sleep tight—don’t let the dragons bite. After Ambrose Beake’s kidnapping two years ago, he’s determined to return to normal life. A simple routine of running his potion shop, training his apprentice, daydreaming about his boyfriend Eli’s pending proposal… (Eli tries to hide it. Ambrose knows he bought the ring months ago.) But when an angry dragon trapped beneath the city demands help through Ambrose’s dreams, he realizes his adventure isn’t yet finished. He quickly concocts a plan: shrink the dragon with a potion and smuggle it to safety before the city discovers its presence. To retrieve the needed ingredients, however, he must take a cue from his customers…and go on a quest himself. While Ambrose, Eli, and friends fumble through heroics abroad, his apprentice Nat takes control of the shop. Before long, she struggles to keep the dragon problem—and her feelings for another apprentice—under wraps. Magical merchants both near and far must pull themselves together…before the city goes on its own quest to slay the dragon.

Wriggly Little Hands by Alex Knight

Oli the goblin is the last creature anyone would send on a world-ending quest. But the Dark Lord's under siege and without his doomsday weapon, those pesky forces of Good might just get it done this time. Seizing the long-awaited opportunity to serve their Big Boss, Oli and his cousins strike out on a super secret mission to retrieve the doomsday weap- on a road trip to see their family. With the hopes of every creature sinister and foul riding on them, the goblins hurry directly to their destination. Mostly directly. Okay, so it's more of a zigzag. Also the wicked item delivery network is in shambles on account of the war, and since they're already headed that way, maybe the goblins could help out the Dark Lord's spies and deliver a few evil packages? Agents of Good await at every stop, but with empty heads and too-big hearts, Oli and his bumbling family deliver the packages (mostly), sabotage the forces of evil (accidentally), and save their Dark Lord (probably). All of this while facing down the dangers of road rage, unionization, and one genie wish gone terribly wrong. The final battle's brewing between good and evil, and the fate of the world rests in Oli's wriggly little hands. Gods help us all.

The Spirit's Curse by R.K. Ashwick

The spirits have awoken—and can never sleep again.   After being roused to defend against a magical disaster, the nature spirits of Thalis have begun to leave their groves and mingle with humans. Eager to welcome their verdant new friends, Emry, Cal, and Aspen take center stage once more: they throw the country’s first spirit festival. Music and merriment abound—but when an angry lynx attacks Aspen onstage, demanding to know how to go back to sleep in his grove, Emry realizes that not every spirit wants this new life…and he has no idea how to return them to their old one.   The trio and their allies venture into an old-growth forest, seeking answers from Yarrow, the country’s oldest spirit. But Yarrow has grown treacherous—instead of helping them, it traps them in Raven’s Rest, a stubborn little village fighting for its place in the forest.   As Yarrow’s malice grows and the spirits question their place in the world, Emry, Cal, and Aspen must join forces with the village to subdue Yarrow—even if it means destroying the very answers they seek.

Cello’s Gate by Maurice Africh

Returning from a harrowing heist involving a neon battery and a trash chute, Grey and his crew are approached by Dalia, the immortal daughter of the infamous ArchGovernor—and she has an offer. The job? Locate and steal the Stones of Indigo—seven fabled rocks invested with godlike power. The search for the first stone is a bona fide treasure hunt, guided by an ancient map to a deadly, uncharted island that’s protected by a mysterious guardian. The score? One million credits per crew member, per stone. The catch? Well, that’s where things get a little complicated. The stones don’t exist. They’re a myth. A bedtime story told to little pirates to make them believe that power and wealth are attainable if you just work hard enough. And to make matters infinitely worse, Grey’s never trusted immortals, and Dalia’s definitely hiding something. Something bad. And if they don’t figure out what it is, it might cost them their lives. ONE CREW OF SKY PIRATES SEVEN MYTHOLOGICAL STONES A RACE TO FIND THEM ALL

The Pig in the Derby Hat by M.A. Knights

Young Clementine Trussel didn’t go looking for the supernatural. It found her. When a small pig wearing a derby hat falls out of her Granny’s window, Clementine is inclined to believe she’s seeing things. Only someone else saw it too, the mysterious Theophilius Gout, and he claims to be an expert in the paranormal. There is definitely something odd about the fat, tweed-clad man, and when her Granny falls deathly ill, Clementine is uneasy entrusting her recovery to a stranger. Even one as enigmatic as Mr Gout. Besides, he seems more interested in the cakes from her parents’ bakery than anything…otherworldly. But with her grandmother's life, and Clementine's own future, hanging in the balance, she is forced to follow him into a world of magic and monsters hidden in the shadows of her quiet hometown. Will they be in time to save her Granny? Is Mr Gout what he claims to be? And just what exactly is the pig in the derby hat?