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Spaceman Steve and the Quest for the Awesome Artifact by Joel N. Cooper Spaceman Steve is pretty sure he's in the wrong story. Steve knows he is a character in a fictional book, but he believes he should be in space killing aliens instead of fighting fire-breathing dragons, crossing enchanted rivers, and being thrown into dungeons. He finds himself in a medieval fantasy world, despite his high-tech space suit. Steve discovers the backpack he's wearing is magical, as he often pulls out objects that may or may not be helpful. The queen of Chradaria believes he is a wizard, so she brings him on her quest to find an artifact of great importance that could save her kingdom. Zab, a neighboring king who happens to be immortal, has a long history of doing whatever it takes to expand his borders. He sends his army into Chradaria, and the queen believes he will soon attack the capital city in an attempt to conquer her kingdom. As she fears for the safety of her people, the queen and Steve set off on a quest to steal the golden amulet that provides Zab with his immortality. Steve seeks to help the queen on her quest, while also mocking the author for his lazy writing. |
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Herald of the Witch’s Mark by Kellen Graves Saffron finally has the one thing he's always wanted: a chance to attend school. To be able to do so alongside Prince Cylvan, even while glamoured as a high fey and pretending not to know one another, Saffron is eager to finally experience the education he's always dreamed of. But the expectations of being a perfect fey lord are suffocating enough, and are only made more difficult as the unfettered rowan magic in his body runs wild. Outside of the emotionally-charged nosebleeds that come whenever he's overwhelmed, he's able to keep the magic subdued--until one unfortunate confrontation outside of the school, where it manifests in the form of a nightmare he never thought he'd have to witness again. He desperately needs help understanding how to control his new magic, but there's only one person he knows who can offer mentorship: the stranger who appeared in his hospital room after the events on Ostara. Between acting a high fey, pretending to be courted by Cylvan as strangers, the unexpected difficulties of attending school for the first time, and managing the ancient magic running wild in his veins, Saffron has no choice but to trust Ryder Kyteler who can skip through the veil with ease, and who has been gathering disenfranchised humans to teach them arid magic on the outskirts of Avren for years. Otherwise, the new, violent manifestation of Saffron's magic may hurt the people he cares about most. |
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The Pastel Grand Prix by Skyler Krenn Together, they'll paint the town.When thirteen-year-old Alec learns about the annual bike race that combines racing with art, he's expecting a fun new experience. What he isn't expecting is Damian, the lanky, curly-haired boy who helps him out of his shell and becomes his first real friend. With Damian's help, Alec aims for first prize -- and learns some surprising things about himself along the way. |
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[The magic is gone…or is it?] Lucian is a jaded flirt and professional bard who knows all the old songs about sorcery. When he meets Corwin, a shy mage who can still use magic despite the Drought, Lucian finds his desire growing with each passing day—not just for answers, but for Corwin himself. Sparks fly as they find themselves passionately entangled in adventure and each other. But learning the true origin of the Drought and the Key to ending it comes at a price that their bond may not survive… |
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Environmental scientist, Zoe Antos’s world has forever been changed. When a mysterious illness sweeps across the globe, the Arrow Equilibrium is only too happy to place the blame on Zoe. Injured and on the run, the only thing that matters now is survival. But at some point, survival isn’t enough. Zoe is determined to stop running and find a way to live in this new world. As a new community grows around her, so does the danger. The Arrows won’t stop till she dead, regardless of the collateral damage. Separated from his fiancé, Cole Wilborn finds himself a prisoner of the Arrows. His parents are determined to make him see things their way, even if it means completely breaking down his spirit in the process. Unable to get to Zoe, he is committed to keeping the Arrows off her trail. With the help of his older siblings, he plays the part of dutiful son while gathering information to make his escape. Cole will soon learn that freedom may have consequences he never imagined. Zoe and Cole must find a way to turn the tide in their favor before it crashes down and pulls them under. |
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Into the Forest by Jennifer Willcock What if the Wolf fell in love with Red Riding Hood? Prince Teowulf, Crown Prince of the Wolf Kingdom, believes the lessons of superiority he’s learned from childhood until a chance encounter with a despised Forester, Jenna “Rider” Hood. Rider is the daughter of Dr. Hood, the premiere pharmacist of Wolf Kingdom, and she turns Prince Teo’s world upside down, making him question everything he’s ever believed about the Foresters. When sickness strikes the Wolf clan, Rider and Prince Teo must work together to save lives. But can they get past their own hate and prejudice to help others? Will the sparks between Rider and Teo fizzle or burst into flame? |
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Shadow's Debt by Danni Williams Dragon shifter Simone just wants to be left alone. But a debt owed by her father to vampire lord Andre Silversbane will disrupt Simone’s future. Add to that a crazy vampire King who thinks Simone is the key to a major artifact and it will be all that she can do to stay alive. Simone is happily anticipating starting a new life in Chicago when life drops a bombshell on her. Her father owes vampire lord Andre Silversbane a debt and has given her to him. Now Simone has to learn to survive among the Nightshade vampires as the new Lady Silversbane. And, survive a plot by the Mad King Rapheal, who wants her to retrieve an artifact that should remain hidden. When tragedy strikes, Simone will have to make a decision that will change the world as she knows it or destroy it. |
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The Guardians' Daughter by A.M. McPherson She wanted to forget her past. Love will force her to remember. Ember Vulterra’s parents were Guardians—people who used their abilities to protect the city of Stalwarth no matter the cost. But when they pay the ultimate price to stop a villain attack, Ember loses her faith in the city’s heroes, swearing to never follow in her parents’ footsteps. Aiden Stiles was accepted into the University of Stalwarth, ready to start his training to become a Guardian. Yet, a dark secret resurfaces when he meets Ember, linking him to her parents. Will Aiden risk everything and tell Ember what he knows? Or will he try to help her uncover what really happened to her parents, while hiding his secret? As the two grow closer, hearts are bound to be broken, no matter the choice he makes. A.M. McPherson breaks onto the literary scene with a coming-of-age story full of romance, mental health themes, and mystery. Fans of My Hero Academia and Young Justice will enjoy this fresh take on a superhero world that mirrors our own. |
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Prophecy Trilogy: New Moon (Prophecy Series Book 1) by Liz Bullard Step into a captivating realm of destiny and redemption in 'New Moon.' Join Eli, a Zodian warrior haunted by the aftermath of a devastating battle, and Talia, a water warrioress struggling to mend her shattered marriage. As they navigate a world of elemental magic and treacherous challenges, Eli is tasked with finding the Chosen One, Tabatha. Will she be the cure to his darkness and the savior in this land of fighters, or will she turn away from destiny and fail to reach her full potential? |
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The Fine Line Between Us by Ruth Miranda Jayal Hasen has never had a one night stand, or taken someone home for sex - he's just not that kind of man. Not with his past. But when his best friend introduces him to internationally acclaimed model Lu HaoRan, the attraction is immediate. The chemistry between them is such that, contrary to his character and all the fears he still can't shake, the two end up in bed. And though it was supposed to be just a one-night-stand, Jayal finds himself entertaining unexpected thoughts of something else... Lu HaoRan isn't looking for a relationship - he doesn't believe that's in the stars for him. Not with his life. But after spending the night with Jayal Hasen, he can think of nothing else, the memory of what took place becoming the buyoy he turns to when under stress. After weeks of trying to fight his growing obsession with a man he hardly knows and has never seen again, he's ready to throw caution to the wind and do all he can to meet Jayal again. Still, a fine line stands between them, one that's made of everything they hide from one another, secrets that threaten to break them apart, even before they come together. With neither finding the courage to cross that line, they risk losing each other without ever meeting again. Who will take the first step? |
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Non-Player Character by Veo Corva Not all fantasy worlds live only in our imaginations. 32-year old Tar feels like a Non-Player Character in their own life. They’ve been utterly sidelined by their anxiety and they spend all their spare time playing video games. Then they get invited to play Kin, a tabletop role-playing game their friend swears will change their life. And it does, but not in the way Tar expects. Friendship, it turns out, is even better than escapism. But what none of them knew was that it would change their life a second time. Because the world of Kin is real. And the whole party soon discovers that changing your setting doesn’t change you. Non-Player Character is a cosy, queer portal fantasy for adults featuring a non-binary autistic protagonist and their found family of fantasy-loving nerds. |
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Does Love Always Win? by Diane Billas Does Love Always Win is a sapphic coming of age young adult novel that explores coming out and understanding one’s sexual orientation. Sam “Shorty” Daniels has a plan for her senior year, but her romantic life being a hot mess was not part of the agenda. Shorty quickly discovers she’s not attracted to her newest boyfriend and fellow marching band member Zack despite her many hours of daydreaming of what it would be like to date him. Their flirting previously had been so intense that those feelings have to come back again, right? When Shorty’s asked to show the snarky new girl around high school, Shorty’s instantly intrigued by Kristy’s wit, and they bond over their love of writing. They quickly become inseparable, and Shorty has a breakthrough moment realizing why none of her other relationships worked out. Just as Shorty is about to break up with Zack, her bitter ex-boyfriend Bryan threatens to out her to the entire school and Shorty’s conservative parents. Will Shorty be able to overcome Bryan’s ridiculous blackmail scheme and get her dream girl? |
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MOONLIGHT Book I: Dusk by Beau Van Dalen Ilragorn’s history never lies. The obedient ones live. The traitors always perish. In daylight, Indigo Sarte is the perfect daughter, a future student of the Healing Arts. In the shadows, he is a master of forbidden alchemy, ruthless and cunning, all in the name of fulfilling his wish for true freedom. Indigo’s sights are set on The Academy—a prestigious establishment where aspiring alchemists are taught to master gifts inherited from their birthrights. But Indigo is recognized as a woman amongst his peers, and The Academy’s rules are clear: Women heal. Men fight. Disobey—die. |
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Moon-Bright Tides by RoAnna Sylver The night sky is very dark without a moon, and there hasn't been one for decades. Without one to govern the oceans, it falls to Riven, reluctant sea-witch, to sail out alone every night across the midnight ocean to cast a spell to call in the tides. She hates it. Hates the moonless dark, hates the endless deep, and hates the fact that without a witch to sing in the tides, sea and land alike would fall to ruin. Riven faces her worst fear every night for years - until she meets a mermaid. Her new friend is lost, starving, and just as lonely as she is. And now that they've found one another, neither of their nights on the midnight sea will be the same. |
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Hyvilma (The Kitra Saga #3) by Gideon Marcus [A damaged ship, a dying shipmate–can she save both?] Under attack! The flight back to Hyvilma should have been the easy part for the crew of the Majera–until a deadly ambush by pirates sends them reeling through hyperspace. Now getting to the planet in time is the only way Captain Kitra Yilmaz can save her dying friend. But landing at Hyvilma may be impossible: war has broken out on the Frontier. With illustrations by Hugo Finalist Lorelei Esther. |
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Sirena (The Kitra Saga #2) by Gideon Marcus [One starship, six friends, 10,000 lives in the balance.] Hugo Award Finalist Gideon Marcus has done it again with this second installment in The Kitra Saga. Sirena is a thrilling YA space adventure, unusually hopeful and optimistic in a sea of grimdark, dystopian releases. Enhanced with beautiful illustrations, fans of Becky Chambers’ Wayfarers and Emily Skrutskie’s Bonds of Brass will adore Sirena. Young captain-for-hire Kitra Yilmaz has gotten her first contract: escort the mysterious Princess of Atlántida beyond the Frontier and find her a new world. It’s a risky job, fraught with the threat of pirates, dangerous squatters, and rising romantic tensions. Still, Kitra and her crew are up for anything – until they find a lush world, perfect for settlement…with an enormous ghost ship already in orbit. What secret does the crippled vessel hide? And is Kitra ready to take responsibility for its precious cargo? With illustrations by Hugo Finalist Lorelei Esther. |
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[Stranded in space: no fuel, no way home… and no one coming to help.] From the pen of Hugo Finalist Gideon Marcus comes the found-family, YA Space Adventure you’ve been waiting for: Nineteen-year-old Kitra Yilmaz dreams of traveling the galaxy like her Ambassador mother. But soaring in her glider is the closest she can get to touching the stars — until she stakes her inheritance on a salvage Navy spaceship. On its shakedown cruise, Kitra’s ship plunges into hyperspace, stranding Kitra and her crew light years away. Tensions rise between Kitra and her shipmates: the handsome programmer, Fareedh; Marta, biologist and Kitra’s ex-girlfriend; Peter, the panicking engineer; and the oddball alien navigator, Pinky. Now, running low on air and food, it’ll take all of them working together to get back home. With illustrations by Hugo Finalist Lorelei Esther. |
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On the day Derek reveals to his best friend how he can move objects with his mind, the demonstration goes awry and almost kills her. Now they’re being hunted by a monster he accidentally created. Spurred by the mysterious monster, a series of worsening superpower-related accidents lead Derek to lose control of his powers, sending him and his friends on a journey throughout time. Along the way, they start to unravel the source of their devastating powers and add new members to their band of misfits. Together they must overcome their past mistakes in order to survive and claw their way back home, if their home even still exists. |
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A Good Rush of Blood by Matt Phillips A mother's sins haunt a teenage runaway in this scorching mystery of criminal conspiracy, street-level justice, and unlikely courage. Creeley Nash has been running her entire life. That includes running drugs for a wannabe kingpin. On a drug run to Palm Springs—the town where Creeley escaped her no-good mother as a teen—she’ll encounter a sun-drenched facade beneath which lurks a web of dark secrets. A Good Rush of Blood follows Creeley as she unravels the mystery of her estranged mother’s murder conviction. Peopled with bent cops, grizzled reporters, hardened drug dealers, eccentric sidekicks and sexy librarians, this sweaty, fast-paced neo-noir finds stellar noir scribe Matt Phillips (Countdown, Know Me from Smoke) at the apex of his dirty, lethal game. |
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How to steal a demon's heart and get away with it by Devi Letalis Dante, a single father and demon hunter, has already completed multiple curious adventures in his life - from the elimination of minor demons to tracking down undead sheep. When he meets bloodthirsty Lariza and her inscrutable companion Layla as part of a new job, he becomes embroiled in a conflict with powerful demons. But the protection of his son has priority, even if he has to go to hell for him. And so a journey into a sphere where millennium old law prevails begins. This gripping urban fantasy novel takes the reader deep into a world where demons and human shadow beings live side by side. A story with plenty of action, tension, and dark humour - where anything is possible. |
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The Thief's Relic by Angela Knotts Morse Eamonn never wanted to be a thief. So when a risky mission goes awry and he receives the chance of a lifetime, he leaves behind everything, even his newfound family in the Thieves’ Guild, to pursue an apprenticeship as an honest merchant. Traveling the country means he sees and hears everything. Civil unrest, rebellions against the monarchies, and rumors of a usurper bent on uniting the provinces under himself with a mythical form of magic. Few suspect he’s not chasing a dead end, including village girl Leyna, a believer in the magic of ancient histories. Eamonn’s skeptical heart is also swayed once he finds himself the tyrant’s target, unknowingly possessing the key to harness the dangerous power. To protect it, Eamonn’s only choice is to flee. But now that it’s the mission of his former brothers in the Guild to hunt him down, keeping magic out of their hands might be harder than either Leyna or Eamonn thought possible. If they fall, though, their world does too. |
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It Haunts the Mind and Other Stories by Nick Roberts Nick Roberts delves into the darkest corners of the soul, where horror meets raw emotion. Dive into the chilling depths of the human psyche with Nick Roberts, the acclaimed author behind bestsellers like The Exorcist’s House and Anathema. Presenting a collection of fifteen tales, It Haunts the Mind masterfully weaves horror with raw emotion, leaving an indelible mark on the reader's soul. From the malevolent presence in “Sally Under the Bed” and the eponymous “It Haunts the Mind” to the raw brutality of “The Noose” and “The Bitter End,” Roberts showcases his unparalleled ability to terrify. Yet, it’s not just supernatural dread that lurks in these pages. Stories like “Thanks for Sharing” and “The Weeping Wind” delve into the very real horrors of addiction and grief, while “The Paperboy” and “Voodoo Bay” introduce monsters that defy reality. John Durgin, author of The Cursed Among Us and Inside The Devil’s Nest, praises the collection, stating, “Come for the horror, stay for the heartbreaking emotion that bleeds into every page... It Haunts The Mind is that damn good.” James Aquilone, a Bram Stoker Award-nominated editor and writer, warns of the collection's potency: “Nick Roberts has an uncanny ability to scare the bejesus out of readers... Highly recommended if you don’t want to sleep in the dark again.” Perfect for aficionados of horror short stories, suspenseful tales, and narratives that explore the human condition, It Haunts the Mind is a testament to the power of storytelling, blending supernatural terror with the very real demons that haunt our lives. Whether you're drawn to tales of possession, substance abuse, or coming-of-age horror, this collection promises to both terrify and move you in equal measure. Proudly represented by Crystal Lake Publishing—Tales from the Darkest Depths. |
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Daughter of the Sun by Amanda Auler “But when all hope seems lost, and the world knows nothing but white, there will come one who will bring green.” Born without a Gift, Solyana must accept being ordinary amidst the extraordinary. But when blizzards devastate her valley and endanger village life, a prophetic sign emerges, proclaiming Solyana the savior. Fulfilling the prophecy means leaving the valley and journeying into greater Mothmar--where every previous expedition has led to death. Unwinding the mysteries of the past and present, Solyana’s choices could spell survival or extinction for those she loves and unknowingly bind her to another… “One who is all light to stand to the one who is all dark, of which there will be two.” Pallah, the object of her father’s disdain and overshadowed by her siblings, is desperate for the home she’s never had. Accepted into a group of elusive zealots under the wrong pretenses, Pallah begins to discover she may be as dangerous to herself as she is portrayed to be to others. On a night that changes her life forever, Pallah discovers her Gift is forbidden. Between her new group of friends and the persistent voice in her head, Pallah is pushed toward a decision that could send her into irreversible darkness. Can Solyana find the truth to the prophecy before she is thrust into the awaiting abyss? Can Pallah discover her true purpose before her world collapses in on itself? A story of friendship, family, and the choices that shape us. Dive into the world of Mothmar and experience magic, animal companionship, and adventure layered through time and dipped in mystery. |
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Bryan and Ellie Stockton hope they left behind their demons when they move to their idyllic new home in southern West Virginia. Above all, they want a fresh start for their young son, Derrick, who witnessed the tumultuous first years of their marriage – years that were rife with substance abuse, rage, and resentment. Their bright hope for the future is darkened when a child disappears from their neighborhood. The couple becomes suspicious of a reclusive resident with a degenerative brain disorder. Strange events begin to happen in their house just as Derrick tells them about a new friend who visits him at night. Their son may be acting out from the trauma he endured, or he could be the obsession of something much more sinister |
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The discovery of skeletal remains opens old wounds in a quiet Midwestern community decades after multiple young women had vanished without a trace from the area. Russell Stander returns to the wooded site of his big sister’s crude burial filled with foreboding and hoping for closure. But, near the grim visage known locally as Skull Rock, more badly decomposed human remains are soon discovered. Gunnar, a Norseman settler, comes face to face with the evil that slaughtered his family. To save his clan, Gunnar undertakes a harrowing odyssey across the untamed wilderness of North America. Desperate to stay one step ahead of the malevolent force that stalks him. Two men, born a thousand years apart, their destinies bound together by a timeless evil. Can either man unravel the mystery of the monstrous thing lurking unseen before it consumes them and everyone they love…? |
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For a group of middle-aged friends, the trip into the forest was supposed to be simple. All they had to do was find a place to set up their criminal enterprise, and all of their financial problems would be solved. But now, night is falling, and with the darkness comes something else. Something fast. Something ferocious. Something... with teeth. From best-selling, award-winning horror writer Brian Keene comes a vicious new novella WITH TEETH |
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The Girl in the Corn by Jason Offutt Beware of what lurks in the corn. Fairies don’t exist. At least that’s what Thomas Cavanaugh’s parents say. But the events of that one night, when he follows a fairy into the cornfield on his parents’ farm, prove them wrong. What seems like a destructive explosion was, Thomas knows, an encounter with Dauðr, a force that threatens to destroy the fairy’s world and his sanity. Years later, after a troubled childhood and a series of dead-end jobs, he is still haunted by what he saw that night. One day he crosses paths with a beautiful young woman and a troubled young man, soon realizing that he first met them as a kid while under psychiatric care after his encounters in the cornfield. Has fate brought them together? Are they meant to join forces to save the fairy’s world and their own? Or is one of them not who they claim to be? |
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Our Own Unique Affliction by Scott J. Moses Our Own Unique Affliction is the story of Alice Ann, a dejected immortal who longs for her life in the sun. Navigating guilt, loss, family, meaning, murder, and all that comes with the curse of living forever. An existential bleak, quiet until it's not, hallucination on duality, rife with fangs, empathy, blood, and grief. "Unexpected and grim, Scott J. Moses' Our Own Unique Affliction is the most inventive and bombastically gruesome vampire story I've read since The Light at the End by John Skipp and Craig Spector. An exquisitely written meditation on grief, family, and trauma told with such empathy and care. I feel broken after reading this book, and I applaud Scott for obliterating my soul with such grace and tenderness." - Eric LaRocca, author of Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke and Other Misfortunes "Scott Moses writes from a place of pure empathy, the result of which is a story that pulls the reader in with deceptive ease, putting them through the emotional wringer, culling fear from every page. A tightly written fever dream of bloodlust and family ties, grief, rage and the eternal hunt." - Laurel Hightower, author of Crossroads and Below "Moses gives us not only complicated and relatable characters, but also cinematic scene-setting coated with pathos and grit. Our Own Unique Affliction forces readers to face that often circumstance is the only thing separating us from the monsters." - J.A.W. McCarthy, Shirley Jackson Award nominated author of Sometime We’re Cruel and Other Stories "Moses tenders a vampire's origin and fate in the skin of a mood-soaked tragedy, embraced by bloody nights and unyielding regrets. Fans of Paul Tremblay's The Pallbearers Club should sink their fangs in before sunrise." - Hailey Piper, Bram Stoker Award-winning author of Queen of Teeth "An interesting psychological twist on the vampire narrative. Definitely a fun read." - Charlene Elsby, author of Hexis, Psychros, Menis |
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When Dex is chased by Billie and his gang of hooligans into the old Ellis manor, he didn’t think that things could get any worse. But when an ancient dinosaur is released from the confines of the crate it was imprisoned in and begins brutally eating everyone in its ravenous path one by one, the young man was clearly mistaken. Now with his back hopelessly against the wall, he enlists his best friend Henry in order to make a last ditch stand against the bloodthirsty beast from another time AND the maniacal Billie and his gang of thugs as well. Who will survive and what will be left of them? Prepare to be pulverized by prehistoric horror galore in Dino-Gore! |
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A Glimmer Of Silver by Juliet Kemp “A Glimmer Of Silver, from @booksmugglers, is bloody brilliant. A really interesting, well told, fascinating piece of ecological fiction. Plus, one pronoun for all, and it's xe!” — D Franklin "a warm and delightful SF YA novella - it reminds me in the best way of what it might be like if Robin McKinley wrote science fiction." — Stephanie Burgis "A Glimmer of Silver reminds us that, sometimes, the most potent barriers exist not between species, but between ourselves. But in its insistence that these barriers are not insurmountable, it speaks to the possibilities—and the hopes—of translation and coexistence, at the meeting points of sentience." ‐ Gautum Bhatia, Strange Horizons |
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A Starbound Solstice by Juliet Kemp A festive space queer romance that will melt your heart and warm your exosuit. Linn and xyr crew are halfway through their long journey from Earth to Cetalla; what better time to celebrate a solstice? Bid farewell to Sol and hello to a new homestar. Traditions around mistletoe—not to mention Linn’s totally non-existent crush on xyr crewmate Taye—have nothing to do with it. Explaining paperchains to xyr alien crewmate and plotting present-giving keeps Linn busy enough, but then something goes wrong with Heron, the ship’s AI. Tracing the cause to a giant hullbreach onto needlespace, Linn and Taye have no idea what to do about it, or the stranger who came through it. Can they save their ship and get to their new home before the pressures of needlespace damage Heron beyond repair? And is Linn ever going to get that kiss under the mistletoe? "This is such a sweet science fiction holiday story set on an interstellar ship, with just enough natural tension to be fun but with an overriding message of hope and kindness and a real feeling of light - just perfect for the theme of a solstice celebration." — Stephanie Burgis, author |
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The City Revealed by Juliet Kemp The city of Marek is newly independent from their neighbour Teren — but Selene, representative of Teren, has threatened to return, and this time, with sorcerers and demons in tow. Last year, the sorcerers of Marek narrowly defeated a single Teren-summoned demon; how might they fare against a dozen or more? Meanwhile, the common people of Marek grow increasingly fervent in their own demands for representation – for a say in how the city is run, and for whom it is run. Marcia, Fereno-Heir, agrees with the Lower City; they deserve a better say. But the Council won’t hear of it – then Selene arrives to make good on her threat. Marcia must convince the Council to believe in Selene's magical threats, whilst her sorcerer brother, Cato, rushes to build some sort of defence. Because if Teren’s demons can pass the Cityangel’s wards, it’ll be the end of them all. “The City Revealed” is an absorbing fantasy set in a richly imagined world. A lovingly drawn and diverse set of characters struggle both personally and politically with the consequences of their own and others’ actions, and strive for cooperation without sacrificing principles. A thoroughly satisfying read. – Una McCormack, New York Times bestselling science fiction author. “Eminently satisfying epic fantasy where the personal, the political and the magical are multilayered and interlocked.” – Juliet E. McKenna, Author of the Green Man series and the Tales of Einarinn series. |
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Office Politics: A Story of the Apocalypse by L. R. J. Allen Richard is the last man alive. He has survived the super-flu known as Shaking Stevens when the rest of the world perished. He has survived when his family has not. He has survived with no survival instincts. He spends his days rummaging through the remnants of society as loneliness and anger set in. That is, until, his wanderings lead him back to his place of work. It is familiar, it is comforting, it is routine. Until, one day, his desk-phone rings. From the author of Among Other Things comes a tale of survival and hope in the most dire of times, and what a man must do to remain sane. Includes two previously unpublished stories Keep off the Grass and Coin Toss at Acheron Station |
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The Rising Flood by Juliet Kemp "Fantasy politics with real nuance and believable uncertainty, characters whose richness and depth has developed over three books, and a growing threat that starts pulling together threads across the series make The Rising Flood a fantastic read, while Marek is a textured place that is a joy to return to.” — Malka Older, Hugo Award finalist author of the Centenal Cycle series There's darkness in the heart of Teren. Refugees, fleeing demons unleashed by the Academy, arrive in Marek; but Marek, dreaming of independence, is increasingly unstable. Marcia, Heir to House Fereno — expecting a child and with her relationship in ruins — battles to manage threats internal and external, while rebels from the lower city demand change in rabble-rousing pamphlets, and Marek’s two remaining sorcerers, Marcia's brother Cato and her ex-lover Reb, struggle to train more. Teren's many demons threaten, and no one is ready. Menaced by the distant capital, by dissension from within, and by out-of-season storms rampaging across the Oval Sea by nature itself — will the rising flood lift all boats? Or will they be capsized? |
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Shadow And Storm by Juliet Kemp The sequel to The Deep And Shining Dark. Marcia wants to make changes in Marek after the events of the summer, but now distant Teren is making a play for political power in the city. Meanwhile, Tait, a young Teren sorcerer on the run, sees Marek and its cityangel Beckett as a place of safety; which will be true only until Beckett discovers there's a demon chasing Tait. Are the demon and the machinations of the Teren Lieutenant connected? Are Marcia's political goals worth the risk of facing down a demon? And can Marcia's sorcerer brother Cato avoid getting involved? "Shadow and Storm is an absolute delight to read, the literary equivalent of sinking into the embrace of a dear friend. Warm and cosy but never short on adventure and intrigue, Kemp's second entry into this series won't disappoint. The characters are real, full of depth, and richly drawn, and you'll wish you had even more time with them by book's end. A fantastic read!" — Rivers Solomon, Locus, Tiptree, and Lambda Award finalist |
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The Deep And Shining Dark by Juliet Kemp "A rich and memorable tale of political ambition, family and magic, set in an imagined city that feels as vibrant as the characters inhabiting it." — Aliette de Bodard, Nebula-award winning author of The Tea Master and the Detective "A novel that’s one part high fantasy, one part political fantasy, and one part old-fashioned sword-and-sorcery – without the swords or the lack of realistic diversity to which old-fashioned sword-and-sorcery was often prone." — Liz Bourke, Locus |
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The Sweet, the Spooky, & The Terrifying by Rachel Ann Hubert Three short stories for every aspect of Halloween. One sweet. One spooky. And one terrifying. Included in this book: Alone Together (The Sweet): The story of a college student determined to ostracize himself from everyone else around him. When he gets an unwanted guest for the night though, he'll soon see that being invisible isn't all that bad. And that sometimes it's worth stepping outside your comfort zone and shushing that negative voice inside your head. The Monster Within (The Spooky): Jules is starting over in a new town, new house, new everything. But this town isn't all it seems. While she tries to start fresh, memories from her previous life start trickling in. What is she running away from? And what is running away from her... The Ouroboros (The Terrifying): It started as a tickle. A tickle that became an itch. And itch at the back of his throat that not only could he not ignore...but that he could not escape |
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A Ritual of Bone by Lee C. Conley 'Only valour and steel can stand against the rising dead' Arnar is a land of warriors, its people as stalwart as the stones themselves. In a land of dark forests and ancient hill forts, a forgotten evil is awoken by curious minds. The Great Histories and the Sagas say nothing of this evil, long passed from the memory of even the studious scholars of the College. For centuries, the scholars of Arnar have kept these records and preserved the knowledge and great deeds of a proud people. The story of these peoples forever chronicled in the Sagas of the Great Histories. But now the evil spreads and the dead walk in its wake, terrible creatures roam the night and even the spirits are restless. The Dead Sagas could perhaps be the final chapters of these great records. Many threads entwine to tell this Saga, interweaving the tales of those who played their part in the search for answers and ultimately their fight for survival. Amid plague, invasion and terror, the inexorable rise of the dead sends a kingdom scrabbling to its knees. This dark fantasy epic combines dark malign horror and gritty survival adventure as the Dead Sagas unfold in a world where honour and renown is all, where beasts and savages lurk in the wilderness, and where sword, axe and shield is all that stands between the living and the grasping hands of the dead. |
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The Cursed Among Us by John Durgin It has been twenty years since the serial killer known as The Black Heart Killer terrorized the town of Newport in 1979. Life mostly returned to normal after the killer was captured. All the townspeople have to do is stay out of the woods where the bodies were abandoned—their chests ripped open, and their hearts torn out... Howie Burke and his friends decide rules are meant to be broken. That’s what fifteen-year-old kids do. On a beautiful fall day, they decide to go out in the woods to film a horror movie when they stumble across a mysterious grave. What they don’t know is that they are about to release an evil on the town unlike anything in their home-made movies. They will soon uncover the secrets of the Black Heart Killer, and what it truly means to be cursed. Praise for The Cursed Among Us "Hidden graves, black magic, town legends, and intrepid teenagers - this one has it all, in bloody spades. Durgin's debut manages the impossible: a punchy and gripping horror-thriller sprawled across two decades, crafted with dark obsession and drenched in nostalgia for the golden years of supernatural slasher films." - Felix Blackwell, author of Stolen Tongues “A remarkably malevolent debut that will leave you reaching for your talisman. Durgin takes all the right risks and proves nobody is safe in this impressive coming-of-age novel about a small town with a dark past.” - Joshua Marsella, author of Hunger For Death “The Cursed Among Us is a horror novel with its heart in the right place—ready to be ripped out! Containing surprising and sometimes stunning emotional depth, this homage to ‘90s B-movies and supernatural documentaries explores the agony of growing up and holding onto friendships when the world seems determined to rip everything you love apart.” - Joseph Sale, author of Dark Hilarity "The Cursed Among Us' is a coming-of-age, small town horror blast, one that I think a lot of people will really enjoy." Steve Stred, Splatterpunk-Nominated author of Sacrament and Mastodon. |
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Now, and the Hour of Death by Karen Lykkebo Five short tales of the eerie, tragic, and macabre. Three friends venture into an abandoned church, unaware the foundation is haunted. An expert in the occult is asked to remove a presence from the beach. Two survivors of the zombie apocalypse watch a final sunset together. Two lovers will do anything to keep their home and love safe. A serial killer is on the loose, but his step is watched by more than his victims. |
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The Knight of the Moon by Gregory Kontaxis John, the Long Arm, leads a life as a bounty hunter at the Three Heads. His name has spread far and wide across the north while plenty of gold weighs down his pockets. Just when everything seems to be going well for him, a group of soldiers order him to take on a new mission. This time, his task is to track down a very dangerous man—a knight who rejected his oaths, turning his back on Gaeldeath and its ruler. Will John choose the way of honour and devotion or will be succumb to his unquenchable thirst for wealth? As part of “The Dance of Light” series, “The Knight of the Moon” is a novella which takes place seventeen years preceding the events of “The Return of the Knights.” |
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They say you never forget the first time you die. Toronto Police Service Detective Finsbury Gage knows this better than anyone. Now that he's gone digital, he sees his death every time he closes his eyes—he and his wife, smeared across the highway after a malfunctioning bit-head ran them down in a stolen urban assault vehicle. Fin hung together long enough for the Second Skyn recovery team to rescue his fading thoughts from his ruined body and implant them in a custom-grown bioSkyn. His wife wasn't so lucky. Finsbury's been gifted a second chance, but the only thing keeping him from blowing his plastic brains out is that 2.57 seconds of vivid memory running on repeat through his head, the one that contains a instant's glimpse of his killer's face. The police couldn't find the man responsible, and now the only evidence is locked up in Finsbury's brand new mind. Driven to find his killer, Finsbury falls into a dangerous underworld of hackable minds and enhanced bodies, where death is cheap, and memory all that matters. But once he's tasted the power of living at the speed of light, able to predict seconds into the future, how will he ever go back? And once he's relaxed his grip on humanity, how far will he let it slip in the name of finding justice for the woman he loves? Finsbury's going to find the man who stole his future, no matter what he has to do. Or what he must become. |
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The Last Feather by Shameez Patel Papathanasiou South African born, debut author brings a threat-and-danger, hidden-world fantasy with touches of Suzanne Collins which fans of VE Schwab or Sarah J Maas will love. Twenty-two-year-old Cassia's sister is dying, and she doesn't know why. Cassia wakes up in another realm to find her missing best friend, Lucas, who knows how to save her sister. Lucas is part of a community of Reborns, people who were born on earth and after death, were reborn in this realm with magical abilities. The original beings of the realm, the Firsts, rule over them. To keep the Reborn numbers manageable, the king of the Firsts releases a curse to cull them. Cassia needs to break the curse before her time runs out and she is trapped there forever. |
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The Eternal Shadow by Shameez Patel Papathanasiou South African born, debut author brings a threat-and-danger, hidden-world fantasy with touches of Suzanne Collins which fans of VE Schwab or Sarah J Maas will love. After returning to her realm, Cassia continues to use the magic she’d discovered in Selene. Little did she know, that wasn’t allowed and because of it, she’s abducted by the king. Luckily, Prince Lochlan is still living in the castle pretending to be under the king’s command. After Lochlan frees Cassia, they all need to flee Selene to escape the king and find allies elsewhere. But in this new realm, all the inhabitants are afraid of the dark where a shadow is lurking, feeding upon them. With nowhere else to go, they have to choose, either they face the king or this eternal shadow. |
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Dear Bartleby by Sarah Wallace Dear Bartleby, Tutting-on-Cress is so small as to be idyllic. Hate it already. Sent down from Oxford for playing one prank too many, Sebastian Hartford is well aware that he’s a disappointment to his family. Ordered to stay with — and learn from — two of his more respectable older siblings, Seb is prepared to be miserable in the country. Saddled with extracurricular schooling to keep him out of trouble, Seb can only let his mischievous mind run loose on the pages of his journal, “Bartleby.” But when he is offered a job as a spellcaster’s assistant to the enigmatic Lord Finlington, Seb’s creative flair finds a place to flourish. Soon, he is at the center of a search for a new Royal Spellcaster to the Crown — and falling in love with one of the contenders. But right as a future with a man who loves him starts to unfold, Seb’s past mistakes threaten to bar him from securing happiness. And jumping through social hoops may prove his growth to everyone — except himself. |
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The Education of Pip by Sarah Wallace He had never experienced possibilities — and it was a whole new feeling to have them. Pip Standish is in Newgate Prison, a predictable career finale for a London thief. So he is surprised when Lord Finlington, the dashing viscount he attempted to steal from months before, offers to get him out — on the condition that Pip agrees to leave town and start a new career in the country. Soon, Pip finds himself moving to the idyllic Tutting-on-Cress and a life he never thought possible. As he settles in with his new friends, he discovers a well-rounded education not only involves reading and magic, but how to be happy, how to trust others with your heart, and how to let go of pain. But when an attempt to settle an old debt reopens a dangerous wound, Pip will need to apply all of his hard-earned lessons to stop the past swallowing him — and his future — whole. This new adult fantasy is the third book in the Meddle & Mend series. It is a continuation of Pip's story from One Good Turn. |
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One Good Turn by Sarah Wallace A reformed thief, a magical viscount, And one good deed that will change a life forever. In the underbelly of London, Nell Birks longs to escape the world of poverty and crime. When she rescues a wealthy gentleman from a gang of thieves, Nell is tasked with robbing the powerful spellcaster Viscount Finlington — as recompense for stealing a mark from a notorious crime lord. Confident that learning magic will improve her chances of a better life, Nell leaps at the opportunity to learn magic from the viscount. Soon, she finds herself immersed in a glittering social sphere, full of magic, luxury, and exciting possibilities. Dazzled by her new world, Nell quickly learns that with bigger dreams come bigger disappointments. And when her new friends decide to leave London behind, finding her place becomes more urgent than ever. When disaster strikes, everything Nell thought she knew about her old life is shaken to its core. But if magic is not her key to a better life, she’s more lost than when she began. This new adult fantasy is the second book in the Meddle & Mend series. It takes place shortly after Letters to Half Moon Street but can be read as a standalone. |
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Letters to Half Moon Street by Sarah Wallace I must have been drunker than I realized because all I remember is how well he tied his cravat and how perfectly his coat fit him… London, 1815: where magic can be purchased at convenience, and the fashionable and wealthy descend for the start of the social Season. But 25-year-old Gavin Hartford finds the city intimidating when he arrives, alone, to his family’s townhouse. The only company he seeks is in his beloved books and weekly letters to his sister, Gerry. Then dashing man-about-town Charles Kentworthy gallantly rescues Gavin from a foolish drunken mishap and turns his life upside-down. With Mr. Kentworthy, Gavin finds himself discussing poetry and magic, confessing his fears about marriage, expanding his social circle to shocking proportions — and far outside his comfort zone. When family responsibility comes knocking, Gavin’s future looms over him, filled with uncertainty. As he grapples with growing feelings for his new friend, Gavin will need to be honest with Mr. Kentworthy — but he’ll need the courage to be honest with himself first. This epistolary Regency romance is the first in a historical fantasy series, Meddle & Mend. |
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Good With His Hands by Brandie Nikole When the words Quick Fix doesn't only pertain to your household needs... Call Kurbe to get the job done right. Kurbe is a handyman with a niche for pleasing his customers with the best kind of customer service |