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Devout: An Anthology of Angels

Devout: An Anthology of Angels by Edited By Quinton Li

Featuring work by FreydĂ­s Moon, Dorian Yosef Weber, Angela Sun, Ian Haramaki, Tyler Battaglia, Daniel Marie James, Morgan Dante, Cas Trudeau, AurĂ©lio Loren, Rae Novotny, Rafael NicolĂĄs & Emily Hoffman. A collection of stories, poetry, and art dedicated to the angelic. Here you will find the strange, the creepy, the funky, slightly silly, pieces with feeling. An experience buried deep inside, it might be from another dimension. Something questionable that makes you wonder if your first impression of the world is accurate enough to trust. Or maybe something human — too human. How about a feeling between a feeling? Longing, yearning. Conflict between moral and love. World between worlds. Above all — angelic. Are we what angels make of us, or are angels what we make of them? This anthology is for mature audiences due to themes and explicit content. Our genres include, but are not limited to: Contemporary Fantasy Romance, Fantasy, Dark Fantasy, Horror, Historical Fantasy Romance, Mythological, Gothic Fiction, Science Fiction, Horror Drama


Welcome to Dorley Hall: The Sisters of Dorley Book One

Welcome to Dorley Hall: The Sisters of Dorley Book One by Alyson Greaves

Mark Vogel is like the older brother Stefan Riley never had, until one day he disappears, and Stefan has to adapt to life without him. But, one year later, when he runs into a girl who looks near-identical to Mark, Stefan becomes obsessed. He discovers that other boys have disappeared, too, dozens over the years, most of them students of the Royal College of Saint Almsworth, many of them troubled or unruly before their disappearance. What is happening to these boys? Who are the handful of women on campus who bear a striking resemblance to some of those who went missing? And what is the connection to the mysterious Dorley Hall? Stefan works hard to get into the Royal College for one reason and one reason only: to find out exactly what happened to the women who live at Dorley Hall, and to get it to happen to him, too. A closeted trans girl attempts to infiltrate a secret underground forced feminisation programme.


Where We Converge

Where We Converge by A.E. Bross

Darius Adair just wants to live in peace. He wakes up, goes to work, does his job, and comes home to a quiet studio apartment in Chicago. As a mage working to protect the magical and the mundane alike, it's as normal a life as he can have. After everything he’s been through, he deserves that much. A call in the dead of night shatters that illusion. Morgan Slavin can’t recall much. His memories are fractured, and his body feels like a thousand bits of broken glass. He only knows one thing: Time travel sucks. After completing a ritual that forced him through the timeline, his mind, body, and magic are twisted and broken. Beyond the pain and mental anguish, there's little he can reach for. He is desperate to find an anchor in this storm. After all, he came back in time to stop...what? Why had he returned? Sent by the late-night call to find the broken Morgan, Darius now must help him find out what he's come back to stop, and soon. If that wasn’t challenging enough, the longer they’re together, the more Darius feels himself drawn to Morgan, and the more willing he is to open old wounds that nearly destroyed him in the past.


Fool's Play

Fool's Play by David R. Packer, Tao Wong

Not everyone falls during an apocalypse. Some rise to the occasion. For Fool and Jackal, the System Apocalypse was a chance to start again. A chance to rise, and be who they were meant to be. Now, they're trying to offer others the same opportunities as part of a secret organization helping humanity survive the System. Today's mission? Nothing big, just your typical save-the-princess quest. But when you're the Acolyte of a Trickster god, typical is the last thing you should expect. Just ask Fool's cat. Fool's Play is the first book in a new series in the System Apocalypse universe. Written by David R. Packer in Tao Wong's bestselling post-apocalyptic LitRPG universe, System Apocalypse: Kismet follows a different path through a post-apocalyptic world, one of hope, redemption, and second chances.


Odd Blood

Odd Blood by Azalea Crowley

Stuck That’s what Josephine Pajimula felt like. A burnout millennial on the verge of losing her housing, her roommate, and maybe even her best friend. It made perfect sense to go to a Halloween party, ignore her feelings, and spend the time searching for apartments instead. A Chance She hadn’t expected meeting him. A man in a vampire costume took a hard fall in front of her. Against her better judgment, Josephine is determined to make sure this stranger makes their way home safely. Alarm bells in her head be damned. Luck Eadwulf is charming, silly and is super committed to whatever performance he’s putting on. Despite herself, Josephine enjoys their conversation, even indulges in his claims that he’s a vampire. Except, he isn’t pretending. Unexpectedly, Josephine is offered a way out of her dilemma. All she has to do is become the nanny to Eadwulf’s elderly granny roommate. That should be easy
 right? Thrust into the spooky, quirky world of vampires; are things falling apart or falling into place? Odd Blood is a romantic comedy featuring diverse characters, a slow-burn romance, and creative expletives. This story has horror elements, such as gore, and has adult content suitable for 18+. Odd Blood is the first in a series with a guaranteed HEA/HFN. Please find a full content advisory on the author’s social sites. Please note: This is a demisexual late bloomer love story with NO SPICE and is the first act in a series with no major cliffhanger.


The Shadow Watch

The Shadow Watch by S.A. Klopfenstein

The world was once ruled by magic and monsters, but after a cataclysmic war, the chancellors of old eradicated these curses and ushered in a New World. One where sorcerers are hunted, and lowborns are sent to their deaths fighting the wars of nobles. In this world, a young slave reveals magical power before an empire. This revelation may be enough to spark a revolution, if Tori can escape the magic hunters pursuing her. An idealistic soldier fights to maintain his soul in the infamous Night Legions, but as Darien begins to show promise, the lure of power threatens to turn him into the type of monster he once despised. And a lordling rebel with a dark past journeys to a turbulent nation in search of a mythic weapon. Kale is soon thrust into a game of power that could upend the world. As sorcerers rise and monsters rage, the fate of all hangs in the balance. Will magic save the world, or bring it to ruin? Filled with complex characters, wild plot twists, and epic battles, the Shadow Watch series is perfect for fans of Mistborn and Shadow & Bone. Welcome to the breathtaking world of the Shadow Watch, where sorcerers are hunted, monsters rise out of myth, and the fate of all hangs on love and betrayal. Start the Four Book series now!


Wishhobbler

Wishhobbler by Francis O'Dowd

Somewhere in the damp, twisting alleyways of an alternate 19th Century slum there lives a hideous freak of nature. Driven by poverty, Spin and her makeshift family move to the Songwynds in search of work. There they share a tiny, rat-infested tenement room with their adoptive Ma: a ferocious wishhobbler. A monster of a mother, and the mother of all monsters, the wishhobbler’s viciousness has caused fear and mayhem among the slum dwellers. Unable to hit back at the wishhobbler, her victims turn their attention to Spin. An outsider wherever she goes - haunted by thugs and bullies - Spin finds a way to enter the carefully guarded and lethal world of Victorian Racing Televisions. When the wishhobbler disrupts the carefully laid plans of the mysterious Racers, Spin finds herself at the centre of a deadly confrontation. But it’s with the revelation of a centuries old Knight of the Implicate Order that things really take a turn for the worse ... Featuring over 50 stunning illustrations, this dark urban fairy tale is a must for anyone who's ever been bored, bullied or lived with a monster.


A Circle of Stars

A Circle of Stars by Craig Montgomery

SPFBO10

Sometimes you have to leave home to find it
 All Casper Bell has ever wanted is to belong. But now, abandoned by his friends and family after being outed, he has nothing left to lose when the people of Novilem abduct him. Except Earth. Teleported to a world where stars grant humans magic, Casper discovers he has the rare ability to draw power from all twelve astrological signs — a gift that makes him a political pawn for the Estellar Council. But Novilem’s inhabitants seem as hard and cold as the stone their city is carved from, and Casper’s new role leaves him more isolated than ever. Until he meets the grandson of the council’s most powerful woman. Helix is kind, playful, and heartbreakingly handsome, yet it’s how Helix makes him feel that gives Casper hope. As rebellion brinks in the city, even the Council starts to fracture, reaching for extreme measures that could cost Casper not only his newfound abilities, but the first place he has ever wanted to call home. Together with Helix, he must uncover the secrets of his full potential — because the survival of Novilem hinges on Casper’s powers, whether he’s using them or not. Set inside a hidden lunar city, where astrology is magic and your birth sign defines your social status, A Circle of Stars is a queer young adult fantasy filled with political intrigue and romance.


The Pyre Starter

The Pyre Starter by Jaimie N. Schock

Exhausted with life, Dakota tries to end his—only to be saved at the last moment by his friend, Terrell, who then drags him into a world of magic and intrigue that's always been right there, hidden beneath the surface. Powerful magic users are steadily dragging the planet into a violent war, and evil forces will stop at nothing to take the talismans possessed by Dakota and his newfound family. Dakota soon finds himself deeply in over his head—with love, with family, with fighting for all their lives.


The Manhattan Split: Proto

The Manhattan Split: Proto by Chris Kenny

Manhattan has been split in two. A war rages between Downtown and Uptown, with two mega-corporations, TegaLyfe and Kaizen Sciences at the forefront. Meanwhile, a former bounty hunter named Cade is serving a life sentence in jail for a murder he didn’t commit. The CEO of TegaLyfe, Rodrigo Ortega sees this as an opportunity. Nueva York’s most powerful man gives Cade a lifeline. The brief is simple. Do the job, no more jail time. Only one catch. Cade has seventy-two hours to complete the mission, or he’s back in prison forever. Question is, can Cade take out the head of Kaizen Sciences, Ichiro Nishikawa, and live to tell the tale? Cade needs to navigate the dangerous streets of Nueva York, which are filled with augmented humans desperate to survive in the dystopian future of 2082. Friends are scarce, enemies are everywhere. Rival bounty hunters like Tayo Akinyemi look to undermine Cade at every turn, and all the while, the clock is ticking. Cade must remember his past skills to get the task done. As he plummets into the depths of Nueva York, he’s going to come face-to-face with dark secrets, which could unravel a tangle of lies that run deeper than he can imagine. Will Cade know who to trust and where to turn when the moment comes? Fans of Blade Runner, Altered Carbon, Neuromancer, and Deus Ex will love this exciting cyberpunk action thriller!


Visions of Iotan

Visions of Iotan by Jaimie N. Schock

When Cillian’s daughter accidentally poisons a bison-sized alien child, he goes to prison. But intervention by another alien sends him and his family on a journey to a nearby solar system. Along with a group of humans and aliens, he investigates a planet with glee, but soon enough, all hell breaks loose. Meanwhile, Cillian meets a priest named Father Whalen who helps guide him on a path to faith. Whalen is helpful ... at first. Shortly after the mission begins, he becomes obsessed with Cillian and will stop at nothing to have him. Will Cillian shake off Father Whalen’s advances? And, more importantly, will anyone survive the ill-fated trip to a new planet?


The Shareholders

The Shareholders by H.S. Down

In the late 21st century, Earth has been ravaged by climate change. Seeing it was time for decisive action, the billionaires bioengineered immortality, purchased the last habitable biospheres on the planet as their personal shares, and fled to Mars. For everyone left behind, life on a dying planet isn't easy. The lucky ones live in enclosed cities eating bug protein and saving up for passage to Mars. The rest of humanity exists as climate refugees passing through worlds that are perpetually on the brink of ecological collapse. Ian Gateman, one of Earth's last bureaucrats, works on the settlement of ecological refugees while he, his wife, Anne, and their son, Alex, look forward to life on Mars. When Anne becomes terminally ill, she decides to upload her consciousness and live forever in Lotus: a corporate-run virtual reality simulation. To keep up with the monthly payments for Anne's digital residency and stop Lotus from deleting her consciousness, Ian takes on a special assignment. Tasked with finding a buyer for a fledgling colony of newly settled ecological refugees, Ian travels to the estates of several visiting immortals. As Ian tries to flog the colony to a brooding class of bored immortals, it becomes clear they have their own plans for humanity's future.


The Rivener

The Rivener by Garrett Godsey

Step through a gateway hidden inside your dreaming mind. From the gritty streets of San Francisco to labyrinthine dream worlds conjured from humanity's collective psyche, this is a philosophical, page-turning, dark-fantasy odyssey. Meet Kid, an American foster system survivor turned clandestine courier for an underground syndicate, The White Lotus. With the disappearance of their previous runner, Kid must navigate through a harrowing night filled with deranged stalkers and nightmarish creatures born of his darkest fears. Then there's Alice, a teen prodigy from The Young School — an enigmatic institute for violent psychics, also known as travelers. These travelers have the power to traverse The Dream, a parallel universe birthed from humanity's collective consciousness, capable of manipulating society, acquiring superhuman abilities, and even discovering immortality. Alice yearns to harness these mystical forces to gain her freedom. When an assignment goes dead wrong in Chinatown, Kid and Alice's paths intersect. This streetwise runner and covert operative of parallel worlds find themselves in a reality-defying struggle for the survival of humanity. Can they channel their abilities, love, and determination to mend the very fabric of existence, defeat an ancient evil, and safeguard both realms—The Dream and The Real? This visionary dark-fantasy novel, woven with elements of thriller, horror, science-fiction, and the supernatural, resonates with readers who appreciate intricate world-building, in-depth characterization, and an engaging, fast-paced narrative. Praise for The Rivener “The Rivener' offers a profound, immersive experience resonating with wisdom and truth. With endearing characters and a formidable villain, it's a soulful, thrilling narrative akin to The Sandman and The Matrix." - A Page of Words and Wishes "Littered with feeling and philosophy, violence, and mythology. This had me gripped from start to finish.” - Christopher Badcock, Those You Killed "Absolutely brilliant. An epic mix between Gaiman’s ‘The Sandman’ and everything I wanted but never got from King’s ‘Dark Tower’.” - The Misfit Bookshelf "The Rivener pulls you in from the very first page and doesn’t let go. You emerge completely invested in the world and its characters and are left questioning the nature of reality.” - Book Naked


A Flame In The Night

A Flame In The Night by Morgan Dante

Bloody decadence... The definition of marriage: Two people and their silver-haired vampire. In 1924, Paris is a bastion of sexual freedom, even for shell-shocked Leon Laflamme, the most dramatic blond this side of the Seine. After years of loneliness and secrecy, he's married the clever and sumptuous burlesque dancer Claire. However, Leon truly finds liberation when he meets the stoic, intriguing, and silver-haired Count Matthias, who offers true freedom in his dark gift: immortality.


Providence Girls

Providence Girls by Morgan Dante

Love changes you. So do the Outer Gods. “An extraordinary departure. Dante splices genre in a beautiful and brutal Horror Romance a la The Shape of Water and Midnight Mass. Someone call Guillermo Del Toro, because Providence Girls deserves an adaptation.” - Freydís Moon, bestselling author of Heart, Haunt, Havoc Now: Alone in a cottage, Lavinia writes to the woman she loved. Fifteen years ago: Middle-aged Lavinia Whateley escapes her hilly Massachusetts town when the townsfolk decide to sacrifice her on Halloween. After almost dying in the woods, she's saved and housed by the stoic and mysterious Asenath Waite, or Azzie. On the coastal outskirts of East Providence, they start to fall in love. However, things change when Azzie, with her secret past and the strange "scars" on the side of her neck, begins to transform into an eldritch creature of the deep. A story inspired by the "doomed" women in H.P. Lovecraft's "The Thing on the Doorstep" and "The Dunwich Horror


The Elements of Time: The Winds of Change

The Elements of Time: The Winds of Change by Sam Paisley

SPFBO10 SPSFC 2024

Destiny, personal responsibility, what the future holds – common concerns for anyone graduating high school. But usually not because of a cosmic war between timeless beings where you’re the central player. (Download the first seven chapters for free at www.elementsoftime.ca) As the end of school quickly approaches, and Cooper Bailey watches his perfect world slip away, his only concern is savouring every last minute of his high school career. For his best friend, Reid Patterson, graduation is a doorway to the future, where his discipline and focus will finally allow him to meet his true potential. When a mysterious mirror-masked man begs for their help to stop a dangerous heretic, Cooper and Reid find themselves thrust into unknown worlds, wrestling with a destiny as old as time itself. As the truths about their roles in the universe unfold, and enemies disguise themselves as allies, their only hope is to trust each other - and learn fast! Far from home and in mortal peril, Cooper and Reid attempt to hone their newfound abilities and come to grips with their purpose for being. Inspired by classic and modern science fiction and fantasy, and drawing upon timeless themes of destiny and personal responsibility, The Elements of Time is a series written for anyone who loves an escape into a rich and deep world. With references to Star Wars (the Original Trilogy), Avatar: The Last Bender, Stargate SG-1, Supernatural, and much more, The Elements of Time: The Winds of Change is fun action-adventure, with it’s own unique magic system, and themes that touch what it means to grow up and take on the challenges of life The Elements of Time - Book 1: The Winds of Change For more story information, behind the scenes details, and additional content visit www.elementsoftime.ca


Tyranny of the Fey

Tyranny of the Fey by Terry Bartley

A famed Elven researcher is worried about her home. When she discovers a new realm with massive magic potential, she believes she has found the answer. Will the Seasonal Fey Courts allow her to continue her research without interference, or do they have more nefarious plans? An Elven princess runs away from her arranged marriage to a parallel world. Will she be able to find the adventure she seeks? While she is in search of battles with dragons and quests to obtain sacred artifacts, she finds that what she was looking for may have been a true connection with someone that understands her. Two childhood friends, an orc and a goblin, have long dreamed of adventure. When a magic school dropout stumbles into their lives, they jump at the chance to realize their ambitions. This found family realizes the world of Galevyn is a much bigger place than the jungle they grew up in.


Dark Woods, Deep Water

Dark Woods, Deep Water by Jelena Dunato

In the depths of a remote forest, an enchanted castle preys on unwary travellers. The servants of the Goddess Morana sacrifice to their dark mistress every soul who crosses its threshold . One terrible night, three people who should never have met find themselves trapped there: a spoiled lady escaping an unwanted marriage, an aging warrior-prince on a deadly mission, and a resourceful rogue caught up in a botched heist. As their destinies entwine and the dawn approaches, the solution to the castle’s riddle becomes clear: if they want to escape, one of them must die. A dark fantasy tale inspired by Slavic folklore, Dark Woods, Deep Water is the debut novel by Croatian author Jelena Dunato. Set in an intricately imagined world that staggers the line between fairytale and brutality, this novel will appeal to fans of Katherine Arden and Naomi Novik, as well as lovers of classic Gothic fiction.


Legend of Samantha Torres

Legend of Samantha Torres by Jacob Ryckman

For twelve year-old Samantha Torres, her Type 1 diabetes used to just be a frustrating nuisance - one more thing for her mother to tell her she wasn't being responsible about. But when her cruise ship crashes on a mysterious jungle island and separates her from her family, managing that chronic illness becomes a struggle for her life. Luckily, she receives some help from a 3,000 year-old woman named Belby, who claims that Samantha's powers indicate that she is supposed to protect the island from intruders. Specifically, she has to stop a bunch of creepy zombie-people - who most likely have kidnapped her mom - from reaching the magical tree at the center of the island. With just a single bottle of insulin, some awesome gravity-bending superpowers, and a quippy attitude, Samantha is guaranteed to succeed and prove to her mom once and for all that she can be responsible. After all, putting yourself in harm's way to fight a bunch of bad guys is super responsible
right?


Kenai

Kenai by Dave Dobson

SPSFC 2023

Jess Amiko is long past her days as a space marine, with all the glory of that time tarnished beyond repair by what came after. Trying to rebuild from the ashes, she's taken a job as a security guard on Kenai, a lonely world far from the Council systems. It's supposed to be easy duty - quiet and peaceful, on a docile world with no real threats, watching over an archeological dig at a site built by a race long vanished. Betrayed and attacked by forces unknown, and finding that nothing on Kenai makes sense, Jess is plunged into a desperate fight for survival that leads her deep into the mysteries of Kenai's past, and deep into the hardship and paradox the planet imposes on all who call it home.


A Hired Blade

A Hired Blade by JC Rycroft

SFINCS

A sellsword's bargain. A burgeoning desire. A future balanced on the point of a blade Sellsword Des is travelling alone in a dry and dusty southern land, after a spectacular bust up with her best friend. She's running low on coin, so when former client Karina offers her a job leading her caravan's security through brigand country, it feels like a gift. Des has done the route before, but she isn't sure about leading solo. She recommends Karina hire Cap, a rugged old mercenary, to head up the crew. Maybe she'll even learn a thing or two about how to lead, in between the delightful distraction of Karina's flirtations and keeping the marauders at bay. As they head off on their long trip across Rescalin, though, the wheels start to come off Des's plan. The crew is drinking too much, even on duty, and Cap is dismissive of the dangers she identifies. Des worries she's made the wrong call by putting Cap as the lead, and Karina is in her ear, wanting her to take over. As brigands close in, will Des back the merc she put in charge? Or will she take over - and risk the caravan's safety resting on her blade alone?


Exolegacy

Exolegacy by Andr Moș

SPSFC 2023

Fifty years ago the manisae claimed Earth’s red neighbor as their new home. Since then, humanity has fostered a suspicious and fragile relationship with them. Now, Earth’s first ambassador has just passed away, survived only by his three estranged children. Their inheritance: his memories, divided between the three of them. Will they be able to follow the hints that their father has woven into his memories to uncover the truth of his work, the lie of their neighbors, and their mother’s death a decade before? Both Humanity and the Manisae must come to terms to understand a legacy that is larger than either civilization.


The Collection Awakens

The Collection Awakens by Aimee Donnellan

"Well, you have armour. It's the lyre and the goose that have me a bit confused." The Dragon War has left its mark on everyone, and Reverie Rosetia is no exception. After her brother is struck down in a skirmish, it is on her to take up the family legacy of greatness – no matter what her plans might have been before that. She must find his sword and bring it home. With no better place to start her search, Reverie arrives at the Collection, an isolated place full of magical oddities and artifacts. Soon after her arrival, the eclectic visitors to the Collection and its owner find themselves trapped inside. A magical force has broken free and is determined to break them, one by one. Can Reverie solve the mystery of how their attacker manifested and put it right before it is too late? (Reverie meets adventurers Lark and Wren as the trio are trapped in this claustrophobic and irreverent fantasy mystery, which may have more to do with Lark and Wren’s chase than they think
)


The Chase Begins

The Chase Begins by Aimee Donnellan

SFINCS

"She's escaped. Gods help us all." The Theocracy of Izirm is losing a war against dragons. While the Bishops scramble for a solution, the holy city of Kequm faces a more immediate the murderous mage, Nightingale, has escaped prison and only one person can stop her. Lark is a devoted follower of the Scholar god who searches for adventure around every corner. Ever since apprehending Nightingale three years ago, they've done whatever they can to forget the hole she ripped through their heart, and can think of nothing worse than facing her again. But when Nightingale's meddling leaves Kequm vulnerable, Lark has no choice but to act. A whimsical New Adult fantasy adventure novella set in a queernormative, mysterious world begging to be explored.


Witches of Worth

Witches of Worth by Journey Windrow

It’s the witching hour on Samhain. Born-witch Amaris Rutter is on a mission to safeguard the familiars of the Salem Council of Witches. But her best intentions turn her world upside down as she's crushed between warring factions of the Cabinet of Witchery. To make it worse, Amaris finds herself caught in a web of intrigue that leads to disaster. This fast-paced spin-off from the Mage of Boston series is an enjoyable standalone that also offers fresh insights that enrich the mage series. It slots neatly between The Reluctant Mage and Stone and Bone, enriching both. Immerse yourself in a world where magic, mystery, dominance struggles, and the power of second chances collide.


The Spring of the Sentinels

The Spring of the Sentinels by Eduard Lerperger

A small town plagued by mysterious disappearances. A girl tormented by apocalyptic dreams. An impending alien invasion. Welcome to Aurora Bay, Oregon—a picturesque town turned epicenter of strange and otherworldly events. After surviving a traumatic earthquake in town, Ava Mason, a 16-year-old book-lover, reluctantly returns to the place she once called home. Her life takes a turn for the surreal as she's caught up in a web of chilling disappearances and unsettling nightmares that bleed into reality. These dreams hint at a destiny tied to the mysterious Sentinels—towering entities of unfathomable power. When Ava crosses paths with Hailey, a secretive girl whose robot insists Ava is its rightful owner, the mystery deepens. Ava must confront her past, her fears, and unlock the secret of the Sentinels to stop the impending alien apocalypse. Each revelation plunges Ava further into a cosmic chess game. She's forced to grow and make hard decisions that could trigger dire consequences. She might be humanity's only hope. With the weight of the world on their shoulders


On the Winds of Quasars

On the Winds of Quasars by T.A. Bruno

The thrilling sequel to In the Orbit of Sirens THE WORLD OF KAMARIA WILL NEVER BE THE SAME. In the aftermath of the brutal slaying of a sacred auk’nai deity, Cade and Nella Castus are taken from their home and brought deep into the wilderness. They must make their way back to civilization, traversing dangerous landscapes as they are pursued relentlessly by their captor—a winged abomination. As Denton and Eliana search for their missing children, they uncover something that will change all life on Kamaria forever.


Dungeon Crawler Carl

Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman

It's the most-watched game show in the galaxy! In a flash, every human-erected construction on Earth--from Buckingham Palace to the tiniest of sheds to all the trucks and cars--collapses in a heap, sinking into the ground. The buildings and all the people inside, they've all been atomized and transformed into the dungeon: an 18-level labyrinth filled with traps, monsters, and loot. A dungeon so enormous, it circles the entire globe. Only a few dare venture inside. But once you're in, you can't get out. And what's worse, each level has a time limit. You have but days to find a staircase to the next level down, or it's game over. In this game, it's not about your strength or your dexterity. It's about your views and your followers. It's about building an audience and killing those goblins with style. You can't just survive here. You gotta survive big. You gotta fight with vigor, with excitement. You gotta make them stand up and cheer. And if you do have that "it" factor, you may just find yourself with a following. That's the only way to truly survive in this game, with the help of the loot boxes dropped upon you by the generous benefactors watching from across the galaxy. They call it Dungeon Crawler World. But for Carl, it's anything but a game.


A Mean Piece of Water

A Mean Piece of Water by Jes McCutchen

Dani (a lake merfolk) and Kye (a lake local) would do anything to save their families, their homes, their neighbors, and especially each other. And their pets. They both really love their pets. So, when a threat to their entire world forces them to take action, there's no question about whether the two of them will meet the challenge. In the follow up to her debut YA novel, Jes McCutchen returns with another humorous cast of queer characters whose lives have a touch of fantasy to them.


Fogbound

Fogbound by N.J. Alexander

SPFBO10

Brave the Fog. Embrace Another Self. When war descends upon the nation of Entervia, history teacher Zercien Volnaire is thrust into a battle for both his homeland and his own mind. Ankarth, the neighboring country to the north, has invaded Entervia to remove King Durnan from the throne. As the Entervian army scours the capital for soldiers, Zercien discovers a long-dead legendary hero can control his mind at will. While he fights to keep his curse a secret and maintain his autonomy, the meddlesome hero has other plans. Under possession, Zercien is consumed within an omnipresent fog and takes on the hero’s persona at the cost of his own. But his power often summons a nightmarish faceless figure only he can see that stalks his waking world. Zercien’s newfound abilities earn him renown in Entervia’s army, but when he faces an ancient magic long thought destroyed, he and a small band are tasked with one last desperate mission for reinforcements. However, Zercien fears the key to Entervia’s victory lies in embracing his loathsome alter ego, and before this war’s end, he may have none of his identity left to sacrifice.


Once We Flew

Once We Flew by Nikky Lee

Four generations ago a generation ship crashed into the sands of Savene. Since then, its survivors have eked out an existence in the planet’s hostile desert. Yet, the tech is failing, the sands are encroaching, and people are dying. Rescue is still generations away—if it comes at all. But Marsa is a survivor. And an outcast. Infected with the Chrysalis—a disease that grants its carriers uncanny abilities—she keeps her distance from her dwindling community. Until an old friend’s dying wish sends her and a young boy across Savene’s inhospitable sands in search of something Marsa had thought she’d long forgotten. Hope.


Metanoia

Metanoia by Alex Robins

As above, so below. Panacea was a lie. An elaborate scheme instigated by Zeus, greatest of the Ruined Gods. Among its many victims was the former strategos Dexios, tricked into murdering Zeus’s brother, Hades, as the city of Thena fell to an unstoppable tauran herd. With the death of Hades, the barrier between realms has been shattered. The lifeless shades of Tartarus are no longer bound to the Underworld, but free to return to their decaying bodies and walk the lands of Tyrris once more. Only one can stop this. Makar, son of Hades, reluctant heir to his father’s legacy. Accompanied by the disgraced priestess Graycea and the sophistes Elena, he must find a way to traverse the mists of Tartarus and reclaim his birthright. A long, arduous path awaits. For deep in the fiery pits of the Underworld, someone is releasing the shades of the damned. Decrepit, pitiful shadows, their tortured minds broken by an eternity of torture. Yet, despite the madness, a single, overwhelming desire remains. Vengeance.


The Heir

The Heir by Claudia Klein

SPFBO10

Sisters separated by war... Brothers divided by hate... To stop their world being torn apart by darkness, will they find a way to unite? A royal rivalry divides the two princes of Erlingue. A bloody battlefield separates the two princesses of Arbinad. And a creature of darkness waits to destroy them all. When Kat’s father, the King of Arbinad, tells her and her sister to flee the coming war, only one of them listens. Determined to help her army, Kat instead disguises herself as a boy and joins their ranks as an archer. But the battle turns bloodier than anyone anticipated, and before she can escape, Kat is taken captive by the crown prince of Erlingue. As second in line, Prince Thomas isn’t the one taking the throne. But he knows he would make a better king than his power-hungry older brother. So when he finds Kat as his brother’s prisoner, they begin an unlikely alliance to seek the sinister new king’s demise. But little do they know, a darker power is at work behind the new king. And civil war has stolen safety away from Kat’s sister. Can they unite forces in time to stop their world being torn apart?


Legacy of Brick & Bone

Legacy of Brick & Bone by Krystle Matar

Follow the law and you’ll stay safe. But what if the law betrays you? It all started with the girl from the river: mutilated, tattooed, murdered. TashuĂ© couldn’t help but look for answers and in the process, he uncovered the ugly truths being hidden by the very law he used to believe in—the law of the Authority. Now he’s fighting for his life. Mere survival isn’t enough; he desperately wants to save his son from the Authority, and he wants revolution. At any cost. Davik Kaine has been gathering power under everyone’s noses. Ruthless, ambitious, with a rebel army backing him, he wants revolution, too. He’s probably the only person powerful enough to protect TashuĂ© from the looming implosion of the political field. And he’s the only person with the connections to save Jason. He may also be responsible for the death of the girl from the river. Is making peace with Davik worth it, if it saves Tashué’s son from the Authority? If TashuĂ© plays along with what Davik wants, can TashuĂ© get retribution for the girl from the river?


The Tronis Assignment

The Tronis Assignment by E L Grover

Humanity has started to colonize other worlds and learned the lessons of colonization anew. A recent war with a neighboring alien race has prompted changes in Earth's military. Straining the relationship between Earth and her colonies. Worlds such as Tronis, now a trade center that was spared from the war. Pirates have started to attack the Tronis trade routes. The latest attack has taken hostages, and the government is forced to ask for help from Earth. Enter Gamma Squadron, the United Nations Space Corps' latest evolution of Earth's special forces teams. Commander Jubert and his two squads lead by Chief Petty Officer Keith, and Petty Officer First Class Holte, are tasked with rescuing the hostages and putting an end to this piracy with any means necessary. The only complication is the presence of a journalist, John Aerovant. This adds one more life Keith must protect amid a battle inside a pirate stronghold.


Evolution of the Elements

Evolution of the Elements by T.M. Faulkner

The Elements are phenomenal beings, each with unique and extraordinary powers. It is unknown why and how long they have been dormant from the dangerous worlds of Izara and Raziz, but now the time has come to be awakened. In the wondrous City of Lementes, Jaykin, a deeply troubled young man, is searching for his father, who has disappeared in baffling circumstances. He nearly gives up hope until he secures the help of the mysterious Kanaren and his trusty companion, Q-Tech. As their adventure begins, Kanaren warns of an impending invasion, but no one in power will listen, and Jaykin discovers he has an innate and disturbing ability.


Lost in the Waking Well

Lost in the Waking Well by John Notlad

Dreams are made of memories, as is waking life. Who’s to say which is real? Clara— the girl of Allen’s dreams. She was his world in that other life. . . The one before he awoke from his coma. Now he has Elizabeth, a wife he has no memory of, and Goose, a daughter he no longer recognizes. Despite their love for him and the man he used to be, Allen’s only desire is to return to the life he had before he awoke. With the help of a local research doctor and a cocktail of drugs, Allen returns to the world of his dreams in search of the woman he loves. But dreams can be fickle. Answers are carefully guarded. And for his broken mind, the line between fantasy and reality grows blurrier with each excursion.


Season of Kings

Season of Kings by A.J. Rettger

War is upon the land and the throne sits empty. Who will claim it? Elbert of Artanzia finds himself in a precarious position. After stealing the throne from his older brother, he finds himself newly crippled and low on friends. The nobles want to undermine him, while the populace wants to depose him. In a desperate attempt to keep his power, he launches a campaign against the barbarian islanders to the north, something that no king has ever done. In the forest to the south of the capital, lives Anna and her father. While raised in isolation, Anna is taught how to hunt and kill everything that makes its home in the monster-infested forest. However, her quiet life is torn apart when a group of visitors pay her father an unexpected visit. Forced to flee to the capital city, she must find her long-lost aunt, all while fighting to protect herself and socializing with other teenagers for the first time. Grimm White-Eyes, a legendary barbarian warrior and Shield of the Isles, is accused of murdering the Islander High King’s brother. With a price on his head, he must flee his homeland and find refuge on the continent. Yet no ship will risk carrying someone of his notoriety. Unable to leave, he is forced to ally himself with the enemy, in hopes that he can continue to live his life as the gods intended, free.


The Forsaken Planet

The Forsaken Planet by Bryan Wilson

SPSFC 2023 SPSFC 2024

The world is more than just a planet. It’s an ancient tribute to the woman who guided it from ruin, a devastation she foresaw arising again. When mysterious aircraft wreak havoc across Earth’s skies, it is revealed that there are clusters of other planets where humankind resides, distant worlds where the people wield the power of the stars themselves. It is an energy force that can bring about miracles or, as the alien fleet’s ruthless leader displays, unleash horrors beyond imagination. After experiencing a loss during the onslaught, Colton Samson, an ordinary college student, vows to protect his loved ones at any cost. But to learn the power to do so, he must enlist into the Army of the Universal Throne—a second alien force with its own agenda. With the revelation of a secret prophecy foretelling humanity’s demise and Colton’s improbable role in preventing it, he embarks alongside a diverse group of friends to the Throne’s capital, the planet of Vintara. There he faces prejudice from supposed allies, lifelike combat simulations that test him to his core, and the looming threat of a universal war. Only by embracing his true potential can Colton hope to secure the safety he seeks, in a universe that views him as nothing more than Forsaken. -A coming-of-age story about family, the bonds of friendship, and leaping blind into the dark to protect them both. Come learn the truth about Earth’s ancient past alongside Colton, journeying with him to Vintara, where action, mystery, and a side of romance await. It’s time we all begin to grasp the true power of the stars


The Hero Interview

The Hero Interview by Andi Ewington

Heroes
 you can't swing a cat without hitting one. You can't even hatch a nefarious plan without some adventuring party invading your dungeon to thwart you. So, it stands to reason they're a force for good—right? Well—yes and no
 Elburn Barr is a Loremaster who has turned his back on his family's tradition of adventuring and stepped out into the realm of heroes to interview a whole smörgĂ„sbord of fantastical characters from stoic, swear-shy Paladins through to invisible sword-carrying Mime Warriors. Through his transcribed journal, he'll take a cheeky peek at the truth lurking behind the hero myth—and everything associated with them. Across his many encounters, he hopes to uncover his brother's fate—a brother who has been missing for ten summers after brazenly setting out to forge a heroic name for himself. Will Elburn discover what really happened to his brother, or will he fail in his quest and become another casualty of the adventuring trade? The Hero Interviews is a departure from the usual swords and sorcery yarn—it's a sometimes gritty, sometimes amusing, but completely bonkers look at the realm of heroes.


Primal Fury: Trial of the Berserker

Primal Fury: Trial of the Berserker by Noël Traver

SPFBO10

A hive-like race of brutal abominations. A single warrior who wants nothing more than to become a legendary berserker. Can Orsin survive the brutal, solo Trial, kill one of the greatest threats his people have ever known, and emerge as the favoured warrior of his god? Orsin wants nothing more than to pass The Trial and become a berserker. But to do that he must travel into the wilderness, completely alone, and do battle with the abominations that live in the tundra—a strange, constantly mutating species known only as the Herd. But when Orsin makes his way into that icy desert not everything is as he has been told it would be. The Herd beasts don’t all act as he expects. Something strange is going on. The ancient enemy of his people is changing, evolving in new and dangerous ways. They are growing more canny and more deadly. But why? As Orsin delves deeper and deeper into enemy territory, he slowly begins to discover new facets to old dangers, challenges that will threaten not only his life but also his sanity and possibly, his very soul. Can he slaughter enough enemies to pass his Trial, make it back alive, and become the legendary warrior he knows he can be? Trial of the Berserker is the first book in the Primal Fury epic fantasy series. If you like brutal and bloody action, feats of great personal strength and fortitude, and high-stakes combat, then you’ll love this debut page-turner!


Harbinger of Justice

Harbinger of Justice by Andrew Watson

Upon the black sands and beneath the ever-watching eyes, a tale of shadow magic and ancient mysteries unfold in this new dark epic fantasy series. In the desert city of Yontar, Nya cares for her sick mother. But when Nya is arrested, her mother’s death is all but certain unless Nya joins a secret project that promises her freedom. If she survives. Rai, a mercenary, has a shadow dark enough for two. In his quest to discover the nature of the creature living in his shadow, Rai collides with old friends and new enemies, stumbling into an ancient mystery that could mean the end of the world as they know it. All the while, a darkness stirs and rebellion threatens, helmed by a man who promises justice will reign.


Pale Night, Red Fields

Pale Night, Red Fields by Joseph John Lee

SFINCS

The threads of fate are not so easily unwoven. There is a growing fascination among the Dusk Tribe with the land of the dead. The Tribe's shamans work tirelessly day and night to find a path to communion with their people's lost souls, but answers are slow to uncover. As both the son of a shaman and the Tribe's only Futureseer, Zarrow is ordered to view the days and weeks ahead to reveal the source of the Tribe's successful discovery, but when he does so, he finds not celebration, but destruction. Devastation. Sacrifice. And those closest to him bloodied by it all. Zarrow must find a way to prevent his visions from coming to pass, and he must do so quickly. For the pale night approaches, and it promises a curse that may leave the Dusk Tribe forever haunted.


Miss Bennet's Dragon

Miss Bennet's Dragon by M. Verant

SPFBO10

Foreword INDIES Winner for Fantasy. Royal Dragonfly Award Winner for Fantasy. “A charming retelling”—Locus Magazine An unforgettable fantasy retelling of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice that is romantic, funny, and more relevant than ever. Elizabeth Bennet is hiding a forbidden power. She can speak to draca, the fire-breathing creatures kept as status symbols by English gentry. But Mr. Darcy has noticed, and he has his own dark secret. When Elizabeth’s sister falls deathly ill, the cure lies in the mysteries of draca. Elizabeth, aided by her brilliant sister Mary, defies restrictive English society to hunt for lost draca lore. She must hurry. England’s war with France has drawn other dangerous hunters. Elizabeth’s search leads her to the fabulous Pemberley estate, home of the entitled and infuriating man whose proposal she scorned. There, Elizabeth’s worlds smash together—protocol against passion, and exultation against the risk of love. But the stakes are greater than her sister’s life. Elizabeth must test herself against a distant war. And her enemy is not who she thought. “Thrilling, superbly paced, and moving. I highly recommend this novel to fans of Jane Austen, as well as to anyone who has ever pondered the mystery of dragons.” – Katherine Sturtevant, author of At the Sign of the Star “A historical romance that encompasses the Napoleonic Wars, arcane marriage laws, and women with the power to command the fiercest, most dangerous, and wisest of beasts” – Vanessa MacLaren-Wray, author of All That Was Asked Miss Bennet’s Dragon is a stand-alone story that begins a trilogy of Jane Austen Fantasy.


The Kheld King

The Kheld King by L.L. Stephens

The King is dead. Long live the Kheld King. The Triempery lies crippled, its godborn princes slaughtered by treachery, its ruling houses desperate to maintain their monopoly of the god-machine Entities. In the aftermath of the slaughter, Stefan Stauberg-Randolph inherits his grandfather's throne. Already an outsider because of his Kheld heritage, Stefan sees enemies around every corner--but he particularly fears Dorilian Sordaneon, sole surviving heir of the Rill Entity's power. Set upon conflicting paths by betrayal and suspicion, the animosity between the two young rulers could well threaten not only the Triempery's remaining houses, but the Entities themselves.


At the Threshold of the Universe

At the Threshold of the Universe by T.A. Bruno

The epic conclusion to the Song of Kamaria trilogy. ALL SONGS END. War ravages Kamaria as an old enemy resurfaces from the depths of the ocean. Offering no support in the coming battles, the Auk’nai isolate themselves in their tightly guarded Nest. Outgunned and outmatched, humanity once again trembles on the edge of obliteration. The Castus family is torn apart. Denton fights on the front lines, hoping to free Cade from a nightmarish foe. Meanwhile, Eliana and Nella set out on a path that will change everything they understand about the Sirens. The Song will end, but who will remain to hear its final verse?


The Naughty or Nice Clause

The Naughty or Nice Clause by Kate Callaghan

Being Naughty Has Never Been So Nice! When Lyla's father retired as CEO of the toy company which has been in their family for generations, she was meant to receive his shares. Instead, she discovers the company is bankrupt and her father has given her shares to Mason Klaus, an investor known in the corporate world for his cold and callous nature. Much to Lyla's frustration, her only option is to run the company with him, despite their evident loathing for one another. When Mason cancels the annual Christmas party, Lyla throws it anyway - only for the event of the season to result in a terrible fire. With the offices and Lyla's credibility ruined, Mason offers her a deal: he'll forget her part in the disaster, but she must join his family for the twelve days of their Christmas holidays. Taken to a fantastical winter wonderland, Lyla hopes that she might discover some of the secrets Mr Klaus is hiding, and maybe even a way to get her company back. However, when Mason introduces her to the secret village as his fiancée, she is horrified to realise she has no choice but to go along with the pretence - because the cost of bringing an outsider to their magical land is far too high. Can Lyla resist the devilishly handsome Mr Klaus and the enchanting village to win back her company, or will she give into temptation? Readers who fell in love with Yule: 'Definitely a must-read for anyone who likes Christmas books with a beautiful touch of fantasy.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Magical. Felt like stepping into a snow globe Christmas village.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'I'm a sucker for cheesy hallmark Christmas movies, so if you're like me you'll love this book!' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Adventure, romance, a bit of spice, and a sprinkle of gold dust to put you in the holiday spirit!' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 'Workplace rivals featuring Santa's hot son and forced proximity in the North Pole? Count me in.' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Tropes & Themes: Low-Fantasy Romance Workplace, Enemies to Lovers Fake Engagement Forced Proximity Cosy, Christmas feels


Help! My Dog Is The Chosen One!

Help! My Dog Is The Chosen One! by Ronit J

Kunal is forced to adventure
 Because his dog is the Chosen One! Kunal is just your average guy living on rent in Mumbai, working from home, and suffering from anxiety. His world is turned upside down when his girlfriend asks him to foster a rescued street dog. Despite his qualms, Kunal agrees because ‘What’s the worst that can happen?’ That’s when the extra-dimensional dark lord attacks. The dog is the only one who can stop the dark lord, but he can’t do it without Kunal’s help. Can Kunal overcome his many anxieties or will our world suffer for eternity?


Ruins of Smoke

Ruins of Smoke by JoĂŁo F. Silva

SFINCS

The Usharian Empire rules the Known World with an iron fist. Imperials protect their world from the tainted hand of the Deceiver, but he is back with an avatar capable of breaking the Empire and grounding humanity into ash. JEHA is a sentinel of the Empire, willing to fight and die for kinship and duty. AGOR is an imperial general. Disgruntled by the darkness he sees seeping into everything he loves, he makes his move. MATALA is a young smokesmith who sees his courage tested as Ushar burns. ALAMAKAR is the world’s most powerful man, but even strong blood ties can hold him down and tear him apart. As the Deceiver threatens the Usharian Empire’s heart, fiends walk the streets of the capital. Men and monsters clash in a battle fit for gods. And the smoke follows them.


Gates of Hope

Gates of Hope by J.E. Hannaford

SPFBO10

The Watcher shattered the Gates. Now hope must arise from the shards. Darin and Suriin enter the Black Palace of the So’Dal, at a time when monstrous Edgelands creatures return to the skies over Caldera. After exhibiting magical traits thought lost, Darin is drawn into a secret society charged with keeping the Watcher’s secrets. Now he must balance learning to control his magic, caring for Star, his new companion, and finding a way to sustain the Howlers’ power for long enough to protect Caldera from the predatory creatures of the Edgelands. Before she arrived at the Black Palace Suriin broke the ancient rules of the So’Dal to save the life of the person she loves the most. As her search for a cure delves deeper under the mountain, is there any price she won't pay? On the outer moon of Tebein, Elissa’s newly awakened magic will endanger her home and family. Now she must race to find help for those she leaves behind as she escapes those who want her, and all those like her, dead. One wrong decision by any of them could return legends to life and end five hundred cycles of peace. Will they find the solutions they need in time?


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