stories in

These Gossamer Strings

These Gossamer Strings by Allegra Pescatore

A Silence is Broken. The River Beckons. The Forgotten Wait. With eighteen days until her tribunal and Water Rite, Elenor must find a way to save her doena and keep her throne. The threat of war looms larger and only an alliance through marriage has the potential to save it. But who to trust when all her closest allies have secrets of their own? The past is creeping up on them, a web of maneuvers and lies spreading back to before the fall of the Empire. Gabriel can feel it constricting around them, drawing him ever closer to a future he never wanted. Confronting the truth of his heritage may be the only way to save Lirin, but at what cost? Perhaps one the desert has already paid. Shaken after the death of the Red, the Mondaer must choose their path forward. Protect the new Gatekeeper and Incarnate as they have always done, or embrace a future without reliance on Gifts? Fedrik and Fay’s safety depends on the answer, and it’s not looking good. Would they be better off trusting Daemon, or is North right that he intends to use them as a weapon? These Gossamer Strings is the final installment of the first arc of the Last Gift Series. Threads torn asunder are weaving back together and the Gatekeeper is coming for his Incarnate.


A Contract in Sol Forne

A Contract in Sol Forne by Élan MarchĂ© , Christopher Warman

SPFBO10

A standalone fantasy adventure featuring djinns, dangerous wishes, political factions, and militias. A djinn. A boy. A terrible contract. "I wouldn't have asked for that if I knew I could ask for anything." Vaelin is an ancient djinn on a quest to seek the artifact to which she is enslaved. Her centuries-long journey lands her in the southern port city-state of Sol Forne, where she is certain the artifact is held. There, she meets Dorovan, a disaffected youth from a dissolved noble house. Though their initial connection is cursory, their bond becomes one that may endanger the entire Cycle of Nature.


Lord And King

Lord And King by P.L. Stuart

Finally Lord and King of Eastrealm, Othrun aims to restore the glory of his drowned homeland, Atalantyx. But dangerous warlords are determined to stop Othrun from rising to further power. Furthermore, Eastrealm’s ruler must confront internal forces that could tear his new kingdom apart. Embattled Othrun is also devastated by personal tragedy. His belief in his Single God, and his ambiguous guiding spirit, has never been more tenuous. To fight his enemies, Othrun needs more than faith, or his formidable knights. He needs a mage on his side. Is the conniving Queen Lysi, with her divided loyalties, and her own designs for Othrun, the ally he needs? Or, are there other mages who can help the beleaguered young king, who he can trust? And, Lysi is not the only formidable queen Othrun must contend with. An inexorable power, tied to ancient founders of Eltnish civilization, is coming. A legendary ruler, the likes of whom has not been seen for centuries, plans to reclaim what's owed to her. She is named, Undala. Fear for Othrun, and anyone else who dares stand in her way. Othrun is clever, bold, resourceful. Yet, kingship comes with many challenges, including facing the cunning, powerful, vengeful enemies surrounding him, marking him for death. Will Othrun’s reign end on the battlefield, in blood, before it's barely begun?


The Shimmering Prayer of Sûkiurùq

The Shimmering Prayer of Sûkiurùq by S.L. Dove Cooper

Kraken Collective

A deliciously queer magical person story in a secondary world with floating cities and airships, perfect for fans of She-Ra and Steven Universe. All thaes life, Oibe EkĂȘmai has wanted to become a lĂȘqnaemi, a travelling dancer skilled at nudging the world’s magic into making everyone’s lives a little easier. Thae has trained years for their chance at the Festival of Paths, where new apprentices will be chosen. But the lĂȘqnaemi have secrets they only reveal to those chosen to join their ranks and Oibe EkĂȘmai and thaes new friends soon find themselves thrust into an age-old conflict. With almost no preparation and certainly no training, their group will have to face the horrors all lĂȘqnaemi have sworn to face and triumph, or the entire world may be lost to darkness forever.


The Stars Within

The Stars Within by Alex Arch

SFINCS

Life finds a way, they say. Well, maybe life went too far. A dying star always shines brightest. Thomas fights to beat cancer. Colette fights to save the human race. A colonial miner crippled with debt, Thomas must flee his home to cure his recurring cancer. With his health declining at an alarming rate, his options are limited. Spend his last days surrounded by his loved ones or leave them behind for a slim chance to live. The choice is impossible, the prospect grim, and not for him alone. A pragmatic military hero, Colette enrolls in a mission to thwart an alien invasion. She always gets the job done
 unless Mia’s involved. She must then put her feelings aside as always or risk jeopardizing her assignment for the woman she once loved. Two battles. Two realities. For one to succeed, the other must fail.


Goldilocks and the Three Bears: Understanding Autism Spectrum Disorder

Goldilocks and the Three Bears: Understanding Autism Spectrum Disorder by Amy Nielsen

We all know the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears. But what you may not know is that this familiar fairytale can also help us understand autism spectrum disorder. As a mother of a child with ASD, Amy struggled to find materials to share with her son’s cousins and peers on the complexities of ASD, what to expect, and how to interact and have fun with a person on the spectrum. So, she created her own! Goldilocks and the Three Understanding Autism Spectrum Disorder is a retelling of a beloved classic. In this unique version, Goldilocks exhibits many of the characteristics of a child with autism, such as sensory sensitivities and challenges in understanding social norms. As an added bonus, this one-of-a-kind story includes an ASD glossary of terms as well as discussion questions. It is perfect for libraries, classrooms, families of children with autism, or readers of all ages who want to learn more about ASD. While every person’s autism presents differently, Goldilocks’ autism can help the reader understand the autism of someone they know a little better.


The Last of the Atalanteans

The Last of the Atalanteans by P.L. Stuart

A painted mage. An unfaithful queen. A stolen throne. Three lords in disguise. Escaping Atalantyx’s destruction, Prince Othrun has forged alliances with Eltnish kings: former enemy Hert and King Wely, who has promised Othrun a kingdom of his own. When Wely’s realm was stolen by Wely’s wife, a powerful mage, and Wely’s brother, a feared warlord, Othrun hatched a daring plan to restore the rightful king. The bold scheme involved Othrun entering Lynchun in disguise, risking his life and the life of those with him, to topple the usurpers. But for Othrun’s plot to succeed, he must entrust his Atalanteans into the uncertain hands of Hert—on the cusp of confronting his own political challenges to kingship, while tasked with protecting Othrun’s followers—even as Wely, a captive where he should be king, gambles both crown and the head upon which it sat on Othrun’s survival. Othrun’s abilities, faith, and trust in his mysterious guardian spirit are soon to be tested. The mage Lysi continues to entangle herself in Othrun’s affairs, tempting him, challenging his beliefs, and threatening to bring his plans to ruin. But Othrun, Lord of the Last of the Atalanteans, does not intend to fail. He will be a king. Or die trying. Othrun will go to battle, and he will triumph against the odds. If not, all will be burned to ashes, consumed in the fires of his ambition. And so, the ancient war banner of Atalantean kings will fly. One last time. A kingdom has fallen. A legend will rise.


The Binding of Bloom Mountain

The Binding of Bloom Mountain by Siggy Chambers

Indie Recs Indie

“One fool in search of money wins a cursed mountain and a lifetime of nightmares...” When Celeste Foster loses her job with the US Forestry Service, she finds solace in drinking herself stupid every night. But when she sees an ad that says “ADVENTURERS WANTED” and “compensation upon completion”, she pulls herself together to head for the town of Milton. In the mountains of Northwest Virginia, she enters a portal to an alternate Shenandoah Valley. Here monsters and gods live alongside humans, and every family has magic in their blood. But a curse festers on the slopes of Bloom Mountain. A decade has passed with no one to bind the magic, and soon the curse will destroy Milton. Armed with a recording, a bag of ritual items, and fresh scones from the cute barista that housed her, Celeste starts up Bloom Mountain. The Binding tests her endurance, sanity, and ability to adapt to this new world. If she can survive the horrors on the mountain, there might be more than just money waiting for her at the end.


Bonds of Chaos

Bonds of Chaos by Zack Argyle

Bonds of Chaos is the final installment of the Threadlight trilogy, which begins with the multi-award-winning Voice of War. TO BREAK THE BONDS, THERE WILL BE SACRIFICES When all was lost, the Heralds returned, and the world embraced them as gods and saviors. But there are some who know the truth: the Heralds are not what they seem. Now, in a desperate attempt to stop them, Chrys and the others travel to Cynosure with hopes of enlisting the only Amber threadweaver with the power to help. Chrys, Laurel, Alverax, and those they love. Together, they will stop the gods...or they will die trying.


Stones of Light

Stones of Light by Zack Argyle

Stones of Light continues the story begun in Voice of War, the multi-award-winning start to the Threadlight series. FEAR THE ROSES. FEAR THE LIGHT. Chrys swore to never again let the Apogee take control but, in a moment of desperation, he gave in. Now, he will learn what the Apogee truly wants. In Alchea, Laurel will do anything to get her threadlight back, even if it means working for the leader of the Bloodthieves. But she has no choice...a life without threadlight is no life at all. To the west, Alverax travels with the Zeda people to the large port city of Felia, where they seek refuge after the fires in the Fairenwild. But he shattered the coreseal, and no one quite knows what the consequences will be. They only know it won't be good. Together, they changed the world—now, they must save it.


The Tale That Twines

The Tale That Twines by Cedar McCloud

All we have is now. Forty years before THE THREAD THAT BINDS, Juniper Starstitch returns to Caspora City young and hopeful. Chosen to be Head Librarian Opaline Sweetfrond's last apprentice, June arrives at the Eternal Library looking to discover the magical manuscript art of Illumination—and to recover the memories lost to the trauma of the massive earthquake that killed one of eir parents a decade earlier. June quickly discovers that these memories can be recovered through the ancient art of reading etheric Threads, the spiritual ties that link the world together. But remembering can be painful, and living in the past means missing out on the present. Even to the point that June’s beloved apprenticeship is threatened by eir inability to let go. It will take the help of friends both old and new for June to untangle the knotted threads of time, including the mysterious and stern Aeronwy Greengrove, who June may or may not be falling in love with, one song at a time.


Sea Foam and Silence

Sea Foam and Silence by Dove Cooper

Kraken Collective

She warned of the pain. She did. But no warning can prepare you. Nothing can. Long, long ago, a little mermaid became intrigued by the way tall-crabs don’t act at all like the prey she’s more comfortable chasing. Her quest to understand will take her places she had never dreamed possible—onto land and beyond the endless cold. But quests always come with a price and hers is no exception. If she cannot find love within a year, she’ll become sea foam. With only a month left and no closer to understanding ‘love’ at all, what is Maris to do? Tall-crabs—humans—are confusing and contradictory and love comes in so many forms, how can she ever know which one is right to win her life amidst friends and family on land? Fantastical worldbuilding meets verse novels in this queerplatonic retelling of The Little Mermaid, the first story in a series of queer fairytale retellings.


Heir To The Empire: The Next Generation

Heir To The Empire: The Next Generation by Jonathan Taylor

Martha always admired her veteran father and sought to emulate his example. Her wish was granted when she, along with her prodigious and reclusive best friend Elisabeth, was accepted in the premier military academy in the world. Once there, the two are assigned in a unit with Giuliana, a free-spirited and passionate fellow cadet, as well as Viktor, a young man who maintains his cool in almost all situations and is seemingly full of surprises. As the semester rolls through, they face the hardships the university pushes on them as well as befriend some of their fellow cadets, however a looming terrorist threat and the secrets they keep from each other threaten to tear their careers, and friendships, apart.


The Thread That Binds

The Thread That Binds by Cedar McCloud

The books are restless. At the Eternal Library, books are more than the paper, ink, and thread they're made from--they're full of spirits. Only a handful of people will ever be invited to the Bindery to learn the craft of Illumination: the magical creation of intricate illustrated manuscripts, bound with a secret that will make them last forever. Tabby is a dreamwalker, a witch who escapes into the stories of sleep to avoid a birth family that's never loved em enough. Amane is a cartomancer, a medium who speaks for the Unseen, but doesn’t know how to speak her own needs. Rhiannon is a psychic, an archivist who can See into the past, but only has eyes on the future. Their stories intertwine as they discover the secrets of Illumination, the Library's archives, and those of their mentors--the three of whom are competing to be the next Head Librarian, the Speaker for all the books. How do you know who's truly worth being part of your family? Sometimes we must forge connections in order to heal; other times, those bonds must be broken.


Myth of Pyx

Myth of Pyx by A.A. Fairview

A Goddess snatched by a monster– and the priestess devoted to them both. I love my Godling, I love her more than the priestesses allow. After giving myself, giving my body and pleasure in service of the Rheavia, a punishment must be served. Descend into the mountain where the boarish monster, Pyx resides. I can not outrun him– it is impossible to outsmart him in the labyrinth of his own creation. The very labyrinth where my Godling, my Rheavia remains trapped. Though not everything is as it seems. My Godling demands submission, patience, and above all else– devotion. I have a choice: maintain my virtue or give in to my monstrous desires, my need to belong to them both. I beg, I plea, and with any hope, I will receive what I crave



The Severing Son

The Severing Son by Vaughn Roycroft

Tales of the Bringer of Urrinan had been told for generations, but never had the prophecy felt so near to so many. Elan wasn’t sure if she even believed one man could cause the sort of upheaval that would change the world. And yet, just as the prophecy foretold, dark forces were on the rise—including the many Spali warbands raiding across the borderlands. It was in pursuit of one such warband when Elan’s host discovered the hidden compound of the Outcast. She’d heard how the former chieftain of the mighty Amalus Clan had been unjustly accused of murdering his rival. How the conflict had begun over a woman. How the Outcast’s son—born of that same woman—perfectly matched the prophecy’s foretelling of the Bringer. Prophecy aside, it seemed that fate had led Elan into the midst of a legend. Because of a choice made in the heat of battle, Elan found herself bound to an outlaw hunted by friend and foe alike. Whether she believed in the prophecy or not, she found herself entangled with a lone figure who vowed to seek the sort of upheaval that might just change the world. Could Vahldan, son of the Outcast, truly be the Bringer of Urrinan?


Heir To The Empire: The Path Not Taken

Heir To The Empire: The Path Not Taken by Jonathan Taylor

Martha has learned a great deal in her first semester at a prestigious military university, yet her most intriguing lesson didn’t come from her professors. As she returns home for spring break, she takes it upon herself to lift the curse inflicted upon her family, despite the dangers that goal can bring upon her. The curse-lifting ritual Martha performs brings her to a different world, a world similar to her own, but with changes she struggles to work around. Once she finds her bearings in this new world, as well as some unlikely allies, Martha goes on the quest she was meant to undertake, a quest which will test her to the full extent of her wisdom, might, and abilities, along which she must battle strange and powerful enemies in order to overcome her family’s blood curse.


Phoebe's Festival

Phoebe's Festival by A.A. Fairview

A dissatisfied wife finds herself in the hedonistic throws of a caravan of satyrs. I may have been betrothed to Taeon all my life but I hardly expected our marriage to be this unbearable. It’s deep in the woods, after hunting for days, that we come across the satyr women. Beautiful, plump, and everything my husband is not. When I stop him from harming one of the satyrs, things between us only get worse. Who else comes to my aid, but the satyrs themselves. Soon I find myself torn between my lifelong duty to my betrothed and the promise of a life of pleasure. The path is uncertain. What is certain is my affection towards these satyr women–an affection they return twofold. They’re not the only ones
 There is a whole group of satyr women ready to welcome me into their arms!


Tale of Gael: Love for a Master and His Creation

Tale of Gael: Love for a Master and His Creation by A.A. Fairview

A Master sculptor and his talented, dutiful, and madly in love apprentice. Under the tutelage of my Master Malion, I’ve grown as a sculptor and am on track to become a city artisan just like him. But that hardly weighs on my heart as much as my feelings
 My utter devotion to him. Malion is oblivious and so I throw myself at other, less impressive men. That is till I kiss the lips of my Master’s artwork, a sculpture of a young warrior
 To think marble could make me feel more than any man. It must be wrong to take so much pleasure from something carved from stone. Yet my Master’s creation breaks the cold temple surrounding my heart. I love my master still, but if he won’t have me I’ll take his creation instead. Gleefully.


A Doctor's Touch

A Doctor's Touch by A.A. Fairview

Under the full moon, the town doctor Levi finds none other than Camron Coinin with a silver bullet in his gut. Being a vampire moonlighting as a doctor has never been easy. He took an oath, do no harm, but an exception must be made. Monsters need to stick together and Levi knows this attack means they’re both in danger. Before now, Levi has assumed to be at odds with Camron but in nursing him back to health his feelings become clear
 and Levi, though undead, feels alive with Camron in his bed.


The Descendants of Prontoth

The Descendants of Prontoth by Mark Raines

SPSFC 2024

An eight-hundred-year, galaxy-spanning hunt nears its conclusion setting up a confrontation thousands of years in the making. For eight hundred years Timion High Command has hunted the Descendants of Prontoth across the galaxy. Wars were fought, lives were lost, but the Descendants of Prontoth remained at large. Hamron Modestus knows Timion High Command has been doing it wrong. Their quest for revenge made them blind to the allies they would need to bring the Descendants of Prontoth to justice. In his new position of power, Modestus is on their trail, ready to succeed where High Command had failed. Caught in the middle of this inevitable confrontation is retired General Dash Cricken and the entire crew of the Prometheus. Dash and his crew discover evidence of a secret alliance formed to bring down the Descendants of Prontoth. The crew of the Prometheus is caught in the crosshairs of Timion High Command, forced to defend themselves against the hunter on their trail and dissension within their own ranks. Any failure could jeopardize everything they have worked toward. The Descendants of Prontoth is the action-packed sequel to Mark Raines' debut Novel, Felan's Rescue, following the crew of the Prometheus on another wild adventure.


Crystals and Contracts

Crystals and Contracts by A.A. Fairview

My landlord is going to hate me for what I’m about to do. I’ve never had a father and never wanted one either. To my dismay, I do have a father, Arthur le Fay–a crime lord witch. Afraid for not just my safety, but the safety of my friends and coven, I have no other choice but to make a deal with a devil. A little drastic? Maybe, but it’s certainly effective. At least it would be–if the devil would agree to make a deal with me! Now I have a devil in my apartment and no idea what to do about the le Fays. I just want them to leave me alone
 or maybe I want them afraid of me. Fear is one hell of a motivator. But no amount of fear will get this devil of mine to behave. He’s much more partial to exchanges, my body for his benevolence. Nothing good can come from feelings, especially when he insists he has none.


Teeth and Tarot

Teeth and Tarot by A.A. Fairview

"It's not my fault, I tell myself. Daily affirmation. Unfortunately." I fled the comforts of my wealthy, witch family a decade ago. I like to think I've settled into a human existence; clubs, hookups, early morning coffee runs... And the nightmares could always be worse. But I find myself drawn to this stud, this guy at my local coffee spot, who just feels too good to be true. But a one-night stand can't hurt. Right? Like a curse I can't escape, I'm back in the world I fought so hard to leave. Witches, gangs, and werewolves abound. Nevermind that stud went and got himself bitten by a werewolf. I'm bad at letting go, at just forgetting. I don't want to forget this guy... Even if that puts us both in danger.


FIRST CREATION

FIRST CREATION by mars adler

In an alternate biblical history, the war between angels and demons is unending and brutal. Amitiel, an angel of God, and Stolas, a fallen angel-turned-spy, should be enemies. However, after they uncover a shocking secret that drives them to desert, they go on the run together in modern-day America. Both are injured, and it’s only by chance that they stumble upon a long-abandoned church. Ensconced in the alluring, stifling church with a forgotten cemetery and too many peach trees, they finally have time to heal. They also have time to think and plan, which is as much a blessing as it is a curse. Amitiel must come to terms with his strange hunger and forbidden desires, while Stolas plans their next move. They both grapple with the knowledge of where their food rations came from, and that something is very wrong in the heart of Heaven itself. God has vanished, and if he isn't giving the orders, who is condoning the atrocities the angels commit in the name of winning? FIRST CREATION is a high heat queer horror novella. It is a love letter to fallen angels, rediscovering religion in a way that works for you, queer rage, and hunger of all kinds. It deals with some very heavy themes and is not intended for anyone under the age of 18. For a full list of content warnings please check the author's website.


The Bloody Chorus

The Bloody Chorus by John Marco

Two empires...one in decline, the other ascendant and hungry for conquest... Upon his father’s mysterious assassination, young Haru reluctantly becomes ruler—Tain—of his once-fearsome island nation. Threatened by a world they once dominated, Haru’s people, the Cryori, struggle with the peace the old Tain championed, nostalgic for the violent glories of their past. But across the ocean, an alliance of old enemies has formed, led by a madman bent on righting old wrongs. Enigmatic and fanatical, Reius decries the Cryori and their living gods, determined to erase their influence and beliefs. Now Haru must get justice for his murdered father and defend his people from the coming scourge over the sea. Promising his ancient, grieving goddess to kill Reius, he reunites his father’s failed circle of protectors—a magical band of avenging misfits known as the Bloody Chorus.


If You Really Knew Me: A Memoir of Miscarriage and Motherhood

If You Really Knew Me: A Memoir of Miscarriage and Motherhood by Mary Purdie

Mary and DeAndre’s dreams of having a child were halted when they discovered Mary couldn’t carry a pregnancy beyond seven weeks, suffering multiple miscarriages in a devastatingly short amount of time. All hope was not lost, as their doctors pinpointed the cause and cure for Mary’s recurrent miscarriages. Mary and DeAndre tenderly stepped back on the path toward parenthood, celebrating every unfamiliar milestone that brought them closer to meeting their child. Misfortune ripped apart their dreams again, leaving Mary and her doctors shocked and without answers. Through embracing spiritual support and leaning on her art to help heal her immense grief, Mary emerged from the grips of control—trying to plan every chapter of her life—into the warm embrace of surrender. Just as a new seed of hope began to bud and blossom, Mary found herself confronted with a devastating cancer at the age of 35. Stumbling forward into her new reality, she sought to find meaning among the sharp, glistening shards of her broken heart. “If You Really Knew Me” is a journey of heartbreak and healing, hope and resilience. Mary’s story shows us that healing is not linear and that motherhood cannot be defined in simple terms.


Eclipse

Eclipse by Herman Steuernagel

SPSFC 2023

Django and Mikka's paths collide as they embark on a journey that will shape the fate of a civilization built on half-truths and the backs of others. Rumors of civil war circulate through the Syndicate's orbital empire, catching both Django and Mikka in the crossfire, where the stakes are far higher than they realize.


The Lady of the Lair

The Lady of the Lair by Ladz

Chipped Cup

A story about a traveler going to evict a spider shifter lady and her children from their manor, and it goes about as well as you'd expect in a horror/dark fantasy.


Remote Angel Volume 1

Remote Angel Volume 1 by Yennie Fer and Banunu

After a freak accident of an attempted assault, Alice Desangi wakes up in a different apocalyptic universe. Gifted with mysterious powers of an earth angel, she dies in unfortunate occurrences. She wakes up to relive that day again in a confused manner. Depending on her choices, they could change history.


Ice Upon a Pier

Ice Upon a Pier by Ladz

Chipped Cup

My warped sense of morality embarrasses me. Ruta Pawlak is one of the most successful contract killers Pier-Upon-Pier City has ever seen. Convicted of five murders that landed her multiple life sentences, her kill count allegedly sits between fifteen and two hundred people. Some were just for practice, others for revenge, and others she executed for money to keep her potentially world-record setting reading collection going. For the first time, a biographer sits down with the legendary killer to hear her story in her own words. Get the details on her relationship with her depraved bosses and her eclectic arsenal of murder weapons from ice magic to poison to even the sun itself. From her impoverished upbringing to her introduction to the Syndicates to her bizarre affair with fellow killer Frieda Masters to Ruta’s eventual downfall, this account goes beyond headlines and court proceedings, weaving a story of love, family, survival, and murder. This novella is perfect for fans of true crime, fantasy, noir, The Last Podcast on the Left, and the interview portions of AMC’s Interview with the Vampire series. Humans killing other humans wasn’t natural. Human killing monsters, however, might be.


Unburnt: a speculative firefighter novella

Unburnt: a speculative firefighter novella by A.M. Weald

A different kind of superhero story... After emerging unscathed from the house fire that killed his father, Ed Stoneman had recurring dreams about rescuing himself as a boy, sitting amongst the flames, unburnt. The dream stopped once he became a firefighter, later earning the nickname of "Dodge" by surviving a lethal flashover fire. Dodge embraced his supernatural imperviousness to the heat of fire by going in when no one should, breaking the rules of rescue because he had to, because he could. With the Wyoming steppe becoming increasingly arid and fires igniting every few days, his 'talent' is needed now more than ever. On his 50th birthday, Dodge dreams of the boy not on fire for the first time in over 30 years. Chalking it up to stress, he thinks nothing of it. With retirement from active fire duty in his near future, he's depressed and aimless. Other than firefighting, what purpose does he have? Twice divorced and childless, believing himself to be infertile in exchange for his superpower of unknown origin, he has no one to confide in but his cat, and he daydreams of walking into a wildfire just to see if he'd finally burn. But when he answers an emergency call about a local house fire, renewed purpose greets him in the flames, making him question everything he once believed.


Down Below Beyond

Down Below Beyond by T. A. Bruno

SPSFC 2023

Lodespace is a collection of worlds dominated by the Fessenog Fleet trade empire. Thanks to the Voyalten portals, alien civilizations from all over the universe can gather for glorious trade. For the wealthy, there has never been a more lucrative circle. But the Fleet is hiding something from its investors. A secret that, if exposed, could bring the empire to its knees. Levort Aatra is a prospector on the planet Tayoxe. While scavenging the wastes of the abandoned world, he discovers a mysterious starship and stakes his claim on it. Little does he know, he just made himself the most wanted man in Lodespace. DOWN BELOW BEYOND is a stand-alone sci-fi fantasy adventure filled with aliens, planets, and portals set in a universe crafted by T. A. Bruno, author of the award-winning Song of Kamaria trilogy.


The Way of Edan

The Way of Edan by Philip Chase

The Kingdom of the Eternal will awaken when the Way of Edan holds sway over all of Eormenlond. So say the prophecies. With unrivalled power in the gift, the Supreme Priest Bledla leads Torrlond and its mighty army to convert rival kingdoms by the sword and by the fang. Among the gathering resistance is the sorceress Sequara, whose mission is to protect her island and her Andumaic faith from the Torrlonders’ aggression. As holy war looms over the kingdoms of Eormenlond, a chance encounter bestows a terrible curse upon a young man. Dayraven’s curse may decide Eormenlond’s fate. But first, with the help of unlikely friends, he must survive the shattering of his world. Equal parts epic and lament, The Way of Edan is the lyrical opening of The Edan Trilogy.


Far Removed

Far Removed by C.B. Lansdell

SPSFC 2023 SPSFC 2024

On the moon of Knyadrea, the sea yields intelligent life. For a species shaped by tides, change is the only constant. Charismatic and innovative, Oklas Sayve has risen to prominence in Apidecca, the moon's capital city. A politician and college director, he has the resources to effect the changes he envisions for the world. But the sovereigns he serves oppose him at every turn and his status cannot protect the low-strata students attending his college. After a young knyad is wrongly linked to insurgent activity, Oklas must find a way to smuggle her out of the city while hiding his involvement from the authorities. Below the grand Assembly Chambers, a knyad in a mask sculpts, grasping for scraps of beauty in her shrinking world. Years ago, Prismer made a costly mistake and now has only her job at the projection booth and a few special interests to fill her days. But it is not her sculptures that draw the attention of a powerful client, and she is soon met with a request to undertake a dangerous mission. Will she answer the call and risk losing the little she has left? Mysteries surface. A supernatural substance is used in corrupt ways. As identities shift and predicaments are reshuffled, what alliances might be forged?


The legend of the Ultimate Treasure

The legend of the Ultimate Treasure by Alexander Way-B

DESPICABLE VILLAINS - BRAVE ECO WARRIORS - A LEGENDARY BEING
 Jack and his sister Suzan have their lives turned upside down when their father loses his job and they are forced to move to an ancient, empty, dilapidated house, in a seaside town. Times are tough with little money, barely any furniture and their mother far away - working at her mysterious job, but they are determined to make the best of it. Exploring the outdated house, they find a strange object and soon realize that the old house has a mystery of its own. Little do they know that this is the first step on the rickety path of a perilous adventure that will lead them to lands long lost to the mists of time, as they search for an ancient legend and help eco warriors along the way. With strong characters and excellent links to conservation The Legend of the Ultimate Treasure gathers speed and excitement as the plot progresses and is likely to appeal to many 9 – 13’s.


The Last Forest

The Last Forest by Alexander Way-B

From the furthest dunes and the edges of night - Comes a tale of determination, bravery and compassion! Derwin isn’t strong, cool, or even popular. And she definitely doesn’t believe in herself. Until fate transports her to a broken and desolate dystopian world. A world where technology is the rift that divides humanity. To survive she must find a bravery and strength she didn’t know she had. She must win the hearts and minds of strangers. And, finally she must vanquish an age-old hatred rooted in the land. If she fails, the last forest and all of humanity will fall to dust, forgotten forever.


Marked for the Pyre

Marked for the Pyre by M.T. Fontaine

To overthrow the Stewards’ hold on the kingdoms, Kaianne and Andreiyes strike a tenuous alliance between their people – the Marked and the Carved. Yet uniting the two factions is proving a greater challenge than either of them anticipated. The Carved blame the Marked for centuries of genocide. The Marked are conditioned by the belief that all Carved are heartless and savage. If they cannot put aside their differences, the rebellion is doomed. As more Stewards close in and with the king nearly on his deathbed, their window of opportunity is closing. Meanwhile, Master Rau knows the royal couple is plotting. Torn between his allegiance to his Steward brethren and to his daughter, he struggles with how to proceed. When rumors surface that an old adversary has come out of exile for the benefit of the royals – the very same person who prophesied the Stewards’ end – Rau must decide between what he knows is right and what is best for the person he cares for most. Plans are made. Objectives are drawn. But their futures depend on more than their choices.


A Path of Blades

A Path of Blades by R.E.Sanders

Ingvar Darelle is a fighting knight, tasked with defending his country whenever he is called to battle. Violence and war provides no glory for Ingvar, who only wants to be at home on his rural estate. His dreams of a quiet life are shattered as he becomes a pawn in the ambitious schemes of others. How will his friendships and family cope with the forces that try to tear them apart? Which path will he choose?


City of Exile

City of Exile by Claudie Arseneault

Kraken Collective

Nothing is going according to plan for Diel Dathirii and his allies. Hellion has entrenched his power in House Dathirii, Hasryan is in Lord Allastam’s clutches, and with no one left to poison Master Avenazar, it’s only a matter of time before he seeks revenge. While Nevian scrambles to put together his magical trap, Larryn reaches out to the only person he trusts to save Hasryan: Sora Sharpe. Their impulsive rescue will hurtle Isandor towards a final confrontation—one last opportunity to reclaim House Dathirii and face Master Avenazar. But in order to seize this chance, Diel Dathirii and his allies will need to answer one question: what price are they willing to pay to ensure the future of their loved ones within the City of Spires? City of Exile is the fourth and final installment of the City of Spires series, a multi-layered political fantasy led by an all-queer cast. Fans of complex storylines criss-crossing one another, elves and magic, and strong friendships and found families will find everything they need within these pages.


The Forbidden Realms

The Forbidden Realms by H.C. Newell

Nerana is a sorceress. An exile. The Child of Skye. ï»ż ï»żAnd she isn’t alone. ï»ż ï»żAfter a vicious attack against the Order of Saro, Nerana finds herself lost in the wastelands of Aragoth. Forbidden of humans or evae, the desert is a land teeming with fire and vengeance, and Nerana’s only hope for survival lies in the trust of another. ï»ż ï»żAĂ©lla, a powerful evaesh sorceress, travels the desert on a pilgrimage of sacrifice and strength. Determined to enter the Realm of Elements and see her quest complete, she must survive the hardened warriors of the desert, the vaxros, who banished her kind from their land centuries ago. ï»ż ï»żBut the vaxros aren’t the only threat, and the weight of such imbalance could shift the fate of the world.


Shadows of Nyn'Dira

Shadows of Nyn'Dira by H.C. Newell

Deep within the forests of Nyn’Dira, darkness rises, and Neer finds herself hunted at every turn. Fleeing from relentless enemies and vicious creatures of darkness, she embarks on a treacherous journey through the dangerous woodlands in search of strength and salvation. As the humans push further into the forbidden lands, the Nasir and his men close in, finding strength in the blood of the innocent. With the balance beginning to shift, Neer is caught in a war she was never meant to be in, and is forced to make a decision that could change the tides of fate, or cause it all to collapse and burn.


All of Our Sins

All of Our Sins by Yuval Kordov

“The mountains became plains, and the seas boiled into deserts.” So went the earth. First came the World War, humanity’s suicide. Then came the War against Hell, humanity’s redemption. Esther, the Eternal One, led the way from darkness to light. A new order, by her will. So went civilization. For a time. But as history fades and the Eternal One’s yoke tightens, man turns upon man once more. Ancient dreams of independence rise in Cathedral’s shadow. Bastion’s vengeance awakens. War beckons. And Hell is watching.


My Heart is Hurting

My Heart is Hurting by S.E. Reed

Jinny Buffett is lonely... She's never had the comfort of a white picket fence with a loving family. Her subsidized apartment in Hollywood Florida echoes with the void of her dead Daddy, and the nights drag long into twilight while her Mama works the block outside the Margaritaville resort. It's idealistic Ms. Fleming, who's brave enough to come knocking first. She wants to see Jinny rise up and use her ace scores to escape the wheel of poverty, convincing Jinny to start a school book club, where she finds the friends and boyfriend she never knew she needed. But when her Mama spirals out of control and threatens her entire existence, it's Jinny's Everglade ancestors who arrive in a mist of magic, bringing the swamp and hope with them.


From the Dark We Came

From the Dark We Came by J. Emery

Kraken Collective

Belar has made lying into an art form. His neighbors know him as a mild mannered music teacher, but to his fellow monster hunters he’s a senior agent with one of the best track records in the organization. Werewolves, malignant spirits, and other oddities—you name it, he can track it. And kill it if necessary. But when a vampire shows up in Belar’s parlor, his two worlds crash into each other. The vampire is named Cassian, and if he had any sense of decency he would be dead since Belar has already tried to kill him. Twice. Luckily, Cassian isn’t interested in holding a grudge. He wants to hire the hunter. Someone in vampire society wants Cassian dead and they’ve been using Belar to do their dirty work. Finding the culprit will save them both. Their search for answers takes them through a nighttime world of ancient vampires, demon tailors, and monsters of pure shadow. But Belar hasn’t been the only one lying, and enemies and allies are harder to tell apart in the dark. From the Dark We Came is a 50,000 word paranormal novel with a demisexual protagonist


A Lake of Feathers and Moonbeams

A Lake of Feathers and Moonbeams by Dax Murray

Kraken Collective

How many half-truths could loyalty shoulder before it broke from the weight of deception on its back? A sweeping LGBTQ and polyamorous retelling of "Swan Lake"! Strange things can be said of the forest that spans the border of two kingdoms long at war. An evil sorcerer has made it his dominion, or an elegant enchantress has claimed it as her domain and grants wishes to those who chance upon her, or maybe the forest is guarded by an ancient and wrathful spirit. Katya calls the forest home, living a life of magic and charms with her partner Ivan. But a threat looms over their forest, some darkness and danger that Ivan swears to protect her from. Katya finds herself caught up in a web of grudges and deception spanning generations, but most dangerous of all is the beautiful princess who stumbled into their woods. A princess who sets Katya’s heart fluttering with both desire and fear. As forces rally to rescue the princess or go to war, Katya must take measure of her own powers and decide what she is willing to sacrifice. Will she retreat to the safety of what's familiar or give up everything she knows to spread her wings and fly?


Gloves of Eons

Gloves of Eons by Andrew D. Meredith

Factions rise - Zeal ignites - Bells toll Hanen and Rallia Clouw find themselves between power-hungry factions, forced to choose which tools to take up to reach their goals. With the Rotha revealed to be a thinking, breathing being, Katiam Borreau must tread carefully and pick her allies wisely. Ousted from their western holdings, the Paladins of the Hammer retreat to the west to face new and old intrigue set against them. Made the unwitting messenger of dark gods, Seriah YaledĂ­t seeks solace in the road, fleeing from the blind panic gnawing at her mind. Dark tools forged, scale-weights measured, cities made pawns of those in power, and the secrets of heresies long past come fully into the light to cast their dark shadows on everything.


The Ice Princess's Fair Illusion

The Ice Princess's Fair Illusion by Dove Cooper

Kraken Collective

All Marian wants is for society to accept that she's just not interested in... whatever society thinks she ought to be interested in. A princess with a reputation for insults and snide remarks, she's afraid to show anyone who she would be if people would let her. In a fit of temper at her refusal to marry, her father creates her worst nightmare: she is to be wed to the first beggar who arrives at the gates. Edel was visiting purely for diplomatic reasons, aiming to ensure her daughter inherits a strong and peaceful kingdom. She sees something in Marian that is achingly familiar and when Edel hears the king's proclamation, only one thing is on her mind: to protect Marian from the fate that had befallen Edel herself. Their lives threaded together by magic, Edel and Marian will have to find their way in the world in this queerplatonic, sapphic verse novel retelling of King Thrushbeard.


Cheerleaders from Planet X

Cheerleaders from Planet X by Lyssa Chiavari

Kraken Collective

Aliens are among us. And humanity’s only hope just happens to carry pom-poms. Laura Clark thought she was just your average college freshman—until the day she saw a cheerleader on a skateboard get into a superhuman brawl with a lightning-wielding stranger in a trenchcoat. And the weirdest thing of all? Nobody else saw it happen. Nobody, that is, except the beautiful but standoffish Shailene, one of the mysterious (and possibly super-powered) cheerleaders from Laura’s rival school, Bayview University. When girls start disappearing all over the City, Laura suddenly realizes that she may have seen more than she should. And if she wants to keep from disappearing herself, she needs to find some answers. But though Laura can’t shake the feeling that they’re somehow connected, Shailene is more than a little reluctant to share her secrets. With strange, bug-like creatures and a sinister man in a dark coat stalking her every step, Laura will have to uncover the truth fast if she wants to survive. The fate of the planet just might hang in the balance.


Fourth World

Fourth World by Lyssa Chiavari

IAMOS, S.C.D. 8378 Nadin's planet is dying. As its atmosphere drains away, her people are forced to live huddled in domed cities for protection. With only enough resources to support the population for one more year, time is running out. Nadin thinks she's found a way to save Iamos, but it will mean defying the planet's rulers, the geroi—and betraying the geroi could cost her everything. When a strange boy from another world appears out of nowhere outside the citidome's glass walls, Nadin knows for sure that her plan will work. But to build the device that can save her people, Nadin must first find the legendary city of Elytherios. And to do that, she'll need the help of the mysterious alien boy named Isaak. MARS, 2073 C.E. All Isaak wanted was to get through his senior year at the Academy in one piece. Everything would have been fine if he hadn't found that ancient coin among his missing father's possessions. The coin seems to have a strange connection not only to Isaak's family, but to Mars' ancient past. But how is that possible, on a planet that was supposed to be dead until just forty years ago? Now Isaak's got agents of the Earth's government on his tail and a deranged factory worker stalking his every move. Everyone is desperate to get their hands on something called the Key. And the only way to escape is to unlock an even bigger secret, one that could change his life—and the fate of Mars—forever.


Bone Shroud

Bone Shroud by Andrew D. Meredith

Secrets deepen — Prophecies doom — Shadows grow The errors of yesterday continue to haunt Hanen and Rallia Clouw, though deeper secrets from their past reveal an even darker future. A rift in the order of the paladins threatens to tear wide open, and Jined Brazstein is all that stands in the gap. A dark prophecy wilts the sisterhood, as Katiam Borreau is cast away to a land beyond the edge of any dream. The blind monk Seriah Yaledít has never feared death, until she becomes sole witness to a ghastly murder. While darkness stirs, nightmares become flesh, heretical schism looms, and contracts bind souls, an unseen figure walks in shadow wearing a cloak formed of countless bone made from his victims.


© 2025 Hakea Media | Terms | Privacy