SPFBO8 SPFBO Participants
Books entered in the competition of SPFBO beginning May 2022.
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Secret Legacy by Carissa Andrews How the heck did I get into a freaking supernatural academy with no powers? My entire life changed the day a mysterious packet showed up with an acceptance letter to the Windhaven Academyâa fancy school for supernatural kids.â¨â¨Just one problem. I don't have any supernatural powers.â¨â¨As if this wasn't enough of a problem, I met a dark, brooding, and totally handsome stranger in the cemetery. I'd be lying if there wasn't some serious chemistry between us. He just sorta gets me.â¨â¨Now, both of us want to know what magical abilities I might have. But if I attend Windhaven Academy, it'll mean staying with my estranged father in his creepy ancestral home, and I'm pretty sure it's haunted.â¨â¨The last time I was there, I barely made it out alive. .â¨â¨*PLEASE BE ADVISED: This is a YA+ academy / witches series. Itâs labeled YA(+) for stronger language and some mature situations. As the heroine ages and grows, so does the content of the stories.* If you loved KF Breene's series, Demigods of San Fransisco, or EE Holmes's Gateway Trilogy, you'll fall for this completed, hauntingly good series! |
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Tara Dufrain and Nicola Morgan are eleven year old girls growing up in the â90s, obsessed by Valentine Killshot, a metal screamo band. In particular, theyâre enamoured by the lead singer, the mysterious yet charismatic Jed Maine who bears the epithet âThe Cretinâ. In Jedâs lyrics, he describes a world beyond the Dark Stars that he hopes one day to reach. The girls think itâs all just make-believe they share together, until a freak, traumatic incident makes this world very real. As adults, Tara and Nicola try to come to terms with the devastating catastrophe that changed their lives growing up, but to do so they will have to step once more into Jed Maineâs world, and confront the man who took everything from them. Dark Hilarity is My Best Friendâs Exorcism meets The Never-Ending Story, a fantasy that explores addiction, depression, and the healing power of friendship. |
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A life saved is a soul owned. When she was six years old, Bryn was saved from a wolf attack by a prince from a rival kingdom. Rangar Barendurâs people believe that a life saved is a soul owned, and ten years later, Rangar returns to collect his prize: Bryn. Yet Bryn is the youngest daughter of a ruthless royal family, and Rangar arrives on the night the Mir people rise up against their despotic rulers. With her castle on fire and most of her family dead, Bryn has no choice but to escape with Rangar's help. Was she rescuedâŚor abducted? Taken to Rangarâs wild seaside kingdom, Bryn slowly finds beauty in the harsh Outlands. There, she discovers magic is not the sin sheâs been led to believe it is. Magic can heal the sick and summon rain for the crops. As she learns the full truth of her own familyâs tyrannical rule and plans to take back her kingdom by the sword or by marriage, Bryn falls under the spell of each of the three Barendur brothers. But which one will end up with her handâand her heartânot even magic can foretell. A Kindle Vella Top Faved...now available as an ebook and in paperback! |
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Falhorne: The World Is Burning by Tristan Dineen The Order is no more. The Falhorne, ancient champions of the elder gods, have dwindled to no more than a handful of beleaguered warriors. The skies are darkening over the land of Vinos and persecution of the maligned Old Believers escalates at the hands of both church and state. As one of the few surviving defenders of a proud tradition, Tagus is among the last of the Vinosian Falhorne when the pogrom comes. His mentor slain, his comrades slaughtered, and his people enslaved, he must begin a quest that will take him into the darkness of his past and a depth of evil beyond anything that he has ever faced. |
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Celebrate the superhero in each of us in this unique exploration of the connections we forge. Â A young Nigerian telepath faces a crisis when her sister is forced into a frightening marriage, then disappears. Once Somadina cannot locate her sibling's thoughts, she seeks another telepath to help. Â What she finds is Lola, a busy Texan scientist who has ignored the disturbing phenomenon in her mind for decades, and has no intention of embracing this nonsense now. Yet these two women have more in common than they know, and a powerful link will be forged. Â Once Somadina discovers her sister is a pawn in a dangerous political game, the stakes rise for everyone, including an ancient organization of telepaths compelled to intervene. For both women are stronger than they realize, and they have ignited the wrath of a fanatic willing to kill anyone to alter his nation's future. |
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Falling through Stars by Staci Olsen After crashing her dogsled into the frozen river, Ts'ellbah fears something is wrong, something deeper than the inexplicable new scar over her heart. She feels like a stranger in her own skin and struggles to remember her closest friends and family. At first, her clan is relieved that she survived the accident. But on a night when red spirit lights stain the sky like blood, Ts'ellbah suffers her first violent seizure and sees a vision in which a revered elder encounters a mythical monster and dies. When her announcement of the elder's death proves correct, many people are convinced something evil possessed her in the dark river. They believe she killed the old man and want to cast her out. Before they do, Ts'ellbah must persuade her people that their ancient enemies have indeed returned, that they are looking for something, and they'll destroy the entire clan to find it. |
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Elusion of Freedom by Kelvin Womack After thousands of years the trapped darkness is breaking free, and once it is, no longer shall we be. Thought to be long locked away, darkness has escaped it confines, enslaving everything it touches. The only safe haven is behind the Order's towering walls, where 17-year-old Vayn and his father have fled. But it's not the darkness they're afraid of. After escaping the clutches of Shadow Reapers that ravaged his land, Vayn desires to never live in the free world again, exchanging his liberation for what some would consider a form of slavery. But when Reapers break inside, murdering his father, Vayn is determined to attain retribution. The Order forbids it, knowing he'll uncover their secrets. There is but one way to regain his freedom. Once a year, on the Day of Liberation, one may leave the walls but at great cost. A life. Vayn must sacrifice someone innocent. If he doesnât, he'll never bring his father's killers to justice or learn the Orders secrets. Outside awaits the darkness, its creatures perishable only with the aid of a larger-than-life sword. But not even that will help him face the darkness of his own past. Freedom is both elusive and hard to distinguish. Time is of the essence, and on his quest of vengeance, Vayn must learn that true freedom is more than escape from physical and mental subjugation before the darkness swallows their world into oblivion. |
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The World Breaker Requiem by Luke Tarzian Prince of Woe⌠Avaria Norrith is the adopted heir to the Ariathan throne. But that means little to a man who, for the better part of fifteen years, has sought and failed to earn his motherâs love. Fueled by pride and envy, Avaria seeks the means to prove himself and cast away his mental chains. When heâs tasked with the recreation of The Ravenâs Rage he sees his chance, for with the infamous blade he can rewrite history and start anew. Daughter of the Mountain⌠Erath has not felt sunlight for a century. Not since Ariath condemned her people to a life of darkness with their misuse of The Ravenâs Rage. But when an old friend comes seeking the remnants of the ancient sword, Erath cannot contain her curiosity and resolves to lend her aid. Is it trueâcan history be revised? Can her people be reclaimed? Toll the Hounds⌠They are hungryâand they are here. |
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âOh gods, I'm some sort of prophet now? I only wanted a drink...â The Heretic is the story of a man who finds himself in great danger, and can't quite work out how he got there, although it probably has something to do with alcohol. His mouth gets him in trouble, and before he knows what's happening he has to flee not just his hometown but his homeland entirely, with an unexpected companion in tow. This book is his story, the story of a journey and an odd friendship.â¨â¨The Heretic is a work of fantasy, but one with few truly fantastical elements. It is based on real historical cultures, mainly those of Classical-era Europe.â¨â¨The tone is darkly humorous, and has been described by acclaimed author Terri Nixon as âPython meets Pratchettâ. |
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The Hellborn King by Christopher G. Brenning A kingdom at war. A royal family at war with itself. After the massacre of his people, Damien Dreadfire leads a patchwork army of unlikely allies against the Kingdom of Betanthia. The alliance teeters on the edge of a knife, as old rivalries between clans threaten to tear it apart. With the help of his trusted friend, Einarr, and a strange mystic, Damien launches a bold offensive that will decide the future of the free lands. Short on time, and even shorter on men, the fate of a once vibrant culture and its people rests on the outcome of the next battle. Meanwhile, Betanthia's crown prince, Gareth Bethard, faces dangers of his own. With his family coming apart at the seams and a growing conspiracy afoot, he tries desperately to hold everything together. Even as Gareth grapples with inner demons, he must learn to take up his father's mantle as the protector of civilization and defeat Damienâs invading horde. It's only the fate of a thousand-year dynasty resting on his shoulders, after all. |
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It Takes a Queen to Save a Kingdom The last thing Riette expects on a snowy winterâs evening is Meirdreâs royal guard appearing on her doorstep. Their purpose? The king needs a bride, and tradition dictates the position is hers to accept. Desperate to secure her parentsâ future, she agrees to the marriage and is whisked away to Lochfeld Castle, all too aware her childhood friend is there as well, imprisoned as a rebel in the dungeons below. But life at the Meirdrean court isnât anything Riette expected. Not only does King Laurent have secrets, but so does the castle itselfâmysteries she alone can see. The latest in a long line of women chosen to protect Meirdre, she discovers her foremost purpose is to shield the kingdom from both natural disasters and outside forces who would love to see it fall. War is on the horizon . . . but can she call upon her powers to stop it? Between love and treachery, Riette will discover what it truly means to be a crownkeeperâbecause accepting her future as queen of Meirdre might be the one thing that saves her kingdom. For those who prefer standalone novels, Crownkeeper consists of the novellas Treason's Crown, War's Crown, and Queen's Crown. It contains limited new material. |
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Cutthroats and Traitors by Steven Smith Will the Jagged Ghosts stop at nothing to evade capture? Their journey of alcohol induced law breaking may soon come to an end, with naval commander Lieutenant Dainsley being appointed the task of bringing the small pirate crew to justice. Itâs a race against time. If the Jagged Ghosts lose, the noose will await them all. |
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A King's Radiance by L. R. Schulz Three siblings⌠a rebel, a prince, a prisoner The sunâs light shines bright over the land of Zapour, and only a select few can harness its power. But all power comes with a cost, and the world is not kind to those who refuse to pay it. Raiz Glaive, a strong shine wielder, was born into royalty, though even royals have to answer to someone. When the King-Radiant sends one of his precious underlings to the Kingdom of Trost, Raiz quickly learns who holds the true power in the realm. After his sister is taken prisoner simply for having the violet eyes of a mystic, Raiz swears vengeance. But when an unwilling father stands in his way, Raiz promises to take revenge into his own hands. Dazen Glaive remains heir to the throne of Trost, and a sworn defender of the King-Radiant, but he has not forgotten what happened to his sister, and will not forgive their cruelty. Forced to be the centrepiece of her âmasterâsâ twisted human art gallery, Isha remains a prisoner. Though she has not lost hope. Finding friends among fellow captives, she begins to formulate a plan for escape. Though what she discovers has a much more sinister bearing on the fate of all of Zapour. |
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Den of Thieves by S.A. Klopfenstein A world of villains is no place for a hero... Imprisoned for a crime he barely remembers, Gunnar is forced to labor in an underground prison camp. But if he works hard, he earns time in a beta test for the first fully immersive online RPG.â¨â¨Pantheon Online is beyond anything Gunnar has ever experienced, but the game is inextricably linked to his reality as a prisoner. He may not be the best or the brightest criminal, but if he fails to perform... things are not going to go well for him.â¨â¨Gunnar must quickly learn to navigate a cutthroat city of thieves and assassins, garner the favor of a goddess, earn his way into a guild, and try not to be the brunt of all the AI's deprecating jokes. But there's more going on, and the further Gunnar progresses, the more he realizes that he is in for the ride of his life. Or is it... for his life? |
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The Hidden Blade by Marie M. Mullany How far will commitment to his liege take the assassin Louis? The bluronâs wings delivers a stark command of death as the Empire teeters on the edge of a most uncivil war. For the first time in Her long history, a ducal line has failed. The last duke of Etendulat is dead and none of his heirs have undertaken the Trials of Dusang. The wealth of farmlands that lies at the heart of the Blutben peninsula lack a ruler and greedy men circle the bountiful plains. Into this high stakes game, Louis is sent to end the ambitions of Tybalt du Mamel, Baron of Somfaux, who would reach for the Etendulat Sash. With every step, he uncovers more of a treacherous plot that is poised to strike at the heart of the Empire. Forbidden magic shadows him and ultimately he must make a dire decision: Can he take the life of an innocent for the greater good? The Hidden Blade is the first book in an exciting new fantasy series. If you like epic fantasy with strong world building, a plot that stretches from the past to the future, human characters with human flaws and realistic magic, this book is for you! Plunge headlong into the world of Sangwheel Chronicles to learn what happens when the subtle game of politics turns deadly, start reading The Hidden Blade today! |
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Elf born, raised by wolves, and talks to dragons⌠Who is this girl? She wants to find out, too, as she abandons the safe confines of her home to discover the truth for herself. Blessed with a magic unlike any before, she discovers a world at war ruled over by monstrous dragons, where the land has been slowly dying beyond that of her cozy little wolf den. The young elf discovers she is known by many names, and some believe her to be the one of prophecy meant to unite the land of Onis. It is no easy task that has been placed on her shoulders. There is no love between the dragons, the elves, the humans, the dwarves, and the drow, so getting them to listen will be quite a challenge. Luckily, the wolf child has an unprecedented team of cohorts to aid and guide her on her quest, but is she ready for such a challenge? Will the ancient dragonsâ extreme hatred be overcome so that peace can be brought to the land? Or, will the young girl fail in her quest and bring forth an even greater war between the races? Join this young elf on her epic quest for peace and self-discovery as she battles against monsters, forms unbreakable bonds, and faces the reigning ancient dragons of Onis. |
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Fountain Girl by Patricia S. Bowne Paio's brother has come back to the village! But he's come home to die, and to require a promise that will change her life. She has to reveal the magic talent she's hidden, go to the far-away city of Selanto for training, and find his lost child -- before the water they all depend on is lost forever. Paio doesn't realize that the people most determined to stop her are right in front of her. |
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Memories of Blood and Shadow by Aaron S. Jones Guilt cuts deeper than the deadliest of blades. Tavar Farwan lives alone past the Undying Sands. During a violent storm, he is attacked by two young warriors claiming a need for vengeance for pain from ages past. Tavar defends himself, killing one of the intruders and leaving the other to bleed on the floor. Weary and filled with regret, Tavar offers to tell the young man his story: a story of how, in a world of Naviqings, Leviathans, and Shadow Warriors; a poor, nomadic orphan rose to inspire a kingdom, and kill a God. |
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Where the Valley Meets the Sky by Ben Merrick When the peaceful Achare people find themselves in the path of the warring clans, the pressure of survival falls heavily upon them. Rennik, a spurned Achare hunter, must navigate a life-threatening journey into the wilds to assess the reality of the threat. Upon his return, Rennik is thrust into both the heated politics of his home and the divination magics of his mentor. He tasks himself with convincing the Achare clan to leave their promised land and return to their traditional nomadic lifestyle. A dangerous opposition forms in the shape of Ciqala, a belligerent man who will do everything in his power to keep them where they are, ready to raise spears against the coming threat - a prideful decision that will surely turn their home into a grave. To save his family, his people, and himself, Rennik must change from a disgraced outsider to a leader of his people, from a quiet hunter to a man of action. After all - he won't always have a herd of bison to do his killing. |
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Even your most deeply buried secrets can find their way back to you. The mysteries of Agatha's past threaten to expose themselves when Joseph investigates a noise he hears in the middle of the night and stumbles upon a world that he didnât even know existed. Her quiet life in the suburbs is about to come crashing down around her.â¨â¨When their son is kidnapped, Joseph and Agatha have to rely on each other to figure out why he was taken and how to get him back, whatever the cost.â¨â¨Along the way, Agatha discovers to her horror that even her most deeply buried secrets are finding their way back to her. And the consequences are inescapable.â¨â¨Vulcan Rising is the first book in The Zauberi Chronicles series. It is a work of contemporary/dark fantasy where Stephen King's The Institute meets Brandon Sanderson's Steelheart and Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere. |
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The Reign of the Occult by Lauren Louise Hazel The Reign of the Occult is a shuddering, thrilling, urban fantasy for Young Adults. Filled with hair raising chases through shadowy streets, frightening fights and mind-blowing magic, it's sure to keep many a different genre loving reader happy. The battle between the Underworld, full of darkness, and the Overworld, full of light, has been evenly balanced for millennia. Caught between them is the mortal world, where humans have become so afraid of a magic they cannot understand or control that they allow the Occult to rule them. After the Occult joins forces with the Underworld, the balance shifts and the Overworld is decimated. But still, in the mortal world, the magic wonât die. It appears when a supernatural being and a human have a child, like Prue. This is the first volume in an epic new fantasy series that spans the three richly detailed worlds as Prue, her non-magical half-brother Everett, and all Magic Users, fight to survive. They are being hunted by the Occult, who turn the Magic Users they capture into tools to eliminate their own kind and, eventually, to destroy all traces of magic. |
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Quenched in Blood by Sean Crow Twilight City hosts over a hundred million souls, most held beneath the heel of the global empire, Tenocore. After suffering a bitter defeat in Europe, Angus Jarlson, the Glade Burner, has brought the Old Gods and what remains of his once mighty empire of Valhalla Steel, across the ocean to stake a claim in the megacity and begin to rebuild. Yet the long-lived Fae despise the Glade Burner and will muster their might and magic to destroy what remains of Angus and his clansmen. When vengeance and duty to family collide, violence ensues. The question is not only which side will be victorious, but will either remain standing at all? |
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Jordan Amador. 21. New Yorker. Waitress. Mild alcoholic. Murderer. Two years ago, Jordan accidentally shot and killed a Seer: a person who can see, hear, and talk to ghosts with unfinished business. Her crime came with a hefty price, too. She has two years to help a hundred souls cross over to the afterlife or her soul is bound for hell. Tough break. As if that werenât bad enough, two days before her deadline a handsome pain-in-the-ass poltergeist named Michael strolls into her life. His soul is the key to her salvation, but the cost just might be more than she can handle. Solving his death puts her right in the crosshairs of Belial: a vain, bloodthirsty archdemon who wonât rest until sheâs his slave. Can she rescue Michael and save her own soul, or will they both be dragged down into the clutches of the eternal black parade? |
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After the brutal execution of Provenci's King by the roving forces of Tarraz, a new military government vaults into power with the nefarious Alvarez at the helm. Hell-bent on bloodshed and the glory of an imperial past, he amasses the largest army seen in a generation and plunges the two nations into a bloody war, against the will of the god-like being known as the All-Mother. Cavara, a general of the army at odds with her superiors over the war, is ground under the heel of the scheming Commander Revek and betrayed by her own people, left for dead on a distant shoreline. Saved by a passing ship and taken to the other end of the world, she is plagued by visions of a white void and a figure known as the Shadow Woman, who begins to unravel the true nature of the war - a conflict not only of men, but also of gods alike. In a story of hope, power, greed and hatred, all are driven mad by the enemy within - none are safe from the Fangs of War. |
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From A Great Height by Jacob Stewart Rachel has been waiting her whole life. Waiting for power, waiting for freedom, waiting to see the walls of the city where she has lived in exile come crumbling down--but when the time comes, will she be ready? The king of Belum fears a revolutionary may be stoking fires in his city, and he will stop at nothing to silence her. A young soldier flees the front lines with a brutal hunter of deserters hot on his trail. Signs and wonders rain down on the city of Belum, calling into question just how far the daughter of a priest will go to secure the return of her people to their homeland. All these threads weave together as Rachel navigates a tenuous relationship with a divine power shrouded in darkness and mystery. And with such a heavy burden on her shoulders, she must keep an eye on those in her company who would use her for their own ends. |
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The Beckoning Void by Patrick LeClerc Emelia DuMond is an actress, her skill at adopting and changing her identity lifting her from her humble beginnings to success on the stage of Victorian London. And to the attention of the Ghost Society, a secret organization who work to defend the world from threats of the paranormal. After centuries of seeking, the sinister Disciples of the Void have obtained an arcane book of great power. A power that could tear the veil between dimensions and plunge the world into a dark, unspeakable future. Now she has recruited an aging soldier of fortune burdened by a conscience, the sword wielding daughter of an Afghan brigand and an airship whose captain escaped slavery during the Civil War by stealing a Confederate vessel. Can Emelia and her band of plucky outcasts save the world from a cult of fanatics intent on unleashing an ancient horror? âThe Beckoning Voidâ is a tale of cunning plots, flashing swords, skillful piloting, witty repartee and eldritch dread. |
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Honor for the Dead by Connor Ludovissy Ao has always tried to do the right thing. So when Renfreya was attacked by the bloodthirsty Kings, he volunteered for the army. Now he has blood on his hands, his own comrades are hunting him, and the right thing to do isnât so clear anymore. Renfreya and the Kings have fought each other to a bloody stalemate on the Plain of the Ancestors, and no one knows who will emerge the victor. No one but Ao. When an easy first mission turns into a massacre, Ao uncovers a secret that could turn the tide of the war and save his home. But with a power-hungry sergeant leading the company and a horde of killers opposing them, he might never get the chance. Not unless he creates it himself. With his rifle, cunning, and a little bit of runic magic, Ao will do whatever it takes to save his home. No matter who has to bleed for it. |
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Candle and Claw by Stephen Taylor Hard magic, nuanced characters, and epic conflicts make Candle and Claw perfect for fans of Brent Weeks and Brandon Sanderson. Giovel Ullinâs job is to stop witches from crafting experimental magic and destroying the world. Itâs a job he never wanted. Every time he hunts a witch, heâs reminded of the ones who stole his wife away and sent her back distant, delusional, and dying. Even worse, the same magic that ruined her life is now part of hisâa tool Giovelâs expected to master for the sake of his duties. When a coterie of witches begins systematically removing Giovelâs companions, he has little choice but to fight back. But the more he learns about his own power, the more he sees himself in the very witches he hunts. |
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Ser Ghostwriter by Joshua Derrick Heraclia is a land of poets, whose haikus and sonnets build towers, grow grain, and sail ships. Ed is a scribe to one of these poets, and when his master is murdered by highwaymen, he takes up his quill and becomes a ghostwriter, a masterless poet. Broad shouldered and strong, Ed does not exactly have the makings of a master poet, but enters his names into the rolls at a poetry slam tournament nonetheless. Though his poems are little more than scratchings of a quill, Ed's good heart soon lands him in the middle of a conspiracy that threatens the safety of the realm itself. |
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The Blood of Crows by Alex C. Pierce Ren, a state-trained thief working in a world where everyone has magical ability except for him, doesnât kill people. Tensions are already high in the walled realm of Lenmar, and when the nobility start dying with no trace of magic that isnât from the victims, Ren immediately becomes the prime, and only suspect. Hunted by magic-eating Inquisitors and the Captain of the Royal Guard, his life becomes one of flight and fear through a realm on the brink of civil war.â¨â¨All Ren wants to do is stop a serial killer, clear his name, find his mentor, and protect the people he cares about. To do that, heâll have to pull one more high-stakes heistâ And steal the proof he needs from the very people who want to catch him. |
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Aliceâs stories of Wonderland did more than raise a few eyebrowsâit landed her in an asylum. Now at 15 years of age, sheâs willing to do anything to leave, which includes agreeing to an experimental procedure. When Alice decides at the last minute not to go through with it, she escapes with the White Rabbit to Wonderland and trades one mad house for another: the court of the Queen of Hearts. Only this time, she is under orders to take out the Queen. When love, scandal, and intrigue begin to muddle her mission, Alice finds herself on the wrong side of the chopping block. |
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Between Ink and Shadows by Melissa Wright Sheâll win back her freedom, even if she has to steal it. Nimona Weston has a debt to pay. Her fatherâs dealings with the dark society known as the Trust cost Nim her freedom. Thereâs one way out of the contract on her life and thatâs to bide her time and pay the tithes. But when the Trust assigns Nim to a task in the kingâs own castle, her freedom is not the only thing sheâll risk. Warrick Spenser has a secret. As kingâs seneschal, he should be the last soul in Inara to risk association with dark magic, but long-hidden ties to the Trust are harder to shed than simply cutting the threads. When the Trust sends a thief to his rooms, Warrick thinks heâs finally found a way to be rid of them for good. But Nimona Weston is hiding secrets of her own. Magical contracts, blood-debt accountants, and a deadly game. An epic fantasy with regency flair, an improper and slightly stabby heroine with a penchant for trouble, clean slow burn romance, and a dark and twisty plot that pits magic against kings, love against power, and a gothic underworld against a kingdom desperate to survive. Perfect for fans of Sorcery of Thorns and The Shadows Between Us. |
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When the Traveler Stands Still by Noor Al-Shanti Some events change the course of the world, but do people know, when theyâre living through such events, that they will become part of history? Sent ahead to secure her merchant caravan a place in the next village, Sedra took a shortcut through the familiar ruins she used to play in as a child -- but found a magical attack waiting for her instead of memories. No trace of her encounter remains except the strange dancing lights that only she can see and the debilitating headaches sheâs had ever since, but she canât go back to her normal life and pretend it didnât happen. The Travelers, who have dedicated their lives to roaming the world and helping those in need, are Sedraâs only hope of finding out who attacked her and why. They may be her peopleâs only hope in the dark days yet to come. Sorcery isnât practiced anymore in the Land of Sunsets, but there is a rising power in the Circle of the World and those who can bend it to their will are willing to go to any lengths to get more power. The attack on Sedra is just the beginning. |
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Asterius & Thesius Walk Into the Light by Aaron Fown In the heroic age, man lives under the shadow of imperial ambitions, both past and present. The perfect gods reign openly, and none dare question their motives, in fear of their wrath. Seeking power, Minos, an empire of man, has built a temple to the perfect darkness, and seeks to use it for an unspeakable purpose. The tiny fishing city of Athens suffers under the gaze of their eye, and mourns the cost of their bloody sacrifice. But the goddess Athena has a plan to save her city from their fate, and she has the means to execute it. Is there a way out of the Labyrinth, besides the shaded path of death? Can love solve the puzzle of the mythos, and give the most surprising hero the chance he needs to save the people he loves? Can our heroes, with the love in their hearts and their lights in their hands, set the stage for a miraculous musical to invert the plans of the darkness, on a long chance and a song? Yes!Love has found a way. Love has a plan. It onlyseems like no plan at all. Note: This book is not a work of pornography, but some people might confuse it with one because it has people being queer and happy, free of the sort of mental anguish that is expected nowadays. But that would also be out of place in the temporal setting, as no one had come up with the bad idea to create such guilt complexes yet. Also, the mains understand consent so there isn't going to be any sort of 'Surprise, rape!" like there is in so many works of this sort. There is also some wisdom some people may be uncomfortable with contained within, but that is neither here nor there. If any of this sounds like a bad time, don't read the book! |
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The Lich of Thandorien by Zak Dragon Old high school classmates and current drinking buddies, Phil and Don find themselves transported into a Crypts & Crusades role-playing adventure they had abandoned five years earlier. If that wasn't bad enough, it seems that some of the non-player characters, or Extra Dungeon Personalities (EDPs) as they now prefer to be called, have taken on a life of their own during the extended downtime and have veered away from the normal script. Fortunately for the daring duo, there is plenty of beer and they manage to get a little help along the way from an inquisitive but emotional ranger, a home-brewing, pub-owning dwarf and his ogre bartender, a grumpy old gardener and a host of other colorful characters. But will it be enough to defeat the crypt's antagonist, locate a powerful relic and get out alive? |
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DEATH IS ONLY THE BEGINNING in this epic series starter by debut author, Emerson Laine. In a small village in the south of England, two sisters try to resurrect an ancient evil, but when one sister betrays the other to save the life of an innocent child, everything goes horribly wrong. TWENTY-FIVE YEARS LATER, grieving the loss of her recently deceased mother and desperate to escape her ex-fiancĂŠ, Raewyn Winters relocates to Cranston Myre for some much-needed tranquility, only to discover that having an entire forest on your doorstep is less than idyllic, especially one shrouded in fear and suspicion. Then she meets John, the mysterious and handsome gardener from the Gothic mansion on the hill, who just happens to have the same unusual birthmark as Rae, and suddenly Raeâs quiet life spirals out of control as she is dragged into a dark and sinister world beyond anything she could ever have imagined. |
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The Definition of Vengeance by Kevin Wright The small village of Untheim has a big problem. Folk go missing with alarming frequency. Even more alarming? They turn up dead. And a young girlâs just disappeared. Sir Luther Slythe Krait also has a big problem. Heâs stuck in Untheim. Penniless and poor and on his last legs, Sir Luther shoulders the task of tracking down the missing girl. The good news? He finds her. The bad? Sheâs heading home in a box. And thatâs just the start. Bound by oath to hunt down the girlâs killer, Sir Luther treks through town and wilderness, hounding the populace, ferreting leads, and drawing back the shroud of a decades-old secret privy to a select few. Itâs a dark secret, and those few want it kept that way. Will Sir Luther find the killer? Will he exact justice? An eye for an eye? A head for a head? Or will the head lost be his own? Read âThe Definition of Vengeanceâ and experience the horror and black humor of the latest installment of the grimdark detective series, âThe Serpent Knight Saga.â |
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Child of the Moon by Audrey Simmons At her birth, Neoma was dubbed the Child of Prophecy by the Order of the Moon. A title with great and terrible ties to it. One that should grant her magic enough to take on the vengeful god, Aurinko and His army. One the people of Manena put all their hopes into. When her lack of magical aptitude becomes abundantly clear, Neoma resents being in the mage classes. As her 18th birthday approaches she learns that the Sisters will force her to go through the Anointing Ceremony in order to join the Sisterhood in the Order of the Moon. Will the Moon Mother forsake her in front of her fellow graduates? Or will Her blessing cause a series of events that might just break Neoma? One thing is for certain: war is on the horizon and the Child of Prophecy is far from ready to face the might of Aurinko. |
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Ashes of the Witch by Lucas Pederson Slain by her enemies, Gorecrow makes a deal with DEATH. Six days until a trapped god is freed. Six days for vengeance. She must travel through the dreamscapes and nightmares of her enemies searching for the god she lost and entrusted to keep while quenching her lust for blood. The only things standing in Gorecow's way are the Shifting Lands, an extraordinary girl, and utter madness. |
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Long ago, magic cracked apart the world and suspended great continents between two suns. But the ebb and flow of human history continues. Trade and war cross the void on dragon wings. Great empires rise and topple⌠Drinithâs family is dead, her kingdom conquered. She lives as a wandering exile, seeking potential allies against the tyrant Magian the Infinite while doggedly pursued by his hired killers. The prophetic visions of the oracle, Quiescat, have protected her so far, but his power is failing. All he can glimpse in the future now is his own death. Proof that an undefeated sect of assassins now hunts her forces Drinith into a desperate gamble. She takes her one last chance to secure the ally she so desperately needs in the floating city of Gyre. But at the end of her journey, sheâll find deceit, betrayal, and murder. And sheâll learn Magian isnât the only threat to her people. Fatal Shadow is the first book in the Champions of Fate series, an epic fantasy series with fast-paced action, intriguing characters, and imaginative world-building. |
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Exiled and grieving, Fia McCrae has spent the past eleven years wandering the island nation of Fallaros, with its numerous seperate tribelands, trying to atone for a mistake that has come to define her life. Raised in privilege. Fallen into disgrace. She rides the lands trying to redress those small wrongs that she can, using her innate ability to find that which is lost.â¨â¨Torsten Gunn is the most infamous outlaw to ride the roads, valleys and hills of Fallaros. Unencumbered by the notion of law, and accompanied by his loyal crew of bloodthirsty longriders, he has made it his merciless mission to make the lives of any Counts and Countesses that ride the roads of Fallaros a living hell.â¨â¨Chafing impatiently as he waits for his mother, who sits the High Seat of Fallaros, to die, Redmond Marr plots on how he will be the first man to subjugate all five tribelands. It is a feat that has never been attempted before, but to accomplish it the ambitious Marr has made a deal with an unknown power from across the sea. A power who has more than the dominion of a single island nation in mind.â¨â¨As Fallaros falls into chaos, witches are burned in the streets, longriders roam the roads, and dissent amongst the peasantry begins to boil over. As the threat of war from across the seas draws nearer, an unwilling Fia soon finds herself coerced back into a life she'd thought she'd left behind. What starts as a simple hunt for a wanted man quickly escalates as hidden truths start to emerge. Before long, Fia is confronted by a revelation that might bring her to her knees, even as the people of Fallaros need her to stand and fight. |
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Heavy (The Weight Of It All) by J.J. Thorn An Affinity. Most humans never get one, but the Goddess gives everyone the opportunity when they turn 16. â¨With an Affinity, humans are given access to their internal energy and Skills. Magical powers that allow you to interact with the world in ways you could never imagine. When Terrence receives his Affinity, he is shocked to discover it has never been seen before within the Kingdom. Worse yet, his Affinity reinforces the thing he was made fun of for his entire life. His weight. Follow Terrence as he uses his Affinity to progress with the hopes of becoming a Dungeoneer â someone who explores and conquers Dungeons. Discover a unique world where Terrence and his friends learn about their new abilities, their Affinities, AND themselves. Their Skills will grow, and if they work hard enough, they might eventually Rank up! This is the first book in a LitRPG Fantasy series inspired by books like Mage Errant, Darkthorne Academy, World Tree Online, and Delve on RoyalRoad. |
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The Last Culling by Rachael Vaughn Magic belongs to the women. To the menâonly death. In the city of Merilaad, any boy displaying magical ability is swiftly executed. Elena, an apprentice mage with powers she resents and a past sheâd rather forget, knows it has to be this wayâto protect them all. To keep them safe. But when the boy she loves suddenly and unexpectedly develops magical powers, Elena finds herself faced with a dangerous choiceâshould she report Jascha and sentence him to certain death, or risk everything to keep his abilities hidden? As the two of them struggle with their deadly secret, they uncover more deception, lurking just beneath the surface of their peaceful, idyllic city. Can they reveal the truth before itâs too lateâŚor will they plunge Merilaad back into its bloody past? |
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The Courts of Fate and Fear by Elizabeth S. Trafalgar Captivating, seductive, and action-packed, The Courts of Fate and Fear blends romance and intrigue into an unforgettable read perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas, Laura Thalassa, and Jennifer Armentrout. In Sertra, where the daughters of the king manipulate magic to see the future, Adelyn is a princess without powers. With no magic, she is unable to fulfill the role she was born toâcalling forth visions of enemy plans to help anticipate and prevent attacks on Sertra. With the threat of war from Prince Rohn of Lithya growing more dire by the day, Adelyn is sent by her father on a desperate quest to find the fabled Seer, in the hopes that she can teach Adelyn to use magic. Despite the danger, Adelyn agrees to go. If she can find her magic, Sertra might stand a chance of defeating Lithya for goodâand she can finally prove to her family that sheâs not useless after all. But when Adelynâs journey goes tragically wrong and she stumbles into the hands of the very enemies she hoped to defeat, they challenge her view of everything she had thought to be trueâand Adelyn finds herself falling in love with the prince she thought was determined to destroy her homeland. Rohn isn't just breathtakingly handsomeâhe's also a considerate ruler and an attentive lover, and he changes her view of everything she thought she knew. When Sertra mobilizes for war, Adelyn must make the hardest choice of her lifeâsiding with her family against the man sheâs come to love, or betraying the family she still yearns to belong to for a kingdom sheâs come to cherish. |
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The Goddess of Nothing At All by Cat Rector A dark fantasy Norse myth retelling for fans of Circe, The Witch's Heart, and The Silence of the Girlsâ¨â¨Perhaps you know the myths.â¨Furious, benevolent Gods.â¨A tree that binds nine realms.â¨A hammer stronger than any weapon.â¨And someday, the end of everything.â¨But few have heard of me. Looking back, itâs easy to know what choices I might have made differently. At least it feels that way. I might have given up on my title. Told my father he was useless, king of Gods or no, and left Asgard. Made a life somewhere else.â¨Maybe I would never have let Loki cross my path. Never have fallen in love.â¨But thereâs no going back.â¨We were happy once.â¨And the price for that happiness was the end of everything. |
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Servant of the Lesser Good by Shaun Paul Stevens A Cursed Symphony and Magic which tells Stories in your Mind High Mistress Talia is a hell-raising socialite with a murky past. But she has a bright future. Beautiful, rich, and a virtuoso harpist, sheâs betrothed to the Count of Brecht. In short, she has it all. Or so it would seem. Marla Holst is the new ladyâs maid, but never has the âhelpâ been so unhelpful. Marla, real name Mist, has only one mission: to stop the high mistressâs marriage. By any means necessary. But complications abound. Taliaâs disturbed daughter, a girl who can see into the future, is cursed with the stigma of a devil-worshipping father. The countâs father, the Duke of Rizak, is a recluse, too afraid of assassins to show his face. And all the nobility want to do is duel. Meanwhile, the highlight of the seasonâa recital of the famous âCursed Symphony,â draws ever closer. â¨Epic Fantasy for fans of Robin Hobb, Patrick Rothfuss, Brandon Sanderson, Neil Gaiman, V.E. Schwab.â¨Please note: This book contains mature themes. |
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Sabin Escape From Foster Care by S. S. Rundolin Do you enjoy genre-bending, coming-of-age adventures? This is a story of survival, of hope in the darkness. Our hero is a modern day teenager trapped in foster care hell. Sabin can choose to stay put in an abusive home or escape to the brutal life of the streets. Neither option makes sense. A third way promises an escape, but leads to a fantastical new world fraught with trouble. We do not end where we begin. If your imagination is bound by known science, pick a different book to read. Herein lies monsters, magic, and swords. |
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A Bitter Drink by Azalea Forrest As the center of trade for the four major races, Bisia is the perfect city for a Dahlseidâa young race of plant folkâlike Rowan to experience whatever his heart desires, and his position as ambassador for the Dahlsia makes affording those desires easy. But when he overhears a plot of treason against his people, all of that could end. But will it? My people can take care of themselves, Rowan thinks. The humans will give up once they realize the Dahlsia have nothing of value. Because all humans want is gold, right? Theyâll be just fine. Full of magic and misadventure, A Bitter Drink tangles Rowan in the vines as he's forced to team up with a pacifist human vagabond, a deadly serious elven spy, and a cheerful dwarf with a strangely calming presence. Together, they're determined to put a stop to the twisting heinous plot that threatens to destroy everything they love. But Rowanâs heart isnât in it: heâs a coward and he knows it. Joining them would mean risking his life, and to challenge oneâs true colors is a bitter drink indeed. |
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Heretical Oaths by Slifer274 & Aaron Shih Since times long lost to history, magic power has been gained through a contract with divinity. The vast majority of mages are pacted to the eight core gods and the sixty-four lesser ones. Lily Syashanâformerly Lily of House Byronâholds an oath to a forgotten god. Exiled into a peasant village after her parents were executed for treason, Lily swore that she would gain power and succeed where her family failed. To build her power, she will need to kill, destroy, and ruin. Whether her target is an Altered monster or another human getting in her way, Lily will need to be ready to defeat them all. The journey to the top wonât be an easy one, but Lily is prepared to do whatever it takes to finish it.â¨â¨Disclaimer: This work of fiction includes multiple LGBTQ+ characters.â¨â¨This fiction's cover is a Wombo, made possible by wombo.ai. |
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Forged In Flame by Bruce McKnight A BOLD NEW TAKE ON CLASSIC EPIC FANTASY FROM DEBUT AUTHOR BRUCE MCKNIGHT! Danger closes in from every direction. A mysterious black beast is leading orc tribes from the north on a rampaging conquest into the valley. An ambitious orc chieftain in the east is uniting the largest army this land has ever seen. And Tildun Logan is caught in the middle⌠alone and untrained. When his village is destroyed, leaving him with nothing but the clothes on his back, a ceremonial dagger, and the heavy burden of guilt, he embarks on a quest of revenge and redemption. Tildun quickly finds himself caught up in an adventure bigger - and more dangerous - than he ever imagined. Kings, armies, full-scale war - this is about so much more than just his village. Thereâs no turning back, no home to return to. But with no sword and no training, can he ever set things right? Can he escape the weight of his guilt? More importantly, can he even survive? |