The Veil by Eamonn Bradley

They would have you believe, (the police and mainstream media), that I, Charlie Macall, and my friends, were the deadliest killers since Manson or Bundy. That’s only half true. Yes, we’ve killed, but to put us in the same category as those two I’ve just mentioned, is wrong, a fallacy. For starters, they’d have to be human for us to be considered murderers, right? What I’m about to tell you is nothing but the truth, the whole truth, as unbelievable as it may seem. Let it stand as testimony to the brave deeds of the people who have fallen in our task. The people who have died trying to free you all from a prison of no walls. You’ll have to bear with me on this journey, for if you are to believe me, it’s going to take time, time to unravel the illusion of what you believe to be your normal, everyday lives. Hell, I didn’t even believe it at first and why should I have? This shit is crazy…

The Sunset Sovereign by E.M. McConnell

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Destiny was found in a Voice. Join the Seven Supplicants as they journey to the mysterious, utopian Capital, guided by the Voices, known as the Sovereigns. Lynn and Willow find themselves drawn to the realm of Sunrise, the quarter celebrating beginnings and the embrace of mornings. Accompanied by a resolute spirit, Fabio and Aidan venture into the realm of Day, while Isobel and Hollie seek their calling amidst the calm fire of Sunset. Yvaine, guided by a dark destiny, treads the mysterious paths of Night. Witness their extraordinary quest as they undergo Trials, determined to find their dreams. Yet, as their path unfolds, will their dreams come to fruition, or will they instead find a nightmare? Because the once utopian Capital is crumbling, and the arrival of the Seven brings about changes even the Sovereigns did not foresee. This is a tale of ambition, courage, and the delicate balance between triumph and belief. Follow the Seven Supplicants on their journey as they navigate their own challenges, questioning what they have been brought up to believe, unraveling the mysteries that lie ahead.

Demon by Rob J Hayes

Dien Hostain was never meant to lead. She wasn't meant to survive. Kind of heart and quick in temper, Dien expects to lead a simple life, learning her father's trade. But unbeknown to her, he was not always a carpenter. He's an exile, a traitor once known as the Peace Breaker. When nightmarish demons attack the village of Berrywhistle, her father is murdered. Dien and the survivors are taken as thralls to live out the rest of their days in squaller and back-breaking labour. But Dien's blood boils with the need to escape and take her revenge. They try to break her body. They try to break her spirit. Will Dien take up her father's hammer and unite her people? On wings of vengeance, a Saint shall rise. A new epic fantasy saga full of angels, demons, heroes, and mystery, from award-winning author Rob J. Hayes. Perfect for fans of Brandon Sanderson, John Gwynne, and Ryan Cahill.

Heir of Sun and Moon by Jenessa Ren

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Review by MereDragonTales on 2026-01-22T16:23:07Z

Heir of Sun and Moon by Jenessa Ren

This book is the beautiful beginning to what has become my roman empire. I think about this book and series all the time! I'm so invested in the characters and the world. The writing is incredible and this has the worst best written Villain I've ever read!

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Review by Arlevitz on 2026-01-22T03:01:53Z

Mountain Man’s Winter Treasure: A Steamy Instalove Romance (Wildwood Valley Firehouse #4) by Lilah Hart

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Review by ChelseaK on 2026-01-22T00:22:05Z

Falling for the Wolf: A Villainous Twist on Little Red Riding Hood and Cinderella (To Win a Dark Heart) by Megan Charlie

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Review by ChelseaK on 2026-01-21T19:26:34Z

Everything Not Saved by N M J Coveney

A beautiful book full of heart, but also a healthy dose of tension and intrigue. Instead of potentially pulling you away from the main story, the in-game chapters add a resonance to the journey of the central characters. An outstanding debut

Review by Adykes42 on 2026-01-21T15:36:17Z

The Sound of Nothing by Nicole Aisling

Without a keeper, no soul is safe. In the peaceful and secluded Konota Valley, every 16-year-old must embark on a sacred journey to find their animal soul keeper. The life-long bond protects their soul from malicious demons that would devour it, leaving behind an empty husk. As the mostly ignored misfit, Shaya has always felt isolated within her own village, but she hopes finding her keeper will also help her find a purpose. Instead, her return with a bizarre and frightening beast only leaves her more confused. She soon learns her keeper is a drakon, a legendary creature from the northern mountains, but that knowledge does nothing to win her the acceptance she longs for. When drakon riders invade the valley, Shaya’s people begin to question her loyalty. The invaders might offer what she’s always wanted, but she must decide whether finally belonging is worth betraying the few people who still believe in her.

Dangling High by Kaycee King

After suffering an intensely traumatic loss at the hands of Jesse "Snake Eye" Musslin, the eccentric, queer, and legendary outlaw Ezra "Two Shots" Smith embarks on a lifelong quest for revenge, eventually crossing paths with Alexander "Good Times" Davis, who stubbornly refuses to let him be. Dangling High is a gripping Western adventure that turns the genre’s typical, problematic tropes upside down for a more progressive rhetoric. It is a fresh, politically driven take on what the United States has stood for in the past, the danger of the current moment, and the potential to embrace a future that is based on entirely different systems of power and ways of life.

Mari-chan and Roboto Bunny by Jon Kaczka

“A fun and uplifting story, perfect for any young reader who draws their confidence from a favorite toy.” -The Children's Book Review "A children’s fantasy that understands something crucial about its audience: kids are capable of engaging with big emotions when those emotions are handled with care, clarity, and imagination.” -The Independent Book Review Mari-chan is a sweet, brave six-year-old who loves to play with her best friend, a magical stuffed bunny named Roboto Bunny. When her rock-climbing dad goes missing in an avalanche in faraway Antarctica, Mari-chan is heartbroken—until Roboto Bunny reveals a secret passage in her closet that leads to a tunnel to the Underworld and a magic tree with doors that can take her anywhere…even to Daddy. But there’s a catch: the tunnels are too small for a big girl, so Mari-chan is turned into a baby to fit! On their journey, baby Mari-chan and Roboto Bunny must outwit hungry animals, alligator bridges, three-headed “beasts,” silly thieves, grumpy talking trees, a Bunny Kingdom gate test, and a wise owl tribunal. Along the way, Mari-chan discovers that even in a tiny body, her courage, creativity, and kindness are bigger than she ever imagined. But will her bravery and wits help rescue her dad, before it’s too late? It’s up to Mari-chan and Roboto Bunny to find out. This heartwarming and imaginative allegory, reminiscent of Dante’s Inferno, shares that a difficult journey often has the best destination.

The Sorrow of Bees by Andie Holman

Dark magic comes at a cost, one that Jelly, warrior mermaid, must pay. After enduring a brutal ritual to give her Fae powers, a vital piece of her soul goes missing. She must abandon everything and everyone to find it. It is her journey alone. If she fails her mission, her lover’s brother will never again see the sun, trapped in a horrifying dimension called the Hellhole. If she fails, her lover Mako may not forgive her. If she fails, she will never be whole. She’s sent to a queendom so foreign she can barely breathe, transformed into a body she can’t possibly understand. Grappling with the enormity of her task, she struggles to appreciate the sorrows of the pollinators. But she must if she wants to succeed. Kirkus reviews: "The intricate details and person growth of major and minor characters make for a welcome continuation of this saga... The detailed depth of the fantasy world will delight those who enjoy all-consuming magical realms that integrate cleanly with contemporary, nonmagical locales... An often rousing personal quest that will have audiences looking forward to the next book."

The Mermaid's Wrath by Andie Holman

The ocean is dying. A mermaid vows to save it. The Mers are barely surviving in a magical marine bubble, isolated from the rest of the world. Jelly, warrior mermaid and champion of sea life, battles against the choking, accelerating pollution, living beneath the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. When Jelly's mind opens to terrifying premonitions, she must leave the ocean, collaborating with estranged magical beings on land. She’s seen one of theirs in a vision, a woman abducted for the power in her veins, and Jelly is the key to this woman's freedom. The black pearl at her throat holds a secret. When it wakes, it sends Jelly on a tumultuous journey, changing her life forever. Kirkus review: “A lighthearted novel that simultaneously features heavy environmental themes, multifaceted characters, and lots of charm. Holman weaves elements of humor, magic, romance, and environmental activism in a quirky ocean-set romantasy.”

A Stellar Spy by Maya Darjani

A futuristic, magic-fueled homage to the great classics of the spy genre: the cerebral musings of John le Carre with the excitement of The Americans. Devoted mother and career woman. A sleeper agent, poised to act. Tessa lives a double life. She’s the security counselor to Finn, the leader of the planet. He’s her ex-husband and father of her children. She’s still in love with him. But she has a far worse problem. Tessa is also a deep cover operative for an enemy planet, and turns out, her next mission is to betray him. After overpowered mages target and attack the seat of government, Finn wants to remove their magic completely—a brutal action Tessa can't support. So she does the only thing she can do: she contacts her handler. But every action she takes increases the chance of discovery. If caught, she can't protect the mages from retaliation or prevent future attacks against Finn and the children. And when her two roles collide, she must choose: fail her family, or forsake her ideals.

Falling for the Wolf: A Villainous Twist on Little Red Riding Hood and Cinderella (To Win a Dark Heart) by Megan Charlie

A woman who betrayed her family A rogue hiding a hairy secret And a blackmail arrangement with unexpected consequences After her stepsister marries the crown prince, Tasia is shipped out of the country to live with relatives she’s never heard of before. Blamed and scorned for her role in that debacle, Tasia struggles to make a new life for herself amongst a community that doesn’t care for outsiders. But even that is less nerve wracking than her weekly trips through the woods to deliver a basket of “goodies” to the sinister old woman known only as Grandmother. Mitch helped a naive girl travel through the woods once before. After having his heart viciously yanked out and stomped on, he’s not doing that ever again. When Tasia comes along, all innocent smiles and no sense of self-preservation, he vows to stay far away. But she stumbles upon his furry little secret and he reluctantly agrees to play protector in exchange for her silence. What seems like a simple arrangement soon becomes complicated as enemies from the past begin cropping up in unexpected places. When Mitch and Tasia stumble onto a villainous plot with far-reaching consequences they must choose between looking out for themselves or risking everything for faceless strangers. With lives–and possibly their hearts–on the line, how will two recovering villains decide what to do? And will their choices be compatible? Or just another betrayal? Falling for the Wolf is a retelling that combines elements of Little Red Riding Hood and Cinderella. Set after the events of each of these stories, this no spice romantasy is the 8th book in the To Win a Dark Heart series which retells fairy tales as old as time, but this time it’s the villain’s turn to get a happy ending.

A Tangle of Iron and Feathers (Tales of Eukarya #4) by Sarah Beran

Mulan meets The Goose Girl... Malana never aspired to wear a crown, but after years of war have decimated the royal family of Brisia, she finds herself in the unexpected position of being the closest thing to a princess her country has left…and also the chosen candidate for the marriage treaty that will finally seal the peace between Brisia and Cabriole. If only she weren’t keeping a secret that could ruin everything. After treachery and betrayal occur on the journey to her new home, Malana arrives in a much different position than she expected—a fact she is almost grateful for when she realizes she’s met her fiancé before. On the battlefield. Her forced position as Keeper of the Geese seems like the perfect cover to keep her secrets, until she stumbles upon an assassination plot and finds herself caught in a web of lies and secrets that threaten to destroy the tenuous relationship just starting to build between the two countries. Will she be able to salvage a future with the prince who has slowly begun battling his way past her defenses, or will the tangle of iron and feathers lead them right back to war?

Cursed Climb (Displaced Fairytales) by Sarah Beran

A swan, a bird catcher, and the plot they both intend to keep from hatching… Working under her father as the Assistant Keeper of the Menagerie, Odessa Rothchild has always believed two things to be true: animals are much better listeners than people, and Boris Rothchild is the most brilliant man in all of Kovskia. All of that changes when an unfortunate discovery in her father’s workroom leaves her the recipient of a curse. Stuck in the body of a swan until the sun sets, Odessa begins to think that her search for the truth is hopeless—until, that is, a mysterious man crash-lands in the middle of her lake. If there’s one thing in life that Jax should understand, it’s birds. As the fourth generation of a family of bird catchers, his future nest egg should be secure—and it would be, if he didn’t have his sights set on a different kind of winged creature. But after his search for a rare and elusive dragon egg goes wrong, Jax wakes up to find himself in the company of the one kind of bird he can’t seem to understand. She needs his help to break her curse. He needs her to get his dragon. But as they work together, secrets are uncovered that create ripples bigger than either of them could have imagined, and they both must decide whether or not a happy ending is worth the climb…or the fall. Torn from one fairytale and trapped in another: the Displaced Fairytales series is a multi-author fairy tale retelling series of standalones from your favorite no-spice, closed door young adult romance authors. CURSED CLIMB is Jack and the Beanstalk meets Swan Lake with He Falls First, Found Family, and a dragon companion who doesn’t understand why he can’t be a swan.

Ballad of River Bones by Alexandra Beaumont

Ballad of River Bones is the conclusion of lyrical folklore fantasy and Indie Press Award Distinguished Favourite, Dissonance of Bird Song, ending the critically acclaimed tale of "love, loss and sacrifice." Cursed by ghosts of her victims and haunted by her past, Nessa searches for her lost sister. In the enchanted Myst, change is devastating. To survive, Nessa makes a pact with a mysterious druid to protect herself from the ghosts of those she has killed. As the shadows draw long over ancient Cornwall, Nessa's path leads her to a choice: Save her sister and doom herself to a cursed life, or destroy the Myst and banish her sister to the sea.

A Slice Of Mystery by Sophie Maddon

When you’re lucky enough to land on a project in your hometown, nothing can ruin it—right? That is, until your boss disappears and you’re given her job, the police suspect you, and the cheesemonger runs out of your favourite Gouda. When socially-awkward IT consultant Abigail Palmer is sent to work on a local factory’s new computer systems, she’s looking forward to daily get-togethers with best friend Hannah and cozy nights with Jasper the cat—NOT being blackmailed by boss Lynn into investigating a threatening note. Between managing the IT project, untangling lies, and trying to decode a cute colleague’s attentions, Abigail’s plate is full—though there’s always room for Giuseppe’s insanely delicious pizzas. Perfect for fans of cozy mysteries and awkward heroines with a side of tech. Warning: may cause cravings for artisan cheese and late-night pizza.

Accelerated Growth Environment by Lauren C. Teffeau

Dr. Jorna Benton is proud to be the Principal Scientist for the Climasphere, a massive, sea-going ecological nursery capable of supporting nearly every biome on Earth. On its inaugural mission to restore and re-wild collapsing ecosystems along the Atlantic coast, Jorna manages the Climasphere’s habitat and harvest, while her colleague—and inconveniently attractive commander—Ava Kaysar directs the rest of the vessel’s critical operations. When an explosion rocks the Climasphere, Jorna’s carefully-managed world is thrown into chaos, threatening both her personal and her professional future. And she’s the prime suspect. To clear her name, save the mission, and preserve her chance at a future with Kaysar, Jorna must finally confront the secret she’s been running from all these a family and a faith that could destroy her.

Revenge of the Druid Queen by Sydney Faith

Every realm in the West offers a fortune for captured druids. Mel is a shipwrecked barmaid with no past or future—until she meets Cormac. During a tavern brawl, she collides with the brash stranger, igniting long-buried druid powers. Suddenly, fragmented memories resurface: a husband who cursed her kingdom, a stolen throne, and a wasteland of dark magic teeming with wraiths and bloodthirsty undead monsters. When bounty hunters witness her forbidden magic, Mel must flee or face execution. Desperate to break the curse before it devours the realm, she reluctantly hires Cormac's crew to protect her on the journey to reclaim her stolen crown, end the curse, and discover what truly happened—all while concealing her druid blood and true identity. Yet traveling with a band of outcast wanderers means dodging both their enemies and those hunting her. With the cursed lands expanding and her past threatening to unravel everything, Mel and Cormac must battle monsters, bounty hunters, and the deadly consequences of their entangled lives. Perfect for fans of action-packed fantasy adventure, epic quests, and heroes with a taste for trouble.

Alien Song: An Alien Shifter Romance (Alien Wolf Tales #5) by Honey Phillips

A grumpy alien single dad, a fearless diver, and a bond stronger than the tide. Ariella was born to dive. Modified to withstand Cresca’s alien oceans, she’s always been at home in the deep—until the day she saves a drowning child and meets the girl’s father, a huge, brooding Vultor warrior with eyes like molten gold. Suddenly she wants more than just her isolated waters. Valrek has spent years alone on the sea cliffs, shunned by both humans and Vultor. He’s devoted himself to raising his daughter in solitude—until a human female crashes into their world like a storm tide, fearless, bright, and far too tempting. She challenges him. She tempts him. And she makes his beast want something he swore he’d never have. A mate. But Ariella’s past is surfacing—and if she doesn’t choose between her future and her heart, she could lose both. Because when a Vultor warrior loves, he doesn’t let go. Each book in the Alien Wolf Tales series can be read as a standalone romance. This sweet and spicy fairy tale retelling is intended for mature readers.

Mountain Man’s Winter Treasure: A Steamy Instalove Romance (Wildwood Valley Firehouse #4) by Lilah Hart

He watched her for weeks in silence. Now they're snowed in together. I was freezing to death in someone else's house when he showed up. The power was out. The snow had buried the doors. I'd already accepted that this house sitting gig might be the last decision I ever made. Then headlights cut through the storm, and a man climbed out of a truck like he'd driven straight out of my darkest, most desperate fantasy. Broad shoulders. Dark beard. Eyes that looked right through me. He didn't say much. He got the fire going, checked the pipes, made terrible instant coffee. And when I asked his name, he gave me one word. Wolfe. He told me he was staying. Protocol, he said. He couldn't leave me alone with no heat and no way out. But the way he looked at me had nothing to do with protocol. I didn't know he'd been watching me for weeks. I didn't know he'd memorized my schedule at the roadhouse, that he'd stared at his menu every time I came to take his order because he couldn't trust himself to look at me. I didn't know that when my name came through on that emergency call, his heart stopped. But I was about to find out. 🔥 Forced Proximity ❄️ Snowed In Romance 🐻 Grumpy Hero / Sunshine Heroine 👀 Secret Pining 🌸 Virgin Heroine 💘 Instalove 😍 He Falls First Mountain Man's Winter Treasure is an OTT age-gap romance featuring an alpha hero and V-card heroine. It's a forced proximity firefighter romance with lots of steam that's designed to be read in only 1 hour. If you like short, steamy instalove novellas, you’ll love the entire Wildwood Valley Firehouse series!

Mountain Man's Winter Sweetheart: A Steamy Instalove Romance ((Wildwood Valley Firehouse #3) by Lilah Hart

Snowed in with a rugged firefighter. Falling wasn’t optional. I don’t do distractions. I have a plan. A timeline. A future that doesn’t include this tiny mountain town—or the firefighters who pack into the roadhouse every night, loud and charming and impossible to ignore. Especially him. Hux is six-foot-three of trouble wrapped in flannel. A smile built to break hearts. A laugh that fills the room. I’ve watched him flirt his way through every shift, and I’ve kept my distance for a reason. Then the snowstorm hits. He stumbles through the door half-frozen, collapses on my counter, and wakes up to find me standing over him with a bowl of soup I don’t remember deciding to make. Now we’re trapped. The roads are impassable. The power’s flickering. And somehow, Hux has ended up in my kitchen—following my rules, watching me like I’m something worth seeing. He’s not what I expected. Under the jokes and easy charm is something steady. Something real. Something that makes me forget why I was so determined to leave in the first place. The storm won’t last forever. Neither will the forced proximity. Neither will the heat that builds every time he looks at me like he’s already chosen. He says he’s serious about me. And that terrifies me more than the storm ever could. ❄️ Snowed-In Romance 🔥 Firefighter Hero 🏔️ Small-Town Mountain Setting 🍲 Caretaker Moment 🧣 Forced Proximity 💕 Instalove Sparks 🛡️ Protective Hero Energy 🌨️ Winter Storm Isolation 💫 Opposites Attract 🏡 Found Family Vibes Mountain Man's Winter Sweetheart is an OTT age-gap firefighter romance featuring an alpha hero and V-card heroine. It's a forced proximity ex-military, lumberjack romance with lots of steam that's designed to be read in only 1 hour. If you like short, steamy instalove novellas, you’ll love the entire Wildwood Valley Firehouse series!

Rescued by the Cursed Phoenix (Rescued From Ruin) by Vala Stone

Have I just stumbled from one monster, straight into the clutches of another? Ava I have a habit of doing what people tell me I shouldn’t. Like eating that extra cookie, or you know, dating the bad boy. When I try to get out of this latest pickle, running is my only option. A dark gloomy mansion in the middle of the woods, surrounded by an ominous fence. Yeah, that’s not where you expect to find salvation. But the man that swoops down on me, pulling me from the snapping jaws of danger… He sets my blood on fire and makes my heart melt with his care and his cute pet cat. Lucius I just want to be left alone. The world is a dangerous place and I want nothing to do with it. But when pretty Ava stumbles onto my doorstep, I can’t help myself. Parts of me ignite that I thought had long ago turned to ashes. To keep her safe, to keep us both safe, I must let her go. I should send her away. To break my curse, to rescue her from ruin, I might have to break all my rules. I might have to ignite all the flames and make the ultimate sacrifice. Rescued by the Cursed Phoenix is a short, steamy novella that is part of the Rescued From Ruin shared author series. It features one sexy, cursed Phoenix, a plucky damsel in distress, and a very wise matchmaking cat.

The Lunar Quartz Library by Melanie Steele

At thirty-five, Esme thought her life was set—until a magical book offered her a whole new chapter. Esme has lived the same quiet, bookish life for as long as she can remember—mornings spent sorting rare tomes at the beloved Goldsteins' Bookshop, evenings sipping tea in her tiny flat, and weekends buried in classics and comfort reads. Then a curious delivery arrives: an oversized book with a lock, but no keyhole. It doesn’t appear on any inventory list—and it doesn’t seem to belong to this world. When the Goldsteins' bookshop, where Esme has worked for half her life, suddenly shuts its doors, she finds herself adrift. Her routine is gone, her future uncertain, and the quiet, bookish life she’s always known begins to unravel. When a mysterious stranger shows up claiming the book belongs to another realm—and that Esme is the only one who can unlock its secrets—she’s offered a chance to start again. But stepping into her new role as Librarian of the Quartz Falls Library won't be easy. Esme must learn to wield magic, confront enemies who want the library sealed forever, and—most daunting of all—believe that she’s worthy of a life beyond the quiet edges of the world. A heartwarming, whimsical tale of transformation and quiet courage, this low spice cosy fantasy is perfect for fans of The Spellshop, Legends & Lattes, and The House in the Cerulean Sea. 🌙 Tropes & Themes You’ll Love 🙋 Midlife Protagonist ✨ Sweet romance 🏡 Found family 📚 Light academia 💐 Strong female friendships 🌈 LGBTQ+ rep 🧠 Neurodivergent rep ❤️ A comforting, low-stakes fantasy full of heart

Hide & Sikh: Letters from a Life in Brown Skin by Sunny Dhillon

In 2018, Sunny Dhillon resigned as a journalist with the Globe and Mail. His blog post announcing his departure went unexpectedly viral. It was a decision that had been long brewing and Dhillon posted the piece with the hope that it would lead to “meaningful reflection on the lack of diversity in Canadian journalism and the problems therein.” But he was not optimistic. In this sharply funny memoir, shaped as a series of letters to his daughter, Dhillon explains why he was not hopeful. From his earliest memories, his experience of being Canadian was shaped by race, and as a child he’d often found himself confused by what he should do when the fact he was “different” was raised. His first reaction was to hide – from his skin colour, from his native tongue and even from his name. Until he realized he didn’t feel the need to hide anymore, that he didn’t want to hide anymore. With warmth, honesty and lots of humour, Dhillon shares his journey so that his daughter will not have to struggle through the lessons he took too long to learn, so that she will know who she is and be proud. Sunny Dhillon is a former news reporter whose viral essay “Journalism While Brown and When to Walk Away” highlighted the significant challenges that journalists of colour can face. Sunny worked as a print reporter for ten years. He has also appeared on television and radio and has spoken at conferences. He is passionate about racial justice and continues to write on that theme. He holds a master’s degree in journalism from the University of British Columbia. He and his young family now live in Ontario, where Sunny attends law school. This is his first book.

Syncopation by Whitney French

In this speculative and intoxicating novel, French offers readers an intricate future-world that resonates so powerfully with our own, as it explores a people gripped in the war-torn politics of migration, memory-keeping, labour and survival. In the aftermath of a Memory War, society is fragmented into strange new cultures, castes and coalitions. Set against a backdrop of retrofitted food garages, microchip-sorting factories and hyperloop terminals, Whitney French brings us a dazzling novel-in-verse where memory is the highest currency and love, like all revolutions, is dangerous, unruly and singed with hope. O and Z are two young women searching for purpose in a world where a decades-long earthquake reverberates through the Earth's crust, and the population scrambles to hide from deadly acid rain. Descended from space pirates, O is drawn to the sky, while Z is earthbound, a skilled forager with connections to the black market. The two become travel companions and lovers until, torn between choosing their values or each other, a fateful decision must be made at the el Corazón space station. In this speculative and intoxicating novel, French offers readers an intricate future-world that resonates so powerfully with our own, as it explores a people gripped in the war-torn politics of migration, memory-keeping, labour and survival. About Whitney French: Whitney French (she/her) is a writer, educator and publisher. She is the editor of the award-winning anthology Black Writers Matter (University of Regina, 2019) and Griot: Six Writers' Sojourn into the Dark (Penguin Random House, 2022). Whitney is a Black futurist who explores memory, loss, technology and nature in her work. She is a certified arts educator and an Assistant Professor in Creative Writing at the University of British Colombia. She is also the co-founder and publisher of Hush Harbour, the only Black queer feminist press in Canada.

Beneficiary by Joann McCaig

A novel about what it means to face the world as a woman on her own terms from the award-winning author of The Textbook of the Rose and An Honest Woman. Seren was doomed to a country club cage and a leash of pearls until out of the blue on a Tuesday night in 1969, she found herself suddenly saying “no.” More than fifty years later, she looks back on her life and each choice that followed, beautiful, tragic and completely her own. Leaving her family for the freedom of the 1970s, Seren began a quest to discover how to live in this world as her true self—a quest that would take her from the heady countercultural milieu of communal houses on Vancouver Island through marriage and motherhood, divorce, and an unexpected inheritance that changed everything. Suddenly wealthy, Seren must wrestle with money, with class, and what it means to have more than most. What does it mean to live truly, through tragedy and heartbreak? How do we create ourselves in a world that keeps changing? What does it mean to have money when so many people don’t? A richly written, fiercely feminist novel imbued with real bravery, Beneficiary weaves the past and the present in a rich tapestry of life. JoAnn McCaig is the author of The Textbook of The Rose and An Honest Woman. She is the proud owner of Shelf Life Books, an independent bookstore in her hometown of Calgary, AB.

Shoebox by Sean Paul Bedell

Shoebox is a gritty and emotional exploration of the human condition, Steve Lewis, a dedicated paramedic, faces the devastating aftermath of a fatal accident that casts a dark shadow over his once-passionate commitment to saving lives. Plagued by guilt and grief, he finds his career, family, and very existence at risk as he navigates the complexities of trauma, both personal and professional. As Steve grapples with the high stakes of his job amidst the scrutiny of a community that admires yet questions him, each life he saves rekindles his passion for his work, reminding him of the profound connections he can forge through compassion and care. About Sean Paul Bedell: Author of the novels Shoebox and Somewhere There’s Music, Sean Paul Bedell has been writing and publishing for more than 30 years. Sean was a longtime paramedic and captain with the fire service. Bedell has worked in the finance, insurance, and aerospace industries. He is a leading safety expert and has provided safety consultation to private and public sector entities, including transportation, mining, manufacturing, and construction operations. Sean holds the Canadian Registered Safety Professional (CRSP) designation. He was a director with Capital Health, the precursor of Nova Scotia Health and he was appointed by the Minister of Labour to Nova Scotia’s Occupational Health & Safety Advisory Board. Sean is a member of The Writers’ Union of Canada, The New Brunswick Writers’ Federation, and the Nova Scotia Writers’ Federation. He served on the board of the Writers’ Federation of Nova Scotia for many years, including as president. Sean was instrumental in the creation of the Jampolis Cottage writing retreat centre. Sean is married to Lisa, and they live in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, with their golden retriever, Maggie. They have two grown children, Amy, and Luke. Sean enjoys reading, travel, music, hiking, kayaking, golf, and spending time at the cabin on North Mountain.

WOMEN AMONG MONUMENTS: Solitude, Permission, and the Pursuit of Female Genius by Kasia Van Schaik

What does it take for a woman to don the mantle of genius — a title long reserved for male artists? From her studies in Montreal to a dead-end job in Berlin, a midnight tour of Paris, a bankrupt art residency on the Toronto Islands, and a mysterious sculpture garden in the Karoo desert, South African—Canadian author and professor Kasia Van Schaik considers what it means for a young woman to call herself an artist and claim a creative life. Drawing on a diverse web of literary and cultural sources and artistic icons — from Georgia O’Keeffe to Ana Mendieta, Gertrude Stein to Jamaica Kincaid, Leslie Marmon Silko to Bernadette Mayer — Women Among Monuments asks, What, beyond a room of one’s own, are the necessary conditions for female genius? Where does the inner flint of artistic permission come from? What is the oxygen that keeps it burning? In her memoir interwoven with incisive biographies of female solitude, constraint, and perseverance, Van Schaik blazes a trail for more inclusive artmaking practices, communities, and monuments. Kasia Van Schaik is the author of the linked story collection We Have Never Lived On Earth, which was longlisted for the Scotiabank Giller Prize. Her writing has appeared in Electric Literature, the LA Review of Books, the Best Canadian Poetry, and the CBC. Kasia holds a PhD in English Literature from McGill University and lives in Montreal.

Breathing is How Some People Stay Alive by Alison Gadsby

Breathing is How Some People Stay Alive is due to be released on March 1, 2026. Extraordinarily powerful, both edgy and foreboding, Alison’s layered character-driven stories search for happiness and hope in an unhappily-ever-after world. More about Breathing Is How Some People Stay Alive: Breathing Is How Some People Stay Alive blurs the lines between horror, catastrophic speculative fiction, and psychological realism in a collection that might best be described as weird fiction. These connected stories offer dark reconstructions of lives brimming with desperate loneliness. They allow us to bear witness to the life-altering love of sisters, brothers, mothers… the life-altering love that buoys them as they struggle to stay afloat in the wake of childhoods they merely survived. About Alison Gadsby: Alison Gadsby lives and writes in Tkaronto/Toronto. Her short fiction appears in Blank Spaces, The Temz Review, The Ex-Puritan, Blue Lake Review, and many other literary journals in Canada and abroad. She holds an MFA from the University of British Columbia, and a degree in English Literature and Creative Writing from York University. She is the founder/host of Junction Reads, a prose reading series in the west end of Toronto where she lives in a multigenerational home that includes several dogs. She enjoys writing novels, but is always writing weird, dark and strangely funny short stories. You can find links to her work at www.alisongadsby.ca and more information about Junction Reads at www.junctionreads.ca

Stan On Guard by K.R. Wilson

Stan On Guard, forthcoming with Guernica Editions on March 1, 2026. Ishtanu (call him Stan) is a Hittite immortal keeping his head down in Toronto and recounting some of his experiences. Tróán is an immortal Trojan princess who thought she’d killed Stan in post-war Berlin but who now knows he survived. Yes, technically Stan can die. He has just managed not to for 3200 years. As their stories braid together toward a final reckoning they take us through a subversive retelling of the Odysseus story, the resistance of pagan Lithuania against Papal crusaders, the decline of Friedrich Nietzsche in a German clinic, the arts scene in belle epoque Paris, and the descent of Europe into the horrors of the Great War. Strap in. Stan On Guard is the follow-up to K. R. Wilson’s tragical-comical-historical novel Call Me Stan: A Tragedy in Three Millennia, which was long-listed for the 2022 Leacock Medal for Humour. About K. R. Wilson: K. R. Wilson is a Toronto-area writer. His novel An Idea About my Dead Uncle won the inaugural Guernica Prize in 2018, and his novel Call Me Stan was long-listed for the 2022 Leacock Medal. His follow-up novel Stan on Guard will be published by Guernica Editions in 2026 and his SF-noir Tendrils by Palimpsest Press in 2027. His work has appeared in various literary journals and the flash fiction anthologies This Will Only Take a Minute (Guernica Editions) and Sticks and Stones (Chicken House Press). He can be found at www.krwilson.ca and on social media at @krwbooks.

Marmalade Parade by Matthew Joudrey

Marmalade Parade is a mesmerizing short novel that explores themes connected to different forms of memory. Memory as construct that is both built, destroyed, and altered daily, its reliability fleeting. A first-person narrator arrives at a house set high in the mountains in an undisclosed, remote location. He is confused, disoriented, and guarded. The home is owned by a man who is suffering from an illness affecting his memory. Both must navigate their combined gaps in memory to determine why they’ve been brought together. M. C. JOUDREY is an award winning Canadian writer, artist and designer. His second novel Of Violence and Cliché was released 2013, followed by his collection of short storiesCharleswood Road: Stories in 2014 (nominated for a 2015 JohnHirsch Manitoba Book Award). His novel Fanonymous was released in 2019 and won the Independent Publisher gold medal for best work of fiction for Western Canada. It was also nominated for two Manitoba Book Awards, including the Margaret Laurence Award for best work of fiction. M. C. Joudrey has been a member of the submission selection committee for the CBC Short Fiction Prize and a jury member for the Manitoba Book Awards. As a designer, his work has been awarded two Alcuin Design Book Awards and the Manuela Dias Manitoba Book Award for Design. He is also a bookbinder and a number of his works are held in galleries internationally.

Blood Bound: Unlacing Secret Ties by Marie-Josée Poisson (translated by Flora-Lee Bendit)

Blood Bound: Unlacing Secret Ties by Marie-Josée Poisson (translated by Flora-Lee Bendit) which is forthcoming with Guernica Editions March 1, 2026. This is a fascinating and intriguing fictional story steeped in history about Madame de Pompadour — Louis XV’s long time mistress, friend and advisor. In Blood Bound: Unlacing Secret Ties, costume historian Geoffroy Le Hideux recognizes the coat of arms of Madame de Pompadour on a blood-stained dress found hidden in the walls of the lyse Palace. In a genealogical investigation taking her from Montreal to Paris, Lou Ashby, a successful communications agent at a television station called La Chane, meets Geoffroy. Together they will expose a secret that alters what was considered historical fact: Madame de Pompadour did not have descendants. But what if she had? Why hide the fact that she had a son who, contrary to historical belief, survived childhood?

Flint in the Bones by Eva St. John

In a city where history bites back, murder is just the beginning. Detective Eliza “Bish” Barnaby thought she’d left her home behind—along with its plague outbreaks, random time-shifts, and tendency to accidentally host people from the 1600s during breakfast. But when a dangerous practitioner escapes custody in London, Bish is forced back to Norwich, a city where ancient maps hide deadly shortcuts, angry nuns have scores to settle, and Puritans throw acid at those they don’t approve of. Armed with only a gun she can’t fire, a spaniel who thinks he’s a wolf, and a partner who dresses like a rejected Bridgerton extra, Bish must stop a killer before wild magic unravels the city’s fragile balance. But keeping her own forbidden talents hidden is just as dangerous as catching the murderer. And in a place where past and present bleed together, the only way to solve this mystery might be to embrace the very magic she fears. Grab the brand new adventure from Eva St. John, author of the bestselling Quantum Curators series

The Old Crones Club: A Fairytale Retelling from the Wicked Witches by Jennifer Taylor-Gray

Fairytales made witches villains. Now they’re taking their story back. Tibby never thought she’d end up in a prison for witches. She isn’t one, or so she claims. But on her first night at the Grimm Brotherhood’s Reformation Centre, she meets four infamous witches the world has branded wicked. As they share their real stories, Tibby begins to wonder if they’re not so different after all. When the Brotherhood threatens to erase their memories and their magic, the women stage a daring escape. But freedom isn’t enough. To truly reclaim their power, they must untangle the twisted fairytales written about them, confront the men who tried to silence them, and light a fire that could spark a rebellion. In a world built to turn women against each other, Tibby has to choose: stay quiet and survive, or rise and be remembered. A witchy fairytale rebellion for fans of Alix E. Harrow, T. Kingfisher, Naomi Novik and Gregory Maguire.

A Mage's Mentor by Stephen Jarocki

Twenty years after her mother’s mysterious disappearance, Sinccah sets out to find answers in the untamed province of Ucksland. Hoping to bolster her meager magic skills, she seeks out the old mage guarding the caravan. While talking to him, she discovers that the pendant her mother left her might hold a secret. Unfortunately, before she can uncover anything, the caravan is attacked and the pendant is stolen. Determined to get the pendant back at all costs, Sinccah makes an agreement with the local lord, Ucksil, and is sent into a goblin-infested wilderness. If she can find the powerful mage living in southern Ucksland and convince him to help, she’ll be one step closer to learning the truth. As she begins her search, she stumbles upon a member of a despised race of creatures who inexplicably agrees to guide her to the mage. But after decades of hostility between his race and her own, can he truly be trusted? With an uneasy truce lingering between them, the two companions navigate a land where peace is fragile and disdain runs deep. Yet as they struggle together, genuine conversations begin taking place and Sinccah starts to wonder at the truth of what she’s been taught. But even if she can overcome the murderous bandits, are they truly the greatest threat, or does something darker lurk in the shadows? If Sinccah can’t learn who to trust, her very life will be at risk and she’ll never find the answers (or purpose) she’s seeking.

Edenlost: The Borderless City: Book one of the Edenlost saga: a dystopian urban fantasy adventure by Alexandra Kathleen Blade

A perfect city. A memory slipping away. A power that cannot be ignored. Leyla wakes up in Edenlost, a city both dazzling and unsettling. She doesn’t remember how she got there and doesn’t know who to trust. Beneath the city’s radiant surface, shadows whisper, secrets grow, and a power she never knew she had begins to stir. The more Leyla seeks answers, the more Edenlost reveals itself as a maze of hidden truths, intense emotions, forced alliances, and revelations that shake everything she thought she knew. Friendships become lifelines, love burns silent but fierce, and supernatural forces call to her—pushing her toward choices she may not be ready to make. Eedenlost: The Borderless City is a dystopian urban fantasy filled with magic, mystery, and emotional depth. A cinematic story that plunges the reader into an adventure with a courageous yet vulnerable heroine, unexpected twists, awakening powers, and bonds destined to change everything. Perfect for readers who crave: • immersive and emotional urban fantasy • mysteries and hidden truths behind a perfect city • strong, relatable female protagonists • supernatural powers and gripping suspense • deep friendships and heart-wrenching romance • a vivid, cinematic reading experience Edenlost is not what it seems. Neither is Leyla. Step into the Borderless City and experience the story to the fullest.

Blackwater by Emily Blakeney

There is much to be done when the kingdom isn't looking. Iona Strider is a ruthless pickpocket cursed with a disobedient shadow. Violent, too. Worse, she can’t remember who cursed her, or why. But she does know one thing: with each passing day, her control of the shadow dwindles. In her relentless pursuit of answers, she winds up stealing from the wrong man: Captain Liam Blackwater of the Wraith. A man who, according to legend, might just turn the Silver Seas red. Blood-bonded together by a dishonest mistake, Iona begrudgingly teams up with the handsome rogue to embark on a bloody, swashbuckling quest in the hopes that she can break the curse of her shadow once and for all. Alas, it’s never that simple. Especially when Liam and Iona can’t keep their hands off each other. But as they carve a path through the realm, disastrous secrets of the kingdom are revealed, and when shocking revelations of her true past come to light, Iona must decide whether she is to become the kingdom’s villain, or something else of her own making.

An Oath Sworn by M.T. Kadisin

M.T. Kadisin's debut novel in the Saga of the Stone King series masterfully blends dark fantasy, political intrigue, and reluctant heroism. Grady, a clanless dwarf, lives an ordinary, lonely, and forgettable life. Until a mysterious Poster changes everything. Drawn into a brutal experiment by the ruthless Keyrdegen Salzum, Grady is molded into the perfect soldier: obedient, unthinking, unbreakable, extraordinary. But, as the truth behind the warlord's plans comes to light, Grady must fight to reclaim his will-and his identity. An Oath Sworn is a tale of control, resistance, and the cost of becoming a hero in a world that would rather you remain a victim.

Errant Gift by Rhys Price

A young shepherdess named Tali and her father abandon their flock to seek out a fallen star that speaks to them in wondrous visions and whispers. Under the star’s guidance, they are rewarded with a new life of luxury and status they could never have imagined. Everything seems blissful until Tali’s father is asked to partake in a strange ritual that may cost him his life. To her horror, he willingly agrees. Nine years later, swarms of Nemagraws—nightmarish creatures of unknown origins—have begun to spread across the land. Caught in their path of destruction is bookish Dale who fled the comforts of home when his parents were arrested on charges of treason. Armed with nothing but a keen knowledge of botany, Dale searches for his brother Finley, a fabled warrior who might be their best hope of saving the family from ruin. But when he finally finds Finley living with a mysterious cult, he realises that his brother will be of no help at all. Unbeknownst to Tali and Dale, their journeys are bound by a common enemy—one whose aims are far greater and darker than any have yet perceived.

Shattered Peace: A Miss-Fortunate Adventures Saga by Megan Russ

...the world broke more than 2000 years ago. After the gods fixed the world, they took magic and left. Now the seeds of darkness are spreading. The time of heroes has returned... Secretly nestled in the heart of the ancient forest, there is a tree that towers over all others. Within its embrace, the future generation of warriors trains for the day their nation calls upon them. An elven outcast with a secret to keep. A rare free human with something to prove. These two young monks have just graduated from training within the Monastery of the Leaf. With their training days behind them, it is time for them to find their place in the world. Have you ever wondered how the heroes began their journey? Let’s go back to the beginning. This coming of age, found-family, action-driven adventure will introduce you to these young heroes before their call to destiny. What dark horrors will they face along their journey? Find out within the pages of this Homebrew 5e-inspired story. The Beginning of the Miss-Fortunate Adventures Saga: Aearth, is a world that broke due to a Great War 3000 years ago. A world that lost its magic when the Gods knit the world back together. Sealing the magic into the world itself. They turned their backs on a world that could no longer feel their touch. Now darkness rises on the horizon. Will the heroes rise in time to save Aearth or will this world shatter for good? You can learn more about Aearth before Shattered Peace by reading ~ Lore by Megan Russ Dark Fantasy Horror Low Magic Found Family Action Adventure Martial Combat Fantasy Combat Spice Free Language/Alcohol/Smoking 5e Inspired Fans of Dragonlance, Ravenloft, Forgotten Realms and Dark Sun will enjoy this 5e homebrew inspired story. Fans of epic fantasy like Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn and Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time may find familiar tropes and grand adventures in the Balance of Fates Series.

A Djinnfernal Conspiracy: Saga of the Bearer: Book 1 by W.E. Singh

He's not ready to save the world. Zander Chung is having a spectacularly bad day. Sentenced to death by video call and hunted by homicidal appliances, he's been shipped off to the Egyptian Afterlife — where gods have agendas, djinn hold grudges, and dying was just the start. To survive (and find a way back) he'll have to rely on allies he definitely wouldn't have chosen himself and face powers far older and stranger than anything he imagined. But every bargain has teeth, and some debts bite back hard. Can Zander cheat fate a second time, or will the Afterlife decide it's keeping him? Perfect for fans of Wyrd Sisters, Rivers of London, and darkly funny fantasy steeped in myths, magic, and deliciously dangerous chaos.

The Legend of Damndrake by N.E. White

Damndrake was stolen on her hatchday, and her family scattered, before she was set adrift in the sea. After twenty-four years surviving the brutal White Wastes, she has Blaze now, her adopted sister with a secret that could get her killed or sent to the Blasted Sands. But trying to build a stable life in human-dragon society is a challenge Damndrake didn't think she'd fail again and again. When she's banished from yet another territory, finding a home for them both seems impossible until she's recruited to the Draghi Firegard. Her life takes a turn: a new purpose, home, and maybe the spark of something more—until their past catches up to them. The same dragon who tried to steal Blaze a decade ago is back, and this time, he’s not leaving empty-clawed.

The Black Bane: The Chronicles of Mealduth: Book 1 by L. Lyons

In a cursed corner of Avellion, a dark forest infected with the Black Bane spells death to all who enter — except one… When an old priest arrives at Kailas Darkchar’s door with a bag of gold, she’s right to be suspicious. His ancient sect is rumoured to practise dark magic. The priest claims Kailas has the power to enter the forest and retrieve the bones of his god. But not even the money she so desperately needs is enough to convince her. A member of a despised race, she’s lived her life in the shadows, believing her unique immunity to magic is useless in a world that embraces it. Forced to flee for her life, she meets a powerful stranger with eyes of gold who promises to protect her. But can he be trusted, or is he part of a darker scheme? Hunted by an army of holy warriors intent on fulfilling their ancient prophecy, Kailas is the only one who can stop the world from being plunged into darkness — and that may cost her soul…

In My Time of Dying by Sherrie a Bakelar

When Eloise Fontaine passed away from a heart attack, she left behind a pile of her belongings, a horse and her unfinished business. It now falls to her twin sister, Ebony, to fulfill Eloise' final Calling, Find the Farm Boy and save the kingdom, before Ebony passes away herself. Goaded on by her sister's ghost, Ebony sets out from her humble cottage to find the Farm Boy and help in his quest to regain his kingdom, usurped decades before by the Wizard King. What's a hedge witch to do?

Godless: An Epic Fantasy Adventure: Book One of the Xaidra Cycle by Edward Nile

It is the Third Cycle of known Xaidran history. Three thousand years of civilization. Three thousand years of questions. Three millennia of worship to the Pantheon. Mortals of Xaidra live their lives according to their Faiths, each born beholden to one of the Gods. Most find themselves Faithful to one of the Siblings, the seven Gods who safeguard the Balance of human souls. Seven Gods competing to tip that Balance in their own favor. In this world of ancient monuments, sacred incantations and powerful sprite Elementals, mortals find themselves mere pawns in the battle for souls. A battle Belkas, the War God, seemed to be winning. Until the Silence. In the turmoil of battle, those Faithful to Belkas looked to the sky and saw their Godmoon darken. Their deity's presence was gone. Belkas’s Harbinger slain. As the Belkan war clans reeled from the vanishing of their God, a child was born. A deformed creature, a Godless abomination cursed by the eyeless Fates. ---- Twenty years have passed. For twenty years disciples of a lost Faith have wandered Xaidra, fighting one another, killing and dying in worship to a God that seems to have abandoned them. The Silence weighs heavier on the older generations, on those who lived with the comforting presence of the War God since birth, only to find Belkas gone. Kael never knew the touch of War, never experienced the electrifying power of his Faith. Born on the day of the Silence, he never knew a life without that strange emptiness. To Kael’s generation, the Silence is commonplace. Even as they fight and kill in one-sided obeisance to a vacant God. Another emptiness plagues Kael. Born a misshapen, horned thing, considered an inhuman creature by his peers, Kael has fought to prove himself his entire young life. And all of it has come to nothing. Exiled, alone, without Faith or purpose, Kael begins his journey. ---- And Asra follows. Daughter of a War priestess, Asra yearns for escape more than anything. A release from obligations, expectations. A political marriage to the new Harbinger of War looms in Asra’s future, and she looks to any diversion, any way to delay the inevitable. Even so far as to hunt down the deformed son of a rival War priest. Even so far as to bring back her friend’s horned head. Asra’s hunt begins. All the while, the fabric of Xaidra itself begins to unravel, the Balance shaken again under the threat of War.

The Witch and the Woodcutter by L.S. Walker

This is not a story of magic. This is a story of persecution... The Far Isles are in a witch-hunting frenzy. Neighbour turns against neighbour, women are hanged from trees, and girls are thrown to the pyre. At the head of this fever is the Inquisitorum: the branch of the Church dedicated to the ways of hunting witches, their subsequent torture, and execution. Beorn is the woodcutter for the small town of Brexton. He lives a solitary life in the woods that provide him his livelihood, far from civilisation and inquisitive eyes. He takes no part in the witch-hunting frenzy that grips the kingdom, but nor does he lift a hand in defence of those condemned to die. He lives by a simple rule: I don't get involved. That is until a young witch is dragged into the town square to be burnt at the stake. The sight of her breathes life into old ghosts Beorn had long thought buried. Against his better judgement, he breaks his one rule. What follows is an adventure across a kingdom. Beorn will be faced with many challenges: thorn-helmed knights, black-robed Inquisitors, a head-strong young witch, and even his own world view.

Knee-Deep in Cinders by Ashley Capes

Freedom. Magic. Vengeance. Vilas is a man consumed by anger. Kept prisoner in the city that slaughtered his people, he dreams of the day his magic is unsealed so he can burn everything to ash. When the city's queen asks for his help hunting down rebel cultists, he agrees in exchange for his freedom, his magic, and a night in her bed. Given access to only a fraction of his magic and forced to work alongside a jailor who can seal it entirely, a quick escape is impossible. Vilas knows his freedom hinges on his wits—and his self control. But every day he's reminded of the horrors done to his people, testing the limits of his restraint. Can Vilas outwit the queen and have his revenge on the city, or will his all-consuming rage be his undoing? Knee-Deep in Cinders is a thrilling, standalone dark fantasy novel. If you love morally grey characters, underdogs, and quests for vengeance, lose yourself in Knee-Deep in Cinders!

The Throne of Ash: A thrilling Tudor-esque fantasy with all the deceit, politics and Courtly romance of the Tudor era by Lissy Porter

A Queen. A Princess. And a Consort who must be chosen to ensure the future of the Throne of Ash. The Queen's Face masks all—even the woman who wears it. None may see her without it, not even her Consort responsible for ensuring she brings forth a healthy daughter to succeed her. If he fails, being cast aside is the most favourable of outcomes. When Queen Cecily unknowingly determines on her sister's lover as her Consort, ambition, jealousy, and the demands of courtly etiquette threaten the stability of the Throne of Ash. Princess Bess knows only too well her responsibilities towards her sister, the queen, but when one of the powerful noble families attempts to ensnare both sisters with one lover, there can only ever be one winner. The Throne of Ash is a Tudor-esque fantasy in which women rule, and men are kept in the background, of little use, aside from when a Consort must be chosen. Then, court intrigues, and politics come to the fore in a deadly game of politics and etiquette that sets sister against sister. The Throne of Ash has never been more on fire.

A Little Feral by Maria Giesbrecht

In A Little Feral, Maria Giesbrecht navigates faith, family, and personal resurrection through a voice at once wild, intimate, and quietly rebellious. Written in the aftermath of leaving a conservative Mennonite upbringing, these poems chart a parallel journey of breaking away—from father, from God, from the confines of obedience. Giesbrecht’s language is lyrical and unflinching, a cadence that moves between tenderness and defiance, weaving ancestral memory with moments of stark revelation. A Little Feral asks readers to reimagine where holiness might be found—in the fractures of family, in the undoing of inherited faith, and even in the loneliness of a world shaped by patriarchy and exile.

The Unravelling of Ou by Hollay Ghadery

Moving on is hard—even harder when it’s from a make-believe friend who’s been your strongest source of support. On what should be one of the happiest days ever, the day her granddaughter is born, Minoo faces a terrible choice: make a clean break from her constant companion, a sock puppet named Ecology Paul, or lose her daughter and granddaughter forever. The Unravelling of Ou follows Minoo’s journey from teenage pregnancy in Iran through exile to Canada, exploring questions of sexuality, identity, and survival with extraordinary imagination and heart. What makes this novel particularly compelling is its bracingly effective central conceit—first-person narration by the protagonist’s sock puppet. This approach provides a unique lens for the examination of female shame, neurodivergent experience, and the courage required to break free from internalized oppression. It’s a story about finding authentic voice and reconnecting with the people you love told through a lens that’s moving and refreshingly unconventional. This promises to be a standout debut novel from an already acclaimed author whose memoir Fuse won the 2023 Canadian Bookclub Award and whose short fiction collection Widow Fantasies is a finalist for the 2025 Toronto Book Awards.

Weird Babies by Jaclyn Desforges

Weird Babies is a short story collection about weird babies: a miraculous set of reincarnated quadruplets, babies born from the bellies of trout, babies who are destined to molt like tarantulas, babies who hatch from piles of warm clothes. It’s also about the weird baby living in each of us—the tenderest part of ourselves that longs, at whatever the cost, to be loved.

Wound Archive by Anna Veprinska

Wound Archive is a collection of minimalist poems that document the concurrent ending of a relationship and the onset of a chronic invisible illness. These fragmentary pieces turn woundedness—both emotional and physical—into an act of linguistic reformation. The symbol of the wound recurs throughout, tracing the ways heartbreak and illness inhabit the body, and how the corporeal becomes a portal to the incorporeal: god, ghosts, healing. Tender and precise, Veprinska’s work reveals how brevity can hold the vastness of ache.

Valhalla The Valkyries Fire by A. J. Torres

Fire. Blood. Darkness. The tears of her parents were all she could remember. Valhalla Ӧnníka has lived with the Aesir since her fifth spring, since the day the God of Mischief took everything from her. Taken in by the Aesir and valkyries, she found some contentment, but past wounds have a way of returning. Years later, a clue embedded in the back of a dragon leads her to a confrontation with the god who murdered her family. Though training with blade and flame had made Valhalla fierce in her own right, she was still no match for him. Barely escaping with her life, the All Mother ordered Valhalla to cease her investigation, instead giving her a new focus. A mysterious letter found its way into the halls of Asgard, addressed solely to her. She was to meet with the High Queen of the lands of Veerence. Death. Submission. Pain. Nightmares were all he ever knew. Alistair Hilliard II was the High Prince of Veerence. His life should’ve been one of luxury and indulgence, and would’ve been were he anywhere else. Being born a man in Hilliard’s royal family, his duty was to obey, keep silent, and endure. By night, he belonged to the women of high society—a thing to be used—and by day he was charged with protecting the High Queen and her heir. The Prince was stretching ever closer to the end of his rope, worn ragged by the cost his duties levied upon his body, mind, and soul. Alistair’s mother had grown increasingly distant since his twenty first name day. His sister, whose personal mission to see him suffer through nightly torments, had gone quiet. Terrible rumblings began to spread, rumors of an attempt on her life. Regardless of her hatred for him, she was still Alistair’s little sister and it fell upon his shoulders to find out the truth. When Valhalla and Alistair’s paths cross, their fates will intertwine, finding themselves at the center of events that will reshape Midgard and ripple across the nine realms.

We Gladly Feast on Those Who Would Subdue Us by Roxanna Bennett

We Gladly Feast on Those Who Would Subdue Us marks a striking formal shift for Bennett, moving away from the recombinant sonnets that defined her previous three volumes. Infusing disability poetics with concepts of collage, Bennett enacts the improvised experience of disabled persons navigating an inaccessibly constructed world, using whatever comes to hand to make meaning and survive. Though her approach has evolved, her voice remains as singular, incisive, and powerful as ever.

Gitwaałtk by Crystal AJ Smith

Gitwaałtk tells the story of a young Indigenous woman who loses her sister to the Highway of Tears and embarks on a journey with her nux nux (spiritual beings) to find—and bring to justice—the person responsible. Weaving prose, poetry, and oral tradition, Smith’s novel traces a path through grief toward healing, where family, community, and culture become sources of strength and reclamation. The story is at once a personal act of remembrance and a larger statement on resistance, love, and spiritual continuity.