Strong Fort Spathi by Heather C. Wright

Sinikka is returning home after a late meeting, but never makes it. Her best friend, Jordan, discovers she’s missing. Before Jordan and his werewolf pack can begin looking for her, he finds himself host to Andrew Farkas. Andrew hopes to gain the support of Jordan’s pack in his bid to become the leader of all the American packs. When Andrew’s ward, Tyler, disappears as well, the entire situation becomes even more complicated. Will Jordan and Andrew be able to find Sinikka and Tyler? Will they be in time?

The Storm Beneath the World by Michael R. Fletcher

Cursed by the gods. The insectile ashkaro live on flying islands travelling the eternal River of Days while a hellish firestorm devours the world below. Collected into queendoms, the higher caste brights live in the luxurious windward rain-forest while the servile dulls scrape out a desperate existence in the leeward desert. Conflicts escalate between two neighbouring queendoms. Where Nysh embraces modern ideals of equality and independence, Yil honours the Fallen Goddess by enslaving their neighbours and maintaining traditional castes. In preparation for the imminent war, Nysh sends ashkaro youths with dangerous Talents to secret schools, training them as assassins and spies. Joh, a dull male with a Talent for suggestion, and Ahk, a bright female with a Talent for stealth, are torn from their families and thrown into the academy. The two naively believe that the biggest threat comes from the other students, not realizing the war has already begun. United in purpose, divided by caste, they can only save the island from the Mad Queen by working together.

My Hand and My Heart by Isabel Huntoon

WriteHive Book Club

Magic hasn't been used in Haven-the last human settlement in a flooded world-for hundreds of years. Except, that is, for the magical relic that powers the settlement. Nime and her younger sister, Navi, stumble upon a terrible secret one night: the relic is leaking deadly energy that could kill everyone in Haven in a matter of weeks. There's seemingly no way to fix it-not with all knowledge of magic lost at the bottom of the Endless Sea. But Nime is protective and reckless, and she refuses to give up. She throws herself into the search for a solution, setting her hopes on a dismantled machine that could lead to a place far away from danger. Navi, meanwhile, retreats into daydreams, where she is someone brave enough to save her home. Filled with priestesses and magic, vivid dreams blend confusingly with her waking life, until she wonders if there's something she, and only she, can do to protect the people she loves. But Nime and Navi have more than just time working against them, and both sisters may have to give more of themselves than they can afford if they want to save Haven.

The Bone King and the Starling by Elizabeth Stephens

Review by dc1 on 2025-12-16T16:50:17Z

The Death Bringer (The Tharassas Cycle Book 4) by J. Scott Coatsworth

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, that my favourite part of the series is the worldbuilding. Coatsworth seamlessly integrates science fiction and fantasy, and the blend results in a world that is incredibly alien and yet hauntingly familiar.

Read Full Review

Review by estora on 2025-12-16T09:37:11Z

The Hencha Queen (The Tharassas Cycle Book 3) by J. Scott Coatsworth

My favourite part of this series is unquestionably the worldbuilding. With each revelation – particularly through the little AI companion “Spin”, whose past comes into full focus – we learn more about the world and pieces of the puzzle begin to slide into place.

Read Full Review

Review by estora on 2025-12-16T09:31:38Z

The Gauntlet Runner (The Tharassas Cycle Book 2) by J. Scott Coatsworth

Where the first book was mostly set-up, The Gauntlet Runner is packed with adventure and moments of danger for our beloved heroes on their perilous journeys. The worldbuilding continues to be truly fascinating, and things have only just gotten started.

Read Full Review

Review by estora on 2025-12-16T09:26:48Z

The Dragon Eater (The Tharassas Cycle Book 1) by J. Scott Coatsworth

Coatsworth’s talent undeniably lies in worldbuilding. Alien artifacts! Monsters! World-altering revelations! This is an alien world rich in history. It reads initially like a fantasy novel, but the more we learn...you realise that this is actually a sci-fi novel.

Read Full Review

Review by estora on 2025-12-16T09:20:58Z

Under a Fractured Sky by Rachel Jones

The universe is tearing. The year is 2180. In the aftermath of global collapse, PANGAEA rebuilt Earth with the promise of order, while hiding a festering reality. Dr Lilliana Hayes lives for the stars and her daughter, but when she uncovers a devastating secret, everything changes. The Big Rip isn’t just a theory anymore. Blackmailed into helping complete the Gateway – a portal to another universe – Lily is horrified to learn the true cost of survival. As reality fractures and time distorts, she wonders if peace lies not in escape, but in letting go. Under a Fractured Sky is an apocalyptic sci-fi thriller told through interweaving perspectives, where the greatest threat isn’t the end of the universe, but what humanity will do to outrun it.

The Death Bringer (The Tharassas Cycle Book 4) by J. Scott Coatsworth

Aik will never be the same … and neither will his world. War is coming. Aik has become the Progenitor, and the Seed Mother has released him to transform the world for her alien brood. Silya and Raven, Aik’s former friends, are the only ones who can save him and the world. But what if the cure is worse than the invasion? As Silya rushes to prepare Gullton for the battle to come, she’s determined to save as many people as she can. But new crises emerge that demand her attention. Raven has his own hands full, keeping the dragon-like verent in line, while helping Silya to save the world. But what if the only way to do so is to sacrifice Aik, the man that he loves? It’s the end of the world … or could it be the start of something new?

The Hencha Queen (The Tharassas Cycle Book 3) by J. Scott Coatsworth

SILYA COMES INTO HER OWN, BUT WILL SHE BE ENOUGH? Silya finally has everything she always wanted. She’s the Hencha Queen, head of the Temple, and is working to master her newfound talents. So why does the world pick now to fall apart? Her once-nemesis Raven is off riding dragons, and their mutual friend (and her ex) Aik is nowhere to be found. Meanwhile, a new threat menaces the Heartland from the East, and if she can’t convince a reluctant Gullton city council to prepare for the worst, she may lose everyone and everything she’s ever cared about. As she uses her magic-like abilities, wit and sheer determination to try to save the city, she’s joined by Raven and his new friends. Will their help tip the scales? And will they finally find out what happened to Aik as a dark storm threatens to sweep them all away? Forget messy. Things just got apocalyptic.

The Gauntlet Runner (The Tharassas Cycle Book 2) by J. Scott Coatsworth

A guard and a thief. What could go wrong? Aik has fallen hopelessly in love with his best friend. But Raven’s a thief, which makes things … complicated. Oh, and Raven has just been kidnapped by a dragon. Now Aik is off on a quest of his own, to hunt down the foul beast and make them give back his … friend? Lover? Soulmate? The whole not-knowing thing just makes everything harder. Meanwhile, the world of Tharassas is falling apart, besieged by earthquakes, floods, and strange creatures no one has ever seen before. Aik’s ex, Silya has gone back to Gullton to do try to save her people as the Hencha Queen, and Aik’s stuck in a caravan with her mother and a damnable magical gauntlet that won’t let him be. He has to find Raven, before it’s too late. Things were messy before … but now they’re much, much worse.

Flawed by Margaux Paris

Some people say they’re drawn to the light. Not me. I’ve always found beauty in the broken pieces, the cracks that people hide behind polite smiles and hollow words. She wasn’t looking for anyone. And I wasn’t supposed to want someone like her. But the second I saw her, everything else faded. Her silence was louder than any scream. Her eyes? Full of storms. And me? I’ve always had a thing for beautiful disasters.

Call of Thunder by V. Ananya

The war is now right at their doorstep. A new monarch ready to be crowned. An old villain to face in battle. But the Call of Thunder brings back old inhabitants of the world. Whose side are they on? How will the outcome change the universe? With the lost shards of memory back in place, the royalty of Sahara know how to destroy Rumplestiltskin. The only problem is that the cloner wizard is back and no one knows who’s an ally and who’s a foe anymore. It is at such a crucial time that the dragons of the ancient lore decide to come back and claim their rightful place in Sahara: beside their riders. It is also now that Merlin and Celia reveal a shocking secret to Yor and Elmeida. The prophecy about the new born royal looms at the backdrop of all this chaos. When the war begins, all of Sahara unites to help defend their world and their people. When humans are pitted against dragons, every life will be at stake - every life in the danger of being destroyed ruthlessly - history repeating from several centuries ago. It is upto the returning dragons to help save humanity for the decades to come. Will our heroes have the strength needed to defend the world they love? Or will they fall and let the world be destroyed, and help pave the way for a new, evil world to come? Read Call of Thunder to find out!

Valley of Secrets by H. L. Moore

This city of fools will be brought to order! Deposed, her father presumed dead, her friends slaughtered and the cavern in chaos, Grace Harrington is on the run and entirely alone. The only ally she has left is the man she hates most in the world: Nathaniel Morgenstern, the assassin who murdered her mother and seduced her father. Grace’s only hope of reclaiming the throne and saving her people is to seek the aid of Éamon Tadhg, the High Druid of Arajon. But she needs to survive the hostile streets of Iole City before she can even think about fleeing to the Violet Valley. Nathaniel made a vow to Doran to protect Grace, but he could never have imagined how quickly and horrifically their lives would fall apart. Grieving the dual losses of the man he loved and his new friend Tsa Lien, Nathaniel devotes himself to the service of the overthrown Lady Archon who despises him – even if it costs him everything he is.

The Lost Fable by V. Ananya

Years after the Master of Darkness had been defeated a second time, a young girl is born to the heroes of the Great Journey, with a prophecy that would either make or break the people of Sahara. Old friends, Dark Princess Lorinda Yuri and ordinary soldier Linel Snayt, struggle to find a middle ground to their differences and work towards beginning a new, healthy relationship. Ureon Thalia, new germain of Jermis, is concerned about the missing piece in the history of the world that is key to defeating the greatest villain of his time. As Ureon, Lorinda, and Merlin lead a voyage to seek an underwater realm in the middle of the Sahara Ocean, Elmeida and Yor discover a great threat looming over their daughter that compels them to make the most difficult decision of their lives. Will our heroes manage to locate a whole island that isn’t even marked in any map? What will they discover there? Read The Lost Fable to find out!

Throne of Lies by H. L. Moore

There are vipers in Arajon, from the Valley to the Bronze. Grace Harrington, the Dowager Archon of Arajon, is approaching her first anniversary on the throne she claimed following the death of her husband, slain at her own hands. But her position is so precarious that even the unwelcome presence of the former assassin Nathaniel Morgenstern, watching over her at her father’s behest, cannot protect her from her enemies. The city’s press has turned against her, the Bronze is rallying behind Odessa White, and her last hope of support from the Druids has gone up in smoke. The lies are adding up. A coup is coming for Grace, and she is running out of people in the city to trust…

The Young Foreigner by V. Ananya

Yor Castel is an alchemist in Sahara fresh out from under the wings of his wizard master and sets off on a journey around the world to seek the fortune calling out to him. With him is a gift from his a belt that contains the most important potions and a flute that can calm even the most disturbed creature. Elmeida Yuri is the eldest daughter of the Dark Queen of Sahara and has just escaped the most gruesome incident of her life. She seeks shelter and comfort with the only person she her maternal aunt, Alia Hudson, who resides in a neighbouring country. On the other end of the world, the Master of Darkness is rising, after having been asleep for centuries, and that begins a chain of processes unimaginable by mages of the present day. The Light and Dark wizards of yore awaken just in time to stop him, but now, it seems as if the enemy has grown even more powerful than the last time he had been engaged in battle. So, Yor and Elmeida team up and decide to help keep him at bay.

Soul of Ash by H. L. Moore

You can run, but you will never be free. Half a year after the events of Heart of Dust, Doran Ó Seanáin now finds himself trapped between two worlds while belonging to neither: held in contempt by the Bronze for the turmoil he caused during Archon Bryson’s reign, and resented by the miners for selling out. Leonora Darkwater’s pursuit to own the mines may be the answer to all of his problems, but the offer is far more complicated than it appears, and the only person Doran trusts is the same man who threw his life into chaos. Haunted by his past, hostage to a debt that cannot be repaid, and a slave to the poison that keeps him alive, atonement has never felt further out of reach for Nathaniel Morgenstern. Though the damage between him and Doran is too devastating to begin to mend, they have no choice but to face each other as their lives collide once more. There is a rot in Iole City. The mines aren’t finished with Doran, and the sand in Nathaniel’s hourglass is running out.

Heart of Dust by H. L. Moore

Doran had a problem, and it wasn't that he'd been stabbed. Iole City is in turmoil. Doran Ó Seanáin, leader of the Black Lung Gang, is determined to challenge the Archon, Arajon’s tyrannical ruler, for his brutal treatment of the miners. But Doran has more to deal with than getting stabbed and a city-wide lockdown that’s seeing his gang of ex-miners slowly starved out of their base. His daughter Grace has turned against him, and the death of his wife haunts them both. Although he finds reprieve in Nathaniel Morgenstern, the apotheker with a mysterious past to whom he owes his life, the clock is ticking. The fate of the mines hangs in the balance and the Archon is closing in. Doran’s plan to break the cycle may very well be his last.

Beneath the Brine by Amber Reinke

A cautionary tale written by a former pirate as he copes with the quiet, lonely horror of being lost at sea.

Got Your Nose by Amber Reinke

A one night stand on Halloween night finds a man with a clown nose that won’t come off, giggles in his veins and a sinking suspicion it’ll only get weirder.

The Chimera Snare: Fragments by S&E Black

For Rayshell and her best friend Trish, senior year of high school is going to hell in a handbasket. The feud between Celestine and Daeva is bleeding into their world. When a mysterious visitor infiltrates her dreams, Rayshell is thrust into a realm of profound, otherworldly secrets. Together, Rayshell and Trish uncover the unbelievable – they are the living vessels for two banished Celestine guardians. Amidst mystical recollections and a wondrous magic system that shatters the veneer of their everyday lives, the two friends embark on a journey against time to connect with the Celestine guardians' allies in hopes of freeing them from their imprisonment. Simultaneously, the shadows cast by Daeva darken. The notorious outlaw, Merisek, has positioned himself to claim dominion over the Order of Existence—a trio of powerful artifacts capable of reshaping reality. Armed with two of these relics, Merisek races against the emergence of the Celestine guardians to claim the third. The stage is set for a showdown that will determine the fate of existence itself. Rayshell and Trish are all that stand between Merisek and his unhinged desire to twist the fabric of reality into his making. As the threads of destiny unravel, the question looms: who will be the author of existence, and what profound truths will be unveiled in the final, decisive act?

Just Joe by Phillip Murrell

The Astro Alliance is the pinnacle of civilization within the Milky Way. Poverty, hunger, illness, and waste are all banished to the past in part thanks to the intrepid volunteers of the military. The most cherished of protectors is Captain Loryan Kirpicsiskway of the majestic class starship the Crowntrotter. His crew routinely defeats pirate armadas, analyzes space anomalies, welcomes new civilizations into the AA, and travels through time. It’s all in a day’s work for a ship full of elite professionals. People never describe Joe Odoemene as elite. So, when Captain Kirpicsiskway handpicks Joe to helm the Crowntrotter the day he’s commissioned at the Academy, Joe feels trepidation more than gratitude. For good reason. No sooner than Joe assumes his undeserved position, he confirms he’s woefully unprepared. While his new crewmates end a war, relocate space orphans, and play cat and mouse with the infamous Sean Connor, Joe only bemoans constantly working double shifts and failing at simple tasks. When surrounded by living legends, what’s an average Joe supposed to do?

Iconoclast: or, the Death and Resurrection of Lazarus Keaton by Dave Walsh

The wealthy took to the stars, leaving the suckers back on Earth paying rent on digital afterlife packages. Lazarus Keaton was his family's great disappointment. Instead of marrying a nice girl and taking over the family business, he's a sexually confused claims adjuster for a company that uploads your consciousness into a digital afterlife. Sent across the globe to oversee the site of a deadly train crash, he's stopped dead in his tracks by the unlikely afterlife package a hairdresser had: sainthood. His questions go unanswered when the Vatican dispatches a menacing Inquisitor to take over. In exchange for his silence about the odd case, his bosses offer him a raise, but he's in too deep to stop. Alongside Silvia, a local detective, they're thrust into the throngs of a wild conspiracy centered on the world's richest man, with all roads leading them off-world to his luxurious space station. After Laz's company declares him dead, there's no turning back. He either uncovers the truth, or meets with a grisly end at the hands of the Inquisitor.

In Sekhmet's Wake by J.D. Rhodes

A pacifist haunted by visions of the apocalypse must choose between love, justice, and the fate of humanity in this super-heroic combination of WATCHMEN and NEON GENESIS EVANGELION. The year is 2061 and the world is ending. In the city of Geneva, Sabra Kasembe, one-time savior of the world, prepares for her prophesied apocalypse, unsure whether her dreams paint her as a humane champion of the oppressed or a blood-soaked harbinger of the end. When an explosion rips through the city center, Sabra’s pursuit of the truth brings her face to face with none other than her former nemesis: Jack Harper. But Jack comes with a warning--that is, if Sabra can trust him. There’s a darkness in the heart of Geneva, a web of corporate interests, vicious paramilitaries, and superheroes both living and dead, and Jack doesn’t know who he can trust. But he knows the bomber was no lone wolf, and deadlier agents are waiting for their signal. As Sabra chases her premonitions through Geneva and beyond, attempting to find the link between her present and her fate, she suspects that the conspiracy is aimed at the heart of her lover, the super-powered robot Revenant, and that letting it come to pass may be Sabra’s final chance at averting her greater cataclysm. To defy her own prophecies, Sabra must hone her soul against the line between slaughter and justice, where flinching risks bloodshed in the streets of Geneva, the betrayal of her ideals, and the death of her lover. Because she must save Revenant’s life, no matter the cost, or Sabra fears she’ll light her a funeral pyre that will consume not just Geneva, but the rest of the Functioning World... IN SEKHMET'S WAKE is a psychological "post-superhero" sci-fi thriller, and the second in a trilogy (the first novel, IN SEKHMET'S SHADOW, is also available on Amazon.) It is intended for mature audiences and features violence, swearing, and ideas that may be considered traumatic or provocative. But remember this: everyone finds love in the end. Fans of The Locked Tomb (Gideon the Ninth), The Expanse (Leviathan Wakes), Exordia, and Disco Elysium will find something to enjoy in this introspective action series. This is a story for those who want to answer the big questions: can superheroes reconcile the contradictions within capital and themselves, does power corrupt, and is it gay if you're a woman and she's a goth-rock robot? Is it easier to end the world than end capitalism?

Hypocrisy by A.J. Thibault

When the truth is hidden beneath the ice, some secrets refuse to die. In the world’s most remote outpost—Antarctica—a covert excavation unearths something ancient, intelligent, and alive. CIA asset Charisma, her teenage protégée Leticia, and enigmatic xenoanthropologist Alen Innocent are drawn into a web of deception that spans governments, galaxies, and the very fabric of human consciousness. As shadow factions fight for control of the mysterious Veil of Hypocrisy, the boundaries between truth and illusion collapse. From Milan’s glittering runways to military tunnels buried under polar ice, Hypocrisy blends science fiction, espionage, and moral satire in a gripping tale of identity, power, and survival. As alien technology exposes the lies that bind humanity, Charisma and Alen must decide whether saving the world means revealing its greatest hypocrisy—or becoming part of it. Science-fiction fans will be drawn to this mind-bending, character-driven thriller where the ultimate battle is not between species, but between truth and self-deception.

Grave of the Waiting: A Sci-Fi Horror Novel by Joshua Scott Edwards

FROM DARKNESS THEY CALLED. FROM RUIN WE ANSWERED. Humanity's extinction is just around the corner, Ada Bryce is sure of it. But when the virtual world is indistinguishable from reality and anything is possible in the Chain, why not choose to remain shackled? It's easy to put Earth's slow decay out of mind when hedonic simulations are available with no more than a thought. As contemptible as her situation is, Ada is powerless to correct human folly. All she can do is make sure her own family's energy needs are taken care of until death inevitably claims everyone she loves. Only, she's failing as a mathematician, she's already failed as a mother, and she's given up trying to escape the tragic memories that haunt her. So when she's offered the chance to leave Earth while ensuring her family has the resources they need to survive, Ada seizes it and embarks on a dangerous mission. She travels to a rogue planet with four other volunteers: an Energy War veteran, a zealous psychonaut, a pragmatic scientist, and the world-renowned founder of the Unity, the organization sponsoring the mission. However, the Unity's founder is far from trustworthy, the rest of Ada's crew are unaware of the true purpose of their mission, and on this journey, they will learn that Earth is far from the worst place in the solar system. As firmly as Ada believes her home planet is beyond saving, it may be worth fighting for after all, for when she and her fellow crewmates step foot on a new planet, their presence awakens old life. Life that calls out and seeks to reconfigure the Earth for itself. --- For fans of Alien and The Three-Body Problem comes this bone-chilling new science fiction that examines whether humanity is worth saving when all of its sins are rendered with horrifying clarity.

Golem Master: A LitRPG Arena Adventure by T.J. Lombardi

Unleash the Power. Enter the Arena. Claim the Title of Golem Master. In a world rebuilt after the Rift Wars, where steel titans and elemental magic collide in high-octane arena combat, one teenager dares to dream beyond the ruins. Pepper Walker isn’t a hero. He’s just a high schooler working dead-end shifts at Rocket Burger, dodging bullies, and obsessing over Golem League matches. But when fate catapults him from fan to fighter, he'll need more than heart to survive—he'll need strategy, skill, and a golem of his own. Welcome to The Golem League, where mechanical beasts powered by arcane runes clash in electrifying battles. Where legends are forged through grit and determination. Packed with heart, humor, and pulse-pounding action, Golem Master is a LitRPG Arena thrill ride for fans of Pokemon, Pacific Rim, Reel Steel, and the underdogs who never stop fighting. Gear up. The match has already begun.

A Perfect Fantasy by Mark Aeschlimann

The second their eyes locked in passing, Will felt something he hadn’t felt in so long, he’d almost forgotten what it was. He wasn’t sure he’d ever feel it again—especially not after her. But the truth of it buzzed through him from head to toe…Attraction. Will is a code monkey by day, and he likes his job well enough—it pays the bills. But with forty creeping closer and the fallout of his divorce still in his rearview, writing is his only escape. His fantasy worlds are the one place where he can lose himself completely, a refuge from the depression and anxiety he’s wrestled with for years. This isn’t the life he thought he’d be living, and most days, it feels like a pale shadow of the one he wanted. Davey—his friend and colleague—has a way of pulling Will out of his head, coaxing him out for drinks or just to unwind after work. But Will would rather stay safe in his shell. Being social still feels like too much, too loud, too risky. Jess has stopped believing in love altogether. Heartbreak and betrayal have been her only constants, so she’s done setting herself up to be let down again. She’s happy enough in the pages of her favourite books—fantastical worlds where the stakes feel real but the heartbreak is only fiction. Her family doesn’t understand, but she’s tired of explaining that she doesn’t need a man to feel whole. A Perfect Fantasy is a no-spice, contemporary slow-burn romance that explores the weight of old wounds and the quiet courage it takes to step outside of comfort zones. When an unexpected encounter sparks a chance at something real, Will and Jess have to decide if risking their hearts is worth the fall.

Out with Lanterns by Hillary Bowen

England, 1918. When Ophelia Blackwood joins the Women’s Land Army, she’s not only escaping her father’s imprudent matchmaking attempts, but also staking a claim for the freedom she has always sought. The work is hard, but she finally feels part of something larger than herself. The unexpected return of Silas Larke, as intriguing and attractive as ever, casts her desire for him against her hard-won independence. Injured at the Front, Silas returns to England to recover, but while his leg is on the mend, his disillusionment only grows. And the last thing he expects when assigned by the War Office to lend a hand on a local farm is to come face to face with the woman even the horrors of war couldn’t erase from his mind. Ophelia and Silas fight the rising tide of their attraction, against the threat of wartime food shortages and the repossession of the farm. But can a woman who seeks independence and a man shaped by tradition find their way to each other? As their days in the fields blend into one long hot summer, Ophelia begins to wonder if, together, they might be a force to be reckoned with.

A Dawn Left Behind by Mark Aeschlimann

"The outline of white smoky light spun around him and a blinding white flash embraced him… Matthew opened his eyes as white sparks fell and faded away into nothing around him…He now knew for sure what it was… Matthew had walked into a doorway to another world." Matthew Parlour, 18 and living his most carefree life, loves nothing more than listening to his grandfather’s stories and cruising through each day. He sees nothing but good times ahead. When tragedy strikes, Matthew is lost. His world has fallen apart and he is left with more questions than answers. With his obsession for answers guiding him, Matthew is propelled into a world where everything he knew is meaningless and being human draws unwanted attention. Where magic and power go hand in hand. Where he serves an even more important purpose than he could possibly imagine.

A Home in You by Courtney W. Dixon

I love you. You're my home. Forever. Dillon At first, when Cade and his dad came to the farm to live, I didn’t want a brother or a new father. Mom and I were doing just fine on our own, but when Cade walked into my house for the first time, I was instantly drawn to him. How was that possible? I never had a crush on anyone before, let alone a boy. Cade I have a secret. Two really. I’m gay and I have a huge crush on Dillon. It’s all wrong but I want him more than breathing. Dillon is quiet and stoic, but sweet and caring. We do everything together and are as close as two brothers could be. How long can I fight my need for him? How did we feel so right, yet also so wrong? We kept our love a secret for three years until we were finally discovered and torn apart. It took over a year to find each other again in college. But reuniting wasn’t so simple.

Irreconcilable Attractions by Kennedy Kidman

Colton I thought owning my own place would mean I could dictate who could stay in my guest bedroom–especially who could be living in it. But it seems my father has other plans, and now, at twenty-seven, I have a roommate for the first time, and it’s not by choice. Thankfully, Derek is a really cool guy, but the longer we spend together, the harder it is for me to keep a strict friendship between us. He says he’s straight, but the way he looks at me feels anything but platonic. It’s taking everything in me not to jump his bones. But what would that do to our living situation and the friendship we’ve built? Things aren’t supposed to be this complicated, but I’m starting to wish the summer would never end. Derek Life in a small town like Westwend, Texas is exactly what I need right now—uncomplicated, mellow, and easy. As a family law attorney, stress is something I’m more than accustomed to, but when I’m on the edge of burnout and contemplating quitting law altogether, my old boss swoops in to save the day. Now I’m moving to a blip of a town with the hopes it will help offer me a slower pace. Except when I fail to find somewhere to live due to the tourist season being in full swing, I find myself shacked up with my boss’s son. You’d think it would be weird or awkward, but Colton and I quickly became friends. It’s easy being around him, and I find myself feeling more comfortable with him than most people in my life. That is, until one basketball game between us changes everything for me. I’d always thought I was straight, but now? Now I’m realizing that Colton might be more to me than just my reluctant roommate. Irreconcilable Attractions is a small-town romance set in the Texas Hill Country and features two men who are just trying to figure out how to make the most of their situation. You can expect forced proximity, nosy neighbors, a bisexual awakening, and good ole Southern charm with a HEA while these two figure out that love can show up in the most unexpected ways. This is the first book in the Westwend Boys series.

Broken by Margaux Paris

When he found me I was broken, a shell of my former self. Going through the motions of life without really living it. Trauma lingered in my life like a shadow, creeping into my memories and invading my dreams, until he came along. Jax Beckett barged into my world with his irresistible charm, endless patience, and those dangerously good looks that could make any woman weak in the knees. He has me feeling emotions I thought were long gone. He shines a light into my otherwise dark existence, slowly helping me to rebuild myself with every intimate touch. Could this be my chance at love? It all seems a little too good to be true.

The Tongue is Sharp by Kassandra Morgan

An anthology of feminine rage for women by women.

Death Rattle by Carter Pugh

Accused of murder. Hunted by magic. A city of secrets waiting to unravel. In Death Rattle, murder mystery collides with urban fantasy in a twisty coming-of-age tale where nothing is what it seems. Clarke Carpenter, a 30-year-old nanny and student, craves more than her ordinary life—something magical, something meaningful. But when her roommate is found dead and all signs point to Clarke, her plans for a fresh start crumble fast. As she races to clear her name, Clarke stumbles into a hidden world pulsing just beneath the city streets—a world of fae, shadows, and forgotten power. The truth? It might just be darker than the crime she didn’t commit. Start the Death Book Series today and follow Clarke’s journey through murder, magic, and the messiness of becoming who you were meant to be.

Closure May Never Come by PD Doling

When a romantic holiday ends in tragedy, Rob Wyatt is determined to help his wife, Vikki, recover from her accident. As he fights to restore her to her former self, an ancient evil begins to manipulate their lives. Rob’s growing suspicion leads him to a chilling realisation: that the soul he’s trying to save may no longer be human… --- Perfect for fans of Stephen King's Bag of Bones, Mike Gayle meets H.P. Lovecraft in this genre-spanning, gothic-tinged tale of love, commitment, and paranormal suspense.

The Blood of Queens by Alex C. Pierce

What happens when you take a thief and a con-man, that everyone thinks is a monster that should be locked away, and make him captain of the Queen's personal bodyguard? Gossip, treachery, and paperwork... So much paperwork. Ren's appointment as Warden, the Queen's personal bodyguard and head of her security has created something of a stir in the walled realm of Lenmar. Opposition to his mere presence within the Crystal Palace is high, and old schemes and rivalries are kindled anew as the tension builds between the nobility and the factions pushing for change. Ren just wants to keep the Queen safe, solve the mystery of his mentor's disappearance, and figure out why, Haim, who'd saved his life and been his accomplice on more than one occassion, was avoiding him. An attack on the eve of the Moon Festival, when the Council of Nobles is set to convene, provides the spark to ignite a chain of events that threatens the very foundations that have kept the people of Lenmar safe, and puts everyone Ren cares about in danger.

Sir... by LJ Langdale

Lydia Johnstone has spent her entire adult life orchestrating every interaction, manipulating every relationship, maintaining absolute dominance in every room she enters. The brilliant masters student in behavioral science knows exactly how to exploit weaknesses, and ensure she's always three steps ahead. It's how she's survived. It's how she's thrived. Then she meets Professor James Matthews. British. Brilliant. Utterly unbreakable. From their first confrontation in his behavioral science seminar, Lydia recognizes something she's never encountered before: a mind that matches hers, a will that cannot be bent, and eyes that see straight through every calculated defense she's constructed. Their collaboration on groundbreaking trauma research should be purely academic. Professional. Bounded by the rigid parameters that define every aspect of Matthews' controlled existence. But as late nights in his office blur into intellectual intimacy, as his methodical approach to understanding human behavior begins to transform how Lydia understands herself, the boundaries between professor and student, researcher and subject, begin to fracture. But this isn't a simple story of a student falling for her professor, nor a professor taking advantage of his student. SIR... is a dark academia romance that explores the psychology of power, the neuroscience of desire, and the profound intimacy that can exist when two people risk everything to be truly seen. It's about trauma and healing, control and surrender, the spaces between strength and vulnerability where genuine connection becomes possible. For readers who crave: Intelligent, psychologically complex characters Authentic D/s dynamics with emotional depth Dark academia settings with genuine intellectual discourse Slow-burn intensity that builds to devastating emotional intimacy Romance that challenges conventional power dynamics Stories where vulnerability is the ultimate act of courage

Child of Tulathne by Lila Samson

Aleksander Wythane has no qualms with his identity as the reincarnated Sword of Ages. It brought him a life of comfort as a member of the royal family, and comprehensive training to make him the best swordsman on the continent. The looming knowledge of his duties remain far off on the horizon, the kingdom of Zekhar is at peace with its neighbors and itself, and a lavish Summer Solstice festival is approaching. But when creatures cobbled from corpses and dark magic tear their way into the celebration and upend one of the most joyous nights of the year, the entire kingdom is faced with their greatest fear since Aleksander's birth-the reason he was born in the first place. After ten years of preparation, Aleksander is thrust into his calling earlier than expected, but not alone. Accompanied by seeress and princess, Carissa, and a mercenary older than the country itself, their quest is clear: gather allies, information, and find the monster Aleksander is destined to kill; whoever they may be in this life. Along the way, Aleksander faces trials, losses, and realizations that cause him to doubt not only his ability, but his identity. Was it possible the goddess made the wrong choice? Or was he never the Sword to begin with?

A Storm for Christmas by S. R. Garcia

"Dearest Doctor Thomas..." Despite society’s demands, Doctor Bertram Thomas has no intention of finding a mate after retiring from the Navy. Unfortunately, life in the coastal town of Thurlestone is peaceful to the point of boredom. A desperate attempt to alleviate the growing loneliness has him writing to an old friend. "Dearest Noah..." Noah Gale never expected to receive a letter from his late father’s old friend. He certainly isn’t expecting further letters to arrive after he informs the man of his father’s passing. While his aunt has designs on finding him an alpha, Noah finds his thoughts filled with the letters from kind Doctor Thomas. Until scandal leaves him fumbling for solid ground. When Noah arrived at Thomas’s door with only an injured dog in hand, the pair find themselves snowed in as the tension built through their letters becomes impossible to ignore. A storm is coming… and it brought more than a new puppy. This is a loosely Regency-inspired MM omegaverse romance that contains age gap.

Portals of the Lost by Aleyna Hines

Eva has spent her life as an outsider. Now, she is trapped in a world that sees her as something much worse—a monster. When Eva is dragged into the world of a book, she is met not with the fantasy she always dreamed of, but with chains. Imprisoned on accusations of unleashing terrifying creatures upon the people of Abhaile, she is forced to strike a deal to untangle the truth behind the portals letting them in. As she journeys through its mystical lands, the injustices of this world come to light. A tyrannical King who is hellbent on enslaving those beneath him mirrors the cruelty she experienced within the foster system and the line between enemy and ally blurs. Eva’s search becomes about so much more than her innocence as the secrets of ancient magic unravel before her, pushing her toward a fate she isn’t ready for. Will her feelings of unworthiness be enough for her to walk away, or will her rage demand she fight back?

The Violin by Odella Howe

In 1871, Elise Knight made a deal with the devil: craft a powerful violin in exchange for her fiancé’s resurrection. When Elise’s fiancé dies, she would do anything to get him back—even if that means striking a sinister bargain with Cassius McCalmont, an exotic collector whose oddity exhibit is downright astonishing. After seeing Cassius’s otherworldly flute work its magic, Elise begs her father for an apprenticeship, eager to make the seemingly simple sacrifice required to bring her beloved back from the dead: give Cassius a violin of her own making. But before she can finish, Elise’s father falls deathly ill. Even Cassius’s elixirs can’t restore his health for long, and her father’s dying wish may very well be Elise’s undoing. Now she faces a grim choice: obey her father and let him pass in peace, or trust the man who promises her power over the grave. The Violin is a spine-chilling gothic horror revolving around the macabre magic of music. With paranormal powers, atmospheric horror, and chilling twists, it will leave you up well into the witching hour. Lose yourself in the supernatural suspense and eerie ambiance of this dark Victorian world!

Spirits of the Relentless by Morgan Biscup

To lead others, he must first embrace who he was – and what he must become. After the Turncoat Armada’s surrender, Void necromancer Shane Lawrence is left with a command he never sought and a fleet without a sanctuary. At risk of retribution from both the planet they tried to conquer and their vengeful former allies, the fleet’s only hope lies with Shane’s ability to find them a new home. He sets his sights on the uninhabited planet TR-75, but there's a catch: Planet TR-75 is claimed by the planet herself. ‘Janikk,’ the lone surviving soul of an ancient civilization, whispers her name on the winds and commands the wildlife to repel intruders. To secure a future for his fleet, Shane must do more than communicate with the long-dead; he must win the favor of Janikk’s guardian, face the ghosts of his past, and earn the approval of a planet that is anything but empty.

Arboriah Lux by Kathleen I. Lyons

In a world where social discourse and injustices destroy the world around it, only an Aster-Blood can correct it. In a field of dead flowers and tall grass, Lux awakens to a sky of cool gray and a white sun. As she journeys to the city of Obsiditourma, she's met with danger as well as friendship in those who save her life. As she's plagued by visions of another Aster-Blood -- the twin sister of a dhampir named Esilas, the one who saved her life -- she's called to solve the mysteries surrounding her: her sudden appearance, the death of Esilas' sister, and the imbalance that has caused poverty and discourse in the city of Obsiditourma. Lux must learn vital lessons in order to survive. Keep your nature hidden. Protect those who need it. And trust very few.

In Spite of the Inevitable by Morgan Biscup

The past isn't the only thing that won't stay dead. Hiding from his violent history as a revered Void necromancer within the Sparnell Confederation, single father Shane Lawrence has finally built a quiet life. On the freehold planet of Baden he can pour his energy into the only thing that now matters: the safety and upbringing of his precocious son, Jake. All too soon, the Confederation targets Baden for annexation, confronting Shane once more with his treasonous past. Worse, the invading force is led by none other than Shane's manipulative former mentor, Admiral Kydell. Shane's every instinct screams to run, to hide Jake even further from Sparnell – but Baden is home. This time he could choose to make a stand and defend the entire planet, not just his son. But that means turning to the very skills he swore he'd leave behind… In Spite of the Inevitable is the first installment in the five-book Mordena Dawn space opera fantasy series, detailing the founding of the costly Mordena mercenaries and their rise from piratical deserters to ferocious and effective defenders of the independent Freehold planets. When powerful galactic empires seek to devour innocents whole, there's no hired force better prepared to stand against them.

Don’t go to work the world is ending by Paul Dalton

In 1666, a dragon attacked London, only to vanish, leaving a baker to take the blame. Now, Jack—a routine-loving physics teacher—is thrust into adventure after unwittingly pocketing a dragon scale at dinner. Soon, he's chased across London by criminals and dives into a hidden world of restless ghosts, judgmental gods, and creatures craving corporate jargon. Rescued by Muriel, a witch with a lot on her plate, Jack is introduced to her shed-dwelling bosses, The Laurels, who task them with finding the dragon and stopping someone doing something serious with it. Joined by Muriel’s artist girlfriend, Nisha, they must stop a ruthless gangster’s plot to seize the dragon’s power for herself...if the dragon doesn’t wake up first, that is.

The Call of Wind by K.R. House

The power to control the elements, at the cost of your humanity. Long ago, the gods blessed mankind with the power to call the elements, but at a terrible price. Without the protection of a ward rune, the power wilds its users, twisting them into monsters resembling the element they control. Wilding and runes have never been of great concern to 16-year-old Elias. His talented half-brother Marc was given a rune by Gaya’s Holy Grove not long after being blessed with lifecalling, so Elias has never worried much about the wilding that happens to unmarked callers. But when Elias is blessed with windcalling, like his foreign father, it feels a lot more like a curse, since there are no runes for windcallers in his homeland of Eshira. Knowing that unmarked who aren’t lifecallers tend to disappear, Marc risks everything to help Elias escape, betraying both his country and his goddess. As Elias searches for a rune to halt the wilding and Marc is thrown into a brutal war, both brothers will learn shocking truths about themselves and the world around them.

A Study on Magic and Crystals by May Barros

Talita is the heir of Lilyduan, the human kingdom. When her father invites her to join a dinner with fairy dignitaries, she sees herself having to deal with the responsibilities of her status. Sent on a mission to solve the magienergetic crisis of the kingdom, she must travel to Alyra, the fairy realm, and count on her friend Marcela, a shameless necromancer and the fairy Solis to learn all she needs to know about the Crystal Power Plant to fullfill her part of the deal with the fairies.

the promise before time by n morgan

Before the first dawn, a vow was spoken. Before the stars burned, a promise was broken. Now, as shadows fracture the heavens, two souls are drawn into a war older than memory. One carries the weight of a lineage erased from history. The other hides a truth that could unravel the fabric of existence itself. Bound by love, hunted by destiny, they must decide: Will they honor the promise before time… or surrender to the silence after it? For readers who crave cosmic fantasy, gothic romance, and thriller‑paced tension, The Promise Before Time is a haunting journey through fractured skies, forbidden vows, and the eternal cost of devotion.

Unknown Number by Victoria Hyder

On a dull Wednesday evening, Lucas receives a text from an unknown number. He ignores it, only to have more messages spam his phone. With nothing better to do, he finds himself diving into a rapid-fire back and forth text chain with a young man he has no business speaking to. To his surprise, the stranger messages him again. He doesn't know why he replies. Something about this guy is coaxing his barriers down with his witty banter, sarcastic remarks and damned emoticons! Lucas, however, is not a people person. Never was, never will be. He has a small circle of friends, no contact with his family and has been single for a very long time. He suffers deeply with dark, personal traumas that manifests in behaviour that usually pushes everyone away. So, why is this kid sticking around? Lucas wishes he would be braver with what he can feel growing between them. Is it just one sided? Should he take a risk on a literal stranger? And what will happen when the kid finds out his age?

Gamer: A futuristic techno-thriller by Belinda Crawford

Login to a gritty techno thriller from the acclaimed author of The Echo. Vlad - gamer, hacker, scourge... Angel of Death. Vlad's parents died in a car accident; she can still feel the flames licking her skin, smell the burning batteries and fire-retardant. Except it wasn't an accident, someone made it happen. She's has spent the last nine years tracking those responsible; planning, plotting. She's almost done. When the last move is over, her opponent will wish they never played with the Angel of Death. Get ready to jack in and play along as Crawford masterfully weaves a complex, action-packed tale of virtual reality and revenge.

Gambling on Common Sense: Rationality, Romance, and The Space Between by L. Briar

Just one last bet... Common Sense Officer Ash Payne can't say no to a bet, and the handsome Captain Lin Solis knows it. She just wanted to live up to her father’s legacy on board the Helios, but between her reckless crews’ pet alien, rogue AI, and an accursed pirate hat—she has her hands full. After a bad beat at poker night to Solis, Ash is forced to hand over access to her CSO storage and all the dangers hidden within—dangers that threaten the one person Ash cares more about than legacy. Clone shenanigans, world-hopping, and a "it's complicated" romance are on the table. Will she be able to gamble her way out of this? Or will this uncommon universe stack the odds against her? The Reviews “Gambling on Common Sense is hilariously delightful! A lighthearted romp through the cosmos that will leave you wanting more.” - David Hankins, Award-Winning Author of Death and the Taxman "In "Gambling on Common Sense," readers are taken on a thrilling journey through the cosmos, led by the charismatic and resourceful Common Sense Officer, Ash Payne. This fast-paced adventure masterfully blends humor, action, and poignant moments. Additionally, the cast of characters is uniquely entertaining and the world building across the universe is well-executed..." - Sam Ledel Author of eight novels with Bold Strokes Books "Gambling on Common Sense is that rare Star Trek satire that also manages to be a very good Star Trek like universe…" - Nikhil Prabala Author of the Dutchess of Kokora "A punny book, that will hit all your nerd hot spots! If you like Orville give this a try!" - Romance Read Along The Feel Gambling on Common Sense is a science fiction comedy with sprinklings of romance and fantastical elements. It is a character driven story with plenty of hijinks along the way. The prose is a bit like if Douglas Adam's Hitchhiker's guide, Martha Well's Murderbot Diaries, and Arnold Drake's Guardians of the Galaxy gambled together. That is to say ... it's a fun romp through space, time, and pocket dimensions.

ERASED: A Dystopian Sci-Fi Thriller by Sebastian Kilex

"A master at exploring memory, identity, and the boundaries of humanity in a dystopian landscape... cinematic writing, vivid imagery, and relentless drama." The fall should have killed Lucy. Instead, it broke her Skelyx—the implant that controls every human emotion and memory. Now she feels what she was never meant to feel. Remembers what was meant to stay buried. When her friend is abandoned in Cyclopia's wasteland for being "too human," Lucy uncovers a terrifying truth: being broken might be the only way to survive. But uncovering the truth about their world means infiltrating The Oracle, wearing the enemy's face—and making an impossible choice. That choice will determine the fate of two worlds. Is The Oracle already ruling our world?

Explorer: Part I of the Anthanian Imperative Trilogy by Roger Floyd

EXPLORER -- Part I of the Anthanian Imperative Trilogy. The planet Anthanos is dying. Its orange-red sun is in the early stages of becoming a red giant. As the surface of the sun edges closer and closer, the planet grows hotter and hotter, and the wind is increasing. Eventually the sun will go nova and incinerate the planet and all other planets and moons in the solar system. The only option for the Anthanian population is to colonize another planet well outside their system. Their scientists have discovered another planet about thirty-five light years away - a lovely blue planet with white wispy clouds swirling over its surface. It seems to have all the necessary factors to sustain life, including a suitable temperature, plenty of water, an oxygen-rich atmosphere, and large areas of solid land to live on. So they send their best team to explore, but what those explorers find is much more -- so much more -- than the lovely blue planet they were expecting.

Fractured Children of Earth by Michael V. Colianna

When a Deaf smuggler and her partner stumble upon a universe-wide conspiracy, getting humanity to understand the threat should be easier than achieving their dreams of having a child. Mary and her co-captain Davi are ready to retire and start a family. While smuggling’s been a profitable business, it’s also been filled with risk and uncertainty. They’re having trouble conceiving, though, so they have to keep going a little longer: The fertility procedures they need don’t come cheap. When a simple job inexplicably goes wrong, Mary gets shot and it throws their plans askew. But it’s not because they won’t get paid or even because the injury means more expensive treatments. It’s because Mary’s attackers are part of a fascist shadow government that’s dangerously close to bringing humanity under its thumb… and Davi recognizes them from the abusive childhood he fled. Mary and Davi want to warn humanity about what they’ve found, but their evidence is flimsy, they’re out of money, and other smugglers are hesitant to risk arrest for such an outlandish story. If they can’t convince anybody to help expose the plot and fight back, there might not be a free universe for anyone to live in—let alone for them to start the family they desperately desire. For fans of the Wayfarers series by Becky Chambers, the Expanse series by James S. A. Corey, and the Andor television show.

First Last Chance by B.E. Lunetois

"What you wanted, lad, was palace intrigues with poison and daggers, maybe you get to wave around your fancy little sword in a rooftop duel at the end of a long chase, hey? Turnabouts, betrayals, all that fun stuff? But here on the Ten-Thousand Seas it's mostly war. Mud, guns, and bombs by land; salt, guns, and torpedoes by sea." The Stone Unfurled is a long, flat world surrounded by walls of golden ice, covered by the Ten-Thousand Seas, which are speckled with many islands whose inhabitants must make their way in a beautiful but harsh world. For the spoiled young governor who controls one of the tiniest islands this world has to offer, the extent of that harshness is about to be fully revealed. Thrown into a chaotic war between diverse factions, he must learn to make his way in the company of two women who are almost as frightening and dangerous as his enemies. Follow Arlo Haradin-Harkon on the first step of his slow transformation from a vain, bratty dandy to a swashbuckling hero in... First Last Chance There's adventure, romance, humor, cool boats, a bit of sword play, strong women, violence, fatalism, and lots (and lots) of salt water.