The Blood of Outcasts by D. A. Smith

SPFBO8

A clan destroyed. A pact with a beast. A warrior will spill her own cursed blood for vengeance ... 'A serious asian-inspired grimdark fest' - Bookbeard, Fanfiaddict Masako escaped the Lord Council with only her life intact, her clan shattered, and master dead in wake of disaster she wrought. It is her cursed blood that opens a gate it shouldn't, a demi-god answers. By the power in her blood, and a promise made with it, she’s given a second chance. With it, she must unite the outer clans, move past old rivalries and worse, or face annihilation at the hands of a foreign sect of sorcerers, the Taosii Soshists, and their silent invasion. Only, Masako was executed, she’s meant to be dead. Demonic rumours and a destructive past sow doubt in her campaign before it is begun. Buy a copy to find out whether Masako can win back the trust of a nation.

KJK Presents: Collected Christmas Horror Shorts III by Shaun Hutson, Gage Greenwood, R.J. Roles, Lex H Jones, Daemon Manx, P.J. Blakey-Novis, John Durgin, Matthew Cash, Veronica Smith, David Watkins

Kennedy has brought a wealth of quality anthologies to the horror genre over the years. It’s no secret he has a taste for Christmas horror. This year he brings you another collection of dark Christmas tales from some of his favourite authors. Grab yourself some hot cocoa, dim the lights, get yourself comfy, sit back and enjoy.

The Seal of Sulayman by Kyro Dean and Laya V Smith

A half-human living in Qaf, the world of djinn and magic fire, General Bakr has always felt like an outsider with everyone but his first love. After two grueling years fighting a war that tore him away from his true love, Bakr is anxious to return to Earth and bask in the sunlight among his own kind. But when he is reunited with his young love, Sheikha Sezan, he realizes his feelings for her still burn hot. But Bakr returned from the war with more than scars. A lilith demon has made him her pet and the last thing she wants is to see him rekindle romance with his old flame. Sheikha Sezan, dis-enamored by her first love’s abrupt departure and equally sudden return, is forced to come to terms with the terrible deal she made with the demon to keep him alive while at war. The demon, having kept up her side of the bargain, comes for Sezan’s magic djinn fire as payment, but soon makes it clear she had no intention of giving up her love affair with Bakr. Determined to save herself and Bakr from torment, Sezan sets out to find the Seal of Sulayman, a magical talisman that controls all magic in both the human and djinn worlds. The demon torments Bakr and Sezan in the meantime, weaving a web of deception to keep their wild love apart. With rival courtiers, love triangles, mystical monsters, a clever sphinx, the flaming Rukh bird of legend, and both of Allah’s worlds working against them, only trust can rescue Bakr and Sezan from the demon’s caprice. But communicating enough to trust each other is a difficult task when words ruin everything.

The Lost Expedition: The Dream Rider Saga, Book 3 by Douglas Smith

The Thrilling Conclusion to the Multi-Award-Winning Trilogy Will is the Dream Rider, the superhero who walks in our dreams but never in the streets of his own city. Case is his girlfriend, a survivor of those streets who hears voices warning her of danger. Fader, her brother, is very good at disappearing. In The Hollow Boys, they defeated a body swapper and a witch to save the world. In The Crystal Key, they battled warring cults to protect an ancient artifact tied to Will's affliction. The Chakana. The Crystal Key. But the key to what? To finding answers, they hope, to the questions that rule their lives. What caused their strange powers? And Will's crippling agoraphobia? Can he be cured? Why did their parents travel to the jungles of Peru eight years ago? Are they still alive? Behind every question is the Chakana. What is the mysterious relic? Why will people kill to possess it? What hold does it have on Will? As creatures from Inca myths haunt the three friends, another attack on the Chakana threatens Will's life. To save him and solve the mystery of the lost expedition, only one choice remains. Return to Peru. With the Chakana. There, they find friends and foes, both old and new. And behind it all, an unseen enemy moving them like pieces on a chessboard. To win this deadly game, Will, Case, and Fader must master new powers to defeat the most dangerous adversary they've ever faced—a god. At stake this time? Every life, every world, every universe. Everything. Indiana Jones meets Teen Titans in The Dream Rider Saga, a fast-paced urban fantasy trilogy from “one of Canada’s most original writers of speculative fiction” (Library Journal). “A lavishly concocted ride brimming with magic, mystery, and mayhem… [and] bursting with dark magic, beastly protectors, and a slew of extraordinary fantasy characters … Smith skillfully probes deeper messages behind all the fun, as the main players face the consequences of humankind’s disregard for the Earth—and each other. … Takeaway: Explosive conclusion to this spectacular fantasy joyride.” — BookLife (Editor's Pick) Praise for The Hollow Boys (The Dream Rider Saga, #1) 2023 Aurora Award Winner for Best Young Adult Novel | 2023 IAP Award Winner for Best Young Adult Novel “This arresting series kickoff grips from the start as it introduces its inventive milieu, its flawed but fantastically powered hero, its playful worldbuilding, and a host of tantalizing mysteries. ... Takeaway: Thrilling YA fantasy” —BookLife (Editor’s Pick) “A must-read story for YA fantasy fans.” —Blueink Review (Starred review) Praise for The Crystal Key (The Dream Rider Saga, #2) "This thrilling superpowered urban fantasy series continues to grip.” —BookLife (Editor’s Pick) "This fast-paced story delivers in a big way—and Smith has all his ducks lined up for an explosive conclusion that readers won’t want to miss.” —Blueink Review (Starred review)

The Crystal Key: The Dream Rider Saga, Book 2 by Douglas Smith

Sequel to the multi-award-winning The Hollow Boys "Give me the Crystal Key!" Will Dreycott is the Dream Rider, the agoraphobic teenage superhero who can walk in our dreams but never in the streets of his city. Case is his girlfriend, a survivor of those streets who hears voices that warn her of danger. Fader is her brother, who is very good at disappearing. Together, they defeated a body swapper and a witch to save the world (The Hollow Boys). Now, Case battles guilt over living sheltered in Will's tower home while her street friends still struggle. Blaming his affliction for Case's sadness, Will searches for a way to live a normal life with the girl he loves—a way to go outside. But his efforts draw the attention of dark forces. Sinister figures hunt Will in Dream. Intruders scour the vast warehouse of antiquities "acquired" by Will's missing parents. And a masked swordswoman attacks Will, demanding "the Crystal Key" before disappearing into thin air. Are they all searching for the same thing? Something from Will's parents' shady past? For the swordswoman leaves behind a flowery scent, Will's only memory from the lost expedition eight years ago that gave him powers in Dream but cost him his parents and his freedom. A trail of dark secrets leads Will, Case, and Fader to a mysterious world. Trapped between warring cults willing to kill for the Crystal Key, the three friends must master strange new powers that grow stronger and wilder the closer they draw to the truth. This time it's not just the fate of the world at stake…but the multiverse. Indiana Jones meets Teen Titans in The Dream Rider Saga, a fast-paced urban fantasy trilogy from "one of Canada's most original writers of speculative fiction" (Library Journal). Praise for The Crystal Key: "The richly inventive Dream Rider adventure continues in this second appealing entry…with an exciting plot… always enlivened by the Smith hallmarks of crack dialogue, fun sleuthing and puzzle-solving, a strong throughline of emotion, a swift pace…and a principled refusal to settle for the familiar. Takeaway: This thrilling superpowered urban fantasy series continues to grip." (New readers should start with book one.) —BookLife (Editor's Pick) "The engrossing second installment of Douglas Smith’s Dream Rider Saga trilogy. … Smith continues to demonstrate an ability to expertly weave multiple complex fantasy elements into a cohesive whole. … This fast-paced story delivers in a big way—and Smith has all his ducks lined up for an explosive conclusion [to the series] that readers won’t want to miss." —Blueink Review (★ Starred review) Praise for The Dream Rider Saga: "Vigorously imaginative... Thrilling YA fantasy" —BookLife (Editor's pick) "A must-read story for YA fantasy fans." —Blueink Review (★ Starred review) "Inventive, engaging, and boundless fun." —The Ottawa Review of Books

Empowered: Agent (The Empowered Series Book 1) by Dale Ivan Smith

The world says those possessing superpowers are either heroes or villains. But what if you’re both? Mathilda Brandt isn’t the angry, out-of-control teenager she was before she got out of jail. She’s hungry for a chance at a normal life, but when a gang threatens her sisters, she has no choice but to use her illegal superpower to protect them. A secretive government agency gives her a choice: go back to prison for life, or infiltrate a notorious super-villain group in order to stop a psychotic Empowered. To save her city, her family, and herself, Mat must become the last thing she ever wanted to be again: a criminal.

The Hollow Boys: The Dream Rider Saga, Book 1 by Douglas Smith

THE DREAM RIDER SAGA, BOOK 1 Winner of the 2023 Aurora Award for Best YA Novel Winner of the 2023 juried IAP Award for Best YA Novel Vanishing street kids. An ancient evil. The end of the world. Our only hope? A hero who can't leave home. At seventeen, Will Dreycott is a superhero…in his dreams. And in yours. Eight years ago, Will's parents, shady dealers in ancient artifacts, disappeared on a jungle expedition. Will, the sole survivor, returned home with no memory of what happened, bringing a gift…and a curse. The gift? Will can walk in our dreams. At night in Dream, Will hunts for criminals—and his parents. During the day, his Dream Rider comic, about a superhero no one knows is real, has made Will rich. The curse? Severe agoraphobia. Will can't go outside. So he makes his home a skyscraper with everything he needs in life—everything but the freedom to walk the streets of his city. Case, an orphan Will's age, survives on those streets with her younger brother, Fader. Survives because she too has a gift. She hears voices warning her of danger. And Fader? Well, he fades. When street kids start vanishing, the Dream Rider joins the hunt. Will's search becomes personal when Case breaks into his tower to escape her own abduction. Fader isn't so lucky. As Will and Case search for Fader and the missing kids, an unlikely romance grows between the boy with everything and the girl with nothing except the freedom Will longs for. But as they push deeper into the mystery, they confront an ancient power feeding on these forgotten kids to restore itself. And once restored, no one in the world will be safe. To defeat this creature, Will must do the impossible. Go outside. Indiana Jones meets Teen Titans in The Dream Rider Saga, a fast-paced urban fantasy trilogy from "one of Canada's most original writers of speculative fiction" (Library Journal). "Editor's Pick: This arresting series kickoff grips from the start as it introduces its inventive milieu, its flawed but fantastically powered hero, its playful worldbuilding, and a host of tantalizing mysteries. … That’s just the start of Smith’s vigorously imaginative scenario. … Takeaway: Thrilling YA fantasy." —BookLife "Smith has created a dramatic, vivid fantasy world … The Hollow Boys is an assured, confident novel with strong world-building, sharp dialogue and the perfect balance between action and emotional growth for its main characters. … In short, this is a must-read story for YA fantasy fans." —Blueink Review (★ Starred review) "The Hollow Boys is inventive, engaging, and boundless fun" —The Ottawa Review of Books

Kalanon's Rising (Agents of Kalanon #1) by Darian Smith

SPFBO Finalist

Solve the murder. Stop the war. Save the world. Sir Brannon Kesh spent years building a new life as a physician, leaving the name Bloodhawk and the war that spawned it behind. But when the King's cousin is murdered, duty calls him back. The crime scene suggests dark magic and the evidence points to the ambassador of Nilar, an alluring woman with secrets of her own, who sees Bloodhawk as little more than a war criminal. As bodies pile up and political ramifications escalate, Brannon must join forces with a vain mage, a socially awkward priest, and a corpse animating shaman to solve the murders and prevent another war. But who can he trust when the phases of a bigger plan take shape? The Risen are the greatest danger Brannon has ever faced. If he and his team cannot stop the killer then all of Kalanon - and the world - will descend into darkness. SPFBO 5 FINALIST - Winner of the SpecFicNZ Novel Competition - Sir Julius Award Winning Author

Currents of Change by Darian Smith

SPFBO6

Haunted house. Haunted heart. When Sara O’Neill goes on the run, she believes the tiny New Zealand town of Kowhiowhio is just the sanctuary she needs. Her family’s old colonial house needs repair, but it’s safe from the abusive husband she left behind. However, a hostile local holds a grudge and a dangerous presence haunting her new home threatens Sara’s chance at peace. How can she create a new life while dealing with ghosts from the old? For local electrician, Nate Adams, parenting his young daughter alone has not been easy - particularly in a town where he is still seen as an outsider. When he meets his new neighbour, he sees a chance at a new start for them both. Even with his help, can the house – or Sara’s heart – be repaired? Someone doesn’t want an O’Neill in Kowhiowhio. Sara’s return is awakening secrets hidden for generations. Why has the house never had electricity? What was the fate of Sara’s ancestors? Can she discover the ghost’s story before it’s too late? The truth will set…something…free.

Shadow Of The Wicked by Douglas W.T. Smith

Twin brothers–a sorcerer and a warrior–are each tortured for their opposing convictions. Will magick be restored or extinguished? Magick had once ruled The Three Kingdoms, but now it is banished and condemnable. Jaromir and Talmage have been imprisoned for different convictions. Jaromir wakes up chained to a table filled with dread, while Talmage is thrown into an underground labyrinth. Jaromir has devoted his life to mastering weapons as the Empress’ Guard and forming a secret order to rid the world of magick. His lifetime devotion is useless when his limbs are chained. Unless he divulges the order’s plans. Jaromir is tortured and his body pushed to breaking point but he refuses to betray the order––until his wife is dragged into the room. Jaromir is forced to make a choice between his honor and his beloved wife. Which will he choose? Meanwhile, Talmage is thrown into an underground labyrinth. Since his parent’s death, he had practiced the art of magick in secret from his brother’s order. Magick had been his savor and his security through his troubled life. No matter what Talmage tried, the ghosts of his past haunt him––especially in the dark passages. At first, he thought he was alone, for one last trial, until familiar voices echo from the shadows. Both brothers must escape from their wicked fate, identify their outgrown relationship, and swallow their pride before it’s too late. If one of them fails; they both suffer.

Unbound by Adrian J Smith

Manipulating a powerful witch isn’t as easy as Faye hoped. She infiltrates Molly the witch’s mysterious house under the guise of needing help. And the guise of being harmless. Totally not a vampire at all. Unfortunately, Molly’s secrets are difficult to discover. She’s almost as good at hiding things as Faye herself. Molly’s staff are as weird as they are distrustful, but Faye begins to win Molly over. Then A mob boss discovers what Faye’s after. Faye finds herself putting her life in Molly’s hands. Will secrets doom their relationship, or will they form a powerful team?

The Battle of the Bloodswamp: Wandering Blacksmith - the stories by Mark G Gilgam

Kindle Rewards Beta Earn Kindle Points, get Kindle book credit Earn Kindle Points when you buy books. Redeem for Kindle book credit. Learn more. The Kri were a people of born warriors, dangerous cold-hearted mercenaries, threatening to drag down the northern regions into a spiral of war and destruction. The spear of Svalinir was cast to eradicate them all, and King Grimwolf leads the united forces from Nordheim into the Battle of the Bloodswamp, where a generation of warriors perishes. All Kri are killed there, men, women, the old and young and the children, but for one boy. Amid this violence, a woman discovers the baby lying next to a dying warrior. Having recently lost her two children, she decides to keep it for herself despite the death sentence against his people and names the boy Kitt. A blacksmith helps her to preserve the secret. This story was first published in: Hardening the Steel (Wandering Blacksmith 1). Additionally, this book contains documents concerning the Kri in the Imperial Library of Hartberg the Dominant and the Chronicles of Castle Waninge. Each book is prefaced by an introduction into the Wandering Blacksmith series, and can be read as a standalone. All books of this series are in large print. The illustrations in the hardcover edition are in colour, be a nice gift.

Hardening the Steel (Wandering Blacksmith) by Mark B Gilgam

To ordain the destruction of a whole people, Svalinir’s Spear was cast against the Kri, a nation of warriors—dangerous, cold-hearted sellswords threatening to bring down the Northern lands in a spiral of war. King Grimwolf of the Theusten leads the Northern host into Tridden Moor, where a generation of warriors perishes. All the Kri die there: men, women, and children, old and young, but for one boy. In the midst of this war and violence, a woman who has recently lost her two infants discovers the baby lying next to a dying swordsman. She decides to keep it for her own, despite the judgment against his vanquished people, and names him Kitt. A blacksmith helps her to keep the secret. Is it possible to teach healing to the last Kri and keep him from war? Blood will not be cheated; those are the words of a warrior dying in the Battle of the Bloodswamp. Kitt grows up on the island of Isenkliff in the grey northern Sea, where Brynnir’s forge stands. He works hard to become a master blacksmith, values books above gold, and has no doubt that he knows all about his parents, the smith Eckehart and the healer Aslaug. Warriors from many lands come to Isenkliff for the famous Aurora steel, and they teach Kitt to be a warrior. However, his mother wishes for Kitt to become a healer. Every now and then, he crosses the sea in an open boat to sail to the Dark Wood Murkowydir, where lost cities sleep and creatures that have died out elsewhere survive. Kitt faces Ice-Maidens and Ice-Giants, and once even a moonlight sword wielded by a silver woman. He runs for his life from the Feen Woodstalkers, feared for their stealth and cruelty. The young blacksmith turns in his masterpiece, and the code of the Red Lily Knights teaches Kitt to help, save, and serve.

Corona by David Arrowsmith

SPSFC 2023

Corona is the deliciously dark and dystopian debut novel from David Arrowsmith, author of Nevada Noir: A Trilogy of Short Stories and The Drowned. In a fallen London, how far will one man go to save his family – and himself… or is it already too late? Trapped in his top floor mansion block apartment in Denmark Hill, South East London, can The Man escape and pick his way through the crumbling ruins of the city, avoiding the violent gangs that now vie for supremacy, and find his heavily pregnant ex-wife? Can a belated act of heroism wash him clean of his sins, or is he too far gone? In a world where civilization has fallen, what hope is there for the future? Corona is a novel about the fault lines in our lives and relationships: a failed marriage, the burden of parenthood, a love forged in extremis. It may be a dystopian story, but it's set in the emotional reality of the here and now. It's Sci-Fi - but not as you know it... This is a story about the dark – and the light – inside all of us, about man’s inhumanity, and humanity. It’s a tale in which the threat, the danger, comes from within us – not from the undead or vampires or even a virus, but from our neighbours, our friends, even ourselves. Corona combines elements of dystopian fiction with the literary survival horror of works like J.G. Ballard’s High Rise and Concrete Island, and even a hint of the Cli-Fi sensibilities of his The Drought and The Drowned World. It’s the perfect read for anyone who enjoyed The Last Of Us, Children of Men, Mad Max, The Road, The Walking Dead, I Am Legend or 28 Days Later. Do you dare to embrace the darkness within?