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The Beautiful Decay by Veo Corva The sequel to Books and Bone. What do the dead have to fear? Something strange is happening in sleepy subterranean Tombtown. Necromancers are disappearing. The crypt is changing. And crimson fungi are spreading. Usther is seeking purpose, so when the goddess of undying calls on her to investigate an unknown threat to the crypt, she jumps at the chance. She is lost and lonely and determined to do something. Ree is searching for her missing mentor. An archivist and shapeshifter, she knows the crypt better than anyone, but she soon discovers that it is fast becoming unfamiliar to herâand dangerous to everyone she loves. For Tombtown to survive, Usther and Ree will have to face nightmarish mushrooms, self-righteous paladins, and their own traumatic pasts. Because whatever is happening has something to do with the traitorous friend theyâve both been trying to forget for eight years. Chandrian Smythe. |
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A Librarians-and-Necromancy Fantasy with Small Town Charm in a City of the Dead The others believe in blood and bone. Ree believes in books. She manages the libraries and draws maps for the denizens of her hometown, a secret society of necromancers hiding in a sprawling underground crypt. Though they look down on her for not practicing their craft, Ree has bigger ambitions than raising the dead. Sheâs going to resurrect therianthropy, the ancient magic of shapeshifting. Or at least â sheâll do it if it really exists. And if she can find the books that prove it. But Smythe, a chatty historian from the world above, stumbles into the crypt and takes a curse meant for Ree. Now she has to find a way to save him, keep the townsfolk off her back, and convince her necromancer parents that shapeshifting is a viable career path. Ree is certain that if she and Smythe combine their scholarly skill sets, theyâll find the right books to solve their problems. But Reeâs search for power might put the entire town in danger, and her father and the other townsfolk want Smythe dead lest he reveal their home to a world that hates them. |
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Herald of the Witchâs Mark by Kellen Graves Saffron finally has the one thing he's always wanted: a chance to attend school. To be able to do so alongside Prince Cylvan, even while glamoured as a high fey and pretending not to know one another, Saffron is eager to finally experience the education he's always dreamed of. But the expectations of being a perfect fey lord are suffocating enough, and are only made more difficult as the unfettered rowan magic in his body runs wild. Outside of the emotionally-charged nosebleeds that come whenever he's overwhelmed, he's able to keep the magic subdued--until one unfortunate confrontation outside of the school, where it manifests in the form of a nightmare he never thought he'd have to witness again. He desperately needs help understanding how to control his new magic, but there's only one person he knows who can offer mentorship: the stranger who appeared in his hospital room after the events on Ostara. Between acting a high fey, pretending to be courted by Cylvan as strangers, the unexpected difficulties of attending school for the first time, and managing the ancient magic running wild in his veins, Saffron has no choice but to trust Ryder Kyteler who can skip through the veil with ease, and who has been gathering disenfranchised humans to teach them arid magic on the outskirts of Avren for years. Otherwise, the new, violent manifestation of Saffron's magic may hurt the people he cares about most. |
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[The magic is goneâŠor is it?] Lucian is a jaded flirt and professional bard who knows all the old songs about sorcery. When he meets Corwin, a shy mage who can still use magic despite the Drought, Lucian finds his desire growing with each passing dayânot just for answers, but for Corwin himself. Sparks fly as they find themselves passionately entangled in adventure and each other. But learning the true origin of the Drought and the Key to ending it comes at a price that their bond may not survive⊠|
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Environmental scientist, Zoe Antosâs world has forever been changed. When a mysterious illness sweeps across the globe, the Arrow Equilibrium is only too happy to place the blame on Zoe. Injured and on the run, the only thing that matters now is survival. But at some point, survival isnât enough. Zoe is determined to stop running and find a way to live in this new world. As a new community grows around her, so does the danger. The Arrows wonât stop till she dead, regardless of the collateral damage. Separated from his fiancĂ©, Cole Wilborn finds himself a prisoner of the Arrows. His parents are determined to make him see things their way, even if it means completely breaking down his spirit in the process. Unable to get to Zoe, he is committed to keeping the Arrows off her trail. With the help of his older siblings, he plays the part of dutiful son while gathering information to make his escape. Cole will soon learn that freedom may have consequences he never imagined. Zoe and Cole must find a way to turn the tide in their favor before it crashes down and pulls them under. |
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Shadow's Debt by Danni Williams Dragon shifter Simone just wants to be left alone. But a debt owed by her father to vampire lord Andre Silversbane will disrupt Simoneâs future. Add to that a crazy vampire King who thinks Simone is the key to a major artifact and it will be all that she can do to stay alive. Simone is happily anticipating starting a new life in Chicago when life drops a bombshell on her. Her father owes vampire lord Andre Silversbane a debt and has given her to him. Now Simone has to learn to survive among the Nightshade vampires as the new Lady Silversbane. And, survive a plot by the Mad King Rapheal, who wants her to retrieve an artifact that should remain hidden. When tragedy strikes, Simone will have to make a decision that will change the world as she knows it or destroy it. |
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Prophecy Trilogy: New Moon (Prophecy Series Book 1) by Liz Bullard Step into a captivating realm of destiny and redemption in 'New Moon.' Join Eli, a Zodian warrior haunted by the aftermath of a devastating battle, and Talia, a water warrioress struggling to mend her shattered marriage. As they navigate a world of elemental magic and treacherous challenges, Eli is tasked with finding the Chosen One, Tabatha. Will she be the cure to his darkness and the savior in this land of fighters, or will she turn away from destiny and fail to reach her full potential? |
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The Fine Line Between Us by Ruth Miranda Jayal Hasen has never had a one night stand, or taken someone home for sex - he's just not that kind of man. Not with his past. But when his best friend introduces him to internationally acclaimed model Lu HaoRan, the attraction is immediate. The chemistry between them is such that, contrary to his character and all the fears he still can't shake, the two end up in bed. And though it was supposed to be just a one-night-stand, Jayal finds himself entertaining unexpected thoughts of something else... Lu HaoRan isn't looking for a relationship - he doesn't believe that's in the stars for him. Not with his life. But after spending the night with Jayal Hasen, he can think of nothing else, the memory of what took place becoming the buyoy he turns to when under stress. After weeks of trying to fight his growing obsession with a man he hardly knows and has never seen again, he's ready to throw caution to the wind and do all he can to meet Jayal again. Still, a fine line stands between them, one that's made of everything they hide from one another, secrets that threaten to break them apart, even before they come together. With neither finding the courage to cross that line, they risk losing each other without ever meeting again. Who will take the first step? |
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Non-Player Character by Veo Corva Not all fantasy worlds live only in our imaginations. 32-year old Tar feels like a Non-Player Character in their own life. Theyâve been utterly sidelined by their anxiety and they spend all their spare time playing video games. Then they get invited to play Kin, a tabletop role-playing game their friend swears will change their life. And it does, but not in the way Tar expects. Friendship, it turns out, is even better than escapism. But what none of them knew was that it would change their life a second time. Because the world of Kin is real. And the whole party soon discovers that changing your setting doesnât change you. Non-Player Character is a cosy, queer portal fantasy for adults featuring a non-binary autistic protagonist and their found family of fantasy-loving nerds. |
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MOONLIGHT Book I: Dusk by Beau Van Dalen Ilragornâs history never lies. The obedient ones live. The traitors always perish. In daylight, Indigo Sarte is the perfect daughter, a future student of the Healing Arts. In the shadows, he is a master of forbidden alchemy, ruthless and cunning, all in the name of fulfilling his wish for true freedom. Indigoâs sights are set on The Academyâa prestigious establishment where aspiring alchemists are taught to master gifts inherited from their birthrights. But Indigo is recognized as a woman amongst his peers, and The Academyâs rules are clear: Women heal. Men fight. Disobeyâdie. |
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Moon-Bright Tides by RoAnna Sylver The night sky is very dark without a moon, and there hasn't been one for decades. Without one to govern the oceans, it falls to Riven, reluctant sea-witch, to sail out alone every night across the midnight ocean to cast a spell to call in the tides. She hates it. Hates the moonless dark, hates the endless deep, and hates the fact that without a witch to sing in the tides, sea and land alike would fall to ruin. Riven faces her worst fear every night for years - until she meets a mermaid. Her new friend is lost, starving, and just as lonely as she is. And now that they've found one another, neither of their nights on the midnight sea will be the same. |
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A Good Rush of Blood by Matt Phillips A mother's sins haunt a teenage runaway in this scorching mystery of criminal conspiracy, street-level justice, and unlikely courage. Creeley Nash has been running her entire life. That includes running drugs for a wannabe kingpin. On a drug run to Palm Springsâthe town where Creeley escaped her no-good mother as a teenâsheâll encounter a sun-drenched facade beneath which lurks a web of dark secrets. A Good Rush of Blood follows Creeley as she unravels the mystery of her estranged motherâs murder conviction. Peopled with bent cops, grizzled reporters, hardened drug dealers, eccentric sidekicks and sexy librarians, this sweaty, fast-paced neo-noir finds stellar noir scribe Matt Phillips (Countdown, Know Me from Smoke) at the apex of his dirty, lethal game. |
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How to steal a demon's heart and get away with it by Devi Letalis An exiled demon. A murderous vampiress. Undead sheep. One fateful night. One bad decision. And suddenly, itâs not just hearts on the line â itâs the whole damn realm. Single father and mercenary Dante has hunted demons his whole life. From lowly fiends to undead sheep, his bizarre quests have tested his blade and his wit. A new job draws him into the orbit of the dangerously alluring vampiress Lariza and her enigmatic companion Layla, and Dante finds himself reluctantly allied with forces as unpredictable as the enemies they face. When his son is kidnapped, Danteâs buried past resurfaces, along with estranged family members who stir up conflicts he never imagined. Forced to team up with Lariza and Layla, Dante is dragged into a deadly clash with powerful demons, his sole focus fixed on saving his son, even if it means descending into hell itself. Yet even these battles pale beside the shadow of a greater threatâone that could turn rivals and allies alike into pawns. A dark urban fantasy thriller brimming with razor-sharp action, wicked humour, and unrelenting suspenseâwhere ancient laws collide with modern horrors, and family ties may be the deadliest curse of all. |
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It Haunts the Mind and Other Stories by Nick Roberts Nick Roberts delves into the darkest corners of the soul, where horror meets raw emotion. Dive into the chilling depths of the human psyche with Nick Roberts, the acclaimed author behind bestsellers like The Exorcistâs House and Anathema. Presenting a collection of fifteen tales, It Haunts the Mind masterfully weaves horror with raw emotion, leaving an indelible mark on the reader's soul. From the malevolent presence in âSally Under the Bedâ and the eponymous âIt Haunts the Mindâ to the raw brutality of âThe Nooseâ and âThe Bitter End,â Roberts showcases his unparalleled ability to terrify. Yet, itâs not just supernatural dread that lurks in these pages. Stories like âThanks for Sharingâ and âThe Weeping Windâ delve into the very real horrors of addiction and grief, while âThe Paperboyâ and âVoodoo Bayâ introduce monsters that defy reality. John Durgin, author of The Cursed Among Us and Inside The Devilâs Nest, praises the collection, stating, âCome for the horror, stay for the heartbreaking emotion that bleeds into every page... It Haunts The Mind is that damn good.â James Aquilone, a Bram Stoker Award-nominated editor and writer, warns of the collection's potency: âNick Roberts has an uncanny ability to scare the bejesus out of readers... Highly recommended if you donât want to sleep in the dark again.â Perfect for aficionados of horror short stories, suspenseful tales, and narratives that explore the human condition, It Haunts the Mind is a testament to the power of storytelling, blending supernatural terror with the very real demons that haunt our lives. Whether you're drawn to tales of possession, substance abuse, or coming-of-age horror, this collection promises to both terrify and move you in equal measure. Proudly represented by Crystal Lake PublishingâTales from the Darkest Depths. |
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Bryan and Ellie Stockton hope they left behind their demons when they move to their idyllic new home in southern West Virginia. Above all, they want a fresh start for their young son, Derrick, who witnessed the tumultuous first years of their marriage â years that were rife with substance abuse, rage, and resentment. Their bright hope for the future is darkened when a child disappears from their neighborhood. The couple becomes suspicious of a reclusive resident with a degenerative brain disorder. Strange events begin to happen in their house just as Derrick tells them about a new friend who visits him at night. Their son may be acting out from the trauma he endured, or he could be the obsession of something much more sinister |
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The discovery of skeletal remains opens old wounds in a quiet Midwestern community decades after multiple young women had vanished without a trace from the area. Russell Stander returns to the wooded site of his big sisterâs crude burial filled with foreboding and hoping for closure. But, near the grim visage known locally as Skull Rock, more badly decomposed human remains are soon discovered. Gunnar, a Norseman settler, comes face to face with the evil that slaughtered his family. To save his clan, Gunnar undertakes a harrowing odyssey across the untamed wilderness of North America. Desperate to stay one step ahead of the malevolent force that stalks him. Two men, born a thousand years apart, their destinies bound together by a timeless evil. Can either man unravel the mystery of the monstrous thing lurking unseen before it consumes them and everyone they loveâŠ? |
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For a group of middle-aged friends, the trip into the forest was supposed to be simple. All they had to do was find a place to set up their criminal enterprise, and all of their financial problems would be solved. But now, night is falling, and with the darkness comes something else. Something fast. Something ferocious. Something... with teeth. From best-selling, award-winning horror writer Brian Keene comes a vicious new novella WITH TEETH |
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The Girl in the Corn by Jason Offutt Beware of what lurks in the corn. Fairies donât exist. At least thatâs what Thomas Cavanaughâs parents say. But the events of that one night, when he follows a fairy into the cornfield on his parentsâ farm, prove them wrong. What seems like a destructive explosion was, Thomas knows, an encounter with DauĂ°r, a force that threatens to destroy the fairyâs world and his sanity. Years later, after a troubled childhood and a series of dead-end jobs, he is still haunted by what he saw that night. One day he crosses paths with a beautiful young woman and a troubled young man, soon realizing that he first met them as a kid while under psychiatric care after his encounters in the cornfield. Has fate brought them together? Are they meant to join forces to save the fairyâs world and their own? Or is one of them not who they claim to be? |
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Our Own Unique Affliction by Scott J. Moses Our Own Unique Affliction is the story of Alice Ann, a dejected immortal who longs for her life in the sun. Navigating guilt, loss, family, meaning, murder, and all that comes with the curse of living forever. An existential bleak, quiet until it's not, hallucination on duality, rife with fangs, empathy, blood, and grief. "Unexpected and grim, Scott J. Moses' Our Own Unique Affliction is the most inventive and bombastically gruesome vampire story I've read since The Light at the End by John Skipp and Craig Spector. An exquisitely written meditation on grief, family, and trauma told with such empathy and care. I feel broken after reading this book, and I applaud Scott for obliterating my soul with such grace and tenderness." - Eric LaRocca, author of Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke and Other Misfortunes "Scott Moses writes from a place of pure empathy, the result of which is a story that pulls the reader in with deceptive ease, putting them through the emotional wringer, culling fear from every page. A tightly written fever dream of bloodlust and family ties, grief, rage and the eternal hunt." - Laurel Hightower, author of Crossroads and Below "Moses gives us not only complicated and relatable characters, but also cinematic scene-setting coated with pathos and grit. Our Own Unique Affliction forces readers to face that often circumstance is the only thing separating us from the monsters." - J.A.W. McCarthy, Shirley Jackson Award nominated author of Sometime Weâre Cruel and Other Stories "Moses tenders a vampire's origin and fate in the skin of a mood-soaked tragedy, embraced by bloody nights and unyielding regrets. Fans of Paul Tremblay's The Pallbearers Club should sink their fangs in before sunrise." - Hailey Piper, Bram Stoker Award-winning author of Queen of Teeth "An interesting psychological twist on the vampire narrative. Definitely a fun read." - Charlene Elsby, author of Hexis, Psychros, Menis |
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When Dex is chased by Billie and his gang of hooligans into the old Ellis manor, he didnât think that things could get any worse. But when an ancient dinosaur is released from the confines of the crate it was imprisoned in and begins brutally eating everyone in its ravenous path one by one, the young man was clearly mistaken. Now with his back hopelessly against the wall, he enlists his best friend Henry in order to make a last ditch stand against the bloodthirsty beast from another time AND the maniacal Billie and his gang of thugs as well. Who will survive and what will be left of them? Prepare to be pulverized by prehistoric horror galore in Dino-Gore! |
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A Glimmer Of Silver by Juliet Kemp âA Glimmer Of Silver, from @booksmugglers, is bloody brilliant. A really interesting, well told, fascinating piece of ecological fiction. Plus, one pronoun for all, and it's xe!â â D Franklin "a warm and delightful SF YA novella - it reminds me in the best way of what it might be like if Robin McKinley wrote science fiction." â Stephanie Burgis "A Glimmer of Silver reminds us that, sometimes, the most potent barriers exist not between species, but between ourselves. But in its insistence that these barriers are not insurmountable, it speaks to the possibilitiesâand the hopesâof translation and coexistence, at the meeting points of sentience." â Gautum Bhatia, Strange Horizons |
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A Starbound Solstice by Juliet Kemp A festive space queer romance that will melt your heart and warm your exosuit. Linn and xyr crew are halfway through their long journey from Earth to Cetalla; what better time to celebrate a solstice? Bid farewell to Sol and hello to a new homestar. Traditions around mistletoeânot to mention Linnâs totally non-existent crush on xyr crewmate Tayeâhave nothing to do with it. Explaining paperchains to xyr alien crewmate and plotting present-giving keeps Linn busy enough, but then something goes wrong with Heron, the shipâs AI. Tracing the cause to a giant hullbreach onto needlespace, Linn and Taye have no idea what to do about it, or the stranger who came through it. Can they save their ship and get to their new home before the pressures of needlespace damage Heron beyond repair? And is Linn ever going to get that kiss under the mistletoe? "This is such a sweet science fiction holiday story set on an interstellar ship, with just enough natural tension to be fun but with an overriding message of hope and kindness and a real feeling of light - just perfect for the theme of a solstice celebration." â Stephanie Burgis, author |
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The City Revealed by Juliet Kemp The city of Marek is newly independent from their neighbour Teren â but Selene, representative of Teren, has threatened to return, and this time, with sorcerers and demons in tow. Last year, the sorcerers of Marek narrowly defeated a single Teren-summoned demon; how might they fare against a dozen or more? Meanwhile, the common people of Marek grow increasingly fervent in their own demands for representation â for a say in how the city is run, and for whom it is run. Marcia, Fereno-Heir, agrees with the Lower City; they deserve a better say. But the Council wonât hear of it â then Selene arrives to make good on her threat. Marcia must convince the Council to believe in Selene's magical threats, whilst her sorcerer brother, Cato, rushes to build some sort of defence. Because if Terenâs demons can pass the Cityangelâs wards, itâll be the end of them all. âThe City Revealedâ is an absorbing fantasy set in a richly imagined world. A lovingly drawn and diverse set of characters struggle both personally and politically with the consequences of their own and othersâ actions, and strive for cooperation without sacrificing principles. A thoroughly satisfying read. â Una McCormack, New York Times bestselling science fiction author. âEminently satisfying epic fantasy where the personal, the political and the magical are multilayered and interlocked.â â Juliet E. McKenna, Author of the Green Man series and the Tales of Einarinn series. |
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Office Politics: A Story of the Apocalypse by L. R. J. Allen Richard is the last man alive. He has survived the super-flu known as Shaking Stevens when the rest of the world perished. He has survived when his family has not. He has survived with no survival instincts. He spends his days rummaging through the remnants of society as loneliness and anger set in. That is, until, his wanderings lead him back to his place of work. It is familiar, it is comforting, it is routine. Until, one day, his desk-phone rings. From the author of Among Other Things comes a tale of survival and hope in the most dire of times, and what a man must do to remain sane. Includes two previously unpublished stories Keep off the Grass and Coin Toss at Acheron Station |
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The Rising Flood by Juliet Kemp "Fantasy politics with real nuance and believable uncertainty, characters whose richness and depth has developed over three books, and a growing threat that starts pulling together threads across the series make The Rising Flood a fantastic read, while Marek is a textured place that is a joy to return to.â â Malka Older, Hugo Award finalist author of the Centenal Cycle series There's darkness in the heart of Teren. Refugees, fleeing demons unleashed by the Academy, arrive in Marek; but Marek, dreaming of independence, is increasingly unstable. Marcia, Heir to House Fereno â expecting a child and with her relationship in ruins â battles to manage threats internal and external, while rebels from the lower city demand change in rabble-rousing pamphlets, and Marekâs two remaining sorcerers, Marcia's brother Cato and her ex-lover Reb, struggle to train more. Teren's many demons threaten, and no one is ready. Menaced by the distant capital, by dissension from within, and by out-of-season storms rampaging across the Oval Sea by nature itself â will the rising flood lift all boats? Or will they be capsized? |
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Shadow And Storm by Juliet Kemp The sequel to The Deep And Shining Dark. Marcia wants to make changes in Marek after the events of the summer, but now distant Teren is making a play for political power in the city. Meanwhile, Tait, a young Teren sorcerer on the run, sees Marek and its cityangel Beckett as a place of safety; which will be true only until Beckett discovers there's a demon chasing Tait. Are the demon and the machinations of the Teren Lieutenant connected? Are Marcia's political goals worth the risk of facing down a demon? And can Marcia's sorcerer brother Cato avoid getting involved? "Shadow and Storm is an absolute delight to read, the literary equivalent of sinking into the embrace of a dear friend. Warm and cosy but never short on adventure and intrigue, Kemp's second entry into this series won't disappoint. The characters are real, full of depth, and richly drawn, and you'll wish you had even more time with them by book's end. A fantastic read!" â Rivers Solomon, Locus, Tiptree, and Lambda Award finalist |
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The Deep And Shining Dark by Juliet Kemp "A rich and memorable tale of political ambition, family and magic, set in an imagined city that feels as vibrant as the characters inhabiting it." â Aliette de Bodard, Nebula-award winning author of The Tea Master and the Detective "A novel thatâs one part high fantasy, one part political fantasy, and one part old-fashioned sword-and-sorcery â without the swords or the lack of realistic diversity to which old-fashioned sword-and-sorcery was often prone." â Liz Bourke, Locus |
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The Sweet, the Spooky, & The Terrifying by Rachel Ann Hubert Three short stories for every aspect of Halloween. One sweet. One spooky. And one terrifying. Included in this book: Alone Together (The Sweet): The story of a college student determined to ostracize himself from everyone else around him. When he gets an unwanted guest for the night though, he'll soon see that being invisible isn't all that bad. And that sometimes it's worth stepping outside your comfort zone and shushing that negative voice inside your head. The Monster Within (The Spooky): Jules is starting over in a new town, new house, new everything. But this town isn't all it seems. While she tries to start fresh, memories from her previous life start trickling in. What is she running away from? And what is running away from her... The Ouroboros (The Terrifying): It started as a tickle. A tickle that became an itch. And itch at the back of his throat that not only could he not ignore...but that he could not escape |
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A Ritual of Bone by Lee C. Conley 'Only valour and steel can stand against the rising dead' Arnar is a land of warriors, its people as stalwart as the stones themselves. In a land of dark forests and ancient hill forts, a forgotten evil is awoken by curious minds. The Great Histories and the Sagas say nothing of this evil, long passed from the memory of even the studious scholars of the College. For centuries, the scholars of Arnar have kept these records and preserved the knowledge and great deeds of a proud people. The story of these peoples forever chronicled in the Sagas of the Great Histories. But now the evil spreads and the dead walk in its wake, terrible creatures roam the night and even the spirits are restless. The Dead Sagas could perhaps be the final chapters of these great records. Many threads entwine to tell this Saga, interweaving the tales of those who played their part in the search for answers and ultimately their fight for survival. Amid plague, invasion and terror, the inexorable rise of the dead sends a kingdom scrabbling to its knees. This dark fantasy epic combines dark malign horror and gritty survival adventure as the Dead Sagas unfold in a world where honour and renown is all, where beasts and savages lurk in the wilderness, and where sword, axe and shield is all that stands between the living and the grasping hands of the dead. |
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The Cursed Among Us by John Durgin It has been twenty years since the serial killer known as The Black Heart Killer terrorized the town of Newport in 1979. Life mostly returned to normal after the killer was captured. All the townspeople have to do is stay out of the woods where the bodies were abandonedâtheir chests ripped open, and their hearts torn out... Howie Burke and his friends decide rules are meant to be broken. Thatâs what fifteen-year-old kids do. On a beautiful fall day, they decide to go out in the woods to film a horror movie when they stumble across a mysterious grave. What they donât know is that they are about to release an evil on the town unlike anything in their home-made movies. They will soon uncover the secrets of the Black Heart Killer, and what it truly means to be cursed. Praise for The Cursed Among Us "Hidden graves, black magic, town legends, and intrepid teenagers - this one has it all, in bloody spades. Durgin's debut manages the impossible: a punchy and gripping horror-thriller sprawled across two decades, crafted with dark obsession and drenched in nostalgia for the golden years of supernatural slasher films." - Felix Blackwell, author of Stolen Tongues âA remarkably malevolent debut that will leave you reaching for your talisman. Durgin takes all the right risks and proves nobody is safe in this impressive coming-of-age novel about a small town with a dark past.â - Joshua Marsella, author of Hunger For Death âThe Cursed Among Us is a horror novel with its heart in the right placeâready to be ripped out! Containing surprising and sometimes stunning emotional depth, this homage to â90s B-movies and supernatural documentaries explores the agony of growing up and holding onto friendships when the world seems determined to rip everything you love apart.â - Joseph Sale, author of Dark Hilarity "The Cursed Among Us' is a coming-of-age, small town horror blast, one that I think a lot of people will really enjoy." Steve Stred, Splatterpunk-Nominated author of Sacrament and Mastodon. |
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Now, and the Hour of Death by Karen Lykkebo Five short tales of the eerie, tragic, and macabre. Three friends venture into an abandoned church, unaware the foundation is haunted. An expert in the occult is asked to remove a presence from the beach. Two survivors of the zombie apocalypse watch a final sunset together. Two lovers will do anything to keep their home and love safe. A serial killer is on the loose, but his step is watched by more than his victims. |
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The Knight of the Moon by Gregory Kontaxis John, the Long Arm, leads a life as a bounty hunter at the Three Heads. His name has spread far and wide across the north while plenty of gold weighs down his pockets. Just when everything seems to be going well for him, a group of soldiers order him to take on a new mission. This time, his task is to track down a very dangerous manâa knight who rejected his oaths, turning his back on Gaeldeath and its ruler. Will John choose the way of honour and devotion or will be succumb to his unquenchable thirst for wealth? As part of âThe Dance of Lightâ series, âThe Knight of the Moonâ is a novella which takes place seventeen years preceding the events of âThe Return of the Knights.â |
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They say you never forget the first time you die. Toronto Police Service Detective Finsbury Gage knows this better than anyone. Now that he's gone digital, he sees his death every time he closes his eyesâhe and his wife, smeared across the highway after a malfunctioning bit-head ran them down in a stolen urban assault vehicle. Fin hung together long enough for the Second Skyn recovery team to rescue his fading thoughts from his ruined body and implant them in a custom-grown bioSkyn. His wife wasn't so lucky. Finsbury's been gifted a second chance, but the only thing keeping him from blowing his plastic brains out is that 2.57 seconds of vivid memory running on repeat through his head, the one that contains a instant's glimpse of his killer's face. The police couldn't find the man responsible, and now the only evidence is locked up in Finsbury's brand new mind. Driven to find his killer, Finsbury falls into a dangerous underworld of hackable minds and enhanced bodies, where death is cheap, and memory all that matters. But once he's tasted the power of living at the speed of light, able to predict seconds into the future, how will he ever go back? And once he's relaxed his grip on humanity, how far will he let it slip in the name of finding justice for the woman he loves? Finsbury's going to find the man who stole his future, no matter what he has to do. Or what he must become. |
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The Last Feather by Shameez Patel Papathanasiou South African born, debut author brings a threat-and-danger, hidden-world fantasy with touches of Suzanne Collins which fans of VE Schwab or Sarah J Maas will love. Twenty-two-year-old Cassia's sister is dying, and she doesn't know why. Cassia wakes up in another realm to find her missing best friend, Lucas, who knows how to save her sister. Lucas is part of a community of Reborns, people who were born on earth and after death, were reborn in this realm with magical abilities. The original beings of the realm, the Firsts, rule over them. To keep the Reborn numbers manageable, the king of the Firsts releases a curse to cull them. Cassia needs to break the curse before her time runs out and she is trapped there forever. |
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The Eternal Shadow by Shameez Patel Papathanasiou South African born, debut author brings a threat-and-danger, hidden-world fantasy with touches of Suzanne Collins which fans of VE Schwab or Sarah J Maas will love. After returning to her realm, Cassia continues to use the magic sheâd discovered in Selene. Little did she know, that wasnât allowed and because of it, sheâs abducted by the king. Luckily, Prince Lochlan is still living in the castle pretending to be under the kingâs command. After Lochlan frees Cassia, they all need to flee Selene to escape the king and find allies elsewhere. But in this new realm, all the inhabitants are afraid of the dark where a shadow is lurking, feeding upon them. With nowhere else to go, they have to choose, either they face the king or this eternal shadow. |
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Dear Bartleby by Sarah Wallace Dear Bartleby, Tutting-on-Cress is so small as to be idyllic. Hate it already. Sent down from Oxford for playing one prank too many, Sebastian Hartford is well aware that heâs a disappointment to his family. Ordered to stay with â and learn from â two of his more respectable older siblings, Seb is prepared to be miserable in the country. Saddled with extracurricular schooling to keep him out of trouble, Seb can only let his mischievous mind run loose on the pages of his journal, âBartleby.â But when he is offered a job as a spellcasterâs assistant to the enigmatic Lord Finlington, Sebâs creative flair finds a place to flourish. Soon, he is at the center of a search for a new Royal Spellcaster to the Crown â and falling in love with one of the contenders. But right as a future with a man who loves him starts to unfold, Sebâs past mistakes threaten to bar him from securing happiness. And jumping through social hoops may prove his growth to everyone â except himself. |
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The Education of Pip by Sarah Wallace He had never experienced possibilities â and it was a whole new feeling to have them. Pip Standish is in Newgate Prison, a predictable career finale for a London thief. So he is surprised when Lord Finlington, the dashing viscount he attempted to steal from months before, offers to get him out â on the condition that Pip agrees to leave town and start a new career in the country. Soon, Pip finds himself moving to the idyllic Tutting-on-Cress and a life he never thought possible. As he settles in with his new friends, he discovers a well-rounded education not only involves reading and magic, but how to be happy, how to trust others with your heart, and how to let go of pain. But when an attempt to settle an old debt reopens a dangerous wound, Pip will need to apply all of his hard-earned lessons to stop the past swallowing him â and his future â whole. This new adult fantasy is the third book in the Meddle & Mend series. It is a continuation of Pip's story from One Good Turn. |
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One Good Turn by Sarah Wallace A reformed thief, a magical viscount, And one good deed that will change a life forever. In the underbelly of London, Nell Birks longs to escape the world of poverty and crime. When she rescues a wealthy gentleman from a gang of thieves, Nell is tasked with robbing the powerful spellcaster Viscount Finlington â as recompense for stealing a mark from a notorious crime lord. Confident that learning magic will improve her chances of a better life, Nell leaps at the opportunity to learn magic from the viscount. Soon, she finds herself immersed in a glittering social sphere, full of magic, luxury, and exciting possibilities. Dazzled by her new world, Nell quickly learns that with bigger dreams come bigger disappointments. And when her new friends decide to leave London behind, finding her place becomes more urgent than ever. When disaster strikes, everything Nell thought she knew about her old life is shaken to its core. But if magic is not her key to a better life, sheâs more lost than when she began. This new adult fantasy is the second book in the Meddle & Mend series. It takes place shortly after Letters to Half Moon Street but can be read as a standalone. |
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Letters to Half Moon Street by Sarah Wallace I must have been drunker than I realized because all I remember is how well he tied his cravat and how perfectly his coat fit him⊠London, 1815: where magic can be purchased at convenience, and the fashionable and wealthy descend for the start of the social Season. But 25-year-old Gavin Hartford finds the city intimidating when he arrives, alone, to his familyâs townhouse. The only company he seeks is in his beloved books and weekly letters to his sister, Gerry. Then dashing man-about-town Charles Kentworthy gallantly rescues Gavin from a foolish drunken mishap and turns his life upside-down. With Mr. Kentworthy, Gavin finds himself discussing poetry and magic, confessing his fears about marriage, expanding his social circle to shocking proportions â and far outside his comfort zone. When family responsibility comes knocking, Gavinâs future looms over him, filled with uncertainty. As he grapples with growing feelings for his new friend, Gavin will need to be honest with Mr. Kentworthy â but heâll need the courage to be honest with himself first. This epistolary Regency romance is the first in a historical fantasy series, Meddle & Mend. |
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Good With His Hands by Brandie Nikole When the words Quick Fix doesn't only pertain to your household needs... Call Kurbe to get the job done right. Kurbe is a handyman with a niche for pleasing his customers with the best kind of customer service |
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Fuck Around and Fall In Love by Brandie Nikole A slow lick on the neck. A deep kiss in the mouth. Deep strokes as he grips my hair like heâs trying to yank it from the root. These are the reasons why Iâm stuck in this web of entanglement. |
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The Final Say by Brandie Nikole They said all Iâll ever be is damaged goods.I donât deserve the joys of life, âcause I donât care about the lives of others.Too bad their words donât hold any merit when it comes to my life.Iâm the boss.The only captain of this yacht.Iâm the only one with the final say.Accompany Jerome on his journey as he walks his truth and follows his own rules. Nobody better get in his way, or theyâll find just what theyâre looking for.Jerome: The Final Say |
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Fighting For Her Heart by Brandie Nikole I love my life like it is. Full of amazing adventures and without a monogamous relationship.I've had my heart broken more than once and that's enough for me to know I don't want to do that again.I don't want a man coming all up in my mix trying to make me commit.After all, I'm Shavonne Jordan, a rebel, also known as a LimitlessSpirit! But then he comes along fighting me at every turn, invading places I never invited him to.Leaving his imprint every step of the way trying to win my heart with his suspenders and floggers, ropes, and suits.Making me see life in a way I never imagined I would or could. Will I let him in or will he eventually get fed up with the fight? Follow us on this adventure of love's tug-o-war.Fighting For Her Heart by ella Shavonne's Story |
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His Favorite Girl by Brandie Nikole Imagine knowing a person most of your life. You know their flaws, the things that make them tick, the hearts they've broken, and the chipped pieces in their armor, and still, you love them completely⊠unconditionally. That is Khalil and Ajah. Best friends since they were eating dirt together. Their bond is unbreakable, but could they survive that one time in college? Khalil has tried moving on from the events of the past, becoming a serial dater with no satisfaction. His recent girlfriend, Destiny, is madly in love with him, and she refuses to accept rejection from Khalil or the destruction of their relationship. But are her feelings the same for her, or is he in love with someone else? Then there's Ajah. While enjoying the single life, she encounters the one-night stand that haunts her for longer than she wants. Will these two friends place all their cards on the table and see if revisiting unfinished business is worth it? Or will they continue playing friends while playing the field? Join Ajah and Khalil as they work to strengthen their bond as best friends while trying to hold on to the lives they have separate from each other. Life doesn't always go according to plan, and we all know there's a reason for everything. |
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Trials of the Innermost by Jonathan Fuller and Kristina W Kelly A cataclysm in Ethereaâs past stopped its rotation, leaving three distinct realms: one of light, one of dark, and one of twilight. Years of war between them followed. Until the establishment of the Trials of the Innermost. A new set of Six Truthseekers are chosen for this quest of learning and cooperation. But the fragile peace created by the Trials is crumbling, even as they begin their first task. The group is composed of each realmâs best and brightest, and their talents range from magic channeled through music to explosive crystals. They will need all their unique abilities to survive the Trials, which take them through scorched wastes, a wall of storms, and the shadowed Fellwood. Along their journey, a shared lost past is rediscovered that forces the Truthseekers to question all they once held to be true. Yet even as they grapple with their new reality, a deadly secret is unveiled. A fragment of an alien force called the Penumbra has possessed one of their own, granting him preternatural abilities. One realm seeks to control the entity, but the Penumbra has other plans. If it can succeed in reuniting its broken pieces, it will gain the power to consume all of Ethereaâs abundant life force. The Truthseekers must overcome their differences and work together to stop the malevolent entity before they lose their friendâand their worldâto the Penumbraâs hunger. |
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The Reanimator's Soul by Kara Jorgensen An autistic necromancer, his undead lover, and the case that could destroy everything. When a necromancer turns up dead, Oliver and Felipe think it will be the perfect, straightforward case for their new partnership. That is, until it leads them to a clinic promising a cure for magic, but they arenât the only ones investigating the Institute for the Betterment of the Soul. Oliverâs ex, Ansley, is in town, and heâs certain the clinic isnât the paragon of righteousness it claims to be. Forced to help Ansley infiltrate the institute, Oliver fears he is out of his depth in his work and in love as old wounds and bad habits resurface. But Oliver isnât the only one struggling. Pulled between his cases, Oliver, and his daughter returning home for the summer, Felipe is drowning. Just when he thinks he finally has everything under control, a new reminder of his untimely demise threatens to throw his life into a tailspin once more. Between festering wounds and secrets, Oliver and Felipeâs lives stand upon a knifeâs edge. To face the evil lurking behind the clinicâs genteel smiles, they must stand together or face the destruction of the place they call home. |
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His Lordship's Secret by Samantha SoRelle London 1818 Alfred Pennington, the Earl of Crawford, knows someone wants him dead. An illicit boxing match seems the perfect opportunity to hire a champion fighter to watch his back, but Alfie is shocked to recognize the beaten and bloody challenger as his childhood friend, Dominick, one of the few people who knows the truth about Alfieâs past. Life has been hard for Dominick, so he canât believe his luck when Alfieânow with fine manners and a fancy titleâoffers him a chance to escape the slums in order to catch a potential killer. Thatâs difficult enough, but not falling in love with the refined, confident man his friend has become may prove trickier still. The investigation draws the two men closer than ever, but it becomes clear that their years apart may prove too much to overcome. As the danger mounts, can they find their way through the past to a future together? Or will hidden secrets cost them their happiness⊠and their lives? His Lordship's Secret is the first novel in the His Lordship's Mysteries series. |
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The Reanimator's Heart by Kara Jorgensen A reluctant necromancer, a man killed before his time, and the crime that brings them together. Felipe Galvanâs life as an investigator for the Paranormal Society has been spent running into danger. Returning home from his latest case, Felipe struggles with the sudden quiet of his life until a mysterious death puts him in the path of the enigmatic Oliver Barlow. Oliver has two secrets. One, he has been in love with the charming Felipe Galvan for years. Two, he is a necromancer, but to keep the sensible life heâs built as a medical examiner, he must hide his powers. That is until Oliver finds Felipe murdered and accidentally brings him back from the dead. But Felipe refuses to die again until he and Oliver catch his killer. Together, Felipe and Oliver embark on an investigation to uncover a plot centuries in the making. As they close in on his killer, one thing is certain: if they donât stop them, Felipe wonât be the last to die. |
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A Deed of Dreadful Note by Patricia Meredith Fifteen years before Sir Arthur Conan Doyle published A Study in Scarlet, Anna Katharine Green began writing The Leavenworth Case, inspiring the creation of detectives like Sherlock, Poirot, and Wimsey, as well as almost every device and convention we now recognize as standard in detective mystery fiction. When her father's client is found murdered, Anna takes up the call to prove innocent the young girl accused of the murder. The investigation inspires many of the events, characters, and descriptions that would later be published in her debut novel. A love letter to mystery and writing itself, A Deed of Dreadful Note is an homage and reintroduction to an author who was the Agatha Christie of her time but a forgotten female today. This book is a fictionalized account of how Anna Katharine Greenâs first novel may have come to be⊠A Deed of Dreadful Note is Book One in the Anna Katharine Green Mysteries, the only historical fiction series featuring the Mother of Detective Fiction |
