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Ardent Tears: Awakening by Ren Carlisle On the verge of Awakening, Rowan is taken from her family by slavers intent on forging her into a weapon. Why? She doesn't know. She doesn't care. All that matters is freedom, vengeance, and reunion. In this world of harmony and dissonance, where Resonance and emotions reign supreme, Rowan must learn what it means to be an Ardent before it's too late. She must find unity and purpose. She must not break. She cannot do it alone. Who will be there for her? |
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Gobbelino London & a Collision of Catastrophes by Kim M Watt âAy up, Mogs. Bringer of mad tidings. What is it this time?â âEnd of the world,â I said. âCanât get much madder than that.â We hadn't planned a return to Leeds. Not yet, anyway. It was all a bit dicey, what with half the Folk in the city wanting us dead, and apparently having no reservations about making it happen. But our friend Gerry is missing, and we've got to find him. Never mind the fact that anyone who can take out a troll is operating way above our pay grade. It's not like anyone pays us anyway, so what've we got to lose? It doesnât take long to discover a missing troll is the least of our worries. Leeds has blown straight past dicey and into end times. The necromancers are back and as power-sotted as ever, and this time it's not just a few cats they want dead. It's everyone. So if we want any chance of life as we know it to continue, we need to stop them as well as save Gerry. Easy, right? We only have to get past Callum's dodgy family, my dodgy past, hopped-up magic-workers, feral weres, shady magicians, and the ever-present, ever-treacherous Watch. Oh, and did I mention the sorcerer's still giving me out of body experiences? Yeah. Good times. At least it can't get much worse. Can it âŚ? This is the seventh and final book in the Gobbelino London, PI urban fantasy series, centred around the adventures of a mercenary feline PI and his human sidekick. It contains snarky cats and other gods, many bad jokes and terrible puns, plus a large serving of mythological and real creatures behaving badly. It will appeal to anyone who likes their fantasy funny, modern, and filled with friendship rather than romance - and also to those who suspect their cat may be living a great and secret life when they're not looking. A Collision of Catastrophes contains some violence, particularly involving over-enthusiastic senior citizens and enraged cats, but none of it is graphic. It contains no sex and only mild language. It does, however, contain blasphemy. |
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The Heart of Space by Adam Gaffen The Cassidyverse is back! Kendra and Aiyana's world is as vibrant and rich as ever in this new collection of thirteen pieces of short fiction. You might think their world runs on fusion power, or antimatter plants, or maybe even warp drives. But it doesn't. It runs on emotions and relationships and heart. What happened after Kendra's near-disastrous Christmas party? You're not going to believe it! Kendra's journey from actress to assassin continues in "Roses Have Thorns" Lexie wants to break up with her boring boyfriend, but she never expected a goddess Shi faces her demons in "Lupus in Astris", putting the ghosts of her past to rest In "Heart of Molycirc", Elsa confronts a lying, corrupt bully to regain her self-respect Step into the distant future of the Terran Empire in "Chooser of the Living" and see the covert battle that could launch a revolution These stories and more show what we mean when we say that the Terran Federation is the Heart of Space. |
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Ruinous Attraction by Ruby Jones The Elder ruins beneath Mount Sussuran thrum with magic and mystery - an irresistible draw for Arthur, a scholar and wizard in hiding. For Ferdinand, the ruins offer a connection to the ancestors who bound the souls of dead gods to the blood of his people. A power that feels like a an ever-present temptation to unscrupulous wizards. Drawn together by Haleâs archaeological expedition, Arthur and Ferdinand make for uncomfortable companions. When Ferdinand accidentally locks himself and Arthur in an ancient enchanted sex dungeon, will they be able to resist their growing desires? Or could passion break down the walls of prejudice and distrust? |
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Tales from Blackthorn Briar by Sebastian Nothwell Shrike, the fae Butcher of Blackthorn, and Wren Lofthouse, a mortal Victorian clerk, are bound together by love and fate. Their continued adventures (and those of their friends) are told in this collection of fantastical tales following the story of Oak King Holly King, including... Mabon Wherein Shrike and Wren repay their debt to the Court of Hidden Folk. Mr Grigsby's Clerk Wherein Mr Grigsby finds a replacement for Wren - and perhaps more than he bargained for. Jack in the Green Wherein a certain Horse Guard wanders into Blackthorn Briar. Winter Solstice Wherein the Holly King surrenders to the Oak King. The Holly King's Peril Wherein Wren and Shrike discover danger in the wilds of the Fae Realms. The Ballad of Daniel Durst Wherein Daniel embarks on his authentic life in a bold new land. |
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Oak King Holly King by Sebastian Nothwell Shrike, the Butcher of Blackthorn, is a legendary warrior of the fae realms. When he wins a tournament in the Court of the Silver Wheel, its queen names him her Oak King - a figurehead destined to die in a ritual duel to invoke the change of seasons. Shrike is determined to survive. Even if it means he must put his heart as well as his life into a mere mortalâs hands. Wren Lofthouse, a London clerk, has long ago resigned himself to a life of tedium and given up his fanciful dreams. When a medieval-looking brute arrives at his office to murmur of destiny, heâs inclined to think his old enemies are playing an elaborate prank. Still, he canât help feeling intrigued by the bizarre-yet-handsome stranger and his fantastical ramblings, whose presence stirs up emotions Wren has tried to lock away in the withered husk of his heart. As Shrike whisks Wren away to a world of Wild Hunts and arcane rites, Wren is freed from the repression of Victorian society. But both the fae and mortal realms prove treacherous to their growing bond. Wren and Shrike must fight side-by-side to see who will claim victory - Oak King or Holly King. |
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Fiorenzo by Sebastian Nothwell Fiore has a plan. Find a wealthy elderly gentleman, delight him until the end of his days, and retire on the resulting inheritance. Itâs the best outcome a low-born courtesan in the city of Halcyon can hope for. And it seems a perfect scheme⌠until a mysterious masked man upends it. Banished from university after a disastrous duel, Enzo wanders the city searching for scraps of the affection heâs lost. His public mask conceals private agonies. A single night in the company of a courtesan, however, balms his wounded heart, and he finds himself returning again and again to Fiore, revealing more of himself than heâs ever dared before. Furthermore, and more astonishing still, Fiore finds he returns Enzoâs affections. But while Fiore wears no mask, he nonetheless has secrets of his own. And when the ghosts of their pasts return to haunt them, only the bond of trust between them will carry them through. ~ Fiorenzo is a queer fantasy-of-manners romance featuring secret identities, hurt/comfort, and a happily-ever-after. |
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The Haunting of Heatherhurst Hall by Sebastian Nothwell American heiress Kit Morgan is heartbroken at the wedding of her dearest school-friend. At her lowest moment, she is rescued from her agonies by the mysterious and alluring Alexandra Cranbrook, sister of a visiting English baronet. Alexandra is beautiful, charming, and effortlessly beguiling. Kit cannot help but fall in love with her. When Sir Vivian Cranbrook proposes marriage, it seems natural for Kit to acceptâif only to live with the woman she desperately loves. But the Cranbrookâs ancestral home of Heatherhurst Hall is not all it seems. The attic is forbidden. Strange scratching noises echo from within the walls. Wraiths stalk the corridors by night. And worst of all, Alexandraâs love has turned to scorn. Still, Kit is determined to earn her happily-ever-after and save the Cranbrooks from the horrors of Heatherhurst Hall. If only she could know Alexandra loved her in return. ~ The Haunting of Heatherhurst Hall is a Gothic romance rife with horror and heartache, wherein an American heiress makes an ill-advised marriage to bring herself closer the woman whoâs stolen her heart. |
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Hold Fast by Sebastian Nothwell Morgan Turner, agent to the Winthrop estate, owes everything to his benefactor. When the late baronetâs will tasks him with finding the lost heir and making a gentleman of him, he is determined to succeed. Thirteen years ago, Evelyn Winthrop ran away to sea. Now that his hated patriarch is dead, the ancestral home he returns to is more shadowed than what he left behind. Ungrateful relations and old friends alike tie a knot of scandal and depravity only a sailor could hope to unravel. And all the while, the siren song of the sea calls him to return at the first opportunity. Neither anticipated forming more tender attachments. To Evelyn, his unexpectedly handsome agent is the only thing anchoring him to shore. He sees a captainâs soul within Morgan, and his heart is caught upon the hook of commandâif only Morgan would return his affections. To Morgan, his new employerâs charms threaten to tear down the thorns that have grown around his heartâthorns he cultivated to restrain his unnatural instincts. When the estate and all who live there are threatened by a maelstrom of bitter secrets and sinister plots, it is down to Morgan to take command, down to Evelyn to hold fast, and down to them both to navigate their own treacherous sea. |
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Throw His Heart Over by Sebastian Nothwell Sir Lindsey Althorp, spectacularly wealthy baronet, has sat in the saddle since the day he was breeched. Aubrey Warren, threadbare telegraph boy turned engineer, has never ridden a horse in his life and had no intention of startingâuntil now. When a portrait-painting holiday in the country provides an opportunity for riding, Lindsey is eager to teach Aubrey the ropes. Aubrey works to overcome his well-founded caution regarding large beasts of burden. Harder to dispel are his insecurities about his scarred body in the wake of the Rook Mill boiler explosionâparticularly as these scars are put on display to model for the painting Icarus Fallen. As the painting progresses, so do the riding lessons, until a potentially deadly accident may put a stop to both for good. |
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Mr Warren's Profession by Sebastian Nothwell Lindsey Althorp, the only son of a wealthy baronet, has never worked a day in his life. Aubrey Warren was born in a workhouse and hasnât stopped working since. Buoyed by Lindsey's optimism and fuelled by Aubrey's industry, the two men strive to overcome the class gulf between them. But a horrific accident reveals a betrayal that threatens to tear them apart forever. |
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A Place to Land by Rosalie Fox The sequel to A Tale of Wild Geese, A Place to Land picks up Johnny Reillyâs story in Africa at the end of 1944. World War Two had left all of them with scars, not all of them visible, and it wasn't over yet. At night the Focke-Wulf still hunted him and the people he loved. When his career as a fighter pilot had ended, Johnny Reilly had come to Africa to make peace with his beloved cousin, to bring her husband home to her. He hadn't meant to stay, but the lovely Louise Viljoen had changed that when she kissed him in front of the hotel... Lou was the only girl who had him off guard and kept him that way. Somehow she knew how to help him through the nightmares. But he'd never had sense, then, had he? So he made more mistakes and then he was going to be father. He was a penniless, broken-down pilot and somehow he had to find a way to build a life for them, and he had to do it quickly. To do that, he needed a plane and when he learned of a man in Southwest Africa who could help him, he ventured to a little town called Kolmanskop to meet the Little Bird of the Namib Desert. It was another venture that went south, badly, and Johnny is forced to face the past, the things haunting him, and a man who had been an enemy. Suddenly the mission is no more to find a plane, but to survive and pray that the people he loves will come search for them, find them before it's too late. It's a story of love, brotherhood, adventure and one man's quest to find a place to land and a way to put his demons to rest. |
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A Tale of Wild Geese by Rosalie Fox The year was 1940 and the skies above Britain were about to become a war zone. Eleanor Davies was a 19-year-old barmaid in the Lark. Her cousin, Johnny Reilly, had been bringing her things he thought she would like for as long as she could remember. He'd bring her a flower or a seashell that caught his eye. One day, he brought her a young American pilot and all their lives changed forever. When Danny walked through The Lark's door, the world as she'd known it shifted; it would never be the same again. Danny O'Neal wasn't supposed to be in the RAF, it violated his country's neutrality agreements. He also wasn't supposed to be falling in love. His whole life had been a war for survival. He had come to England in the hope that he could leave his past behind and build a life for himself. Meeting a girl hadn't been part of his plans. This is a tale of Wild Geese blowing before the winds of war, coming of age and falling in love, building something worthwhile in the midst of the greatest conflict the world has ever known. It tells the story of dreaming of white roses, a porch and skies at peace, while the world falls apart around them. It's an epic tale of 'The Few' who defended the skies and the Women's Land Army that kept agriculture going. Above all, it's a love story that spans across continents. The love story that left all of them changed forever. |
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Scorched earth magic by Elana Mcdougall This is part two to Hidden Magic. Itâs about A young woman who leaves behind her home (hollows), magic, and lover for a fresh start on her own. When she returns everyone discovers that she wasnât only hiding herself, but a daughter of her former loverâs Sebastian Saint-Remy. She must save herself, her daughter, and Sebastian from evil. |
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A Mirage in the Memory by Simon Tull Dogged by a digital ghost and his own murky past, he must scour the city to kill the killer ⌠or lose the woman he loves. Earth, post-Apocalypse. Thibault Allard is determined to save his wife. After he escapes the addictive virtual reality that enslaved them both, he works as a bounty hunter for their unsavoury captor to gain inside access and search for his beloved. But when the morally flexible immortal is handed a ruthless ultimatum, he derails his plans in order to pursue the man who terminated his boss's spouse. Getting close to the dangerous cult leader responsible for the woman's death, he scrambles to survive after he's captured and imprisoned. And thrown into a pit for a gladiatorial battle against a blood-lusting monster, Thibault fears he'll die before he can rescue the bride he left behind. Can he double down on his duty without losing the rest of his soul? |
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The Girl on the Red Pillow by Angelika Rust An average abusive childhood, a tendency towards depression. Annaleeâs life could be normal. If only she could get rid of the dwarf. Annalee doesnât mind what people call her. After all, a nameâs just a name. What she does mind, though, is the dwarf trying to wall her in. Struggling between reality and hallucination, a black cat and a talking skeleton her only companions along the way, Annalee fights for her sanity, and a way out. |
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To Miss the Stars by Barbara Lieberman John Worthington is a man who knows his place in the world and keeps to it. That is, until a letter he writes is misdirected. A simple and thoughtful reply begins a correspondence that will turn that well-ordered life upside down. |
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The Book and the Blade by A.B. Finlayson A perfect story for fans of Gaiman and Pratchettâs GOOD OMENS, SHAUN OF THE DEAD and THE WORLDâS END. Arthur Crazy is drunk and seeing ghosts. This is not a metaphor. The dead are walking and talking, and it doesn't matter that Arthur doesn't believe in them. They believe in him. Too drunk to recall how he stumbled upon his nascent power, Arthur is burdened with newfound heâs the only one who can hear the unfinished business of every dead guy in York, and heâs the only one who can help. As forgotten legends and lost demons stir all over the cobbled streets and snickelways, Arthur finds himself at the centre of an unfolding mysteryâa light in the desert, a fart at a funeralâand he is about to discover that an unfortunate surname isn't the only thing that makes him stand out. Arthur just wants to sober up, have a kebab, and go home, but his conscience is knocking loud and clear, demanding he open the damn door. He may not be the hero the dead need, but heâs the one theyâre stuck with. Besides, one of those ghosts seems kind of cute. |
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Imperfect Illusions by Vanora Lawless A drafted empath. A dreamwalking poet. A world at war. Chicago, 1917. Idealistic, aspiring poet, Elliot Stone can make people feel euphoria or horror with a simple touch. But that's only part of his magical abilities. He can also wake in the dreams of people he cares deeply for. Stubborn, fiercely independent Warren âSullyâ Sullivan is an illusionist with a secret of his own: he feels the emotions of others as visceral sensations. That, and a lifetime of fending for himself, has left him guarded. On their last night of freedom before shipping off to trainingâmilitary and magicâElliot and Sully indulge in an explosive, emotional night together. Elliot assumes it's a one night stand and nothing more, until he awakens in Sullyâs nightmare. The urge to rescue Sully is impossible to resist. And when dream-Sully begs him to keep coming back, something Sully would never do while awake, Elliot canât resist that either. As real life draws them into battle, their shared dreams become a refuge that only Elliot recalls. So when Elliot has the opportunity to recruit Sully to the secret elite unit of magical soldiers he leads, heâs willing to risk everything for the man heâs fallen in love with in dreams. But being away from the front lines doesnât mean Sullyâs safe. Now they battle enemies with twisted magic where their secrets are a liability. Can they bring their dreamsâand loveâto life? Or will the war cost them everything? |
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Twisted Tome by Vanora Lawless For empathic illusionist Warren 'Sully' Sullivan dreamwalking Captain Elliot Stone is more than the only thing keeping him sane and safe. He's the keeper of Sully's heart, even if he can't seem to admit it out loud. When an ancient grimoire infused with catastrophic magic comes into play, they've got to do everything in their power to keep it from landing in enemy hands. Unfortunately, that means working closely with a man who once shattered Elliot's heart. Someone he would have done anything for. As insecurity, jealousy, and fear threaten the fledgling relationship between Elliot and Sully, will the darkness closing in around them bring them closer or tear them apart forever? |
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Heir Undeniable by Hannah James You know how people always say everyone is special in their own way? Right. Everyone but me. Iâve always been completely ordinary and perfectly plain. Even my name is boring: Christina Miller. Nothing sets me apart, and all I have is my mom, a mountain of debt, and a job at an escape room. On my first day as manager, the whole thing seems to be coming down around me. Until a mysterious stranger offers his help. But underneath his calm, polite exterior lies a heart familiar with darkness and death, and Iâm faced with a decision that only I can make: Do I accept that side of him, or lose all of him? â Iâve never wanted nor needed anyone. Until I met her. Until the fire in her soul sparked something in mine that I thought I lost a long time ago. Yet, I can never tell her who I am. What I am. I am Jonathan Langdon, and I am the great-grandson and the only known living male descendant of the First Ever Vampire, Ambrogio, cursed to a life eternal by the sun-god Apollo. And Iâve always felt that way, cursed, until she looked in my eyes and saw my soul. But what would she do if she ever learned the truth? Will she run, or will she stand up and embrace the Night? When my enemy gets a little too close, we may just find out⌠Whether I want to or not. |
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Valkyrie Cursed by Rosie Wylor-Owen Rowan McQuaid should be dead. Valkyries donât survive vampire bites. But after releasing a tomb full of rabid vampires, Rowan is still breathing. Her survival means one thing: somehow, she is immune. When witches are slaughtered in their homes, Rowan discovers the vampires are hell-bent on killing the descendants of those who imprisoned them. And every drop of blood spilled is on her hands. Forced to team up with the mysterious vampire Nate Hallewell, Rowan must find and stop the rogue vampires before they kill every witch in south east England. |
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In Time with the Duke by Brooke J. Losee NEVER wear cursed pearls. With the expectation to take over as CEO of the family business looming over her, Magdalena McCarthy wants nothing more than to escape a life of board meetings and late nights at the office. When her pearl heirloom grants her wish by transporting her two hundred years into the past and is then stolen by a bunch of British punks, her future looks more uncertain than ever. Now sheâs stuck in 1815, and her only chance of finding the heirloom and going home rests with her handsome rescuer. Luke Halford, Duke of Avendesh, avoids social gatherings like any man committed to eternal bachelorhood. But after saving a peculiar young lady from a band of highwaymen, his notions on marriage are quickly upended. Miss McCarthyâs odd phrases and lack of social etiquette disarm him, and the more time he spends with the American lady, the more his walls crumble. As Maggie begins to accept life in the past, the opportunity to reclaim the necklace leaves her with an impossible choice, one ripped from her grasp when gossip threatens her reputation. After confessing the truth, sheâs certain her return to the future was for the best, but Luke isnât ready to lose the woman who stole his heart, and the same pearl necklace that brought them together soon places them both in the hands of a madman and the future in jeopardy. |
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Strange Tales of the Macabre by E. Reyes Immerse yourself in E. Reyesâ haunting worlds with this spine-chilling collection exploring humanityâs encounters with the eerie and the unknown. A group of friends break into a home and are in for a night of unsuspected terror. A teen discovers a true crime book that no one else remembers. A young girlâs doll becomes a conduit for ancient evil. A pair of clowns turn to the supernatural to save a failing thrill ride. These and other unsettling tales await⌠Step into the unexplainable with Strange Tales of the Macabre |
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The Love Song of Nathan Crane by E. Reyes Nathan Crane, a handsome and charming young man, becomes fixated on Christine Romero, a stunning woman who catches his eye. Despite his initial attempts to woo her, Christine repeatedly rejects Nathan's advances, and he spirals into a dangerous obsession. As Nathan's obsession with Christine intensifies, he reveals his dark side. His once-charming demeanor is replaced with menacing and possessive behavior, and he becomes determined to make Christine love him, even if it means keeping her all to himself. Nathan's solution to his problem is extreme and violent, leading him down a dangerous path. As Christine becomes aware of the extent of Nathan's obsession and his true nature, she is forced to fight for her life and her freedom. As the story unfolds, Nathan's obsession with Christine reaches a fever pitch, leading to a final confrontation that will leave readers on the edge of their seats. This gripping novel explores the dark side of obsession and the lengths some people will go to in order to get what they want. |
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The House on Moon Creek Avenue by E. Reyes âA haunted house story that will give you The Conjuring vibes.ââKashaâs Book Sematary Fleeing an abusive boyfriend, Cindy moves into her late grandmotherâs creepy old house with her young daughter. At first, the home is comfortable and nostalgic. But soon, ghosts randomly appear day and night, doors open and close, a streak of bad luck begins, and Cindy and her daughter have unsettling nightmares. Cindyâs mental state is pushed to the edge. When Cindyâs video recording of paranormal activity goes viral, she gets the attention of famous ghost hunters. With nowhere else to turn, Cindy accepts their help to find and eliminate the source of the haunting. Can Cindy and the team of paranormal investigators survive the haunting of The House on Moon Creek Avenue? Praise for The House on Moon Creek Avenue: âE.Reyes plays with all the readersâ senses to invoke chills.ââJamie Stewart, author of Trick or Treat âI couldnât put it down.ââIseult Murphy, author of 7 Days in Hell âIf you're looking for a spooky haunted house story that'll give you the creeps, reach for this one!ââSpooky Octopus Reads |
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The Halloween Grindhouse: An Anthology by E. Reyes âIf you love horror⌠you must read this book.ââJulie Hiner, author of Final Track On Halloween night, four friends use a new app that takes users to random weird, creepy, and haunted locations. The location generated for them is an abandoned house in a sketchy neighborhood. Inside, they discover a series of VHS tapes, each revealing a blood-curdling tale that pushes the boundaries of fear and darkness⌠Encounter a terrifying zombie uprising born from the depths of drug cartel torture chambers. Navigate a haunted house alongside a group of unsuspecting friends, where the supernatural lurks around every corner. Witness the brutal karmic justice delivered by an evil entity on Mischief Night. And hold your breath as a kidnapped girl struggles to escape the twisted clutches of a monstrous captor and his sinister grandmother. From supernatural nightmares to the macabre realities of human evil, each story in this anthology offers a unique and harrowing journey, filled with twists that will keep you on the edge of your seat. So, dim the lights and brace yourself for a heart-stopping descent into the darkest corners of The Halloween Grindhouse. Praise for The Halloween Grindhouse âThis was a fun read. Think Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark adult version. Great concept.ââStephanie Reads Reviews âThis book has it all. E. Reyes has definitely caught my attention and has left me thirsty for more!ââRose Devours Books Reviews âE. Reyes enthralled me with this Halloween themed collection. ...I found a new favorite author.ââAndrew Robert, contributor to Slice of Paradise âIf you're looking for a bloody book for this Halloween season, you can't go wrong with this one.ââMichael R. Goodwin, author of Smolder âI adored this⌠if you're a fan of old school horror movies/vibes, then this is highly recommended.ââH. Everend, author of Cursed Legacy |
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The Training Grounds: From the Ashes by Jason Clark After suffering devastating losses in the pursuit to destroy the reaper, Millicent, Adelaide, and Oakes try to pick up the pieces of their shattered lives. As they prepare for another year at the Training Grounds, events unfold that provide hopeâand the promise of more bloodshed. The discovery of an ancient map presents a world of possibilities, along with whisperings of a device that holds the potential to bring Darius back. Millicent and her friends will embark on an epic journey and attempt the impossibleâto cheat death. While increasing her control over the elements, a strange voice from beyond reaches out, offering a deadly proposal. As the three students search for a way to bring Darius backâor decide to finally let him go, Dean Anders joins forces with Bao and Bixia to prepare the Training Grounds for an imminent attack. Not only must Anders juggle the external threats of Belladonna and the Unified Republic, but a new foe emerges, threatening to destroy the school from within. The stakes are higher as cataclysmic battles bring Merchant Valley to the brink of annihilation. Will the new weapons Anders creates for his prize students be enough? Can they possibly withstand the inevitable onslaught destined for the school? This time everyone must fight to stay aliveâor die trying. |
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Season One: Iris and the Crew Tear Through Space! by Cait Gordon In a galactic network known as the Keangal, where space is accessible⌠Lieutenant Eileen Iris and the command crew of the S.S. SpoonZ havenât a clue what it means to be disabled. An unexpected conversation with an intergalactic janitor brings up the question but offers no answers before heâs âported away. Unfazed, duties resume as Iris manages an overprotective guidebot; Security Chief Lartha and her sentient prostheses offer kick-ass protection; Mr. Herbertâs inventiveness is a godsend (although heâs not quite grasped how to flirt); Commander Davanâs affable personality comes through whether trumpeted, texted, or signed; and Captain Warqâs gracious but firm leadership keeps everyone at their best. Until on one mission, where the crew tears through space. Just a little bit. |
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Mythic: Shadow of the Spark by Adrian Santiago Thousands of years after Ancient Earth, Humanity has forgotten its past, and is doomed to repeat it. MYTHIC: For centuries the last of humanity traveled the galaxy aboard a fleet of ARK ships searching for a new home. They warred amongst themselves, formed alliances, and eventually split off into factions. The peace-seekers that broke away found a ringed and moonless planet they renamed Gaia in homage to Ancient Earth, orbiting a star they renamed Sol. They gifted Gaia a moon in the form of a giant space station called The Spark; built by combining their fourteen ARKs, ending their nomadic ways, and committing to their new home. For three centuries there was peace for the last of mankind. The era of Peace is over. The age of Shadow has begun. BOOK ONE: SHADOW OF THE SPARK Newly-appointed Detective Migdalia Vandersey's first murder case was supposed to be open-and-shut. Wishful thinking. Armed with the latest technology she unravels the mysteries of the victims, the killer, and The Spark itself. The complex web of crime and corruption entangles her professionally, and romantically, with a bounty hunter seeking redemption (Llyr Varyan) and a witch exploring the depths of her power (Faye Noelani). At the center of all the sex, drugs, secrets, magic, and violence waits a prolific killer who hunts the streets with impunity. This murderer works to cover his tracks and stay ahead of Detective Vandersey, and her partners, as they race against the clock to stop him from taking his next victim, and tying off his final loose end. Will the help of Llyr and Faye be enough, or will Migdalia's career end before she even closes her first case? |
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Mythic: The Death & Rebirth of Bella Erdmann by Adrian Santiago A farm girl out in the big city. The drug dealing black sheep of the family. And a hippie chick guiding them on a mushroom trip. What could go wrong? (A Psychedelic Sci-Fi Short Story) Bella Erdmann's time had come. She was made to leave The Farm; the only home she'd ever known, for a full year of life in the wild city streets. The Spark, a moon-sized space station and home to the last of humanity, was a terrifying place for someone as naĂŻve and uncultured as she. With nowhere else to turn, she settled for the drug-dealing black sheep of the family, her cousin Mitch, who immediately whisked her off in his hover-car to make a delivery to a hippie. The night grew stranger from there with the introduction of wine, cannabis and magic mushrooms. A memorable first and final night of life on the town for Bella Erdmann. This short story serves as a prologue or direct lead-in to the novel, MYTHIC: SHADOW OF THE SPARK |
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Have You Decided on Your Question: A Novelette by Lyndsey Croal If you could live your life over again, what would you ask to change? Something big? Something small? A single moment? Have you decided on your question? Zoe has. Tired of feeling alone and lost, Zoe seeks out an experimental virtual therapy experience from Alternative Reality Tech, which offers patients the opportunity to explore life's biggest "what if?" questions via virtual reality. During her first assessment, Zoe glimpses a past in which she would have met the love of her life years ago, if not for a split-second decision. Wanting to find out more about what could have been, she returns regularly to her alternative life, slowly falling in love with the man she should have met. And so begins a dangerous obsession... |
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A Vision of Air by Nico Silver A sinister magical plot could destroy order in the Nine Monarchies. Foiling that plot could destroy something even more precious. The only seer born to the bird folk in seven generations, Fionn has spent his entire life in an impenetrable, remote abbey, learning to control his visions and to heal the sick. He has never met his parents, has never even seen another of his people, and has never known anything beyond the strict order within the abbey walls. When Kiernan, the half-human son of the forest Sidhe, is sent on a secret mission to the abbey, he finds himself trapped within the walls. He is blinded, weakened, and stripped of his magicâand forced to rely on seer-healer Fionn for everything. To the Sidhe, the bird folk are lesser beings, thought to be barbaric and barely civilized. But Kier doesnât know Fionn is one of them, and he finds himself attracted the gentle young man he canât even see. When Kier remembers his mission to foil a plot that threatens both his life and Fionnâs, he has to choose: save the young man he is coming to care about, or carry out the vital mission he was sent for, even if it means losing Fionn. |
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Brother of Demons by Nico Silver The voice in Evgenyâs head should have been silenced, but itâs not. Instead, itâs getting stronger⌠A demon born of the slaughter of innocents lies imprisoned inside Evgenyâs mind. Itâs supposed to be quiet, dissolved back into the ghost-memories of which it was made, but lately those ghosts are stirring, causing nightmares. And worse, the demon is reconstructing itself. The year-round carnival on Wonder Island seems an unlikely source of help, but it hides a community of non-humans and magical beings, some strangerâand more dangerousâthan Evgeny or his demon. The island also hides a building far older than it should be, a building that houses secrets known to only a few. A building that can contain Evgeny safely while he battles the demon in his head. If he canât subdue the evil presence by absorbing the horrors itâs made of, Evgeny will lose more than his mind; heâll also lose his body and everyone he cares for. And even if he can defeat the demon, he will not emerge unscathed⌠|
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Heir of Witches by Nico Silver What if the secret to her best friendâs happiness is the source of her own worst fear? Su made the ultimate sacrifice to save her lover from a fate worse than death: she allowed her witch friend Alex to bind her fox-self as a familiar, tying their powers together, with Alex holding the leash. Alex is willing to reverse the binding, but she doesnât know how, and neither do the other witches she knows, so theyâll have to travel overseas in search of the one person who might have the answer: the legendary, and possibly entirely mythical, Witch of the Hexenwald. But Alex has her own motive in seeking the witch, who just happens to be her ancestor: she wants to learn, to become the strongest witch she can be. But doing so could put her firmly on the side of keeping Su bound. Because foxes make excellent witchesâ familiars, and hexenfuchs like Su make the best familiars of all⌠|
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Daughter of Foxes by Nico Silver Sheâs one of those things that goes bump in the night; if only she knew what kind of thing that was⌠When Su met Evgeny, he was a newborn vampire fleeing a mad scientist maker, and she was something not entirely human with no memory of her past. Theyâre happy spending their days trying to figure out where each of them came from, and how they best fit together in bed, when Evgeny vanishes, stolen by a vampire cabal that wants to use his rare ability to metabolize witch blood to make themselves invincible. Rescuing her new lover from a secret research facility seems to be an impossible task, but Su might just be an impossible creature, and if she fails, Evgenyâs best case scenario is to become a mindless blood filter. The worst case scenario is unthinkable⌠|
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The Babel Apocalypse by Vyvyan Evans Language is no longer learned, but streamed to neural implants regulated by lang-laws. Those who can't afford language streaming services are feral, living on the fringes of society. Big tech corporations control language, the worldâs most valuable commodity. But when a massive cyberattack causes a global language outage, catastrophe looms. Europol detective Emyr Morgan is assigned to the case. His prime suspect is Professor Ebba Black, the last native speaker of language in the automated world, and leader of the Babel cyberterrorist organization. But Emyr soon learns that in a world of corporate power, where those who control language control everything, all is not as it seems. As he and Ebba collide, Emyr faces an existential dilemma between loyalty and betrayal, when everything he once believed in is called into question. To prevent the imminent collapse of civilization and a global war between the great federations, he must figure out friend from foeâhis life depends on it. And with the odds stacked against him, he must find a way to stop the Babel Apocalypse. |
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Fella Ever After by S.O. Callahan With the wedding event of the year safely behind him, Peter is left to figure out how to navigate life without his best friend at his side. Then, a letter arrives with a special request. Peter leaps at the unique opportunity. Itâs the perfect excuse to spend more time with Breck, who has been busy preparing for his own life-changing ceremony. The pair set off on a journey meant to bring them closer together, but after a few mishaps along the way, it ends with them farther apart than either of them couldâve imagined. Peter is forced to question his future with the enchanting lad heâs fallen for. Can the two of them work through their challenges, or is this a fairy tale that was never meant to be told? Fella Ever After is the sequel to Fella Enchanted. It cannot be read as a standalone. |
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Fella Enchanted by S.O. Callahan Fairy tales are for children. Thatâs what Peter had decided, especially after a devastating illness swept through his village, thrusting him into the harsh, very unmagical reality of adulthood. Following a difficult recovery, and an even more arduous struggle with finding his footing in life after losing some of the people he cared about most, Peterâs world is upended again with the arrival of a stranger who takes a special interest in his story. Quirky and confident, Breck quickly pulls Peter out of the sheltered and safe, albeit monotonous, existence that heâs finally settled into. He discovers that letting go doesnât mean forgetting the past, it means gaining a future. But what if that future also holds a bit of magic, too? |