stories in

The Firetongue Heir

The Firetongue Heir by Elyse Thomson

SFINCS

Love leads to ruin As the cunning mage Nadia plots to reshape a continent plagued by war, the fate of a noblewoman—marriage and a life of stultifying insignificance—is only one of many hurdles to overcome. Forced to let her brother take credit for all her brilliant plans, she’s resigned to scheme from the shadows while her family decides her future. Her life seems set in stone, until she meets a charming, irritating rogue and the bane of her existence—Darius. Prince Darius Firetongue loves nothing more than nettling the sharp-tongued, quick-witted Nadia, and being the disappointing youngest son of a tyrant leaves him plenty of time to woo her away from a fiancĂ© she doesn’t want. But when the king decides to bring him to heel by threatening Nadia’s life, he knows he must act. Compelled to flee, with only each other to rely on, passions ignite. Yet as dangerous secrets are revealed, they must decide: side with family, or choose a reckless, forbidden love and the dark promise of bloodshed to come. A lush, romantic fantasy novella set in a world inspired by ancient history, The Firetongue Heir is the prequel novella to the Mages of Oblivion series. The ebook version remains an exclusive gift for newsletter subscribers.


Promise of Fire

Promise of Fire by Raina Nightingale

SFINCS

A HOPELESS FIGHT. A HORROR WORSE THAN DEATH. WERE-DRAGONS BORN FROM THE PROMISE OF FIRE. The last stand of the Dragonrider-mages is over. The people they fought to protect have been slain and enslaved, and their own numbers have been culled in accident and battle. Every death has added to the power of the Wizard-King, and their doom seems inevitable. But a glimmer of hope has fanned the gloom into a flame, and despair is fuel for the fire. All seems lost, but the human Laisly and the dragon Caldera have slain a death-bound dragon, and suddenly their way is clear. They may all be slain and enslaved, but they must journey into the heart of Eltaes, homeland of the Wizard-King, and give all they have to kill him. It is their last chance. Is the triumph over fear victory enough?


Undiscovered

Undiscovered by Ashley Anglin

Sometimes truth is stranger than folktales. Bilingualism and plate tectonics were the only kinds of shapeshifting Arden Araujo’s troubled geoscientist dad prepared her for. But it turns out, the outlandish prediction that wrecked his career–a devastating North Sea tsunami–might not be the unlikeliest truth he took to his grave. In the 2097 tsunami’s aftermath, environmental first responder Arden expects her mission in hard-hit northeast Scotland to involve the usual grunt work, maybe a little freediving if she’s lucky. Instead, she stumbles upon a critically endangered species of Orkney and Shetland legend, hiding in plain sight among the refugees. They trust that she can help restore their kind, despite storms, aftershocks, and policy decisions way beyond her pay grade. Increasingly at home on the shores of their life-giving sea, she may have found her calling; true love might not be a mere children’s story either. Yet the deeper she’s immersed in their tale, the less sure she feels that she’s the right hero to protect the hidden treasure of their existence. UNDISCOVERED is a unique sci fi/fantasy fusion: climate fiction, hopeful fabulism, and a feminist hero’s journey, told in lyrical prose (and occasional Spanglish).


Plain Striders: An Amboy Novella

Plain Striders: An Amboy Novella by Steven Healt

**This novella is best read after Amid the Maelstrom** Uncertainty has settled over the Perimeter town of East Edge. The Knights of Amboy who were tasked to protect the citizens have abandoned their post. News of an attack on the Council in Central Amboy called the Knights away, and it is this same news that has caused a rift in East Edge’s fledgling Amber Waves Company chapter. With a newly formed town council struggling amid these events, East Edge finds itself in a precarious position. Owain Meadows and his twin brother, Dion, believe it is their responsibility to fill the void left by the Knights’ departure, despite orders from their guardian, Victor Aymin, to keep themselves out of the matter. But with the confidence of youth comes naivety. Their misunderstanding of their situation’s gravity could prove fatal, not only for themselves, but also for the townspeople they seek to protect. Will they find their place and be able to protect the town they call home, or will their inexperience lead to disaster?


Amid the Maelstrom

Amid the Maelstrom by Steven Healt

The Amber Waves Company has suffered a devastating loss. Members from across the New Ring gather to mourn, and celebrate those who fell during the atrocities that occurred within Central Amboy. Whispers are spreading of the Amber Wave's involvement. Some within the Company believe it is time to strike out against the new Council that has seized power. But who will be the one to lead them into this uncertain future? Cordelia Faucher has been tasked with the protection of a mysterious Amboian. A settlement within the Haze would be the last place the Council would expect to find them, but Mountain Station is already overwhelmed with refugees from failing settlements, and the world beyond the Perimeter is filled with dangers of its own. The status quo of Central Amboy has been shattered, and the Jorogumo are poised to take advantage of the chaos while the Amboians clamor to restore order



Haze and Shadow

Haze and Shadow by Steven Healt

Driven by her task to bring Dimitri Endano to justice before the Elders of Mountain Station, Cordelia Faucher joins Gaelcean on his journey back to the capital city of Amboy. All she has to do is separate one of the most wanted men under the Shield from one of Central Amboy's most influential Councilors. Obligated by their contract, the Amber Waves are forced along as well. When dire news from Port Amboy reaches them, they use the opportunity to distance themselves from Gaelcean. Will it be enough to escape his grasp? The political engine of Central Amboy hasn't ceased, and the Amboian Councilors continue on in Gaelcean's absence. What lies in wait for him upon his return, and how will it impact those who follow him? Ahead of them lies the uncertainty of their return, and behind them, remnants of Dimitri Endano's followers pursue. Who is the strange woman leading them, and what is her connection to the Upper Districts?


Love Kills Twice

Love Kills Twice by Rien Gray

She needs an assassin. They’re the best in the business. Falling in love was never part of the deal. Desperate to escape her abusive husband, Justine hires a contract killer. Campbell’s services come at a high price, and their dark, seductive charisma leads Justine right into their bed. Hiding an affair while Campbell designs the perfect murder has Justine walking a tightrope of stress, but each time the two of them sleep together, it’s harder not to get attached. Campbell struggles with their own traumatic past, convinced that the truth will drive Justine away. There’s a faint hope that things could work, save for one problem: Justine’s husband wants her dead too. Revenge is easy—heartbreak could cost both of them everything.


Plant Lady

Plant Lady by M. A. Phillips

Plants are easy. People
not so much. Fern is a practicing witch with a green thumb. She's earned an enchanting reputation for helping people improve their fortunes at her tiny plant shop in Utica, NY, but she'd trade it all to reclaim her grandparents' garden nursery. Her life takes an unexpected turn when an ex-boyfriend suddenly appears at her Pagan circle's meetup as they plan for their annual witches' ball. Will he uproot this Plant Lady's plans, or will new opportunities bloom?


Doppelganger

Doppelganger by S. L. Phanes

Oasis Utterson and Elliot Warlow endeavor to remake Dr. Jekyll’s formula and prove that it is safe in order to secure funding for their Institute of Lysology, an institute created by the late Jekyll and his husband, John Gabriel Utterson, to further the understanding of the soul. Of course, no one is willing to be the test subject of such experimentation. So Elliot decides to test it on himself. Elliot uncovers his past traumas through his soul and Oasis must balance Elliot’s life against the growth of her Institute.


Bringer of the Scourge

Bringer of the Scourge by M. Daniel McDowell

Chipped Cup SPFBO10

When the end of ages comes for the empire, the princess must rescue herself. Vierrelyne du Talorr, the last living daughter of the tyrant king, waits locked in a tower cell for the prophesied apocalypse only she can prevent. An army of three brittle allegiances, united under a rival prince, aims for the throne and lays siege to the castle in search of the princess and the fabled weaponry of the empire. With the aid of her mentor in music and swords, and a desperate cultist sent to find her before the mercenaries do, Vierrelyne steals that formidable ancient weapon from her family crypt: a holy suit of armor and a diadem infused with the soul of a demon prince--the Bringer of the Scourge. With it, Vierrelyne discovers an unstoppable power, but the demon within is corrosive, hungry, and dangerously persuasive. Vierrelyne is haunted by what it means to tame this power bequeathed to her, and by what means she might conquer it. When that rival prince finds her, it will take all the strength she can muster, for, if the prophecy she dreads is true, the very weapons she wields might destroy everything she holds dear.


Umbra: Tales of a Shadow

Umbra: Tales of a Shadow by Freddie A. Clark

SPFBO10

Obscurity must be explored, understood, heard. The light of revelation is generated from first-hand experience and knowledge. Will you face obscurity in order for light to reveal itself? Trained since his childhood and cybernetically augmented to seek justice in the canal-filled city of Florydia, Fulvio Donati is an assassin and thief who adopted a double identity. When night falls, Fulvio becomes Umbra: a masked vigilante, a charming and lethal shadow. The intellectual, philosopher and alchemist Soleluna Giordani was only twenty-nine when their search for immortality led them to a terrible mistake. Their consciousness has been trapped inside a mask for almost eight centuries, an irremediable captivity that robbed them of a glorious existence and their place in history. In a beautiful yet corrupted land in which crime lords, celebrities and ruthless politicians are competing for the highest power, a deadly conspiracy is unfolding. While alchemists and courtesans search for a way to survive and a prince must search for one to save his life, Fulvio finds himself involved in intrigues and machinations. Soleluna will show Fulvio the way, guiding him with their wit and their boundless wisdom. Fulvio will show Soleluna a world they were never meant to see, an astounding futuristic reality going beyond anything they’ve ever imagined. Together, they shall save Florydia from its downfall.


Martis the Brazen

Martis the Brazen by Rien Gray

Follow a fellowship of sapphic knights as they’re seduced by witches, queens, goddesses—and each other—in a dark, lush fantasy inspired by Arthurian legend. Under the reign of King Theomacha the Exalted, the Land of Maidens flourishes. Her knights protect and explore the realm, seeking artifacts lost to time and fending off wicked, cunning magics. Martis, sole daughter of a dragon and a witch, was raised in the legendary Gorsedd mountains. After her mother's tragic death, Martis' monstrous rampage of grief tore the land apart until she was saved by Theomacha's intervention. Sworn as a knight to the king's court, Martis took on a new name and identity. Ten years later, her sire—the dragon Thouros—is dying. Martis returns to Gorsedd for the first time in a decade only to find a cult worshipping the dragon, and the beautiful woman they've captured to sacrifice. Martis saves the mysterious Amoret, but the tangle of desire that rises between them is complicated by her companion's true identity, pitting Martis' grief against the honor keeping her life intact.


Bound by Legend

Bound by Legend by A.D. Trosper

At nineteen Morgan has already faced more loss than she can handle and has more experience living on the street than she wants. Unable to do anything other than keep on the move in order to hide from the demons that hunt her, she guards her heart and emotions carefully. But when the demons start talking to her and calling her by a name from another life, things spiral beyond her control. Lucian, an ancient dark angel who has seen his fair share of lives, is happy being a free agent until he’s assigned to Morgan. Determined to do everything on her own, she’s unlike any channel he’s ever met. As the danger mounts and a demon prepares to open a gateway to the underworld, Morgan must find a way to overcome her past in order stop him. Offered what her heart desperately wants, and holding a key that will close the gate but open another, Morgan struggles find the strength to make the right choice. *Though this is book two of the series, it can be read as a stand alone*


Jenni’s Boy

Jenni’s Boy by Lewis J. Lewin

Jenni’s Boy follows Luke as he grows up, struggling to tell the woman that he has loved since high school how he truly feels. As he fails to communicate with her, other problems take ahold of him in life, and she drifts away, but she is ever present in his mind. His old friends fade away, and even his family members start to go their own paths. He realizes just how important communication is in relationships.


The Night Farm, vol.1

The Night Farm, vol.1 by A.L. Davidson

Welcome to The Night Farm! Rhys Anderson is looking for a fresh start after a health diagnosis forces him to sell his beloved tea shop. When a small farmstead goes up for sale in the mountains, he jumps at the opportunity to live a quieter life away from the hustle and bustle of the big city and find a new place to plant roots. After packing up his few belongings, Rhys settles in for the lengthy cross-country drive to his new home. The farm rests on the outskirts of a mysterious town called Wylder Wood, hidden deep in the forests out west and not found on any map. The idyllic little farmstead is perfect for his needs, and his new neighbors are quick to introduce themselves as soon as nightfall arrives. The locals are welcoming and friendly, but not at all what they initially seem, and Rhys soon realizes that the otherworldly residents want to sink their fangs into something more than his crops... The town of Wylder Wood comes to life when the sun goes down, and long nights on the farm are filled with friendship, romance, and good eats aplenty! ------ The Night Farm (series) is a 2023 Queer Indie Award nominee for Best Web Serial, Best Lead Character, and Best Supporting Character (Cane). Volume one is a 2024 Indie Ink Award nominee for Best Book Cover and Cover Artist, Best Friendship, Best Light Read, Best Setting, and Side Character MVP. It was featured on Tapas' LGBTQ+ Supernatural Series list for Pride in 2024 as a recommended read, has been featured on their Staff Pick's list several times, and was a featured title in their 2024 Halloween scavenger hunt.


The Key to Reality

The Key to Reality by F. Ted Atchley

SPSFC 2023

A desperate father holds the key to victory in an alien civil war. If he chooses well, he'll reunite his family. If he chooses wrong, they all die. An Elite Cybersecurity Analyst. A Desperate Rebellion’s Best Hope. Brandon thought the assignment was just another standard security assessment. Wrong. As he peels back the layers of a deepening conspiracy, he discovers everything he thought he knew about his reality is a lie. And he’s the only one who can save it. Exiles from another reality see Brandon’s new knowledge as the key to victory over their tyrannical king and his immortal army. Pursued by both loyalists and rebels as he crosses the borders between realities, Brandon must protect his family, while figuring out who to trust. Choosing well means rescuing his family, and saving both worlds, but choosing poorly will empower a malevolent evil to wipe out humanity.


Worse Than Dying

Worse Than Dying by Brett Van Valkenburg

After his father suffers a nervous breakdown, Noah Barnes is tasked with caring for his family in the midst of a zombie apocalypse. A dark novella about fight and family, as one survivor confronts untold loss and struggles with unimaginable choices. Worse Than Dying takes place in a small town in upstate New York toward the beginning of an inexplicable uprising of the living dead. This powerful story is a more adult take on the zombie horror genre with fast pacing, mature themes, and, of course, plenty of disfigured, flesh-eating corpses. "Beautiful. If a sequel isn't forthcoming, it's a shame." -talesofworldwarz.com


The Nameless Restaurant: A Cozy Cooking Fantasy

The Nameless Restaurant: A Cozy Cooking Fantasy by Tao Wong

There is a restaurant in Toronto. Its entrance is announced only by a simple, unadorned wooden door, varnished to a beautiful shine but without paint, hidden beside dumpsters and a fire escape. There is no sign, no indication of what lies behind the door. If you do manage to find the restaurant, the décor is dated and worn. Homey, if one were to be generous. The service is atrocious, the proprietor a grouch. The regulars are worse: silent, brooding, and unfriendly to newcomers. There is no set menu, alternating with the whim and whimsy of the owner. The selection of wine and beer is sparse or non-existent at times, and the prices for everything outrageous. There is a restaurant in Toronto that is magically hidden, whose service is horrible, and whose food is divine. This is the story of the Nameless Restaurant.


Then Dark Below

Then Dark Below by Lily Anne Crow

Desperate times call for dangerous plans and deadly allies. A treacherous Magister has been caught, but the battle has only just begun. Between the missing prince, enemies within the royal halls, and darkness lurking around every corner, Osmund needs all the help he can get. Tamrion struggles within a web of secrets. When he discovers an enemy close to home, Tamrion must embrace his destiny and become the true lord of house Kinto, before his family and city both fall into ruin. After narrowly surviving a clash with an old foe, Phrai retreats to heal the wounds on her body and of her heart. The storied assassin must decide what she really wants, who deserves her blade, and whether she should even join this fight. Can a cold-hearted killer become the hero Tourenne needs? Shinowyn plays a dangerous game of manipulation, using any means necessary to free her grandfather from inhuman captors. But even the descendent of a great seer cannot foretell all outcomes. If she wishes to defeat the darkness below, she must be willing to risk everything - even her grandfather’s life. Osmund must bring this unlikely cast of characters together in defense of the city of Vercolline, the kingdom of Tourenne, and humanity as a whole. While Fate hangs in the balance, Osmund and his allies must conspire to stop the encroaching darkness. But who can they trust? And how will they defeat creatures of legend with little more than wits and whispers? Then Dark Below is the thrilling second instalment in Lily Anne Crow's debut fantasy series, A War of Whispers.


Alpha: The Hierarchy, Book 1

Alpha: The Hierarchy, Book 1 by I. Ogunbase

Vampires exist and have finally been categorised into three main groups by the remaining governments dealing with the outbreak; The Ferals, blind and grey skinned, the Stalkers, pack hunters and the Mirrors, dark reflections of humanity. When a researcher goes missing, Matt is thrust out into the world to find them and bring them back into the safety of the Walled Cities. Except, rumours of a new category is spreading. And at the rate at which events are going, it might be already too late for survival.


Servant of a Pale Sword

Servant of a Pale Sword by Tim Akers

SFINCS

A lone pilgrim travels to the Temple of Absolution to free himself from a great sin. But when the priests of the temple cut too deep, Lohit Maast is left with no memory of who is or what burden he sought to escape. Among his things is a strange and powerful sword, its blade forge from materea, the very bones of the world. Is he a thief? An assassin? The hero of some great campaign? Or is he something far more dangerous...


Wish Givers

Wish Givers by Shannon Knight

SPFBO10

Reva’s clan, the Mauli, tattoo wishes into reality. Once revered, the Mauli now live in hiding, with a precious few imprisoned in a pit beneath the Ali’i’s palace. Burning for justice, Reva strides into the capital city, announces herself a wish giver, and allows herself to be bound. She knows the only way to save herself and her people is to grant her greatest enemy his every wish. Already outcast by her skill and arrogance, Reva feels she has nothing to lose and everything to gain. However, she faces not only the Ali’i, but the mighty White God and his followers, the animosity of the Mauli, and the burdensome eye of Mata, a dark god with an ambitious priest who has a wish of his own. Within the confines of the Ali’i’s palace, Reva secures love and friendship, but to destroy the Ali’i, she may be forced to sacrifice more than she has ever wished for. Wish Givers is an epic fantasy novel with a tropical island setting and themes of freedom, found family, and the pursuit of dreams.


Veil Us in Gold

Veil Us in Gold by Shepard DiStasio

Find a weapon lost to myth, and Drake can save the world. Find a creature lost to war, and they can save themself. Drake ElĂœnus was never supposed to be in Tārāmen. They were never supposed to be working for Tārāmen’s royal family. They were never supposed to do the things they’ve done. But Drake hasn’t stood a chance since the day their home was burned to the ground, the boy they loved was executed in front of them, and wayward magic cast them into a life of lonely immortality far from anything they’d ever known. All they have is revenge. But when the culmination of their efforts backfires into a death sentence, their only hope is to make a deal with the very queen they tried to ruin. The world around Drake is unraveling. Whispers of ancient monsters bubble beneath the surface. Fights escalate on the borders of a country that has not been its own in fifty years. Treaties are no longer worth any more than the blood they were written in. And a mysterious general they all call the ‘White Rose’ is apparently the face of it all. With the gilded gold of society finally peeling, Drake might have a chance to escape—but only if they confront who they were truly supposed to be. The first book of the Sins of the Divine series and DiStasio's debut, Veil Us in Gold explores what it means to be good, the secrets people will do anything to keep hidden, and the monsters that prowl not only in shadows, but inside hearts as well.


Mother of Pearl

Mother of Pearl by Blanka H. Madow

Lured to a mystical land, Valeri must learn to harness a power deep within her. Orphaned at a young age, sisters Valeri and Amelia shouldered the household responsibilities in their small village of Noor. Valeri was the hunter; Amelia the gatherer. While fishing one day, Valeri follows her instinct into the depths of the ocean despite a raging storm. She discovers the Mother of Pearl shell - which unbeknownst to her, unlocks the secrets of her ancestral power. Knocked unconscious by the storm and washed ashore in a foreign land, she soon realizes she is thousands of miles from her sister, and there are wicked plans afoot. As she struggles to find a way to return home to her sister, Valeri befriends Prince Rulin at the magical court. In each other, they find purpose. But she must harness the newfound power within her blood first.


Poisoned Empire

Poisoned Empire by Elyse Thomson

SPFBO10

Cinderella (feral) meets The Lies of Locke Lamora in this lush romantic fantasy set in a world inspired by the Eastern Roman Empire. Black-marketeer Selene has poison magic and the cynicism to match. When she and genius metals mage Iliana are arrested by the same scheming, noble fathers who tossed them out at birth, they suspect apologies won’t be forthcoming. Forced to either impersonate their half-sisters or die, the friends are stuffed into fancy dresses, packed off to the capital, and thrust into the perilous, glittering world of the imperial court. Traitors lurk in Prince Belisarius’ court, and only his loyal strategos Marduk is above suspicion. As noble-born villains siphon away the souls of their daughters to magnify their magic in secret, Belisarius plots to expose them all—by inviting every noblewoman in the empire to compete for his hand in marriage. But two infuriating imposters in attendance quickly become his bane. When the friends are discovered, they expect imprisonment—not a deal. Vast riches are on offer if Selene poses as fiancĂ©e to the handsome prince while Iliana simpers for the towering strategos—a ploy to lure traitorous enemies to the capital. Yet even as they help secure the throne, false affections flirt with real passions, and Selene and Iliana are convinced they’ll either lose their hearts
 or their heads.


The Modern Mythos Anomaly

The Modern Mythos Anomaly by Juniper Lake Fitzgerald

"Memory's haunt conjures the most arrant of ghosts..." Python is a drifter, a vampire living his eternal life on the road and liking it that way. Beholden to nothing and certainly to no one. But such a lifestyle doesn’t come without creating enemies. Most notably, a pesky vampire hunter he cant seem to shake. When he stumbles upon a seemingly abandoned cabin the woods, Python sees the perfect escape and a place to hide. But what he didn’t expect was for someone to be home
 When recluse warlock Calysto’s peaceful life is upended by the arrival of a chaotic disaster in the form of a loudmouthed vampire, he and his teleporting house become the target of the hunter, too. Calysto knows it’s all Python’s fault that he’s in this mess. That is, until Calysto makes a mistake, and in his hurry to flee transports them over one hundred years into the past. Confronted with lives they both had hoped to forget, not to mention the memories they most definitely did, Calysto and Python must try to put aside their many differences and increasingly complicated feelings to learn to work together. Or else they risk being stuck in the past -- and with each other -- forever. This is an adult book with themes that are not suitable for minors. Content warnings are included before the title page, available for view within the sample.


The Sun Prince

The Sun Prince by L. R. Schulz

THE BONDS OF KIN MUST HOLD The King-Radiant has fallen. Zapour has been liberated and the siblings triumphant, but at what cost? Two years have passed since their victory over the Eagles. Peace between the nations has not gone as planned. Gelvard has seized control of Lumindal and a cloud of war now surrounds Trost. The sun is dying
 A new power has risen from the west. A man who calls himself the Sun Prince has his eyes set firmly on Zapour. But is he friend or foe? The bonds of kin will be tested as new threats arise, though not all threats are new. An ancient evil awakens, and new bonds must be forged if light is to shine another day.


When The Rain Begins To Burn

When The Rain Begins To Burn by A.L. Davidson

The bones are piling up, Judah... While traveling across the country on a much needed vacation, Noland and Judah Calhoun stop to appreciate the scenic views of the Appalachian wilderness. To shield themselves from the less-than-friendly locals as they rest from their long journey, Judah parks their RV in the middle of a clearing well off the beaten path. A concerning storm rolls in overhead, shifting the sky to a sickly green that drowns out the night sky with a thunderous roar... Waking the next morning to discover the wheels of their RV have sunk deep into the saturated ground, Judah steps outside to assess the situation. Within seconds, his flesh is set alight as the unnatural rain begins to eat away at his hand. The storm rapidly consumes the skin and sinew of living creatures, turning the once peaceful clearing into a boneyard. Stranded and unable to leave the supernatural tempest, Judah and Noland must weather the storm together, facing not only the horrors of nature, but their own personal demons they refused to acknowledge for far too long. All the while, the bones start to pile up... ----------- ("When The Rain Begins To Burn" is a 2023 BBNYA nominee, Indie Ink Awards nominee for Best Setting and Best Cover, and Queer Indie Ink Award nominee for Best Horror, Best Novella, Best Debut, Best Cover, and Best Romantic Relationship. You can read more on A.L. Davidson's Patreon with regularly updated bonus short stories set before and after the novella).


Devil’s Hill II

Devil’s Hill II by E. Reyes

Welcome back to Devil’s Hill, AZ, where reality distorts, and nightmares walk in E. Reyes’ latest collection of terrifying tales. A sĂ©ance to contact a deceased horror author unleashes chaos. A girl works with ghosts to stop kidnappings and murders on Halloween night. A group of teens are attacked by wolf-like creatures in the desert. The jack-o’-lantern-headed “Pumpkin Man” goes on a rampage collecting souls. These unnerving tales and others each draw you one step closer to becoming a permanent resident of Devil's Hill!


Christmas in the Empty Cabin

Christmas in the Empty Cabin by E. Reyes

Horror and the supernatural don’t take holiday vacations
 Take a holiday trip with E. Reyes to the dark side of the most wonderful time of the year. While you’re there visit
 A hot holiday toy that brings terror to a department store. A man caught in a blizzard as he searches for help for a dying friend. A girl who wakes up to surprise visitors on Día de los Muertos. A man who recounts a sick and twisted Thanksgiving. A boy who becomes intrigued by a mysterious house and the girl who resides there during fall break. A family man who struggles with a dilemma that may cost him his soul. “A beautifully written collection
 a unique and creative delight
 I devoured it and loved it!”—Julie Hiner, author of Final Track “A great collection of thrilling and shocking tales that will get your heart pounding!”—Eric Woods, author of Pummeled “A great range of short tales for anyone looking for a quick, mysterious read.”—M.E. Aster, author of Three Halves of a Whole “Captures the melancholy, dark side of the holidays.”—Elford Alley, author of Ash and Bone


In Aeternum

In Aeternum by Maxime Jaz

“For who could love a beast, forever?” Jay is a sensitive, traumatized young man selling his body to pay his college tuition fees and to send money to his gravely ill mother. Roman is a centuries old vampire who has no control over whom he bonds with. When they cross paths, it’s supposed to be for only one bite, but it ignites the fires of love within Roman. Jay gets caught in his own feelings for Roman, who needs to feed on humans to survive, even if following his own moral compass. And although danger lurks in the form of another bloodthirsty predator, Roman and Jay’s journey through life is also wrought with human monsters, as dangerous as the mythical ones. Will Jay and Roman find the forever love—a love transcending difference, mortality, and immortality—that they are both yearning for?


Devil’s Hill: Stories

Devil’s Hill: Stories by E. Reyes

Stephen King has Castle Rock. R. L. Stine has Fear Street. E. Reyes has Devil’s Hill. Welcome to Devil’s Hill, Arizona; a place that runs rampant with the occult, paranormal, and supernatural. As Halloween approaches and a group of teenage witches inadvertently summon an ancient deity into a scarecrow, they set off a chain of events that unleashes true evil upon the town. In these interconnected stories, you’ll encounter ghostly spirits, killers, malevolent deities, and other unexplainable horrors as the town of Devil’s Hill is plunged into darkness. Don’t miss out on the terror that awaits in Devil’s Hill! Praise for Devil’s Hill: “Where do fans of R.L. Stine's Goosebumps go when we grow up? There's plenty of room in Devil's Hill, Arizona...if you dare.”—Julia DeBarrioz, author of Cazadora “Absolutely worth reading.”—Heather Miller, author of One Night Stand at the End of the World “I would FOR SURE recommend this book to horror lovers and horror newbies alike, and I will certainly be looking for more E. Reyes in the future!”—Spooky Octopus Reads


Home

Home by Maxime Jaz

What if the edge of the world wasn't far enough to confront your biggest fears? Damian has it all: first-class ticket home, whisky to drown his fear of flying, snark, and arrogance to push away everyone. Just not the wife. Heartbroken flight attendant Gabe likes his flights uneventful. His training and gentle nature are enough to keep him from busting Damian's face in. Probably. A plane crash forces lives and worlds that couldn't be more different to become one. They fight each other, their biggest fears, a life so rough survival is just the beginning... can they win battles brewing far away, at home?


The Warhog Paladins

The Warhog Paladins by Jer Patch

SPFBO10

Mia Lark is running out of options. Without a neural implant, she'll be shut out of the Corporate jobs on her home planet, but without the cash to pay for it, she's desperate to find a way in. There is one way to score that implant and pay it back later: the game planet Revivium. It sounds easy enough: enter the game, earn enough Bitz to cash out, and exit before the game finds a way to kill her. Once she's in-game, though, Mia realizes Revivium is anything but simple. A realm-wide quest is a great opportunity to score her Bitz and punch out, but she finds a magical artifact that links back to a forbidden quest line: the Helm of the dead leader of the Warhog Paladins. The helm's friendly AI, Hex, Leads Mia on an entirely different quest, to find the main guildhall where she can discover what became of the old Warhog Paladins--a quest that could get her killed in Revivium, where Game Over means death...


Evening of the Mutated Undead

Evening of the Mutated Undead by E. Reyes

First, it was the UFO sightings. Then the monsoon began. And then residents of a shady neighborhood got what they never expected
 Mutated zombies. Evening of the Mutated Undead is a heart-pounding survival horror novella centered around Jeff, a small-time drug dealer in Arizona. Chaos ensues on a seemingly ordinary evening as a horrifying zombie outbreak strikes during a relentless monsoon. To Jeff's horror, these undead creatures don't just eat their victims but mutate their bodies, leading to a gruesome blend of unworldly mutation and decomposition


Jack Forest, Soul Collector

Jack Forest, Soul Collector by E. Reyes

In the gripping novelette Jack Forest, Soul Collector, the town of Devil’s Hill, Arizona, becomes the stage for a chilling and morally complex tale. Jack Forest, a man returned from the dead on Halloween night, is compelled to serve as a soul collector for Hell. Tasked with branding the souls of woman abusers, he embarks on a haunting mission. As Jack navigates the shadowy realm between the living and the dead, he is torn between the ruthless directives of Hell and his own sense of justice. The line blurs when faced with a momentous decision that challenges his very nature. This gripping narrative explores themes of redemption, the consequences of one’s actions, and the power of individual choice. Jack Forest, Soul Collector delves into the darkness of the human soul and the depths of compassion that may yet emerge from the most unlikely circumstances.


Andrion

Andrion by Alex Penland

When 16-year-old Kallis goes to see Aristophanes' latest play, she's inspired to sneak into the Assembly and try to make her name as an orator. Against the backdrop of steampunk antiquity – an Ancient Athens where automatons line the city walls – Kallis sets out to incite a revolution. She’s going to create a world where no one is forced to be someone they’re not: a world where women can be artificers and orators, where one’s future isn’t determined by the track set out by their parents.


SACRILEGE

SACRILEGE by T.N. Vitus

Emelie has always known to stay away from the woods—the elders in her village won’t let her forget it. No matter how the wind between the trees calls to her, she’s to stay away. When her exiled childhood best friend Halvar emerges from the woods unharmed, she begins to question the things she’s been taught, and whether there is life outside of their village. But when Halvar’s reappearance coincides with a series of murders, Emelie must decide if she prefers the safety of her puritanical people, or the chance to escape to a new life with him. As Emelie explores who she really is and what she really wants, dark secrets of her village begin to come to light. As the bodies start piling up and lines are drawn, Emelie needs to decide which side she stands on, and she may just need to unleash her inner nature to survive the fallout.


KNIGHT: The Shintori Chronicles Book III

KNIGHT: The Shintori Chronicles Book III by Elle Samhain

Avery isn’t sure she should even still be alive after Morgana’s Legion left two Reapers dead
 and one Saved. She and her friends have located the fifth and final Knight of Od placed in the realm of the living by the Beldam - the Knight of Spirit. The oddball Princess Yumi has waited with bated breath and uncertain heart for the Berserker Witch. Can she be trusted to resist the demon she harbors? The ragtag band of Reapers must confront the monsters of their own pasts before they can ever hope to save the future.


The Orchid and the Lion

The Orchid and the Lion by Gabriel Hargrave

Dorian Vidales left his cushy but constrictive life on Earth behind to become the star femme Dom at a space station brothel. Convinced that love makes people stupid and will ruin everything he’s worked so hard for, Dorian remains happily married to his career. But when Laith Ritter, a gorgeous trans man, is hired at the brothel and Dorian gets roped into training him as a sub, he’ll find it hard to follow his own “don’t get attached” rule. At first, having a bratty, inexperienced live-in sub is more chaos than he expects, but it soon becomes everything he could never admit he needed. As he trains Laith, Laith helps Dorian find himself outside of his high-strung, overly controlled work persona. With their relationship growing more and more serious, Dorian realizes this is what was missing in his otherwise glamorous life. But amidst the glitz and glamour of the space station—a haven for people otherwise disenfranchised by Earth’s Purity Laws—trouble is brewing. When a pro-Purity politician gains power and begins pushing her political agenda, Dorian and the man he’s falling in love with will be thrust into a dangerous fight to keep the station free. The trials they face will test their burgeoning romance and change their lives forever. The Orchid and the Lion is the first novel in a kinky, sensual series about love, self-acceptance, and fighting for what you believe in.


HEMLOCK: The Shintori Chronicles Book II

HEMLOCK: The Shintori Chronicles Book II by Elle Samhain

Rumors of the Berserker Witch’s murders have traveled fast and far. Avery Porter and her friends barely escaped with their lives when two Knights of Od revealed themselves in battle. With the High Priestess of Centralia murdered by the Knight of Earth, Avery has no choice but to put her faith in the demon of the Crossroads. As the demon Balthazar and the Goddess of the Witches lead them to the ritual to put the Knights down for good, the final Knight has caught word of their search. Armed with their name, Avery must get to the last Knight before their beacon signaling the end of the world is ignited.


In the Comfort of Shadows

In the Comfort of Shadows by B. Nacole

Verona doesn't believe in Hell when her life is already a living one. After all, she's underemployed, reeling from a harsh breakup, and her graduate degree is slipping through her fingers. As if her life can't get any worse, a mishap with a cursed grimoire sends her to Limbo where she finds out that she's the reincarnation of the witch responsible for condemning Lo-the Archdemon of Wrath-to Limbo until the curse is broken. With death looming over Verona's head and a bargain burned into her skin, Verona agrees to help Lo before his patience runs out. But as Verona digs for answers, attraction between her and Lo spikes, secrets are unearthed, and untapped magic itches in her veins.


Render to Silver

Render to Silver by Catherine Labadie

The Founts of Silver are holy women blessed by the favor of their God...or they are cursed vessels meant to be shattered. Given no other choice, Fount Marzanna clawed her way up their ranks until she was able to begin planning her escape with one of her fellow Founts from Aebbenary, the prosperous island ruled by Silver's decadent church. Instead, the accidental working of a Miracle sets her apart and attracts the notice of the High Priest. He intends to use her to spark a revival in the city, and eventually the world, which has begun to turn away from a religion that rewards greed and ambition as piety. He's not forthcoming with how, and while tensions in the city rise, while two rival houses contemplate war, Marzanna realizes the role she resents with all her heart won't let her walk away without untold sacrifice.


AEGIS: The Shintori Chronicles Book I

AEGIS: The Shintori Chronicles Book I by Elle Samhain

Avery Porter is a Reaper in the walled-off city of Ardua, tasked with the duty of sending souls to the afterlife. Her day-to-day life comes to a sudden halt when she is kidnapped by another Reaper and his exorcist companion, taking her far beyond the walls. At first their claims of a demonic force lurking in selected Reapers seem outlandish, until Avery sees them for herself. The Knights of Od were created by the goddess of the underworld to swallow the land of the living; fueled by the elements and the unrest among the Shintori gods. Their last chance lies with the Knight of Spirit, the last to be unleashed onto the world. Can they reach it before the Beldam’s Legion does?


Dead Reckoning

Dead Reckoning by Rafiq Afsir

Davy Jones, the captain of the Flying Dutchman, has never believed in any of the superstitions his crew whisper about when they think he's not listening. Sirens? Mermaids? Selkies? All just myths perpetuated by lonely men on the sea. Davy is satisfied with his riches. He doesn't need anything else. At least, that is what he tells himself. But the truth is that he is not living, only surviving. And Davy is tired of surviving. What happens when one night he meets a beautiful creature who promises him everything he's ever wanted? Dead Reckoning is a historical erotic retelling of the legend of Davy Jones and is not recommended for readers under the age of 18.


The Tenfold Tenants

The Tenfold Tenants by E.V. Belknap

SPFBO10

Corvinian Hark thought he'd be the next great villain. What he ended up as, is a caretaker of magical tenants. This setback was supposed to have been temporary. It has been temporary going on eight years. But things are looking up, or at least he was told things are looking up. If you were to ask Corbin, things mostly keep looking sideways. Because his latest tenant might just be human. It means no more magic in the hallways and keeping skeletons from wandering out of the closet. But mostly it means that if he can't figure her out, he'll be out of a job. Which would be rather unfortunate, as it is where he keeps his bed, and all of his stuff, and all of his friends. He'll just stick her between the vampire and the harpy and hope she doesn't notice, shall he?


ΔᜱÎčÎżÏ‚

ΔᜱÎčÎżÏ‚ by Andromeda Ruins

A queer and anti-establishment retelling of the fall of Icarus. The Elysians are here to protect us. They uphold order, they keep citizens safe
 unless you are their kid. When you are the child of an Elysian you get to see what they are truly like. You get to see their fears, their anger, their hatred. You get to be subjected to their wants and whims. Most importantly, you get to be trained by the ‘best of the best’ to become an Elysian yourself. At least that’s what we were told. We weren’t told what that training would cost us. What it would do to our bodies and our minds. How it would make us into what the Elysians really are, mindless abominations. These monsters are in every corner of our society. They are heralded as Gods among men, but not for long. I am doing everything in my power to show who they really are behind their masks. Soon, everyone will see these nasty creatures for what they are
 ΔάÎčÎżÏ‚ is a tragedy following Icarus as he takes a look behind the curtain of the Elysian Program and sees the disgusting framework that he was disillusioned to. Now the only thing on his mind is bringing down the program and the entire ATLAS corporation. Will he be able to when the world seems set against him?


Cynosura 99

Cynosura 99 by Sam Weiss

Atra Hart has spent the last seven years locked away in Vanishing Plains Psychiatric Hospital. In that time, her shadow has transformed into its own entity and is growing stronger by the day, threatening to devour her mind. She calls that shadow Dread, and only her missing father knows what it is. When a fire breaks out at the asylum, Atra makes her way to freedom just in time to see an electric-purple rift sunder the sky. Like Dread, the rift is only visible to her. Atra’s already loose grip on reality unravels when she learns the rift is a gateway to the world of the dead. And the Queen, an ancient evil lurking on its fringes, wants Dread for her own. Even worse, Atra can’t tell if any of this is really happening. She might have escaped one asylum, but the closer she gets to unearthing answers about Dread, why her father knows it’s there, and its role in the Queen’s plans, the more she risks getting trapped inside her own mind forever. Maybe some truths are meant to stay buried.


The Memory Tree

The Memory Tree by Ellie Lieberman

"The Memory Tree reminds us that it is okay, and sometimes necessary, to remember the not so good during the holiday season... It almost feels like we are given permission to feel bittersweet, which is something I personally find comforting the older I get."- Roadside Reader A collection of old ornaments come alive to aid a grandmother, on her last Christmas Eve night, in telling family stories and imparting her final wisdom to her granddaughter.


Rosemary & Iron

Rosemary & Iron by Dorian Valentine

When a ritual to restore Mana goes wrong and sends him into the distant past, Célestin Edevane seeks the help of a strange man inhabiting an even stranger estate in order to prevent the calamity that destroyed Mana. Faced with a fascinating world unlike his own, filled with vampires, fae, witches and old gods and an unexpected love affair...will he even want to return to his time?


© 2026 Hakea Media | Terms | Privacy