Air: Sylphs, Spirits, & Swan Maidens (Elemental Anthology Book 3) by Various

Whimsical, Inquisitive, Quick-Witted Air is essential for life. Air is so important that breathing is instinctual. Yet Air is unstable and capricious, blowing gently as a summer breeze in one moment and blasting with the fury of a tornado in the next. No wonder that tricksters, fairies, and spirits belong to Air just as much as winged creatures. Elusive and ethereal, Air’s denizens are difficult to find and harder to capture. Brave the ever-changing world of Air with these twenty-one stories and poems, featuring: Rose Strickman; Davian Aw; Mark Bruce; Alexandra Seidel; Damascus Mincemeyer; Cherry Potts; Ellen Huang; Giselle Leeb; Bronwynn Erskine; Kevin Cockle; Elizabeth R. McClellan; Chadwick Ginther; Christa Hogan; Rowena McGowan; Laura VanArendonk Baugh; Alyson Faye; Mara Malins; Sara C. Walker; Elise Forier Edie; Oliver Smith; and Sarah Van Goethem.

Fire: Demons, Dragons, & Djinns by K.T. Ivanrest, Rhonda Parrish

The ability for people to control (to some extent at least) fire has long been held as one of the major events that contributed to human evolution, but when fire eludes or escapes our control it is also one of the most destructive forces on earth. Associated with passion, power, transformation and purification, fire is a ferocious element with an unquenchable appetite. Discover the power of Fire and the creatures that thrive on it in these twenty-one stories, including: the true inspiration behind Jim Morrison's songs; a special weapon used in World War II; the secret in the depths of a mortuary furnace; a fantastical card game; and a necromancer out on what may be his last job. Featuring: Blake Jessop; Kevin Cockle; Lizbeth Ashton; Dusty Thorne; V.F. LeSann; K.T. Ivanrest; Hal J. Friesen; Laura VanArendonk Baugh; Krista D. Ball; Mara Malins; Claude Lalumière; Susan MacGregor; JB Riley; Damascus Mincemeyer; Heather M. O'Connor; Gabrielle Harbowy; R. W. Hodgson; Chadwick Ginther; Wendy Nikel; Annie Neugebauer; and J.G. Formato.

Maria's Child by Bill Hearn

When Peter Jacobson hears a wild tale about biotech tycoon Harold Anthony, the Shroud of Turin, and Maria Anthony's baby; he's certain it's a bad joke. After all, Peter's friendship with Anthony's Latina daughter-in-law is no secret, and the storyteller is a notorious prankster who's just downed his seventh gin and tonic. But as years pass and Maria's son grows into a young man of eerie brilliance and kindness, Peter begins to wonder: Who is Maria's Child? Speculative fiction in the tradition of The Handmaid's Tale and George Orwell, Maria's Child turns the religious thriller genre in new and surprising directions.

Welcome to Redgunk: Tales From One Weird Mississippi Town by William Eakin

Forget Arkham and Dogpatch, Yoknapatawpha County and Hooterville, forget what guidebooks might allege, because the weirdest town to be found in the Western Hemisphere is Redgunk, Mississippi. For over twenty years, author William Eakin has been spinning tales of this backwater place, where strange encounters are more than local gossip and the kudzu hides all manner of creatures and adventures. These stories were first published in such magazines as Realms of Fantasy, The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, Epiphany: A Journal of Literature, Amazing Stories, Science Fiction Age, New Writings in the Fantastic, Holy Horrors, Albedo One, Black October Magazine, SciFiction, the Year’s Best Fantasy, Age of Wonder, and others.

Dragons Within: Guarding Her Own by Various

“I am dragon. I am free. You are mine to protect.”===A truth-seeker becomes imbued with the power to tip the scales of justice. A headstrong privateer tempers her courage in the heart of a violent storm. A pair of mittens leads to a family history rich with dragons. Sparks fly when a chronically single pilot finally meets her match. Enter the world of Dragons Within: a place where woman and dragon are one and the same: reigning strong, fierce, and free. Forging bonds with the world of mankind, these unconquerable beings discover a love for the vulnerable, the fragile, the broken.A pregnant goddess seeks refuge for her children during war. A telepathic soldier finds the courage to claim her humanity. A dragon in human form uses her gifts to protect abuse victims in need. A girl chases a soldier through a desert wasteland to find her missing brother.Featuring twelve new and emerging speculative fiction writers, this power-driven book delves deep into the journey from treasure hunter to guardian, mercenary to savior, fire-breather to martyr. Transforming rage into righteousness, the women of Dragons Within claim their people, pledging their lives to...guard their own. by Celosia Crane (Author), Kimberly Gail (Author), Hayley Green (Author), Kristine Haecker (Author), Shannon McRoberts (Author), Finn O'Malley (Author), Leo Otherland (Author), D. Marie Prokop (Author), Jess Reece (Author), Theda Vallee (Author), Deana Rose Wilson (Author), Amanda Mills Woodlee (Author), Eben Schumacher (Illustrator), Dorothy Tinker (Introduction, Contributor)

Dragons Within: Embracing Her Fire by Various

“People who only see the bad call us cursed. Now I have a chance to change that narrative.” A noblewoman struggles to mind her manners when a pack of brutes manhandles her silks. A strategist weighs the growth of her career against the fate of her humanity. A deadly huntress questions her ability to serve as a kind, gentle leader. Fearing execution, a sweet-natured jeweler hides a dark secret. Journey into the world of Dragons Within and dance with a fire that flows through the veins of powerful women. Often viewed as evil and destructive, dragons lend their strength to aid their friends and loved ones. Similarly, certain traits in women are touted as unacceptable or taboo, but the women in this anthology claim those traits for their own good and the good of those around them. A lonely healer takes on the burdens of a troubled lake and the sorrowful spirits therein. A hapless lady taken to sea turns the tide from victim to victor. A self-conscious accountant dares to delve into desires that break the rules. A puppy lover with a short fuse takes on the Underworld with a quirky conviction. Powerfully crafted by twelve new and emerging speculative fiction authors, these tales shine a beacon of hope in the face of condemnation, giving others the courage to chase their dreams with scorching determination and impenetrable resolve. Shedding their fear, the women of Dragons Within approach the all-consuming black blaze and . . . embrace their fire. by C. D. Lombardi (Author), Chaz Beebe (Author), D.B. Smyth (Author), Jaumarro "Joy" Cuffee (Author), JoAnne Turner (Author), K. A. Moore (Author), L. C. Jenkins (Author), Lex Night (Author), Nikolai Wisekal (Author), Rachael Denessen (Author), Sianyn Leigh (Author), Ynes Malakova (Author), Leo Otherland (Introduction)

Dragons Within: Claiming Her Wings by Various

In a world full of princesses, always be a dragon.”A disillusioned demon hunter runs from her power.A deposed queen must consider the consequences of reclaiming her throne.A special agent faces the flames of injustice in a gut-wrenching trial.A medical mystery turns into a pursuit of dragons—across space and time.Welcome to Dragons Within: a fiery, quick-paced collection of stories featuring twelve women with dragon-like traits who hold untapped magic and power within. Some are full-blooded dragons, while others are simply human—but each carries the spirit of a dragon. Bringing together the fantastical and the mundane, the unique stories in this anthology span a wide range, from trial by magic and first encounters between human and dragon—to facing writer’s block and harnessing the power of language.A little girl navigates bullying, grief, and fair-weather friends while learning to embrace her inner dragon. A fashionista hunts for a one-of-a-kind piece to display in her closet. An encounter with mystical horse-like beings awakens a former rodeo star’s true magic. The spirit of a dragon shines forth during a mother’s grueling battle with cancer.Thoughtfully crafted by twelve new and emerging speculative fiction authors, these stories create a broad, limitless sky where individuals embrace their personal magic and rise. In the face of self-doubt, cunning, and fear, the women in Dragons Within must vanquish both inner and outer foes . . .claim their wings—and fly. by Charleigh Brennan (Author), Amanda Salmon (Author), A. R. Coble (Author), C. M. Lander (Author), Allorianna Matsourani (Author), D. Gabrielle Jensen (Author), E. A. Gordon (Author), G. Pearl Kilgore (Author), Jess Nickerson (Author), K. T. Seto (Author), Theodore Niretac Tinker (Author), JT Morse (Author), Eben Schumacher (Illustrator), Ynes Malakova (Introduction)

Cursed Tides: Mermaid urban fantasy (Daughter of Air Book 1) by Amy Sumida

She no longer wants to be a part of his world. But he has to convince her to save it… Ashe is one mission away from earning her soul. Nearly three centuries after her disastrous on-land escapade, the former mermaid has a final assignment: protect a marine biologist on his quest to save the oceans. Perhaps it's pure coincidence that Varun Zale is the descendant of the prince she once chose not to kill. Varun can't explain how storms obey Ashe or why her eye color changes to match the tossing waves, but he suspects she is more than the mute ship captain she pretends to be. His growing fascination leads him from the shallows of a fairy tale to the depths of a mystery older than recorded time. In the midnight reaches of the ocean, monstrous titans stir. An unstoppable disease becomes a weapon in the hands of the mer-king. Nothing Varun has ever imagined or believed about mermaids is true. And being wrong could cost him everything…

Once Upon a Bite: 15 Incisive Faerie Tales (Once Upon Series Book 7) Kindle Edition by by Annie Bellet (Author), Alethea Kontis (Author), Anthea Sharp (Author), Christine Pope

The Blue Fairy Hunters Guild - Phaedra Weldon Joining the Blue Fairy Hunters Guild is just the first step in finding the Nightshade who made him a Puppet all those centuries ago. Revenge is the goal, but lies and truths revealed show his past has a very different tale. Silvereyes and the Three Wolves - Nikki Jefford Werewolf reporter Justin Slinger covers the dramatic court trial of Kingdom v. Silvereyes. Will the vampire Ada Silvereyes be found guilty of first-degree burglary and property damage? River Daughter - Annie Bellet The tale of a woman who is the last in a long line of magical women, and the lengths a mother will go to not only to protect her child, but also her legacy. The Girl Who Cried Vamp - Christine Pope Hedgewitch Selena Marx is usually ready to believe six impossible things before breakfast. But even her credulity is strained when the new kid in town is full of strange stories, each one wilder than the next. The Ugly Daughter - Donna Augustine The Ugly Daughter follows a scarred and ridiculed girl named Winni. All she dreams of is a future where she’s accepted, but her true destiny is more than she could’ve imagined. Spider to the Fly - Kate Danley "'Will you walk into my parlour?' said the Spider to the Fly." The famous poem by Mary Howett gets a lush retelling by USA Today bestselling author Kate Danley. Except there's vampires.

The Soft Landing Collection: Sapphic Fantasy and Science Fiction Stories by Jacquelynn Lyon

Visit worlds with mermaids trapped in zoos, floating continents that block out the sun, curses that sprout flowers from your skin, astronauts on dying spaceships, and forests haunted by hungry bog witches. Five short stories that revolve around the love between women and the fantastical world they inhabit. Sagas of a mermaid fascinated by the enclosure next to hers. A genius young woman trying to reach a stranger in the sky. A bog hag threatening to eat a princess that can’t seem to stay away from her. Astronauts conversing as one hurtles into Jupiter’s atmosphere on a doomed voyage. A woman cursed to grow flowers from her skin when kissed and the knight that promises to save her. Inspired by fairy tales, folklore, classic science fiction, an

Spectacular Tales: The Science Fiction and Fantasy Collection (The Indie Collaboration Presents Book 6) by Various

A thrilling anthology of short stories by some of the rising stars in independent publishing. In this collection we bring you a ship’s locker full of great Science Fiction and Fantasy. There are tales about beautiful princesses and cunning thieves, intergalactic wars, cosmic energy beings, warriors and rocketship pilots.So strap on your jet pack and grab your broadsword and come join us in exploring these ‘Spectacular Tales’

Here Be Trolls (Here Be - Myth, Monsters and Mayhem Book 14) by Various

A reclusive young woman ventures out of her library to meet her identical twin, a twin she never knew about. How many more secrets lie in her past? A fallen mage believes he’s reached sanctuary. But when three ingots vanish from the vault he protects for a troll warlord, his search for the thief once again thrusts him in harm’s way. A troll shaman calls from her deathbed, sending her heiress on a quest to return their people’s magical gemstone to its place of origin. If she succeeds, she becomes the leader of her tribe. If she fails, there will be no tribe to lead. A wise old auntie and her kin must defend their remote homestead against a marauding troll of old, a fearsome beast bearing great fangs and claws—and gripped by a hunger for human flesh. An agent of the Society for Magickal Heritage must find the source of an occult disease decimating Britain’s troll enclaves—and fix it. Simple in theory, tricky in practice, for the only place that might hold the information she needs is the ancient and inconveniently lost enclave of Farringale... A princess faces war on two fronts: demons outside in the forest and hidden enemies in the caves of home. If she loses either battle, everything is lost, even though she’s a badass warrior troll. From nightmare monsters who enjoy dining on children to spiritual mystics in tune with the natural world, from gritty champions to peculiar cooks, from shy hermits to paladin mages—greenskins, trolls, and orcs feature as heroes or as villains in these 10 tales of magic, myth, and mayhem.

Here Be Elves (Here Be - Myth, Monsters and Mayhem) by Various

A shapeshifter who spies for the fey conquerors of the mortal world fights her urge to help an oppressed human child. Her duty points one way. Her inclination, another. How will she choose? The only elf able to stand in for the big guy—Santa himself, away on sabbatical—can’t be found. His cohorts hire an elf PI plus partner—Diz and Dee—to track down the necessary missing fellow. A faie knight, banished from the realm under the knowe, loves the bright world and the mortals who dwell there. But the faie king wants his knight back, and he prefers tricks and cheats for tactics. A healer mage discovers a young man dying of fey magic on the steps of her perfume shop. Battling the fairy queen to save him puts her heart at risk. Celtic elves, dangerous and beautiful. Scandinavian elves, mischievous pranksters. Norse elves, warriors and consorts to the gods. Santa’s elves, practical and plucky. The Fair Folk beguile imagination with their mystery, allure, and hints of madness. Consort with the fey in the 13 tales of Here Be Elves—magic, myth, and mayhem await you. Table of Contents 1. "Destiny" by Kristine Kathryn Rusch 2. "The Case of the Missing Elf" by Annie Reed 3. "Hidden in Mist" by Chrissy Wissler 4. "Forty Years Among the Elves" by Stefon Mears 5. "Myths and Magic" by Kevin Partner 6. "The Shining Citadel" by A. L. Butcher 7. "Kirwan's Son" by Marcelle Dube 8. "Blood Silver" by J.M. Ney-Grimm 9. "By the Chimney With Care" by Kristine Kathryn Rusch 10. "Jar of Souls" by Lisa Silverthorne 11. "Hidden in Myth" by Chrissy Wissler 12. "The Merchant of Elves" by Robert Jeschonek 13. "Elf Saga, Book 1: Doomsday" by Joseph Robert Lewis

Here be Ghosts by Various

Who are they? What are they? The souls of the long departed, or wicked manifestations of sin? Tales of ghosts and spectres have enthralled us since time began. From ghostly servants, spectral possession, a space-going ghostbuster, to Halloween horrors, wicked toads and missing children these tales bring chills and thrills. Ancient horrors, long-dead rockers, family secrets and helpful murder victims join them in providing the shivers and the quivers. Dare you venture with the dead-walking. 13 tales of spooks, lost souls, and weird adventures. Table of Contents 1. "Communication Breakdown" by Dayle A. Dermatis 2. "Alfred Lets Loose" by Linda Jordan 3. "Seventh" by Debbie Mumford 4. "Crossing the Naiad" by J.M. Ney-Grimm 5. "Full Circle" by Kate MacLeod 6. "Roadside Ghosts: A Collection of Horror and Dark Fantasy" by Steve Vernon 7. "The Palace" by Leah Cutter 8. "A Burning Rainbow Man" by Ann Stratton 9. "The Whole World for Each" by Kate MacLeod 10. "The Queen of Toads" by Joe Bonadonna 11. "Ghosts and Ghoulies" by Deb Logan 12. "The Secret of Blossom Rise: A Ghost Story" by A. L. Butcher 13. "The Popcorn Thief" by Leah Cutter

Beneath the Waves: A Twenty Ebook Box Set by Various

Water has always intrigued humanity. We walk along the shores and banks of oceans and waterways, take boats across the surface, or swim in the waters. But water hides secrets - including those of the creatures that live in its depths... - What if mermaids really do exist, and they lure men to their deaths? - Why might bodies suddenly start washing up on shores all around the world? - What if you discovered a lost girl is the daughter of a water spirit? This collection contains stories about water creatures - sirens, kelpies, Hawaiian man-sharks, selkies, kraken, shapeshifters, and more - by twenty different authors. Table of Contents 1. "The Women of Whale Rock" by Kristine Kathryn Rusch 2. "Kelpie Christmas: A Paranormal Romantic Adventure" by Steve Vernon 3. "Radioactive Magic" by Bonnie Elizabeth 4. "Salt Water" by Deb Logan 5. "To Each Her Own" by Rebecca M. Senese 6. "Water Horses" by Lisa Silverthorne 7. "Vale of Semūin" by Eric Kent Edstrom 8. "The Jaws of the Mano" by Chuck Heintzelman 9. "Skydiving to the Gods" by Stefon Mears 10. "The Black Marker at the End of Time" by Ron Collins 11. "Monkey Sea, Monkey Do" by Robert Jeschonek 12. "Like At Loch Ness" by Karen L. Abrahamson 13. "Contact" by Marcelle Dube 14. "Abby Crumb: Bad Luck, Good Fortune" by Louisa Swann 15. "The Rusalka" by DeAnna Knippling 16. "An Idol for Emiko" by Travis Heermann 17. "Mother of the Waters" by Leigh Saunders 18. "We, the Ocean" by Alexandra Brandt 19. "And the Sea Shall Give Up Its Dead" by P.D. Cacek 20. "To Be a Monster" by Jamie Ferguson

Centaur of the Crime: Book One of Fantasy & Forensics by Michael Angel

Kidnapped to a world of magic, can Dayna Chrissie use forensic science to solve a royal murder…before centaurs and humans plunge headlong to war? C.S. Lewis meets CSI when Dayna Chrissie, the LAPD’s best crime scene analyst, finds a golden medallion on a body that's been unceremoniously dumped at a construction site. At first, she doesn't think the find’s that unusual. Until that medallion’s enchantment transports her to the magical world of Andeluvia. Dayna's been summoned out of desperation: Someone’s murdered the king, and if she can’t solve the mystery, human and centaur realms plunge headlong into war! But nobody wants peace when war offers chances for riches and glory. So Dayna ends up with a team of cast-offs: a centaur wizard with father issues, a brash griffin warrior, and the world's unluckiest magical deer. And the trail leads where she least expects it...back home! When the evidence brings Dayna and her new friends back to Los Angeles, she must use all of her knowledge of forensics in order to solve the case. The price of failure? A war that will kill millions and devastate Andeluvia.

Her Blood Belongs to Him by Brittany Stowe

Being normal is all she ever wanted. Adrianna de Soto is an esne: a human indentured into servitude to a vampire family. Her mother is an esne and so were her grandparents. It’s the only way of life she’s ever known. At eighteen, she should be worried about college or boys. Instead, she’s worried about her esne bonding ceremony. Just a bite on the arm, a little blood swap, and a nice new pair of scars. No big deal. Only things don’t go according plan. The minute she feels fangs pierce her skin, she knows things will never be the same. A bite on the neck marks her as a vampire's servus sanguinis. Now instead of servitude, she faces one of two outcomes: death or transformation into a vampire herself. There’s no going back now. Adrianna is thrust into a world of vampire politics, where one wrong turn could spell death. It’s not all blood, glitz and glamour. Can she fake it until she makes it? Trigger Warnings: Blood, Violence, Domestic Abuse

The Whimsy Witch Who Wasn't (Tales of Xest Book 1) by Donna Augustine

When they kidnapped me to Xest, they thought I was a nobody, another lowly whimsy witch to work in their wish factory. They couldn’t have been more wrong. I thought I imagined the wind calling my name, that I was losing my mind when a ghost at a sham seance spoke to me. That was all before two men appeared out of nowhere and dragged me through a puddle to a place that shouldn’t exist. Now I’m being forced to work at a factory of wishes and magic. I’m hated by all because of my lowly status and this is where they say I’ll die once they deplete everything I have. There doesn’t seem to be a way out until Hawk shows up. They whisper that joining with him is a fate worse than death, but I’m willing to try anything to get out of this place of frigid cold and crazy magic. Author's Note: This is a completed fantasy series, with a slow-burn romance, lots of mystery and a few laughs in between

Skadi by Steven Grier Williams

There is no end in sight. In Midgard, towns are meant to be sanctuaries for humans, and the outskirts are roaming grounds for powerful Norse creatures. But in Fensalir, a centuries-old jötunn has been killing children—a parade of death that has lasted for years. That is—until a witch named Frija steps forward. She knows even with seidr magic, she cannot do it alone, so she recruits a newcomer named Skadi Hervor to go on a quest for the power of the World Tree—that which connects the nine realms. Though Skadi is reluctant at first, wishing only to protect her son from the violence of Midgard, she relents and ventures into the world that exists between towns. Skadi is a skilled warrior, but to be successful, she must overcome beasts large and small; must travel the length of the realms; must learn to care for people beyond herself; and most importantly, must mend her tattered relationship with her young son Bjorn, along for the ride. With a rich cast of characters whose struggles are rooted in real-world issues, intense action, and page-turning adventure, Skadi plunges the reader into a world of Norse Mythology to tell a story of overcoming extreme challenges while dealing with loss.

To Renew the Bond: An Epic Fantasy Adventure (The Mind-Melded) by Carol Buhler

Two mind-linked species, one side dying out. Will the human colonists help or will fear of the unknown cause them to attack? Joedon’s rescue of his best friend from a colonist prison gets him charged with treason and threatened with execution by his own people. Appalled, he finally recognizes that his civilization is sliding toward extinction. Lacking the leadership he’d inherited but rejected, the Council has ignored drastic changes in their world. Determined to turn things around, he sets out to win back his people’s trust. Can he convince them to seek colonist help to keep them from devastation? To Renew the Bond is book one of the dramatic Mind-Melded Epic Fantasy set on a faraway, far-future Earth-like world. If you like intelligent, telepathic beings confronting overwhelming dilemmas with wit and guile to save their families, then you’ll love To Renew the Bond.

A Troll Walks into a Bar: A Noir Urban Fantasy Novel (Alexander Southerland, P.I. Book 1) by Douglas Lumsden

When a troll speaks--listen up! Hardboiled P.I. Alexander Southerland just wants to enjoy a quiet drink when a 500-pound troll walks into the bar. Next thing he knows, Southerland is navigating his way through rogue cops, a gang war, beautiful nymphs from the ocean depths, a were-rat, the mayor's corrupt fixer, the sleaziest (and cleverest) gnome in Yerba City, and creatures right out of legend. At the center of it all is a mysterious locked box. Can Southerland discover its explosive secret--and survive long enough to pay his rent on time?

A Night Owl Slips into a Diner: A Noir Urban Fantasy Novel (Alexander Southerland, P.I.) by Douglas Lumsden

He’s up to his eyeballs in hot water, and he thinks he’s taking a bubble bath! A routine case of industrial espionage pitches hardboiled P.I. Alexander Southerland headlong into a maelstrom of shadowy political intrigue and deadly supernatural mayhem—not to mention some malevolent owls and the mysterious 'boy who talks backwards'! After his exposure of a white-collar thief has harrowing consequences, a guilt-ridden and disconsolate Southerland roams the mean streets and dark alleys of Yerba City seeking to uncover a secret so stunning—so staggering—that just knowing it could unravel the bonds that keep the social order from dissolving into chaos!

Nyx and Jaz (The Infinity Project; Infinity: Prime Book 1) by Saje Williams

Nikki Sanchez is desperate. Her father has been framed and is scheduled for execution by a rogue government. She can hear agents banging on her door, eager to tie up loose ends. Utterly out of options, she's pulled back into a memory of an urban legend from her childhood. In the bathroom mirror she speaks the words. "Lady of Blades." As the third repetition tumbles from her lips, she hears the agents burst through the door. She steps out to meet them, certain she's about to die. Fate has other ideas. As does the Lady of Blades.

The Ogre's Wife: Fairy Tales for Grownups by Richard Parks.

Should a nice human girl marry a real ogre? Who sits in judgment when the defendant is a god? And why is there always one old shoe lying beside the road? Mere hints of the questions explored—and usually answered—in fifteen stories of wit and wonder in The Ogre’s Wife: Fairy Tales for Grownups. Throw in a perceptive and entertaining introduction by master fantasist Parke Godwin and what more do you need? Get your copy and join the fun! Praise for The Ogre’s Wife: "… an absolute treasure of a collection, one that I know I will return to again and again." Charles de Lint, F&SF “Deceptively simple, earnest, and tragicomic, Parks’ tales convey deep truths beneath narratives that tumble along like limpid streams.” Paul Di Filippo, Asimov’s Science Fiction Magazine “…like discovering an ancient, wise Zen master gassing up at a service station… transcendence in the midst of the ordinary and down-to-earth…” Terry McGarry, Author of the Illumination Trilogy

Marvels and Misfits (Trixie Towers) by Scarlett Dawn

Death this way comes to souls who break Fae law. So it is written. So carved in blood. Mighty are the Fae who watch us all. I’m screwed. Royally screwed. Of all the ways to mess up, I picked a real gem this time—of the hot shifter sort. Especially because I’m the crowned elven princess.A forbidden soul mating with the cruel King Athon was not why I attended the royal summit of magical races. Our kinds do not mix, as is written in death-blood. And I’ll be damned before I let some arrogant alpha tell me what to do, and for once I’m not talking about my father.Now, I’m on the quest of a lifetime.My crew of accomplices—sworn enemies. Including King Athon and my father. Our mission—retrieve ancient artifacts lost forever. Good luck there. And if we fail? No worries. The giants will crush the realm.Between all the secrets and lies, my name is Trixie Towers; and that’s the only truth that won’t get me dead.

Elysium by Nora Sakavic

Evelyn Notte's had sixteen years to make Elysium her home, but not by choice: she only survived her husband's betrayal by fusing with the ley line beneath the asylum's foundation. Now rumor has it Adam is back to his old tricks, and if Adam's alive maybe there's still a chance for the newborn daughter he stole from Evelyn so many years ago. The only way out of Elysium is the Nightmare buried at its core. Waking him means reigniting a long-stalled war and giving up what little is left of her humanity, but Evelyn's not going to lose her daughter again - and she's sure as hell not going to let Adam walk away a second time.

Karda: Adalta Vol. I by Sherrill Nilson

Karda rule the skies over Adalta.The powerful hawk-headed flying horses have been the protectors of their world for millennia. Now they are called to do battle again to save Adalta from an ancient enemy. On Adalta for her first solo undercover mission, Marta Rowan is awed by the sight of these beautiful, fierce creatures. When she is chosen to ride one, she must decide: Join the fight to save Adalta, or keep her dark secret hidden? Her choice becomes even more difficult when she is assigned to guard the Quadrant of handsome nobleman Altan. What about her iron-clad rules—no relationships, no friends, no lovers? Will she be able to resist her feelings for Altan, the love she feels for this magical world on the brink of war, and the majestic flying Karda, because she knows, when her mission is over, she must leave? From award-winning author Sherrill Nilson, Karda is the first in the Adalta series - a fantasy adventure for anyone who ever wanted to fly away to a new world filled with magic and romance.

Metaworld Chronicles: Vol.1 by David J Wuto

Everyone dreams of reliving oneʼs life, starting over, but when Gwen Song awoke in her fifteen-year-old body, she found herself in a world of urban sorcery. Though her troubled child- hood remained, the familiar society she had once lived in had all but disappeared, replaced by a parallel reality.Back in her teenage body, she must navigate her new world, once again forging friendships, filial bonds, and gain mastery over the skills necessary to survive in a 21st century Earth ruled by Mages and Magic, where humanity lives in enclaves shielded from Magical Beasts, Demi-humans, and otherworldly beings in a meta-world made unreal by a sorcerous apartheid

The Last Temptations of Iago Wick by Jennifer Rainey

he city of Marlowe, Massachusetts is a lovely place to settle down…just ask its two resident demons. For centuries, Iago Wick and his partner, Dante Lovelace, have meddled in the affairs of Man for the benefit of Hell—and had a damnably good time doing it. Everything changes when a peculiar demon hunter with a murky past comes to Marlowe and sets his sights on Iago. Mr. Wick is all too happy to grant him a game of cat and mouse. After all, a little distraction from his Hellish duties does an old demon good. But soon, Iago and Dante find themselves entangled in the mystery surrounding the strange hunter, and the line between danger and excitement becomes a blurry one. What happens when Iago gets a little too close? Is working for Hell really all it’s cracked up to be? And why is the idea of free will suddenly so appealing?Join a diverse and eccentric cast of demons and the hunters who hunt them in this wickedly witty tale of Victorian adventure and infernal mayhem.

Talara II by Liana Laskin

Talarans, a race of advanced and deceptively angelic aliens, invade and claim Earth as their new home. A handful of human uprisings and a short but violent period known as "The Flaming Purge" are followed by several decades of an uneasy peace.When a human rebel named Eric Matterson attempts to assassinate a Talaran senator, tensions between humans and Talarans are thrown back into high gear.This, in turn, forces Addison, a captain in the Talaran army, to face long buried memories surrounding Eric.When she tries to save him from the barbaric torture of a mind-wipe, the senator forces her to take full responsibility for Eric’s “rehabilitation”. Addison soon finds herself developing forbidden feelings for the rebel. She must keep her assignment a secret from both humans and Talarans, but most of all she cannot let Eric learn the truth behind their tragic past connection

There Are No Countries (Lucid Machines) by Marashall Smith

SPSFC 2023

Scouting crews arrive on newly discovered Dandros to find it ripe with life and fresh for colonization. There are no people and no vertebrate animals. But there is one castle, and one statue of a man known as the anomaly. Energy resonates from the head of this monument of times past where instruments and machinery probe the anomaly’s head and its empty keep, the only signs of civilization. It mourns for its love, speaks of its demise, and tells the humble beginnings of Dandros. It is kept under lock and key for the stories it tells.They learn that his name is Doug, a traveler from long ago, and he had prayed to a being known as the Goddess. Doug’s energy mentions her endlessly just before he had turned to stone. He had been making plans for her physical arrival on Dandros.

The Crystal Eye (The Crystalline Chronicles Saga) by Blake R Wolfe

A bloodthirsty sorcerer seeks the power of the dragon lord’s crystal to rule the world. Can an escaped slave stop the evil that threatens to destroy all of humanity? A thousand years ago the dragon lords ruled alongside humanity and guided them through the weave of magic. When greed tore humanity apart, a powerful mage rose up to fight the dragons for their claim. In a single battle, the dragons were slain, the mage disappeared, and magic was removed from the world forever.

The Queen's Blade by T.C Southwell

A doomed kingdom, a young queen’s sacrifice and a killer who will bring an empire to its knees... In a world where men share kindred with beasts, the Idol of the Beasts predicts a child who will end the Endless War after centuries of strife, but first the enemy king must die and his son be brought to the Jashimari Queen in chains… After numerous failed attempts, killing King Shandor seems impossible, until an assassin offers to do the deed. His success places the Crown Prince at Queen Minna-Satu’s mercy, and Blade becomes the instrument of her wrath. Forged in the fires of fury, his heart died long ago in the desert kingdom. His glance is as icy as his smile is disarming, and the fires of passion will never stir his blood. He is the Master of the Dance in Jondar, the best to ever hold the title. Driven by hatred and with the skills of his trade, he will usher in a time of strife and pain that will live in legend, and forever bear his name. He is the instrument who can change fate. He is the Queen’s Blade.

Defending Jessica by Benna Bos

From the author of the Lesfic Bard Award winning novel “Investigating Helen” comes another stand-alone installation in the Murder by the Bay Mystery Series… Few people accused of murder are as unlikable as Veronica Turner’s client, Jessica French. So to give the haughty heiress the best defense possible Veronica needs help from her favorite true crime podcast. But when she meets the newest sound tech for “Murder by the Bay”, she is instantly enthralled. She wants nothing more than to get close to the stunning, shy woman. Focused on her new job, Kaia Kent pays little attention to the pushy attorney defending their latest podcast subject. But Veronica just keeps coming around, and every time she does, Kaia finds herself slipping a little further away from dislike and toward serious attraction. With an innocent woman to defend, a murderer on the loose, and opposites that are smashed together in a whirlwind of fear, intrigue, and passion, defending Jessica will prove to be anything but easy.

Investigating Helen by Benna Bos

Dr. Helen Nims is hauled into the police station when her new girlfriend is found murdered. Terrified and confused, she finds comfort from a stranger. But when that stranger turns out to be a crime reporter, Helen has to decide if she can be trusted or if confiding in the stunning podcaster will pull Helen deeper into suspicion. Agnes Coates loves reporting on true crime. But it hits a little close to home when her first crush from high school is found dead in a bathtub. A gorgeous surgeon is tangled up in the police dragnet as they search for the killer, and Agnes must navigate her own feelings as she digs into the mystery and seeks out the truth. With so much to lose, Agnes and Helen will walk the line between kisses and crime.

O'Donovan's Travels: A Healer’s Potion by John Tuttle

Only a few mortals have the gift to draw back the veil separating the worlds to hear the voice of the uncreated Silence. In ancient times the stability of the worlds was a struggle for balance between the determined will of the gods and goddesses and the free will of mortals. The Druids interpreted and communicated this relationship from signs and symbols hidden from the casual observer in the mist and shadows of the Green World. O’Donovan is a shaman of the First Order of Airmid, Goddess of herbal medicine. The aging queen of Teamhair in Eire has failed to become pregnant, and there is an emerging urgency for an heir to assure a bloodless transition of power in the kingdom. Following the Archdruids’ invoked seeing, O’Donovan and twelve others sail into the uncharted western sea to the Isle of Fire and Ice to save Eire from a tribal war. No mortal had ventured that far west, and they must sail by faith in a cauldron forged by the smith god and a pointing stone created by the thunder god to find the Fertility Goddess Boann’s daughter, a white calf with red ears, who has wandered from the night sky into the Green World. The treacherous odyssey is fraught with sea monsters, bottomless waterfalls, tribal bickering, mutiny, disease and illness, and natural disasters threatening the quest seekers’ every turn. A storm sweeps O’Donovan into the raging sea, where despair sucks all under the green wave. As a castaway, O’Donovan cries for his lost brothers, questions abandonment by his Goddess protector and his role as a healer. Through entangled visions and answers blowing in the dreams of the winds, the Silence visits O’Donovan to stress the edicts of humanity and a glimpse of the suffering and illness caused by wealth exclusion and inequality.

Meeting Idana: 1 (The Gem Series) by Mors Deum

Destiny is not decided, but discovered, as Idana will learn in her newest adventure. Learning new things is her favorite pastime, but nothing could have prepared her for legends coming to life. After being sabotaged and kidnapped while helping her father with an archoelogical discovery in Egypt, she awakes to the world of dragons, gryhpons, and more. Now, she must fight for her freedom, and step into her calling to free them and give them a chance to live once more.

Beautiful Machine: The Orbs: Book 1 by K. D. Morey

Humanity was saved. The Orbs opened ushering in the Light Era of Earth. Trade flourished, new worlds settled and the ravaged landscape healed. Mankind had finally taken their place in the galactic community. All eras end. A century ago the Orbs slammed shut. Stranding millions of alien refugees and plunging the world into a new dark age. Still, countless eyes search the skies praying the silver paths open once more. Echoes live on. Alexis scavenges the remains of the last age, until valuable starfall draws her to the barrens. She finds not debris, but an escape pod and the promise of change. However, not all want to see the world saved. Some want to control the future at all costs. Some secrets are better left buried.Beautiful Machine is the first novel in the series, set in the compelling world of the Orbs.

The Axeboy's Blues by Andy Reynolds

New Orleans: A city with one foot in the past and the other ankle-deep in chartreuse-flavored dreams. Creatures and spirits of every ilk saunter down the jazz-filled streets day and night, struggling to find purpose amidst the ivy-drenched balconies and colorful shotgun houses.The Axeboy's Blues follows a centuries-old agency tasked with protecting New Orleans from forces that would see her destroyed. Unfortunately, the agency was nearly wiped out and is virtually nonexistent. In a city where mosquitoes wear vests and spectacles, where the Mississippi is teeming with monstrous beasts, and where Wonder sprouts from peoples' heads like plants, can this agency fill its ranks once more to take on an adversary from its past – an adversary that has jumped through time?

Space Junk by Andrew Bixler

The debut novel from author Andrew Bixler, Space Junk is a sprawling sci-fi adventure full of space, scrap, and videotapes. If you're a fan of Ready Player One, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, or Cowboy Bebop, Space Junk might be just the book you've been waiting for. Then again, what the fish do I know? Adam Jones is just another broke scrapper combing his little slice of space for the semi-valuable trash that litters its dark corners. He spends most of his days inside his junker, the Asteroid Jones II, drinking beer, watching ancient horror movies, and evading debt collectors. But life for Adam gets a lot more complicated when he discovers a mysterious object that attracts the attention of powerful and bumbling forces from around the universe. With the help of his wily grandfather and a mysterious feline stranger, Adam risks life and love in pursuit of financial freedom, even as the rest of the universe threatens to reduce him to space dust.

Love Devours: Tales of Monstrous Adoration by Sarah Diemer

We're all afraid of monsters. They coil in our subconscious, slither along the edges of thought. Still we creep to the crackling fire to whisper their stories. Love Devours is a collection of new fables for queer women, extracted from the bones of the dark: ominous fairy tales, sinister myths, dystopias rife with nightmares. But in the midst of monsters, love still struggles to find the light. A witch traps a beast of the sea; a corpse is reanimated out of love; a muse drains her supplicant; a priestess worships in a church of wolves. Six monster stories lurk within these pages. Six heroines, sometimes monsters themselves, unearth romance, rebuild worlds, shatter spells. Their courage unveils the secret faces of humankind's greatest compulsions: fear and love. Come into the dark and be devoured. Love Devours: Tales of Monstrous Adoration is S.E. Diemer's first anthology, a collection of queer dark fantasy and science fiction

The Teeth in the Tide (Savage Seas Book 1) by Rebecca F. Kenney

Pitched as Attack on Titan with mermaids, this savage gender-swapped retelling of “The Little Mermaid” is perfect for fans of Jennifer L. Armentrout, Alexandra Christo, and Holly Black. Trapped on a walled island with her people, Kestra aches for vengeance against the swarms of ravenous mermaids that ate her father fifteen years ago. The swarms threaten her town’s last supply ship--and the life of the brave young captain who smiles so charmingly at her whenever he makes port. With the help of her scientist cousin and the handsome captain, Kestra takes her future and her people's fate into her hands, determined to find a way to destroy all the mermaids for good. Abused and miserable, Rake serves in the harem of the three mermaid Queens. When he is given one of his spawn to raise, Rake resolves that his little son will have a better life. With the help of a monstrous creature that deals in memories, he discovers an ancient secret—one that could lead to freedom. This fantasy novel blends a dark, brutal setting with romance and humor. New Adult. (Co

The Shrike and the Shadows: A Dark Retelling of Hansel & Gretel (The Witch of Krume Book 1 by A. M. Wrigh, Chantal Gadoury

The village of Krume is plagued by a haunted wood and a hungry witch. It’s been that way for as long as Hans and Greta can remember, though they have never seen the witch themselves; no one has. When men start to disappear once again in the cover of night - their bloody hearts turning up on doorsteps - the village falls into frenzied madness. Hans and Greta, two outcast orphans, find themselves facing accusations of witchcraft and are met with an ultimatum: burn at the stake, or leave the village forever. With nowhere else to go, they abandon their only home. As they venture into the strange forest, their path is fraught with horrific creatures, wild and vivid hallucinations, and a mysterious man tied to the witch's past. The Shrike is watching, just beyond the deep darkness of the woods.

Butcher of Banshees by Michael W. Huard

There are 4 dark souls in the realm. The Wicked Banshees of the North, East, West, and South. Yet, there is only one amazing, brave young woman, who must defeat them. This is her tale! Bodana is a young woman beaten down to nothing. Yet soon, she rises from her sorrow; for it is the only way to silence the voices in her head. ___________________________________________ DARK SOULS exist in this world, this she learns firsthand. Those that are responsible for much of her grief. ___________________________________________ It soon becomes her life's mission to seek out these crones, these monster’s that prey on the innocent. Her only salvation is to be a glimmer of hope to those in need. ___________________________________________ She’s a DARK ANGEL who sings her song in the moonlight!*This is her tale, one filled with swords' and sorcery, gothic monsters, love, death, and so much more.*

Suboptimized by S.A Palmer

It's an obscene amount of money for a global tournament, and player Jay2517 is on the cusp of securing the top prize. Although he's an expert at simulated combat, a separate server will test Jay like never before. When he discovers digital bioforms in his class project, the line between bot and life gets blurry, as they're less than agreeable to many of his commands. Despite his efforts, a faction looks to destroy themselves, along with the rest of their sapient brethren. Jay and his team will need an elite performance against the fanatics, but it might not be enough to save one of them, let alone billions.

Lair of Thieves and Foxes: A Reynard the Fox Retelling by Rebecca F. Kenney

Angelique is on her way to marry the evil Lord Ysengrim when a handsome silver-eyed man leaps into her carriage and proposes a trick that could set her free. Once she makes a deal with the trickster Reynard, Angelique realizes that the world is full of magic, monsters, and temptations beyond the quiet rural life she knew. For fans of Sarah J. Maas and Jennifer Armentrout, this romantic adventure blends the French legend of Reynard the Fox with elements of Celtic folklore. Medium-heat romantic scenes, Happy-for-Now ending. You can stop at the HFN, or read the epilogue which might make you cry. Fair warning. :)

Violet Flames: Primordial Gods Book 1 by P.S Nail

UNTIL DEATH, DISMISSAL, OR DISHONOR. Ember Lavaris is a Fire Caster. She is a descendant of the God of Fire, which gives her the ability to cast fire magic from her palms. She is one of nine distinct species born from the ten Primordial Gods. A Vampire killed her mother two years ago, and her father is always off on business trips, so her sister is all she has. Born with a tattoo that makes her destined to be a King’s Guard, she is summoned away to fulfill her duty. She will now live with other members of the King’s Guard, away from her sister, and train to be a warrior. Unfortunately, her new trainer, Valarian Grey, is a Vampire. She must learn to trust him while training to defend her world from Demons and other malevolent creatures. Ember is caught up in a world of lust, danger, excitement, and love, all while adapting to her new life and becoming the warrior she is destined to be.

Magpie's Song (IronHeart Chronicles Book 1) by Alisson Pang

In the slums of BrightStone, Moon Children are worth less than the scrap they collect to survive. It doesn't matter that these abandoned half-breeds are part-Meridian with their ancestors hailing from the technologically advanced wonder that floats above the once-thriving, now plague-ridden city. Instead they are rejected by both societies and forced to live on the outskirts of civilization, joining clans simply to stay alive. Not to mention their role as Tithe, leading the city's infected citizens deep into the Pits where their disease can be controlled.Nineteen-year-old Raggy Maggy is no different, despite the mysterious heart-shaped panel welded to her chest. Or she wasn't, until her chance discovery of a Meridian-built clockwork dragon—and its murdered owner. When the Inquestors policing the city find Maggy at the scene of the crime, she becomes their prime suspect. An exiled doctor and a clanless Moon Child named Ghost keep her hidden; all she has to do is help them find a cure to the plague they believe was not accidental. Doing so might risk more than her life—but it might be the key to uncovering the truth about the parents, and the past, she knows nothing about.

Illustrated Gnome News (The Gryphon Clerks) by Mike Reeves-McMillan

They may be putting out a newspaper, but there are some things they don't want becoming news. The Illustrated Gnome News is the only newspaper serving the newly emancipated gnome community, but there are days when Ladle, the paper's overworked editor, thinks that's because nobody else is stupid enough to try to run one. She has to balance not scaring off all their advertisers with putting out a paper that stands for a better future for all gnomes. Including those gnomes who don't match up to traditional ideas of what's proper. One of these is her friend Loom, the first gnome woman to qualify as an engineer. But Loom has a secret that would shock conventional gnomes even more than that, and must somehow find a way to pursue her own happiness amidst the wider struggle to turn gnome emancipation into true freedom. (Advisory: contains non-explicit scenes of a romantic and sexual relationship between two women. The book itself is not illustrated; the title refers to the newspaper at the center of the story.)

Saving Schrödinger's Cat by Mark Jenkins

n the 25th century, deep under the Earth's shattered surface, the dying remnants of humankind live in a dwindling Colony devoid of Nature and only one can travel to the past to save humanity from its dark fate. Clinging to life underground, after a cataclysmic all-out nuclear war, the remains of the human race are desperate for a way to change the past. Harnessing the power of an artificial wormhole, their only hope to avert global annihilation is to travel back in time and alter the discovery of nuclear fission. Humanity's future rests on the unlikely shoulders of Proteus. Born with a unique genetic mutation, scientists discover that he is the only one capable of surviving the ravages of time-travel. After decades of preparation, Proteus is sent backwards to early 20th century London... but Time doesn't want the past to change and it pushes back. To complete his mission, Proteus must manipulate the course of history, all the while battling enemy agents and avoiding the forces of Time, if he's ever going to save the future from the past.