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Burning Snow: A Retelling of The Little Match Girl & The Snow Queen (Displaced Fairytales Series) by Abigail Manning Princess Safara wanted nothing more than to marry the prince of Averglas and secure protection for her suffering kingdom—until her fiancé left her to freeze to death. Til death do us part comes early for Safara when a brutal winter sweeps through her betrothed’s kingdom, forcing everyone to evacuate or be buried by the snow. To make matters worse, toxic trees have been burned in fireplaces in a desperate attempt for warmth, infecting Safara and many others with a slow-acting paralysis. Abandoned and alone, Safara uses the last flick of her fingers to light a match, wishing for a chance to have been a better queen. By some miracle, life returns to Safara as she wakes up months in the past. No longer diseased or trapped by snow, she decides to make good on her wish and do everything in her power to be the queen she should have been in the first place—the snow queen. Now knowing what the future holds, she’s not aligning herself with the losing side. The only way to stop this winter is to win over the snow king who created it. Can Safara claim his frozen heart? Or is her life destined to always burn away? Torn from one fairytale and trapped in another: The Displaced Fairytales series is a collection of standalones from your favorite no-spice, young adult romance authors. Burning Snow is a Little Match Girl meets The Snow Queen reimagining with the perfect blend of marriage of revenge, grumpy x sunshine, and a pet rock named Douglas. |
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All The Queen's Horses And All The Queen's Men (Once Upon A Rhyme #7) by Abigail Manning All The Queen’s Horses and All The Queen’s Men… Could never put her soul back together again. Princess Amirah of Sarnold has been shattered ever since the day her family was killed in front of her. Before her parent’s death, the ruling king and queen embraced the use of magic by containing their fickle emotions in rare magic stones with the intention of making them fairer rulers, doing the same for their royal children. But when their soulless rule brought unrest among their people, only Amirah remained once the dust had settled—her soul stone shattered. Prince Soren is the most legendary bachelor in all the kingdoms, willing to stop at nothing to find himself a proper bride that won’t leave him to run a black market or scurry off with a gargoyle. After hearing that Princess Amirah has come of age to ascend to the throne, the eager prince makes his way to Sarnold to support the new queen in anyway he can. He knows hardly anything about her other than her appreciation for magic jewelry, but as a magic scholar himself, at least his chances with her aren’t entirely abysmal. With her coronation coming, and her soul split into shards of jewelry, Amirah welcomes the neighboring prince with the hope that his knowledge can help her repair her shattered stone. But help comes too late when the princess discovers that a piece of her magic jewelry has gone missing, taking part of her soul along with it. No longer able to access all of her emotions, only Prince Soren’s endless optimism can motivate her to track down her missing pieces. Can they finally put her back together? Or will someone in the shadows ensure the queen suffers a great fall? Once Upon A Rhyme is a collection of clean, intercepting stories, best enjoyed when read as a series. For more information on Once Upon A Rhyme sign up for my free monthly newsletter at: Abigailmanningauthor.com |
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The Curious Voyage: A Retelling of Alice in Wonderland and The Odyssey (The Fairmyth Chronicles Book 5) by Abigail Manning Alice in Wonderland meets The Odyssey Alyssius’s wedding day was meant to be blissful, peaceful, and not interrupted by a panicked divine one who desperately needed her help. Being an accomplished doctor occasionally meant making house calls, even those that include jumping into a hole that sends her to the Kingdom of Underworth. The job is quick, but the journey home is long. Alyse has no trouble sailing her own vessel after growing up on a quiet island, but she quickly learns that it isn’t the sea that is complicating her journey. Percival knew what he was getting into when he married the island doctor, but he had also hoped it would keep all of the swooning island girls away from his modest palace. Being the king of Ithar doesn’t come with much power, but that doesn’t dissuade all the young ladies from offering him company in his new wife’s absence. He’s already chosen the queen of his heart, but fending off the debutantes might require a club. Curious islands appear before Alyse in spades, pulling her boat in, trapping her, tricking her, and often nearly claiming her life. Getting killed isn’t an option while Percival awaits her, but even time begins to stand in her way as the clock suddenly turns her back to the start of her journey. Then turns back again, and again, again… Such a wonder would surely drive any voyager mad. How long had she been at sea again? Will this curious voyage ever lead her home? The Fairmyth Chronicles is a collection of clean interconnecting fantasy romance novels that can be read in any order. For more updates on The Fairmyth Chronicles and my other series, sign up for my free newsletter atabigailmanningauthor.com |
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Crimson Claws (The Ruby Realm #1) by Abigail Manning A girl and her grandma... separated by an entire pack of beasts. A Retelling of Little Red Riding Hood. Roisen Karro and her grandmother run the most beloved bakery in the province of Omaira. Ever since her father disappeared seven years ago, Ro has decided there is no place for a man in her heart, especially an obnoxiously flirty woodcutter. Unfortunately, her granny has no issue encouraging the young man’s advances toward her. At the far end of Omaira, a strange foreigner washes up on the shores and finds himself amongst the ranks of a nefarious group of beasts. With no knowledge of the Ruby Realm or even a grasp on their language, the foreigner agrees to do their dirty work until he gets back on his feet. All they asked him to do was kidnap some girl from a bakery, anyway... As Ro discovers there is more behind her father’s disappearance than she knew, she finds herself entangled in the schemes of a sly new foe. With only the clothes on her back and a pack of wolves on her heels, Ro must find her way back to her granny before it’s too late for them both. Will Ro be able to survive the hunt? Or will the beasts swallow her family whole...? The Ruby Realm is a collection of clean, intercepting stories, inspired by classic fairy tales. |
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Framed in Florals (The Emerald Realm, #3) by Abigail Manning A shoeless girl stumbles into the prince's garden... A Retelling of Cinderella. Kalina Aristi hasn’t had much time to stop and smell the roses after her loving father passed, leaving her in the tender care of her greedy stepfamily. Her scheming stepmother has successfully swindled every penny of Kalina’s inheritance, and now she only has a few weeks until she turns eighteen. With nothing left to her name, Kalina must find a way to support herself without even a simple pair of shoes to call her own. Just a few miles away, Prince Jasper is tasked with finding a wife at his upcoming betrothal ball as his father’s pick, Queen Arabella, was already spoken for. Will he be able to pick a suitable bride in only one night? He hopes his elusive pen-pal will make an appearance, but he doesn’t even know her true name. Can Kalina determine the right moment to be brave? Or will she only dig herself deeper into a bed of thorns and lies? Only a night with a magic dress, a handsome prince, and a deathly dance will determine her fate. This book can be enjoyed as a standalone, but is best enjoyed when read in order due to potential spoilers. For more information on The Emerald Realm sign up for my free monthly newsletter Abigailmanningauthor.com |
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The Spindle Box: A Retelling of Pandora and Sleeping Beauty (The Fairmyth Chronicles) by Abigail Manning Pandora meets Sleeping Beauty A Fairmyth Chronicles Short Story All Princess Twyla wants for her birthday is a box. Not a pillow, not a dress, and certainly nothing else that’s round. She wants a nice squared box with sharp edges so she can prove to both the king and her charming guard, Felix, that there's no reason for her to fear them. Now that Twyla is eighteen, she should finally be allowed to learn why the king insisted she grow up in a round tower with round furnishing. However, the king shows no interest in explaining himself to Twyla when he has other ambitions for her circular little world... Getting a box seems far less exciting when one learns they are already cornered. The Fairmyth Chronicles is a collection of clean interconnecting fantasy romance novels that can be read in any order. For more updates on The Fairmyth Chronicles and my other series, sign up for my free newsletter atabigailmanningauthor.com |
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A Filling of Fables and Firelight: A 1,001 Nights Retelling (Enchanting Confections) by Sarah Beran A slice of bridal competition A dusting of mistaken identity And a whisk of love that might be nothing more than a fable. Rana Schehera is fully content with her simple life. Newly employed as a seamstress under one of the most sought-after tailors in El Huram, she’s paid enough for her beautiful creations to both provide for her aging grandmother and keep a steady supply of her favorite sweets. That simple life is threatened, however, when the new Sultan decides to select his bride the traditional way—through competition—and Rana is one of the lucky seamstresses chosen to attend the competitors. Still, it should all be fairly straightforward…until the Sultan mistakes her for one of the princesses he’s meant to be courting and inexplicably keeps coming back. Kamaran knew the throne was inevitable, but he wasn’t prepared for it to be his so soon. Now, reeling from loss and weighed down by the crown he never wanted and the responsibilities he never cared for, his council of viziers has added insult to injury by arranging for him to select a bride. His plan is Go through the motions, eliminate a prospect each week, and hope that by the end, the last one standing will be at least tolerable. What he didn’t plan for was the pragmatic princess with an obsession for needlework and stories that capture his imagination. With each evening that passes, Rana begins to see that Kamaran is more than the fickle, irresponsible Sultan he pretends to be, and she wants to be the one to fill the empty spaces in his heart. But as the end of the competition draws near, it becomes all too clear that the story she’s weaving may never have a happy ending. A Filling of Fables and Firelight, a retelling of 1,001 Nights, is a standalone novella, complete with tropes such as Mistaken Identity, Commoner x Royalty, and Forbidden Love. It is part of The Enchanting Confections series, a collection of clean and cozy stories guaranteed to delight your sweet tooth. |
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They Meet in Dreams by H. B. Wasiak It’s 1999, and Max Reid’s summer takes a strange turn when a boy in his dreams starts feeling way too real. Seventeen-year-old Max seems to have it all—friends, attention, the kind of effortless charm that makes people look twice—but inside, his life feels hollow. He drifts through his days avoiding his mother’s meltdowns and going along with whatever life puts in front of him. Everything changes when he starts dreaming of a boy named Andy. Andy is nothing like anyone Max has ever met. He’s unguarded, honest, a little bit weird—the kind of person Max didn’t realize he’d been missing in his life. He makes Max feel truly seen. But here's the weird part: Andy insists he isn’t just a dream, but a real person, sharing the dreams with Max. Max doesn’t believe him, of course. That would be insane. And yet, night after night, he escapes into that hidden world, forming a bond more vivid and intense than anything he experiences when he wakes up. But the dreams are changing. Andy is hiding something. Whenever Max asks him to meet in real life, he refuses. He won’t explain why, leaving Max questioning everything, including his own sanity. Max is determined to prove Andy exists, because if the dreams end… what is he supposed to do with feelings for someone who might not be real at all? And sooner or later, everybody wakes up. They Meet in Dreams is a bittersweet, coming-of-age story about identity, emotions, and depression. It explores what it means to love someone you may never truly have. |
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A Goblet of Guises and Gooseberries: A Goose Girl Retelling (Enchanting Confections) by Abigail Manning A basket of berries, a dash of wild goose chases, and an identity swap that is nothing to honk about. Princess Emaline has waited long enough for her betrothed’s family to invite her into their kingdom after the lengthy acquisition of a workers’ agreement. Accompanied by her new handmaiden and joined by a freeloading goose who rides valiantly on the carriage roof, Emaline is eager to explore her new kingdom–until her first exploration gets up close and personal with a local mud puddle. A less-than-cordial exchange with their goose stalker leaves Emaline completely unsuitable to meet her future in-laws. In a desperate attempt to save face, her handmaiden kindly offers to greet the royals in her honor. Which would have been a grand solution had they not mistaken the polite maid for Princess Emaline… Muddy, lost, and ready to pluck a goose, Emaline hunts for a discreet place to tidy up before rescuing her maid from the mix-up. But during her hunt for clean water, she stumbles onto the slave master's property and is taken in as a new worker. With no way to prove her identity or get in touch with her maid, Emaline must rely on the help of a smooth-talking farmhand who just so happens to be head over boots for the new princess. Now tasked with making the gooseberry wine for her own table, can Emaline reclaim her crown? Or is it all destined to be a wild goose chase? A Goblet of Guises and Gooseberries, a retelling of the Goose Girl is a standalone novella, filled with Identity Swaps, Crazed Geese, Forbidden Romance, and a Cozy Berry Farm Setting. It is part of The Enchanting Confections series, a collection of clean and cozy stories guaranteed to delight your sweet tooth. |
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Bluebeard's Bride (Displaced Fairytales) by Mary Mecham She ran from one monster…straight into the arms of another. When Alia traded her future for her sister’s freedom, she knew exactly what awaited her—a murderous husband with a trail of vanished wives. Upon discovering a hidden lamp, she makes a desperate wish to save her life, not knowing that genie magic always comes with a cruel twist. Alia is hurled halfway across the world and straight into the clutches of Zafir, a villainous vizier with ambitions of his own. Now Alia is trapped in a foreign kingdom, her sister is in more danger than ever, and the murderous husband she fled is hunting for her. So Alia strikes a dangerous bargain with the one man she absolutely should not trust. The problem is…an overdose on a highly illegal love potion leaves them questioning which feelings are real and which are not. With her sister out of reach and a villain chained to her side, how is she supposed to save anyone, least of all herself? Bluebeard’s Bride is a standalone no-spice fantasy romance packed with villain vibes, sharp-tongued banter, forced proximity, and love potion shenanigans perfect for fans who love their fairy tales clever, edgy, and delightfully unhinged. |
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The Sound of Nothing by Nicole Aisling Without a keeper, no soul is safe. In the peaceful and secluded Konota Valley, every 16-year-old must embark on a sacred journey to find their animal soul keeper. The life-long bond protects their soul from malicious demons that would devour it, leaving behind an empty husk. As the mostly ignored misfit, Shaya has always felt isolated within her own village, but she hopes finding her keeper will also help her find a purpose. Instead, her return with a bizarre and frightening beast only leaves her more confused. She soon learns her keeper is a drakon, a legendary creature from the northern mountains, but that knowledge does nothing to win her the acceptance she longs for. When drakon riders invade the valley, Shaya’s people begin to question her loyalty. The invaders might offer what she’s always wanted, but she must decide whether finally belonging is worth betraying the few people who still believe in her. |
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Falling for the Wolf: A Villainous Twist on Little Red Riding Hood and Cinderella (To Win a Dark Heart) by Megan Charlie A woman who betrayed her family A rogue hiding a hairy secret And a blackmail arrangement with unexpected consequences After her stepsister marries the crown prince, Tasia is shipped out of the country to live with relatives she’s never heard of before. Blamed and scorned for her role in that debacle, Tasia struggles to make a new life for herself amongst a community that doesn’t care for outsiders. But even that is less nerve wracking than her weekly trips through the woods to deliver a basket of “goodies” to the sinister old woman known only as Grandmother. Mitch helped a naive girl travel through the woods once before. After having his heart viciously yanked out and stomped on, he’s not doing that ever again. When Tasia comes along, all innocent smiles and no sense of self-preservation, he vows to stay far away. But she stumbles upon his furry little secret and he reluctantly agrees to play protector in exchange for her silence. What seems like a simple arrangement soon becomes complicated as enemies from the past begin cropping up in unexpected places. When Mitch and Tasia stumble onto a villainous plot with far-reaching consequences they must choose between looking out for themselves or risking everything for faceless strangers. With lives–and possibly their hearts–on the line, how will two recovering villains decide what to do? And will their choices be compatible? Or just another betrayal? Falling for the Wolf is a retelling that combines elements of Little Red Riding Hood and Cinderella. Set after the events of each of these stories, this no spice romantasy is the 8th book in the To Win a Dark Heart series which retells fairy tales as old as time, but this time it’s the villain’s turn to get a happy ending. |
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A Tangle of Iron and Feathers (Tales of Eukarya #4) by Sarah Beran Mulan meets The Goose Girl... Malana never aspired to wear a crown, but after years of war have decimated the royal family of Brisia, she finds herself in the unexpected position of being the closest thing to a princess her country has left…and also the chosen candidate for the marriage treaty that will finally seal the peace between Brisia and Cabriole. If only she weren’t keeping a secret that could ruin everything. After treachery and betrayal occur on the journey to her new home, Malana arrives in a much different position than she expected—a fact she is almost grateful for when she realizes she’s met her fiancé before. On the battlefield. Her forced position as Keeper of the Geese seems like the perfect cover to keep her secrets, until she stumbles upon an assassination plot and finds herself caught in a web of lies and secrets that threaten to destroy the tenuous relationship just starting to build between the two countries. Will she be able to salvage a future with the prince who has slowly begun battling his way past her defenses, or will the tangle of iron and feathers lead them right back to war? |
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Cursed Climb (Displaced Fairytales) by Sarah Beran A swan, a bird catcher, and the plot they both intend to keep from hatching… Working under her father as the Assistant Keeper of the Menagerie, Odessa Rothchild has always believed two things to be true: animals are much better listeners than people, and Boris Rothchild is the most brilliant man in all of Kovskia. All of that changes when an unfortunate discovery in her father’s workroom leaves her the recipient of a curse. Stuck in the body of a swan until the sun sets, Odessa begins to think that her search for the truth is hopeless—until, that is, a mysterious man crash-lands in the middle of her lake. If there’s one thing in life that Jax should understand, it’s birds. As the fourth generation of a family of bird catchers, his future nest egg should be secure—and it would be, if he didn’t have his sights set on a different kind of winged creature. But after his search for a rare and elusive dragon egg goes wrong, Jax wakes up to find himself in the company of the one kind of bird he can’t seem to understand. She needs his help to break her curse. He needs her to get his dragon. But as they work together, secrets are uncovered that create ripples bigger than either of them could have imagined, and they both must decide whether or not a happy ending is worth the climb…or the fall. Torn from one fairytale and trapped in another: the Displaced Fairytales series is a multi-author fairy tale retelling series of standalones from your favorite no-spice, closed door young adult romance authors. CURSED CLIMB is Jack and the Beanstalk meets Swan Lake with He Falls First, Found Family, and a dragon companion who doesn’t understand why he can’t be a swan. |
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The Old Crones Club: A Fairytale Retelling from the Wicked Witches by Jennifer Taylor-Gray Fairytales made witches villains. Now they’re taking their story back. Tibby never thought she’d end up in a prison for witches. She isn’t one, or so she claims. But on her first night at the Grimm Brotherhood’s Reformation Centre, she meets four infamous witches the world has branded wicked. As they share their real stories, Tibby begins to wonder if they’re not so different after all. When the Brotherhood threatens to erase their memories and their magic, the women stage a daring escape. But freedom isn’t enough. To truly reclaim their power, they must untangle the twisted fairytales written about them, confront the men who tried to silence them, and light a fire that could spark a rebellion. In a world built to turn women against each other, Tibby has to choose: stay quiet and survive, or rise and be remembered. A witchy fairytale rebellion for fans of Alix E. Harrow, T. Kingfisher, Naomi Novik and Gregory Maguire. |
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The Loss of the Star's Tranquility by Travis M. Riddle, Tobias Begley When guests set foot on the Star's Tranquility, a flying resort island, what they can expect is luxury. The best food and amenities...a dream vacation, guaranteed. But their voyage has taken an unexpected detour, crashing in the Unclaimed Lands—an uninhabited forest teeming with deadly monsters and unknown magic. There won't be much-needed bonding time for the strained Harteus family, runaway Drea is farther from home than she ever planned, and reluctantly-retired filmmaker Raymond isn't sipping cocktails poolside any time soon. Stranded in a place where even the plants want to kill you, there's no time to kick back and relax. It's more than most of the wealthy guests can handle, and it's way above the waiters' pay grade, but they'll have to learn to work together if they want to survive. A brand new mystery adventure set within the world of Tobias Begley's Mana Mirror! |
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Born of Shadow by Nicole Conway The girl they condemned may be the only one who can save them, if they don't execute her first. Violet was born to be wicked. Surviving as a street urchin in the island city of Sol'Karr, she struggles to stay one step ahead of the city guards. And when a burglary gone wrong lands her in a jail cell, her nefarious Viperi bloodline could send her straight to the executioner's sword. Her last hope comes in the form of a job offer from a mysterious man who may not be who he claims. If she accepts, she'll be working for The Zenith's Call, an organization who guards the world's most powerful magical artifacts—a task that requires highly skilled agents willing to risk their lives. They believe Violet may have the skills to join them, if she can prove herself trustworthy, but when someone tries breaking into the Call's vault, rumors of Violet's treachery fly like arrows, and she's threatened with banishment back to a jail cell. Now the only option she has left to prove her innocence lies in hunting down the real thief. But embracing her wicked Viperi abilities to catch an expert criminal could be what finally condemns her once and for all. If you like Brandon Sanderson and Rick Riordan, you'll devour Nicole Conway's fast-paced, imaginative series. |
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Jane is the End by Chanchito Massoni Jane works for the Ministry of Magic, approving your spells, checking your permits, and making sure you have your papers in duplicate to prove it. Her life is an ordinary one, that is, until the world ends and everything goes to hell. Now Jane finds herself thrust into an adventure to save the universe from...herself. It is a journey full of space, cats, and demigods in a race against the 4rth dimension. But can Jane figure out how to keep herself from destroying the universe? Can Jane figure out Jane? |
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Falling For the Trickster: A Villainous Twist on Rumpelstiltskin & The Goose Girl by Lucy Tempest Rumpelstiltskin meets The Goose Girl. An opportunistic maid. A manipulative faerie. A gilded deal that binds them both. Ottoline has had enough. After years of enduring Princess Gertrude’s cruelty, the maid’s patience snaps during their voyage to the foreign kingdom of Orcage, where the princess is to marry the crown prince to settle a royal debt. There, she crosses paths with a silver-haired, silver-tongued man with a penchant for deals and deception. Cunning and Ambitious, fae nobleman Lord Roderick von Ravenstock offers Ottoline the opportunity of a to switch places with her tormentor and claim the life of a princess. With a snap of his fingers, she is set to live the life she had dreamed of at the glimmering court of Orcage...until its superstitious king demands she fulfill her kingdom's debt by turning everything into gold. Trapped by her own masquerade, Ottoline turns to Roderick again, and he offers to save her, in exchange for a kiss. One kiss. One favor. One step closer to ruin. As the king’s demands escalate, so do Roderick’s bargains, each adding another layer to his plot against the royal family, and drawing her deeper into a deadly game of magic and court intrigue. But when the king’s greed spirals beyond control, Ottoline has no choice but to escape into Faerie where she falls from one monster’s grasp into the next. Risking his plans, Roderick saves her and, as she recovers under his watchful gaze, the forced proximity begins to crack their defenses, revealing who they are underneath their roles as the trickster and the fraud. Villains in the lives of others, but heroes of their own stories. Together, they plot one last con to bring the king to his knees. But nothing ever goes to plan, especially when hearts are on the line.Falling For the Trickster is the first book in the To Win a Dark Heart series which retells fairytales as old as time, but this time it’s the villain’s turn to get a happy ending. |
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A Stage Over Ruthless Stars by JJ Clapton Aznan is a chronically ill high school drop out living on a space station with an illness that hates gravity. But he's going to be a famous inventor… That's if he can win the biggest tech competition in the system. Held at his space station's circus, and judged by titans of industry, it's one massive showcase to demonstrate his homemade tech in front of a live audience. To win, he'll need his ex-best friend's help. Kairo hasn't spoken to him in three years, not since he left school to join the circus as an aerialist, but Aznan can handle that. Oh, and the local favourites just turned up dead. That, not so much. Everyone's saying sabotage. Murder and riches. A competition worth killing for. And when a second team dies right in front of Aznan's eyes, the official reassurances of glitches and accidents no longer hold. The body count is rising. The Grand Showcase is blasting closer. With nobody willing to stop the show, Aznan and Kairo must unearth the truth or risk their lives with one final act. |
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What Lies Beneath by Matthew Nation Everything comes at a price. What's yours? In 1895 Massachusetts, Andrew Dawson uncovers a dark secret his family has kept from him his entire life. When a mysterious stranger, Cornelius Phenton, comes to rescue the family from its crippling debt, everything comes to a head, and the truth is revealed. Andrew makes the deal of a lifetime. The only price to be paid is his beating heart. He takes on the identity of the confident yet arrogant, Derrick. When the moon eclipses the sun, the transformation will be permanent, and Andrew will be gone forever. However, Derrick quickly realizes that leaving his past behind isn’t as easy as it seems. Even without his heart, he somehow still loves the life he has left behind. |
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The Game Continues After Your Death by Jean-Daniel Magnin The secret notebooks of Thout' Nielsporte, prince of the Metaverse "Jean-Daniel Magnin has achieved the incredible feat of writing a story where all the sliders of video game culture are pushed to the max." SELL - French syndicate of leisure publishers Here are three intimate notebooks discovered on the body of the young Thout' Nielsporte, the most defiant of online gamers-this same Thout' who had chosen to live in the Metaverse since the age of thirteen. He quickly became an eccentric leader who sparked the hardcore gamers' rebellion and hacked the biggest online role-playing games, merging them into one. This is how Free Pangea was born, a prosperous libertarian digital galaxy, affectionately called "Big Pizza" by its millions of inhabitants. Thout' was its prince. And it could have lasted forever, but strange comas began to affect certain players, and a massive bug suddenly forced millions of Nolifers back into the real world. Sheltering in an old warehouse as endless rain drummed against the roof, Thout' scribbled in his notebooks to ensure the memory of these crazy worlds and their glory would live on. As he wrote, memories erased by his own coma began to resurface, and he slowly recalled a patch released by the former game publishers to reestablish their control over the Metaverse-a patch that promised the impossible: to transfer both his soul and body into his avatar, and keep playing the Game even after death... |
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She came to study dinosaurs—not fall for the time agent babysitting her. Dr. Grace Carson is finally reclaiming her career. Two years after blowing the whistle on her scumbag ex-husband for illegal dino-poaching, she’s ready to return to what she loves most: researching dinosaurs in their natural habitat: 65 million years in the past. But her comeback mission includes one infuriating complication: time agent Ben Nakamura. He’s charming, obnoxiously perceptive, and clearly watching her. The question is, why? Before Grace can find out, everything blows up. Literally. The poacher crew are back and, when Grace refuses to stay quiet, her research station is attacked. She and Ben are forced to flee into the Cretaceous wilds with a busted time machine and no backup. Fixing the machine means a dangerous trek through a predator-infested jungle, but survival might be the easy part. Falling for Ben? That could ruin everything. Adventure, danger, and slow-burn romance in the dinosaur age. Perfect for fans of Romancing the Stone and Jurassic Park! |
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Machina Arcanis: Two Worlds Collided: An Epic Progression Fantasy Series by Joeing When two worlds collide, magic meets mechanised giants. For decades, the Osten Empire, wielders of arcane sorcery, has waged war against the Dunkelheit Empire, masters of advanced mechs and mobile suits. Their conflict stretches across the stars, but everything changes when a forbidden spell, the Light of Punishment, is unleashed, shattering the balance of power and plunging both empires into chaos. Jack Squire was never a soldier. A veteran debris collector, he has spent years drifting through space, scavenging wreckage for a paycheck with only one goal in mind: reuniting with his family on Earth. He has no interest in the war and no stake in the empires’ struggle. But fate has other plans. Caught in the escalating conflict, Jack isn't fighting for a cause. He's fighting to stay alive and find the people he loves before it's too late. As alliances shift and war machines clash with sorcery, a hidden force emerges — one that could rewrite the fate of both empires and change the course of history forever. Over 140,000 reads on RoyalRoad About The Series: Machina Arcanis is an epic science fantasy and progression series perfect for fans of space opera, anime, mecha, and sorcery. Follow Jack Squire's journey through a multi-POV narrative filled with high-stakes war, compelling romance, and a tragic clash of ideologies. |
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Sunward Sky by Henry Neilsen, Jon Stubbington Nobody wants to go to space... Humanity's diaspora to the stars never happened. Space travel is too fraught with danger. It degenerates the muscles and bones of spacefarers to the point where life on the surface becomes unbearable. As a result, space work is now the purview of the forgotten, the desperate and the downtrodden. Those with nowhere else to go... but up. Once they're there, they're stuck, in terrible conditions and unable to survive on the surface. A desperate hope... Alyssa, a postgraduate researcher, has signed up aboard the Sunward Sky, a tired spacecraft operating years beyond its service life. The ship repairs and maintains the network of GPS and communications satellites that keep the world operating. She's boarded with an experiment to run. Something that can help the crew, and maybe help humanity escape the dying Earth. But she's not the only one with an agenda... |
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Faithfully Yours Mozart: Kindness & Compassion (audiobook) by Faith Jacobs From indie Author Faith Jacobs (Head creative of the Audiodrama Chaotic Idiots, Tir Na Noc Brotherhood, and of Faithfully Yours Mozart: The Courtship) comes a prequel to the mainline love story that would one day define Wolfgang Amadeus’s life as he knew it. Come along dearest listeners, before his time in Vienna, one night would shift the tides of his life as he knew it forever, long before the courtship, long before Vienna, there was the journey to breaking free that didn’t quite go as planned.... --- 1777, Young Mozart has been in Mannheim for some time now, yet without any success to his name, he finds himself in a city without a patron, without close friends, and only the best support from his mother. Whilist attending a grand autumn ball given by his Father’s companion, Herr Marchand, Wolfgang encounters an unexpected light amidst much strife and youthful tides of growing pains. |
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Fractured Princess by Debra Renée Byrd Jonnie is the last princess of the Crystal Bearers, once a powerful people. When she was a baby, the metal army destroyed what was left of them, and now it is hunting her. Her watchmen keep her just out of the metal army’s reach, but she has spent her seventeen years running and hiding. Instead of standing by while her watchmen keep risking their lives for her, she decides to learn how to fight alongside them. On the journey to hone her skills, long hidden secrets about her people reveal a connection between the Crystal Bearers and the metal army that only fuels Jonnie's will to defeat it. But the more she learns about her own powers, the more she realizes she may be responsible for the metal army – and the destruction of her people |
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Operation Reboot by James Hallenbeck, Doreen Martens, Julian Bauer THE FALL IS COMING. BUT HOPE LIES IN THE PAST. As modern civilization crumbles under its own weight, a small band of travelers makes a fateful decision: go back. Back to the year 1604, to the land of the Mohawk. Armed with critical knowledge and carefully chosen technology, their mission is as daring as it is uncertain—empower Indigenous nations before European colonization takes root and offer a new path forward for humanity. But history is no tame beast. Little Feather, a disaffected Mohawk youth abducted in childhood, is drawn to the mysterious newcomers. Haunted by the brutal cycle of inter-tribal warfare and guided by visions of his spirit animal, he yearns to end the bloodshed that scars his people. The strangers may hold the key—but can he trust them? And will their presence change the future for the better, or unleash consequences even worse than the ones they hope to prevent? Time is fragile. Destiny is not yet written. But rebellion runs deep—in every age. |
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Ordell's Constellation: A Science Fiction Fantasy by J.C. Cole In a galaxy where every constellation harbors a unique world shaped by the will of its Maker, synthetic humanoids populate planets governed by ideals of exploration, survival, and power, like the daring society of Pyxis, the fierce hunters of Orion, and the regal kingdom of Cepheus. These worlds are overseen by the Council of Constellations, ever seeking to engineer the perfect society. But when Ordell, the courageous son of a synthetic mother, discovers he shares the divine ability of the Makers to conjure and reshape reality, he is thrust into an extraordinary journey across the stars. As he navigates strange worlds and unravels ancient truths, Ordell must rise to challenge the status quo, free the synthetics, and forge new worlds where they can truly prosper. |
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More Than Life by Bethanie Finger A gripping story of overcoming grief, self-realization, and embarking on the adventure of a lifetime. As the daughter of a high-ranking sea captain, nineteen-year-old Cordelia Kimbal lives a life of luxury in the sea faring kingdom of Mikiria. But when her father dies unexpectedly, she is stripped of her title and home, and forced to join the working class in order to survive. Determined to rise above her losses, Cordelia is eager to prove her worth and stand on her own. But four months after her father's passing, a mysterious letter arrives, revealing the secret location of the mythical island of Qualaris. Known for concealing the secrets of magic and eternal life, Qualaris is often dismissed as mere legend, but Jaspar, Cordelia's father's enigmatic apprentice, is convinced of its existence and is harboring its secrets—secrets that the dark enchanter, Janus would stop at nothing to obtain. For generations, Jaspar and his ancestors have pursued the discovery and rescue of Qualaris while battling a curse of nonexistence, and he believes that Cordelia is the island's true protector, the one who can save it and its people from Janus's impending threat. Faced with the daunting task of defending Qualaris and its people, Cordelia embarks on a quest to locate the island, embrace her birthright, and take on the darkest enchanter in history. If she doesn’t, the island and its people won’t be the only casualties of Janus’s war. Join Cordelia on her journey as she navigates a world of magic, mystery, and danger, discovering her true self and the strength within her. |
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Son of the Siren by Kristina Elyse Butke Sometimes love is a curse, a twisted, unnatural obsession. Such is the dark magic of a siren’s song, the power of which half-siren Lirien witnesses for himself as he watches his mother sing his father, the King of Ardeth, into the sea. In a fruitless attempt to reverse his father’s fate, Lirien sings the siren song himself, not knowing its true power is seduction. Instead, he ensnares his stepmother, the Queen, with its hypnotic melody. When Lirien refuses her desperate advances, she turns to forbidden magic to force her love on him. But wishing upon a havoc stone is an invitation to chaos. The queen’s own son and daughters, Lirien’s beloved siblings, are whisked away and transformed into animals. They flee the kingdom, and Lirien chases after them, his beautiful voice also gone. Through elven mountains, fae forests, and siren waters, Lirien will stop at nothing to find and save his family. Threats come at him from all sides, but there are allies, too—Kitra, a shapeshifting fae fox who vows vengeance on the Queen for killing her brother, and Brandegil, an elf who can awaken the sacred sword Alibrandr to help break the spell on the children. Together, they’ll bring the stars raining down from the heavens if that’s what it takes to save Lirien’s family, but there’s still the matter of breaking the spell on the Queen. And Lirien’s own deadly curse haunts him should he stray too long from the sea. |
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N.I.C.E.F.: Neural-Interface Controlled Exo-Frame by P.J.C. Cahill This young adult, coming-of-age space opera adventure was heavily inspired by mecha and battle academy anime, with a diverse and queer-inclusive cast. By all reports, the Wraiths were wiped out. The genocide of this alien race allowed humanity to cement control of the galaxy. The giant robots used to defeat the Wraiths became an economic corner-stone, and the largest training academy for their pilots serves as a test-bed for the latest models and corporate propaganda. With so much economic influence tied to the school, the last surviving Wraith infiltrates on an assassination mission, and uses the underdog team of persecuted young students to start a meteoric rise to power... perfectly positioning her to slaughter the ones who wiped her people out of the galaxy. Taegen Atius has really only made one miscalculation: Just how courageous these persecuted teenagers really are. With the corrupt government and greedy corporations fighting and hunting them at every turn, working together may be their only option. |
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Lucy and the World Egg: Guardian Tamers Online Book 1: A Creature-Collecting LitRPG Adventure by T.J. Porter Empty-nester and former teen mom Lucy Lake is in a funk after her son leaves for college. In a last-ditch effort to reconnect with him, she makes an account in his favorite VR MMORPG: Guardian Tamers Online, the world’s most popular creature-collector. However, Lucy isn’t too keen on killing the cute and cuddly creatures. When her peace-loving ways trigger a unique event, she’s entrusted with a mysterious golden egg that holds the power to save the world. Now, it’s up to Lucy to decide if she’ll use all her wit, cunning, and strength as a mom to hatch the Legendary World Egg and save the eerily realistic game world before it’s destroyed from the inside out. And with the help of some friends, she may just rediscover who she is along the way. This epic fantasy LitRPG is perfect for fans of creature-collector adventures like Pokémon and Digimon, and the video-game-inspired worlds of Sword Art Online and Solo Leveling. |
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Queen of Blood by Nicola Zhang King Anden of Vindra stands against High Queen Telmaine, a clash of crowns that will determine the fate of the continent. The Berossian Empire launches its forces in a great crusade, but an unexpected voice rises in the form of a barefoot priestess, whose messages of peace spread like wildfire, threatening to derail the empire’s war effort and shake its very foundations. Cities will burn. Generals will fall. History repeats itself as Anden finds himself at sea, torn between saving his kingdom and the man he loves. The final book of the CELESTIA trilogy is a breathtaking tale of love and sacrifice, choices and destiny. When Celestia is drawn for the last time, who will shape the world to come? |
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Prince of Dawn (Book 1 of the Celestia Trilogy) by Nicola Zhang An exiled prince searching for the truth. A curious squire desperate to prove himself. An epic romance that will change the world. Sixteen-year-old Prince Anden has spent eight years in the shadows – banished, forgotten, blamed for the death of a king. When he returns to his tense and divided kingdom, he meets an eager squire with a talent for trouble and a smile that disarms Anden’s guarded heart. As their friendship grows into something deeper, Anden begins to believe he might deserve more than vengeance. He might even deserve love. But treason runs deeper than either of them imagined. As assassins close in and war brews across the continent, Anden must rally allies, confront buried truths, and risk everything – not just for the crown or his family, but for the boy who believes in him. Prince of Dawn is the spellbinding first volume in a queer fantasy trilogy about loyalty, legacy, and the courage to choose your own future. |
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Barnaby Stump and the Soul Thief by Ezra Snukal BARNABY STUMP never wanted much—just a quiet life with his grandma and a chance to become a fencing champion. But his dreams are shattered when his fencing tournament turns deadly, and he’s falsely accused of murder. On the run, he is whisked away to a mysterious island that houses a secret pirate school for outcasts and misunderstood teenagers. Here, the teachers all dress like sailors from the 17th century, and the students compete in intense, ferocious naval battles for sport. There’s also something oddly familiar about the school’s headmaster—perhaps something to do with his magnificent black beard… But before Barnaby can adjust to his new life, a sinister force begins possessing his classmates, turning them into killers. Worse still, Barnaby once again finds himself named the prime suspect. Determined to prove his innocence, he must uncover the true culprit and face a nautical horror thought to have been destroyed centuries ago. |
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Elsie is like most cats in Catterton: She stands on two feet, wears fashionable clothes, and has a healthy fear of the dogs now pulling carriages. Except she has an unfortunate, ugly, un-catlike illness! Compassion. The anxious teenager not only has to worry about growing apart from her father figure, but also about being the only selfless cat in the Queendom of Catterton. It isn't long before the odd girl has the attention of the tyrannical Catqueen, pirate gangs, and a mysterious knight prowling the streets. Humans may have disappeared from London, but the humanoid cats aren't alone for long ... An evil Ratking emerges from the shadows, declaring revenge on every feline—especially Elsie. |
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All her life, the young lioness Leya has dreamed of becoming one of the karanja, the proud huntresses of her people. But there's more to being karanja than just learning to throw a spear. Life among their tents means giving up family, safety -- even love. How much is Leya willing to sacrifice for a place in the sisterhood? Does she truly have the heart of a huntress? |
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The Astro Alliance is the pinnacle of civilization within the Milky Way. Poverty, hunger, illness, and waste are all banished to the past in part thanks to the intrepid volunteers of the military. The most cherished of protectors is Captain Loryan Kirpicsiskway of the majestic class starship the Crowntrotter. His crew routinely defeats pirate armadas, analyzes space anomalies, welcomes new civilizations into the AA, and travels through time. It’s all in a day’s work for a ship full of elite professionals. People never describe Joe Odoemene as elite. So, when Captain Kirpicsiskway handpicks Joe to helm the Crowntrotter the day he’s commissioned at the Academy, Joe feels trepidation more than gratitude. For good reason. No sooner than Joe assumes his undeserved position, he confirms he’s woefully unprepared. While his new crewmates end a war, relocate space orphans, and play cat and mouse with the infamous Sean Connor, Joe only bemoans constantly working double shifts and failing at simple tasks. When surrounded by living legends, what’s an average Joe supposed to do? |
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Golem Master: A LitRPG Arena Adventure by T.J. Lombardi Unleash the Power. Enter the Arena. Claim the Title of Golem Master. In a world rebuilt after the Rift Wars, where steel titans and elemental magic collide in high-octane arena combat, one teenager dares to dream beyond the ruins. Pepper Walker isn’t a hero. He’s just a high schooler working dead-end shifts at Rocket Burger, dodging bullies, and obsessing over Golem League matches. But when fate catapults him from fan to fighter, he'll need more than heart to survive—he'll need strategy, skill, and a golem of his own. Welcome to The Golem League, where mechanical beasts powered by arcane runes clash in electrifying battles. Where legends are forged through grit and determination. Packed with heart, humor, and pulse-pounding action, Golem Master is a LitRPG Arena thrill ride for fans of Pokemon, Pacific Rim, Reel Steel, and the underdogs who never stop fighting. Gear up. The match has already begun. |
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A Dawn Left Behind by Mark Aeschlimann "The outline of white smoky light spun around him and a blinding white flash embraced him… Matthew opened his eyes as white sparks fell and faded away into nothing around him…He now knew for sure what it was… Matthew had walked into a doorway to another world." Matthew Parlour, 18 and living his most carefree life, loves nothing more than listening to his grandfather’s stories and cruising through each day. He sees nothing but good times ahead. When tragedy strikes, Matthew is lost. His world has fallen apart and he is left with more questions than answers. With his obsession for answers guiding him, Matthew is propelled into a world where everything he knew is meaningless and being human draws unwanted attention. Where magic and power go hand in hand. Where he serves an even more important purpose than he could possibly imagine. |
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Child of Tulathne by Lila Samson Aleksander Wythane has no qualms with his identity as the reincarnated Sword of Ages. It brought him a life of comfort as a member of the royal family, and comprehensive training to make him the best swordsman on the continent. The looming knowledge of his duties remain far off on the horizon, the kingdom of Zekhar is at peace with its neighbors and itself, and a lavish Summer Solstice festival is approaching. But when creatures cobbled from corpses and dark magic tear their way into the celebration and upend one of the most joyous nights of the year, the entire kingdom is faced with their greatest fear since Aleksander's birth-the reason he was born in the first place. After ten years of preparation, Aleksander is thrust into his calling earlier than expected, but not alone. Accompanied by seeress and princess, Carissa, and a mercenary older than the country itself, their quest is clear: gather allies, information, and find the monster Aleksander is destined to kill; whoever they may be in this life. Along the way, Aleksander faces trials, losses, and realizations that cause him to doubt not only his ability, but his identity. Was it possible the goddess made the wrong choice? Or was he never the Sword to begin with? |
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The Call of Wind by K.R. House The power to control the elements, at the cost of your humanity. Long ago, the gods blessed mankind with the power to call the elements, but at a terrible price. Without the protection of a ward rune, the power wilds its users, twisting them into monsters resembling the element they control. Wilding and runes have never been of great concern to 16-year-old Elias. His talented half-brother Marc was given a rune by Gaya’s Holy Grove not long after being blessed with lifecalling, so Elias has never worried much about the wilding that happens to unmarked callers. But when Elias is blessed with windcalling, like his foreign father, it feels a lot more like a curse, since there are no runes for windcallers in his homeland of Eshira. Knowing that unmarked who aren’t lifecallers tend to disappear, Marc risks everything to help Elias escape, betraying both his country and his goddess. As Elias searches for a rune to halt the wilding and Marc is thrown into a brutal war, both brothers will learn shocking truths about themselves and the world around them. |
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Echo by M.J. Douglas Uncover terrifying secrets about humanity’s past! Experience a mind-bending adventure where The Matrix collides with Ready Player One in this gripping, fast-paced thriller. Meet Trick, a daring gamer, and his loyal second-in-command, Pik, as they dive into Infestation, an alien horror survival game. With Trick's reckless gamble leaving chaos, Pik must navigate the fallout. Join the crew of Echoes as they race to rescue their leader and uncover the secrets behind a mysterious stowaway. Can they conquer the game? Who's pulling the strings in their reality? And what role does Trick play in this high-stakes ordeal? Unravel the mysteries in this thrilling sci-fi gamelit tale! |
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YA: Science Fiction & Fantasy: (for kids and for adults) Dawn, 17, lives in a small town in Pennsylvania. Things get weird one Friday when she is heading to history class with her two best friends. Dawn "falls" into time, and ends up traveling to Florence during the Renaissance with a teen named Baldassare. He explains that Dawn is a "Sensitive" -- a kid who can travel through time. He warns her about a teen from ancient Greece named Androcles. Baldassare says Androcles is taking reckless risks and jeopardizing the space/time continuum. Baldassare has a haunted quality, perhaps from spending years alone. Dawn is drawn to him, but they are very different. He takes her careening through Florentine history, with centuries flying by, and it rattles her. Dawn demands some time at home, to think. But back in her town, she cannot talk about where she has been, and when, to her parents, friends or teachers. She starts to feel like an orphan in time. When she meets Androcles, he is laid-back and good-humored, and he takes her to the Caves of Time, where time does not exist. Dawn learns more of what it means to be a Sensitive, watching the life of a great ancient writer from birth to death, and wandering in a sense, "inside" of great old books. Androcles says that Baldassare has projected the dangerous, delusional things that he, himself, is doing onto Androcles. Dawn must decide which of these two guys she believes and trusts -- and, with that guy and two teens from other eras, she must prepare for an epic battle in which the universe may be at stake. |
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Transcendence by Matthew Nation One year after the fall of America, Dylan Meyers finds himself the second most powerful person in New Genesis. In name only. The people love him, and that just might be his end. With an assassin on his trail, he can't trust anyone, not even the ones he loves. With war just around the corner, he's forced to choose between what he wants and what he needs. Either way, many will die. He must overcome his regrets and failures, in order to not just survive, but to win. It's God's Will. |
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America has fallen. From its ashes has risen New Genesis, a theocratic government where the only law that matters is God’s law. Dylan Meyers finds himself kidnapped by the ruler of New Genesis, Evelyn Wolfe, and he is ordered to repent for his sinful ways. Dylan is forced into conversion therapy and pushed to his mental and physical breaking point. He must find a way to save himself before he becomes the very thing he is fighting against. |
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Breakwater by Vivian Wilderbridge Breakwater is a timely and lyrical novel exploring themes of climate change, motherhood, and resilience. As floodwaters surge in South Florida and millions evacuate, Carey Marilla, a middle school music teacher, learns she's pregnant. Though the waters are undeniably rising, Carey and her world-weary mother resist departure, alongside their aging yard man and a runaway student. Together, the unlikely family navigates the coming months of slow devastation and radical change while Carey grapples with the psychological trials of pregnancy. Meanwhile, blue herons, silver mullet, and sly alligators reclaim the drowned city streets. Rain, indifferent and dazzling as ever, dances blithely among the telephone poles. |
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Falling for the Winged Witch: A Villainous Twist on Wild Swans and Jack and the Beanstalk by Sarah Beran A widowed queen trapped by her past. A giant who just wants to be left alone. A fowl curse that could cost them both everything. Lindy never wanted to get married or have children—especially not seven stepsons old enough to be her brothers and a doddering royal husband. Just when it seems like things couldn’t possibly get any worse, the king suddenly dies, and her sinister reputation for casting curses means that all eyes and fingers are pointed at her. Rather than support their new mother, her stepsons seem determined to do everything they can to make her life miserable. When the youngest fills her room with water fowl as a prank, Lindy finally decides to take things into her own hands—and everything goes wrong. Atlas lives with his head in the clouds, and he likes it that way. His ancestral home is hidden away so high in the mountains that it’s practically inaccessible. But somehow the secret has slipped, and he keeps chasing away unwanted visitors. After the latest break-in ends with his prized goose missing, Atlas is forced to do the one thing never wanted: climb down the beanstalk. Unfortunately, the scoundrel who took his goose is now a swan, and the only way to get him to tell Atlas where she is is to help the witch who cast the curse in the first place. The nettlesome woman won’t give him the time of day, refusing to speak until the sun goes down. When she does, it’s to instruct him in the most ridiculous task he’s ever heard of. But Atlas really wants to get his goose and go home, and if knitting is the way to achieve that, so be it. If only the task didn’t threaten to knit his heart to hers in the process… Falling for the Winged Witch is a combined retelling of Jack and the Beanstalk and The Wild Swans, featuring tropes such as Unlikely Allies, Found Family, and Opposites Attract. It is the third book in the To Win a Dark Heart series, which retells fairy tales as old as time, but this time it’s the villain’s turn to get a happy ending. |
