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The Golden Cage by Kaitlyn Davis From bestselling author Kaitlyn Davis comes a fantasy adventure perfect for fans of Throne of Glass, Graceling, and Game of Thrones. In the land of Ourthuro, cruelty is a way of life. The king rules with an iron fist and no one dare defy him--no one except his daughter. Princess Leena is keeping a dangerous secret, she has fallen in love with a soldier and it would mean both of their lives if her father ever discovered their affair. But Leena will risk it all to be with the man she loves--her heart, her life, her freedom. And when her brother's birthday celebration takes a dangerous turn, Leena is forced to make a decision that will change the fate of her nation and eventually the world. |
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The Council of Athyzia by D. H. Hoskins The Osseomancer is finally vanquished, but the work has only just begun. When the mage Snorri and his aide Nauveena convene a council to discuss how best to rebuild, all those who fought against the Osseomancer come from far and wide to attend. Nauveena expects such a council to be easy, especially compared to years of war. But soon enough, she learns that politics are more difficult than magic. Differences forgotten during the war are quickly remembered. Each member of the council arrives at Athyzia wishing to build a lasting peace, but each has their own idea of what that peace should look like. Worse yet, the Magic of Order â a mysterious cult growing in the east â wishes for something more sinister. The Osseomancerâs magic devastated the world. The Magic of Order claims to offer protection from such magic, but at what cost? Nauveena assists Snorri in presiding over the council, but soon finds herself bartering votes and forging alliances to protect an already fragile world. Soon, she will need to protect much more than this, as magic itself becomes threatened. How the council votes on these matters will reshape the world, and possibly not for the better⊠The Council of Athyzia is a high fantasy novel filled with elves and dwarves, politics and intrigue, libraries and magic. |
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Savior on the zenith: Fragmented Fates Duology, part 2 by Nancy Foster The doubtful. The jaded. The heir. The dauntless. Jarahad questions the mistakes he made during his life. Nobody ever forced him to become initiated in the combative harlequin arts, which only worsens his guilt. The only person that understands his true feelings is acting recklessly for reasons he doesn't quite understand yet. When disaster befalls Almjarhad, Jarahad will be forced to make the most difficult decision of his life. Talgel's fate has become sealed in stone, and there is no turning back. The chess board she carefully assembled over the years has been prepared, and the pawns waiting in their positions for the true hero of this story to perform the first move. With no options left, Talgel hopes she can reveal the prediction that can save Almjarhad before all hopes are lost. Tioja forges an unbreakable bond with the one person who can both save Almjarhad and ruin him. After running away from Almjarhad and fearing for his vanishing sanity, Tioja seeks refuge in the new harlequin enclave of Murdorhiolan alongside his mother, her new husband... and his half-brother named Gulraj. While Tioja gets used to his new life, an innocent remark ignites a butterfly effect that will trigger devastating consequences. Jamarnid suspects something is amiss when a human mage moves into Almjarhad and becomes infatuated with his son Jarahad. Just as he feared, the mage becomes an unstoppable threat that warrants a drastic solution. After being ridiculed by his peers, Jamarnid must set aside his pride and convince everyone the mage threatens the city's safety before it's too late. The demon who has bonded to Talgel's soul stares at the chessboard it helped assemble with reverie and is eager to share its power with the one person that can save the city... for a hefty price. |
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Dream of Empty Crowns (Chosen King Book 1) by M.J. Sewall At the steps of the Choosing Tower, Gordon tosses his name into the lottery like all boys his age. When his name is called out and he is proclaimed the new king, what should be a moment of celebration takes a dark turn. Soon, he is hunted by the ruthless Firstcouncillor Trunculin. Pursued by kingdom airships and the very soldiers sworn to protect him, the young king has to align with great warriors and unexpected allies. With the healer Loren and a fearless young warrior named Aline by his side, can Gordon find a way to save himself â and his kingdom? |
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The Weight of Wishes by Tori Weed If dreams can come true, it is vital to remember that nightmares, well, they exist too. Seren was only four when the Stellean king killed her mother. Sixteen years his servant, Seren understands her place in his cruel court: Stay quiet. Stay out of trouble. And most importantly, stay alive. But now, the Fae king wants her dead too, and there is only one way to stop him. Thrust into a challenge not undertaken for centuries, Seren must navigate trials more dangerous and twisted than she could ever imagine. With the fate of her kingdom hanging in the balance, can Seren defy the odds and uncover the truth about her past? The clock is ticking. The gods are watching. |
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Five Lords of Dusk by F. Malbeck The hunt has begun. They will find him. And when they do, he will bring down the Empire from within. The Empire would say the Blooded who ruled the land before them are dead and gone, but those onboard the Oathbreaker know it to be a lie; one look at the captainâs ward will tell you that. Shye is one of them. A Stormborn, Dusk Blooded, Strange . . . an enemy of the Empire. He has spent his whole life running from port to port, hiding behind a hood, on a swift ship, running from the imperials who stole land, capital, and crown from his kind and left them to rot in thinning bloodlines. But when he blows his crewâs cover on imperial docks, he is forced to confront the will of the Empire and the humans who rule it. With newly discovered powers to aid him and whispers on the wind to guide him, Shye knows that the answers to the fading of the Blooded lay in Mistral, the capital of the Empire, and that the imperial bounty hunter dispatched to capture him can take him there. There can be no better coronation gift for the crown prince than a Stormborn. Dorian is an imperial bounty hunter. The best in Emin Rif. But Dorianâs independence is constantly threatened by the demands of their noble father, who wanted a perfect, controllable heir . . . he got Dorian instead. It is only their reputation that keeps them free. The assignment to track down a rumoured Stormborn, a being of legend in tales told to guild children, could destroy that reputation forever if it turns out to be a lie. But, if the rumour is true, Dorian will be untouchable in the eyes of the crown and beyond their fatherâs reach forever. Five Lords of Dusk is the debut queer fantasy novel by indie author F. Malbeck. Featuring a genderqueer lead and a flintlock fantasy setting, this novel takes place in a world partly inspired by the author's home country of Australia. |
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Ella Dethroned (Song of the Worlds Book 0) by Brandon Barr Hunted and desperate, Ella, the former ruler of her Realm, must evade the king's assassins and fulfill a mission given her by the gods. Ella carries an otherworldly device, the purpose of which she does not know, but if she is to grasp hold of a prophecy spoken over her, she must survive to deliver the item to a mysterious man named Quanthum. Her only aid is her sharp intelligence and a devoted soldier named Rathan, who has sworn to protect her. |
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Devil To Pay (Hells Unleashed Book 3) by Guinevere A. Hart The Convergence is nearing and the Lord of Hordes is about to unleash living hells on the planet of Vellith... The battle for her planet has transformed Mercédeon Aarondale. An exiled elven princess brought up in the human town of Silver Crossing, she only ever wanted a simple life of love and laughter. Now she commands a battalion of Sorcerers who might just be the only thing that can stop hordes of demon invaders. Céde is not just fighting for her own future but that of her unborn child. She is fighting for her true love, half-orc smith Jorak Sindri, and for her father, the rightful king. She is fighting for family and she will win. |
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Bells And Buckets (Hells Unleashed Book 2) by Guinevere A. Hart Elf CĂ©de and half-orc Jorak are young and in love and just want a normal life. But life in the magic academy known as the Spire is far from normal. CĂ©de must come to terms with being a powerful sorceress and become the leader that is her destiny. Meanwhile Jorak must choose between becoming a master blacksmith or joining the Shades, an elite military outfit. With all these competing demands, can they find time for each other? And time is the last thing they have. The Lord of Hordes is tightening his grip on the kingdom of Ardyth'tol. How long before he moves against the Spire and all CĂ©de and Jorak hold dear? |
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The Hourglass Throne by K.D. Edwards As Rune Saint John grapples with the challenges of assuming the Sun Throne, a powerful barrier appears around New Atlantisâ famed rejuvenation center. But who could have created such formidable magic . . . what do they want from the immortality clinic . . . and what remains of the dozens trapped inside? Though Rune and his lifelong bodyguard Brand are tasked with investigating the mysterious barrier, Rune is also busy settling into his new life at court. Claiming his fatherâs throne has irrevocably thrown him into the precarious world of political deception, and he must secure relationships with newfound allies in time to keep his growing found family safe. His relationship with his lover, Addam Saint Nicholas, raises additional political complications they must navigate. But he and Brand soon discover that the power behind the barrier holds a much more insidious, far-reaching threat to his family, to his people, and to the world. Now, the rulers of New Atlantis must confront an enemy both new and ancient as the flow of time itself is drawn into the conflict. And as Rune finds himself inexorably drawn back to the fall of his fatherâs court and his own torture at the hands of masked conspirators, the secrets that he has long guarded will be dragged into the lightâchanging the Sun Throne, and New Atlantis, forever. The climax of the first trilogy in the nine-book Tarot Sequence, The Hourglass Throne delivers epic urban fantasy that blends humor, fast-paced action, and political intrigue. |
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The Hanged Man by K.D. Edwards Book 2 in The Tarot Sequence. Rune Saint John, heir to the fallen Sun Court, finds clues to his Companion Brandâs past on a mission into the ruins of his family estate. But while heâs still agonizing over whether to tell Brand, a more pressing matter arises. Runeâs ward, Max, is nearly kidnapped by the Hanged Man, who has asserted a marriage claim on the young man. Rune isnât about to lose Max to the Hanged Man and his court, the Gallows, which is known to have unhealthy interests in necromancy and mutilation magics. Urgency will lead Rune and Brand to the family of an old servant, whose own son has fallen into the Hanged Manâs orbit. In going to her aid, Rune may find a way to free both young men, but only if heâs willing to gamble everything on a decision that will change his life forever. |
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Borrowed Wings: Lyr and Cavere Book 2 by Novae Caelum Con man Anais Cavere has been obsessed with the immortal Barenin Lyr for most of his life--and now he's met Barenin. And now he's in love. But Barenin's people have no plans to let the two of them stay together, chasing them across the galaxy until they have no choice but to take refuge among the Eshi, a race of winged telepaths who are at an uneasy truce with the human worlds. Can Anais and Barenin stay true even in enemy territory? |
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Good King Lyr: A Genderfluid Romance (Lyr and Cavere Book 1) by Novae Caelum A con man. An immortal demigod. A chance at love that could save the universe. In the far future, interstellar con man Anais Cavere takes the job of his life to impersonate his hero, immortal demigod Barenin Lyr. But his job as contract king to an unstable world takes a dangerous turn when he learns it was his hero who hired him. Barenin sweeps Anais into a web of cosmic intrigue with consequences spanning the universe. And genderfluid Barenin, while she's at it, might also sweep Anais off his feet. Good King Lyr is a slow-burn genderfluid romance. |
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The King's Weaver by Novae Caelum My mother betrothed me to a murderer. Everyone thinks Torovan, the newly-crowned king of Barella, killed his father. Handsome and tempestuous, he certainly has the temper for it. And me, third daughter of a rival queen? I've got less than a year until the knot is tied. But I'm determined to meet him before I marry him. I've got magic, I've got a disguise, and the king won't see this woman coming--because I'm trying out to be his court mage as a man. I just didn't expect him to fall for me anyway. The King's Weaver is a sweet and slow burn fantasy romance for readers who love arranged marriage tropes, hidden identity, a woman disguised as a man, enemies to loves, bi romance, and a queer awakening. Aspen Meadowlark is the fantasy romance pen name of Novae Caelum. |
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The Fealty of Monsters Volume 1 by Ladz Illustrated by Soren HĂ€xan Winter 1917. After years on the run from a dangerous cult, Sasza Czarnolaski and his father have found themselves among the Odonic Empireâs ruling class. One problem: vampires arenât supposed to get involved in human governance. What the aristocracy doesnât know, cannot hurt them. But aristocratic rumors blame the vampires for a summertime massacre months unsolved. Sasza suspects that same cult has finally shown up on his doorstep. Itâs already in his bedchambers. Though his pro-proletariat lover, Finance Minister Ilya GĂłrniak, has always been against putting working class lives at risk, he cannot say the same for his other comrades. Despite all rational arguments against it, the Emperor declares war upon the vampire states as vengeance. Ilya does not protest, and Sasza finds himself alone in a den of political wolves. Diplomacy has failed and insurrection comes from an unlikely sourceâthe emperorâs own progeny, Ćwietlana. She invites Sasza into a bloody plan which will save his station and the lives of thousands at the cost of those he swore to serve. He will do anything to preserve his peaceâeven if it means giving into the monstrosity he spent so many years concealing from even himself. |
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The Nameless Storm (The Stars and Green Magics Book Five) by Novae Caelum Dressa trusted the woman she married, the woman she loved, but that woman betrayed her. Imorie thought they could reclaim their life of power, but they gave it up to help a friend. And Rhys, unwitting envoy to the unknowable Kidaa, is navigating uncharted space with no compass. With the ruling family crumbling and the kingdom in an uproar, can these royal siblings navigate the coming storm? Available in ebook, print, and audio. |
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Court of Magickers (The Stars and Green Magics Book Four) by Novae Caelum THE POWER TO DESTROY A KINGDOM. THE POWER TO HEAL A HEART. Ariâs new powers have awakened, threatening to tear apart a kingdom already on the edge. Sent back to Valon to face her fatherâsâand the peopleâsâjudgement, Ari must decide how far sheâll go to reclaim her former life, if thatâs even possible anymore. In the heart of the turmoil, Iata, the reigning ruler, is losing control of his increasingly unstable magics. As his secrets threaten to spill out, his brotherâs wife, Haneri, draws ever closerâand heâs not sure he wants her to stop. At the border to Kidaa Space, Rhys grapples with the ominous and impossible patterns in the Kidaa attacks, and comes face to face with the Kidaa themselves in a harrowing meeting that could change the future of the kingdom. And Dressa, who secretly married an enemy prince, must now face the consequences of that marriage. Because Lesander was activated by her family. And Lesander has a choice: obey her family, or betray her wife. With enemies without and enemies within, can the Truthspoken save their kingdom, or is this kingdom doomed to fall? Court of Magickers collects episodes 94-150 of The Stars and Green Magics,previously published in serial form. Note: This book has main characters who use gender-neutral pronouns (they/them/their, fae/faer/faerself). |
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A Bid to Rule (The Stars and Green Magics Book Three) by Novae Caelum While this book happens 23 years before the main events of this series, it contains characters, events, and context needed to fully enjoy the rest of the series. This is the preferred reading order, but it can also be read any time before, during, or right after books 1 and 2. THE RULER IS DEAD. LONG LIVE THE RULER. Homaj Rhialden has lived his whole life knowing his older sibling, not himself, will rule his interstellar kingdomâand as a court rake, heâs perfectly okay with that. But when his parents are assasinated and the Heir goes missing, Homaj is suddenly thrust into power. All evidence points to an inside job, but who among his fatherâs trusted advisors are his enemies? Determined to track down his parentsâ killers and prove himself in an increasingly hostile court, Homaj hatches a plan with his servant cousin, Iata, to use their shapeshifting abilities to switch places: while Iata impersonates him and rules the kingdom as a willing target, Homaj searches for the Heir in the capital city. But in a kingdom ruled by shapeshifters, anyone can be anyone, and not even your own identity is safe. When lies run deep enough to shatter a kingdom and family is hardly friendly, can Homaj protect both his kingdom and his identity from crumbling around him? A Bid to Rule is a fast-paced royal thriller with a genderfluid lead and glittering court intrigue! This book was first published as The Seritarchus in serial form on Laterpress and Vella. |
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The Shadow Rule (The Stars and Green Magics Book Two) by Novae Caelum THE ENEMY BY MY SIDE. THE ENEMY IN MY HEART. Ari will never be the Heir again. Her younger sister, Dressa, was supposed to hold her place, but now Dressaâs stolen her future rulership. Banished to a resort world to recover from her illness, Ariâs determined to reclaim her shapeshifting abilities and race back to the capital. But a young gardener with a mysterious past is taking too much interest in Ariâs new persona, and a possessive duke is bent on capturing her attention for himself. Are they both after her heart, or something far more sinister? Dressa won her freedom, won her brideâand won a kingdom she didnât want. Now, with an alien crisis brewing, she has to step up as the Heir, and maybe, soon, as the ruler. Because thereâs a secret at the heart of the kingdom. A secret that spans her fatherâs entire rule and could bring everything tumbling down. And sheâs already let the enemy into her palace, and into her heart. When no one is who they seem and every smile is a weapon, the Truthspoken must find their way to truth before the kingdom crumbles around them. The Shadow Rule collects episodes 37-93 of The Stars and Green Magics, previously published in serial form. Note: This book has main characters who use gender neutral pronouns (they/them/their, fae/faer/faerself). Available now in ebook, serial, and digitally narrated audiobook! |
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The Ice Mage by Julianne Munich Marcel lives with one foot in each world. The first world feels as harsh and cold as the ice he casts from his fingertips. They want to use him as a bloodless and efficient weapon, nothing more. The second world is home to three friendly passengers who charter his coach for a journey. Luc, Emilie, and Adelaide are happy to travel to a princeâs castle as retinue servants, while Marcel's heart sinks in guilt and dread with each step his horses take. Luc's amnesia spell is all that separates the good man he's become, from the evil killer within. The coachman is driving him to where his spell will be brokenâand his true self will be unveiled. Marcel is faced with a terrifying dilemma of his own. Either obey the orders of Le Conseil SuprĂȘme and become their henchmanâor die a traitor. All the while, his feelings for a forbidden woman tempt him to risk it all. |
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The Truthspoken Heir (The Stars and Green Magics Book One) by Novae Caelum RESIST THE CALL. LOVE THE ENEMY. Ariannaâs always been the perfect Truthspoken Heir, the obedient future ruler of her interstellar kingdom. But when Ariannaâs royal shapeshifting abilities fail her publicly and disastrously at her engagement ball, she suddenly finds herself on the outside of the life she called her own. Dressaâs the perfect socialite, the opposite of her older sisterâs rigid control. When her sister goes down with a mysterious illness and is sent away from court, Dressaâs thrust into a position she never wanted. Sheâs ordered to impersonate her sisterâher body, her name, her personality, everythingâand court her sisterâs bride-to-be. Whoâs gorgeous. And whoâs likely been sent to take her family down. Can Dressa resist falling for her sisterâs bride? Can Arianna find a way to take back her own name and position? When the stakes are the kingdom and control has been their whole lives, these siblings must find a way to make their lives their own. The Truthspoken Heir collects episodes 1-36 of The Stars and Green Magics, previously published in serial form, as well as three all new beginning episodes! Note: This book has main characters who use gender neutral pronouns (they/them/their, fae/faer/faerself). Available in ebook, paperback, serial, and digitally narrated audiobook! |
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Boy of Shadows by Camilla Vavruch A scarred boy. A power struggle. A unique bird. And painful longing for love. Tristanâs father has abused him since he was a small child, leaving his body scarred and in constant pain. But no matter much Father tries, torture doesnât keep Tristan from falling in love with simple field worker Will. Falling in love? Easy. But showing Will his flaws? No. Damaged in both body and mind, he sends Will away, unwilling to let him see more weakness. Alone and filled with self-hatred, Tristan must face the ambitious Overster Garrensor and his disdainful sonâbut all he wants is Will. |
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The Wounds of Wisdom by Alexandra Roma For Celin, a life at Aslemor â the illustrious Court of the kingdom of Artrus â has always been the life that âcould have been.â If her blacksmith mother had been accepted by her duke father's peers. If the truth about how her grandmother came to Artrus wasn't a dangerous secret. If Celin could pursue her dream of becoming a knight. Knight or not, when a group of assailants attempt to drag the prince across the kingdomâs barrier, Celin leaps into the fray to protect him. In doing so, she manifests a strange new power: the ability to take the pain of others onto herself. From there, sheâs whisked off to Aslemor to learn how to harness one of Artrus's rare and coveted Wisdoms. Alongside her are Wise Ones from within the kingdom and without, including the Double Wise Prince Alasdair and his guard, Nico, a mysterious boy from an enemy nation who stirs up feelings Celin didnât know she was capable of feeling. But Aslemor is full of sharp teeth, and just because Celin has a Wisdom doesnât mean they wonât devour her whole. Especially not when someone starts killing Wise Ones. For fans of Graceling and Tamora Pierce, The Wounds of Wisdom is a story full of court intrigue and powers that take as much as you give, about finding your place, claiming it, and learning how much to protect yourself when all you want is to protect others. |
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Wolves of Duty by Charlotte Murphy ASPEN ANAI is the Female, one of three laecan children born under unique circumstances, known as the Triquetra. Destined to usher in a new generation of Alpha wolves, Aspen has always known her purpose and is content being the gilded vessel for the two males who must compete for her, in physical challenges known as the Mating Games. When fellow Triquetrian, Caius Caldoun threatens their traditions and social standing by refusing to compete in the games against current Alpha heir Sabre Riadnak; Aspen starts questioning her destiny and the motives of those she thought she could trust. Thrust into political upheaval and social discord, Aspen is forced to choose between the duty she has always known and the happiness, freedom and love, she has only begun to taste. |
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All the Fragile Hearts by M.T. Solomon All the Fragile Hearts is an adult fantasy novel that combines mystery and politics with unconventional romance tropes. Cecelia, heir to her father's throne, feels like a stranger in her father's court. Driven to uncover the truth behind her mother's identity, Cecelia embarks on a perilous journey across the sea to the kingdom of Korith. Viktor, a formidable Kingsguard, finds himself caught in a complex web of manipulation and duty. Drawn together by fate, Cecelia and Viktor are bound by an unexpected arranged marriage, stirring conflicting emotions within them and exposing their brokenness. Whispers of rebellion spread and a military coup builds in the shadows as Korith is pushed further into chaos by the assassination of the king. Separated, Cecelia and Viktor must navigate the treacherous landscape of deception, testing their loyalty as destiny weaves its threads through every fragile heart. |
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Fairy Court in Exile by Joel Flanagan-Grannemann Talia, now Queen of the Fairy Realm, is off on a quest to find her kidnapped daughter. In her absence, her paternal uncle's wife, Titania, serves as Regent and leader of a scattered force of loyal Fairies, defending the Exile Queen's mountain against attacks from the False Sisters (Talia's maternal aunts), whose bloody coup triggered the Fairy civil war. Thrown into much more prominent roles as defenders of the mountain, Min and Elanor (formerly Talia's most loyal Ladies), must fight not only enemies from without and within the mountain, but also their own past traumas and insecurities as well. As the treacherous troops of the False Sisters close in, Titania and her loyal Fairies must muster all their courage and strength to fight off the evil blood-fueled magic arrayed against them so they may continue to serve as faithful Servants of the Moon and Sun. If you've enjoyed books such as A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas or The Cruel Prince by Holly Black, then you'll love this thrilling story of loya |
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Talia: On the Shore of the Sea by Joel Flanagan-Grannemann near the sea of the First Fairies, Talia gives birth to a daughter, while her former love, now King of the Human Realm, works in concert with her evil aunts (the Three Sisters) to take the Fairy throne from Talia's mother, Queen Zellandine. After a short interlude of peace, Talia and her remaining companions embark on a dangerous journey, evading agents of their opponents as they seek revenge for a devastating attack on their company. â â â With civil war looming betewen the Fairies, Talia is determined to protect her kingdom and her people -- but at what cost? Will she be able to save her beloved Realm and safeguard the ones she loves?â â â Follow Talia on her quest for justice in this thrilling second installment of the â Servants of the Moon and Sunâ series. If you enjoyed books such as A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas or The Cruel Prince by Holly Black, you're sure to love â Servants of the Moon and Sunâ . |
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Talia:Heir to the Fairy Realm by Joel Flanagan-Grannemann Talia, the young Iridescent-winged Heir to the Fairy Realm, and Prince Bastile, the Heir to the Human Realm, have embarked on a forbidden love affair, and their choice will have consequences for both their worlds. After a stunning betrayal, Talia, her 8 Ladies, and her Heir's Guard (9 female Fairy soldiers) bravely set off on a journey through the Fairy Realm in search of answers about the Exile Queen, a reviled ancestor. â However, Talia's evil Aunts, the Three Sisters, and others in both the Fairy and Human courts stand in her way, not understanding the ancient prophecy that Talia is destined to fulfill. â â â Will Talia be able to save both the Fairy and Human Realms from the devastations of another war?â â â If you enjoyed The Cruel Prince by Holly Black, you will be captivated by this exciting story of Talia and Prince Bastile's forbidden love affair and the stirrings of horrible hostilities between these two vastly disparate Realms. |
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The Three Faces of Dissatisfaction by M.C. Burnell He thought this mission was a joke at his expense, and now heâs got the fate of the region in his hands. Liath-Tamren is the largest urban center in a land around an inner sea that was all once claimed by an empire. The Cities reflect the diversity and trade that flow across the Halu, enriched by numerous immigrant enclaves and temples to foreign gods. Not all of its citizens find that pleasing, and thereâs no people more misunderstood than the Malisaat, with their secretive faith, their envy-inspiring wealth, and their freaky black-eyed sorcerers, who scare them too. As one of said freaky sorcerers, otherwise known as the Azkhan Soubir, Japhetâs used to being in on the secrets. But when the head of his cabal sends him to the Cities, his orders are basically: go there for reasons. Not the usual mission. And why here? Liath-Tamren is a tame, bourgeois place (which he hates). Thereâs crime, but itâs ordinary shit. The Citiesâ problems are the sort one expects in an urban center run by a string of incompetent do-nothing kings who still consider their subjects foreigners a thousand years after conquering them. Sorcerers are tax-paying citizens organized into guilds who sell their services to shopkeepers. So color him confused by what he finds when he arrives. It doesnât help that his fellow Azkhan Soubir are acting hinky. Japhetâs cabal works alone and keeps their mysteries close, but the people he used to trust he doesnât anymore. Heâs going to have to rely on the help of normal folks accustomed to having normal, boring, workaday problems, who donât yet know they have something to contribute. Top of the agenda: figure out why the Cities are being targeted by a comical profusion of metaphysical players who never took an interest heretofore. An urban center so real it must be. A labyrinthine plot centuries in the making. Laugh-out-loud dark comedy. Fall in love with Liath-Tamren! (Just donât call it âa city.â Really.) |
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What if Cinderella was a thief, the fairy godmother evil, ...and the prince only wanted to marry to get his revenge? Vanya longs to escape Tal, the City of the Dead, and the suffocating debts weighing her down. As her stepfather's interest rate increases, she turns to thievery to secure her freedom. Her task? Steal the glass crown at the crown prince's betrothal ball before midnight, and she'll finally break free. But Vanya soon discovers she bears a striking resemblance to the missing foreign bride, and her employer desires not just the crown, but control over the one who wears it. This summer, worse things than the usual dead roam the streets of Tal, while sinister forces seeking to topple the royals and rebels gather in the night, waiting for their chance to strike. All sides agree: the wedding must proceedâeven if no one survives to see the dawn. Stealing Glass is the first book in the Tales of Bones and Roses Cinderella duology, a slow burn romance with bantering enemies to lovers, royally mistaken identity and backstabbing political intrigues in a darkly gothic world. |
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Treason's Crown by Anne Wheeler A king in need of a bride. A rebel leader in his dungeon. A farmerâs daughter with a choice. This isnât a fairy tale. The last thing Riette expects on a snowy winterâs evening is Meirdreâs royal guard appearing on her doorstep. Their purpose? The king needs a bride, and tradition dictates the position is hers to accept. Desperate to secure her parentsâ future, she agrees to the marriage and is whisked away to Lochfeld Castle, all too aware her childhood friend is there as well, imprisoned as a rebel in the dungeons below. Leaving him to hang isnât an option, even as her nuptials and his execution grow closer. No matter what secrets the castle holdsâmysteries she alone can seeâor how desperate King Laurent is to marry an unknown peasant girl, the glittering crown in her future is nothing more than a distraction from her new mission: sheâll free Thomas or die trying. But what happens when succeeding at either means the downfall of Meirdre? |
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Poisoned Empire by Elyse Thomson Cinderella (feral) meets The Lies of Locke Lamora in this lush romantic fantasy set in a world inspired by the Eastern Roman Empire. Black-marketeer Selene has poison magic and the cynicism to match. When she and genius metals mage Iliana are arrested by the same scheming, noble fathers who tossed them out at birth, they suspect apologies wonât be forthcoming. Forced to either impersonate their half-sisters or die, the friends are stuffed into fancy dresses, packed off to the capital, and thrust into the perilous, glittering world of the imperial court. Traitors lurk in Prince Belisariusâ court, and only his loyal strategos Marduk is above suspicion. As noble-born villains siphon away the souls of their daughters to magnify their magic in secret, Belisarius plots to expose them allâby inviting every noblewoman in the empire to compete for his hand in marriage. But two infuriating imposters in attendance quickly become his bane. When the friends are discovered, they expect imprisonmentânot a deal. Vast riches are on offer if Selene poses as fiancĂ©e to the handsome prince while Iliana simpers for the towering strategosâa ploy to lure traitorous enemies to the capital. Yet even as they help secure the throne, false affections flirt with real passions, and Selene and Iliana are convinced theyâll either lose their hearts⊠or their heads. |
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Where Heroes Were Born by Tom Dumbrell Ten years have passed since the Battle of Highcastle. As Peacehaven's new king takes the country from strength to strength, Fran strikes out on her own in neighbouring Cornesse, where she is the chosen shield to the venerated queen, Mathilde. It seems Mathilde has everything under controlâexcept her own future. Concerns for Cornesse's royal succession send Fran on a journey she never expected to undertake and certainly didn't know she needed. Meanwhile in Highcastle, an inexperienced prison master is given responsibility over a notorious brigand. As the son of a decorated war hero, Locke must learn the job quickly, setting aside his demons in order to establish a name of his own in a place where no one knows who he is. Will Franâs journey on behalf of a queen teach her something about herself instead? Will Locke falter under the weight of his fatherâs expectations? Will the king and queen of Peacehaven find their happily ever after? Peace is a romantic notion, but someone has to fight for it. |
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No Place for Peace by Tom Dumbrell As Cyrus rides away from the safety of his family in Highcastle to face his destiny in cunning King Simeon's kingdom, Augustus braces himself for the arrival of a new threat: an invading army is coming for the capital. Easthaven's young king will need the support of those closest to him if there is any hope of saving not just the city but their kingdom. Will Thaddeus and Adaline be able to guide Augustus toward victory, or will a magnetic new influence cloud his judgement? What fate awaits Cyrus in Auldhaven, and is there more to Simeon than meets the eye? As Cyrus's journey takes him farther from home than ever before, his future will become more unpredictable. The outcome seems destined to be explosive. War is coming, but the fiercest battles are often fought within. |
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A Dagger in the Dark by Tom Dumbrell Twenty years before the events of The Look of a King, in a world on the cusp of change, a young man dreams of a life far from the one he has known. Is he a captain in the making, or out of his depth? The stakes are high, and only time will tell if the spoils are worth the gamble. . . |
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Caitlin had her whole life planned out until a gruesome murder sets her on a collision course with fate and magic. She would live in the bustling port city of Whick with the reformed pirate she fell in love with and, one day, inherit her fathers' growing trading business. She did not intend to stumble into an anti-monarchy riot and become involved with the revolutionaries determined to overthrow the nobility and create a world without hunger, poverty, and homelessness. A world with justice for all, and not just those with means. She did not want to catch the eye of a spoiled prince. She did not want him to pursue and court her, plunging her into a world of bickering dukes, suspicious foreign ambassadors, and scheming politicians. She did not seek out the attentions of ancient and secret religious orders, intent on controlling the machinations of a kingdom from the shadows. But she did. Caught in a web of deception and conspiracies, she must fight for her life in the coming political chaos. |
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These Gossamer Strings by Allegra Pescatore A Silence is Broken. The River Beckons. The Forgotten Wait. With eighteen days until her tribunal and Water Rite, Elenor must find a way to save her doena and keep her throne. The threat of war looms larger and only an alliance through marriage has the potential to save it. But who to trust when all her closest allies have secrets of their own? The past is creeping up on them, a web of maneuvers and lies spreading back to before the fall of the Empire. Gabriel can feel it constricting around them, drawing him ever closer to a future he never wanted. Confronting the truth of his heritage may be the only way to save Lirin, but at what cost? Perhaps one the desert has already paid. Shaken after the death of the Red, the Mondaer must choose their path forward. Protect the new Gatekeeper and Incarnate as they have always done, or embrace a future without reliance on Gifts? Fedrik and Fayâs safety depends on the answer, and itâs not looking good. Would they be better off trusting Daemon, or is North right that he intends to use them as a weapon? These Gossamer Strings is the final installment of the first arc of the Last Gift Series. Threads torn asunder are weaving back together and the Gatekeeper is coming for his Incarnate. |
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A Path of Blades by R.E.Sanders Ingvar Darelle is a fighting knight, tasked with defending his country whenever he is called to battle. Violence and war provides no glory for Ingvar, who only wants to be at home on his rural estate. His dreams of a quiet life are shattered as he becomes a pawn in the ambitious schemes of others. How will his friendships and family cope with the forces that try to tear them apart? Which path will he choose? |
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City of Exile by Claudie Arseneault Nothing is going according to plan for Diel Dathirii and his allies. Hellion has entrenched his power in House Dathirii, Hasryan is in Lord Allastamâs clutches, and with no one left to poison Master Avenazar, itâs only a matter of time before he seeks revenge. While Nevian scrambles to put together his magical trap, Larryn reaches out to the only person he trusts to save Hasryan: Sora Sharpe. Their impulsive rescue will hurtle Isandor towards a final confrontationâone last opportunity to reclaim House Dathirii and face Master Avenazar. But in order to seize this chance, Diel Dathirii and his allies will need to answer one question: what price are they willing to pay to ensure the future of their loved ones within the City of Spires? City of Exile is the fourth and final installment of the City of Spires series, a multi-layered political fantasy led by an all-queer cast. Fans of complex storylines criss-crossing one another, elves and magic, and strong friendships and found families will find everything they need within these pages. |
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When sheâs not working at the bank or playing video games with her best friend, Anaâs nose is in a book. She is comfortable with her simple life until one night, on her way home from work, she is mugged and left for dead. Fate or luck, army medic Rafe was passing by and saves her life. Grateful as she is, she can't shake the feeling she knows him from somewhere. Their lives become intertwined as she learns more about him and more about herself. Is she ready to face the truth? Will it answer her questions or break her in the process? Ana must find her strength and become who she was born to be, before itâs too late. |
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When The Stars Alight by Camilla Andrew A maiden of the stars. A monster from the shadows. A collision that rewrites their worlds. Princess Laila Rose is a fallen star in human form. A beloved guardian to humanity. Yet in spite of these fantastical origins, she has never much believed in prophecies. Thatâs why when a demon of apocalyptic legend is presented to her in a block of ice, she feels fascination rather than fright. Curiosity kindles into mutual desire once he breaks free of his captivity. Far from the rampaging beast of mass destruction everyone expectsâhe is monstrously handsome, deviously articulate and alluringly mysterious, a prince among his kind. Eager to discover his origins, Laila travels from her idyllic seaside realm into a land of unspeakable horrors, relying on her wits to survive her journey. She arrives aiming to establish peaceful contact with the aid of the besotted prince. However, it becomes clear that the heartless demon king does not desire peace at all, only war and conquest. When diplomacy fails, Laila turns to the kingâs suave and manipulative bastard son in the hopes that she can inspire both him and his trueborn brother to go against their father. But soon it is her heart she must keep from being torn between their centuries-old dangerous rivalry. This gothic fantasy set in a vibrant gaslamp world is a must-read for fans of Catherynne Valente and Angela Carter. Itâs written in lush, lyrical prose full of intricate worldbuilding, courtly intrigue, and magic that seeps through the pages. Beneath its light, romantic and whimsical veneer, you can expect darkness, brutality and passion. |
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City of the Seventh Moon by Antano Sparreboom When he is chosen as champion of the noble Urwilar family, Verhan knows well that his main job is to fight other champions to settle political disputes. What he doesnât count on are the machinations of the beautiful Lady Morani, and his pride is mercilessly turned against him. As he fights to survive the dangers of the capital, the influential Three Cities Council plans to assassinate the emperorâs chief advisor and take control of the entire imperial court. |
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Shattered Kingdom by Angelina J. Steffort Perfect for fans of Throne of Glass and A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J Maas and Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor. Sworn to a goddess. One with her blade. A heart yet unbroken. âšIt would have been only one more year of training. One year in the dust and wind of the Calma Desert. But Gandrett Braytonâs fate storms in disguised as a beautiful stranger with a damning secret. âšAs he forces her into the service of the lord who tore her from her motherâs arms ten years ago to commit her to the Order of Vala, Gandrett is left with a choice: run, or work for the man she despises and earn the chance to see her family again.âšTrained with all the weapons she can wield with her hands, Gandrett must learn that at the courts of the shattered kingdom of Sives, her sword wonât help her-- especially when it is her own heart on the line. |
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The Wings of Ashtaroth by Steve Hugh Westenra The great city of Qemassen is at a crossroads. A powerful empire from beyond the ocean threatens to reignite a centuries-old feud. A slave rebellion brews in the tangled labyrinth of tunnels beneath the city streets. And Crown Prince Ashtaroth, the cityâs supposed saviour, is considered unfit to rule even by those closest to him. When the high priest burns one of the royal children alive as a desperate offering to the cityâs absentee gods, it destroys the fragile peace within Qemassenâs scheming first family. Seeking revenge for the death of her child, Ashtarothâs mother calls on a powerful demon named Lilit. But Lilit cannot be trusted. Her cruel machinations pit brother against sister and father against daughter, laying waste to Ashtarothâs family. Then Lilit approaches Ashtaroth with a demonic pact of his own â one that could save his people and his home. But between war from within and a revolution erupting within, even a demon may not be enough to keep Qemassen standing. Set in a secondary world based on the conflict between Ancient Carthage and Rome, The Wings of Ashtaroth is a sprawling, multi-PoV epic fantasy, full of queerness, political intrigue, and demons. |
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Bloodstained Skies: The Vanquisher of Kings I by Dagmar Rokita After a bloody revolution, a royal warrior named Erilaz and his companions are exiled from their kingdom. They subsequently choose to hide on a distant planet, where they risk their lives every day. There are only three things that give him hope to carry on: his loyal friends, love for his land and the legend of a mysterious warrior and a clever strategist: The Chromed Emperor. One day he will return. Meanwhile, the king of his planet makes a single mistake that calls into question all his plans and hopes, leading him to become increasingly paranoid. His concerns are justified; however, there is a much worse danger than a band of local rebels. |
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A Tale of Two Courts by R. C. "Professor" Jones A young prince, busy spreading his oats far from his home country is found by a noble dame sent to fetch him back, as his father's death and grandmother's failing health leaves him the heir to the throne. Joined by a young woman after she attempts to rob the prince, their journey is dogged by assassination attempts that seem to originate with a shadowy elven noble. This idea makes no more sense to them than the condition in which he finds the colony he has been sent to govern makes to a young elven noble and his entourage. Both, having passed each other in the midst of the night, struggle to survive and overcome the challenges posed by servants of an ancient and almost forgotten enemy who hates all creation and the two of them in particular. |
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"If you ask my father who I am, heâll tell you Iâm nobility, daughter of a warrior and stepdaughter of a queen. And if you grabbed someone off the street, youâd probably hear that I was something that might just steal your children from their beds at night, but you didnât hear it from them. But if you ask me, Iâd say the term âmisfitâ is more appropriate." Kulebra Uhero â or âKulaâ, as she insists everyone call her â doesnât want to be a diplomat. Sheâs Ahktaliâs least qualified princess, and sheâs content to trade her royal duties of attending palace guests for overseeing royal animals instead. But after tragedy strikes, sheâs left as her little sister and new queenâs only resort to quell the fears of an empire. When her mission of goodwill doesnât go according to plan, Kula is left with several enemies and the threat of a provinceâs rebellion looming on the horizon. As she truly discovers her nation for the first time, she is forced to confront not only Derianâs shrewdest politicians but herself as well. |