stories in and

The Killing Song

The Killing Song by Felix Graves

Fierce pirate captain Romada is about to retire from her high-stakes life when her siren girlfriend, Neiara, is abducted right in front of her. Together with Injago—her brother and quartermaster—and the rest of her crew, Romada sets out on what should have been a simple rescue mission, but as they begin raiding the siren holding camps and witness horrors there, they have to make a choice: fully commit to a burgeoning resistance against these atrocities, or stop for nothing and no one to find Neiara before she’s lost to them forever.


Darker Than the Starless Night

Darker Than the Starless Night by Rebecca Brodkey

A tale of gods and titans, the humans caught between them, and the chemistry that binds it all together Yom has found a simple solution to avoiding the obsessive thoughts that have haunted her since burying herself beneath powdered drugs, bodies, and coin. But when her gang’s leader demands loyalty at all costs, Yom’s position as the gang’s head chemist comes under threat. Forced to investigate, she crosses paths with a cagey royal archivist named Quia as they unearth a horrifying conspiracy to reopen the ancient war that ripped the world in two. Quia offers a tenuous cross the dangerous network of provinces to reach the queendom’s capitol, and seek the one mythical person capable of halting the forces of war. On the treacherous odyssey, Yom reckons with blood-thirsty crime lords, the queen’s personal guard, bounty hunters, forest spirits, old gods, and the specter of a friend she lost as a child—her first love—who might still be alive out there. The chemist must face her addiction to powder, her growing feelings for Quia, and the obsessive thoughts that threaten to tear her mind in two, lest she lose herself in her quest to save the world.


Fallen's First

Fallen's First by Kassidy Coursey

Saer—the first demon and Pride himself—exists for a single-minded purpose: harvest souls to feed the ailing Devil who made him. The same Devil to whom he has sworn a vow of absolute loyalty.  Until the demoness Neyu, incarnation of Lust, makes Saer question what he understands his existence to mean. Every touch or glance from Neyu burns through Saer—the irresistible pull between them at blatant odds with his purpose…and his vow.  One does not love another above the Devil without consequence, so when Saer surrenders to his feelings for Neyu, the Hells shriek—and he's woefully unprepared to endure the punishment for his sins.


The Growing Darkness

The Growing Darkness by Sean Gregory

Some call me a hero. Some call me a villain. Few know who I really am. Hell, all I know is I'm tired and wish someone was strong enough to end my misery. By any means necessary. But I can't die. Believe me, I've tried. Haunted by his past and endowed with powers he doesn't understand, Shen-Zarl battles suicidal thoughts while he hunts evil with a insatiable zeal. When he stumbles upon bandits assaulting a pair of twins from another realm he once again postpones his suicide plans. Princess Jesma and Prince Jesmir flee to the dangerous RhineWoods after witnessing their father's murder. The decision nearly costs them their lives--until a mysterious vigilante known as The Harbinger rescues them. Tamrin-Salzar, a famous tracker hired by a mysterious merchant to hunt down fugitives who murdered his son, discovers the man he works for is not who he seems. The decision sets him on an intercept course with fate. Thrust together by chance, a group of four strangers run from forces they do not understand on a desperate mission to find the truth. But the forces set against them seem to always be one step ahead…


Carrion Saints

Carrion Saints by Hiyodori

“Now reach back,” she said, “and tear off your wings.” Carrion Saints is a sapphic enemies-to-lovers romance between an immortal saint and a severed head. Crow can pass for human. She may come off as eccentric, but she’s good at hiding her wings. As a saint, she’s devoted her endless life to protecting humanity from other immortals: the ones they call monsters. She’s finally ready to take on the worst monster of all, a great evil sealed at the edge of civilization. Magnolia is the worst monster of all. A villain who amuses herself by preying on valiant heroes. At first glance, she looks powerless. She looks, in fact, like a decapitated head (a very chatty one). But her magic lets her issue absolute commands to humans and immortals alike. She’s been waiting centuries for a challenger powerful enough to break the seal binding her in the wilderness. In other words, she’s been waiting centuries to magically seize control over someone like Crow. Crow has always been patient and forgiving. Sadistic, remorseless Magnolia awakens new depths of loathing in her—a hatred of frightening intensity. And now, she's forced to use her full power to grant Magnolia’s one heartfelt wish: to see the rest of the world. To make up for all the years she spent trapped alone with only trees for company. What follows is an ultra slow-burn romance between true enemies. Between good and evil. Between a winged woman and a talkative severed head (who occasionally sprouts the rest of her body, just to keep things lively). They travel together across a post-apocalyptic landscape marked by strange magic and scattered human settlements. Yet the apocalypse happened a long time ago, and eons will pass before their gradually fading world dies for good. In the meantime, these immortals are stuck with each other. Even a saint and a monstrous villain might eventually fall in love—but the path there will be dark, crooked, and sometimes surprisingly cozy. This standalone fantasy novel can be read without prior knowledge of the author’s other work.


The Child of the Greenwood

The Child of the Greenwood by Joshua Walker

The #1 Bestselling Military Fantasy epic continues! Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn meets Tarzan in this epic fantasy, heroic coming of age tale. WHAT BEGINS WITH WATER WILL FINISH IN FLAMES. On the day the river destroyed his people, Jilo took up his father’s magical spear. Years later, when the heirloom is taken from him, he vows to do anything to get it back. The legend of the Sai-Kathan people and their destruction at the hands of nature will be told for all to hear. The river is sick and putrid. The magic is in the wrong hands. The spear is the answer to it all. The Child of the Greenwood is the second novella that supports The Song of the Sleepers series, an epic new fantasy from Joshua Walker.


Circus of Dreams

Circus of Dreams by B. Green

Circus of Dreams: Crimson Carnival Book 1 B. Green Ticket admission: one. Dearest reader, you are cordially invited to attend a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. For one night only, satisfy your wildest appetites with no judgment or repercussions. All we ask for in return is unlimited access to your blood. Welcome to the Circus of Dreams. Once every fifteen years --for one night only-- a mysterious circus comes to the small town of Hillsview. To the untrained eye, it's simply a place to live out one's deepest, darkest desires. To Danni, it's a dangerous vampire hunting ground. After years of searching, Danni finally has the chance to avenge her mother's death when the Vampire Circus arrives with its enigmatic cast of performers. But she isn't counting being fated to its vampire ringmaster. Will she find revenge behind the velvet curtain... or love? Get ready for a thrilling ride into a world where every ticket has a cost, and love and vengeance dance together in the moonlight.


Kepstadur Keep

Kepstadur Keep by RG Sartain

All magic has a price. Sonja and her sister vowed to pay anything to revive their little brother, even if their own blood is the currency. After years chasing folktales, a single rumor remains: Kepstadur Keep. This once-decadent port rots at the far edge of their home country, harboring memories of the lost or forgotten. With the help of a foreign mercenary, Sonja dares to pluck at the strands of Kepstadur’s magic, risking her life to understand its secrets. But something malevolent lurks in the depths. If the castle proves itself more clever, Sonja could lose more than a brother to death’s soft voice.


Dawn of Silence

Dawn of Silence by Heiner de Wendt

An icy dread seeped into Arkan’s bones. Vampires, spirits, dreamscapes…How was an ordinary thief like him supposed to handle this? On a mission to find his sister, Arkan finds himself at the center of a dangerous conspiracy—orchestrated by a terrifying foe from his past. He must band together with a vampire hunter and an illusionist on the run to save a city from the undead. But an even greater darkness casts its shadows over the reforged world of Ashandri. Dawn of Silence is the beginning of a dark epic fantasy trilogy. Follow a found family of adventurers in a diverse world of high magic, ancient secrets and political intrigue.


To Speak with the Stars (Apprenticed to the Gods #1)

To Speak with the Stars (Apprenticed to the Gods #1) by K.V. Wilson

A reluctant mage reborn in flames. A passionate princess fleeing her fate. A powerful telepath at the mercy of the world’s thoughts. A spirited goddess craving adventure. With Penumbra on the brink of an ice age, Eos dreams of helping to create the False Star each dawn to ensure the survival of his people. But there's just one problem: he cannot speak the star's name. In the eye of the storm, Rysa was raised to rule at her mother's side. But a terrible secret has been kept from the princess—one that will tear her life apart. Deep within the molten Heart of Penumbra, a secret society gathers. Elves, dwarves, fauns, ice dragons, and magma merfolk prepare to seize the stolen throne and end the enchanted storm before it devours the realm.


The Crimson Knight

The Crimson Knight by Zeta K. Pierce

Some traitorous secrets should stay hidden. Haizea is a knighted healing mage serving the elite Royal Guard. When a band of omens, mages with corrupted magic, attempt to assassinate her king and the neighboring monarchs during a diplomatic trip, the Royal Guard, though far from outnumbered, is easily outmatched. To save her king and comrades, Haizea uses blood magic, in turn revealing that she too is a forbidden practitioner of the Cosmic Arts. With her secret exposed, she is sentenced to execution and is forced to fully embrace the dark power that thrums through her veins to make it out alive.


Inferno's Silence

Inferno's Silence by Rainer Meri

Welcome to a world where monsters walk among mortals, gods pull strings from the shadows and heroes fall to their own obsessions. Ehrkon, a former militia turned fugitive, seeks vengeance after his family are executed in a brutal purge. Hunted by the regime he once served, he is granted the power of fire by a righteous goddess and drawn into a rebellion alongside unlikely allies. Ynka was raised for obedience in a bleak northern city and prepared for a life she never chose. When a terrifying transformation reveals a hidden power, she is betrayed and cast into the abyss. Forced to survive, Ynka must uncover the truth of what she has become and reclaim control over her fate. Tren is a fearless, sharp-tongued thief who thrives in the ruthless slums of Khurmal’s Fifth Sector. He takes on increasingly dangerous jobs that escalate into full-scale rebellion against the ruling elite. Marked by ancient powers and manipulated by those who know more than they reveal, Tren begins to unravel the legacy of a god, created to contain someone far more vicious. Inferno’s Silence is a dark fantasy of survival, vengeance and uprising, where the line between hero and villain is a matter of perspective.


The Drowning Daze of Astraea

The Drowning Daze of Astraea by Ashley Mathias Root

When fifteen-year-old Astraea Windsor watches her grandmother die, her entire world changes. Literally. Taken from the small town she grew up in-and the only world she ever knew-Astraea finds herself transported to Voncord, a magical world inhabited by Signs, who wield elemental energies, and her true home. Here, there are people who look like her-with vibrant hair and orange-colored eyes-and despite drawing unwanted attention for her never-before-seen power signature, Astraea finally feels she's found her place. But Voncord is a world in turmoil. Signs are blaming each other for seismic tremors causing devastation, Guides, beings who can rip open gateways in timepsace are calling for equality to Signs, and girls from Astraea's new school-The University of Voncordia-are vanishing. And only Astraea may know how to find them. When she develops dark, unexplainable dreams of an ice fortress that leaves her dazed, Astraea realizes they might be more than just nightmares. But with her warnings ignored, she must dive into the madness herself, teaming up with an enemy and following the threads in her dreams, if she is to save the missing students and keep everything around her from sinking. Or watch her world drown. Furyborn meets Curious Tides with a dash of Sailor Moon in this magical dark fantasy debut.


Everlife

Everlife by Alex S. Garcia

A magician, an alien mask, thousands of gods... What could possibly go wrong? Born an orphan and known throughout the empire as a powerful magician, Paul is on a lifelong quest to find answers about his past. Jack is a historian obsessed with the famous Face of Xian--an alien mask which has puzzled the universe for thousands of years. An obsession his friends can't understand, and which he himself cannot explain. Along with a detective, an archaeologist, and others, their destinies cross on a world brimming with alien artifacts. A world where thousands of gods walk among men, and where fanatics consider offworlders as heretics and raiders. Some might call it a recipe for disaster, and they'd be right. NOTE: Though this book is the first in a series, it has no cliffhanger and can be read on its own.


The North Tower

The North Tower by Michelle N Hagood

Nineteen-year-old Charlie has been dealt a bad hand from the day she was born. Found in a trash can as a baby, she's been shipped from one foster home to another, each one worse than the last. When she's offered an escape, she takes it. But fate isn’t ready to be kind just yet. After a brutal car crash, Charlie is dragged into an unfamiliar world of magic with promises of a fresh start at the Magisterium of Magic, a prestigious school for the rich and entitled. Here, she’s told that she’s a Royal, a member of the highest tier of Magic Users, with the kind of power most people would do anything to steal or control. When a student abruptly leaves and she catches the School Master lying about it, she starts to question if the motives of her rescuers are pure. Or do these devious liars have a darker reason for finding her? With the help of a crew of troublemakers, Charlie dives into one of the magic world's oldest mysteries, the death in the North Tower and the cunning ghost who haunts it. The identity of the ghostly woman and truth about the student’s departure could help Charlie decide who she can trust. Or it could prove that she should have trusted her instincts all along.


The Winds of War

The Winds of War by Mosha Winter

THESE THREADS ARE SOAKED IN BLOOD. The Astaris Empire is fracturing, its realm flogged by war and fanaticism. Empress Seline and her Gold Council vie to maintain control, but what is control for a nation built on blood and lies? In the east, the storied Rhaavi people cling to their independence, but as the ruinous First Legion of the Empire arrives at their walls, hope is decimated. Even so, Yuei, the dragonrider, and Rizu, the shadow guardian, will lay down their lives to protect their home. And Kirana, High Chieftainess of the Rhaavi, vows to lead her people through . . . no matter the cost. Elsewhere, the prodigious Hatsun pursues an education at the fabled Great Library of the Awakened. But he quickly learns that curiosity is both a boon and a burden as his studies unveil cataclysmic secrets about the world that could change everything. This book marks the first chapter of The Tapestry of the Tarnished. Here is a tale spanning the whole of the Ring: A circle of continents rife with war and unrest. A world colored by magics and mythical creatures. A place you will fear, yet not wish to leave. George R. R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire meets Steven Erikson’s The Malazan Book of the Fallen in this burgeoning epic fantasy saga.


Fly Stone, Fly

Fly Stone, Fly by Dust Kunkel

A boy, his dog and a monstrous friend. 16-year-old Clayton Stonefly, who lost his parents four years ago and is being raised by his Granma Lina, just wants to be brave like Dammit, his dog, and face the town bully, Big Jim. That, or read Shakespeare on the porch alone in the Idaho wilderness. But Clay has an unfortunate he’s haunted by monstrous dreams of his family’s dead nemesis, Das Ungeheuer, and every time he tells a story, someone dies. That — and he just watched his friend, MK, suck the soul out of a man, leaving the man clawing at his chest. Who is MK anyway? Is Big Jim just a small town pastor, or something else? Something with insect eyes sacrificing boys to bring a greater evil? Is there a chance that Clay’s new friend, Penny — the one with the dark eyes and twisted smile — could be more than a friend? Clay learns that his parents kept many secrets from him — not the least being there’s a family calling that involves monster-wrangling, and a family axe with a mind of its own that may or may not be trying to talk to him.


The Skald's Black Verse

The Skald's Black Verse by Jordan Loyal Short

Brohr has a noose around his neck. When a soldier’s murder sparks rebellion in the tiny village of Skolja, Brohr’s violent past marks him as the prime suspect. Haunted by his infant brother’s raging ghost, he is heir to the dark legacy of the Skalds, and cursed by the forbidden magic of the Dreadbound. As loyalties in the oppressed village fray, Brohr must choose: sate his vengeance, or save his people. In the shadows, an all but extinct race of alien demigods have begun the endgame of their millennia-spanning war. And Brohr is a pawn in the closing gambit. But Brohr’s grandfather harbors a secret that will change everything. Above it all, a dire omen looms in the sky, spelling the death of Brohr’s world. With doom spiraling down, Brohr must lead an unlikely revolt, unearth the truth of his brother’s murder, and tame the raging spirit that haunts him. Can Brohr unite his fractured people, or will he succumb to his own terrifying bloodlust, and destroy the very souls he has sworn to save? Ragnarok Reimagined: Alien Gods, Eldritch Space Travel, and Black Magic! Unique worldbuilding, fierce anti-heroes, and vivid action await in this epic tale, stretching from the stars above to realms below.


A Fate Unwoven

A Fate Unwoven by Rachael A. Edwards

A heretical storyteller partners with an ancient spirit to undo the magic that subjugates her to the crown, in this chilling debut fantasy filled with monsters, forbidden rituals, and corrupt deities. The Emperor of Wyrecia is dying, and 17-year-old Lena has just gained the power to control fate itself, binding her to the young prince Dimas as the empire's next Fateweaver. Hunted by the empire's most ruthless soldiers, Lena escapes with a handsome smuggler toward enemy territory. But a former lover betrays Lena, and her magic becomes agony—compelling Lena to submit to a gilded cage. Still, an ancient spirit offers hope: to sever her bond to the throne, Lena must unroot a ritual hidden beneath the palace. As Prince Dimas struggles to forge friendship with Lena and bring his empire under peaceful rule, sinister cultists unveil a twisted plan to unleash an ancient evil that could tear the realm asunder. With every step Lena takes on her quest to freedom, she uncovers a troubling imperial past that tarnishes the nation’s matron goddess. Perhaps the oral histories passed down to Lena are not foolish heresy, after all. Written with captivating mystery, queer romance, and a dual point of view narrative, this dark fantasy features a gorgeously detailed map and roots its magic system in mythological lore. An enchanting selection for young adult readers who don’t mind a little terror with their adventure!


Killer Quill

Killer Quill by Shida Ketzer

Murdered in cold blood and resurrected through forbidden powers, Quill becomes her world’s legendary assassin. She can never part with her eponymous quill. The mythical quill keeps her alive, heals her wounds, and enables her to transform colors into animate objects doing her bidding. In exchange, the quill feeds on her victims’ souls. When her latest mission sparks the higher power’s wrath, Quill must avenge the death of her people and her own murder. Failure will cost more than just her life. A Wisteraverse Novella


Bathed in Ink and Blood (Ink, Brand, and Knife Book 1)

Bathed in Ink and Blood (Ink, Brand, and Knife Book 1) by Robert C. Laymon

War made him. Betrayal broke him. The Butcher of Greenlake will go to any lengths to find the truth and punish those who wronged him. He will dismantle their world stone by stone and raze it all to the ground. Signamancy opens a world of possibilities for a low-born teen. However, a power that gives can also take away. Dacre Caeinn finds himself in the company of the Butcher of Greenlake. Will the most wanted man in Camoria help Dacre save the one he loves most or will he be another victim buried in the Butcher's trail of revenge? The life of the standard noblewoman was one Raya Adan never wanted despite her father's insistence. Now, she finds herself betrothed and the idea of being shipped across the sea as little more than a commodity does not sit well with her. To gain her father's approval and show her worth as more than a bargaining chip, she dives into the investigation of recent attacks on the family's ventures. However, not all is as it seems and Raya slowly unravels truths that will upend the world she knows.


Void's Vengeance

Void's Vengeance by Emma L. Adams

Former captain Yala Palathar is once again in exile, while a tyrant sits upon the throne of Laria. The armies of the dead stalk the lands, while across the country, the orders of Disciples are falling, one by one. Amid the chaos, Yala is offered an opportunity to return to the battlefield as a soldier of the highest rank. Accepting might be her only chance to get close to her enemy, but at the cost of being drawn deeper into the god of death’s domain. Niema, too, faces a raging battle in her heart, between the promises she swore to the god of life and the knowledge that the god of death has marked her, too. As the gods of life and death prepare to wage all-out war, Yala and Niema face choices that will shape the future of the nation and the world at large. Either they will bring an end to a conflict years in the making, or else watch everything they hold dear fall into the ruinous void.


Corruption's Claw

Corruption's Claw by Emma L. Adams

In Laria, the truth cuts as sharp as a blade. Former captain Yala Palathar and her allies prevented the god of death from claiming another city, but at a cost. Now, war threatens between Laria and their rival nation of Rafragoria after half a decade of peace, and tensions in the capital are at an all-time high. While the unprepared monarch tries to keep everything under control, it seems inevitable that Yala and her surviving squad-mates will be called to battle once again. To complicate matters, bodies are washing up on Laria’s shores, corrupted by Mekan’s insidious magic. Yala is certain that someone is trying to push their nation into a fight that will achieve nothing but a fresh wave of souls to feed the god of death, but the Disciples of the Flame are determined to burn away the evidence - literally. As Dalathar comes ever closer to boiling over in chaos, Yala must choose whether to reveal the secrets that will either save everyone from an avoidable war… or shatter the fragile peace holding Laria together.


Traitor's Tome

Traitor's Tome by Emma L. Adams

Several weeks have passed since the capital of Laria narrowly escaped destruction at the hands of the god of death and His followers. Former Captain Yala Palathar is attempting to lie low, but the dead no longer rest easily in their graves, and her role in the battle has drawn attention from potential allies and foes alike. Niema, too, has been profoundly changed by the choices she made during the battle of Dalathar, and journeying home to the Disciples of Life reveals the devastating consequences of her actions. Niema grapples with her desire to protect Yala’s secrets, but when monsters start appearing in the forest, she fears that she’s brought doom upon her own people. When the Disciples of the Flame come to Yala with the news that a dangerous book used by the god of death’s followers has gone missing, Yala is compelled to seek it out to avert further disaster. Her quest takes her to Setemar, home of the Disciples of the Earth, where her path soon crosses with Kelan and the Disciples of the Sky. It isn’t long before Kelan’s alliance with Yala puts him at odds with his fellow Disciples, and the closer Yala treads to the domain of the god of death, the louder Mekan’s voice whispers in her own ear. With threats stirring above and below ground, ally is set against ally, and not everyone will survive the calamity that will follow…


Echoes of the EtherStone

Echoes of the EtherStone by Lucy A. McLaren

Beth lives a seemingly perfect life of luxury in the city of Alpinside. Her upcoming betrothal to the eligible Lord Ashford is all she can focus on… until she meets El, a young woman from the slums whose father was a victim of the Scrubbers’ Stalker, the ruthless killer haunting the city.  Thrown together by the dreadful murders, the two decide to investigate. The catch? The evidence points towards Beth’s own brother as the Stalker. Their new-found friendship is tested as their investigation begins to reveal far deeper secrets than either of them were prepared for, uncovering a truth which rots the very core of Alpinside.


Once Upon A Song

Once Upon A Song by Nadine Bells

Welcome to the Hôtel de Neige. Let yourself be swept away by its grandeur and glamor but beware - the cold may swallow you whole. When lonely waitress Ana lands a job as a singer at the prestigious Hôtel de Neige, she believes it to be the beginning of her fairytale. Yet she soon finds that in those eerie halls, the line between Cinderella story and Gothic nightmare blurs. Sinister dreams cause her to sleepwalk, a ballerina makes ominous threats, and a phantom in white haunts the hotel - and Ana. As Ana discovers that the hotel’s last singer lost his life under mysterious circumstances, she needs to decide if happily-ever-after is worth it. She knows she cannot trust her secretive colleagues or the charming but elusive hotel manager, Dimitri. All Ana ever wanted was to belong, but at the Hôtel de Neige, that may mean never leaving again…


House of Muir (Shadow Twins Book 2)

House of Muir (Shadow Twins Book 2) by Luke Tarzian

ONCE MARKED, ALWAYS MARKED… The war that was won is lost. His country razed and friends dead, Cailean Catil seeks the miserable solace of inebriation. But fate has other plans for ill-lucked men. An ocean away, he returns to the Galrun Muir, the order from which he was previously exiled. Seeking answers as to why they now worship the monster haunting his dreams, Cailean embarks on a quest to confront the ghost of Gabriel Muir and seal his tomb. Should he succeed, all will be made clear. But some truths are better left dead. THE GUILT WILL ALWAYS CALL YOU BACK… Fiel has lost everything. Her niece is dead at the hands of Te Mirkvahíl and her country has been razed by the demon’s legions. But fate has other plans for ill-lucked women. An ocean away, in the city Harbanan, Fiel resumes her search for Vare Tal-úlm. Her journey leads her to the monster-hunting Galrun Muir who claim not only to have knowledge of Vare, but of Fiel’s previous visit to their hallowed grounds. Lady Mirkvahíl, they say, has returned. THE DEAD RISE… Behtréal has won. Helveden is a ruin, the Ariathan Empire is dead, and The Keepers’ Wrath is his to wield. With it, in the dead city Banerowos, he can rewrite history and reclaim lives lost—he can bring his people back. But things are not so simple as that, for within the dead city Behtréal must contend with the guilt of memory and all its ghosts. MADNESS IN TRUTH… The doors have opened. Welcome in.


Liminal Monster

Liminal Monster by Luke Tarzian

IN THE CENTER OF THE FOREST SITS A HOUSE OF LEAVES AND ASH. INSIDE THE HOUSE, HIS HEART AND LIES. Inside the house called Sempiternity there is a lake, at the center of which an island sits. Upon the island, a spire of stone. Surrounding the spire, an orchard of dreams. Beneath an apple tree sits faceless Self, who writes of sorry things. "What an awful place. What a cruelty it is, being birthed of pain." But when a dog that should not be wanders into Sempiternity through a door that should not be, Self learns a terrible truth: Sempiternity is no longer safe, no longer theirs. Fictional failures come in search of proper ends, in search of slaughter quelled by Self's prosaic hand. In search of lies. Thus, Self departs Sempiternity for the forest dark, for at its center is the ruined town of Own. The place where the nightmare began.


The Demon of Elderstay

The Demon of Elderstay by I. Ribbon

Magical makeovers are a messy business. But how was junior arcane lecturer Gerome to know his attempt to improve a part of his anatomy would open a portal to the Shade Planes? Or, worse, unleash the all-powerful “Harbinger of the New Dark” – fondly or not nicknamed Al? Utterly broke and burdened with demon (literally), Gerome begrudgingly joins a shady nobleman’s quest to free the stronghold of Elderstay from a powerful curse. His dysfunctional crew – the insufferable siblings Bijan and Najib, the perpetually moody Polly, and the enigmatic green-skinned Sha-sha – have more problems than they can wave a wand at. Walking corpses and ritual blood circles aside, Gerome is running out of time. At any moment, Al might break free and end the world. As for the horrors that await them in Elderstay? Let's just say the "New Dark" is the least of their worries…


The Seventh Sister

The Seventh Sister by Millie Abecassis

Seer Éliane is destined to a brilliant future as a servant of Aurië, the Sun-God. Everything changes when the High Seer, her superior, becomes jealous of Éliane's abilities and chases her from the temple. Having no family, Éliane has no choice but to find refuge in Sanctuary, the mysterious mansion of Lady of Clairemont, alongside six women living there as sisters and refugees. When the sisters begin to disappear, Éliane must find the truth about Sanctuary and its secretive owner before she disappears, too. A horrific retelling of Bluebeard and Snow White, The Seventh Sister is a tale about sisterhood and overcoming adversity.


Foresyth Conservatory

Foresyth Conservatory by A. L. Sterling

Ninth House meets Mexican Gothic in a dark academia, gothic mystery where the cards are stacked against reason-and the price of knowledge is blood. Dahlia Blackburne is a failing bookstore keeper and Tarot reader who relies on deductive reasoning--not magick--to cast her fortunes. When a stranger calling himself the Meister walks into her shop after closing and offers three times her normal rate for a reading, curiosity and her growing debts compel her to accept. But the reading reveals that the Meister has a far more dangerous proposition: infiltrate Foresyth Conservatory, an elite occult arts graduate school, and investigate the alleged suicide of brilliant but troubled student, Julian Earhardt. Desperate to care for her ailing mother after her father's recent death, Dahlia agrees to investigate. But inside Foresyth's rose-thorned walls, Dahlia is thrust into the school's ruthless academic Circle, a cadre of students including the seductive "Trees," Aspen and Sequoia, who are obsessed with creating art that doesn't merely imitate life, but transcends it. As the line between performance and passion blurs, Dahlia must confront the truth about Julian, her peers, and a dangerous form of magick that isn't taught-but inherited. The cards at Foresyth have already been dealt . . . Now it's time for Dahlia to play her hand.


HALLOWED BE HER FLESH

HALLOWED BE HER FLESH by Emryn Bird

It had only been three days. Three days since Trella had been accused of being wicked. Three days since her flogging and excommunication. And three days since she began searching for a mysterious village deep within the Cantabrian Mountains. When a sudden, bright star becomes something more, this pious woman finds herself face to face with an entity she can only assume is one of God’s great celestials sent down to guide her. Terrifying yet beautiful, the creature vows to protect the woman as the pair journey together to find this promising new home. But will it be the safe haven Trella believes it to be? Or can safety only be found in this cosmic being’s embrace? Hallowed Be Her Flesh is an illustrated cosmic horror romance set in 1570s Spain where the ineffable horror of what lies beyond the stars meets Christian mysticism as an asexual woman questions her faith and her attraction toward a strange entity.


Starhunt

Starhunt by Alysa Misfeldt

For fans of Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn and Sarah J. Maas' Throne of Glass, Starhunt is a thrilling tale of enemies to lovers and conflicting morals that is sure to delight both epic and romantic fantasy readers alike. Do you revel in the darkness? Or are you for starlight, for everyone? He works for the King, hunting down the fallen stars to be returned to the night sky. She's a star-powered thief, willing to bend the laws of the Kingdom to return starmagic to her people. Both of them have proven that they can, and will, use their blades against anyone who gets in their way. But when the Stars and Moon deem that their paths should cross, will Kieran and Talla’s clash of causes be for the better, or will it be for blood? A thousand years after the stars fell from the sky over Larendi, King Armund has surprisingly discovered a way to send them and their magic back. Kieran, a renowned and rightfully cocky member of the King’s Guard, has been the King’s personal starhunter for almost a decade. With his charm, status, and expert negotiating skills, Kieran has recovered more stars than he can count. But as the number of uncollected stars is dwindling, Kieran’s need to call upon his extensive and unique training grows.. Because not everyone is a believer in the King’s vision. Beyond the castle walls, rebels are working to keep stars in the hands of the people. Talla, a skillful and star-powered thief, holds the rebellious views of the diminishing few that feel comfort in the darkness. She believes that keeping the stars on the ground is the key to saving her people. But after Talla is betrayed, she unexpectedly finds herself without starmagic and needing to rely on the last person she would ever choose to trust–Kieran. Despite his better judgement, he finds himself bringing the starthief with him across Larendi on his final starhunt. As their journey leads them to uncover hints to the night sky’s lost secrets, they both discover that the Stars and Moon may have led them to something they each didn't realize they needed–each other.


Our Bright Window

Our Bright Window by James Chance

Once a loyal hellhound, Vincent now runs with a new pack: a ragtag group of werewolves, hiding from the supernatural authorities now swarming their college town. But he can’t get his past betrayals out of his head. Henry visits his dreams every night, tormenting him with visions of the happiness he almost had. And the people he couldn’t save still haunt him–literally. Ghosts are pouring out of the Underworld, spreading corruption and darkness in their wake. Vincent is responsible for it all, and he knows better than anyone: nothing ever truly stays dead. He must mend the broken pieces of both worlds, before everything he has come to care about is lost. In the end, the final price to save the mortal world–and the people he loves–may destroy everything he has ever known.


Strange Liberty

Strange Liberty by Johannes T. Evans

Salvo Caine, a young man cursed with a magically sapping touch, is convicted of manslaughter and dispatched to an island prison. Once there, he’s offered limited freedom — and affection — by the cold and manipulative prison warden, Guillaume Villiers. Rated M, 27.5k, dark fantasy with some M/M dark romance on the side. Good bit of age gap sexiness, and some medical and care-giving kink as well.


Powder and Feathers

Powder and Feathers by Johannes T. Evans

Aimé Deverell, a depressed and lonely artist finishing up his degree in Dublin, watches the world go by, and paints it as it goes. Life is short, he thinks - and thank God! He’s tired of living it. That philosophy shatters like glass when his life is threatened by the beautiful Jean-Pierre, a Fallen angel.


SLAKE HOUSE

SLAKE HOUSE by Idal Waves Hallot Alexandra T. Singer IVQKS159 fleshfeel Crane J. Alan Andrews cam Judas Salieri Max Banshees Johannes T. Evans b

SLAKE HOUSE is a queer erotic horror choose-your-own-ending (CYOE) anthology featuring 13 author/artist pairs collaborating to create a sexy and horrifying multi-route story which will end in spectacular climax and abject terror.


Twisted Souls

Twisted Souls by Skye Crawford

Valan Anartes has a secret. Many, in fact. Growing up in the Unseelie Court meant learning how to fake a smile, how to lie directly to other sidhes’ faces, and to kill anyone who obstructs his path to power. At least, that’s the goal he’s led everyone to believe he has. He’s not the only person hiding something in the shadows. A mysterious rogue, who has vowed his life and love to Valan, will risk everything to protect the truth. But as their enemies—including Valan’s sadistic twin sister—close in and more than just their demi-immortal lives are at stake, Valan’s going to need something beyond an arsenal of magic and manipulation to keep their twisted secrets safe.


The Shadowbearer's Promise

The Shadowbearer's Promise by Jasmyn Morning

Whispers of unrest echo through the Shadowrealm. As tensions rise and long-buried fears resurface, a mysterious cult emerges from the darkness, vowing to challenge the rule of the Shadowbearer. As the shadows close in, Edan finds his guarded heart unraveling and his growing affection for Ryuji and Micah pulling him deeper into a bond that defies fate. But with betrayal lurking in every corner, love may be the most dangerous promise of all. In this soul-shattering final instalment of the trilogy, the Shadowbearer must decide how much he’s willing to sacrifice, and whether their love is strong enough to survive the chaos.


The Shadowbearer's Burden

The Shadowbearer's Burden by Jasmyn Morning

The High King of Aetheria stands at the crossroads of duty and desire. Bound by his love for the Shadowbearer, he navigates a fragile bond with the man cursed to wield the darkness. But as a Shadow warrior claims his place in their star-crossed union, their hearts wrestle with jealousy and doubt. With his kingdom demanding unwavering strength and the Shadowbearer's burdens growing heavier, the High King must face impossible choices. Can he bridge the growing chasm between love and duty, or will the shadows tear apart everything he's fought to protect? In this gripping sequel, betrayal and passion entwine as the trio discover that the path to peace is paved with sacrifice.


The Skeletons In Our Closet

The Skeletons In Our Closet by Sinclair A. Macabre

For as long as he can recall, Daedalus Macabre has been bound to one rule above all else: Don't Step Out of Line. He's always followed it to the letter—his days spent training in elegant forms of fighting, his nights spent studying in his library, and the breaths between spent lost in the worn keys of his piano. He keeps his head down, and he does what he's told. But when Daedalus moves to Nemoure and meets Cain Sidrelle, his meticulously crafted control and rigorous adherence to the rules seem to disappear overnight. Without realizing it, his entire world narrows down to a pretty rich boy with hair like hellfire. A hellfire that threatens to consume him with every passing smile and shared glance. Still, his mother's expectations are a heavy burden, and her anger only grows with his continued distraction and blatant disregard for her rules. The longer Daedalus allows himself his dalliance with Cain, the more dire the consequences become. Until one day those consequences arrive, and Daedalus is faced with a punishment he cannot run away from. Separated by forces outside their control, Daedalus and Cain must overcome years of distance and longing when fate deems to grant them a second chance. But as others start to find themselves in Daedalus' way, Cain begins to question whether this is the man he once knew, and if there can be any hope for the two of them in the end.


Rise of the Dragonwitch

Rise of the Dragonwitch by Timothy K Clark

Kidnapped from NYC and thrust into Tir Na—a dangerous world where myths and legends truly exist—college student Finley Maguire is named the prophesied savior destined to stop a mad king’s rise to immortal power. But Finley isn’t a warrior, and dealing with deadly court intrigue, her intense training, and even fiery dragons might kill her before the prophecy ever has a chance. As war looms, she must decide: fight for a world she doesn’t understand, or risk losing everything to a king who will destroy it all.


Fey & Wolf: A Lusefell Novella

Fey & Wolf: A Lusefell Novella by Noah Bodie

Osmond Banes is at his wits' end. Plagued by nightmares from 12 years ago, constant worry about his family, and an unsettling fear of immortality. The one thing keeping him afloat is his longtime partner, Christian Baker, who just returned from a trip across the sea. Upon their reunion, they learn of a growing threat from a monstrous force. This duo of monster hunters sets out to investigate the creatures rumored to have murdered Oz’s father figure and to finally exchange the vows they have been postponing for years.


Bulwark: Book 2 of the Desert Rose Saga

Bulwark: Book 2 of the Desert Rose Saga by Noah Bodie

The next installment of the Desert Rose Saga follows Simon and Andreas as old wounds are reopened, and they’re forced to confront their growing feelings for one another. What awaits them as they leave the city of Sebree eight months after being sent into isolation? Will Simon be able to confront his inner demons? Will Andreas uncover answers to a surprising revelation about his family? What challenges lie ahead as new foes emerge and a hidden piece of the world’s history claws to light?


The Monsters Among Us

The Monsters Among Us by Kent Priore

“Kent Priore writes like a natural about the supernatural, and The Monsters Among Us is a marvelously dark and true novel. American fiction has found a terrific new voice.” —Joseph O’Neill, PEN/Faulkner Award-Winning Author of Netherland Seth’s life until now has been a product of a diabolical, evil Truman Show, his entire upbringing a façade orchestrated for malevolent purposes. After his beloved dies, he undergoes a demonic metamorphosis, which causes the world’s fictitious walls to crumble. As he tries to piece a semblance of his life back together and move on, he meets friends who inspire, but even more harsh truths are revealed, perhaps too difficult to cope with. The very existence of life and reality is exposed as a machination of grotesque gods. And to defeat them, Seth will have to fill his emptiness, for which there’s only two options… Bring the world to ruin, or learn to transmute his pain into strength. Fans of "Jerusalem" by Alan Moore, “The Bell Jar” by Sylvia Plath, or “The Master and Margarita” by Mikhail Bulgakovor will enjoy “The Monsters Among Us.” “I was intrigued from the first sentence, determined to spend the night speed-reading so I didn't have to remain in suspense any longer.” -Ella Dupuie, author of Fractures of the Fallen “Supernatural storytelling at its best, this vivid cinematic novel takes the reader on an imaginative journey through what could be considered end of days. The Monster’s Among Us is a masterful creation and a must read—even for those who aren’t fans of fantasy/horror.” —Joni Marie Iraci MFA author of Vatican Daughter


Beyond The Dead

Beyond The Dead by Veronica Talliss

"BEYOND THE DEAD" FOLLOWS THE JOURNEY OF VIOLET, A RESILIENT PARAMEDIC. AS SHE NAVIGATES A WORLD RAVAGED BY A ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE. AFTER LOSING HER FRIENDS AND FAMILY, VIOLET FINDS SOLACE AND STRENGTH IN HER BOND WITH HER FATHER, ARTHUR, WHO BECOMES HER SOLE COMPANION IN THE FIGHT FOR SURVIVAL. AS SHE STRUGGLES TO ENDURE THE HORRORS OF THE NEW WORLD, VIOLET IS UNEXPECTEDLY REUNITED WITH HER LONG-LOST LOVE, RYDER. TOGETHER. THEY EMBARK ON A PERILOUS JOURNEY FILLED WITH DANGER AND UNCERTAINTY, FACING HORDES OF THE UNDEAD AND TREACHEROUS HUMAN ADVERSARIES. AS THEY FIGHT TO STAY ALIVE AND PRESERVE THEIR HUMANITY, VIOLET AND RYDER MUST CONFRONT THEIR PAST AND FORGE A NEW FUTURE IN A WORLD BEYOND THE DEAD.


Toothsucker

Toothsucker by Kaden Love

In a cyberpunk future, an alarming disease strikes, dissolving the bones of those with cybernetic enhancements. Petya, a refugee, sells himself to a company experimenting with a potential cure and instead finds himself with a strange new implant… and a vampiric hunger for teeth. Petya only wanted a short trial with easy money, and now he’s at the mercy of a company hell-bent on market control, even if it means turning him into their personal pharmaceutical assassin. They’re out for political power. Petya is out for an escape and teeth. Book 1 in Kaden Love's newest series, Toothsucker is perfect for fans of Cyberpunk 2077, Cyberpunk Edgerunners, Red Rising, Gideon the ninth, and epic science fiction.


The Somnia

The Somnia by Alethea Lyons

Something dark and twisted is stalking Harper in her sleep. Her nightmares are her only clue as to the whereabouts of the home and family she lost over a decade ago, but venturing into the dreamscape means drawing the attention of the hunter. It puts not only Harper at risk, but her sister and everyone else who knows the secret of her witchcraft. While the predator pursues Harper in her dreams, something is kidnapping people in the wakening. When an eyeless corpse is found in the cathedral’s supposedly impenetrable secret archives, Harper’s magic is once again the key to finding the supernatural killer. But searching for them leads her back into the dreamscape and into the waiting embrace of her deadly past.


And the Age of Summer Will Rise

And the Age of Summer Will Rise by Camilla Andrew

When there’s nothing left to burn you have to set yourself on fire… Having chosen a torrid love over political ambition, Laila must face her greatest challenge yet—that of married life as the star bride to the demon king of Mortos. Despite her best efforts to acclimate to her new crown and country, she finds herself ill-equipped to deal with the schisms starting to form across multiple competing factions. As well as the toll it takes on her husband’s fraying mask of civility. With the web of deceit slowly unravelling the true nature of Darius a constant looming threat, a meddling-mother-in-law, and scheming nobles, can this star-crossed pair hope to make it to their first anniversary intact? Across the sea, the solarites slowly recuperate after a devastating act of terrorism. With tensions high and emotions fraught, a division soon forms between those intent on keeping whatever frail charade of peace can still be maintained with Mortos and those intending to shatter it completely. As a high-stakes game of backstabbing and betrayal ensues, the consequences promise to be far-reaching from the beaches of the south to the mountain peaks of the north, leaving everyone involved forever changed. The third and final instalment in the Essence of the Equinox trilogy promises a heart-wrenching finale to this gaslamp fantasy saga that you don’t want to miss.


We Will Devour the Night

We Will Devour the Night by Camilla Andrew

Twenty years after her fateful first voyage north, Laila is preparing for her campaign to become the next impératrice of Soleterea, contending with negative attitudes towards chaos magic and the demons who wield it. In the meantime, Darius has settled into his new position as the rex of Mortos, but his rule has not been without conflict and conspiracy, either. When her mother suggests that Laila distinguish herself politically by lending a hand to the famine-stricken Mortesians, she finds herself once more crossing paths with her old lover and confronting the whirlwind of emotions that twenty years apart have done little to settle. Determined to put her feelings to one side, Laila throws herself headfirst into the viper pit of Mortesian court politics to try to win their favour. However, Darius has an allure of his own—one that is not quite so simple to resist. The second instalment in the Essence of the Equinox trilogy continues on the trajectory of character-driven gaslamp fantasy with high emotional stakes and classical worldbuilding.


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