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The Alchemy Dirge (A Concerto for the End of Days #2) by Ryan Howse In Aeon, everything can be had for a price. In this city of guilds, conspiracies, and artifice, the cost can be more than gold. Salai Pavane, alchemist and inventor, wants to create a printing press to lift his fellow citizens to a better world. Desperate to fund his invention, he pushes the boundaries of alchemy to sell on the black market. In doing so, he accidentally produces the most dangerous weapon the world has ever known. Success is more dangerous than failure. Now heās pursued by anarchists who want his formula, the Ministry who wants him imprisoned, and assassins who want him dead. |
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Black Stone Heart (The Obsidian Path Book 1) by Michael R. Fletcher SPFBO6 Indie Recs Indie SPFBO Finalist A broken man, Khraen awakens alone and lost. His stone heart has been shattered, littered across the world. With each piece, he regains some small shard of the man he once was. He follows the trail, fragment by fragment, remembering his terrible past. There was a woman. There was a sword. There was an end to sorrow. Khraen walks the obsidian path. |
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Political Nightmare by Rainbow Maccabre The girl who was blessed when Daddy killed Mommy; the bird lady born with four arms and no wings; King Kess's trans widower; the most forgettable prince who ever died; secret agents popping up everywhere; and the mind controlling bunny rabbit. Who will put an end to Vasagneās dark conspiracy? Political Nightmare weaves a plot through past and present to arrange a story full of twists. |
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Two Blades (True-Steel Trilogy Book 1 by stuart kurth Itās been thirty years since the end of the Primrose War, thirty years since High King Goring Saedren drank and whored and murdered his way to all points of the compass, delivering his right to rule to all who would listen, and ramming it down the throats of those who wouldnāt. He marched straight into the Great Desert and became the first to knock those sand-eating Shaadi Princes off their golden perches and unite all of Varri-Mennyn under one banner. Thirty years on and heās grown fat and soft, lost his thirst for the fight, and all along the margins of his shrinking Kingdom, his enemies swarm. Kannath Meadowmere, exiled Mendran nobleman and one-legged warlord, has come south through the wall with an eye for plunder and an army in tow. While the High King sleeps in the west, he marches upon the east swallowing one territory after the last, aided by his Shaadi allies. Nursing a dusty grudge thirty years in the making, those Desert Princes wonāt stop until the city of Nostalla, and the Senovium Throne within, are pulled down and stomped into ashes beneath their boots. Mercenary scum Pelt and Halling, two black-hearted murderers with red reputations and not enough common decency to deserve surnames, have been on the run from Saedrenās Kingās Men for four years, spilling enough blood to drown a cow. With no code of honour and only the meanest grasp of the concept of morality, the brothers fight for the highest bidder and turn coat more often than a tailor. Their hands are red, their blades priceless, and their ambitions dark. But when they find themselves facing down Meadowmereās relentless army, they begin to realise the storm theyāve landed themselves in, and that history, as well as a bleak future, are about to stab them both in the back. |
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Shadow of the Lantern Bearer by Chris R. Underwood Magic is a disease. It spreads like a plague and drives the infected mad with power. Death is the only cure. Seventeen-year-old Kole Felmen is destined for a life spent executing infected sorcerers and disposing of their tainted remains. But his first execution ends in disaster. Fearing he has been infected with the sorcerer's plague, Kole sees only one option: flee his village before his mind snaps and he destroys everyone he loves. His chance for escape lies with a band of treasure hunters traveling to a lost ruin from a plague-ravaged empire, where ancient dangers lurk and the shadows of the past still lingerā¦ Embark on a journey across a shattered empire in this coming-of-age fantasy brimming with ancient mysteries and deadly adventure. Shadow of the Lantern Bearer is perfect for fans of Robert Jordan, David Eddings, and Anthony Ryan. |
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Maygest's Tale by C. E. Cannery Maygest, an old thief, who has been conning people for the last decade, finds his way of life extinguished when the tyrannical Lords of Osskrip join forces and destroy all the fugitive enclaves, the only places people are allowed to be people. With no place to go and fearing that death may be near, Maygest sets off in search of a mythical harp that is said will bring peace to the land in a last-ditch effort to redeem himself before he dies. The problem is, the harp only seems to exist in his mind. |
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My Friend Jackson by Christopher D. Ochs An ancient guardian chose her. Neither the guilty, nor the innocent, nor she are safe. Fresh out of the Projects, Jasmine Price's days are filled with emotional, physical, and cyber abuse at the hands of her new schoolās queen bees. With her parents mostly absent, Jasmine latches onto Bibi, a grandmotherly figure from Tanzania, and her beloved pet chameleon, Jackson. Rivalries, jealousies and hatred escalate the violence toward Jasmine to a murderous level, until a monstrous force intervenes on Jasmineās behalf with deadly consequences. When she discovers the secret behind her unholy avenger, Jasmine takes the offensive, becoming a merciless force more terrifying than her worst tormentors. But choices have consequences. Some more horrific than others. |
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Nocturnal Blood by Villimey Mist Anchorage, Alaska. A place where people don't care if someone goes missing. A place where Leia Walker tries her hardest to hide from the world, wanting a normal life without anxiety and OCD. But Leia's bubble pops when an old friend is back in town and twists Leiaās reality . A bloody event proves what Leia is scared to learnāSophie Gardner, her old high school friend and saviour from the bullies, is a vampire. Forced to run away with Sophie, Leia's life takes a terrifying turn when vampires and hunters come after them. The only thing preventing them from losing themselves is their friendship.. But will it be enough to escape the inevitable blood bath? |
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The Ouiums Journey by Dylan McClintock When Esa Blyth escaped from the pits of hell, he thought his troubles were over. Soon after his return, however, he discovered his magic and the world heād left behind had changed. Without his innate gift and support from covens, the ancient and powerful witch had no choice but to forge ahead. His meeting with Skylar Lee, a dark witch with an incredible power that promises much, is a turning point for Esa. There is an awakening within him at this chance encounter, one he cannot easily explain and one that refuses to be subdued. But as he struggles with his feelings, Esa cannot spot a twin threat to his life and to any chance of happiness he may have with Skylar. Thegon, the diabolical ruler of hell, is not yet done with him and, aided by the malevolent Akin Tullo who will do anything to implement Thegonās will on Earth, they plan to corrupt the government, conjure demons from the depths and dominate the realms of men. Can Esa and Skylar find a way to stop them, save the future of mankind and their own as well? |
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Lani: The Girl Without Fear by Dan Cole In a world controlled by fear, Lani is unique: a teenage girl who feels no fear, and often gets herself into dangerous situations because of it. Lani feels stifled by her overprotective and terrified parents, and after learning about family in a distant city, Lani plans to leave. Her faithful Minotaur bodyguard, Brutus, helps her escape the Great City of Ghal. In the Wilds, Lani learns much about love, herself, and her world. Mostly through a young woman named Kas who shows her what it's like to live in the wilds and to feel something for another person. Death follows Lani though. Leaving Ghal wasn't only to find family, but out of necessity after Lani hurt another student at her school. Fear Mongers, or Mongers for short, sent by her parents dog her steps and leave a trail of death searching for her. Lani must learn that although her lack of fear is quite the power in this world, it can be a burden. Especially to those important to her. Marauding robots, dangerous monsters, animal and human amalgamations known as Primals, and learning about her world makes Lani's journey across the Flatlands a dangerous adventure. Lani also meets a mysterious warrior known as the Wanderer, who teachers her and her freinds about the past, and about herself. After suffering great loss, and learning great truths, Lani's plans have to change, and death creeps ever closer. |
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Daughter of Shades (The Venatrix Chronicles #1) by Sylvia Mercedes A huntress with no past. A rival with a secret. A kingdomās fate hangs in the balance . . . Ayleth and her shade move as one, ever hungry for the hunt. Under her mentorās tight control, she fears her memories are being stolen. Now nineteen, apprenticed for as long as she can remember to the mysterious Holy Order, she longs to rise in the ranks and banish untamed spirits for the prophesied Golden Prince. When shadowy threats descend on the crown, Ayleth seizes a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to prove her worth in open competition. Seeking to win the princeās favor and escape her scheming mentor, she resolves to hold her own against Terryn, a handsome, arrogant opponent who may be more than a match for her untested powers. But as the two rivals follow a trail beyond the Great Barrier and confront legendary evil, the stolen secrets of Aylethās past may return to haunt her . . . Can Ayleth win the trial and reclaim her true self? Can she even survive her first day? |
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In the Nine Kingdoms, lords and churches dance a familiar dance. A dance of wars and plots and murder. But unknown to the players, the dance is changing. The Tainted One has returned; harbinger of a cycle of destruction as old as humankind itself. An era is on the verge of collapse, humankind is on the fringes of annihilation ā but the lords and ladies, the holy men and the apostates, the great and the small; they all just keep spinning with the music. Nihm is a young woman, living peacefully on the edges of the wilds. But as the hordes descend upon the Nine Kingdoms she finds herself at its forefront, in a race for survival. A race where truths will be revealed that will change her world. Challenging who and what she is. Renco is a student and a mute, suffering from a past trauma. His Master, an outcast from an Ancient Order, has raised him. Honed his skills and his art but for what purpose? Join an Epic Fantasy and follow Nihm and Renco as their journey unfolds. Can two people really change the fate of a world? |
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Bones and Bourbon by Dorian Graves Retz Gallows has been possessed by an ancient necromancer for almost his entire life. Heās used to wicked schemes and body-stealing shenanigans, but waking up to a unicorn head in his passenger seat is a new low. Now heās forced to carry out a gilded menagerieās dirty deeds, but the task brings him face to face with the hope heād long given up on: his older brother. Jarrod Gallows left home to rescue Retz from possession. Instead, heās saddled with a dead-end job as a paranormal investigator, a Faerie curse, and a daredevil boyfriend who might be from another world. At least heās got a new case to keep himself busyābut why has his brother reappeared, and why does this sudden reunion feel more like a bane than a blessing? To survive, the half-huldra Gallows brothers will have to escape the forces toying with their lives, as well as the wrath of carnivorous unicorns, otherworldly realms, and even their own parents. Only time will tell if theyāll make it out aliveā¦or sober. |
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Miscreants by Jennifer Pierce-Gaeta Kira and her team are up shit creek without a paddle. The coordinates for the last key piece are in a compromised location that forces the team to work outside the rules. With every known power combing the Earth for our heroes, will they succeed in their mission? Under heavy fire, the team plunged into the Underworld with the hopes of saving us all. Join Kira and her band of misfits as they enter the final push to save the world from Hellās hostile takeover. |
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Decayed by Jennifer Pierce-Gaeta Kira and her tag tag team are at it again. In a race against time and Hell, it remains to be seen who will come out the victor. The race for the second key piece is in full swing. Add a new virus that is affecting the supernatural and Were Animal communities and you have a recipe for disaster. Will Kira and her team survive the coming onslaught? Will they drop the ball? Will Hell win? |
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Pandoraās Hell by Jennifer Pierce Gaeta Enter a world where the supernatural races are the human raceās last hope. Hell has escaped its prison early and is devastating the human world. The humans are useless to help themselves and all worlds could be lost if the gates of Hell are not slammed shut. Thatās where my team and I come in. I am Kira Gaetano and my team may be the worldās only hope for salvation. We fight the big bad nightmares and push demons back. We are racing against the clock to stop Hell from taking over the world. The only question I have is; āCan we do it?ā |
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Elemental: Shadows of Otherside Book 1 by Whitney Hill Enter an urban fantasy world where elves, vampires, weres, djinn, and fae maintain a precarious balance of power in North Carolina. Welcome to Otherside. Private investigator and sylph Arden Finch is determined to come out of the shadows and practice her forbidden magic. There's just one problem: the elves have a bounty on elementals like her. When an elf hires Arden without realizing what she is, she seizes the chance to gain leverage in the dangerous world of Othersideā āeven if it means risking exposure. But as the case grows more perilous, Arden draws the attention of the region's deadliest power players. Fans of Kim Harrison, Faith Hunter, and the early Anita Blake series will find a kick-ass heroine in Arden. Content warnings: swearing, light consensual sex, physical violence, death, slurs (not toward any real racial or ethnic group/identity), threat of sexual violence. |
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SPFBO6 WriteHive Book Club Teacup Dragon Coop SFFOasis Never leave the path.Ā Itās sacred law, punishable by exile. When her son goes missing in the perilous mountains, Kaemada defies the law to search for him. She enlists the help of her hero brother, a priestess berserker, and a fire-wielding friend. But the law exists for a reason. When the search party is captured by the mythical Kamalti, they learn that Kaemadaās son was sent to an ancient prison city. As they battle for freedom, they discover a horrible truth that will change the future of both races forever. With their world in upheaval, Kaemada must find a way to peace if she's to save her sonābut tensions between the two races are leading to war. |
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For the Betterment of the World (Gateway to Perdinok #1) by Jeremiah Cain A quarter of the haggard populace must flee, hide, or die when faced with the question: what do you do when your own home declares you wicked and demands your death? Within this dark epic fantasy, the largest church of a medieval-like empire condemns a minority church as evil. Soon, a soldier struggles with orders to kill, as he must decide if what is ārightā can change by Church decree. A normal townswoman must fight as her people are sentenced to death in the empire where theyāve lived all their lives. Far away, two men from conflicting nations attempt to forge a relationship while trying to forge an alliance. Farther still, an elf boy sees the destruction of his peaceful home for nothing but a would-be weapon. Finally, a small nation must call on the Dark for help when the Light betrays them. Throughout the world of Perdinok, a range of people have their lives upended as unrest turns to civil war and turns to war on other nations. In the end, the sanctimonious empire unearths an ancient power that threatens all. Only a Demoness can put things right, but she holds her own agenda. |
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The Sorrow Passage: A Dark Fantasy Novelette (Gateway to Perdinok #0.1) by Jeremiah Cain Within this dark fantasy novelette for adults, the young elf, Valqyer, fights the loss of what little he has left, including his sanity, to save his mother and the remnants of his world. Brutal invaders upend the peaceful life of Valqyer and his fellow elven townsfolk. Many are slain or captured. Afterward, he faces the reality that his life of art is shattered as he goes mad in a dungeon. His mother is dying in another cell. He can do nothing to fight back. Seemingly, his only option for escape is to help the invaders start a war. |
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The Veiled River: A Dark Fantasy Novella (Gateway to Perdinok #0.2) by Jeremiah Cain Captured and tortured, Rohesia stays strong. But to fight back, she faces breaking her vows as a healer, an action that would destroy her magic completely. Rohesiaāa skilled, magical healer working in dire conditionsāhas spent years helping her people escape destruction and flee to a neighboring kingdom. Yet, when she saves a woman at deathās door, she discovers a plan to unearth an ancient power that, by itself, would wipe out all of her kind worldwide. |
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Harbinger (The Harrows, #1) by C. F. Bellairs Within polished stone walls that more resemble a giant's broadsword driven into the earth than a true keep, lies are the building blocks of discussion, and the infamously-immortal Harrowlord rules with impunity, challenging each of his sons to lethal duels when they turn twenty-one. One of his bastards, Willem, is a Harrow idealist - but has never seen eye-to-eye with his father all the same. However, that may change when the royal bastard is entrusted with a special task: rooting out and beheading a traitor whose ideals he secretly embodies. As Willem struggles to understand his father's web of deceit, an ancient evil lingers at the precipice of his understanding, eager to flourish once more. |
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Ochre Dragon: The Opal Dreaming Chronicles Book 1 by V. E. Patton Three women who are so much more than what they seem. Three worlds mired in conspiracy and magic. One quest to save the Cosmos. And thenā¦ there be dragons! On Heavens Gate, a dying planet where magic and science have forged an uneasy alliance, Merindah is desperate to unlock the secret of the Timegates and save what's left of humanity. What she lacks in magical ability, she more than makes up for in ambition. And with the help of an impatient and not-so-extinct dragon, her magic takes on a twist with cosmic implications. Meanwhile, on tech-ruled post-Crack Earth, where magic doesn't officially exist, Ali's humdrum life under the disintegrating Melba Dome is becoming weirder by the day. Her fingers start glowing, a snarky dragon shows up, and people she thought were her friends keep trying to control, kidnap or assassinate her. Finally, on Reverie, where magic rules unfettered, a young orphan becomes burdened with tainted magical gifts. Dee is alone, trapped in a waking nightmare. When she finally surrenders to desperation, her out-of-control magic unleashes her dragon and propels her onto a path that could unravel the fabric of time and space. Three women, three worlds - and their time is running out. Unless Ali, Merindah and Dee can reunite their single soul in one year, all is lost.They must each make unimaginable sacrifices to become the Key, the Gatekeeper, and the Fire who will save the Cosmos - or ignite Armageddon. |
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Darkwind (The Starchaser Saga) by Renee Dugan The Middle Kingdom of Talheim has enjoyed peace for decades. But with the threat of war rising from the ruthless South, the dream of a quiet life is fading. And for the noble but naive Princess Cistine, that means embarking on a dangerous quest to the Northern Kingdom, where she hopes to forge an alliance against their southern foes and save her people. But when Cistine is captured by an outlaw and his band of cutthroat warriors, she finds a more deadly adventure than she bargained for - and a greater power within herself than she ever knew. Swept up in the unpredictable tide of a tenuous and shadowy political climate, a ruthless land governed by the stars, and the unexpected revelations that come from her mysterious new companions, Cistine must learn how to fight, how to lead...and above all, how to trust herself. If the young princess can't be forged into a fighter, then her kingdom will fall. |
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The Chaos Circus by Renee Dugan All Tessa LaRoche wants is to be the most ordinary person on Barrow Island. After a stint in a mental asylum, she's had quite enough of being anything else, thank you very much. But when a commission at her new reporting job forces her into the path of a not-quite-human murder suspect, Tessa finds that the unordinary is not through with her yet. Spirited away by a devilishly charming Nicolai to the Mirror Lands-- a parallel reality manipulated by the immortal Deathless-- Tessa loses one of the most precious tethers to her sanity. In order to reclaim it, she must risk entering The Chaos Circus: a citywide fair where mortals trade years for prizes in vicious attractions from which the Deathless draw their power. But there's a catch: if Tessa can't defeat the Deathless at their own freakish carnival games, she will lose her mind...and Nicolai will lose his life. Forced to rely on one another despite the secrets that come between them, Tessa and Nicolai embark on a dangerous adventure through the deceptively beautiful life of the Circus, where little is as it seems--even the games, their pasts, and the strange whirlwind of memories that Tessa can no longer recall. |
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Running With the Wolves by J.E. Reed Kiuno is trapped... ...so are her friends. And no one is coming to save them. Kiuno, a twenty-three year old collage student, wakes to find herself in the middle of the woods with no explanation. And 'Kiuno' isn't even her real name. Suddenly, she is an unwilling player in a medieval world filled with monsters and magic. Survival isn't just a choice, it's her only option. In a place that threatens her life, her family, and may even shatter her heart, she will do things she's never done before. She'll fight, she'll kill, she'll rise, but will her strength be enough to save the people she loves? Running with the Wolves is the first installment in J.E. Reed's gripping new YA/NA fantasy series. If you like action-packed adventure, intricate characters, and a battle for survival then you'll love this award-winning novel. The story continues in Rise of the Wolves. |
