The Protector and the Annihilation by Naila Moonsi

Some 100,000 years have passed since Earthians swept across the galaxy. By the year 9955 ATF after a catastrophe all but annihilates them, humans upon the ocean planet Imion are struggling to become space-worthy again. Two young men attending university vie for the role of Protector of All Worlds. They know that the godly power the Protector wields will save them all, and yet one day they wake up momentarily and realize... 60-year-old Armando Rivera and Ranvir Chandrani once loved each other. Stuck within a mental palace called ‘the Citadel’ within ‘the Boundless,’ an otherworld that reflects the galaxy in eerie dream-like ways, they are now 19 years old again and stripped of their memories. In these young forms, the two subconsciously test if this love between them was something true while attempting to take each other down. Their life has begun anew around them due to a time loop within the Citadel, and it follows their gentle, morose memories perfectly within the years 9955 and 9956, until... Until their families try to kill them. Until the children from the future begin to arrive. Until their son birthed outside the body with their Merged elemental outer cores—Antonio Chandrani-Rivera—insists on killing his identical twin brother Fernando Chandrani-Rivera. Ranvir and Armando very quickly realize that they must solve the mystery of what their true goals once were within the Boundless, figure out how to get out of the Citadel, and grasp why Antonio and his friends are intruding within. After all, upon the true planet Imion within the galaxy in the year 9996, a 20-year-old Antonio’s gone ahead and confronted his once-affectionate friend Alejandro Altaha—the Alejandro who became their generation’s Protector of All Worlds at the cost of Antonio’s worldwide reputation—and this has spiraled into circumstances that leave Antonio on the brink of death. Only for the bright and happy memories of Antonio's teens to flood his mind… Back when he and Alejandro Altaha cared deeply about each other, and yet the understanding they gleaned regarding their ancient selves—the civilian Nasir Hadid versus the Lost Protector Shakir—still colored everything, including their continued 10,000 year rivalry over the simple stakes of saving the world. And then there are the machinations of Antonio's cousin Layla… She laughs over their rivalry, but Antonio knows one thing: she hides secrets like breathing and despite their camaraderie, she is surely worse than Alejandro.

Tharaxis by Darren Joy

Tharaxis is the city of the dead. Within its walls, creatures known as souleaters hunt and feed. Lorn Larthuz, recently deceased, finds herself on a perilous quest to steal back the List of Souls, and end their reign of terror. Yaldo, a boy who pretends to be alive, searches for the family he may have only imagined. But when the Souleaters target him—it becomes clear they have darker plans for Yaldo. Can Lorn succeed in her bid to steal the List of Souls, and can Yaldo escape the Souleaters before he loses himself forever? Tharaxis is a dark epic fantasy tale of courage, sacrifice, and the resilience of the human spirit—even in death.

A Wrath of Souls by Darren Joy

Across the Spectrum of Existence, angelic hosts gather their strength. While the infamous duo, Manic and Mania, finalise their plan, a mysterious dark armada engulfs far flung lands. Threadfin Todder, recovering from a great loss, is woefully unprepared for the final battle. Struggling to relearn his magic, he knows there is no time to waste. Lucifer threatens existence itself, and will soon step on to the mortal plane. Astra Dar’s fractured soul is dominated by Lucifer, as she fights for sanity—for soon she will destroy the world, while Myral Azarm, now queen of vampires, battles a terrible bloodlust as she is caught between primal instinct and the memory of who she was. Meanwhile in Desool’s fractured kingdom, as he prepares for war, rebellion erupts in an attempt to cut out the heart of his kingship, and as Sarscha Todralan fights to save her imperium, disaster descends on her people. The final battle draws near—a desperate gambit to thwart the end of all things. Can they each defy fate, survive, and beat back the Darkness? “A Wrath of Souls” is an exciting conclusion to this dark epic fantasy tale, filled with chaos, dark magic, treachery, and death, all tempered by loyalty, friendship, and hope.

A Wretched Darkness by Darren Joy

Threadfin Todder, has been infected by a dark magic, and time is running out. His only hope is to find an ancient being known as the Despoiler. As his search brings him to a lost world, Threadfin discovers the cost may prove too high. Myral Azarm thought she had left her past behind, but when a name resurfaces, she’s must journey into the bowels of the underworld to find her destiny. Sarscha Todralan, the ruling imperatrix, has lost friends and family, and can’t settle into her role. When a dark witch threatens Icarthya, she must again take up the sword to defend her people. In the kingdom of Raddhon, civil war looms over the giants. Desool, the youngest son, seeks to become king. At stake is more than a throne, for the fabled Shathra Stone will belong to the victor. Four disparate paths collide in a world of magic and war as they fight for their lives and the survival of all. Will they each find the strength to overcome their past, and save the world? ‘A Wretched Darkness,’ is a high-stakes dark fantasy epic that explores the limits of good and evil, love and sacrifice, and the power of magic.

A Nefarious Grim by Darren Joy

Death is never the end. While the shadow of an ancient sorcerer plots to invade the world, an undead mage endeavours to stop him. With the shraeds of Tartaros continuing their relentless advance across the Spectrum, Threadfin Todder once more sets out to defeat the Grim. Meanwhile, his sister Aiyana is being hunted by an angelic assassin. She will soon make a perilous journey into the past to learn the secrets to unlocking the world’s only hope. And Sarscha Todralan, once a legend and now an irritable drunk, decides to infiltrate the enemy to foil a rebellion against the imperium. ‘A Nefarious Grim,’ is a dark epic fantasy tale stuffed with dark twists, unpredictable magic, and undead mages.

A Malignant Fetch by Darren Joy

The Father of Darkness and Reaper of souls, the Grim, seeks to reclaim the world, and he will stop at nothing to get it. Threadfin Todder, an imperial undead mage, is determined to get in his way. Though his magic is unreliable, his reputation questionable, his stubbornness is legendary. And, Lorn Larthuz, the thief who stole existence, walks the wasteland of another world to face the Grim and her fate. While, Myral Azarm, once a cult priestess, crosses a bleak desert to confront an ancient form of undead and the Grim’s own vengeance. As Threadfin once more confronts evil, he will discover a darkness within his own soul. ‘A Malignant Fetch,’ is a dark epic tale packed with undead creatures, snarky mages, delicious danger, and dark magic.

A Viral Imperium by Darren Joy

A plague‑born magic is awakening inside Threadfin Todder — hungry, volatile, and impossible to control. Exiled, undead, and hunted by a relentless shapeshifter, he races across the imperium to save his sister as a horde of armoured giants marches toward the capital. When the power inside him erupts, Threadfin becomes the only force capable of stopping a terror that turns cities to ash and stone to dust. At the heart of the empire, Princess Aiyana Todralan faces a usurper possessed by a fallen angel. With the throne stolen and her people trapped beneath a rising tide of monsters, Aiyana uncovers a truth older than the empire, one that could threaten existence itself. Two lives. One corrupted empire. A darkness older than the world. A Viral Imperium is a dark epic fantasy of ancient magic, monstrous legions, and a world on the edge of annihilation.

The Nature of Shadow by Emma.R.Schofield

Will she be cast out of the one place she has left to go? Anhame, the Hall under the six point star, is the only place Lia can learn how to use her terrifying powers. But to take the oath, and to pass through the trials, she must conceal the darkness that is her nature. How long can she hide her dark secret from the Masters of her craft? And if they find out, what will they do to ensure she is not a danger to everyone around her? The Nature of Shadow is the first book in a literary high fantasy series of five. It is for people who love myth and magic, dragons and sword bearers, and walking the path of story with a frighteningly powerful protagonist who nevertheless faces entirely human struggles. Low on sex and violence, but rich in character development, atmosphere and world-building, it is suitable for fantasy lovers from young adult to long-retired elder.

God's Scar by Ivy Margriette

"I was born from love, yet I am heaven’s greatest heresy." Born of angel and demon, the half-breed is raised in captivity until the day he escapes, carrying only a single forbidden tenderness from a healer angel who defied Heaven to hold him for a single night. When the healer is taken into the Demon Realm as a sacrificial offering, the half-breed tears through demon arenas, claims a throne he never wanted, and crosses the void where souls face eternal erasure. He encounters angels of all ranks, demon lords and fallen beings, all to reach that one love that he was never allowed to want. This is a journey that asks whether a soul born as heresy can claim the right to love, and to be loved in return. “Let them see it. Let them feel the weight of everything I was never allowed to be. I will not cower.” God's Scar is a slow-burn, emotionally intense, M/M dark fantasy romance of forbidden devotion, visceral worldbuilding, and the quiet violence of choosing to love in a cosmos built to destroy you. “I just want you. Painfully. Desperately. Endlessly. You are the only reason worth living for. The only thing that makes this world bearable.” - Slow-burn, non-explicit M/M romance. - Gritty, lyrical storytelling. - The ache, yearning, and grief that love demands. - Touch him and die. - Who did this to you? - Forced proximity. - Found family. - Vivid, immersive, theological worldbuilding. - Epic fantasy grounded in philosophy and emotional depth. - Character-driven saga - Morally grey demons and angels. - Not a fast read. A lasting one. “Because love was not the warmth they sang about in hymns. Love made you vulnerable, exposed to the sheer, naked terror of caring enough to lose everything.” For readers who love 'Angels Before Man' by Rafael Nicolas and 'Paradise Lost' by John Milton. For readers who want prose that reads like prayers. For readers who want vivid, epic Heaven and Hell. For readers who need love to cost everything, but then cost more. For readers who choose to be emotionally devastated. For readers who want an ending that will leave them quiet.

Usurper's Might: Book Six of New Blood by W.D. Kilpack III

The future of Mankind relies on the Guardian of Maarihk. As the Usurper's darkness rises, will Natharr and the scattered Rilari stay the path when hope becomes dire? The Rilari are scattered, each forced down a different path as the Usurper’s power spreads across the continents like a growing storm. The Guardian of Maarihk, Ellis the Elder, Thair, and the remaining Knights of Ril fight to preserve the last fragile remnants of peace — yet even survival becomes uncertain as the darkness foretold in Natharr’s Sight draws ever closer, shadowing their every step. Meanwhile, Nathan endures the unforgiving mentorship of one of the Empire’s greatest warriors. Driven by a hunger for ultimate vengeance, he is pushed to the edge of his limits. But as his strength grows, so does the question that haunts him: how far will he go to claim the justice he seeks — and what will it cost him when the moment finally comes?

A Myth of Ancient by T.M. Baylor

Goddesses. A dead king. A long lost people. Old stories long thought to be myth that now walk free through Eterin. After a devastating battle, Andyse is in shambles and the Davegu kingdom, Lupegi province, and the forgotten mountain city are not far behind. The once-strong foundations of the things that used to be believed are shaky and cracking more with every day. With new, unsteady alliances and shifting motivations, no one knows who or what to trust. Long buried secrets have been revealed and the world itself is changing because of it. Something dark is coming… After the gods of Lupegi learn the truth of the vicious battle and a new king in Davegu is crowned, a war is brewing. One with the power to change Eterin forever. ​​--- A Myth of Ancient is the second book in The Secrets of Eterin, an epic dark fantasy series that follows multiple POV characters from across the broken world of Eterin. It centers themes of power, the nature of resistance, erased histories, and the importance of knowledge to fight hatred. Features LGBTQIA+ and women characters. Intended for mature audiences, please check the content warnings.

Winter of Traitors by Violetta Brooks

Aislinn, crushed by Daegyn's death, returns to House Woodthorne to mourn. Vulnerable and frightened, the demons of her past have her in a chokehold. But someone is there for her through it all—Landyn. Even though she harbors a secret... Lines are crossed, and lives are forever changed. But can Aislinn truly move on from the one her soul craved? The one who was twistedly perfect for her in every sense? Does death really stop true love? The final journey of the House Woodthorne trio comes to a resting place in Winter of Traitors.

The Unnamed by M.S. Masood

"A gift that is not freely given loses its worth. And when it's forcibly taken, a gift can become a curse." Reim was raised for one purpose: to inherit the Vuorian throne—a crown that demands she protect her fractured, volatile kingdom from those within its walls who seek to ruin it—the Unnamed. A destiny few believe she can fulfill. Least of all, Reim herself. With her beloved father's health rapidly declining, and the threat of insurrection looming, she makes a desperate deal—sealed in magic and blood—with an enigmatic Unnamed man known only as the healer. But when he finally comes to collect his due, the price he demands not only has the power to destroy her, but everything she thought she knew about honor, justice...and love. For lovers of the lyrical, character-driven storytelling of V.E. Schwab's Invisible Life of Addie Larue with the incisive social commentary of M.L. Wang's Blood Over Bright Haven comes the first book in a gripping new fantasy duology, The Unnamed—a bold reimagining of Rumpelstiltskin that examines the transformative power of names, identity, self-growth, and love, all while delivering fast-paced action and a slow-burn romance that will leave readers eager for more. "In a richly thought-out fantasy world, Masood weaves lyrical writing with political intrigue as Reim, a pure-hearted yet unyielding protagonist, refuses to bow to the forces that threaten her kingdom—even if that threat is herself. The Unnamed is a story of stolen legacy and rewritten history full of twists and cliffhangers that will make you gasping for more." —Sarah Mughal Rana, bestselling author of Dawn of the Firebird

Menilmonea by David Catuhe

When the gods sleep, the world begins to die. Menilmonea is a mycomanceress. Gifted with the power to commune with nature and command mushrooms, she has always lived by the strict traditions of her people and their worship of the Mother. But silence has fallen over the village. Tunka, the colossal Turtle Titan and protector of their land, has failed to awaken from his slumber. With their guardian silent, Menilmonea and her friend Aureal must leave everything they know behind. Their mission: cross a perilous land to seek aid from the neighboring Frog Titan. But what begins as a desperate quest for help spirals into a discovery that challenges history itself. The adventure begins when you stop following the rules. As the world teeters on the verge of collapse, Menilmonea must embrace the power she once feared to uncover a truth that could save her people... or shatter their reality forever.

The Sound of Nothing by Nicole Aisling

Without a keeper, no soul is safe. In the peaceful and secluded Konota Valley, every 16-year-old must embark on a sacred journey to find their animal soul keeper. The life-long bond protects their soul from malicious demons that would devour it, leaving behind an empty husk. As the mostly ignored misfit, Shaya has always felt isolated within her own village, but she hopes finding her keeper will also help her find a purpose. Instead, her return with a bizarre and frightening beast only leaves her more confused. She soon learns her keeper is a drakon, a legendary creature from the northern mountains, but that knowledge does nothing to win her the acceptance she longs for. When drakon riders invade the valley, Shaya’s people begin to question her loyalty. The invaders might offer what she’s always wanted, but she must decide whether finally belonging is worth betraying the few people who still believe in her.

Revenge of the Druid Queen by Sydney Faith

Every realm in the West offers a fortune for captured druids. Mel is a shipwrecked barmaid with no past or future—until she meets Cormac. During a tavern brawl, she collides with the brash stranger, igniting long-buried druid powers. Suddenly, fragmented memories resurface: a husband who cursed her kingdom, a stolen throne, and a wasteland of dark magic teeming with wraiths and bloodthirsty undead monsters. When bounty hunters witness her forbidden magic, Mel must flee or face execution. Desperate to break the curse before it devours the realm, she reluctantly hires Cormac's crew to protect her on the journey to reclaim her stolen crown, end the curse, and discover what truly happened—all while concealing her druid blood and true identity. Yet traveling with a band of outcast wanderers means dodging both their enemies and those hunting her. With the cursed lands expanding and her past threatening to unravel everything, Mel and Cormac must battle monsters, bounty hunters, and the deadly consequences of their entangled lives. Perfect for fans of action-packed fantasy adventure, epic quests, and heroes with a taste for trouble.

Blackwater by Emily Blakeney

There is much to be done when the kingdom isn't looking. Iona Strider is a ruthless pickpocket cursed with a disobedient shadow. Violent, too. Worse, she can’t remember who cursed her, or why. But she does know one thing: with each passing day, her control of the shadow dwindles. In her relentless pursuit of answers, she winds up stealing from the wrong man: Captain Liam Blackwater of the Wraith. A man who, according to legend, might just turn the Silver Seas red. Blood-bonded together by a dishonest mistake, Iona begrudgingly teams up with the handsome rogue to embark on a bloody, swashbuckling quest in the hopes that she can break the curse of her shadow once and for all. Alas, it’s never that simple. Especially when Liam and Iona can’t keep their hands off each other. But as they carve a path through the realm, disastrous secrets of the kingdom are revealed, and when shocking revelations of her true past come to light, Iona must decide whether she is to become the kingdom’s villain, or something else of her own making.

Errant Gift by Rhys Price

A young shepherdess named Tali and her father abandon their flock to seek out a fallen star that speaks to them in wondrous visions and whispers. Under the star’s guidance, they are rewarded with a new life of luxury and status they could never have imagined. Everything seems blissful until Tali’s father is asked to partake in a strange ritual that may cost him his life. To her horror, he willingly agrees. Nine years later, swarms of Nemagraws—nightmarish creatures of unknown origins—have begun to spread across the land. Caught in their path of destruction is bookish Dale who fled the comforts of home when his parents were arrested on charges of treason. Armed with nothing but a keen knowledge of botany, Dale searches for his brother Finley, a fabled warrior who might be their best hope of saving the family from ruin. But when he finally finds Finley living with a mysterious cult, he realises that his brother will be of no help at all. Unbeknownst to Tali and Dale, their journeys are bound by a common enemy—one whose aims are far greater and darker than any have yet perceived.

Shattered Peace: A Miss-Fortunate Adventures Saga by Megan Russ

...the world broke more than 2000 years ago. After the gods fixed the world, they took magic and left. Now the seeds of darkness are spreading. The time of heroes has returned... Secretly nestled in the heart of the ancient forest, there is a tree that towers over all others. Within its embrace, the future generation of warriors trains for the day their nation calls upon them. An elven outcast with a secret to keep. A rare free human with something to prove. These two young monks have just graduated from training within the Monastery of the Leaf. With their training days behind them, it is time for them to find their place in the world. Have you ever wondered how the heroes began their journey? Let’s go back to the beginning. This coming of age, found-family, action-driven adventure will introduce you to these young heroes before their call to destiny. What dark horrors will they face along their journey? Find out within the pages of this Homebrew 5e-inspired story. The Beginning of the Miss-Fortunate Adventures Saga: Aearth, is a world that broke due to a Great War 3000 years ago. A world that lost its magic when the Gods knit the world back together. Sealing the magic into the world itself. They turned their backs on a world that could no longer feel their touch. Now darkness rises on the horizon. Will the heroes rise in time to save Aearth or will this world shatter for good? You can learn more about Aearth before Shattered Peace by reading ~ Lore by Megan Russ Dark Fantasy Horror Low Magic Found Family Action Adventure Martial Combat Fantasy Combat Spice Free Language/Alcohol/Smoking 5e Inspired Fans of Dragonlance, Ravenloft, Forgotten Realms and Dark Sun will enjoy this 5e homebrew inspired story. Fans of epic fantasy like Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn and Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time may find familiar tropes and grand adventures in the Balance of Fates Series.

The Legend of Damndrake by N.E. White

Damndrake was stolen on her hatchday, and her family scattered, before she was set adrift in the sea. After twenty-four years surviving the brutal White Wastes, she has Blaze now, her adopted sister with a secret that could get her killed or sent to the Blasted Sands. But trying to build a stable life in human-dragon society is a challenge Damndrake didn't think she'd fail again and again. When she's banished from yet another territory, finding a home for them both seems impossible until she's recruited to the Draghi Firegard. Her life takes a turn: a new purpose, home, and maybe the spark of something more—until their past catches up to them. The same dragon who tried to steal Blaze a decade ago is back, and this time, he’s not leaving empty-clawed.

In My Time of Dying by Sherrie a Bakelar

When Eloise Fontaine passed away from a heart attack, she left behind a pile of her belongings, a horse and her unfinished business. It now falls to her twin sister, Ebony, to fulfill Eloise' final Calling, Find the Farm Boy and save the kingdom, before Ebony passes away herself. Goaded on by her sister's ghost, Ebony sets out from her humble cottage to find the Farm Boy and help in his quest to regain his kingdom, usurped decades before by the Wizard King. What's a hedge witch to do?

Valhalla The Valkyries Fire by A. J. Torres

Fire. Blood. Darkness. The tears of her parents were all she could remember. Valhalla Ӧnníka has lived with the Aesir since her fifth spring, since the day the God of Mischief took everything from her. Taken in by the Aesir and valkyries, she found some contentment, but past wounds have a way of returning. Years later, a clue embedded in the back of a dragon leads her to a confrontation with the god who murdered her family. Though training with blade and flame had made Valhalla fierce in her own right, she was still no match for him. Barely escaping with her life, the All Mother ordered Valhalla to cease her investigation, instead giving her a new focus. A mysterious letter found its way into the halls of Asgard, addressed solely to her. She was to meet with the High Queen of the lands of Veerence. Death. Submission. Pain. Nightmares were all he ever knew. Alistair Hilliard II was the High Prince of Veerence. His life should’ve been one of luxury and indulgence, and would’ve been were he anywhere else. Being born a man in Hilliard’s royal family, his duty was to obey, keep silent, and endure. By night, he belonged to the women of high society—a thing to be used—and by day he was charged with protecting the High Queen and her heir. The Prince was stretching ever closer to the end of his rope, worn ragged by the cost his duties levied upon his body, mind, and soul. Alistair’s mother had grown increasingly distant since his twenty first name day. His sister, whose personal mission to see him suffer through nightly torments, had gone quiet. Terrible rumblings began to spread, rumors of an attempt on her life. Regardless of her hatred for him, she was still Alistair’s little sister and it fell upon his shoulders to find out the truth. When Valhalla and Alistair’s paths cross, their fates will intertwine, finding themselves at the center of events that will reshape Midgard and ripple across the nine realms.

The Hunger of the Dragon: Dark Viking Fantasy by R.M. Schultz

Divine remnants are hoarded, stolen, and killed for. These items grant powerful magics to those with the strength to wield them. The war of the gods has passed, leaving Midgard without direction, but vengeance and the battle for control has just begun. A berserker of the Raven must protect her magical items from those bent on stealing them while a Wolf warrior renounces her clan to pursue the impossible—harnessing the magics of the Dragon. A thief of the Wolf is led astray and will never regain what is taken from him. They protect their own, claim what they can, and rise to power in waves of glory. But when a mysterious new clan emerges seeking to conquer all, the Ravens and Wolves must safeguard their divine remains or destroy each other. The resulting war will determine the fate of each clan as they succumb to the hunger of the Dragon and the forbidden runes.

Their Village, Their Fortress by Dylan Madeley

"A heroic death is not the goal. Survival is. Our survival, that of this community, and that of everything which matters most to us." When a calamitous new weapon fells a fortress once considered invincible, one soldier rides home to deliver the terrible news. This journey is against orders, but he insists no village is too small to be warned of what's coming, even if he's not sure what they can do. He delivers an impassioned call to action, daring them to try. Reconnecting with his community involves reconsidering why he left it, and what he might regret having left behind; but he soon faces scrutiny when they realize something about his appeal doesn't add up. Join the struggle of eclectic villagers as each decides their answer. Each confronts what's happening however they must, journeying through their emotions and sometimes delving into their personal histories to reconcile themselves. Each resister's specialties enrich their efforts to scrape together a victory from what's on hand. The events to follow reveal not just how they will fight, but why. Their truth, their skills, and their efforts enable them to resist—but even if they believe, can a hastily-prepared volunteer militia of farmers defeat a battalion of trained soldiers?

The Redemption of Jarek by Dylan Madeley

But this day… Jarek knows of none in his life yet worse than this one. Much of Jarek’s youth revolved around making him fit for the throne, but one terrible day in adulthood finds him defeated, humiliated, and banned from the capital. He may only return upon complete surrender. Once home, he faces a trial by his commanders, though they are also fugitives by decree. Their land is a former province cut off from royal support, only kept free by the number of soldiers loyal to Jarek; but he swore to uphold the terms of his defeat, never to attack the capital. As every illusion Jarek lived under is falling apart, he receives a visitor who tells him how people have suffered under his oblivious leadership. He faces a choice: drink himself to death while everything falls apart or change his land for the better. The latter might be impossible. Just as he makes his choice, strangers arrive from a part of the world unknown to him, seeking a free and peaceful life, warning of a tyrant who pursues them. The story of their homeland is also told. What is Jarek willing to do? And will anything ever be enough?

The Fate of Lenn by Dylan Madeley

"Like a book already written, turn a page forward or back, read a line or a page, yet all the words in that book exist at once, unchanging; is this how you see it? Like fate? Do we fall no matter what I do?" Future generations will mythologize Duke Lenn Wancyek, but he is a person like any other. He feels hope, worry, loss, pain, and the weight of a kingdom on his shoulders. When his responsibilities place him in a catastrophic situation from which he may not escape, his values will resonate through his actions more thoroughly than any speech he could ever make. You will meet everyone who looks to him and you will see their struggles which run concurrent with his: a friend and adviser who wishes to steer him right; three musicians who think they have landed the greatest job in the kingdom; a gardener who does so much yet asks so little; a woman who works to free her people. The list goes on, but time grows short. You will meet the man who becomes the legend. You will know the fate of Lenn. Cover by Jenn St-Onge

Prince Ewald the Brave by Dylan Madeley

"No, father. You have gotten your way for too long. This ends here." Meet the Kenderleys, the wealthiest and most powerful family in the world. The youngest, Prince Bonifaz, takes his lessons and trusts no one. The middle child, Princess Isabel, sneaks away to a secret regency of her own making. Their mother, Queen Dulcibella, watches out for her children just as readily as she watches over them. Their father, King Jonnecht, is a capricious tyrant who hopes to control his family as strictly as he does the largest empire, and his violent rage threatens all under his rule. Then there’s Prince Ewald, eldest and heir to the throne. No one is more aware of the threat his father poses to everyone. No one has better legal standing to do anything about it. How can he save everyone he loves while upholding his mother’s kind values? He must learn the lessons required to be the best regent, choose allies wisely and earn their trust, and enact a thoughtful and detailed plan. And even if he succeeds in all that, can one who draws the line and conducts a plan with honour defeat one whose rage, selfishness, and deceit know no bounds? Can Prince Ewald stop his father? A standalone prequel to the Gift-Knight Trilogy. Cover by Jenn St-Onge.

Forged in Ruin & Turmoil by Kiana I. Alexandria

Fans of Powerless by Lauren Robert’s, Throne of Glass by Sarah j Maas & Crave by Tracey Wolf will love this thought provoking, fast paced romantasy novel. Strength. Heartache. Betrayal. Reyna was born a drudge—voiceless and invisible in the ruthless Blood Kingdom, where power is everything, and love is a dangerous weakness. Where she’s spent her life enduring cruelty, but when the High Council commits an unforgivable act, Reyna finally breaks. Escaping with nothing but her pain and determination, she flees into the unknown. Welcome to Ellyshia—a land full with power, danger, and fractured alliances. Reyna struggles to survive in a land that feels just as cruel as the one she left behind. But fate isn’t done with her. Captured by a cold, duty-bound fae prince with emerald eyes and a brooding temper, Reyna finds herself torn between fury and something far more dangerous—hope. While her heart still carries the scars from a love ripped from her grasp, new feelings begin to spark where she least expects them. As war brews and ancient enemies rise, Reyna must confront the truth about who she is and what she’s willing to fight for. Loyalties will be tested, blood will be spilled, and secrets buried in the shadows will come to light. Will she rise and answer fates call—or be consumed by the vengeance she’s carried for too long?

In the Name of Pride by Courtney & Clarke Collins

In the Name of Pride is the second book in the award-winning Vows & Valor series. After a lifetime of separation, Kaleela reconnects with her family inside the Sun’Din Forest as a beloved member of the royal family. But not everyone supports a greater union between the elven and human lands, and a fission cleaves the great forest. Dimitar now serves as a knight in Blackburn, his lifelong dream come true. Everyone he cares about thrives, yet when he closes his eyes, phantom claws of past failures squeeze his throat. Only Kaleela’s nearness keeps the torment at bay, their growing love a beacon. When extremist exiles overtake the elven kingdom, Kaleela must ensure her family’s safety, and Dimitar insists on protecting her. As unthinkable magic descends upon the forest, a power-hungry exile sets his sights on Kaleela’s birthright, her desirability—and her unacceptable human-sympathizing ideals. Not only must Dimitar free Kaleela and her people from the grip of a rising evil, but also confront the shadows within himself, or they’ll lose each other forever.

Fractured Princess by Debra Renée Byrd

Jonnie is the last princess of the Crystal Bearers, once a powerful people. When she was a baby, the metal army destroyed what was left of them, and now it is hunting her. Her watchmen keep her just out of the metal army’s reach, but she has spent her seventeen years running and hiding. Instead of standing by while her watchmen keep risking their lives for her, she decides to learn how to fight alongside them. On the journey to hone her skills, long hidden secrets about her people reveal a connection between the Crystal Bearers and the metal army that only fuels Jonnie's will to defeat it. But the more she learns about her own powers, the more she realizes she may be responsible for the metal army – and the destruction of her people

Of Sky and Sea by K. M. Mohr

The Child of Sky and Sea. Born of a union between an angel and a mermaid. Foretold to break the curse of a mad Fae queen. But there’s a catch… For twenty years Seraph has been a captive of her fate, believing her life is not her own. Her isolation both haven and prison. And yet, safety is an illusion, for her destiny is bound to the world. When the nation hiding her is betrayed from within, she is forced to run. While traversing the lands of Lorralei, overcoming the plights of her journey becomes only one challenge. Surviving the guardians escorting her is another. And as the end of the road draws closer, war over her blood swells on the horizon. Leaving Seraph’s heart divided— Save the world. Or save herself.

The Blood of Heretics by N. J. Guay

A broken man trying to reclaim his purpose… It has been five years since Allakoi suffered catastrophic loss at the hands of his enemies, leaving him broken and powerless. When salvation finally comes for him at the hands of the tsura, however, he finds himself pulled into a world of politics, tradition, and lies that he never thought he would encounter. But the wounds of his imprisonment go far beyond what anyone could expect, and the secrets he carries are more dangerous than anyone could imagine... A warrior desperate to defend her home… The Dragilles have become more aggressive with every passing year, and whispers of new threats have carried south. The Camarre are losing, and it is only a matter of time before they fall entirely. But as one Camarre territory is locked in a seemingly endless battle with its northern neighbours, its masters are given an unexpected offer: treachery in exchange for a momentary respite. A dragon slayer with a debt to be paid... But false peace cannot last, and when dead dragons start appearing on the border one thing becomes clear... War is returning, and one stray spark is all it may take to ignite its fires once more.

Before the Sky Breaks by N. J. Guay

Who can you trust when you are the key to what everyone wants? Allakoi Meras only wants one thing: to journey south and flee from the conflict that consumes the north. So long as he keeps his head down and avoids notice until spring, his escape from a society that actively hates him will be successful. Fate, however, has other plans for him. When an encounter with a psychopathic dragon leads to a rare and dangerous power awakening within him, Allakoi suddenly finds himself targeted by all entities involved in a centuries-long war—entities that are willing to do anything to have him under their control. Surrounded on all sides and not knowing who he can trust, Allakoi finds himself faced with a terrible choice… Either choose a master to be enslaved to, or risk everything in pursuit of his freedom. Before the Sky Breaks is the first book in The Shattered Pulse, an adult epic fantasy series that pulls on the atmosphere and tropes of classic fantasy while giving them a dark, modern twist. Great for fans of The Wheel of Time, The Licanius trilogy, and The First Law.

THE ONYX BOUGHS OF KEONIS by Enna Hawthorn

Onyx can shatter, boughs can break, but love can rise victorious. Ariadne, the Golden Rose and Dhemon Queen, never imagined herself at the head of an army. Now, after walking down the aisle for a second time, she has entangled herself in a game she does not want to play with the King of Valenul. With hardly any time for preparation, she must locate the dhemon ritual, save her husband from an eternal darkness within himself, and lay siege to her own kingdom. But time is running out for Azriel, the broken and fading Dhemon King. Unable to hold back the images of his wife in the arms of another man or dead in his hands, his bond and mind is in tatters-unreachable by anyone other than Ariadne. With the shadows creeping in from all sides, he has two critical tasks: complete the ritual and kill the Vampire King. Collecting unlikely allies from across Northern Myridia becomes a critical piece to the puzzle now that their enemy has discovered their secret. Everyone now knows the threat that dragons pose and Valenul is ready. Together, Ariadne and Azriel must use every possible avenue to ensure victory or die trying, because failure guarantees a life of misery.

Queen of Blood by Nicola Zhang

King Anden of Vindra stands against High Queen Telmaine, a clash of crowns that will determine the fate of the continent. The Berossian Empire launches its forces in a great crusade, but an unexpected voice rises in the form of a barefoot priestess, whose messages of peace spread like wildfire, threatening to derail the empire’s war effort and shake its very foundations. Cities will burn. Generals will fall. History repeats itself as Anden finds himself at sea, torn between saving his kingdom and the man he loves. The final book of the CELESTIA trilogy is a breathtaking tale of love and sacrifice, choices and destiny. When Celestia is drawn for the last time, who will shape the world to come?

Lord of Dust by Nicola Zhang

The epic LGBTQ fantasy continues in a world on the brink of war. King Anden of Vindra is the last of his line. His lords demand he take a wife and secure the future of the realm – but where does that leave Sir River Fox? As their romance is tested like never before, an enemy stirs across the sea, threatening everything they hold dear. Meanwhile, in the city of Corsi, the Berossian Quarter teeters on the edge of catastrophe. Xenophobia and religious zealotry are at a breaking point, and when the simmering hatred finally erupts, the consequences will shake the continent. From the sacred peaks of Oracle Mountain to the pirate isles of Jorva, from the shipyard of Tideford to the opulent Jade Citadel, book two of the CELESTIA trilogy is a sweeping tale of love, loyalty, and the cost of power.

Prince of Dawn (Book 1 of the Celestia Trilogy) by Nicola Zhang

An exiled prince searching for the truth. A curious squire desperate to prove himself. An epic romance that will change the world. Sixteen-year-old Prince Anden has spent eight years in the shadows – banished, forgotten, blamed for the death of a king. When he returns to his tense and divided kingdom, he meets an eager squire with a talent for trouble and a smile that disarms Anden’s guarded heart. As their friendship grows into something deeper, Anden begins to believe he might deserve more than vengeance. He might even deserve love. But treason runs deeper than either of them imagined. As assassins close in and war brews across the continent, Anden must rally allies, confront buried truths, and risk everything – not just for the crown or his family, but for the boy who believes in him. Prince of Dawn is the spellbinding first volume in a queer fantasy trilogy about loyalty, legacy, and the courage to choose your own future.

First Magyc (Guardians of the Path Book 1) by Nicole DragonBeck

Ria, a young girl from a world without magyc and Cedar, a Guardian of the Path burdened by duty and regret, meet by accident…or was it? At first glance, this may look like Ria's story, but it belongs to all who fight to save magyc - Witches, assassins, princesses, even Death Himself. Their choices will bring the world into the next age, but one of light or dark is yet to be seen… If you enjoy classic stories like The Lord of the Rings and The Wheel of Time - where fate, free will, and fellowship turn the ashes of the past into a new future - then this is the epic fantasy series for you!

Hell or High Winter by Andrew Rubin

What is the Messenger of the Gods to do when no one is listening anymore... Screw around for the rest of eternity, that’s what! At least, that’s what Hermes thought the rest of his immortality would be in the modern world. That is, until his beloved sister Persephone, Goddess of Spring, is kidnapped for a second time (so annoying when that happens), threatening to plunge earth into Eternal Winter. Now Hermes has to do the thing he’s dreaded most… Grow the hell up. So, can Hermes man-up and return to hell? Can the Greek God of Messengers, Tricksters, Thieves, and Herds (WTF that’s random), bastard child of Zeus with luscious locks of blond hair all the nymphs love to twirl… Can that god rescue Persephone and save the world? Hermes is about to find out.

Call of Thunder by V. Ananya

The war is now right at their doorstep. A new monarch ready to be crowned. An old villain to face in battle. But the Call of Thunder brings back old inhabitants of the world. Whose side are they on? How will the outcome change the universe? With the lost shards of memory back in place, the royalty of Sahara know how to destroy Rumplestiltskin. The only problem is that the cloner wizard is back and no one knows who’s an ally and who’s a foe anymore. It is at such a crucial time that the dragons of the ancient lore decide to come back and claim their rightful place in Sahara: beside their riders. It is also now that Merlin and Celia reveal a shocking secret to Yor and Elmeida. The prophecy about the new born royal looms at the backdrop of all this chaos. When the war begins, all of Sahara unites to help defend their world and their people. When humans are pitted against dragons, every life will be at stake - every life in the danger of being destroyed ruthlessly - history repeating from several centuries ago. It is upto the returning dragons to help save humanity for the decades to come. Will our heroes have the strength needed to defend the world they love? Or will they fall and let the world be destroyed, and help pave the way for a new, evil world to come? Read Call of Thunder to find out!

The Lost Fable by V. Ananya

Years after the Master of Darkness had been defeated a second time, a young girl is born to the heroes of the Great Journey, with a prophecy that would either make or break the people of Sahara. Old friends, Dark Princess Lorinda Yuri and ordinary soldier Linel Snayt, struggle to find a middle ground to their differences and work towards beginning a new, healthy relationship. Ureon Thalia, new germain of Jermis, is concerned about the missing piece in the history of the world that is key to defeating the greatest villain of his time. As Ureon, Lorinda, and Merlin lead a voyage to seek an underwater realm in the middle of the Sahara Ocean, Elmeida and Yor discover a great threat looming over their daughter that compels them to make the most difficult decision of their lives. Will our heroes manage to locate a whole island that isn’t even marked in any map? What will they discover there? Read The Lost Fable to find out!

The Young Foreigner by V. Ananya

Yor Castel is an alchemist in Sahara fresh out from under the wings of his wizard master and sets off on a journey around the world to seek the fortune calling out to him. With him is a gift from his a belt that contains the most important potions and a flute that can calm even the most disturbed creature. Elmeida Yuri is the eldest daughter of the Dark Queen of Sahara and has just escaped the most gruesome incident of her life. She seeks shelter and comfort with the only person she her maternal aunt, Alia Hudson, who resides in a neighbouring country. On the other end of the world, the Master of Darkness is rising, after having been asleep for centuries, and that begins a chain of processes unimaginable by mages of the present day. The Light and Dark wizards of yore awaken just in time to stop him, but now, it seems as if the enemy has grown even more powerful than the last time he had been engaged in battle. So, Yor and Elmeida team up and decide to help keep him at bay.

The Blood of Queens by Alex C. Pierce

What happens when you take a thief and a con-man, that everyone thinks is a monster that should be locked away, and make him captain of the Queen's personal bodyguard? Gossip, treachery, and paperwork... So much paperwork. Ren's appointment as Warden, the Queen's personal bodyguard and head of her security has created something of a stir in the walled realm of Lenmar. Opposition to his mere presence within the Crystal Palace is high, and old schemes and rivalries are kindled anew as the tension builds between the nobility and the factions pushing for change. Ren just wants to keep the Queen safe, solve the mystery of his mentor's disappearance, and figure out why, Haim, who'd saved his life and been his accomplice on more than one occassion, was avoiding him. An attack on the eve of the Moon Festival, when the Council of Nobles is set to convene, provides the spark to ignite a chain of events that threatens the very foundations that have kept the people of Lenmar safe, and puts everyone Ren cares about in danger.

Child of Tulathne by Lila Samson

Aleksander Wythane has no qualms with his identity as the reincarnated Sword of Ages. It brought him a life of comfort as a member of the royal family, and comprehensive training to make him the best swordsman on the continent. The looming knowledge of his duties remain far off on the horizon, the kingdom of Zekhar is at peace with its neighbors and itself, and a lavish Summer Solstice festival is approaching. But when creatures cobbled from corpses and dark magic tear their way into the celebration and upend one of the most joyous nights of the year, the entire kingdom is faced with their greatest fear since Aleksander's birth-the reason he was born in the first place. After ten years of preparation, Aleksander is thrust into his calling earlier than expected, but not alone. Accompanied by seeress and princess, Carissa, and a mercenary older than the country itself, their quest is clear: gather allies, information, and find the monster Aleksander is destined to kill; whoever they may be in this life. Along the way, Aleksander faces trials, losses, and realizations that cause him to doubt not only his ability, but his identity. Was it possible the goddess made the wrong choice? Or was he never the Sword to begin with?

Portals of the Lost by Aleyna Hines

Eva has spent her life as an outsider. Now, she is trapped in a world that sees her as something much worse—a monster. When Eva is dragged into the world of a book, she is met not with the fantasy she always dreamed of, but with chains. Imprisoned on accusations of unleashing terrifying creatures upon the people of Abhaile, she is forced to strike a deal to untangle the truth behind the portals letting them in. As she journeys through its mystical lands, the injustices of this world come to light. A tyrannical King who is hellbent on enslaving those beneath him mirrors the cruelty she experienced within the foster system and the line between enemy and ally blurs. Eva’s search becomes about so much more than her innocence as the secrets of ancient magic unravel before her, pushing her toward a fate she isn’t ready for. Will her feelings of unworthiness be enough for her to walk away, or will her rage demand she fight back?

The Call of Wind by K.R. House

The power to control the elements, at the cost of your humanity. Long ago, the gods blessed mankind with the power to call the elements, but at a terrible price. Without the protection of a ward rune, the power wilds its users, twisting them into monsters resembling the element they control. Wilding and runes have never been of great concern to 16-year-old Elias. His talented half-brother Marc was given a rune by Gaya’s Holy Grove not long after being blessed with lifecalling, so Elias has never worried much about the wilding that happens to unmarked callers. But when Elias is blessed with windcalling, like his foreign father, it feels a lot more like a curse, since there are no runes for windcallers in his homeland of Eshira. Knowing that unmarked who aren’t lifecallers tend to disappear, Marc risks everything to help Elias escape, betraying both his country and his goddess. As Elias searches for a rune to halt the wilding and Marc is thrown into a brutal war, both brothers will learn shocking truths about themselves and the world around them.

First Last Chance by B.E. Lunetois

"What you wanted, lad, was palace intrigues with poison and daggers, maybe you get to wave around your fancy little sword in a rooftop duel at the end of a long chase, hey? Turnabouts, betrayals, all that fun stuff? But here on the Ten-Thousand Seas it's mostly war. Mud, guns, and bombs by land; salt, guns, and torpedoes by sea." The Stone Unfurled is a long, flat world surrounded by walls of golden ice, covered by the Ten-Thousand Seas, which are speckled with many islands whose inhabitants must make their way in a beautiful but harsh world. For the spoiled young governor who controls one of the tiniest islands this world has to offer, the extent of that harshness is about to be fully revealed. Thrown into a chaotic war between diverse factions, he must learn to make his way in the company of two women who are almost as frightening and dangerous as his enemies. Follow Arlo Haradin-Harkon on the first step of his slow transformation from a vain, bratty dandy to a swashbuckling hero in... First Last Chance There's adventure, romance, humor, cool boats, a bit of sword play, strong women, violence, fatalism, and lots (and lots) of salt water.

Stars Above the Never Sea by Evelyn Flood

It was said that to be loved by a Faeyte was beyond words. That when the ability to fall in love was ripped from them, they grieved for a loss they could no longer recognize. And it cost them everything. *** Selene Amaris is finally going home. After ten years of enslavement in the red lands of Terrosa, she finds herself chained once more, her wings bound and held in the cargo of a silent ship heading back to her homeland, Asteria. No one is waiting for her. Her people were wiped out ten years ago before the Great Shift, when the air turned to wind and water in a single violent moment, and the sea became an endless inky starlight. But the beat of her heart calls her back, and she will answer. One last time. *** Callan Edgeborn has one plan. Survive. To keep those he cares about safe, he follows orders and transports desperately-needed goods across the Never Sea – a sea made entirely of starlight, where one fall can send a man tumbling into unending night. He’s the only one with the ability to make it through. Selene has no patience for a cocky, lazy, irreverent ship captain, and Callan has no time to watch over an emotionless, cold female with infuriatingly captivating eyes. But as they both know all too well; it only takes a second for the world to shift. As Selene navigates her return, Callan finds himself risking everything he cares about to keep her safe. And with every passing day, it becomes clear that Selene has been sent back to Asteria for a reason. One meeting will change their lives forever. And one Faeyte will tear the heavens apart for a love that was never supposed to exist. Stars Above the Never Sea is the first installment in a brand-new romantasy series from bestselling author Evelyn Flood filled with magic, found family, emotional angst, rage and a love that defies the gods themselves.

Speak with the Dead by E. C. Taylor

Annalyn Hale doesn’t believe in the gods. If they do exist, they’ve only ever taken from her. After her father dies, Anna lives a small, quiet life with her mother, gathering what their bakery needs from the woods. For fun, she treks deep into the trees surrounding her home to find dangerous ruins and the treasure they hold within. Her world shifts when she returns home to find debt collectors harassing her mother. They give her a choice–either her mother goes to jail for missing payments, or Anna joins the governor’s armed forces and they take the money out of her wage. Anna enlists and when the commander gives her a mission that would pay off half her debt, she accepts, even though she doesn’t think she’s ready. But the mission is steeped in treachery before it can begin. Is the team strong enough to triumph over the conspiracy set against them? Will Anna succeed despite her shortcomings, or are they too much for her to overcome? If the gods do exist, what will they take from her now?

Echo Sight by Cian Verati

Having lost one leg already to the monstrous, parasitic senka, Enaka knows that they're not taken seriously as an imperfect shapeshifter among their perfect people. They're determined to prove their usefulness by continuing their dangerous job. But when a routine hunt becomes an assignment to track down an artifact smuggler who may have lured senka to Akert City, Enaka is thrown out of their depth into a world of misinformation and systemic oppression. Their only ally is a mage from an opposing government who claims to know more about Enaka than they do about themself. As the two of them race against time to stop the senka plague before the double new moons, they're confronted by forces both mundane and magical, and disturbing truths emerge that change Enaka's life forever. Will their conviction be enough to save the two million souls who call Akert home? Or are the real monsters much closer than they appear?