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The Narrows by Travis M. Riddle "Riddle’s intricate worldbuilding and familiar but strong narrative arc sustain fear throughout. ... Fans of eerie tales will easily fall into this one." - Publishers Weekly "I can show you how to enter the Narrows to find what you seek." Oliver and his friends have returned to their hometown of Shumard, Texas for the funeral of their close friend Noah. They each grapple with the loss in their own ways, trying to understand the strange circumstances of their friend's unexpected death. While visiting the site where the body was found, Oliver stumbles across a chilling discovery that he knows must be related to what happened to Noah. Wanting to protect his friends from these newfound horrors, Oliver takes it upon himself to venture into the grotesque otherworld known as the Narrows to learn what happened to his friend and find a way to bring him back. Entering the Narrows is one thing, but will whatever he finds there allow him to leave? |
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Giving ghost tours on the decaying streets of the French Quarter isn’t exactly a high-profile career, but the guides at Spirits of Yore Haunted Tours are too strange and troubled to do anything else. They call themselves Quarter Rats, a group of outcasts and dreamers and goths who gather in hole-in-the-wall bars to bicker, spin yarns, and search for belonging in the wee hours of the night after the tourists have staggered home. Through the ghost stories they tell, their own haunted lives come into focus. Like the city they call home, these tour guides are messy with contradiction: they suffer joyfully, live morbidly, and sin to find salvation. Weaving together real New Orleans folklore with the lives of eleven unforgettably vibrant characters, Ash Tuesday is a love letter to America’s last true bohemia and the people, both dead and living, who keep its heart beating. |
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Sabin Escape From Foster Care by S. S. Rundolin Do you enjoy genre-bending, coming-of-age adventures? This is a story of survival, of hope in the darkness. Our hero is a modern day teenager trapped in foster care hell. Sabin can choose to stay put in an abusive home or escape to the brutal life of the streets. Neither option makes sense. A third way promises an escape, but leads to a fantastical new world fraught with trouble. We do not end where we begin. If your imagination is bound by known science, pick a different book to read. Herein lies monsters, magic, and swords. |
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Queen of the Warrior Bees by Jean Gill Epic eco-fantasy. 2020 Kindle Book Awards Finalist. Standalone Bk 1 in an award-winning trilogy. 2020 Royal Dragonfly Award winner. One misfit girl and 50,000 bees against the might of the Citadel. Mielitta, a despised servant of dubious parentage, yearns to be an adult and fit into Citadel society but the all-powerful mages won’t even consider her for the Maturity Test. As they fight amongst themselves, Mielitta overhears their secrets and plans to escape. Bastien and Jannlou, the boys who terrorised her as a child, have grown into their status as Mages and she cannot escape them forever. In desperation, she flees to the forbidden Forest and its dangerous attractions. Her scent angers thousands of bees and, although she survives their attack, she has changed. As a bee-shifter, Mielitta sees the world differently. This bond works both ways and the bees need Mielitta’s help as the rift widens between Forest and Citadel. Can Mielitta find the fulfilment she craves or will the Mages crush every cell of her second nature? Block Nature out and she'll force a way in. |
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The Hidden Blade by Marie M. Mullany How far will commitment to his liege take the assassin Louis? The bluron’s wings delivers a stark command of death as the Empire teeters on the edge of a most uncivil war. For the first time in Her long history, a ducal line has failed. The last duke of Etendulat is dead and none of his heirs have undertaken the Trials of Dusang. The wealth of farmlands that lies at the heart of the Blutben peninsula lack a ruler and greedy men circle the bountiful plains. Into this high stakes game, Louis is sent to end the ambitions of Tybalt du Mamel, Baron of Somfaux, who would reach for the Etendulat Sash. With every step, he uncovers more of a treacherous plot that is poised to strike at the heart of the Empire. Forbidden magic shadows him and ultimately he must make a dire decision: Can he take the life of an innocent for the greater good? The Hidden Blade is the first book in an exciting new fantasy series. If you like epic fantasy with strong world building, a plot that stretches from the past to the future, human characters with human flaws and realistic magic, this book is for you! Plunge headlong into the world of Sangwheel Chronicles to learn what happens when the subtle game of politics turns deadly, start reading The Hidden Blade today! |
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Kindred of the Sea by Raina Nightingale Two common soldiers, caught in a war they did not sign up for. Corostomir and Aderan joined the Army to protect their people against pirates. Now they are called to attack Elethri, home of the sorcerous elves and new haunt of the nightmare – but when they march into the forest and wake from their dreams unharmed, they can't escape the suggestion that the story they've been told might not be so true. They would rather not die for a war they don't believe in. That leaves only one option: find a way to desert that won't get them killed, just as surely as pushing the elves too far will. This cozy fantasy is a tale of platonic love and adventure that will take you to new worlds and magical beings, including the dolphins in the seas of Alaer. |
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Pretty Damned Things by Holly Wade Matter Fortune is an itinerant musician without a past who braids memories into her hair. Maud is a sheltered small-town girl and an unwitting heir to the notorious McBride family magic. The two young women meet when Fortune is commissioned to bring Maud to a rich man whose grandson she cursed. United by their love of music and their hunger for the road, Fortune and Maud form a friendship ... one that is threatened not only by Fortune’s mission but by their mutual desire for a man called Lightning. |
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The Witch of Anámesa by Kim Idynne Ella Espinosa lives a secluded existence. Isolated from others, and assigned to all the hard work on her deceased father's farm, she gets by with her own spirit of kindness and some help from the farm animals. Her stepmother warns her to stay away from the local villages, as the mountain folk are plagued by a gruesome disease, while the coastal communities are ravaged by violence and corruption. When Ella meets Prince, a young hunter from the mountain village, her beliefs are shaken—but as Ella dares to kindle new connections, she makes shocking discoveries about the mountain folk, whose customs are wholly unlike her own. Meanwhile, Ella's gifts are abhorred by the villagers. Some believe that her unfamiliar songs and herbs are devotions to evil spirits, and that her abilities are the result of witchcraft. As her relationship with Prince deepens, the two begin to imagine having a life together. But as Ella continues to follow her own ways of living, the fears of the villagers rise to new extremes—and so do the actions against her. |
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The Buried Secret of Fairyloom (Tremendous Ten Chronicles - Book Two) by Niranjana Siva and Archana Sujai Life has changed so much for the students at the Elite academy. With the threat of the culprits lingering in the air of Illusia, the Tremendous Ten continue their mission. Two shocking discoveries threaten to shatter the friendship that they share. They get involved in a life or death mission, which endangers the life of each other. Old allies and new rivals emerge to increase the challenge of their already deadly mission. Wearing the wings of hope, they travel to uncover the long kept secret. The Sarkon's Gem had only just been the beginning of the greater destruction. Will the Tremendous Ten survive the attacks that are about to follow? Are they ready to make the sacrifices needed to protect Illusia? Will Sarkon really come back? |
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The Missing Piece of History by Niranjana Siva and Archana Sujai Cathy Wilde, a 15-year old girl, leading a normal life suddenly experiences some weird happenings in a day. She is more terrified when two strangers appear in her home out of nowhere. She follows them to a world known as Illusia. Little did she know that her Academy was in grave danger. She and nine of her friends discover the hidden truths behind their history. Tremendous Ten are up to something for which they are not completely prepared yet. Will the ten of them be able to stop the dangers or will they fall prey into the hands of destruction? Read to find out . . . A New World . . . New Academy . . . New Life . . . New Friends . . . New Dangers . . . AWAITS . . . |
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Powerful Purples (The Zadok Series book 3) by Nikki Minty An explosive ceremony rocks Winter’s caves and those responsible must flee to the Drake village and start a new life. When Harlow is imprisoned by the Queen’s guards, Slater is forced to flee for his life and team up with Jax—the one man he detests more than any other. Together with courageous Zadonians from all four races, they devise a daring rescue mission to save Harlow from impending death. Nothing is what it seems, however, and Harlow finds herself being drawn into political intrigue that will change the landscape of Summer and Winter forever. Torn between Slater’s wants and needs, and her own—will Harlow stay to keep Slater happy or follow her heart and return with Jax? |
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Ruby Red (The Zadok Series book 2) by Nikki Minty Alex has called it quits and stormed off, leaving Harlow alone and vulnerable in the danger zone with little chance of survival and a broken heart. Luckily Jax finds her and brings her back to the caves. However, little does she know she’s returning with multiple souvenirs. Standing out for all the wrong reasons has become Harlow’s specialty, and as the effects of her vertic switz tattoo set in and new issues are brought to light, she and her friends will find themselves in the line of fire with Rae and Electra. Despite Jax’s attempts to neutralise the colour system, the Winter caves have become a death trap for Harlow, and Summer’s castle is no place for a Zeek. Harlow’s only sanctuary might be Spring’s Drake village, but her former ties to a Vallon are sure to cause friction with some of the residents. Tough decisions will need to be made, but will she make the right ones? |
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Pastel Pink (The Zadok Series book 1) by Nikki Minty From one ending comes a new beginning… Ruby was murdered on Earth eighteen years ago and reincarnated on Zadok as a Pastel Zeek named Harlow. To be born at the bottom of her race’s caste colour system to a middle-class family of Magentas has made Harlow a source of conflict amongst the ruling Purples, and a source of derision from all three colours. When Harlow is attacked by a fuegor on Zadok, the effects of its slow reacting venom triggers an unforeseen phenomenon, and due to the strong connection she had with her former twin sister Jade, her human spirit is unexpectedly drawn back to Earth. Now living a double life, she has plunged into a world of intrigue on both planets. On earth, she watches on in horror as Jade reconnects with Lucas, the man who murdered her and got away with it. And to complicate things further, she’s being pursued by Alex, the ghost of Lucas’ twin. On Zadok, she becomes embroiled with Jax, the son of the Commanding family. He’s determined to bring about change to the colony’s colour system, but it’ll come at a cost. As Harlow mixes with the political intrigue of the Zeeks, will she become a victim of those trying to rigidly maintain the status quo or will she usher in a revolution? And will ghost Ruby resist the temptation of the handsome Alex or pursue an impossible relationship that could have dire consequences on both planets? |
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A chance encounter. Fated paths. Unlikely allies. When I was young, I met a boy at the waterfall on the edge of the Forbidden Forest. Our pack was prohibited from venturing there. But being the alpha's only child and a bit of a social misfit, it became my second home. Tiam and I became best friends, experiencing each other's firsts and building an unbreakable bond. Until fate caught up with us, and I had no choice but to reject him, to protect him from myself and my pack. It was the wrong choice, leaving me more shunned and outcasted than before. Years later, ostracized and sick of dealing with the alpha holes in Sibyl Falls, I plan my escape, and that all goes to shit when my biggest secret is uncovered. To make matters worse, young girls in our pack start disappearing, and no one takes it seriously until one of those girls turns out to be someone I care deeply about. On the run and trying to Nancy Drew this shit, I find myself working with the most unlikely ally, Damen Elder, the once heir to the largest shifter pack in the realms. He is deadly, sexy, and wounded. Yet, we are like colliding stars, unable to resist the pull and heat of our attraction. As the danger thickens and secrets begin to unravel, I discover his fate and mine are more interlinked than I could have ever imagined. |
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Alpha Physics! Book 1: Wagga by Alex Kozlowski In the apocalypse, the first weapon he’ll have to upgrade is himself. The end of the world as we know it couldn’t come at a worse time for Adrian. One minute, he’s an operations manager who’s overseeing a construction job in the wilderness. The next, an unknown energy force changes the very nature of life itself, from the smallest organism to the top of the food chain. The earth’s surviving inhabitants, its environment, and the very laws of physics have all undergone fundamental transformations. Many of those changes aren’t pretty. Plenty of them are deadly. Luckily for Earth, this has happened to other species before, and everyone receives an interface that survivors of similar events have used to navigate through an alien landscape. Adrian’s going to need every advantage he can get. He’s stranded in the middle of nowhere, there are days, maybe weeks of travel between him and his family, and in a world full of monsters and mayhem, survival means beating the learning curve… |
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We all seek The Way. To maximize Expected Value. To burn as brightly and for as long as odds allow. To Go Infinite. Join M'Ycell MacGyver for Episode 389 of The Ωmega Phi Podcast. You have been summoned. |
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Mage Family by John Ross Elliott The witches finally have their own realm, but who is prepared for what comes next. As a new generation comes to find the scars of those before them. Where do the Mages fit in. Edyone, Ellah and Ellysse will use all the skills to undo the legacy of their ancestor the Wicked Witch of the North. |
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Blood Indigo by Talulah J. Sullivan A centuries-long stalemate endures over possession of a sentient world. In one corner, a dwindling cabal of shamans holds onto a desperate defense; in the other, a colony of aliens try to control a bio-engineering experiment run amok. In the middle stands a youth who has been genetically altered to ‘Shape’ the elemental powers. Yet if Tokela claims his power, it will make of him an outcast, a catalyst--and a weapon. The stalemate is about to break... |
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Alyssia Gale is a daydreamer. A liar. An attention seeker. Everyone she's ever known has found a label to stick on her, but one thing's for sure: she can't be telling the truth. The flashes she sees of the dark and difficult lives of four other people, living in a world that's not her own … they can't be real. Alyssia understands that as well as anyone, even if she does keep catching herself thinking of the people she sees as friends. Then she's pulled into that other world by blood and dark magic, and realises that everyone she's ever known was wrong. To start with, her focus is on surviving until she can find a way home. Yet it doesn't take long for her to figure out that where before she was merely a spectator, now she can change things. And with one of her friends being forced into an abusive marriage, and another trapped in the cruellest of prisons, there's plenty that needs changing. She just needs to survive long enough to do it. What she doesn't know is that something connects her to these four people. Something she never could have imagined. And it's not long before she isn't just fighting to find her place between the worlds – she's fighting to protect her closest friends from a narrative that wants them dead. |
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Each Little Universe by Chris Durston If Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett had written an earnestly nerdy story in a setting running on the ridiculous logic of Scott Pilgrim, it might have come out something like this. For two oddball inventors, taking care of an unexpected new arrival - a girl from the stars - is hard enough. Dealing with the things that want her back may turn out to be harder. A story about love in all its forms (but not a love story), Each Little Universe wonders with wit and insight about what it means to be human in a vast, peculiar cosmos. A celebration of all that is wonderful and strange about people, each member of its cast of twenty-first century weirdos is both larger than life and peculiarly familiar. Fans of Neil Gaiman (Neverwhere, American Gods), Bryan Lee O'Malley (Scott Pilgrim, Seconds), and Haruki Murakami (The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle, Killing Commendatore) will love this story, set in a world very much like our own but a little more strange, and the unusual take it offers on life, the human experience, and cats. |
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Idle Hands by Cassondra Windwalker After making the courageous decision to leave her abusive husband, Perdie and her three young children start over and finally find the safety and love they deserve. But years later, when tragedy strikes, Perdie is left wondering if the choice she made to leave has led them to this moment. If she were given the opportunity to take it all back and stay, would she? In a frantic bid to protect her family, Perdie makes a deal to do just that. But in a world where the devil pulls the strings, can Perdie really change the past? Brimming with enlightened observations and brilliant voice, Idle Hands is a haunting examination of grief, resilience, and what we’d give to spend another moment with the ones we love. |
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Seen and Unseen by Jack CJ Stark Some things are seen. Some things are unseen. After a failed suicide attempt, the patient finds himself trapped on a secure mental health ward. Forced to live with strangers, and without a purpose in life, he discovers he is capable of much more than he ever thought possible. A magical tale of friendship, desperation, kindness, and finding peace. |
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Brooklyn and Cole are the couple at university. They have it all figured out but when the unthinkable happens and Cole gets into an accident and Death turns up to take him to Teen Heaven, Death being a seemingly teenage boy dressed in all black, it turns out life isn't quite what it seems. CW: Blood, car accident, death, depression, drugs, loss of a loved one, self-harm, sex, suicide, terminal illness, |
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It's All in your Head by Cameron James Wizards aren't supposed to mix with humans, or at least that's what Mama said. Sander heeded her words, well, apart from occasionally sneaking out with his brother to drink and off on his own to meet with a mythical hook up. But when an order is sent out requiring him to attend college with humans, a vampire and a boy who just so happens to be Death his world is turned upside down and he begins to question if his life before was even real, or whether it was all in his head... CW: Abuse, blood, death threats, death, hallucinations, abduction, sex, transphobia. |
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Leon's just like every other teenager, he's trying to figure out algebra, hide spots that pop up all too often, and still tongue tied around pretty girls - and boys all the while training to be a fully fledged Wizard. Sure everybody goes through puberty, but not everyone goes through a puberty like this and with Leon's hormones sending his magic and his emotions haywire, whispers of a fairy hunter on the loose and a full moon approaching, Leon's training is about to be kicked into overdrive. |
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Shimon of the Stars (Neon Red, #1) by Gabriel What is the thought process of someone seeing their family again after a near-decade? Shimon Astrai has been resident of modern Pangaea until the age of eight. One day, while on vacation with his family, he enters a parallel world on accident - the Demon Realm, inhabited by savage creatures and conditions that dictate to kill or be killed. Nine years later, the now 17-year old boy receives the unique chance to return back to the Human Realm. After accepting, Shimon finds himself overlooking Cherize City, the bustling metropolis that used to be his hometown. Equipped with abilities from the other world like immense strength, speed and a seeming aversion to gravity - but also complete obliviousness to social norms, language and the modern world in general - Shimon enters the grand city with one desire in mind: reuniting with his family that lost him all those years ago. |
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The Fae & The Fallen (Gifted Fae Academy #1) by Brittni Chenelle My first kiss nearly killed me—literally. When 80% of the population is gifted with touch magic, it’s best to keep your hands—and your lips—to yourself. Especially if you’re an ungifted serf like I am. The problem is, the most dangerous guy at Gifted Fae Academy is the one I want to touch more than anything, even as I draw the attention of the school’s most gorgeous Apprentice Fae. When my entry exam leads to the revelation that I may not be as Ungifted as I previously believed… well… surviving until graduation might prove harder than I thought—particularly when a certain fatal touch may be worth the risk. This Upper YA/NA series will eventually be three books and is intended for mature audiences. It contains cursing, sexual situations, and violence. |
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The Dragon’s Teeth (On Dark Shores #0.1) by J.A. Clement On a small island they hid… …from an Ice Lord bent on destruction. What can an inventor, bard, and nearly blind trader do to stop him? When he lost his arm, Lodin thought his life was over. How could he create his brilliant gadgets with only one hand? His companion, a handsome bard named Maran, means the world to him, but with the Ice Lord’s destruction of everything, is there even hope? Asri has faith. She’s wise in many ways. Asri knows that if she can just convince him to build an artificial hand, then Lodin will be able to invent again. She may have lost her sight but not her vision. There must be a solution. Deep in the archives, she found a scroll. If it is to be believed, they can find answers in the ships’ graveyard. Asri knows there’s a chance. With Lodin and Maran by her side, they need to get to ancient ruins to have any chance to stop the Ice Lord and save the world. It won’t be easy, and they need to find some missing elements to set the trap. Will it even work? |
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The Clay Queen (Children of Clay #1) by Ono Ekeh With her armies defeated, Queen Nouei’s enemies march north to condemn her. The earth god’s only hope is to change history before they arrive. To become stronger she must restart her divine journey by reincarnating as Bridget Blade. But what if Bridget doesn’t want to be a god? All Bridget wants is a simple life with love and family. But she is confronted by a destiny she doesn’t even understand and burdened by powers and impulses she struggles to control. Bridget must choose a path that leads her to Nouei or, must force the Queen to settle for Bridget’s modest ambitions. Two women, one life, conflicting desires. Who will prevail? |
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Aspiring: Part 1 of the Siblings' Tale (Elisabeth and Edvard The Siblings' Tale) by Astrid V.J. Silver winner of the 2019 Literary Classics International Book Award for Young Adult Fantasy "A well written and utterly charming coming-of-age tale. With excellent world-building in a realm where magic, elves, and unicorns exist, we are introduced to perfectly flawed and highly relatable characters." About Aspiring A coven of witches plots to overthrow a kingdom. One brave woman stands in their way. At her mother’s death-bed, Elisabeth learns her mother’s illness is no accident and that her own life is in danger. Evil witches are plotting to take over the kingdom of Vendale. All alone, naive, and untrained, Elisabeth’s determination is all she has to confront her mother’s murderers as she discovers love at the same time. While Richard’s behaviour sends distracting mixed messages, Elisabeth finds herself stuck in limbo: she is treated like a child but is forced to make adult decisions. Meanwhile, the witches’ plot spins a fateful web around her. Can Elisabeth succeed in the face of insurmountable odds? |
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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 school’s 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 Jasmine’s 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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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 he’d 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 Thegon’s 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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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 Hell’s 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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Pandora’s Hell by Jennifer Pierce Gaeta Enter a world where the supernatural races are the human race’s 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. That’s where my team and I come in. I am Kira Gaetano and my team may be the world’s 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; “Can we do it?” |