Charred by Casey White

The mountain. Held as his goal for so long, it fades into the distance as Jas leaves it behind. The world is bigger than he’d ever thought, he’s rapidly coming to realize. Darren’s spell lingers, clinging to him, but he’s no longer powerless to its commands. He finally has the strength to stand against it and a new identity to call his own, both gifts of the Everburning, the goddess Shiina. His powers are still new and unfamiliar, though, and his goddess is weak from her slumber. Darren is still out there looking for his wayward once-friend, and will stop at nothing to end what he sees as a threat to Drenwell’s safety. He’ll need to learn his own limits, if he has any hope of standing against his rival. With the Chosen hot on his heels, the man who was Jas flees into foreign lands together with his new goddess. One goal unifies them - revenge. They’ll need allies to get it, but finding allies takes time. Time they’re running all too short of as Drenwell closes in.

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.

Chosen by Casey White

WriteHive Book Club

Jas expected to hear a tale of glory and heroism. He hadn’t planned on living it. Drenwell is in trouble. The idyllic nation teeters on the brink of disaster as one trouble after another lines up before it. Crops fail. Animals flee. Earthquakes rattle the land. In the midst of it all is the mountain, rising tall over the plains and forests. Legends passed down over the years place it as the center of the kingdom’s woes, host to an ancient, looming threat. Tucked away in the countryside, Jas isn’t worried. Drenwell has a savior waiting, a man chosen by their god to defeat this evil. He knows it better than anyone, since this Chosen is his childhood friend, Darren. Jas knows that Darren will be the one to end the threat and keep them safe. But their Chosen is clever, armed with his god-given gifts and talents, and he’s no fool. He can see the truth of the mission laid in front of him, its dangers and risks. The expectations placed on him are strong, but the will to live is stronger still. When faced with his ‘heroic’ fate, he chooses an option no one expected - least of all Jas. With no way left to him but forward, Jas finds himself trapped into playing hero in Darren’s place.

The Reach Between Worlds by Cameron Hayden

Posing as a sorcerer was never a smart idea. Now, it may cost Taro his life. Sixteen-year-old Taro lost his right leg years ago, but with a family to support, he doesn't let it slow him down. For years he's worked for a notorious crime lord named Victor Mathan; Mathan deals in stolen magical artifacts, and trusts Taro to finish his work with as few questions as possible. When an absurdly well-paying job comes up, Taro is quick to volunteer. Mathan wants him to break a powerful sorceress out of her magical prison, but her cell is under the control of an ancient military order called the Magisterium. To get to her, Taro must pose as a Magisterium recruit. The courses are grueling, the tests drive students mad, and the magic they teach can be as deadly to the caster as it is to the target.

Mark of the Empress by M. Dalto

An Empress ripped back to the life she left behind. A Prince desperate to save his people. One child lost within another realm, the other dependent on their constant protection. Betrayed by those closest to her, Empress Alexstrayna must figure out a way to get it all back - her throne, her people, her son. Fulfilling a two-thousand-year-old prophecy, Reylor, the banished Lord Steward, has stripped Alex of her rightful rule and set in motion a chain of events even he, himself, does not fully understand. Determined to strip his brother of happiness by any means possible, his actions send Alex and Treyan back to Boston and away from the Empire they called home. Blinded by vengeance with hate running thick within her veins, the Empress must consider the ramifications of their return, for better or for worse. But when an unexpected visitor offers help assist with their attempts, Alex and Treyan need to determine how best to reclaim their Empire without more lives lost before whatever time they have left runs out. It’s time to return to the Empire. Are you prepared to join the battle?

Silvertongue by Casey White

After another long day at work, all Jon Christensen wanted was a cheap burger and some peace and quiet. When he pulled into the McDonald’s, Jon only had the usual cares on his mind. His sister. The bills. A career with seemingly nowhere to go. But after a confusing encounter at the cash register triggers a violent episode in the parking lot, he’s quickly pulled into a world he doesn’t understand. His few careless sentences - and the odd gift of languages he’s kept hidden for years - wind up thrusting him right into the middle of a chaotic magical free-for-all, a battle taking place in the shadows of society. Entangled in an increasingly complex web of violence and lies, he's left with a choice: adapt, or die. Surrounded by strangers, Jon must struggle to survive, searching out friends amidst a sea of foes. If he can get his group of strays and rejects to work together, there’s a chance they might just make it out alive. Should he fail, the consequences will be dire - not only for Jon, but also for those he loves.

Sand Dancer by Trudie Skies

Only monsters summon fire by magic. It’s a sin against the sun god and a crime against the king. The punishment is death. But when sixteen-year-old Mina discovers fire magic runs in her family’s blood, it’s just the beginning of the secrets her father has been keeping from her. When her father is murdered, this half-starved peasant girl finds herself on the run—pursued across the desert by the soldiers and guards of the noble Houses. To survive, she knows she’ll have to abandon her past and learn the way of the sword. But only boys are allowed to carry a blade. There’s only one solution… Disguised as a young nobleman, Mina must make a new life for herself in the heart of her enemies. But she knows she can’t keep up the masquerade forever. With time running out, which will she choose to find—the truth or revenge?

The Lightning Rod by C.S. Ratliff

WriteHive Book Club

12,000 years since the last Lightning Elemental stood guard. The world is in chaos. Shadow magic is spreading beyond the walls of secrecy. A new savior must rise and bring balance, for the Fate of Gnariam. Will The Lightning Rod become the hero the world needs, or succumb to the darkness?

Windward by S. Kaeth

SPFBO7 SFFOasis Indie Recs Indie

When dragons fight, mountains weep. In nests high in the mountains, dragons and dragonbonded share their lives, thoughts, feelings, and ambitions. Palon and her partner, the dragon Windward, are renowned among their nest for their flying skill. Their days are filled with everything she loves, especially riding the wind. Even being tasked with teaching their way of life to Tebah, a rebellious newly bonded teenager, can’t bring her down too much. But when treasures from the dragons’ hoards are found in Palon’s collection, her idyllic life comes crashing down. She battles to prove her innocence, while her every move is cast as further evidence against her. Tebah’s suspicion, homesickness, and defiance would be frustrating even in easy times. With Palon in the spotlight while her rivals smear her name at every turn and stir up plots of revenge, her teenage charge’s behavior proves dangerous. Dragon tempers shorten, and challenges and disputes shake the ground. Palon will have to trust more than just herself if she hopes to once more own the sky.