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Ageless Part 2: A Tale of Rehavan by Justin Rose âMost men would need a century to justify one hour of their life.â In a stone keep in Gath Moran, Hefthon sits and scribblesâhistories, ramblings, songs. His immortal blood stirs in his ancient veins. He longs for risk, to hazard the life that comes so cheaply. In Elisidor, in his fortress OrdĂșil, Belisari sits and combs black dye into his hair, plasters pale cream on wrinkling skin. His time dwindles. He dreads risk, to hazard his numbered seconds. He longs for lost immortality. When an elven scholar named TaâHrada shakes off the dust of his libraries and leads elven Elisidor in rebellion, Salinorâs emperor calls on Aeschulin, the new master of Gath Odrenochâs Guards, to put down the fledgling revolt. In turn, Aeschulin enlists the service of two very different menâhis brother Hefthon and Belisari, an old and almost forgotten friend. *** Ageless: Part II is the third and final novel in the âFirst Immortalsâ series and a sequel to Ageless: Part I. |
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Ageless: Part 1: A Tale of Rehavan by Justin Rose Monster Hunters. Such is the trite name given both in reverence and in scorn to the family of Reheuel. Nearly a hundred years have passed since the recovery of Arielâs Tear, and still they spend their immortal lives as guards, only now of a nation rather than a city. Bastard. Such is the name held by Belisari, a strange and ageless miner toiling in the earthen bowels of backwater Serendin. For fifty years he has labored in obscurity, weighed down by the unmet responsibility of his high birth. When the Monster Hunters of Gath Odrenoch pass through Serendin, Belisari grasps at his first chance to find something higher, driven by the guidance of an unknown god and the conviction of his hidden heritage. What follows is a journey which shakes the faith of immortals and rattles the cages of oath-bound gods. * * * Ageless: Part I is the second novel in the âFirst Immortalsâ series and a sequel to Arielâs Tear. |
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Ariel's Tear: A Tale of Rehavan by Justin Rose "Beauty is always worth protecting." Set in the fictional world of Rehavan, Ariel's Tear tells the story of Reheuel, Captain of the Guards in the small human city of Gath Odrenoch. An aging soldier haunted by memories of his bloody youth, Reheuel lives a sedate but contented life with his family. Disillusioned with warfare and the glories of his nation's conquests, he raises his children to value beauty and the wonders that enrich their lives. His peaceful world shatters, however, when a tribe of goblins threatens both Gath Odrenoch and the nearby Fairy City. Intent on saving his family and on protecting the innocence of the childlike fairies, Reheuel sets off on a journey to save both cities. Lifting his sword once more, he rediscovers the true cost of earthly beauty. |
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The Fall of Ingway by Justin Rose NOTE: The Fall of Ingway is published as a full cast audio drama and as an annotated script. This story is intended primarily for audio, and though its print and Ebook versions are enjoyable and interesting to read, they are a script, not a novel. Ingway is a being of many names: Death God, Reaper, Ferryman, He-Who-Comes-When-The-Last-Sigh-Leaves. He is a figure of terror and mystery, riding through shadows, leading the dead to the halls of judgment. Ominous and cold, even to his fellow gods. Join this strange and soft-voiced god, this being with the wrath of the universe bound in his aching soul, as he drifts closer and closer to the edge of rebellion, as he lingers longer among the souls he is meant only to reap, as he draws closer to the goddess Mercy and learns--to love. Listen to the stories of the flesh folk below, lovers and monsters, guards and princes, kings and queens, souls moved on a chessboard set by the gods of Duty and Vanity. See how their paths cross with the path of Ingway, how men and women alter gods, how gods alter men and women. Prepare yourself for The Fall. |
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Space, Collisions by L. N. Holmes "Three perfectly paced and elegantly written stories that leave the reader breathless and pensive at once." âMeredith Allison, author of Blood & Whiskey "L. N. Holmes has a talented pen and a great imagination. . . ." âRenwick Berchild, Nothing In Particular Book Review SPACE, COLLISIONS is a micro-chapbook containing three brief stories. In "When Continents Collide," a man waits on the shores of the Outer Banks for the collision of the North American and African continents. "Trace" focuses on the intimate secrets shared between one pining woman and her self-destructing lover. In "Spacefall," two scientists take a break from work to drive to the countryside and bask in their friendship. Each installment in this short collection offers motifs of physical distance and intimate connection. Overall, the stories emphasize the common longing to overcome the space that divides. SPACE, COLLISIONS is part of the 2018 Summer Micro-Chapbook Series at Ghost City Press. |
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In Search of Amika by MultiMind Nothing is going right for Keyona. Hapless and jobless with a fresh college degree, all Keyona wants is to find decent work. One night, something pulls Keyona through her bed and brings her to the distant lands of Rulo, thrown into the sandy pit of her summoner, Ipkuni. Ipkuni is desperate to find their long-lost friend, Amika. One way or another, Ipkuni is determined to find her. Though bemused to receive Keyona instead, a thought struck Ipkuni - perhaps Keyona could be of some good use. She had to arrive for a reason. |
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Quiet and bookish, Rosalyn always loved living in her head, especially under the glow of the silent moonlight. One snowy moonlit night, she finds someone princely and ethereal standing at the edge of the forest, the Harlequin. Dazzled by his words and ways, Rosalyn follows the Harlequin. But to what end? |
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Ava and Tyrone always shared everything. As twins, they were always two parts of a whole. But one day, Ava discovers that she is part of a much bigger whole. And Tyrone wants nothing more than for Ava to take part ⊠or take her apart instead. Now Ava faces a decision: either be by Tyroneâs side or become another one of his victims. Doesn't matter to Tyrone, as long as he has her abilities - one way or another. |
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Vera has unusual dreams - anything she dreams comes alive. Dream Traveling, her family calls it. Doing it all her life, Dream Traveling doesn't affect Vera as much as it used to. She has her rules and her methods - as long as she follows them, all is fine. Until she sees something she discovered she couldn't handle. Now, her dreams are plagued by The Hunter, a deadly character that wants nothing more than to haunt her mind and leave behind a bloody spree. Vera must find a way to get The Hunter out of her head before he makes sure she never wakes up again. So much for "sweet dreams". |
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Mars, the lead vocalist of rock band Lumination Rising, has had to learn how to live with his new self. Living in the aftermath of a devastating accident, Mars gained a new ability: he can control and create glass. But that's not all that changed about Mars - and that is exactly what worries the band. Haunted by what he can do, Mars grapples with himself and his mind. Eager to help, cousin and bandmate Amos tries to keep Mars' head straight ... and the new abilities a secret. The world can't know about the glass or the change. There's music to be made and a record company to please. Mars isn't a monster - but he isn't so sure himself. |
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The Light Within by Carliann Jean In a time of political unrest and looming war, the country of Sweazn is drowning in trauma, pain, and suffering. Eira and her friends are weighed down on the front lines, working tirelessly in therapeutic and investigative roles. Though all are nearly pushed to their limits, Eira and her friends keep each other afloat with love and laughter. Beyond Sweazn, through a thin veil of time and space, the realm of souls, Majikaero, faces its own peril. A plague of darkness spreads rapidly, and Prince Nyx knows too well the agony and exile it brings. Eiraâs recurring dreams and lost memories drag her into this magical realm of souls. Here, she encounters new allies and foes, including Nyx, the deviously alluring shadow prince who Eira canât help but feel irrevocably drawn to. Eira learns she once thrived in Majikaero, her soul radiant with healing power. Now, confronted with the mysteries of her origins, the plight of her damaged friends, and the encroaching darkness, she must summon the strength and magic to protect both realms. Eira must face the trauma of her past and find the one thing that can save those she loves: the light within. The Light Within is book one of a thrilling fantasy romance series that is centered around themes of mental health and healing. You canât hide a goddess from her own destiny⊠|
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Galataria's Echoes by Gail Brown Galataria teeters on the brink of destruction. At least, the human population does. The rest of the world has been rescued. At what cost? Earth stumbles along the path to the Devolution War Galataria fought generations ago. Dreams begin to cross the dimensional boundary between Galataria and Earth. Dreams of people and places that don't match the lived experiences of the receivers. For Kalara and Leonard on Galataria, the dreams appear like nightmares, a haunt of a past best forgotten. For Shalin and Jendal, the dreams of Galataria are peaceful and serene. A beauty in life they have never seen. Stress builds in both worlds. Although the connection falters, it soon becomes the only way to save Galataria. Ties bind them together, between worlds. Bringing a bit of both worlds across the bridge into the other. Both worlds are threatened with ideas, and a life most don't recognize, and many fear. |
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Queeird: A Collection of Unusual Trans Masculine Erotica (2023) by Max Turner Androids and aliens, werewolves and vampires, furries and⊠tentacles? Queeird is a collection of unusual, and at times monstrous, erotic short stories featuring trans masculine characters. From the ridiculous to the romantic, expect kinks, quirks and tropes. All the stories feature trans masculine main characters, with a variety of cis, trans female, trans male and non-binary lovers. |
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A sprite and a pixie walk into a barâ Christmas is a strange time for fae folk living in the mortal realm... Awen had a discomfort with Christmas. It didnât make sense to him that any of the fae celebrated it; it wasnât part of their traditions. A time when humans spoke of fairies and elves as though they were those creatures of lore and not their living, breathing neighbours? It was unsettling. And for Awen, another reminder of how apart from the world he was. Brock hated Christmas; there was something about it that stripped him of his usual confidence and charm. It was hard to be charming around all the happy couples when he knew his own happiness was not an option. Instead, year after year, he had to endure his mother asking when he would finally settle down, knowing heâd never get up the nerve to tell her the truth. His truth. A Little Lie is a sweet and smutty age difference Christmas MM romance where a nightclub hook-up becomes a fake relationship with a HEA, in a magical place called Three Rivers City (... Truro). |
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The Child of Hameln by Max Turner Elk Pass is a town cloaked in darkness and plagued by an unknown evil, where twenty years earlier all but one of the townâs children were stolen. That remaining child, now the deputy sheriff, is left to unravel corruption and cover up when his mentor, the town sheriff, dies unexpectedly. The mystery unfolds as a snow storm blows in, threatening to isolate the town, leaving Deputy Bobby Taylor to deal with a plague of rats and the monsters, both human and fae, that follow. This supernatural mystery and light horror is a dark fable set in 1980âs small town USA, and is a retelling of the German folktale The Pied Piper of Hameln. |
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The Third Internecion (Tale of Infidels Book #3) by Erik A. Otto The fate of Matteoâs lands rests precariously on the blasphemous words of a growing cadre of infidels. They must find a way to rally forces to the aid of the Old Keep before itâs too late. But who will believe them? |
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The Day's Wake (Tale of Infidels Book #2) by Erik A. Otto Hideous beasts? Conspiracies? A fracturing world? The infidels are spinning their deranged tales across the realm. It's a heathen contagion; a grievous elixir. Do not drink from it. Besides, there is no place for these blasphemous lies when events are in play that are disturbing enough. Like the Day of Ascendancy, which is happening...RIGHT NOW |
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For dystopian fans of THE LAST OF US, THE MAZE RUNNER, and THE HUNGER GAMES. The YA debut from award-winning author, Stuart White. IN A NAMELESS WORLD, ONE HERO RISES BY DISCOVERING THEIR IDENTITY. In a dystopian world dominated by genetic perfection and numbered gene pools, sixteen-year-old E820927, known as Seven, yearns for an identity beyond his assigned number. To escape a life as a Nameless Exile, and become a citizen of the Realm, he must pass a loyalty test to prove his allegiance to the totalitarian AutokratĆr. But as the truth unfolds, Seven faces a difficult choice between revenge, love and discovering his identity. |
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Three Men In Orbit by Sandra Bond "They're back... and they've got a sextant!" A steampunk extravaganza set in an early twentieth century where science has conquered gravity and colonised the Moon, but where other issues of the day remain as problematic as in our own timeline... such as the vexed question of votes for women. The beloved characters of Jerome K. Jerome's THREE MEN IN A BOAT take a pleasure-trip into space in an anti-gravity sphere, only to find themselves caught up in shenanigans and skullduggery millions of miles from anything to be found on the Thames. Will they be able to make it back to Earth with their skins and their reputations both intact? |
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The Devil's Finger by Sandra Bond "Cryptids and comedy don't mix." Looking after outspoken comedian Jemima Charfield keeps her super-assistant Imogen Payne so busy, she barely has time for a social life. But when Jemima uncovers a real, live, shapeshifting beast, Imogen will need to surpass herself... or risk a murder charge for both of them! Cryptids, comedy, catastrophe and carpet warehouses combine in a crisply witty supernatural thriller. |
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Child of the Dragon by Ashley N. Y. Sheesley The chosen one is dead, the prophecy left unfulfilled, and the shape-shifting dragons of modern-day Earth are still cursed to be puppets to their dragon kings. Itâs now up to a chronically ill ex-assassin, a sarcastic rebel, the chosen oneâs granddaughter, and her anxious best friend to take up the mantle and save the dragons once and for all. Coleman, a teenage, chronically ill, shape-shifting dragon, thought betraying the king that cursed the shifters would be a âone timeâ thing. But when he watches the resistanceâs leaderâthe only uncursed shifter and the chosen oneâdie, his only choice is to return to his king, fool him again, and buy time for his best friend to find and train the late leaderâs granddaughter. Otherwise, the curse will never be broken. When studious high school senior Katâs grandma dies, and she accidentally turns into a dragon, she realizes that all her grandmaâs old stories were true. And now that her grandma is gone, Kat is the last dragon immune to the kingâs curse. Now, training in secret, her best friend, Aaron, is suspicious that something is wrong, and he desperately wants to help her. He just didnât think helping her would involve fighting by her side (and from her dragon back) to save a secret society of shiftersâa threat that is about to become a lot more personal than he ever imagined. With cursed dragons lurking around every corner, itâs up to Coleman, Kat, Aaron, and the rest of the resistance to take fate into their own hands, but if Kat canât master her new powers and break the kingâs curse, her friends will remain puppets to him forever, and she too might succumb to his curse. |
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Life After Dusk by Douglas Jern Liv has awakened after decades of cold sleep, only to learn that the world she knew has ended. The ruins are covered in a toxic gas known as ether, which causes horrific mutations when inhaled. Liv sets out on a journey through the benighted wasteland, dodging bloodthirsty mutants and killer robots along the way, in a desperate gamble to save the future from the endless, lifeless twilight. Interspersed with Livâs journey are glimpses into the world before the fall, from the creation of Y, an immortal being whose blood holds the key to eternal life, to the cataclysmic war between humanity and Yâs progenies. A combat android forced to fight, die, and fight again, seeks a way to break the cycle and reach the promised heaven beyond. A college dropout goes on a road trip that takes a turn for the nightmarish when he sets foot in an old house that hides a terrible secret. A young girl, created for a purpose she cannot understand and banished from her home, discovers the power hidden within her, and the meaning of her existence. The fate of the ruined world rests on Livâs shoulders. Her journey will not be an easy one, but where there is life, there is hope, and Liv always finds a way. |
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Only Mostly Dead (Afterlife Incorporated) by Alli Temple No one tells you how much paperwork there is after you die. I expected to wake up on a cloud where angels played harps and fed me grapes. Instead, Iâm a ghost stuck in suburban Toronto. The only ones who can see me are a part-time psychic and an unemployed grim reaper. Turns out the business of dying is a train wreck. But if there was ever a girl boss who could get it back on track, itâs me. All I need is a little help from my new roommates, whether they want to be involved or not. Nothing at Afterlife Incorporated moves quickly and if I donât find a way out soon there wonât be anything left of me to cross over. They say death can be easy, but being only mostly dead sucks. Only Mostly Dead is the first installment in the Afterlife Incorporated urban fantasy trilogy. It features a slowâso slowâburn romance that may take several books to resolve. Be patient. Death is comingâŠeventually. |
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Littlethumb Sneezed by Truant D. Memphis What would happen if everything in the world froze but you? Littlethumb Sneezed is the tale of prolific artist and renowned philanthropist, Littlethumb Brooks. From the discovery of his creative genius as a child to his rise to fame, join Littlethumb on a satirical journey through the world of American pop culture. It is a life filled with love, laughter, charity, art, disguises, magic tricks, international intrigue and unfortunately, horrible tragedy. Also, there's a punk rocker named Tommy Toxic. It began with the Occurrence. Littlethumb was a little boy⊠|
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People of the Stone by B. M. Thompson When worlds collide, the alliance between Peretos and Bellumâcities long ago sunderedâis renewed. War preparations begin in the combined army of the Joiners of Peretos and the soldiers of Bellum. Their goal is to eradicate the menace of the Stone People. While the coalition is a beacon of hope, darkness festers at its heart. Across the Wasteland in the wake of the Uprising, Jorisfell's families remain broken as bereft parents brave the Wasteland to find their exiled children and bring them home. Those left behind continue digging into the stone, fighting for survival in the face of new dangers. The mysteries of Eleytia's past deepen as the search for the cryptic Restoration prophecies ranges from the record rooms of Bellum to the bowels of the Wasteland. When opposing cultures collide, secrets are revealed and age-old, fanatical convictions are upended. Whoâor whatâis at the heart of these prophecies? Will the answers bring restoration? Or destruction? |
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Legend of the Stone by B. M. Thompson A thousand years ago, the Ruination turned Eleytia to stone. The sky burned red, the waters became toxic, and the animals changed into monsters. The humans unlucky enough to be caught outside the safety of their city walls mutated into the deadly Stone People. They now seek to scour the last of humanity off the face of Eleytia. Pockets of humanity scratch a meager existence out of the stone Wasteland, unaware of one another and unsure if they are the only humans who survived the cataclysm. In these disparate cities, a young woman is exiled, a defiant soldier deserts a cruel army, and a childless mother vows to save her family. Stories are told of the mythicalâpossibly supernaturalâJoiners and the amazing feats they once performed. Like the living things that tell them, fables are transformed with age, becoming more confusing and conflicting with each passing year. Are the Joiners Eleytia's salvation? Or the curse that caused the Wasteland in the first place? |
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How to Slay a Demon Lord and Get away with it by Devi Letalis Damien is barely holding it together. Struggling with the weight of his recent loss, he finds himself torn between his duty to Lariza and his responsibility as the leader of Lamia Vult. Just when he thinks things canât get worse, an angry mob forms at the gates, blaming the cult for mysterious dreams that drain not only the citizens of the city but also the members of Lamia Vult. And as if that werenât enough, Damien canât shake the feeling that Damnatio might be lurking in the shadows, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. With pressure from the police and his allies questioning his ability to lead, Damien must face his demonsâliterallyâand hope that he can save himself before everything falls apart. Will he survive the nightmare, or will he lose himself in the chaos? |
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Twilight of Evil by George Alexander What if Adolf Hitler cheated death in the ruins of Berlin? Prepare to be shaken as we delve into the controversial tale of Adolf Hitler's escape from the ruins of Berlin, his dreams of a thousand-year Reich still fuelling his dark ambition. Did the Fuhrer truly perish in the crumbling capital, or did he evade capture and flee to the distant shores of South America? Twilight of Evil delves into the controversial and intriguing tale of Adolf Hitler's escape from Berlin during the closing days of the Third Reich and his post-war life. Join David Hazel, a young Jewish researcher, as he probes into the shocking truth behind Hitler's disappearance through the work of the renowned American scholar, Dr. Peter Alex. The novel transports readers to the chaotic final days of the Nazi regime, where the crumbling empire and the desperate measures taken by its leaders are depicted. The book probes into the dramatic exploration of Hitler's ultimate fate, revealing the truth behind his disappearance and the people who crossed his path. Witness the secret escape of Hitler, Eva Braun, Martin Bormann, and Gestapo Chief Heinrich MĂŒllerâa select group of Nazi officials. From secret alliances to deadly betrayals, this novel takes you on a journey through the escape and post-war life of some of history's most notorious figures. |
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The Anonymous Letters of C Forestier by Felicia Davin Paris, 1825. Isabelle de Tourzin cannot afford to fall in love with a mortal. Not again. Ageless and nearly invulnerable, she spends her days in private grief and plots to end Malbosc, the powerful, secretive man who seduced her only to leech her magic for more than a century. She was rescued before she had the chance to kill him, and heâs eluded her ever since. At last, Isabelle has in her hands a magic compass that will point her toward her quarry. Infuriatingly, a cunning stranger keeps disrupting her search. The interloper claims to be hunting Malbosc as well. Trust is impossible, but the stranger proves to have useful information. Isabelle reluctantly agrees to an alliance. The strangerâa shameless liar who appears to be a man named Forestierâaccompanies Isabelle across France. Heâs charming and unexpectedly kind. Itâs been a lifetime since she enjoyed anyoneâs company so much, which makes Forestier an even greater danger than Malbosc. Forever is too long to live with a broken heart. |
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The Mischievous Letters of the Marquise de Q by Felicia Davin Paris, 1825. Losing her husband is the best thing to happen to Delphine in ages. After he used magic to control her, Delphineâs only regret is that she didnât kill that petty tyrant herself. Widowed, Delphine can pursue her dashing rescuer, the androgynous novelist Camille Dupinâand solve the mystery of her first love, a man called Ari who disappeared before Delphine could tell him she was pregnant with his child. Ari isnât dead. Three years ago, he stole a magical weapon from a powerful man and was exiled to a distant prison. When a stroke of luck allows him to escape, he sets out to confront the man who ruined his life and reunite with Delphine. He never expected to find her in bed with Camille, or to find himself falling in love with both of them. Camille loves Delphine and was almost ready to let her guard down. Ariâs reappearance stirs up old hurts and threatens them allâAriâs enemy will stop at nothing to get his stolen artifact back. Camilleâs conscience wonât let her abandon Delphine and Ari in danger, but she wonât stay to have her heart broken once theyâre safe. Before Delphine, Camille, and Ari can imagine a happy future, theyâll have to reckon with the past. |
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The Scandalous Letters of V and J by Felicia Davin Paris, 1823. Victor BeauchĂȘne has led a stifling existence, unrecognized for both his cleverness and his gender, except in the pages of his meticulous diary. Abruptly cut off from his familyâs fortune, he takes the opportunity to start a new life in a shabby boarding house with his beloved spinster aunt Sophie. There, he stumbles upon two kinds of magic: a pen with eerie powers of persuasion and a reserved, alluring art student named Julien. Brilliant, unconventional Julien is also Julie, a person whose magical paintings can transform their body or enchant viewers. Haunted by a terrible episode in their past, theyâve come to Paris for artistic successâthe ordinary, non-magical kind. Victor, too handsome and far too inquisitive, is a dangerous distraction from their ambitions. Drawn to each other, Victor and Julie strike up a cautious correspondence of notes slid under doors. It soon unfolds into a passionate romance. Outside the bedroom, their desires clash: Julie wants to distance herself from the world of magic and Victor wants to delve deeper. When the ruthless abuser from Julieâs past resurfaces, he aims to take control of her powers and ruin more lives. Victor and Julie are the only ones who can stop him. Do they trust each other enough to survive the threat to their love and their lives? The Scandalous Letters of V and J is a historical fantasy romance with two nonbinary main characters, told primarily in letters and diary entries. It is approximately 100,000 words long and sexually explicit. |
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Saints and Monsters by Ellen McGinty With her crooked spine and reckless heart, Princess Meera always knew she wasn't meant to become queen of Ezo. But when her sister, the rightful heir, is cursed on the eve of her coronation, Meera must defend her kingdom from ruthless invaders by taking the throne. Yet, while some countries have simple coronations, in Ezo . . . The princess must first claim a sea dragon. Only the dragon is vicious, perfect, and whole-everything Meera is not. And if the dragon doesn't deem her worthy, it will devour her. Turning to the Saints for help, she doesn't anticipate that her actions will transform the dragon into a mortal, or that she'll steal his heart . . . literally. Now, as two hearts beat inside Meera's chest, she's reminded that her life is entwined with a dragon, who despises her weaknesses. Despite their differences, they must work together to reverse the curse and save the kingdom before more is lost than their stolen hearts. |
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for love and blood and fury by J.J Arias A ruthless vampire. A powerful witch. A healer with a hidden legacy. A searing paranormal romance that proves three hearts can beat as one.Elena, the head of Miamiâs vampire cartel, never expected her ex-girlfriend Zuriâa powerful witchâto storm back into her life demanding help with a rival coven. Seeing Zuri again, Elena knows she would do anything for the woman she once shared scorching nights and dark secrets with. But before Elena can act, betrayal strikes, leaving her wounded and trapped in a human hospital with no memory of her attack. Desperate and vulnerable, Elena clings to Marisolâa nurse with potent healing abilities she barely understands. Even as mortal danger looms, the sensual tension between Elena, Zuri, and Marisol becomes irresistible. Their lives intertwine in a throuple romance that burns with desire while peril mounts. Together, they confront Elenaâs vampire enemies, the danger to Zuriâs coven, and uncover Marisol's hidden lineage. For Love and Blood and Fury is a heart-pounding, steamy sapphic paranormal romance where the ultimate power lies in the fierce bond of three women who will fightâand loveâtill the end. |
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Separated from her companions and abducted, Alizhan is delivered back to Laalvur, right into Iriyatâs clutches. Iriyat has tightened her hold on the city in Alizhanâs absence, magically manipulating the other Council members and further charming the public. No one believes her capable of plotting an experiment that could destroy cities. All alone, what hope does Alizhan have to convince Laalvur of the truth? Half a world away, Ev and Thiyo are adrift at sea. In the wake of their monstrous encounter, they receive an unlikely rescue, but neither of them emerges from the water unharmed. They must survive to warn the world of what Iriyat is planningâand to find Alizhan before itâs too late. As Iriyatâs plans come to fruition, how far will Alizhan, Ev, and Thiyo go to defeat her? |
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Alizhan spent her life in service to Iriyat ha-Varensi as a mind-reading thief of secretsâuntil she uncovered Iriyatâs crimes. Possessed of both political and magical influence, Iriyat is almost untouchable. Alizhan has stolen a book that might prove Iriyatâs guilt, if only someone could read its encoded text. Alizhan and her companion Ev leave the constant sun of their homeland to sail for the Nightward coast. They pin their hopes on His Highness Prince Ilyr of Nalitzva, a man rumored to understand any language, even one heâs never encountered. But Ilyr is not who he claims to be, and danger lurks in the long shadows of the glittering court. Nalitzvan palace guards confiscate the book and throw Ev and Alizhan into prison. Their cellmate, a prickly and mysterious islander, offers to help them break free and steal it back. They reluctantly join forces and set off on a journey that will test their budding romance and take them farther into the Night as they race to stop Iriyat. |
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The Birth of Ida by Rachel Grosvenor 'You believe in ghost stories? You afraid of ghosts when there's snakes and men tryin' to kill you?' Ousted from her homestead, Ida Vale quickly learns that the only way to survive as a lone traveller is to disguise herself as a man. Unsuspecting farmer Colt is the perfect target, who just happens to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, looking roughly the right size. On the run as 'Colton John' the bounty hunter, Ida ventures into the unforgiving wilderness of The Nameless Stretch. Drawn towards a witch's house by the whisperings of the Derelict Woods, she discovers that the land is here, the murdered return to haunt their assailants. And to her shock, Ida is being haunted by someone she loves. She's not a murderer, like her brother. So who is it watching her every move? Meanwhile, Colt sets into motion a series of events that he hopes will end in one of two Ida Vale at his door, dead or alive. But in The Nameless Stretch, you can't escape your demons â and Ida soon learns she has far more to fear from the living than the dead. |
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The Finery by Rachel Grosvenor Tyranny is in the air in the city of Finer Bay, and Professor Wendowleen Cripcot would like to be left alone, thank you very much. The memories of the last one hundred years are quite enough to be getting on with, if only these young upstarts from the government body, The Finery, would stop trying to control her every move. With the eyes of a dictator upon her, there are not many places to hide⊠but Wendowleen has never been one to back down from a fight (just ask her pet wolf), and insurrection is brewing underground. |
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Chai and Cat-tales by Lynn Strong Bask in a sunbeam with three cozy fantasy novellas of the Catsprowl, a busy neighborhood brimming with cats and cat-goddesses, book-keepers and bath-houses, piping hot chai, and pouncing kittens' mischief. The Prince of Her Dreams Najra has three dreams in her life: First, catch the attention of a prince. (Specifically, the God-Emperorâs bookish youngest brother.) Next, get him to hire her to assist with his research in the marvelous Archives in Tel-Bastet. And then, at last, read ALL the books. Marrying the prince has never been in the plan. Najra has never lusted for anything but knowledge. Unfortunately, the prince has dreams as well. Because he's also a prophet who foresees trouble coming. Between her heretical geometries and her cursed spellbook, Najra has to admit that his dreams of trouble have her pegged. Now what is she supposed to do with a matchmaking busybody of an Archivist pushing them together, an angry catfolk bodyguard pulling them apart, and a sweet, anxious prophet-prince who won't even tell her what he wants? Priye For a small alley-kitten, human words make a tricky tangle of misunderstandings that bite back. Purring and hissing and yowling are much more clear. A human named her Priye, though, and he taught her that it means someone who is darling, someone who is treasured. Growing up in the nooks between three cultures is hard, but Priye wants to make her own way. And she wants to repay the kind people who feed small hungry kittens. But it's not always easy to hunt when everyone else is bigger and stronger and faster. The humans who named her like soap and water entirely too much. But maybe they have a point about sharing things instead of hunting things? The Potter's Dream Usually, the Temple of Bastet teems with cats and catfolk and cat-priestesses and cat-goddesses. It is not supposed to teem with mice. But kind-hearted priest Shai Madhur isn't very good at denying a nourishing meal to anybody⊠not even the mice. He needs a better mouse-catcher. But first, he needs to know where the shrine's cauldrons have gone. Because a potter has come to Shai Madhur's temple shrine, and the poor man looks hungry. What kind of priest can Shai Madhur be if he can't feed someone a nourishing meal? When he's sworn his life to serving others, and suddenly he has nothing at all to give, what does he have left? Sermons of acceptance are all well and good, but they don't fill an empty stomach. And there's something very strange about the potter. This book sets out to be cozy representation for folks who have been othered: brown folks, disabled folks, neurodiverse folks, ace and questioning folks, fat folks, diversely faithful, anyone who's wanted to see their othered selves welcomed and celebrated. |
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On Silver Shores by V.T. Hoang Sirens are known for their beauty and grace. Everything from their lithe figures to their perfectly symmetrical faces to the cadence of their voices is designed to charm. Pleasure of the flesh is how they sustain themselves. So, of course, Detective Carver would be the one siren lucky enough to hate sex. Ever since his husband died, Carver has resented the defining feature of his race, but when his boss calls in someone to assist with his investigation, he finds himself confronted with a problem he never expectedâattraction. Jian is supposed to be just an analyst, buttoned-up and stiff and unassuming. Nothing could be further from the truth. Sure, he can put on a nice smile and act polite enough, but there's something behind his eyes that's decidedly not professional. That hunger for carnal satisfaction Carver thought long dead starts to come back to life as they work together. And he has to wonder if he's just starving or if this is a craving. |
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Itâs the Wild West, but it's wilder than you think... Discover uncharted territories in this powerful collection of western adventure stories, where settlers who flood into a new continent in search of a better life must confront the indigenous population who call it home. Follow the journey of a determined young widow who is struggling to keep her farm going, as she must deal not only with the harsh realities of the frontier but also injustices brought by her fellow settlers. Meet a newlywed couple struggling to understand each other and their new life together. Watch the small town lawman fighting to keep the peace in a land filled with tension and violence. Read the perspective of an academic looking to make his name by documenting the indigenous peoples. And follow the orc wanderer, watching his people being swept aside by the human settlers, and facing the difficult decision of whether to fight or to assimilate. Through these disparate but interwoven stories, we see a new mythology of settlement born, old stories told in new ways, a fresh focus on the legends we write for ourselves. |
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Monsters, Mayhem & Wild Magic by Noah Bodie In the harsh, forgotten village of Eyrei, Cerci Rivera, a determined intelligence operative with a troubled past, seeks the help of Ridge Thorne, a haunted monster hunter with a mysterious ability to hear the cries of the damned. As they navigate a world of magic, betrayal, and hidden truths, their growing bond is tested by their own secrets and the looming threat of a powerful enemy. Together, they must confront their deepest fears and uncover the dark forces that threaten to tear their world apart, all while discovering that, sometimes, the most unexpected alliances can lead to redemption and love. |
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Bonds of Blood & Silver by Sandy Butchers The Gods are Dead. All of them but Skjall. Haunted by dark magic, poor choices, and a lifetime of bad luck, Skjall spends his days hiding from heathens who wish to complete the deicide he survived centuries ago. When an ambush set by a member of the royal court reveals his identity, he finds himself thrown down a rabbit hole of kill-or-be-killed decisions. Without the vigilance of the gods, two remaining kings harvest their people in pursuit of immortality, and a twisted wish to ascend the divine throne. However, being the only deity left alive, Skjallâs blood is the key to said throne, and he stands powerless as divinity balances on the brink of extinction. With the war between the mad monarchs reaching a boiling point, the victims of their power struggle pile up. Skjallâs desperation leads him to a group of local, shape-shifting warriors and witches. But with the arrival of alchemically enhanced monster-soldiers, he finds himself on the losing end. Skjall must do everything he can to keep his blood from enemy hands, lest they use it to bend him to their will, reshaping the world into a breeding ground for monsters and false gods. |
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Salt Magic, Skin Magic by Lee Welch An entrapped lord and a magician whose sex life melts windows; will love destroy them, or set them free? Lord Thornby has been trapped on his fatherâs isolated Yorkshire estate for a year. There are no bars or chains; he simply canât leave. His sanity is starting to fray. When industrial magician John Blake arrives to investigate a case of witchcraft, he finds the peculiar, arrogant Thornby as alarming as he is attractive. John soon finds himself caught up in a dark fairytale, where all the rules of magicâand loveâare changed. To set Thornby free, both men must face life-changing truthsâand John must accept that the brave, witty man whoâs winning his heart may also be about to break it. Can they escape a web of magic thatâs as perilous as love? Genre: Fantasy historical m/m romance Novel-length standalone book, approx 80,000 words |
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Let Them Float by Katy Wimhurst In these short stories, Katy Wimhurst creates off-kilter worlds that illuminate our own. Apocalyptic rabbits invade a town. People overwhelmed by their lives float above an urban park. A woman turns transparent after a virus. The playful lens of magical realism is used to explore physical and mental illness and our fragile environment. Thought-provoking fiction with a good dose of whimsy. |
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Snapshots of the Apocalypse by Katy Wimhurst In these dark, witty short stories, Katy Wimhurst creates off-kilter worlds which illuminate our own. Here, knitting might cancel Armageddon. A winged being yearns to be an archaeologist. Readers are sucked into a post-apocalyptic London where the different rains are named after former politicians. An enchanted garden grows in a rented flat. Magical realism meets dystopia, with a refreshing twist. |
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An Orchid in My Belly Button by Katy Wimhurst Offbeat short stories that explore our fragile world These stories savour the surreal, flirt with magical realism, dabble with dystopia. A boy sees the ghosts of dead crabs. A girl with a fox tail is bullied. A disenchanted woman sprouts orchids from her belly button. Fashion models pursue the trend of having plants as hair. Electronic goods amassing all over London herald an apocalypse. Darkness and wonder, the strange and the ordinary, interweave to offer an environmental and social portrait of our times. Guaranteed to evoke a response, whether a giggle, a gasp, or a nervous gulp, these stories will stay with you, enriching your perception of the world. Surreal, absurdist, magical realist; Katy Wimhurst writes speculative fiction that meditates on our reality. Although bleak themes are examined â dystopian futures, the climate crisis, bullying â a quirky imagination and wry humour lift the tales above the ârealm of grimâ. |
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Reverting Scales by The Illogic Naydrus is a dragon born to immense parents who live with and serve humans. When the dragonling hatches, it is revealed that she doesn't look anything like her family and she has a passion for fighting. However, she also carries a deep hatred for the hominid 'caretakers'. This inspires her escape from the city through the sewer system and her search for other dragons that share her mindset. However, the world is a big place and very old. Much has happened and continues to happen without Naydrus being aware of it, causing her to cross paths with dangerous individuals and end up in hazardous locations. |
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The Elf Witch by Jacquelyn Gilmore For fans of One Dark Window and From Blood and Ash comes a haunting, slow-burn fantasy romance about villains. It follows a formerly magicless elf as she suddenly comes into powers that her kingdom has never seen and the duplicitous prince she must bargain with to save them at whatever costâeven her soul. After her grandmother's execution, a formerly magicless elf is suddenly the most powerful witch in her village. Magic is disappearing, though, and Imani is thrust into the treacherous court of her kingdom, forced into trials against the most lethal witches in the world. As she unravels the perilous plan her grandmother plotted before her death to save magic, Imani unwittingly dives deeper into a web of magical and political intrigue that puts her on a collision course with dangers beyond anything she imagined. But Imani is harboring illicit knowledge of her ownâa forbidden dark magic thatâs getting more difficult to hide by the day. Now, she must decide whether to make herself a threat and an enemy to her country or risk becoming a pawn and the realm losing magic forever. Stuck in this predicament, Imani sees only one path forward: a dangerous deal with the duplicitous princeâone she might be falling for. |
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The Fractured Balance by N.A. Soleil When emotionless, immortal genetic experiment Pheonix escapes the slaversâ arena and arrives in the utopian elven city of Terelath, he learns the metacosm is governed by an ideology known as âthe balance,â which claims the kind of evil Pheonix experienced while enslaved to be a tolerable part of the natural order. Unbeknownst to him, Pheonix is the long-awaited Ascended of Justice, and those drawn to Justice quickly gather around him. With their help, he hones his innate abilities and sets out to investigate the covert system supporting âthe balance.â As Pheonix begins to uncover that the metacosmâs governing bodies are chained to injustice at the core, he and his newfound allies vow to excise the corruption ⊠even if it means all-out war. |