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A Taste of Tea and Tenderness: A Cozy Fantasy Thumbelina Retelling (Enchanting Confections Series) by Gabrielle Landi A pinch of fake dating, a dash of fundraiser mayhem, and a love that rises when their future is on the line. Running the Cozy Cat CafĂŠ while its owner is away would have been enough work, but apprentice Linnea added another complication: catering the local schoolâs fundraiser. Surviving the week seems debatableâŚuntil the quiet schoolteacher she might be falling for offers to help her. Faking a relationship to avoid one of his students is only the icing on the cinnamon roll. Conrad hasnât been able to take his eyes off Linnea since he first saw her, and the fact that sheâs on her own with the cafe for a week seems like the perfect opportunity to show her how much he cares. But with more suitors vying for her hand, an encounter with a hive of bees gone wrong, and clingy students that he canât shake, proving that heâs the man for her is turning out to be more work than he expected. Between batches of pastries and mugs of tea, can Conrad and Linnea's fake relationship rise to the occasion, or will they both end up burned? A Taste of Tea and Tenderness, a no spice fairy tale retelling of Thumbelina, is a standalone novella, complete with tropes such as fake dating, he falls first, and wound tending. It is part of The Enchanting Confections series, a collection of clean and cozy stories guaranteed to delight your sweet tooth. Perfect for fans of whimsical fairytale romance, cozy Hallmark vibes, and sweet & swoony heroes. |
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A Dwelling of Dragons: A Cozy Fantasy Romance (Healer of Dragons Book 2) by Gabrielle Landi A dragon healer who wants a quiet life, the shopkeeper destined to lead, and the hidden village that changes everything. Caring for injured baby dragons was all Celia Carrington wanted to do, but when she followed her favorite baby into the mountains, she discovered a hidden village of frail, illegal magic users. Unfortunately, sheâs burnt out on healing humans, and the idea of them depending on her is terrifying. When Darian Emberlin learns that his dragon bond ties him to the village's future, he's faced with a responsibility he never wanted. While the dragons may believe he's meant to lead, Darian isn't convinced he's the right man for the task, and his bond to Celia feels stronger than his bond to the village. With a shaky community depending on them, can they face the destiny neither of them asked for and build a home among the dragons, or will their fears keep them from reaching their full potential? A DWELLING OF DRAGONS is the second book in the HEALER OF DRAGONS cozy fantasy romance trilogy, with a closed door, wholesome romance, fated mates, dragon riding, a hidden mountain village, and a grumpy, burnt out healer discovering that facing your fears is worth it. |
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A Hearthful of Hatchlings: A Cozy Fantasy Romance (Healer of Dragons Book 1) by Gabrielle Landi A grumpy hermit healer, the boy who will do anything to make her smile, and the injured baby dragons they care for. After being blamed for a tragedy she couldn't prevent, healer Celia Carrington fled to the mountains and built a life caring for injured baby dragons. Since no one believes dragons exist, her world is warm, cozy, and quiet--until it's no longer a secret. When shopkeeper Darian Emberlin finds the baby dragon hidden in Celia's shopping basket, his chivalry--and curiosity--insist he offer to help her. Celia may say she wants him to leave her and the hatchlings in peace, though he suspects he's just too much for her grumpy heart...but that was before they discovered he could understand the dragons. As Celia and Darian care for the dragons, their growing bond kindles something neither expected--hope. But in a world where magic is illegal and dragons are merely a legend, can the bond they forge withstand the flames? A HEARTHFUL OF HATCHLINGS is the first in the HEALER OF DRAGONS cozy fantasy romance series, with fated mates, dragon riding, and a reverse grumpy sunshine romance with a golden retriever man and the strong woman determined to ignore the fact that he falls first. |
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Monsters and Mocha: Inspired by Frankenstein (The Haunted Brew Series) by Sarah Beran One a monster becomes... Darby Sheltonâs future is brightâas a top graduate from the Mavorian Academy of Science and Magic, she now holds a prestigious and highly-sought after surgical internship with the famous Dr. Fransten. Sure, he might treat her more like a secretary than a fellow professional, but how can she complain when she gets to learn from the best? And unlike her other teachers, he doesnât seem to mind that she spends the rest of her free time tinkering with gears and cogs, searching for connections between the medicine she loves and the machines that captivate her imagination. But war throws a shadow over her future, and a battle fought a little too close to home sends her on a completely different course. The wounded soldiers are brought to their hospital, among them a captain who had sacrificed life and limb to protect his comrades. Dr. Fransten might not think him worth treating, but Darby canât leave him to suffer. It takes everything she knows of magic, metal, and medicine to save him, but at what cost? If the Guild of Medicine finds out, she could lose her position. Her mentor promises to shield her, but when a series of strange and unnerving accidents target both her and the recovering captain, Darby is left to wonder: In saving a man, has she somehow created a monster? Monsters and Mocha is inspired by Frankenstein and is part of The Haunted Brew series. A collection of four cozy and spooky tales inspired by myths, lore, and legends, it is sure to bring you just the right amount of chill for your autumn evenings. |
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A Bond of Ice and Sunshine (Tales of Eukarya) by Sarah Beran The Snow Queen meets King Thrushbeard⌠As the crown prince of the tiny, coastal island of Kysta, Frederick had many expectations surrounding his future marriage. He had expected it to be an arranged, political match with a neighboring country. He had expected that the union would be weighed down by social and economic consequences. When his childhood friend and playmate, Princess Eliza of Nedra was announced as his intended, it was a pleasant surprise, but not unexpected. What Freddy didnât expect was the sudden icy temper and stone cold stares that Eliza has been gracing him with since the announcement. He also never expected to be left at the altar. Twice. But if thereâs one thing Freddy knows, itâs that not even the coldest ice can withstand the sun. Heâs willing to cross the whole of Eukarya to bring her back, and heâs determined to melt his way into the icy princessâs heartâŚeven if it means risking frostbite to his own. |
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The Silent Night: A Sleeping Beauty Retelling (The Christmas Chronicles) by Sarah Beran Twas the hour after midnight and all through the house, not a creature was stirring, except for the owls. And Holly. Holly is no stranger to the night. Her unique position means that the still hours in the darkest parts of the night are when most of her work gets done. Itâs not completely silentâshe has Parliament to thank for thatâbut it does get a bit lonely. Not even the letters from her faithful correspondent can completely fill the empty space, and itâs only a matter of time before she loses even those. Dominic Klause has watched as, year after year, the winters in Weihnacht grow longer and colder. The nights are dark, food is scarce, and his fellow countrymen are desperate for a miracle, but too proud to accept charity, leaving Dominic no choice but to hide his attempts at helping them under the cover of darkness. But his resources are limited, and not even the brilliant suggestions of his friend Joy can change the fact that it will require the riches of a king to continue his charitable efforts. As Deus Natus Eve approaches, Dominic turns his attention towards the one place that could solve all his problemsâthe abandoned castle of the former king. But all is not as it seems behind the towering holly hedges that surround the castle, and Dominic encounters more than he bargained for. When the unexpected gift of love is dropped into his lap, will Dominic find the treasure he seeks? Or will it be lost to the silence of the night? This book is a part of The Christmas Chronicles, a collection of festive novellas filled with clean romance, chilly weather, and cozy adventures. |
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Ice Dragon's Heart (Dragons on Mars Book 2) by Honey Phillips All she wanted was to be left alone. Now, he's her only chance for survival. Jaz came to the Martian pole for solitude, not company. Especially not the company of a seven-foot-tall alien who just turned her mining rig into a scrap heap in a fit of primal rage. Ajar is a creature of ice and fury, a dragon awakened from a frozen tomb, wounded and cornered. And thanks to the blizzard of the century, he's her new roommate. As Jaz reluctantly nurses him back to health, his defensive rage gives way to an unexpected vulnerability. She sees the lost soul trapped within the scales, and her hardened heart begins to melt. When a corporate hunting party arrives to claim their prize, Jaz and Adjar forge a desperate alliance. He may have destroyed her past, but heâs the only one who can protect her future. A sweet and spicy sci-fi romance perfect for readers who love forced proximity, wounded heroes, and a love that thaws the coldest of hearts. |
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Last Dragon on Mars (Dragons on Mars Book 1) by Honey Phillips She was looking for answers. She found a legend. Dr. Alina Falkner is a scientist. She believes in data, in logic, in the cold hard rock of the Martian landscape. So when impossible energy readings lead her deep into a newly-opened cavern, she expects a geological anomaly, not the last echo of an ancient world, awakened by advanced human technology. He is dangerous. He is impossible. And he is her secret to keep. He was born in darkness. She was his first light. Born from a fusion of cyborg blood and the planet's dormant DNA, Rhyx is a newborn in a warrior's body, and the brilliant, gentle human who found him is the first thing he has ever known. Trapped together by a raging dust storm, she becomes his fierce, consuming passion. He will do anything to keep her, even though the world outside their sanctuary threatens to tear them apart. A ruthless scientist, obsessed with both Alina and her secrets, is pursuing them both. As the hunt intensifies, Alina must choose between the career she's dedicated her life to and the impossible male she's fallen for. But when youâre hiding the last dragon on Mars, the price of discovery isn't just lossâit's extinction. |
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Never Invite a Vampire to Dinner (Wrong Move, Right Monster) by Honey Phillips Love was never part of the menu. Penelope Harrington loves bringing people together. So when the mysterious owner of Blackthorn House returns to Black Harbor, she invites him to dinner. She doesn't expect him to accept. She definitely doesn't expect him to be a vampire. Or to keep accepting her invitations. After centuries of carefully avoiding attention, Julian Volkov wants nothing more than a quiet life. Then Penny barges into his world with themed dinner parties, endless questions, and a determined belief that no one should eat alone. Unfortunately for Julian, saying no to her proves impossible. The more time they spend together, the harder it becomes for Julian to stay hiddenâand the harder it becomes to imagine a future without the woman who keeps trying to feed him homemade garlic bread. But when a paranormal podcast starts digging into the secrets of Blackthorn House, Julian's carefully constructed life begins to unravel. Suddenly, the woman who invited him to dinner may be the only person who can protect both his secrets and his heart. A steamy standalone paranormal romance featuring a vampire hero, a sunshine foodie heroine, a cozy coastal town, small-town meddling, mystery, and a guaranteed happily ever after. |
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Never Dance with a Demon: A Cozy Monster Romance (Wrong Move, Right Monster) by Honey Phillips She lives by the rules. He breaks them for a living. Isadora Solis has built her life on precision, control, and perfectly executed steps. She doesnât make mistakes on the dance floor, and she definitely doesnât improvise. So when Malachi Vexis strides into her studioâlate, arrogant, and completely incapable of following even the most basic waltzâshe knows exactly what he is. A disaster. Unfortunately, heâs also her newest student. Bound by a dangerous demonic contract, he needs to win an upcoming competition without using magic, or lose far more than his pride. Which means he needs her. As their lessons heat up and the lines between discipline and desire begin to blur, Isadora finds herself drawn to the one male who could ruin everything sheâs worked for. Because the only thing more dangerous than dancing with a demon⌠is falling for one. (Each book in the Wrong Move, Right Monster series can be read as a standalone. These sweet and spicy romances are intended for mature readers.) |
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The Heresy of Thieves by Mia V. Moss Vael stole magic from the gods for Her people and put an end to centuries of unrest. Now magic is gone, and the battle for the Witchlandsâs soul begins. After a millennium of prosperity and magic, one catastrophic night undoes the realm of Yvaelen. Magic has fallen, and prayers to Vael the Giver go unanswered. Jal Riago knows when itâs time to move on from a con. She canât maintain her false refugee heiress story forever, and her benefactors grow weary of playing host. Just when sheâs about to confess and cut ties, a deadly raid sets Jalâs life on a collision course with a powerful entity reckoning with its own madness. The young, steadfast King Thealys Vorrine inherited the throne of Dynestra after her parentsâ deaths at Spellfall. But sparks of unrest flare all too quickly into the unpredictable wildfire of rebellion, and King Vorrine must forge headlong into unknown territory. Royal knight and notorious rake Ember Carrado is trying his best to get fired. Instead, when heâs paired with a judgmental paladin and sent on a mission to hunt down a rampaging mythical beast, he finds himself face-to-face with the past heâs been running from since Spellfall. Beacon Wylda Lorcanthas wields a sharp tongue and the second-highest office in the Church of Vael. When the head of the Faith dies, Wylda must seek out a biddable successor. Unfortunately, the clergyâs clear favorite is a charismatic priest who promises the restoration of magicâfor those willing to partake of a bloody cost. The dark betrayal behind Spellfall, and the very fabric of Yvaelenâs faith, will be hidden no longer. What began with a thiefâs touch will end with a reckoning. And salvation for some may be a waking nightmare for others. |
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Locker's Rebellion by Jesse Pohlman Katherine London, an arcane scientist for the Kingdom of Emor, is alarmed when her much-needed vacation with her swordswoman wife Clarice is interrupted with a summons to the capital. The Kingdom has always had trouble keeping the Principality of Presia in line, but a peasant uprising striving for independence is brewing and it falls to Kathy and Clarice to track down its ringleader. There are just two problems making Presia an awful place for Kathy: First, the theocratic Principality is hostile to non-conformist relationships like hersâ. Second, arcane gifts are viewed as witchcraft. But when an ancient relic tied to Presia's mythological savior is stolen through what can only be magic, the uprisingâs leader gains an air of legitimacy. Kathy would love nothing more than to leave this problem to someone else, but if she did - if the rebellion succeeded - it would strip away the Kingdom's protection from those like her who call Presia their home. She and Clarice cannot risk leaving others like them to a theocracy's scant mercies. When an opportunity to both quell the rebellion and place a more reform-minded cleric in charge of the Principality emerges, Kathy has a first-hand opportunity to help guide him to the right side on both core issues. That leaves her with two unknowns: Whether or not they'll be in time, and what they'll find when they get there. Locker's Rebellion is a fantasy action story which plays out like your favorite battle-manga centered around themes of Queer liberation and self-acceptance. Pick it up if you're ready to stand up and defend the defenseless! |
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Alchemists of Dawn by GS Valiant Being a woman at Vyner Industries was hard enough. Then the murder happened. Once a promising young researcher, Roxanne Youngâs career at the renowned Vyner Alchemical Industries has stalled. Despite her brilliance and long hours in the lab, she just canât seem to get that next promotion. When she witnesses a brutal murder, Roxanne stumbles on a shocking discovery that could break the Federationâs dangerous dependence on their dwindling reservoirs of magic, and secure her career in the bargain. Determined to expose the discovery and bring the killers to justice, Roxanne turns to the one person who might be able to help: the indomitable Juliana Young, the first and only woman to ever become a department head at Vynerâand Roxanneâs mother. Two ambitious women whose approaches sometimes clash, mother and daughter must work together to protect the future of magic. But as they are drawn into a web of intrigue, shifting loyalties, and unlikely alliances, Roxanne and Juliana soon discover powerful forces at workâand they will stop at nothing to keep Vynerâs secrets hidden. |
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The Curse of Aldebaran by Dakota Jackson Two spirits. One body. No way out. When Suraya and Meilingâs second year at the Academy begins with paired reconnaissance training, neither of them expects it to end in disaster. But when a mysterious agent of the Miyako family attacks, Meiling throws herself into the line of fireâand her spirit is torn from her bodyâŚonly to bind itself to Suraya instead. Now trapped together in a single body while Meilingâs empty form lies dying in the intensive care unit, the two girls are forced into an alliance neither of them wants. But the Mikayo family is still out there, draining spirits, hunting powerâŚand closing in on Suraya for a reason no one understands. As Suraya is hailed as Ataru Reborn, her power grows more unstableâand more dangerous. Meanwhile, Meiling is running out of time to reclaim her body before sheâs lost for goodâŚor killed like her uncle before her. The Curse of Aldebaran is book two in The Construction of Shadows series, a young adult fantasy series for fans of Percy Jackson and Avatar the Last Airbender. This installment ups the action, danger, magic, and romance for a thrilling race against time. |
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Curse of Silence: A Retelling of The Goose Girl (The Roumaterra Chronicles) by Erin Halbmaier A princess with a magic handkerchief. A flirtatious baronâs son. The maid who turned their world upside down. As the possessor of her familyâs handkerchief, Princess Daphne should be uncovering the truth behind her fatherâs murder. But she lacks confidence as a spy, and her mother is sending her off to a neighboring kingdom to look for a husband. It means months lost from her mission, but at least her faithful dog and best friend will be with her. Raoul has been Daphneâs best friend since they were children. But she always laughs off his attempts to confess deeper feelings, and now his father has given him an ultimatum. Sheâs always been out of his reach, but if Raoul canât change her mind in the next six months, heâll lose what little chance he had. When a kitchen maid catches Daphne alone, she steals the handkerchief and uses it to swap their appearances. The only way to undo it is for Daphne to tell someone who she is, but the curse prevents Daphne from both speaking and writing. Will Daphne find a way to free herself from the curse? Or will the maid win, leaving Daphne a mute shepherdess forever? Curse of Silence is a clean, no-spice retelling of The Goose Girl. It is part of The Roumaterra Chronicles, a series of interconnected, standalone fairy tale retellings perfect for readers of Brittany Fichter, Celeste Baxendell, and Annette K. Larsen. |
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A Frigid Hope: A Snow Queen Retelling (Fairy Tales of Ambrose) by Amanda Thompson Can one princess find hope before her best friendâs heart is turned to ice? Every year a man is chosen to make the journey up the forbidden mountain to appease the Frozen Queen, only to return with a frozen heart. When Crown Princess Bianca learns her best friend is this yearâs chosen, she is devastated. And sheâs willing to do anything to save Percival from that fate. Percivalâs heartbroken when he finds the mark selecting him to be this yearâs chosen. Heâs Biancaâs personal guard â and he has been in love with her for years. But with the selection mark comes a warning: to disobey means death, not just for him but for everyone in the kingdom. Can Bianca save her people from the endless winter and prevent Percival from losing his heart? Or will all be lost to the frigid reign of the Frozen Queen? A Frigid Hope, a Snow Queen retelling, is the first prequel in the Fairy Tales of Ambrose series, set a few hundred years prior to Dances and Danger and the rest of the series. |
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My Brother's Keeper by Ben Schenkman Magic is real, demons walk the earth, and Maxâs brother is dead. Max Asher, Jewish mystic and private-eye, never thought heâd be coming back to his home town to bury his twin brother, Solomon. He definitely never thought the funeral would turn into a case, but when Solâs widow Gabby asks him to investigate the cause of death, âUncle Maxâ is on the job. When Max kicks the demonâs nest, he uncovers a conspiracy that forces him to reevaluate everything he thought he knew about his brother. Unfamiliar local politics blur the line between the supernatural and the mundane, and soon, fighting for justice becomes dangerously literal. If Max can uncover the murderer, he might just save his brotherâs soulâbut if he canât, heâll fall victim to the same deadly fate. Putting the past to rest is going to take more than a shovel full of dirt. |
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Vahmroh Tamer: Volume 1 by Freemi-Ya Talovarios is a quiet young Imp and just one of billions of hominids across a land barely stitched together who have chased the boundless wonders of Vahmrohs â magnificent, geometric monsters that mirror the appearance and abilities of real-world taxa â for millennia. The only difference is that he has a Tamerâs heart thatâs far larger than his wallet or support system. When a fateful encounter leaves him bonded to a stray, young Vahmroh marked by an undesired âcracked star,â his childhood dream detonates into something far greaterâjust as the local haven of folk-Tamer culture falls before the smile of a corporate buyout. Now, Talovarios is torn between four factions clawing for control of tamership itself: the privileged who hoard power, outlaws thriving in chaos, sentinels enforcing peace, and an ancient way fiercely rallying around the everymanâeach desperate to gatekeep who can command the limitless potential of Vahmrohs. The Core within his Tamer's device thrums with both promise and peril as the bond Talovarios forges with this unwanted creature ignites a relentless journey of discovery and defiance. One that teaches this generation of Tamers that a fulfilling path can be one you walk aloneâat first. Dedicated to creature-collecting aficionados worldwide â as well as Eiichiro Oda and Hiro Mashima â this charged tale of diaspora, collaborative freedom, and found family channels shĹnen energy into a modern odyssey about ownership, identity, and the adventure of forging your own legend. |
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The Low Hum of Zal'Kareth by Michael Antonio Kae'lor's body stopped feeling pain years ago. In the suffocating heat of Zal'Kareth's obsidian pits, his pointed ears twitch only to the wet hiss of geothermal steam and the heavy tread of the red-skinned orcs he bleeds to defeat. He fights for cheap ferment, ignores the ghost of the brother he lost to a predatory Noise Cult, and survives by tuning out the world. Then the Collective Dream fractures the city. Millions across the lineages share a single vision: ancient stone Giants chained deep beneath the rock, screaming the word "Rest." As the Ministry's harmonic grid stutters, pockets of absolute silence open in the streets â voids where orcs, elf-kin, and Tikkari alike step inside and instantly forget their own names. Kae'lor wakes with a burning counter-clockwise spiral scarred into his palm, his deadened nerves violently firing back to life. To survive an unraveling city, he must find what lies beneath the Ministry's dying syrup, before the silence hollows him out next. The Low Hum of Zal'Kareth is the first novella in The Fractured Cadence of Talibra, an AfroFantasy epic of resonance, memory, and survival. For fans of Arcane, Dune, and dark Seinen manga. |
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Riyati Recollection by Kai Zeal When the night is at its darkest, the sparks of life shine brightest. Kylie thought the danger was over: the last of Asuzaâs followers now dead, she was free to live life as a normal teenager â a freshman in college, the events of her high school years behind her. But what shouldâve been a fun vacation to Savannah takes a dark turn as an undead Riyatian attacks Maya and leaves Kylie with a cryptic message: her existence damned every other mage and she should not have survived that fateful day in June. Kylie is left with only questions; but the most difficult one of all is if she is even worth saving, even if it's just to make amends. But time is of the essence and she can't afford to wallow. She must now decipher the truth of the warning and figure out how to save the other mages before itâs too late. Riyati Recollection is the fourth book in a new adult/adult contemporary, low dark fantasy series that seeks to explore themes of identity, legacy, generational trauma, and finding your own path in life. The series is set in the modern day fictional Southern US town of Opal Pines and includes multiple first person perspectives with characters across a range of queer, neurodiverse, and socioeconomic statuses. |
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A House of Violence and Vengeance by Rowena Aiello Courtney Summersâs IâM THE GIRL meets Anne Bishopâs DAUGHTER OF THE BLOOD in this gripping, dark low fantasy where a barely-legal young woman attempts to live out her romantasy dreams...and ends up fighting for her life against the very man who promised to make those dreams a reality. In a world where book boyfriends outperform human ones ten to one, 18 year old Jen Annalise is determined to find her human book boyfriend equivalentâŚeven at the expense of her own safety. Jen yearns for a worldâand romanceâthat's both far from her family's farm, and straight out of her favorite romantasy series. So when the mysterious and alluring Damon Sadie responds to her profile on a sugar daddy website, she immediately agrees to meet him. At first, Jen thinks all her favorite parts of her romantasy dreams are about to be brought to life. Then their adventure is waylaid by a side quest to his house...one that she can't leave without his permission, or bring anyone into without his approval. And forget about the rooms that glow, smelling like smoke and crackling like thunderâhe won't even acknowledge them. But when her sugar daddy's refusal to answer her questions leads her to uncover two other women now trapped in his house, and a sinister magic they're forbidden to touch, Jen is left with no choice: she must escape this fantasy before she ends up trapped forever, too. |
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Song of Monsters by Noah Naiman Kane once died in a noose. Now he has a god in his head, and a city to save. Hundreds of miles from the gallows, Kane has built a new life baking sweets in the hillside city of Torry. But a brawl with a drunken constable uncovers a conspiracy of poisoned tea and black powder threatening his newfound home. While Kane races to save the city, the god in his head insists on saving the worldâeven if it costs Torry itself. Outmatched, Kane gambles on the only people desperate enough to help: A thief with a stolen firearm and a vendetta against its maker. A suicidal, immortal musician who canât abandon a good story. A monstrous wizard hellbent on doing right. A two-foot-tall chemist chasing a kidnapping no one believes happened. But Kane knows the line between hero and monster is a noose, and itâs tightening again. |
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Rise of the Dragon's Heir by Darlene Franklin-Campbell Most epic fantasy asks who will win the throne. Rise of the Dragon's Heir asks what the throne does to the person who inherits it. |
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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 âthe Citadelâ within âthe Boundless,â 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 coresâAntonio Chandrani-Riveraâinsists 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 Antonioâs gone ahead and confronted his once-affectionate friend Alejandro Altahaâthe Alejandro who became their generationâs Protector of All Worlds at the cost of Antonioâs worldwide reputationâand 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 selvesâthe civilian Nasir Hadid versus the Lost Protector Shakirâstill 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. |
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Common Bonds 3 by Claudie Arseneault, Em Ishii, and RoAnna Sylver Common Bonds strikes a third time with a new volume of 18 speculative short stories and poetry featuring aromantic characters and centering platonic relationships. |
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Common Bonds 2 by Claudie Arseneault, Em Ishii, and RoAnna Sylver Common Bonds returns in this second volume of speculative short stories and poetry featuring aromantic characters. Housed within this anthology are a scientist who makes a terrifying discovery at the bottom of the ocean, a baker who must fulfill a prophecy, a priest and a witch who must form a family to escape a war, and a woman whose survival might just unravel time itself. Through nineteen stories and poems, Common Bonds 2 explores the bonds that impact our lives from beginning to end: platonic relationships. From friends with benefits to mentors to life partners, this collection explores platonic relationships strong enough to overcome barriers of species, alien invasions, and the power of the gods themselves. |
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Chains Of Deceit: Stitchbinding Chronicles Book 2 by A.E. Zeigler A cure to find. A people to save. A romance running out of time. After the queen slips into the last stage of a mysterious plague, Princess Lineya, must travel to the treacherous mountains of Krashe in the midst of sworn enemies, hoping that the lost and forbidden Woolworsting craft has a stronger healing stitch. But before departing, she's forced to announce her engagement to Rhett, a Lynden nobleman, to bring hope to her people, but she despairs of a relationship with her true love Kemp. When an assassin threatens to kill Lineya, she must depend on the Krashe for support. Although she faces bandits, prejudice, scorn, and suspicion, she must win the trust of the Krashe and the heart of Kemp, who has no memory of the connection and kisses they had in the future. And Kemp's childhood sweetheart has prior claim on his affections. This girl can kill a black bear with her bare hands. Everyone assumes they will marry. Where does Lineya fit into his heart? How will Lineya and Kemp heal thousands of years of oppression, lies, and rekindle their love before the bandits and the assassin finish them all? |
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The Chosen One Con by Trudie Skies Magic is a rich man's game. Archons control magic in the great city of Aefenhold. Brand-name spells, addictive potions, and celebrity TV keep the poor entertained while they toil in the factories manufacturing magic. That should have been the fate of Max and his childhood friend Lyle, until a violent workersâ strike tears their lives apart, condemning Lyle to the aetherstone mines and leaving Max orphaned with no choice but to sell his labour to a brothel. Life under the Archon's rule has given Max a taste for magical narcotics, and left Lyle with aether dust in his lungs and a deep resentment for magic. So when Aefenhold's rulers announce a televised contest to find the chosen oneâa prophesized distraction to unite the city against its detractorsâboth Max and Lyle see an opportunity to con their way into the contest. Where Max seeks to steal magic for his freedom, Lyle views magic as a tool of oppression to be destroyed. Their old friendship will be tested as they're forced to become adversaries against famous rival mages in a series of magical trials. Whoever becomes the chosen one will change the shape of magic forever. But magic is a rich man's game, and should Max or Lyle be discovered as frauds, their deaths will be televised next. The Chosen One Con is the first book in the Lost in the Aether duologyâa gaslamp fantasy of industrial magic in a world of designer enchantments and celebrity-branded potions. This is an adult book containing strong language and mature themes that some readers may find disturbing. For a full list of content warnings, visit Trudie Skies's website. |
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The End of Time by Trudie Skies WHEN THE SAINTS FALL, THE SINNERS RISE. Calamity has befallen the steam-powered city of Chime as the gods declare war on each other, choosing Chime's streets as their battleground. Kayl has the means to end their reign for good and create a new world free from their whims. But recruiting an army against divine beings is no easy task, and as her allies fall one by one, Kayl is left to shoulder her burden alone. Finally free from his own god's shackles, Quen is bound in service to Chaos, who only wants revenge against Quen's former master. Torn between his desire for vengeance and justice, Quen is no stranger to the gods' cruelty and will do whatever it takes to see Kayl's vision throughâeven if it destroys his soul. To ensure a new future, Kayl and Quen must unite mortals against their makers and decide the gods' fate before time itself comes to an end. For the era of gods is over. The End of Time is the third and final book in The Cruel Gods seriesâa gaslamp fantasy featuring magical portals, gothic cosmic deities, quaint Britishisms, and steampunk vibes. This is an adult book containing strong language and mature themes that some readers may find disturbing. For a full list of content warnings, visit Trudie Skies's website. |
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Court of Snakes: Bitter Truth, Honeyed Justice by Tycho Dwelis The city of Segeno is on edge. Terran, nearing his 18th birthday, struggles with the burdens of leadership. The people are restless, resources are dwindling, and chaos looms. Parisa, now happily engaged, aids where she can but is haunted by her fatherâs legacy. A stranger, Aumi, brings shocking news: the Great War never happened. The world outside Segeno has thrived, and the cityâs isolation is built on lies. As this truth threatens to spark a riot, Terran and Parisa must decide whether or not to reveal it, risking their cityâs collapse. In this gripping sequel, Terran and Parisa navigate power, identity, and truth in a city on the brink of revolution. Can they lead their people through the storm, or will Segeno Fall? |
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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 Darâs fractured soul is dominated by Lucifer, as she fights for sanityâfor 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 Desoolâs 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 nearâa desperate gambit to thwart the end of all things. Can they each defy fate, survive, and beat back the Darkness? âA Wrath of Soulsâ 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. |
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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, sheâs must journey into the bowels of the underworld to find her destiny. Sarscha Todralan, the ruling imperatrix, has lost friends and family, and canât 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? âA Wretched Darkness,â is a high-stakes dark fantasy epic that explores the limits of good and evil, love and sacrifice, and the power of magic. |
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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 worldâs 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. âA Nefarious Grim,â is a dark epic fantasy tale stuffed with dark twists, unpredictable magic, and undead mages. |
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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 Grimâs own vengeance. As Threadfin once more confronts evil, he will discover a darkness within his own soul. âA Malignant Fetch,â is a dark epic tale packed with undead creatures, snarky mages, delicious danger, and dark magic. |
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A Viral Imperium by Darren Joy A plagueâborn magic is awakening inside Threadfin Todder â 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. |
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No Man's Daughter by Justine Lombardi Fugitive KĂĄra, the bastard daughter of a legendary hero, builds a new life on the mountain frontier, until bounty hunters find her, shattering her familyâs cherished peace. To earn a pardon, she joins a hunting party sent to retrieve a wampus catâs hide for the High King. Itâs a perilous task, as the cat stalks the domain of the fierce and immortal Jotun. To survive, KĂĄra plunders her fatherâs tomb, tearing Tyrfing, the last arcane weapon, from his undead hands. The rifle can slay any monster, but such strength comes at a terrible price: bloodlust and an unquenchable thirst for power. Immersive, propulsive, and compelling, No Manâs Daughter combines Norse paganism with Appalachian folklore in a darkly magical nineteenth-century world, focusing on a womanâs fight to return to her family. |
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The Lineman by Christina K. Glover GRASPING AT THREADS If thereâs one thing Henley Yu has learned, itâs that nothing is easy when it involves Chief Operator Kittinger. The pair can finally face the world together, focused on the pursuit of the Ethereal lord who escaped into the Actuality. This time the mortal world wonât be a silent victim, and Kit and Henley will hunt their quarry with the help of mages who have plenty to lose. But Kit punched through something he shouldnât have in the battle for the Order Headquarters. His transgression has opened him up to a darkness that swallows him whole, leaving him cold and his body empty. What is broken can only be mended by the hand of the maker. In his fight for Kit and their future together, Henley will need help from the only one who knows the real story behind the Betweenâbut only if the Lineman is willing to lend his aid. Secrets will be revealed and the final battle unfolds as the Connections series comes to a close! |
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The Constellation Caves (PearlHeart Book 2) by Keilani McConnell A group of sailors travels together across a tropical country, meeting new people and solving the mystery affecting those there. The crew of PearlHeart is on break after their most recent journey. Rath, One-Eye, his Spirit Lion, and others have chosen to spend it on Delphy, Rath's homeland. However, while traveling to where they are staying for the Summer, cracks begin appearing in different parts of the country and the group agrees to help find the cause in order to protect the Constellation Caves, which lay underground. âFor readers who love rich characters, mysteries, and traveling across fantasy worlds. |
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Breath of Darkness: Volume Two : Phoenix by HĂźseyin Ărskaya From the ashes: reborn, but not the same. The crystals did not destroy the city. They rewrote it. A year after the night that changed everything, the survivors of Awakening are no longer survivors: they are carriers, translators, thresholds. The world has learned to speak through them, and they have learned, slowly, painfully, to answer without losing themselves. Anitta walks the crystal districts as a witness. Reha edits memory like a score. Onur reads the pulse of the new grid. Around them, a second Istanbul is rising, half architecture and half intention, and a decision is taking shape on every rooftop, in every stairwell, behind every locked door: whether to burn the past or carry it forward, transformed. Phoenix is a novel about what comes after survival. It is about the rooms that open only once you stop running. It is a fire that asks, gently, what you would like to become. Volume Two of Breath of Darkness, following Awakening. Literary science fiction translated from the Turkish. |
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Breath of Darkness: Volume One : Awakening by HĂźseyin Ărskaya Find your way in the dark. Istanbul has exhaled its last breath. The sky bleeds an unnatural dusk, the Bosphorus hums with a light that does not belong to any known star, and crystal lattices have begun to grow out of the bones of the drowned city: threads of green, veins of violet, a second nervous system waking beneath the ruins. Anitta wakes in a world that is no longer the one she fell asleep in. Reha remembers a name that should not exist. Onur follows a signal no instrument can measure. Taru hears a voice that is almost, but not quite, human. Seven lives, seven fractures, one long tremor beneath the surface of the real. Something has opened a window between what we are and what is watching. In the silence that follows, each of them must decide which language to answer in. Awakening is the first movement of a story told in breath: literary science fiction from a new voice, translated from the Turkish KaranlÄąÄÄąn Nefesi. For readers of Ted Chiang, Emily St. John Mandel, and Jeff VanderMeer. |
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Blessed is the Link by Sheri Singerling Lenore lives in the shadow of her parents, Fenrir and Sophie. Itâs been twenty years since they destroyed the Linkrot virus and, in doing so, restored the Link. A new world order has emerged with Fenrir and Sophie at the helm as wardens of the Link, dead set on protecting that enigmatic connection to other worlds. But Lenore doesnât believe the ideology her parents spout. She defies them by joining revolutionaries determined to destroy the Link. After the rebelsâ attempt fails, Fenrir and Sophie learn that the Linkrot virus isnât wholly gone. It gnaws away at other Link nodes in other cities. As punishment for her involvement with the rebels, Lenore is forced to help her parents bolster the Link. They must travel into a land of unknowns and cleanse the nearest node of its Linkrot virus. Lenore doesnât believe in their mission until she gets her first glimpse of the horrid creatures the Linkrot virus breeds. Were her parents right after all? Doubts consume Lenore, but thereâs one thing sheâs certain ofâsheâs not going to have her future decided for her. Can Lenore carve her own path and, whatâs more, survive the deadly task ahead? Blessed is the Link is a dark science fantasy novel, the second in the Bit trilogy and part of the Alfom shared universe. It is highly recommended that readers complete book 1 in the Bit trilogy, Blessed is the Rot, prior to reading Blessed is the Link. |
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Our Ways Unmasked by C.B. Lansdell Return to Knyadrea, a world of sea-born people shaped by tumultuous forces. Nearly a year after the events of Far Removed, the resourceful Oklas and guarded Prismer face a unique set of challenges in their socially stratified society. Knyadreaâs sovereigns grow ever more paranoid. Armed enforcers patrol Apideccaâs streets, and tensions escalate. With nothing to lose, Oklas Sayve turns to resyn for solutions. Could the mystical substance that unravelled his life also prove to be his salvation? There is no room for doubt. Too many are relying on his expertise. The knyads he once considered charities are now close friends and allies ⌠and one of them might even be something more. New threats stand between Prismer and the dreams sheâs only beginning to open herself up to. Venturing out from under the shadow of the Pentarchy, can she recover her faith in the knyad god, in herself, and in the people who see past her mask? In Our Ways Unmasked, the second book in the Apidecca Duology, Oklas and Prismer are not the only ones with an eye on the cityâs future. Rebels, traitors, and scumbled outcasts have a myriad of reasons to seek change. Together, can they overcome an oppressive regime that has stood for hundreds of years? No Gen AI was used in the production of this book. |
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The Tidelings of Dras Sayve by C.B. Lansdell Maverick diplomat Emis Rindar travels to the northernmost clan in the Dras Channel, seeking the assistance of an old friend. After a lifetime of adventures across Knyadrea, a large moon, his next planned endeavour will be unlike anything he has attempted. Isolated and enigmatic, the knyads of Dras Sayve keep even their neighbours at a distance, and few welcome the unorthodox ideas Emis brings from abroad. But all his breakthroughs happen here, and the Sayvians are the most technologically progressive knyads on the moon. Can Emis convince them that he will make a worthy mentor to one of their more curious juveniles? This story is set 30 years before the events of Far Removed (C.B. Lansdellâs debut sci-fi novel). |
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Together is a Distant Star by A.J. Calvin, V. Carvajal Leiva, Nancy Foster, Andrea Marie Johnson, Natalie Kelda, C.B. Lansdell, Karen Lykkebo, Erika McCorkle, Branwen OShea, Alyse N. Steves, Delilah Waan, Isabelle Wagner How far would you go to find where you belong? A shapeshifting alien changeling raised by humans. The âwickedâ child selected as the village sacrifice. People trapped in rigid belief systems, oppressive regimes, well-intentioned families, complicated relationships, and their very own bodies. Is it better to succumb and survive, or escape by staking everything on a slender hope? What triumphs in the end, love or vengeance? And if all that remains is ashes, is it still worth it? Grapple with these questions by diving into twelve new science fiction and fantasy stories. Together is a Distant Star is a collaborative anthology that encompasses authors hailing from Europe to Australia, South Africa to South America, and celebrates a kaleidoscope of perspectivesâfemale, nonbinary, BIPOC, queer, and more. Featuring stories from: A.J. Calvin, C.B. Lansdell, Nancy Foster, V. Carvajal Leiva, Karen Lykkebo, Erika McCorkle, Branwen OShea, Alyse Steves, Delilah Waan, and Isabelle Wagner. |