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Sentinals Destiny by Helen Garraway THE EPIC CONCLUSION TO THE SENTINAL SERIES Birlerionâs leave of absence is up and itâs time for him to return to work. Before he has time to sit behind his desk, or discover the source of the brooding threat that is hovering over him, he is sent off to Terolia to negotiate with the Families for a bride. The succession must be protected and itâs time for King Anders to marry. As he travels through the deserts, he realises that it is the Veil that is hunting him, and it wants his blood. But no one will listen to his concerns about the Veil. The healers believe he is struggling to adjust after his recent traumas. Their arguments are persuasive and overrule saner minds. Betrayed by those he loves, driven by an oath invoked by the king, and with only Jaredion and Leyarille to protect him, Birlerion goes on the run across Vespiri, Terolia and into the islands of Birtoli, the home of the Oath. If he doesnât discover a way to stop the Veil from killing him, it will not only be his life that is lost, it will be all of Remargaren that is destroyed. Book six of the Sentinals Series, Sentinals Destiny, is the final book in the saga of Remargaren, a vibrant, ancient world of high fantasy suffused with magic and adventure. |
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Sentinals Banished by Helen Garraway Sentinals Banished is the fifth book in the saga of Remargaren, a vibrant, ancient world of high fantasy suffused with magic and adventure. Sentinals Banished is set seventeen years after the fourth book, Sentinals Across Time. Although you could start the series here, it is recommended that you read the previous books in the series first. Sentinal Birlerion has watched from the shadows for so long he doesn't know how to stop. Always there when the Ladyâs Captain needed him. He did what was necessary to keep those he loved from harm. When the king banishes the Ladyâs Captain, Jerrol Haven, from Vespiri and disbands the Sentinal guard, the Sentinals are at a loss, some bitter, some eager to retire, all angry at the king's decision. Birlerion moves to Old Vespers to watch over Jerrol's daughter as she begins her journey to become a King's Ranger. Old Vespers is in turmoil, the king unpredictable, and the Sentinals are unwelcome. Unexplained deaths are occurring, and bodies begin to appear in the city streets. As Birlerion continues his search for the place he can call home, he has to step out of the shadows as he is drawn into a tangled web of deceit and lies. He must hunt down those responsible and clear the Sentinals name before anyone else goes missing. |
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Sentinals Across Time by Helen Garraway Sentinals Across Time is the fourth book in the saga of Remargaren, a vibrant, ancient world of high fantasy suffused with magic and adventure. Jerrolâs fragile balance between duty and family life took two years to refine and one brief moment to tear apart as the Lady Leyandrii and the Oath conspire in a desperate bid to protect the Birtolian Empire. As a result, Jerrol finds himself stranded in the middle of an ocean, lost across land and time and seas. Unsure what is expected of him, Jerrol learns to appreciate the idyllic life of the Birtolians, the vibrant people and the beautiful coastline. To his growing horror, he realises the devastation which lies in their future. Can Jerrol prevent the destruction of the gentle people he has grown to love? Is he meant to? Desperate to find a way home, he begins to leave clues in anything he thinks will survive the test of time. Taelia and the Sentinals are his only chance of ever returning to his own life but can they find him before the Lady sunders the Bloodstone and changes the Birtolian Empire forever? The fourth installment of the Sentinal Series takes us to the beautiful Island Empire of Birtoli. Only once, it wasnât an archipelago of islands, it was a land of majestic mountain ridges, mystical forests and exquisite sandy bays joined as one to the southern Vespiri borders. |
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Sentinals Justice by Helen Garraway Lost guardians. Tensions brewing in the frozen north. Can a goddess-appointed champion prevent a looming war? Jerrol Havenâs last run-in with evil has left deep scars. Recovering from the torture that damaged him mentally and physically, the guilt-ridden commander searches for the whereabouts of one of his captured allies. But he feels the chance to rescue the awakened sentinal slipping away when his king requests his aid in peace negotiations at a remote and unstable border. Accompanied by his beloved, Jerrol arrives at his destination only to discover the enemyâs corruption running rife. And after heâs cut down by a shocking betrayal, the skilled soldierâs destiny plunges into bloody chaos. Can he overcome his failures to forge a desperate victory? Sentinals Justice is the thrilling third book in the Sentinal epic fantasy series. If you like courageous characters, action-packed suspense, and gritty battles, then youâll love Helen Garrawayâs emotional rollercoaster ride. |
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Sentinals Rising by Helen Garraway An unrelenting threat. A gathering of saviors. Can he become a shield strong enough to stand against malevolent forces? Jerrol Haven seeks answers. After saving his king from an ancient darkness, the loyal warrior hunts for fragments of the bloodstone that once protected the realm. But he struggles to trust the unknown guardians heâs awakening from three thousand years of sleep⊠even as his foes invade the palace in an explosive attack. Promoted to commander after successfully beating back the ambush, Jerrol embarks on a journey to rouse another mysterious sentinal. But as the land descends into chaos and conflict, he fights to stay alert for more subtle assaults. Will Jerrol prove worthy of his task, or fall to evil schemes? Sentinals Rising is the captivating second book in the Sentinal epic fantasy series. If you like tenacious heroes, desperate quests, and fast-paced action, then youâll love Helen Garrawayâs unputdownable adventure. |
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Sentinals Awaken by Helen Garraway When a long-forgotten threat starts to reemerge, one man stands as the last defense against darkness⊠Jerrol Haven serves his king without question. When he finds evidence of corruption and is attacked, the loyal soldierâs mind spins after his touch of a sacred tree awakens the dormant spirit of a three-thousand-year-old protector. But he fears he has failed after the crown prince accuses him of treason and orders his execution⊠Fleeing the city, Jerrol is stunned when the goddess appears to him, appoints him captain of her warriors, and charges him with a quest to find artifacts that can save the realm. And as he runs into danger and more betrayals, the steadfast hero discovers a rare gift that may be the worldâs only hope⊠Can Jerrol rally the forces of good to stop a rising evil? Sentinals Awaken is the first book in the Sentinal epic fantasy series. If you like endearing characters, immersive world-building, and gritty conflict, then youâll love Helen Garrawayâs award-winning tale. |
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Into Ebanmoor- Offspring of the Throne by Logan Leshane His therapist calls it dissociation. But since when does dissociation create a portal to another world? PTSD causes Jordi to struggle with basic tasks in his own world, but in Ebanmoor, his unique skills may be the key to deciding its fate. Powerful factions are locked in a fierce struggle to gain control of the capital city, and Jordiâs unexpected arrival could very well tip the scales in favor of his new friends. Shady intentions and covert agendas, however, blur the lines of who in Ebanmoor he can trust. |
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Once Upon a Wave of Witches by Eli Belt and Helen Whistberry Amelia Arrowheart is a homebody. Beatrice Buttons most decidedly is not. When these two ladies of a certain age meet and become fast friends, neither expects the extraordinary challenges they will face together and apart. Welcome to Lichen, a place like no other, where fungi are revered, cloud creatures crowd the skies, and sea witches wield their power for the good of all. Two mischievous little boys, a space pirate, and a monster that reaches out from the depths of the ocean will change their lives forever. Join Beatrice and Amelia on the adventure of a lifetime as they take to the skies and plunge into the depths of the sea to save a friend and break a curse! A unique and uplifting fantasy tale celebrating friendship, loyalty, and love. Includes 33 original illustrations! |
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The Tail of Nightshade by Helen Whistberry âA mouse scrabbled along under crisp, fallen leaves, whiskers twitching. Death, disguised as an owl, kept watch high above, unblinking eyes orbed bright in the moonlight...â Thus begins an adventure unlike any other for Nightshade, a young mouse who never expected to venture very far from their cozy burrow. Over the course of a few eventful days, they will meet strangers both weird and magnificent, including an impetuous bear and a lovely wyrm, a flitter-flutter and a whirligig, a wizard of modest talents and a legendarily monstrous cat, and a most wondrous being of light. Together they will navigate a noble quest, face unimaginable dangers, and experience astonishing events. Through it all, they will cling to the one thing they most believe: there is no obstacle that cannot be overcome if all remain true. Please be warned, especially for younger readers, that there are brief moments of violence, instances of death and other kinds of mayhem you might expect in a fantasy story. But also be reassured that it is a tale full of hope, love, and the beauty of loyalty, friendship, and doing the right thing no matter the cost. Includes 31 original illustrations by the author. |
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Beyond The Falling Snow by Qualia Reed Wizards of the multiverse unite! Across the 100 worlds of the grand multiversal empire, magic and steampunk technology exist in a fragile balance maintained by a brutal and powerful emperor. In an isolated, northern village, young Sigir's life takes an unexpected turn when a thief steals his late fatherâs pocket watch. Fueled by determination to recover his precious family heirloom, Sigir is aided by an enigmatic fugitive and his fatherâs magical robot. Together, the trio embark on a journey across the multiverse to recover what was stolen from them. As the mystery surrounding the thief deepens, Sigir finds himself drawn into events that threaten the safety of the entire empire. Beyond the Falling Snow is a tale of chosen family, and the journey of all who grow up in a rapidly changing world. |
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Danny's Revenge by Henry Spector M. Over 20 years ago⊠A little human boy named Danny was brutally murdered by his own father, A priest, for unknown reasons. Danny's soul seemingly got lost and ended up in Hell. Danny stumbled into the Gluttonous Realm ruled by Vram, The Descendant of Gluttony. Vram has a soft spot for little ones, and he pleaded with the ruler of hell, Darklord, to let him take in the young boy as his own son. Darklord surprisingly agreed. Danny is now a grown man, but it is becoming apparent that he is more than just a plain old human. Danny is still very much like the quiet boy he first was, but now he is also vengeful. Danny wishes to enact eternal punishment on his biological father and drag him down to hell. |
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The Flying Tiger: Mortal Engine by Henry Spector M. Aarón Melisandré knows that he is more than human. This truth scares him, it is the very thing that led to the death of a loved one years ago, and now something from a different dimension is coming for him. Aarón realizes that he must fully embrace what he is when he and his nephew are thrust into the vast multiverse on a dangerous mission to stop a troubled supervillain from activating the fabled Mortal Engine. |
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Into the Darkbower by M.C. Burnell The Special Office of Uncanny Inquiry exists to protect its congregation from the Beyond, inasmuch as thatâs possible. Esmerelda Mendos has worked her way up through the SOUIâs ranks, all the way to Chief Inquirer; itâs her job to dictate policy and quarrel with the Pope. On the eve of her retirement, she stays up late to review her first case, which remains unsolved. It was an all-star squad; she had to bribe her way on. Under the leadership of the bureauâs most celebrated Inquirer: a Wizard First Class, a decorated Secular Liaison, a band of Hellraisers. The cause for all this fuss, a man who claims to be under the protection of the Elder Ones. Koren is remarkably composed for someone whoâs been arrested. Keen to tell exactly how he came to be friends with a High Court faerie prince. When he escapes, the squad pursues. They can claim it was their duty, and thatâs true. But then again. By the time they understand theyâre never going to learn whether Bashureth is real or whether Koren is the ordinary man he appeared, theyâve fallen off the edge of the world. The only thing that matters is getting home. As one of the lucky ones, Esmerelda has been haunted ever since by the sense that she was permitted to live. Even that canât hold a match to the suspicion that, thirty years later, if she looked into a forest and saw Koren looking back, she would go to him. Aware of the risks. Fully understanding that she wasnât coming back, and what she would be sacrificing. Just to finally know what really happened. This dark fantasy/ horror is a must-read for anyone who loves an unsolved mystery and unreliable narrators. You know from word go you canât take Koren at his word. In the end, do you take Esmerelda at hers? |
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The Three Faces of Dissatisfaction by M.C. Burnell He thought this mission was a joke at his expense, and now heâs got the fate of the region in his hands. Liath-Tamren is the largest urban center in a land around an inner sea that was all once claimed by an empire. The Cities reflect the diversity and trade that flow across the Halu, enriched by numerous immigrant enclaves and temples to foreign gods. Not all of its citizens find that pleasing, and thereâs no people more misunderstood than the Malisaat, with their secretive faith, their envy-inspiring wealth, and their freaky black-eyed sorcerers, who scare them too. As one of said freaky sorcerers, otherwise known as the Azkhan Soubir, Japhetâs used to being in on the secrets. But when the head of his cabal sends him to the Cities, his orders are basically: go there for reasons. Not the usual mission. And why here? Liath-Tamren is a tame, bourgeois place (which he hates). Thereâs crime, but itâs ordinary shit. The Citiesâ problems are the sort one expects in an urban center run by a string of incompetent do-nothing kings who still consider their subjects foreigners a thousand years after conquering them. Sorcerers are tax-paying citizens organized into guilds who sell their services to shopkeepers. So color him confused by what he finds when he arrives. It doesnât help that his fellow Azkhan Soubir are acting hinky. Japhetâs cabal works alone and keeps their mysteries close, but the people he used to trust he doesnât anymore. Heâs going to have to rely on the help of normal folks accustomed to having normal, boring, workaday problems, who donât yet know they have something to contribute. Top of the agenda: figure out why the Cities are being targeted by a comical profusion of metaphysical players who never took an interest heretofore. An urban center so real it must be. A labyrinthine plot centuries in the making. Laugh-out-loud dark comedy. Fall in love with Liath-Tamren! (Just donât call it âa city.â Really.) |
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WE GATHER Civilization may go up in flames if a group of people who hate each other canât learn to be friends. The 3,000 year old Barrachite Empire is in decline. A vestigial aristocracy hides in mildewing palaces worrying about debt while the emperor bends the knee to trade cartels. Modern Barracheh is still the mightiest civilization in the area, but they no longer birth conquerors or visionaries. No one is building monuments anymore like the massive pyramids near every older city. Sathriel has traveled Barracheh from the jungle that birthed his people to the snowy north; he's walked the plains and coast and desert in his mission to bring back the sorcery that forged the empire. It's a tricky task since its disappearance is a mystery. It doesn't help that assassins and spies belonging to the emperor have dogged his steps since he ran away from home 9 years ago. They're twins, and no one knows the truth about what spawned their feud. No sooner does he find a sorcerer than the witch Haâere finds him. Bringing back the sorcery that vanished a thousand years ago will have consequences, positive but also negative. She wants to introduce him to the band of allies handpicked by her gods to help him. The catch? They're either foreigners from countries he's never even heard of or his enemies. We is a fantasy epic by every measurement, from pathos to scale. Get in on all the epic battles, thrilling swordfights, and staggering magic: buy a copy now! |
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The Nicodemus Path by M.C. Burnell In the elven world, it's not unheard of that the Chosen One may also be the villain. Vykollo men yedeva, they call it: Nemesis. It's been two hundred years since humans got tired of sharing the world with their elven neighbors, beings longer-lived and magical in ways they weren't. They waged war - and lost - and now live in nameless towns built up around the walls of the great elven cities. Within the walls, traumatized elves who lived through the war go about their lives with what serenity they can cling to. Trying very hard to pretend the humans who are now their subjects don't exist. Isador is a member of an order of sin-eating priests; it's his job to share the will of their god with his people, with advice or with his sword as necessary. What is very much not one of his duties is to challenge the god by standing in the path of someone's destiny. Two elves were born, though, eighty years ago, bearing the mark of the god's chosen instrument. He finds this worrying: there has never been more than one before. His concern mounts as they grow up and he sees the people they're becoming. When one of them falls in love with a human, it's not clear that this romance will steady him or prove his trigger. And their people are especially vulnerable. Mysterious creatures from Elsewhere are testing their borders, beings that do not bleed when cut or decompose when killed. They have not so far been willing to explain themselves. Determined to save these sullen young Chosen Ones from a fate he deems unfair, Isador squares off against his god. There has to be a better way, and all he wants to do is persuade the god to look for it. Take him instead, for example. He's forgotten something he ought to know about his patron: the god is tricksy and loves to lay traps. |
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What if Cinderella was a thief, the fairy godmother evil, ...and the prince only wanted to marry to get his revenge? Vanya longs to escape Tal, the City of the Dead, and the suffocating debts weighing her down. As her stepfather's interest rate increases, she turns to thievery to secure her freedom. Her task? Steal the glass crown at the crown prince's betrothal ball before midnight, and she'll finally break free. But Vanya soon discovers she bears a striking resemblance to the missing foreign bride, and her employer desires not just the crown, but control over the one who wears it. This summer, worse things than the usual dead roam the streets of Tal, while sinister forces seeking to topple the royals and rebels gather in the night, waiting for their chance to strike. All sides agree: the wedding must proceedâeven if no one survives to see the dawn. Stealing Glass is the first book in the Tales of Bones and Roses Cinderella duology, a slow burn romance with bantering enemies to lovers, royally mistaken identity and backstabbing political intrigues in a darkly gothic world. |
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Elendil by Andrea Rose Washington I stood there, looking at this stranger with eyes like mine, hair like mine. It slowly dawned on me that it was her. After all these years...it was her. A wave of rage coursed over me as I stood there, staring at this woman. I couldn't bring myself to call her that because she was never that to me. Just an egg donor as far as I was concerned. Then my dad spoke."Abriana, I would like to introduce you to Acadia...your mother."Abriana was forced to deal with a lot of things over the short sixteen years of her life: adapting to a new neighborhood, the wondering eyes that fell on her when she was out with her father, the whispers of the town. But this - facing the woman who abandoned her at the tender age of three days old - was the one thing she wasn't prepared to deal with. When Abriana is forced to flee with this woman she barely knows, she soon realizes that her life will never be the same |
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Legends of Andolin: Rising Tides by A.M. Portman THE ADVENTURE CONTINUES With the Heart of the World safe at the Capital, Lady Adella Grimless and her friends turn their attention to the looming war with Sornia. Pressed by the increasing threat in the Campos, Adella, Kol and Armand each part ways to face dangers from both land and sea on their own. OVER DANGEROUS LANDS Kol embarks on a perilous mission across the frontier, and learns the truth about his tragic past. Meanwhile, Armand heads to Raymouth to deliver a message, but soon finds himself on a reaver ship heading for troubled waters. AND TREACHEROUS SEAS As the Sornian army closes in on Elldon, Adella travels to Pentz to seek assistance, but things donât go as planned. When she faces death in the watery depths, one thing becomes clear: The legends of Andolin are real⊠And disaster is coming. |
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Keeperâs Reign by Eliza Leone When Onnie's grandfather asked her to inherit his legacy, she wasn't expecting a magical bookshop, a talking cat with an attitude, and a town full of fantastical beings. Except that's exactly what she got. Alku is a quaint town nestled in the forested mountains of the Pacific Northwest, and it carries with it secrets. Many of them. It's where the current Keeper protects and curates the world's written knowledge archive, and Onnie's elderly Grandfather happens to be the current one. The bookshop has chosen her to be next. Onnie's tossed into the magical deep end but finds more allies than expected. A story about self-acceptance, family, and learning to lean on others, Keeper's Reign is the first part in a trilogy following the final Keeper and the dangers she faces. |
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As the world ends once more, the goddess chooses who she will wield against Abomination... In Lyndiniam: A street thief attempts a heist far more ambitious than anything he has done before, but due to circumstances outside his control, finds himself locked up for crimes he both did and did not commit. A strange woman with abilities Jamirh does not understand breaks him out, and he finds himself on the run - fleeing to Romanii, a country he thought no longer existed. In Ni Fon: A shinobi is banished by the Empress for killing her daughter and his fiancée, Princess Hotaru. This is a ploy, however - Takeshi is still working for Ni Fon despite the murder, trying to learn information about a rebellion against the Rose Empire that Ni Fon will be able to leverage to regain their own freedom. Though thousands of miles apart, both Jamirh and Takeshi find themselves pulled into an ancient struggle between forces far beyond anything they have ever dreamed of, whether they want to be or not. |
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Legends of Andolin: Adella of the Campos by A.M. Portman A WOMAN IN A DESPERATE SEARCH Adella's life had been peaceful on the frontier of Valenna. But when mysterious raiders attack and burn her town down, her brother goes missing. Leaving everything behind, she sets off in a desperate ride across the plains to find him. A MERCENARY IN DIRE NEED OF HER HELP Kol, a highly-skilled Sornian soldier, needs Adella's help if he wants to live to see another day. A traitor to his country with nowhere else to turn, he agrees to guide Adella across the wilderness of the Campos. A HIGH-SEAS ADVENTURE When Adella is captured by the enemy, she inadvertently lets a powerful artifact fall into the wrong hands. Risking everything to find her, Kol takes a gamble and joins forces with the mysterious Captain Declan, a notorious reaver known for plundering Sornian ships. Each must face the same choice: Save the life of someone dear to them, or retrieve the artifact and prevent the awakening of Mundil and the rise of the Twelve Calamities... In a world of intrigue, mystery, and betrayal, will the choices they make lead to disaster? Legends of Andolin: Adella of the Campos is the first in an all-new series that takes you on a captivating adventure filled with excitement, danger and, most importantly, sea serpents. Read it today! |
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When Stars Become Shadows by Emmie Hamilton For the past seven years, Emersyn Jane Merona had been owned by a deadly mob boss and forced to service any lonely soul who found their way to Skarsrowe, a shady port town on the edge of the Baronian Sea. When Syn commits a murder and initiates a daring escape, she finds herself in the arms of her bossâ archrival, the legendary Captain Killian OâDonnell. After seeking refuge on his mysterious ship, Syn soon realizes that she may have traded one form of danger for another. Desperate to regain her freedom, she falls back on all the old tricks she used to survive her indentured servitude. Just when she is ready to give up, a murdered siren changes her fate and the Lord of Lost Souls, Malakai Barron, drags her down into the underworld. Through a deal brokered by someone from her past, Syn now has to try to earn her freedom from not one, but two key players in the dark underworld. Though it seems impossible, opportunity strikes when Malakaiâs missing sirens reappear and Syn is given the chance to investigate. Who is taking the sirens? And why does their song haunt her dreams? As Emersyn uncovers the demons of her past, will the monsters of her future be kept at bay, or will she become another lost soul anchored to the bottom of the sea? Please note: This is an adult dark fantasy intended for 18+ only. Please check for content warnings before purchasing. |
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Duckett & Dyer: St. Nicks For Hire by G.M. Nair In the midst of a historic blizzard, Michael and Stephanie have to beat the crap out of Santa Claus. That's it. That's the story. But, unlike some other Christmas Specials, this one is 100% canon. This case and others are included in Duckett & Dyer: The Mystery Of The Murdered Guy. |
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Tales from the Borun-Ma by Ruth Miranda The Borun-Ma. A world rife with magic and dangers, threatened as it is by the haunting of demons and creatures that take the bodies and lives of the common people and feed on their souls. Or so it is, in the head of David Lau, travel photographer turned novelist, who created this imaginary world for his soon-to-be-published first book, where he tells the story of LiĂČng DashiĂ , Hawkeye and Zephyr, Reapers of the Borun-Ma who destroy Infestations in the form of creatures and demons. But his characters bear far too many resemblances to himself, and the girl who spills his drink at a crowded nightclub in Xhiangzhei, or the young man who sits beside him through a long flight to Europe. When Ivy Falconnieri and Bodie Yung's lives collide with David's, a spell is cast and a curse will break. But to what ends? |
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The award-winning Regency fantasy continues. Emma Woodhouse needs a dragon. Her life depends on it. But Emmaâs dragon is claimed⊠by Elizabeth Darcy. When Emma Woodhouse meets newly wed Elizabeth, a brush of their gloved hands unmasks the Darcysâ fantastic secret. Emma has discovered YuĂĄnchi, the deadly dragon coveted by both Emperor Napoleon and Englandâs Secretary of War. Secrets are nothing new for Emma. She has her own: a deathbed promise, and a clever plan to achieve it. The Darcysâ power, forbidden to her, might even help. But clever plans go astray. As treason stalks a royal ball, an avenging queen rises to ravage England. Survival rests on a fabled alliance: Emma and her secrets, Elizabeth and her dragon, and the magical music of Mary Bennet and Georgiana Darcy. Will Emma, Elizabeth, and Mary unravel the mystery of the great wyves in time to save England and themselves? Emmaâs Dragon is the second book in the award-winning Jane Austen Fantasy series. This boldly original story is filled with magical dragons, strong heroines, and a brilliantly reimagined Regency that challenges barriers of class, race, and love. |
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The World As It Should Be by Lee Ann Kostempski Charity Olmstead wants to die. Despite being raised by two of Salem's most beloved psychics, she isnât cut out for life in the new magic-ravaged world. When she meets a kelpie on a riverbank, she believes sheâs found her exit. But the monster is hungry for more than a meal. Sensing Charityâs unawakened magic, he enlists her help in a quest for revenge against the hunters who slaughtered his mate. In return he promises to grant Charity a swift, painless death once their job is done. But as Charity and the kelpie track the hunters to their base, they uncover a terrifying truth: Salemâs deadly history might be about to repeat itself. |
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Mastery: Sex Wizards, Book 2 by Alethea Faust Magic is a rare gift, and it's been six months since Dominai of Airedale first left home to study it. After solidifying his place at the legendary Crux as a skilled conduit, he now faces his next challenge: casting. When every spell he attempts fails to hit the mark, he finally turns to the Grandmaster of the Crux, Arlon Kalisson, for guidance. The unyielding lessons that follow strip Dom down to his very foundation, rebuilding him to confront his own worst enemy: himself. But while Dom grows more confident inside the Crux, a threat gathers outside of it. One that will rock the kingdom of Straetham to its core, capable of destroying the Crux from the inside out. The second book of Alethea Faustâs epic Sex Wizards series, Mastery delivers risk-aware consensual kink, hard BDSM, an ever-escalating epic plot, and a lot of butt stuff. The Sex Wizards series is set in a sex-positive, magical world. This novel has a kink-based magic system which crosses a wide range of play with varying degrees of intensity. The wizards of the Crux include pansexual, polyamorous, fantasy race, nonbinary, gender non-conforming and intersex characters. Please see book preview for full CW. |
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The Cosy Cosmic by Edited by Frances Lu-Pai Ippolito Some argue existence is an exercise in futility. They claim there are no winners in life. Ultimately, we are insignificant in the face of vast cosmic intelligences that were old when the Universe began. The best minds gibber at the incomprehensibility of it all. Other minds lose themselves in strange geometries because they can't comprehend any alternative. Whatever. The rest of us have to get up in the morning, feed the cat, and go to work. The Cozy Cosmic contains 33 stories of the horrors hidden within the micro-aggressions, the horrors trapped beneath the floorboards, and the horrors waiting patiently on the windowsill. This is the horror that forgets to turn off the light at night. This is the horror of waiting for the tea to boil, knowing full well who you just buried-for the second time-in the yard less than a hour ago. This is the horror of knowing where the dark wool comes from, but you wear the sweater anyway because it was a giftâan expression of loveâand, well, being alone is worse than the horror of the unknowable, isn't it? The full table of contents for The Cozy Cosmic is as follows: John Shirley âDeath, in Twoâ Tais Teng âOn Hearing the First Shoggoth in Springâ Tyler Battaglia âWhat the Sea Providesâ Ellis Bray âMy Grandmother's Sacristyâ E. E. Marshall âRight and Brightâ Devan Barlow âDinner, Overlooking the Seaâ Scotty Milder âA Little God in Their Handsâ Maxwell I. Gold âGreat Cosmic Itchâ Remy Nakamura âWet Dreams in R'lyehâ Andrew S. Fuller âA Perfectly Fine Hobbyâ Kiera Lesley âObsolescentâ Kurt Newton âA Mournful Melancholia of Things Forever Lostâ J. B. Kish âLo-Fi Chocolate Cakeâ Rajiv MotĂ© âCarrisa and Kevin Gaze into the Abyssâ Daniel David Froid âIn Another Distant Land, in a Luminescent Landâ Kate Ristau âShineâ Erik Grove âFuzzy Fuzzy Kitty Kittiesâ William J. Connell âPoe's Guys Respond to Their Significant Othersâ Paul Jessup âThe Museum of Endless Summerâ Ngo Binh Anh Khoa âThrough Life and Death, Forevermoreâ Jonathan Wood âJavapocalypseâ L. E. Daniels âFinal Cycleâ Ken Hueler âThe Unknowable Onesâ Tania Chen âA Study of Metamorphosis Calamityâ Eric Shanower âThe Purple Emperorâ Kevin Wetmore âA Child's Christmas in Innsmouthâ Megan Lee Beals âSplinterboneâ Corinne Hughes âThe Sheep Rancher's Husbandâ Shanna Germain âA Napkin Upon Your Glassâ Simone Cooper âGnocchiâ Jessie Kwak âBlood and Glitterâ Cody T Luff âDen Motherâ R. Ostermeier âThe Dark Youngâ |
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Of Death and Divination by Cassandra Diviak Percy and Cordelia must prepare for the unthinkable. After Oberon's attempt to invade Kaira, many hearts clamor for vengeance. Cordelia stands as the symbol of resistance against Oberon's "great plan", even if playing hero is the last thing on her heart. She struggles to find the balance between rising to the challenge and seeking more personal retribution against the monster of a man. Percy finds himself on the warpath alongside his lover, and somehow he doesn't seem to mind the anger. Many things have changed since he vowed to be a peaceful man. But cryptic messages from the spirit inside of him leave him wondering whether he will make it out of this war alive. Regardless of the demons gathered in the shadows around them, they must return to where the battle first began and make their final stand before Oberon can conquer the Seven Continents for his twisted delusions of power. It ends here. |
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Of Wild and Witchcraft by Cassandra Diviak Cordelia Hale's world hangs by a precarious thread. While she and her loved ones flee from the Ambrose Palace and all the horrors hidden inside its ruined walls, a ghost from the distant past disrupts her already uncertain future. She can't go home, not yet. Revealed secrets and betrayals leave Cordelia stuck walking the thin line between her once unwavering optimism and the rage that threatens to tear her heart asunder. Percival Ashford remains her only tether to the girl she used to be, grounded in her humanity and innocent belief in the goodness of the world. However, when he receives the offer of a lifetime from an untrustworthy source, they must decide if the conditions and traps attached to the promise are worth their trouble. Armed with the support of their family and allies, welcomed and unexpected alike, Percy and Cordelia must piece together the unseemly and broken parts within their hearts and prepare for the danger that lurks outside Kaira's magical wards. |
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Soul of the Sorceress by Cassandra Diviak Cordelia Hale's life finally changed for the better. With newfound freedom, she lived in peace alongside her new family and loving boyfriend until a letter arrived at Brierwell bearing an invitation too tempting to ignore. A world of magic awaited her outside the woodsy borers of her hometown, far beyond her wildest imagination. Cordelia and Percy travel to a land across the sea and find a hidden city filled with wonders, led by a king sympathetic to the plight of magical beings across the Seven Continents. Life in the Ambrose Palace isn't anything like home, though, especially when Cordelia and Percy find themselves pitted against everything they once trusted, including one another. To survive, they must determine their few allies from a sea of enemies. |
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Shadow of the Beast by Cassandra Diviak Percival Ashford wants nothing more than a fresh start. He finds his chance in Runswick, a sleepy town situated along the Andervael's southern coast. It's a perfect place for a werewolf to blend in and spend his better days with his newly awarded Lordship. However, his hopes for a new beginning fall apart when disaster strikes in the gruesome murders of several townspeople. Percy must discover who is committing these heinous acts and ensure justice for the deceased, but his investigations are hindered by the haunting suspicion that he, or at least his wolf-self, might be the very culprit he is hunting. |
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Every witch has her Way. Milla is a witch who wants to hide. Grieving the loss of her mentor, she retreats to St. Augustine where her only goals are to run her antique store and tend her demesne into obscurity. But C.R.O.W. has other plans for the formerly wicked witch. As if being saddled with a new apprentice and trying to get rid of the Aural Insurance Adjuster sent to observe her isnât enough to deal with, a pack of multi-level marketing huns sets their sights on Milla, intent on burning her store to the ground. When a threat to the demesne, and the witches and mortals under Millaâs care, raises its ugly head it is up to her to decide: Is living out her days as a nothing witch in a nowhere demesne what she truly wants, or is the formerly wicked witch ready to rejoin the witchy world of C.R.O.W.? |
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Daughter of Sorrow by Abigail Silver Gracie has come a long way from the state-run orphanage she spent a year in at age 6. Now a highly trained member of the Overwatch and one of the most powerful elder children on Cybele, she is trying to keep the peace between her psychic kin and the planet's mortal population. When her father's dark pastâ something she thought she knew and had come to terms withâ comes to light with a new and devastating twist, Gracie must decide what is real before everything she loves burns to ashes. |
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Visions of Fire by Abigail Silver Visions of Fire follows Gracie Usuriel, a young pyrokinetic, as she leaves the safety of her father's farm to find her calling at Landing University. Eager to learn the truth about her father's past, which he always carefully curated when she was living under his roof, Gracie is unprepared for the brutal reality that awaits her. Will her strange and growing powers be enough to protect her from the darkness her father held at bay or will they be her undoing? |
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Accursed Son by Eric Avedissian Armand Tarkanian is trapped in the ultimate dead-end job: embalming decedents under his abusive uncleâs watchful eye. Every day he goes through the motions, making death look beautiful while his life is anything but. A car accident leaves him indebted to Berj, a mysterious man with rune-carved gold teeth and a penchant for worshipping old gods. Blackmailed and desperate, Armand feels more trapped than he was under his uncleâs thumb. But the embalmer harbors his own dark secret, a bloodline curse that allows him to communicate with the dead. When the spirits show him how they were murdered, Armand must choose between fealty to the sadistic and manipulative Berj, or joining the Legion of the Lamb, a monster-hunting biker gang with their own agenda. What began as a dangerous game between secret societies has led Armand on a frightening quest to save the only family heâs ever known and a chance to get closer to the rebellious misfits who saved him. Heartfelt and evocative, Accursed Son is a story featuring generational clashes, found families, and the rewards of tempting fate. |
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Strange Cargo by Patrick Samphire What do a smuggling gang, a curse that won't go away, and a frequently lost dog have to do with each other? Answer: they're all here to disrupt Mennik Thorn's hard-earned peace and quiet. As the sole freelance mage in the city of Agatos, Mennik is used to some odd clients and awful jobs. But this time, one of his clients isn't giving him a choice. Mennik might have forgotten about the smugglers whose operations he disrupted, but they haven't forgotten about him. Now he is faced with a simple ultimatum: help them smuggle in an unknown, dangerous cargo or flee the city he loves forever. Time is running out for Mennik to find an answer, and things are about to get completely out of control. |
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Suspended in the Stars by E. A. Hendryx A girl in hiding. A boy on the run. The fate of the galaxy between them. When Talie Zarna is forced to hide rogue soldier, Renner Cartha, her life isnât the only thing threatened. Living as the famed Soaring Staress on the circus spaceship Midway masks her true identity, but Rennerâs very presence threatens to draw unwanted attention. As a former royal guard, Renner holds secrets of his own. Like evidence of a political assassination he is on a mission to deliver to the Xerus Galaxyâs governing council. Renner's flirtatious confidence is at odds with the seriousness of his mission, but when his former guard captain, Jas Uli-Tai, discovers him hiding among the circus performers, Talie risks everything she's come to cherishâgoing so far as to leave the safety of the Phenomena circusâto do what is right. With Jas closing in at every turn, Talie and Renner come close to finding the High Council only to discover corruption at its core. Their only option for escape is a cocky smuggler whoâs not quite what he seems and an underground resistance group called The Rising thatâs fighting for change in the galaxy. Faced with the weight of her true identity and the cost of embracing it, Talie must decide if she is willing to give up everything for the sake of saving the Galaxy, even if that means giving up the boy she loves. --- Suspended in the Stars is the first book in the Xerus Galaxy Saga. It is a no spice romantic space opera perfect for fans of The Lunar Chronicles, The Starboard Trilogy, and The Illuminae Files . |
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Gold, Lock and Key by E J Doble From grimdark author E J Doble, comes a fairytale with a dark twist... "All it needs, is a bit of tenacity... and three little bears." Goldie, an outlaw and contract hunter of the Baron's State, accepts a new assignment from her employer to find an old cabin in the woods, home to three 'shapeshifters' who can morph into bears. Considered to be little more than a myth, Goldie assumes at first that the shapeshifters are an exaggeration - but with the sizeable bounty her employer is offering, she soon realises there may be more truth in it than she realised. And that isn't the only thing on her mind: she discovers her main rival - a manipulative and incredibly cunning trapper named Southey - has also taken on the contract, and will be contending for the same bounty she so fervently desires. Having waited many long years to have her revenge and outsmart Southey for past mistakes, Goldie sees the new contract as a perfect opportunity to do so. All she has to do is play her cards just right. And kill three bears... |
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The Crescent Moon by E J Doble The first novella in a new philosophical fiction trilogy by indie author E J Doble In the city of Arbash, nestled on the outskirts of a vast desert, the young girl My'ala walks out among the vineyards overlooking a delicate blue sea. Reaching a gnarled tree atop a small hill, she stumbles upon an old man, nestled among its roots - his name is Artemis the Hermit, and he longs to answer the simple question. What is the meaning of life? As the years pass, and the realities of a difficult life struggling to get by weigh heavy upon her, My'ala finds herself returning to the Hermit by the tree to seek counsel, and to find purpose in a world where she feels so lost. But when an enemy appears from the sea, and her family are torn apart by the spectre of war, it is in the Hermit's teachings that My'ala will find her answers - and how the meaning of life may just save her city from a swift and certain end... |
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A Pale Box on the Distant Shore by P.J. Nwosu A silent killer stalks the slum towers of Death City. In the shadow of a drowned death god, a young soldier risks his life to solve a violent crime. To catch a killer, Soldier Honnan Skyin carves a bloody trail over the behemoth bones of a dead giant and through the deepest forest of a frozen island. But some secrets should stay buried. Welcome to Death City. The Red Kingdom is a new series of dark mysteries in fantasy worlds that delve into a land of vicious crimes, strange lore and Purge House zealots. |
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The Magic Surrendered by Dax Murray "I havenât been trying to build a weapon! I have been trying to prevent a war. Ellie, please don't make me do this." A short story about a brilliant mage and an insecure empress; of love and ethics, partnership and conflict. After generations of relentless expansion, Empress Eleanor is ready to put her family's habit of conquest behind her, content to cease her army's forward march and solidify her position as the ruler of the territories already in her possession. But these countries her fathers' conquered are eager to leave the Empire and willing to resort to revolution. Amalthea grew up poor, her homeland destitute after being invaded and occupied. But her new status as a citizen of the sparkling empire gives her access to the Academy of Mages and all of their teachings. However, once there, she defies their rules and pursues her own experiments with dangerous and forbidden magics. Despite this, she catches the Empress's eye and is soon the first official Imperial Scientist and the unofficial consort. Together, the two have the power to sow cohesion, spur innovation, and improve the lives of everyone in the Empire; or they could obliterate any resistance at a perilous cost. |
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Too fondly have I loved these stars; all these galaxies we once called ours. A beautiful love story in verse. The relationship between two goddesses is tempestuous at best. Seya is the embodiment of a galactic creation and Tia of cosmic destruction. They create and they destroy and then they do it all over again. Seya and Tia use their divine magic to make pulsars and nebula, to set planets spinning around stars and bind a galaxy together with a central black hole. But when one of Seya's favorite stars goes missing, she blames Tia. What was once a symbiotic cycle of life and death becomes a game of broken hearts and promises betrayed. These tensions and insecurities are explored in sonnets and villanelles; the arc of their love tracked in meter and verse. These poems touch on queer love, betrayal, trust, acceptance, and forgiveness cast against a backdrop of stardust and celestial detritus. |
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How To Sell Your Blood and Fall In Love by D.N. Bryn No romantic story has ever lived up to Dr. Clementine Hugheâs reality but at least he has his steamy two-million-word fanfic and a prestigious research position at Vitalis-Barron Pharmaceuticals, where their benefits are superb and their experimentation on vampires highly unethical. When a mysterious accident turns Clementine into a vampire, discovery would demote him to lab rat and his growing thirst for his coworkerâs veins forces him to the streets to hunt. Justin Yu is usually the one attacking villains in alleys, not the other way around. After the tragedy he brought upon his local vampiric community in his youth, heâs struggled tirelessly to keep their vampires safe. So when a panicking Clementine botches a bite attempt, Justin takes pityâand advantageâand offers the vampire a trade: his blood in exchange for an exorbitant fee. In desperation, Clementine accepts. Justinâs blood is bland and unappealing, but the more Clementine learns to appreciate the manâs sharp humor and persistent compassion, the more he acquires a taste for Justin. Justin is determined not to let Clementineâs good looks and thoughtful intellect distract him as hunters from Vitalis-Barron close in on Justinâs neighborhood, and it turns out someone there knows Clementineâs vampiric secret⊠|
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Three Meant To Be by M N Bennet Telepathic high school teacher Dorian prepares teen witches for professional casting because going in unprepared is what killed one of his partners. But new state mandates on magical proficiency make it nearly impossible, and Dorian worries he canât give his students the education they really need. Seeking a distraction from work, Dorian kisses his still-living on-again off-again clairvoyant boyfriend, Milo. Instead of a distraction, Dorian glimpses Miloâs vague vision involving the murder of Calebâone of Dorianâs new students. Already devastated by the loss of his partner, Dorian refuses to stand aside and let Caleb die. He searches for clues by delving into Calebâs mind. Rooting through Calebâs memories alongside teaching classes leads Dorian to two more students: Calebâs ex-best friend turned rival and the prodigy with connections to dangerous warlocks. However, each step further into his studentsâ minds forces Dorian to confront his deteriorating relationship with Milo. After discovering a link involving illegal casting, Dorian resolves to work with Milo to prevent the impending vision. To succeed, Dorian will have to explore the potential of a future with Milo and find closure on their third partner, whose loss looms between them. But meddling with fate to save Caleb inadvertently draws the warlocks near, putting all his students in danger. Dorian will have to risk his life and gamble his second chance with Milo to keep his students alive. |
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Fey go missing in the mortal realm. Everyone knows that. When Lizzy's mother is the next to vanish she's expected to grieve and move on. Instead, Lizzy wants to find out what happened, but the answers she seeks can't be found in the fey realm of Arbaon. With the help of her best friend, Booker Reed, Lizzy's determined to retrace her mother's final steps... straight through an illegal portal and into the mortal realm. Whatever leads she expected to find, it wasn't an academy of vampires, and a world stalked by their rabid cousinsâthe kavians. Forced to rely on the vampires for protection, and secluded away behind the high walls of Speculo School, it quickly becomes clear not everyone is pleased with Lizzy and Booker's investigation. With danger building the further they dig, the two fey need to decide if the closure they seek is worth risking their lives for. But the longer they remain amongst the vampires, the more Lizzy suspects that her answers lie with the deadly kavians instead. |