stories in and

The Binding Tempest

The Binding Tempest by Steven Rudy

SPFBO8 SPSFC

A fallen empire, a failed republic, and a frontier of alchemy, magic, and machines... They thought the war was over. That they had given enough, but when an oppressive empire falls, what comes from the ashes, is turmoil and treachery. Ellaria Moonstone, an alchemist, and a hero of the Great War, has spent the last forty years trying to rebuild. As an emissary for the Scholar’s Guild, her life’s work is establishing universities throughout the world. But as a former general that led the resistance in overthrowing the Sagean Empire, she has watched as all she fought for has slowly eroded away and with it, her faith in the republic. Now in her mid-fifties her singular focus has been to protect all knowledge for future generations. When the Peace King of the Free Cities goes missing Ellaria uncovers a plot to overthrow the tenuous republic. Convinced that the entity manipulating the fragile government is a Luminary with the powers to control energy, called a Sagean Lord. Ellaria sends for help from old allies and expatriates scattered across the chaotic frontier. Three former war heroes, long past their prime and haunted by their pasts, are all that stand against a dark entity threatening the future. But once reunited, the aging veterans realize trust between old friends is not what it once was. With the currency of souls is in the balance they find that their destinies are entwined with a band of young rogues willing to stand and fight with the heroes they grew up reading about. Together they must stop the return of a dark empire, but the key to protecting the future resides in the mysteries of the past, the lost tomb of the emperor’s and a relic from the time of the unknown ancients, called the Tempest Stone.


Captain of the Guard

Captain of the Guard by Ron C. Nieto

SPFBO8

Oren Trevaine has never shaken the feeling that he’s not good enough, but he’s determined to avoid the same fate for his men. Oren’s first task as Captain of the Guard is to transform his unruly, undisciplined soldiers into a formidable army—if only they would cooperate. But Oren will need to act fast because the snow is melting with the budding of spring. Soon, the enemy will be able to traverse the main pass through the imposing Sansford Range and his men must be ready to patrol the mountain. When Oren rescues Lady Joan and her traveling party from a band of Mirdoni raiders, his worst fears are realized. The enemy has utilized less accessible routes to infiltrate their territory, and an attack is imminent. Now Oren must not only think like the enemy, but he will need to be one step ahead. With the kingdom relying on him and Lady Joan promising her favor if he returns alive, Oren will need to prove to her and his men that he truly is good enough. Or at the very least, die trying . . .


A Matter of Dragons

A Matter of Dragons by Meredith Hart

SPFBO8

Rayne came to Cairncliff to kill a dragon. Not to kiss one. This secret mission is Rayne’s chance to finally prove that, despite her gender and her childhood in the orphanage, she can serve the Valgros Royal Army. When she enters a dusty antiquities shop looking for information about the dragon she’s been sent to kill, Rayne isn’t expecting the gorgeous man behind the counter to take her breath away. And she certainly isn’t expecting him to invite her out for wine…and more. Doshir moved to the sleepy village of Cairncliff to escape the constant drama of dragon politics, not to mention his cheating ex-girlfriend. When a beautiful woman from the mysterious kingdom of Valgros arrives on his doorstep, Doshir is delighted to be mistaken for a human, and he’s even happier to have the chance to seduce a woman who isn’t only interested in him because he’s a dragon. But secrets have a way of coming to light, and one night will tie Rayne and Doshir’s destinies together in ways neither of them can imagine. In a city where dragons take human form and forbidden magic runs wild, betrayal waits for both the dragons and the dragon hunters.

A Matter of Dragons is the first book in a new romantic fantasy adventure series. Fans of Miranda Honfleur and Sarah J. Maas will love this story of dangerous adventure, sizzling romance, and secret dragon shifters.


Wake of the Phoenix

Wake of the Phoenix by Chelsea Harper

SPFBO8

War Hero. Thiefmaster's apprentice. Traitors. Every title comes with a price. Arkaen is a gods-damned saint. He sacrificed his childhood innocence fighting for the beleaguered rebellion in a civil war and relinquished a comfortable life with the man he loves to reclaim his place as high lord from corrupt nobles. Now, a hidden enemy is manipulating his lower lords into talk of rebellion, including the powerful Rogue Baron who is slowly swaying the city into questioning every move Arkaen makes. With the help of his near-omniscient lover's gift of foresight, Arkaen finds a potential ally in Niamsha, a reluctant thief trying to pay for her brother’s education. But Niamsha owes an insurmountable debt to the mysterious leader of her thieves guild and failing to pay means death—for her entire family. When her guild leader demands she join forces with the Rogue Baron himself, she finds herself caught in a political battle beyond her skills. Torn between protecting her family and following her conscience, Niamsha doesn't know who to trust. If Arkaen can win Niamsha's loyalty, he might just prevent a second civil war and the destruction of everything he fought to protect. Or he might get them all killed.


A Company of Adventurers

A Company of Adventurers by Rune S. Nielsen

SPFBO8

What happens to legendary adventurers when they retire? Talen is a poor farmhand…but he used to be a famously quick swordsman. Now he has one last job, which could secure his family’s future: he must retrieve a cursed suit of golden armor from a mountain claimed by genocidal orcs. When Talen fails to return from his adventure, a motley crew of rugged ne’er-do-wells must deal with the mysterious person who hired Talen, as well as a family of berserkers. And retrieving the armor will take a grievous toll... Discover the fantasy kingdom of Kjeldale, featuring a world inspired by Norse and Celtic mythology, rich with bittersweet nuances and dry wit. Author Rune S. Nielsen, who previously wrote the acclaimed novel Doomsayer Prince, is back with a fun but layered fantasy novel for every roleplayer who’s wondered what happens after heroes become legends.


Crossings

Crossings by Ashley Capes

SPFBO8

Deep in the Australian forests, something dark is stirring. When wildlife ranger Lisa Thomas finds a pile of animal entrails on her doorstep she immediately suspects her abusive ex, but the sudden spate of deaths that follow seem beyond even Ben's vindictiveness. Worse, her father's health is deteriorating fast and when the harassment and deaths continue, it only fuels her feelings of powerlessness. To add confusion to growing fear, Lisa must also investigate reports of a giant white kangaroo, reports that suggest the creature is no mere hoax. Yet the mysterious kangaroo is impossible to track down and the more Lisa searches the more she's sure an even greater threat lurks in the wilderness...


The Assassin of Grins and Secrets

The Assassin of Grins and Secrets by K.E.Andrews

SPFBO8

Once the infamous assassin who killed with a smile, Serein now waits for death in the fighting pits of the Harpy's Chest. When the crown prince of Sarddon, Rameses al-Amirmoez, seeks her out with an offer of freedom if she serves as his guard, she must decide whether to work for those who ravaged her homeland or die. Rameses wants to believe that the war his father started was justified, but he has heard rumors and seen a cruelty in his father that causes him to question everything he's been told. To find answers, he needs Serein. Uriah Stormheir, Captain of the Oyon's city guard, finds himself caught between his duty to the crown and his friendship with Rameses. His distrust for Rameses' new guard runs deep. As Uriah wrestles with guilt from his past, he must work alongside the dangerous assassin whose true motives are hidden underneath her scars and dark grins. In a land of hot sands and dying magic, Serein plays the game of secrets with Uriah and Rameses, knowing one wrong step could end her life. As the shadows of her past catch up with her, she has to choose between pursuing vengeance and protecting a secret only she knows.


Blazing Coffins

Blazing Coffins by Jowsey Jones

SPFBO8

BLAZING COFFINS: A FANTASY FARCE Monster Twins Theda and Wolfie chase around a bizarro America trying to save their parents from a lunatic sorcerer with pharaonic delusions. They face an army of crackpot enemies: a vampire haberdasher and his toothy cohort, bumbling claymen, and a beautiful, insatiable nightmare from the ancient Steppes. Even Santa gets a cameo, and he isn’t very nice at all. Thankfully, they have some monsters of their own to help: an old-school Frankencouple and a Green Man with his snippety eco-warrior wife. Plus a trio of cheerful dead people, the world’s worst paranormal investigator, and a lovelorn bogman in dire need of moisturiser. Jowsey Jones is the newest comedy fantasy voice in town and he brings you a tumbling SFF farce with Blazing Coffins, the first in TheMonster Twins series. Welcome to a fearless frolic that sacrifices anything for a laugh. Get your giggles here with Blazing Coffins.


Odriel's Heirs

Odriel's Heirs by Hayley Reese Chow

SPFBO8

The brave, burning with fire, harnessed the Dragon's Rage.... As the Dragon Heir, seventeen-year-old Kaia inherited the power of flame to protect her homeland from a godlike necromancer’s undead army. But after centuries of peace, the necromancer has faded to myth, and the Dragon Heir is feared by the people. Persecuted and cast out, Kaia struggles to embrace and control her seemingly useless gift while confined to her family’s farm. But when the necromancer’s undead terrorize the land once again, Kaia runs away to join the battle. With the help of her childhood rival, the handsome Shadow Heir, and a snarky, cursed cat, Kaia must figure out how to control both her fire and her confidence in time to save Okarria. If she fails, she will sacrifice her family, her new friends, and the enchanting world she has only just begun to see. And time is running out.


The Moon's Eye

The Moon's Eye by A.J. Calvin

SPFBO8

Explore a unique, new epic fantasy by A.J. Calvin, featuring species and gods not previously seen in other aspects of the genre. The Moon's Eye is the first installment of The Relics of War series.

Chosen for advanced training by the god of war himself, Vardak is considered a paragon amongst his people, the Scorpion Men. Yet his position and training come with a cost: He must serve the whims of the god, with no questions asked. Only days after his training is complete, he is sent far away from his desert homeland in order to act as the protector of the Fire Maiden’s mortal daughter, Janna. Janna has been tasked with the recovery of a magical relic known as The Moon’s Eye, but she has little worldly experience to guide her. The Immortals deem the relic’s recovery imperative, for it alone can combat the rise of the Soulless—those sworn to the fallen, nameless god of death. The Soulless are ruthless and powerful, and eager to wage war upon the land in order to appease the god they serve. Though Vardak is skilled in battle, he must lead Janna through several perilous areas in order to reach the relic she seeks, pushing his abilities to the limit. Unbeknownst to the pair, the Soulless raise an army and begin their conquest, leaving a path of destruction in their wake. Will they secure The Moon’s Eye before all is lost, or will the relic itself prove to be their undoing?


Queen of the Warrior Bees

Queen of the Warrior Bees by Jean Gill

SPFBO8

Epic eco-fantasy. 2020 Kindle Book Awards Finalist. Standalone Bk 1 in an award-winning trilogy. 2020 Royal Dragonfly Award winner. One misfit girl and 50,000 bees against the might of the Citadel. Mielitta, a despised servant of dubious parentage, yearns to be an adult and fit into Citadel society but the all-powerful mages won’t even consider her for the Maturity Test. As they fight amongst themselves, Mielitta overhears their secrets and plans to escape. Bastien and Jannlou, the boys who terrorised her as a child, have grown into their status as Mages and she cannot escape them forever. In desperation, she flees to the forbidden Forest and its dangerous attractions. Her scent angers thousands of bees and, although she survives their attack, she has changed. As a bee-shifter, Mielitta sees the world differently. This bond works both ways and the bees need Mielitta’s help as the rift widens between Forest and Citadel. Can Mielitta find the fulfilment she craves or will the Mages crush every cell of her second nature?
Block Nature out and she'll force a way in.


9 Levels of Hell

9 Levels of Hell by E.C. Static

SPFBO8

Die to Fight, Fight to Live: Welcome to the Hell Games Yesterday, Clint and his girlfriend died in a car accident. Today, he woke up in Hell with dozens of other humans in a game of life or death devised by Death himself. There are only two rules: 1) If you lose, you die—permanently. 2) If you beat all 9 levels, you win back your soul and the soul of the person you died trying to save. If Clint can reach the end of the game, he can save his girlfriend and himself—if the other players don't kill him first. *** This gamelit immerses you in the experience of the game with custom HUD graphics and a detailed stats appendix in the back of the book that lets you choose your optimum litRPG experience: following every detail of the game stats or discovering the game along with the characters. This is the first in a 9-book litRPG series that had its start as a popular Reddit serial that left readers raving. The new-and-improved Kindle edition features everything that made the original series great: kickass fights, killer stakes, and a fight to the death in the deepest bowels of Hell.


Damn Wilds

Damn Wilds by K.A. Honeywell

SPFBO8

Magic he paid for, and she never wanted. Clover has lived as the outcast wife of a shapeshifter for six years, and been miserable every second of it. The magic-hating townspeople harass her and threaten her life, but she’s accepted her fate. Mostly. When an accident gives Clover the chance to escape her exile, she seizes it, only to discover that it’s left her with a new, more terrifying problem—it’s trapped magic inside her. In a world that despises magic, that would have been enough, but this magic was designed to lure and now Clover is pursued by bloodthirsty animals called wilds. The only person she can rely on for help is Joss, the gunslinging wild hunter who caused the accident that upended Clover’s life. In a journey across the country, Clover and Joss search for a way to remove the magic while fending off wilds, dealing with Joss’s past coming back to bite him, and trying to survive among people who would kill to erase magic.


The Wastes of Keldora

The Wastes of Keldora by Alex Raizman

SPFBO8

After one too many failed inventions, Julian has hit rock bottom. Summoned to another world where gods and monsters roam, Julian continues his streak of bad luck. Rather than touching the Godcore directly, he let his smartphone absorb it. Now, he's got to figure out how to make the Godcore and his phone work together to help the people who summoned him survive their upcoming annihilation by the mad God of Chains. He's going to have to innovate his way out of his bad luck. Good thing Julian has a plan - he's going to build a factory in a medieval world.


Troupe of Shadows

Troupe of Shadows by Jennings Zabrinsky

SPFBO8

Once the heir to an empire. Now just a shadow. Throne stolen by her traitorous brother. Chased to the edge of the world. Sellane has only a blade, a talent for slaughter, and four elite ‘blade dancer’ bodyguards to her name. Where once she lived a life full of courtly duels, decadence, and intrigue, she now finds herself trudging through a wild and desolate frontier populated by pioneers and warlords. One day Sellane will reclaim her birthright, but she has more immediate problems. The food has run out, shelter is scarce, and her followers are on the verge of mutiny. She can’t even communicate with the strange inhabitants of this alien land: the so-called ‘humans’ who wield guns, wear shoes, and seem completely incapable of shifting the color of their skin to disappear into their surroundings. It seems certain that an obscure and meaningless death lies in her near future. But when she captures Copper, a down-on-his-luck human mercenary who happens to speak her language, she seizes a razor-thin opportunity to reverse her fortunes. She has the bladecraft, he claims to have the connections, and the frontier will never have enough mercenaries. Sellane and her band will kill for gold, gather soldiers and power, and begin to build a new empire amongst the wastes. But can her new ally be trusted? Can her old allies? Will her dysfunctional troupe tear itself apart before they’ve earned a single coin? Troupe of Shadows is a dark fantasy novel with a focus on fiery interpersonal conflict and gritty action. It draws inspiration from wild west and classic high fantasy stories in equal measure.


The Darkness Calling

The Darkness Calling by Kaleigh McCann

SPFBO8

There are few things more dangerous or more destructive than a bad man who thinks that he is doing a good thing... The Isles of Jara are burning. An unseasonable drought is slowly killing the land; choking it in a patient and merciless fist of rising fire and dust. On the prosperous Northern Isle, King Taavi Fulbright, senile and raving, edges closer to death while his Viceroy, the flint-hearted Cullen Fitzgerald, continues with his plans for subjugating the South and crushing the contemptible, stinking peasants that farm it under his heel. Deep in the brutal highlands of the Southern Isle, an outfit of desperadoes, bandits and cattle-thieves, led by the infamous Gray siblings, make a living from waylaying the Crown's cattle drovers and stealing their stock. Vali Gray, head of this crew, is looking forward to completing one last score before he leaves the road-life for good and settles down to fatherhood. Vali cares little for the fate of the many, being concerned only with the lives of those closest to him; his sister and brother, Ylva and Gunnar, his lifelong love, Erika, and their unborn child. That is until the captivatingly psychotic Raibert MacBain comes strolling back into their lives after a decade-long absence. MacBain is a monster and, like all good monsters, is a monster of Vali's own creation. Once a polite and conscientious young nobleman, MacBain is the bastard son of Viceroy Fitzgerald and has been twisted by a love unrequited, the scorn of those he wished only to help, and the revulsion of a father who only ever saw him as a disappointment. MacBain is hunting for one who is rumoured to be endowed with powers long believed to be lost to legend. They are the powers of the Empathy, an elemental magic that could bring the Isles of Jara back from the brink of the fire––or cast it into the flames. Now, Vali and his band find themselves inexorably drawn into a choking world of revisited childhood sins that have sown the seeds from which fiends grow, soul-ripping jealousies, false prophesies, and blood-soaked feuds that promise little in the way of relief for any of them. Vali Gray must face a trifecta of hard questions and an even tougher choice; is the saving of his world, the keeping of a final promise, and the defeating of a monster he helped mould worth becoming a monster himself for? The answering of these questions will take the Grays and their crew of outlaw riders on a bloody journey, a journey that will reveal how the human heart is a torment and a masterpiece.


Dust Bound

Dust Bound by Clementine Fraser

SPFBO8

Seventeen years after the Fae destroyed the world, Adelia Lark must face them again. Life in a world destroyed by monstrous Fae isn't an easy one. Adelia wants nothing more than to keep out of trouble and convince Ryder Hendrix, the ruggedly handsome leader of her compound, she doesn't need his protection. But covered in scars that won't let her forget her nightmares of sharp knives and pools of blood, finding happily ever after in a world covered in endlessly falling faerie Dust might not be in the cards. When the Fae steal an orphan teen, Adelia realises she wants something else: to stop the future echoing her past. As the only one immune to the poisonous Dust, she knows she is the teen's best chance. Accompanied by Ryder, who she's secretly loved for years, she ventures through a broken landscape to rescue the child whose fate echoes her own. But the Fae are hunting them, and the only chance of survival lies with Adelia accepting her past and embracing the mysterious powers she never wanted-and in doing so she may lose Ryder forever. This is Book One in a planned series


Burning Bright

Burning Bright by Melissa McShane

SPFBO8

In 1812, Elinor Pembroke wakes to find her bedchamber in flames—and extinguishes them with a thought. At 21, she is old to manifest magical talent, but the evidence is unmistakable: she not only has the ability to start fires, but the far more powerful ability to control and extinguish them. She is an Extraordinary, and the only one in England capable of wielding fire in over one hundred years. As an Extraordinary, she is respected and feared, but to her father, she represents power and prestige for himself. Mr. Pembroke, having spent his life studying magic, is determined to control Elinor and her talent by forcing her to marry where he chooses, a marriage that will produce even more powerful offspring. Trapped between the choices of a loveless marriage or living penniless and dependent on her parents, Elinor takes a third path: she defies tradition and society to join the Royal Navy. Assigned to serve under Captain Miles Ramsay aboard the frigate Athena, she turns her fiery talent on England’s enemies, French privateers and vicious pirates preying on English ships in the Caribbean. At first feared by her shipmates, a growing number of victories make her truly part of Athena’s crew and bring her joy in her fire. But as her power grows and changes in unexpected ways, Elinor’s ability to control it is challenged. She may have the power to destroy her enemies utterly—but could it be at the cost of her own life?


The Scorpion's Lullaby

The Scorpion's Lullaby by Juliet Vane

SPFBO8

The Scorpion Raiders have three rules: Be ruthless. Be rich. Live like gods. Joella’s band of thieves lives deep in the jungle. Riding on giant scorpion dragons, they search the beautiful landscape for villages and caravans to rob. When insidious forces interrupt a routine raid, Joella becomes separated from her people. She’s alone except for a stolen book of legends and Marc, a pacifist dedicated to preserving the ways of the old goddess. Searching for their tribes, Joella and Marc brave violent beasts, deceitful clans, and the sweltering days and freezing nights of their beloved jungle. They must trust each other to right the wrongs of the past and save themselves, or risk the very landscape they hold so dear. The Scorpion’s Lullaby is a fast-paced, lyrical fantasy filled with creatures and characters who will take your breath away. Get your copy today and be transported into an unforgettable tale in this luminous, unique world.


Master of the Flying Broom

Master of the Flying Broom by Joseph J. Bailey

SPFBO8

Kensaro Hatanu’s soul was born the day his master handed him his first sword. Except Kensaro’s master did not hand him a sword to walk the path of the otana hanji, the sword saints of legend. His teacher handed Kensaro a broom. A broom to clean the monastery. While the other martial ascetics of Guai Lu practiced their physical and spiritual disciplines, Kensaro swept, mopped, and dusted, imagining he was slaying monsters, saving villagers, and meting out justice. Until the demons came and his broom was called to action. Master of the Flying Broom is a wuxia and xianxia-inspired noblebright martial arts fantasy of roughly 90,000 words.


The Soul Trade

The Soul Trade by Edward Rose

SPFBO8

When you’re the one and only Private Eye in Purgatory no case is going to be easy, but when a lost young woman walks through Patrick Judas’ door things take an even more dangerous turn than normal. The City he calls home might be full of the worst people north of Hell, but there have always been rules. Live a good life this time around and your final journey in the great Elevator might take you to a better place, live a bad one and… well you get the idea. But now someone is breaking those rules, switching the fates of decent people with the worst scum in the City - and Judas' new client seems to be caught up in the middle of it all. With only his wits, a foul-mouthed cat, and the help of the scariest receptionist in the universe, Judas will have to risk everything to save the City he hates.


Sacaran Nights

Sacaran Nights by Rachel Emma Shaw

SPFBO8

SACARA IS DECAYING. THE DEAD WALK THE STREETS, FUNGI LIGHT THE NIGHT, AND DAGNER MUST FIGHT TO KEEP THE ROT AT BAY. Legacy is everything in Sacara. Those few who inherit live only to keep theirs alive, protecting the ghosts of their ancestors from the corruption seeping into every corner of the city.
Dagner longs to leave - to create a legacy for himself and see the world beyond - but he is trapped by an inheritance that was never meant to be his. When a figure from his past returns to claim the legacy Dagner has sworn to protect, he must decide if he will forge his own path, or stay and make the sacrifices needed to save the city of the dead.


Raven: Reawakening

Raven: Reawakening by Mitchell Hogan

SPFBO8

A woman transformed by the blood of demons. Deadly beyond belief. Raven was once a member of the Grim Hand, a group of demonically altered assassins—until she staged her own death and began a new life free from brutality and murder. But some secrets refuse to stay buried, and the past is reluctant to loosen its grip on those who hide from it. When faceless assassins strike, Raven must return to a world of intrigue and violence, if only to save herself. Alone, trapped, and fighting a vengeful enemy that easily outmatches even Raven’s demon-hybrid abilities, she is forced to seek help from the man she once loved. A man with a revelation that will shake Raven to the core and change her world forever.


An Altar on the Village Green

An Altar on the Village Green by Nathan Hall

SPFBO8

“If one suffers, I suffer. If one is chained, I am chained.” My faith called me to become a Lance. My compassion drew me into one of the fallen lands. Through my connection with the Chained God, I alone can find and destroy the Horror that stains the land. Death can no longer chain me. But I couldn’t have imagined the madness waiting for me in this village. I’m not sure my faith can withstand the secrets I’ll uncover. Or that my compassion can survive the violence to come. This Horror may swallow me whole. Death can no longer free me. A creature stalks in the dark. Buildings burn. People die. An altar has been built on the village green.


Tails

Tails by Jessica Grace Wright

SPFBO8

Winner of LitNet's international inspiring literary contest! https://litnet.com/en/blogs/post/86343 Aria is a professional mermaid at an aquarium. She wears a fake tail and performs for visitors. All her life, she has been in love with the mythical creatures, but her whole world is turned upside down when they turn out to be more than myths and she gets caught in the middle of feuding cities from deep under the sea.


Imagine The Fire

Imagine The Fire by SG Gowland

SPFBO8

BEFORE THE TIME OF THE WALKERS - DARKNESS THREATENED THE LAND, THE POWER OF MAGIC CHANGED FOREVER AND THE FUTURE OF THE KINGDOM HUNG IN THE BALANCE. In the kingdom of Essealar, a rival power threatens the King’s plans to build his empire. As his sanity crumbles, a secret power must be found to help him achieve his aims. He will stop at nothing to accomplish his goal, but everywhere he looks is fire and he cannot see the realm beyond his madness. Daria Ravesh has spent a lifetime in loyal service to the King and is distraught at his decline. When she meets Edris Fane, she knows his unparalleled powers are all her King needs – but will he become her greatest ally or ultimate rival? When Edris Fane’s family is threatened, and his people attacked, he must join the King to fight for the freedom and peace he craves, but by unleashing his anger reveals to him the true power of the darker side of magic – the Guldur – which could destroy him and all he holds dear. Heroes will rise, enemies will fall, but chaos will reign.


Blood on the Canvas

Blood on the Canvas by David Samuels

SPFBO8

A kindhearted apprentice falls under the sway of a murderous master. Together, their careers, families, and feuds will shape the fate of kingdoms. Five hundred cherubim is the price of freedom in Kellotho Cay. It's a daunting fee, sure, but fledgling painter SIDNEYA fully intends to free her brothers from serfdom… but first she must sharpen her skills under a master of the craft. One doesn’t simply wake up and decide to paint a portrait for the Vernal Queen. There are words for that sort of person, and NICOLAF V’TRAMO knows them all. As a personal rule, the misanthrope never takes on apprentices. Not after last time. Besides, he's busy enough fending off rivals from the Honorable Guild of Brushmasters. But when Sidneya is caught stowing away on his homeward voyage, he finds himself in a bit of a pickle.


A Song For The Void

A Song For The Void by Andrew C. Piazza

SPFBO8 SPFBO Finalist

A Mind Imprisoned Is The Greatest Of Hells. 1853. South China Sea. While on patrol between the Opium Wars, the crew of the steam frigate HMS Charger pursues a fleet of pirates that have been terrorizing the waters surrounding Hong Kong. But now the hunters have become the hunted. Something else has come to the South China Sea, something ancient and powerful and malevolent. Now, the crew of the Charger must face their worst nightmares in order to survive the terrible creature they come to know as the Darkstar. A Song For The Void is a haunting, terrifying historical horror novel that will keep you turning the pages and jumping at the shadows. Readers who are interested in a historical adventure mixed with slow burn cosmic horror should take a closer look at A Song For The Void.


Dungeon Man Sam and the Orphaned Core

Dungeon Man Sam and the Orphaned Core by J. W. Benjamin

SPFBO8

Samuel Tolliver holds a deep and abiding hatred for Dungeons. For years he's been working and scheming to rid them from existence, and now he’s got a plan to do it. But there's a problem; Dungeons form the backbone of national economies and their construction is big business in this world. It doesn’t help that Sam’s father runs one of the world’s premier dungeon construction companies, or that Sam works for the family business. And when a series of disastrous events culminate in the death of Sam and everyone he knows, it seemed that all was lost. Until a voice came to him, offering a deal he could not refuse. Now Dungeon Man Sam has returned to life as the guardian for a strange new dungeon core. To save himself and his family, Sam must construct a dungeon like the world has never seen and defend it against all comers, be they monstrous or adventurous. If he succeeds, he'll see his family once more. If he fails, oblivion awaits. And somewhere, beyond his awareness, something ancient and terrible stirs and takes notice. Dungeon Man Sam is a slow-burn character-focused dungeon-building litRPG novel with a unique leveling system and elements of base building and real time strategy.


Rise of Tears

Rise of Tears by Brand J. Alexander

SPFBO8

The world of Elerea is dying, and Asahn is the only one who can save it. At least that’s the tale that Old Durn, the tribe storyteller, was weaving this time. It seemed absurd at first, but then everything spun out of control.  A strange new religion is hunting the Kahn Shogal, and the secret to why may reside in the clouded history of Asahn’s people. The mighty Highlands warriors have no choice but to flee into the wilderness of their homeland, but it has become a harsh and unforgiving place as the world withers. While the Kahn Shogal face danger on every side, their great chieftain is too consumed by pride and tradition to lead them. Only Asahn, heir to the Kah Hrah, has the authority to confront his father in his missteps. But for a son who always looked up to his father, such betrayal will not come easily.  With every step, Asahn will confront new dangers to his people and his world. And with every step, he will drive himself, against all odds, to become the person Old Durn swears he can be, their only salvation.


The Pirate's Deal (Romancing Aranthium #2)

The Pirate's Deal (Romancing Aranthium #2) by Daniela A. Mera, Elayna R. Gallea

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Everything changes when the Ice Mer King says, “I want you to kill my daughter.” Erik I am the Pirate of Death. I have spent my life on the seas, maintaining my reputation as one of the most fearsome pirates to ever sail the waters in Aranthium. Then, the Ice Mer King makes a deal with me. Kill his daughter, and my life-debt is paid. Fail, and my life is forfeit. Sounds easy, right? If only the princess didn’t have such a talent for getting under my skin and consuming my thoughts. Helena My father trades my voice for legs I don't want. A whole month on a human-only crew doesn’t sound like my idea of fun. What I want is love, safety and family. Somehow, I find myself tangled up with a dangerous Pirate whose fate lies in my hands. Falling in love with him is exciting, effortless. But I don’t want to be owned by anyone. “Little Mermaid meets Captain Hook, except the voiceless heroine has a knife? Yes please.” This book is a complete, stand-alone story that is part of a larger series. "Romancing Aranthium" books are the perfect books for fans of fantasy romance who love sweet love stories, powerful ladies, danger, political intrigue, and epic journeys. Setting classic stories in an urban setting with vampires, fae, merpeople, angels, and were-shifters makes them all the more enticing.


Manipulator's War

Manipulator's War by Elise Carlson

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Nonbinary Ruarnon is determined to prove their worth as heir to Tarlah’s perfect King. Things get complicated when their parents are abducted and they’re left ruling Tarlah in the shadow of impending war, with absent allies. Neighbouring King Kyura has no intention of invading Tarlah. But his warmongering subjects long for the glory of expansion. When Kyura rejects their calls for war, assassins threaten his family and mutiny threatens his reign. Stranded Aussie Linh is desperate to return to her family in Australia. But the only transport to her gateway home is Ruarnon’s absent allies, sailing to Tarlah’s aid. Monsters at sea threaten everyone. Linh’s monster observations could save Kyura’s people, and clear her homeward path. If she risks her life aiding Ruarnon. But to secure peace with Kyura’s unruly subjects, Ruarnon’s ultimate test as heir risks betrayal and Tarlah’s bloody defeat.


The Crypt Lord's Call

The Crypt Lord's Call by Dawson George

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If Hell is full, where do the sinners go? Theodore Goss is minding his own damn business when humanity's time runs out. Everyone is shunted off to Godguild, a new universe filled with magic, monsters, and stats, where the afterlife is determined by progression. It's not about being good anymore, or even being strong. All that matters is being at the top. Hard though it is, Theo plays along as an Afterlifer, determined to make it to paradise eventually. But when a vicious guild drags him into a skeletal dungeon run, Theo realizes the monsters have it much worse than him. Theo helps the surviving skeletons build a new home. To ensure their continued survival, however, Theo needs to navigate the minefield of unfriendly mobs, monsters of every shape and eldritch size, and of course, Hell itself peeking in at the edges, all while plumbing the secrets Godguild is hiding. It's going to take more than levelling up to make it in this cruel world, and Theo is just the guy to go above and beyond. Survival? Maybe for now. But Theo is coming for Godguild itself. The Crypt Lord's Call is book one of Godguild, a LitRPG series where the protagonist brings intelligent mobs to his side by hook or by crook, all to take the fight to the system. It offers a healthy helping of crafting, base-building, and survival elements.


The Alchemyst's Mirror

The Alchemyst's Mirror by Liz Delton

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A missing brother. A secret society. And a mysterious artifact that’s worth more than gold.Petra and Maisie Everturn just want to run their family’s tea shop, but when their explorer brother Jiordan goes missing while looking for an alchemycal artifact, none of them are safe.The sisters must enlist the help of another explorer in order to find Jiordan or the artifact—before the mysterious alchemyst society finds them first.However, when one of the sisters stumbles into the clutches of the most dangerous alchemyst in the city, the race to unravel the clues becomes desperate. And when they discover the truth about the artifact, their quest to infiltrate the alchemyst’s secret society becomes a matter of life and death.


Born of Fire

Born of Fire by R R Carter

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The nightmares are back. Years after the deaths of his parents, the dreams that haunted Jax have returned. He’s about to discover why, by being burned alive, just like they were. When the flames subside, the man left standing isn’t the same one who burned. The Numen allows him to see the Whispers. Jax is a Myth, a descendant of a lost bloodline, born to fight the darkness hunting humanity. Guided by others like him, he reaches Mythaven, a magical sanctuary cut into the Colorado mountains. His new friends need his help, but Jax must conquer the demons of his past before he can save the future. Fantasy and reality are two sides of the same page. The lore is real, witches, werewolves, nymphs, and even dragons exist amongst us. Hidden throughout time, they’ve been fighting, dying, for humanity. When myth becomes truth, can Jax make it through his own story?


Beneath the Dragoneye Moons: Oathbound Healer

Beneath the Dragoneye Moons: Oathbound Healer by Selkie Myth

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Elaine is ripped from this world to Pallos, a land of unlimited possibilities made real by a grand System governing classes, skills, and magic. An ideal society? What is this, a fantasy novel? Adventures? Right this way! A Grand quest? Nah. Friends and loot? Heck yes! Humans are the top dog? Nope, dinosaur food. Healing and fighting? Well, everything is trying to eat her. Join Elaine as she travels around Pallos, discovering all the wonders and mysteries of the world, trying to find a place where she belongs, hunting those elusive mangos, all while the ominous Dragoneye Moons watch her every move.


Forest of Forgotten Vows

Forest of Forgotten Vows by Grace Carlisle

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There are monsters in the woods. When I come back to my childhood home for the first time in seven years, a tiny man living under the porch stairs greets me like an old friend, and it only gets stranger from there. A hunter who stalks the woods, a monster in the river, and a man draped in shadows who offers me a bargain I can’t refuse. They remember me, but my past is in tatters, forcing me to follow the trail my childhood self left me years ago—the first time I entered the world known as Faerie. Each answer I find pulls me deeper into the web of political machinations of an otherworldly court. But nothing answers the biggest question: “why me?” And how can I possibly survive when I can’t even trust my own mind?


The True and Accurate Log of the Sand Ship Uncertainty

The True and Accurate Log of the Sand Ship Uncertainty by Fowler Brown

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Reality is an uncertain thing. It shifts and warps without the taming yoke of human agreement to bind it in place, especially near the twisting chaos that is Nightmare. As Keeper of Days for a band of pirates, Teivi Nishiir maintains the log of the sand ship Uncertainty, holding back the world’s insidious influence by recording the crew’s deeds. She knows the cruelty of the desert. She has sailed into Nightmare and sung her defiance to the corrupting aberrations that make the boldest pirate hunters balk. But even Nightmare is nothing beside a comrade’s betrayal. A deadly secret lurks among the Uncertainty’s latest plunder, one that pirates and kings alike will kill for. With the Uncertainty thrown into chaos, fleeing friends and dodging fleets, Teivi’s quill won’t be enough to keep her crew from a sandy grave. If she can stay one step ahead, she might have a chance to achieve everything she’s ever dreamed of. So long as she’s willing to pay the price in blood.


Darkhaven

Darkhaven by Kel E Fox

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What would you sacrifice for magic? Gabby is in her final year of high school and facing the Question: what does she want to do with her life? A shame ‘wizarding’ isn’t on the list of university courses. Just as Gabby despairs that she’ll never find the answer, lightning strikes. She uncovers a conspiracy, meets a mysterious boy, and finds out that maybe, magic might just be real. But it comes at a cost, and now Gabby's faced with a decision that makes choosing a university as easy as choosing a favourite kind of cake… How is anyone meant to do that? A coming-of-age, contemporary fantasy, Darkhaven is the first book in the Lightless Prophecy, a galaxy-spanning adventure of magic and gods, love and betrayal, and a quest to find out what holds the stars together in the dark.


Onslaught of Madness

Onslaught of Madness by Jesse Teller

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The Drine war machine needs to be constantly fed and has turned its sights on Tienne. Warlord Rextur devoted his life to planning this invasion, so how did he lose the element of surprise? And who is this emerging rival Peter Redfist? He can’t be much of a problem. The god of destruction has long favored Rextur. His faith is strong and his legions mighty. Who could withstand their onslaught?


The Heart of the Bloodstone

The Heart of the Bloodstone by Philinna Wood

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Avalan is a hunter in a cage. In the village of Hydrus, a fastness secluded from the Stone Lands, Avalan was born. He swam its warm waters, hunted through its blackwood forest, played the goat games on its white shore. Now, he watches the chief erect a mighty palisade to keep his tribe contained, forbid the magic of the birthstones, exile his childhood friend, and punish the tribe of Hydrus for daring to love, hope, dream … As the chief’s madness grows, so does Avalan’s longing to lead the tribe to freedom. But Avalan’s dagger is no match for the chief’s powerful stone magic. Much as Avalan hates the stones for being the chief’s weapon, he realizes there’s only one path to freeing his tribe: find what was denied to him, the missing piece of his soul … The Heart of the Bloodstone.


Kingdom of Essence

Kingdom of Essence by Holly Karlsson

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To survive here, you either grow wings or claws Elitsa Serlov only cares about two things — earning enough money to start a new life and finding the rogue mage who murdered her mother. But years without leads have left her jaded, and she won’t let anyone — friend or foe — get in her way. In Casekraia, anyone can use magic if they’re desperate enough to rent relics from the Tower, a corrupt guild of mages more concerned with their own wealth than the welfare of the people. Elitsa has spent the last three years as a reclamation agent for the guild, hunting down her own people for precious coin and the hope of uncovering what happened to her mother. Just one week before her contract with the Tower is set to expire, Elitsa is coerced into a dangerous conspiracy by a gang of rebellious thieves. With her loyalty to the Tower in question, Elitsa must decide between her quest for revenge and charting a new course for her life. With captivating characters, daring heists, and dangerous magic, this enchanting fantasy adventure spins a tale about the power of hope and friendship and our connection to the world around us.


Fly With the Arrow

Fly With the Arrow by Sarah K. L. Wilson

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Perfect for fans of Spinning Silver but with the dark humor of Santa Clarita Diet, this first-in-series romantic fantasy will grab you by the collar and pull you along into a world of magic and mystery that one reader described as “if Alice fell in love with the Cheshire Cat.” A STOLEN BRIDE. A TERRIFYING BRIDEGROOM. THE GAME THAT WILL DETERMINE THEIR FATES. I’m a practical girl. I can resign myself to an unwanted marriage – and I had. I just hadn’t expected my first potential bridegroom to be murdered by the second. It’s all because I broke the Law of Greeting. No one warned me the law existed. No one told me breaking it would mean I’d be swept up into the arms of a powerful and beautiful immortal bent on taking me as his sixteenth bride and dragging me off to his strange fairytale world. That’s a bit much to ask of a person. But I’m not the kind of girl to just give up. Not even if it means facing all the strange puzzles and magic of this mad fae world with nothing but my common sense and determination. I will not mope in my room, or go crazy, or let myself be killed by one of his rivals. And I absolutely WILL NOT fall in love with him. Not even when he keeps surprising me with depths of kindness and hidden layers. Not even if it turns out he actually might have a good reason for all of this. After all, he’s had fifteen wives before me and it’s not a case of “the more the merrier.” Especially not now, when it turns out he's playing a game for the fate of my nation. Failure in this world, would mean the desolation of everyone I love. Failure in this marriage, would mean utter destruction for my home. The stakes couldn't be higher. But I have a crafty husband, a severed-head best friend who gives surprisingly good advice, and the common sense my mother gave me. If that isn’t enough to take on the whole of this fae world … well, it will just have to be. That's all there is to it. Because I'm not dying without a very good reason and I’m not giving up until I’m dead. Come along on a wild romantic fantasy adventure with USA Today bestselling author Sarah K. L. Wilson, guaranteed to enthrall, delight, and maybe even surprise you. Author's Note: This is a deep, dark romp (not steamy) with an unrelenting pace and cliffhangers. Read at your own risk.


Dying Wishes

Dying Wishes by Anitha Krishnan

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Finalist for 2023 Rakuten Kobo Emerging Writer Prize in Speculative Fiction category When I was seven, my mother died. I struck a bargain with the Gods to bring her back to life. For thirteen years now, I have served as a Harbinger of Death, coaxing dying wishes out of mortals so that the God of Death may grant them moksha, liberation from the cycles of birth and death. The man about to die this evening claims he has nothing to offer me. He is dying a content man, a rarity in our world. But when the God of Death arrives to lead his soul away, the man changes his mind about dying and flees, planting on me an enigma. I only know I cannot trust any God with this secret. And that I'll pay an unbearable price for this concealment. Yet again, I underestimate how savagely the Gods can wound me. Even though one of them is supposedly my father who still doesn't know I exist. Set in Burlington, Ontario, this contemporary fantasy novel weaves Hindu mythology and South Indian folklore into a quest for belonging across different worlds – the World of Mortals and the World of Gods, India and Canada, the past and the present, the world outside and the one within. It is an offering to lovers of whimsical worlds and heartbreaking prose, and to anyone yearning to simply belong.


Bones to the Wind

Bones to the Wind by Tatiana Obey

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Rasia is determined to destroy her old man’s record in the Forging, a trial each child must succeed to come of age. All Rasia needs to do is hunt down a gonda, hitch its tentacle ass to her windship, and haul it back home in record time. Easy. Or it would be if Rasia wasn’t stuck on the same team as Nico—a know-it-all, spoiled, grubworm who never does anything Rasia tells her to do. Nico doesn’t care about Rasia’s egotistical dreams of glory. This is her brother’s last chance to pass the Forging or her father is going to banish him from the family. She needs to scour the desert to find whatever team the bones placed him on and help him kill a gonda before it kills him. Too bad Nico and Rasia can’t get along to steer a windship straight. BONES TO THE WIND is a coming-of-age sword and sorcery fantasy adventure. Action-packed and humorous, the novel includes strong female characters, LGBTQIA+ representation, and mature themes.


Wild Lands

Wild Lands by J. B. Cantwell

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A young sorceress. An ancient madman. A secret prophecy… The powerful sorcerer, Torin, sits on a throne of his own making, ruling the land in a grip of terror. He’s learned that the age-old prophecy of a campaign to destroy him has begun, and he’s desperate to capture those who threaten his power. Bree, a fledgling sorceress, doesn’t know about the prophecy, or that even now, Torin’s killers are hunting her. All of that changes when she learns her true destiny from the great beasts who are tasked with protecting the land’s magic. Torin knows that this young, untrained sorceress can’t defeat his powerful magic and legion of killers. What’s worse is that Bree knows it, too. If she should fail to unseat Torin, all will be lost, and every kingdom in the land will be destroyed by his wrath. But there’s something none of them know, something raw and wild running through Bree’s blood. And maybe, if she can discover and tame it in time, she might have a chance in the battles ahead.


Awakening the Gods

Awakening the Gods by Kristin Gleeson

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From a USA Today bestselling author comes a tale of magic, myth and Irish music. A failed barista, a reclusive blacksmith. Can they avoid the call of the Irish Gods? Saoirse knows playing traditional music once a week in a local Dublin pub won’t get her a career, but it’s all she’s got, especially after she’s fired from her barista job. But then her father dies and her life is set into a spin, especially when an unknown grandmother comes calling.. Music is Smithy's one joy that is left to him that has a residue of the magic he lost long ago. Creating things in his forge, tucked away in rural Cork, increasingly reminds him of what he's lost and why he must resist the requests of the Tuatha De Danann. They want him to join their efforts to battle their biggest nemesis,a powerful god who is threatening the destruction of Eire, the land they hold so dear. But events and gods conspire to bring Saoirse and Smithy to the path that was meant to be. It's time for the gods to awake and answer the call to defend the land. But answering that call could mean risking death. A music-filled romantic urban fantasy with a Celtic twist that will delight fans of Charles de Lint.


The Broken Oath

The Broken Oath by Pablo Suarez

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FIRST, YOU SHALL NEVER DO HARM Doctor Damyra Pynarios has achieved what no woman has before in the history of the Noktanian League. Ruthlessly climbing through the ranks, battling fiercely to become Guild-certified Physician and Head of the School of Medicine of the Guilds Association University, everything seems to be going well for her… … except something is brewing in Noktanos, Capital of the League. Damyra receives an unexpected visit from a lawyer with shady motives, and shadier allegiances. A past she thought long forgotten, is used to leverage her into signing a mysterious Binding Agreement. Will she sign a contract that could change the rest of her life? Meanwhile, young Nymor Strethos has ended his travels across the continent of Helados. No longer searching for incantations to add to his Codex, he has changed the company of an estranged father for an apprenticeship with strict Doctor Romos. His harsh tutelage will clash with Nym’s lifestyle and make him confront a very easy decision… …or it would be, had he not fallen victim to something he has learned to fear. Love. Which one will Nym choose, heart or duty?


The Spider and the Scribe

The Spider and the Scribe by Morgan Stang

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As far as Harriette Cooke is concerned, a little lie or two never hurt anyone. A down-on-her-luck scribe and the sole provider for her family, she struggles to get by in a city that turns a blind eye to the poor. Her finances are squeezed to the breaking point when she stumbles across the impossible on the side of the road: a chest full of gold coins. The fortune could completely change Harriette's life. The problem? It's a lost provincial tax payment meant for the King. Throughout the city, the search is on for the missing money, and everyone is closing in on Harriette. On one side is the lord of the city, Count Gainsbury, and the cruel City Watch at his disposal. On the other side is the Cobbler's Guild, a band of ruthless cutthroats led by a madwoman who will stop at nothing to claim her prize. And complicating things is the arrival of Royal Inquisitor Samara Adia, an investigator sent straight from the King to put his affairs in order with the help of her infamous bodyguard, the Misfit of Kantor. Trapped in a web of deceit, all clues lead to Harriette and her friends. If they want to get out of the city alive—and rich—they have only their wits to rely on...and perhaps a little lie or two.


They Call Me Princess Cayce: new body, new universe, deadly problems

They Call Me Princess Cayce: new body, new universe, deadly problems by P D Ball

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As if waking up in the body of a young teenage girl wasn’t bad enough, I couldn’t remember my own name. It turns out I’m the princess, second heir to the throne. I have to get back to my own life, but don’t know who to trust or how to do that. Ask the wizard for help? Clearly, magic was involved in my transformation, but if I tell him, I’d be confessing to stealing his princess’s body. And if I tell the prince, well, where’s his dear sister? Worse, I woke up tied to a tree in the enemy army. The army that just killed the king and wants to take over the kingdom. This new life is not going well. Was I stuck inside a game on some sort of quest? Maybe, I always play cute girl characters because, well, I want to watch them beat up monsters. But if this was real, then I was in serious trouble. Real or simulation, there was only one thing to do: survive. --- In a gritty, realistic medieval world that doesn't pull punches, Princess Cayce struggles to adjust. A land of terrifying magic, ever-present warfare, deeply rooted patriarchy and, well, a lot of limitations on how a princess can behave. This is not erotica and not a harem novel. There’s no romance. At least, so far. Inspired by litrpg, but it has no obvious gaming system.


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