Rise of the Phoenix by Brendan Arnold

Winner of Debut Author of the Year, Young Adult Book of the Year and Book Cover of the Year at the Bookstagram Awards 2025. Filled with emotional stakes, heartwarming angst, and shocking revelations, Rise of the Phoenix is the first book in the Phoenix Chronicles where magic is just the beginning. One moment can change your life forever. Will Tavner never imagined his quiet life in Fawkeston would end with fire and shadows. Marked by a strange glowing symbol and plagued by visions he can't explain, Will's dreams of leaving his small town behind crumble as he's thrust into a world where magic is more than myth - and far more dangerous. Together with his fiercely loyal friends - Aylise, Seb, and Rupert - Will is drawn into an ancient conflict brewing across the kingdom of Arulean. The ruthless Queen Haveena and her husband, King Rickard, rule the land with fear, wielding their powers to crush dissent. When whispers of rebellion stir and a long-forgotten power begins to rise, their reign threatens to topple. As secrets unravel and loyalties are tested, Will must decide who he can trust and what he's willing to sacrifice to awaken a long-lost power. In a world teetering on the edge of revolution, his choices will either spark a new dawn - or doom it to ashes. Why you'll love Rise of the Phoenix * A rich new magical world filled with loveable and love to hate characters, strong, powerful women and magical gays. * A blend of fantasy, action, mystery and self-realisation that will hook you in from the beginning. * A slow-burn romance formed from a lifelong friendship. * It's is a love letter to anyone who's ever felt different or had to fight to be themselves. * Perfect for readers looking for a less brutal Game of Thrones (George R. R. Martin), a queer twist on Throne of Glass (Sarah J. Maas), or looking for the self-discovery and friendship of Heartstopper (Alice Oseman).

Mediterranean Waves by L.E. Minx & T.J. Fox

After over a year Sam has broken free of a narcissistic online lover, but mentally, a shell of who she used to be; Sam is lost. Her oldest friend, Nina, insists Sam take a healing journey to the scenic country of Greece. Sam’s hesitation about the journey melts away as she’s entranced by Greece’s lovely scenery, kind people, and gorgeous men, one in particular. Lucian, the sarcastic and flirtatious Florida boy, instantly charms Sam and offers a chance to step out of her comfort zone and experience the fun in life. “You’re thinking too much, Sam, life is an adventure, you should live it,” Lucian says and a sassy new friend, Jenny, agrees. Together, they take Sam on an awakening journey that changes how she feels about herself and life. When Sam’s heart is opened and she loves herself again, unexpected, perfect love finds her, now she must be brave enough to trust it. Mediterranean Waves is an adult Contemporary Women's Romantic Fiction novel featuring unconventional romantic relationships open door spice 4-5 level. It features an independent, sex positive FMC, and includes multiple lovers and friends. LGBTQ and CNM relationships present.

The Secret of Magik and Blood: Witches of Tradbeldam Book 1 by Laura E. Thompson

Sowena’s life changes forever when she is forced from her home chased by soldiers and dogs. Her birth mother’s coven, that she never knew existed will reveal her mother’s sordid past and her own magik gifts. She will join a lifelong sisterhood and learn the truth of her lineage as well as how to hone her magik. Amid the chaos of war, fear of capture, and struggle to learn her magik spells, Sowena will experience something she didn't expect, the confusion of first love. The witches need to join forces with other magik allies, some of whom are not thrilled to be working with them. They will all need to act fast together because war is coming! A high NA fantasy, Witches of Tradbeldam is an epic series that is full of romance, action, adventure, secrets and surprises.

Return of the Sistah Samurai by Tatiana Obey

Afro Samurai meets The Boondocks in this anime-inspired novel I've wanted nothing more than to become a Sistah Samurai. When I was expelled from the training academy for sneaking in my stupid ex-boyfriend, I still had hope that I could cry enough to convince them to take me back. Then, demons invaded the capital and decimated the clan, and there went my dreams of ever naming my own pair of pink swords. Until I heard a rumor of one last Sistah Samurai. I packed my favorite outfits and my trusty teddy bear, and recruited my forever bestie to help me find her. If we could manage not to interrupt her lunch, maybe we could convince her to train us? We were ready to do whatever she asked, even if that meant confronting old flames and taking down the patriarchy. As long as we looked good while doing it. The sequel of Sistah Samurai is an Action Fantasy novella that is an homage to the anime, Afro Samurai. Both works feature a feudal Japan-inspired setting that is rife with anachronisms. In the words of Samuel L. Jackson, “Is that a motherf—ing RPG?”

May Chaos Reign Over You by La Purvis

Hezi is the purveyor of wine and chaos at Wayward Sip, the safe haven she created to escape her abusive ex. As chaos incarnate, she bestows her golden apples at her discretion and it is there that she meets Edno. The young dragon carries a darkness that threatens unmeasurable destruction and Hezi can't help but offer him the thing he wants most -- power. But when he returns days later with Emry, the alpha of his coven, Hezi realizes she made a mistake. Edno was consumed by chaos. But rather than feeling remorse, Hezi is amused and Emry is incensed. Emry decides that Hezi's life will be a suitable replacement for Edno's, but when their eyes lock, Emry's demands become far more personal than she'd anticipated. Bigger problems arise however as Emry is called back to her home to deal with the growing mistrust between her coven and The Regime, while Hezi's ex is trying to force his way back into her life. Hezi knows that getting attached to anyone is a risk, but she doesn't know which is more terrifying -- pushing everyone away for fear of losing them, or succumbing to the love of a dragon hellbent on claiming Hezi as her own.

Walking the Knife's Edge by Elise Carlson

It’s hard to focus on your studies when you’re from the wrong side of town, your dad’s an abusive prick and classmates are intimidated by your skills at hand to hand combat. But for Rarkin, getting into Sythe School means monsters, the chance to contain ones that stray into human occupied zones, and the opportunity to do something meaningful with his life. Even better; it includes an Electric Way pass out of town and travel beyond city limits.​ Rarkin seizes his chance at his dream job with everything he’s got, forcing down traumatic memories to focus on work he knows he could love. But it’s a dangerous time to be holding everything in, to have little contact with friends like brothers, or to be keeping new friends at arm’s length. Sythe’s nemesis, Organised Crime is no longer playing by the ‘rules,’ and Rarkin and his classmates are on the front line. Organised Crime’s bold new tactics tear at the bandages of Rarkin’s unhealed wounds and his unresolved CPTSD. To be the person Rarkin doesn’t believe people saying he can be, he must change his toxically masculine approach to emotions, and break the cycle of violence in his family. If he doesn’t make peace with his past and stop fighting EVERYTHING, he’s on the road to self destruction. In working for Sythe; Rarkin is Walking the Knife’s Edge.

Keepers of the Crossing: The Handsel Witches by Ryan J Hamshaw

Four months after the defeat of the Dark Friars, Liam O'Connor is finally finding some balance in life. He's juggling college, his friends, and his role as a Keeper of the Crossing. But that balance is about to break, and his friends’ safety is on the line. Tariq Ashar is trying to make his new relationship with Liam work while dealing with old secrets tied to Lucas Martindale, the obnoxious and unpredictable grandson of the Head of the Guild. When Lucas’ troubled past comes back to haunt him, it pulls Tariq and Liam into danger, putting everything at risk. Meanwhile, a new enemy is rising in Sarumbourne, driven by anger and revenge. As darkness spreads through the city, the Keepers must fight to protect it - or lose what they’ve sworn to defend.

Memories of Enaros Vol 1 by Astrid E. Abell

Memories of Enaros Volume 1 is a collection of short stories centering around the time Inarora Beservera, the protagonist of Inarora's Excursion, was a young child. Three of the short stories are from Kaedan's point of view and one is from Byron's point of view. Precious Protection Kaedan and his parents finally take the opportunity to lock out his soon-to-be ex-fiancée, Iris. However, they are not prepared to what lengths she will go to in order to remain in Kaedan and Inarora's lives. Babysitting with Fibro Kaedan and Xarlen leave Byron and Seri alone with the baby for the day for a court hearing. Unfortunately, both men discover babysitting isn't very easy when both of you are in a fibromyalgia flare. Kaedan's Injury The Second Rhanalanian War needs code breakers like Kaedan and his team. Unfortunately, that puts them directly on the front lines, forced to witness the atrocities of war. Even worse, they are targets themselves when Kaedan and his comrade, Xavier, break a code from the Patriot Defense Forces. Kaedan has to evacuate the Rhanalanian Defense Force headquarters, but what is the cost? Mela Súle It's Kaedan Beservera's first Mela Súle in a wheelchair and without his mother. With his father and grandfather both sick, this year's celebration will only be spent with his child, Inarora. As Kaeden worries he will disappoint his daughter, the two stumble upon a foreign family enjoying Mela Súle for the first time. It will be a memorable winter holiday season for all.

Moth Woods by Amara Lynn

A lonely mothman… The little piece of almost heaven I carved out for myself ain't bad. I've got my truffle pig, Rampy, and my farm, and my work. It ain't much, but it's honest work, and a peaceful existence. There ain't nothin' else I really need. But every year when the moth mating call comes along, I'm reminded of how lonely my life can be. Then I meet Ollie, and a smidgen of somethin' is growin' like a breeze between us. I ain't nothin' special, though. Ollie cain't possibly want me. After all, I ain't normal. Ollie's a little strange, but their weird cain't possibly match mine. A shy flatwoods monster… I finally return to life in West Virginia, where my kind first took root. Nothing's worked out for me, and I'm ready for something less stressful and more peaceful. I don't expect to meet Glen, the sweet guy at the farmer's market selling mouthwatering ramps, my favorite West Virginia specialty. I keep coming back for more, but Glen's kind eyes and welcoming smile are just as alluring. All I wanted was peace and quiet. I wasn't looking for love, but it sneaked up on me out of the woods, and now I'm falling hard for Glen. But I'm a cryptid, a frightening monster. There's no way he'd still want me if he knew how weird I really am. Moth Woods is a 20k word novella about an autistic mothman and an anxious flatwoods monster, two classic West Virginia cryptids. It features a pansexual x genderfluid sweet, spicy, and cozy romance with a side of angst, and of course, weirdness. The Contemporary Cryptids series are standalones and can be read in any order.

My Lord by L.B. Shimaira

"You try to comfort yourself with visions of events that didn't happen, but that doesn't mean that what did happen left no scars." After losing hearth and home, Meya attempts to escape the traumatic memories by travelling east. In 13th century Tristanja, however, it’s not safe to be alone. A local slave trader catches wind of the kinless woman and abducts her in the dead of night. Beaten and abused, the now meek Meya is sold to Lord Deminas. He's known to be cruel, yet becomes strangely protective of his new chambermaid, punishing anyone who dares hurt her. After cutting her to drink her blood, he even uses his own to heal her wounds. Meya and her paramour wonder if Deminas' dark secret is why servants regularly vanish, including the lord's previous chambermaids. However, the two women quickly learn that Lord Deminas isn't the only danger lurking in the castle's shadows. MY LORD is a queer, slow-burn erotic gothic horror novel about rediscovering yourself after trauma—with kinky, blood-drinking immortals and polyamory.

A One-Time Thing by Kate Hawthorne, E.M. Denning

Gil Valentine knows three things: he doesn’t want kids, he doesn’t want a relationship, and he likes to be alone. He spends Sundays tinkering in the garage, cruising on his motorcycle, and enjoying the luxury of a bed that he doesn’t have to share. After his last relationship with his best friend’s brother ended in disaster and nearly cost him a friendship, Gil swore off anything that might lead to complications. Rowan Verne knows two things: being a single dad is hard, and being a single dad to a pre-teen is harder. After the death of his wife and a tough few years as a struggling single dad, he’s determined to give his son a better life in a new town. Between moving into a fixer-upper and handling the demands of parenting a twelve year old, he’s juggling more than he anticipated—and then his son turns up down the street, talking to a very handsome, and very single neighbor. Rowan is everything Gil doesn’t want and Gil is everything Rowan doesn’t think he needs. Even though they’re opposites, the chemistry between them is undeniable. What’s supposed to be a one-time thing quickly turns into something both men want to continue. And when tensions get high and memories from the past flare their ugly heads Gil and Rowan realize everything has changed, but they both know one thing to be true. Once is never enough.

The Killing Song by Felix Graves

Fierce pirate captain Romada is about to retire from her high-stakes life when her siren girlfriend, Neiara, is abducted right in front of her. Together with Injago—her brother and quartermaster—and the rest of her crew, Romada sets out on what should have been a simple rescue mission, but as they begin raiding the siren holding camps and witness horrors there, they have to make a choice: fully commit to a burgeoning resistance against these atrocities, or stop for nothing and no one to find Neiara before she’s lost to them forever.

Our Funny Love Story (Resistance #1) by Byrd Koto

Normal People meets 10 Things That Never Happened with a literary whodunit twist in this Achillean romantic mystery set in Tokyo. A comedy of errors, until fate decides to reveal its twisted sense of humor. Kamada Eizo, a popular young web novelist, lands his dream—a flagship fantasy series with an ambitious publisher. Miyamoto Ran is the brusque, uncompromising editor assigned to turn his series into a hit. Perfect opposites, they clash at the start. Eizo is skilled at spinning tales; Ran hates liars. Eizo is quick to notice Ran’s aversion to touch; Ran sees through Eizo’s polished smiles. What follows is a frustrating series of one-upsmanship games with no clear winners, only bruised egos. As the weight of their high-stakes project closes in, Ran senses something amiss about Eizo. He begins to uncover the man behind the writer, a truth that forces Eizo to double down on his defenses, fighting not just for his story but to keep Ran out. But exposing the truth will come at a cost; Ran isn’t prepared to pay, not when his long-suppressed feelings are becoming as complicated as the mystery he’s trying to solve. Expect dual third-person perspective, layered narratives, and banter teeming with romantic tension and psychological intrigue. This is Book 1 of a duet that ends in a happily-ever-after.

Darker Than the Starless Night by Rebecca Brodkey

A tale of gods and titans, the humans caught between them, and the chemistry that binds it all together Yom has found a simple solution to avoiding the obsessive thoughts that have haunted her since burying herself beneath powdered drugs, bodies, and coin. But when her gang’s leader demands loyalty at all costs, Yom’s position as the gang’s head chemist comes under threat. Forced to investigate, she crosses paths with a cagey royal archivist named Quia as they unearth a horrifying conspiracy to reopen the ancient war that ripped the world in two. Quia offers a tenuous cross the dangerous network of provinces to reach the queendom’s capitol, and seek the one mythical person capable of halting the forces of war. On the treacherous odyssey, Yom reckons with blood-thirsty crime lords, the queen’s personal guard, bounty hunters, forest spirits, old gods, and the specter of a friend she lost as a child—her first love—who might still be alive out there. The chemist must face her addiction to powder, her growing feelings for Quia, and the obsessive thoughts that threaten to tear her mind in two, lest she lose herself in her quest to save the world.

Gravity's Fire by CJ Aralore

Jason June meets F.T. Lukens in this YA debut that’s two parts fluffy romcom, one part contemporary fantasy, and all epic love story. First love is magic. Sometimes literally. Sixteen-year-old Phoenix “Nix” Ashwell has spent his whole life looking for his soulmate. He’s also spent that life living a lie. After discovering his parents kidnapped him as an infant, he runs away to a town built inside an ancient crater to search for clues about his past. And, no, he’s totally not there to look for a boyfriend. That is, until he meets Max, a boy straight out of his dreams. Okay, fine, he’s definitely there for a boyfriend. Desperate to be closer to Max, Nix takes a series of bizarre tests to get into the special program he’s part of. There’s just one problem: Max is magic. And, after unknowingly cheating on the tests, everyone thinks Nix is magic too—including a group of ex-students whose attempts to reveal magic to the world put Max in danger. Now Nix has way more to worry about than figuring out if Max is flirting with him or just super nice. He’ll have to find his own magic to protect the guy he’s falling so hard for he’s seeing stars. But then he learns his birth parents are hiding even more secrets than the ones he ran away from—one being that he was born to wield the most dangerous kind of magic. He’s faced with an impossible choice: risk the life of the boy he’s spent his whole life looking for or let him go to save him. What began as a quest to find where he belongs becomes a battle between the fire of who he is and the gravity of who he loves.

What Death Forgets by Thea Verdone

Fall in love through a painting. When up-and-coming artist, Asher Blakely, is invited to ​compete for a prestigious art mentorship hosted by his hero, ​the reclusive celebrity artist Leviathan Marks, he’ll do ​whatever it takes to win. Because Asher isn’t just any fan. ​He’s spent hours of pain and thousands of dollars turning ​Leviathan’s art into tattoos on his skin. But the more Asher gets to know the mercurial Leviathan, ​the more he starts to fear that maybe he never should have ​met his hero, that maybe Leviathan is no hero at all. Lev Marks collects people like paintings and he’ll stop at ​nothing to add Asher Blakely to his halls. But after luring ​Asher to his ancestral castle perched atop a tidal island, Lev starts to have second ​thoughts. Because Asher’s art is a mirror showing Lev all the worst ​parts of himself, and he can’t risk his secrets getting out. What Death Forgets is an MM modern gothic romance featuring -master painter x art prodigy protégé -hurt / comfort -anxiety and ADHD rep
 -touch-starved MC -angst -age gap
 -forced proximity -creepy castle -limerence to insta-love -mutual obsession -spicy Perfect for fans of Saltburn, Rebecca by Daphne DuMaurier, Sierra Simone's Thornchapel series, and A Picture of Dorian Gray.

Carrion Saints by Hiyodori

“Now reach back,” she said, “and tear off your wings.” Carrion Saints is a sapphic enemies-to-lovers romance between an immortal saint and a severed head. Crow can pass for human. She may come off as eccentric, but she’s good at hiding her wings. As a saint, she’s devoted her endless life to protecting humanity from other immortals: the ones they call monsters. She’s finally ready to take on the worst monster of all, a great evil sealed at the edge of civilization. Magnolia is the worst monster of all. A villain who amuses herself by preying on valiant heroes. At first glance, she looks powerless. She looks, in fact, like a decapitated head (a very chatty one). But her magic lets her issue absolute commands to humans and immortals alike. She’s been waiting centuries for a challenger powerful enough to break the seal binding her in the wilderness. In other words, she’s been waiting centuries to magically seize control over someone like Crow. Crow has always been patient and forgiving. Sadistic, remorseless Magnolia awakens new depths of loathing in her—a hatred of frightening intensity. And now, she's forced to use her full power to grant Magnolia’s one heartfelt wish: to see the rest of the world. To make up for all the years she spent trapped alone with only trees for company. What follows is an ultra slow-burn romance between true enemies. Between good and evil. Between a winged woman and a talkative severed head (who occasionally sprouts the rest of her body, just to keep things lively). They travel together across a post-apocalyptic landscape marked by strange magic and scattered human settlements. Yet the apocalypse happened a long time ago, and eons will pass before their gradually fading world dies for good. In the meantime, these immortals are stuck with each other. Even a saint and a monstrous villain might eventually fall in love—but the path there will be dark, crooked, and sometimes surprisingly cozy. This standalone fantasy novel can be read without prior knowledge of the author’s other work.

Desolate by Kelli Storm

A time-bending mishap forces a witch to navigate a new reality and an unexpected romance. Can Mia find her way back home, all while stopping a killer? Being a witch with ADHD has its challenges. When Mia gets distracted while performing a spell, she becomes an accidental time-traveler. Waking up in 1992, she comes across supernatural creatures attacking a young woman, and she taps into strange, unknown powers to save her. But as Mia starts falling for the enchanting near-victim, she discovers the girl will soon die. She might be the only person who can stop her killer, yet everyone knows messing with time can have dire consequences. As she works on finding a way back to her timeline, Mia quickly realizes she needs to make a choice. Let history happen, or stop this dark destiny from coming to pass. Kelli Storm's debut YA urban fantasy, Desolate, is a spellbinding novel for lovers of LGBTQ+ heroines, character-driven plots, neurodivergent representation, and bewitching twists. Join Mia on her journey of the choice between destiny and saving the ones we love.

The Secret Shape of Worship by A.K. Asher

Love, lust, and irreverent worship. Mina is giving God one last chance: to speak, to change him, to save him from the constant temptations that surround him in the form of the other boys in his seminary class. And what better place to confront both his God and his demons than a religious pilgrimage with his fellow students—a time focused on biblical study and solemn worship. But the god he finds is not the one he expected. A brush with death brings Mina face to face with Anubis, the flail-wielding Egyptian god of the afterlife. Drawn into a dangerous and seductive journey of raw desire and intoxicating revelation, Mina finds himself navigating a world where the lines between sin and salvation are increasingly blurred. But as lust becomes something more, Mina draws the eye of the underworld and is forced to choose between the safety of his familiar faith and the jackal god he’s come to love. And in the end, it may cost his soul. Exploring themes of self-discovery, salvation from the expectations of others, and the profound healing in loving ourselves, The Secret Shape of Worship is the first installment of the planned, interconnected Ancient Awakening series.

Haroun and the Study of Mischief by Lynn Strong

“Don’t get a torch too close to his djellaba.” “It might catch fire?” “You might see it.” Venerable Haroun, the blind saluqi priest of the dog-headed god Yepuet, has come to the wild and collarless Tel-Bastet, the City of Cats, for an education in mischief. And Haroun has never met a crime of fashion he wouldn’t commit. Shai Madhur, the disabled human priest of Upaja, thought accepting Haroun’s leash meant being Haroun’s seeing-eye human. He wasn’t prepared for the political machinations… or for Haroun’s sense of humor. When a kind prophet-prince goes missing, Haroun smells iniquity in the air. (Iniquity, it turns out, smells like kumiss spilled on a tomcat in dire need of a bath.) The problem with everyone in Tel-Bastet knowing what a Good Boy their Shai Madhur is, is that people keep trying to rescue him, whether he needs it or not. Not that he’s complaining, exactly. But Madhur swears he is never going carousing again… no matter how soulful Haroun’s puppydog eyes are. With a splash of Studio Ghibli, a sprinkle of Roshani Chokshi, and a dash of Terry Pratchett, when the cats and dogs need to learn to live together, Haroun and Madhur take on the difference between what is seen and what is true.

Just Like a Fairy Tale by Cameron James

Luca‘s dreams are finally coming true when he secures a spot in the infamous Drag Club, The Rose Quartet. After years of perfecting his art, his moment is here but there’s still another first that’s niggling in the back of Luca’s mind: he’s never been in love. But maybe the beautiful boy who he’s certain would never like him back could change that. To Jackson, The Rose Quartet is like a second home having been raised amongst the fabulous Queens of the past, but his confidence has been shook after a disaster breakup he believes his demisexuality played a part in. With the health of his grandfather deteriorating by the day, Jackson doesn’t have time for the new Queen who’s catching his eye, right? Both have an undying love for drag which is ultimately what brings the two of them together, but will these two Drag Queens ever figure out what’s right in front of them?

Dumpster Kid by Cameron James

At just 17, McKenzie Jackson took the world by storm with Dumpster Kid, his raw, unfiltered musical about survival, hope, and finding where you belong. Now, a decade later, the prodigy-turned-playwright is ready to reclaim his voice as his show gets a long-overdue revival. But this time, McKenzie won’t just sit back and watch—he’s making sure it’s done his way. Enter a nationwide talent search, a live reality competition, and one dangerously charming contestant who makes McKenzie question everything. Falling for him? Bad idea. Falling for him on national television? Career suicide. And when an unscripted, unapologetic gay kiss ignites both celebration and backlash, McKenzie is thrown into a firestorm he never expected. Meanwhile, 14-year-old Ben is ready to disappear. Bullies, school, and home feel unbearable, and he longs to be anyone but himself. When an opportunity brings him into the orbit of Dumpster Kid, he’s faced with a choice: run from the life he knows or fight for the future he never believed he deserved. Told through dual perspectives, Dumpster Kid is a story of love, identity, and the messy, beautiful chaos of finding where you truly belong. A celebration of art, queerness, and the family we choose, this heart-wrenching yet hopeful novel asks: what happens when the world finally sees you for who you really are?

Adolescent Summers by Cameron James

Adolescent Summer has been lighting up screens for a whole decade – that’s ten years of Oz living it up in a fantasy world lightyears away from reality. But when production shut down during the global pandemic, Oz found himself with more free time than ever, giving him a chance to piece together parts of himself he’d lost. ​When Oz finally returns to the set after the lockdown, he’s in the midst of his own transformation. What he doesn’t realize is that he’s walking straight into a minefield of drama, one that feels all too familiar – just like the battle that erupted when his co-star, Quincy, came out as nonbinary years ago. Old wounds are ripped open, and feelings are hurt. And that’s just the beginning of the on-screen and off-screen drama.

Cassidy is Queen by Cameron James

Cassidy is the Queen. Everyone knows Cassidy, right? Theatre star, VIP at every party, and boys wrapped around his little finger, Cassidy rules Ravenwood School for Boys, and it’s everything he’s ever wanted, isn’t it? ​After a mix-up in a coffee shop with Casper, a trumpet player from a rival school who isn’t under Cassidy’s spell, Cassidy starts to see his life for what it is: does he want friends or is he happy with followers? Can he trust the people closest to him? Should he continue a secret relationship with his theatre teacher? Is the word boy the right word to describe him? ​With the help of Casper, Cassidy begins to explore who he truly is and whether he even wants to be The Queen after all. For the first time, he lets himself fall for someone who shows him there’s more to life than fancy parties, expensive clothes, and a disposable income.

Young Wizards Society by Dillon McKenzie

A new era begins at Myddrin School for Magic—whether the wizarding world is ready or not. When a revolutionary law opens the doors of Myddrin to Elves, Fairies, Pixies, and even Vampires with wizard blood, the school’s centuries-old traditions are shaken to their core. For some students, it’s a long-awaited opportunity. For others, it’s the beginning of chaos. Justin, a returning student with a secret heritage, teams up with Indie, a Witch with Elven roots, and Marshall, a mysterious newcomer with more to hide than most. As they settle into their school year, they discover that acceptance on paper doesn’t equal equality in practice. Segregation, suspicion, and rising tensions threaten to unravel everything magic is supposed to stand for. When a dark incident sparks fear across the school, the students must decide: stay silent, or stand together. Forming a defiant alliance known as the Circle of the Zodiac, they uncover a mystery that could endanger not just their place at Myddrin—but the future of magic itself. Friendship, identity, and magical rebellion collide in Young Wizard Society—a powerful fantasy about fighting for the right to belong.

Dissolution Protocol by H.J. Barner

What would you sacrifice for the greater good? Nearly 200 years ago, half of humanity fled to the stars to escape an Earth butchered by climate change and nuclear war. Ever since, dozens of colonies have been attempted on distant planets, each one failing after the last. Today, remaining space-dwellers live on Space Stations orbiting resource-depleted planets, indifferent to the riots and unrest on the Earth they left behind. Aboard the S.S. Obsidian Dawn, Captain Everest Eskandari navigates the harsh realities of a collapsing Space Republic with her crew and two passengers: Eridan, a navigator who thinks himself helpless to fix a broken world; Zeya, a mechanic with faith that the government will take care of everything well enough; Dorian, an electrician who's come to accept that they're all doomed anyways; Kalani, a scientist on the run; and Samson, an Earthling who's finally stopped running from his fate. When dangerous secrets come to light, the crew must grapple with everything they thought they ever knew, and both Space-dweller and Earthling alike must make sacrifices capable of forging the future for centuries to come. Through the lense of six lives, "Dissolution Protocol" explores themes of apathy and indifference, and warns of a world where ignorance is not just bliss, but a dangerous, corrosive force.

VENDETTA by Wes Davis

An aspiring actor from Idaho who makes it big on Broadway and then Hollywood, Barrett had no idea that helping the NYPD prosecute a predator would put him, his partner, and old friends in jeopardy years later. But as the saying goes, No Good Deed Goes Unpunished. A charity event where Barrett is honored for his philanthropy sets in motion the plot to kill him. Now he and his family and friends are in a fight for their lives against a cunning evil foe pursuing his vendetta against Barrett and everyone he cares for.

Merman's Delight by Skyler Nightshade

After a successful mating season, Glacier returns to the lighthouse he calls home to rest and watch over his treasure pile. Used to spending his days left alone by the human who lives there, he is surprised to find that the lighthouse is being tended by someone new--someone much more curious about the merman who’s been protecting the shore. It doesn’t take long before Glacier is discovered, and the chase is on. Will Glacier be able to escape, or will this human catch him? And why are forbidden feelings starting to grow the longer Glacier is pursued?

EXEQUIAL by Hannah Rebekah Graves

Don’t be late for your own funeral. An embittered soul ascends from the underworld to seek revenge on those who wronged her. (“The Dead Rise in Greece”) In an online forum, a tight-knit group takes their serial-killer infatuation to the next level. (“A (Potential) Ghost Story”) A corpse laments the loss of each falling petal. (“On Bodies and Bouquets”) Thirty encounters with ghosts, cursed books, incriminating VHS tapes, entities from the skies, and questions that are best left unasked.

Millennium Bug by Yvonne Knop

David Smith’s life is thrown into chaos when a mysterious book crashes through his window, telling the story of a life he doesn’t remember. A stranger, claiming to be a hidden scribe who weaves reality, demands the book back, warning that keeping it will unravel the world, but returning it will erase David from existence. As the ancient order of storytellers is threatened to be overthrown by AI, David must reclaim his past and rewrite destiny itself to prevent the erasure of all reality. But if he succeeds, the cost may be too great—unlocking the truth of his fate gives him the power to destroy everything, including the only man he's ever loved. If the world was never meant to be real, does it deserve to exist?

War in Sorcery's Shadow by Elise Carlson

Myth says the Guardians ended the Sorcery War by draining all sorcerers of their powers, or killing them. The Guardians then vanished without a trace —and so did magic. But the myths are wrong. Magic wielders lived on in hiding. Now Sorcerer King Nartzeer is recruiting them, in a world that hates and fears their power. Terrorised by Nartzeer’s pre-emptive strike, Ruarnon’s Guardian-descent-claiming allies set sail to annihilate Nartzeer. Ruarnon hopes to free their family from Nartzeer’s clutches first, but Ruarnon’s uncle won’t abandon the army he commands to slavery. Linh is killing two birds with one stone, using her role as Ruarnon’s envoy to potential allies to track down sorcerers to open her magic gateway home. She learns that Nartzeer is rallying a sorcery army while his neighbours mobilise against him, and sorcerers whose awesome power Nartzeer’s ideology undermines, the dreaded God Kings, are stirring. With sorcerers on all fronts marching towards mutually assured destruction, Linh and Ruarnon race to reach Nartzeer with the truth of magical ancestry and allegiance, hoping to unite people who are not so different, before they utterly destroy each other.

Neon Lullabies by H.J. Barner

Are you dreaming? Are you sleeping? Have the neon lullabies worked, or will you join the Awakening? In the Seacity, the sun never shines. While the corporate-ruled utopia of Skycity glistens among the clouds, the sinking underworld of crime, salt water, and eternal night known as the Seacity makes a home among the sunken ruins of a former American metropolis. Here, criminal syndicates govern divided neighborhoods sponsored by various corporations, and status is defined by having the latest tech. Growing up in the sunless alleyways of the Seacity, former Syndicate engineer Hat now carves a life out for themself by hacking into corporate databases and making edits for credits. When a job gone wrong lands them with a 100-grand bounty on their head, Hat finds themself at the mercy of the Awakening, a shadow-operating resistance group seeking to topple the mega-corporations that puppeteer everyday life in the Seacity. Meanwhile, in Skycity, the Seacity-born Helena finds herself interning with Neol Inc., the world’s leading technology company. While Hat navigates the ranks of the Awakening, Helena gains an inside look at Skycity’s corporate propaganda and starts to understand that it’s never been corporation versus corporation so much as Skycity versus Seacity. Forced to choose between the city of her birth and the possibilities of her future, Helena finds herself questioning the price of morality in the cut-throat corporate workplace of Skycity. And when Hat lands themself in a prison after learning of an impending software update with the potential to destroy any semblance of freedom the technologically reliant people of the Seacity still have, Hat must find a way to escape their high-security jail cell or witness the end of free will in the Seacity.

Pandion by J.B. Thwaite

After graduating from the seven-year extended program of the top-ranking empath university in Japan, the serial overachiever, Harumine Satoru, is paired to work with the absolute bottom-of-the-barrel shirker delinquent, Kagesawa Tsuyoshi. What could possibly go wrong? Pandion is a nerdy gay workplace ro— Soft Scifi Adventure set in near-future alternate universe Japan with plenty of character growth, neurodiversity rep, geeky tech and an intriguing plot with realistic, relatable stakes. Can these nerds overcome their unusual circumstances?

I Left My Hormones in Another World: Vol. 1 by Angela Wicke

"My name is Jen Joyce. I was just an average, ordinary woman working at a dead end job until I found myself dumped into Bastion, the capital city of a fantasy world watched over by the benevolent goddess Lenora. As Lenora's chosen one, it's up to me to rise through the ranks, leveling up my skills and gear to eventually face off with the demon lord Ventalus and free the world from darkness. There's just one I left my hormones in another world. But that's no reason to panic; it's not like it'll take that long for me to cheese my way to the final boss and go home. Right?" Inspired by isekai light novels, fantasy RPGs, and a desire to see more trans and queer representation in media, I Left My Hormones in Another World is the debut novel of author Angela Wicke and the beginning of a new series of the same name. Join snarky everywoman Jen Joyce on a lighthearted yet action-packed adventure in a world of swords and sorcery that will test her strength, wit, and patience, taking her from the bustling streets of Bastion into the fiery depths of a volcano and the war-torn ravine where she'll face her destiny.

Forged of Immortal Blood by V. M. Nelson

A Norse farm girl fated to save the gods. A best friend and lover turned valkyrie. A fierce right hand to the jarl with a secret that might end his life. Their forbidden love for each other may ruin them and the gods’ plan to change their own future. Every year, the gods pay a visit to Skuld—the most powerful seer—to receive a vision of what their future holds. This year’s foresight will lead them to Solveig, a young woman fated to save them from their demise. Solveig doesn’t know that she is part of the gods’ destiny. She only knows she was born into a world that will not let her love her best friend—Hilde—and instead takes everything from her, including her choice of who she will marry. In a desperate attempt to plan their getaway, Solveig and Hilde encounter the gods’ seer, who tells them their prophecies. After that, nothing is the same. Solveig, desperate to get away from her betrothed—a man of great cruelty—runs away, leaving everything behind. Alone and afraid, death comes for her, and she finds an unlikely ally who offers her two different paths. Become the warrior she has always wanted to be and maybe one day return to her family or hide in a neighboring village and change everything she is, in hopes that the man she is running from never finds her. When the odds are against you, what path would you take?

The Witch who Chases the Sun by Dawn Chen

Sometimes, true love is not the answer. ​ A decade after the Second War, Aixauhan Alchemist Ying Cai-Li seeks to rekindle her relationship with her ex-lover, the Inabrian Oracle Anne Barberry. However, the war changed them both. Estranged by their losses, Cai-Li has gained a notorious reputation as the dark magic-wielding Blood Hawk and Anne barricades herself in a castle on a hill where her family’s dark secrets lie. Rumors in the village say Anne is a monster, responsible for the disappearance of innocent visitors. But when the two witches reunite and begin unraveling the mysteries of the village, it becomes clear that scars left by the war do not easily fade. Things are not as they seem. Old ghosts come back to haunt them. Past truths are revealed. Can the witches be each other’s salvations or are they doomed to repeat the past that tore them apart? Fans of The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang and The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon will fall in love with Dawn Chen’s sapphic high fantasy epic about anti-colonialism, grief, generational trauma, and the cycles of war.

The Assassin and the Sorceress by NRG Selove

A ruthless assassin. A wisecracking sorceress. A perilous journey that will reshape the Kingdom. Driven by money and hatred, Jessara is the greatest of the King’s royal assassins. An autistic elf born in the forests of Anwood, Jessara was trained from childhood to become the perfect weapon against the Compact of the elves. When it comes to a special capture or kill contract, she’s the obvious choice when the King needs a delicate touch. Her target: a mysterious fugitive human sorceress named Asha Weaver. A specialist in fire magic, Asha narrowly manages to escape execution in the capital city of the Kingdom. Her impulsive and reckless nature prove to be a challenge when a series of misadventures forces the assassin and the sorceress to work together. Loyalties will be questioned as the reluctant partners battle monsters, hide secrets, overcome betrayal, and face the inconvenient feelings growing between them.

Run Like Hell by Eira Brand

Starving to death in the lowest layer of the Megatropolis of New York City, Raide will do whatever it takes to survive. When a chance encounter with her best friend ends with his murder, Raide soon finds herself risking her life to complete his last gig, all while in search of answers and vengeance. But with corporate mercenaries on her heels, a strange new virus mutating ordinary people into grotesque monsters, and the sinking realization that this was more than a simple contract gone sideways, Raide is soon left with two options: Lie down and die or run like hell.

Mechanical Heart by Beverly Anne Michel

Levy Hart thought he had a great life. He lived with his best friend, scientist, Finnea Wong. He had a good job, played Dungeons and Dragons, and loved to bake for his friends. Everything seemed to be going perfectly until he discovered someone close to him had been keeping secrets. Lies and secrets turn his world upside down. He must relearn how to navigate the world. He must learn how to trust the ones closest to him again. Things become even more complicated when Finnea finds herself in trouble. Levy must help her while rebuilding their relationship.

The Burn of a Bourbon Soaked Cherry by MJ Marlowe

a queer, small town romance between a Trans M/Cis F, packed with high heat and a tender touch to soothe the burn ‘Thirty-five year old Hazel Vincent is no stranger to wanting things—she’s human after all, but a life of holding herself back has turned her apathetic. That is, until she unexpectedly sees him. Immediately drawn to the mysterious, older newcomer in the small town bar, Hazel decides she’s ready to take what she wants: starting with a night entwined in him. Except as her evening progresses with the gruff, yet tender cowboy, it’s clear to them both that their connection goes beyond something one night of passion can satisfy. Only problem is, neither one are looking for love.’

Red Green Blue by PS Shai

Micah, a young archaeology student, gets lost on his first dig in the Mesopotamian desert and discovers a dragon statue chained up deep underground. It follows him home.

To Speak with the Stars (Apprenticed to the Gods #1) by K.V. Wilson

A reluctant mage reborn in flames. A passionate princess fleeing her fate. A powerful telepath at the mercy of the world’s thoughts. A spirited goddess craving adventure. With Penumbra on the brink of an ice age, Eos dreams of helping to create the False Star each dawn to ensure the survival of his people. But there's just one problem: he cannot speak the star's name. In the eye of the storm, Rysa was raised to rule at her mother's side. But a terrible secret has been kept from the princess—one that will tear her life apart. Deep within the molten Heart of Penumbra, a secret society gathers. Elves, dwarves, fauns, ice dragons, and magma merfolk prepare to seize the stolen throne and end the enchanted storm before it devours the realm.

Too Like the Lightning by Travis Beaudoin

Andrew Madigan had everything he ever wanted. He’d worked hard to build this perfect little life. A stable relationship with a successful man. A beautiful home in a quiet suburb. And best of all, a job where he spent his days talking about literature. Then his tenure was denied and, too quickly for him to stop it, everything crumbled. Now, with his dreams in the dust and his confidence shattered, Andrew has one summer to figure out his next move. Bulbs, Florida, is like no place Andrew’s ever known. It’s small and provincial. It’s hot as hell. Storms roll through every single day. But Andrew just has to keep his head down. Finish his book, find a new job, put things back on track. Easy-peasy. He didn’t plan on making a friend. Coley Brandt has a green thumb and an easy smile. He’s much younger than Andrew, but he puts Andrew at ease, makes him feel at home. Their time together reminds Andrew what having a purpose feels like. Suddenly, this long, lonely summer feels too short. But Coley has dreams of his own, and they’re a million miles away from the life Andrew’s trying to get back. Maybe this is just a summer fling. Maybe, like the lightning, it’s only meant to be glorious for a moment before it disappears. Or maybe it’s something more.

Part Time Girl by Adriaan Brae

How much longer can Michael hide his sex-switches? After making it through the second year of high-school, he knows it’s only a matter of time until someone notices and freaks out. Then his family will have to run and lose everything, again, or risk being found by the shadowy group that hunts people like him. He should go, just vanish and stop putting his family at risk, but his oldest friend Angela is in trouble and he can’t leave until they figure out why her catatonia and hallucinations have reappeared. To help her, Michael has to trust in Ian—the hottest, richest guy in school who definitely has a hidden agenda—and a mystery woman with a traumatic past who is the only one to know him as a girl. With people to protect and mysteries to unravel, Michael will need to unlock the full truth behind his identity—something he’s been running from his entire life.

The Lies That They Tell by TM Lore

The Lies That They Tell is the tantalizing sequel to the gritty and dark award winning thriller novel The Secrets That They Keep. Alyx Beck has been crowned Queen and must now become everything she hates. To survive-while surrounded by the spiders that want to eat her alive-she'll have to perform her role within the hierarchy; which means she must be bred by her King. Kept from her neurodivergent twin brother, Alyx has no idea how he's doing and worries if she doesn't fulfill her role as child-bearer her brother will be found and killed for her shortcomings. She'll have to use every weapon at her disposal, including her mouth, to keep him safe. That is if the spiders don't kill her first. It's Blink Twice meets Filthy Rich. This dark thriller has a female protagonist, neurodivergent and LGBTQ+ characters. Content warnings can be found at the beginning of the novel.

Werecockroach by Polenth Blake

Rin moves into a new flat on the day the aliens arrive. Their new flatmates are laid-back Sanjay and conspiracy theorist Pete. It doesn't take long to notice some oddities about the pair, like hoarding cardboard and hissing at people when they're angry. Something strange is going on, but it's not all due to the aliens.

Murder, She Rolled by Shelly Jones

Solving a murder can get dicey. Wren Winters is thrilled when her gaming group is invited to join the town’s new superstar streamer Noelle Williams for a live demo—after all, a little publicity could put Wren’s board game shop, the Cardboard Sheep, on the map. But moments before they go live, Noelle collapses on camera, and by the time Wren arrives at her house, Noelle is dead and the police are swarming. Detective Greene, who still remembers last summer’s murder at Wren’s shop, is back with questions—and suspicions. As Wren and her friends reel from the shock, secrets about Noelle’s life emerge: relentless online harassment, jealous exes, and a sister desperate to pull her offline. Then another member of the group falls ill with similar symptoms. With danger closing in and a game board full of suspects, Wren refuses to sit on the sidelines. She’s determined to solve the puzzle before her friend’s game is over for good.

Player Elimination by Shelly Jones

She loves to play games, but not when it comes to murder. Wren Winters is a businesswoman on a mission, juggling an alumni event for a rising game designer while keeping her late husband’s retail store alive. With RSVPs pouring in and her cranky landlord threatening to bulldoze her shop for high-rise apartments, Wren’s plate is full—but she’s no stranger to overcoming challenges. From economic slumps to vandalism and vicious online rumors, Wren has always found a way to persevere. But nothing could prepare her for what she finds one fateful morning: her landlord murdered, her store turned into a crime scene, her only employee under suspicion (and hiding something), and a missing piece from an unreleased game. Now, with her store’s future hanging by a thread and the stakes higher than ever, Wren must channel her puzzle-solving skills like never before. Can she and her friends follow the clues, clear her employee’s name, and crack the case before it’s game over?

Shiver Me by Vermillion

A pirate’s life has never been so tempting. Long-suffering governess Regula is out of her depth on the Wretched Lady, a ship full of pirates as shamelessly charming as they are dangerous. She’d guessed her life would change, leaving the familiar walls of Sanctuary, but she’d never expected to fall into the hands of pirates. Even worse, the Wretched Lady’s roguish captain won’t let her, or her valuable charge, out of his sight, much less off his ship. Connor never wanted to be captain. Bad luck for him that the last one disappeared. It doesn’t help that after twenty years of violently enforced isolation, the city of Sanctuary has awoken with a vengeance, and the pirates who haunt her waters have already begun to pay. With a storm brewing in the isles and two strange women washing up on his deck, Connor must accept his captaincy, or else risk everything he holds dear. That is, if he can get his mind off the intriguing stranger who keeps dodging his questions. An adventurous romp of epic proportions, the sea will test them both as the shadow of Sanctuary looms larger over the water. Shiver Me is the first book in a daring fantasy romance series, each following a different couple towards their HEA.

It Bubbles Under The Skin by Caitlin Marceau

And they were crewmates... Jayce has spent her whole life by the ocean as part of the close-knit communities found across the Îles de la Madeleine. With a place to call her own, a job she adores, and a girlfriend she loves, her life has always been a comfortably predictable one. But after a night in the waters at Pointe aux Loups Beach, Jayce quickly finds her world upended as something calls to her from the ice cold waves. When blisters filled with saltwater ooze from her skin and ropes of seaweed slither from her body, Jayce realizes she can’t ignore the voice for much longer.