stories in and

Under the Lupine Moon

Under the Lupine Moon by A. Knightley

Under the Lupine Moon is a cozy MM paranormal shifter romance with high heat and murder mystery, set in a small Alaskan town brimming with paranormals. It is the first in a series where each book focuses on one couple's HEA. Finn Winters has exactly two friends, loves to cook, and can turn into a wolf the size of a Clydesdale whenever the mood strikes. But when loss leads him to someone who feels so right, even through a phone screen, Finn wonders if taking a chance and letting him in might be worth it, if it means calling him his own. That is, until he's stood up. After Jaime Lamont inadvertently witnesses the murder of one of Monroeā€™s most prominent citizens, all he wants is to hide away in his quiet, safe cabin and forget about the chances that were ripped away in one horrible night. But when heā€™s thrust into a world of danger and mystery, he finds himself in the arms of the man he thought he'd lost all hope of ever knowing. With Finn and Jaime back in each other's lives in a way they never expected, the electric chemistry between them is undeniable. But will hidden truths and unknown dangers tear them apart before they can even begin? Or, can they find their way back to one another?


Trust in Tomorrow

Trust in Tomorrow by Dana Sweeney

Sleepwalking let them survive a nightmare. Desire woke them up. Demetri When the world ended, I came to the Stronghold and joined their military. Even made it to the helmet corps with the best and brightest. Life in the barracks is a nonstop party, everyone living like there's no tomorrow. Let's face it, there probably isn't. When my friends joined a resistance movement against the rich jerks who run this place, we needed a place to meet. The library would be perfect if it wasn't for the librarian being a total snoop. I offered to chat her up for the greater good... and because I can't stop thinking about her. Save the world, get the girl. Win-win. Stella I arrived in the city weeks before the world ended. I thought I was living a fairy tale, engaged to a princeā€¦ but the fantasy was dead even before the dead started to rise. Officially in mourning for my fiancĆ©, I run the library and try to avoid attention. Yet somehow, Iā€™ve caught the eye of a handsome soldier. He makes me long for freedom, control over my fate. But this elite society considers me an asset; they will never let me go without a fight. How do I know so much about the Stronghold? I helped build it.


Farzanaā€™s Spite

Farzanaā€™s Spite by Felix Graves

Life is about as good as it gets for an anxious and depressed bastard stripped of any social benefits of her caste. Farzana has a cushy job, a wonderful best friend, and a mother and younger brother who love her to bits. Then the faerie who abandoned her mother before she was bornā€”the father she always hoped to meetā€”returns, brutally murders the royal family, and seizes the crown for himself. That comfortable life? Shattered. Slowly but inevitably, both the country and Farzanaā€™s life are dragged into a terrifying and lethal storm of chaos. If someone doesnā€™t step up soon to set things right, there wonā€™t be much left worth saving. Farzanaā€™s Spite is a sapphic dark fantasy featuring a diverse cast doing their best to stay alive during a traumatic and tumultuous period. A blend of tragedy, romance, and mystery, this story was written for anyone ever made to believe they were broken beyond repair, and who needs a story to kill that thought once and for all.


Cosmic Soul

Cosmic Soul by Mars Quinn

So I may be dead, but my afterlife isnā€™t. Caleb After years of wandering the stars, Iā€™ve finally met someone who can see meā€”the handsome and serious Prince Zoltilvoxfyn. I know I should pass on, but I feel something, like physically feel something, when Iā€™m with him. That hasnā€™t happened since I was alive, and I canā€™t help but wonder, why now? Zoltilvoxfyn Iā€™m trying to help the human soul, who shouldnā€™t even be here, leave the mortal plane, but he is resolved to remain. The longer Caleb lingers, the more danger he is in, yet the more I want him to stay by my side. Itā€™s like he belongs here, but that isnā€™t possible. This is a spicy stand-alone MM romance in the Cosmic Romance series. It is a sci-fi paranormal romance with a sunshine ghost, a serious alien, overprotective brothers, and a happily ever after. This book is for adult audiences only and has explicit content. Content warning inside.


Cosmic Husband

Cosmic Husband by Mars Quinn

My cat and I have been abducted by aliensā€¦ Seth One second Iā€™m walking to work, and the next Iā€™m on a spaceship. I have no idea whatā€™s going on, but this scaled alien claims Iā€™m his mate. Thatā€™s not going to happen. I have until we reach his planet to accept or reject him. If I donā€™t want him, I can go back to Earth. But six months is a long time when the alien Kal is determined to woo me. Kalvoxrencol The Crystal sent me to the far reaches of the universe for my soulmate, and now that I have him, I will not surrender him. I will do whatever I can to win his love and keep him by my side, where he belongs. I will not let anything from my past or his keep us apart. This is a standalone sci-fi romance with a socially anxious human, his protective winged alien mate, a black cat companion, a slow burn with a spicy payoff, and a guaranteed HEA. This is an MM romance with explicit content intended for adult readers only. Some of the trigger warnings include: panic attacks, anxiety, swearing, and adult content (Full list inside).


The Cursed Titans (Tempest Blades #2)

The Cursed Titans (Tempest Blades #2) by Ricardo Victoria

The triennial Chivalry Games have returned! After helping to destroy the Withered King, Alex and the rest of the group find out that saving the world has consequences. While he is secretly battling with depression and with the Alliance on the verge of collapse, a diplomatic summit and the Chivalry Gamesā€”to be held in the far off Kuni Empireā€”may give everyone the opportunity to turn things around. Alex builds a team to represent the Foundation in the Games, facing off against the best fighters in the world. When an ancient being tries to raise legendary nightmares known as Titans using the peace talks as a trap, Alex has to find a way to save everyone before it is too late. Alex must learn that he is not truly alone to save the world from the chaos of the Titans. In a world where magic and science intermingle, anything is possible.


Rubbles of Magrath

Rubbles of Magrath by Natalie Kelda

Three months have passed since the Great Quake shook Magrath. Three months since Balfour lost Skye. The city lies in ruin and survival is only possible by scavenging. Every day they root through buildings filled with those killed in the earthquake that was meant to mark the end of the tarilla war. The war that still rages on. Balfour's biggest fear is to find Skye. Rotten and crushed under the rubble. But he knows where she In the starless vaults at the centre of town. Struggling to accept his loss, Balfour strays to the courtyard where he once spent a night beside Skye. But there he discovers an old enemy and that hope yet remains. Can he risk the people who have become his family for someone he has already lost and mourned? Rubbles of Magrath is the second book in a trilogy that can be read on its own or in connection with the first 3 books in the Inner Universe Series.


The Withered King (Tempest Blades #1)

The Withered King (Tempest Blades #1) by Ricardo Victoria

Fionn is the wielder of a legendary Tempest Blade, and he is blessed - or cursed - by The Gift. Though his days as a warrior are long over, his past leaves him full of guilt and regret. Life, however, has other plans for him, when he agrees to help a friend locate a missing person. Gaby and Alex never expected to become heroes... until they met Fionn. As an ancient evil arises and consumes the land, Fionn must help them to master their own Gifts and Tempest Blades. Together the three of them, and their friends will chart a course aboard the flying ship Figaro to save the planet. Will Fionn's past be an anchor, or will he overcome the one failure from his former life before time runs out? In a world where magic and science intermingle, anything is possible. Including second chances.


Thirteen

Thirteen by H. Ferdosy

A discovered conspiracy. A ransom gone wrong. A two-month coma. Spoiled Iranian girl Neda awakes to find her parents deadā€”a tragic murder at the hands of her now-executed fiancĆ©. But Neda saw the perpetrators, and he wasnā€™t one of them. The justice system dismisses her. Evidence mysteriously vanishes. And when others begin to die, she knows her own life could end just as brutally at any moment. All it will take is her enemies catching upā€”or her suicidal tendencies taking control. When her losses become all-consuming, there is one way forward: turn the tables and finally get revenge. When the only option is to kill or be killed, one thing is clear: this war will end in blood.


Time to Remember

Time to Remember by Janna Ruth

When the Canterbury Earthquakes destroyed their city, Natalie and her friends were only ten years old. Too old to forget, but too young to be heard, they have never told their stories. Until now. Ten years after the earthquakes, Natalie returns to her home town with a plan. To show how the earthquakes shaped her generation, she wants to curate her fellow students' stories into a special edition of the student magazine. Her project is well-received by all, but one: her self-proclaimed nemesis Josh. From the start, Josh goes out of his way to get the project cancelled. Natalie is determined to see her vision through, yet when she finally uncovers the reason behind Josh's actions, she finds herself questioning everything she's been working towards.


Melody of a Curse

Melody of a Curse by Janna Ruth

He's haunted by nightmares. She's hiding behind her smile. A cursed melody dooms them both. Ever since returning from the war, Jonas has been plagued by nightmares. When he meets the vivacious dancer Sophie, heā€™s drawn to her like a moth to a flame. Her laughter alone banishes the terrors of his dreams. But behind that smile lies a secret. Every night, Sophie follows an irresistible melody into the night, only to return in the morning exhausted, feverish, and with her shoes broken a little more. Worried, Jonas sets out to solve the mystery of her midnight dances. But the intoxicating nightmare he slips into may just be darker than the ones that haunt him. The award-winning dark fairy-tale retelling of Grimmā€™s ā€œThe Twelve Dancing Princessesā€. Now in English.


The Midnight Dolls

The Midnight Dolls by Zoe Partyka

The year is 1971. Julian Carter is a music journalist who has his entire career ahead of himā€“if only the music industry would take a 20-year-old seriously. Building his short career on a steady reputation of honest, objective reporting, Julian is beginning to become a trusted journalist in the industry. All he needs is one shot to truly make a name for himself. When confronted with the chance to write what heā€™s led to believe may be the ā€œstory of a lifetimeā€, ultimately boosting his credibility and further leaving a troubled past behind him, he jumps at the opportunity. The Midnight Dolls, a band that had rocketed to superstardom in the late 1960s, struggles with their poor image after years of partying and wild behavior. Desperate to improve their reputation to appease their label, not to mention the eyes of the public, the band members agree to let their lives while on tour be reported on, even if it means showing a good side of themselves they donā€™t want seen. With the bandā€™s reputation and label on the line, not to mention Julianā€™s entire career, he must quickly decide to risk keeping their secrets out of friendship or show the world the lengths that some people will truly go to for love and attention for his own gain. Itā€™s a good thing rock history doesnā€™t write itselfā€”he does.


Jasmine Perez and the Wicked Sorceress

Jasmine Perez and the Wicked Sorceress by Joharra Harper

This is a story about Jasmine Perez. She is the Princess of one of the many Kingdoms in that Realm. But one day, a Wicked Sorceress kidnapped her people, including her father, the King. Jasmine has to leave her Palace, even though she has never left the Kingdom walls, along with two servants and her fiancƩ. They go on a long journey and find something that can help the on their mission, and find people who can help them as Jasmine practices her newly discovered magic. There is love, hate, adventure, action, anticipation, and lots of magic. Will she be able to stop arguing with her companions long enough to stay focused? Will she be able to defeat Lilac and save her people? Watch as Jasmine figures out who she is in time to save her Kingdom, and her entire Realm.


The Shadow of Summer

The Shadow of Summer by Marlon Yelich

Socialite Jem has always lived in an ivory tower, hiding his own secrets and insecurities behind a veneer of surliness. But tragedy has struck his life and he'd rather not stick around to see the mess. When his initial escape plan fails, he ends up taking a job on a secluded Cumbrian farm. In the English Lake District, glitz and glamour are out, traded for hay bales and horses. Surrounded by nothing but fells and mountains, he meets Mat. Mat is confident, openly gay, optimisticā€”everything that Jem struggles to be. Nevertheless, an unlikely bond forms. And above all, Jem realises Mat has secrets of his own. Together, the pair begin a journey that will shake their perspectives of the world. They must acknowledge all that stands against themā€”and make it, despite the odds, to the other side. IMPORTANT NOTICE: "The Shadow of Summer" is a work of fiction not intended for readers under the age of 16. The novel deals with themes that some readers may find upsetting. These include alcohol/substance abuse, bereavement, mental health issues & suicide. A more comprehensive list of trigger warnings can be found on Instagram at @marlonyelichauthor.


Never Leave, Never Lie

Never Leave, Never Lie by Thea Verdone

The lies that brought them together will tear them apart. Alek and Ianā€™s relationship is built on lies and the cracks are starting to show. A pianist gifted with synesthesia, Alek sees sounds and hears colors and transforms all of his emotions into music. But no matter how hard he tries to hide behind a facade of apathy and seduction, he canā€™t escape the dark past that haunts him. Contractor Ian sees the beauty in something destroyed by neglect and his obsession with fixing extends beyond historical buildings. But when Alekā€™s self-destructive tendencies turn their relationship to ruins, Ian fears Alek is the first project heā€™ll have no choice but to abandon. Now the Gothic Victorian mansion theyā€™re renovating is the only thing connecting them. Alek will do anything to keep Ian with him. Except tell the truth. Because Alek is lying about everything, starting with his name, and when Ian learns the truth, their house of cards will collapse. Never Leave, Never Lie is an angsty MM modern gothic romance that will appeal to fans of mental health representation, relationships in crisis, hurt/comfort, and a hard-fought happily ever after.


Psychostorm

Psychostorm by Moira Baird

In a world intent on suppressing your true self, would you fade into obscurity or become uncontainable? Rose felt destined to fade, until a chance encounter thrusts her into the world of the supernatural, where she faces an entirely new set of trials. Rose must work with Rift, a young man who conjures portals and clashes with her at every turn. She must also work with Echo, a mute telepath kept in containment for most of her life. Will they survive and defeat the shadow organization known as ORDER, whose mission is to eliminate all supernatural beings, or will they be swallowed up?


Wish Lists Lead to This

Wish Lists Lead to This by Kay Claire

Whenever Seb wants to get something done, he makes a list, and he sets deadlines. He's been in Cape Town for 2 years and has yet to do all the touristy things the city has to offer, so he's set his 24th birthday as his deadline to do 100 things on the list heā€™s come up with. JJā€™s in a rut. He has no friends hates his job (working at a shirtless waiter at a gay bar isn't all it's cracked up to be), and is sick of one-night stands. After an awkward encounter with a former crush, JJ finds himself roped into helping Seb accomplish an item on his list ā€“ but plans change after he finds a box of abandoned kittens the day heā€™s suppose to meet up with Seb. When the two decide to foster the kittens together, theyā€™re both surprised at how well they get along, since on paper theyā€™re exact opposites ā€“ especially after their new budding friendship turns into something more complicated after JJ finds a secondary, secret list in the back of Sebā€™s notebook...


All Roads Lead to This

All Roads Lead to This by Kay Claire

Cedric and Rueben have been best friends since sixth grade, and cannot imagine life without each other - Cedric was there for Rueben when he came out to his family, and Rueben was there for Cedric through every step of his transition. Now, both twenty-four and working at the same plant shop, their boss gets an opportunity to receive some extremely rare plants she's wanted for years, except there's a problem: the plants need to be collected in person from across the country, and she cannot make the journey herself. Rueben, ever helpful, is quick to volunteer him and Cedric to travel across the country in her place. Cedric is apprehensive about the trip, both because he hates sudden changes to his routine, and because he may or may not have a few secrets he hasn't told Rueben about. Secrets like the fact that he might be in love with his best friend... All Roads Lead to This is a low angst HEA m/m romance that involves a road trip across South Africa, sharing a bed, heavy pinning, and childhood friends to lovers tropes. Roughly 85,000 words long.


Dawn's Cozy Horror Corner

Dawn's Cozy Horror Corner by Dawn Chen

"Dawnā€˜s Cozy Horror Corner: a queer Chinese diaspora horror short stories anthologyā€œ is a horror anthology which contains five stories featuring supernatural elements and young Chinese diaspora protagonists whose identities clash with the environment around them. In ā€Bottle of Shameā€œ, a girl who can pull out people's shame must grapple with the gruesome consequences of the truth she reveals. In ā€The Girl with No Faceā€œ, a girl slowly loses her facial features one at a time until she become a faceless horror who take vengeance upon her tormentor. In ā€œMy Future Self Once Saidā€œ, a girl is paid a visit from her future-self as a warning. In "Judge of the Underworld Household", the protagonist disagrees with the method her ancestor god who rules over the Chinese Underworld and the way he views crimes and punishment. In "Meet Your Demonsā€œ, a girl is offered to be possessed by a demon and gladly accepts.


A Wrecking of Salt and Fire

A Wrecking of Salt and Fire by E.K. Condos

Plagued by fear. Haunted by the sins of her past. Approaching twenty-five, Katrin Drakos should only be concerned with two thingsā€”being crowned Queen of Alentus and marrying her Fated, Kohl. For five years, she focused on falling in love, on living, on becoming whole again. For five years, she was able to forget what the vile King Nikolaos of Nexos had done to her. For five years, her nightmares did not return. But then the whispers started. A rumbling of rebellion poised to strike. The King of Nexos had never attacked before. Until now. Until right before the Acknowledgement. So when a notorious pirate captures her, claiming to have saved her from the lies the leaders have woven into history, Katrin must decide if the enemy from her past has really been her ally this whole time. Decide before the world around her crumbles and not only her power, but the power of all the gods, is lost forever. Because sometimes the Fates have other plans.


Not My Time

Not My Time by Jessica Salina

What would you do if you were a superhero? Rory Miller has dreamed of reuniting with the vigilante superhero Hematite ever since he saved her from a stalker. After nearly a decade of wishing, news of Hematiteā€™s murder shakes her small town in Colorado to its coreā€”but Rory gets a second chance at finding her hero when he reveals heā€™s not actually dead. Kane Kelly is hiding two things from his best friend Rory: his secret identity as Hematite and his romantic feelings for her. As Kane seeks the truth about his superpowers, an anonymous YouTuber named Stone Breaker tries to stop him to protect the local crime ring responsible. When Rory learns who is behind the YouTube channel and teams up with her hero, she becomes Stone Breakerā€™s next target and blurs the line between Kaneā€™s double lives. Rory must face her past traumas headfirst to save Kaneā€™s identity and her own life.


The Faerie Guild Trials

The Faerie Guild Trials by G. L. Preston

Step into the deadly world of the faerie realm, where alliances are fragile, and shadows hold the key to survival. Efia Mathonwy, the last Gwri, is thrust into the treacherous trials of the Seelie and Unseelie courts, wielding the rare power to control shadows. As she faces ruthless foes and navigates the cutthroat faerie politics, Efia discovers an unexpected ally in Ansel, a mysterious fae with secrets of his own. In a contest where every decision could be her last, Efia's journey unfolds in a dance of danger and intrigue. Shadows cling to her every move, revealing hidden dangers whilst unlocking the secrets of her family. As the realm teeters on the edge of chaos, Efia must choose her path wisely. Will she conquer the trials and emerge triumphant, or will the enemies that surround her become her undoing? In a world where survival is a deadly game, alliances will crumble, and the realms destiny hangs in the balance.


Secrets Don't Stay Buried

Secrets Don't Stay Buried by J. D. Mills

How far would you go to keep a secret? Lennon Larkin wants a run-of-the-mill college experience, but thatā€™s not what sheā€™s in for. Set to start her freshman year at a local university for deaf and hard of hearing students, Lennonā€™s chances at normal are yanked out from under her after a prank on her nemesis goes wrong. As the skeleton in her closet is picked apart bone by bone, someone inches closer to a long-buried secret: the private photos of her that were shared without her consent. When her roommate is killed in the crossfire, Lennon and her friends hatch a plan to unmask the killer's identityā€”but could someone close to her be behind the plot against her? Maybe itā€™s the boy sheā€™s held a grudge against since her sophomore year of high school, or one of her new allies. Worst of all, it might be the girl across the hall that Lennonā€™s falling for.


Sentence for Life

Sentence for Life by Maxime Jaz

ā€œSometimes, we are in a place where we donā€™t want to be. And maybe, that place is the only place we should be after all.ā€ Theo knows he will become a star lawyer, like the one his Dad paid to keep him out of prison... he's wrong on both counts. He thinks the first day of jail is brutal; meeting his new cellmate redefines the word. Theo's world not only falls apart; it shrinks to the size smaller than a dorm bathroom he has to share with a man who doesnā€™t belong in his world. Ryker is as strong as a fortress, one that he had to rebuild from the ruins of his own self. Serving the last year of his long sentence, he is terrified of having his freedom at arm's reach. Ryker is everything Theo fears; Theo is everything Ryker loathes. But being locked up together in a tiny space is a powerful force sparking the fires of love, and neither of the men are prepared for the turmoil this raging inferno will unleash. Are Ryker and Theo who they think they are? Or will new lives be born, like the phoenix etched in Ryker's skin, out of the fire of their love?


As the Sun Comes Up

As the Sun Comes Up by Olive J. Kelley

When competent, capable, and drop-dead gorgeous bed & breakfast owner Cricket Sterling asks friend-of-a-friend Moriah Becker if she can crash on her couch for a night, Moriah doesnā€™t hesitate to say yes, even despite her secret crush on the other woman. But, when the awards ceremony Cricket is being honored at gets pushed three days, Moriah starts to panic. With her post-pandemic agoraphobia, OCD, and odd hours, she knows sheā€™s difficult to live with, and the idea of having someone in her space for that long nearly sends her into a tailspin. However, Cricket is considerate and accommodating, excitable and passionate, and Moriah finds herself oddly at peaceā€”and falling deeper than ever. It feels inevitable when they crash into each other, spending one sizzling night togetherā€”and then anotherā€”and Moriah has to reconsider her own mental walls. Were they built to keep people out, or only ever to keep herself inside?


Madame Eldridgeā€™s Wayward Home For Unruly Boys

Madame Eldridgeā€™s Wayward Home For Unruly Boys by Benjamin Ryan

Deep in the heart of Virginiaā€™s dense backwoods, the Wayward Home for Unruly Boys hides more than just troubled youth. Under Madame Eldridgeā€™s watchful eye, three strict rules govern her behavior program: ā€‹ 1. What happens here stays here. 2. You must complete all eight stepsā€”no exceptions allowed. 3. Forget your name; youā€™ll be known only by your problem. ā€‹ But, thereā€™s one unspoken rule that sends shivers down the boys' spines: never enter the forbidden third-floor bedroom of the boy who vanished, leaving nothing behind but whispers. When Vandalize and Stealer defy this warning, they uncover a treasure trove of bewitched artifacts, each with a strange and powerful ability. Using these relics, the boys tackle Madame Eldridgeā€™s whimsicalā€”and often bizarreā€”challenges, only to learn magic always demands its price. ā€‹ Amidst the chaos, Fibbsy stumbles upon a peculiar object that sends him hurtling back in time, revealing an unfathomable truth about Madame Eldridge, the eerie town, and the missing boyā€™s fate. But who will trust the words of a liar? ā€‹ Bound by the houseā€™s darkest mysteries, Fibbsy, Defiance, Slob, and Secret form an unlikely friendship as they race to unveil the shrouded secrets surrounding the Wayward Home. Together, they confront their deepest fears, uncovering that the real magic lies in facing their own personal demonsā€”and each other.


The Treasured One

The Treasured One by Hannah Levin

Forced to choose between loyalty and love... Avery is a Golden Child with the ability to heal any illness or injury. She lives a sheltered life, dutifully healing hopefuls from around the globe. Although she dreams of freedom, she fears disrupting the status quoā€”that is, until her powers go on the fritz, threatening her health and her relationship with her government caretakers. In search of answers, Avery travels through The Rift to the realm of the fae, intimidatingly beautiful beings with powers humans donā€™t understand. Their prince, Riel, has motivations of his own when he agrees to teach her about her rare magic. But as they work together, the two are drawn to each other. Just as Avery manages to unlock the full potential of her powers, a betrayal shakes Rielā€™s House, putting pressure on the already tenuous relationship between humans and the fae. Caught in the middle, Avery and Riel will have to decide what matters most to them: loyalty to their respective nations, or their feelings for one another. This debut novel from Hannah Levin will appeal to those new to Romantasy as well as seasoned Romantasy readers who enjoy contemporary and high fantasy elements, light-hearted adventure, and descriptive yet digestible world-building.


Ascension

Ascension by Brittany Engstrand

If you die in your dreams, do you die in reality? When Maaya Hasan is devoured by her late grandmotherā€™s mirror, she learns a powerful shadow demon is after her soul. To remain alive, sheā€™s forced to ally with her enemyā€™s heirā€”a flirty, cursed assassin who hides the truth about his broken past. With Aresā€™s help, she must collect the souls of five dead gods in order to return home. Throughout their journey, Maaya struggles to survive encounters with merciless demons, spirits, and otherworldly creatures like seer plants, heart-stealing vultures, and a demon of illusionsā€¦ and to resist her desire for Ares, despite his alluring, incessant attempts to charm her. As secrets are exposed and a dark power stirs within her, Maaya learns her soul is not the only life at stake. She must sacrifice the love she couldnā€™t help but become entangled in, or risk the lives of innocents across the universe. For all gods covet sacrifice.


Forever Red

Forever Red by Harvey Oliver Baxter

In the beginning, there was a band. A band of kids who had the world at their fingertips. Follow Ben and Casper throughout their lives as they rise to fame as the goth icons of the band Forever Red, and watch through interviews and their own narration as they navigate their passions, relationships, and eventually, their undead lives. The rockstar life is not always as it seems, but some bonds were never meant to be broken.


Earth to Alis

Earth to Alis by Lex Carlow

Alistair Woodson is a loner by choice. Since the traumatic night that ended his only friendship, heā€™s isolated himself by letting his classmates believe heā€™s a criminal and an arsonist, best to be avoided at all costs. But on his graduation trip across Paris, Switzerland, and Italy, Alis discovers that isolation isnā€™t so easy to maintain in hostel rooms and cross-country trains. Soon he finds himself growing closer to classmates who were once strangers to himā€”namely the class clown, Craig Miltenberg, whose frustratingly good hair and cheerful disposition donā€™t irritate Alis nearly as much as they should. Yet, as his deepening connections stir up painful reminders of his last doomed friendship, Alis continues to cope the only way he knows how: drowning out the pain on the inside by hurting himself on the outside. When his self-destructive behaviours intensify and put him and his new relationships in jeopardy, Alis must find the courage to confront his spiralling mental healthā€”even if it means letting someone in. Lex Carlow's gritty queer debut is perfect for fans of Alice Oseman, Kathleen Glasgow, and The Perks of Being a Wallflower.


Higanbana

Higanbana by Jake Vanguard

Nate didnā€™t need a savior, a guardian angel. Nathaniel has never known happiness or a life free from struggle. Stuck in an abusive relationship and damned to work minimum-wage jobs, he has no energy or motivation to make himself better. That is until he meets a mysterious stranger. Raziel, Archangel of Heaven, was wrongfully stripped of his grace and banished to life on Earth. Lost on his own and haunted by loneliness and the injustices inflicted on him, he meets Nathaniel. Struggling to navigate free will, he starts exploring the human world and falls in loveā€”not just with the world but with the human guiding him through it as well. Will they save each other from their demons? Or will they drag each other deeper into Hell?


The House For Lost Things

The House For Lost Things by C.G. Drews

Stealing houses should be a thing of the past now that Sam and Avery Lou finally have their perfect home. But the De Laineys are being forced to sell the butter-yellow house and their family is crumbling. Sam is haunted by his time at juvie and he feels lost now that Avery doesnā€™t depend solely on him. All he can do is focus on his builder apprenticeship and hurl himself into an extravagant sewing project lead by Moxie to raise money to save the houseā€”only Samā€™s past has come knocking and itā€™s about to tear apart everything he loves. Learning how to build new houses is one thing, but maybe broken boys canā€™t be rebuilt.


Life Remains

Life Remains by Niranjan

To choose what is right would bring him in conflict with the vampires, but can he avert his eyes yet again when a child needs his help? In a world where Vampires make the rules, the hunters are bound by the terms of an ancient agreement and the witches are hunted. Ken is a vampire hunter having an affair with the vampire, Frederick. Navigating a relationship with a vampire while trying to help those he terrorises is not easy. If Frederick finds out what heā€™s doing, their relationship isnā€™t the only thing in jeopardy. When a situation arises when Frederickā€™s ward, Mabel, needs his help, Ken knows his actions will pit him against Frederick. With his very life at stake, will he choose to do the right thing or follow the path of least resistance yet again? Life Remains is a queer, paranormal, dystopian fantasy novel with morally grey characters, found family and themes of redemption and making the right choice. If you love dystopian worlds with vampires, hunters, and witches, you will love this book.


Bleeding Gold

Bleeding Gold by Niranjan

Can he learn to trust after being betrayed or will his fears lead to damnation for him and his kind? Vampires, werewolves and other supernaturals have been at odds for centuries, and humans have been picking them off easily. When Alvin Rayes, a vampire crime lord, is resurrected after being killed, he only wants revenge on his ex-boyfriend and killer, Jason. But to find Jason, he has to strike an alliance with the local werewolf pack whose alpha used to be Jasonā€™s friend. But the more he gets to know the wolves, the more he realises the wrongness of the world they live in, where supernaturals are considered little more than animals and are hunted for sport. Before long, Alvin finds himself leading a movement for supernatural rights, aided by the worldā€™s ignorance regarding his true nature. As a crucial vote for supernatural rights approach, Alvin finds himself in the cross hairs of assassins who had already taken out some of his friends. To survive, he has to put his life, and trust, in the hands of his bodyguards, both of whom are hiding their own secrets. Without Alvin and his leadership and money, the movement he started will flounder, but Alvin has already been betrayed once by someone he trusted. Can he learn to trust before whoeverā€™s after him succeeds in their aims? Bleeding Gold is a queer science fantasy book set in space. If you love morally grey characters, redemption, forgiveness, found family and friendship, you will love this gritty tale.


Colliding Forces

Colliding Forces by Niranjan

SPSFC 2024

When he discovers that his bloodline is part alien and has a magic that is fatal to humans, can he trust the aliens to help when he has put one of them in jail? Undercover missions are one of Barry's favourite things. Getting in deep and completing a dangerous mission has always brought him a sense of pride -until this latest task. Now it's just personal. Given the job of going undercover to bring in Mortimer is going to be difficult. The man, if he can be called that, is Barry's biological father: a disgusting fiend with a sketchy past. When Barry starts to dig more into Mortimer, he learns a complicated truth. Mortimer is an alien with magic in his bloodline that is fatal to humans. Barryā€™s clock is ticking and the only ones who can help are the aliens who consider him an enemy. Can he convince them to help before it is too late? Colliding Forces is a science fantasy novella with aliens, found families and complicated relationships. If you love morally grey characters, complex social and familial structures, advanced technology with a mix of magic, investigations, soulmates and high personal stakes, you will love this book.


Conscious Connection

Conscious Connection by Gina Capobianco

Gina Capobiancoā€™s first book of poems, Cognizant Introspection, documented her journey from the darkness of depression back into the light. The ending was positive, but as Capobianco knows, depression and anxiety are lifelong companions who eagerly return when the light flickers and fades. As with Cognizant Introspection, Conscious Connection documents Capobiancoā€™s journey to healing. Her themes have, as the years have passed, become more reflective and insightful. While before she wrote her evocative free verse with passion and ferocity, she now writes with a more mature sense of purpose, intentionally confronting the darkness that continues to periodically encroach on her life. Many of Capobiancoā€™s best poems are dark, exemplifying the despair and isolation of depression. Yet as the collection and her healing progress, she moves you toward a dawning hope for connection with other peopleā€”a hope that becomes reality as Capobianco finds the help and healing she needs. A powerful, emotionally intense examination of depression, Conscious Connection demonstrates the healing power of the written word. If you, like Capobianco, suffer from depression, youā€™ll see yourself in her words and realize her final messageā€”the darkness may return, but so does the light.


There is Light: Poems about Mental Health

There is Light: Poems about Mental Health by Lucy DeRose

From book blogger and poet, Lucy DeRose, comes her debut book, There is Light. A series of poems about mental health, anxiety, self-care, social media and what's important in life. Honest thoughts and feelings from someone who has dealt with depression, anxiety and OCD. Lucy tries to end each poem with a positive note, focusing on the hope and help that is out there. Because, no matter how dark things seem, there is light.


ROTGUT

ROTGUT by H.S. Wolfe

All I want to do is play drums in Cluster Headache, but I canā€™t even get that right. Between my on-again off-again shituationship with one of my band mates, the drinking problem-I-donā€™t-really-have and losing my job along with my will to live... Iā€™ve kind of botched up my life. As if things werenā€™t crummy enough Iā€™m being followed by strange creatures that no one else seems to notice. Right before a big show too, that canā€™t be a good sign. I've got a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach about it.


The Shepherd in Shadow

The Shepherd in Shadow by M. Daniel McDowell

To forge a new destiny, he must confront the demons of his past. Mehren Tevaht wasnā€™t supposed to survive his desperate gambit. Throwing himself into the abyss along with the truename of the demon prince should have been the end of as worthy an end as Mehren can picture for such a coward as himself, anyway. When Mehren awakens in a shadow-realm heā€™s only seen in dreams with his beloved, the warrior princess Vierrelyne du Talorr, at his side, he knows the spell he meant to do went horribly awry. Together, they traverse a realm both familiar and hostile while the sorcerer tries to figure out what went wrongā€”and how to fix itā€”if only to restore Vierrelyne home without him. Haunted by his own past history, and the dawning revelations of the doomsday cult which once held his undying loyalty, Mehren must choose a fate that will define the future for himself, for Vierrelyne, and for all the realms beyond... ...the realm of bodies, the realm of beasts, the realm of spirits, the realm of dream... the Scourgelands beyond the Known Lands of Derebor itself.


Love at the Rock Show

Love at the Rock Show by Katta Kis

A burnt-out former pop star A sweet, broke psychicā€¦ who hates him The festival tour that changes everything Broke pansexual psychic Judit is scraping by. Sheā€™s got chronic pain and survives (barely) on Tarot reading gigs. When her rent skyrockets, she jumps at the chance to work a merch booth on a festival tour. Itā€™s the perfect escape until Judit spends a lovely evening with her friendā€™s ex-flame (itā€™s complicated)ā€”and he ends up touring with the festival. Ex-boy band idol Patrick didnā€™t want to play the Endfest tour with the guy who stole the love of his life. He was about to quit the label they started together when a last-minute emergency forces him to join the tour. Worse, the mystery woman who turned his anxiety attack into a magical night is there tooā€”and she knew exactly who he was all along. Judit and Patrick are forced to share a bus while navigating the drama of a mismanaged festival, other peopleā€™s exes, and drunk drag queens. The more time they spend in adjoining bunks, the less they find to hate about each other. But can this summer fling last, or will what happens on tour stay on tour?


Who Will Hold the Universe

Who Will Hold the Universe by Kel E Fox

The world doesnā€™t have magicā€¦ but it should. You only get one Year 12 School Ball. For Gabby, thatā€™s a blessing, for Zenna, itā€™s a waste, and for Jairo, an ageless god whoā€™s forgotten who he is, itā€™s a chance to save the world. Come for a night of mystery, magic and dancing. But be warned: you might not leave with your memories intact. Who Will Hold the Universe is a prequel novella for the epic urban-science-fantasy-turns-queer-magical-space-opera Lightless Prophecy series.


The Illusion of Fear

The Illusion of Fear by Kel E Fox

The best cure for a broken heart is to solve an art crime. Obviously. After his partner is killed on a mission gone wrong, disavowed spy and magician Del Fevre exiles himself to Acrusi, the only city in the world where his agency canā€™t find him. But his plans for a peaceful hideaway where he can make illusion art and avoid awkward questions are thwarted when his arrival coincides with a mysterious art theft, and Del might be a suspect. Danger, daring and a handsome detective conspire to make Delā€™s exile anything but peaceful. The Illusion of Fear is a prequel novella for the Whisperers series, a romantic gaslamp fantasy with art crime and political intrigue.


Dark Bloom

Dark Bloom by Molly Macabre

When a disease runs rampant, turning people into cannibalistic horrors, society comes to a halt. Kate manages to escape the sadistic captivity she has endured and collides with Nick, a Marine haunted by the scars of war. They join forces to navigate a treacherous landscape, battling the undead and hostile survivors. But what happens when the monsters outside are the least of their worries? Nickā€™s shame is crushing, and Kateā€™s distrust is swallowing her whole. Will they overcome the darkness that threatens to consume them from within? And what will become of a world overrun with creatures that cannot seem to stopā€¦laughing?


The Stars Want Blood

The Stars Want Blood by Morgan Lawson

When a summer's wind whips through the spring gardens, when air meets earth, a fate that has long since been written amongst the stars will unfurl itselfā€¦ There was only so long that anybody could handle living while disregarding every single piece of advice from their psychiatrist, and Hazel Culhane was reaching their breaking point. Hoping to recharge themself enough to handle the challenge of getting better, they tuck themself into a hidden cabin for a week. It wasnā€™t a bad idea, but they couldnā€™t have predicted that something would be waiting for them in those woods, something significantly more frightening than their own crumbling sanityā€¦ All of the Constellites ā€” the celestial gods borne from the stars of the zodiac constellations ā€” knew what fate had planned for them. It was the same in each generation of them. And as the Virgo god, Ezra Thompson should have been no exception. He doesnā€™t know why his Gemini counterpart came along so late, or why their newfound divinity doesnā€™t fit them, but it doesnā€™t take him very long to figure out that the quirky and unstable Hazel ā€” the Constellite of Geminorum ā€” is still his fate. Fate has given them love, but with it, destruction. Will they be able to rewrite fate and save themselves? Or will they get pulled into the event horizon that fate has waiting for them? ... and it will demand blood.


Snowed in at The Sunny Day CafƩ

Snowed in at The Sunny Day CafƩ by A.L. Davidson

Eli is a fallen angel living his second life in the quaint town of New Eden, where every day is filled with magic and cheer in his bakery, The Sunny Day CafĆ©. Housing a near-obsessive love for the holidays, Eli goes all out with the decorations and cookies as he awaits the arrival of Christmas. This Christmas is anything but sweet, however, as Eliā€™s tree is lacking presents and his little shop is empty for the second holiday season in a row. To make matters worse, the furnace is on the fritz and a blizzard is on the way. Just when he didnā€™t think his Christmas could be any crappier, in walks Des, his handsome (literal) demon of an ex-boyfriend. Des offers to fix up Eliā€™s furnace in exchange for a cappuccino and some company, but as the storm picks up and the winds grow stronger, a power outage drapes The Sunny Day CafĆ© in darkness! The exes soon find themselves snowed in and unable to do much more than chat and huddle together for warmth. Eli and Des are forced to face the unresolved issues that drove a wedge between them years prior, and the chilly Christmas Eve may just turn into one hell of a holiday theyā€™ll never forget.


Crossed Over

Crossed Over by Santana Knox

From international best-selling author Santana Knox, comes an LGBTQ, womenā€™s fiction, coming out story like nothing youā€™ve ever read before. A tale that grips the hearts of those who failed to see eye-to-eye with a parent, and anyone whoā€™s ever denied the truth about themselves. Nia da Silva is deadā€¦ Dead serious about moving on from her past, from roller derby, and the traumatic injury that was a crushing blow to not just her body but her mind. Running away from her problems wasnā€™t the fix she had hoped for. Five years later, she returns to the town that left her with permanent scars. Healing her physical wounds was the bare minimum. Sheā€™ll finally have to face herself, and rediscover who sheā€™s always been beneath the lies sheā€™s worn like shredded fishnets over bruised knees. Pretty crossovers, and strong thighs wonā€™t be enough to champion through her problems. Especially when they challenge who she may be at her very core. Crossed Over is a Sapphic, coming out story about healing, facing your fears, and becoming the hero you once needed for yourself. Please check content warnings, this story features adult themes and language that may not be suitable for readers under 18.


Blood Red Nails: The Guardians of Iohiri Series Book 1

Blood Red Nails: The Guardians of Iohiri Series Book 1 by L. Joyce

ā€œIohir, the land of the dead and the living. You will take me there, right?ā€ The world is full of creatures of myth and legend, as well as alternate universes where the dead can reside, where ghosts can mate with the living. Known simply as Ghost Mates, one of them is about to take the world by storm. Asho Woodward, the autistic heir to the Woodward family, never thought he would find himself becoming a Ghost Mate, much less Mating with the ghost responsible for the crimes and murders that have happened over the last several decades in his town. Already dealing with his life and himself, Asho was not prepared for the events to come as a result of his Matingā€¦ ones that would change his life forever and likely threaten those he loves. And, he will need more than his Mateā€™s help to save himself and those he loves, or else everything he knows will be destroyed.


Incorrect Eyes

Incorrect Eyes by Andromeda Ruins

Be Not Afraid Those three words have haunted me my entire life, and now I'm close. I know I am. I'm close to finding out the truth behind the words, the truth behind the Seraphim. The closer I get to uncovering the truth, to proving that the Seraphim are real, the further my mind slips. I can't sleep - can't dream - without seeing them. Life has become difficult all of a sudden and I know it's tied to them. I just have to keep going, keep learning, keep discovering. Everything will be better once I complete my research... Incorrect Eyes is a psychological religious horror involving paranoia, angels with too many eyes, and the least mentally stable protagonist Iā€™ve ever written. Please read with caution.


Mending Bones

Mending Bones by Merlina Garance

Claire, a Detective Inspector in her late forties, has known and worked with Estelle for many years. Ever since they met, it felt like there could have been something more there: Estelle's gentle flirting and compliments have been a constant in Claire's life, but her self confidence never allowed her to truly believe the other woman meant anything by it. Until one day, Claire breaks her leg and finds out soon after that Estelle has decided to retire from the police, at only 56. Something doesn't feel right there, but before Claire can begin to ask more questions, Estelle offers to take her away to her seaside cottage for a week. After all, with Claire on sick leave and Estelle retired, they both have the time. Surely a week of lazy mornings, too much food and wine, and walks through the countryside aren't enough to make Claire fall when sheā€™s resisted for so long?


The Flourishing

The Flourishing by Merlina Garance

When Andy Campbell, Detective Inspector in Leicester, gets assigned the case of Mr Parryā€™s disappearance, she expects to find nothing else than an umpteenth marriage ruined by a husband taking off with his mistress. Instead, she ends up investigating a murder case, and struggling to fight her attraction for Mrs Parry. When she realises the feelings are mutual, things definitely get complicatedā€¦


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