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Grim Portents by Christian Akins Bill Baker wants nothing more than to marry the woman he loves, but when his wedding is interrupted by a rampaging hell-beast, his life is thrown into disarray. Desperate for a second chance, he will do anything to set his future back on track. Now, with the help of a soul-collecting reaper named Sonny, he must uncover who is releasing monsters from Hell, in order to earn back the life that was stolen from him and prevent the oncoming end of days. Faced with the choice between what is right and what is easy, Bill may have to sacrifice all he holds dear for one last shot at life. Grim Portents is a paranormal odyssey that takes a man through Heaven and Hell in a satirical exploration of the institutional pitfalls of the afterlife. Though desperate to return, death may have been the very thing he needed to learn how to live. |
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Shattered Queens Series: Serena by Inez Ocon Serena Safe. Predictable. Logical. Numbers donât hurt you. People do. I built my life on stability and earned my dream job as VP of Finance. I live in armorâmy body trained, my mind guarded, my heart locked tight. Then Ian walks into my life. He says he'll protect me. He says he'll kill for me. But is he my saviorâŠor my captor? And now, someone else is watching me, and I donât know whoâs more dangerous. Ian CEO. Heir. Killer. I erase anyone who threatens whatâs mine. But nothing consumes me like her. Serena. My obsession. My undoing. Every step she takes is already under my watch. She thinks she rebuilt her life on safety. The truth? I am her safetyâand her danger. Willing or not, sheâll belong to me. Because Iâll burn down this world before I ever let her go. |
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Solace of Dusk by K. V. Meadows Those who play with prophecies will get burned⊠23-year-old Undesirable, Durvla Garrick, has a dangerous secret. Being both deaf and having a chronic ailment, her very existence is treasonous. So, when the Queenâs mercenaries accuse her of stealing a dress, she comes quietlyâbetter to be arrested for her knitting skills than her illness. Under the watchful eye of the broody royal guard, Tiernan Kilkennyâthe embodiment of the very people sheâs spent her life hiding fromâDurvla is appointed dressmaker to the princess. But castle life isnât quite what she expected, and nor is its staff⊠With the Queen dying, Princess Carys Meredyth fa Rhodri is reluctant to inherit the throne of a broken Kingdom when she feels so broken herself. Magic has been outlawed for a millenniumâso why are her memories filled with whispers of enchantment? When Carys finds a book that only she can read, more questions unravel. Are the fairytales that have provided her comfort since childhood really only stories? Or has the truth been right there all along? |
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How to Survive This Fairytale by S. M. Hallow You are not a hero. You don't get your True Love. This is the part where you lose everything. This is the part where you rewrite your story. After losing everything in service to the Evil Queen, and driven to the edge of sanity by a cruel narrator who won't let him die, Hansel must bring himself to do the impossible: forge his own destiny or give up on his Happily Ever After. For fans of T. Kingfisher's THORNHEDGE and Tamsyn Muir's HARROW THE NINTH, comes a story crafted by S. M. Hallow. Twining together a dark fairy tale retelling with mental health and disability representation plus queer normative world-building splashed with a cozy horror game vibe, HOW TO SURVIVE THIS FAIRYTALE is rewriting Happily Ever Afters. |
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The Shadowbearer's Promise by Jasmyn Morning Whispers of unrest echo through the Shadowrealm. As tensions rise and long-buried fears resurface, a mysterious cult emerges from the darkness, vowing to challenge the rule of the Shadowbearer. As the shadows close in, Edan finds his guarded heart unraveling and his growing affection for Ryuji and Micah pulling him deeper into a bond that defies fate. But with betrayal lurking in every corner, love may be the most dangerous promise of all. In this soul-shattering final instalment of the trilogy, the Shadowbearer must decide how much heâs willing to sacrifice, and whether their love is strong enough to survive the chaos. |
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The Shadowbearer's Burden by Jasmyn Morning The High King of Aetheria stands at the crossroads of duty and desire. Bound by his love for the Shadowbearer, he navigates a fragile bond with the man cursed to wield the darkness. But as a Shadow warrior claims his place in their star-crossed union, their hearts wrestle with jealousy and doubt. With his kingdom demanding unwavering strength and the Shadowbearer's burdens growing heavier, the High King must face impossible choices. Can he bridge the growing chasm between love and duty, or will the shadows tear apart everything he's fought to protect? In this gripping sequel, betrayal and passion entwine as the trio discover that the path to peace is paved with sacrifice. |
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Against an Alpine Sky by Nicole Leland Talos is an artist, a naturalist, and a lithanderâa person carved of stone. He lives with his brother but spends his days wandering the mountains and observing the natural world, not realizing how lonely he is. MaĂ«lle is a human woman dreading her arranged marriage to a nobleman. While she doesnât like her betrothed, sheâs convinced herself itâs her duty to tolerate him. When MaĂ«lle receives devastating personal news that makes her situation with her fiancĂ© unsafe, she flees on her owl gryphon to the mountainsâand into Talosâs life. As the gentle stone man and the strong, vibrant woman discover truths about themselves and each other, they feel the budding promise of something new, something bigger and more lasting than the mountains. But to embrace their happiness together, theyâll need to overcome MaĂ«lleâs obligations, the censure of Talosâs brother, and most importantly, their own insecurities. |
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Not The Fighting Kind by Will Soulsby-McCreath Nat should be doing what dandies do creating fashion, trading information, working on the edges of high society to further their own aims, and flirting with scandal. Instead, they're in the bowels of a ship, captured by pirates intent on ransoming them back to their family as soon as they find out to which family they should send the letter. Unfortunately for all involved, Nat knows one thing the pirates can never be allowed to find They are unransomable. Their family has plenty enough money to pay any ransom, but Nat's father sent them to sea in the first place, put them in the path of these pirates, because he wanted Nat out of the way. Ransoms create scandal. Nat can't afford another. |
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A Demon to Save Me by H.S. Kallinger Gabriel Belmont's life is succumbing to a downward spiral when he accidentally summons a demon. After he refuses to make a contract, something ignites within him, inspiring him to strive for a real futureâa real life. Two years later, he has everything he wanted, and his life is on track. But it's a fragile thing. A cascade of events threatens to destroy it all. He has to find it in him to not only save the people he loves, but also the demon who saved him in the first place. |
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The Last Will and Testament of Wilhelmina Bruttenholm by Vivian Moira Valentine From the author of the acclaimed Amelia Temple books comes the first in the highly anticipated novella series, Shadows Over Ravenkirk: The Last Will and Testament of Wilhelmina Bruttenholm. Victoria Williams, a struggling photographer from Boston, receives a letter informing her of a surprise inheritance. Wilhelmina Bruttenholm of Ravenkirk, Maine, has recently passed away and left her a bequest. Victoria doesnât know who Wilhelmina isâto her knowledge, she doesnât know anyone in Ravenkirkâbut she travels to Maine anyway to attend the will reading. But who is this family and what do they really want of her? Struggling to understand the events happening in this unique little town, Victoria is confronted with secrets, magic, and Samantha, one very sweet tarantula. And while she must face the truth about her own mysterious family history, she will have to do so carefully. Because murder abounds in Ravenkirk and nobody is who they appear to be. |
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First Verse (Get your rocks off Book 1) by G Eilsel First Verse is a Friends to (one-sided) Hate to Love, bi-awakening MM Romance, packed with angst and steam. Eric My life is already complicated enough. Most of my waking hours are dedicated to my band, and weâre on the edge of making it big. Itâs the stuff that dreams are made of. Until the day our drummer backs out, weeks before our tour kicks off. Just in time to save the day, in walks the one man Iâd hoped to never see again. The one blip on my radar. The only man to ever break my heart. Dmitri What do you do when you have the chance to jump back into the life of the one that got away? The guy you never risked taking a chance with, because falling in love with your straight best friend is a recipe for disaster? You dive headfirst, not caring how much itâs going to hurt when you land. Six years apart hasnât changed the way I feel about Eric, and it hasnât changed the way he hates me. The more time we spend together, the more he makes it clear that he wants nothing to do with me... and Iâll do anything to find out why. |
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Fey & Wolf: A Lusefell Novella by Noah Bodie Osmond Banes is at his wits' end. Plagued by nightmares from 12 years ago, constant worry about his family, and an unsettling fear of immortality. The one thing keeping him afloat is his longtime partner, Christian Baker, who just returned from a trip across the sea. Upon their reunion, they learn of a growing threat from a monstrous force. This duo of monster hunters sets out to investigate the creatures rumored to have murdered Ozâs father figure and to finally exchange the vows they have been postponing for years. |
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Some Assembly Required: A Heartstrings & Coffee Beans Novel by Noah Bodie Liam Parker is a single dad navigating the chaos of life with his twelve-year-old son, Jack, in a world that seems determined to make things harder for them. Between juggling work, parenting, and the lingering scars of his past, Liam has little time for himselfâuntil a chance encounter at Mocha & Magic, a quirky local cafe, introduces him to Quinn Maher, the enigmatic owner with a penchant for kindness and a complicated history of his own. |
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Bulwark: Book 2 of the Desert Rose Saga by Noah Bodie The next installment of the Desert Rose Saga follows Simon and Andreas as old wounds are reopened, and theyâre forced to confront their growing feelings for one another. What awaits them as they leave the city of Sebree eight months after being sent into isolation? Will Simon be able to confront his inner demons? Will Andreas uncover answers to a surprising revelation about his family? What challenges lie ahead as new foes emerge and a hidden piece of the worldâs history claws to light? |
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The Monsters Among Us by Kent Priore âKent Priore writes like a natural about the supernatural, and The Monsters Among Us is a marvelously dark and true novel. American fiction has found a terrific new voice.â âJoseph OâNeill, PEN/Faulkner Award-Winning Author of Netherland Sethâs life until now has been a product of a diabolical, evil Truman Show, his entire upbringing a façade orchestrated for malevolent purposes. After his beloved dies, he undergoes a demonic metamorphosis, which causes the worldâs fictitious walls to crumble. As he tries to piece a semblance of his life back together and move on, he meets friends who inspire, but even more harsh truths are revealed, perhaps too difficult to cope with. The very existence of life and reality is exposed as a machination of grotesque gods. And to defeat them, Seth will have to fill his emptiness, for which thereâs only two options⊠Bring the world to ruin, or learn to transmute his pain into strength. Fans of "Jerusalem" by Alan Moore, âThe Bell Jarâ by Sylvia Plath, or âThe Master and Margaritaâ by Mikhail Bulgakovor will enjoy âThe Monsters Among Us.â âI was intrigued from the first sentence, determined to spend the night speed-reading so I didn't have to remain in suspense any longer.â -Ella Dupuie, author of Fractures of the Fallen âSupernatural storytelling at its best, this vivid cinematic novel takes the reader on an imaginative journey through what could be considered end of days. The Monsterâs Among Us is a masterful creation and a must readâeven for those who arenât fans of fantasy/horror.â âJoni Marie Iraci MFA author of Vatican Daughter |
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Diminished by Erica Rose Eberhart A queen haunted by ghosts. A dragon cursed in human skin. A kingdom on the brink of war. In the aftermath of her father's death, Queen Greer stands at the edge of grief and revelation. Magicâonce forbiddenâhas returned to Wimleigh, but so have enemies. When a prophetic funeral warns of rising death, it sets into motion a chain of events that will test the mettle of queens, heirs, and warriors alike. As Greer grapples with panic attacks and the vengeful ghost of her father, her sister, Caitriona, struggles under the weight of monstrous expectations. Bearing horns, scales, and the voice of a dragon in her mind, Caitriona must lead a secret mission with Ailith MacCreeânow a royal guardânorth to find a lost prince who could stop a warâif heâs willing to fight. But treachery weaves through the forests, poisons creep in, and fae assassins lurk in the shadows. With kingdoms falling to darkness, an ancient tree bleeding out its final life, and bonds shattered by betrayal, Wimleighâs hope rests on a dragon no longer afraid to rise. When magic is reborn and monsters wear crowns, who dares to lead the charge? |
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Tarnished by Erica Rose Eberhart An outlawed magic, a hidden curse, and a love tested by fire. In the struggling city of Braewick, a determined 20-year-old gate guard named Ailith MacCree longs for a chance at financial stability and adventure. Little does she know, her wish is about to come true. She accepts a mission from Princess Greer that promises both: escort Princess Caitriona to the Endless Mountains to meet the enigmatic hermit for a great financial reward. Ailith jumps at the opportunity and bids goodbye to all sheâs ever known. But as they journey together, Ailith discovers that Caitriona holds a dangerous secretâshe possesses powerful magic in a kingdom where magic is outlawed. Ailith and Caitriona face mysterious attacks and supernatural challenges. But as they delve deeper into the treacherous landscape, Ailith learns of Caitriona's tragic past and the dark curse that threatens her very existence. With rebellion brewing in Braewick, and the oppressive king hot on their trail, Ailith must not only navigate her growing feelings for Caitriona, but also fight against relentless foes. As they race against time to stop the curse, Ailith and Caitriona uncover shocking truths about their kingdom, their families, and themselves. Will their burgeoning romance survive the trials ahead? Can they break the curse and save their homeland from tyranny? Join Ailith and Caitriona on a thrilling quest filled with magic, danger, and heart-pounding adventure. Fans of high-stakes fantasy will not want to miss this epic tale. |
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All I Know So Far by Nicole Zelniker Of course Avery Marshâs parents decide to divorce their senior year of high school, but whatâs way worse, theyâre shipping her across the country to spend the year with her extremely closeted, absentee half-brother Lucas and his secret boyfriend. And itâs great that Lucas is living his truth or whatever, but he couldnât have told his bisexual, nonbinary sibling earlier? Told in journal entries, ALL I KNOW SO FAR is a queer coming of age story about love, hope, and resilience. |
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We Are Made of Scars and Starlight by Nicole Zelniker When twenty-five-year-old Kai Larssen agrees to pose as his best friend Mariahâs date at a family gathering, he doesnât expect to fallâhardâfor her twin brother, Ray. Anxious, magnetic, and achingly off-limits, Ray is everything Kai has ever wanted. But coming out to Ray means risking Mariahâs privacyâand their friendship. Back in New York, Kai and Ray grow closer, and Kai finds himself trapped in a tangle of half-truths and unspoken feelings. As the lies pile up, Kai must decide: is love worth the cost of betrayal? Told in luminous prose, We Are Made of Scars and Starlight is a tender, heartbreaking novella about mental health, disability, and queer desire in the heart of the modern city. Poignant and full of hope, itâs a story of self-discovery, chosen family, and the courage it takes to be seen. |
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Impostor (Children of Lorcan Book 2) by J. M. Rose NIKOLAI PETROV HATES LIES. Finding out heâs supposed to be the next Vampire King of Raspien was not something Nikolai Petrov ever expected. Torn from his family and his home, Nikolai is thrust into an unfamiliar world with unfamiliar people. But it does not feel like the court of vipers he was warned about. Nikolai is surprised by the warmth of his new family and Lord Councilman Caius Varga, immersed in his new school and his new friends, and somewhere along the line, he stops counting down the days until his return home. His willingness to stay and take up his promised role only grows when he meets the enchanting Lord in Waiting of Amenti, Viktor Kamel. Swept up in romance, friendship and the prospect of learning under the Petrov Academyâs best healers, Nikolai finds himself more deeply entangled than ever in his role as a prince of Raspien. But things arenât always what they seem. Nikolaiâs warmth, kindness and honesty cannot protect him from lies told in decades past; in the end, the truth always comes knocking and the shadows of the past have teeth as deadly as the ugliest of secrets. |
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A Dark Hole Darkly by Drew Melbourne The World's First/Best/Only/Last ADHD Detective Novel! Patrick Hinkle's mom is dead. Murdered. And maybe he could find her killer if his brain weren't for shit. Or if her whole stupid life wasn't as big a mystery to him as her death? If he understood her last words. If he knew who his dad was! If he knew what it all had to do with an obscure British sci-fi show from the 1980s... Before he can solve his mom's murder, Patrick Hinkle will have to solve her. And to do that? He'll have to solve himself. A Dark Hole Darkly is a postmodern comic mystery about family, fandom, who we are... ...and who gets to write the endings to our stories. |
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Usurper (Children of Lorcan Book 1) by J. M. Rose DMITRY PETROV WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THE NEXT VAMPIRE KING OF RASPIEN. On the night of his eighteenth birthday, Dmitry unwittingly finds himself at the center of a scandal that turns his life upside down. Stripped of his titles, inheritance, and everything heâs ever known, Dmitry has to learn to live like the other side. Forced to question everything heâs been taught to believe, Dmitry is determined to forge ahead and build a new life far from the intricate politics and poison of a family bound to a golden chair and the weight of a crown once promised. But dressing a prince in overalls does not a pauper make, and no matter the distance he travels or how hard he tries to forget, Dmitry has to face a harsh and inescapable truth; that a fate born into is not so easily shaken. When he finds himself at the beck and call of a boy king with too much power and no patience, Dmitry begins to understand that there is more to inheritance than a title and a crown, and bloodâindeedâruns much thicker than water. |
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Remnants of Relics by Jake Vanguard Remnants of Relics brings you the work of fifteen authors with a curated selection of short stories and poems around the themes of queerness and the importance of parts; be it body parts or more abstractly, concepts like the part identity plays in our lives. At the heart of this collection are the struggles and joys one works with when losing or gaining a new part of themselves. Pain and joy are close to each other - a constant cycle humanity moves through. |
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Stuck On The Slopes by Jessica Salina The cabin is heating up in this romantic comedy as a pro-athlete and corporate marketer dodge the tabloids and save a ski lodge. Professional athlete Juniper Hart was forced into retirement after a devastating snowboarding accident left him with a permanent injury. Despite the media wondering if he'll make a return to the slopes, he acquired a failed Colorado ski lodge. With only his service dog, Sasquatch, for company, he needs help bringing the lodge back to life. When burned-out corporate ladder-climber Rachel Friedman doesn't get the raise needed to afford her rising rent costs, she trades in her Florida summers for Colorado winters. As Juniper Hart's live-in resort manager, his attitude toward an increasing media presence leaves her wondering if the pay increase and free rent are worth it. Rachel needs to thaw Juniper's icy heart so they can work together to save the lodge (and her job along with it). But first, she'll need to establish dominance over the tabloids to earn Juniper's trust and take control of the media's narrative. |
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A Legion of Bane and Embers by KL Hill A Knight sworn to protect the city from evil. A vampire bound in chains. A desire that could destroy them both. Atlas I was trained to kill monstersâ Not crave the one chained beneath my home. As a Knight of Cindervail, Iâm everything the Legion disciplined, deadly, untouchable. But on the night of my final trial, it wasnât the Legion that saved me. It was a vampire. Emilian. Now heâs leashed and muzzled by the Vail, my illegal asset locked in my basement. I only let him out for missions that need a monsterâs teeth. Thatâs the story we tell. But the truth is darker. Every night, I go back to himâfor the heat, the hunger, the sin I canât stop committing. Our connection is forbidden. Addictive. And when my best friend vanishes and demons begin tearing through Cindervail, Iâm forced to face an impossible Save the city I swore to protectâ Or surrender to the vampire who makes me feel alive. Emilian I wasnât born a monster. I was made oneâand then left to rot. In Cindervail, vampires like me arenât given trials. Weâre exterminated. I shouldâve died the night I met Atlas, the Knight who should have put a blade through my heart. Instead, he let me live. Now I survive chained beneath his home like a secret sin. Muzzled. Bound. Used as a weapon while I fight the cityâs nightmares by his side. We pretend itâs duty. But I see the truth in his eyes every time he touches meâthe tremor in his hands, the hunger in his breath. The city is rotting. The rifts are widening. Demons are coming through the cracks. Soon, Atlas will have to chooseâ The city that made him a weapon, Or the creature he should have killed. |
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A Maestro's Best Friend: A Faithfully Yours Mozart Short by Faith Jacobs Certainly We all know of Maestro W.A. Mozart! The famous composer of all Vienna! but what about his loving, loyal, and rambunctious companion, Miss Pimperl? She too has a story to tell, through her curiousness, her wagging tail, floppy ears, and her ever faithful snout, hear the short tale of life with a genius from a stubby and stout four legged friend of the most famous man in over 279 years of classical musics existence. |
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Chaotic Idiots: HighSchool Days (Volume one) by Faith Jacobs New year, New school, new classes, and friendship challenges may come, yet so long as you've got good friends and family to guide you, nothing can go wrong! Right? --- Enter Jacob Faust, a bubbly, purple haired; gentle hearted sixteen-year-old Vampire with a lot of kindness and empathy to share! He's no mindless bloodsucker; that's a mortal myth you know! He in fact adores tomato juice, if you must inquire of his diet! Yet, In a hidden town, far from the human realm, where his next-door neighbor could be a dragon, a banshee, or a water nixie, Jacob has a lot to learn about life in between classes at Magmell Academy to studying for his next history test, and facing the ever changing tides of teenage growing pains, with his family and his peers by his side. In a sleepy little town, what could possibly go wrong? We're all fae after all.... |
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Flowers By the Wayside: A Story of Courage and Humanity by Faith Jacobs Synopsis: "Time! Give me more time!" Stephen cried, his fingers furiously shaking with anxiety as he typed on the typewriter keys in front of him. And yet time was not his friend and would only be an enemy in the long run.... --- A Story fallen into obscurity; letters and poems left behind to collect dust by the wayside, witness a tale of courage, of loss and of the testimony of the human spirit in the face of uncertain circumstances through a snapshot of a young actor's world dramatically shifted by a life shattering course redirection of a world at war. |
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Dial One For Revenge by Emma Brand Cassie and her mother were both murdered, not knowing who their killer was. Cassie, a fifteen-year-old rage fueled girl who loves to bake now works in the corporate afterlife, exacting revenges for clients to work up the ranks and finally be given the name of her killer and deliver her own vengeance. Working alongside her PA Eli and Doorkeeper Divya, an ex-love interest in Elodie and a surprise arrival from a very hot, but very much alive psychic Perrie, Cassie continues trying to find out who took her life. At the same time, making sure to not get in her boss Nemâs bad books, keeping the Miseria and the Board happy, Cassie remains cold, hard, and focused. Perrie offers Cassie an un-bucket list of things Cassie wished she could do before she died, in exchange for helping her find information. Along the way, struggling with her feelings for Perrie and re-connecting with her old, happier self, Cassie learns about who she truly is and if revenge is truly what she seeks after all. |
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How to Juggle Ballads & Blades by Jess Galaxie Get ready for something Silly, Sapphic, and Romantic at the Albion Renaissance Faire! Chicot and her best friend Elijah have finally landed their first season at a Renaissance Faire with their show The Jester and Bard, Forever at Odds, but Chicot is quickly discovering there's more to surviving their first Ren Faire than beating the heat. When her new friend Lyza asks Chicot to take her place as 'Wee' in the incredibly popular The Pirates Three: Big, Middle, and Wee show, Chicot jumps on the opportunity without thinking. Chicot wants to help her friend, especially if it means making her and Elijah look better the next time they apply to perform at a big faire. There's just one detail that Chicot neglected to think about: Monty, Lyza's younger sister who is both a major distraction, and doesn't seem to like Chicot very much. Chicot decides to push through for Lyza's sake, even if it means Chicot has to spend countless hours in Monty's arms as they prepare and perform. Worse, as Chicot tries to keep her crush in check, Monty suddenly drops the surly attitude and starts actively flirting with Chicot. Adding a show to her roster shouldnât be so complicated, but Chicot's caught between not knowing what state she'll be living in after Albion's season finishes and Monty's strong hands. At this rate, Chicot's going to melt before the season is overâand not from the heat of the sun. |
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The Prince and His Stolen Groom by J.E. Ridge A magic spell protects the Desolated Lands from evil mages and their nefarious schemes. As a condition of this spell, Princess Francesca of Woe and Prince Brendon of Bane must marry. Rick knows his sister will be miserable in this marriage, so he concocts a half-baked plan to kidnap the groom and stall the wedding. He just needs time to find an alternative way to keep the spell active. Everything seems to go smoothly until someone else arrives at the castle claiming to be Prince Brendon. Now Rick has to juggle two grooms: the real one he stashed in a magic tower, and the imposter romancing his sister. Because Rick disrupted the wedding, the spell begins to weaken, allowing an evil mage to slip past the magical defenses. Chaos ensues as Rick struggles with imposters, evil minions, and his growing feelings for Brendon. Who knew stealing one groom would cause so much trouble? |
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Creatures Like Us by Ally Avery Noah The same night Iâm meant to end it all, I find a golden-haired angel passed out in the snow. Iâm just supposed to bring him home and nurse him back to health. To save him. To take care of him. But then I get greedy. I want him to stay. After all, heâs the only thing standing between me and my ruin. Asher The start of the new year is going down the drain along with my sanity, and thatâs even before I wake up in some weirdoâs basement. He keeps me under lock and key, claiming itâs for my own goodâthat if he lets me go, Iâll spiral back into the dark hole he pulled me out of. I should want to run. To escape as soon as I have the chance. But as the days pass and the lines blur, everything turns on its head, and Iâm no longer sure whoâs the captive and whoâs the captorâwhoâs in control, and whoâs desperate to submit. |
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Dance With Me by Livia J. Elliot A haunting and poignant fairy tale for adult readers, blending delicate imagery with psychological depth. In a world of beauty, a ceramic-made ballerina awakens atop her music box. She must dance for her elven owners, and so her ballet goes on and on. They praise her elegance, her poise and balance, until one day she falls and her ceramic fracturesâbut the ballerina dances again, ignoring her ever-increasing fissures. The music plays, captivating and demanding... but should she dance? Even when what she once loved becomes a trap? This is a dark fairy tale fantasy exploring the confines of depression. |
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Aurethia Rising by Atlas Laika Two centuries ago, House Henly of Aurethia and House Volkov of Griea penned an engagement, promising a union between rival houses and their respective homeworlds. Elio Henly has been preparing for marriage his entire life. As the Henly heir and future steward of Aurethia, he will inherit great power, including control of a lucrative trade route, and ownership of the most precious substance in the Greater Universe â Avara. The mysterious blue crystal native to Aurethia is the sole treatment for parsec sickness, an epidemic ravaging space travelers within the Greater Universe. But when he meets Cael Volkov, the charming heir of the outfitted military planet, Griea, everything he thought he knew about his homeworld, his family, and his heart is turned upside down. Cael Volkov has been raised to conquer. Champion in the Tupinaire, commander of the Royal Reserve, and son to the mighty Legatus, Cael knows his mission is simple: gain the Aurethian heirâs trust, learn everything he can about the forest moon, and prepare to take it by force. But the longer he spends with Elio Henly, the quiet, brilliant Aurethian prince, the more he questions everything he was taught, and begins to push back against the rhetoric seeded in him by a lust for vengeance. |
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A Ballad for Slayers & Monsters by Rita A. Rubin Kas of Veldenier is a Slayer, a travelling monster hunter for hire. Claudia of Trulio is half-human, half-vampyric. Half monster. They should be nothing more than enemies. But when the long-lost remnant of the dragon Ombral turns up, and with it the possibility of unleashing the dragons to wreak havoc on Vil Tresar as they did long ago, Kas and Claudiaâs paths converge. Through a shared desire to keep the dragons from returning, they embark on a quest to see the remnant destroyed. Along the way, they will encounter fearsome monsters as well as a burgeoning desire for each other. Can a monster and a monster slayer truly find love together? Pursuing them from the shadows is Serisa, a vampyric who wishes to see the world burn. And she will need the remnant to make that wish a reality⊠|
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Africa's Ashiest Warrior by Dr. Joel Anthony Hamilton Ashy is a term used to describe dry skin and is commonly used within the Black community. Our skin turns a harsh grayish-white, becomes rough, cracks, and invites criticism. Ashy is grotesque, not beautiful. Ashy is ghetto, not professional. Ashy is undesirable, not valued. That is what many people think. This book takes back the negative association with being ashy and turns it into a right, a privilege, a power⊠a superpower. Ashburn is born in a haunted region of Africa known for its enthusiastically ashy citizens. Their skin allows them to create the friction needed to birth weak flames. They were the first to discover, create, and harness fire. Their powers are used for general house duties and occupations. Although their powers are useful, they are not strong enough to defeat the spirits and deities that lurk in the night. Due to the arid climate, young children are lathered in oil and grease to prevent them from prematurely igniting their powers. Oh, how they yearn to be free of the crude moisturizer and become ashy like the adults. Upon completing kindergarten, they are allowed to be ashy and use their powers. Ashburn discovers that his ash powers are much more powerful and destructive than everyone else's. Is he one of the legendary burning warriors, the Mpiganaji wa Kuchoma, the ones strong enough to defeat the monsters of the night? All will be revealed in this story of adventure, African folklore and mythology, as we reclaim the word ashy. |
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Inside a Dark Space by M.J. James Finch was sent to the moon as a canary. They were one of the expendableâa soul desperate enough to risk their life for the safety of the ârealâ astronauts. A decade later, they are the last canary left alive. Alone at the first lunar water mining station, Finch finds peace in solitude and the safety of routine. Ray grew up hearing her father rant about corporations âmaking the moon gay.â For her, that sounded like hope. She shaped her life around reaching a place where she could finally come out. Except when she arrived on the moon to start a research project, Ray was left at a station with only one occupantâFinch. Finch may have sparked Rayâs journey, but life together in a dark crater proves far more complicated. Finch struggles to connect. Ray craves belonging. Both are haunted by what they left behindâand what the moon has in store for them. Inside a Dark Space is the first book in the Lunar Abyss seriesâa queer, autistic science fiction story about survival and the quiet rebellion of staying alive on your own terms. |