|
Historian of Future Past by Revis Grey Alaina is a 26th-century data linguist and a historian specializing in 15th-century Turkey. Working with a quantum computer called Nexus, a machine able to record history in real time, she longs to be like the woman she observes, a red-head warrior temptress. But when an anomaly appears, and a peasant from the past is teleported into the future, anyone involved begins to be reassigned or disappear. Alaina finds herself thrust into the history sheās been studying when her godfather, the Director of Operations, chooses to lose her in time rather than eliminate her. Alaina transports from a culture of peace and abundance to a world of scarcity and violence. She will have to navigate 15th-century strife with the aid of a holographic cohort and a 26th-century mirage of life rapidly fading. Betrayed and wrongly accused of murder, her last hope rests in a crooked dwarf merchant. When a mysterious reflection brings her closer to understanding the futureās past. |
|
Hi De Ho, Infecterino! by Andrew Marc Rowe Turn On, Tune In, Drop Out Larry Evans never asked for this, dude. As the front man for a rock band with the brand spankingest new deal with a major record label, the Irish-born Londoner was on the up and up. Finally, he could cease slinging pot to make ends meet and maybe ā just maybe ā make his father proud of him. One little āaccidentalā fire and a faceful of sporulating destiny had another ideaā¦ Subject #30452 never really asked for it either. Not the injections from the strange men, not the development of sapience and self-awareness out of his easy-going life as a crow. Not to mention the fact that he was the sole one of his murdermates to have some kind of Cartesian epiphany in the California section of Parasol Industries. Escape ā and revenge, served hot ā might prove to be the first orders of business as brilliant bird ofā¦ opportunism. And what about Willy, the adult book shop worker who is trying to get clean from sex addiction? Or Hester, the brilliant scientist with the aesthetic challenges? Or Hector, the black ops Zen master? Or Constable Sheri Allston, the bobby who just happened to be thrust into a world ofā¦ Flesh-eating zombies that may or may not be tripping balls as they feast. There, I said it. Thanks to Parasol Industries, your friendly neighbourhood nefarious corporation on the government teat, some brand-new strain of fungus that is definitely not a derivative of jock itch and Albert Hoffmannās beloved ergot is bringing humanity to the brink. But the brink of what? Will the monsters destroy us all? Will we use the nuclear option? Or is this all aboutā¦ Evolution? |
|
Beautiful World Part 1 by Bill Sharrock In a broken future, ink-like stains have appeared on people's skin splitting the world in two. Now the beautiful people all wear masks and live in a luxurious haven kingdom where strict beauty laws are enforced. The others, āstainersā, are segregated to a lawless life in the Outlands ruled by chaos and warlords. But when Chesterman, a mysterious, ruthless leader from the north rises to power with plans to bring the kingdom to its knees, people will have to find out what they truly want to live for beneath their masks. Beautiful World is a grand scale story of Anna, Barvarik, Talessa and the individuals who will shape destruction, hope, terror and change to a future where only the most beautiful can sit at its apex. |
|
Ari Barlow has long survived on instinct. Itās crucial for living in the crime capital of the Meridian System. Established for space travel and trade by Illyarium, a world of gods amongst men, the Port of Acheron is now a far cry from the holy image it was spawned from. Just how she likes it. Together, with her level-headed partner, Ari takes any job that brings in the credits. Chosen to investigate a simple distress call, the pair travel to a desolate planet looking to find an easy pay day. Instead, they stumble upon a child in danger, and their decision to intervene puts into motion a war that will span the universe. Out of options and out of luck, Ari is torn away from the person she cares about most and burdened with a new responsibility in the form of a young ward with mysterious origins. Desperate to get her life back on track, Ari charters a ship and meets a crew of unlikely allies. However, a target has been painted on her back and she is now enemy number one to mortals and immortals alike. Ari will be forced to make sacrifices, but the most dangerous battle to face is with the monster lurking inside her. |
|
A Spectre in the Stream by Simon Tull In a world gone mad with bloodlust, can a girl with a fragmented past use her inner monster to save a boy from undying predators? Earth, post-Apocalypse. Prisma longs to understand herself. Two centuries after humanity died, the claustrophobic immortal is grateful sheās not driven by the thirst for blood plaguing every other enslaved survivor. But when she encounters a strange boy with a cryptic message about her origins, she fears his existence has made them both a deadly target. As Prismaās violently protective alter-ego gives her remarkable abilities, she and her curious companion track his mysterious origins through their decaying city and its virtual twin. But sheās horrified to learn of a vicious truth that sends her split personality into dangerous denial when a psychotic assassin and a desperate bounty hunter close in for the kill. Can she unearth the secret that will renew their stricken planetās hope? A Spectre in the Stream is the edge-of-your-seat first book in The Slip Saga science fiction fantasy series. If you like gritty characters, violent action, and dark-edged humour, then youāll love Simon Tullās fast-paced adventure. |
|
Ghosts of Colossus by Peter J. Foote Asa Kleve craved a life of intergalactic adventure. Instead, sheās tasked with babysitting a group of demanding scientists on the dead planet Cozore. But all of that changes when a rival galactic power attacks and kidnaps the scientists, leaving her for dead. Rescued from the rubble by an alienāone long thought to be extinctāAsa makes a pact with her unexpected new ally to save both their peoples before itās too late. This dead planet may not be so dead after all, and Asa is about to find more adventure than she ever bargained for. |
|
Madame Eldridgeās Wayward Home For Unruly Boys by Benjamin Ryan Deep in the heart of Virginiaās dense backwoods, the Wayward Home for Unruly Boys hides more than just troubled youth. Under Madame Eldridgeās watchful eye, three strict rules govern her behavior program: ā 1. What happens here stays here. 2. You must complete all eight stepsāno exceptions allowed. 3. Forget your name; youāll be known only by your problem. ā But, thereās 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 Eldridgeās whimsicalāand often bizarreāchallenges, 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 boyās fate. But who will trust the words of a liar? ā Bound by the houseās 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 demonsāand each other. |
|
Spark and Tether by Lilian Zenzi Working odd jobs across the Outer Ring gets a little lonely sometimesānot everyone loves having a synchronist with supraliminal perception around. But all Sacheri wants, he tells himself, is to wander the stars. Then he takes a salvage run to an abandoned moon where he meets the wry, reserved, strictly-by-the-rules archivist Jin. Mesmerized by their confidence and charm, Sacheri canāt resist showing off his abilitiesāand instead of the damaged ai he was tracking, he stumbles onto a signal left by a synchronist who went missing decades earlier. Sacheri knows from previous experience that pursuing the truthānever mind justiceācould destroy everything he loves. He would defy his employers, the institution responsible for the myconeural networks that make him a synchronist, and the leadership of several worlds. And it would complicate his new, passionate, and impossibly sweet relationship with Jin. They might be the best thing thatās ever happened to him, but they work for the very entities that ended Sacheriās last investigation. He knows better than to risk it. But heās never been able to turn away from someone in need, and thereās a voice in the void calling for aidā¦ |
|
The Grandmaster's Gamble by Paul G. Zareith An unparalleled academic genius of his generation - Norman has a bright future ahead. While he may be the rising star of the famed Illustrious Academy, in the brutally competitive Irvanian socio-political landscape, opportunist vultures lurk at every corner and no tactic is too low. The biggest obstacle in the way of his grand ambitions though, is an ancient alien parasite that has made his body its nest. Oh, and there is also the problem of a high profile murder investigation that is likely to destroy his career. Will Norman be able to reassert control over his life? Or will he succumb in his pursuit of the forgotten arts of soul harvesting and become something else... Find out in this grimdark cyberpunk fantasy. Sometimes being the best among the best is still not good enough. |
|
A Country of Eternal Light by Darby Harn A rogue black hole tears apart the solar system. Maireadās life is already in pieces. The Earth has less than a year to survive. Asteroids rain hell; earthquakes rattle cities; manic tides swamp coasts. Mairead intends to give herself to the erratic waves that erode her remote Irish island, the same that claimed her child. When Gavin, an American, arrives to scatter his fatherās ashes, she becomes torn between wanting for life and death. Despite the tides, fuel shortages, and closing borders that threaten to trap him on the island, Gavin canāt seem to scatter the ashes. He doesnāt know how to let go any more than Mairead does and they find a strange comfort in their confusion. Their affair draws Mairead back to the world of the living, but the longer Gavin stays, the more it seems there might be a future for them. There is no future. Life closes down around them. The world they know shreds. Life drains into an inescapable abyss. And yet Mairead fights, both the gravity of her grief and the restless, dissonant desire to find some kind of peace no matter how brief. |
|
Echoes (Entanglement Book 1) by Phil Oddy Who can you trust if you can't trust yourself? Estrel Beck doesnāt want to be a software salesman. Yet here he is, newly arrived in the city-state of Trinity, for a make-or-break meeting with the local Administration department. Under-prepared, under-motivated and over-sensitive, every little thing about this strange place seems to stress Estrel out. When he discovers a message scrawled on the back of a napkin, in his own handwriting, telling him heās trapped in a time loop, he knows for sure that heās in over his head. Then the Administration building explodes. As Estrel struggles to make sense of his situation and find an escape, he is drawn into Trinityās bizarre underworld and the struggles for power against Trinityās corrupt Mayor Chaguartay. Echoes is a story about being trapped by your past choices and what it takes to break free. |
|
Chloeās Kingdom by Gregory Michael Six Motivated Thieves. One Deadly Heist. Chloe Espinoza is a wild-haired petty thief aboard the Kingdom, a drifting city spaceship. Once rich but now poor, Chloe is determined to break free from the Honeycombs and return to her life in the Gardens. Only one problem: she hardly has enough koin for a burrito, making a lavish apartment seem as distant as the stars. All that might change, however, when Chloe is offered a heist that could make her unimaginably rich. But she canāt break into the impenetrable Koin Vault aloneā¦ A young mastermind who canāt let go of her past. A mathematical genius in desperate need of koin. A privileged kid from the Gardens with a debt to pay. A bartender whoās serving revenge. A mischievous raccoon with a bottomless appetite. A battered soul whoās been wronged by the council. Gone are the days of stealing snacks. Chloeās crew is aiming for the ultimate prize: the Koin Vault. Their plan? To rob the Treasury and bring down the corrupt council. But in a game where the stakes are jail or death, every move could be their last. |
|
Raq by T.K. Toppin Lies that become truthsā¦ The Hlad are one race, the only race beneath the Great Abyss. The great Fire King deemed it so when the Great Mother birthed the Fire Kingās children from the dry lake beds. All know of His power and scorn, and praise Him with each rising so He may shine down gently and with kindness. Warrior Class Lieutenant Raq of the Imperial Guard is a proud soldier, an adoring father to his sons, brave, dutiful and honour-bound, a devout servant of the Fire King. He is a true Hlad. But his faith is shattered when an alien craft crash-lands on Hlad from the Great Abyss. One alien, the Dayyid, survives the horrible massacre that follows the crash. Imprisoned, suffering from malnutrition, and studied by the reptilian doctors and scientists, he doesnāt forget one of the creatures from the crash site. One who hesitated to kill. Forced to live together, Raq and the Dayyid learn to understand each other despite the language barrier. But when they learn of a threat to Earth, they discover an almost unbelievable truth that unites them against the Hlad. The rest of Hlad must learn this truth, and so, too, the rest of the universe. |
|
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 heās doing, their relationship isnāt the only thing in jeopardy. When a situation arises when Frederickās 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. |
|
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 Jasonās 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 worldās 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 whoeverās 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. |
|
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. Barryās 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. |
|
Accidental Intelligence by Bryan Chaffin TALES FROM THE QUANTUM VAULT In his debut novel, Bryan Chaffin transports us to the year 2139, where corporate combines have their own Senate seats, the surveillance-state is all-encompassing, humans live most of their lives in the Omninet, and sentient AIs are partners with the world government. It's not all bad, though. There are docbots, you never have to wait for a taxi, and if you can afford it, you can get your coffee made the old fashioned way, strained from the algae tanks. ACCIDENTAL INTELLIGENCE Private detective Mason Truman is being yanked around by invisible strings, and it's an AI doing the yanking. Miranda. She's subtle. Crazy. And she thinks she can see the future. It's enough to drive Mason nuts. Miranda believes her fellow AIs are up to some kind of grand conspiracy against the Terran Republic, and she wants Mason's help proving it. Conspiracies are above Mason's pay grade, though, the kind of time-sink that can put a crimp in more serious pursuits. Like drinking coffee. And staying alive. But Miranda won't take no for an answer. Mason can help or Miranda will make sure he becomes intimately acquainted with the finer conversational techniques of the secret police. So Mason digs until he uncovers a cache of stolen communications between a cabal of rogue AIs. They're planning what they call Eschatonāthe divinely ordained end of humanity. Unless Mason and Miranda stop the arrogant pricks, the conspirators will destroy Earth. Mason and Miranda have one chance, a way of bottling up the rogue AIs. All Mason has to do is lure the conspirators to the right spot in a sim world. That's how Mason learns that when Miranda said she needed help, what she meant was bait. |
|
Wherever the Stars Call by S. Jean Living within the federation isn't all it's cracked up to be, so Laurel and Juniper decide to run away from it. If they can get past Jupiter where the fed's hold isn't as tight, they can figure out what they want to do with their lives on their own terms. Unfortunately, along the way, they find a busted federation ship with a vampire on board who may need their help... or their blood. |
|
Merittown by Uilleam Whitedale First book of The Lillian Rebellion. Lillian Gillespie is not the everyday grade school teacher she thinks she is. After learning that she is an ultra-creative empath, whose father had her reassigned after she was deemed defective as a child, Lillian flees her recently-capitalized, gaslighting partner, pursuing a relationship with an old school friend, unaware of how controlled her life has been. Her father is also not who he seems and seeks to persuade her to return to her former life, but it is a cage she cannot abide, needing to be free. As she develops her gifts, she is joined by two young empaths who seek her out through feelings. Discovering that she is an empath among empaths and being threatened by the oligarchical class who fear her, she and her friends decide to run to Old New York City, a dangerous journey under the watch of the meta-panopticon. With the help of another powerful empath, they achieve their destinationā¦ and the fight against the ruling class begins. |
|
Decades of hostilities. A chance for peace. Caught between belligerent groups, will this operation be her last? Sam "Valkyrie" Ryan is reeling. Struggling with her brother's recent decision to make their next assignment his last, the recon specialist fights to change his mind. But she has no time to process her emotions when they're tasked to protect a pivotal reconciliation summit between the Altered and Humans from human-supremacist terrorists. Distracted by a charming female medic, the golden-haired marine struggles to stay focused as events quickly unravel. And with the conflict becoming dangerously unpredictable, secrets from the past catch Sam by surprise as she uncovers a plot to destroy all of humanity. Can she stop a violent and oppressive history from spiraling into a catastrophic future? Of Friction is the fast-paced first book in the Altered Earth dystopian military speculative fiction series. If you like strong women, tense action, and slow-burn LGBTQ+ relationships, then you'll love S.J. Lee's gripping story. |
|
The Hytharo Redux by Jonathan Weiss A THOUSAND YEARS AGO THE HYTHARO WERE WIPED OUT. A THOUSAND YEARS LATER SPIRIC WAS SAVED. Lost among the dune-swept ruins of ancient glass towers, 14-year-old Spiric hunts for his stolen memories. Guided by the exiled scholar that found him, he embarks on a perilous journey across the Droughtlands to uncover his origins. Heās told his red eyes mark him as a Hytharo, one of the long-extinct storm callers that sealed all water into the air itself before they were erased from history. In the thousand years since, thirst has been quenched simply by breathing, but that hasnāt stopped the surviving runic peoples from wanting water any less. For without it, thereās no ink, no runes, no magic, and in the vast desert wastes of the Droughtlands, magic means power. To Spiric, the mantra is eerily familiar. Word of his presence ripples across the Droughtlands and pressure mounts on him to reverse the Hytharoās final, sacrificial act. Itās only as his memories begin to return that he realises the true reason his people were wiped out. With the fragments of Spiricās memories growing bloodier and more desperate, he must determine whether carrying out his supposed fate will cause history to repeat, or if he can forge a new destiny, both for himself and the Droughtlands. |
|
Against Fearful Lies by Vivian Moira Valentine In this second book in the series, Amelia Temple's world has changed. As a test subject to a shady government entity, it is 1954 and she has finally been given limited freedom to move around after being kept captive and studied since birth. That freedom came with a price, however. She now has friends, people she cares about. People who care about her. She has a girlfriend, but she manages to hide that fact, knowing how society would respond. And she has enemies, those who want to study her, dissect her, see what she is. Amelia is not sure what they will find. Something strange is going on at the hospital where her friend Ralph is being kept. And not a normal kind of strange, either. The kind of strange that means Ralph is no longer himself, the nurses at the hospital are keeping secrets, and somehow memories are stolen. In trying to save her friends, and herself, Amelia must not only deal with the creature now living inside her, but she must learn more about who she is and what, exactly, she is capable of. Because one thing has become clear: it's not just her and her friends' lives at stake... there are worlds within worlds and a universe of extranormal activity that just might depend on her. |
|
When a monster hunter's last mission is to capture a wasteland girl, his only chance of survival is to turn the hunt around. Hunt the monsters of the wasteland. Bring them back alive. Retire. Ninety years after the devastating global "Fracture," the biosphere has collapsed. The few remaining cities, once bastions of human survival, have become fortresses of power ruled by ruthless corporations. Axel Mercer, a former soldier, explores the hostile plains to recover organisms for scientific research. But the corporations who run civilization want more. As his last mission, Mercer is sent to recover a specimen that could bring eternal life to the corporate elites. He learns this organism is not a monster, but a teen girlāa wasteland fighter hardened by a life of survival. Her spirit and fierce determination challenge everything Mercer has believed about his job, his future, and his questionable past. In a world where power is worth more than life itself, Mercer must decide which side of the fight he belongs onāand what kind of future is worth fighting for. An action-packed dystopian novel with a simple premise, crazy twists, cruel desires, a pinch of humor, and all the blood and violence of an edge-of-your-seat action movie. |
|
A Night So Dark And Full Of Stars by Nikky Lee A half-siren girl befriends a deaf boy. A vendetta between a teenager and her dad's stubborn ram continues into the afterlife. A hunter must atone for killing a god's sacred bull. A sacrificial maiden uncovers the secret of the wizards who rule her people. A new acolyte causes a godling to confront her past - and her deadly gift. A Night so Dark and Full of Stars from multi-award winning author Nikky Lee contains twelve stories inspired by the astrological zodiacs. From ghosts and gods to fae and folklore, Lee's blend of vividly imagined fantasia invites us to imagine alternative worlds, dark pasts and far flung futures as we gaze into the night. |
|
The Scorching: The World in My Hands by Nick Snape A lonely PA, a rebellious teenager, two ordinary people on a deadly journey to save humanity. The world is heading towards global collapse as The Scorching takes full effect. Salvation vessels orbit the Earth, waiting to transport the chosen few away from danger and to start again; ten plantships grown by an alien species for the wealthiest and most powerful, or those lucky enough to be selected by lottery. The rest remain behind, their future dependent on the Drathken finding a solution to Earthās problems. Jenna, Personal Assistant to a prominent oil mogul, feels privileged to be among the saved, never questioning her good fortune. While Seth suffers, forced to leave his friends behind as his family takes their place aboard their luxurious ship. Yet not all is well on board. Dark secrets lurk in the corridors and depths of their respective ships, dragging Jenna and Seth into a world of malice and violence they thought they had left far behind. "Immersive and approachable sci-fi, and one that wonāt easily be forgotten." Literary Titan |
|
Those Who Broke the World by Derek Ward-Colston "Soon there will be heroes, gods, and villains that once fell under the guise of mythology intertwined into the lives of every human." Those Who Broke the World is a collection of science fiction and fantasy short stories, all the stories take place in the same universe on an Earth not unlike our own, but one that is soon destined to become filled with chaos and legends. Those who Broke the World has stories of action and drama that are all interconnected and slowly form a larger plot as the book progresses. It is not an ending, but the beginning of much larger things to come. |
|
Agent. Mother. Other. by Sharn Lee An ex-covert agent. A loving mother. An unknown power. Rachelās tranquil life on the terraformed planet of Tir-na shatters when her twenty-year-old son vanishes without a trace. With no ransom demands or clues, she must confront her past and re-enter the treacherous world of the Agency she once abandoned. In a high-stakes race against time, Rachel relies on her deadly agent skills and unlocks forgotten powers, embracing the shocking truth of her past. From the plant-covered solar-punk city of Crayn to a nomadic metropolis built upon colossal wheels, relentlessly rolling across The Wastes, her unwavering love drives her to unimaginable lengths. As the seconds tick away, can Rachel rewrite her destiny and shield her family from an impending threat? Will her rekindled abilities be enough to save her son, or will they be her ultimate downfall? Prepare for a pulse-pounding journey of sacrifice, redemption, and the indomitable spirit of a mother fighting against all odds. Secrets will be unveiled, alliances will be tested, and in the midst of peril, the true impact of the past will be revealed. If you crave thrilling science fiction tales featuring kick-ass women protagonists, rife with covert agents, corrupt corporations, secret bases, underground societies, drug dens, and deadly drone bots, then prepare for an exhilarating ride unlike any other. Get ready to immerse yourself in a world where love knows no bounds and danger lurks at every turn. |
|
In the blood-red skies of Calx, survival is a fleeting hope... Welcome to a world where the sun never rises, a planet torn between burning wastelands and frozen voids, where life clings to the thin Terminator strip, and death is an ever-present shadow. In this hostile environment, biological automaton T-Ī² 63177 awakens from its cold slumber to perform its relentless tasks in a landscape of ice and fire, driven by duty and devoid of emotionāuntil something changes. When a fellow automaton is crushed by the treacherous ice, 63177 begins to experience something new: a flicker of life beyond its programmed existence. As strange memories stir and the ice-bound world reveals its darkest secrets, 63177ās fate spirals into chaos. Meanwhile, in the far reaches of space, Kalaiapi, an elite Corsair of the Confederation, finds herself locked in a deadly pursuit across the nebulae. On the trail of a mysterious Primus dreme, Kalaiapi is a deadly predator, relentless and cunning, until her prey escapes to a backwater planet. But this is no ordinary chase. As Kalaiapi closes in, she discovers the dark purpose behind the Primus ship's mission and the terrifying forces at play that could unravel the very fabric of the Confederation. What she finds will shake her to her core, testing her sanity, her loyalty, and her understanding of reality itself. Corsair is a gripping tale of survival, rebellion, and discovery set against the backdrop of brutal planetary landscapes and star-spanning wars. As biological constructs struggle with newfound sentience, and a lone warrior confronts the shadow of a galactic conspiracy, all will face choices that will determine the future of worlds, perhaps even the galaxy itself. For fans of science fiction and space operas, this novel is packed with pulse-pounding action, mind-bending twists, and profound questions about identity, free will, and what it means to be alive. Will Kalaiapi find the strength to stop an impending galactic war? Can 63177 break free from its preordained fate? Find out in Corsair, a novel where worlds collide, allegiances are tested, and the line between machine and human blurs. |
|
A girl has gone missingānothing unusual for the corrupt, crime-filled megacity of Xi, where biotechnical mods make everyone as unique and dangerous as their imaginations allow. Soon enough, no one will remember that the girl ever existed. At least, thatās what Chance believes, until a duo of ambitious bounty hunters snatch him from his mundane day-to-day in the slums and introduce him to the shiny, secretive world of Xiās rich and powerful. Meanwhile, in the cityās sparkling high-rises, a pair of siblings witness a murder and are forced into the violent bowels of the city, hunting for answers as they are hunted by a killer. A hard-punching, fast-paced cyberpunk fantasy, The Neons follows an ensemble cast of unlikely heroes as they untangle the wires of a twisted mystery and uncover a reality inhabited by cybernetic deities, android angels, and the resurrected demons of their own past lives. |
|
Blackburn Station by Karen Lucia Blackburn Station is dead. Jane watched the destruction of her home. Her friends and family, gone. The community of Blackburn Station wiped from the galaxy. Trapped in the confines of her escape pod, she forced herself to take in the totality of the space stationās destruction time and again. Blackburn Station had always operated outside of Union control. After the attack on the station, nobody but scavengers looking for a payout came to pick up the pieces. Returning to Blackburn is the last thing Jane should want to do, but it is all she can think about. |
|
First Contact: America by Matt Turner What happens if First Contact doesn't go the way we want? A religious American family set's off on a delightful weekend away. Mom and daughter embark on a girl's getaway, while Father and Son have a guy's weekend. Just as the two pairs are starting their little vacations, aliens unexpectedly descend upon Earth; making First Contact. The family's torn asunder and their idyllic weekends take an unexpected turn as they grapple with this otherworldly encounter. The aliens come bearing ominous messages. Are they friends or foes? A family, torn apart, embarks on an adventure that tests their physical and mental fortitude, as well as their faith. Will they find unity once again? |
|
Paris at Nightfall by Merlina Garance In an early 20th century Paris emptied of its population and surveilled by the army, two men are trying to survive. Would that include falling in love? Jules has been surviving off of preserves he scavenges out in the city when he leaves his hideout at night. He never knew why one day, the Army hauled the whole townās population into vans and evacuated the city. He only knows heās the only one left behind. Or so he thought. When he runs into a blond aristocrat with nice hands on an outing, his world is turned upside down once again... The ebook is only available, for free, through the author's newsletter. |
|
Synthetic Sea by Franklyn S. Newton In the distant future of planet cracking , VR distraction, and corporate greed, grieving private detective Ryoma LeBeau takes what seems to be a simple job on the opulent casino planetoid of Scylla. Captivated by a chance meeting with a Synth musician, Guin, he finds himself drawn to the smoky anachronistic lounge bar where they perform, weaving their music around his heart. It seems there's a lot more to both Guin and to this case and Ryoma can't help but pull at the threads of mystery leading him to the depths of conspiracy and memory. Synthetic Sea is a cyberpunk romance with trans leads, inspired by Blade Runner and Ghost in the Shell |
|
Strike The Lilac Scent by H. C. Turk Kidnaped by space pirates, a troubled student is seduced into helping them release an outlawed AI from its hiding place in the past. In the 23rd century, Earth Nations United harshly governs the world, its great weapon AI. But when the AI starts helping the populace regain their freedom, ENU electronically contains it. To save itself, the AI manages to send its container back in time where it is mistaken for a genieās bottle. Former ENU employees Lilith, Varvara, and Connie band together to release AIās positive power. They are aided by followers of AI who wield enormous resources, providing the women with a starship normally used for diplomacy. The women are not scientists, but sorceresses, and AI has proven that magic is the ultimate technology. Lilith is a medium, Connie is fat from being a sin-eater, and Varvara is a concealer. Before it is locked away, the AI informs the women that a fourth magician is required: a finder. Nineteen-year-old Melody has found a great deal of trouble in school. After invoking AI to save herself from being lynched, Melody is kidnaped by the three magicians in their starship. Then they enter an adventure, following a pirateās map from the past that leads them across the galaxy and back to the 18th century. If only they can returnā¦. |
|
A Starless Eye: Othello Reloaded by T.O. Tate BUT WHY SHOULD HONOR OUTLIVE HONESTY? LET IT GO ALL. In this post-apocalyptic novelette, Ollie, a former sniper, has been forced into retirement by a mysterious disease known as sliversickness. A perpetual outsider in an isolated underground military base, Ollieās only solace is her lover, DJ. But that relationship is forbidden, putting Ollieās already uncertain future in jeopardy, and her only protection is DJ . . . whose fidelity has been called into question by one of Ollie's few allies. As Ollieās illness worsens, eating away at her right eye, her vision becomes more warped, and everything begins to look like evidence. A lost good luck charm, a glance that lingers too long, a poisonous whisper. And at the center of it all stands a man who claims to be Ollieās friend. As Ollieās life crumbles before her eyes, itās no longer a question of when her illness will kill her, but whether it will burst free and kill everyone else, too. |
|
Unbreakable Bonds by Marc Wisdom In a world ravaged by the devastating "Squeeze" virus, two groups of survivors fight for hope and a future. Lance and Gwen, a young couple immune to the virus, find themselves prisoners in a ruthless government facility, subjected to cruel experiments in the search for a cure. As they plan a daring escape with fellow inmates, they discover a growing resistance movement that could change everything. Meanwhile, Michael and John lead a diverse group of survivors on a perilous journey north, chasing rumors of a safe haven. Battling hostile forces, dwindling supplies, and their own doubts, they forge a makeshift family bound by shared struggles and unwavering loyalty. As both groups face unimaginable challenges, they must confront the true cost of survival in a world where trust is a luxury and hope is a lifeline. "Unbreakable Bonds" is a gripping tale of resilience, love, and the indomitable human spirit in the face of overwhelming odds. |
|
Third Loch From the Sun by Rex Burke Jake has left it late, and the only summer job he can find is on the remote Scottish island of Elsay. Still, that sounds fine ā the work isnāt too hard, the payās all right, and the scenery is great. But he soon has second thoughts about staying. His boss, Fraser, is clearly a bit of a rogue, while Fraserās cute but snippy daughter, Alva, takes against him from the start. And the oddball characters in the local pub arenāt exactly welcoming. Then Jake stumbles on an extraordinary secret that changes everything thatās known about the universe. A secret he can scarcely believe. A secret that Alva and the island recluse, Ruan Strang, have sworn to protect at all costs. As the mystery deepens, the questions only mount ā and none of the answers make any sense. Plus, Jakeās falling for Alva and she still hasnāt so much as smiled at him. One thingās for certain ā heās not going anywhere until the full, fantastic truth is revealed. From the author of The Wrong Stop comes a SciFi fantasy adventure set on a dreamy Scottish isle. Stuffed with larger-than-life characters, itās perfect for fans of island mysteries, with crackling dialogue and a will-they-wonāt-they romantic edge. |
|
Dragons of Dunmoray by Kate Kelly What can you see? Can you see dragons? Dragons have always been part of our world ā only most of us cannot see them. Alba MacGregor can see the dragons. She thinks she is alone in this, or that maybe they are all in her head. But when she meets Al she realises, not only that the dragons are real, but that there are others like her, spread across the world. The dragons are stirring. Thereās a war coming. A war that has been ongoing for millennia. Only Alba can break this cycle, but to do so she must first defeat a foe much closer to home and far more human. |
|
AVA by Lydia Baker First, they came for the city and we allowed it, they put up the Barrier and we stayed quiet, silenced by the fear of what was beyond. Our elderly were next and still we didnāt cry out; then they came for the women, removed their fertility and stole our future, so I hid. I became Alec and I turned my back on my true self, Ava. āØAva canāt live as Alec any longer, the lie is killing her, destroying all that she is.āØThe world beyond MTechās Barrier calls to her and she canāt ignore it. She has to know what, if anything, survived the terrible day that tore her family apart fourteen years ago.āØāØBut what if the Outside is far more dangerous than anything Ava has ever faced on the Inside?āØAva is set in a dystopian future, where individual rights are being eroded and the population live under a dome barrier that they have been told is for their protection. But, what is outside? Is escape possible and even if it is, will it be a death sentence? |
|
The Orphan Ark by Scott Pinkowski When Isabelle and her friends have a brush with a supernatural artifact that grants them otherworldly abilities, they handle it the only way that makes sense: they become amateur superheroes. But no power comes without cost and the fallout from their choices just may have xenocidal consequences. Caught between shadowy extraterrestrial hunters who will stop at nothing to prey on their power and an unscrupulous head of a bioengineering firm, the friends will need to learn that it takes more to being heroes than possessing superpowers. |
|
What It Takes to Kill a Bull Moose: A Political Thriller by Michael Fedor Former U.S. Senator Jackson Piper thought his political ambitions were shattered after a shocking defeat on the national stage drove him out of public service. But when a sinister plan to hijack the presidential election shatters his quiet retreat in the Rockies, two trusted former colleagues approach him with a plan to restore balance to a corrupted two-party system that will shape the fate of the American people in the upcoming 2044 elections. With the clock ticking and American values on the line, Jackson resurrects the forgotten Bull Moose Party to take on the corrupt President Warner and his billionaire puppeteer. As allies fall and enemies close in, Piper will battle through a storm of deception, danger, and doubt. The odds are stacked against him as he faces assassination attempts, brutal betrayals, and a relentless smear campaign that threaten everything he holds dear. Backed by a crew of unlikely heroesāthe fiery Texas governor, a cunning Cajun Speaker of the House, and a brilliant strategist in his wifeāPiper will learn what it means to accept responsibility for the future of the American people and stand firm against corrupt political forces in a clash that will shake the nation to its core. In this heart-pounding thriller with twists at every turn, follow Piper and his loyal team of patriots as they race against time to expose the truth before democracy itself falls prey to the monsters of greed and manipulation. What It Takes to Kill a Bull Moose is a pulse-pounding rollercoaster of loyalty, sacrifice, and unyielding courage that will keep you on your toes until the final page. This book is a must-read for fans of VInce Flynn, Brad Thor, James Patterson, or political thrillers like "The Manchurian Candidate" and "All the President's Men." Get ready for a heart-pumping adventure through the cutthroat world of presidential elections. |
|
The Warrior's Shade by Ingrid Moon A fleet for hire. A mysterious client. A weapon of mass destruction. No longer a commander, Turner Boone will come to the rescue of any fleet that will pay him. However, he has done his job too well, and his clients have no need to call. His fleet-for-hire is running out of fundsāand options. Things look up when he is hired to retrieve the wreckage of an ancient terraforming machine. He soon realizes the device can be turned into a devastating weapon, and he has no idea who his well-paying client is. Caught between delivering the artifact to the client, whose methods to collect it are ruthless, and hiding his fleet from the Coalition Navy, who hunts him as a traitor, Boone faces the most difficult decision of his life. In discovering the client's secret, his investigation goes too deep, propelling himself and the assassin, Elyon, into a Coalition trapāone that will require untenable sacrifices to avoid execution. Epic Space Battles, Biological āMagic,ā Found Family, Galactic Empire, Pirates, A Rebellious Assassin, Daring Pilots and more! The Warrior's Shade is a desperate chase across the galaxy, where a young man discovers his fatal flaw, and an assassin learns the meaning of sacrifice. |
|
When a rural settlement at the edge of our galaxy faces a threat science cannot explain, Dr. Lau must choose: save herself and keep her secrets, or reveal her truth to save her community. In the distant future, no one questions the limitations of science and technology. But on Valiance, a planet far from Earth, everything changes when the nightly fog becomes dangerous, people go missing, and those found are comatose. Dr. Jena Lau is secretly a woman of faith. In a society where religion has been eradicated and is illegal, she grapples with the reality that neither science nor technology can resolve the threat to her community. As she recognizes the evil attacking her home for what it is, she faces a life-altering decision: save herself by keeping her secrets or try to save everyone else by revealing them. As the inexplicable danger within the fog takes more and more of her community, Dr. Lauās forbidden faith in a god long rejected and forgotten pushes her to act. Readers who enjoy Christian Science Fiction will love this novel that boldly declares the God of Earth is also the God of all creation, to the edges of the galaxy and beyond. |
|
A Dirge for Cascius by Calum Lott Chaos seeps into the Valsollas Galaxy. Cascius Carcyde is on the brink of letting his addiction to reliving his sorrows claim his mind. When the Sages demand he take a new partner, Cascius must forfeit his old ways in order to solve the twisted Red Hand murders. To unravel an interstellar mystery and stop the Red Hand, Cascius must pull himself from the very depths of despair and learn to change before the entire Velutra falls into oblivion. Stare too long into the abyss, and the abyss peers back. True Detective meets Hyperion in this epic space opera debut, perfect for fans of James S.A. Corey and Christopher Ruocchio. |
|
A Princess of Oldir by Bryan Wilson "Whether (this book) is your initiation to the Power of the Stars saga or you're an experienced Solara wielder, this is a must-read for sci-fantasy fans." - The Dragon Reread: SFF Insiders The Ojurn family has guided the planet of Oldir for centuries, and as the ancestors of a prophet, the worldās citizens have always honored their bloodline. However, the peopleās struggles are on the rise, and their solar systemās limited resources continue to dwindle. Rhanna, the daughter of the current Lord Supreme, considers it her duty to rid the planet of its troubles. She spends most of her days training to take up her familyās mantle. But when a popular young leader from a neighboring world arrives on their soil, it becomes evident that there are those with other wishes. Set more than three decades before the events of The Forsaken Planet, this is a story of one familyās struggle to do what is right, even if it costs them their legacy. A Princess of Oldir is both a standalone story in the Power of the Stars universe and a complementary addition for those familiar with the main books. You do not need to have read the other work to enjoy this novella. |
|
Heirs to a Flawed Creation: Stories from Near Earth by E.L. Montague Assassin. Detective. Cop. Interrogator. Lover. Spy Master. Rebel. All of these. Purpose defines us. It will define the peoples we leave behind when we are gone. We are children playing with the powers of a god. Our creations will be as flawed as their creators. The gift of intellect comes with doubt. In the none too distant future, tools will become beings in their own right. Factory floors will be the womb of an entire people. Androids will struggle to exist alongside the lesser gods who created them, even as they surpass us. These stories explore that struggle. |