Stars Still Fall by Jules Kelley

1995. A young woman. Her boyfriend's ex-girlfriend. The small Alabama town neither of them can escape. And a ghost. Lilly Ann Guthrie is living with a man she isn't married to; she can't hold down a job, and she can't sit in a moving vehicle without having a panic attack. It isn't the life she once imagined for herself, but she can't complain. She has a roof over her head and food on her table, and she doesn't owe either of those things to her only living relative, an aunt whose disdain almost makes her wish she'd died in the same car wreck that claimed her brother and parents. So it could be worse. But in late summer, life decides it has other ideas. Her boyfriend's infamous ex, Jolene, comes back to town and turns everything on its ear, including Lilly's ability to be satisfied by her current circumstances, and strange things start happening around her house. Voices in empty rooms, fleeting glimpses of someone in her peripheral vision. Is she on the verge of losing everything, including her mind, or is she standing on the precipice of having even her most secret wishes granted?

Mandrake Manor by JP Rindfleisch IX

Inherited magic. A secret neighborhood. And... a formidable Homeowner's Association? When Mathias Mandrake becomes the unexpected heir of Mandrake Manor, he and his friends are thrust into a world of witchery and mystery. Juggling romance, nosy neighbors, and looming fines, they must decide: is the magic worth the mayhem?

Falling Light by Crystal L. Kirkham

Love comes in many forms: family, friendship, romance. But when those you love are considered forbidden, what do you do? ​ Samir Amin has dedicated his life in service to the Nergal, an ancient organization that monitors and polices the inter-dimensional beings on our world and the magic that summons them. The only dark mark on his career is his close friendship with Anela Masterson—a being that was long ago trapped in a human body and forced to live near powerless in our world. ​ When Anela introduces him to Keeler Lim, another being trapped like her, on the condition he keeps it a secret from the Nergal, he does so reluctantly. Things only become more complicated when Anela is kidnapped by a madman who wants to release her darkness on the world and, unwilling to be forced to stand on the sidelines, Samir asks Keeler to help him find and rescue her. It is a decision that causes Samir to be faced with a choice between love and duty—and it could cost him his life.

Wolf of Withervale by Joaquín Baldwin

Lago was only a child when the shapeshifter entrusted the wolf-like mask to his care—an artifact so powerful that it could come to shape the entire world of Noss. Now that he is coming of age, Lago is growing ever more fearful of the ominous relic’s influence, of the empire who has scented its trail and is coming after it. Coming after him. Aided by his best friend, an enigmatic scout, and his trusty dog, Lago seeks refuge in the vastness of the Heartpine Dome. The eighty-mile-wide structure had remained sealed for centuries, safeguarding more than mere secrets. Now that the dome’s entrails are stirring, the mysteries of the long-vanished Miscam tribes are coming to light, and the shapeshifting animal spirits are making their return. Powers untold hide behind the blinkless eyeholes of the canid mask, powers that could tip the balance in the war. Lago is barely beginning to learn how to wield the dark visage, but he can already feel its potential. … And he can feel a different change coming, deep in his marrow.

Promise of the Betrayer's Dagger by Jay Tallsquall

The last traitor of Arnadore turned his back on his people for a misguided love. Now, he must confront his cursed past, reconnect with his culture, and unlock the magic hidden inside his heart.Exiled and alone, Osman finds himself thrust back upon the shores of the homeland he deserted a decade before. To repay the debt he owes the brother he betrayed, Osman must traverse the Uldani Isles. Across the frozen tundra of Kyflenor, to the mist shrouded giant forests of Mornaserin, and beyond—his journey will unravel a secret legacy left to him by his father.“Promise of the Betrayer's Dagger is the sequel to Legacy of the Vermillion Blade. It is an epic coming-of-age adventure that explores the pain, joy, and unbreakable spirit of one of the series’ favorite characters. The high fantasy world of Rhymera features vivid worldbuilding and a diverse cast of LGBTQIA+ characters” -Jay TallsquallSometimes to find yourself, first you have to find your Family.

In Pain and Blood by Aldrea Alien

He's unleashed. Unprepared. And thoroughly screwed. Dylan's life in the spellster tower has everything he should want: magical knowledge, safety from the King's Hounds and frequent clandestine affairs with women. All at the cost of his freedom. So when the chance to leave the tower—even as a leashed weapon for the King's Army—arises, he seizes it. When his first scouting mission goes awry, Dylan is left alone in a hostile world with the tower a distant beacon of safety. Only the flirtatious Tracker, an elven man whose very presence awakens Dylan's long-repressed desire, can help him return to his old life before the crown discovers his unleashed status. But the risk of being branded a deserter may be the least of his concerns as whispers of an armed presence in the North threatens his home. Dylan must rely on Tracker to protect him even as everything he thought he knew begins to unravel around them.

Sapphic Blooms by Aimee Donnellan, A.A. Fairview, Bryanna Bond, Dae Storm, Kapri Moon, Morgan Roberts, Rien Gray, Rita A. Rubin, Taylor Hubbard

Sapphic Blooms is an anthology of sapphic erotic romance short stories. It features both cis, trans, and nonbinary characters. STORIES The Taste of Magic by Aimee Donnellan Tara, the owner of a small town bookstore, is suffering from an agonising summer crush on Lilia, the adorable botanist (witch?) who is using the shop to get space to work on her special projects. When one of these projects goes awry, Tara and Lilia find several unexpected truths and feelings coming to light. Poolside Lover by A.A. Fairview The Country Club isn't the step up from my lakeside lifeguarding gig I hoped it would be. At least the view is nice, from the lifeguard stand I get a great view of Stephanie a single mom with a great body and a smile that drives me wild. Now if I could just figure out how to flirt with her kids around... What Else Is There To Lose by Bryanna Bond Best friends drift apart every day, but when Tia and Zo reconnect at their high school reunion it's like nothing has changed. The problem is, Tia's finally realizing that maybe there was more to her feelings for Zo than she let herself admit. View From Below by Dae Storm Liv doesn't think she can adore her rockstar girlfriend Roxanne any more than she does, but an unexpected surprise on stage only brings them closer together. Blood Orange by Kapri Moon For over twenty years, Eve has been stuck in the small, blasphemous town of Eden. Labeled as a cursed one, the quiet woman has never found her place in the world, an outsider in a place that despises her. That all changes when she meets the serpent in the forbidden tree, one who embraces her and her flaws, and shows her what it means to be loved. Malibu Sunset by Morgan Roberts When she finds herself in the hot tub at the company's summer barbecue with her soon-to-be-ex assistant, Robyn, workaholic CEO Adeline Clark quickly discovers which of them is really in charge. A Seduction in Smoke by Rien Gray After years of ruined and forgotten birthdays, Justine has a new start with a new relationship. Old, complicated desires burn to the surface, and this summer, she's finally going to get the surprise she wants. Love and Summer Nights by Rita A. Rubin Stephanie had her heart broken one summer when the girl she loved disappeared from her life. But little does she know that this summer is going to be quite different. Dreams from the Beach House by Taylor Hubbard Rose needs a vacation, as ordered by her therapist. When she rents a beach house to paint and relax by the ocean, a visitor makes herself known and Rose decides that she definitely needs to go on vacation more often. ~~ "Sapphic Blooms" contains explicit adult content.

No Strings For The Summer by Dae Storm

27-year-old Olivia Waitts has been looking forward to her week vacation in the Caribbean all summer. It's the last vacation she'll have from work until next summer. All Liv wants is to get laid and enjoy her time in the sun. 44-year-old Kathleen Danvers, however, has been uncertain about her work-vacation to the Caribbean since she heard about it. Two weeks in a two-bed hotel room with three of her coworkers, could it get any worse? When she lays eyes on Liv, she knows she has to have her, every single inch of her. It's the only thing that can salvage the rest of the summer. But Liv and Kathy live in two very different places in America, and lead opposite lives, so they decide on a no-strings policy...and find it difficult to maintain. ~~ 'No Strings For The Summer' is a sapphic age-gap romantic erotica novella featuring a 17 year age gap, a plus-size love interest, and lots of explicit sexual content. Romantic erotica is different from erotic romance in that romantic erotica has a much heavier focus on sexual content. Intended for 18+ audiences.

Urban Gothic by Stephen Coghlan

Burned out and drugged up, Alec LeGuerrier spends his days faking it, barely ekeing out an existence while living in a haze of confusion and medicated mellowness. That is, until he stops a gang of nightmarish oddities from killing a strange young woman with indigo eyes. Dragged into the lands of the dreaming, he must come to terms with his brutal past and his grim imagined future in a land his body knows is real, but his mind refuses to acknowledge.

The Heavenly Sword by Alice Poon

The Heavenly Sword and its sequel are a unique blend of an epic wuxia story and Chinese myths. Set in a world of human conflicts, fantastical martial arts, sorcery and celestial magic, Alice Poon’s debut fantasy follows a martial maiden’s heartbreaking adventures in her quest for love and justice. The goddess Chang’e is sent to the mortal world to rein in the tyrant Zhu Di, formerly a Sky Wolf. Reborn as Tang Sai’er, a simple village girl, her celestial mission requires her to master a special martial arts skill, but to succeed, she must fight her growing feelings for a member of Zhu Di’s court, Ma Sanbao. When Zhu Di incites a civil war that imperils her village people, she is forced to lead the White Lotus Sect in direct combat. But even though she gets help from the gracious immortals in the violent feuds, she finds that her mission is on a collision course with her dreams.

Lantern by Burgundy Athena Pendragon

In this dark high fantasy adventure, a grumpy middle-aged mage is asked by an old friend to take on an Impossible Task for her: finding a cure for her son's curse when all else have given up. Aiding Devyn on zir quest to cure Lio of his horrifying curse that he acquired by stealing a lindworm's treasure, is the teenager himself, a family of werewolves, and a mysterious demonic lantern forever bound to zir soul. But as the clock waxes and wanes and Lio's curse worsens, so do the dangers lurking in the shadows for them. And all of them human.

It Will Hurt by Anya K. Jordan

In a realistic portrayal of mental illness and sexual repression, not every romance can have a happy ending. Two steps forward, one step back, as they say. But we can laugh and cry together on the way. We don't have to be alone. Nico still has to learn that. It Will Hurt is a contemporary queer story about a young man with bipolar disorder discovering his bisexuality in the underground death metal scene of a university town in 2010s Germany.

Devour by Dae Storm

Careful what you wish for... When Renee Reynolds finds herself dumped by her long-term boyfriend in the middle of the pouring rain on her birthday, she wishes she could escape from her life. Standing furious in the middle of the street, Renee sees something she was never meant to, bringing herself to the attention of a very hungry... feline monster. Unable to outrun the creature from beyond the realm of her beliefs, Renee is left in the claws of her captor: Hale. Hale cannot let a human go knowing what she is; but there's something different about this one. Renee isn't timid or weak, she's a match aching to be lit and burns wildly. Hale finds herself captivated by the woman. Hungry for every inch of her. Regardless of the rules of the Midaworld she belongs to. Along side monster politics and Hale’s best friend Madriel, Renee quickly discovers just what she's gotten herself into. The worst part? She's not so sure she wants out. ~~ Devour is a fast-paced sapphic demon-monster erotic romance that contains sensitive subject matter and explicit content. Devour is insta-lust to love.

Blood Sisters by Rebecca Frost

For almost a decade now, Brent Wright has been in prison for the killing of seven women - unless the surviving twin sister of one of his victims is right and Brent didn't kill anyone at all. If the theory is true, a presumed survivor of his is more dangerous than anyone could have imagined. No one will be entirely satisfied or safe until they find out for certain.

His Lordship's Coachman by Maxime Jaz

“When all hope seems lost, believe that we will be together one day.” Darren Turner has been deprived of his childhood home, of the family he has served, and of all his friends. Given to Lord Hampton to serve on his estate, he has no other choice but to travel to his new masters, and serve on their estate as their stable master and coachman. His only relief is that his beloved horse companions travel with him. Young Lord Archibald Hampton is ready to die. Arriving at his family’s countryside estate where his father hopes he will regain his health, Archibald begrudgingly accepts his father’s proposal of going out on daily rides in the barouche. As Darren, their new coachman, chooses the most beautiful sceneries to please the young lord, so does Archibald’s reluctance and hostility fade. For both Darren and Archibald hide a secret deep in their heart, only revealed to each other in a moment of despair when Archibald is on the brink of death. That unexpected love will bring Archibald back from the edge of the abyss, but his sister’s fiancé, Lord William, and Archibald’s own mother will make sure that obstacles are thrown in their paths. And when something terrible happens to Darren, tearing them apart, Archibald has to use all his strength and resilience to find him. In a world where their love is forbidden on many accounts, will Archibald and Darren find love and peace, against all odds?

Nia Rae: A book about boobs and space and stuff (The Kali Series, #1) by Debbie Taylor

Nia Rae, daughter of Senator and Senator Rae, has an unfortunate habit of doing stupid things in front of cameras. When her latest mishap causes her to accidently halt time travel she finds herself (and her boobs) in the centre of a media frenzy. She also learns that she isn't who she thinks she is and a whole host of people are out to kill her. Oh and the man she loves is in love with her ex-boyfriend. Part one of an epic polyamorous bisexual science fiction romance that will change the course of history.

Nocturnal Liberation (Nocturnal, #4) by Villimey Mist

Leia Walker has returned to Amsterdam to keep a promise: she wants to save the captured humans in the blood farm underneath Amsterdam’s Royal Palace. After fighting ferals in Atlanta and defeating Adam six months ago, Leia infiltrates the farm along with her personal Sangue Lucy and a group of vampires from Amsterdam’s fallen faction. It’s her chance to prove to herself that she’s fine without her guardian’s protection. But sleeping humans are not the only presence in the underground tunnels: ghouls and feral vampires prowl the area. They’re different. They’re cunning. And they’re hungry. It’s fight or die for Leia and her crew as they battle against a new breed of subterranean feral vampires. To make matters worse, Leia discovers horrifying experiments meant to elevate vampires and bring humanity to its knees. Can Leia keep her friend and the imprisoned humans safe, or will the farm become her eternal tomb?

Last Skies Afire (Digitesque, #6) by Guerric Haché

Worlds once alive are being destroyed; worlds once dormant must be brought back to life. Weapons that have long been wielded must be returned to the sheath; things never truly grasped must be wielded as weapons. What can Ada do, as planets burn under the inexorable advance of a machine fleet? What can Isavel do, from a shackled homeworld that has not been heard from in a thousand years? And what might they both do, if they were no longer alone? When seals are broken and barriers fail, when distances shrink to nothing and options dwindle into despair, both Ada and Isavel see only one way forward into a world that still lives on the other side of the fire: Let all hell break loose. All at once. And pray chaos is on their side.

Fourth Under Sol (Digitesque, #5) by Guerric Haché

Isavel was sure she was a gods-forged weapon. It seemed painfully obvious. So with her second life falling to pieces all around her, and nowhere left to go, she stands before them again, one last time - hoping, for once, to be a double-edged sword. Arguments with gods rarely end well, however. Now thrown so far off the path that no walking or wings could ever bring her home again, she finds the self-destructive legacy of her ancestors stretches far further afield than she could have imagined. The same old bones lie under alien soils, the same wars echo in different blood, the same silent stars twinkle above barren skies. And looming over it all, the same inscrutable gods - only these ones are within reach. And with every scuff and every broken promise, the visage of these gods crumbles away until Isavel finds herself staring at what lurks in their hearts and their roots. But these gods still stand, and still the worlds turn, and somehow she must find a path to her home, and a home for her heart. These old gods may stand in her way, and their wastelands may sap her strength. But she is a weapon, of a kind no god has ever known. And arguments with gods rarely end well.

The Broken Third (Digitesque, #4) by Guerric Haché

Out between stars and planets that left Earth behind many centuries ago, Ada Liu discovers a thriving but strangely archaic interstellar civilization - a Union of ancient colonies that have survived a war of apocalyptic proportions. Expecting to uncover the roots of Earth's downfall, she instead finds this society built by strange humans and familiar aliens is threatening, bewildering, and not at all what she had hoped. Her abandonment of Isavel Valdéz haunts her as she travels further and further, but with an array of hunters breathing down her neck and no way to return, Ada needs to gather what little help she can and find refuge between the cold vacuum of space and the unfamiliar soils of new worlds. She has one unsettling advantage: for better or worse, Ada is a strange daughter of a stranger Earth, and is perhaps the second most dangerous thing this Union has ever faced.

Second Contact (Digitesque Book 3) by Guerric Haché

Ada and Isavel still aren't sure if they are enemies, allies, rivals, or something else entirely - but the world is conspiring to force them into a decision. Peace between humans and their inhuman neighbours is crumbling, a millenium of stasis can no longer hold, ancient gods are losing their grip on Earth, and something from beyond the world is coming. There are cities to save, curses to lift, and exiles to end. Ada must say goodbye to the few allies she has, and her time to solve an ancient wrong done to humanity is running out. Isavel must save a city that will no longer listen to her, and is rushing into a war it may pay far too dearly to win. To achieve anything at all, the two of them may need to close the gap that separates them and start anew.

First Angels (Digitesque, #2) by Guerric Haché

Isavel has seen what comes after death, and wishes it on no one. Miraculous in the eyes of her peers and her elders, she has become the gods’ unwitting hand in an effort to stop an invasion of otherworldly creatures who would take human bodies as their own. She may fight bravely, but she is also beginning to learn that her influence may come at the cost of who she once was. But this invasion is not incomprehensible. Ada's ancestors corrupted the world this enemy is fleeing from, and so she believes the war is her problem to fix. After all, if civilization is to be built anew, the crisis threatening to destroy what little remains of it must be solved first, and Ada sees nobody better placed than herself to save the world and reverse Earth’s decline. As they both fight to restore the world, their disparate fates weave ever closer together. These gods-chosen mortals know each other’s face, but each has yet to understand who the other truly is, and the consequences of their collision could resonate beyond Earth, out into the stars that still keep watch over this forgotten planet.

Dragon Your Bones by Tatiana Obey

Rasia is determined to slay a dragon for her Forging, a trial each child must succeed to come of age. All she needs to do is find the dragon’s den, slay the winged bastard, and haul it home before the deadline ends. Not so easy. But Rasia has Kai on her team—who may or may not have some secrets up his shroud. Nico needs to prepare for the bloodrites, a ritual ceremony as bloody as the name. If she succeeds, she’ll earn the title of Ohan, but first she’ll have to dodge assassins and hunt whomever placed the hit on her head and hopefully kill them before they kill her. In the Grankull, coming of age isn’t easy. There are always greater dragons to slay. DRAGON YOUR BONES is the introspective sequel to BONES TO THE WIND, full of political intrigue and a coming-of-age exploration. The novel includes strong female characters, LGBTQIA+ representation, and mature themes. It is appropriate for a NA/Adult audience, 18+.

Jesus and John by Adam McOmber

Jesus and John is a Weird re-imagining of the New Testament as a novel of allegorical horror. John, a fisherman from a rural village on the shores of Galilee, is tasked with protecting the risen body of his lover who was crucified for disrupting Roman order in the city of Jerusalem. The body, having miraculously emerged from its cave-like tomb, refuses to speak and walks in a dream-like silence, disrupting the clear-cut message of the Apostle Peter and eventually leading John on a dangerous pilgrimage to a mysterious mansion in Rome known as the Gray Palace. There, the few inhabitants promise a celebration that may lead to a sacrifice John is unwilling to make. Incorporating Christian Gnosticism, Pagan dreams, and a contemporary will toward queer disruption, Adam McOmber's new novel tells a powerful story of devotion.

Mud Crab Kingdom: My People or My Peace? by Dr. Joel Anthony Hamilton

Following the Indie Ink nominated book, the Soft-Shelled Prince, this slow-burn sequel shows Marcious Leojè's life after creating his Mud Crab Kingdom. Like that of his childhood, the walls of his kingdom keep discrimination and persecution at bay. However, they also keep the true Marcious locked inside. Marcious must constantly choose between what's best for his kingdom and himself; the advancement of mud-skins and the pursuit of love; his people or his peace. The demands of his citizens, opinions of outsiders, and thoughts in his head create an inescapable constant roar. Even so, he must make choices that leave some, or someone disgruntled, disowned, or dead.

Always There For You by Halli Starling

A new town, a new start, and finally opening the wine store of her dreams. Amelia has picked the small town of Breakwater to be her new home, and her new beginning. Even as her chronic pain sometimes gets in her way, she won't let anything keep her wine store and tasting room from opening. And now that her best friend Hadley is with her, everything is perfect. What Amelia won't speak aloud is how much she adores and cares for Hadley -- how much she truly loves the woman she's known since they were kids inspecting bugs and reading together in one of their backyards. Hadley thinks the town of Breakwater is the perfect spot for Amelia and her new lease on life. And she's thinking about settling down herself, after years of traveling around the world and taking on odd jobs and having flings with beautiful women. But she always, always comes back to Amelia and now is her chance to tell her best friend exactly how much she cares. It's hard to be brave, especially when it comes to affairs of the heart. But together, they can weather the storm and find what they've always been searching for.

A Brighter, Darker Art by Halli Starling

A chance meeting at a bar. An instant connection. But that connection turns from a spark into all business. For the moment. And it's a really bad idea to date the boss... Raphael (Raf) Lutz, is under immense stress with the opening of his fifth art gallery in a few months. He's mentally and physically exhausted, and given his perfectionist nature, deeply concerned that this gallery won't stack up to the rest. His best friend, Ambrose and Ambrose's boyfriend, Barrett, have trusted Raf with a very special set of illustrations belonging to Barrett's deceased friend. Raf is making the illustrations a highlight of the gallery's opening, and it has to be just right. Perfect. But he's drowning and he needs a marketing manager yesterday. On the other side of town, Silvan Diedrich has just been downsized from the marketing firm he helped build, and drowning his sorrows in a few drinks and maybe some company sounds about right. The man who takes the stool beside him is dangerously handsome with a clear flair for the dramatic. Company, indeed. But as he and Raf talk, Raf offers him the one thing Silvan hadn't been expecting - an interview. Which he passes with flying colors. But close proximity to Raf, day after day, is far too much temptation. Raf doesn't need any more complications. Silvan's not been with anyone in a long time, as he's been the primary parent for his now college-aged daughter. So they make a deal. Hands off, for now. Sticking to that deal proves to be rather difficult for both of them. The companion to Ask Me For Fire, but can stand alone.

The Way We Wind by Halli Starling

Twins Bren and Clark have been holding each other up since their mother passed away. It hasn’t been easy. But Bren is running the family greenhouse and Clark has a good job at the local library. Life is quiet, just as Bren likes it. But Clark feels like he’s stagnating. Bren isn’t looking for love when a greenhouse customer dumps water all over her. But Elodie’s cute and bouncy and, it turns out, a folklorist at the local college and has a special interest in plants and their stories. It seems like a perfect match. Clark might have a tiny crush on a patron at the library, but he’s never going to say anything. But when Jasper, that very patron, asks for Clark’s assistance on a research project, Clark can’t say no. To Jasper or the project; Jasper’s researching local “ghost trails”. And Clark is a bit of a believer. But trauma and grief are slippery things, and getting through it isn’t simple or easy. Maybe love needs to find a way to help them both heal.

When He Beckons by Halli Starling

A charming - but slightly strange - accidental first meeting at a skate park. Opposites attract. And technically...one works for the other one. Zan has a fast mouth and a lot of technical know-how, so dating hasn't always been easy. He'd set aside any notion of a romantic life to work and spend as much time outdoors as possible. Biking, canoeing, skiing, you name it. He's never tried skateboarding, even though he stops by the skate park near the trail where he bikes to watch boards - and sometimes people - flip, or crash hard. Instead of skater-watching, Zan meets Deacon. Deacon's odd and interesting, and it turns out, the head of the small indie press of which Zan is a huge fan. Rochester Press puts out the weird and erotic, the dark and mischievous, and finally meeting the head of the press is great. Maybe not so great - Deacon has just hired the printing company Zan works for, and now Zan's in charge of all the new jobs. It'll be fine. Except Zan (and his big mouth) immediately asks Deacon out on a date. And Deacon accepts. There's no fraternization clause in Zan's contract, or Deacon's. It should be fine. A high-heat novella about two quirky people who would never seek out a date via online platforms or at speed dating. But their weird seems to compliment each other. Add in a romantic picnic date, a rainstorm, and a love of books and the outdoors, and Zan and Deacon might just carry away your heart.

Beneath the Gods' Tree by S. Kaeth

Amanah knows all-too-well the dangers of catching the attention of the upper class of Arruk. Using her position as a guard to steal secrets of healing and help other lower class people means she works hard to remain unnoticed. Fellow guard Taunos is boisterous, laughing, larger than life–and always around. He attracts attention as easily as breathing, which makes being associated with him dangerous. Better to stay far away, regardless of her attraction to him and his easy calm. But when Amanah inadvertently insults a magistrate, she must flee the city to avoid his vengeance. She takes a last-minute job escorting a pair of noblemen to another town–a job Taunos is also hired for. Along the way, she’s forced to reveal her stolen healing skills to keep the small group alive, and finds more support from Taunos than she ever would have dreamed. His confident charm becomes hard to ignore as he sees her as no one else has, even when she’s doing her best to be invisible. But opening herself to romance might be as dangerous as the wildlife and bandits they face in the wilderness, and pursuing her dreams of becoming a healer could attract the ire of those in power. This book has: so much banter; strong sibling relationship; strong friendships; friends-to-lovers (low steam); gay side characters; main character anxiety rep; diverse cast with immersive worldbuilding; action and adventure, wilderness survival style; low fantasy (none of the main group displays clear magic on page); single PoV, third person past tense

Phantom and Rook by Aelina Isaacs

Arlo Rook has decided it’s time to move out of Garren Castle, home for orphans of all races, magical or not, at 100 years old. It’s not the first time he’s left home, but after a setback that landed the Hedge Witch in the hospital a year ago, he ended up right back at square one. But now he’s ready to strike out on his own, despite his friend’s worries that he’s not ready for the ‘real world.’ Then, he crashes into a mess of copper curls and bright eyes, sending apothecary goods and his life into a chaotic mess. Thatch is a mysterious and incredibly wealthy benefactor of Levena, only spoken of but never seen. He requests a night of Arlo’s company and a tour of the city, which Arlo immediately declines. But that’s not the last time they see each other, and it certainly wasn’t the first. Arlo doesn’t remember him, no one remembers Thatch after he visits, but Thatch never forgot the Witch with a familiar soulmark on his face. Thatch Phantom is an immortal, the last of his kind and perpetually bored. When he’s not closing inter-dimensional rifts and corralling demons, he’s visiting his favorite city of all, Levena. Centuries ago, when life was particularly dull, he set up a scavenger hunt for a starving village, providing them with a year’s worth of supplies. He anonymously returned year after year, upping the ante and providing less practical things, as the village had become a city and was wealthy beyond belief. Festivals were thrown in his honor, and have continued every year since. Hundreds of years later, The Game is still put on by the fabled ‘Scarlet Illusionist’, but no one has figured out who blesses them with the puzzles. Once again, Thatch is listless and has decided to throw a wild card into this year’s Game. Whoever discovers him will win one wish of their choice, no restrictions. Aside from the obvious, such as no falling in love, murder or resurrection. What he didn’t anticipate was crashing into the one person whose soul mark flares like a beacon when Thatch is around, teasing the immortal with the one thing he wants most. Someone to call home. What follows is a wild chain of events filled with magical coffee shops, villains with vendettas against cheese makers, moving tattoos, grand puzzles, and second chances at love, and life.

V by Aura Marquez

Being an autistic Chicana in L.A. isn’t easy…especially when you’re a vampire. V’s undying love for humans doesn’t allow her to fit in, and nobody understands her but Mya, her best friend, soul mate, and fellow vampire. V's inherited an ancestral gift that intensifies once she becomes a vampire and creates a psychic connection to those she feeds on, an ability she desperately wants to learn to control. Living with Mya allows her to have the lavish lifestyle she’s always wanted, but V still can’t seem to find peace. As she works to discover who she is as a vamp, all she has to do is not fall in love with a human. She cannot fall in love. No big deal, she just needs to not fall in love. …and then, she meets Madís

The Day We Ate Grandad by C. M. Rosens

Three possible futures. Two versions of the apocalypse. One chance to save the world. Wes Porter, a severely depressed insanity-inducing playboy, is detoxing from hallucinogens that have unlocked his ability to see versions of potential futures - and he's just foreseen two ways the world could end. Normally, Wes would leave the hero bullshit to somebody else, but he can't abdicate responsibility this time... not when both those apocalypses might be his fault. With some prompting from a mythological bard-prophet who may or may not be real, and a lot of assistance from his monster-eating baby sister who desperately wants to move out of his apartment, and their soothsayer cousin who has his own demons to fight, Wes attempts to save [his] world... but have his poor decisions doomed them all? THE DAY WE ATE GRANDAD is the third book in the Pagham-on-Sea series. It is a dysfunctional family cosmic horror novel for fans of WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS, THE MAGNUS ARCHIVES, and THE CALL OF CTHULHU, with themes of bereavement and grief, generational trauma, and a dash of Roman/Welsh mythology.

Unlicensed Delivery by Will Soulsby-McCreath

The first in the Inter-Planetary Alliance novels, cozy space operas set in a world where the rules are strict to keep people safe, but leave little room for individuality and case-by-case needs. Follow an adorable found family of space travellers as they try to navigate bureaucracy and budding relationships. Basti needs 3 things to make his brand new– well, new to him –ship run: Firstly, he needs enough of a crew to get them safely spacebourne. Luckily, with a medical officer for a husband, an engineer bestie from his uni days, and a half-sib who is one of the best pilot's in the galaxy, it seems he has all he needs there. Secondly, a Deep Space Travel License – unless he wants to cart crap cargo for pitiful prices inside a single cluster for the rest of his life. Unfortunately, his pilot is a jokester, his engineer just got out of a long-term relationship, and his assessor is very particular about how he thinks Basti should run his ship. And, finally, there needs to be enough jobs to keep the ship spacebourne... which he can't get without a license. Which he can't get without a job. Nobody said IPA rules made sense

Breaker of Fates (Broken Song verse 1) by Vaela Denarr & Micah Iannandrea

Perilous quests give rise to heroes. And broken songs call for Chosen Ones to be mended. Roderick and Keeva, once friends, now orphaned by a dragon’s wrath that fractured the harmony between the great clans, spend their days locked in battle… until they are reunited, realizing that they’re both dating the same guy: Mateo, whose overdue transformation into a dragon is complicated by feelings of self doubt after the disastrous attempt to broker peace. Choosing to get along is one thing, but forgiving one another—or themselves—for the hurt they’ve inflicted is another. Keeva keeps seeing the face of her dead best friend in her dreams, and Roderick’s suspicion and distrust keep him up at night. Soon, though, a great threat unites them against a common foe. Someone has stolen a song from the gods, disrupting the tenuously rebuilt harmony of their homeland, and the very beast that tore them apart threatens to be set loose. True heroes of Koor Kosma are required to serve as vessels for the other four godly songs and reforge the divine harmony. Neither Roderick nor Keeva are such heroes, but unless they can unite the divine and broken songs, unless harmony brings the shattered clans together, all will burn. They are not chosen. They are not the heroes of this story. They are broken. And they must be forgiven. The Broken Song Duology is a story about queer grief, trauma, forgiveness and finding your place in the world.

I Heart Robot by Xan van Rooyen

Sixteen-year-old Tyri wants to be a musician and wants to be with someone who gets her musical aspirations. Q-I-99, aka 'Quinn,' lives in a scrap metal sanctuary with other rogue droids. While some use violence to make their voices heard, demanding equal rights for AI enhanced robots, Quinn just wants a moment on stage with his violin to show the humans that androids like him have more to offer than their processing power. Tyri and Quinn's worlds collide when they're accepted by the Baldur Junior Philharmonic Orchestra. As the rift between robots and humans deepens, Tyri and Quinn's love of music draws them closer together, forcing Tyri to question where her loyalties lie and Quinn to question his place in the world. With the city on the brink of civil war, will Tyri's and Quinn's passion for music be enough to hold them together while everything else crumbles down around them, or will the truth of who they are tear them apart?

My Name is Magic by Xan van Rooyen

Taika Turunen has no magic. Despite coming from a long line of powerful Finnish mages, and their name literally meaning magic, Taika can’t perform the simplest of spells. Forced to attend Myrskyjärvi International School for the Magically Gifted on account of their mom being principal, Taika has a hard time fitting in. Sometimes, they wonder if not having magic has something to do with the fact they’re neither a girl nor a boy and if they’re fated to be Taika the Talentless forever. Life goes from bad to worse when Taika sees a liekkiö and recognizes the spirit's voice begging for help as that of their former BFF and major crush, Natalie Khumalo, whose recent absence from class hadn’t gone unnoticed. When more students go missing, Taika must take the lead in a race against time to save friends old and new before a powerful group of chaos mages can unleash the legendary Sampo, an artifact capable of either renewing the world’s waning magic or destroying everything Taika holds dear. To rescue Natalie, Taika will have to journey to the liminal space between worlds where they’ll be forced to battle mythical monsters and their own flagging self-esteem. In doing so, Taika might just discover that magic—and love—comes in many different forms. For fans of witchcraft and wizardry looking for a new, inclusive story, My Name Is Magic, is a story about finding strength from within and potential where you least expected it.

By the Blood of Rowans by Xan van Rooyen

The Sheehy witches are the most feared and detested family on the island of Inisliath, and none more so than Rowan. As a deathwalker, Rowan ferries island souls to the Otherworld, experiencing their deaths and carrying their memories like ghosts within him. It's a fated role he accepts even as it inexorably destroys him. When the magic on the island starts to seep away from the other founding families, everyone blames the Sheehys—especially when islanders start dying. Ash is sick of their father's fists and constantly having to apologize for who they are. Life on Inisliath might be the fresh start Ash and their mum need, and meeting soft-spoken, curly-haired Rowan feels like the ray of sunshine Ash has desperately needed—but everything goes sideways when Ash's mum becomes lead detective on a series of ritualistic murders allegedly tied to island magic, and Ash's family history. The islanders are convinced Rowan is guilty, but Ash refuses to believe it. When Ash does some investigating of their own, they discover Rowan is far more likely to be the next victim. With time running out to save Rowan, Ash will have to choose between a life free of their father or the boy they’re starting to love. Meanwhile Rowan will have to decide just how much he's willing to sacrifice to save his family from the darkness about to be unleashed on the island.

Silver Helix by Xan van Rooyen

On the surface, the city of HelsInc appears to have recovered from the war waged between humans and Ethereals, but beneath the scars, the city seethes. The remains of magic festers, causing mutations in human DNA which could give humans Ethereal power—not that the HelsInc government would ever let that happen. The Legion resists, ripping out their neurochips and protesting the mandatory gene therapy for humans with cryptomine in their DNA. At only 19 years old, Omyn Talvinen isn’t ready to play parent to her kid brother, but with her mom in prison on trumped up charges and her deadbeat dad AWOL, she’s left with little choice. Forced to risk her freedom to pay the rent, Omyn finds herself at the mercy of a pair of cyborg soldiers when they catch her red-handed stealing nanites from a cyberware Salon. But the synths’ powers don’t work on Omyn, and they discover they all share a common memory that they must get to the root of. Wanted dead by the government, Omyn and the renegade soldiers turn to a rebel Legion group with dreams of resuscitating dead magic for help. With the clock-ticking for the synths, Zee-Five and Omyn are forced to confront the secrets of their past and a dark conspiracy that’ll shake the blood-soaked foundations of the city.

Play it Back by Vanessa Lopez Aziz

27-year-old Carmen Santos thought she had the perfect life until the question “what do you want?” transports her ten years in to the past to relive the worst year of her life. She must navigate her senior year of high school all over again, complete with bad wardrobe, a dysfunctional Filipino family, and a best friend who’s still in the closet. Yet, the knowledge of the future is on her side, right? But her knowledge isn’t guaranteed to help her get the guy, fix her parent’s marriage, or even save someone’s life.

Yours Celestially by Al Hess

Kraken Collective

After divorce, death, and having his reformatted soul uploaded into a new body, Sasha expected resurrection to be a fresh start. His time spent in digital Limbo with the program’s cheeky AI guardian angel, Metatron, was cathartic, but what good is a second life when he only sees his daughter on the weekends, he has all the same problems he had before he died, and he can’t seem to shake the ache for the married life he lost? If that weren’t frustrating enough, a glitch in the program has given Sasha the ability to sense Metatron even outside of Limbo. And Metatron is in love. The angel’s sickly-sweet yearning for one of the souls still in Limbo has turned Sasha’s stomach into caramelized lead. It’s hard enough to move on without someone else’s feelings making the emptiness in his own life even more acute. He didn’t have playing wingman to an actual winged being on his bingo card, but he’s determined to help Metatron make a move on their crush so he can get love off of his mind. Sasha takes a job with the resurrection company in order to covertly contact Metatron. Except Sasha’s new coworker, Mr. C, keeps showing up at the worst moments. The man is annoying, he’s pushy… and he’s incredibly hot. Sasha can’t decide whether Mr. C wants to blackmail him or be his new BFF, but he seems to know things about Metatron and the resurrection program that Sasha doesn’t. Getting close to him might be the key to solving Sasha’s problem, but if he isn’t careful, he’s going to end up catching feelings of his own.

World Running Down by Al Hess

Valentine Weis is a salvager in the future wastelands of Utah. Wrestling with body dysphoria, he dreams of earning enough money to afford citizenship in Salt Lake City—a utopia where the testosterone and surgery he needs to transition is free, the food is plentiful, and folk are much less likely to be shot full of arrows by salt pirates. But earning that kind of money is a pipe dream, until he meets the exceptionally handsome Osric. Once a powerful AI in Salt Lake City, Osric has been forced into an android body against his will and sent into the wasteland to offer Valentine a job on behalf of his new employer—an escort service seeking to retrieve their stolen androids. The reward is a visa into the city, and a chance at the life Valentine's always dreamed of. Finding the androids means navigating both pirate territory and Val and Osric's growing feelings for each other. And as they attempt to recover the "merchandise", they encounter a problem: the android ladies are becoming self-aware, and have no interest in returning to their old lives. The prize is tempting, but carrying out the job would go against everything Valentine stands for, and would threaten the fragile found family that's kept him alive so far. He'll need to decide whether to risk his own dream in order to give the AI a chance to live theirs.

Imago: A Dystopian Gothic by Matthew Zakharuk

Tresor Institute accepts only the worthy, and Ada Călinescu is anything but. Intractable, mannish, a child of convicted terrorists, she can at best hope to be overlooked. Yet somehow the Institute accepts her application for transfer. Her ticket to the polar town of Heilung, home of the Institute, arrives free of charge. Her only chance to forge a brighter future. Except Heilung welcomes Ada with news of a brutal murder. Militiamen stalk the town, keen to fill their arrest quotas—and Ada knows she could make an easy scapegoat. At every turn the bloody conspiracy follows her, from the halls of Tresor to the arms of a stranger she yearns to make hers. What starts as a dalliance risks putting Ada at odds with the Bureau itself. And then expulsion will be the least of her concerns.

Dog Won't Hunt by XM Moon

Milo Nelson has learned plenty of things from necessity: how to tie a tie, how to change a tire, how to shave his face. He’s also learned that the truth may hurt, but the fantasy of a life he can’t have hurts even more, so when Richard Remington Abernathy III waltzes back into his life two years after the end of their definitely-not-a-relationship and says he’s changed, that dog won’t hunt. Remi’s drug of choice is denial, and he’s always been one hell of an addict. The only things he’s ever committed to are the expectations of his good Christian family, and Milo knows those don’t include a trans librarian even in the role of friend or roommate. Despite everything, a part of Milo wants to believe that Remi is capable of change; he’s just not sure that the time it takes to find out is worth the risk of being hurt again.

We’re All Monsters Here by Amy Marsden

SFINCS

When Anna is invited to a secluded retreat full of selfish, greedy humans, of course she doesn’t say no. Not only did she manipulate the CEO of the world’s largest oil corporation, Peter Beyer, into organising the four-day getaway in the first place, but no self-respecting vampire would ever turn down such easy prey. Her weekend gets even better when she meets Saira, one of Peter Beyer’s employees, and they begin a whirlwind affair. Blood and beautiful women are Anna’s idea of a great time. She should have known it was too good to be true. Hunters are dangerous, deadly, and dedicated to eradicating vampires. When a group of them turn up at the retreat, Anna must use her centuries of experience to escape their ever-closing net. Will she get out unscathed, or will they finally catch up to her? Will she give into her intense and unexpected feelings for Saira, or will she leave her to burn as she destroys all evidence she was ever there? A fresh twist on urban fantasy, with an added splash of sapphic romance.

Bloemetje by Amanda McNeil

SFINCS

One miniature girl leads her human and fairy people to decolonize Venus in this speculative, queer-inclusive reimagining of Thumbelina. A Dutch company known as The Bedrijf commences colonizing Venus via the construction of a dome filled with plants that convert its natural air into something breathable by humans. Since all workers are granted permission to bear a child, a woman and her spouse join the crew. But the woman soon discovers she is plagued with infertility. When her spouse illegally brings home a tulip from the garden, they discover a miniature baby inside who they name Bloemetje - little bloom. As the baby grows in mere days into a teenager, pushing her boundaries, she illuminates the true horrors of colonization and leads them all on a journey to decolonize. This retelling takes the original Thumbelina’s focus on marriage and flips it on its head, granting the miniature girl a strong voice of her own and questioning her removal from the fairy world. Exploring themes of childlessness, adoption, being childfree by choice, colonization, decolonization, negative impacts of capitalism, and what LGBTQIA+ inclusive societies can look like, this novelette comes in 17 bite-sized episodes perfect for reading in the small snippets of time available to modern individuals and families. Early readers called this “transporting” and “intriguing.” The “journey is beautiful,” and the ending is “deeply satisfying.” “A great escape read that also made me think, and it’s both quick and engrossing.” *A portion of proceeds will be donated to the Massachusetts Center for Native American Awareness, a Native American-led 501(c)(3) nonprofit.

The Ballad of Alchemy and Steel by AJ Calvin

SFINCS

In the Murkor culture, it is customary for the individuals bound during the unity ceremony of ujar’havel to compose a book of memories detailing the events that led to their first meeting and subsequent desire to be joined. As a Murkor without a mother to guide him, Sal’zar is afforded unusual freedoms in his path to ujar’havel and the selection of a caste. In their strongly matriarchal society, his father’s voice holds little weight. He must forge his own destiny, though he struggles to find the proper way. Sal’zar knows he is unsuited to the soldier’s caste, but is running out of options. One fateful day, he journeys to the sparring ring to test his mettle, where he meets Jal’den. Jal’den is the same age, but has already proven himself a better fighter than most of the older children. Noting Sal’zar is without a sparring partner, Jal’den offers to pair with him, and so begins a long friendship that may ultimately become something more.

Dark Heart of Ilmoure by Cara N Delaney

SFINCS

Years ago, all she wanted was to leave. Now, a web of secrets might ensnare her forever. When Iris Grey returns to her hometown of Ilmoure years after a bitter parting, she hopes for reconciliation in the face of a tragedy. Instead, she arrives to a town changed for the worse, a cold welcome from people she once loved, and a family that seems to be keeping secrets from her at every turn. When those secrets become too heavy to ignore, Iris starts to dig deeper. What she finds leads her to question her very perception of reality. Faced with old wounds and new revelations, Iris finds herself mired in a plot that threatens to swallow herself, the town, and the people she once loved.

Horrific Tales for a Horrific Year by Jack T Canis

Horrific Tales for a Horrific Year: A short story collection – ten dark tales by Jack T Canis. A collection of gruesome & deeply disturbing short stories about obsession, lust, sociopathy, murder & the darkness that lies in our souls.

Siren's Call by T.J.J. Klamvik

SPSFC 2023

In the Doomsday Cycle there are no heroes. The future could have looked different, but the path has been corrupted and only the inevitable awaits. Something lurks in the darkness of space, and it cares little for humanity’s petty squabbles. The apocalypse is here, but will anyone hear its call? Councilor Justynia Freid – an ambitious politician of Earth’s most prominent colony – never saw it coming. A scheme by her own Chancellor to restart a war that they themselves had a hand in ending? All without her knowledge? Tossed into a harsh world of intrigue and backstabbing, Justynia has to discover what led to the drastic decision that is going to send humanity into chaos. Only with all the answers can she decide whether to listen to her own conscience or follow the path to power. Detective Adelia Duarte does not care for politics – it only ever made her job harder. Tasked with investigating a series of murders that plague Capital City, Adelia has to confront her own past in order to understand the methods and motivations of the serial killer that seems impervious to the security systems that track each citizen down to the centimeter. As the bodies keep piling up, it is difficult to maintain faith. Would someone with a less troubled history be a better fit for the investigation? For now, all the city has is Adelia, and the bodies keep coming. Sergeant Jones is also haunted by his past – decisions taken in a war he never truly understood. His only refuge is more fighting. Recruited to join Special Operations, and reunited with old comrades to escort a scientist to an abandoned colony, he quickly learns all is not what it seems. Surrounded by mystery and an unknown enemy, he needs to warn mankind of what is coming. But will they truly listen? Siren’s Call is the first novel in the Doomsday Cycle. It weaves complex interpersonal journeys with a backdrop of an overarching threat. It is never about the destination – only the journey to get there.