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Unlikely Wonders by Juliet Kemp An exciting collection of short Science Fiction and Fantasy stories from a stellar group of Robot Dinosaur Press authors! Sign up for our newsletter to read this anthology for free! Featuring stories by: Andi C. Buchanan Novae Caelum Lore Graham Byron M. Kain Juliet Kemp Sarah Loch Jennifer Mace A. Z. Louise Emmie Mears Rhiannon Rasmussen Julia Rios Simon Oscar Pike V. Astor Solomon R J Theodore Merc Fenn Wolfmoor Come explore new worlds and visit unlikely wonders in this first newsletter-exclusive anthology from Robot Dinosaur Press! |
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A Bid to Rule (The Stars and Green Magics Book Three) by Novae Caelum While this book happens 23 years before the main events of this series, it contains characters, events, and context needed to fully enjoy the rest of the series. This is the preferred reading order, but it can also be read any time before, during, or right after books 1 and 2. THE RULER IS DEAD. LONG LIVE THE RULER. Homaj Rhialden has lived his whole life knowing his older sibling, not himself, will rule his interstellar kingdomâand as a court rake, heâs perfectly okay with that. But when his parents are assasinated and the Heir goes missing, Homaj is suddenly thrust into power. All evidence points to an inside job, but who among his fatherâs trusted advisors are his enemies? Determined to track down his parentsâ killers and prove himself in an increasingly hostile court, Homaj hatches a plan with his servant cousin, Iata, to use their shapeshifting abilities to switch places: while Iata impersonates him and rules the kingdom as a willing target, Homaj searches for the Heir in the capital city. But in a kingdom ruled by shapeshifters, anyone can be anyone, and not even your own identity is safe. When lies run deep enough to shatter a kingdom and family is hardly friendly, can Homaj protect both his kingdom and his identity from crumbling around him? A Bid to Rule is a fast-paced royal thriller with a genderfluid lead and glittering court intrigue! This book was first published as The Seritarchus in serial form on Laterpress and Vella. |
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The Shadow Rule (The Stars and Green Magics Book Two) by Novae Caelum THE ENEMY BY MY SIDE. THE ENEMY IN MY HEART. Ari will never be the Heir again. Her younger sister, Dressa, was supposed to hold her place, but now Dressaâs stolen her future rulership. Banished to a resort world to recover from her illness, Ariâs determined to reclaim her shapeshifting abilities and race back to the capital. But a young gardener with a mysterious past is taking too much interest in Ariâs new persona, and a possessive duke is bent on capturing her attention for himself. Are they both after her heart, or something far more sinister? Dressa won her freedom, won her brideâand won a kingdom she didnât want. Now, with an alien crisis brewing, she has to step up as the Heir, and maybe, soon, as the ruler. Because thereâs a secret at the heart of the kingdom. A secret that spans her fatherâs entire rule and could bring everything tumbling down. And sheâs already let the enemy into her palace, and into her heart. When no one is who they seem and every smile is a weapon, the Truthspoken must find their way to truth before the kingdom crumbles around them. The Shadow Rule collects episodes 37-93 of The Stars and Green Magics, previously published in serial form. Note: This book has main characters who use gender neutral pronouns (they/them/their, fae/faer/faerself). Available now in ebook, serial, and digitally narrated audiobook! |
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By Her Grace: A Dell Chronicles Novella by HL Bernabe If you liked Legends and Lattes, you'll love this novella. Halfling chef Paisley Dell lives in Aspenwood, a small town at the meeting of two major trade roads. The Dells own the Rosebud Inn and are pillars of the halfling community. Paisley is happy, but⊠something is missing. She feels unfulfilled and restless. On her Becoming Day, she meets a mysterious young human, pregnant and on the run, and through her Paisley glimpses a world she desperately wishes she could know. A world of spice, elves, and exotic, faraway places. With every recipe Prilani teaches her, Paisleyâs desire to save her new friend from her pursuer grows, too. Protecting Prilani means facing an evil she has never known. Is the risk worth it? |
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Holidays Ablaze by Lucy LimĂłn When an arrogant demon with a taste for the finer things meets a salty chef with an attraction to fire, sparks fly. Sofia, a talented chef whose culinary dreams have flamed out, is spending her holiday season hiding away in a cabin atop Mout Winter Bliss until her solo retreat is disrupted by the arrival of Samite, a maddeningly pretentious demon. Sofia is no stranger to facing down big egos in the kitchen. With plenty of salt and steely resolve, she sets the ground rules and strikes her first bargain with a demon. Samite, a demon whose business ambitions have been dashed, finds himself stranded atop Mount Winter Bliss at the mercy of an infuriatingly unhelpful human. He is hell-bent on escaping this mountain, and she would gladly whip him up a swift exit except for one major obstacle. An avalanche has buried the only road down the mountain, trapping them together. Their initial clash ignites a simmering tension, and as they navigate the close quarters of her tiny one-bedroom cabin, more bargains are struck, and the heat continues to rise. |
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Unexpected Witness by MJ Blehart When a high-ranking businessman and two clones are murdered, Marshal Onima Gwok of the Confederation Bureau of Investigation (CBI) gets assigned the case. But nothing quite adds up. Is there something more insidious going on? There is just one witness â a clone. When the war ended ten years ago, the clones who had fought it were discarded, forgotten, and became second-class citizens of the new confederation. Jace Rojas, designated AC J7-2247, is an infantry clone. When he proves to be more helpful than just being a witness to a murder, Onima decides to bring Jace along to join her team as they look for answers across multiple solar systems. But every question seems to produce no answers - only more questions. Will this be the start of a new war - or something worse? |
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Isaree of the Wild Isles by Noor Al-Shanti Sandwiched between the mighty High Kingdoms and the great Land of Sunsets, the Upland villages did not have much claim to greatness or power. Many of these villages did not even have names. When an army of Sorcerers from the High Kingdoms was mobilized to invade the Land of Sunsets it was these small villages, stuck in the middle, that bore the brunt of that armyâs march. In one of these villages Isaree has just discovered her own magical power, but even dreaming of what this could mean for her is made impossible by the presence of the sorcerous armies. When they hear that the Sorcerers have begun to forcibly take anyone with power, the village elders decide that those most likely to be taken must flee. In the blink of an eye, Isaree finds herself at the head of a group of runaways, responsible for leading them to safety, with nothing to rely on except her knowledge of the nearby woods and caves and the food that their families have lovingly packed for them. Isaree and her friends must stick together and survive in a world much bigger than any of them could have imagined. A world full of wars and empires, sorcery and power, and â tucked away in forgotten corners â impossible creatures of legend. In this vast, frightening world, Isaree must learn not just how to survive, but who she wants to be. |
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Roots Down to Hell by Matthew Louis When a rural misfit from a harsh, blue-collar world marries an idealistic college girl, the chances for domestic bliss are close to nil. Because marriage isnât what it used to be, and neither is higher education. But nobody explained this to Kevin Chapman, and now itâs too late. His reality just crashed down around him, and when the dust settles, heâs in the aftermath of the unthinkable. Kevinâs life is now a nightmare that he canât wake up from. As his bleak past weighs on him, and his unthinkable acts multiply, his only hope is to embrace the darknessâand risk being lost in it forever. |
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Ascent of a Vengeful Woman by Ashon Ruffins In the aftermath of Goliathâs murder spree in New Orleans, Nola Maor has committed herself to becoming a more skilled hunter in order to cope with the bloodshed in her city. Confronted with tragedy in her life, but unwilling to process her own trauma and grief, she leaves her career as a New Orleans police detective behind, and suffers in solitude. Nolaâs lethal reputation has grown among the most savage and depraved for her unwavering resolve to eliminate the nightmarish creatures that stalk and feed on humans. Dozens of missing people, along with an unnatural and grotesque murder, prompt Nola to travel to the small town of Dalyville, hundreds of miles away. A disturbing occurrence will push her skills as a private investigator, a hunter, and her humanity to their limits. The townâs history of wickedness is catching up with its residents as an evil force that simmers beneath the surface boils over with blood-thirsty intent. The past never dies. It festers. It cultivates in pain, waiting to rear its ugly head and inflict suffering, terror, and vengeance, bringing everyone around it to their knees. Will Nola be able to identify the vicious beastâs origins and understand its motives before it destroys the town of Dalyville? Or will the entity eviscerate everything in its path and consume both the town and, eventually, Nola Maor? |
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Imperium Descent by Christopher Hopper The Imperium has reigned for 4,000 years⊠âŠbut are its days numbered? For four millennia, the sixteen planets of the Imperium sector have served as a bastion of peace against the Chaosic Regions. The Imperium's legacy can be attributed to the formidable military power of the Stratus, the enforcers of the Supreme and the Senate. However, as is often the case with empires, it is the smallest cracks that threaten to shatter their foundations. Could this be the beginning of the end? A dishonorably discharged stratusaire struggles to recall why he was expelled from the only life he has ever known. Now working as a mercenary on the sector's most profitable mining planet, he is haunted by mysterious memories. Before long, he finds himself in conflict with the very government he once served. Can he survive being pursued by those he was once trained alongside? Simultaneously, the royal heir to a planetary throne is confronted with the harsh realities of her family's rule. As a result of her curiosity, she finds herself entangled in matters of statecraft that surpass her status and experience. Will she prioritize her family's legacy or the lives of those under her rule? Step into the captivating universe of Imperium Descent , created by the bestselling and award-winning author Christopher Hopper . Readers have hailed it as a space opera brimming with engaging characters, intrigue, and thrilling action. Begin your journey with Volume 1 today! |
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Edge of the Future by Andria Stone âHe wasnât human. Youâve discovered the existence of a new enemy combatant, Captain. Since you saw himâhe saw you.â One hundred-fifty years after the last war humanity has united to explore space with colonies on Luna and Mars. But the Europa Mission has just failed and 152 people died in space. No one knows why. When military bioscientist, Captain Mark Warrenâs hidden research installation is attacked, he meets armored assault Sergeant Axel Von Radach. They become entangled in a deadly fight to stop the theft of classified military secrets by a lethal female adversary. Her plan to use enemy cyborgs posing as humans, plus unsuspecting high-ranking military personnel with neural implants altered to accept her commands, has every chance of succeeding. UnlessâŠCaptain Warren and Sergeant Von Radach get a chance to end her first. |
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Descent of a Broken Man by Ashon Ruffins James Corbin is an ambitious high school history teacher who resides in the lively, yet dangerous city of New Orleans. He suffers from severe depression and anxiety and is on a downward spiral, unwilling to seek the help he desperately needs. His troubles are compounded by a lack of progress in his professional career, his disintegrating marriage, and lack of respect from his peers. While his struggles threaten to cripple him, the city is marred by a series of brutal religious murders. However, itâs soon clear that there is not only one, but two murderers wreaking havoc on the city. While police chase the murderers, James focuses on his quest for professional success and self-worth from his research. Unfortunately for him, the research leads to the discovery of a nefarious essence, which unlocks a darkness and brings James face to face with a monster of his own. Within some people, there is something⊠off. Something dormant. A terror that, if found, will leave a path of pain in its wake. |
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The Ice Mage by Julianne Munich Marcel lives with one foot in each world. The first world feels as harsh and cold as the ice he casts from his fingertips. They want to use him as a bloodless and efficient weapon, nothing more. The second world is home to three friendly passengers who charter his coach for a journey. Luc, Emilie, and Adelaide are happy to travel to a princeâs castle as retinue servants, while Marcel's heart sinks in guilt and dread with each step his horses take. Luc's amnesia spell is all that separates the good man he's become, from the evil killer within. The coachman is driving him to where his spell will be brokenâand his true self will be unveiled. Marcel is faced with a terrifying dilemma of his own. Either obey the orders of Le Conseil SuprĂȘme and become their henchmanâor die a traitor. All the while, his feelings for a forbidden woman tempt him to risk it all. |
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Samson & Domingo by Gume Laurel III Samson and Domingo fall in love during the summer before their junior year of high school. But Samson is the star player of Weslaco Northâs football team and Domingo is a French horn player for Weslaco Southâs marching band. Once school starts, their new love is challenged by those who donât agree with their rival schools mixing, especially Domingoâs older brother, Pablo, a football player for South. As if that wasnât enough, Samsonâs Olympian-like athleticism is shrouded in mystery; the source of his strength is a secret he has vowed to keep his entire life. As Samson and Domingoâs love blossoms, Samson learns to trust Domingo more than he has ever trusted anyone before, and Domingo opens his heart once again after heartbreak. But will their love be Samsonâs downfall? |
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Night Shifts Black by Aly Stiles His name is Luke. But nobody knows that. He was an iconic musician before he gave up music. But nobody knows that either. They also donât know heâs twenty-seven, that he used to have an infectious laugh, and that heâs way too young to be widowed. They certainly donât know the rest of his tragic story. All they know is that he comes into their cafĂ© at the same time every morning and stares at the same chair at the same table. They know heâs strange. They know he interrupts their breakfast with a cold blast of air as he hovers in the doorway, mustering the courage to confront a piece of furniture. No one asks why. No one cares. Heâs fine with that. Heâs done with life. This isnât even his story. Itâs actually Callieâs, the young writer who sat in his chair one day. |
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The Secrets of Eronis 8 by Tracey Canole Leaving the homeworld was easy. Time becoming their enemy is the hard part. The spacecraft, The Aspire, has one mission: reach the new world so its 3,500 passengers can start a new life. When Captain Mitchel Remian awakens from hypersleep to find life support down and the crew maintaining it missing, it's up to him to save whatâs left. That Herculean task becomes even more urgent when a hostile alien presence is discovered. Crew are dying, their timelines seized and bled dry with an unnatural violence. They must find a way to treat the ship and stop this malevolence before they get to their target destination or it will spread. The answers hide outside The Aspire's walls, but in the race against time with a life-sucking enemy and a deteriorating spaceship, it will take every bit of cunnin the crew can muster to reclaim their timelines and survive landing on their new homeworld. The Secrets of Eronis 8 is a thrilling adventure, exploring planet colonization and first contact science fiction. It is an odyssey across our galaxy to start a new life in a new colony, but first they must defeat a parasitic time-altering menace. |
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The Lawless: A Triptych by Merc Fenn Wolfmoor TRUST IN THE LAW A Good Citizen follows all the Laws set forth by the benevolent Government. Trust the authority of the State. Questions are against the law. BELIEVE IN THE LAW The Government cares about you. The Government wants you to be happy. Do not deviate from the Governmentâs prescribed conditions of happiness. OBEY ONLY THE LAW Never question the Law, for that leads to anarchy. Always obey, lest you be found undesirable. Undesirables do not deserve life. And you, Good Citizen, want to live, donât you? â- THE LAWLESS: A Triptych collects three tales of near future America, and the people who fight against the totalitarian regime that wants to destroy them â plus a bonus story about resistance in a dystopian nightmare. |
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The Truthspoken Heir (The Stars and Green Magics Book One) by Novae Caelum RESIST THE CALL. LOVE THE ENEMY. Ariannaâs always been the perfect Truthspoken Heir, the obedient future ruler of her interstellar kingdom. But when Ariannaâs royal shapeshifting abilities fail her publicly and disastrously at her engagement ball, she suddenly finds herself on the outside of the life she called her own. Dressaâs the perfect socialite, the opposite of her older sisterâs rigid control. When her sister goes down with a mysterious illness and is sent away from court, Dressaâs thrust into a position she never wanted. Sheâs ordered to impersonate her sisterâher body, her name, her personality, everythingâand court her sisterâs bride-to-be. Whoâs gorgeous. And whoâs likely been sent to take her family down. Can Dressa resist falling for her sisterâs bride? Can Arianna find a way to take back her own name and position? When the stakes are the kingdom and control has been their whole lives, these siblings must find a way to make their lives their own. The Truthspoken Heir collects episodes 1-36 of The Stars and Green Magics, previously published in serial form, as well as three all new beginning episodes! Note: This book has main characters who use gender neutral pronouns (they/them/their, fae/faer/faerself). Available in ebook, paperback, serial, and digitally narrated audiobook! |
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The Den of Stone by Roger Sandri Courtney Mays discovers the reason when she comes face to face with a living gargoyle. Her daily life selling appliances is thrown on its head as she learns to live by the sword in a shadow war against monsters. Edthgar, the ancient gargoyle leader, has plotted for centuries, and as Courtneyâs abilities grow, so does the threat to his plans. Those she cares about become targets, and she must fight to protect them. Even if it means battling into the heart of their den of stone⊠|
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They Dreamed of Dead Ships by Byron M. Kain Itâs the dream that kills you⊠Gabe has it good: a steady job, a nice house, a girlfriend he wants to spend his life with, and a well-planned future. (Sometimes he even gets a solid eight hours of sleep.) Until one day, when he finds a weird silver tile embossed with a ship while on a morning jog. And then the world goes mad. People are dying by the millions from the silver tiles that spawn in bodies of water. Everyone dreams of a dead ship that is rising from uncharted depths. Gabe and Jennie flee inland, desperately trying to find a way to keep each other safe. But where do you run when the threat is in your dreams? |
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Hero's Choice by Merc Fenn Wolfmoor Never get between a Dark Lord and his son. * * * Lord Mrakota adopts the boy who is prophesied to kill him and raises Hero as his own son. Despite the meddling of rangers, wizards, and Old Mentors, Mrakota protects and guides Hero to follow in his path as a Dark Lord. However, as Heroâs fifteenth birthday approaches and everything conspires to lead him to a final confrontation with Mrakota, Hero doesnât know if he has a choice at all. Is he doomed to fulfill his destiny and kill his own father? * * * Heroâs Choice is a (sometimes darkly) humorous fantasy 15,000-word novelette parodying classic tropes of the genre while retaining lots of heartâbecause in the end, the family and friends we choose are always more important than fate. |
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On Earth Pact, no species is as feared as the Impundulu shifters of the United Wake of Benekal. For Fayola, a veteran nearing the end of her compulsory military service, being a soldier had never been more than reluctant duty. As she prepares for her final special operation, her goal remains the same: Complete her mission so she can return home to her father. Tasked with rescuing a humanitarian doctor from a war zone, but not the orphaned children under her care, Fayola must decide how much she is willing to risk for the future she deserves. Jwahir, a human in a nation of warring shifters, finds herself holed up in a medical clinic with other orphans, praying for a miracle or a painless death. But when an Impundulu soldier arrives, stoic and determined but with a reserved tenderness she tries to hide, Jwahir knows she has met her Dela Edenâher savior. However, people are not always who they seem, and crimes against children are too often ignored. For Jwahir, her true test of bravery begins not in a medical clinic in a war-ravaged country but in a bear shifter's cabin home in a peaceful forest. For Fayola, twenty-five years of retirement planning changes in the blink of an innocent child's golden-brown eyes. But what will she do when her goodwill pact goes horribly wrong? |
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Finding Fire and Other Stories by Rachel Churcher 'This series is raising the standard for YA dystopian fiction, and I canât give it less than 5 stars' - AyJayPageFarer Book Blog * What happened between Margie and Dan at Makepeace Farm? * How did Jackson really feel about Ketty? * What happens next to the survivors of the Battle Ground Series? Step behind the scenes of the series with six new short stories and five new narrators â Margie, Jackson, Maz, Dan, and Charlie â plus bonus blogs and insights from the author. The Battle Ground series is set in a dystopian near-future UK, after Brexit and Scottish independence. |
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Balancing Act by Rachel Churcher Corporal David Conrad has life figured out. His job gives him power, control, and access to Top Secret operations. His looks have tempted plenty of women into his bed, and he has no intention of committing to a relationship. When Ketty Smith joins the Home Forces, Conrad sets his sights on the new girl â but pursuing Ketty will be more dangerous than he realises. Is Conrad about to meet his match? And will the temptations of his job distract him from his target? Balancing Act is a tie-in novel in the Battle Ground Series, revisiting the events of Darkest Hour, Fighting Back, and Victory Day from Corporal Conrad's point of view. 'This series is raising the standard for YA dystopian fiction, and I canât give it less than 5 stars' - AyJayPageFarer Book Blog |
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Victory Day by Rachel Churcher Two young women. A dis-united Kingdom. Opposing sides in a British civil war. Bex Ellman and Ketty Smith meet in London. As the war heats up around them, Bex and Ketty must learn to trust each other. With her friends and family in danger, Bex needs Ketty to help rescue them. For Ketty, working with Bex is a matter of survival. When Victory is declared, both will be held accountable for their decisions. The Battle Ground series is set in a dystopian near-future UK, after Brexit and Scottish independence. 'This series is raising the standard for YA dystopian fiction, and I canât give it less than 5 stars' - AyJayPageFarer Book Blog |
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Fighting Back by Rachel Churcher Two young women. A dis-united Kingdom. Opposing sides in a British civil war. Bex Ellman and her friends are in hiding, sheltered by the resistance. With her family threatened and her friendships challenged, she's looking for a way to fight back. Ketty Smith is in London, supporting a government she no longer trusts. With her support network crumbling, Ketty must decide who she is fighting for â and what she is willing risk to uncover the truth. The Battle Ground series is set in a dystopian near-future UK, after Brexit and Scottish independence. 'This series is raising the standard for YA dystopian fiction, and I canât give it less than 5 stars' - AyJayPageFarer Book Blog |
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Darkest Hour by Rachel Churcher Two young women. A dis-united Kingdom. Opposing sides in a British civil war. Bex Ellman and Ketty Smith are fighting on opposite sides in a British civil war. Bex and her friends are in hiding, but when Ketty threatens her family, Bex learns that her safety is more fragile than she thought. The Battle Ground series is set in a dystopian near-future UK, after Brexit and Scottish independence. 'This series is raising the standard for YA dystopian fiction, and I canât give it less than 5 stars' - AyJayPageFarer Book Blog |
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Two young women. A dis-united Kingdom. Opposing sides in a British civil war. Ketty Smith is an instructor with the Recruit Training Service, turning sixteen-year-old conscripts into government fighters. She's determined to win the job of lead instructor at Camp Bishop, but the arrival of Bex and her friends brings challenges she's not ready to handle. Running from her own traumatic past, Ketty faces a choice: to make a stand, and expose a government conspiracy, or keep herself safe, and hope she's working for the winning side. The Battle Ground series is set in a dystopian near-future UK, after Brexit and Scottish independence. 'This series is raising the standard for YA dystopian fiction, and I canât give it less than 5 stars' - AyJayPageFarer Book Blog |
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Battle Ground by Rachel Churcher Sixteen-year-old Bex Ellman has been drafted into an army she doesn't support and a cause she doesn't believe in. Her plan is to keep her head down, and keep herself and her friends safe â until she witnesses an atrocity she can't ignore, and a government conspiracy that threatens lives all over the UK. With her loyalties challenged, Bex must decide who to fight for â and who to leave behind. The Battle Ground series is set in a dystopian near-future UK, after Brexit and Scottish independence. 'This series is raising the standard for YA dystopian fiction, and I canât give it less than 5 stars' - AyJayPageFarer Book Blog |
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Angels: The LGBTQ+ YA story you've been waiting for: friendship, identity, attraction, disasters ... and finding your wings by Rachel Churcher Angels is the LGBTQ+ YA story youâve been waiting for: friendship, identity, attraction, disasters ⊠and finding your wings. Angels have lived among us for as long as we can remember. They donât have powers, but they do have wings. Theyâve always hidden their wings, and who they are â until Kane. Melodie Abbott remembers the day she saw Kaneâs taboo-shattering billboard. A beautiful model showing his wings on Oxford Street, on a photo as tall as a building. When sixteen-year-old Mel finally meets her idol, disaster strikes. Can she find a way to free herself from his shadow, and what will her future hold? âAngelsâ is a coming-of-age story, a university heartbreak novel with a twist, a celebration of friendship and desire, and an exploration of attraction, identity and self-expression. It takes courage to find your wings ⊠|
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Lukie's father is trapped in the Underworld and it's all her fault. Twenty years after her murder, Lukie has returned to life and is ready to go home, but her father isn't willing to believe his beloved daughter is back from the dead. Before she can reconcile with him, a supernatural predator steals her father's soul. One that she's led straight to his door, after foolishly ignoring the signs that something was amiss. To get her father back, Lukie must uncover the true nature of the ancient horror haunting Thunderhead Ward before a spectral hunt of bestial ghosts is unleashed upon the world. And she only has until midnight on New Year's Eve, when the borders between the dead and living lands seal, or her father will be lost forever⊠|
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Lukieâs been murdered. And she needs answers. Sheâs cut a deal with the Underworld to return to the living lands. But when Lukie returns as an undead revenant, twenty years have passed. Her former sleepy beach-side town is now a roaring tourist hot-spot. Her memory is full of holes and she doesnât know which of her old friends to trust. Worse, a monster hunter is stalking her. Lukie has to stay one step ahead, or return to the Underworld without knowing who killed her, and whyâŠ. |
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Friends for Robots: Short Stories by Merc Fenn Wolfmoor In this upbeat, positive collection of SFF short stories from Merc Fenn Wolfmoor, author of So You Want to Be A Robot, youâll find hope, humor, friendshipâand of course, robots. Have you heard the one about⊠âŠa neural network who wants humans to drink more water? âŠa person stranded on Mars with only an obsolete robotic toy? âŠa cyborg caught in a time loop with a frightened ship? âŠa self-aware mech who doesnât want to be a weapon anymore? âŠan AI sent into the deepest part of the oceanâand finds a god? Youâll also meet entrepreneurial barbarians, an astronaut making first contact, a boy who might have (accidentally) started Armageddon, magical birds, a bot who wants to tell jokes, and more. Whether youâre a robot or not, come make some new friends. |
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Flotsam (Book One of the Peridot Shift) by R J Theodore A scrappy group of outsiders take a job to salvage some old ring from Peridotâs gravity-caught garbage layer, and land squarely in the middle of a plot to take over (and possibly destroy) whatâs left of the already tormented planet. Captain Talis just wants to keep her airship crew from starving, and maybe scrape up enough cash for some badly needed repairs. When an anonymous client offers a small fortune to root through a pile of atmospheric wreckage, it seems like an easy payday. The job yields an ancient ring, a forbidden secret, and a host of deadly enemies. Now on the run from cultists with powerful allies, Talis needs to unload the ring as quickly as possible. Her desperate search for a buyer and the fallout from her discovery leads to a planetary battle between a secret society, alien forces, and even the gods themselves. Talis and her crew have just one desperate chance to make things right before their potential big score destroys them all. Praise for Flotsam: âCombining the best elements of steampunk and space opera, placed in a lavishly detailed and imagined world, Flotsam will hold you firmly till the final page.â â Cat Rambo âFlotsam sucked me in and wouldnât let me go. R J Theodore is a fresh voice who will soon be on your must-read list!â â Jennifer Foehner Wells âI canât stop thinking about the world of Flotsam. Science-fiction, alchemy, and airships. Itâs magic.â â Mary Robinette Kowal âTake a pinch of Jim Butcherâs Aeronautâs Windlass, add a dash of Treasure Planet, some vivid imagery from Avatar, a generous helping of banter from Firefly, and you might have an idea of the feeling this story left me with. Rich language and imagery blend with a complex world, a story told with humor and heart, that left me breathless and wrung out. I want to know whatâs in store next for this crew and their already shattered world.â â Ronda âPeridot is a fascinating, fractured world that truly comes to life on the page; itâs remarkable that Theodore manages to establish the world and its cultures and races so well straight off the bat. And as if that isnât enough, she introduces an alien race and culture into the mix, juggling them all with aplomb.â â Alan Brenik âThe worldbuilding is incredibly epic for a newly minted author and hints at uncovering even more as this series evolves.â â Koeur |
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Morganâs home is a sanctuary for ghosts. The once-grand, now dilapidated old house they live in has become a refuge for their found family. From Morganâs partner Araminta, an artist with excellent dress sense, to Theo, a ten-year-old with an excess of energy, to quiet telekinesthetic pensioner Denny, all of them consider this haunted house their home. In a world that wasnât built for their queer, neurodivergent selves, theyâve made it into a place they belong. Together they welcome not just the ghosts of the houseâs former inhabitants, but any who need somewhere to belong. Both the living and the dead can find themselves in need of a sanctuary. When a collection of ghosts trapped in old bottles are delivered to their door, something from the past is unleashed. A man who once collected ghosts â a man who should have died centuries before â suddenly has the house under his control. Morgan must trust their own abilities, and their hard-won sense of self, to save their home, their family, and the woman they love. |
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The Wolf Among The Wild Hunt by Merc Fenn Wolfmoor A disgraced knight must survive a night among the most deadly hunt ever known. With cover artwork by Asmo Grimae and six b&w interior illustrations by Andrew Garin Skythulf wants to live. Raised in the fight pits, trained to kill or be killed, he yearns for freedom thatâs out of reach. Heâs a scythewulf: a wolf-shifter considered neither fully man nor beast, his life worth nothing to his keepersâŠuntil Brennus, knight-champion of Saorlland, rescues him from certain death and offers him a new life. When he mistakenly kills a corrupted nun, Skythulf has one chance to redeem himself and restore his honor. He must run with the Wild Hunt: an age-old trial of blood and courage, where every step hides peril and carnage. If he survives, he will be pardoned. If he fails, Brennus will die brutally at his side. Few have ever returned from the fae-haunted land, where horrors unnamed dwell beside the enchanted and the damned. There is no rest, no relent, and no mercy. In the Wild Hunt, you run or you die. |
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Underway: The Phantom Travelogues by R J Theodore Jayess chronicles the strange worlds visited by Harrowâs Tusk in this illustrated travelogue. âDimspace, a realm shrouded in mystery and promise. Our shipâs gate drive hurls us between star systems, careening between random pinpricks of light faster than light itself can travel. We journey steadily toward the region of the galaxy whence we came, one calculated leap at a time. Each waypoint system offers unique wonders, phenomena, and life to explore, observe, and chronicle. We are seeking our own people, our culture, and our history but it is my goal that, when we reach our destination, we will have our own history to shareâŠâ As the Harrowâs Tusk carries them across a galaxy toward a home world theyâve never seen, iscillian sisters Jayess and Sothree record the worlds they visit, through journaling and illustration. Every encounter brings them one step closer to discovering themselves and who they are meant to be. Eleven log entries are paired with original full color illustrations. |
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The Silent Fringe: Phantom Traveller Book Two by R J Theodore After Ehli inadvertently exiles herself to the extra-dimensional realm known as dimspace, she discovers a planet full of iscillian who are scheduled for the same life she recently escaped. Can she save more of her people from that fate without losing her ship, her freedom, or her life? The suspenseful sequel to The Bantam is here! An engineering failure has left Ehli stranded between the layers of reality. Her only companion is BEETLâa scarab drone programmed to terminate any iscillian who endangers the ship. Ehli definitely qualifies. She must repair the shipâs disabled gate drive to free them from dimspace. But once she does, will she be free to search for her homeworld, or will BEETLâs deadly protocols activate the moment she fails to set course for an impound dock? When Ehli inadvertently involves another iscillian in her trouble, itâs not just her own life sheâs risking. The rebellious engineer must solve both moral and technical quandaries before she destroys another crew. |
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The Bantam: Phantom Traveller Book One by R J Theodore When one of Ehliâs bantam sisters turns up dead, she tries to figure out what happened before sheâs blamed for the murder, and before the real killer strikes again. Ehli is an Iscillian, designed in a lab to serve as a bantam, a ship custodian for a merchant crew. She imagines no future beyond the care of her starship and the quiet hours between ships spent painting in her quarters. But when she discovers a vague clue that undermines the once clear purpose of her existence, the satisfaction she once found in her simple routine dissolves into an unsettling, deadly obsession to learn the truth. Her job is to put the needs of her ship and its crew before her own, but every step she takes to investigate her originsâand that of all Iscillian bantams across the galaxyâtakes her further from the life she knew and deeper into danger. But Ehli canât ignore what sheâs learned. She must know what secrets have been kept from her, and sheâs willing to risk everything to uncover them. THE BANTAM transports you to a distant corner of space, introduces you to the most adorable invertebrate youâve ever met, and sets up a mystery to propel Ehli forward into a new life of exploration and adventure. |
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Fate never asks your opinion... Growing up in a town constantly at war with elves, Johnny wants to be a knight like his father, but tragedy and intrigue interfere. After he meets an elf, and false accusations draw unwanted attention, he escapes by becoming an apprentice to a powerful wizard. He soon learns he has the most feared talent of all, Metamancy, the magic of altering magic. In the deadly serious world of wizards, revealing his talent for Metamancy would place a target on his back. It seems heâs jumped from the frying pan into the fire, but with his magical abilities unlocked, there's no going back. This book introduces a brand new world, and begins to reveal a detailed new magic system. Though this world will have some familiar elements (elves, goblins, wizards), this young wizard treads a fundamentally different path versus the likes of Garion, Pug, Rand, or Harry and not all is as it initially seems. Contains: Wizards, Mages, Archmage, Elves, Undead, Imps, Pegasus, Knights, Fateful Tragedy, Dastardly Manipulation, Internal Struggles, Love Interest, and a Mysterious Unknown Player Does not contain: Whiny Characters, Cliff-hanger Chapters, Unedited Text, Pointless Profanity, Needless Gore, Explicit Romance Note: This is the beginning of an epic story, not just a collection of magical battles. If you are only interested in combat or a numerically tracked skill progression, this is not the book you are looking for. |
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The Coven of Ruin by T. K. Tucker The merciless God of War, a healer witch, and that meddlesome thing known as Fate. Trista was a healer. But that was before. Before she was dragged to Olympus for a crime she didnât commit. Before she almost died. And before she made a life debt to the god who saved her. The very god who killed the Mothers and damned all of witchkind centuries beforeâAres, the God of War. The Witchbane. Now she canât stand the sight of blood, and her simple, duty-filled life is upended. When she receives an invite to the capital of Witch Country to attend the social season, though, she is hopeful the time away will help her heal. What she doesnât expect to find there is something much more sinister than political games and poorly disguised attempts at matchmaking. Between masquerades and tournaments, Trista is pulled farther into the dark and bloody history between witches and gods. And amidst it all is Ares. Since Trista is the only witch in existence who knows who he is, Ares keeps her close. So close that the lines between enemies and allies begin to blur and she doesnât know who or what to trust. But before she can figure that out, an ill-fated choice and an ancient prophecy may lead them both down a path they canât survive. The Coven of Ruin series is a Greco-Roman myth-inspired, slow burn, adult romantic fantasy set in a different world. |
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Ember and Eclipse by T. K. Tucker Thereâs a bounty on her head. After committing a brutal crime against Romulâs prince, Rel fled the mortal-dominated north to Witch Country. She wasnât welcomed in the covens, though, so she found a sanctuary in an empty swamp instead. And thatâs where sheâs been hiding ever since. Until the Wolf of Romul, the deadliest witch hunter, somehow finds her after two years. Even as she fights with knives and teeth to get away, the witch hunter continues to hunt her and ruins any of her escape plans. As they journey further from her swamp, theyâre forced into situations that reveal more of their truths, and it soon becomes apparent both are more than what they seem. Lines are blurred, morals questioned, and touches stolen until the hunter becomes just as trapped in his snare as she is. And neither of them may survive it. Ember and Eclipse is a steamy, enemies to lovers, witch X witch hunter, adult fantasy romance. As a Coven of Ruin series standalone, it can be read before or after book 1, The Coven of Ruin. |
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On Virgin Moors by Alexandrina Wilson The Unity holds dominion over the breadth of space. And now, at last, they've set their sights on the final prize. That prize is Essegena - a planet at the farthest edge of the universe, ripe for human habitation and yet completely untouched. But all is not well on Essegena. Three of the colony's pioneers have vanished without a trace, and in their place a man has appeared who - according to all the records - simply does not exist. Worse still, the infant colony is beset with concerning reports of mysterious lights in the distant trees, shadowy phantoms haunting the edges of their nascent home, strange noises from high up on the cliffs. The colonists need to stay united if they're to make Essegena a success story - but with ambitious vipers around every corner, they've never been more divided. Once they dreamed of a fresh start, far away from their former lives. Now that dream is fast becoming a nightmare. |
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That Wasn't in the Script by Sarah Ainslee Josie Bradford's life feels like a never-ending roller coaster ride. Forced to leave her beloved small-town Ohio behind and uprooted to the bustling streets of New York City, she yearns for a return to normalcy after losing her father. But with the crushing weight of financial struggles, her dreams of attending college seem out of reach. Enter Rowan Adler, the charismatic heartthrob who skyrocketed to fame overnight with a viral streaming sensation. Trapped in the suffocating glare of the limelight, Rowan craves an escape from the shallow world of Hollywood. Their lives collide on an extraordinary autumn night when Josie stumbles upon an escaped Rowan, fast asleep in the greasy burger shack where she works. The encounter ignites Josie's imagination and a wild idea takes hold: How much could she get for an exclusive on this Hollywood star? What unfolds next is an exhilarating, heartfelt, and whirlwind twenty-four-hour adventure that defies all expectations. As the unlikely duo embarks on this chaotic journey, they discover the true meaning of embracing life's unexpected twists and turns. Sometimes, it's in losing ourselves that we find what we truly desire. |
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Muireann spent six months planning to kill the dragon that killed her family. Now the dragon is dead, and she's realized that it was actually the lesser threat guarding a devastating weapon that, if it falls into almost anyone's hands, will bring war and destruction to her world. It can't be left where it is. It can't be hidden. It can't be trusted in the hands of anyone in power or who seeks power. Muireann's only option becomes a reluctant quest with the elf she rescued from the dragon, a would-be knight, a selkie, and an elven mage to find out as much as she can about the weapon and seek a way to understand the magic that created it. Pursued by a dragon-worshipping cult bent on revenge and a hidden enemy that will do anything to remake the world, the five friends must try to find answers before all is lost. Muireann thought that killing a dragon was going to be impossible. Saving the world is going to be much harder. |
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Wings of Fire by Stephanie Mirro Stealing objects for supernatural clients is my bread and butter. Murder? Not so much. As a phoenix, Iâm used to burning hot and rising from the ashes. Thatâs why I chose to make my living as a world-class thief. Some say itâs dangerous. I call it fun. Or it is until someone beats me to my latest mark, stealing the prize and killing a fae duke in the process. To add insult to injury, I get blamed for the gruesome murder. With my freedom on the line, Iâve got three options. One, confess my failure and spend a few centuries as the caged pet of my sadistic, bloodsucking client. Nope. Two, take the blame and let the hotter-than-hell grim reaper take me to jail. Also a hard nope, unless he sweetens the deal with an offer to burn up the sheets. Is it any wonder I choose door number three? Iâve got to find the real killer, steal back the goods, and remind everyone how I got my reputation as the worldâs best âacquirerâ in the first place. Thereâs just one problem. That sexier-than-sin grim reaper I mentioned? Heâs determined to see me go down. |
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Over the Dragonâs Gate by Juliana Jones & Riley Sanderson Treya has everything he needs in his pond: food, shelter, and other fish to swim with. Itâs painful to wonder if he had another life once, so he ignores the fragments of disturbing dreams that plague him. But when a boy falls into his pond, Treya discovers heâs more than a fish. He can also become a boy, and now he has a friend: the irrepressible Eli. During secret meetings in the garden surrounding the pond, Treya and Eli forge a bond that even dark magic canât break. But when Eli starts asking questions about who and what Treya is, the two of them discover that questions are dangerous, answers have a cost, and their fates depend on unraveling the mystery of Treyaâs past. |
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Of Blood, Bones, and Truth by T.M. Ledvina For fans of genre-bending science fiction and fantasy, Of Blood Bones and Truth is a modern take on classic epic fantasy stories featuring murder mystery, front-and-center queer representation, MM romance, and unique magical technology. Kellan Manchester, an indentured political assassin, wants to lead a life of his own choosing. But as one of the Fallen - celestial descendants who are still paying for their ancestorâs mistakes - he has no choice but to do as heâs commanded. All Cassian Evermore wants is to pay off his fatherâs debts and ensure his motherâs safety. Being forced to work for someone he hates is soul-crushing, but when he meets Legion assassin Kellan in the garden of a targetâs home, he canât help but wonder if heâs finally found something interesting. Thanks to a fortuitous reunion in a nightclub, the two men form a tentative agreement to work together to solve a brutal string of murders in Spiral City. Kellan finds himself struggling to connect the dots, while Cassian juggles the emotional toll of targeting someone heâs come to see as a friend. And neither of them can ignore their budding feelings for one another, even while the bodies continue to pile up. Kellan and Cassian are two men with no control over their own fates - but this case could spell the same for the entire world. |
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The Nameless Throne by Lisa Cassidy An ambitious orphan. A ruthless warlord. An impossible destiny. Arya Nameless is a lowly Raider posted to an isolated fort in the most dangerous place in Dunidaen. She has few prospects, and as much as she loves her fellow soldiers, she burns for more-more control, more autonomy, more power. When her bravery during an unexpected attack leads to an offer to join the household of one of Dunidaen's warlords, Arya finds a home and family she never expected. Yet her quicksilver temper and fierce pride put her place there at constant risk. And as her warlord embroils them all in a dangerous political game to rule Dunidaen, over the border to the west, the Nightstalker lurks. A king who wields powerful magic, the Nightstalker's fate is inextricably entwined with Arya's. His relentless pursuit will force Arya into a choice she doesn't want to make, between loyalty and love, and taking hold of the destiny she was born to fulfill. Which will she choose? |