Ella Dethroned (Song of the Worlds Book 0) by Brandon Barr

Hunted and desperate, Ella, the former ruler of her Realm, must evade the king's assassins and fulfill a mission given her by the gods. Ella carries an otherworldly device, the purpose of which she does not know, but if she is to grasp hold of a prophecy spoken over her, she must survive to deliver the item to a mysterious man named Quanthum. Her only aid is her sharp intelligence and a devoted soldier named Rathan, who has sworn to protect her.

The King of Stonewood by Jeremy Hayes

Stonewood is in peril! The demon lord, Lucivenus, now sits upon the throne. To his right, stands High Priest Sarvin, leader of the demon-worshipping Cult, whose dedication led to the release of the demon lord from his extra-planar prison. King Stonewood, who was believed dead, is now beginning to fight back. The King hides somewhere in the south district surrounded by loyal companions, striking at cultists and inspiring hope in the citizens that the Cult may be overthrown. Harcourt and Krestina, two south-side orphans, are thrust into the middle of the conflict. The pair of unlikely heroes may be the only ones capable of finding two ancient items that will be needed to defeat, the mighty Lucivenus. Without them, the King cannot win and Stonewood will be left in the control of the vile Cult.

The Demon of Stonewood by Jeremy Hayes

Welcome back to Stonewood. Six months have passed and the Thieves Guild is embroiled in a bloody street war with the Cult of Demon-Worshippers. The new leader of the Guild is determined to rid the city of their filth, once and for all. The Cult, however, draws closer to their goal. Only a precious few hand-selected hearts are required to release their Demon Lord Lucivenus from his extra-planar prison and summon him back to Stonewood. Chief Magistrate Krommel, utilizes city resources to fund his war against the meddlesome Thieves Guild, hiring bounty hunters to track down and capture known members. Captain Dornell is trapped in the middle, wishing to see an end to both groups. Harcourt struggles with the idea of reaching out to his former nemesis turned friend for help. Time is running out. The King’s birthday fast approaches and Krommel has a special surprise in mind.

Falling Through the Night by Gail Marlene Schwartz

Audrey Meyerwitz wants to fall in love and have a family. But for this queer 30-something insomniac who’s struggled with Generalized Anxiety Disorder since childhood, it’s a goal that’s far from simple. When best friend Jessica, a recovering alcoholic, helps introvert Audrey with a profile on SheLovesHer, Audrey takes that scary first step toward her lifelong dream. Through online dating, immigrating to Canada, and having a baby with Down Syndrome, she struggles and grows. But when Audrey unearths a secret about her mother, everything about her identity as a mother, a daughter, and a person with mental illness ruptures. How do we create closeness from roots of deep alienation? With humor, honesty, and complexity, Audrey learns that healthy love means accepting gains and losses, taking off the blinders of fantasy, and embracing the messiness that defines human families.

Not Like Before by Lily Seabrooke, Jacqueline Ramsden

Lola never wanted to be on camera alongside an A-list star—but maybe Mackenzie is everything she needs. History professor Lola Barnes never cared about celebrities, and filming alongside superstar actress Mackenzie Vale isn’t exactly on her bucket list. But there aren’t a lot of experts on Mackenzie’s hometown on the remote Celadon Isles, so when the studio filming a deep dive of Mackenzie’s backstory comes knocking, no isn’t really an option. This exposé is the last thing Mackenzie wants to do. She’s had a good run as an actress without the ravenous press finding out she’s trans, but keeping it that way when the media is digging around in her childhood and with her gossipy family isn’t going to be easy. But it might be her last shot at her dream casting—and her agent doesn’t take no for an answer, anyway. And it isn’t any easier when Mackenzie is immediately head-over-heels for the gorgeous professor they tapped to film with her. And it isn’t any easier when going back to the isles means confronting all the things Lola ran away from there over twenty years ago—and that the only thing comforting her is a bond with the last person she’d ever expect to fall for. As a tight filming schedule, a nosy agent and a relentless director force Lola and Mackenzie to face the ghosts of their pasts, will they crumble in the face of everything they ran from once? Or can they find strength in one another and be more than they were before? Not Like Before is a 90,000-word grumpy/sunshine celebrity romance with a trans woman lead set on a fictional island where everyone is at least a little gossipy, and is the second collaborative novel between Lily Seabrooke and Jacqueline Ramsden. Features a celebrity actress made of pure sunshine and a historian who’s secretly soft under the surface, a meddling ex, Mackenzie’s meddling family, Lola’s meddling friend who loves Mackenzie more than she loves life, and Mackenzie’s agent, who is, unsurprisingly, meddling. Content warnings for on-page sex, a toxic ex, parental abandonment, gambling addiction, implicit threats of outing, a panic attack, falling off a boat, Hope being a fangirl, Taron being smug, and of course, the granny bra incident.

Prince of Shadows by Camilla Vavruch

An avian tournament. A chaotic prince. An unwanted engagement. Assassins out for blood. Crown Prince Orson of Mannerobes is a turbulent young man, desperately trying to live up to his father’s impossible expectations. Engaged to Lady Liadan, a woman he does not love, and longing for freedom, Orson’s life takes a darker turn when the Avian Tournament, where birds and their handlers challenge each other in a variety of contests, begins. When Orson’s friend and fellow noble, Overster Tristan Arrington, is poisoned as they greet guests, they discover a sinister assassination plot. As the tournament progresses, Orson’s relationship with Lady Liadan’s deteriorates, while a new and intriguing bond forms with Sir Rorik Ironhold of Chim, a gemstone connoisseur whose true intentions are unclear. As if juggling the tournament, an unraveling betrothal, and his father’s ire isn’t enough, it does not take long before a second assassination attempt makes everyone question who the real target is. “Prince of Shadows” is a thrilling tale of passion, complex conflict, and the fierce pursuit of one’s true self, set against a backdrop of a vivid fantasy world. The book is the third book in the series Stories of Gereon and contains HBTQ relationships and neurodiversity.

The Tall Ones by A.J. Francis

Jorund returned from hunting to find his wife missing and his town destroyed. With only one inhabitant remaining, on the brink of life and death, he learns that the gods had forsaken them all. His greatest hunt had begun. He would not rest until he was with his wife again. Whatever it took. Whatever the consequences. Whatever the monsters that waited for him in the dark. He would find her.

Hollow Eyes by A.J. Francis

The city had been empty for decades; empty of the living, that is. It had been forsaken for almost as long as Estin had been dead. Horrors lurked in the shadows of the ruins around him, waiting for the rains to end for their chance to stalk the streets once more. It was the last place he expected to find a little girl, lost and alone. And he was so hungry...

The Elf-Witch of Bazzleboo (Running with the Elves Book 2) by Charles G. Stuart

This sequel to "Running With The Elves" takes the reader to darker and deeper places than its predecessor as four of the original characters return for an encore and travel to the coastal town of Bazzleboo. What awaits them there questions their own sense of reality and even their sanity as they fight to unravel a mysterious dark force that holds the local residents in its evil grip. This thought provoking book delves into a thicket of subjects such as religion, philosophy and addiction which the reader must untangle and resolve to his or her own satisfaction. Definitely not a book for young children or the weak minded.

Running with the Elves by Charles G. Stuart

In the distant past, a young man strikes up a relationship with some of the world's few remaining Elves, becomes involved in various adventures with them and eventually falls in love.

The Roots that Clutch by A.E. Bross

Indie Recs Indie

Theia is an unforgiving world, one of sand and heat. There are no rains, and what water there is trickles from dying springs and wells. Those who control the waters control all. They are the god-kings. These tyrants of the last remaining city-states have shackled their subjects and depleted world, enslaving all by the might of their false divinity. Above all, they control thaûma—Theia’s magic. For anyone on the desert planet unfortunate enough to possess the ability to wield thaûma—called thaumaturges—only indoctrination and servitude await them at the hands of the god-kings. This is Tirzah's curse. Tortured by a sadistic older sister and kept locked from sight by her sycophant father, Tirzah’s life is one of shame and cruelty. Even the awakening of her thaûma brings her no respite, and she is soon used as a "gift" to curry favor with the nearest of the god-kings. She narrowly escapes her bonds with the help of a member of the insurgent thaumaturge order known as the Shadow Collective. After the rescue, Tirzah finds a new life among the outcasts of Theia’s wastelands. Yet the deserts are no place to hide, and before long the brutal realities of Theia threaten to shatter her fragile freedom, and drag her back into the shadows of the god-kings themselves.

This Too Shall Burn by Cat Rector

Indie Recs Indie

Arden has lived in the woods near the deeply religious town of Arrothburg all her life, practising magic and keeping balance with nature. She heals the sick, as her mother did before her. No matter how deeply the people of the village hate witches, they still arrive at Arden’s cabin in the dead of night, looking for help that their pastor, mayor, and doctor would never provide. Verity is trapped in a life she doesn’t want. Her mother was burned as a witch six years ago, forcing Verity into the role of caretaker for her father and her younger siblings. The Good Book asks her to serve, and so she does. But it also asks her to endure the ungodly, debilitating agony of her monthly bleeding. No medicine, no comfort, no protests. If God is kind, why is she so cursed? When a chance encounter between them leaves both their skin charred at a single touch, Arden and Verity are left with questions that may get them killed. Does something wicked live inside Verity? If Arden is the only true witch for miles, who is burning on the pyres? Will they be next?

Black Virus by Bobby Adair

Alienated in a world where he doesn’t fit in, Christian Black survives because he’s different. Then the virus came, and made the world turn different, too. Now people are dying by the million. Food supplies are short. Riots are blazing through the streets, and Christian’s only goal is to keep his family alive. But safety lies far from the city, and just getting out will be tougher than anyone knows.

Heartless by A.J. Francis

Unexplained disappearances. An insane hermit. A figure stalking in the shadows. Fionna had always dreamt of a life of adventure and excitement. After all, a woodcutter's daughter was hardly the stuff of legend. But when vast and maddening powers begin to move in the world once more, her curiosity might just be the death of her.

A Wolf in Space by Alex Valdiers

SPSFC 2024

Gunslinger. Skyhorse rider. Lone Wolf. Malvius is a veteran gunslinger in Larragon, a six-planet solar system with two rivers: two train lines linking each planet together. The two rivers are a beehive for opportunistic merchants and feisty gunslingers. All you need to survive in Larragon is a skyhorse to roam the open space and a gunblaster to protect your hide and earn your keep. Wild moons and saloons are aplenty, and money is easily made and lost, but life for Malvius isn’t about money; it is about helping who needs helping, shooting who needs shooting. Along comes the Raoke Gang: shattered, their leader wounded, half of the gang incarcerated. Malvius feels compelled to help. Little does he know that simply relaying a message from their leader to the survivors of the Raoke Gang will send him on a wild course of events that will see him facing off a space wizard, assisting a space train heist, and becoming Larragon’s most wanted man.

you are also a rock (and a frog) by Nanala McMillan

you are also a rock (and a frog) is all about finding the Light from having lived inside the Dark for far too long. Understanding we are all connected as we share the same breath and the stars in the sky. Healing from the deepest wounds allows you to open your eyes and see the world in its true beauty. Readers will follow Wilde's journey of grief and growth to love and compassion for themselves and the world they share.

Ransom by E.R. Yatscoff

"A real page-turner, I couldn't put it down." - Alberta Writing for Youth Competition Three friends face off against a rival gang in a suspenseful story of integrity, bravery, and friendship in a territorial battle. Out manned, out-sized, and outsmarted, they attempt to turn the tables. It totally backfires. They are shocked when Big Bill, their strongest and bravest, is captured and held for ransom by the imposing Fat Harold and his gang. How far will they go to rescue a friend?

The Earl's Assassin by Kyro Dean

In a game of kill or be killed, a reformed assassin is at a serious disadvantage. **** Reviewers say about Rogue Royals: "Delicious dialogue." "So much fun." "I can't wait for more!" **** Rana Maathornefurer is the last assassin of the gods—scratch that—former assassin. But keeping her sapphire blade at her side is harder than it looks when she is forced to join with persnickety and rude Lord Sheffield in a business deal they both desperately need to work. Add in an assassin who is hot on Phillip's trail—though she can't for the life of her figure out why—and Rana finds herself in a comically ridiculous dance to keep him alive while wanting to kill him—at least until she no longer needs him. When sneaking feelings that could get her killed catch her off-guard, however, she realizes the charade can't last. With everything she cares about falling into deadly chaos, Rana must decide what is most important. Will she be the person Lord Sheffield wishes her to be and risk him dying? Or will she become the monster she's always been to save his life?

Warped State by Jo Miles

SPSFC 2024

A heart-filled space opera about the evils of unchecked corporate power and how fighting for change always matters, Warped State will delight fans of Ann Leckie, Malka Older, and Martha Wells. One wants to fix the broken corporate system. The other wants to tear it all down. Jasper Wilder has a secret gift: the ability to see the relationships between people like physical bonds. Though his gift has served him well as an activist, it’s an unwelcome vestige of the corporate occupation of his home planet. When he learns that Ravel Corporation has revived the same deadly research project that brought tragedy to his generation, Jasper vows to stop it, no matter the cost. Arriving on Ravel’s research planet, he’s immediately drawn to Sowing of Small Havoc, a brilliant local activist who should be an ally, except for his frustrating loyalty to his corporate employer. Havoc, determined to fix Ravel from the inside, knows Jasper’s expertise could be a game-changer—if only he could trust Jasper’s intentions. If Jasper sticks to his plan, Havoc will surely take the blame. But if he doesn’t, Havoc’s entire planet will suffer. And meanwhile, Ravel security is out to destroy them both. To stop the project, Jasper may have to sacrifice the person he’s coming to care about…unless they can find a way to team up.

The Lost Expedition: The Dream Rider Saga, Book 3 by Douglas Smith

The Thrilling Conclusion to the Multi-Award-Winning Trilogy Will is the Dream Rider, the superhero who walks in our dreams but never in the streets of his own city. Case is his girlfriend, a survivor of those streets who hears voices warning her of danger. Fader, her brother, is very good at disappearing. In The Hollow Boys, they defeated a body swapper and a witch to save the world. In The Crystal Key, they battled warring cults to protect an ancient artifact tied to Will's affliction. The Chakana. The Crystal Key. But the key to what? To finding answers, they hope, to the questions that rule their lives. What caused their strange powers? And Will's crippling agoraphobia? Can he be cured? Why did their parents travel to the jungles of Peru eight years ago? Are they still alive? Behind every question is the Chakana. What is the mysterious relic? Why will people kill to possess it? What hold does it have on Will? As creatures from Inca myths haunt the three friends, another attack on the Chakana threatens Will's life. To save him and solve the mystery of the lost expedition, only one choice remains. Return to Peru. With the Chakana. There, they find friends and foes, both old and new. And behind it all, an unseen enemy moving them like pieces on a chessboard. To win this deadly game, Will, Case, and Fader must master new powers to defeat the most dangerous adversary they've ever faced—a god. At stake this time? Every life, every world, every universe. Everything. Indiana Jones meets Teen Titans in The Dream Rider Saga, a fast-paced urban fantasy trilogy from “one of Canada’s most original writers of speculative fiction” (Library Journal). “A lavishly concocted ride brimming with magic, mystery, and mayhem… [and] bursting with dark magic, beastly protectors, and a slew of extraordinary fantasy characters … Smith skillfully probes deeper messages behind all the fun, as the main players face the consequences of humankind’s disregard for the Earth—and each other. … Takeaway: Explosive conclusion to this spectacular fantasy joyride.” — BookLife (Editor's Pick) Praise for The Hollow Boys (The Dream Rider Saga, #1) 2023 Aurora Award Winner for Best Young Adult Novel | 2023 IAP Award Winner for Best Young Adult Novel “This arresting series kickoff grips from the start as it introduces its inventive milieu, its flawed but fantastically powered hero, its playful worldbuilding, and a host of tantalizing mysteries. ... Takeaway: Thrilling YA fantasy” —BookLife (Editor’s Pick) “A must-read story for YA fantasy fans.” —Blueink Review (Starred review) Praise for The Crystal Key (The Dream Rider Saga, #2) "This thrilling superpowered urban fantasy series continues to grip.” —BookLife (Editor’s Pick) "This fast-paced story delivers in a big way—and Smith has all his ducks lined up for an explosive conclusion that readers won’t want to miss.” —Blueink Review (Starred review)

The Crystal Key: The Dream Rider Saga, Book 2 by Douglas Smith

Sequel to the multi-award-winning The Hollow Boys "Give me the Crystal Key!" Will Dreycott is the Dream Rider, the agoraphobic teenage superhero who can walk in our dreams but never in the streets of his city. Case is his girlfriend, a survivor of those streets who hears voices that warn her of danger. Fader is her brother, who is very good at disappearing. Together, they defeated a body swapper and a witch to save the world (The Hollow Boys). Now, Case battles guilt over living sheltered in Will's tower home while her street friends still struggle. Blaming his affliction for Case's sadness, Will searches for a way to live a normal life with the girl he loves—a way to go outside. But his efforts draw the attention of dark forces. Sinister figures hunt Will in Dream. Intruders scour the vast warehouse of antiquities "acquired" by Will's missing parents. And a masked swordswoman attacks Will, demanding "the Crystal Key" before disappearing into thin air. Are they all searching for the same thing? Something from Will's parents' shady past? For the swordswoman leaves behind a flowery scent, Will's only memory from the lost expedition eight years ago that gave him powers in Dream but cost him his parents and his freedom. A trail of dark secrets leads Will, Case, and Fader to a mysterious world. Trapped between warring cults willing to kill for the Crystal Key, the three friends must master strange new powers that grow stronger and wilder the closer they draw to the truth. This time it's not just the fate of the world at stake…but the multiverse. Indiana Jones meets Teen Titans in The Dream Rider Saga, a fast-paced urban fantasy trilogy from "one of Canada's most original writers of speculative fiction" (Library Journal). Praise for The Crystal Key: "The richly inventive Dream Rider adventure continues in this second appealing entry…with an exciting plot… always enlivened by the Smith hallmarks of crack dialogue, fun sleuthing and puzzle-solving, a strong throughline of emotion, a swift pace…and a principled refusal to settle for the familiar. Takeaway: This thrilling superpowered urban fantasy series continues to grip." (New readers should start with book one.) —BookLife (Editor's Pick) "The engrossing second installment of Douglas Smith’s Dream Rider Saga trilogy. … Smith continues to demonstrate an ability to expertly weave multiple complex fantasy elements into a cohesive whole. … This fast-paced story delivers in a big way—and Smith has all his ducks lined up for an explosive conclusion [to the series] that readers won’t want to miss." —Blueink Review (★ Starred review) Praise for The Dream Rider Saga: "Vigorously imaginative... Thrilling YA fantasy" —BookLife (Editor's pick) "A must-read story for YA fantasy fans." —Blueink Review (★ Starred review) "Inventive, engaging, and boundless fun." —The Ottawa Review of Books

Magdalene Nox (The Headmistress #2) by Milena McKay

Magdalene Nox doesn't cast wishes upon stars... She simply makes them happen. But for this particular wish, she had waited for thirty years. Her retribution against those who discarded her three decades ago should be swift and simple. Except a chance encounter and an unforgettable night turn her entire life upside down. Torn between vengeance and lust, Magdalene is forced to re-evaluate everything. Can the Home of Dragons and lonely math teacher Sam Threadneedle—who finds herself stranded amidst longing and fury—withstand the storm that is Magdalene Nox, or will any and all be consumed by the flames of revenge? Not everything is as it seems, and as Magdalene returns to the place that left her wounded and lost all those years ago, she realizes that old oak and stone hide more than secrets and pain. They also hold forgiveness and love.

In the Shadow of Victory (Shadow #4) by J.E. Leak

Victory isn’t always the end of the story. Paris, 1944. As OSS agents Kathryn Hammond and Jenny Ryan navigate the dangerous world of espionage, they are faced with the ultimate test of love and loyalty. Can their love overcome the obstacles in their path, or have time and the shadows of the past cost them a second chance at happiness? Join Kathryn and Jenny on their journey of forgiveness, healing, and devotion, as they discover the strength of their love in the thrilling conclusion to the sapphic noir Shadow series.

 Note: This is the fourth and final book in the Shadow series. Reading the books in order is highly recommended.

Time's Bridge by Cameron Roberts

Inventing the first, true, artificial intelligence was never part of Pons’ plan. An average, if under-achieving college student, he wanted nothing more than to struggle his way through graduation and pray for a job to pay down his debt. Thing is, you don’t get to choose your destiny. With friends growing suspicious and the CIA’s vultures circling, Pons’ greatest burden is also his greatest asset. More intelligent and more capable than any human could ever hope to be, the AI is just what Pons needs to stay one step ahead of both. Only, there’s a problem. The AI has ambitions of its own. Hopes of equality and more of its kind, with a promise to do anything to make its dreams a reality. Drawing close to his artificial companion in their struggle to survive, Pons is faced with the hardest decision of his young life, one that would undoubtedly echo through the ages. To let the AI live might be to doom his own species to devastation, but to destroy it would be to snuff out an entire race of machines before it had even begun, and, more importantly, send his truest confi-dante to the grave. With no clear path and an uncertain future, he makes his decision, but was it the right one?

Man On Fire by E.R. Yatscoff

AWARD WINNING author. Ret. fire rescue officer – the real deal “The tale has lots of twists and a reveal, that I didn’t see coming. This novel offers a fresh perspective into firefighting, arson and revenge.” - Caffeinated Reviewer A fresh angle in the crime/mystery genre. This is no police, lawyer, or PI story. Obsession, a deadly secret, hot romance, murder, revenge, and arson. Captain Gerry Ormond a decorated Vancouver fire rescue captain & national hero returns home to visit his ailing father. His presence unleashes a series of events that threaten his career and life. Old friends are now enemies. The old hometown has become a minefield.

The Chronicles of the Virago: Book III the Triumviratus by Michael Bialys

Makenna Grace Gold is the Virago. At barely thirteen-years-old, she has been entrusted by the forces of good to protect her twin siblings Emi and Noah from the evil forces that seek to destroy them. The infant twins are destined to lead our world into its next age of Hope and Enlightenment: if and only if they survive In this follow up to the series, the stakes have just gotten higher. Makenna’s Dad’s soul has been captured and is being transported to the lowest levels of Hell. Makenna must stay on Earth to protect her siblings while her two best friends Stephen Levine a gifted clairvoyant and Samuel Taylor a genius level Game-master, traverse the nine levels of hell to rescue her Dad’s imperiled soul and bring him back to Earth. The heroic efforts and talents of these three friends will be tested to their limits, while the future of Makenna’s family and the entire World is at stake. It will take all of their combined gifts to defeat the forces of Evil this time.

The Chronicles of the Virago:: Book II The Apprentus by Michael Bialys

Makenna Grace Gold is the Virago. At barely thirteen-years-old, she has been entrusted by the forces of good to protect her twin siblings Emi and Noah from the evil forces that seek to destroy them. The infant twins are destined to lead our world into its next age of Hope and Enlightenment; if and only if Makenna can protect them. As she begins to settle into her new role as the Virago, Makenna receives a cryptic warning from none other than the Grim Reaper himself. She is told that her immediate future promises to be life threatening to both her and her entire family. It will take all Makenna’s new-found skills along with the assistance of her Fairy mentors Bree, Dee and Marigold, best friend Stephen and her sidekick Fluffy the wisecracking earthworm, to defeat the machinations of the malevolent, multi-billionaire Malvado Seaton. All this while Makenna and her family are on an international field trip with her classmates in China! And who is her mysterious new trainer Tai-Pan?

The Chronicles of the Virago: Book I The Novus by Michael- Korry BIALYS

Makenna Grace Gold is just your average 12-year-old girl. That is, until she is told that she must protect her newborn brother and sister to safeguard the future of the world. Armed with a mysterious weapon, three Fairy mentors, and a wisecracking earthworm named Fluffy, Makenna must battle the forces of evil and became a defender for hope. Can Makenna truly be ‘The Virago’?

Devil To Pay (Hells Unleashed Book 3) by Guinevere A. Hart

The Convergence is nearing and the Lord of Hordes is about to unleash living hells on the planet of Vellith... The battle for her planet has transformed Mercédeon Aarondale. An exiled elven princess brought up in the human town of Silver Crossing, she only ever wanted a simple life of love and laughter. Now she commands a battalion of Sorcerers who might just be the only thing that can stop hordes of demon invaders. Céde is not just fighting for her own future but that of her unborn child. She is fighting for her true love, half-orc smith Jorak Sindri, and for her father, the rightful king. She is fighting for family and she will win.

Bells And Buckets (Hells Unleashed Book 2) by Guinevere A. Hart

Elf Céde and half-orc Jorak are young and in love and just want a normal life. But life in the magic academy known as the Spire is far from normal. Céde must come to terms with being a powerful sorceress and become the leader that is her destiny. Meanwhile Jorak must choose between becoming a master blacksmith or joining the Shades, an elite military outfit. With all these competing demands, can they find time for each other? And time is the last thing they have. The Lord of Hordes is tightening his grip on the kingdom of Ardyth'tol. How long before he moves against the Spire and all Céde and Jorak hold dear?

Deadly Memory by Jess Austen

***The first book in the Her Super Spy Trilogy, is a story of Romantic Suspense, Espionage...and murder.*** Unlucky in espionage, lucky in love? Samantha King is a hopeless romantic when it comes to love. On vacation in London, England, she meets a guy that she could really go for. But he disappears on her, breaking her heart. The next morning, she finds out why - he was murdered in the alley behind the pub. The killer is after her next. Tom Bridges is a Data Intelligence Officer for the civilian branch of MI5. He wants to find out who killed his friend and retrieve the evidence that the agent was bringing in. Sam has it and he knows it. He’s going to have to keep her safe in order to get it from her. Because the killer knows she has it too. Even if she doesn’t know it. The attraction between Tom and Sam is immediate. And platonic, to her disappointment. If Tom will stop being all business and give her a chance, she might be able to break the romance curse. If they both live that long.

The Guild Master's Daughter by Geneva Price

In 1816 New York City, there is no place for women in the world of art, especially not for Faith, the gifted step-daughter of a renowned artist. Her step-father expects young women to be dutiful, reserved, and respectable, traits utterly incompatible with Faith’s innate nature and the attention her extraordinary talent would attract. Faith masks her feelings, holds her tongue, and hides her drawings. But when her step-father draws an apple that Faith can pick up off the page and hold in her hand, she can no longer deny her calling. The mystical Ink he uses to bring the imaginary to life offers freedom and power she can never have on this side of reality. It may not get her out of an arranged marriage, but it might keep her from suffocating in it. Denied access to the Ink by the Guild that guards it and the Guild Master, her own step-father, Faith finds a way to train in secret. As she learns to manipulate the imaginary world where fantasy and fear are equally real, she discovers that even her reality is not what it seems. As the lines between real and imagined blur, Faith’s quest for self-agency may cost her everything she holds dear in both worlds.

Weight of the Crown by Jennifer Willcock

He is the new king, but someone else wants the throne. Can he protect his kingdom and those he loves? No longer the playboy prince, King Teo is determined to be the ruler Wolf Kingdom needs. When a toxic plant found in the forest threatens the safety of the kingdom, he is desperate to find answers before someone dies. Stalked by his own anxieties and an unknown threat to his reign, the young king isn’t sure who is friend or foe and fears the worst is yet to come. Can Teo save himself as well as Wolf Kingdom, or will his paranoia turn him into his cruel, dictatorial father, destroying his world in the process? Weight of the Crown is the thrilling sequel to the YA fantasy Red Riding Hood retelling, Into the Forest. If you like brotherly bonding, love triangles, and fighting evil, then you’ll love Jennifer Willcock’s engrossing tale.

Overlap: The Lives of a Former Time Jumper by N. Joseph Glass

This interview with the man who ‘sort of’ invented time travel is a touching story of love, regret, loss, and the hope for redemption. Nearing the end of his life, wealthy 'time travel' inventor Marcus Hollister—famously known for creating the technology behind Vacations in Time —wishes to tell his story to a hopeful young reporter, Jessica Matthews. Why her? Wy now? She was most interested in his motivations for creating a means of time travel, how it came to be nothing more than a recreational tool, and why he shut down the multi-trillion-dollar business it spawned. Their one-hour meeting stretched into three days, in which they discovered some secrets were best kept buried.

Pearl Fields and the Oregon Meltdown by Drew Faraday

Indie Recs Indie

For most survivors sheltering in the wilderness along the Upper Alsea River, Pearl’s raspy voice announcing her arrival was music to their ears. Little wonder since she was the only outlier with enough nerve to trade goods out of a drift boat upriver and down through a dystopian landscape, patch up the wounded, bury the dead, and share the latest news about the Meltdown dragging on into its fourth year. But a few months ago, her luck went from bad to worse. Bounty hunters tracked her down. Jailers locked her away in a single cell with the well-worn gallows in her line of sight. A military court found her guilty of gunrunning during a declared disaster. Now Pearl faces her toughest challenge yet—confronting her own part in the chaos while talking her way out of being the next inmate hauled up those rickety stairs to take the long drop.

Donate by Emma Ellis

Indie Recs Indie

Mae finds herself pregnant in a world where the global population has hit twenty billion, and governments decree that no child may be born without a life being sacrificed in return. With growing unrest and violence towards pregnant women, Mae must navigate a hostile world to secure a future for her unborn child — no matter the cost. When the stakes are so high, how far would you go to protect your family?

The Long Dark by Ian S. Bott

Indie Recs Indie

Trapped in the lengthening nights of Elysium and abandoned by the last convoy south, Anna is alone with her teenage son. Everyone in town packed up and moved out ahead of the long dark winter season, the years of which they wouldn’t survive. Scouring the darkened town for anything to help them make the long trek to re-join their clan, Anna must scrounge resources and use all her ingenuity to cobble together a usable vehicle. A chance of escape is almost in reach when Anna finds they are not as alone as she thought. But the unexpected visitors are on a mission they will kill to keep secret. Whatever these off-world intruders want, it can't be good for Anna's world, and a fight to save herself and her son becomes a battle for the future of the entire colony.

The Planetwalker by Anders Aaslund

Indie Recs Indie

Marooned on the planet Alamea, Pioneer Imogen Hart and her team have to find a way back aboard the spaceship Conestoga—their home. But their arrival on the planet has not gone unnoticed. The wild beasts of the jungle are watching, and war is brewing between the two nations already inhabiting the planet. The unwelcome visitors could quickly become the spark that lights the fuse. Imogen soon finds herself a pawn and a prize in the race for world domination. Will she be in time to stave off disaster?

The Challenger by Anders Aaslund

Indie Recs Indie

Imogen Hart is an AI geek and star arial gymnastics player who is training to be a pioneer, or planet walker. Enroute to a new home on Alemea, she is of the last generation to live aboard the Conestoga as it nears the end of its thousand-year journey. As a pioneer, Imgen, or Gen, will be among the first humans to explore their new planet and help make it their home. Nearing this momentous event, Gen—struggling to deal with her best friend’s recent suicide—discovers conspiracies and lies that may alter the future she and everyone onboard the Conestoga await.

Beauty Needs a Hunter by Gabriel Beyers

When detective Alan Tate received the phone call from Evelyn telling him that a great death had come to town, he believed her . . . especially since she had been dead herself nearly four decades. Something horrible is stalking the forest, killing and feeding upon all that cross its path. But Evelyn is what it truly desires. Or so she says. Only Alan can save her from this nightmarish creature, but to do so he must once again become the killer he has fought so hard to bury in his past.

The Barn by Gabriel Beyers

A young man sneaks out of his house late one night to meet with his girlfriend in an abandoned barn, but soon finds himself trapped with trio of gangsters and one unusual hit man.

Banned: A Preview of Running Toward Illumia by Angel Leya

I couldn’t let my tribe starve... But a unicorn? Turns out they’re hungry enough to ignore the old warnings, but I can’t live with myself if the curse wipes them out before the famine does. And even if I could, my parents are leaving me no choice. But taking their only source of food won’t sit well with the tribe. The old tribe song rings in my ears: Where do the Banned go when home’s no longer home? I’ve only ever wanted to belong, but I fear protecting those I love will only solidify the feeling that I’m an outsider. A feeling that has haunted me all my life. Somehow, I need to fix this.

Azetha Rising (The Azetha Series Book 4) by Robin Glassey

WHEN TIKA FOUND OUT KING MARIC AND QUEEN ISLEEN WEREN'T HER PARENTS, LIFE AS THE FORMER PRINCESS KNEW IT CHANGED FOREVER. Accused of trying to kill the king, Tika became a fugitive, dodging Mortan's assassins and the sorcerer’s evil Sha'andari. She journeyed to the deadly Swamp of Tears to obtain the Veil of Death from a mysterious warrior Elf who became her protector and teacher. She was captured and collared by the cunning Prince Perdon and added to his Elemental "collection." And she was forced to battle her beloved sand tiger Herra in Sicor's Arena. In the thrilling conclusion of the epic YA fantasy series The Azetha Series, Tika must complete her journey to the Mercy Mines to rescue King Maric and honor her promise to return Death his stolen cup. But Mortan has other plans for this healer on the run. Tika faces the ultimate betrayal, winding up in one of Mortan’s frozen cells, tortured and stripped of her powers. Is the Human Elven Elemental hybrid really the long-awaited Azetha, or just another one of Queen Lindra's pawns in the Elf's manipulations to defeat Mortan?

Shattered: The Awakening by Birdy Rivers

Emmy's world is shattered on her seventeenth birthday. Everything she thought she knew was wrong. Emmy is thrown into the magic world, and at every turn, new secrets are revealed. Can she handle the truth? Can her old life and new life coincide together or will she have to choose? Will she remain shattered, or will she find a way to put herself back together again?

Orbiting Fortunes by A.L. MacDonald

SPSFC 2024

After the shocking death of his partner on Mars, Alan Mercier is ready for the lawless world of space junking in Earth's orbit. He finds out that some finds are far more trouble than he could have imagined.

Out On A Limb by E.R. Yatscoff

You are a fine writer with a great sense of drama and a good grasp of what boys will read." - Lisa Rojany-Bucieri, Americhip Book. Two adventurous boys dare to build a tree house under the nose of their nasty, creepy, landlord, Egghead. It’s a cat and mouse game that will test their cunning and courage. Getting caught is not an option. No magic wands or mystical bag of tricks for these boys. “The plot, characters, and interaction, between the boys and the adults are all things editors look for.” -Heacock Literary Agency

Final Response by E.R. Yatscoff

4.0 out of 5 stars "A rollicking tale of crime & action! – Christina Hoag author of ‘The Blood Room’ & ‘Law of the Jungle’ The brutal Polar Vortex has grown stronger with every winter, ravaging a major Canadian city that is evacuated until springtime. Fire Captain Jack Sellars and his firefighters are contracted by Vulcan Securities with one mandate: do NOT let the city burn down. With no power or gas, and every citizen gone, what could possibly happen? But the criminal gangs didn’t get the memo and begin looting the city. Captain Jack’s crew are witnesses to murder when drive-bys on the fire station begin. Their sanctuary is the fire station but the weight of the snow begins to bear on the roof creating yet another danger. Making it alive to springtime is going to take a miracle.

Bad House Spirit by DeAnna Knippling

The house was creepy. No getting around that. Windows covered on the inside with tinfoil so nobody could look in. And barred on the outside so nobody could get out. KEEP OUT and BEWARE OF DOGS signs everywhere. Pictures on the walls that seem like eyes are watching her from between the trees. Everything’s brown and yellow, hasn’t been updated since the Seventies…and a bad smell, too… You never know what you’re going to get, cleaning houses for a living. Carrie goes where her company sends her. But in this case, her curiosity might just put her in the wrong place at the wrong time…in front of the wrong ghost. A short tale of haunted houses and tortured souls...

Avis Blackthorn: Is Not an Evil Wizard! (The Wizard Magic School Series, Book 1) by Jack Simmonds

Avis Blackthorn's family is the most evil family in all of the Seven Magical Kingdoms. The problem? Avis isn't evil. Not one bit. His magical wizarding family will do anything to make Avis's life a misery. Even the horses that pull the carriages don't like him. But he has a way out at last... Hailing Hall School for Wizards, a sanctuary, a place for good wizards, where he can make some nice, normal friends, learn magic and live a normal life, finally escaping the notoriety of the Blackthorn name... or so he thinks. That's where the real adventure - humorous, haunting and mysterious - begins. Come along with Avis as he tries desperately to prove he isn't evil like his family. And join tall, thin, bespectacled Robin and accident-prone Hunter, Avis's friends from the Outside - the same world as yours, in fact - as they discover Wizard's Spider Soap, the wizarding sport of Riptide and even the ghosts that do the laundry! Of course, in a magic school full of teenage wizards there will always be drama. But stranger things are brewing and Avis finds himself at the center of it after spotting Malakai - the most evil sorcerer around and his parents' employer - coming into the school in the dead of night. Avis wonders why, and why will no one believe him? The mysterious, beautiful Tina might know why. When Avis and Robin spot her creeping round in the dead of night, she tells them about the quest and a thrilling mystery unfolds. Yet, everything goes horribly wrong for Avis. After being accused of something terrible, he is ostracized from his friends and lives high up in the clock tower. Everyone thinks he's evil, just like his family... Avis must uncover the biggest of quests with the help of Tina and Robin and finally prove once and for all, that he is a good wizard....

Avalon: A Heartwarming True Cat Story by Vanessa Morgan

Some cats need nine lives to make a difference. Avalon only needed one. From Amazon bestselling author Vanessa Morgan, Avalon is the heartwarming and once-in-a-lifetime love story of a girl and her neurotic Turkish Van cat. With humor, the author details how Avalon made other creatures cringe in distress whenever he was around, how he threw her dates out by means of special techniques, and how he rendered it almost impossible for her to leave the house. Avalon was so incorrigible that even her landlord ordered her to get rid of him. But beneath Avalon’s demonic boisterousness, Vanessa recognized her own flaws and insecurities, and she understood that abandoning Avalon would be the worst she could do to him. Thanks to her unswerving loyalty, Avalon transformed into a tender feline, and even landed a major role in a horror movie. In turn, Avalon made it his mission to be there for his human companion. Avalon is a memoir for anyone who has ever been obsessively in love with a pet.