Oak King Holly King by Sebastian Nothwell

SPFBO10

Shrike, the Butcher of Blackthorn, is a legendary warrior of the fae realms. When he wins a tournament in the Court of the Silver Wheel, its queen names him her Oak King - a figurehead destined to die in a ritual duel to invoke the change of seasons. Shrike is determined to survive. Even if it means he must put his heart as well as his life into a mere mortal’s hands. Wren Lofthouse, a London clerk, has long ago resigned himself to a life of tedium and given up his fanciful dreams. When a medieval-looking brute arrives at his office to murmur of destiny, he’s inclined to think his old enemies are playing an elaborate prank. Still, he can’t help feeling intrigued by the bizarre-yet-handsome stranger and his fantastical ramblings, whose presence stirs up emotions Wren has tried to lock away in the withered husk of his heart. As Shrike whisks Wren away to a world of Wild Hunts and arcane rites, Wren is freed from the repression of Victorian society. But both the fae and mortal realms prove treacherous to their growing bond. Wren and Shrike must fight side-by-side to see who will claim victory - Oak King or Holly King.

Fiorenzo by Sebastian Nothwell

Fiore has a plan. Find a wealthy elderly gentleman, delight him until the end of his days, and retire on the resulting inheritance. It’s the best outcome a low-born courtesan in the city of Halcyon can hope for. And it seems a perfect scheme… until a mysterious masked man upends it. Banished from university after a disastrous duel, Enzo wanders the city searching for scraps of the affection he’s lost. His public mask conceals private agonies. A single night in the company of a courtesan, however, balms his wounded heart, and he finds himself returning again and again to Fiore, revealing more of himself than he’s ever dared before. Furthermore, and more astonishing still, Fiore finds he returns Enzo’s affections. But while Fiore wears no mask, he nonetheless has secrets of his own. And when the ghosts of their pasts return to haunt them, only the bond of trust between them will carry them through. ~ Fiorenzo is a queer fantasy-of-manners romance featuring secret identities, hurt/comfort, and a happily-ever-after.

The Haunting of Heatherhurst Hall by Sebastian Nothwell

American heiress Kit Morgan is heartbroken at the wedding of her dearest school-friend. At her lowest moment, she is rescued from her agonies by the mysterious and alluring Alexandra Cranbrook, sister of a visiting English baronet. Alexandra is beautiful, charming, and effortlessly beguiling. Kit cannot help but fall in love with her. When Sir Vivian Cranbrook proposes marriage, it seems natural for Kit to accept—if only to live with the woman she desperately loves. But the Cranbrook’s ancestral home of Heatherhurst Hall is not all it seems. The attic is forbidden. Strange scratching noises echo from within the walls. Wraiths stalk the corridors by night. And worst of all, Alexandra’s love has turned to scorn. Still, Kit is determined to earn her happily-ever-after and save the Cranbrooks from the horrors of Heatherhurst Hall. If only she could know Alexandra loved her in return. ~ The Haunting of Heatherhurst Hall is a Gothic romance rife with horror and heartache, wherein an American heiress makes an ill-advised marriage to bring herself closer the woman who’s stolen her heart.

Hold Fast by Sebastian Nothwell

Morgan Turner, agent to the Winthrop estate, owes everything to his benefactor. When the late baronet’s will tasks him with finding the lost heir and making a gentleman of him, he is determined to succeed. Thirteen years ago, Evelyn Winthrop ran away to sea. Now that his hated patriarch is dead, the ancestral home he returns to is more shadowed than what he left behind. Ungrateful relations and old friends alike tie a knot of scandal and depravity only a sailor could hope to unravel. And all the while, the siren song of the sea calls him to return at the first opportunity. Neither anticipated forming more tender attachments. To Evelyn, his unexpectedly handsome agent is the only thing anchoring him to shore. He sees a captain’s soul within Morgan, and his heart is caught upon the hook of command—if only Morgan would return his affections. To Morgan, his new employer’s charms threaten to tear down the thorns that have grown around his heart—thorns he cultivated to restrain his unnatural instincts. When the estate and all who live there are threatened by a maelstrom of bitter secrets and sinister plots, it is down to Morgan to take command, down to Evelyn to hold fast, and down to them both to navigate their own treacherous sea.

Throw His Heart Over by Sebastian Nothwell

Sir Lindsey Althorp, spectacularly wealthy baronet, has sat in the saddle since the day he was breeched. Aubrey Warren, threadbare telegraph boy turned engineer, has never ridden a horse in his life and had no intention of starting—until now. When a portrait-painting holiday in the country provides an opportunity for riding, Lindsey is eager to teach Aubrey the ropes. Aubrey works to overcome his well-founded caution regarding large beasts of burden. Harder to dispel are his insecurities about his scarred body in the wake of the Rook Mill boiler explosion—particularly as these scars are put on display to model for the painting Icarus Fallen. As the painting progresses, so do the riding lessons, until a potentially deadly accident may put a stop to both for good.

Mr Warren's Profession by Sebastian Nothwell

Lindsey Althorp, the only son of a wealthy baronet, has never worked a day in his life. Aubrey Warren was born in a workhouse and hasn’t stopped working since. Buoyed by Lindsey's optimism and fuelled by Aubrey's industry, the two men strive to overcome the class gulf between them. But a horrific accident reveals a betrayal that threatens to tear them apart forever.

Kit & Basie by Tess Carletta

Immortality is a dangerous affair when it isn’t done right. Basie Yeats knows he’s doing immortality all wrong, spending endless days in the same place, but he doesn’t see a reason to leave the home he loves in Long Lily, Pennsylvania. Once the impossible death of his mother leaves him the only immortal person he knows, Basie decides that the only thing he wants to do is get out of Long Lily and start doing immortality the right way—alone. Kit Elliot has wandered the world looking for the right place to call home, so when a church-turned-cottage suddenly goes up for sale in a quaint Pennsylvania town, it feels like it was meant to be. It takes only a few days at Wellhead Cottage for Kit to decide that the man who sold it to him is frustrating, awkward, and terribly handsome. He offers to help Basie find a new home away from Long Lily—but as days turn to months, Kit finds himself wishing he could make Basie stay.

This Doesn't Mean Anything by Sarah Whalen

Spencer’s first semester at Ravens College is going surprisingly well. For starters, she actually likes her roommate and soon finds herself settling into a routine of eating all her meals with the same two people, studying in the library with Nick - an upperclassman she finds only a little insufferable, and hanging out at the local coffee shop. Her new environment also means she’s trying new things - like Tinder dating. But Spencer can’t figure out why the idea of sex makes her want to run for the hills. That is, until she comes across the word “asexual,” and for the first time, she doesn’t feel so alone. As Spencer and Nick begin to spend more time together, she realizes she doesn’t feel any panic or revulsion when they touch, and wonders if that means there’s hope for a fulfilling, loving relationship without sex. But despite reciprocating her feelings, Nick has reservations of his own, leaving Spencer to wonder if the risk is worth it.

A Place to Land by Rosalie Fox

The sequel to A Tale of Wild Geese, A Place to Land picks up Johnny Reilly’s story in Africa at the end of 1944. World War Two had left all of them with scars, not all of them visible, and it wasn't over yet. At night the Focke-Wulf still hunted him and the people he loved. When his career as a fighter pilot had ended, Johnny Reilly had come to Africa to make peace with his beloved cousin, to bring her husband home to her. He hadn't meant to stay, but the lovely Louise Viljoen had changed that when she kissed him in front of the hotel... Lou was the only girl who had him off guard and kept him that way. Somehow she knew how to help him through the nightmares. But he'd never had sense, then, had he? So he made more mistakes and then he was going to be father. He was a penniless, broken-down pilot and somehow he had to find a way to build a life for them, and he had to do it quickly. To do that, he needed a plane and when he learned of a man in Southwest Africa who could help him, he ventured to a little town called Kolmanskop to meet the Little Bird of the Namib Desert. It was another venture that went south, badly, and Johnny is forced to face the past, the things haunting him, and a man who had been an enemy. Suddenly the mission is no more to find a plane, but to survive and pray that the people he loves will come search for them, find them before it's too late. It's a story of love, brotherhood, adventure and one man's quest to find a place to land and a way to put his demons to rest.

A Tale of Wild Geese by Rosalie Fox

The year was 1940 and the skies above Britain were about to become a war zone. Eleanor Davies was a 19-year-old barmaid in the Lark. Her cousin, Johnny Reilly, had been bringing her things he thought she would like for as long as she could remember. He'd bring her a flower or a seashell that caught his eye. One day, he brought her a young American pilot and all their lives changed forever. When Danny walked through The Lark's door, the world as she'd known it shifted; it would never be the same again. Danny O'Neal wasn't supposed to be in the RAF, it violated his country's neutrality agreements. He also wasn't supposed to be falling in love. His whole life had been a war for survival. He had come to England in the hope that he could leave his past behind and build a life for himself. Meeting a girl hadn't been part of his plans. This is a tale of Wild Geese blowing before the winds of war, coming of age and falling in love, building something worthwhile in the midst of the greatest conflict the world has ever known. It tells the story of dreaming of white roses, a porch and skies at peace, while the world falls apart around them. It's an epic tale of 'The Few' who defended the skies and the Women's Land Army that kept agriculture going. Above all, it's a love story that spans across continents. The love story that left all of them changed forever.

When Shadows Fall by Lindy Enns

SPFBO10

“Everything I hated and feared was outside that window. There was nothing between me and the night, nothing but a boy I didn’t know and shouldn’t trust.” Afflicted with debilitating panic attacks and constant anxiety, Ara Holstenner is the last person who would ever oppose the tyrant lord who subjugates her people. But when her sister is taken by shadow creatures, Ara must defy The Lord's edicts and brave the forbidden night world to save her. Can Ara overcome the fears that have defined her since childhood, or will she doom her sister—and herself—to a lifetime of torment?

Scorched earth magic by Elana Mcdougall

This is part two to Hidden Magic. It’s about A young woman who leaves behind her home (hollows), magic, and lover for a fresh start on her own. When she returns everyone discovers that she wasn’t only hiding herself, but a daughter of her former lover’s Sebastian Saint-Remy. She must save herself, her daughter, and Sebastian from evil.

A Mirage in the Memory by Simon Tull

SFINCS

Dogged by a digital ghost and his own murky past, he must scour the city to kill the killer … or lose the woman he loves. Earth, post-Apocalypse. Thibault Allard is determined to save his wife. After he escapes the addictive virtual reality that enslaved them both, he works as a bounty hunter for their unsavoury captor to gain inside access and search for his beloved. But when the morally flexible immortal is handed a ruthless ultimatum, he derails his plans in order to pursue the man who terminated his boss's spouse. Getting close to the dangerous cult leader responsible for the woman's death, he scrambles to survive after he's captured and imprisoned. And thrown into a pit for a gladiatorial battle against a blood-lusting monster, Thibault fears he'll die before he can rescue the bride he left behind. Can he double down on his duty without losing the rest of his soul?

The Girl on the Red Pillow by Angelika Rust

SFINCS

An average abusive childhood, a tendency towards depression. Annalee’s life could be normal. If only she could get rid of the dwarf. Annalee doesn’t mind what people call her. After all, a name’s just a name. What she does mind, though, is the dwarf trying to wall her in. Struggling between reality and hallucination, a black cat and a talking skeleton her only companions along the way, Annalee fights for her sanity, and a way out.

To Miss the Stars by Barbara Lieberman

John Worthington is a man who knows his place in the world and keeps to it. That is, until a letter he writes is misdirected. A simple and thoughtful reply begins a correspondence that will turn that well-ordered life upside down.

The Book and the Blade by A.B. Finlayson

A perfect story for fans of Gaiman and Pratchett’s GOOD OMENS, SHAUN OF THE DEAD and THE WORLD’S END. Arthur Crazy is drunk and seeing ghosts. This is not a metaphor. The dead are walking and talking, and it doesn't matter that Arthur doesn't believe in them. They believe in him. Too drunk to recall how he stumbled upon his nascent power, Arthur is burdened with newfound he’s the only one who can hear the unfinished business of every dead guy in York, and he’s the only one who can help. As forgotten legends and lost demons stir all over the cobbled streets and snickelways, Arthur finds himself at the centre of an unfolding mystery—a light in the desert, a fart at a funeral—and he is about to discover that an unfortunate surname isn't the only thing that makes him stand out. Arthur just wants to sober up, have a kebab, and go home, but his conscience is knocking loud and clear, demanding he open the damn door. He may not be the hero the dead need, but he’s the one they’re stuck with. Besides, one of those ghosts seems kind of cute.

Riverwitch by Rem Wigmore

Chipped Cup

Self-taught witch Ashley Robinson considers it her duty to protect her hometown Hamilton. She spends her time doing community work and picking up litter by the Waikato River. But something is badly wrong with the river, a sickness deeper than mere pollution can explain. Magic must be the cause, but is it a curse or something else entirely? Ash has to get to the bottom of it, armed with nothing more than the support of her best friend Mikaere and a pocketful of crystals. Then there’s Bryony Manu, the town’s only other witch. A charismatic practitioner of dark magic, Bryony is infuriating … and captivating. Ash needs their help to track down the source of the spell draining life from the river. Can she balance her work with her attraction to Bryony, and master her magic along the way?

A Song for Octaven by R.C. Ballad

SPFBO10

Resenfeld Draper is a skilled violinist and knows it. As a second-year student at Octaven University, where musicians sing spells and perform enchantments, Resen’s talent is only matched by his vanity and ambition. But Resen’s attempts to be top of the class are foiled at every turn by distractingly brilliant rival Eric Jameson – and so is his pursuit of friendship with the bold and passionate teacher’s daughter, Bravura Tempesta. Bravura is intrigued by Resen’s sweet-talk and vainglory, but Jameson knows a bully when he sees one. As Resen tries to connect with his classmates, he soon learns that forging real relationships is harder than writing concertos or currying favour. When a mysterious quake shakes the University, Resen, Bravura and Jameson must put their personal issues aside. With more in common than they realise, the three of them might be able to make real magic and save their school – but only if Resen can swallow his pride. A Song for Octaven is a standalone cosy fantasy with a sweet central mmf poly romance featuring trans characters.

The Wind City by Rem Wigmore

Chipped Cup

Wellington. The wind city. New Zealand’s home of art and culture, but darker forces, forgotten forces, are starting to reappear. Aotearoa’s displaced iwi atua – the patupaiarehe, taniwha, and ponaturi of legend – have decided to make Wellington their home, and while some have come looking for love, others have arrived in search of blood. A war is coming, and few can stand in their way. Saint (lovably fearless, temporarily destitute, currently unable to find a shirt) may be our only hope. Tony, suddenly unemployed and potentially a taniwha herself, has little choice but to accept the role her bloodline dictates. And Hinewai, who fell with the rain? If she can’t find her one true love, there’s a good chance that none will live to see the morning. Wellington will never be the same again.

Imperfect Illusions by Vanora Lawless

A drafted empath. A dreamwalking poet. A world at war. Chicago, 1917. Idealistic, aspiring poet, Elliot Stone can make people feel euphoria or horror with a simple touch. But that's only part of his magical abilities. He can also wake in the dreams of people he cares deeply for. Stubborn, fiercely independent Warren “Sully” Sullivan is an illusionist with a secret of his own: he feels the emotions of others as visceral sensations. That, and a lifetime of fending for himself, has left him guarded. On their last night of freedom before shipping off to training—military and magic—Elliot and Sully indulge in an explosive, emotional night together. Elliot assumes it's a one night stand and nothing more, until he awakens in Sully’s nightmare. The urge to rescue Sully is impossible to resist. And when dream-Sully begs him to keep coming back, something Sully would never do while awake, Elliot can’t resist that either. As real life draws them into battle, their shared dreams become a refuge that only Elliot recalls. So when Elliot has the opportunity to recruit Sully to the secret elite unit of magical soldiers he leads, he’s willing to risk everything for the man he’s fallen in love with in dreams. But being away from the front lines doesn’t mean Sully’s safe. Now they battle enemies with twisted magic where their secrets are a liability. Can they bring their dreams—and love—to life? Or will the war cost them everything?

Twisted Tome by Vanora Lawless

For empathic illusionist Warren 'Sully' Sullivan dreamwalking Captain Elliot Stone is more than the only thing keeping him sane and safe. He's the keeper of Sully's heart, even if he can't seem to admit it out loud. When an ancient grimoire infused with catastrophic magic comes into play, they've got to do everything in their power to keep it from landing in enemy hands. Unfortunately, that means working closely with a man who once shattered Elliot's heart. Someone he would have done anything for. As insecurity, jealousy, and fear threaten the fledgling relationship between Elliot and Sully, will the darkness closing in around them bring them closer or tear them apart forever?

Heir Undeniable by Hannah James

You know how people always say everyone is special in their own way? Right. Everyone but me. I’ve always been completely ordinary and perfectly plain. Even my name is boring: Christina Miller. Nothing sets me apart, and all I have is my mom, a mountain of debt, and a job at an escape room. On my first day as manager, the whole thing seems to be coming down around me. Until a mysterious stranger offers his help. But underneath his calm, polite exterior lies a heart familiar with darkness and death, and I’m faced with a decision that only I can make: Do I accept that side of him, or lose all of him? ∞ I’ve never wanted nor needed anyone. Until I met her. Until the fire in her soul sparked something in mine that I thought I lost a long time ago. Yet, I can never tell her who I am. What I am. I am Jonathan Langdon, and I am the great-grandson and the only known living male descendant of the First Ever Vampire, Ambrogio, cursed to a life eternal by the sun-god Apollo. And I’ve always felt that way, cursed, until she looked in my eyes and saw my soul. But what would she do if she ever learned the truth? Will she run, or will she stand up and embrace the Night? When my enemy gets a little too close, we may just find out… Whether I want to or not.

The Hollow Boys: The Dream Rider Saga, Book 1 by Douglas Smith

THE DREAM RIDER SAGA, BOOK 1 Winner of the 2023 Aurora Award for Best YA Novel Winner of the 2023 juried IAP Award for Best YA Novel Vanishing street kids. An ancient evil. The end of the world. Our only hope? A hero who can't leave home. At seventeen, Will Dreycott is a superhero…in his dreams. And in yours. Eight years ago, Will's parents, shady dealers in ancient artifacts, disappeared on a jungle expedition. Will, the sole survivor, returned home with no memory of what happened, bringing a gift…and a curse. The gift? Will can walk in our dreams. At night in Dream, Will hunts for criminals—and his parents. During the day, his Dream Rider comic, about a superhero no one knows is real, has made Will rich. The curse? Severe agoraphobia. Will can't go outside. So he makes his home a skyscraper with everything he needs in life—everything but the freedom to walk the streets of his city. Case, an orphan Will's age, survives on those streets with her younger brother, Fader. Survives because she too has a gift. She hears voices warning her of danger. And Fader? Well, he fades. When street kids start vanishing, the Dream Rider joins the hunt. Will's search becomes personal when Case breaks into his tower to escape her own abduction. Fader isn't so lucky. As Will and Case search for Fader and the missing kids, an unlikely romance grows between the boy with everything and the girl with nothing except the freedom Will longs for. But as they push deeper into the mystery, they confront an ancient power feeding on these forgotten kids to restore itself. And once restored, no one in the world will be safe. To defeat this creature, Will must do the impossible. Go outside. 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). "Editor's Pick: 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. … That’s just the start of Smith’s vigorously imaginative scenario. … Takeaway: Thrilling YA fantasy." —BookLife "Smith has created a dramatic, vivid fantasy world … The Hollow Boys is an assured, confident novel with strong world-building, sharp dialogue and the perfect balance between action and emotional growth for its main characters. … In short, this is a must-read story for YA fantasy fans." —Blueink Review (★ Starred review) "The Hollow Boys is inventive, engaging, and boundless fun" —The Ottawa Review of Books

Magissa by Kassandra Flamouri

For as long as she can remember, Chrysa Markou has longed for Pyrga, her native village in the mountains of Greece. But she never thought she would return like this—an orphan, crushed by grief and wracked with guilt over her parents’ deaths. Even surrounded by family, she feels like a xeni—a foreigner. A stranger All she wants is to belong, but Chrysa instead finds herself beset by vicious gossip, family secrets, and a magical heritage that could derail the future her parents wanted for her. To make matters worse, the one responsible for orphaning Chrysa has returned to unleash a reign of supernatural terror over her new home. With the help of a handsome but moody Seer and a pair of burly guard dogs, Chrysa scrambles to protect her village from an onslaught of dark creatures commanded by her parents’ murderer. As the noose of the killer's malice draws tighter, Chrysa grapples with festering doubts: Is she the victim, the hero...or the true cause of her people's suffering? Triumph over evil seems worth any cost, until it threatens to unravel everything Chrysa believed she was fighting for.

The Dreamer by Jean Swan

"Children of Light, listen well, for this is a tale of caution..." The Tale of the Mad Dreamer is a well-worn story among the Alvar. The Dreamers deal in premonitions and memories of lost eras - their minds connected to their Entity who is the source of all power. The gift - or curse - of Dreaming appears in children at random, a fate which sees them taken from their families where they must train to control their strange powers. Lucky for Theren and his best friend Valyn, they have been spared such a fate. Popular and powerful, Theren is poised to be selected by the Hunters at the Choosing. He will then embark on his first Brotherwalk - the annual pilgrimage of men to find a lover and prove their mettle in the sprawling forests of Alvaren. But after one strange night, Theren and Valyn find their futures forever altered - secrets and mysteries setting them on a path that will have them questioning their very reality. Fate threatens to pull them apart, forcing them to face an uncertain future alone. For sometimes, it seems, Dreams don't follow the rules...

Touch of Faete by Ligia de Wit

Curiosity kills little seers who get too close to bradaís, the eternal foe of the fae. All Ryanne Kelly dreams of is a normal dating life, which is impossible when her fae gift of foresight tells her exactly how badly each romance will end. Just when Ryanne decides to give up on dating, she meets a mysterious stranger who doesn’t activate her seer gifts. Titus Doyle has adjusted to modern living despite the fact that he is an immortal bradaí who yearns for the good ole times. He and his band of mercenaries use the internet to find new clients to quench his thirst for gold. His lust to kill fae, however, is much harder to satisfy. When Titus meets Ryanne, he recognizes her as a seer and knows what she is worth. As their two lives collide, the primeval battle between fae and bradaís reignites. Ryanne’s human side sees more in Titus than the killing machine the fae claim him to be. Meanwhile, Titus must fight his primal urges as his feelings for Ryanne grow. When an ancient queen of the fae gives Ryanne a special mission, Ryanne’s success holds the fate of all fae, and maybe bradaís too, in her hands. If she fails, not only will she lose her touch of fae, but the land she loves will be obliterated, and so will the fae.

Valkyrie Cursed by Rosie Wylor-Owen

Rowan McQuaid should be dead. Valkyries don’t survive vampire bites. But after releasing a tomb full of rabid vampires, Rowan is still breathing. Her survival means one thing: somehow, she is immune. When witches are slaughtered in their homes, Rowan discovers the vampires are hell-bent on killing the descendants of those who imprisoned them. And every drop of blood spilled is on her hands. Forced to team up with the mysterious vampire Nate Hallewell, Rowan must find and stop the rogue vampires before they kill every witch in south east England.

In Time with the Duke by Brooke J. Losee

NEVER wear cursed pearls. With the expectation to take over as CEO of the family business looming over her, Magdalena McCarthy wants nothing more than to escape a life of board meetings and late nights at the office. When her pearl heirloom grants her wish by transporting her two hundred years into the past and is then stolen by a bunch of British punks, her future looks more uncertain than ever. Now she’s stuck in 1815, and her only chance of finding the heirloom and going home rests with her handsome rescuer. Luke Halford, Duke of Avendesh, avoids social gatherings like any man committed to eternal bachelorhood. But after saving a peculiar young lady from a band of highwaymen, his notions on marriage are quickly upended. Miss McCarthy’s odd phrases and lack of social etiquette disarm him, and the more time he spends with the American lady, the more his walls crumble. As Maggie begins to accept life in the past, the opportunity to reclaim the necklace leaves her with an impossible choice, one ripped from her grasp when gossip threatens her reputation. After confessing the truth, she’s certain her return to the future was for the best, but Luke isn’t ready to lose the woman who stole his heart, and the same pearl necklace that brought them together soon places them both in the hands of a madman and the future in jeopardy.

You Wish by Brooke J. Losee

Three wishes. A lot of trouble... Maya After a four month trial period as an intern, I’m determined to get a position at the top analytics company in New York. All I have to do is knock this final report out of the park. It’s all going well until my drool worthy coworker asks me out. On my first date. Ever. Somehow my natural aptitude in the art of awkwardness has failed to repel him. My focus has gone down the toilet, and I’m succumbing to his charms. S.O.S. I’m sinking fast. When did my dreams shift from becoming a senior analyst to kissing this guy? Nash Making bets with coworkers is a bad idea. Losing them is an even worse one. Now I have to grant the wishes of an office intern like some kind of genie. It doesn’t help that I’ve been attracted to her for months or that this wager has me breaking my don’t-date-coworkers policy. As an acquisitions team member, it's my job to win over new clients. Now all I can focus on is winning her, even if she likes pineapple on her pizza. But I can handle this. It’s only three wishes. What could possibly go wrong?

Strange Tales of the Macabre by E. Reyes

Immerse yourself in E. Reyes’ haunting worlds with this spine-chilling collection exploring humanity’s encounters with the eerie and the unknown. A group of friends break into a home and are in for a night of unsuspected terror. A teen discovers a true crime book that no one else remembers. A young girl’s doll becomes a conduit for ancient evil. A pair of clowns turn to the supernatural to save a failing thrill ride. These and other unsettling tales await… Step into the unexplainable with Strange Tales of the Macabre

The Love Song of Nathan Crane by E. Reyes

Nathan Crane, a handsome and charming young man, becomes fixated on Christine Romero, a stunning woman who catches his eye. Despite his initial attempts to woo her, Christine repeatedly rejects Nathan's advances, and he spirals into a dangerous obsession. As Nathan's obsession with Christine intensifies, he reveals his dark side. His once-charming demeanor is replaced with menacing and possessive behavior, and he becomes determined to make Christine love him, even if it means keeping her all to himself. Nathan's solution to his problem is extreme and violent, leading him down a dangerous path. As Christine becomes aware of the extent of Nathan's obsession and his true nature, she is forced to fight for her life and her freedom. As the story unfolds, Nathan's obsession with Christine reaches a fever pitch, leading to a final confrontation that will leave readers on the edge of their seats. This gripping novel explores the dark side of obsession and the lengths some people will go to in order to get what they want.

The House on Moon Creek Avenue by E. Reyes

“A haunted house story that will give you The Conjuring vibes.”—Kasha’s Book Sematary Fleeing an abusive boyfriend, Cindy moves into her late grandmother’s creepy old house with her young daughter. At first, the home is comfortable and nostalgic. But soon, ghosts randomly appear day and night, doors open and close, a streak of bad luck begins, and Cindy and her daughter have unsettling nightmares. Cindy’s mental state is pushed to the edge. When Cindy’s video recording of paranormal activity goes viral, she gets the attention of famous ghost hunters. With nowhere else to turn, Cindy accepts their help to find and eliminate the source of the haunting. Can Cindy and the team of paranormal investigators survive the haunting of The House on Moon Creek Avenue? Praise for The House on Moon Creek Avenue: “E.Reyes plays with all the readers’ senses to invoke chills.”—Jamie Stewart, author of Trick or Treat “I couldn’t put it down.”—Iseult Murphy, author of 7 Days in Hell “If you're looking for a spooky haunted house story that'll give you the creeps, reach for this one!”—Spooky Octopus Reads

The Halloween Grindhouse: An Anthology by E. Reyes

“If you love horror… you must read this book.”—Julie Hiner, author of Final Track On Halloween night, four friends use a new app that takes users to random weird, creepy, and haunted locations. The location generated for them is an abandoned house in a sketchy neighborhood. Inside, they discover a series of VHS tapes, each revealing a blood-curdling tale that pushes the boundaries of fear and darkness… Encounter a terrifying zombie uprising born from the depths of drug cartel torture chambers. Navigate a haunted house alongside a group of unsuspecting friends, where the supernatural lurks around every corner. Witness the brutal karmic justice delivered by an evil entity on Mischief Night. And hold your breath as a kidnapped girl struggles to escape the twisted clutches of a monstrous captor and his sinister grandmother. From supernatural nightmares to the macabre realities of human evil, each story in this anthology offers a unique and harrowing journey, filled with twists that will keep you on the edge of your seat. So, dim the lights and brace yourself for a heart-stopping descent into the darkest corners of The Halloween Grindhouse. Praise for The Halloween Grindhouse “This was a fun read. Think Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark adult version. Great concept.”—Stephanie Reads Reviews “This book has it all. E. Reyes has definitely caught my attention and has left me thirsty for more!”—Rose Devours Books Reviews “E. Reyes enthralled me with this Halloween themed collection. ...I found a new favorite author.”—Andrew Robert, contributor to Slice of Paradise “If you're looking for a bloody book for this Halloween season, you can't go wrong with this one.”—Michael R. Goodwin, author of Smolder “I adored this… if you're a fan of old school horror movies/vibes, then this is highly recommended.”—H. Everend, author of Cursed Legacy

The Training Grounds: From the Ashes by Jason Clark

After suffering devastating losses in the pursuit to destroy the reaper, Millicent, Adelaide, and Oakes try to pick up the pieces of their shattered lives. As they prepare for another year at the Training Grounds, events unfold that provide hope—and the promise of more bloodshed. The discovery of an ancient map presents a world of possibilities, along with whisperings of a device that holds the potential to bring Darius back. Millicent and her friends will embark on an epic journey and attempt the impossible—to cheat death. While increasing her control over the elements, a strange voice from beyond reaches out, offering a deadly proposal. As the three students search for a way to bring Darius back—or decide to finally let him go, Dean Anders joins forces with Bao and Bixia to prepare the Training Grounds for an imminent attack. Not only must Anders juggle the external threats of Belladonna and the Unified Republic, but a new foe emerges, threatening to destroy the school from within. The stakes are higher as cataclysmic battles bring Merchant Valley to the brink of annihilation. Will the new weapons Anders creates for his prize students be enough? Can they possibly withstand the inevitable onslaught destined for the school? This time everyone must fight to stay alive—or die trying.

Number 47 by Hannah R. Palmer

For her, he's everything. For him, she's nothing. What do you do when the person you love doesn't love you back? You fight for them. Love isn't meant to be easy and passion will not be ignored. But the real question is, how much do you fight? How far do you take it before love leans into obsession? For Sarah, there's no other option but to fight. Without him, her life's not worth living. She'll stop at nothing to finally have him by her side. Sarah wants nothing more than to start a family with him, to grow old with him, to fill the frames in her apartment with nothing but his face. She's studied every inch of him. Every one of his quirks. Every habit. And she'd rather die than not have him. Grab your copy of the debut thriller novel today!

Season One: Iris and the Crew Tear Through Space! by Cait Gordon

In a galactic network known as the Keangal, where space is accessible… Lieutenant Eileen Iris and the command crew of the S.S. SpoonZ haven’t a clue what it means to be disabled. An unexpected conversation with an intergalactic janitor brings up the question but offers no answers before he’s ’ported away. Unfazed, duties resume as Iris manages an overprotective guidebot; Security Chief Lartha and her sentient prostheses offer kick-ass protection; Mr. Herbert’s inventiveness is a godsend (although he’s not quite grasped how to flirt); Commander Davan’s affable personality comes through whether trumpeted, texted, or signed; and Captain Warq’s gracious but firm leadership keeps everyone at their best. Until on one mission, where the crew tears through space. Just a little bit.

Mythic: Shadow of the Spark by Adrian Santiago

SPSFC 2023

Thousands of years after Ancient Earth, Humanity has forgotten its past, and is doomed to repeat it. MYTHIC: For centuries the last of humanity traveled the galaxy aboard a fleet of ARK ships searching for a new home. They warred amongst themselves, formed alliances, and eventually split off into factions. The peace-seekers that broke away found a ringed and moonless planet they renamed Gaia in homage to Ancient Earth, orbiting a star they renamed Sol. They gifted Gaia a moon in the form of a giant space station called The Spark; built by combining their fourteen ARKs, ending their nomadic ways, and committing to their new home. For three centuries there was peace for the last of mankind. The era of Peace is over. The age of Shadow has begun. BOOK ONE: SHADOW OF THE SPARK Newly-appointed Detective Migdalia Vandersey's first murder case was supposed to be open-and-shut. Wishful thinking. Armed with the latest technology she unravels the mysteries of the victims, the killer, and The Spark itself. The complex web of crime and corruption entangles her professionally, and romantically, with a bounty hunter seeking redemption (Llyr Varyan) and a witch exploring the depths of her power (Faye Noelani). At the center of all the sex, drugs, secrets, magic, and violence waits a prolific killer who hunts the streets with impunity. This murderer works to cover his tracks and stay ahead of Detective Vandersey, and her partners, as they race against the clock to stop him from taking his next victim, and tying off his final loose end. Will the help of Llyr and Faye be enough, or will Migdalia's career end before she even closes her first case?

Mythic: The Death & Rebirth of Bella Erdmann by Adrian Santiago

A farm girl out in the big city. The drug dealing black sheep of the family. And a hippie chick guiding them on a mushroom trip. What could go wrong? (A Psychedelic Sci-Fi Short Story) Bella Erdmann's time had come. She was made to leave The Farm; the only home she'd ever known, for a full year of life in the wild city streets. The Spark, a moon-sized space station and home to the last of humanity, was a terrifying place for someone as naïve and uncultured as she. With nowhere else to turn, she settled for the drug-dealing black sheep of the family, her cousin Mitch, who immediately whisked her off in his hover-car to make a delivery to a hippie. The night grew stranger from there with the introduction of wine, cannabis and magic mushrooms. A memorable first and final night of life on the town for Bella Erdmann. This short story serves as a prologue or direct lead-in to the novel, MYTHIC: SHADOW OF THE SPARK

Lycaon's Fire by Jeff Schanz

A small town hides a savage mystery someone is killing to protect. A mild-mannered drifter carries a deadly secret that leaves slaughter in his wake. They clash at a remote bus stop on the way to nowhere, with time to kill. * * * * * The legend of the flesh-eating wolf-people that live in the mountains has preyed upon a remote Montana town for years. People go missing, presumed dead, suspected eaten alive. Though the myth is considered silly superstition to most residents, someone or something is killing to protect the truth. A mild-mannered drifter named Merrick, a haunted man with his own brutal, deadly secret, passes through the town, accidentally setting in motion a chain of events that will bring the town’s bizarre mysteries to light. When a fearless and feisty young waitress named Kat offers her help, she and Merrick fall into the murderous crosshairs of entities who eliminate anyone that threatens their agenda. On a forested mountain, far from anyone who can hear them scream, Merrick, Kat, and their allies are hunted in an unholy ritual, where the game is survival and the prize is life. But not all who are hunted are easy prey. Something else that no one counted on, something powerful and savage that can kill with the swipe of its clawed hand, also stalks the mountain. In the light of the sacrificial fire, the bloodthirsty hunters will face an unfathomable killing machine in a showdown that pits monster against monstrosity.

Leza of the Alpha Line by Rachael Balke

For supernatural beings, the island was supposed to be their sanctuary from violent humans. But a violence has found them nonetheless. Leza won't sit idly by while her home is threatened. What lengths would you go to protect your home? Fighting for her family brings her to her destiny.

Wild Spirit: The Curse of Win Adler by Victoria Wren

Struck down with a mystery illness, sixteen-year-old Win Adler's life in Boston is shattered. Once a high achieving student, Win's illness forces her to become withdrawn, losing many friends along the way. When doctors can’t find a cure, her father’s last hope of recovery is to take her home to Hickory House, her mother’s ancestral home in the woods in the old colonial town of Cedar Wood. A fresh start in a new town, a new school where no one knows her past, plus a cute neighbor across the woods...life should get better, right? Living with her Grandpa and older sister in a quaint town should be ideal, but Win soon discovers she lives at the heart of an old town ghost story, a tale of witchcraft and tragedy. And Win learns that her family is unusual, and have some rather interesting secrets. Someone is watching the house, a mysterious hunter, someone who knows her family’s dark secrets, and as Win starts to change in more ways than one, she must uncover the truth about this man, and what he wants from her. She is getting stronger and faster as she learns more about her family’s strange curse. All Win wants to do is settle into her new life, but on the night of Luke Fraser's bonfire, the party quickly gets out of control, and Win must use her new talents to help her friends and get them to safety. She must unearth the secrets of her past to survive the fight of her life before she runs out of time. The Curse of Win Adler is the first book in the exciting, paranormal fantasy series 'Wild Spirit'. This is a story for young adults, teens, but anyone who loves paranormal romance fiction, with some action and adventure and mystery will love this fast-paced, dynamic read! If you love contemporary shifter fantasy with magic, curses, and romance then you might love this book!

Have You Decided on Your Question: A Novelette by Lyndsey Croal

If you could live your life over again, what would you ask to change? Something big? Something small? A single moment? Have you decided on your question? Zoe has. Tired of feeling alone and lost, Zoe seeks out an experimental virtual therapy experience from Alternative Reality Tech, which offers patients the opportunity to explore life's biggest "what if?" questions via virtual reality. During her first assessment, Zoe glimpses a past in which she would have met the love of her life years ago, if not for a split-second decision. Wanting to find out more about what could have been, she returns regularly to her alternative life, slowly falling in love with the man she should have met. And so begins a dangerous obsession...

A Vision of Air by Nico Silver

A sinister magical plot could destroy order in the Nine Monarchies. Foiling that plot could destroy something even more precious. The only seer born to the bird folk in seven generations, Fionn has spent his entire life in an impenetrable, remote abbey, learning to control his visions and to heal the sick. He has never met his parents, has never even seen another of his people, and has never known anything beyond the strict order within the abbey walls. When Kiernan, the half-human son of the forest Sidhe, is sent on a secret mission to the abbey, he finds himself trapped within the walls. He is blinded, weakened, and stripped of his magic—and forced to rely on seer-healer Fionn for everything. To the Sidhe, the bird folk are lesser beings, thought to be barbaric and barely civilized. But Kier doesn’t know Fionn is one of them, and he finds himself attracted the gentle young man he can’t even see. When Kier remembers his mission to foil a plot that threatens both his life and Fionn’s, he has to choose: save the young man he is coming to care about, or carry out the vital mission he was sent for, even if it means losing Fionn.

Chosen of Gods by Nico Silver

Stop me if you’ve heard this one: A werewolf walks into an art gallery… Raine is happy running her small art gallery and frame shop, and flirting with the handsomest customers. She doesn’t want anything permanent, let alone a relationship that comes with built-in issues before it even starts. But when Thorstein walks into her gallery, looking like a giant blond Viking and acting like he’s afraid he’ll break something, she finds herself wanting to put him at ease. Except Thorstein’s life is not his own, because he’s not only a werewolf, he’s a berserker, and his father has kept him on a magical leash, used him as an enforcer, for nearly a century. To escape his father’s control and take back his life, Thorstein and Raine will have to ask the one person Thorstein has been unable to face for decades, a man he nearly killed under their father’s direction, and who has every reason to hate him: his younger brother Magne. And if Magne won’t help, then there may be no future for Thorstein and Raine. And even if he will, it could be too late.

Son of Wolves by Nico Silver

Her family was murdered. His has disowned him. Can they make a new life together? Su’s vampire lover survived having a demon trapped in his head, at the expense of their relationship. Now she’s left to continue investigating her parents’ murder—and her little sister’s disappearance—without his help. Fortunately, Su’s sexy werewolf neighbor is there to fill in. But Magne has his own problems. His witchy girlfriend has dumped him, and his family is ready to cut him loose, too, unless he starts doing what they want. But that would mean betraying everything he believes is good and right. Can one fox shifter who still hasn’t regained her memories, and one werewolf who has memories he’d rather forget, join forces to find Su’s sister and create a new life for all of them?

Brother of Demons by Nico Silver

The voice in Evgeny’s head should have been silenced, but it’s not. Instead, it’s getting stronger… A demon born of the slaughter of innocents lies imprisoned inside Evgeny’s mind. It’s supposed to be quiet, dissolved back into the ghost-memories of which it was made, but lately those ghosts are stirring, causing nightmares. And worse, the demon is reconstructing itself. The year-round carnival on Wonder Island seems an unlikely source of help, but it hides a community of non-humans and magical beings, some stranger—and more dangerous—than Evgeny or his demon. The island also hides a building far older than it should be, a building that houses secrets known to only a few. A building that can contain Evgeny safely while he battles the demon in his head. If he can’t subdue the evil presence by absorbing the horrors it’s made of, Evgeny will lose more than his mind; he’ll also lose his body and everyone he cares for. And even if he can defeat the demon, he will not emerge unscathed…

Heir of Witches by Nico Silver

What if the secret to her best friend’s happiness is the source of her own worst fear? Su made the ultimate sacrifice to save her lover from a fate worse than death: she allowed her witch friend Alex to bind her fox-self as a familiar, tying their powers together, with Alex holding the leash. Alex is willing to reverse the binding, but she doesn’t know how, and neither do the other witches she knows, so they’ll have to travel overseas in search of the one person who might have the answer: the legendary, and possibly entirely mythical, Witch of the Hexenwald. But Alex has her own motive in seeking the witch, who just happens to be her ancestor: she wants to learn, to become the strongest witch she can be. But doing so could put her firmly on the side of keeping Su bound. Because foxes make excellent witches’ familiars, and hexenfuchs like Su make the best familiars of all…

Born of Ghosts by Nico Silver

They’re trying to stop an abomination, but the solution might be worse than the problem… After saving half the other community from a vampire cabal that wanted to experiment on them, Su and Evgeny really deserve their happily ever after. Unfortunately, some of the very people they rescued—a group of witches that includes Su’s ex-lover—see Evgeny as an abomination for his mix of witch and vampire heritage. They unleash an ancient evil on him, intending to use it as a weapon against him. Instead, the evil gains sentience and becomes a sort of demon, and it has its own motive: to take over Evgeny’s body by taking over his mind. Su will have to convince her ex-lover to help her new lover, but it could mean that Su will lose her own freedom in trying to save Evgeny’s, because to be strong enough to face the demon, she’ll have to join her power to Alex’s. And the process may be irreversible…

Daughter of Foxes by Nico Silver

She’s one of those things that goes bump in the night; if only she knew what kind of thing that was… When Su met Evgeny, he was a newborn vampire fleeing a mad scientist maker, and she was something not entirely human with no memory of her past. They’re happy spending their days trying to figure out where each of them came from, and how they best fit together in bed, when Evgeny vanishes, stolen by a vampire cabal that wants to use his rare ability to metabolize witch blood to make themselves invincible. Rescuing her new lover from a secret research facility seems to be an impossible task, but Su might just be an impossible creature, and if she fails, Evgeny’s best case scenario is to become a mindless blood filter. The worst case scenario is unthinkable…

The Babel Apocalypse by Vyvyan Evans

SPSFC 2023

Language is no longer learned, but streamed to neural implants regulated by lang-laws. Those who can't afford language streaming services are feral, living on the fringes of society. Big tech corporations control language, the world’s most valuable commodity. But when a massive cyberattack causes a global language outage, catastrophe looms. Europol detective Emyr Morgan is assigned to the case. His prime suspect is Professor Ebba Black, the last native speaker of language in the automated world, and leader of the Babel cyberterrorist organization. But Emyr soon learns that in a world of corporate power, where those who control language control everything, all is not as it seems. As he and Ebba collide, Emyr faces an existential dilemma between loyalty and betrayal, when everything he once believed in is called into question. To prevent the imminent collapse of civilization and a global war between the great federations, he must figure out friend from foe—his life depends on it. And with the odds stacked against him, he must find a way to stop the Babel Apocalypse.