|
I Found Christmas Lights Slithering Up My Street by Ben Farthing Something festive is growing in the sewer... After last year’s tragedy, Douglas’ parents are ignoring Christmas. But when Douglas finds an eerie strand of lights slithering through the sewer, he unwittingly unleashes merry terror upon his neighborhood’s tacky lights contest. String lights spread like invasive kudzu, turning festive decorations into surreal, predatory nightmares. Determined not to lose both Christmas and his family forever, Douglas gathers his courage to confront the source of the holiday horror: deep in the concrete pipes beneath the street. I Found Christmas Lights Slithering Up My Street is a horror tale from the “darkly inventive” purveyor of uncanny places and wondrous evils, Ben Farthing. |
|
His Lordship's Coachman by Maxime Jaz “When all hope seems lost, believe that we will be together one day.” Darren Turner has been deprived of his childhood home, of the family he has served, and of all his friends. Given to Lord Hampton to serve on his estate, he has no other choice but to travel to his new masters, and serve on their estate as their stable master and coachman. His only relief is that his beloved horse companions travel with him. Young Lord Archibald Hampton is ready to die. Arriving at his family’s countryside estate where his father hopes he will regain his health, Archibald begrudgingly accepts his father’s proposal of going out on daily rides in the barouche. As Darren, their new coachman, chooses the most beautiful sceneries to please the young lord, so does Archibald’s reluctance and hostility fade. For both Darren and Archibald hide a secret deep in their heart, only revealed to each other in a moment of despair when Archibald is on the brink of death. That unexpected love will bring Archibald back from the edge of the abyss, but his sister’s fiancé, Lord William, and Archibald’s own mother will make sure that obstacles are thrown in their paths. And when something terrible happens to Darren, tearing them apart, Archibald has to use all his strength and resilience to find him. In a world where their love is forbidden on many accounts, will Archibald and Darren find love and peace, against all odds? |
|
Dojakai: The BrixCity A.C.T - Cloutless by Cordell Charles In a world where competition is everything, and notoriety, is considered currency. Dojakai tells the story of Auraluke, a 13 year old boy, raised just outside of society’s logic. Born in seclusion with only his father’s guidance; Auraluke has been training his entire life, without the treasures of fame and glory. But this world is different. The world was also once plagued by beasts, born from the stars; known as Dojakai. Hip to the world, but forbidden from participating in society’s politics, Auraluke longs to find his place between mind, body and his own sense of will. Who is his father? Why has he been training him in seclusion? ..What the heck is Clout? Adventure awaits, in this introduction to the series. Dojakai: The BrixCity Sagas… Book 1 |
|
Santa Claus: The Beginning by Terry Broxson On Christmas Eve 1839, an extraordinary young toy maker named John Nicholas is visited by his angelic best friend Ben and their mentor, Mr. Rudolph Stern. The angels present John with a mission: to embrace the role of Santa Claus and bring joy to children worldwide. Follow John as he encounters magical elves and meets Jessica, the manager of Santa's castle at the North Pole. Experience the excitement of Santa's first global trip on Christmas Eve, 1840, as the story reaches its heartwarming conclusion. This enchanting tale unveils the origins of a talented toy maker, his special abilities, the loyal reindeer by his side, and the devoted friendships that shape his destiny. Suitable for all ages, this classic story is a delightful adventure filled with magic, imagination, and the spirit of Christmas. |
|
Devils That Prey by David Washburn Olivia Rose and her friends have just finished their first semester and are planning to raise a little hell on their college break, but have no idea just what hell is to be raised. Hungry for a good time, they provoke a group of locals and find themselves in a nightmare that doesn’t seem to ever let up. With their lives on the line this young group of friends fight to escape this hopeless situation while the locals sink their teeth into this sick game of cat and mouse. The only chance at survival is to meet violence with violence. The terror unfolding will have you reconsidering your drive through small-town America. |
|
Shsskish: A Novelette by Alana K. Drex Winslow doesn’t appear on any maps. It lies down a certain cemetery road, hidden past a grove of trees. But that doesn’t stop Tarah and Nathan from finding it one fateful spring day in 2006—an unfortunate pitstop on the way to their new life. Yet, nature’s song sings sweetly here, and the quaint atmosphere and sights seem to speak to a simpler time. But what the couple can’t see is the struggle and strife its townies endure in maintaining this time capsule of a town. And while they never asked to find out any of those finer details, they are set on a collision course, rocketing toward something that could prove to be as deadly as it is dark. |
|
To Spy a Star (Agent Renault Adventures) by Jonathan Nevair Agent Lilline Renault returns in this fun and fast-paced follow-up to the award-winning Stellar Instinct - a new standalone spy-fi thriller featuring a tough yet conflicted secret agent, galaxy-spanning action/adventure, and a charming cast of alien characters. One star can break a galaxy. Agent Renault plays cloak and dagger against her most formidable opponent yet - a ruthless and cunning expert at cards and more deadly arts besides. Her mission: retrieve a stolen asset known as the Star Eye. Aided by her eccentric agency team and armed with state-of-the-art gadgets, she races to solve a devious conspiracy and bring down her elusive foe. But a specter haunts the agency's halls, whispering secrets from its past. Allies and enemies alike wear masks in the espionage game. Lilline must decide who to trust if she hopes to take down a sinister and vengeful mastermind before a wave of terror crashes across the stars. Each Agent Renault Adventure is a standalone story - start anywhere in this award-winning series. |
|
Nia Rae: A book about boobs and space and stuff (The Kali Series, #1) by Debbie Taylor Nia Rae, daughter of Senator and Senator Rae, has an unfortunate habit of doing stupid things in front of cameras. When her latest mishap causes her to accidently halt time travel she finds herself (and her boobs) in the centre of a media frenzy. She also learns that she isn't who she thinks she is and a whole host of people are out to kill her. Oh and the man she loves is in love with her ex-boyfriend. Part one of an epic polyamorous bisexual science fiction romance that will change the course of history. |
|
Faking Forever by V.M. Rheault Fox Posey is my best friend, and when my sister tries to make good on a bet, I ask her to pretend to be my fiancée to win. All we have to do is spend the weekend together at my uncle’s ski chalet. I already give her all my free time and sharing a room—with that king-sized bed—will be easy. I didn’t think our fake kisses would crawl under my skin, but they do, and I fall hard. I want our engagement to be real, but when I propose, she says no. I’m not still in love with my ex like she thinks I am, but I can’t tell her the real reason I’m stuck in the past. She’ll hate me forever, and I’ll lose more than our engagement. I’ll lose my best friend. Posey Fox isn’t one of those arrogant, playboy billionaires. He’s happy spending quiet evenings at my apartment, and we listen to jazz and drink wine while I cook. We’ve been friends for years, and there’s no one I’d rather be with. When he asks me to pretend to be his fiancée for the weekend to win a bet, I agree. What’s a little kissing between best friends? Sharing a bed won’t matter . . . we’ve fallen asleep on my couch more times than I can count. I’ll just have to be careful I don’t let my heart get too carried away. Our engagement can never be real for reasons I can’t let him know, and I’d rather keep his friendship than end up with nothing at all. |
|
Nocturnal Liberation (Nocturnal, #4) by Villimey Mist Leia Walker has returned to Amsterdam to keep a promise: she wants to save the captured humans in the blood farm underneath Amsterdam’s Royal Palace. After fighting ferals in Atlanta and defeating Adam six months ago, Leia infiltrates the farm along with her personal Sangue Lucy and a group of vampires from Amsterdam’s fallen faction. It’s her chance to prove to herself that she’s fine without her guardian’s protection. But sleeping humans are not the only presence in the underground tunnels: ghouls and feral vampires prowl the area. They’re different. They’re cunning. And they’re hungry. It’s fight or die for Leia and her crew as they battle against a new breed of subterranean feral vampires. To make matters worse, Leia discovers horrifying experiments meant to elevate vampires and bring humanity to its knees. Can Leia keep her friend and the imprisoned humans safe, or will the farm become her eternal tomb? |
|
Nocturnal Salvation (Nocturnal, #3) by Villimey Mist Leia Walker has become the monster she feared. Turned into a vampire against her will, she struggles to adjust while protecting her younger brother. Across the world, humans and vampires are becoming bloodthirsty—feral beasts spawned by Adam Levant, a dangerous, sun-immune vampire. The people of Europe don't know their fate hinges on a young woman and her group of vampires and vampire hunters. Time is ticking, and Leia must find a cure for Adam's deadly blood. Her search leads to a reluctant alliance between her vampire guardians and the Owls, the hunters. Together, they venture to Atlanta to find a toxicologist from Adam's past. Caught between chasing a cure and holding on to her sanity, can Leia find a way to control her Hunger and stop Adam for good... or will she doom her fellow vampires and the rest of the world? |
|
Nocturnal Farm (Nocturnal, #2) by Villimey Mist Leia Walker has been training to protect her family from vampires ever since her best friend died six months ago. That humans are disappearing all over Europe is a distant worry— Until her little brother goes to Amsterdam, meets a Sangue—a vampire familiar—and disappears. Leia knows she can’t save him alone. To bring him home, she must take up arms with the Owls, a group of vampire hunters, without her vampire protectors or the Owls becoming aware of each other. Under Amsterdam’s streets, she discovers dark secrets, a vampire who is immune to sunlight, and a threat that turns humankind and vampires alike into feral killers. Can Leia hold on to her belief that everybody can be saved while she fights to bring her brother home— Or will she end up as a human blood bag on the farms? |
|
Oaths of Life and Death by L. Cyrus Whelchel Of the five faumen tribes, the cat-like Norzen are viewed as dangerous outcasts, rejected by many for the sins of their most infamous member: the heretical Cacovis. Kai is a young Norzen apothecary serving as a member of the Hunter Corps, dedicated to culling dangerous beasts which wander into the Grand Duchy of Livoria. After a hunt goes terribly wrong, Kai is left the sole survivor of his squad while a rebel faction within Livoria, the Liberation Army, desires the eradication of all faumen and fans the flames of civil war. Now on the run, Kai finds himself responsible for leading a pair of local women to safety amid the turmoil, one of whom actively mistrusts him. Joined by other outcasts on their journey, it becomes difficult to differentiate friend and foe as the Liberation Army continues its advance. Worse still, Kai remains haunted by Grimghast, the beast that killed his squad, leaving him torn between revenge and protecting his new crew. As centuries-old tensions boil over and shocking truths about his past are revealed, Kai and his rag-tag group fight to not only protect Livoria's future but also save themselves from enslavement or death. |
|
Last Skies Afire (Digitesque, #6) by Guerric Haché Worlds once alive are being destroyed; worlds once dormant must be brought back to life. Weapons that have long been wielded must be returned to the sheath; things never truly grasped must be wielded as weapons. What can Ada do, as planets burn under the inexorable advance of a machine fleet? What can Isavel do, from a shackled homeworld that has not been heard from in a thousand years? And what might they both do, if they were no longer alone? When seals are broken and barriers fail, when distances shrink to nothing and options dwindle into despair, both Ada and Isavel see only one way forward into a world that still lives on the other side of the fire: Let all hell break loose. All at once. And pray chaos is on their side. |
|
Fourth Under Sol (Digitesque, #5) by Guerric Haché Isavel was sure she was a gods-forged weapon. It seemed painfully obvious. So with her second life falling to pieces all around her, and nowhere left to go, she stands before them again, one last time - hoping, for once, to be a double-edged sword. Arguments with gods rarely end well, however. Now thrown so far off the path that no walking or wings could ever bring her home again, she finds the self-destructive legacy of her ancestors stretches far further afield than she could have imagined. The same old bones lie under alien soils, the same wars echo in different blood, the same silent stars twinkle above barren skies. And looming over it all, the same inscrutable gods - only these ones are within reach. And with every scuff and every broken promise, the visage of these gods crumbles away until Isavel finds herself staring at what lurks in their hearts and their roots. But these gods still stand, and still the worlds turn, and somehow she must find a path to her home, and a home for her heart. These old gods may stand in her way, and their wastelands may sap her strength. But she is a weapon, of a kind no god has ever known. And arguments with gods rarely end well. |
|
The Broken Third (Digitesque, #4) by Guerric Haché Out between stars and planets that left Earth behind many centuries ago, Ada Liu discovers a thriving but strangely archaic interstellar civilization - a Union of ancient colonies that have survived a war of apocalyptic proportions. Expecting to uncover the roots of Earth's downfall, she instead finds this society built by strange humans and familiar aliens is threatening, bewildering, and not at all what she had hoped. Her abandonment of Isavel Valdéz haunts her as she travels further and further, but with an array of hunters breathing down her neck and no way to return, Ada needs to gather what little help she can and find refuge between the cold vacuum of space and the unfamiliar soils of new worlds. She has one unsettling advantage: for better or worse, Ada is a strange daughter of a stranger Earth, and is perhaps the second most dangerous thing this Union has ever faced. |
|
Second Contact (Digitesque Book 3) by Guerric Haché Ada and Isavel still aren't sure if they are enemies, allies, rivals, or something else entirely - but the world is conspiring to force them into a decision. Peace between humans and their inhuman neighbours is crumbling, a millenium of stasis can no longer hold, ancient gods are losing their grip on Earth, and something from beyond the world is coming. There are cities to save, curses to lift, and exiles to end. Ada must say goodbye to the few allies she has, and her time to solve an ancient wrong done to humanity is running out. Isavel must save a city that will no longer listen to her, and is rushing into a war it may pay far too dearly to win. To achieve anything at all, the two of them may need to close the gap that separates them and start anew. |
|
First Angels (Digitesque, #2) by Guerric Haché Isavel has seen what comes after death, and wishes it on no one. Miraculous in the eyes of her peers and her elders, she has become the gods’ unwitting hand in an effort to stop an invasion of otherworldly creatures who would take human bodies as their own. She may fight bravely, but she is also beginning to learn that her influence may come at the cost of who she once was. But this invasion is not incomprehensible. Ada's ancestors corrupted the world this enemy is fleeing from, and so she believes the war is her problem to fix. After all, if civilization is to be built anew, the crisis threatening to destroy what little remains of it must be solved first, and Ada sees nobody better placed than herself to save the world and reverse Earth’s decline. As they both fight to restore the world, their disparate fates weave ever closer together. These gods-chosen mortals know each other’s face, but each has yet to understand who the other truly is, and the consequences of their collision could resonate beyond Earth, out into the stars that still keep watch over this forgotten planet. |
|
Penchant for Darkness by J. Elizaga After seven years struggling to conceive, Miles and his wife, Richelle, escape to an island getaway to try one last time. But instead of enjoying paradise, Miles is swept up in an ancient battle between formless demons and beings from another world. When Miles fights a malevolent entity attacking Richelle, secrets are revealed, ones that cross the universe between Earth and planet Kalumegn. Three mysterious beings discover Miles’s dormant extraterrestrial abilities. Calling him an Anomaly, they prepare his body and mind for war, for his destiny is about to be fulfilled. To protect his wife and the child they may have, Miles joins the aliens on Clos Friga, a hell planet of chaos holding their common enemy. Lucifer is more dangerous than the fallen angel of legend, and his sinister fascination with Richelle threatens all Miles holds dear. One man must fight an otherworldly battle…or the war for Earth itself may be lost. |
|
Engineering student Ana Juliet (AJ) takes a summer job as a swing-shift security guard at a hospital morgue--the same morgue once investigated by the police for unusual calls received during full moons. And the calls happen only when Matt, a guard assigned to the overnight shift, is on duty. AJ scoffs at the idea of otherworldly activities. But soon after, she witnesses a mysterious orb. The orb reveals itself to be the ghost of Binni Almond, a teenager who went missing thirty years ago. Despite AJ’s shock, she befriends Binni. She vows to use her problem-solving abilities to find Binni’s family and solve the mystery of the young girl’s disappearance. But darker spirits are afoot. As AJ descends to the morgue’s basement to capture evidence of Binni’s remains, Matt’s visions worsen. Evil spirits surge around the premises. And AJ is in danger of getting caught in the middle of a paranormal showdown. |
|
Dragon Your Bones by Tatiana Obey Rasia is determined to slay a dragon for her Forging, a trial each child must succeed to come of age. All she needs to do is find the dragon’s den, slay the winged bastard, and haul it home before the deadline ends. Not so easy. But Rasia has Kai on her team—who may or may not have some secrets up his shroud. Nico needs to prepare for the bloodrites, a ritual ceremony as bloody as the name. If she succeeds, she’ll earn the title of Ohan, but first she’ll have to dodge assassins and hunt whomever placed the hit on her head and hopefully kill them before they kill her. In the Grankull, coming of age isn’t easy. There are always greater dragons to slay. DRAGON YOUR BONES is the introspective sequel to BONES TO THE WIND, full of political intrigue and a coming-of-age exploration. The novel includes strong female characters, LGBTQIA+ representation, and mature themes. It is appropriate for a NA/Adult audience, 18+. |
|
Death by Sugar by E.M. McConnell Death By Sugar is a collection of horror poetry. They seek to look at what truly frightens or horrifies us, be that supernatural, psychological or gothic horror. What looks back at us when we look in the mirror? What would happen if your loved ones came back? What does the murderer think as they craft their masterpiece? What if the most unassuming, non dangerous items in our lives are secretly sentient, angry, and hateful? Death By Sugar shows us all the ways we can die. But at least we won't starve. |
|
The Guard of Woestynn by E.M. McConnell Woestynn Prison is the most desolate prison planet of the Ruben System, a desert wasteland meant for the most barbaric of prisoners. Ford is a new recruit from the Academy, hoping to make a name for himself in the most feared of prisons. When arriving he finds more than he expects, and grows more than he could have imagined. |
|
The Dust Collector (Woestynn Chronicles) by E.M. McConnell Darius has lived on the desert prison planet Woestynn for longer than he wants to remember. His days are dreary, dangerous and dark, collecting ore to supply the prison, to claim his rations of food and hydration tablets. But Darius does not work to pay towards a cell, as other prisoners do. Darius chooses to make a stand alone, out in the desert. Because you can't choose when you die, but you can choose how you die. This is a dystopian scifi novella set in Woestynn, the worst prison planet in the Ruben system. This is one of four non consecutive books set in this world. |
|
"Welcome to the Moon!" Neal Gordon and his partners, former actress Lucy Westenra and intelligent canine Barksley, are in hot water with Cyberlife after a bust goes disastrously wrong. Put on what is likely to be permanent suspension, they receive a job offer to work for EarthGov directly. Unfortunately, EarthGov is hiring them because they know a catastrophic plague is about to be unleashed throughout the Moon's neighborhood. Neal finds himself trying to unravel a conspiracy involving poisoned narcotics, a sham church founded by humans from another planet, and a mysterious woman from his past that he was sure had died. Enjoy this latest satirical entry in the Moon Cops series that is already a best-selling new entry in the Futurepunk universe (Agent G, Cyber Dragons, Space Academy) by C. T. Phipps! |
|
Moon Cops on the Moon by C.T. Phipps "Welcome to the moon!" Neal Gordon screwed up his assignment on Mars and they reassigned him to Antarctica. Now he's being reassigned some place even worse: Luna City. A crime ridden hellhole with a super-rich ruling class, he almost immediately finds himself targeted by bounty hunters and cyborg terrorists. Thankfully, Neal has an unusual set of partners in robot dog, Barksley, and the snarky but badass Lucy Westenra. Yes, make all the vampire jokes you want. It's tough being a corporate cop on humanity's foremost colony and before this adventure is over, he's going to have to deal with deranged influencers, mysterious female secret agents, and a 1970s themed flying car called the Purple Rain. Can he survive to get reassigned? Who knows. MOON COPS ON THE MOON is set in the Futurepunk setting of Agent G, the Cyber Dragons Trilogy, and Space Academy novels but functions as a standalone series. It is a humorous action-filled romp that fans of The Expanse, Robocop, Demolition Man, and Blade Runner will enjoy. |
|
The Tree of Azathoth by C.T. Phipps "The Dreaming City has a million stories." The world has finally reached its final hours with Yog-Sothoth devouring time itself. John Henry Booth is not content to die and seeks out an old enemy to provide him an escape from the dying Earth. This results in him being transported to a strange monster-filled city where millions of humans live in a bizarre hodgepodge of eras. John soon finds out he's been here before, or at least some variant of him has, and he is soon founded by faces long thought dead. And what is his lost son's connection to the mysterious metropolis? The Tree of Azathoth is the third novel of the Cthulhu Armageddon series, a post-apocalypse continuation of H.P. Lovecraft's popular Cthulhu Mythos. |
|
"Is it better to live as a monster or die as a man?" It has been a year since John Henry Booth's exile from New America and the fall of the Black Cathedral. Cursed with a slow transformation into a monster, he has begun a doomed relationship with fellow escapee Mercury Halsey as they seek some way to arrest his transformation. Dubious hope arrives in the form of the University, the deranged scientists and cultists descended from the staff of Miskatonic University. Except, their offer of help comes at a price. Having sold themselves to ancient aliens called the Yith, they wish John and Mercury to join a group of rogues in hunting down a wayward member of their faculty: a man who intends to release the last of the sleeping Great Old Ones on an already ravaged planet. If they're telling the truth, John and Mercury will be heroes. If. The Tower of Zhaal is the second novel of the Cthulhu Armageddon series, a post-apocalypse continuation of H.P. Lovecraft's popular Cthulhu Mythos. |
|
Jesus and John by Adam McOmber Jesus and John is a Weird re-imagining of the New Testament as a novel of allegorical horror. John, a fisherman from a rural village on the shores of Galilee, is tasked with protecting the risen body of his lover who was crucified for disrupting Roman order in the city of Jerusalem. The body, having miraculously emerged from its cave-like tomb, refuses to speak and walks in a dream-like silence, disrupting the clear-cut message of the Apostle Peter and eventually leading John on a dangerous pilgrimage to a mysterious mansion in Rome known as the Gray Palace. There, the few inhabitants promise a celebration that may lead to a sacrifice John is unwilling to make. Incorporating Christian Gnosticism, Pagan dreams, and a contemporary will toward queer disruption, Adam McOmber's new novel tells a powerful story of devotion. |
|
The Handler's Gambit by Ingrid Moon Play the game. Murder the innocent. Don't let them see you sweat. Commander Boone's treacherous secret could save thousands of lives—if he could only escape from the murderous warlord who employs him. He wears his game face while following orders to destroy enemy fleets and handles a reckless assassin with elemental powers. Behind the scenes, he is undermining the warlord's pursuit of an innocent rival. The duplicity and the horrors are taking their toll. Boone wants out. In a bold gambit, he crafts a plan to escape. But his superiors might be catching on, and the plan is not without its own horrors. With everything working against him, including the woman he thought was his salvation, he may not live long enough to execute it. "Absolutely epic action with a tug at the heartstrings.” Space Battles, Biological “Magic,” Ground Assaults, Betrayal, Unlikely Allies The Handler's Gambit is a dark, character-driven thrill ride across the galaxy, where the sacrifices made for freedom clash with the indomitable human spirit. |
|
Mark’s Merry Mayhem by Mark Tufo Most of you know I'm not known for my short stories; apparently I'm much too long-winded. But on occasion there are some things I just need to pull from my head and put out there. I hope you enjoy this small glimpse into the things that keep me up at night. |
|
Immortal Sins by Maurice D. Winterborn The Chained God, the protector of truth, power and knowledge, has reigned in the North for centuries. Now, dark forces rise in the South, threatening peace and stability of all united in his name. New Gods. Cruel, dominant, wrathful. The last bastion of the people has held strong for more than four years, but the fighting has taken its toll, leaving hope tied together with fragile strings. The Invaders' chaotic beliefs slowly engulf the land and dark forces start to awaken, both outside of the Empire and within. Dimitri Savandiel saw his world crumble when the southern Empire, Vivaria, declared war on his home nation of Haven. For years, the country has known nothing but divide and death as the true King was slain and his deceitful brother took the throne, handing the land to the Invaders. The battle for Haven shall be bloody, indeed. |
|
Mud Crab Kingdom: My People or My Peace? by Dr. Joel Anthony Hamilton Following the Indie Ink nominated book, the Soft-Shelled Prince, this slow-burn sequel shows Marcious Leojè's life after creating his Mud Crab Kingdom. Like that of his childhood, the walls of his kingdom keep discrimination and persecution at bay. However, they also keep the true Marcious locked inside. Marcious must constantly choose between what's best for his kingdom and himself; the advancement of mud-skins and the pursuit of love; his people or his peace. The demands of his citizens, opinions of outsiders, and thoughts in his head create an inescapable constant roar. Even so, he must make choices that leave some, or someone disgruntled, disowned, or dead. |
|
The Inversion Solution by Scott Marlowe The city of Brighton is in chaos. Infernal science inverted half the population. The other half fights for survival. The Alchemancer series continues. Half of Brighton’s population paid the price when Aaron failed to stop the Nullification Engine. The situation worsens when eslar invaders, led by Ensel Rhe’s brother-in-law, Balrabbek, arrive in Brighton intent on completing Ingrid Kane’s work. Forced into an alliance with them, Aaron soon realizes the engine’s effect went well beyond the city’s borders and that much more is at stake than he ever imagined. When Ensel Rhe learns of Balrabbek’s arrival, he wants nothing more than to take revenge on him for the murder of his son. But his brother-in-law’s deceit and his ambitions went much further than he thought. Now, he must end those ambitions, no matter the cost. Meanwhile, Serena flees from the chaos consuming Brighton, only to find that escape is a fleeting thing as her inability to control her magic continues to haunt her. When she learns of the Griffin’s mission to retrieve the secrets of a lifesaving vitality serum, she sees it as a way to save both her people and herself. |
|
The Nullification Engine by Scott Marlowe An infernal engine threatens all life. A sorcerer's apprentice has no idea how to stop it. The Alchemancer series continues. The city of Brighton promises new beginnings for Aaron, Serena, and the taciturn eslar, Ensel Rhe. But, upon their arrival, Aaron and Serena are arrested for their role in the Chaos of a week ago, while Ensel Rhe slips away on business of his own. The pair are allowed to plead their case before the earl himself, after which they are released and assigned a very special duty. The Chaos unearthed an ancient, infernal machine called the Nullification Engine, and the earl wishes to know everything about it. Dormant for hundreds of years, the device is now active and gathering energy for some unknown purpose. While Aaron and Serena struggle to unravel the machine's mysteries, Ensel Rhe confronts his past when he learns his daughter has come to Brighton, but in the company of one of his greatest enemies. A race against time begins as Aaron realizes that the Nullification Engine was never turned on for a reason, for once the machine reaches a state of full nullitivity, it will destroy Brighton and everyone in it. |
|
The Assassin's Cunning by Scott Marlowe Some days it seems like everyone wants you dead. The deadline for the Black Guardsmen to leave Alchester has come and gone, and now it’s up to the Assassin Without a Name to act on his threat. While he’s not above killing every last mercenary for the trouble they’ve caused him, he decides on a different course of action when Gwendolyn Goddard requests a meeting. In exchange for killing a rival, she offers to call off her Black Guard watchdogs. The catch? The mark is Atticus Drake, a trusted friend and ally. Meanwhile, the Warders and Jakaree continue to pursue their dark agendas. For the Warders, frustration leads to more direct action against the Nameless Assassin and his continued interference. The Jakaree, however, recognizing the need for alliances, offer to make a temporary one in hopes of striking a blow against the Warders. Trusting a death priest is never a good idea, but with questions continuing to mount about the Warders, the Assassin Without a Name reluctantly agrees to join them. Whatever their ultimate goals, the Jakaree and Warders remain in balance until a blood witch comes to town looking for revenge against Mathilda. While the witch has an agenda all her own, her presence threatens to turn the tide in the wrong direction for good. Deception, intrigue, danger, infernal science run amuck, and half the city wanting him dead? It’s just another day in the life of the Assassin Without a Name. |
|
Worth His Salt by Dr. Joel Anthony Hamilton Where is salt? It pumps through your veins, dusts your fingertips in the drive-thru, and has seeped into that comforting bite of your favorite childhood meal. Surprisingly, salt is not in the earth’s crust, not anymore. Centuries of overharvesting, spurred by human gluttony and the food industry, have depleted every source of salt beneath the surface. To make matters worse, global pollution has become so severe that other sources of salt, like seawater, have become too toxic to ingest. The Armageddon that ensued would convince you the world was at war or a zombie apocalypse had begun. This lasted until Pillars, mysterious human-like creatures made entirely of salt, suddenly appeared in one country. The government seized this opportunity to reignite their economy, spurred by powerful food companies, and gathered them into salt farms. The country’s profits and standing in the world blossomed with this newfound resource. In order to keep this momentum, it became law to turn every Pillar into the government. However, one small restaurant defied this order when they agreed to hide a water-bottle-sized Pillar named Geo. They risk their careers, families, and very lives keeping him hidden from random inspections, salt hounds, and Inspector Hans. To save their future, all it takes is a phone call to turn him in and obtain their monetary reward. To keep him concealed takes a sacrifice few are willing to make anymore. They weigh these choices each day and must decide if he is truly worth his salt. |
|
The Hall of the Wood by Scott Marlowe A chilling warning. A fragile alliance. Impending doom. Jerrick Bur returns to a home he doesn't recognize. The King's Patrol has vanished. Their Hall stands empty. An invading army encroaches upon the fringes of the forest and folk whisper of a sitheri witch brewing evil from the darkest hollows. Once a patroller, always a patroller, and so Jerrick is duty-bound to investigate. He is joined by Kayra Weslin, knight errant, and her chronicler, Holly, who go to answer a plea for help from nearby Homewood. Along with Murik Alon Rin'kres, an eslar sorcerer who harbors a secret purpose all his own, the four embark upon a mission to unravel the mystery of the missing patrollers and somehow stop an ancient force of darkness from consuming them all. |
|
The Assassin's Blade by Scott Marlowe I had a name once, same as everyone else, but after one glorious night of murder, it was no longer safe to use. Small sacrifice for ensuring my sister's safety, I figured. So now I don't use one. In my line of work, it's not necessary anyway. What is my line of work? Murder, of course, though I fancy myself more than just an assassin. Gentleman, thief, wine connoisseur, adventurer, a man of a thousand names and none. I'm all of those things and more. My life was about as normal as one could hope when one particular job came along. Kill the artificer, steal the plans, make an exchange. Simple enough, until a band of fanatical priests ambushed and tried to kill me. Turns out the plans have something to do with a source of dark energy. The priests aren't the only ones interested in it, either. I've no interest in being a hero, but I'll do whatever I have to do to keep my city—and my sister—safe. There's already blood on my hands. What's a little more? |
|
Always There For You by Halli Starling A new town, a new start, and finally opening the wine store of her dreams. Amelia has picked the small town of Breakwater to be her new home, and her new beginning. Even as her chronic pain sometimes gets in her way, she won't let anything keep her wine store and tasting room from opening. And now that her best friend Hadley is with her, everything is perfect. What Amelia won't speak aloud is how much she adores and cares for Hadley -- how much she truly loves the woman she's known since they were kids inspecting bugs and reading together in one of their backyards. Hadley thinks the town of Breakwater is the perfect spot for Amelia and her new lease on life. And she's thinking about settling down herself, after years of traveling around the world and taking on odd jobs and having flings with beautiful women. But she always, always comes back to Amelia and now is her chance to tell her best friend exactly how much she cares. It's hard to be brave, especially when it comes to affairs of the heart. But together, they can weather the storm and find what they've always been searching for. |
|
Engines of Alchemancy by Scott Marlowe Chaos erupts in the Barony of Fallmere when a surprise elemental attack destroys Norwynne Keep. Aaron Shepherd and Shanna Bonnerman survive, but Shanna is soon lost in the fallout of the keep’s destruction while Aaron is forced to flee for his life. Unbeknownst to Aaron, Shanna becomes a captive of the enemy who destroyed their home. This enemy, a savant who claims to follow the path of science, speaks of ancient, infernal devices and a quest to reclaim the greatest of them all. Certain the savant means to kill her, Shanna is instead surprised when she finds herself embarking upon the adventure of a lifetime. Meanwhile, only the worst of nightmares await Aaron. Pursued by dwarven raiders, mad sorcerers, and a host of demons who will not stop until he is dead, the only thing keeping him alive is his own wits and an eslar mercenary whose reputation as a killer might make him the worst threat of all. Though Aaron and Shanna travel different paths, their purposes align when they each learn of a mysterious device known as the Fifth Element. Shanna sees it as the final piece of the puzzle that is her destiny. To Aaron’s logical mind, it is an impossible ambiguity. Whatever the answer, the Fifth Element draws them back together and into a final confrontation where science and sorcery will collide. |
|
A Brighter, Darker Art by Halli Starling A chance meeting at a bar. An instant connection. But that connection turns from a spark into all business. For the moment. And it's a really bad idea to date the boss... Raphael (Raf) Lutz, is under immense stress with the opening of his fifth art gallery in a few months. He's mentally and physically exhausted, and given his perfectionist nature, deeply concerned that this gallery won't stack up to the rest. His best friend, Ambrose and Ambrose's boyfriend, Barrett, have trusted Raf with a very special set of illustrations belonging to Barrett's deceased friend. Raf is making the illustrations a highlight of the gallery's opening, and it has to be just right. Perfect. But he's drowning and he needs a marketing manager yesterday. On the other side of town, Silvan Diedrich has just been downsized from the marketing firm he helped build, and drowning his sorrows in a few drinks and maybe some company sounds about right. The man who takes the stool beside him is dangerously handsome with a clear flair for the dramatic. Company, indeed. But as he and Raf talk, Raf offers him the one thing Silvan hadn't been expecting - an interview. Which he passes with flying colors. But close proximity to Raf, day after day, is far too much temptation. Raf doesn't need any more complications. Silvan's not been with anyone in a long time, as he's been the primary parent for his now college-aged daughter. So they make a deal. Hands off, for now. Sticking to that deal proves to be rather difficult for both of them. The companion to Ask Me For Fire, but can stand alone. |
|
The Way We Wind by Halli Starling Twins Bren and Clark have been holding each other up since their mother passed away. It hasn’t been easy. But Bren is running the family greenhouse and Clark has a good job at the local library. Life is quiet, just as Bren likes it. But Clark feels like he’s stagnating. Bren isn’t looking for love when a greenhouse customer dumps water all over her. But Elodie’s cute and bouncy and, it turns out, a folklorist at the local college and has a special interest in plants and their stories. It seems like a perfect match. Clark might have a tiny crush on a patron at the library, but he’s never going to say anything. But when Jasper, that very patron, asks for Clark’s assistance on a research project, Clark can’t say no. To Jasper or the project; Jasper’s researching local “ghost trails”. And Clark is a bit of a believer. But trauma and grief are slippery things, and getting through it isn’t simple or easy. Maybe love needs to find a way to help them both heal. |
|
When He Beckons by Halli Starling A charming - but slightly strange - accidental first meeting at a skate park. Opposites attract. And technically...one works for the other one. Zan has a fast mouth and a lot of technical know-how, so dating hasn't always been easy. He'd set aside any notion of a romantic life to work and spend as much time outdoors as possible. Biking, canoeing, skiing, you name it. He's never tried skateboarding, even though he stops by the skate park near the trail where he bikes to watch boards - and sometimes people - flip, or crash hard. Instead of skater-watching, Zan meets Deacon. Deacon's odd and interesting, and it turns out, the head of the small indie press of which Zan is a huge fan. Rochester Press puts out the weird and erotic, the dark and mischievous, and finally meeting the head of the press is great. Maybe not so great - Deacon has just hired the printing company Zan works for, and now Zan's in charge of all the new jobs. It'll be fine. Except Zan (and his big mouth) immediately asks Deacon out on a date. And Deacon accepts. There's no fraternization clause in Zan's contract, or Deacon's. It should be fine. A high-heat novella about two quirky people who would never seek out a date via online platforms or at speed dating. But their weird seems to compliment each other. Add in a romantic picnic date, a rainstorm, and a love of books and the outdoors, and Zan and Deacon might just carry away your heart. |
|
Beneath the Gods' Tree by S. Kaeth Amanah knows all-too-well the dangers of catching the attention of the upper class of Arruk. Using her position as a guard to steal secrets of healing and help other lower class people means she works hard to remain unnoticed. Fellow guard Taunos is boisterous, laughing, larger than life–and always around. He attracts attention as easily as breathing, which makes being associated with him dangerous. Better to stay far away, regardless of her attraction to him and his easy calm. But when Amanah inadvertently insults a magistrate, she must flee the city to avoid his vengeance. She takes a last-minute job escorting a pair of noblemen to another town–a job Taunos is also hired for. Along the way, she’s forced to reveal her stolen healing skills to keep the small group alive, and finds more support from Taunos than she ever would have dreamed. His confident charm becomes hard to ignore as he sees her as no one else has, even when she’s doing her best to be invisible. But opening herself to romance might be as dangerous as the wildlife and bandits they face in the wilderness, and pursuing her dreams of becoming a healer could attract the ire of those in power. This book has: so much banter; strong sibling relationship; strong friendships; friends-to-lovers (low steam); gay side characters; main character anxiety rep; diverse cast with immersive worldbuilding; action and adventure, wilderness survival style; low fantasy (none of the main group displays clear magic on page); single PoV, third person past tense |
|
Phantom and Rook by Aelina Isaacs Arlo Rook has decided it’s time to move out of Garren Castle, home for orphans of all races, magical or not, at 100 years old. It’s not the first time he’s left home, but a setback landed the Hedge Witch in the hospital a year ago, and subsequently back to square one. Now he’s ready to strike out on his own, despite his friend’s worries he’s not ready. Thatch Phantom is an immortal, the last of his kind and perpetually bored. When he’s not closing interdimensional rifts and corralling trouble in the universe, he’s visiting his favorite city of all, Levena. No one remembers him, but he’s made an everlasting impact on the city nonetheless. Long ago, he set up an anonymous scavenger hunt for the starving village, providing them with a year’s worth of supplies. He upped the ante each year, providing less practical things, as the village had become a city and was wealthy beyond belief. Festivals are thrown in his honor to this day, or a version of him, that is. Thatch has decided to throw a wild card into this year’s Game. Whoever discovers his true identity will win one wish of their choice, no restrictions. Aside from the obvious, such as no falling in love, murder or resurrection. Arlo crashes into the mess of copper curls and bright eyes, who throws apothecary goods and his life into a chaotic mess. It certainly wasn’t the first they met, but Arlo doesn’t remember him. Thatch, however, never forgot the Witch with a familiar soulmark on his face. What follows is a hilarious and wholesome series of events that teases the immortal with the one thing he wants most. Someone to call home. |
|
They’re supposed to be together. The magic says they should be. So why is she trying so hard to get away from him? Every single one of us is fated to be with someone else. That’s how the magic works in Atlantis. It chooses your soul mate at birth. And while I want Matt to be mine, he’s fated to Sarah—to her dismay. One one’s ever tried to break their mating bond…until now. And it’s not that easy. In fact, I think it’s making him sick. But can I convince him to let Sarah go before her attempts to break away ruin him forever? |