stories in

Harvest Nights

Harvest Nights by Ahmed H. Alameen

“A Lovecraftian horror tale inspired by Native American Myths and colonial times” Harvest Nights is a story told through a young boy named Chua (Snake), who narrates the story of how the days were gone and replaced by nights when a strange shooting star appeared in the sky in 1811 Colonial America (Great Comet of 1811). During those dreadful nights, Chua, and later three other people, will have to survive the other worldly creatures that will stop at nothing to eat. A Lovecraftian horror story featuring famous historical figures and creatures inspired by Native American myths. “It was the surgically-precise gore, the sensations of body horror, and the tenticular terror that Ahmed Alameen penned that will stick with me for a long time.”—Michael Arnzen, Bram Stoker Award-winning author of Play Dead and 100 Jolts “Gripping and Eerie”—Eric J. Guignard, award-winning author and editor, including That Which Grows Wild and Doorways to the Deadeye “You’ll be hooked from the literally explosive beginning right through to the finale.”—Paul Kane – Bestselling and award-winning author of Before, Arcana and Sherlock Holmes and the Servants of Hell “Lingers long after the final page has been read.”—Amanda Stevens, Award-winning author of The Graveyard Queen “This Lovecraftian story took a couple of unexpected turns that really amped up the horror... Alameen clearly knows the subject matter well and he does it a lot of justice.”—April A. Taylor - author of Sinkhole and The Hunting of Cabin Green “Ahmed Alameen is a true cosmic frontiersman, forging a new path through uncharted terrors and guiding his readers into the vast unknown with Harvest Nights.”—Clay McLeod Chapman - Author of Whisper Down the Lane and the Remaking


Elemental Ruin

Elemental Ruin by Alx Chan Yee

Why would me being Magik be an issue? Fae and Magiks have not been at peace for millennia. Arabella HuƏ. A grieving witch accidentally teleported to the Fae realm of Ifaeris. A student from the Lazipeus University of Magik, unable to control her power. After being imprisoned by the High King of the Fae, she is forced to work with the feared Prince Cassius. Together, the two must discover who has been the cause behind the disappearances of the Fae. Cassius Disaris. The unloved son of King Elliot. A Fae descended from the Spiritus Elemental Fae bloodline. Both feared and beloved by the common fae, he has the power of shadows. Bound by his father’s rule over the land, the prince is obligated to work with the witch, who, immediately upon seeing her, is filled with loathsome aversion. With a tongue as sharp as Cassius’ and the clever mind of Arabella’s, two creatures with history that dates back over two millennia must find a way to put aside their own personal opinions if they desire to rid each other from their presence.


Arcranium

Arcranium by Mark Towse, Daemon Manx

Four horror authors with four vulnerable egos, square off against one another, in the virtual world, to find out who is the scariest. Welcome to Arcraniumℱ, a powerful technology that fuses with the author's mind to stimulate their best possible creation, immersing other participants in the narrative. It's all in good fun, but with so much pride at stake, things are bound to get a little bumpy once the gloves come off. So, strap your headset on and don't forget the safe word. The future of literature is about to get an upgrade. The future is 
 Arcraniumℱ


The Prince's Dearest Guards

The Prince's Dearest Guards by Beau Van Dalen

Prince Hal wants a boyfriend. Sadly, he’s much too shy to find any suitable partners. That is
 until he meets his new guards. On the day of his twenty-first birthday, Crown Prince Hal is introduced to two faithful guards, Elwood and Kaiser, who have been appointed to serve Prince Hal once his Highness becomes King. As per his kingdom’s coming-of-age traditions, Prince Hal and his new guards must set out on a journey together to slay a mythical creature lost in a faraway land—however, there’s just one problem: nobody warned Prince Hal that his guards would be so hot. And although Hal’s guards are more than competent in battle, Hal wonders if he and his poor timid heart will survive travelling alone, alongside two of the most handsome men he’s ever seen. A steamy fantasy romance novella, featuring a trans man protagonist, who longs for amorous adventures with his dearest guards.


Nana

Nana by Mark Towse

Nana: A term of endearment used in some countries for one’s Grandma. Some say the title is derived from the Italian word for Grandmother, Nonna. Another theory is that it stems from the word Nanny, i.e., someone who takes care of children. Meet Olly’s nana, Ivy. It takes more than clean dentures, brandy, and bingo night to keep this one happy! Nana Ivy lives in Newhaven Crescent, where most of the other residents are past their expiry date and all kinds of batshit crazy, the kind of place where you hang your sanity up at the door. Being the matriarchal type, Ivy cares for the other residents as though they were kin, so of course, it’s of enormous concern when their veins begin to blacken and they start shedding skin, not to mention the glistening things crawling out of their hair. They’re pushing their luck, and Nana Ivy knows it. Did I mention she has a dark secret? Young Olly doesn’t know what to make of it when he comes to visit, but he’s about to find out there’s more to his nana than cough drops and slippers. Oh yes, he’s in for a long night.


Yesterday's Gone

Yesterday's Gone by Alice B. Sullivan

When the world falls apart, it doesn’t matter how. It’s who’s left to rebuild." -Sadie Gallagher Ten years after the Collapse, humanity rebuilds around a world teeming with infected. Determined to prove herself, Sadie’s only concern is turning eighteen so she can finally help keep her community safe. When an outsider shows up, fraying the threads of trust and security, Sadie's past comes undone, and her quaint life is ripped apart. In a world ravaged by the Collapse, a viral outbreak that turns its victims into flesh-eating monsters, eighteen-year-old Sadie Gallagher harbors an unshakable determination to prove her worth and help protect her community
until an unwelcome guest saves her from the hands of the undead, and her life takes an unexpected turn. Standing alone in her belief that her heroine is innocent despite her leader’s insistence of something sinister going on, Sadie wonders if her faith is well-placed or if this stranger has a hidden agenda of her own. A revelation looms on the horizon—one that will unravel a conspiracy involving the virus' origin and shatter Sadie's world. Yesterday’s Gone is a gripping tale of resilience, deception, redemption, and survival in a world where trust is scarce and danger lurks at every turn.


Dirt-Stained Hands, Thorn-Pierced Skin

Dirt-Stained Hands, Thorn-Pierced Skin by Tabitha O'Connell

SFINCS

A queer, Beauty-and-the-Beast-inspired novella Heron thought ey wanted to be with handsome, charming Tiel—but the relationship hasn’t quite lived up to eir expectations. With Tiel’s confidence comes a tendency to be overbearing, and now he wants Heron to leave eir farm life behind and move to town with him. And Heron can’t figure out how to explain to him that ey doesn’t want that. When an accident strands Heron’s mother at a castle rumored to belong to a family of mages, Heron rushes off to make sure she’s all right—only to find the castle occupied by a single man who isn’t a mage at all. Prone to hiding behind his long mess of hair, the mysterious Theomer possesses a long-neglected, semi-magical garden. A job tending it is Heron’s perfect opportunity for some time away from Tiel while ey decides what to tell him. Heron did not plan to be drawn in by Theomer’s attentive gaze and understated sense of humor. But as an undeniable bond forms between them, ey’s soon going to have a much bigger choice to make



Whispers of a World Breaker

Whispers of a World Breaker by Corey Ratliff

Aric’s job is simple; assist the elves as they moved dragon eggs across the kingdom. When an orc raid leaves a dragon in peril and her egg vulnerable, the responsibility falls into Aric’s hands to complete the mission. But when the dragon hatches, Aric’s life is thrown into disarray. Accused of being the world breaker of an old prophecy by the elves, sought after by the ever-growing orc clans as vengeance against the elves, and desired by the human kings and queens for power, Aric will stop at nothing to protect his new dragon. It may be the only thing that can turn the tides of the war. Can Aric fight fate and save the world, or is he destined by the whispers of a world breaker?


The Indoctrination

The Indoctrination by K. L. Bone

The story begins: “Empress Dehartra, you have been charged with ninety thousand counts of murder, and high treason. How do you plead?” “I plead guilty! Guilty to more murders than I can recall. But never, never in my life have I ever committed treason!” Empress Chrissalynn Dehartra Kasar had been an Earth orphan, until she was kidnapped by a powerful, parasitic race intent on expanding their galactic territory, and conquering new host races. This story is her testimony, told before her enemies. Raised as the protĂ©gĂ©e of the powerful Nicholas Kasar, Chrissalynn is trained in the Setian ways. She learns emotions are for the weak. Torture can be a necessary evil, or a priceless work of art. That the lives of lower-ranked citizens are expendable, and the greatest honor is to die for the empire’s glory. By the age of seventeen, she wins her first major victory, and becomes fully accepted into Setian society. Eventually promoted to a position of power, Chrissalynn requests to lead the assault on future Setian Colony 428, where she meets the resistance leader Darin, who challenges her in ways she could have never imagined. As a trusted mentor predicted, Chrissalynn must choose. Is she a woman with a human heart, or an empress with a Setian soul?


Soultaming the Serpent

Soultaming the Serpent by Tar Atore

SPFBO10

Jun was barely ten years old when the last dragon died. Half a century later and Jun still dreams of the rain that hasn’t fallen since. Her mundane life takes a turn when she encounters Aurel, who she suspects may be the one that holds the key to restoring balance and is destined to find the elusive serpent from the prophecy.  Joined by Casey, Jun’s closest friend and the village brewer, the three embark on a journey to unravel the prophecy's intricacies, figure out what the serpent's role truly is, and why the dragon has to die, not knowing they are being watched.  Follow our trio as Jun discovers a love of adventure, Casey’s devotion takes an unexpected turn, Aurel spills his secrets like dust in the sand, and the three of them discover the true power of their bond.


Blood Over Bright Haven

Blood Over Bright Haven by M.L. Wang

Magic has made the city of Tiran an industrial utopia, but magic has a cost—and the collectors have come calling. An orphan since the age of four, Sciona has always had more to prove than her fellow students. For twenty years, she has devoted every waking moment to the study of magic, fueled by a mad desire to achieve the impossible: to be the first woman ever admitted to the High Magistry. When she finally claws her way up the ranks to become a highmage, however, she finds that her challenges have just begun. Her new colleagues will stop at nothing to let her know she is unwelcome, beginning with giving her a janitor instead of a qualified lab assistant. What neither Sciona nor her peers realize is that her taciturn assistant was once more than a janitor; before he mopped floors for the mages, Thomil was a nomadic hunter from beyond Tiran’s magical barrier. Ten years have passed since he survived the perilous crossing that killed his family. But working for a highmage, he sees the opportunity to finally understand the forces that decimated his tribe, drove him from his homeland, and keep the Tiranish in power. Through their fractious relationship, mage and outsider uncover an ancient secret that could change the course of magic forever—if it doesn’t get them killed first. Sciona has defined her life by the pursuit of truth, but how much is one truth worth with the fate of civilization in the balance? A standalone dark academia brimming with mystery, tragedy, and the damning echoes of the past. For fans of Leigh Bardugo, V. E. Schwab, and Fullmetal Alchemist.


Bloodbound

Bloodbound by Kaija Rayne

An assassin makes a terrible ambassador. Rhian’s greatest skills aren’t based around negotiation but delivering the final word. However, the Dark God Arawn saw something else in her. Or he was desperate. Either way, he assigns his favourite pwca, a Welsh black-dog shapeshifter, as the newest ambassador for Ontario—it’s a thankless job. She needs to preserve the myth that the supernatural is only an illusion. Otherkin are terrible at hiding, and it’s Rhian’s duty to tidy up after them. In between that and keeping the veil in place, she has to investigate her predecessor’s murder, which doesn’t lean into Rhian’s lethal prowess. That means working with her estranged partner, Kai, who was first on the scene. The only man Rhian ever needed, and the one man she can’t forgive. That complicates everything. Acting on the desires she’s repressed for three hundred years will violate her vow of loyalty to Arawn. If she neglects her duty, the veil could fall. War breaking out between humanity and the supernatural would doom the world. And if she breaks her vow of loyalty... well, Arawn is known as the Dark God for a reason


Love in the Middle

Love in the Middle by Barbara Lieberman

Love stories are for the young, he's decided, and Sam Mayer is most certainly not young. He's building a new life for himself, after cancer and divorce chewed up and spit out his old one. It's called 'middle age' for a reason and that's because it is not the time to start something new... or is it?


The Realm of Monsters

The Realm of Monsters by Joharra Harper

The Realm of Monsters is a place where monsters can go and be free to be themselves, without fear of humans hunting them. But their centuries long peaceful civilization is threatened when an enemy of Calista's finds her after a thousand years. With monsters suspiciously at each other's throats, Callista knows her worst fear is happening. Her past has returned for her, Callista, and a group of misfit monsters, must travel to Athens, Greece and reunite with some old friends, as this war they were a part of so long ago, continues. They must stop him from destroying humanity, so that monsters can take over the human world.


Mercy

Mercy by Ian Haramaki

SPFBO10

A PRIEST AND HIS ANGEL... Father Ilya Pavlovich Sokolovis a lonely priest and pariah of his small town. Tasked with killing an injured monster in the woods, Ilya is certain of his death. Instead, he heals the monster’s injury and lifts its curse, revealing a handsome, memory-less man. Cocksure Danya is a man lost in an unfamiliar world. He struggles to recall his past life, flashes returning as he and Ilya grow closer. Soon, his appearance begins to change once more, but not into a beast — instead, Danya grows into something just like the Sun that Ilya has worshiped all his life. With complicated pasts between them, the two must work together to deal with the corruption of Ilya's own church, as well as their blooming feelings for one another.


Beauty In The Beast

Beauty In The Beast by Tea Spangsberg

What if Beast never found his true love before the rose died? What if he wandered the earth for hundreds of years? What if Belle wasn’t taken to the castle to pay off her father’s debt? What if the curse was not quite what we imagined? Beast was cursed by a witch on his fifteenth birthday. Five years to find true love. A rose to count the time. But Beast didn’t find his one true love. Maddened by anger, he hunted the witch and fought in wars. A year passed, then another. Five years. Ten. Fifty. A hundred. Now he roams the country, hunting monsters, mostly forgotten except as the tale about the lost prince. Belle is an outcast. Taken by a monster as a child, she wears the scars on her body and face. Rumors follow her around, and people she once called friends cross the street to avoid being near her. A prisoner in her own life, she dreams of escaping to a place where scars and her past won’t haunt her, but knowing that will never happen. But a chance encounter in the forest will change their lives forever. Can true love really break a curse? Or will they both have to learn to see the beauty in the beast?


The Firetongue Heir

The Firetongue Heir by Elyse Thomson

SFINCS

Love leads to ruin As the cunning mage Nadia plots to reshape a continent plagued by war, the fate of a noblewoman—marriage and a life of stultifying insignificance—is only one of many hurdles to overcome. Forced to let her brother take credit for all her brilliant plans, she’s resigned to scheme from the shadows while her family decides her future. Her life seems set in stone, until she meets a charming, irritating rogue and the bane of her existence—Darius. Prince Darius Firetongue loves nothing more than nettling the sharp-tongued, quick-witted Nadia, and being the disappointing youngest son of a tyrant leaves him plenty of time to woo her away from a fiancĂ© she doesn’t want. But when the king decides to bring him to heel by threatening Nadia’s life, he knows he must act. Compelled to flee, with only each other to rely on, passions ignite. Yet as dangerous secrets are revealed, they must decide: side with family, or choose a reckless, forbidden love and the dark promise of bloodshed to come. A lush, romantic fantasy novella set in a world inspired by ancient history, The Firetongue Heir is the prequel novella to the Mages of Oblivion series. The ebook version remains an exclusive gift for newsletter subscribers.


Promise of Fire

Promise of Fire by Raina Nightingale

SFINCS

A HOPELESS FIGHT. A HORROR WORSE THAN DEATH. WERE-DRAGONS BORN FROM THE PROMISE OF FIRE. The last stand of the Dragonrider-mages is over. The people they fought to protect have been slain and enslaved, and their own numbers have been culled in accident and battle. Every death has added to the power of the Wizard-King, and their doom seems inevitable. But a glimmer of hope has fanned the gloom into a flame, and despair is fuel for the fire. All seems lost, but the human Laisly and the dragon Caldera have slain a death-bound dragon, and suddenly their way is clear. They may all be slain and enslaved, but they must journey into the heart of Eltaes, homeland of the Wizard-King, and give all they have to kill him. It is their last chance. Is the triumph over fear victory enough?


The Glass Gate

The Glass Gate by Hanna Sandvig

Sometimes all a girl needs is a good dress and some magic shoes. Prince Charming is optional. My goal was simple: create a killer fashion design portfolio, win the scholarship to the school of my dreams, and never have to clean my step-family’s house again. I just needed some inspiration. Something to set my portfolio apart from all the other up-and-coming designers. A little fashion magic. I didn’t expect literal magic. But then my friend dressed me up like a fae princess, and whisked me away to Faerie. The food! The dancing! The dresses! This was just the inspiration I needed, so when the crown prince asked me to stay and be his fake girlfriend, I jumped at the opportunity. Prince Tiernan is gorgeous and charming, but I’m just a part of a plot to find his bride. That’s fine by me. I’m just here for the fashion. No messy feelings. On the other hand, it’s very hard to not have my head turned by a boy who gives me a dragon egg. The longer I stay in Faerie with Tiernan, the more caught up I get in the magic of his kingdom, and I start to believe the stories we’re spinning for everyone. Stories of magic and sacrifice and maybe even true love. I can’t lose sight of my goals. I need to win that scholarship. Putting my heart on the line for a prince and his kingdom is just too risky. Am I brave enough to try? Maybe if I find the right dress. Where’s a fairy godmother when you need one?


Undiscovered

Undiscovered by Ashley Anglin

Sometimes truth is stranger than folktales. Bilingualism and plate tectonics were the only kinds of shapeshifting Arden Araujo’s troubled geoscientist dad prepared her for. But it turns out, the outlandish prediction that wrecked his career–a devastating North Sea tsunami–might not be the unlikeliest truth he took to his grave. In the 2097 tsunami’s aftermath, environmental first responder Arden expects her mission in hard-hit northeast Scotland to involve the usual grunt work, maybe a little freediving if she’s lucky. Instead, she stumbles upon a critically endangered species of Orkney and Shetland legend, hiding in plain sight among the refugees. They trust that she can help restore their kind, despite storms, aftershocks, and policy decisions way beyond her pay grade. Increasingly at home on the shores of their life-giving sea, she may have found her calling; true love might not be a mere children’s story either. Yet the deeper she’s immersed in their tale, the less sure she feels that she’s the right hero to protect the hidden treasure of their existence. UNDISCOVERED is a unique sci fi/fantasy fusion: climate fiction, hopeful fabulism, and a feminist hero’s journey, told in lyrical prose (and occasional Spanglish).


Plain Striders: An Amboy Novella

Plain Striders: An Amboy Novella by Steven Healt

**This novella is best read after Amid the Maelstrom** Uncertainty has settled over the Perimeter town of East Edge. The Knights of Amboy who were tasked to protect the citizens have abandoned their post. News of an attack on the Council in Central Amboy called the Knights away, and it is this same news that has caused a rift in East Edge’s fledgling Amber Waves Company chapter. With a newly formed town council struggling amid these events, East Edge finds itself in a precarious position. Owain Meadows and his twin brother, Dion, believe it is their responsibility to fill the void left by the Knights’ departure, despite orders from their guardian, Victor Aymin, to keep themselves out of the matter. But with the confidence of youth comes naivety. Their misunderstanding of their situation’s gravity could prove fatal, not only for themselves, but also for the townspeople they seek to protect. Will they find their place and be able to protect the town they call home, or will their inexperience lead to disaster?


Amid the Maelstrom

Amid the Maelstrom by Steven Healt

The Amber Waves Company has suffered a devastating loss. Members from across the New Ring gather to mourn, and celebrate those who fell during the atrocities that occurred within Central Amboy. Whispers are spreading of the Amber Wave's involvement. Some within the Company believe it is time to strike out against the new Council that has seized power. But who will be the one to lead them into this uncertain future? Cordelia Faucher has been tasked with the protection of a mysterious Amboian. A settlement within the Haze would be the last place the Council would expect to find them, but Mountain Station is already overwhelmed with refugees from failing settlements, and the world beyond the Perimeter is filled with dangers of its own. The status quo of Central Amboy has been shattered, and the Jorogumo are poised to take advantage of the chaos while the Amboians clamor to restore order



Haze and Shadow

Haze and Shadow by Steven Healt

Driven by her task to bring Dimitri Endano to justice before the Elders of Mountain Station, Cordelia Faucher joins Gaelcean on his journey back to the capital city of Amboy. All she has to do is separate one of the most wanted men under the Shield from one of Central Amboy's most influential Councilors. Obligated by their contract, the Amber Waves are forced along as well. When dire news from Port Amboy reaches them, they use the opportunity to distance themselves from Gaelcean. Will it be enough to escape his grasp? The political engine of Central Amboy hasn't ceased, and the Amboian Councilors continue on in Gaelcean's absence. What lies in wait for him upon his return, and how will it impact those who follow him? Ahead of them lies the uncertainty of their return, and behind them, remnants of Dimitri Endano's followers pursue. Who is the strange woman leading them, and what is her connection to the Upper Districts?


Love Kills Twice

Love Kills Twice by Rien Gray

She needs an assassin. They’re the best in the business. Falling in love was never part of the deal. Desperate to escape her abusive husband, Justine hires a contract killer. Campbell’s services come at a high price, and their dark, seductive charisma leads Justine right into their bed. Hiding an affair while Campbell designs the perfect murder has Justine walking a tightrope of stress, but each time the two of them sleep together, it’s harder not to get attached. Campbell struggles with their own traumatic past, convinced that the truth will drive Justine away. There’s a faint hope that things could work, save for one problem: Justine’s husband wants her dead too. Revenge is easy—heartbreak could cost both of them everything.


Scarlett and the Dark Woods

Scarlett and the Dark Woods by Mary Mecham

She is one of the protected elect. He is a shunned shapeshifter. Can Scarlett rescue her grandmother before her own heart is stolen? When her grandmother is cast out as unworthy after facing Hamelin’s annual Shunning, Scarlett knows she must brave the dangers of Darkwood Forest if she’s to have any chance of saving her. Her perilous adventure becomes a race against time; she needs to find Gran before the previously shunned get to her first. Scarlett’s efforts come too late. As her magic dwindles the farther into the forest she ventures, she becomes hopelessly lost and is forced to accept help from Greyson, the shapeshifting wolf who is stalking her every footstep—and who Scarlett suspects of knowing Gran’s location. If she manages to save her grandmother, Scarlett will be faced with an impossible choice: join Gran and live her life as an outcast or return to the rest of the elect, safe but alone. As she struggles to find the right path forward, Scarlett realizes that more than her grandmother’s future is at stake. Her heart is too. Can Scarlett resist her inexplicable attraction to the shunned wolf she despises long enough to protect the woman who raised her?


Plant Lady

Plant Lady by M. A. Phillips

Plants are easy. People
not so much. Fern is a practicing witch with a green thumb. She's earned an enchanting reputation for helping people improve their fortunes at her tiny plant shop in Utica, NY, but she'd trade it all to reclaim her grandparents' garden nursery. Her life takes an unexpected turn when an ex-boyfriend suddenly appears at her Pagan circle's meetup as they plan for their annual witches' ball. Will he uproot this Plant Lady's plans, or will new opportunities bloom?


Doppelganger

Doppelganger by S. L. Phanes

Oasis Utterson and Elliot Warlow endeavor to remake Dr. Jekyll’s formula and prove that it is safe in order to secure funding for their Institute of Lysology, an institute created by the late Jekyll and his husband, John Gabriel Utterson, to further the understanding of the soul. Of course, no one is willing to be the test subject of such experimentation. So Elliot decides to test it on himself. Elliot uncovers his past traumas through his soul and Oasis must balance Elliot’s life against the growth of her Institute.


Bringer of the Scourge

Bringer of the Scourge by M. Daniel McDowell

Chipped Cup SPFBO10

When the end of ages comes for the empire, the princess must rescue herself. Vierrelyne du Talorr, the last living daughter of the tyrant king, waits locked in a tower cell for the prophesied apocalypse only she can prevent. An army of three brittle allegiances, united under a rival prince, aims for the throne and lays siege to the castle in search of the princess and the fabled weaponry of the empire. With the aid of her mentor in music and swords, and a desperate cultist sent to find her before the mercenaries do, Vierrelyne steals that formidable ancient weapon from her family crypt: a holy suit of armor and a diadem infused with the soul of a demon prince--the Bringer of the Scourge. With it, Vierrelyne discovers an unstoppable power, but the demon within is corrosive, hungry, and dangerously persuasive. Vierrelyne is haunted by what it means to tame this power bequeathed to her, and by what means she might conquer it. When that rival prince finds her, it will take all the strength she can muster, for, if the prophecy she dreads is true, the very weapons she wields might destroy everything she holds dear.


Umbra: Tales of a Shadow

Umbra: Tales of a Shadow by Freddie A. Clark

SPFBO10

Obscurity must be explored, understood, heard. The light of revelation is generated from first-hand experience and knowledge. Will you face obscurity in order for light to reveal itself? Trained since his childhood and cybernetically augmented to seek justice in the canal-filled city of Florydia, Fulvio Donati is an assassin and thief who adopted a double identity. When night falls, Fulvio becomes Umbra: a masked vigilante, a charming and lethal shadow. The intellectual, philosopher and alchemist Soleluna Giordani was only twenty-nine when their search for immortality led them to a terrible mistake. Their consciousness has been trapped inside a mask for almost eight centuries, an irremediable captivity that robbed them of a glorious existence and their place in history. In a beautiful yet corrupted land in which crime lords, celebrities and ruthless politicians are competing for the highest power, a deadly conspiracy is unfolding. While alchemists and courtesans search for a way to survive and a prince must search for one to save his life, Fulvio finds himself involved in intrigues and machinations. Soleluna will show Fulvio the way, guiding him with their wit and their boundless wisdom. Fulvio will show Soleluna a world they were never meant to see, an astounding futuristic reality going beyond anything they’ve ever imagined. Together, they shall save Florydia from its downfall.


Martis the Brazen

Martis the Brazen by Rien Gray

Follow a fellowship of sapphic knights as they’re seduced by witches, queens, goddesses—and each other—in a dark, lush fantasy inspired by Arthurian legend. Under the reign of King Theomacha the Exalted, the Land of Maidens flourishes. Her knights protect and explore the realm, seeking artifacts lost to time and fending off wicked, cunning magics. Martis, sole daughter of a dragon and a witch, was raised in the legendary Gorsedd mountains. After her mother's tragic death, Martis' monstrous rampage of grief tore the land apart until she was saved by Theomacha's intervention. Sworn as a knight to the king's court, Martis took on a new name and identity. Ten years later, her sire—the dragon Thouros—is dying. Martis returns to Gorsedd for the first time in a decade only to find a cult worshipping the dragon, and the beautiful woman they've captured to sacrifice. Martis saves the mysterious Amoret, but the tangle of desire that rises between them is complicated by her companion's true identity, pitting Martis' grief against the honor keeping her life intact.


Bound by Legend

Bound by Legend by A.D. Trosper

At nineteen Morgan has already faced more loss than she can handle and has more experience living on the street than she wants. Unable to do anything other than keep on the move in order to hide from the demons that hunt her, she guards her heart and emotions carefully. But when the demons start talking to her and calling her by a name from another life, things spiral beyond her control. Lucian, an ancient dark angel who has seen his fair share of lives, is happy being a free agent until he’s assigned to Morgan. Determined to do everything on her own, she’s unlike any channel he’s ever met. As the danger mounts and a demon prepares to open a gateway to the underworld, Morgan must find a way to overcome her past in order stop him. Offered what her heart desperately wants, and holding a key that will close the gate but open another, Morgan struggles find the strength to make the right choice. *Though this is book two of the series, it can be read as a stand alone*


Jenni’s Boy

Jenni’s Boy by Lewis J. Lewin

Jenni’s Boy follows Luke as he grows up, struggling to tell the woman that he has loved since high school how he truly feels. As he fails to communicate with her, other problems take ahold of him in life, and she drifts away, but she is ever present in his mind. His old friends fade away, and even his family members start to go their own paths. He realizes just how important communication is in relationships.


The Wasp Child

The Wasp Child by Rhiannon Rasmussen

SFINCS Chipped Cup

Kesh is afraid-of his classmates, his abilities, and his prospects for the future. Born into Meridian Colony, where corporate values dictate human worth, Kesh longs to escape. Then, his classmates kidnap and dump him in the middle of the alien rainforest. Alone. Faced with certain death, Kesh locates the sansik, giant bugs native to the planet. Though the sansik seem to care for him at first, they set off a horrific metamorphosis in Kesh, and when they trade him back to Meridian, he becomes a living scientific curiosity. A bleak future of analysis without autonomy awaits him. Trapped between the grasp of Meridian's laboratories and a harsh alien world, Kesh must escape to have any chance of finding his purpose-and place-in the world.


The Night Farm, vol.1

The Night Farm, vol.1 by A.L. Davidson

Welcome to The Night Farm! Rhys Anderson is looking for a fresh start after a health diagnosis forces him to sell his beloved tea shop. When a small farmstead goes up for sale in the mountains, he jumps at the opportunity to live a quieter life away from the hustle and bustle of the big city and find a new place to plant roots. After packing up his few belongings, Rhys settles in for the lengthy cross-country drive to his new home. The farm rests on the outskirts of a mysterious town called Wylder Wood, hidden deep in the forests out west and not found on any map. The idyllic little farmstead is perfect for his needs, and his new neighbors are quick to introduce themselves as soon as nightfall arrives. The locals are welcoming and friendly, but not at all what they initially seem, and Rhys soon realizes that the otherworldly residents want to sink their fangs into something more than his crops... The town of Wylder Wood comes to life when the sun goes down, and long nights on the farm are filled with friendship, romance, and good eats aplenty! ------ The Night Farm (series) is a 2023 Queer Indie Award nominee for Best Web Serial, Best Lead Character, and Best Supporting Character (Cane). Volume one is a 2024 Indie Ink Award nominee for Best Book Cover and Cover Artist, Best Friendship, Best Light Read, Best Setting, and Side Character MVP. It was featured on Tapas' LGBTQ+ Supernatural Series list for Pride in 2024 as a recommended read, has been featured on their Staff Pick's list several times, and was a featured title in their 2024 Halloween scavenger hunt.


The Key to Reality

The Key to Reality by F. Ted Atchley

SPSFC 2023

A desperate father holds the key to victory in an alien civil war. If he chooses well, he'll reunite his family. If he chooses wrong, they all die. An Elite Cybersecurity Analyst. A Desperate Rebellion’s Best Hope. Brandon thought the assignment was just another standard security assessment. Wrong. As he peels back the layers of a deepening conspiracy, he discovers everything he thought he knew about his reality is a lie. And he’s the only one who can save it. Exiles from another reality see Brandon’s new knowledge as the key to victory over their tyrannical king and his immortal army. Pursued by both loyalists and rebels as he crosses the borders between realities, Brandon must protect his family, while figuring out who to trust. Choosing well means rescuing his family, and saving both worlds, but choosing poorly will empower a malevolent evil to wipe out humanity.


Worse Than Dying

Worse Than Dying by Brett Van Valkenburg

After his father suffers a nervous breakdown, Noah Barnes is tasked with caring for his family in the midst of a zombie apocalypse. A dark novella about fight and family, as one survivor confronts untold loss and struggles with unimaginable choices. Worse Than Dying takes place in a small town in upstate New York toward the beginning of an inexplicable uprising of the living dead. This powerful story is a more adult take on the zombie horror genre with fast pacing, mature themes, and, of course, plenty of disfigured, flesh-eating corpses. "Beautiful. If a sequel isn't forthcoming, it's a shame." -talesofworldwarz.com


The Nameless Restaurant: A Cozy Cooking Fantasy

The Nameless Restaurant: A Cozy Cooking Fantasy by Tao Wong

There is a restaurant in Toronto. Its entrance is announced only by a simple, unadorned wooden door, varnished to a beautiful shine but without paint, hidden beside dumpsters and a fire escape. There is no sign, no indication of what lies behind the door. If you do manage to find the restaurant, the décor is dated and worn. Homey, if one were to be generous. The service is atrocious, the proprietor a grouch. The regulars are worse: silent, brooding, and unfriendly to newcomers. There is no set menu, alternating with the whim and whimsy of the owner. The selection of wine and beer is sparse or non-existent at times, and the prices for everything outrageous. There is a restaurant in Toronto that is magically hidden, whose service is horrible, and whose food is divine. This is the story of the Nameless Restaurant.


Then Dark Below

Then Dark Below by Lily Anne Crow

Desperate times call for dangerous plans and deadly allies. A treacherous Magister has been caught, but the battle has only just begun. Between the missing prince, enemies within the royal halls, and darkness lurking around every corner, Osmund needs all the help he can get. Tamrion struggles within a web of secrets. When he discovers an enemy close to home, Tamrion must embrace his destiny and become the true lord of house Kinto, before his family and city both fall into ruin. After narrowly surviving a clash with an old foe, Phrai retreats to heal the wounds on her body and of her heart. The storied assassin must decide what she really wants, who deserves her blade, and whether she should even join this fight. Can a cold-hearted killer become the hero Tourenne needs? Shinowyn plays a dangerous game of manipulation, using any means necessary to free her grandfather from inhuman captors. But even the descendent of a great seer cannot foretell all outcomes. If she wishes to defeat the darkness below, she must be willing to risk everything - even her grandfather’s life. Osmund must bring this unlikely cast of characters together in defense of the city of Vercolline, the kingdom of Tourenne, and humanity as a whole. While Fate hangs in the balance, Osmund and his allies must conspire to stop the encroaching darkness. But who can they trust? And how will they defeat creatures of legend with little more than wits and whispers? Then Dark Below is the thrilling second instalment in Lily Anne Crow's debut fantasy series, A War of Whispers.


Alpha: The Hierarchy, Book 1

Alpha: The Hierarchy, Book 1 by I. Ogunbase

Vampires exist and have finally been categorised into three main groups by the remaining governments dealing with the outbreak; The Ferals, blind and grey skinned, the Stalkers, pack hunters and the Mirrors, dark reflections of humanity. When a researcher goes missing, Matt is thrust out into the world to find them and bring them back into the safety of the Walled Cities. Except, rumours of a new category is spreading. And at the rate at which events are going, it might be already too late for survival.


Servant of a Pale Sword

Servant of a Pale Sword by Tim Akers

SFINCS

A lone pilgrim travels to the Temple of Absolution to free himself from a great sin. But when the priests of the temple cut too deep, Lohit Maast is left with no memory of who is or what burden he sought to escape. Among his things is a strange and powerful sword, its blade forge from materea, the very bones of the world. Is he a thief? An assassin? The hero of some great campaign? Or is he something far more dangerous...


Wish Givers

Wish Givers by Shannon Knight

SPFBO10

Reva’s clan, the Mauli, tattoo wishes into reality. Once revered, the Mauli now live in hiding, with a precious few imprisoned in a pit beneath the Ali’i’s palace. Burning for justice, Reva strides into the capital city, announces herself a wish giver, and allows herself to be bound. She knows the only way to save herself and her people is to grant her greatest enemy his every wish. Already outcast by her skill and arrogance, Reva feels she has nothing to lose and everything to gain. However, she faces not only the Ali’i, but the mighty White God and his followers, the animosity of the Mauli, and the burdensome eye of Mata, a dark god with an ambitious priest who has a wish of his own. Within the confines of the Ali’i’s palace, Reva secures love and friendship, but to destroy the Ali’i, she may be forced to sacrifice more than she has ever wished for. Wish Givers is an epic fantasy novel with a tropical island setting and themes of freedom, found family, and the pursuit of dreams.


Between Shattered Worlds

Between Shattered Worlds by K. I. Sarren

Everything was fine until it was activated. The Shaper Artefact, a relic from a time before humanity, has finally been unearthed. And after years of study, it was finally to be turned on, an act proclaimed to be the first step to meeting the progenitor of the species. Aaren Moses's task was simple; Record the findings from space and pinpoint where the beam of light led to. But it all happened too fast.Now, worlds have been shattered, humanity has been displaced across the cosmos, Earth is missing and the Shaper artefact is broken. Barely surviving with his life, Aaren is now displaced, alone and desperate, but time is running out. Something evil was freed with the artifact's activation. And it is very hungry.


Veil Us in Gold

Veil Us in Gold by Shepard DiStasio

Find a weapon lost to myth, and Drake can save the world. Find a creature lost to war, and they can save themself. Drake ElĂœnus was never supposed to be in Tārāmen. They were never supposed to be working for Tārāmen’s royal family. They were never supposed to do the things they’ve done. But Drake hasn’t stood a chance since the day their home was burned to the ground, the boy they loved was executed in front of them, and wayward magic cast them into a life of lonely immortality far from anything they’d ever known. All they have is revenge. But when the culmination of their efforts backfires into a death sentence, their only hope is to make a deal with the very queen they tried to ruin. The world around Drake is unraveling. Whispers of ancient monsters bubble beneath the surface. Fights escalate on the borders of a country that has not been its own in fifty years. Treaties are no longer worth any more than the blood they were written in. And a mysterious general they all call the ‘White Rose’ is apparently the face of it all. With the gilded gold of society finally peeling, Drake might have a chance to escape—but only if they confront who they were truly supposed to be. The first book of the Sins of the Divine series and DiStasio's debut, Veil Us in Gold explores what it means to be good, the secrets people will do anything to keep hidden, and the monsters that prowl not only in shadows, but inside hearts as well.


Mother of Pearl

Mother of Pearl by Blanka H. Madow

Lured to a mystical land, Valeri must learn to harness a power deep within her. Orphaned at a young age, sisters Valeri and Amelia shouldered the household responsibilities in their small village of Noor. Valeri was the hunter; Amelia the gatherer. While fishing one day, Valeri follows her instinct into the depths of the ocean despite a raging storm. She discovers the Mother of Pearl shell - which unbeknownst to her, unlocks the secrets of her ancestral power. Knocked unconscious by the storm and washed ashore in a foreign land, she soon realizes she is thousands of miles from her sister, and there are wicked plans afoot. As she struggles to find a way to return home to her sister, Valeri befriends Prince Rulin at the magical court. In each other, they find purpose. But she must harness the newfound power within her blood first.


Poisoned Empire

Poisoned Empire by Elyse Thomson

SPFBO10

Cinderella (feral) meets The Lies of Locke Lamora in this lush romantic fantasy set in a world inspired by the Eastern Roman Empire. Black-marketeer Selene has poison magic and the cynicism to match. When she and genius metals mage Iliana are arrested by the same scheming, noble fathers who tossed them out at birth, they suspect apologies won’t be forthcoming. Forced to either impersonate their half-sisters or die, the friends are stuffed into fancy dresses, packed off to the capital, and thrust into the perilous, glittering world of the imperial court. Traitors lurk in Prince Belisarius’ court, and only his loyal strategos Marduk is above suspicion. As noble-born villains siphon away the souls of their daughters to magnify their magic in secret, Belisarius plots to expose them all—by inviting every noblewoman in the empire to compete for his hand in marriage. But two infuriating imposters in attendance quickly become his bane. When the friends are discovered, they expect imprisonment—not a deal. Vast riches are on offer if Selene poses as fiancĂ©e to the handsome prince while Iliana simpers for the towering strategos—a ploy to lure traitorous enemies to the capital. Yet even as they help secure the throne, false affections flirt with real passions, and Selene and Iliana are convinced they’ll either lose their hearts
 or their heads.


The Modern Mythos Anomaly

The Modern Mythos Anomaly by Juniper Lake Fitzgerald

"Memory's haunt conjures the most arrant of ghosts..." Python is a drifter, a vampire living his eternal life on the road and liking it that way. Beholden to nothing and certainly to no one. But such a lifestyle doesn’t come without creating enemies. Most notably, a pesky vampire hunter he cant seem to shake. When he stumbles upon a seemingly abandoned cabin the woods, Python sees the perfect escape and a place to hide. But what he didn’t expect was for someone to be home
 When recluse warlock Calysto’s peaceful life is upended by the arrival of a chaotic disaster in the form of a loudmouthed vampire, he and his teleporting house become the target of the hunter, too. Calysto knows it’s all Python’s fault that he’s in this mess. That is, until Calysto makes a mistake, and in his hurry to flee transports them over one hundred years into the past. Confronted with lives they both had hoped to forget, not to mention the memories they most definitely did, Calysto and Python must try to put aside their many differences and increasingly complicated feelings to learn to work together. Or else they risk being stuck in the past -- and with each other -- forever. This is an adult book with themes that are not suitable for minors. Content warnings are included before the title page, available for view within the sample.


The Sun Prince

The Sun Prince by L. R. Schulz

THE BONDS OF KIN MUST HOLD The King-Radiant has fallen. Zapour has been liberated and the siblings triumphant, but at what cost? Two years have passed since their victory over the Eagles. Peace between the nations has not gone as planned. Gelvard has seized control of Lumindal and a cloud of war now surrounds Trost. The sun is dying
 A new power has risen from the west. A man who calls himself the Sun Prince has his eyes set firmly on Zapour. But is he friend or foe? The bonds of kin will be tested as new threats arise, though not all threats are new. An ancient evil awakens, and new bonds must be forged if light is to shine another day.


Cutting Your Teeth

Cutting Your Teeth by Caylan MacRae

Ezra Santos is tired of running. Of burning bridge after bridge and going through new names like used matches. He desperately wants something he was never destined to have—a future all his own. Having escaped his hell of a home two years ago, he can’t go a day without looking over his shoulder. Putting down roots was never in the cards when the family that raised Ezra relentlessly hunts him across the country. Right as he’s about to restart the cycle—new name, new life, the whole nine yards—his plans come to a screeching halt when he crosses paths with a mysterious and charismatic vampire, Killian Hale. He promises a way out from a life on the run. Ezra knows there's no helping a man with the devil on his heels—but there's something about Killian that makes him believe he could finally break free of the Espinas once and for all. It’s only a matter of time before the clock winds down and the rest of Ezra's troubles come home to roost. There's something sinister in his blood—a dark fate passed down through generations. Can the two survive an ancient family curse or will Ezra doom them both?


When The Rain Begins To Burn

When The Rain Begins To Burn by A.L. Davidson

The bones are piling up, Judah... While traveling across the country on a much needed vacation, Noland and Judah Calhoun stop to appreciate the scenic views of the Appalachian wilderness. To shield themselves from the less-than-friendly locals as they rest from their long journey, Judah parks their RV in the middle of a clearing well off the beaten path. A concerning storm rolls in overhead, shifting the sky to a sickly green that drowns out the night sky with a thunderous roar... Waking the next morning to discover the wheels of their RV have sunk deep into the saturated ground, Judah steps outside to assess the situation. Within seconds, his flesh is set alight as the unnatural rain begins to eat away at his hand. The storm rapidly consumes the skin and sinew of living creatures, turning the once peaceful clearing into a boneyard. Stranded and unable to leave the supernatural tempest, Judah and Noland must weather the storm together, facing not only the horrors of nature, but their own personal demons they refused to acknowledge for far too long. All the while, the bones start to pile up... ----------- ("When The Rain Begins To Burn" is a 2023 BBNYA nominee, Indie Ink Awards nominee for Best Setting and Best Cover, and Queer Indie Ink Award nominee for Best Horror, Best Novella, Best Debut, Best Cover, and Best Romantic Relationship. You can read more on A.L. Davidson's Patreon with regularly updated bonus short stories set before and after the novella).


Devil’s Hill II

Devil’s Hill II by E. Reyes

Welcome back to Devil’s Hill, AZ, where reality distorts, and nightmares walk in E. Reyes’ latest collection of terrifying tales. A sĂ©ance to contact a deceased horror author unleashes chaos. A girl works with ghosts to stop kidnappings and murders on Halloween night. A group of teens are attacked by wolf-like creatures in the desert. The jack-o’-lantern-headed “Pumpkin Man” goes on a rampage collecting souls. These unnerving tales and others each draw you one step closer to becoming a permanent resident of Devil's Hill!


© 2025 Hakea Media | Terms | Privacy