Best of
High-Fantasy

2022

Legends & Lattes


Travis Baldree - 2022
    A forgotten legend, a fabled artifact, and an unreasonable amount of hope lead her to the streets of Thune, where she plans to open the first coffee shop the city has ever seen.However, her dreams of a fresh start pulling shots instead of swinging swords are hardly a sure bet. Old frenemies and Thune’s shady underbelly may just upset her plans. To finally build something that will last, Viv will need some new partners and a different kind of resolve.A hot cup of fantasy slice-of-life with a dollop of romantic froth.

The Primal Hunter: A LitRPG Adventure


Zogarth - 2022
    

Heavenly Bodies


Imani Erriu - 2022
    A prophecy that promises she will fall for a Star, and it will kill them both.But when one descends to wreak havoc on Elara's Kingdom, she is forced to flee into the arms of her enemy in the neighbouring country.As she learns more about her own magic, and the depth of the Stars' deceit, she also finds herself learning more about the country she is forced to take refuge in, and the enemy prince forced to train her into a weapon.Something dark brews within her, a power made of night and shadows that begs to be broken free.

Vines of Promise and Deceit


Melanie Cellier - 2022
    But with the threat from both the raiders and the fallen kingdom itself growing, Cadence and Zeke's charade is stretched to the breaking point as they fight to protect their friends. But as Cadence struggles to keep them all alive, she refuses to give up on helping her sister—if only she knew how to do that.But Airlie isn't helpless. Determined to find answers about her and Cadence's heritage, Airlie is still willing to do anything to protect her sister. But Cadence is moving beyond her reach, and even Airlie's enormous power might be helpless to defeat the looming danger that's threatening the tour.

This Woven Kingdom


Tahereh Mafi - 2022
    But he could never have imagined that the servant girl with the strange eyes, the girl he can’t put out of his mind, would one day soon uproot his kingdom—and the world.Perfect for fans of Leigh Bardugo, Tomi Adeyemi, and Sabaa Tahir, this is the explosive first book in a new fantasy trilogy from the New York Times bestselling and National Book Award-nominated author Tahereh Mafi.

The Forgotten Realms: Book 2: Imperial Rand


Silvia Shaw - 2022
    Her time at Falcon’s Keep over, Savannah comes into her full power as the wielder of the sacred medallion. She seeks help in Arcadia to interpret the Prophecy Chart, the black magic spell that divides the Forgotten Realms from the rest of Rand. As well as having to battle sorcery to bring down the Wall, she faces the nearly impossible task of persuading the fierce Bramble Hawks to come out of their mountains. Meanwhile, the chief Dreamer, courtesan Jezzine, is assigned to protect Princess Fern, heir to the Arcadian throne, from the Crow assassins. But other evil forces are in play in Arcadia, for the Dark Hollow Wizards have a hidden agenda in the realm. Pela, now Supreme Commander, readies Rand’s armies for the invasion after centuries of peace. And as the world edges closer to war, fates are inextricably woven together, new alliances forged, and fabled Queens rise.

Daughter of the Drowned Empire


Frankie Diane Mallis - 2022
    Bamaria falls under the rule of the Lumerian Empire, survivors of a celestial war whose island sank in the Drowning. Now all Lumerians submit to the Emperor and his strict laws about magic. He decides what magic can be practiced and what powers remain forbidden. He decides who will die for possession of forbidden magic.Lyr’s own cousin was executed for wielding the wrong kind. And for years, Lyr has sworn to protect her older sisters, helping them conceal their own illicit magic.But when Lyr must participate in the ceremony that reveals her power, she uncovers something else entirely. Something that means banishment from the Empire.Faced with death in exile, and leaving her sisters behind, Lyr has no choice but to accept a deadly contract. She has seven months to train as a warrior and pass the Emperor’s brutal test of strength—all without magic.But when she’s forced to train with Lord Rhyan Hart, the man she’s secretly loved since she was a girl—a feared warrior in exile himself, forbidden to her in every way—she’s in danger of losing far more than her family, life, and country.Rebel forces, and an invading army, are destabilizing Bamaria, just as her family’s secrets threaten to reveal themselves.Surviving the training, and saving her sisters may mean sacrificing her own heart.

Castles in Their Bones


Laura Sebastian - 2022
    Immerse yourself in the first book in a new fantasy trilogy from the author of the New York Times bestselling Ash Princess series.Empress Margaraux has had plans for her daughters since the day they were born. Princesses Sophronia, Daphne, and Beatriz will be queens. And now, age sixteen, they each must leave their homeland and marry their princes. Beautiful, smart, and demure, the triplets appear to be the perfect brides—because Margaraux knows there is one common truth: everyone underestimates a girl. Which is a grave mistake. Sophronia, Daphne, and Beatriz are no innocents. They have been trained since birth in the arts of deception, seduction, and violence with a singular goal—to bring down monarchies— and their marriages are merely the first stage of their mother’s grand vision: to one day reign over the entire continent of Vesteria. The princesses have spent their lives preparing, and now they are ready, each with her own secret skill, and each with a single wish, pulled from the stars. Only, the stars have their own plans—and their mother hasn’t told them all of hers. Life abroad is a test. Will their loyalties stay true? Or will they learn that they can’t trust anyone—not even each other?

The Justice of Kings


Richard Swan - 2022
    As he unravels a web of secrets and lies, Vonvalt discovers a plot that might destroy his order once and for all – and bring down the entire Empire. As an Emperor's Justice, Sir Konrad Vonvalt always has the last word. His duty is to uphold the law of the empire using whatever tools he has at his disposal: whether it's his blade, the arcane secrets passed down from Justice to Justice, or his wealth of knowledge of the laws of the empire. But usually his reputation as one of the most revered—and hated—Justices is enough to get most any job done. When Vonvalt investigates the murder of a noblewoman, he finds his authority being challenged like never before. As the simple case becomes more complex and convoluted, he begins to pull at the threads that unravel a conspiracy that could see an end to all Justices, and a beginning to lawless chaos across the empire.

Blood Scion


Deborah Falaye - 2022
    They wanted me to be a monster. I will be the worst monster they ever created.Fifteen-year-old Sloane can incinerate an enemy at will—she is a Scion, a descendant of the ancient Orisha gods.Under the Lucis’ brutal rule, her identity means her death if her powers are discovered. But when she is forcibly conscripted into the Lucis army on her fifteenth birthday, Sloane sees a new opportunity: to overcome the bloody challenges of Lucis training, and destroy them from within.Sloane rises through the ranks and gains strength but, in doing so, risks something greater: losing herself entirely, and becoming the very monster that she ahbors.Following one girl’s journey of magic, injustice, power, and revenge, this deeply felt and emotionally charged debut from Deborah Falaye, inspired by Yoruba-Nigerian mythology, is a magnetic combination of A Song of Wraiths and Ruin and Daughter of Smoke and Bone that will utterly thrill and capture readers.

Assassin's Refusal (Assassin of Onisea, #1)


Kira Stanley - 2022
    Trained by the best since birth, I've been molded in my father's image - strong, fearless, and deadly. Then he died unexpectedly, and my world shattered. But all was not lost. He left me a note. Gave me a purpose. He wanted me to take up his mantle and become the king's next assassin. This was my shot, my time to shine, to honor my father's memory and prove that all of his lessons weren't a waste. The only problem? The king demanded the heads of Rykon, Ajax and Zayden, the three heirs of the city's major guilds. Those are the three heads of the men I gave my heart to six years ago. The three men I left behind without a word. The only three heads I can't kill.With no choice but to run, I hide in the one place I know they wouldn't dare look. The one place no one chooses to go - the slums. It's there that I start to build a life. That all changes when I get news from an old friend. News that turns everything upside down. Now, I have a new purpose - I want revenge. But I need help in order to pull it off. Help from those same men I left all those years ago. I need to make them an offer they can't refuse. Trigger Warning: This book contains graphic scenes, harsh language, killing, torture and child slavery. Rape is mentioned. Graphic sex that involves blood play. This is a Reverse Harem. The Heroine does not choose one love interest but is involved with all.

The Masked Fae


Shari L. Tapscott - 2022
    After her brother loses their entire family fortune in a wager he cannot afford, Alice ventures into the Rose Briar Woods to make a deal with the formidable Fae marquis who now owns her family’s estate—a portrait in exchange for her brother’s freedom.But instead of Lord Ambrose, the young artist meets a mysterious masked man who saves her when her carriage is attacked by goblins. Even though he warns her to leave the woods, Alice finds herself working in the marquis’s manor.Right away, Alice realizes Lord Ambrose is not what she expects. He’s kind when the Fae are supposed to be cold, and he’s generous even though he wants to be rid of her. And more, he’s hiding a painful past—one that seems to have something to do with Alice herself.Soon, Alice is torn between the handsome marquis and the dashing masked bandit who continues to visit her in the evenings, but her heart tells her something is amiss.Because it seems very likely the two men Alice is taken with just might be the same man…The Masked Fae is a breathtaking fantasy romance with a touch of angst and plenty of chemistry. Each book in the series is a complete story, and although it’s best to read them in order, there are no cliffhangers.

Dragon Queens


Kathleen de Plume - 2022
    Where has she fled to? Why has she gone? And why is the dragon stirring?Enter our hero. Gwen has been hunting wanted criminals for years, collecting bounties to provide for her mother and brother since the death of their father. The promise of an armful of gold for bringing the princess home is too good to ignore.But bringing her home doesn't solve anyone's problems. Gwen still has family to support, and Ava still has a miserable marriage to look forward to. How will they get over these hurdles? And what new ones will they create along the way?

Valor


Casey L. Bond - 2022
    Warrior. Woman. To honor her brother’s dying plea, Vayl Halifex carries a message that might prevent war with the elves: the location of their captive princess. Fortune and circumstance align in her favor and Vayl’s life is forever changed when an opportunity arises that only she can seize. With the help of a matchmaker, she becomes the emperor’s newest concubine. The new role affords her unfettered access to the gilded mountain stronghold, where the princess is rumored to be hidden away. But she won’t take this risk alone. Her brother’s best friend, dragon warrior Estin, calls on the small army of elven assassins he leads to use their magic and might to flank her for the fight to come. The band of dragons takes Vayl into their fold and trains her as best they can before she’s whisked away to the palace. Unbeknownst to the warriors, a dreadful magic simmers in the gilded fortress. With those fiercely protective of the emperor closing in, and the dragon assassins disappearing one by one, Vayl’s chance at escape narrows to a sliver, along with her hope of finding the princess or fighting her way out of the palace. With her heart entwined with that of the dragon warrior she was never supposed to love, she begins to fear the price of her treachery will be her life… or his. Mulan meets The Hundredth Queen in this romantic epic fantasy, perfect for fans of the Throne of Glass series and These Hollow Vows. "Riveting until the very last page." - A. Lonergan, award-winning author of the Crimson Pack Trilogy.

Promised in Fire


Jasmine Walt - 2022
    Born and raised in the earth fae realm, she’s a water fae who can’t control her magic, making her not just useless, but downright dangerous at times.When a training mishap accidentally unleashes a hidden magic inside her, Adara suddenly finds herself on the run. The king wants to use her powers for nefarious reasons, and he’ll stop at nothing to obtain her—including kidnapping and torturing Adara’s own mother.A dragon awoken from slumberAs the last of his kind, Einar wants nothing to do with the kingdom of Ediria or its problems. The fae hunted his kind to extinction, and he harbors only hatred for them in his heart.But when a beautiful fae female awakens him from an enchanted slumber, Einar is reluctantly ensnared. And while he would rather die than submit to any fae, every fiber of his body screams to claim her as his own.A kingdom corrupted by darknessThe last thing Adara and Einar want to do is join forces, no matter how scorching the passion between them is. But a dark magic is sweeping through the land, rotting the kingdom from the inside out. And if the two cannot put aside the centuries-old feud between their races, they will lose everything they hold dear...If you like steamy, slow-burn romance, heart-pounding elemental duels, and unmatched world-building, then you’ll love this series. Scroll up to grab your copy today!

The Barbarian King's Assassin (Magic and Kings, #1)


Eve Langlais - 2022
    When a mysterious stranger asks an imprisoned Ilyana to be his apprentice, she accepts.Fast forward a few decades and she’s an expert in her field, an assassin for hire with special skills, and an uncanny affinity for weapons. Her newest bounty requires her to eliminate the Barbarian King, only for the first time in her career, she hesitates.Turns out she and the monarch from the west might have a common enemy in the Grand Vizier, a highly placed official for a rival country. He’s the one behind the bounty on Konstantin’s head, and the person responsible for the death of Ilyana’s parents.Rather than kill the King, she finds herself working for him. Together, they form a plan for revenge. What they don’t expect is the ensuing tempest of secrets.A betrayal and a capture might spell the end for the Barbarian and the Assassin unless they’re willing to fight not only for survival—but love.

A Touch of Fire: The Towers of the Earth Book Five


Nita Round - 2022
    

A Court of Crows (Talons and Tethers, #1)


Eliza Eveland - 2022
    She’s always been more interested in swordplay than courtly intrigue.After her brother’s assassination, however, Eris has no choice but to take up the crown and defend her city against an invasion led by an undefeated elven warlord.With Brucia’s forces decimated, and a siege looming, Eris needs help. Who better to repel the elven invaders than a band of elven mercenaries?Their leader, Ruith, is as charming as he is deadly, and used to getting what he wants. Six thousand swords strong, his Crows have a reputation for winning against impossible odds. He won’t take a fight he can’t win, and now he has his sights set on Eris…Is it her kingdom he wants? Or her?With assassins and traitors still lurking around every corner, and an army nearly twenty thousand strong at her gates, Eris cannot afford to turn away the Crows’ assistance. Even with their help, the battle for Brucia will be hard-won.And the most dangerous threat may already be inside her walls and vying for a place at her side…A Court of Crows is the first book in the gripping Talons and Tethers Saga, a new adult fantasy romance series. Expect courtly intrigue, assassination plots, plenty of heart-pounding action sequences, and strong heroines who do their own rescuing.NOTE: This series contains four separate slow-burn romances that unfold over several books. Ruith and his Crow commanders have varying and diverse tastes when it comes to romance, but all of them enjoy plenty of spice, so grab your copy and prepare to meet your next book boyfriend(s)!

Aurelius (to be called) Magnus


Victoria Goddard - 2022
    War is all he has ever known.

College Days


Rebecca Cohen - 2022
    Lornyc considers the undergraduate course, and most of the people on it beneath him. He just needs to get through this year and then he can start his doctorate. Methian might be attractive enough, but he’s an annoying, fat-headed, sloth toad, and Lornyc doesn’t want him as a lab partner. In fact, Lornyc doesn’t want anything to do with him. Prequel to the Reagalos novels: a enemies to lovers, new adult, gay romance fantasy

Where the Shadows Beckon


Gillian Grant - 2022
     As a hunter, Evren Hanali of Orenlion has probably seen it all and done even more, even though she likes to fade into the background. She prefers a solitary existence, doing the jobs she’s commissioned for and not much else. But fate has other plans. It seems she has a destiny—one she is only beginning to unravel. And unlikely companions and exotic places are only the beginning of her journey.When circumstances beyond her control—and gravity—send her plummeting to what she fears may be her death, walking away unscathed opens a world of possibilities. Somehow, she becomes the leader of a motley crew of allies with a shared mission. Only it’s not clear what anyone’s end goal is, and trust is hard-earned. Still, the merry band of adventurers finds solace and friendship along the way—not to mention dangers galore.In the instance of the Yawning Deep, as above is not as below. Add magic and mayhem to the mix, and Evren has the fight of her life on her hands. When one hard-fought win leads to revelations of lies, deceit, and murder, Evren and company must be willing to fight for what they believe—and each other.Or die trying.

Guardians of Dawn


S. Jae-Jones - 2022
    An East Asian-inspired fantasy series inspired by girl-centric narratives like Sailor Moon, four girls must combine their elemental magic to defeat a growing evil and restore the rightful heir to the throne.

The Magicians of Ysavar


Z.B. Lee - 2022
    When all seems lost, a cheery little fellow comes knocking on his door. Johan could never expect the fantastic journey that awaits.There is one problem: Blazer, an enchanted sword, has fallen into the wrong hands. A shadowy enemy seeks to use this powerful weapon to turn the tides in a greater war of good versus evil. Johan must find the strength to face down this sinister foe and take back the sword before it’s too late. Under the tutelage of a wise magician and a battle-tested knight, along with the friendship of a courageous halfling, Johan is going to learn what it means to be a true hero in the Order of Ysavar. But when the fate of the world rests on his shoulders, will he crack under the pressure? Or will he rise to the occasion?

In Hiding we Seek (Gemini Warriors #1)


Keko V - 2022
    Most of those things were relatively normal, just like her magical crystal and the masked man in her mirror. The assassination attempt was new, though.Fresh-faced and equipped with a mysterious unopenable letter after a night battling skeletons in an otherworldly graveyard, Kim leaves her village in search of employment. She soon discovers Crysterria's secret magical underbelly and its penchant for preventing her from earning a single gilded penny.As a blue-haired orphan with so many unique qualities, Kim inevitably finds herself entwined with a plot to save the world. Blue swords and runaway royals become a staple of her quest, as well as triplets, monsters, the look, and a whole bunch of unexpected adventure.If you enjoy:- Childhood sweethearts- Pancakes with a side of impending doom- A mystery involving things that aren't jellybeans- Unique magical races facing (or running from) their first world problems- A mystical blue sword that everyone seems to want- A backpack full of baked goods, and a tent that unfolds to be the size of a bedroom – choking hazard label attached- Sarcastic banter- Found family- Monsters with feelings- Morally grey areas- Silent reflection ghosts with attitude problems... then In Hiding we Seek is for you! Take a chance on a debut book from an Australian indie author. With full-page illustrations, smaller drawings for scene breaks and chapter headers, as well as a world map, the paperback option is sure to make for an immersive and unique reading experience for young adults and adults alike. Alternatively, the Kindle ebook experience offers a streamlined, illustration-free option.

Then Comes a Drifter


C.M. Banschbach - 2022
    And she won’t let anything stop her, even a fearsome warlord who wants her captive–or dead.A genius mechanic–and a rare descendant of the once-magical Itan–Laramie drifts from dusty town to dusty town in search of the family that was taken from her.But her rambling desert journey becomes a game of survival when Laramie crosses a ruthless warlord’s territory. Taken prisoner by one of the warlord’s biker gangs, she befriends a quiet, dangerous man named Gered. After surviving hellish circumstances Gered is tired of fighting for a better life.Laramie will always fight. And she’ll stop at nothing to win their freedom.Enjoy this pulse-pounding motorcycle adventure in a post-apocalyptic western setting with found family and being brave in brutal circumstances.

Winter's Dawn


Arden Powell - 2022
    Imprisoned in the bleak Blackwood Gaol as he awaits his trial, he is cut off from his magic and his studies: a fate worse than death for the scholar who has devoted his life to academia. His only company is Winter, the mysterious prisoner in the neighbouring cell. As Thomas' trial drags nearer, their whispered conversations are the only thing keeping him from giving in to boredom and despair.Winter is a radical, a murderer, and a traitor to the crown. Everything Thomas fears and looks down on. But as Blackwood continues to crush his spirit and his magic, Winter might be his only ally. And Thomas might be Winter's only chance of escape. Because if Blackwood and its guards don't kill them both, the hangman's noose surely will.Winter's Dawn is a 24,000-word fantasy novella with a male lead and a nonbinary love interest. It is part of the Flos Magicae series, set in an alternate 1920s universe with magic. All the stories are standalone historical fantasy romances and can be read in any order.