Best of
Historical-Fantasy

2018

Sweep: The Story of a Girl and Her Monster


Jonathan Auxier - 2018
    The work was hard, thankless and brutally dangerous. Eleven-year-old Nan Sparrow is quite possibly the best climber who ever lived--and a girl. With her wits and will, she's managed to beat the deadly odds time and time again. But when Nan gets stuck in a deadly chimney fire, she fears her time has come. Instead, she wakes to find herself in an abandoned attic. And she is not alone. Huddled in the corner is a mysterious creature--a golem--made from ash and coal. This is the creature that saved her from the fire. Sweep is the story of a girl and her monster. Together, these two outcasts carve out a life together--saving one another in the process.

Lancelot


Giles Kristian - 2018
    Enemies stalk the fringes of Britain. And Uther Pendragon is dying. Into this fractured and uncertain world the boy is cast, a refugee from fire, murder and betrayal. An outsider whose only companions are a hateful hawk and memories of the lost. Yet he is gifted, and under the watchful eyes of Merlin and the Lady Nimue he will hone his talents and begin his journey to manhood. He will meet Guinevere, a wild, proud and beautiful girl, herself outcast because of her gift. And he will be dazzled by Arthur, a warrior who carries the hopes of a people like fire in the dark. But these are times of struggle and blood, when even friendship and love seem doomed to fail. The gods are vanishing beyond the reach of dreams. Treachery and jealousy rule men’s hearts and the fate of Britain itself rests on a sword’s edge.But the young renegade who left his home in Benoic with just a hunting bird and dreams of revenge is now a lord of war. He is a man loved and hated, admired and feared. A man forsaken but not forgotten. He is Lancelot.Set in a 5th century Britain besieged by invading bands of Saxons and Franks, Irish and Picts, Giles Kristian's epic new novel tells - through the warrior's own words - the story of Lancelot, that most celebrated of all King Arthur's knights. It is a story ready to be re-imagined for our times.

The Lost Queen


Signe Pike - 2018
    I write because I have seen the darkness that will come. Already there are those who seek to tell a new history...In a land of mountains and mist, tradition and superstition, Languoreth and her brother Lailoken are raised in the Old Way of their ancestors. But in Scotland, a new religion is rising, one that brings disruption, bloodshed, and riot. And even as her family faces the burgeoning forces of Christianity, the Anglo-Saxons, bent on colonization, are encroaching from the east. When conflict brings the hero Emrys Pendragon to her father’s door, Languoreth finds love with one of his warriors. Her deep connection to Maelgwn is forged by enchantment, but she is promised in marriage to Rhydderch, son of a Christian king. As Languoreth is catapulted into a world of violence and political intrigue, she must learn to adapt. Together with her brother—a warrior and druid known to history as Myrddin—Languoreth must assume her duty to fight for the preservation of the Old Way and the survival of her kingdom, or risk the loss of them both forever.Based on new scholarship, this tale of bravery and conflicted love brings a lost queen back to life—rescuing her from obscurity, and reaffirming her place at the center of one of the most enduring legends of all time.

How to Marry a Werewolf


Gail Carriger - 2018
    Rejected by her family, Faith crosses the Atlantic, looking for a marriage of convenience and revenge.But things are done differently in London. Werewolves are civilized. At least they pretend to be.AMERICANSBackward heathens with no culture, Major Channing has never had time for any of them. But there’s something special about Faith. Channing finds himself fighting to prove himself and defend his species. But this werewolf has good reason not to trust human women.Even if they learn to love, can either of them forgive?From the New York Times bestselling author of the Parasol Protectorate series comes a stand alone romance set in the same universe. Look out for appearances from favorite characters and the serious consequences of unwarranted geology.A Note On ChronologyThe Claw & Courtship novellas can be read in any order. This book can be enjoyed without having read any of Gail’s other works. Set in the spring of 1895 this story occurs after events chronicled in Romancing the Werewolf.More? This story is contemporaneous with events at the beginning of Reticence (final Custard Protocol book). Channing is first introduced to readers in the second Parasol Protectorate book, Changeless. He also appears briefly in Romancing the Inventor.

Gryphon Riders Trilogy Boxed Set


Derek Alan Siddoway - 2018
    An elite band of warriors flying to its defense. To save their kingdom, a quiet blacksmith must fulfill her destiny.Eva's job as a blacksmith's apprentice helps her ignore her ever-present daydreams. But when she inadvertently picks up a stolen gryphon egg, her solitary life changes in a heartbeat. She has no choice but to answer a call to join the Windsworn—an elite band of gryphon riders fighting for her kingdom's survival. As Eva attempts to earn her place among the warriors, she uncovers an age-old plot that could tear the gryphon riders apart. To protect her new friends, she must embark on an epic journey across the continents, each day growing closer to her true destiny. Her survival may depend on trusting old foes and making terrible sacrifices along the way.Can Eva find her true self and overcome impossible odds before the Windsworn's kingdom collapses into a savage apocalypse?

Salt Magic, Skin Magic


Lee Welch - 2018
    There are no bars or chains; he simply can’t leave. His sanity is starting to fray. When industrial magician John Blake arrives to investigate a case of witchcraft, he finds the peculiar, arrogant Thornby as alarming as he is attractive. John soon finds himself caught up in a dark fairytale, where all the rules of magic—and love—are changed. To set Thornby free, both men must face life-changing truths—and John must accept that the brave, witty man who’s winning his heart may also be about to break it. Can they escape a web of magic that’s as perilous as love?

The Black God's Drums


P. Djèlí Clark - 2018
    Instead, she wants to soar, and her sights are set on securing passage aboard the smuggler airship Midnight Robber. Her ticket: earning Captain Ann-Marie’s trust using a secret about a kidnapped Haitian scientist and a mysterious weapon he calls The Black God’s Drums.But Creeper keeps another secret close to heart--Oya, the African orisha of the wind and storms, who speaks inside her head and grants her divine powers. And Oya has her own priorities concerning Creeper and Ann-Marie…

The Toymakers


Robert Dinsdale - 2018
    It is the same every year. Across the city, when children wake to see ferns of white stretched across their windows, or walk to school to hear ice crackling underfoot, the whispers begin: the Emporium is open! It is 1917, and London has spent years in the shadow of the First World War. In the heart of Mayfair, though, there is a place of hope. A place where children’s dreams can come true, where the impossible becomes possible – that place is Papa Jack’s Toy Emporium.For years Papa Jack has created and sold his famous magical toys: hobby horses, patchwork dogs and bears that seem alive, toy boxes bigger on the inside than out, ‘instant trees’ that sprout from boxes, tin soldiers that can fight battles on their own. Now his sons, Kaspar and Emil, are just old enough to join the family trade. Into this family comes a young Cathy Wray – homeless and vulnerable. The Emporium takes her in, makes her one of its own. But Cathy is about to discover that while all toy shops are places of wonder, only one is truly magical...

Heart of Red, Blood of Blue


Rebecca Belliston - 2018
    A kingdom to save.Princess Gisela of Steinland was born without color. Albino. When her betrothal to Prince Jerrik of Kronga ends in his death, it starts a ten-year war her father is determined to win, even if it means bringing her out of hiding to do it. Now the savage Krongon war commander, Bloodless Kristoff, seeks the hearts of the entire royal family, especially Gisela's.Desperate, her father agrees to another alliance that involves her marrying an old brute of a king. Unwilling to be the sacrificial lamb, Gisela goes on the run. Thrown into the center of a battle between three kingdoms, she finds herself fighting for her life and the right to be truly loved.Can the girl who started the war find a way to end it?

In the Region of the Summer Stars


Stephen R. Lawhead - 2018
    Lawhead is the start of an epic fantasy adventure series set in a realm rich in imagination and intrigue, and steeped in the wonder of the Celtic Otherworld. The isle of Eirlandia has been ravaged by the barbarian Scálda, who seek to conquer all. The High King has called for the warring clans and tribes of the Tuatha DeDanann to set aside their feuds and unite to fight to save their nation.Conor is the first-born son of the Celtic king Ardan mac Orsi. He should have been battlechief, but a birthmark casts him as unclean and that honor has fallen to his younger brother Liam. Conor is resigned to his fate, but wishes he could do something to earn his tribe’s respect.Sometimes wishes take unexpected turns—when Conor is wrongly accused of theft and cast out of his tribe, he embarks on a dangerous mission to not only prove his innocence but to expose the treachery that led him on this path. He also seeks the ethereal beauty he saw being abducted by the Scálda. Convinced that she is no mortal woman, but one of the faéry, Conor must find and rescue her.Because he knows that if the Scálda gain the secret of faéry magic, they will conquer his homeland.

Daughter of War


S.J.A. Turney - 2018
    On the Iberian Peninsula the wars of the Reconquista rage across Aragon and Castile. Once again, the Moors are gaining the upper hand. Christendom is divided.Amidst the chaos comes a young knight: Arnau of Valbona. After his Lord is killed in an act of treachery, Arnau pledges to look after his daughter, whose life is now at risk. But in protecting her Arnau will face terrible challenges, and enter a world of Templars, steely knights and visceral combat he could never have imagined.She in turn will find a new destiny with the Knights as a daughter of war… Can she survive? And can Arnau find his destiny?An explosive novel of greed and lust, God and blood, Daughter of War marks the beginning of an epic new series from bestseller S.J.A. Turney. Perfect for fans of Bernard Cornwell, Conn Iggulden and Matt Harffy.

The Lord of Stariel


A.J. Lancaster - 2018
    Long live the Lord of Stariel. Whoever that is. Everyone knows who the magical estate will choose for its next ruler. Or do they? Will it be the lord’s eldest son, who he despised? His favourite nephew, with the strongest magical land-sense? His scandalous daughter, who ran away from home years ago to study illusion? Hetta knows it won’t be her, and she’s glad of it. Returning home for her father’s funeral, all Hetta has to do is survive the family drama and avoid entanglements with irritatingly attractive local men until the Choosing. Then she can leave. But whoever Stariel chooses will have bigger problems than eccentric relatives to deal with. Winged, beautifully deadly problems. For the first time in centuries, the fae are returning to the Mortal Realm, and only the Lord of Stariel can keep the estate safe. In theory. The Lord of Stariel is the first book in the Stariel quartet.

One Night in Boukos


A.J. Demas - 2018
    Marzana, captain of the embassy guard, and Bedar, the ambassador’s long-suffering secretary, hunt for him through the streets and taverns and brothels of Boukos. There they find unexpected help from a beautiful widowed shopkeeper and a teenage prostitute. Before the two Zashians learn what became of their ambassador, they will have to deal with foreign bureaucracy, strange food, stranger local customs, and murderers. And they may lose their hearts in the process.One Night in Boukos is a standalone romance featuring two couples, one m/f and one m/m.

His Fair Assassin: A Trilogy


Robin LaFevers - 2018
    But sanctuary comes at a price—and each of Death’s handmaidens pays it in blood.  Grave Mercy is where the story begins, when seventeen-year-old Ismae escapes the brutality of an arranged marriage by joining the convent. An assignment brings her to the high court of Brittany, where she must navigate treason and temptation—especially when the master she serves demands the life of the man she loves.   In Dark Triumph, after training as an elite killer to escape her past, Sybella must return to the home she thought she’d never see again. Her quest for justice against her violent family will bring nothing but destruction—until she meets a prisoner who gives her a reason to live.   Annith yearns to serve Saint Mortain, but has spent her life watching her far more gifted sisters dole out Death’s vengeance from the safety of the convent. In Mortal Heart, her destiny is finally revealed, and it is the one she feared most: a life as a seeress, not an assassin. But Annith refuses to give up on her dream and decides that nothing will stand in the way of her ambitions . . . not even the convent itself.   Together, these three novels make up the New York Times best-selling His Fair Assassin trilogy, where romance, magic, and political intrigue collide. Fans of Marie Lu’s The Young Elites and Kiersten White’s And I Darken will love this seductive dark fantasy collection.

Ashes


Sharon Gloger Friedman - 2018
    In the aftermath of slaughter, rape, and destruction, Meyer and Sadie Raisky escape to New York City with their thirteen-year-old daughter, Miriam. Their home and business gone, reeling from devastating personal tragedy, the Raiskys cling to the promise of a better life in America. But upon arriving in New York City, Miriam and her parents quickly learn that promises are easily broken in the tenements of the Lower East Side. When circumstances force Miriam to abandon the schooling she loves to help support her family, she goes to work at the infamous Triangle Shirtwaist Factory, joining other immigrant girls who work long hours for low wages in shocking conditions. Against the backdrop of emerging workers’ rights and women’s rights, Miriam’s social conscience and young womanhood both blossom when she falls in love with a union organizer. Meticulously researched and rich with beautifully drawn characters that bring 20th-century New York City to life, Ashes is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit, and a haunting elegy to the young women whose suffering inspired changes to the working conditions in the garment industry.

The Apple-Tree Throne


Premee Mohamed - 2018
    Bright new aqua-plants are generating electricity for the streetlights; news can be easily had on the radio-viz; and in Gundisalvus' Land, the war is over and the soldiers are beginning to trickle home. Amongst these is Lt. Benjamin Braddock, survivor of the massacre that ended the war, and begrudgingly ready to return to a world that, well, doesn't seem to need him any more than it did in peacetime. His friends have homes and families to return to, while he's got nothing but his discharge papers and a couple of unwanted medals. Oh, and one new thing: the furious ghost of his commanding officer. Fortunately, since the officer's family is so vehemently adamant that Braddock join their rich and carefree fold, he doesn't have much time to fret about being haunted. But the secrets of the war are about to catch up to them all. "A steaming heap of self-indulgent drivel" - the author

Raven's Sight


R.L. Weeks - 2018
    L. Weeks, a story of murder, deadly secrets begging to be revealed, and a paranormal romance that will leave you breathless.Raven has been locked away from Victorian Society since she was nine. Now, eighteen, a secret comes out of the darkness that will pull her from the safety of her Grandmother’s mansion and into a world where the very thing that makes her unique, is also a curse.Girls who can see ghosts and memories are locked away for being insane, so Raven must keep her secret while communicating with the dead to hunt a serial killer, one that’s a little too close to home.Armed with her best friend, a ghost, and a man she’s unsure if she can trust, Raven is forced onto the gas-lit streets of London. She must solve the string of murders that’s almost identical to a case from before she was born before she becomes the next victim.With her family tree rotting at the roots, creatures of the night slithering from the shadows, and a romantic interest that’s more confusing than ever, can Raven make the ultimate sacrifice to save the ones she loves? Or will the darkness take her forever?Revised second edition: November 30th, 2019

Blood and Sand Trilogy Box Set


Jon Kiln - 2018
     The sacred city of Tir'an'fal has stood for centuries amid the arid desert plains. When invading soldiers breach its walls, its peaceful citizens are put to the sword. Vekal, as one of the city's few remaining warrior priests, is both feared and reviled for his otherworldly skills, even by those he helped. Only now, he may be their only hope. Contains all three books in the series: Crimson Spear Desert Forged Gate of Heaven

The Demons of Paris


Eric Flint - 2018
    Demons, imps, and spirits, evil and benign, spill into the universe from the netherworld. In Paris, a series of grisly murders that couldn't possibly be performed by a human, no matter how depraved, leads the Grand Chatelet and his men to try and raise a demon of their own to learn how to combat the creature that is terrorizing the city. Unfortunately—or perhaps fortunately—the demon who is summoned brings with him a van from the Paris of the twenty-first century. The van contains a modern day drama teacher, her son, and eight precocious high school students—along with all of their electronic devices. Soon, their laptops, tablets and cell-phones become possessed by imps and spirits of the netherworld, some of whom are brilliant and all of whom are insatiably curious. Soon it's a race to see which pack of outsiders can create the most turmoil in the late Middle Ages—monstrous demons or precocious teenagers who soon have their own allies and followers among the ranks of demonkind. And King Charles V had already been in trouble! Piled onto his own poor health, a suspicious and contentious church, France's always-quarrelsome nobility—worst of all, his unscrupulous and ambitious brother, Philip the Bold—the king now has both demons and people from the future to contend with. He does have one asset—and not a small one. He can place his trusted Constable of France, Bertrand du Guesclin, in charge of the rambunctious teenagers from the future and their ever-growing legion of demons. And Bertrand has a great asset of his own—his wife Tiphaine de Raguenel, perhaps the best astrologer in all of France and, for sure and certain, not a woman to take seriously the prattling nonsense of youngsters skeptical of her lore and knowledge.

Wardenclyffe


F. Paul Wilson - 2018
    3, #4, 2011:On the night of July 15, 1903, Nikola Tesla powered up his 190-foot tower in Wardenclyffe on Long Island's north shore. The bolts of energy radiating from the apical dome were visible as far away as New Haven, Connecticut. This was the first and last time anyone would witness such a display. Three years later, broke and unable to secure further funding, Tesla abandoned the Wardenclyffe tower and his dream of worldwide wireless power. He returned to Manhattan where he promptly suffered a nervous breakdown. So say the history books.   But new evidence has surfaced that a shadowy fraternal order stepped in and provided generous funding after J. P. Morgan reneged. Witnesses state that testing of the tower continued but only on foggy days when the discharges would not be noticed. The final test took place on April 18, 1906. Around dawn, in heavy fog, the tower was charged to maximum capacity; across the Atlantic, in Abereiddy, Wales, two copper prongs attached to a 50-watt lightbulb were thrust into the ground. The bulb lit.  Tesla had proved that worldwide wireless power was possible.Why then, at the moment of his greatest vindication, did Nikola Tesla abandon his project? What could possibly have transpired at Wardenclyffe that day to so rattle him that he would deny the world his transformative technology? We may never know.

Wayfarer


K.M. Weiland - 2018
     Think being a superhero is hard? Try being the first one. Will’s life is a proper muddle—and all because he was “accidentally” inflicted with the ability to run faster and leap higher than any human ever. One minute he’s a blacksmith’s apprentice trying to save his master from debtor’s prison. The next he’s accused of murder and hunted as a black-hearted highwayman. A vengeful politician with dark secrets and powers even more magical than Will’s has duped all of London into blaming Will for the chilling imprisonments of the city’s poor. The harder Will tries to use his abilities to fight crime, the deeper he is entangled in a dark underworld belonging to some of Georgian England’s most colorful characters. Only Will stands a chance of stopping this powerful madman bent on “reforming” London by any means necessary. Unfortunately, Will is beginning to realize becoming a legend might mean sacrificing everything that matters. Read this adrenaline-fueled historical superhero adventure today!

Protectors of Poison


Laura Greenwood - 2018
    Determined to prove her innocence, Sera must take her place as a goddess once more and uncover the plot threatening to destroy her.Protectors of Poison is part of the Forgotten Gods series and is Serket's full story. It is based on Egyptian mythology.

Song for a Lost Kingdom: Music is Not Bound by Time


Steve Moretti - 2018
    But will it be enough to save the man they care about most? Adeena Stuart and Katharine Carnegie were born nearly three centuries apart. Yet their music and an ancient cello connect them to each other and to a man doomed by the Battle of Culloden. In Book I of the Song for A Lost Kingdom series, Adeena receives an untitled musical score from her dying grandmother in Scotland. The music was hidden away for over two hundred and seventy years, as part of a violent family battle between siblings on different sides of the Jacobite rising of 1745. When the score is played on the oldest surviving cello ever made in the UK, the music connects Adeena directly to the past as Katharine, struggling to find words to complete her symphonic tour-de-force in the midst of 18th Century political rebellion that is threatening to tear apart Scotland and England. But Adeena is not a scientist or historian. What she wants more than anything is to compose music and to join the National Arts Centre Orchestra in Ottawa. Just as she is about to realize her wish, she’s lifted away, out of her control, and immersed in her ancient family history. As she is buffeted back and forth between the worlds, she grows to want more of the past, even though the promise of her most yearned-for musician dreams is coming true. Not even her passionate boyfriend can keep her rooted in the present, especially when another man from the past falls for her and her music. Although unsure whether her time travel is a hallucination, she’s willing to steal a five million dollar cello to get back to the 1700’s. With a clear voice that sets us in modern day Ottawa and old world Scotland, Song for a Lost Kingdom, Book I, begins a journey of discovery between two women who share the same musical soul and love for the same doomed man.

Wings of Fire (The Legend of Hooper's Dragons Book 7)


Gary J. Darby - 2018
    Fire monsters march toward conquest. Will one man rise to his destiny to save the world? As Hooper stares at his scarred face in Galondraig’s gleaming blade, his heart is heavy. He remembers his friends lost in these ferocious battles. He wonders who will be next? The Ode Book sends him to destroy the heart of Vay’s emerging army: the portal to Hades. Only magic can seal the door, but the cost of magic is high. Will he pay its demand if it is the life of the girl he loves? If you love fantasy with dragons, adventures, epic battles, magic, and characters that will make you laugh, cry, love, and hate, you will want to read Gary Darby’s epic fantasy Wings of Fire, book 7 of The Legend of Hooper’s Dragons Buy it now. Free on Kindle Unlimited.

The Ethereal Squadron


Shami Stovall - 2018
     It’s 1916, and the world is on fire. The Great War has already consumed much of the globe, but a second, secret war between sorcerers threatens to crack it in two. The ruling families of Germany and Austria-Hungary, those with the chill of magic in their blood, will stop at nothing in their quest for power, and they’ve drawn the entire world into a bloody war because of it. But Florence Cavell—codename Geist—means to stop them. She had to defy her family, cut her hair, and disguise herself as a man to join the legendary Ethereal Squadron: a joint US-UK division of the allied powers’ mightiest sorcerers. Armed with her powerful specter sorcery, which allows her to “ghost” through bullets and barbed wire alike, Geist fights a tireless battle to end the war once and for all. But then the Germans unleash the Grave-Maker Gas, a concoction so deadly it destroys everything it touches and transforms even the strongest sorcerers into terrible monsters. Even her ghostly magic can’t resist the gas’s corrosive power, and it costs Geist everything she loves—her team, her friends, even the use of an arm. This is the new weapon that could end the war—and give the Germans the world. Now Geist must risk it all to lead a new team deep into hostile territory to discover the source of this terrifying new technology before the enemy sets it loose upon the world. Will she be able to stop the Grave-Maker Gas before it’s too late...or will the secrets of her past finally catch up with her? Fans of Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld, Airborn by Kenneth Oppel, Shadow Ops: Control Point by Myke Cole, and The Roar by Emma Clayton will love this book. This book is for anyone who likes reading about: Strong female protagonists Military fantasy Historical fantasy World War I Adventure stories

Briarley


Aster Glenn Gray - 2018
     During a chance summer shower, an English country parson takes refuge in a country house. The house seems deserted, yet the table is laid with a sumptuous banquet such as the parson has not seen since before war rationing. Unnerved by the uncanny house, he flees, but stops to pluck a single perfect rose from the garden for his daughter - only for the master of the house to appear, breathing fire with rage. Literally. At first, the parson can't stand this dragon-man. But slowly, he begins to feel the injustice of the curse that holds the dragon captive. What can break this vengeful curse?

Sacrifice of the Heart (The Legend of Hooper's Dragons Book 8)


Gary J. Darby - 2018
     If Hooper fights the evil fairy, his friends die, but Erdron lives. If he submits to Vay, his friends live, but the world dies. An impossible choice. Series Reviews Hooper's Dragons is one of the best youth series I have read, and I have read a great many. Excellent story for nearly any age! - Amazon reviewer I highly recommend this series to young and old alike. A story full of courageous, unlikely champions in the fight against evil. Ordinary people resisting the easy way out and battling for goodness in the world. Growing through sorrowful times but persevering for good. Full of action, caring and humor. – Amazon reviewer If you love dragons and heroes you will love this series. It makes you laugh, cry, get angry and afraid. It's one of the best series out there about dragons! - Amazon Reviewer The final battle is here. His mentor gone, Hooper feels lost without Phigby. The mantle of leadership is now his, but he doubts his ability to lead the company. What if he fails? What if they lose their battle with Vay? What if he makes the wrong decision and causes the death of a friend? Can Hooper become the man that Phigby and the Golden Dragon believe he is—the man destined to save the world? Does he have the strength of heart and soul to be that man? He must decide. Vay is determined to possess the Golden Dragon, Hooper and to enslave the entire world. Her army is immeasurable. Those with Hooper are but a few. They know there is no chance to win, but they fight on to protect the people of Erdron, even those who believed Vay’s lie of riches and power to come. Hooper knows that if they lose this war, the people of Erdron will live in slavery and that his friends will face something far worse than death. Moreover, if they win, the cost of winning will be terrible. Buy this book if you love exciting dragon adventures because this book is for you! Sacrifice of the Heart is the 8th and final book of the series The Legend of Hooper’s Dragons.

True Mates


Noah Harris - 2018
    There are things that we want, and things that we need. Sometimes they end up being one and the same. PHILIP All my life, I’ve known two truths: my best friend Jaeger is my true mate, and I’m destined to marry a princess I’ve never met for the sake of my kingdom. Prophecy’s a bitter pill to swallow when you’ve tasted true love and are told it can never be. But I wouldn’t be worthy of my beautiful omega if I were willing to let selfishness be the ruin of my people. Still, I don’t feel anything but selfish as I keep my childhood friend close, and yet forever out of reach. The pain of our proximity reflected in his eyes. A better man would set him free, but I’m not that noble. Just noble enough to deny us both what we crave. But if I can’t be with the man I love, I can at least be a better prince for my people. I need to remain focused on staving off my enemies as I’m teased with the promise of the only thing I’ve ever wanted. Because as it turns out, prophecies are never quite what you think… JAEGAR If the story of my life has a theme, it must be this: so close, and yet so far. Orphaned and raised as a brother to the wolf prince I love more than my own life, but never quite felt like one of the family. Talented enough in battle to silence the rumors that only favoritism gave me the role of his bodyguard, but not skilled enough to protect him when he needed me most. I am willing and eager to be the partner—the mate—Prince Philip deserves. I can give him everything he wants, if only it weren’t for the one thing an ancient prophecy demands of him. The Prince must surrender to a marriage with the heir of a kingdom strong enough to protect his own. But we are who we are, and we all have a role to play. I’ve made peace with mine. Ready to step into the shadows and allow his bride to bask in his light. But then I discover: I am not who I thought I was. And I have a far greater role to play than any I prepared for. Discover the hidden truths that are revealed when these fearless men take destiny into their own hands. True Mates, is an exciting M/M, shifter, MPREG romance that makes you believe that fate may have a plan for us all.

Isle of Broken Years


Jane Fletcher - 2018
    The most important step for a seventeenth century Spanish noblewoman being, of course, an advantageous marriage. Unfortunately, a series of setbacks has left Catalina unwed. On a galleon bound for the Americas and her latest husband-to-be, Catalina again finds her marriage plans frustrated. Pirates capture the ship, and she is held for ransom. The danger intensifies as they sail into seas which, one day, will become known as the Bermuda Triangle.Catalina enters a terrifying world that she could never have imagined or planned for. Yet of all the surprises awaiting her, the most unexpected one is love.

Dragonia: Rise of the Wyverns


Craig A. Price Jr. - 2018
    Price Jr. presents, Dragonia: Rise of the Wyverns, Book 1 in the Dragonia Empire Series. The Resistance struggles to find a way to defeat the Dragonia Empire; all hope seems lost against the dragon riders, until they discover an island full of wyverns. Devarius has lost everything. His parents murdered, his sister kidnapped, and the new village he called home: destroyed. The Dragonia Empire has gotten out of control, destroying anything and everything in its path searching for the Resistance. Devarius is left with little choice but to find the Resistance, join them, and hope he can help them defeat the Dragonia Empire once and for all to bring peace to the land of Kaeldroga.

This Present Past


Traci Harding - 2018
    He earns Creirwy's trust, and that of her mother, the goddess Keridwen, and is offered an apprenticeship at their castell in Llyn Tegid.As Gwion discovers an enchanting new world of magic, the goddess is busy brewing a potion of prophetic insight and esoteric wisdom, destined for her monstrous son. However, an ill-timed accident provides an unexpected result. What transpires is an unforgettable shapeshifting battle that will spark rebellion and threaten to bring the downfall of all the kingdoms of Cymru.In this thrilling and epic adventure spanning generations, Traci Harding finally reveals the origins of the Ancient Future series and how Gwion Bach rose from humble beginnings to become Taliesin, grand merlin and magician.PRAISE FOR THE ANCIENT FUTURE'A stunning achievement of world-class fantasy' KYLIE CHAN

Bang! Bang! Boom! Volume 1 (Bang! Bang! Boom!, #1)


Melanie Schoen - 2018
    In this action-packed romance follow the exploits of protagonists Jakub Danowicz and Cheshire Bloom: gangsters, gamblers, and lovers, who for years have fought alongside each other as members of New York's Kozlow Gang. Jakub's cunning and unyielding stoicism paired with Cheshire's carefree spirit and explosive magical abilities have earned them widespread notoriety, but it's only after Jakub convinces Cheshire to leave town with him for Chicago that their real adventure begins.Recommended for readers 17+ due to violent and suggestive content.

The Gypsy Prince


Elise Marion - 2018
    A spin-off of the Kings of Cardenas series. Prince Damien Alexander II is next in line to the throne of the kingdom of Cardenas—a fact his parents never let him forget. Because in order to be a suitable ruler, he must settle down with a wife of his choosing, produce an heir, and become serious about matters of crown and country. There’s just one problem. Alex enjoys being a bachelor and is in no rush to give up his lifestyle of freedom and debauchery. When his parents urge him to consider the eligible women attending an upcoming house party, he can think of nothing worse. That is, until he lays eyes on Lady Lucille Wakefield. It’s been fifteen years since Alex last saw Lucille, and the annoying little girl he used to torment is now a woman…an infuriatingly high-handed shrew of a woman. Lucky for him, when his friends decide the lady is in need of a good debauching, he’s chosen as the man for the job. Determined to win his bet by seducing her straight into bed, Alex pursues Lucille relentlessly. Too bad she’s not the least bit interested in him or his charms. Her family’s good name has been tarnished before, and she has no intention of risking it again for one night with a prince. However, when a sinister plot against the royal family puts her in harm’s way, she finds herself thrust right into Alex’s arms … and under his protection. With both her reputation and heart on the line, can the roguish prince grow into the sort of man the reluctant lady deserves, or will Lucille keep her walls up, locking Alex out forever?

The Emperor's Seal


Amanda Roberts - 2018
    The Empress will do whatever it takes to get it back. Jiayi has a gift – she can travel through time just by touching historical artifacts. More than anything, she wants to escape the clutches of the Empress and run away to a foreign land. Finding the Emperor’s Seal could be her only chance at freedom, but is she willing to risk the wrath of the Empress? Historian and wannabe archaeologist Zhihao has no love for the Empress or the Qing Dynasty, but when the Empress orders him to find the Emperor’s Seal in exchange for funding China’s first history museum, he cannot refuse. It is only after he accepts the assignment that he realizes the key to finding the seal lies in the hands of a palace slave. Civil unrest and encroaching foreign powers threaten Jiayi and Zhihao's mission and lives as they hunt for The Emperor's Seal.

Penhallow Amid Passing Things


Iona Datt Sharma - 2018
    In a coastal village in eighteenth-century Cornwall, Penhallow -- an honourable smuggler par excellence -- has more pressing problems. One of her boys has just been hauled up before the magistrates. A mysterious King's messenger has arrived from London. Something nasty -- and possibly magical -- is afoot in the smugglers' caves beneath water.And then there's Trevelyan, the town's austere, beautiful Revenue officer..."An author to watch: Iona Datt Sharma's Penhallow Amid Passing Things skilfully builds a strange magical Cornwall with a lovely understated f/f Revenue/smuggler romance that I wanted a lot more of." -- K.J. Charles, author of A Charm of Magpies"What’s not to like about a genderbent tale about age-old rivalry between smugglers and Revenue inspectors, with magic thrown in for good measure?" -- Bookdaze"Lyrical and stunning" -- Candid Ceillie

Valhalla


L.A. Ashton - 2018
    While the world tears itself apart during WWII, he is summoned to retrieve the soul of a fallen Japanese soldier, Ishii Hiroshi. To Sakuma's surprise, Ishii refuses his invitation to eternity. The two meet again and again as the war repeatedly sends Ishii to death’s door, and what should have been a fleeting encounter becomes something much greater for the both of them.Sakuma is determined to give Ishii the reward he so deserves, but Ishii’s stubbornness may condemn him to an eternity outside Valhalla.

We Shall Not Sleep


M.R. Graham - 2018
    The guns are silent. The Dead are waking.Meg van Helsing grew up with a book in one hand and a wooden stake in the other, a crucifix always around her neck. But the world has changed, and the monsters she hunts with her friends are less frightening than gas burns and shell shock. The ghost of the War looms darker than Dracula’s shadow.Until the night one of her friends disappears.Now, they are under constant attack, beset by the blood-hungry corpses of un-dead soldiers at exactly the moment another monster appears: an incubus, lethally attractive. The young man offers help, and Meg wants to believe him. If only she could convince her friends she is immune to his spell.Someone wants them dead at any cost. The answer lies in old books, dark sorcery, and a secret kept for twenty-five years, written in blood. If Meg wants her friends to live, she’ll have to open her eyes.

Spellswept


Stephanie Burgis - 2018
    On the night of the Harwoods' Spring Solstice Ball, in an underwater ballroom full of sparkling fey lights and danger, Amy will have to fight the greatest political battle of her life to win a family and a future that she could never have imagined.It will take an entirely unexpected kind of magic to keep everything from crashing down around her.Warning: this novella contains forbidden romance, dangerous magic, and political intrigue in an underwater ballroom. What could possibly go wrong?

West Wind's Fool: and Other Stories of the Devil's West


Laura Anne Gilman - 2018
     A woman in search of her fate, a people looking for a new place to call home, a young girl about to become more than she could ever dream, a magical creature trapped between What Is and what Will Be... These stories and more welcome you to the Territory, where little is as it seems and everything is what we make of it. Praise for the world of The Devil's West: "...Skillfully plays with western folklore and history, infusing them with ambiguity and subtle strangeness to deliver a memorable adventure out on the untamed frontier. ” – Publishers Weekly “Gilman is magic in that junction point between the real and the imaginary.” – NPR Books “Her cocktail of Western folklore, Native American mythos, and known history are seamless, and will be a particular treat to fans of the other master of that kind of mashup, Neil Gaiman.” – BarnesAndNoble.com

Ghostlight


Rabia Gale - 2018
    But when he encounters the charming but ghostly Arabella Trent, his duty is clear: send the young woman into the afterlife. Otherwise, she risks attracting the denizens of the Shadow Lands, who hunger for mortal souls. Arabella doesn’t remember the runaway carriage that hit her and left her for dead. Nor does she know why her body was found so far from her. But something—or someone—is preventing her from returning to it, and she’s determined to find out why. As Arabella and Trey race to unravel the mystery, a sinister plot unfolds and the boundary between the demon and mortal worlds grows thin. If they don’t act soon, Arabella won’t be the only one to fall prey to the Shadow Lands.

Dragonsoul


Justin DePaoli - 2018
    Tapping into mysterious powers she can't explain or understand, she stays one step ahead of the cursed beasts, but she's quickly losing her grip on sanity.Seeking answers from a bloodwitch of ill-repute, Valeria learns the horrifying secret behind the dragon egg and what its existence means for humanity. Perhaps worse, she discovers who she truly is. Or rather, what she is.With humanity facing the grim threat of extinction, its future lies in Valeria's hands. But harnessing her power may have devastating consequences.

Orc Haven


Beryll Brackhaus - 2018
    The Dark Queen has fallen, slain by a dwarven champion as the prophecies foretold. Still struggling with her transition from farmer's daughter to Hero of the Free Races, Irma barters her newfound fame for the power to change things for the betterment of all - including her former enemies. With the Dark Queen's death, her subjugated orcs either succumbed to madness or were slain in battle. Only few orcs remain, and Irma has sworn to protect them, to help them find their place among the Free Races. One of them is Vash, a breeding mother from the pits, searching for a new home among the ruins of her old world with a tiny horde of orc children in tow. When they meet, they discover that despite their differences in size, upbringing and race, they share the same hopes for the future. And while the odds they face seem overwhelming, the feelings growing between them may be strong enough to overcome them all. From Rainbow-Award-winning authors Beryll and Osiris Brackhaus comes a sweet, happy f/f romantasy that begins where other epic fantasy novels end, a stand-alone novel about courage, hope, and the importance of family.

Armed In Her Fashion


Kate Heartfield - 2018
    At night, revenants crawl over the walls and bring plague and grief to this city of widows.Margriet de Vos learns she's a widow herself when her good-for-nothing husband comes home dead from the war. He didn't come back for her. The revenant who was her husband pulls a secret treasure of coins and weapons from under his floorboards and goes back through the mouth of the beast called Hell.Margriet killed her first soldier when she was 11. She's buried six of her seven children. She'll do anything for her daughter, even if it means raiding Hell itself to get her inheritance back.Margriet's daughter is haunted by a dead husband of her own, and blessed, or cursed, with an enchanted distaff that allows her to control the revenants and see the future. Together with a transgender man-at-arms who has unfinished business with the Chatelaine, a traumatized widow with a giant waterpowered forgehammer at her disposal, and a wealthy alderman's wife who escapes Bruges with her children, Margriet and Beatrix forge a raiding party like Hell has never seen.

The Sumerian Curse


Leigh Anderson - 2018
    But a tragic accident - of which Evelyn was the sole survivor - ensured she was sent back to the safety of London and polite socity. Ten years later, while volunteering at the British Museum, a strange missive arrives, requesting Evelyn's assistance with translating an ancient book owned by the elderly Lord Craven. Evelyn's supervisor at the museum warns her not to take the job, but she can't refuse. She packs what she can and climbs into Lord Craven's carriage, bound for Carnavon Castle. Much to her surprise, however, upon her arrival she learns that it was not the elderly Lord Craven who requested her for the job, but his son, the handsome and dashing Alister Shaw. The elderly Lord Craven is dead, and Alister would like her to translate the book in his honor. Even though she knows she should refuse - for the sake of her reputation - she cannot resist the chance to finally earn respect for her translation skills. Even if the only character she can read in the book initially is a single word - Evil. Will Evelyn decipher the book and learn its terrible secret before a past she longed to forget catches up with her? Or will she fall into disrepute when she can no longer resist her attraction to Alister Shaw?The Sumerian Curse is a stand-alone Gothic romance.

The Retreat to Avalon


Sean Poage - 2018
    After three generations of struggle against a flood of ruthless invaders, Britain has finally clawed its way back within reach of security and prosperity.Across the sea, Rome is crumbling under an onslaught of barbarian attacks, internal corruption and civil war. Desperate for allies, Rome’s last great emperor looks to Britain and the rising fame of her High King, Arthur.Events sweep Gawain along in a tide that takes him far from his home in Britain to a terrible war in Gaul. Intrigue and betrayal vie with loyalty and valour in an epic adventure at the last, bright flash of light before “The Dark Ages”.The Retreat to Avalon is the exciting beginning of a new Historical Fiction trilogy exploring the origins of the Arthurian legends, anchored in the events of the end of the Roman Empire and the beginning of the Middle Ages.

Beauty and the Beast of Venice


Alexis Adaire - 2018
    Although her fiancé seems strangely uninterested in her, 19-year-old Antonia naively hopes things will be better after the wedding.Everything changes the day Antonia meets Tavros, the mysterious shipyard blacksmith whose smoldering glances leave no doubt as to where his desires lie. In the Greek blacksmith, Antonia sees the chance for true love and soon finds it impossible to banish him from her thoughts.But Tavros harbors a deep, dark secret he can't share with anyone—a secret so terrifying it threatens to tear both of their lives apart.This historical paranormal romance retelling of the Beauty and the Beast story is set in post-Renaissance Italy, when even the slightest glance or gesture could convey more pent-up desire than a month's worth of texts and emojis do nowadays. Antonia is a strong female protagonist unafraid to buck the system in search of true love, and Tavros is a tortured soul on the verge of losing all hope.

The Creation of Eve


Leigh Anderson - 2018
    The horrific scars covering her body tell a tale of terror she is sure she would rather forget forever. But to the doctors and benefactors overseeing her care, the possibly sordid details of her past are too enticing to ignore. She is forced to undergo a hypnosis session to unlock the secrets of her past. But once that door is open, it is impossible to close. The memories Ann recall are scant except for one—her name is Eve. And the man who inflicted the damage upon her body gave her that name. One at a time, the doors of Eve’s mind open, and she cannot help but walk through them, revealing horror after horror until she is no longer sure who the real monster is. Fans of Mary Shelly’s Frankenstein and Margret Atwood’s Alias Grace are sure to love this blend of Gothic and horror from the pen of Leigh Anderson.

The Pirate Princess and The Golden Locket (The Pirate Princess #1)


Suzanne Lowe - 2018
    Now also available as an audiobook.The first thrilling tale of adventure, friendship, and discovery in the Pirate Princess series.Meet Lotty, the brave, young orphan whose life is about to change forever. When Lotty is cast out from the Sevenoaks home for children, she must use all her courage to navigate her new life. On her travels, she meets Mr Jacks, a little dog with attitude who accompanies her on her adventures.When they find themselves ship-wrecked, together, they encounter ruthless pirates, secret islands and discover the truth about Lotty’s golden locket and pirate treasure. A story full of excitement and adventure, filled with friendship, humour, and pirates!

The Carpet Merchant of Konstantiniyya (TCM, Volume 2)


Reimena Yee - 2018
    Through a young English friend, Alfred Grimsley, Zeynel moves to a quiet town in Southeast England. There he finds himself at the centre of a fad for all things Turkish, grappling with the meaning of home as it is distorted by the lens of Orientalism. Three years later, he is surprised when he finds the vampire responsible for his death — Mora Strigoi — at his door begging for forgiveness. While Zeynel and Mora struggle to make sense of each other's differences, Alfred Grimsley uncovers a trail of blood made by a mysterious serial killer, and makes the terrifying discovery that it ends at the doorstep of his closest friend, Zeynel.A modern Gothic satire, peeling apart the trope of vampire as 'the foreigner', and recognising that true vampirism is in the Western consumption of Eastern bodies and objects; and a dramatic narrative about the healing power of compassion, arising out of faith, love and legacy.

Princess of Thermopylae


Belinda Harrison - 2018
     Princess Alexis of Trachis has spent the past five winters with the fearsome tribe of Molossians in Epirus, honouring the alliance her betrothal formed. Two women with nothing in common. But when Skylar saves Alexis’ life, an invisible bond is formed, igniting an undeniable attraction. Alexis’ intended husband may be fierce, but so is Skylar, and both are used to getting what they want. In the fight for the princess, there can only be one winner. Can Skylar have Alexis or will old alliances win out?

Into the Jungle: Stories for Mowgli


Katherine Rundell - 2018
    It includes all the original favorites like Baloo and Bagheera and gives female characters, like Mother Wolf, a more prominent role in Mowgli’s upbringing. The timely theme of the possibility of understanding and empathy across species, cultures, and genders will resonate with contemporary readers.

First Blood


M.H. Johnson - 2018
    No professor will pass her. Jess has a warrior's passion, a Druid's gifts, and a professor planning her downfall. If she doesn't act the proper lady, she will be sent home in disgrace. But when slavers bring misery and ruin to her homeland, she trades silk and lace for iron and steel. Expulsion is the least of her worries, with an entire fortress of enemy soldiers waiting to kill her. If you like stories full of exotic magic, visceral combat, and a girl willing to take on all odds for the sake of her friends, then you'll love this exciting new series, eight books in all! Download and enjoy the prequel today!

The Unseen World


Patricia Correll - 2018
    While her father is unknown and her mother abusive, she's found a safe place with some kindly neighbors. Sanami is content with her quiet life and with her upcoming marriage to her childhood sweetheart. But an unforeseen obstacle to the wedding sends Sanami to the capitol, to beg the immortal Emperor's help. While there she meets the onmyoji, servants and advisors to His Majesty. Part sorcerer, part medium, part fortune teller, the Sasugawa onmyoji clan is one of the most powerful and feared families in the empire. They recognize her as one of their own,­ a surprise made stranger by the fact that onmyodo powers belong almost exclusively to the males of the clan. She agrees to stay in the capitol for one year while the onmyoji try to figure out why she is what she is, and what role she is meant to play. Over the course of this year Sanami is introduced to a world of spirits and magic that she never dreamed existed. But when she discovers the purpose for which the gods have chosen her, she wonders if she will ever be strong enough to fulfill her destiny.

Priestess of Ishana


Judith Starkston - 2018
    A defiant priestess confronts her foes, armed only with ingenuity and forbidden magic. "Priestess of Ishana evokes everything I love about historically-inspired fantasy with a strong and savvy heroine, a compassionate hero, and a world both blessed and cursed by the oversight of gods. Mystery, romance, action: this has it all." -Beth Cato, author of The Clockwork Dagger and Breath of Earth A malignant curse from the Underworld threatens Tesha's city with fiery devastation. The young priestess of Ishana, goddess of love and war, must overcome this demonic darkness. Charred remains of an enemy of the Hitolian Empire reveal both treason and evil magic. Into this crisis, King Hattu, the younger brother of the Great King, arrives to make offerings to the goddess Ishana, but he conceals his true mission in the city. As a connection sparks between King Hattu and Tesha, the Grand Votary accuses Hattu of murderous sorcery and jails him under penalty of death. Isolated in prison, Hattu's only hope lies in Tesha to uncover the conspiracy against him. Unfortunately, the Grand Votary is Tesha's father, a rash, unyielding man, and now her worst enemy. To help Hattu, she must risk destroying her own father. Step into this exotic world of historical fantasy, with its richly imagined details of the Bronze Age, evocative of the Near East. In a whirlpool of magic, politics, family crisis and love, Tesha pursues justice over the dark forces arrayed against her.

The Lion Lies Waiting


Glenn Quigley - 2018
    Four months after the events of The Moth and Moon, burly fisherman Robin Shipp is preparing for his first Midwinter festival with his lover, the handsome baker Edwin Farriner. But when a letter arrives begging for help, they must travel with their friend, Duncan, to Port Knot on sinister Blackrabbit Island for a final confrontation with Edwin’s mother. Also visiting the island are Lady Eva and her wife Iris, with a stunning proposition that could change Robin and Edwin’s lives forever.The snow-covered harbour town of Port Knot is a dangerous place. While there, Robin, Edwin, and Duncan explore the menacing rooftop settlement known as the Roost, mingle with high society in the magnificent splendour of Chase Manor, and uncover a violent conspiracy threatening the island’s entire way of life.Old rivalries will flare, shocking secrets will be revealed, and as Duncan’s scandalous past finally catches up with him, will it ultimately destroy them all?The men will be tested to their limits as they discover that on Blackrabbit Island, the lion lies waiting.

Bang! Bang! BOOM! [NEW YORK] Vol 1 (Bang! Bang! BOOM! [NEW YORK], #1)


Melanie Schoen - 2018
    Their partnership propels them from petty theft to turf wars to industrial espionage, flinging them into the paths of colorful friends and foes. But to Jakub, Cheshire is more than a fellow gangster. If only Cheshire knew...This prequel to the comic Bang! Bang! BOOM! features all nine chapters originally released online, along with new edits. Due to its violent and sexual content it is recommended for mature readers only.

Shalmar: A Warrior's Tale I


Serena Whynd - 2018
    But when a prized statuette from a neighbouring country mysteriously disappears, tensions between the two kingdoms flare and their war reaches an all-time high.In an attempt to stop the bloodshed, Shalmar recruits the newly-trained Jacqueline to help her retrieve the sacred statuette. As they embark on their search, the connection between them soon becomes undeniable.But there’s much more to the missing statuette than meets the eye. Unbeknown to all but a few, it holds a frightening and evil power. Only the royals of its rightful owners know of the secret it keeps – and if it gets into the wrong hands, a terrible darkness may destroy Shalmar and wipe out all that she loves…If you like page-turning fantasy with a dash of romance and an Amazonian theme, then you won’t want to miss book one of Shalmar: A Warrior’s Tale.revised

Breaking The Foals


Maximilian Hawker - 2018
    This is its story…Hektor’s life of privilege is forever changed when a man, allegedly possessed by the sun god, inspires revolution among the oppressed townspeople of Wilusa – the historical Troy of myth. For Hektor, son of Bronze Age Wilusa’s despotic ruler, social equality contradicts every principle he has been indoctrinated into believing. But his principles and obsession with duty is alienating him from his young son, Hapi, with whom he has a fractured relationship. When the ‘possessed’ man saves Hapi’s life, Hektor is compelled to question the foundations upon which his father has constructed his life as he rebuilds his relationship with his child through the breaking of a foal. Wilusa collapses into political violence as the commoners rise up, and Hektor must decide whether to defend the people, but lose his identity, or remain loyal to an irrational, dangerous father. Breaking the Foals is a breathless gallop through an ancient world carved out by tradition, stained with blood and immortalised in the lives of heroes and villains.

Wolfman Confidential


Justin Robinson - 2018
    Nick Moss, the last human private eye in LA, is searching for a shadowy monster slayer, for an invisible man with dangerous info who, well, vanished…and for a killer of talented human beauties—while trying to avoid being turned or killed outright by powerful monsters, some of whom are his employers or their lieutenants.But Nick’s uneasy past further complicates matters, as he discovers that almost nothing remains confidential in the City of Devils.

Making Monsters: A Speculative and Classical Anthology


Emma BridgesMaria Anastasiadou - 2018
    This anthology brings together fiction and accessible academic writing in conversation about monsters and their roles in our lives—and ours in theirs.Cover artist: Robin Kaplan

Leviathan


L.S. Johnson - 2018
    It has been several months since Harkworth Hall burned, and mere weeks since Joanna Chase came back into Caroline Daniels’ life. But when a stranger arrives in their village and asks to see the damaged bay, they know that word of the creature has spread. With tensions simmering between France and England, they depart in haste for Medby, where Sir Edward’s brother resides. There they hope to discover if Thomas Masterson has stepped into Sir Edward’s shoes, and now wields the monster called Leviathan. The situation in Medby, however, is far worse than they anticipated. Claiming the French attacked his ships, the younger Masterson seems about to launch an audacious reply. But his true plans are not so straightforward and there is little time for Caroline and Jo to uncover them. With the threat of war demanding risks in kind, Caroline and Jo must weigh their deepening affection against the greater good … and learn to trust not only their instincts, but their hearts as well.

The Van Helsing Paradox


Evelyn Chartres - 2018
    There was more truth than fiction to those words. There were things that lurked in the shadows which defied the laws of nature: perversions that fed on the dead, terrorised the living, or escaped the chill touch of the grave.Clara is a member of the Tower, a religious order of hunters who work outside the confines of the Church. As keepers of the arcane, her order takes an active role to counter these threats. The life of a hunter can be short, and many disappear before their training is complete. So, what does it take to succeed against all odds?Explore Clara’s origin, a child born before the dawn of the twentieth century. Witness her rigorous training, how she faces adversity, and fights in the Great War to become the derringer wielding flapper she is.Throughout her tale, keep in mind that no matter the threat, a gal has to look out for herself after all.

Tea and Sympathetic Magic


Tansy Rayner Roberts - 2018
    Meet Mr Thornbury, a spellcracker whose job is protecting the Duke from the love charms of eligible ladies. Together, they fight elopements!Featuring croquet, libraries, enchantresses, teacups, portals and cake.

Heathcliff: The Unanswered Questions Finally Answered?


Sue Barnard - 2018
    At just seventeen years of age, heartbroken and penniless, he runs away to face an unknown future.Three years later, he returns - much improved in manners, appearance and prosperity.But what happened during those years? How could he have made his fortune, from nothing? Who might his parents have been? And what fate turned him into literature's most famous anti-hero?For almost two centuries, these questions have remained unanswered. Until now...

Queen Mary's Daughter


Emily-Jane Hills Orford - 2018
    One change, one small item overlooked, can make a world of difference, not only in a person's life, but in the history and well-being of an entire nation. And then there are those multiple scenarios of what if? What if King James VI of Scotland didn't succeed in amalgamating Scotland with England? What if there had been another heir to the throne of Scotland? One who would secure its independence? Would Scotland have remained free and independent and a nation of its own well into the twenty-first century? And would Scotland, this independent version, make its own decision to join the European Union when its southern neighbor was choosing to pull away? Queen Mary's Daughter presents another plausible timeline, one that incorporates both historical fact and fiction with the endless possibilities of time travel.

Rebel Dead Revenge #1: Stonewall's Arm


Gary Kwapisz - 2018
    Taken from the battlefield to his deathbed, he is not afraid to die, but Satan has different plans for him. Playing on the vanity of an aged voodoo priestess, the Devil decides to raise Stonewall from the grave and place the greatest tactical commander of the Civil War at the head of an evil army of angry dead. The South rises again in REBEL DEAD REVENGE!

The Immortal Knight Chronicles Box Set


Dan Davis - 2018
     AD 1190, England. A young knight’s family is slaughtered. His 800-year quest for vengeance begins. Included in The Immortal Knight Chronicles Box Set: Books 1 - 3 #1 Vampire Crusader: Richard the Lionheart and the Third Crusade - 1190 to 1192 #2 Vampire Outlaw: King John and the Invasion of England - 1216 to 1217 #3 Vampire Khan: Hulegu Khan and the Mongol Invasions - 1253 to 1266 PLUS! The exclusive short story Vampire Templar (takes place between Book 3 and Book 4): The Fall of the Templars - 1311 There are over 1,300 pages and 340,000 words in this box set. The Immortal Knight Chronicles is a thrilling series for readers of historical fiction and action-packed fantasy. Ideal for fans of Bernard Cornwell, Conn Iggulden, Simon Scarrow, Ben Kane, and Giles Kristian, as well as of fantasy authors like Joe Abercrombie, Steven Erikson, Peter V. Brett, Anthony Ryan, and Scott Lynch. This series spans 800 years from the 12th century to the present day, featuring the most exciting and the darkest periods of English and European history. The three novels in this bundle cover the period AD 1190 to AD 1266 and feature the immortal knight, Richard of Ashbury, fighting in the Third Crusade, for King John against the French invasion of England, and in the Mongol invasion of the Middle East. And the exclusive short story, Vampire Templar, takes place in AD 1311 in France, where Richard attempts to free the last of the Knights Templar from a castle dungeon before they are executed for heresy. If you love action-packed historical fiction with a fantasy twist then get the Immortal Knight Chronicles Books 1 - 3 now! Featuring epic medieval battles, political intrigue and real historical figures and events, this is exciting, action-packed historical fiction with a military fantasy twist. Are you ready? To find out why thousands of readers love the Immortal Knight Chronicles, scroll up and get the box set now!

Niv'leana (The Sign of Alchemy #1)


Robert W. Oliver II - 2018
    Now, as a restless young woman, she longs for adventure, knowing there's more to life than her closed group of family and friends. When a mysterious older woman visits, Niv's previously undetected magical gifts surface. After these powers save her brother from certain death, Niv knows she must travel to Selendis and explore her destiny, despite it taking her far from the safety of home. Shareis, a member of the mysterious feminine Proctor race, has one mission: Capture Niv'leana for Vorea, the evil sorceress bent on dominating the continent. But fate has other plans when Niv and Shareis find themselves in a common battle with the help of a band of warriors they’ve collected along the way. In the midst of their budding attraction, Niv and Shareis fight to stop the malicious reign of Vorea, and carve out a life together with their unexpected love and growing relationships with old and new allies.

A Spell for Master Vervain


Lee Welch - 2018
    Apprentice magicians aren’t supposed to fall in love with their masters, but Kit’s so desperate for Master Vervain, he’s about to cast a spell that could ruin his life forever.Originally published in the anthology Teacher's Pet, Volume Two.

Lilith: A Tale Set in Old Salem


C. De Melo - 2018
    Mass hysteria and terror sweeps through her community in the year 1692 when the village children complain of being tormented by witches. The arrival of Marcus Wiseman, an intimidating Puritan nicknamed the "Hammer" (Malleus Maleficarum), strikes fear into the hearts of many. His mission is to help the reverend find those who have signed the Devil's Book. Lily avoids the fearsome man at all costs-until a shocking dream reveals the truth. Her life changes drastically after that fateful night, for she knows that their destinies are intertwined. Together, they must combat the Puritanical tyranny threatening Salem Village. This riveting supernatural thriller combines historical facts with romantic suspense and magical realism.

Demon's Lure


L. Rowyn - 2018
    Where demons normally feed by tormenting their victims, Sunrise draws them with her happiness. She doesn't want to hunt demons, but when a hunter team arrives at her village to ask for her help, she agrees. It should be easy: they just need her as bait for a pain demon that is too fast for them to capture otherwise. And a typical pain demon is no match for an experienced team of demon hunters. But this is no typical demon. And it has its own plans. It has no intention of being trapped, and is not worried about the hunter team. No, its main concern is: what does a demon who's spent millennia torturing and tormenting humans know about making one happy?

The Queen of Clocks and Other Steampunk Tales


Crysta K. Coburn - 2018
    Royal balls, magical creatures, love at first sight... We are taken to a fantasy world where anything is possible. The Queen of Clocks and Other Steampunk Tales brings together the magic of fairytale and the allure of cogs and gears. Within these pages, find dancing automatons, industrial age fairies, a mermaid with wind-up legs, heroes of the steam age, and more. Drawing from classic tales of the Brothers Grimm, Carlo Collodi, Charles Perrault, Hans Christian Andersen, and Homer, these original interpretations are sure to delight fans of steampunk and fairytales alike.

The Jinni's Last Wish


Zenobia Neil - 2018
    Olin’s only wish is for a painless death, until he meets Dark Star, a beautiful odalisque who promises to give him his deepest desire. He scoffs at her offer, not believing her claim to possess a jinni in a bottle. But when Dark Star is accused of witchcraft, Olin rubs the bottle in desperation and is astonished to find she’s told the truth. Olin becomes the jinni’s master to save Dark Star, but it's not enough. In the complex world of the Topkapi Palace, where silk pillows conceal knives, sherbets contain poison, and jewels buy loyalty, no one is safe. As each wish brings unintended consequences, Olin must risk his life, his body, and his sanity to break the bonds that tie them all.

Red Dogs


Rei Fletcher - 2018
    Torn between her duty to her clan and her love for the freed slave, Kavi, she and her friends abandon their home. They are drawn by rumours of a rebellion rising in the northern city of Kanthir. There, she believes, she can earn a place for herself, and join the fight to break the chains of empire.Her quest for freedom and honour will awaken ancient magic, and set in motion a war that will burn through Rahal, and risk bringing about the doom of the very land she seeks to protect.

Redemption of a Slave


Laura Taylor - 2018
     France in the 1800s is a brutal time to be an omega. Kept as a slave for most of his life, Dante has suffered far too much brutality, and even he would admit that the harshness of life has turned him from a civilised, obedient omega into a broken man bent on violence and revenge. However, an odd twist of fate leads to Dante being bought by Antoine, a wealthy alpha with a soft spot for brutalised omegas. He sees the potential in the suffering young man and takes him back to his estate, determined to help him recover from the cruelty of his past. But winning Dante’s trust was never going to be an easy task, and even less so in a society that refuses to acknowledge that an omega could ever be anything other than a slave.

Hail! Hail!


Harry Turtledove - 2018
     Fresh from Duck Soup (1933), Julius, Leonard, Arthur and Herbert Marx - or as the world knows them, Groucho, Chico, Harpo and Zeppo - are transported by a freak electrical storm to Nacogdoches, Texas in the year 1826. Landing in the midst of the Fredonian Rebellion (the first attempt by settlers in Texas to secede from Mexico) and into the company of the only other Jewish person in town, they are in deep dreck. Falling in with Stephen F. Austin and inadvertently filling his head with knowledge of what is to come, our heroes risk tampering with the future of Texas, and perhaps the entire U.S.A., in their quest to return to their own time. Will they find their way back? Or will they be doomed to live out their lives without indoor plumbing?

Orope - The White Snake


Guenevere Lee - 2018
    In a world not unlike our own, the nomadic Whisperers of the Gods have been given a grave vision of the gods destroying the world in a great flood, and they send three messengers to the great empires in hopes of appeasing the gods. Finding themselves in strange new lands with even stranger customs, the Whisperers soon discover the hardest thing is not only convincing the kings and queens to listen, but reaching their destinations without falling prey to the dangers and resisting the temptations of these new lands. In this first novel, readers experience a lost age where the gods live in the wind and waves, and beasts lurk in the dark.

With the Jarl's Blessing


Ki Brightly - 2018
    Odin intends to use the magic of Yuletide—the time between the old year and the new one—to win over Loki. Loki doesn’t need much convincing to see how wonderful Odin is, but he can’t see a future for himself with the son of a jarl. How would it be possible? With the jarl’s blessing, Odin hopes to prove, once and for all time, he’s the man for Loki. This is a 10k word Yule tale meant to help warm a reader through the gloom of the year’s longest night, the winter solstice. Happy holidays and happy reading!

Sorcery and Sin: The Complete Trilogy


Justin DePaoli - 2018
    But now sin is the world's only hope.This gripping collection includes all three novels of Sorcery and Sin, an epic fantasy about the return of vengeful dragons, a world annihilated by forbidden sorcery, and depraved gods on the verge of madness.Book 1: The Dragon ThiefSorcery is a sin that has been purged. But now sin is the world's only hope.Lavery Opsillian would trade anything, even his ghostly friends in the city tombs who comfort him, to have his father back. Instead, he must face reality as Valios' new king.But his kingship is short-lived. Seized by cutthroats and held for ransom, Lavery learns he possesses a gift he soon deems a curse, but one that may well douse the flames threatening to engulf his world.Sorcery has returned, and dragons are coming.Book 2: Reign of GodsOriana Gravendeer wants to change the world. But first, she must conquer it.With a powerful kingdom as her ally, a brood of dragons at her disposal, and sorcery at her command, overthrowing the powers of Avestas should prove effortless.But when an unsettling horror washes ashore and allies turn, Oriana's hopes begin to crumble. Worse, a malevolence has awoken in the North, and the world will know why sorcery is a sin.Gods are coming. Gods will reign.Book 3: Wrath of the WraithIn a land where winter prevails eternally, Lavery Opsillian searches for a necromancer to save his world from the brink of calamity. But he instead confronts a chilling betrayal by those closest to him.Worse, he learns that the baleful goddess who seized his world is hunting the same necromancer, for purposes far more sinister than he ever imagined.But Lavery has a secret he hasn't yet revealed, and soon the world will know his wrath.