Book picks similar to
Shadowborne by Matthew Callahan


fantasy
speculative-fiction
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Goblin


Gerhard Gehrke - 2019
    His sister is abducted and the sage vanishes.Forced to leave the ashes of his home behind, he must abandon the only place he has ever known and venture into the land of humans and monsters.Saving his sister will mean uncovering what the raiders were after.For some things are worth more than gold, and goblins, as it turns out, have secrets of their own.A fast-paced dark fantasy series. Grab a copy and join the adventure!

Strength


Carrie Butler - 2013
    Wallace Blake is everything she's ever wanted in a man—except he can't touch her. His uncontrollable strength, a so-called gift from his bloodline, makes every interaction dangerous. And with a secret, supernatural war brewing among his kind, there's no time to work it out. To keep Wallace in her life, Rena will have to risk a whole lot more than her heart.

The Gladiator Queen: Complete Trilogy


Auryn Hadley - 2018
    Fighting against the temptation of forbidden love, striving to survive the horrors of combat, and determined to save her country, the delicate girl in the fancy pink dress will become more than anyone expected. She is the Gladiator Queen.When We Were Kings: Tossed into the gladiator arena, everyone expected the delicate girl in the fancy pink dress to be the first to die. Leyli had other plans. Surviving was at the top of her list. Revenge was a close second.In the cell beside her, the Lion of Lenlochlien was impressed. The first day, they all cried. But this one was different. Her tears didn't slow her down, they just made her stronger, and when he looked in her eyes, he saw it. Her desperation was feral. This girl might be cornered, but the bitch was the kind that would bite. He had no idea that he was about to become her best weapon. Leyli didn't just want to live through the games, she wanted to protect her father's throne, but to do that, she had to become someone else. She couldn't be the Princess of Norihame. The Lion had to make her a Wolf. Chained side by side, he'll show her how to be a killer. She'll give him a reason to keep fighting. Together, they'll learn that it takes a friend to survive.When We Were Dancing: Leyli never wanted power, but her cousin's scheming left no other option. He'd killed her brother, trying to claim the throne for himself, and sold her off to be a gladiator, hoping to get rid of her. It didn't work. Now, she'll do whatever it takes to make sure Palino can't destroy the country her family fought so hard to keep safe.On the sands of the arena, death was honest. In the palace, everything is different. The threats are veiled in fancy clothes and whispered rumors. Spies lay in wait around every corner, bribed with promises of power and wealth. To win, she has to keep her cousin far from succession. The best way is an heir of her own. That means a noble husband who won't kill her in her sleep and -- hopefully -- one who will ignore the hulking shadow of her best friend turned bodyguard. The game is King of the Hill. The music for their dance is made of politics. Fate gave her a chance to change everything, but he's a fickle god. Leyli has to get this right. She may not be on the sands of the arena, but she's still fighting, and the Wolf of Oberhame will not be defeated.When We Were Crowned: With the crown safely on Leyli's head, her problems should've been over. Her country is safe. Her family is together. What more could a new Queen ask for?Unfortunately, spending her mornings purging her stomach isn't it. Evidently, not even the Queen of Norihame is immune to morning sickness. Even worse, women in her country were expected to produce the next generation, not rule it. As soon as the men in court realize she's pregnant with the heir, they'll try to take away all the power she fought so hard to gain.If that was all she had to worry about, things would be great.But Rhia is closing in. The expansionist nation to the west has been seeking a trade alliance in violation of her father's peace treaty. Is this merely a misunderstanding between politicians, or is it the first hint of things to come? And why is one of the Senators saying the exact same thing her cousin cited as his reason for rebellion?When all the pieces come together, Leyli realizes it's worse than she feared. Only one thing can save her country now, but that means putting herself - and her unborn child - in harm's way. Thankfully, she's got one thing going for her that Rhia will never expect. She's a gladiator. That means she doesn't fight fair.

Wisconsin Vamp


Scott Burtness - 2014
    He's not one of them.When truckstop diner cook and mediocre bowler Herb Knudsen becomes a vampire, his once simple life gets a bit more complicated.Herb’s not even sure how it happened. He wasn’t bitten by a vampire, which means there’s no one around to help him learn the ropes. With no one to guide him, Herb fumbles into his newfound abilities, courting disaster with every step.Despite learning each new lesson the hard way, being a vampire isn’t all bad. He’s stronger, a little sexier, and a heck of a lot better at bowling. Even Lois, the girl of his dreams, is starting to notice him. But he can’t drink beer, the bodies are piling up, and his best friend Dallas isn’t just getting suspicious – he’s getting jealous.When Lois is caught in the middle of the two friends' escalating rivalry, keeping his dark secret becomes the least of Herb's concerns.Booze, bowling, bake sales, bar fights, babes, blood and karaoke... Who would have thought that being undead would make life so exciting?

Shadows of the Gods


S.M. Schmitz - 2016
    When they trap Selena in an alleyway in New Orleans, she is ready to admit defeat. But an unfamiliar demigod rescues her, and the more she learns about Cameron, the more she discovers their common bonds may be the key to unraveling her own mysterious history. In the first book of The Unbreakable Sword series, Selena and Cameron must not only evade the New Pantheon, which is ruthlessly hunting the remaining gods and their descendants, but an angry Aztec god that wants Selena’s power to himself. And they will discover in the impending final battle of the gods, no one can be trusted.

Sword and Sorcery: Box Set 1


Dylan Doose - 2019
    Kendrick the Cold, an infamous crusader turned fugitive, is a villain who knows he can never be a hero. Theron Ward, an aristocrat with a penchant for slaughtering monsters, is a legend in his own mind. When the kingdom of Brynth is threatened by a far greater evil, the unlikely trio must make a choice — seek to escape this land that cries for their execution or find the true heroes within themselves. And then, armed with fire and sword, march together against the forces of darkness. But will they be enough? Catacombs of Time In a world where the Rata Plaga and ghouls feast on the dead, doctor Gaige De’Brouillard believes science, not magic, conquers all. Even death is just an equation to be solved. When De’Brouillard is called upon by the Lord Regent to cure a curse and save one of the damned, he must battle for his career, his faith in science, and even his life. In the darkest slums and deepest catacombs, the doctor finds himself staring death in the eye with no scientific solution at hand. Has the doctor finally come across a question that science cannot answer, and will he pay with his life? The Pyres Theron Ward, Aldous Weaver and Kendrick the Cold must band together and fight again. This time, they are caught in the timeless clash of gods and demons, and led by the dark prophecy of dreams. A ruthless warlord, the Dog Eater, rises out of the rivers of blood from civil war. As friend and foe reach out from futures past, the three will see a city of white stone turn black with ash … and the only way forward is through the fire. One thing is certain, none of them will ever be the same. And one will be transformed in ways he never dreamed. Dare the three depend on the blood ties of the past to carry them through this terrible night? Read all the books in the Sword and Sorcery series! Fire and Sword (Volume 1) Catacombs of Time (Volume 2) I Remember My First Time (short story) The Pyres (Volume 3) Ice and Stone (Volume 4) As They Burn (Volume 5) Black Sun Moon (Volume 6)

The Underworld Saga, Books 1-3


Eva Pohler - 2015
    A teen becomes entangled with the gods of Mount Olympus when Thanatos, the god of death, wants to meet her. He makes a deal with his father, Hades, to go to the upperworld. The deal requires that a murder be avenged with the help of his sisters, the Furies.Part paranormal romance and part adventure story, this trilogy follows Therese's adventures as she struggles to overcome challenges by the gods her in her quest to become like them.This series was initially written as a trilogy and can end with the third book, or you can keeping reading through all six. This box set includes the first three books only. Follow Therese's adventures as she strives to become a goddess in the ancient Greek pantheon.contains:#1 Thanatos (formerly The Gatekeeper's Sons)#2 Challenge of Hades (formerly The Gatekeeper's Challenge)#3 A New Goddess (formerly The Gatekeeper's Daughter)

Children of Avalon


S.E. Wright - 2016
     On Earth a four year old Kyah was found in an abandoned house with no memory of who she was or how she got there. But all that changes twenty-one years later when she is shoved through a shimmering door into a realm of fantasy that she thought only existed as stories. Handed a mission by ancient powers, she must figure out how to defeat those intent on bringing the darkness into the light. In the realm of Avalon, Kyah finds strange and legendary new friends along with new found powers. These powers will help her and her new friends fight the darkness and save a town and its children. If she survives the encounter with the darkness she will be set on another path to find out who and what she is. This action-packed fantasy blurs the lines with science fiction twisting legendary heroes and mythical stories into a whole new multiverse.

Jolt: An American Time-Travel Romance


Jodi Bowersox - 2016
     When the summit of Pikes Peak is beset with a summer storm, Lalita Torres thinks the embarrassment of trading her shorts and tank top for a touristy union suit to keep warm is the worst that could happen. She was wrong. A lightning strike sends her back a hundred and twenty-three years and into the care of Dr. Tate Cavanaugh. Lalita thinks she's in a reality TV show. Tate thinks she's lost her mind.

Veiled


Stacey Rourke - 2017
    Fanged teddy bears misunderstood thanks to archaic lore. Activists picket for them to be welcomed into our society. They claim vamps don't kill. They preach we are safe. They ... are dead wrong. One year ago a hive slaughtered my family and left me for dead. Found by a team of scientists with their own agenda, I was forged into an unstoppable weapon. I possess their strength, with none of their weaknesses. I can move among them free from their crippling hunger. I am their greatest threat. Armed with this arsenal, vengeance will feed my desire to penetrate the seedy underbelly of their fetishized lifestyle and expose them for the monsters they truly are.

The Daughter Claus


D. Thrush - 2013
    Santa is a grumpy workaholic who focused all his attention on grooming her brother to fill his boots when he retires. But Nick has plans of his own to become a rock star. Now after a family emergency, it's up to Tina to leave college and return home to the North Pole to temporarily manage the family business.Not only does she have to deal with a long distance crush on her brother's band mate, rowdy reindeer, and family drama, but there's also her irresistible ex-boyfriend who broke her heart, her best friend's flirtation with an elf, and way too many Peppermintinis at the local pub. Christmas Eve is quickly approaching and she's counting on her undependable brother to deliver the presents. It's not easy being Santa's daughter!Crazy fun, girl power, and Christmas magic make this a fun story any time of year!

Touched by Time


Zoe Matthews - 2015
    She is a nurse and enjoys helping people; however, her boss has it out for her, and makes Kimberly’s life miserable. While flipping through the classifieds, an old-fashioned mail order bride ad catches her eye. At first, she doesn’t think much of it, but she can’t seem to forget about it. She decides to find answer the ad, just out of curiosity to see what will happen. She has no way of knowing how much this will change her life. Victoria is a widow, looking for ways to keep herself busy and help other people at the same time. She decided to start a mail order bride business, but she also has a secret she needs to be careful to hide. She lives in 1892. Patrick lives on a ranch and loves his life. The only problem is he lives too far from town to properly court a woman and is looking for a woman's love to help brighten his life. He enlists in Victoria’s help to find him a woman who will be compatible with his life. Little does he know, Victoria is thinking of sending someone from the future. Join Kimberly and Patrick soon learn to accept each others differences, but will it be enough to start a family of their own?

The Night Universe Collection


Selene Charles - 2018
    I’m one of the seven deadly sins, they call me Lust, but you can just call me Pandora. This is a story of darkness. Redemption. Hope. And betrayal I never saw coming. A reaper’s found me—deadly to my kind—and though I know I shouldn’t be I’m as drawn to him as a moth is to flame. But I don’t have time to indulge in my fantasies of stripping him down naked and having my dirty, dirty way with him. Because there’s a prophecy going round. Real end of the world type stuff. And somehow this little demon is at the heart of it all. I’m thousands of years old, but I’m starting to feel like my numbers finally come due...Book 1: Crimson NightMy name is Pandora, and I'm a Nephilim-half demon-what's my other name? Lust. I'm the dark craving that drives you mad, makes you reckless and stupid. But I'm not all bad. I fight for light. People are starting to disappear and lately I've felt a dark presence lurking around me. I think it might be a death priest. And before the night is through I'll be betrayed by the one person I thought I could trust.Book 2: All Hallows NightSecrets and truths, lies and red herrings… which is which? That’s what Pandora’s trying to figure out. And there's no better time to do it than during Mexico's annual Dia de Los Muertos festival. There's just one problem... Zombies. Book 3: Howler’s NightLies. Half-truths. A zombie Queen. And a really freaking dark entity known only as the Triad. The more Pandora learns the worse things seem to get. "And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him..." Book 4: Red RainWelp... this is it. The end of the world. Somehow, I don't think I made anything better, only worse. But now I've got allies, people I call friends and maybe, just maybe I might come out of this nightmare alive... or maybe I'll turn into something darker than anything the world could ever imagine. Guess, you'll just have to wait and see.The Night Series was originally written as Marie Hall, now writing as Selene Charles.

Resistance to Magic


Peter Glenn - 2020
    Will it kill her too?The amulet Sariah found buried in the mines looked liked her ticket out of her half-starved backwater life. The pendant was surely very valuable. The assassin who tried to steal it apparently agreed.Now all she wants is revenge. Or at least justice.With a little help from a friendly mystic she learns about magic. Only with its help does she stand a chance to vanquish the forces that destroyed her life.She hates magic. But will her thirst for vengeance drive her into magic’s open arms?

Tangled Web


Wendy Saunders - 2017
    There's only one thing missing... her sister.Cassandra hasn't seen her sister since the night their wealthy, prominent father died from a massive heart attack. She had only been five years old at the time and can barely recall the events of that night. All she can remember was that men came to the house and that it was the last time she saw her sister. Her alcoholic, emotionally unstable mother refuses to discuss her and will only say that she had been sent away to an exclusive boarding school in Europe. But, as the years pass by with no word from her, Cassandra begins to suspect there is more to her father's death and her sister's disappearance than she first thought.Desperate to find answers she hires a private investigator, but when he turns up dead it becomes clear someone doesn't want her looking into her family's past. When wealthy businessman Jackson Evans stumbles into her life, with problems of his own, they realize his family and hers are inexplicably entwined in a web of deceit and murder, which spans two decades.One by one, everyone who was in her home the night of her Father's death, begin to die under suspicious circumstances and it becomes a race against time to uncover the truth, before she becomes the next victim.