Book picks similar to
The Promise of Lightning by Jenna Weatherwax
romance
retellings
mythology
fantasy
Rise of the Witch
C. Rochelle - 2021
If any of those things don't work for you, please don't read it!BLURB:As with most beginnings, it started with death.When I had nothing left to lose, I traveled to the hut in the woods; the one no one dared approach. The witch who lived there recognized the darkness in my soul and took me under her wing—to witness her reign of terror firsthand and eventually, to inherit her legacy as my own.Now I’m the monster they fear; the one humans avoid at all costs. In this welcome isolation, I've attempted to forget my past and the future that was taken from me.Until three men appear, somehow able to break through my protective wards and see me in my true form. While resistant to their intrusion, I recognize they may be the ones I’ve been waiting for—the ones I need to ascend to my full power.Too bad I would rather grind their bones than invite them in.But something is mysteriously devouring the forest, and I suspect the threat may be the same one I barely escaped many moons ago. If it is, he will find me a more worthy opponent than the last time we met.I am the Yaga and I may be broken, but my edges are sharp.--The Yaga’s Riders is based on the folklore of Baba Yaga, with creative liberties taken.The Rise of the Witch is the first book in a steamy, paranormal romance trilogy featuring alphaholes, mysterious forces in magical woods, and a slightly frightening heroine who never has to choose just one man.MMFMMultiple POVThis series is meant for readers 18 and over.Beware: Cliffys ahead!Possible triggers:Sweary dialogueGraphic sex, including kink and various edgeplayGore and violenceToxic masculinity (don't worry - it doesn't last forever! #characterarc)Reference to past sexual assault and pregnancy lossGeneral weirdness and medium-dark elements
In This Iron Ground
Marina Vivancos - 2018
What should have been the worst moment of his life begins a journey shadowed by loneliness and pain. The night of a full moon, four years and seven foster homes later, Damien flees to the forest, desperate to escape everything. Instead, he finds the Salgado pack, and the earth beneath his feet shifts. Damien has seen the Salgado children in his school: Koko, who is in his class, and Hakan, two years older and infinitely unreachable. Damien is suddenly introduced into a world that had only ever existed in his imagination, where there is magic in the forest and the moon. He meets creatures that look like monsters, but Damien knows that monsters have the same face as anybody else. Over the years, Damien and Hakan grow closer. First, just as friends and foster brothers in the Salgado house, and then into something heated and breathless when Damien joins Hakan at college. Despite what he may yearn for in the darkest part of the night, Damien knows, deep down in that bruised and mealy part of his core, that he’s not good enough to be part of the Salgado family, their pack. He’s not worthy of calling Hakan his home. Even though he knows in the end it’ll hurt him, he’ll hold onto this for as long as he can. CONTENT WARNING: This book contains themes of emotional and (nonsexual) physical child abuse and the subsequent emotional, cognitive, and behavioural impacts. This story contains sexually explicit scenes between consenting adults and is meant for an adult audience.
Game of Gods
Staci Hart - 2013
Just don’t ask her to figure out her own heart. Instead, she toys with the hearts of humans. It’s a little game the gods play, and this time it’s Aphrodite’s turn to defend the domain of love. The battleground is New York City, and the stakes are high—the winner receives a token, a favor the loser must fulfill. But every god has secrets. Every god lies. And no god can be trusted.Apollo is no exception. He killed Aphrodite’s love, and for that, he can never be forgiven. But Apollo is on a mission to win. For thousands of years, Aphrodite has kept him from the one he loves, but the wind has shifted, and now is his chance.God and goddess will choose their players. The clock will start. Two humans will fall in love, or they won’t—their fates are intertwined with the gods, their hearts slave to their circumstance, a slave to the game.And in this game of love, Aphrodite never loses.*Formerly titled Paper Fools
Cursed: a contemporary fantasy romance
K.K. Allen - 2021
Her fiery temper seems to perpetually land her in hot water, making her an outcast among her peers. When tragedy strikes and she’s sent to live with her only remaining family in the tiny coastal town of Apollo Beach, Katrina starts counting down the days until her eighteenth birthday.Only then will she finally be free.As Katrina learns the legends of her Ancient Greek ancestors, secrets from her heritage are exposed—secrets that her mother purposefully concealed. Her only solace is found in Alec Stone, the gorgeous guy next door. With his devastatingly charming smile, his persistent flirtation, and a love that sparks from the flames of friendship, he offers her a much-needed escape from the turmoil.If only she wasn’t cursed.As powerful forces threaten the lives in Apollo Beach, Katrina can’t escape the evocative world of mythological enchantment and evil prophecies that lurk around every corner.𝘊𝘜𝘙𝘚𝘌𝘋 𝘪𝘴 𝘉𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝟷 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘭-𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘌𝘕𝘊𝘏𝘈𝘕𝘛𝘌𝘋 𝘎𝘖𝘋𝘚 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴. 𝘍𝘰𝘳 𝘧𝘢𝘯𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘛𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵,𝘛𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘞𝘪𝘵𝘤𝘩,𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘦𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘵 𝘊𝘪𝘳𝘤𝘭𝘦, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘗𝘦𝘳𝘤𝘺 𝘑𝘢𝘤𝘬𝘴𝘰𝘯.
Dark Gods
River Ramsey - 2019
The name’s Kore, daughter of Demeter, crown goddess of spring, but you can call me Kory. Along with my invitation to attend the elite Olympus Academy where all the top deities send their brats for training, comes the news that I’m betrothed to Hades, tall, dark and brooding god of the underworld. I’d much rather be Queen Bee of my girl gang back home, slinging Panaceas to spoiled rich Olympians, but I have three years to enjoy my life before I’m ruling the denizens of hell at Hades’ side and I refuse to waste it making him look good. Turns out, my betrothed has a gang of his own. The Triad, made up of Hades, Loki and Fenrir, rules the school and they expect me to bow down like everyone else. Sure, Janus. Cue eyeroll. The three of them share everything, and when I humiliate Hades my first night at the Academy by making the tiniest immortal faux pas, their lust turns to cruelty and they start to edge in on my side hustle, but that’s fine with me. Four can play at that game. This is the first book in the Academy of the Gods series, a Paranormal Bully Academy Romance retelling of Hades and Persephone. Slow burn, all characters are 18+.
The Witch's Wolves
Ellie Mae MacGregor - 2021
Manon has been caught in one scandalous situation too many, now she’s on the run. When she finally sees a lone cottage in the woods she thinks she’s found her salvation, only to find that she’s stumbled into a den of wolves. But she soon finds that these wolf-men are much more interested in pleasure than they are in pain."This book has the coziness and disarming sex appeal of Stanley Tucci. It's the sweet poly monster romance we deserve." — Aveda Vice
The Fairer Hex
Lidiya Foxglove - 2019
And not just a witch, but a witch who turned bad. My poor, sweet, normal dad wanted me to have a good college experience. Instead I get a magical offer I literally can’t refuse, from the world’s most elite school for warlocks. WARLOCKS. As in GUY WITCHES. Even though I definitely have lady parts, somehow I ended up at a warlock school to learn the gentlemanly arts (which are a lot more badass than, ahem, lady magic). Did I mention the witch world is stuck in the 19th century? Unmarried witches and warlocks barely see each other outside of society balls, which are still a thing. No one knows how I ended up here. I’m thrown into a whole new world where I am outcast and friendless, except for: —Firian, the enigmatic fox shifter who has been watching over me since I was born. —Alec, my new roommate, a sexy-as-sin incubus enchanted not to lay a hand on me. For safety. Or cruel and unusual punishment. —Montague, the black sheep of the school since he got turned into a vampire on spring break. —Harris, an arrogant ass from the most elite of all magical families. Okay, he’s not my friend but he’s Montague’s. I’ll work on him. My existence here breaks all the rules. Am I here for the right reasons? Or am I the pawn meant to destroy the very world I’m starting to love? When my magic proves stronger than anyone expects, and the school is attacked by a demon, I’ll need help from the four gorgeous magical men who are willing to break a few rules with me. They’re each forbidden to me in their own way, and the greatest danger of all might not be demons, but falling for them. All of them. This is the first book in A Witch Among Warlocks, so expect cliffhangers. It’s a medium burn reverse harem story intended for 18+, which means, BE PATIENT LIDIYA, YOU’LL GET ‘EM THERE. And I will, dear readers, oh, I will.
Rage
K.A. Knight - 2019
Then he screwed his way through the city, the only problem? I didn’t stay dead. It seems killing me woke something deep inside, something so dark and buried so deep I never knew it was there. I don’t know what I am, I don’t really care. All I can think about is revenge, even as the monsters in the dark start to surround me. Their horns and black eyes, mouths filled with fangs claiming I am theirs. My monsters will have to wait, he will regret the day he crossed me. Are you scared of the dark? You should be. *18+ Reverse Harem Romance. Warning this book contains scenes and references of abuse/assault that some readers may find triggering. Along with graphic sex scenes and violence. This is a dark book*
Dragon's Gift
Jasmine Walt - 2017
One woman. A reverse harem fantasy that will leave you breathless and begging for more... Dareena Sellis is a nobody. The orphaned daughter of a no-name farmer, she toils away as a serving girl at Hallowdale Inn, her only marriage prospects either shipping off to war, or pawing at her skirts with their grubby, gnarled hands. But fate takes a strange turn the day a dragon huntress comes to town. Suddenly, Dareena is swept off to Dragon’s Keep, trading in her raggedy dresses for silken gowns, her closet-sized room for feather pillows and spacious gardens, and her miserable suitor for three very handsome, very virile dragon princes. For Dareena is not a nobody. She is the Dragon’s Gift—the one woman chosen by the gods every century to bear children for the future king of Dragonfell. Despite her pre-ordained path, Dareena’s fate is far from certain. The crown has not given birth to more than one son in nearly a thousand years, and the line of succession is far from clear. Neither of the princes are willing to cede Dareena to the other, and yet she must choose. For the enemy is knocking on Dragonfell’s door, and Dareena’s decision could either mean the kingdom’s salvation… …or annihilation. Don’t deny yourself the pleasure of this scorching hot reverse harem romance. Scroll up and start reading today! IMPORTANT NOTE: This is a TRUE reverse harem romance, NOT a love triangle. Expect to see danger, intrigue, hot sex, strong language, and fire-breathing dragons between the pages of this book. For 18+ readers. You have been warned!
Raven's Mark
Angel Lawson - 2017
When her acceptance letter from NYU arrives she thinks maybe things are about to change. She just doesn’t realize how much. It's quite thrilling enough to discover that her new home is a beautiful mansion. But then she discovers her housemates. Five wildly attractive young artists. It's easy to get swept up in the fairytale of it all, but this house carries with it a secret... and so do the five enticing and charming men. In time, Morgan learns the six of them must wield this knowledge--together--if they're going to save the world.
Eve of Samhain
Lisa Sanchez - 2010
What she never planned for was Quinn Donegan—the living, breathing advertisement for sinful behavior that waltzed into her life.
Dark King
C.N. Crawford - 2019
Once, I was a fae princess with sea-magic at my fingertips. Now? I’m a hunted supernatural in a squalid shop, stripped of my power. My only comforts are stale cookies, Elvis records, and my hula-hoop. Until a lethally sexy fae king arrives and rips even those away. After the brutal king throws me in prison, I strike a bargain with him: my freedom in exchange for helping him find a magic blade. What Lyr doesn’t know is that the blade might restore my stolen magic.But as we journey, the gorgeous jerk is starting to make me feel things I’ve never felt. When Lyr touches me, desire ignites. I see raging passion in his eyes, too. If I give in, I risk losing my chance at reclaiming my power. Even worse... I could be forfeiting my life.
Darkness Descends
Alisha Ashton - 2014
Seriously. She survived nearly ten years of torture, then escaped and killed the vampires responsible for the deaths of her entire family. She should - by all rights - be free to spend the rest of her days on a warm, sandy beach somewhere. Unfortunately, those plans are quickly derailed by a bite-happy werewolf. With just a few days until the full moon and her first transformation, Skye has no choice but to accompany her ADHD-prone handler, Miko, to Scotland in search of answers. Faced with a supremely sexy ancient werewolf (woof!), a hushed prophecy about how her arrival will trigger a war, and a handful of unexpected new supernatural abilities, Skye is in for one hell of a ride. As the shaky truce between the breeds races toward its abrupt and violent end, she must unlock the mystery surrounding her identity and uncover a secret of betrayal that has been kept for over 4,000 years. Piece of cake, right?
Flock
Kate Stewart - 2020
I gave into temptation and fed the beating beast, which grew thirstier with every slash, every strike, every blow.Triple Falls wasn’t at all what it seemed, nor were the men that swept me under their wing. But in order to keep them, I had to be in on their secrets.Secrets that cost us everything to keep.That’s the novelty of fiction versus reality. You can’t re-live your own love story, because by the time you’ve realized you’re living it, it’s over. At least that was the case for me and the men I trusted my foolish heart to.Looking back, I’m convinced I willed my story into existence due to my illness.And all were punished.
Spells of Iron & Bone
Sarah Piper - 2019
It’s also highly illegal—not that I’m worried about that.Sure, I heal faster than most, and I’ve got a sixth sense for brewing tea that can fix just about any problem, but my café isn’t exactly a hotbed of paranormal activity.At least it wasn’t… until some psycho attacked me and woke up the freaky, forbidden magick inside, earning me a one-way ticket to jail.Now, a covert magickal university is offering me a deal: my freedom in exchange for help with the Tarot prophecies—cryptic predictions they believe hold the key to stopping a deadly apocalyptic plot.Predictions only I can decipher.Because the witch who divined them? She died years ago.I should know. She was my mother.Grab your grimoires, girls. Magick school’s officially in session.All I have to do now is master my crazy powers, decode the doomsday prophecies, outwit a mean-girl coven that puts the psycho in psychic, and survive the temptations of one very naughty professor and three scorching-hot, overprotective mages shadowing my every move.There's only one problem.If I’m right about the prophecies?Survival isn’t in the cards for any of us.