Book picks similar to
The Binder's Game by D.K. Holmberg


fantasy
free-reads
free-from-amazon
science-fiction

Elvish


S.G. Prince - 2018
    But laws can be broken. When Venick is caught wandering the elflands, he knows the penalty is death. Desperate, he lies about his identity in hopes the elves will spare his life. Ellina doesn't trust the human, and not merely because he speaks the language of men. Men lie. In elvish, however, lying is impossible. In a moment of intuition, Ellina decides to give Venick a chance: learn elvish, reveal his truths, and she will set him free. That is not, of course, what happens. As Ellina and Venick grow to know one another, their feelings start to shift. Then Venick uncovers a dark secret, and suddenly the fate of the elflands seems to rest in his hands. But every choice comes with consequences, and Venick must decide if it's worth risking his life to protect a race that hates him, all to save an elf he's not allowed to love. Magic, love and fate collide in this fantasy adventure from S.G. Prince. For readers who love fast-paced action with a side of romance, Elvish is the first novel in the Elvish Trilogy.

Swimming Monkeys: Genesis


Steve Hadden - 2012
    A Remarkable Discovery... A Decision for Mankind...When Ryan Webster is summoned to a Miami hospice by his grandfather, he knows the man he calls a hero is about to die. Ryan’s grandfather, a renowned zoologist and founder of the world's most famous primate park, tells him about a remarkable species of monkey kept secret by the Webster men since their discovery in 1926, the year after the Scopes Monkey Trial. When Ryan is convinced to use his unique gift with monkeys that he’s honed at the primate park, he reluctantly agrees that only he can rescue them and makes an impossible promise to find them and decide if the world is now ready to deal with the fallout from their revelation.As Ryan follows his grandfather's clues to California and beyond, he's tracked by a relentless mercenary, targeted by radical Christians and hunted by the world's most famous atheist. Aided by his crazy Iraqi War veteran turned surfer-dude uncle and the most enchanting but deadly woman he's ever met, Ryan discovers the monkeys can do much more than swim. The secret they carry within their DNA will shock evolutionists, rock the foundation of the Bible, and transform the life of every human being on earth.Now, his only hope to stay alive is to save the monkeys and live up to his promise to the greatest man he ever knew—and in the process become the man he's not ready to be.Swimming Monkeys: Genesis is an extraordinary thriller that blends real-science and riveting fiction to examine the on-going struggle between science, religion, and the fallout that could affect us all.

Watchers of the Night


Matthew Keith - 2013
     Paul is thrilled - at first - but the agency is under siege from within, and Paul soon finds himself the focal point in the battle for its control. “Watchers of the Night” is the first installment in the Watchers Series. Beware: It does end with a cliffhanger! Books in the Watchers Series: Watchers of the Night The Rise of Indicium The Fall of Astralis Dreampire

Curse


Dale Furse - 2012
    As her seventeenth birthday approaches, she experiences something strange – suddenly, she can communicate with animals and sense other people’s feelings. Her life is turned upside-down when she learns the frightening truth about who she really is and discovers that her life is in danger. With friend Sam by her side, she travels to an alien world where she must defend herself against her enemies and, using her newly acquired abilities, find a secret book that contains the truth about her ancestry – whatever that may be!Author, Dale Furse takes us on a fantastic adventure to a world inhabited by bizarre beings. Confused by her life-changing experiences and facing an uncertain future, who can Nell trust to help her?

How to Flunk Magic


Elena Bryce - 2013
    Until all spell broke loose! Cool party? Check. Boy of my dreams? Check. First kiss? Not so fast.Because that’s when I discovered I was a witch. And not a very good one.Just ask Peter, the ghost I can now see haunting my bedroom, or the zombies I accidentally raised from their graves.And then there’s Fletch.GorgeousBroodyWerewolf!And he wants me to lift his curse.Am I ready for this? No.Do I hesitate? No.Does it go well? Big fat No!And now, instead of being at the party, I’m dancing naked on the town common with a coven of witches and my new familiar, in a race against time to put things right.Sounds crazy. Is crazy. But I kinda heart crazy… Author note: 2018 Edition. Previously released as Halloween Magic & Mayhem by Stella Wilkinson.

Elemental Arcane


Phaedra Weldon - 2014
    As an Elemental Witch in the Big Easy and owner of a wolf Familiar as well as the head of a former Faerie Queen, curious is as quiet as it gets for Sam.Until children start turning into blood-thirsty Changelings and attack their parents.When one of these children shows up in front of her shop, Sam and her friends are determined to find out where they’re coming from and where the exchanged children are being kept and put a stop to it. But will they succeed when they find themselves pitted against ninja ghouls, one of the oldest and darkest enemies of the mortal world, and a secret from Sam’s childhood that could unravel her magic?

Reveal


Brina Courtney - 2011
    Well except that my dad went missing when I was six. But my mom makes it work. And I have annoying brother. See, normal?So why does my life feel like a train wreck waiting to happen... oh yeah because now Jeremy is also missing.Fate intervenes when Hugh, with his stunning golden eyes and similar dark hair, starts taking an interest in me. He divulges that he also shares my little "gift" of seeing the dead. Should I be freaked out? Yes. But am I? Okay, but only a little bit.Senior year is hard enough as it is, but clearly I like a challenge.Other books in this series:Capture (Cryptid Chronicles 2) AVAILABLE NOWSettle (Cryptid Chronicles 3) AVAILABLE NOW

The Journal of James Halldon


Glynn James - 2011
    It is a dark and terrifying place, hidden from the world we know by borders that only the most unfortunate of souls will ever cross.James Halldon woke up in the dark, alone, without any food or water, without a clue where he was, and with no memory of where he came from.It only got stranger.James has somehow found his way to The Corridor, a midnight place that no human should ever see and the prison of a creature that has destroyed entire worlds. Somehow James has to learn to survive.But he is not alone. The lost souls of others who have drifted into The Corridor, and died, also haunt this world, and they have been waiting a long time for someone to come along.The Journal of James Halldon is a dark sci-fi novel that follows Halldon's struggle to survive whilst trying to understand the strange, dark, and terrifying world in which he is trapped.If it's dark when you wake up, and you can hear growling, then close your eyes and maybe it will go away.But maybe it won't...

Sacred Bloodlines


Wendy Owens - 2011
    It seemed like everyone he knew or loved was doomed for a life of misery or death. He was starting to come to the same conclusion everyone else had—he must be cursed. Until one day, in a subway tunnel, everything suddenly changed. A horrific disaster led him to a strange new person named Uri.Uri introduced Gabe to an exciting new world filled with angels, demons, magic, and best of all, a beautiful girl named Sophie. This chance at a new life had everything Gabe always longed for: a family, friends, and possibly even love. He soon discovered, though, that this life came at a steep price. One he feared might cost him his life.

A KNIGHT SUCH AS THIS: Interactive Content & Game Inside (Time Travel Romance) Book 1 & 2


Lorraine Beaumont - 2014
    Use these keys to unlock hidden doors!What mystery will you unlock?Katherine Nicole Jamison never imagined when she "borrowed" and antique amulet from her work at a prestigious auction house that she would inadvertently set in motion a chain of events that would ultimately end up changing not only her fate but the fate of two other girls as well.Sebastian de Winter - A handsome egotistical Earl, always prided himself as being a ladies man...until he is left standing at the altar. His betrothed seemingly vanishes into thin air and returns months later...but is she his betrothed?Ravenhurst- somewhere in the confines of this ancient edifice is the key to unlock the door of time itself.As Katherine and Sebastian become unwitting participants in a legend as old as King Arthur's realm, they find in each other what no other can give them... an everlasting love that time cannot forget.Order of books in this SeriesA KNIGHT SUCH AS THISA KNIGHT TO REMEMBERA KNIGHT FOR ALL TIMERAVENHURST: A Victorian ChristmasRAVENHURST: A Modern Day Christmas (Coming 2016)Other books by LorraineLost in the Highlands, the Thirteen Scotsman (April 22, 2016)A Scottish Time Travel RomanceBriarcliff SeriesElyogragGargoyleDegareBlood & Fire (Coming 2016)Edenbrooke Hollow SeriesWe three Withes, A Good Spell Gone Wrong

Expedition


Alexander Elliott - 2017
    Assisted by a sentient AI, the unsuspecting crew is awakened when a strange craft suddenly appears transmitting an appeal for help. Led to an underground sanctuary, they discover the remains of an entire alien civilization, preserved in stasis. While the newfound allies make preparations to leave, they are threatened by an aggressive race bent on acquiring the alien’s secrets for themselves. The looming confrontation will change the destinies of three disparate races, and give the victors a chance to spread their influence throughout the galaxy.

Tesla


Mark Lingane - 2013
    The planet has slowly been getting hotter and water is becoming a rare resource. Out of the ruins of a civilization that has collapsed in on itself, have arisen a new breed of people - those with the power to control magnetism.Seb, a young orphan boy from a quiet rural town, is being hunted by strange part-machine, part-human people. His only hope is Melanie, an angry, dying teenage girl who is dragged into the adventure and sets out to deliver him to the Steam Academy, even if it’s just to stop him talking. Seb must confront an unknown past and fight against everything he believed in. And occasionally wash his hair.Aimed at a teen audience.*** From the Author ***When writing this, I wanted to produce something that would compete against the "console" generation, where plot is delivered by cut scenes. The question was how do you write for an Assassin's Creed fan? Something that a teenage boy could enjoy.My list became: Short, sharp, constantly evolving, ridiculous amounts of action where no one important ever seems to get hurt, and make fun of current pop culture, social media, adults and technology.And, of course, an easy way to explain quantum mechanics, and turn science into magic - or the other way around.This is an exploration of that challenge.

Dangerous


Alycia Linwood - 2011
    Even when she falls for Michael, a boy whose element is different from hers, she is determined to make their forbidden romance work. But when she starts experiencing the symptoms of magic disease that could rob her of her element, turn her into a cold-blooded killer, and shatter her life, all of her beliefs are put to the test. The only one who might be able to help her is Adrian, a mysterious, charming, and dangerous magic disease carrier, who also happens to be her least favorite person in the world. YA Fantasy/Romance for mature teens. The Element Preservers series reading order (complete): DANGEROUS (Book 1) RUNAWAY (Book 2) DIVIDED (Book 3) NO ONE (Book 3.5) RESTLESS (Book 4) INDESTRUCTIBLE (Book 5)

Outview


Brandt Legg - 2013
    For thousands of years, humans have sought to lift it. Imagine the secrets waiting for discovery, insights into the unknown, and powers beyond the possible.Nate wondered.After the death of his father, the loss of his brother, and mysterious messages, he finds himself enmeshed in a centuries-old conspiracy to hide the truth about what lies beyond that veil. He must juggle prophecies and mystic knowledge, trace a quest across countless lifetimes, and grasp a complex destiny, before he can unravel the ancient puzzle. Scores have died to protect the secrets. The "trusted"few whispered clues, guarded locations, and hid keys to what humanity was not yet ready for.Until Nate found a way.Those protecting the “veil” know he did. And so do the ones who have been searching since before he was born. At the same time, a clandestine group, wielding overwhelming power, wants him silenced.Nate is running.

Whispers in Autumn


Trisha Leigh - 2012
    They enslaved humanity not by force, but through an aggressive mind control that turned people into contented, unquestioning robots. Except sixteen-year-old Althea isn’t content at all, and she doesn’t need the mysterious note inside her locket to tell her she’s Something Else. It also warns her to trust no one, so she hides the pieces that make her different, even though it means being alone. Then she meets Lucas, everything changes. Althea and Lucas are immune to the alien mind control, and together they search for the reason why. What they uncover is a stunning truth the Others never anticipated, one with the potential to free the brainwashed human race. It’s not who they are that makes them special, but what.And what they are is a threat. One the Others are determined to eliminate for good.