Halloween Weekend Book Sale + Freebies

Many authors routinely have book sales and give away short stories for free, often as part of the Amazon Kindle's KDP Select program.

And what is the best time to have such book sales? Holiday weekends like: Easter, July 1st/4th, Labour Day, Halloween, Thanksgiving, etc. 

The 2025 Halloween Weekend therefore is one such weekend.

For example, many of Charles Moffat's fantasy ebooks will be on sale starting:

October 30th at 8 AM, and continuing until ending on November 6th at 8 AM.

During this time many of his novels will be 50 to 70% off, and many of his short stories will be free.

Visit amazon.com/author/moffat during the sales event to find some fantasy ebooks to enjoy.

Or if you prefer paperbacks and hardcovers, just browse right now and see what is available. Learn more about Charles Moffat's books and stories by visiting fiction.charlesmoffat.com.

Happy Reading! 

 

"Journey to the Water" by Madeline Crane

After a thousand years of tyranny, the holy city of Phyreios is free.

Its freedom comes at the cost of many lives, among them the healer Khalim, beloved by many but none more than Eske of the Bear Clan, the warrior from the North.

Now Eske is alone, and a new king, a god in Khalim's guise, presides over the city's survivors. Of Khalim himself, nothing remains but a memory and a riddle: In order to follow him, one must travel beyond the edge of the world, breach the gate of bone on a day without a sun, and cross the river of memory, deeper than the sea.

Armed with his strength, his wits, and a good tale or two, Eske sets off across the known world, encountering priests of forgotten gods, great beasts of ancient times, and sorcerers of uncanny power. He will perform any task, make any sacrifice, for the chance to see his beloved again.

Inspired by Robert E. Howard's "Conan the Barbarian" and Ursula LeGuin's Earthsea novels, Journey to the Water concludes the epic story begun in Beyond the Frost-Cold Sea.

 

 

 

"The Magician and the Mechanical Doll" by Gaius J. Augustus

Octavian, a promising graduate student of magic, is about to have his dreams shattered. As he activates his magical robot, Replika, the duo finds themselves thrust into an alternate reality of stuck doors and steam-powered tech. Little did Octavian know that his enigmatic research advisor, Teacher, held the technology to traverse realities! Octavian and Replika embark on a quest to uncover Teacher’s hidden secrets and find their way back home.

Join Replika and Octavian as they journey through immersive universes that will make you laugh out loud. Amidst their adventures, they encounter a vibrant case of characters and stumble upon more than their fair share of other people’s problems. Will they ever find their way back home, or will they remain trapped forever in this web of alternate realities?

The Tales of a Vernian Youth series beckons you into a multiverse brimming with enchantment and absurdity. With diverse characters that infuse a refreshing twist into the narrative and a writing style reminiscent of the great Douglas Adams, this series promises laughter, adventure, and more stuck doors than you can shake a wand at.

Get ready for a whimsical magic-filled adventure that spans time and space, transporting our travelers to both fantastical and eerily familiar destinations. Think Terry Pratchett with a dash of scientific curiosity and Douglas Adams with more magic. This thrilling concoction will keep you turning pages long into the night.

Are you ready to traverse the boundaries of our reality? Don’t miss out on this epic journey!

Volume 1 includes: 

Tale 1 – The Magician and the Mechanical Doll
Tale 2 – The Pirates and the Magic Computer
Tale 3 – The Silence and the Rarity of Human Life
Tale 4 – The Robots and the Chrysanthemum

The Magician and the Mechanical Doll is the first book in a new series by Gaius J. Augustus. 

 

"Oathbreakers" by Anagha Baheti

In seven days, the Fallen will rise again.

A sell-sword for hire, Avante’s life is completely changed when an Aasimar tells her that she is the chosen one, that she is needed in Quai to defeat the new champion of the Fallen. There’s just a small hiccup: Not one but two ancient artefacts are missing.

With the fate of the world hanging in the balance, her gang - an elf, an eladrin, a dragonborn, a gnome, and a nerd - must travel across the continent and take a stand. If not for the living, if not for the world, then for a second chance at happiness. And for a life-changing amount of gold.

Can they put aside personal grudges to save themselves and the world?

Oathbreakers is a standalone novel by Anagha Baheti.

 

 

"The Dragon Favorite: Beginnings" by Onika Howdyn

Welcome to Jöro…

…a land once teeming with the majestic presence of dragons, known as the Draughtrìnd, now reduced to ashes by the insatiable greed of a malevolent king. Though the war between man and dragon has faded into the past, the lingering aversion towards magic and its wielders remains.

In the river city of Rau, Amalya dreams of adventure beyond her father’s cozy farm. When she stumbles upon a wounded dragon with the farmhand, Wesley, her dreams of adventure take flight. As the years pass, love and family gradually fade that memory into the background of her life, becoming the only remaining beacon of hope.

Now, Amalya finds herself trapped in the clutches of depression, forced to observe the vestiges of her joy in the eyes of her son. The realization that she will never genuinely reclaim that joy plunges her further into the depths of despair.

When a mysterious man arrives to help on the farm, Amalya feels an unexplainable sense of familiarity. Could he be her only chance to break free from the torment that has haunted her since motherhood? And what consequences must she face to reclaim her light?

The Dragon Favorite is the first of two books written by Onika Howdyn. 

 

"Angel Diaries" - Book I of the Mystic Realms by Rayven Luna Nite

"Whoever said one person couldn't make a difference was wrong."

Nyxie was once an angel drafted into the Holy Wars of Heaven and Hell. But she was one of the few who never wanted to be in the war. And after one fateful choice, she now lives in Hell. But how did that happen? And what was this choice? More importantly, will she be able to adjust to her new life in Hell?

Demons still hate angels, and she's the only one since Lucifer to come to Hell. Living in Hell means adjusting to new laws, new social norms and most stubbornly, their Gods. Will the demons let her live in peace? Or will she burn in the heat of Hell's sun?

Angel Diaries is the first book in the five book series "Mystic Realms", written by Rayven Luna Nite.

 

 

"Well of Eida" by K. B. Benson

Everyone hides a monster inside. I tore mine from the inside out.

Two years have passed since Ari was taken as a prisoner to the troll realm. Two years of blood staining her hands, killing as the troll king’s mercenary. In Eida, it’s kill or be killed, and Ari will do anything to survive.

But survival does not come easy in Eida, especially for a young woman with fire in her blood.

When Ari’s sold to one of Eida’s most notorious training masters, her survival comes with a price: unleash the monster she’s buried inside. A very real and very dangerous creature no opponent can defeat.

Ari expects to kill. She expects to survive. But she doesn’t expect her growing feelings for the man who has claimed her as his. Together, Ari and her master will cut down every opponent in the arena seeking to win a wish from their king.

Until a man from her past challenges her within those walls, and everything Ari has fought for crumbles. All for a man she once loved. But if she is to save her own life, she must take his.

After all, everyone dies in Eida.

 

For fans of The Hunger Games and the Grishaverse—your next epic fantasy obsession is here.

Well of Eida is a spellbinding upper YA/new adult fantasy filled with mythical creatures, dragons, and a swoon-worthy enemies-to-lovers romance. With a unique magic system, morally grey characters, and a slow-burn hate-to-love packed with tension (but no spice), this immersive tale delivers betrayal, heartbreak, and high-stakes adventure.

Perfect for readers who crave immersive worldbuilding, strong heroines, emotional twists, and characters you’ll love—even when you shouldn't.

"Woven by Fate" by Autumn Hawthorne

I’m his prisoner, but he will kill anyone who dares touch me.

Xavier Todd is a ruthless enemy leader, and he should not have saved my life, nor stolen me away from the surface.

I cannot leave, yet I cannot sit idly by, so I do what I do best: gather information. Every secret I pull free goes straight to those who can put an end to the war between our people – permanently. Yet, Xavier is nothing like I was told he would be. He protects me, teaches me how to use my new found magic, and he calls to me in a way that defies all reason and logic. It is forbidden on both sides, but my magic flickers at every touch.

The more secrets that come to light, the more I realize the extent of the lies fed to my people, and what I have done will put me on the wrong side of Xavier’s divine violence.

My life and the lives of everyone I have grown to love hangs in the balance. War looms on the horizon, and I, Celeste James, must choose between loyalty and destiny.

Woven by Fate is a Epic Fantasy Romance with reluctant chosen ones, forbidden love, magic-tendril spice, and a dark otherworldly threat lingering in the shadows.

The Man from Salem - A Weird Western Anthology

The Man from Salem...

Armed with only his black Stetson and a pair of LeMat revolvers, the Man from Salem is a grizzled forlorn figure. Nobody knows his name and he prefers it that way. He travels across America, fighting devils, vampires, werewolves and other beasts that most people would prefer to pretend do not exist. He has a job to do and someone has to do it...

An anthology collection of Weird Western short fiction for fans of Charles Moffat's adventure stories.

 

 
 

The Chronicles of Korovia: Anthology Collection

 The Chronicles of Korovia: Anthology Collection features stories set within the kingdom of Korovia, including:

• Guardians of Lost Souls
• A Hound Named Hunter
• The Worgs of Winter
• The Hab & the Witch
• Wolfsbane & Belladonna
• The Ghost of Garter Street
• Raiders of Pravda Vremya
• Pawn of the Demon Prince

Learn more at fiction.charlesmoffat.com

 

 

"Kameryu Dreamer" by Matt Mememaro

When this carefree mortal falls head-over-heels for an otherworldly being, will foul corruption stop him from sealing things with a kiss?

Jace Osmond is sexy, confident, and brash. So, when the hunky band member wakes up to find his room full of fairies, he’s happy to listen to the beautiful creatures’ contractual offer. Agreeing to sleep with them and swap his sensual dreams for gold, this is one trip to fairyland that’s all upside.

Shocked to meet a faerie who makes him forget every other pretty face, Jace’s interest in the colorful coterie fades as he tries to woo the impossibly out-of-reach woman. But his passionate pursuit of the ethereal woman gets complicated when he’s claimed by the queen of the realm for use as her personal plaything.

Can he break free of an enchanted prison and win his way to his love’s side?

Kameryu Dreamer is a spicy romantic fantasy. If you like saucy characters, edge-of-your-seat tension, and dark steamy action, then you’ll adore Matt Mememaro’s out-of-this-world encounter.

 

 

 

"Bard City Blues" by Nathaniel Webb

“This book was a lot of fun! It has heart, soul, and a touch of mystery—plus a gelatinous cube that washes dishes. What’s not to like?” - S. L. Rowland, author of Cursed Cocktails

“With the importance of truth, self discovery, found family, relatable characters, LGBTQ representation, and music that rings through the pages, this is a must read for fans of Legends & Lattes. Nathaniel Webb is an author to watch as his skill with writing compelling story and characters is evident.” - Kay's Hidden Shelf

“Webb’s characters have an astounding amount of depth that you cannot help but to root for and fall for. Whether it is someone who wants to forge their own path, someone who wants to fall in love, or someone trying to right the wrongs of their past, when everything clicks in Bard City Blues it REALLY clicks.” - The Fantasy Review

Music, magic, mystery, drinking, family, and a gelatinous cube.

Gally Chaparral is a highland girl with a dream: move to Lackmore, join the Bardic Guild, and get a gig at a fancy tavern on Symphony Hill. Unfortunately, becoming a bard isn't so easy. No good tavern will hire a student, her teacher is a jerk, and the only job she can find is washing dishes at a bar that seems to have recently been a dungeon.

When Gally auditions as her tavern's new bard, things start looking up. But her first show is ruined when the owner accuses Alix, a beautiful but obnoxious postal rider, of destroying a valuable painting. Now, to keep the gig, Gally must prove Alix's innocence. But there's more to the mystery than the loss of a painting, and being forced to work with Alix has Gally wondering if this brassy delivery girl is really as bad as she seems...

Wyngraf founder Nathaniel Webb invites you to a world of whimsy, wonder, and music in his full-length cozy fantasy debut: Bard City Blues.

 

 

 

"Bloodlust" by Nicole Zoltack

Sometimes the need for blood outweighs all else.

Barbarian-Princess Ivy will do anything to save her people, even if it means forming an unlikely alliance with Lukor the goliath. Bloodlust is driving her father to provoke the other five races into war, a war the precious few barbarians will not likely survive. Unbeknownst to her, Lukor blames the barbarians for murdering his sister and plans on sabotaging her goal.

Almost despite themselves, they grow to respect each other, but nothing Ivy can do will prevent the war. Not even killing her father and becoming Barbaroness can stop the tide. And when bloodlust claims Ivy, forcing her to kill everyone in her path, she might destroy her one last chance at peace and possibly love too with one swing of her sword.

 

"Curse of the Huntsman’s Jewel" by Kirsten S. Blacketer

Once upon a time, an ancient darkness consumed the land. It cursed the innocent and seduced the powerful. No man could break it for none possessed the knowledge or the will to do so.

After seven years hunting the beasts who killed her aunt and grandmother, Scarlett returns to her cousins, Bianca and Rose, only to find her uncle slaughtered in the forest near their cottage. The man who once protected them from the queen was gone.

When three handsome brothers appear at the village market selling their wares, Scarlett and Bianca hesitate to welcome the outsiders, but Rose takes an immediate liking to the burly, quiet middle brother.

Unease fills the women when it becomes obvious something is hunting them. Trained in the art of the hunt and the healing power of nature, they set out to uncover the sinister truth behind the death of their family members. Wandering down a dark and twisted road, the trio soon discovers the hunter can easily become the prey.

All this and more in...  "Curse of the Huntsman’s Jewel" by Kirsten S. Blacketer

 

 

 

"Gathering Shadows" by C. J. Wallingsford

Gathering Shadows is a decadent, dark story about fate. The Webs of Fate series is an addicting forbidden love, dark romantic fantasy with witty banter, heart-stopping action, and blistering hot romance set in a vibrant modern-day world full of magic where myth and history blur together in a mockery of truth.

Callahan
Welcome to the Dark, Little Star.

Natalia saves my life. Mistake or not, it puts her on the board as a player. The Light will hunt her for the betrayal and the Dark will seek her to use her. I sink my claws into Natalia, twisting her into a contract. I have uses for her, and for the Light she carries within her.

The annual Gathering Shadows Ceremonies loom on the horizon, twelve days where I’m forced to compete for the Dark Throne. It’s kill or be killed. I name her as my partner, but she’s a wild card, fighting my authority as her alpha. She’s breathtaking, raw power I’m drawn to, but she might cost me everything.

Natalia

 

It was an accident.

As a Magia I have two obligations: an arranged betrothal to preserve my Magia bloodline and protect humans from the Seraphinus. I didn’t mean to save the life of a Darkling. In my defense, I was hung over and thought he was human. Oops.

I accept a contract trying to postpone marrying a man I don’t love and unwittingly sell my life to Callahan. He claims to be my alpha now, but it’s stupid to trust a man who admits he wants to use me. He is a Dark Seraphinus, wickedly brutal and lacks remorse. Still, the way he stares at me with hungry desire and holds my hand tempts me, and I’m in more danger than losing my life.

 

 

"The Shadows of Fate" by Nick Blade

When the World Broke Him, He Broke the World

They called him lowborn.
Kitchen rat.
Freak.
They beat him, branded him, made him bleed for dreaming.
They said magic belonged to bloodlines.
They said power was not for people like him.

They were wrong.

Arnold Bennett was never meant to rise.
But he did.
In shadow. In silence. In ruin.

He stole a name from the mouths of kings.
He carved magic into his bones with fire and grief.
He shattered thrones, outwitted gods, and stood at the edge of unmaking—
Not to rule.
But to ask the one question no one in power dares to face:

What if the world deserves to burn?

An Epic Fantasy Forged in Rage, Runes, and Ruin

• A story for the cast-offs, the overlooked, the ones told they’d never matter.
• A myth of rebellion wrapped in blood-magic, betrayal, and impossible choices.
• A villain’s origin or a god’s awakening?
• A story that begins in ruin and dares to go deeper

"Fate leads to ruin. Free will leads to chaos. I choose chaos."

WHAT YOU’LL FIND WITHIN

A Hero Who Isn’t
Arnold is no chosen one. He’s a weapon honed by cruelty, wielded by no one. His scars are real, his power earned, and his path terrifyingly free.

A World on the Brink
Kingdoms rot from within. Magic is hoarded like gold. Gods play with lives like dice. The system is rigged and Arnold is here to burn it clean.

Magic That Cuts Deep
Runes etched in bone and pain. Keeper hearts pulsing with stolen power. Telepathy, summoning, time-warping ruin. This is not cozy magic, this is magic as war.

Fate vs. Free Will
At the core: a battle older than gods. Can you truly choose who you are, or are you always what they made you? When Fate falls, who decides what rises?

The Shadows of Fate may break you, or they may make you.

"The Cruelty of Magic" by Shawn Amick

A warlord seeks the destruction of Runefall, and the end of magic, as a prophecy is met with doubt.

Kyra, a young woman capable of wielding rune magic, is called from her hidden city to a temple no one knows about. As Kyra wrestles with a prophecy, and wanting to save her city, a dwarven king leads his people to carve a new home for themselves but instead finds himself approaching divinity.

On the other side of the world, a dark sewer hosts a father and daughter who escaped a tyrannical attack. They now hide and attempt to summon a golem for protection but learn something about magic that might change the world.

Intricate stories and deep lies connect people from all across the land. The actions of one may very well condemn the lives of another, even if they never meet.

Such is the cruel way of the world and the unforgiving cost of magic.

The Cruelty of Magic is the first of a series by Shawn Amick.

 

"Haven in Reverie" by Rachel Vickers

The existence of the supernatural is kept secret.

Evil demon parasites possess unsuspecting humans – seizing control and wielding the hosts as demonic instruments against one another. 

Dragonfire is the only weapon against demons. Alas, dragon slayers have hunted dragon shifters nearly to extinction. 

And humanity is none the wiser.


Stassi Shade has been sheltered – kept safely hidden in a picturesque lie. But her haven in the town of Reverie is nothing more than a façade. When scorched demon remains wash ashore, Stassi is thrust into a harsh reality – she is a dragon shifter and the killer. Her powers have been intentionally suppressed by dragonbane. However, she’s developing a tolerance to the poison and has been triggered into her first shift. Now she must embrace her birthright and master her powers – not to eradicate demons, but to maintain the illusion of her vanilla life. To stay alive, she must continue to hide from those hunting her.

Emerson Caballero is a prominent member of the Knights Dracslaga, a prolific faction dedicated to slaying dragons. With trouble in Reverie, Emerson and his fellow knights must risk life and limb to defend and protect the innocent residents of their town.

Stassi and Emerson are close friends and unwitting enemies. As their relationship blossoms and their ancestral secrets are revealed – Emerson questions what the Knights Dracslaga have ingrained into him, while Stassi battles with the consequences of being exposed.

Haven in Reverie is a standalone fantasy by Rachel Vickers. 

 

"Where Memories Lie" by Irene Lee

Memory is the crime scene.
Magic is the weapon.

One fractured partnership stands in the way of a magical conspiracy that threatens the system holding society together.

Special Agent Elias Sinclair is a memory magic specialist with the FBI. Eighteen months ago he made a tragic mistake and seven agents died. His partnership with Alexander Sutton was destroyed, and ever since he has blamed himself and questioned his own magic.

Special Agent Alexander Sutton, a combat magic specialist, was injured the same night. He went back to the job without the partner he once called his best friend.

Now a wave of magical terrorism in Chicago forces them back together. The hunt for a terrorist reveals something much older and far more dangerous than anyone expected. As the city teeters on the edge of panic and secrets long buried are uncovered, survival may depend on whether they can learn to trust each other—and their magic—again.

Where Memories Lie is an urban fantasy thriller about broken friendships, weaponized memory, and the dangerous ties between magic and power.

Perfect for fans of Ben Aaronovitch’s Rivers of London and HBO’s True Detective.

 

"Of Spies and Shadows" by K. L. Ziggler

For months, Tove has been running for her life, from home, and before anyone can betray her again.

Fleeing meant going to a new continent, far from anyone who fears her magic as a shadow-wielder—including those who want her dead. Her only desire is a fresh start.

But her chance at a new life is thwarted when she’s captured by the sultan for a dangerous task: becoming his informant during treaty negotiations. Her magic and background make her the perfect tool against visitors from her homeland, putting her in proximity to her people who’d gut her if they discovered her magic.

Trapped and posing as a courtesan for the commander of the guard, Tove discovers things in her new kingdom are not what they seem: not the sultan, not the court, not the motivations for the treaty, and not the loyal commander Kaolum she’s supposed to be spying on. As dangerous attacks occur within the palace, it isn’t only Tove’s fresh start on the line, but her life, too.

To survive the palace and earn her freedom, Tove will have to decide who and what she can trust: her connections within the court, the powers that put her on the run in the first place, and the passion and desire Kaolum ignites within her.

Or, most importantly, whether she’s willing to trust anyone ever again.

Note: Of Spies and Shadows can be read as a prequel to the rest of the books in the Magic and Monsters series. It does not have to be read to enjoy the rest of the books in the series! 

 

"The Killing Song" by Felix Graves

Romada, a fiercely independent water nymph who captains the pirate vessel the Guardian, is looking forward to retirement. After sailing the seas for over 50 years with her siren girlfriend, Neiara, as well as with her adoptive big brother, Injago, for the five decades prior, she's tired of the high-stakes life. Unfortunately, the high-stakes life isn't done with her or her loved ones yet.
 

When the crown prince of Ostrana is assassinated by a siren, the elven kingdom responds by rounding up every known siren and shipping them off to internment camps. Soon after, Injago and Romada mistakenly lead Neiara into a trap that tears her away from them, and Romada succumbs to a depressive darkness that has threatened her mind since childhood. It's up to Injago to keep the crew and the ship safe and steady on the path to finding and rescuing Neiara.
 

As time goes on, Romada and Injago realize that no one else is willing to find and liberate these camps. They have a choice to make. They can attempt to free all sirens of their wrongful imprisonment, or abandon these lost souls in reckless pursuit of their stolen family member. Only one thing is certain: this won't have a happy ending.

"The Killing Song" is part of the Stories of Faerth by Felix Graves.

"Birthright" by M. A. Vice

When a young daemon becomes host to his father, the eons-old progenitor of his kind, it seems his only purpose is to kill and kill again, to build a new world fit for the dark to rule. 

Unseen by humans, the world has long been controlled by the strings of a shadowy secret society of immortal beings, the Order of Azoth. As the organization fractures and begins to unravel, he may be the last hope of the Order to quell the spread of corruption and change the path of the future. Just as they may be his only hope to discover his own humanity.

"Vice has struck a perfect equilibrium between darkness and tenderness in this slow, introspective dark political fantasy. If you're seeking out grimdark settings in the vein of BERSERK and ELDEN RING where love blossoms in spite of insurmountable hardship, then look no further."
- Camilla Andrew, author of WHEN THE STARS ALIGHT

 

"Birthright" is the first of a series, The Impavidus Cycle, by M. A. Vice. 

 

  

 

"The Sunset Sovereign" by E. M. McConnell

Destiny was found in a Voice. Join the Seven Supplicants as they journey to the mysterious, utopian Capital, guided by the Voices, known as the Sovereigns.

Lynn and Willow find themselves drawn to the realm of Sunrise, the quarter celebrating beginnings and the embrace of mornings. Accompanied by a resolute spirit, Fabio and Aidan venture into the realm of Day, while Isobel and Hollie seek their calling amidst the calm fire of Sunset. Yvaine, guided by a dark destiny, treads the mysterious paths of Night.

Witness their extraordinary quest as they undergo Trials, determined to find their dreams. Yet, as their path unfolds, will their dreams come to fruition, or will they instead find a nightmare? Because the once utopian Capital is crumbling, and the arrival of the Seven brings about changes even the Sovereigns did not foresee.

"The Sunset Sovereign" by E.M. McConnell is a tale of ambition, courage, and the delicate balance between triumph and belief. Follow the Seven Supplicants on their journey as they navigate their own challenges, questioning what they have been brought up to believe, unravelling the mysteries that lie ahead.

 

"The Dragon Next Door" by Vanessa Ricci-Thode

Tollar’s got a stolen dragon egg, and that’s the least of her problems.

Tollar is a hero for hire who just wants to deliver a stolen dragon egg to its kin and get on with her next adventure. But when the dragon hatches, imprints on her, and refuses to leave, Tollar enlists her pyromancer best friend and neighbour, Beenala, to help keep the dragon alive. Tollar’s chaotic life exacerbates Beenala’s overwhelming anxiety, and being stuck at home leaves Tollar feeling stifled and unwanted. To make matters worse, in order to hide an entire dragon from local and foreign hostile factions, Tollar must risk exposing the truth behind her unprecedented power as an aquamancer and face being chased out of the only home she’s ever known.

When Draminedes, perhaps the worst spy in the world, lets slip that the people Tollar stole the dragon egg from are much worse than she thought, Tollar and Beenala realize their home is in danger. Now Tollar needs to stop making herself the outsider and Beenala needs to find some courage so they can team up with this unlikely ally to save everything they love, including each other.

"The Dragon Next Door" by Vanessa Ricci-Thode is a sapphic ace romantasy is complete with mutual pining and odd-couple energy and is full of marginalized characters out living their best lives and having adventures while being nurturing and supportive in their relationships, including bonds between humans and dragons.

 

 

"Moonshadow’s Guardian" by Dianna Gunn

All Riana has ever wanted is freedom. Unfortunately, that’s the one thing her kind cannot have.

Bound by the curse in her demonic blood for millennia, Riana has tried several times to bend the rules and live out her life in the mortal realm. Now her consistent rule breaking has drawn the attention of Loki, God of Mischief, the main tormentor of Riana’s kind. But instead of punishing her, he offers her the escape she has always desired. All she has to do is save the kingdom of Moonshadow from a mysterious magical plague.

Armed only with the inherent power of her own blood and Loki’s pet dragon, Riana is determined to fight for the right to create her own destiny. However, when her mission forces her to destroy the last remnants of an ancient culture, Riana must ask – what is freedom really worth?

Moonshadow’s Guardian is a tale about the meaning of belonging, and the struggle to create a future not defined by your past.

 

"The Carnelian King and Other Stories" by Arden Powell

"The Carnelian King and Other Stories" is a collection of fifteen short fantasy stories introducing dazzling new worlds. 

From a magical second-hand shop hidden between dimensions to rolling emerald hills dotted with ancient ruins, through carnivorous winter woods and across the war-torn steppes of a crumbling empire, this collection spans beloved fantasy genres from classic to cozy, action and adventure to sword and sorcery, and gothic horror to romance. Some of these many star-crossed worlds include:

A dashing knight nostalgic for the lost myth and glory of the Golden Age, and a reclusive sorcerer who is more than he seems.

Gentlemen dragons, sapphic dragons, dragons as small as hummingbirds and as vast as rivers.

The first installments in a new sword & sorcery series, featuring a mercenary knight who cannot be killed and a horde of witches, lich-kings, and curses.

Trading tales of survival in the god-wrecked scrublands of the old west.

An eldritch house hungering for fresh meat.

A disgraced prophet, his flirtatious rival, and a foal whose birth foretells great changes for their land.

"Tempest, Take Me Home" by Charlie Knight

Eli has made their career and built their reputation as a treasure hunter and captain of Tempest. Now, they have the chance to secure their status as a legend on the seas...but they're going to need help to get this job done.

Max lives a calm, orderly routine, using his magic to provide maps for his clients and securing a name for himself as the best in the business. The only excitement Max gets is when Eli and Tempest come home to visit...but the proposal Eli brings home this time is an opportunity Max has never imagined.

Tempest and crew have been recruited to track down and recover pieces of myth, priceless items said to have come to the world directly from the gods. If they pull it off, the ship will receive gold and acclaim the likes of which none of them has ever imagined...but they aren't the only ship on the seas after this prize. When a rival crew finds out that Max is Eli's secret weapon, the risk to the magical cartographer is higher than any of them bargained for.

Eli and Max have been best friends since they were kids and in love for longer than either of them can remember. They've seen one another through a lot, but now, they'll need to hold onto the foundation they've built between them if they're going to ride out the storms ahead.

"Tempest, Take Me Home" is a standalone novel by Charlie Knight.

"Tales of Yamato" by Odessa Silver

Inari's eyes darkened. "You'd refuse a god twice?"

I could feel my hands trembling, my heart hammering in the forge of my chest. "Yes."

~

Yamato. A land of lavish forests, full of life... and loss. The beautiful string of islands, surrounded by expansive seas, hide a harsh reality: Wrathful gods, dangerous yokai, and humans who could end your life with a slice of the sword. Follow the lives of those surviving in any way they can, while cherishing love found along the way.

When the great sea god Susanoo is controlled more and more by the destructive part of his soul, he must do all he can to keep himself from harming humanity.

A tanuki father goes on a quest to prepare his young pup to blend in to the dangerous human world and causes mischief and mayhem along the way.

Lightning brings both luck and tragedy to a young boy who desperately picks peaches to save his sick mother.

Fourteen Tales of Yamato will take you on a journey with humans, gods, and yokai, showing how each one isn't so different from the other. And that, even in death, there will always be those who will honour your life.

 

"Shades and Silver" by Dax Murray

2023 Indie Ink Awards Finalist; Writing the Future We Need: Disability Representation by a Disabled Author

The birthright of every Ástfríður is to know each metal in the earth, command it, bend it to their desires. To hear metal singing, some of it waiting just beneath the surface, so much of it deeper in the earth. If they wanted, they knew they could pluck that metal from the earth, melt it with a thought, and shape it as they pleased with a breath of air and their will.

Each Ástfríður must choose which metal they would wear upon their heads, denoting the path they would walk. They craft beautiful horns to wear on their brow, forged with the metal they wish to identify with.

But Britt does not know if they can choose the path they want, if they can overcome a past which has stolen their identity. The day has come for them to choose and they have no idea if they have any right to even try to. And Astrid has never felt the pull of the metal at all.

Wearing a forged circlet and horn, they try to navigate a world that they feel has rejected them, all the while fearing someone will learn their secret. The Veil of the Ástfríður has kept them hidden from the world, and safe from intruders. Yet Britt and Astrid feel they are imposters in their own homes. 

Shades and Silver is a duology about identity, doubt, disability, and acceptance set in the universe of Scions and Shadows.

 

"Legend of the Falcon Prince" by S. Judith Bernstein

When the world runs red who can you trust?

The Crimson Age is a time of peril, of upheaval, slaughter and endless war. Dia knows this all too well. A disinherited prince with a secret that could destroy him, Dia has spent the last six years building a web of favors and secrets in his father’s court, hoping to use that power to change the kingdom from within. But when the politics of the palace turn suddenly deadly everything he’s built is about to come crashing down. His very life in danger Dia must outwit his opponents or face execution.

To make matters worse Dia is now being blackmailed by Calix, a mysterious royal guard with an agenda of his own who’s found his way to some of the prince’s most dangerous secrets. Yet maybe Calix could provide the very opportunity Dia needs. With nowhere else to turn and time running out, Dia seeks to turn his blackmailer into the ally he needs to survive the deadly game of politics and power. After all he can’t grant favors if he’s dead, can he?

"Legend of the Falcon Prince" is the first entry in a Young Adult LGBTQ series by S. Judith Bernstein.

 

"River in the Galaxy" by Natalie Kelda

When Merlon's parents disappeared, his world fell apart. When his best friend died, he lost the ability to enjoy life.

For Captain Merlon Ricosta, Lanier's death, two years prior, feels like yesterday. But when a map from his parents is discovered, he decides to push aside his grief to get closure and follow the route they vanished along eighteen years ago.
 

Despite political trouble, Merlon leads his crew into the unknowns of strange galaxies in his quest to find out why his parents never returned.

In River in the Galaxy Merlon fights to keep his crew alive and suppress his prolonged grief and depression. But he must face his own struggles in order to protect the ship and the people aboard.

River in the Galaxy is the first book in an interconnected dark space fantasy series. Merlon's story continues in book 2: Outer Universe.

 

 

"Riyati Rebirth" by Kai Zeal

With great power comes your past incarnations and future self playing chess with your existence.

Her whole life, Kylie Rae had been concerned with appeasing her demanding, achievement-focused mother while enjoying an otherwise peaceful teenage life of sleeping late and hanging out with friends after school.

That all changes after she learns she’s the reincarnation of a destroyed magic kingdom’s crown princess after she and her two closest friends end up in a life-threatening situation. Now she has her past incarnations and somehow her own future self as distinct consciousnesses in her head, each with their own agenda — one that doesn’t necessarily line up with Kylie’s own interests.

Even worse, her past two incarnations were killed by the same man… and he’s coming for her next. If she doesn’t adapt to her new life of magic and secrets, making A’s to appease her mom will be the least of her concerns — she’ll be just as dead as the incarnations body-sharing with her.

Riyati Rebirth is the first book in a new adult/adult contemporary, low dark fantasy series that seeks to explore themes of identity, legacy, generational trauma, and finding your own path in life. The series is set in the modern day fictional Southern US town of Opal Pines and includes multiple first person perspectives with characters across a range of queer, neurodiverse, and socioeconomic statuses.

 

"Prince Ewald the Brave" by Dylan Madeley

"No, father. You have gotten your way for too long. This ends here."

Meet the Kenderleys, the wealthiest and most powerful family in the world.

The youngest, Prince Bonifaz, takes his lessons and trusts no one. The middle child, Princess Isabel, sneaks away to a secret regency of her own making. Their mother, Queen Dulcibella, watches out for her children just as readily as she watches over them. Their father, King Jonnecht, is a capricious tyrant who hopes to control his family as strictly as he does the largest empire, and his violent rage threatens all under his rule.

Then there’s Prince Ewald, eldest and heir to the throne. No one is more aware of the threat his father poses to everyone. No one has better legal standing to do anything about it. How can he save everyone he loves while upholding his mother’s kind values? He must learn the lessons required to be the best regent, choose allies wisely and earn their trust, and enact a thoughtful and detailed plan.

And even if he succeeds in all that, can one who draws the line and conducts a plan with honour defeat one whose rage, selfishness, and deceit know no bounds?

Can Prince Ewald the Brave stop his father?

Cover by Jenn St-Onge.

  

"No Land For Heroes" by Cal Black

Mildred Berry is down to her last four bullets…

In a wild west where the only things more dangerous than outlaws are dragons, Deputy Berry is struggling to protect her town and keep her family fed. As a last resort, she robs a train for ammunition only to find that the cargo she needs so badly was owned by war hero Frederic Rousseau.

The same Frederic Rousseau whom she served during the Amelior Civil War. The same Frederic Rousseau she’s been hiding from for the last five years.

Millie knows a secret that could ruin Rousseau’s life, and he’ll stop at nothing to keep her from telling the truth. With her violent past bearing down on the life she’s built for herself, Millie has to decide how far she’ll be willing to go to keep her town safe.

No Land For Heroes is the first of a series. 

 

"Journey Home" by May Barros

Amara e Luiza are two witches that live in a queerplatonic relationship. When Luiza decides to embark on a journey throught the galaxy in a quest for the lost fortress of Laura, the Dragon Queen, she ends up finding more than expected, while Amara follows her footsteps, hoping it's not too late.

"Journey Home" is a standalone book by May Barros.

 

"Rider's Blood, Moonlit Black" by Myka Silber

Henry’s a gunslinger, good with horses. He’s also got a secret, and he’s pretty damn sure it’s going to get him killed.

He was doing well at keeping it, up until a new job – he and the Cap’n’s crew are hired to escort a magi to the capital. Nothing’s right about the job – the magi asks too many questions, she’s got a royal name, she’s traveling alone. Worst of all, she wants to detour into the Red Canyon, a place men don’t come back from.

The dark side of ambition reveals every secret of Henry and his companions as they are forced to go into the hidden depths of the canyon and face off against horrors in the darkness. Not everyone will make it out alive, but they’ve promised each other to leave no one behind. The strongest bonds are forged in blood after all.

"Rider's Blood, Moonlit Black" is a standalone Weird Western by Myka Silber.

 

"In the End" by Alexandra Rowland

The Fallen Angel Lucien never expected the world to end. Inconveniently enough, it did. He and Lalael, an angel of the Higher Realm, are abandoned to make their way in what's left of the world.

It has changed, however.

Uncountable humans have died or vanished, and leftover groups are determined to survive however they can, fighting off new dangers and killing anything they do not understand.

But demons were not the only thing released into the world at the End: A strange new power fills the world, and no one knows what this might bring.

"In the End" is a standalone book by Alexandra Rowland.

"Balance" by Inghild Økland

A runaway princess. Time-twisting magic. When a handsome stranger comes to save her, rejection is what he’ll find.

Horrified by the prospect of an arranged marriage, Princess Vildi escapes home and smarmy suitors in favor of the adventure she always wanted. But upon entering the desert, she discovers that she’s hunted by a sinister, unknown enemy intent on her life. A desperate game of cat and mouse begins. Alone and trapped in the clutches of deadly magic, rescue comes in the form of a handsome stranger.

But Sirion is as mysterious as he is charming. As Princess Vildi feels herself falling for her savior, she realizes her very freedom and survival are in peril. For deeply hidden secrets seem to hide in the depths of his stormy blue eyes.

Can she risk her life to give him her heart?

Balance is a strangers-to-lovers story about a headstrong heroine, time-twists, and a stranger’s dark secret. If you like fantasy, romance, and a touch of danger, let yourself be whisked away on Vildi’s journey.

 

"Nomads of the Sea" by Coby Zucker

In the Nisi Archipelago, a civil war festers. Zealous insurgents burn villages across the islands in an effort to return the Mangaal people to the sea and free themselves of their Lyssan overlords.

Sig of the Midandaal, the son of a diplomat, must combat the growing threat. As he stamps down the rebellion, he quickly finds his talent for bloodshed surpassing his talent for peace.

Idalia Goss is attached to the Lyssan company that has been sent to aid the loyalists. The daughter of a renowned physician and arcane scholar, her task is to learn more about the Mangaal mages, who far outstrip the mainland sorcerers. Her efforts are hindered by the dark reputation of her predecessors.

Back on Lyssa, Bryn Urien, the Inferno of Mochan Pass, has lost his spark. Once, as the foremost mage of the royal army, he slew indiscriminately in the name of his queen. Now, he finds himself enfeebled and on the run.

Witness the beginnings of the storied band of soldiers who came to be known as the Fishgut Guard in Boon One: Nomads of the Sea.

 

 

"A Thief Among Liars" by E. A. Whyte

Ceylon, thief and Daughter of the Underworld, has always known she would succeed her father’s command of the kingdom’s most ruthless guild. But when she botches a job—foiled by her sworn enemy, Malachi—her father’s faith in her crumbles, and Ceylon is given one final chance to prove herself: steal the heart of her enemy or lose her chance to lead.

Though Ceylon’s romantic experience is, well, non-existent, she won’t risk her future position for anything, and she infiltrates his guild. But Malachi has his own agenda, and the longer Ceylon is with him, the more she realizes her father has been keeping secrets from her—like importing enough ammunition to start a world war. With the fate of her kingdom in the balance, Ceylon must decide who to trust, who to love, and who to kill. And if there is any limit to what she’ll give to become the leader of the Underworld... including her own heart.

Daring thieves and long-time rivals makes E.A. Whyte's debut novel "A Thief Among Liars" perfect for fans of Dance of Thieves and Six of Crows.

Content warnings: language, violence, familial abuse, guns, poisoning, hostages

 

"The Dark Side of Reverence" by F. M. Hepton

ABOUT THE BOOK

What begins as a routine assignment quickly spirals into a battle for survival, thrusting Cane into the heart of a rebellion led by… monks?! With the once-peaceful realm of Valoria teetering on the brink of chaos, Cane uncovers the dark forces at play—an insidious plot helmed by the evil Duke Nieman, whose black corruption spreads through the land like an unseen, macabre curse. 

At the center of it all looms the enigmatic High Priestess Atropa, a figure steeped in occult power, whose ultimate goal is nothing short of Valoria’s complete domination. As Cane fights to untangle the web of lies and betrayal, he encounters magical creatures and uncovers an ancient key that may hold the answers to it all. But not all is doom and despair. Alongside his unlikely companions, Cane discovers moments of wit and humorous camaraderie, even in the bleakest corners of his new world in turmoil.

And then there’s Baroness Gradunce, whose beauty and mysterious allure leave Cane questioning everything—even his own heart. As the battle rages on, Cane must navigate a perilous quest to save Valoria, facing mythical powers, haunting revelations, and the chilling truth: not everything that shines is gold, and some truths are better left unknown.

The Ascendance Trilogy

• The Dark Side of Reverence
• Shadows Over Valoria (Coming in April 2025)
  
• Dominion (Coming in November 2025)
  

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Francesca is the author of over 15 books and has made the leap from fun kids' books to dark fantasy. She loves delving into the weird and wonderful, whether it’s ancient stone circles, esoteric myths or the unexpected miracles lurking in the woodlands. She’s the mother of two strapping lads and is lucky enough to live in North Yorkshire, where the gothic landmarks inspire, the pies are to die for, and the weather has a unique way of shaking creativity out of its slumber (the Yorkshire version of Kundalini yoga is a bracing walk through the dales and moors in the icy cold rain).

Passionate about a healthy body and mind, Francesca helps children grow strong and confident through Kiki and Friends and her journaling course. She also volunteers as a fitness instructor at a local club—because dark fantasy authors need to stay battle-ready.