fantasy – high & other world

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Summary: Every story has an ending… Connor always had memories of lives not his own. Snippets of conversations and awful yearning have dogged his steps and made him question his sanity. His only anchor is his sister and her belief in his stories of a cosmic black dragon. His obsession leads him to search for answers among the sacred mountains of the world... and what he finds is almost more than he can handle. Asagoroth, the last dragon, has awakened after centuries of slumber, ready to reclaim his angel and their love. Undeterred that his angel is in the body of a human, Asagoroth embraces him as his own. But the world has changed. The children have become violent and destructive. And the former conqueror of realms has run out of patience. For the love he and Asagoroth have shared over eons, Connor must find the courage to take the final step on his quest for immortality… and through their love, he hopes to save humanity from draconic retribution.

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Summary: “I won’t leave you alone, my dragon. Your angel will always return to you.” The Great Union. The Great Assault. The same event with different truths. For some angels, they find their perfect mates among the demons who follow Asagoroth through the heavenly gates. For others, they wish to forget and return to their blessed peace among the stars. For Trystan, he’s trying to balance building a new society alongside his sister, the angelic peers who once shunned and shamed him, and their demon mates, while being a good parent to his adopted son, Adam. Finding himself on the council and a valued member of his community has given Trystan hope and determination to make their venture succeed. However, there’s one truth that most concerns him: Asagoroth is immortal. Trystan is not. If Trystan wants to protect the children and save the cosmos from annihilation, he must discover what Roland knew. Only his love can temper Asagoroth’s wrath and thirst for vengeance... for the great dragon doesn’t forgive, and he doesn’t forget. Reader Discretion advised: This story deals with dark themes, including mentions of sexual assault and infant death. 

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Summary: For the first time, sci-fi and fantasy author J. Scott Coatsworth has brought together four of his sci-fantasy tales in one book: The Great North: Dwyn is a young man in a small, isolated northern town, son of the Minstor, betrothed to marry the beautiful Kessa in just weeks. Mael is shepherding the remains of his own people from Land’s End, farther north, chased out by a terrible storm that destroyed his town. Both are trying to find their way in a post-apocalyptic world. When they meet, their love may change the world and the course of history. Homecoming: Spaceman meets wolfman. When his own world is destroyed, Aldiss and his crew barely manage to escape, leaving friends and lovers behind in a mad dash for survival. When they awaken from deep sleep on Earth, abandoned by humanity five centuries before, they must quickly learn about their new home. Then he meets Hari, a human-wolf hybrid, whose people harbor secrets which just might cost them their lives. The Autumn Lands: Jerrith is running. Kissed by an elf, he can't remain in his hometown of Althos any more. Caspian still hasn't figured out why he kissed Jerrith, but he's running too. Since he was exiled from the Autumn Lands, his past has been hazy, and his future uncertain. When a stray memory brings things into focus, the two decide to run toward something together. What they uncover will change their lives forever. Cailleadhama: Colton is a trans man living in a climate-changed world. He plies canals that used to be city streets, earning a living on San Francisco's flooded verge beneath the Wall. Tris is an elf who goes through the veil on a coming of age pilgrimage called the Cailleadhama, searching for his brother Laris. The two men find common cause, and together they set off through a world transformed by greed and climate change.

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Summary: Once upon a time, before the hunts, dragons were plentiful in the world. Now they exist only in legend…except in the land of Ivria. Felix is a prince, cousin of the current king, ward of the old one. Knowing he would never sit on the throne, he set himself to become something else—the king's best spy. Aside from a trusted few, people know him as a frivolous, flirtatious prince. They don't see the keen mind behind the charming smile or the love of family and quiet behind the silks and jewels. They certainly don't know he is the eyes and ears of the king. Felix still blames himself for not discovering the plot against Ivria and its king at its beginning, and he's determined to find the remaining members of the conspiracy. If the commander of the King's Guard will get out of his way. Alan is commander of the King's Guard, a role he set himself on the path toward when he was very young. He takes his duty seriously, so seriously there is little room for anything else in his life—not the pastimes he used to enjoy or family or even love. Especially now with the heightened danger to the royal family. He crushed his attraction to the beautiful Prince Felix long ago, but when he finds out Felix is more than he appears, Alan immediately becomes suspicious. Is Felix working for the king or against him? Alan won't let himself be fooled by a pretty face that hides so much, no matter how he used to feel. But the real danger is closer than Felix or Alan realizes, and they're going to have to get over their animosity for each other—and deal with the desire that sparks when they do—if they're going to survive it.

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Summary: “If you’re so obsessed with the truth, you need to look a little closer to home.” At the party celebrating Derry’s knighthood, Kyer learns a terrible truth—her “Guardian” is none other than Golgathaur, lieutenant to Dregor himself. Faced with rescuing the one person who holds the key to her identity, Kyer must use her newfound magical talent to enter the realm of her enemy, alone. There, Golgathaur reveals something that will not only change her life, but also the lives of those whom she holds most dear. He demands an impossible choice, even as Kyer is thunderstruck by yet another magical discovery. Realizing that her motivations are agonizingly interconnected with her enemy leads to an inconvenient truth: each needs the other alive to achieve their goals. Worse, one she thought she could trust is hiding the most terrible secret of all. Kyer and the company led by Lord Valrayker soon find themselves on a journey to carry out a horrific deed in order to save Rydris from a terrible fate. Even those who have already fled are in peril. Preorder the electrifying penultimate book in the Gatekeeper fantasy trilogy-in-five-parts today. “Gatekeeper’s Crucible introduced me to the fantasy series I didn’t know I sorely needed. With rich, well-woven world building, resilient heroes, and wretched villains, Wallace had me under her spell from the first word to the last.” ~ Cait Gordon, award-winning co-editor of Nothing Without Us Too and author of Speculative Shorts: Stories that fell out of my brain

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Summary: Faelen, cousin to the prince and son of a diplomat, has finally come home to Tournai after years away. The pull to return was almost tangible, and the sense of rightness at being back is absolute. He wants nothing more than to put down roots and build a life among family while pursuing his linguistic studies. Becoming involved in magic meant to protect Tournai isn’t part of his plans…and falling in love is even more unexpected and unfamiliar, but he finds himself doing just that as his friendship with Maxen deepens into something more. Maxen, second son of a wealthy merchant family, longs to leave Tournai and visit everywhere he can. All his life, he’s found places on maps and dreamed, planning out routes to get to them. For now, he’s tied to Tournai’s capital city by family obligations and his position in their shipping business. Someday, though, he’ll be able to travel. His sudden attraction to Faelen shocks him, but their friendship soon becomes a necessary part of his life. Love, however, has no place in his plans, especially not love for a royal cousin with secrets who wants nothing more than to stay in one place. For Faelen and Maxen to build something real between them, they must resolve their differences, but when magic goes awry and all Faelen’s secrets are revealed, will Maxen remain at his side?

Word Count: Click here to reveal107100 (Click here to hide)

Summary: Alexander is doing his best to settle into life in Tournai’s royal palace after years living outside the country due to his father’s diplomatic work.The sense of belonging and home he feels is overwhelming, but none of his plans are going as he imagined. Many see him as only a lovely, charming adornment of the royal court and underestimate both his intelligence and abilities. His attraction to Marcus, a mysterious olderman who does work for the prince, Alexander’s cousin, is unexpected butnot unwelcome...if Marcus could possibly see who Alexander really is. Lord Marcus is the second son of a minor noble family, a widower raisingtwo children...and the prince’s spymaster. He knows his work isnecessary for the security of the kingdom and its royal family, but he also knows it can be distasteful and dangerous to him and those around him. Marcus has vowed never to fall in love again, never to put anyone else at risk—a promise threatened for the first time by the vibrant, flirtatious Alexander. The attraction is unwelcome and entirely undeniable. Hecan’t believe someone like Alexander would want someone like him, but he also can’t stay away. As they become ever more entangled, Marcus is investigating rumors ofspies at work in Tournai’s university. As he gets closer to uncovering their plot, Alexander is drawn deeper into danger. Can their love survive when Alexander is put in peril by the very spies Marcus is hunting for?

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Summary: Second son of an earl and cousin to the Crown Prince, Griffen has worked hard to forge a career in diplomacy for the principality of Tournai, but he never expected his diplomatic skills would be necessary for a problem so personal to him and his family. A delegation from the mysterious kingdom of Ivria has come to Tournai to make sure the secret of their people—the magical Talent allowing them to change into dragons—and therefore their kingdom itself remain safe. The delegation is concerned with Corentin, an Ivrian, and the man Griffen’s older brother is soon to marry. The Ivrians seem to want to drag Corentin back to Ivria for the offense of revealing their secret, but Griffen refuses to let it happen. His determination puts him into contact—and conflict—with Kirill, a negotiator for the king of Ivria who possesses the dragon Talent himself. The two clash and connect, getting closer and pulling away as they try to negotiate the needs of their people and an unwanted attraction between themselves. However, just as trust might be growing between them, a plot is uncovered and a member of the Ivrian delegation murdered. Griffen and Kirill must discover who is behind both for the safety of their countries and the people they love…and for a chance to be together.

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Summary: As the first-born son of a royal duke and cousin to the prince, Cathal has always put his duty to family and country first, even when it conflicts with his own wishes. When Cathal’s father arranges a marriage between him and Velia, cousin to the emperor of Ardunn, without consulting him, he sees no alternative but to go along with his plans for the good of Tournai. But it’s Velia’s companion, Flavia, who fascinates Cathal from the moment he first sets eyes on her. Cathal doesn’t know Flavia is really Flavian, an artist masquerading as a woman to escape Ardunn, a restrictive and repressive place where Flavian’s preference for men is forbidden. Even when Cathal discovers Flavian’s identity, even as he struggles with his obligations and duty, he cannot fight his attraction to the sharp-tongued artist. Flavian is intrigued by him as well, but Cathal is still betrothed to Velia, and Flavian worries he is more taken with the feminine illusion Flavian presents than the man beneath it. He came to Tournai to start a new life—a safe one—as an artist, and an inconvenient attraction to his friend’s betrothed, a man who happens to be a member of the royal family, is not a part of his plans. While both men battle their longings for each other, spies from Ardunn infiltrate the capital, attempting to uncover Tournai’s weaknesses and secrets. They are also searching for Flavian, who possesses a magical Talent giving him the ability to see the truth of a person just by painting their portrait—something that would be invaluable to Ardunn’s emperor.

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Summary: Though he is the youngest son of a royal duke, Etan is a scholar at heart, happiest in a library surrounded by his books. He contentedly juggles his work for the prince’s government with his studies of the history and legends of Tournai, a subject of particular interest to him because he shares the secret magical Talent that runs in the royal bloodline. However, Etan’s peaceful world turns upside down when his best friend—the man he secretly loves—unexpectedly marries someone else. Tristan is the oldest son of a wealthy merchant, raised to shoulder responsibility for the family business one day. That day comes far sooner than anticipated, and he makes a deathbed promise to his father to marry the woman his father chose and become head of the company and family. Tristan values his friendship with Etan and has always been attracted to him, but he can’t forsake his duty to his father, even if it means giving up the possibility of having Etan as a lover. A year later, Tristan is a widower with an infant daughter and a mother who demands he marry again quickly—something Tristan resists. Circumstances throw Etan and Tristan together again, but even as they succumb to the desires they’ve always harbored, Etan battles his feelings, wary of being cast aside once more. When the unimaginable happens, Etan and Tristan must come together and support each other through the ordeal…and maybe beyond.

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Summary: Savarin honed his Talent through years of study, and to achieve his goal of becoming the most powerful and accomplished sorcerer in Tournai, he made magic his life. Among the wealthy and noble circles he moves in, no one would suspect the handsome, refined, arrogant sorcerer’s humble beginnings—which is how Savarin prefers it. He wants to be seen only as the man he’s made himself. When Tournai’s princes task Savarin with studying and strengthening the spells that protect the principality from magical attack, he is more than happy to do so. The spells are complex, centuries old, and exactly the type of puzzle Savarin is eager to solve. But to his annoyance, the princes insist Loriot accompany him on his journey. Second son of a minor noble family, Loriot worked his way up the ranks of the royal guard to captain with single-minded determination and takes pride in his service to the crown. He must obey the prince’s orders to protect Savarin, despite believing his skills would be best used elsewhere and his wariness of magic. UnTalented himself, Loriot has learned not only the benefits of magic but also its potential for harm—and how to counter it. He still believes it’s best to avoid most magic entirely, which is difficult when he’s tasked with playing guard to a powerful sorcerer. Loriot and Savarin clash repeatedly during their journey, but the simmering tension between them doesn’t only stem from their work, and passion develops into feelings neither expected. But Savarin must still secure Tournai’s magical barrier, and his only solution will endanger both him and the royal family.

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Summary: Corentin is a scholar with a secret—his magical Talent allows him to turn into a dragon, and he isn’t alone in that ability. Long ago, dragons were hunted fiercely, until they went into hiding, becoming things of legend. Corentin has traveled the world with one aim—to protect his people and keep their secret safe. Drawn to the principality of Tournai by news of someone close to discovering that secret, he hopes to avert suspicion. His attraction to the too-serious Bastien isn’t convenient for his purpose, but it isn’t something he can ignore either. Lord Bastien, Earl of Ardesia, inherited his title unexpectedly when his parents were killed in a sailing accident along with the parents of his cousin, Prince Philip. Since then, Bastien has devoted his life to the obligations of his family and estate—so much so, that it has caused tension between him and his siblings. His world is further shaken when he receives an anonymous letter informing him that the tragic boating accident may, in fact, have been murder. Bastien throws himself into investigating whether the allegations are true and finding out who killed his parents. As Corentin and Bastien become closer, the mystery of Bastien’s parents’ death draws him further into danger. Corentin feels compelled to protect Bastien, but the threat is closer than they know. Now, Corentin must decide whether preserving his secret—and potentially his people’s safety—is more important than saving the man he loves.

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Summary: Legends tell of large cats defending the principality of Tournai, but such creatures are only myth. Or are they? Prince Philip inherited the throne of Tournai at a young age, and since then, his life has centered around ruling his country and resisting those pressuring him to do as they want both in matters of governance and those more personal. He’s become isolated and lonely. Amory is the second son of a wealthy merchant who has never approved of anything about him or had any use for him. Until now. When kind-hearted Amory is offered to the prince in exchange for more time for Amory’s merchant father to complete a commission, both Philip and Amory are horrified. But Philip agrees to keep Amory at the palace, where they gradually become friends, then lovers. For the first time in his life, Philip is free to share not only his heart, but the magical shape-shifting ability that runs in the royal bloodline—something the royal family has kept secret from all but those closest to them for generations. Neither Amory nor Philip imagined falling in love, and they certainly don’t expect what those who oppose their relationship will do to keep them apart—maybe even resorting to murder.

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Summary: Edmund is heir to the throne of Thalassa and a wielder of Water magic. Devoted to his kingdom and his duty to it, Edmund can do nothing but acquiesce to an arranged marriage with the queen of a neighboring kingdom. The marriage and the child it is required to produce will seal an alliance between Thalassa and Aither that is vital to Thalassa’s safety, and far more important than Edmund’s personal misgivings. Arden is the younger brother of Aither’s queen and a wielder of Air magic. Raised in the politics of the court to support his sister’s rule, he understands the alliance is important to Aither, even as he worries about his sister marrying someone she’s never met. When Edmund arrives in Aither to prepare for the wedding, Arden is tasked with helping him settle in at court. As they spend more time together, Edmund and Arden develop a close friendship, then stronger feelings, but with Edmund’s wedding approaching, they must hide their feelings, even from themselves. When someone tries to assassinate the queen, Edmund is blamed, and Arden rescues him before he can be executed for a crime he didn’t commit. To prevent a war between their kingdoms and protect them from a dangerous enemy, Edmund and Arden will have to discover who wants to pit Aither and Thalassa against each other and mend relations between the two kingdoms as they evade those searching for them—all while finding a way to be together.

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Summary: Prince Edmund of Thalassa and Prince Arden of Aither are eagerly anticipating their upcoming wedding, but the danger to their kingdom hasn’t lessened. They have a plan, but they won’t be able to carry it out alone: they need a strong wielder of each Element, whom they can trust implicitly, to carry out the magic. Rhys is a commoner and wielder of Earth magic. He and his sister have made a living from the use of their magic for years and have become highly respected in scholarly circles, though he prefers a more simple life with his plants. When a message from Prince Arden reaches them asking for their help, they don’t hesitate. They stop only to request that Gaz, a strong Fire wielder and the man Rhys has long been enamored of, accompany them on the journey to Thalassa’s royal palace. What no one knows is that Gaz was once known as Prince Gareth of Thalassa and is Edmund’s younger brother, long believed dead. He fled his home after his Fire Affinity made itself known and put him in danger, and he had no intention of ever going back. But he can’t keep himself from going to his brother’s aid, despite the risk of discovery and of the weight of his secrets potentially crushing his fledgling relationship with Rhys. Working against time, they must find a way to come together in a magical working the likes of which none of them has ever imagined, or their homelands will surely burn.

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Summary: Ray Bradbury wrote, "...this book is wonderful!" in his review of War Eagles. A disgraced pilot, world against him, takes the only job he can get - to circumnavigate the globe to test a new plane. Crashing in a volcanic garden on an uncharted island over the arctic, he encounters a tribe of Vikings who ride giant eagles, treacherous prehistoric creatures and a secret Nazi airbase. When the Nazis attack America, the humiliated pilot bravely sets out with a small ragtag group to save his country. FIVE OUT OF FIVE STARS! "Wonderful story. War Eagles is a really good adventure story." amazon reader "WW2 with a dash of fantasy! I really enjoyed stepping back in time as the race for air travel was developing. One could truly feel the passion these pilots and engineers had for these magnificent machines. The twist of stepping back into a land of Vikings and dinosaurs was very well executed." amazon reader Inspired by a concept by Merian C. Cooper - the creator of King Kong.Just prior to the start of WWII a publicly humiliated Army Air Corps test pilot, court-martialed for an unauthorized flight that endangered the life of President Roosevelt, takes the only job he can get - flying an experimental airplane around the world from South to North poles. When his plane is attacked and crashes in the Arctic, he finds himself in an undiscovered land inhabited by a lost tribe of Norsemen who ride giant eagles and, in a surprising turn of events, becomes America's only hope against a devastating sneak attack by the Nazis and their powerful new electromagnetic weapon. Review excerpt: "... Debbie Bishop and Carl Macek 's War Eagles delivers a pulse-pounding adventure that blends historical fiction, fantasy, and aerial combat into an exhilarating story. The novel introduces us to court-martialed test pilot Court Bannister, who finds himself thrust into a lost world teeming with Viking warriors riding giant eagles and prehistoric beasts. From the moment his experimental aircraft is attacked over the Arctic, the story launches into a gripping tale of survival, discovery, and redemption. Bishop’s vivid descriptions of aerial maneuvers and intense dogfights immediately immerse the reader in the action, making the high-stakes battles feel incredibly real. What makes War Eagles so captivating is its seamless fusion of historical elements with fantastical concepts. The world-building is particularly strong, as Bishop and Macek bring to life an ancient civilization that has thrived in isolation for centuries, untouched by modern warfare."

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Summary: A mysterious curse befell Lisshardra Valley causing the people unbearable pain at the slightest contact of skin-to-skin. One day, Aya the village herbalist accidentally brushes hands with a traveling storyteller and discovers she is immune—but only to this man's touch. Together, guided by Aya's dream visions, this mismatched pair embarks on a quest to cure the rest of the world’s misery.

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Summary: As the tribes of the U'skar Qi descend upon the Old Myrian Empire, an ancient prophecy will awaken, and the hearts of warriors will be tested in the crucible of conflict. The Great Exodus has begun. Fleeing the relentless expansion of the Grand Empire of Xura, the U'skarite tribes set sail for the Old Myrian Empire. As the kingdom rallies its forces to defend against an invasion, Ara Zakarian, a loyal knight of the Autumn Queen, finds himself captured by the very tribe he was sent to defeat. The White-and-Vermilion Wolves, led by the fierce Sagra and the enigmatic Priestess Isra, are not just warriors; they are the last hope for the survival of their people. Bound by duty yet drawn to Isra's prophetic visions, Ara must choose between his loyalty to the crown and a burgeoning love that could change the course of history. As the battle rages and the wolves howl for blood, Ara's fate hangs in the balance. Can he broker peace before the bloodshed escalates, or will he become a pawn in a game far greater than himself? With the drums of war beating across the lands of Thearus, the songs of their deeds will be sung long after the last sword is drawn.

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Summary: "No hero would ride over the hill. Except for us." It's been fifty years since magery returned to the north. The citizens of the Sharren Accord have enjoyed decades of peace and prosperity. Giadella Marteen didn't mean to ruin that. Now her country's enemies are back. Gia and her friends are determined to set things right. But a greater threat, long brewing, is about to rise above them all. Fury's Gift is the final standalone sequel to the Woodspell Series and one of the Tales of Ardonna.

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Summary: In the wake of a catastrophic cataclysm that claimed the lives of both mortals and powerful gods, the remnants of mortal-kind begin to rebuild civilization in the world of Thearus. But, unseen by many is an ancient and evil force that seeks to bring darkness across the land once more. It is the era of the Ascension of Kings, a period of reconstruction after the catastrophic collapse which saw the death of the gods of the Ascended Pantheon and left the mortals of Thearus to rise from the ashes and begin anew. But, war, assassination, and betrayal still stalk the land, fueled by the mighty kingdoms and cults born from the fires of destruction, and ruled by powerful demi-gods. And now, the Sanctum Queen, Karayan, seeks to summon her twin patron goddesses, Sabah and Zesiro, onto the mortal plane to cast a shroud of darkness and chaos across the realm. If these Twin Deities of the Void succeed in returning to the world of Thearus, they will bring an end to civilization and the death of all who live on the land. Now, only a small group of nine unusual heroes stand in the way of the coming malevolence, and the Sanctum Queen’s dark plans. But, as the unlikely allies’ journey into the realm of an immortal prison known as the Penitent Sanctuary, they must face a terrible choice: free the Twin Deities of the Void and be granted another chance to live again, or face an eternity of tormented existence in purgatory.