Young Adult

It’s Ivy O’Connor’s last day alive, and for Hugo Wright it’s just another Thursday. But the Hicks-Cooper Comet is about to pass the earth for the first time in over a decade. And nothing will be the same ever again. Among the wreckage of the fallen Hicks-Cooper comet, Ivy wakes from a suicide attempt and discovers that her body will rapidly heal any wound inflicted upon it. Hugo is able to move things with his mind, fulfilling his childhood dream of wielding superpowers. Far from solving their problems, however, these abilities bring new challenges. Ivy is plagued by guilt over this miracle she does not feel she deserves, and haunted by ghosts from her past. Hugo is burdened with the need to save everyone he can, from the best friend he’s been fighting with for months to the niece haunted by nightmares. As the teens and their city of Cottonwood Rapids reckon with the fallout of the Hicks-Cooper, one question remains. Will they be able to bring light to the darkness within the city and themselves?

Secrets divide the Resistance. The Watchdogs grow in power. California is ready to collapse. Worst of all: Elijah let Trevor die. Devastated by his failure to protect Trevor, Elijah resigns himself to the safe haven while the three gang leaders establish the United Front to secure California. Yet life in the safe haven is not peaceful. Elijah relives Trevor’s death in his nightmares. The United Front calls him back to the war but never explains why. Elijah believes the United Front is concealing the truth about the Resistance’s impact on the war. His suspicions come to a head when five super-charged Watchdogs trap him in the mysterious city of Arcadia. With no food, water, or chance of contacting the United Front, Elijah has to find a way out, only to discover the uncomfortable reality of his place in the war. But Arcadia offers revenge and redemption for Trevor, and Elijah is willing to sacrifice his morals to achieve it, even if he breaks the team’s oath to never kill.

Kota Ryn wants only one thing: to return home. As the Drak Clan’s new chief, she has decided to lead her people back to where the threat of an enemy with powerful magic still awaits. But for Shaya Navi, something else waits in the North: answers. Since before her Crossing, she has felt the mountains calling, but she never understood why. Now she hopes that learning more about Tammae Lakki, her supposed past life, will bring her closer to understanding what she’s meant for in this one. Makai Farin made a promise: to follow Shaya to the ends of the earth. He intends to keep it, but—stalked by a phantom cougar with unknown intentions—he finds himself keeping secrets as well. Their destinies intertwined, the three brave the fury of the Northern mountains, working together to save the land from a tyrant and unravel the truth about their past lives.

Eamonn never wanted to be a thief. So when a risky mission goes awry and he receives the chance of a lifetime, he leaves behind everything, even his newfound family in the Thieves’ Guild, to pursue an apprenticeship as an honest merchant. Traveling the country means he sees and hears everything. Civil unrest, rebellions against the monarchies, and rumors of a usurper bent on uniting the provinces under himself with a mythical form of magic. Few suspect he’s not chasing a dead end, including village girl Leyna, a believer in the magic of ancient histories. Eamonn’s skeptical heart is also swayed once he finds himself the tyrant’s target, unknowingly possessing the key to harness the dangerous power. To protect it, Eamonn’s only choice is to flee. But now that it’s the mission of his former brothers in the Guild to hunt him down, keeping magic out of their hands might be harder than either Leyna or Eamonn thought possible. If they fall, though, their world does too.

Color, color everywhere! How it affects the mood of a story can either lighten our hearts or shade us in sorrows. In this literary fiction collection, color is the main character, and the settings and people the stage. Come along on a journey across worlds and times, and experience how the colors command you with every page. You never know what you’ll find hidden, gleaming within the typed lines. For some stories or poems, there are no clear beginnings, middles, and ends; they just flow where the brush takes them. Others are gentle hues of inks and blues or sharp reds and earthy browns. Stop and look around. What do you see? This novella contains 6 poems and 4 short stories that make for a quick, fun read.

Elijah is the Leader Elect, the face of the Resistance. With it comes chaos, a chaos he must embrace. Elijah is kidnapped into a secluded society in Egypt containing the world’s most abundant source of Throngorian. Its history connects to Leon Abel, who has his sights on its Throngorian. Because of Elijah’s newfound notoriety, he is entrusted to set an alliance with Egypt to protect the Throngorian. However, Leon Abel is not the only threat. OWA, an international peace organization with unprecedented global power, sets its will against him and the Resistance. But Elijah learns their influence stems from puppet masters manipulating every government in the war. With a deeper understanding of the game of war, Elijah welcomes the challenge. But he is tormented and distracted by his childhood trauma of his brother and nightmares of the war. Elijah can embrace the chaos, if only he becomes the monster he swore to never return to.

A faerie without magic. A prisoner with everything. A monster that devours the moon. For the fae, magic is everything: status, power, wealth, and honor. For Vera Reite, a faerie born without magic, it is a shameful reminder that she will never amount to anything. But the moon is shrinking. Soon, the source of power for the Moon Court will be lost, and the fae will cease without it. When Vera learns the culprit is a monster that feeds off the magic of fae, she finds a glimmer of hope. Should she succeed in killing it, she may be able to steal its great power for herself and become a true faerie. The ancient beast is not so easily slayed, and Vera’s arrogance threatens to destroy her. The woods where the monster lurks abound in secrets and, at the core, they hide an even deadlier weapon: a long forgotten project and its prisoner. If Vera wishes to survive, she and the mysterious prisoner must work together to kill the monster before the Moon Court is devoured. Print versions of CRESCENT include 30+ original illustrations by the author.

What is power without control? Aurora dreams of surpassing the Demi-Gods, but her rare elemental magic comes from an unstable source within her that she struggles to keep in check. It doesn't stop her from wreaking havoc, though, and she's nothing but excited about the rising bounty on her head. But when she garners the attention of Princess Polaris, the daughter of one of the most feared Demi-Gods on earth, her entire world is shaken. With secrets of her own identity revealed to her and a terrorist organization placing a giant target on her back, Aurora agrees to travel with Polaris back to their native homeland. They can barely tolerate each other, but with Aurora's erratic power growing stronger, and a vengeful, katana-wielding vampire seeking to steal it from her, they are forced to set aside their differences to survive and reach their home in one piece. That is, if Aurora's magic doesn't destroy them first. The Crimson Witch is the first book of the epic YA Dark fantasy action-adventure series Gorgon, full of thrilling battles, witty banter, fierce characters, and hints of brutal, bloodcurdling horror! Fans of Naruto, Percy Jackson, and Fullmetal Alchemist will be captivated by this action-packed tale with a fresh take on mythological and fantastical beings! Readers will also be in store for a heartwarming tale of the growing bond between sisters.

Solyana brought the green, but the prophecy is far from fulfilled. Fully embracing her destiny, she charges toward the city of Thonethren to save her sister, and all of Mothmar, from the Taka Reu worshiping King Erval. Pallah thought she found the home of her dreams in the courts of Erval, only to stumble straight into a nightmare. To find her brother, she must redeem her broken soul, or lose them both to destruction. Jonas spent his life unraveling truth from legends, but the greatest truth continues to evade him. Uncovering the secrets of the stars means the life or death of his friends—if only he can get it in time. These three, along with an abandoned girl, an ousted queen, and a sneaking steward, must run head-long to save the world before the coming Red Moon and certain demise.

With her newly acquired Gift burning inside her, Solyana Marusda evades the Taka Reu while in search of uncovering the prophecy’s secrets. But the answers are paved in sacrifices that make her wonder whether she is the savior of her people or their destruction. Growing in her connection with the Mother Below yet separated from all that she’s ever loved, Pallah searches for a place of belonging only to find herself the instrument of chaos. Compelled by forces beyond her control, there is no way of telling what is or isn’t her own will. All the while, someone is watching, waiting—with more sinister schemes than either girl can know.

Born without a Gift, Solyana is an unlikely savior. But when blizzards and prophecies compel her, Solyana plans to journey into greater Mothmar–where every previous expedition has led to death. Unwinding the mysteries of the past and present, Solyana’s choices could spell survival or extinction and unknowingly bind her to another . . . Disdained by her father and overshadowed by her siblings, Pallah finds home with a group of elusive zealots. Discovering her Gift is forbidden only pushes Pallah to obey the persistent voice in her head, moving her toward a decision that could end in irreversible darkness. Can Solyana find the truth to the prophecy before she is thrust into the awaiting abyss? Can Pallah discover her true purpose before her world collapses in on itself?

In the peaceful and secluded Konota Valley, every 16-year-old must embark on a sacred journey to find their animal soul keeper. The life-long bond protects their soul from malicious demons that would devour it, leaving behind an empty husk. As the mostly ignored misfit, Shaya has always felt isolated within her own village, but she hopes finding her keeper will also help her find a purpose. Instead, her return with a bizarre and frightening beast only leaves her more confused. She soon learns her keeper is a drakon, a legendary creature from the northern mountains, but that knowledge does nothing to win her the acceptance she longs for. When drakon riders invade the valley, Shaya’s people begin to question her loyalty. The invaders might offer what she’s always wanted, but she must decide whether finally belonging is worth betraying the few people who still believe in her.

Armies gather. Dark magic stirs. A renewed threat stands at the heart of it all. After Eamonn’s captivity and Leyna’s daring rescue, both long to return to a normal life. Their peace is short-lived when a new amulet emerges—powered by Eamonn’s blood and wielded by Rothgard, who they presumed to be dead. As Rothgard seizes control of the provinces, Eamonn is determined to make up for his failures by visiting the magical realm of Avaria. While learning more about his newly discovered heritage, Eamonn contends with the darker side of his power—and what he’s willing to risk for revenge. With new alliances come greater challenges and deeper betrayals. Eamonn and Leyna find themselves torn between love and vengeance while the future of their country hangs in the balance.

The battle for Opal's life has already begun. In a world planted from tragedy, with an everlasting-beauty lost, and legends reawakening, something sinister beckons to her heart. When her hope of belonging is dashed after the Lore-wielding rite of passage, the mark of an outcast appears on her skin. With her sister and childhood friend on a trip to another city, Nevma, Opal's dragonfly companion, is the only friend she has left. Other than the boy she keeps running into. But when he, along with the whole town of Wisptale, discovers she was rejected as a Lore-wielder, her disappointment at their budding friendship forces her to the edge of darkness. Now, she must choose where she belongs, in the truth of life or in the shadowy embrace of a lie. Her choice sends her on a forbidden quest to find The Lost Garden. It's the only way to save Nevma's life... Or is it to save her own? Noura has one purpose outside the Rim, and it's a mission that hasn't been given in forty years. Drawn to Wisptale by two souls living there, Noura must learn to navigate life in a new world and befriend the two girls she was sent to guide. When her brother shows up, she realizes this is much bigger than Wisptale. Darkness is stirring across the water. Can she save her new friends, or will the enemy reach them first?

As California recovers from the devastation of the Gang Wars, a missile strikes, bringing a world war with it. Thirteen-year-old Elijah Samuel’s life as a football star and master of three martial arts takes a turn for the worst when an undetected missile strikes California. Far away, a terrorist has declared war on all countries that have Throngorian—a new metal with untapped scientific potential. School is canceled. Evacuations have started. Roads are empty. No one is safe. But Elijah has to fight. That is how he functions, stemming from an old promise to his brother, who was tormented by bullies: stand against adversity. Elijah escapes to a haven and becomes vital to the war effort by befriending the three gang leaders who ravaged California. Now, there is a chance to stop the invasion. That is if the gang leaders work together… and if Elijah is willing to lose his life.

Elijah has survived, and he was always meant to. Because of the United Front’s sacrifice, the Resistance lives on. After a narrow escape from Leon Abel, the true nature of the Contingency Plan is revealed: the Resistance can win the war if Elijah chooses to go all in. To his surprise, the world recognizes him as the face of the team, and the Resistance accepts him as the Leader Elect. Yet Elijah is hesitant. Without letting go of the childhood trauma of his brother and dealing with his nightmares of the war, he cannot be what is asked of him. If he leaves the team, the United Front will have died in vain. But the war will not wait for his decision. An attack separates the Resistance, and Leon Abel is not the only threat as a global power seeks to govern unchallenged. Pressure mounts on Elijah to step on the world stage. But there is one variable he never had to consider: love.

When happily ever after seems impossible, a fairy godmother finds a way… Zelda Ravensdale has always wanted to be a fairy godmother, but before the training wings come off, she must convince wayward Prince Leo to keep his crown. The search for Leo’s happily ever after leads them to a magical conspiracy involving a shoemaker, elves, and a dangerous consortium of magic thieves. While running around in search of answers, Zelda soon finds herself falling for the flirtatious Prince Charming. But could love with off-limits-Leo be worth risking her role in the fairytale and losing the happily ever after she’s always dreamed of?

I’m not that girl anymore . . . Aurora settles into her new life as a Gorgon royal in the Pearl Kingdom, but she isn’t satisfied with playing princess like her sister Polaris. Under an alias, she takes to the streets to fight crime, gaining the notoriety and admiration she’s always desired. But when a demonic minotaur appears and proves to be a part of her murky past, Aurora realizes just how in over her head she is. If that weren't perilous enough, the beast also belongs to the infamous Vipers organization that terrorized her last spring, and they now seek a Divine Stone capable of rejuvenating their sinister leader. Aurora, along with her newfound friends—Mira Lily, an amnesiac vampire with fae abilities, and Ryio Sorahi, an ex-royal half-dragon who prioritizes his own survival over all else—must stop the Vipers from restoring the world's greatest terror. . . . but I can’t beat them without that power. While Aurora is strong in her own right, pushing the boundaries of her magic will force her to rely on the power that has cost her the lives of her loved ones before. Worst of all, she risks exposing her identity as the Crimson Witch, which would not only push her new friends away, but also risk her life living with Polaris. Will Aurora have to resort to using the demonic power that would cause her to lose everything? Or will she lose everything if she doesn’t use that power?

Villainous girl meets too-good-to-be-true prince Brazen lawbreaker Lyla makes a name for herself in gentry society, leaving her victims behind with a single poisonous kiss. A prince, fueled by guilt and willing to risk everything for his kingdom and family, orchestrates a chance encounter with the infamous Lyla—an encounter that changes all the rules. His rules. But when their paths collide, the line between justice and desire begins to blur. As the mystery of Lyla’s true origin unravels and her crimes draw dangerous attention, she is forced into a world she has long avoided—one filled with magic, power, and truths she may not want revealed. Set in a fantastical reimagined Pre-Victorian world, this novel is perfect for fans of The Cruel Prince , The Rose Bargain , and Once Upon a Broken Heart. A cozy epic tale between a villainous beauty and a prince who doesn’t know when to quit.

Beauty. Nobility. Grace. Olisand’s newest, starry-eyed fairy godmother has it all and is eager to prove to her new mentor she has what it takes to be the best godmother the “home of Happily Ever Afters” has ever seen. When she learns her best friend has a crush on the crown prince, she hatches a brilliant plan to bring the pair together. The only problem: her best friend is a troll, and the prince is her childhood nemesis who wants nothing to do with magic and romance. It would be a fairytale ending for the ages, if only love were as simple as a wave of a wand. A swampy Emma x Swan Lake Retelling

The Nameless of Ginah Valley is a YA Fantasy coming-of-age story, the first book in the Keepers of Talaneamh series, filled with nature & artisan magic, prophecies, hidden identities, a sentient forest, and an endearing band of misfits. If you love fairytale retellings, underdog heroes, and whimsical settings, this enchanting story will sweep you into another world. In three days, she will turn fifteen. In three days, she will be nameless. On the edge of the wasteland, gifted landworkers sing the twelve Songs of Talaneamh, harnessing the magic of Earth and Sky to tame the rebellious land. But for giftless, stuttering Nourahna Cesaret, the Songs remind her that she doesn’t belong. When Nourahna's father is promoted, the Cesarets are faced with the predicament of presenting their nameless daughter to guild society. But before their move, a mysterious woman saves their district, and Nourahna mistakenly receives the credit, gaining a gift naming in the process. All at once, her prospects change: apprenticeships, guild parties, encounters with royalty, and new friends—to keep her family safe, Nourahna blends in, hoping she will become the gifted daughter her parents deserve. But when her apprenticeship proves too difficult for giftless hands and threats spread throughout the kingdom, Nourahna must claim her identity between two worlds. Speaking will ruin her family, but staying silent could destroy the kingdom. And the Songs—can one sing with cursed lips?

Aliens invade Earth in November 2051. A war sparks in every major city across the globe. The real story starts two years later; a peace accord has been signed, and the aliens all but announce that they are here to stay. We Are Earth: Still Standing follows the Appage family and their community in Crete, a small American town that symbolizes human resistance. Twelve-year-old prodigy Zen Appage is uprooted from her home, her family, her friends and sent to Elystra, the Altiad command center on Earth. Thousands of miles away, her father, Neil runs a rebellion while her brother, seventeen-year-old Charlie navigates caves and builds an underground base for the resistance. The Altiad envoy Shea says Zen is gifted. That humanity has promise. That together they can build something better. Maybe they can even find a lasting peace. Zen knows her father is out there, and he's coming for the Altiad eventually. What she doesn't know is whether she'll still be the daughter he lost, or something the occupation made that he won't recognize. More importantly, when the war between them finally explodes, will she know which side she's on?