Fresh Meat: June 25 to July 1 — 25 Speculative Fiction Releases

Meet Alice. Private Investigator of the Supernatural.

The first time Moses Murphy’s granddaughter killed on his orders, she was six years old.

For twenty years, she was a prisoner of an organized crime syndicate, forced to use her magic to make Moses the most powerful and feared man on the East Coast. To escape his cruelty, she faked her own death and started a new life as Alice Worth. As a private investigator specializing in cases involving the supernatural, Alice walks a precarious line between atoning for the sins of her grandfather’s cabal and keeping her true identity hidden.

Hired to investigate the disappearance of a mysterious object of power, Alice enlists the help of Malcolm, a ghost running from a past as nightmarish as her own. It soon becomes clear the missing object was taken by someone with a dangerous secret and an unknown agenda. When her client is kidnapped, Alice must find her and the object of power before a vengeful killer destroys the city and slaughters thousands—starting with Alice.

“Edmonds’s prose is energetic…Alice is both spunky and self-deprecating, with incredibly advanced magical powers…There is promise in Edmonds’s melding of the supernatural and the everyday.” – PUBLISHER’S WEEKLY ★★★★★

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

Q: Why do you write?

A: I’ve wanted to be a writer since I was five years old and I wrote my first story. My head is always full of stories and it’s so wonderful and such a privilege to get to share them with others. I write because I *have* to write and because there’s nothing I love to do more. When you write, you get to bring people to life, create a world for them to inhabit, and invite readers to enjoy that world with you. If that’s not real magic, I don’t know what is.

Q: What books do you write?

A: I want to write the kinds of stories and books that I love to read–lots of adventure, mystery, suspense, action, twists, magic, and of course romance. The Alice Worth series is paranormal mystery set in a world very like our own, but with magic and supernatural beings. I hope readers get caught up in the mysteries and enjoy going on adventures with Alice as she tries to solve them and figure out her place in the world. The reading order follows below.

ALICE WORTH

1. HEART OF MALICE (book 1)
2. JUST FOR ONE NIGHT (short story)
3. BLOOD MONEY (novella)
4. HEART OF FIRE (book 2)

Q: Do you use music in your writing?

A: Yes! Each Alice Worth book has a curated playlist of songs featured in the novel, as well as other tunes that enhance your reading experience. Alice loves music and so do I! See the playlists at www.lisaedmonds.com/media/

Be sure to scroll up and hit that BUY NOW button to jump into a world of adventure, mystery, suspense, and of course, romance!

When Cookie Chanel lands a dream assignment of providing vintage hats for a high-society Kentucky Derby party, she’s brimming with excitement. Leaving her mother and best friend to mind the store at It’s Vintage Y’All, Cookie packs up her psychic cat and races to Kentucky. But before she can hang her hat, her enthusiasm is dampened when the rider of the potential Derby-winning horse is put out to pasture. Now she’s saddled with the jockey’s ghost, who insists she find his killer. With suspects ranging from an odds-on favorite to a dark horse, Cookie may just find herself in a dead heat before the photo finish…

Don’t Miss Cookie Chanel’s Fashion Tips

Praise for the Haunted Vintage Mysteries

“A delightful protagonist, intriguing twists, and a fashionista ghost combine in a hauntingly fun tale.” —Carolyn Hart

“Snappy dialogue and well-drawn characters in a lovely small town setting.” —Jenn McKinlay

“An appealing protagonist who is as sweet as a Southern accent . . . The designer name-dropping and shopping tips add allure for shopaholics.” – Library Journal

A paranormal thriller from master storyteller Steven Barnes: A broken family struggles to hold itself together against a plot to unleash global genocide in Twelve Days

Around the world, leaders and notorious criminals alike are mysteriously dying. A terrorist group promises a series of deaths within two months. And against the backdrop of the apocalypse, the lives of a small shattered family and a broken soldier are transformed in the bustling city of Atlanta.

Olympia Dorsey is a journalist and mother, with a cynical teenage daughter and an autistic son named Hannibal, all trying to heal from a personal tragedy. Across the street, Ex–Special Forces soldier Terry Nicolas and his wartime unit have reunited Stateside to carry out a risky heist that will not only right a terrible injustice, but also set them up for life—at the cost of their honor. Terry and the family’s visit to an unusual martial arts exhibition brings them into contact with Madame Gupta, a teacher of singular skill who offers not just a way for Terry to tap into mastery beyond his dreams, but also for Hannibal to transcend the limits of his condition. But to see these promises realized, Terry will need to betray those with whom he fought and bled.

Meanwhile, as the death toll gains momentum and society itself teeters on the edge of collapse, Olympia’s fragile clan is placed in jeopardy, and Terry comes to understand the terrible price he must pay to prevent catastrophe.

At the Publisher’s request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

Erebus – Dark in every sense of the word, a skilled and lethal warrior, and sinfully sexy by design.

Since the dawn of modern man, Erebus was a secret weapon in the war between the immortal realms. For the last hundred years, though, he’s been stuck training immortal warriors in warfare and the sexual arts. But he’s never stopped longing for freedom. For a life filled with choice. And lately, he also longs for one female who entranced him during their steamy seduction sessions. One he quickly became obsessed with and who was ripped from his grasp when her seduction training was complete. One he’s just learned has been marked for death because she failed her latest test.

Before Erebus can intercede on the female’s behalf, she flees into the human realm. Erebus is sent to hunt her down and kill her. But though Erebus sees his opportunity to finally go after what he wants, he finds himself torn. Freedom means nothing if the female at the center of his fantasies doesn’t truly crave him back. And if he defies the immortal world by choosing her over his duty, whether she joins him in exile or not, the hunter will become the hunted.

**Every 1001 Dark Nights novella is a standalone story. For new readers, it’s an introduction to an author’s world. And for fans, it’s a bonus book in the author’s series. We hope you’ll enjoy each one as much as we do.**

A world of deception and danger separates Annie Fremont from her mother—and from Chase, the enigmatic half ifrit with whom Annie’s fallen in love. But she vows to find her way back to them, before Chase succumbs to the madness that threatens his freedom. The only person who can help is the magical seductress, Lotli, a beautiful, manipulative woman . . . a woman who has disappeared.

Annie must stay strong, even as the future she imagined is slipping away. With the help of family and friends, she discovers that Lotli is being held against her will, by those who want to exploit her powers. But though weakened, Lotli remains a powerful ally and adversary. A bargain is struck. And now Annie’s only chance to rescue Chase could also tear them apart . . .

Loyalties will be tested, walls will be breached, and enemies will be fought, yet Annie’s greatest battle lies within her own heart—to trust her love for Chase to overcome its greatest enemy, and to save those she holds most dear from the terrifying realm of the djinn. For all of their lives depend on it.

Praise for Pat Esden and her Dark Heart Novels

“What a fantastic ride! Full of mystery, action, and romance.” —Kim Karr, New York Times bestselling author

“Twists and turns, a hot guy, and a family with too many secrets to count: the perfect read for a dark and stormy night!” —Jen McConnel

“A dark and sexy adventure, mixed with a refreshing twist. Well done!” —Rachel A. Marks

“Deliciously dark.” —Publishers Weekly

“A major and unexpected paranormal threat adds freshness to Esden’s page-turner.” —Booklist

Blue bloods are dying from a mysterious disease, which should be impossible. Ava suspects there’s more to the case than meets the eye and wants a chance to prove herself. There’s just one catch—she’s ordered to partner with the sexy mech, Kincaid, who’s a constant thorn in her side. Kincaid thinks the only good blue blood is a dead one. He’s also the very last man she would ever give her heart to… which makes him the perfect candidate for an affair.

The only rule? It ends when the case does.

But when an attempt on her life proves that Ava might be onto something, the only one who can protect her is Kincaid. Suddenly the greatest risk is not to their hearts, but whether they can survive a diabolical plot that threatens to destroy every blue blood in London—including Ava.

THE MECH WHO LOVED ME is the second book in Bec McMaster’s action-packed The Blue Blood Conspiracy series, featuring a group of spies fighting to get to the heart of a dangerous conspiracy. If a steamy romance between a devilish rogue (with an aversion to marriage) and a virginal spinster (who would like to relieve herself of at least one of those titles) sounds right up your alley, then enjoy the journey with Ava and Kincaid.

Don’t miss any of the London Steampunk: The Blue Blood Conspiracy books!
1. Mission: Improper. Featuring Byrnes and Ingrid.
2. The Mech Who Loved Me. Featuring Ava and Kincaid.
3. You Only Love Twice. Featuring Gemma and Obsidian. (Coming soon!)

What everyone is saying about Bec McMaster:

“richly imagined, gritty and dark, and full of hot heroes and hot sex…utterly delicious.” – Smart Bitches, Trashy Books

“McMaster has the uncanny knack for outdoing herself in each instalment of her London Steampunk series… readers can only hope for more to come soon from McMaster’s limitless imagination.” – RT Book Reviews, Top Pick for Of Silk And Steam

The Blue Blood Conspiracy series:
– Paranormal Romance
– Steampunk Romance
– Gaslight Fantasy
– Historical Romance
– Victorian Era Romance
– Action Adventure Romance

A mismatched band of mortals and their violent, secretive leader must stand against a pair of resentful gods to save their world in this second volume in Rachel Dunne’s breathtaking dark epic fantasy trilogy, The Bound Gods, which began with In the Shadow of the Gods.

To win the coming battle for control of the world and the mortals who dwell in it, the cunning priest Joros secretly assembled a team of powerful fighters—Scal, a lost and damaged swordsman from the North; Vatri, a scarred priestess who claims to see the future in her fires; Anddyr, a drug-addled mage wandering between sanity and madness; and Rora and Aro, a pair of twins who have secretly survived beyond the reach of the law.

But the war is only beginning for these disparate warriors and victory is far from certain when the enemy is a pair of vengeful gods. As the bound Twins strengthen in force against their parents—the Divine Mother and Almighty Father—who exiled them, a shadow begins to spread across the land, threatening to engulf all in its wake.

As deadly magic takes hold, the tenuous bonds tying these uneasy allies begins to unravel. If they cannot find a way to keep their band together, each of their lives—and the entire world—will be lost to the darkness, leaving nothing but the bones of the earth. . . .

Search, destroy, survive!

Captains Skyler Luiken and Gloria Tsandi (and their respective crews) have smashed through the deadly Swarm Blockade but now find themselves scattered around the planet Carthage and the space stations she holds in her orbit. Their mission is now twofold: destroy the military compounds of a race of nefarious alien overlords and find a way back home to Earth.

Standing in their way are a race of horrifying, technologically advanced aliens armed with incredible weapons. Low on supplies and with their ability to communicate compromised, the surviving humans must rely on all their cunning, strength, and plain old good luck to turn the tables and overcome their foes.

Praise for Injection Burn and Escape Velocity
 
“Blockbuster page-turners with great characters, adventure and thrills . . . classic-era science fiction for a new generation.”—Heradas Review
 
“If you’re a fan of fast-paced, intense sci-fi, check out Jason M. Hough’s Injection Burn.”—Stitch’s Media Mix
 
“Great fun.”—Reading Glutton, on Injection Burn
 
“A perfect on-ramp for new readers as well as a great continuation for fans of the previous books in the series.”—Whatchamacallit Reviews, on Injection Burn
 
“Complex, suspense-filled and just what I needed . . . a marvelous sci-fi adventure.”—Tome Tender, on Injection Burn

The Dragonbone Chair, the first volume of Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn, was published in hardcover in October, 1988, launching the series that was to become one of the seminal works of modern epic fantasy. Many of today’s top-selling fantasy authors, from Patrick Rothfuss to George R. R. Martin to Christopher Paolini credit Tad with being the inspiration for their own series.

Now, twenty-four years after the conclusion of Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn, Tad returns to his beloved universe and characters with The Witchwood Crown, the first novel in the long-awaited sequel trilogy, The Last King of Osten Ard.

More than thirty years have passed since the events of the earlier novels, and the world has reached a critical turning point once again. The realm is threatened by divisive forces, even as old allies are lost, and others are lured down darker paths. Perhaps most terrifying of all, the Norns—the long-vanquished elvish foe—are stirring once again, preparing to reclaim the mortal-ruled lands that once were theirs….

1720. Escaping the gallows, Anne Bonney, theinfamous pirate queen, sets sail in search of a fabulous treasure said to behiding in a lost city of bones somewhere in the heart of Africa. But what shefinds is a destiny she never expected . . . .

1870. Maude Stapleton is arespectable widow raising a daughter on her own. Few know, however, that Maude belongs to anancient order of assassins, the Daughters of Lilith, and heir to the legacy ofAnne Bonney, whose swashbuckling exploits blazed a trail that Maude must nowfollow—if she ever wants to see her kidnapped daughter again!

Searching for her missing child, come hell orhigh water, Maude finds herself caught in the middle of a secret war betweenthe Daughters of Lilith and their ancestral enemies, the monstrous Sons ofTyphon, inhuman creatures spawned by primordial darkness, she embarks on aperilous voyage that will ultimately lead her to the long-lost secret of AnneBonney—and the Father of All Monsters.

Oneof the most popular characters from TheSix-Gun Tarot and The Shotgun Arcananow ventures beyond the Weird Weston a boldly imaginative, globe-spanningadventure of her own!

At the Publisher’s request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

They are aided on another front by Blood-blessed agent Lizanne Lethridge. The spy and assassin will use her diplomatic status to infiltrate deep into enemy territory on a quest for a device to save them all.
 
As the world burns around them, and the fires of revolution are ignited, these few Blood-blessed are the last hope for all of civilisation.

The breathtaking second novel in New York Times bestselling author Jeaniene Frost’s Broken Destiny series finds Ivy and Adrian rekindling their alliance—and passion—as the struggle for the fate of the world begins… 

Conquering a supernatural realm turned out to be easier than getting over a broken heart. But her initial victory has made Ivy a target for revenge, forcing her to reunite with the dangerous—and dangerously sexy—Adrian. Ivy isn’t sure which will be harder: finding the hallowed weapon that will repair the crumbling walls between the demon and human realms, or resisting Adrian, who’s decided that come hell or high water, he will make Ivy his. 

At first, Adrian tried to resist his feelings for Ivy. Now, determined to break the curse that dooms their love, he’s vowed to save her and to have her. If only he can persuade her to forgive his past sins. But defying destiny—and surrendering to the smoldering desire between them—will bring consequences and sacrifices they never imagined…

Mira is not like the other Glittering Court girls. She is a war refugee, cast out of her home country and thrust into another, where she has learned to fight against the many injustices around her. For some, the Glittering Court offers a chance at a life they’ve only ever dreamed of, one of luxury, glamour, and leisure. But for Mira, it’s simply a means to an end. In the new world, she plans to earn off her marriage contract price, and finally be free. 
 
Mira pitches herself as an asset to one of the passengers on board the ship: the sardonic and aloof Grant Elliot, whom she’s discovered is a spy for the prestigious McGraw Agency—and her ticket to buying her freedom. His cover blown, Grant has little choice but to take her on. Mira applies herself by day, learning the etiquette and customs that will help to earn her anonymity. By night, she dons a mask and slips into the city, fighting injustice and corruption on her own terms—and impressing Grant with her extraordinary abilities and insights into a brewing rebellion. But the rebellion isn’t all they’re fighting…
 
Neither of them can ignore the attraction burning between them—an attraction so powerful, it threatens to unravel everything Mira’s worked so hard for. With freedom finally within her grasp, can Mira risk it all for love?

HER BROTHER CAUGHT IN THE CROSSHAIRS
Lada needs the support of her diplomatic younger brother, Radu. But Mehmed has sent him to Constantinople—and it’s no diplomatic mission. Mehmed wants control of the city, and Radu has earned an unwanted place as a double-crossing spy behind enemy lines. And for the first time in his life, when Lada asks him for help, he refuses . . . leading his sister to make the darkest of choices.

THE ULTIMATE POWER PLAY
Torn between loyalties to faith, to the Ottomans, and to Mehmed, Radu knows he owes Lada nothing. If she dies, he could never forgive himself—but if he fails in Constantinople, would Mehmed ever forgive him? 

As nations fall around them, the Dracul siblings must decide: what will they sacrifice to fulfill their destinies? Empires will topple, thrones will be won . . . and souls will be lost. 

Fans of Victoria Aveyard’s THE RED QUEEN and Sabaa Tahir’s A TORCH AGAINST THE NIGHT won’t want to miss this riveting and gorgeously written novel—the second in the And I Darken series.

★ “Gorgeous, rich, and rewarding.”—Booklist, starred review

Praise for And I Darken:
 
“A dark jewel of a story, one that gleams with fierce, cunning characters—absolutely riveting.” —Alexandra Bracken, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Passenger
 
“A dark, gritty, and seriously badass epic that will have you dying for more . . . required reading for every feminist fantasy fan.” —BuzzFeed
 
“Evocative . . . this book takes no prisoners.” —NPR

The first book in a pulse-pounding new series that’s set in the world of the #1 New York Times bestselling I Am Number Four series. The war may be over—but for the next generation, the battle has just begun!

It has been over a year since the invasion of Earth was thwarted in Pittacus Lore’s United as One. But in order to win, our alien allies known as the Garde unleashed their Loric energy that spread throughout the globe. Now human teenagers have begun to develop incredible powers of their own, known as Legacies.

To help these incredible and potentially dangerous individuals—and put the world at ease—the Garde have created an academy where they can train this new generation to control their powers and hopefully one day help mankind. But not everyone thinks that’s the best use of their talents. And the teens may need to use their Legacies sooner than they ever imagined.

Perfect for fans of Marvel’s X-Men and Rick Yancey’s The 5th Wave, this epic new series follows a diverse cast of teens as they struggle to hone their abilities and decide what, if anything, they should do with them. As a spin-off of the bestselling I Am Number Four series, those familiar with the original books and newcomers alike will devour this fast-paced, action-packed sci-fi adventure.

Lady Elanna is fiercely devoted to the king who raised her like a daughter. But when he dies under mysterious circumstances, Elanna is accused of his murder—and must flee for her life.

Returning to the homeland of magical legends she has forsaken, Elanna is forced to reckon with her despised, estranged father, branded a traitor long ago. Feeling a strange, deep connection to the natural world, she also must face the truth about the forces she has always denied or disdained as superstition—powers that suddenly stir within her.

But an all-too-human threat is drawing near, determined to exact vengeance. Now Elanna has no choice but to lead a rebellion against the kingdom to which she once gave her allegiance. Trapped between divided loyalties, she must summon the courage to confront a destiny that could tear her apart.

Praise for The Waking Land

“Callie Bates has written an exciting and involving first book, and she is clearly a writer of real talent.”—Terry Brooks

“A heartbreaking, enchanting, edge-of-the-seat read that held me captive from start to finish!”—Tamora Pierce

“The Waking Land is all about rising to challenges, and it succeeds wonderfully.”—Charlaine Harris

“A simmering tale of magic that builds to a raging inferno, and hits like a cross between Brandon Sanderson and Pierce Brown.”—Scott Sigler 

“This superior novel blends passionate romance and sweeping magic. . . . Bates has a delicate, precise touch with human and superhuman relationships.”—Publishers Weekly

“A wonderfully stunning debut . . . Bates’ clear, captivating, imaginative storytelling and vivid, distinctive characters will cause readers to soak up every word.”—RT Book Reviews

A Kirkus Prize nominee and Stonewall Honor winner with 5 starred reviews! A New York Times bestseller!

Named one of the best books of 2017 by NPR and the New York Public Library!

“The queer teen historical you didn’t know was missing from your life.”—Teen Vogue

“A stunning powerhouse of a story.”—School Library Journal

“A gleeful romp through history.”—ALA Booklist

A young bisexual British lord embarks on an unforgettable Grand Tour of Europe with his best friend/secret crush. An 18th-century romantic adventure for the modern age written by This Monstrous Thing author Mackenzi Lee—Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda meets the 1700s.

Henry “Monty” Montague doesn’t care that his roguish passions are far from suitable for the gentleman he was born to be. But as Monty embarks on his grand tour of Europe, his quests for pleasure and vice are in danger of coming to an end. Not only does his father expect him to take over the family’s estate upon his return, but Monty is also nursing an impossible crush on his best friend and traveling companion, Percy.

So Monty vows to make this yearlong escapade one last hedonistic hurrah and flirt with Percy from Paris to Rome. But when one of Monty’s reckless decisions turns their trip abroad into a harrowing manhunt, it calls into question everything he knows, including his relationship with the boy he adores.

Witty, dazzling, and intriguing at every turn, The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue is an irresistible romp that explores the undeniably fine lines between friendship and love.

Don’t miss Felicity’s adventures in The Lady’s Guide to Petticoats and Piracy, the highly anticipated sequel!