Trained to make them laugh—now, he must make them bleed. On the rising continent of Novra, old-world empires wage a brutal contest for control. Tazio, a Danuiin street performer whose only weapon is his wit, is caught in the currents. When the conqueror Lord Falkone razes his life to ash, Tazio burns with vengeance. But to kill a king, he must learn the way of shadows—a brutal path where deception is currency, loyalty is fragile, and power answers to sacrifice. Step into a world of political feuds, magic born from dreams and desire, and players who never reveal their full hand. As ancient forces clash, Tazio is pulled deeper into a game where every step closer to vengeance claws at the fabric of who he is, and who he loves. In a realm on the brink, Tazio must decide—will he remain the fool, or become the blade that topples Falkone... Why you might love Jester: A Dark Underdog Transformation: Follow Tazio’s evolution from a sharp-tongued performer to calculating shadow, driven by vengeance and shaped by obligation Immersive Political Fantasy: Explore the Realm of Galia: emerald towers, treacherous seas, bitter old-world feuds, and the ethereal force of Etria Love Forged in the Shadows: Fierce, haunting, forbidden. Passion that collides with duty and love that tests whether the heart can survive what the soul demands Complex Cast & Multiple POVs: A rotating lens on flawed characters, each navigating ambition, loyalty, and regret High-Stakes Magic with a Cost: Power born from dreams and desire—capable of miracles or devastation, never without consequence Perfect for fans of The Lies of Locke Lamora and The Name of the Wind, Jester is an epic fantasy tale of loss, loyalty, and the ultimate long game.

In an isolated castle deep in the Austrian forest, Laura leads a solitary life with only her ailing father for company. Until one moonlit night, a horse-drawn carriage crashes into view, carrying an unexpected guest – the beautiful Carmilla. So begins a feverish friendship between Laura and her mysterious, entrancing companion. But as Carmilla becomes increasingly strange and volatile, prone to eerie nocturnal wanderings, Laura finds herself tormented by nightmares and growing weaker by the day… Pre-dating Dracula by twenty-six years, Carmilla is the original vampire story, steeped in sexual tension and gothic romance.

When two history professors and best friends are forced to fake hate to protect their reputations, chaos ensues, in the next rollicking historical-fantasy rom-com from beloved author India Holton. Magical-antique experts Amelia Tarrant and Caleb Sterling have been best friends forever, although lately each has begun secretly wishing for more than friendship. But when rumors about their relationship spread, they're forced to fake being enemies to protect their reputations and keep their jobs. The resulting arguments spark havoc across Oxford University, and when they cause an explosion while fighting over a magical antique, it’s the final straw for their exasperated faculty head. He dispatches them to a job in Cumbria where even they can’t get into trouble.… Which proves just how wrong one man can be. In a stormbound old manor house, Amelia and Caleb face magical mayhem and rampaging ghosts that make the previous havoc look mild in comparison. Most troublesome of all, though, is the secret of how they feel about each other. When it comes to tackling deadly antiques, hiding the truth in their hearts could destroy them for real.

From the “masterly” (The New York Times) Jodi McAlister, a charming new romance about two English professors who embark on a fake relationship…only to discover that it may be harder to pretend than they realized. Sadie Shaw and Jonah Fisher have been academic rivals since they first crossed paths as undergraduates in the literature department thirteen years ago. Now that a highly coveted teaching opportunity has come up, their rivalry hits epic proportions. Jonah needs the job to move closer to his recently divorced sister and her children, while Sadie needs the financial security and freedom of a full-time teaching position. When Sadie notices that the job offers partner hire, however, she hatches a plot to get them both the job. All they must do is get legally married. It’s a simple win-win solution but when sparks begin to fly, it becomes clear that despite their education, these two may not have thought this whole thing through. Perfect for fans of Ali Hazelwood, Abby Jimenez, and Kayla Olson, An Academic Affair brings Jodi McAlister’s “smart, scorching, and emotionally resonant” (Freya Marske, author of A Restless Truth) writing to the forefront and demonstrates her talent as one of today’s best rom-com authors.