African Magic

Laila desperately wants to become a mother, but each of her previous pregnancies has ended in heartbreak. This time has to be different, so she turns to the Melancons, an old and powerful Harlem family known for their caul, a precious layer of skin that is the secret source of their healing power. When a deal for Laila to acquire a piece of caul falls through, she is heartbroken, but when the child is stillborn, she is overcome with grief and rage. What she doesn't know is that a baby will soon be delivered—by her niece, Amara—and delivered to the Melancons to raise as their own.

Tristan Strong, just back from a victorious but exhausting adventure in Alke, the land of African American folk heroes and African gods, is suffering from PTSD. But there's no rest for the weary when his grandmother is abducted by a mysterious villain out for revenge. Tristan must return to Alke - and reunite with his loud-mouthed sidekick, Gum Baby - in order to rescue Nana and stop the culprit from creating further devastation.

In the wake of her mother's passing, Layla Hurley unexpectedly reconnects with her mother's sisters, women she hasn't been allowed to speak to, or of, in years. Her aunts reveal to Layla that a Gullah-Geechee island off the shore of South Carolina now belongs to her. As Layla digs deeper into her mother’s past and the mysterious island’s history, she discovers that the terrifying nightmares that have plagued her throughout her life and tainted her relationship with her mother and all of her family, is actually a power passed down through generations of her Gullah ancestors.

On the day of the Harvest Festival, the old woman who lives in the forest appears in Abeni's village with a terrible message: You ignored my warnings. It’s too late to run. They are coming. Warriors with burning blades storm the village. A man with a cursed flute plays an impossibly alluring song. And everyone Abeni has ever known and loved is captured and marched toward far-off ghost ships set for even more distant lands. But not Abeni. Abeni is magically whisked away by the old woman.

Danger L’Aventure grew up surrounded by magic. She is the daughter of the Adja High Priestess, and chosen child of the primordial god of wisdom, Danbala Wèdo, the Alovi. Magic is her birthright. As one of the Children of Ginen: Adja, Asogwe, and Bizango, the course of her life was predetermined. But that life is derailed when her father is killed by dark magic, and the murderer escapes justice. As an Adja, she is forbidden to use her gift for personal gain or vengeance. Disillusioned and consumed with rage, Danger turns her back on her house and magic. Until the night, while nan domi, ...

Solstice Winters never expected her job as a photojournalist would involve stopping a death god. She’s only ever wanted the same things as anyone else—a nice career, a safe place to call home, and no magical assassins trying to kill her. Alas, there’s nothing like an unexpected dimensional misalignment to ruin plans. The rapid flood of magic into the world changed her from simple reporter to secret agent in mere months. It also revealed the truth of her being an elf. Her investigation into who wants her dead stalls when a paranormal entity shows up in her apartment pleading for help. ...

IN A HOUSE OF LIES, TRUST WISELY. Book 2 in the prize poly Sleeping Lotus series.... The country of Soma is on the brink of war… and its newly-minted spy, Raena Barren, must stop it. Only a week has passed since she earned the ranking of Rose, but already, she has a high-profile client. An ambassador from another kingdom has requested her company, and if Raena can convince him to ally his country to hers, then she can avert a four-to-one war. But being the escort of a vigorous man like Ossyne True is not easy. Fearing her own inexperience, Raena seeks guidance from Mikail Haze--a fellow ...

The Clever Black Detective Club Book 2 Enchanted Forest Adventures: A Collection of Mystery Detective Short Stories for Kids Ages 8-12The Clever Black Detective Club transports to an enchanted forest filled with mysterious and magical creatures. In this second book of enchanting mystery short stories, kids ages 8-12 will follow the club as they solve 8 cases to find their way home. From deciphering ancient symbols, uncovering missing treasures, and stopping a phantom threat, this book will have kids on the edge of their seats as they follow the club’s journey. FEATURES Follow the ...

Just as Martine is settling into life on the wildlife game reserve, she is whisked away on a school trip. Her class is going on an ocean voyage to witness the Sardine Run, a spectacular natural phenomenon, off the coast of South Africa. What begins as an exciting adventure quickly turns perilous when a storm blows up and Martine and her classmates are thrown overboard into shark-infested waters. They are saved by a pod of dolphins, only to end up marooned on a deserted island.

Everyone’s favorite fifteen-year-old ghostalker, Ropa, arrives at the worldwide Society of Skeptical Enquirers’ biennial conference just in time to be tied into a mystery—a locked room mystery, if an entire creepy haunted castle on lockdown counts. One of the magical attendees has stolen a valuable magical scroll. Caught between Qozmos, the high wizard of Ethiopian magic; the larger-than-life Lord Sashvindu Samarasinghe; England’s Sorcerer Royal; and Scotland’s own Edmund MacLeod, it’s up to Ropa to sort through the dangerous secret politics and alliances to figure out what really happened.

IF LOVE IS A BATTLE, CARRY A BLADE. Book 3 in the prize poly Sleeping Lotus series.... War has come to Soma, but the spy prodigy Raena Barren is stuck in the capital, surrounded by secrets she can’t seem to crack. One of those enigmas is the man she loves, Jorr Portent, who still rejects her despite his desire. To earn a place in his bed, Raena will have to appeal to his kinks… even if they take her out of her comfort zone. But going down that path leads Raena to an unexpected discovery: the secret organization which imprisoned her fellow spy, Shenni Null, may be closer than she thinks....

It evolved from various traditional African religions and practices, and in the American South, incorporated elements of indigenous botanical knowledge. These practices taught believers how to invoke the blessings of spirits and deities through persuasion powers, herbs, rituals, spells, talismans, roots and nature.

The Tree of Enlightenment (The Seeds of Enlightenment) is a story for all ages about a six year old boy named Zion who comes of age in his village in Africa by participating in the traditional ceremony of initiation. With the Seeds of Enlightenment in him he travels to America with his family where his father has gotten a big job, but all through his life as he grows up in America, Zion returns to his village to partake in the fruit of the Tree of Enlightenment, eventually bringing his own family there as an adult, and returning to the Tree of Enlightenment as an old man.

Golden boy Graysen Galder has it all figured out. He’s the soon-to-be valedictorian of the first combined class of Magics and Naturals at the Boston School of Magic. No one would ever guess that, beneath the charming veneer of the school’s top Natural student, there are dark secrets. Like execution-worthy crimes. But all those crimes are in the past where they belong. That is, until Graysen is framed for a brutal murder. With his future in shambles and the past nipping at his heels, Graysen has no choice but to go on the run. And the only one willing to help him is a ghost from his past...

For most kids, catching fireflies is a fun summer activity. For twelve-year-old Serwa Boateng, it's a matter of life and death. That's because Serwa knows that some fireflies are really adze, shapeshifting vampires from the forests of Southeastern Ghana. Adze prey on the blood of innocents, possessing their minds and turning them into hulking monsters, and for generations, slayers like Serwa and her parents have protected an unknowing public from their threats.

Gone Like Yesterday follows two Black women—Zahra, a listless college prep coach, and Sammie, a teenage girl and budding activist soon off to college—who are drawn to each other through the songs of gypsy moths. Gypsy moths have been singing the songs of Zahra’s ancestors to her for years, so when Zahra realizes that Sammie might be a moth person too, their paths become intertwined. Then, the unthinkable happens: Zahra’s brother, Derrick, goes missing.

In this anthology, everybody is Black. Filled with epic battles, complicated families, soft kisses, and sharpened blades, Magic in the Melanin is an adult fantasy anthology that showcases Black authors who write magical stories of all kinds.

When the windshield of his Chevy Impala shatters in a dark diner parking lot in Alabama, Melvin moves without thinking. A split-second reaction marrows in his bones from the days of war, but this time it is the safety of his fiancé, Bernadette, at stake. Impulse keeps them alive, and yet they flee with blood on their hands. What is life like now that they are fugitives? Pack passports. Empty bank accounts. Set their old life on fire. The couple disguise themselves as a pastor and a reluctant pastor’s wife who’s hiding a secret from her fiancé.

A CHRISTIAN SUSPENSE ABOUT SPIRITUAL WARFARE. When it comes to “falling in love,” you can't help who you fall in love with. This is the sobering reality of Malik Harrington, the wealthy heir of a well-known preacher, who falls hard for Isabella Chavez, the stunning daughter of one of the hired help. But unbeknownst to Malik, Gina Wheaton, the main organist at his father’s church, is obsessed with becoming his wife to the point of seeking assistance from the “dark side.” Gina wants Malik and she will do whatever it takes to get him. As if Malik doesn’t already face enough of a ...

From Vanessa Brantley-Newton, the author of Grandma's Purse, comes a collection of poetry filled with engaging mini-stories about girls of all kinds: girls who feel happy, sad, scared, powerful; girls who love their bodies and girls who don't; country girls, city girls; girls who love their mother and girls who wish they had a father. This book invites listeners to find themselves and each other within.