Fantasy Realism

In 1780s London, a prosperous merchant finds his quiet life upended when he unexpectedly receives an unusual creature - and meets a most extraordinary woman - in this much-lauded, atmospheric debut that examines our capacity for wonder, obsession, and desire. One September evening in 1785, Jonah Hancock hears an urgent knocking on his front door near the docks of London. The captain of one of Jonah’s trading vessels is waiting eagerly on the front step, bearing shocking news. On a voyage to the Far East, he sold the Jonah’s ship for something rare and far more precious: a mermaid.

The fantasy novel you’ve always wished Jane Austen had written. When Jane realizes that one of Melody’s suitors is set on taking advantage of her sister for the sake of her dowry, she pushes her skills to the limit of what her body can withstand in order to set things right—and, in the process, accidentally wanders into a love story of her own.

When Nathan goes to visit his grandma, Nali, at her mobile summer home on the Navajo reservation, he knows he’s in for a pretty uneventful summer, with no electricity or cell service. Still, he loves spending time with Nali and with his uncle Jet, though it’s clear when Jet arrives that he brings his problems with him. One night, while lost in the nearby desert, Nathan finds someone extraordinary: a Holy Being from the Navajo Creation Story - a Water Monster - in need of help.

Born with mysterious powers she does not know how to control, young Jieun accidentally causes her family to vanish. She vows to live a million lives in search of them. Finally, one night, she brings the Marigold Mind Laundry into existence. Its service: to remove the deepest pain from our hearts. Jieun listens while customers share their unhappy memories. As they speak, she transfers their sadness onto T-shirts as stains. After a spin in the washing machine, the stains become flower petals that soar into the air, and Jieun’s customers find solace.

In the bustling city of 1920s New York, where the streets are alive with jazz and the air is thick with opportunity, Zelda thought she had found her perfect match in the charming Eli. But little did she know, their whirlwind romance would lead her down a dangerous path. As Eli's dark secrets come to light, Zelda finds herself caught in the crosshairs of his powerful boss, the infamous Snake-Eye. With her life in danger, she turns to the mysterious Alder for help. But his solution comes with a hefty price - transformation into a living doll. Trapped in a ragdoll body, Zelda's once vibrant ...

For Thaniel Steepleton, an unexpected posting to Tokyo can’t come at a better moment. The London fog has made him ill and doctor’s orders are to get out. His brief is strange: the staff at the British Legation have been seeing ghosts, and his first task is to find out what’s going on. But staying with his closest friend, Keita Mori, in Yokohama, Thaniel starts to experience ghostly happenings himself. For reasons he won’t say, Mori is frightened. Then he vanishes.

An assassin seeking revenge. A young sorceress grappling with her power. An enemy on a throne. Gilmir, an elven assassin, wrestles with torment, doubting every choice and yearning for a fresh start. Yet fate deals him a cruel hand, reducing his life to ashes, and only an unyielding thirst for revenge keeps him breathing. But vengeance is never served on a silver platter. Ada, a streetwise runaway with a unique gift, becomes the prey of power-hungry pursuers. As she flees a monstrous adversary, she realizes the threat extends far beyond her life. Can she master her powers in time to preserve...

In publishing-speak, here's what we at the LQ office sometimes describe as the Queer lovechild of Sholem Aleichem and Philip Roth: Uriel the angel and Little Ash (short for Ashmedai) are the only two supernatural creatures in their shtetl (which is so tiny, it doesn't have a name other than Shtetl). The angel and the demon have been studying together for centuries, but pogroms and the search for a new life have drawn all the young people from their village to America. When one of those young emigrants goes missing, Uriel and Little Ash set off to find her.

My heart's already been broken by one Dragon King; I won't let it happen with another. I'm Commander of the Castle Guard, responsible for the security of the Royal Castle and therefore, in part, the Dragon King of Levahan. The new one. I signed up to serve the last Dragon King, and lost my heart to him. Even now, after he left me for his mate, I still love Belyss. I don't agree with the way he was pushed off the throne or how readily he went. I understand why he did it, but I like the way his dread let it happen. And I certainly don't want to like his replacement. But I do. Too much. King ...

The young orphaned boy was abandoned and raised in an Ethiopian monastery. He has never seen outside its walls - at least, not the way most people see. Now he must flee those walls or die. But the world is hardly ready for a boy like Caleb. When relief expert Jason Marker agrees to take Caleb from the monastery, he unwittingly opens humanity's doors to an incredible journey filled with intrigue and peril.

The shadows of the past come alive. After twenty years of silence, Dina returns, driven by an insatiable hunger for power and revenge. Her eyes are fixed on the legendary scarab, the key to an ancient power that can reduce the world to ashes. Lillian and Roy Sawyer are the only ones who know Dina's true intentions. But as the swinging sixties are in full swing, Dina's next move remains a mystery. Will they uncover her plans before it's too late, or will Dina finally triumph and plunge the world into a new era of darkness?

The Great Recession has shuffled Clay Jannon out of his life as a San Francisco Web-design drone - and serendipity, sheer curiosity, and the ability to climb a ladder like a monkey has landed him a new gig working the night shift at Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore. But after just a few days on the job, Clay begins to realize that this store is even more curious than the name suggests. There are only a few customers, but they come in repeatedly and never seem to actually buy anything....

The stakes have risen, and I don’t think I can pay the price. Not only am I wanted by every faction, but the Resistance is closer than ever to reaching their goal. Not. My. Problem. My plans are simple: run and hide. But when I’m offered a clean slate in exchange for completing one task for the Coalition, I can’t help but fall for the temptation. What I find, however, is so far from what I expect, it is not even on the list of possibilities. Don’t miss the explosive conclusion to Melaina’s story! Perfect for fans of K. M. Shea, Lindsay Buroker, Jennifer Estep, Shannon Mayer and ...

Two strangers in a foreign city, Thora and Santi meet in a chance encounter. At once, they recognize in each other a kindred spirit - someone who is longing for more in life than the cards they’ve been dealt. Before their friendship can blossom, though, a tragic accident cuts their story short.

The student witches are growing increasingly reckless, preying on the mundanes below the mountains as their tutors plot and scheme to take advantage of the chaos. And no one seems to know why. Emily is in no condition to intervene. But she cannot refuse. Heading to Laughter, Emily finds herself dragged into a world of schoolgirl games, staffroom politics, and a deadly plot aimed at the heart of the Allied Lands themselves.

Cat got your tongue? When Elaria's friend rescues a nymph from one of the most powerful crime families in the Beneath, the Spellsinger and her men are compelled to help. To free her cat-shifter friend from the vengeance of the Demos Family, Elaria will have to navigate the corrupt circles of the crime syndicate but what she finds along the way may lead to her own corruption. Can the Spellsinger stay true to who she is or will she lose herself entirely? Spellsing in order:1.The Last Lullaby 2. A Symphony of Sirens 3. A Harmony of Hearts 4. Primeval Prelude 5. Ballad of Blood 6. A Deadly Duet...

Enter a school of magic unlike any you have ever encountered. There are no teachers, no holidays, friendships are purely strategic and the odds of survival are never equal. Once you’re inside, there are only two ways out: you graduate or you die. El Higgins is uniquely prepared for the school’s many dangers. She may be without allies, but she possesses a dark power strong enough to level mountains and wipe out untold millions - never mind easily destroy the countless monsters that prowl the school. Except, she might accidentally kill all the other students, too.

Welcome to Whimsydale, where magic runs wild and laughter echoes through impossibly twisted streets! When Sir Darius Stormblade and his misfit band of heroes arrive for the annual Feast of Fools, they expect nothing more than a few days of whimsical celebration. But as a mischievous Jester's powers spiral out of control, reality itself begins to unravel. Suddenly, buildings dance, animals philosophize, and chaos reigns supreme. Now, Darius must rally his companions—a gruff warrior, a snake-bearded dwarf, a sly rogue, a brilliant mage, and a stoic ranger with his talking wolf—to save the...

Sarah has some confessing to do. Meanwhile, Ajax is faced with more and more things crossing between the real world and inside the game Legendary Rule. He's forced to confront the idea that the world of LR might be just as real as his own.

WINNER "Fantasy - General" American Fiction Awards 2023 (Daniel Scratch, book 1) WINNER "Fantasy" Indie Book Awards (Daniel Scratch, book 1) "...Jones has created something new, compelling, beautifully written, and somewhat reminiscent of Ursula Le Guin’s A Wizard of Earthsea (1968)...An engrossing, well-written, and original story; readers will be eager for the next installment." – Kirkus Reviews "Adult and teenage fans of thoughtful fantasy will love exploring this beautifully described world of arcane powers. This meditative look at power will engage readers who like their fantasy ...