Category Archives: Fantasy & Paranormal

A Crown of Swords by Robert Jordan

A Crown of Swords by Robert Jordan

The war for humanity’s survival has begun. Rand al’Thor, the Dragon Reborn, has escaped the snares of the White Tower and the first of the rebel Aes Sedai have sworn to follow him. Attacked by the servants of the Dark, threatened by the invading Seanchan, Rand rallies his forces and brings battle to bear upon Illian, stronghold of Sammael the Forsaken . . .

In the city of Ebou Dar, Elayne, Aviendha and Mat struggle to secure the ter’angreal that can break the Dark One’s hold on the world’s weather – and an ancient bane moves to oppose them. In the town of Salidar, Egwene al’Vere gathers an army to reclaim Tar Valon and reunite the Aes Sedai . . . And in Shadar Logoth, city of darkness, a terrible power awakens. 

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings:

  • Rape

The Witch’s Heart by Genevieve Gornichec

The Witch’s Heart by Genevieve Gornichec

The Witch's Heart by Genevieve Gornichec

Angrboda’s story begins where most witches’ tales end: with a burning. A punishment from Odin for refusing to provide him with knowledge of the future, the fire leaves Angrboda injured and powerless, and she flees into the farthest reaches of a remote forest. There she is found by a man who reveals himself to be Loki, and her initial distrust of him transforms into a deep and abiding love.

Their union produces three unusual children, each with a secret destiny, who Angrboda is keen to raise at the edge of the world, safely hidden from Odin’s all-seeing eye. But as Angrboda slowly recovers her prophetic powers, she learns that her blissful life—and possibly all of existence—is in danger.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings:

  • Family separation
  • Toxic relationship
  • Child birth
  • Near-pregnancy
  • Miscarriage
  • Medical procedure, specifically sutures
  • Death of a child
  • Burning alive
  • Torture
  • Blood & gore depiction
  • Fire
  • Animal death

Blade of Secrets by Tricia Levenseller

Eighteen-year-old Ziva prefers metal to people. She spends her days tucked away in her forge, safe from society and the anxiety it causes her, using her magical gift to craft unique weapons imbued with power. Then Ziva receives a commission from a powerful warlord, and the result is a sword capable of stealing its victims’ secrets. A sword that can cut far deeper than the length of its blade. A sword with the strength to topple kingdoms. When Ziva learns of the warlord’s intentions to use the weapon to enslave all… Read more.

Goodreads

Trigger and Content Warnings

  • Attempted sexual assault (unwanted kiss)
  • Anxiety & anxiety attacks (on-page)
  • Agoraphobia & claustrophobia
  • Self-harm for magic
  • Alcohol consumption
  • Blood depiction & emesis
  • Grief & loss depiction
  • Death of parents mentioned
  • Murder (on-page)

Shadowshaper by Daniel José Older

Shadowshaper by Daniel José Older

Sierra Santiago was looking forward to a fun summer of making art, hanging out with her friends, and skating around Brooklyn. But then a weird zombie guy crashes the first party of the season. Sierra’s near-comatose abuelo begins to say “Lo siento” over and over. And when the graffiti murals in Bed-Stuy start to weep…. Well, something stranger than the usual New York mayhem is going on.

Sierra soon discovers a supernatural order called the Shadowshapers, who connect with spirits via paintings, music, and stories. Her grandfather once shared the order’s secrets with an anthropologist, Dr. Jonathan Wick, who turned the Caribbean magic to his own foul ends. Now Wick wants to become the ultimate Shadowshaper… Read more.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings:

  • Racism
  • Colourism
  • Sexism
  • Ableism
  • Sexual harassment
  • Stroke recounted
  • Dead bodies

The Helheim Princess by Tiana Warner

The Helheim Princess by Tiana Warner

For as long as Sigrid could remember, she’s wanted to become a mighty, fearless valkyrie. But without a winged mare, she’s a mere stable hand, left wondering who her parents were and why she’s so different. So when the Eye shows her a vision where she’s leading a valkyrie charge on the legendary eight-legged horse Sleipnir, she grabs the possibility of this greater destiny with both hands, refusing to let go.

Too bad that the only one who can help her get there is Mariam, an enemy valkyrie who begrudgingly agrees to lead her to Helheim but who certainly can’t be trusted―even if she does make Sigrid more than a little flustered. As they cross the nine worlds, battling night elves, riding sea serpents, and hurtling into fire… Read more.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings:

  • Parental abandonment
  • Alcohol consumption
  • Blood depiction
  • Fire
  • Bullying
  • Animal death

Ice Massacre by Tiana Warner

Ice Massacre by Tiana Warner

The Massacre is supposed to bring peace to Eriana Kwai. Every year, the island sends its warriors to battle these hostile sea demons. Every year, the warriors fail to return. Desperate for survival, the island must decide on a new strategy. Now, the fate of Eriana Kwai lies in the hands of twenty battle-trained girls and their resistance to a mermaid’s allure.

Eighteen-year-old Meela has already lost her brother to the Massacre, and she has lived with a secret that’s haunted her since childhood. For any hope of survival, she must overcome the demons of her past and become a ruthless mermaid killer.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings:

  • Ableism & ableist language
  • Blood & gore depiction

Alone in Space by Tillie Walden

Alone in Space by Tillie Walden

Alone In Space compiles award-winning cartoonist Tillie Walden’s short comics into a stunning and comprehensive collection of the early work which shot her to fame.

We start with Tillie’s first published comic The End of Summer, in which Lars battles illness in a secluded castle at the start of an endless winter with a giant cat to keep him company amid mounting family tensions. Also featured are I Love This Part – Tillie’s bittersweet breakout story of small-town teen romance, and A City Inside – a study of growth and adulthood through a surreal and poetic recounting of one woman’s life.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings:

  • Coming out themes
  • Internalised lesbomisia
  • Terminal illness
  • Graphic death of a pet cat

The Savior by JR Ward

The Savior by J.R. Ward

In the venerable history of the Black Dagger Brotherhood, only one male has ever been expelled—but Murhder’s insanity gave the Brothers no choice. Haunted by visions of a female he could not save, he nonetheless returns to Caldwell on a mission to right the wrong that ruined him. However, he is not prepared for what he must face in his quest for redemption.

Dr. Sarah Watkins, researcher at a biomedical firm, is struggling with the loss of her fellow scientist fiancé. When the FBI starts asking about his death, she questions what really happened and soon learns the terrible truth: Her firm is conducting inhumane experiments in secret and the man she thought she knew and loved was involved in the torture…. Read more.

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings:

  • Suicidal ideation mentioned
  • Cancer discussed
  • Medical experimentation
  • Torture
  • Captivity
  • War themes

Cursed by Marie O’Regan and Paul Kane

Cursed: A Wish is a Terrible Thing edited by Marie O’Regan and Paul Kane

with contributions from Angela Slatter, Neil Gaiman, Alison Littlewood, James Brogden, Tim Lebbon, Charle Jane Anders, Christina Henry, Christopher Golden, Catriona Ward, Lilith Saintcrow, Margo Lanagan, Maura McHugh, Jen Williams, Jane Yolen, Christopher Fowler, M.R. Carey, Karen Joy Fowler, Adam Stemple, and Michael Marshall Smith

This is the story of a serial killer. A stolen child. Revenge. Death. And an ordinary house at the end of an ordinary street.

All these things are true. And yet they are all lies…

You think you know what’s inside the last house on Needless Street. You think you’ve read this story before. That’s where you’re wrong.

In the dark forest at the end of Needless Street, lies something buried. But it’s not what you think…

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings:

  • Self-multionation
  • Body horror
  • Death of an infant & child

Every Dark Desire by Fiona Zedde

Every Dark Desire by Fiona Zedde

Naomi McIlroy’s life in Jamaica has always been about the comforts of family and home – but secretly she yearns for something more. Surrendering to seduction under a full moon, Naomi becomes part of a vampire clan whose carnal hungers are never sated. 

Goodreads • The Story Graph

Trigger & Content Warnings:

  • Rape
  • Blood depiction