A.W. Exley

Nefertiti's Heart

A heart prepared to die that has never lived or loved... Born with fragile health, Dawn Uxbridge has lived a sheltered existence. Her lonely days are filled by drawing fanciful landscapes and nurturing plants. When tragedy strikes, she finds herself alone and penniless with only one talent - a green thumb. Jasper, the Earl of Seton, is in need of a gardener to reclaim his derelict estate in the remote west of England. He expected a robust commoner, not a fragile young woman. With the next train a week away, Dawn has one chance to change the earl's mind and earn her place. But all is not as it seems at the ancestral manor. The estate is full of secrets, ravens cluster on the parapets, and a ghostly young woman cries out at night. This garden conceals a rotten heart, and it plans to squeeze the last beat from Dawn's... Keywords: gaslamp, fantasy, historical fantasy, fantasy series, speculative fiction, dark fantasy, paranormal, shifters, paranormal romance, gargoyles, female protagonist, historical romance, historical paranormal romance, victorian, victorian era, victorian romance, gothic, gothic fiction, gothic romance.

Dawn's Promise

Ella, The Slayer

Pippa DaCosta

C. Gockel

C.J. Archer

Christine Pope

5 Novels of Demons, Djinn, Witches, Warlocks, Vampires, and Gods Gone Rogue

Bad Magic

An ancient Egyptian artifact is driving Queen Victoria insane, and that's not top of Cara Devon's growing list of problems. Viscount Nathaniel Lyons is a man of numerous secrets, but there is one in particular that threatens his fledgling relationship with Cara. Stunned by Nate's revelation, and before she can absorb the ramifications of his actions, he is arrested, charged with treason and imprisoned in the grim Tower of London. He stole something the mad queen wants, and only has days to deliver, before his date with the executioner. Although sorely tempted, Cara can't let him die on Tower Green, not when their connection means she would share his fate. Only together can Cara and Nate figure out how to wrestle Hatshepsut's Collar from around the queen's neck, before she plunges Britain into a world war. The search for answers sends Cara to the opulent Winter Palace of St Petersburg and the frozen depths of Siberia, with every step shadowed by an enemy with his own dark plans. A steampunk adventure perfect for fans of Gail Carriger, Shelley Adina, CJ Archer and Bec McMaster. Keywords: steampunk, gaslamp, historical fantasy, victorian, paranormal romance, action and adventure, alternate history

Hatshepsut's Collar

One... death by spontaneous human combustion is a rare act of God. Two... is surely a freakish coincidence. Three... well, that's starting to look deliberate. Cara has a new role as Queen Victoria's artifact hunter, she's adapting to married life and living in a country manor that more closely resembles a mausoleum. In London, Inspector Fraser investigates a series of strange deaths by divine fire - except he doesn't believe in coincidences. Despite himself, he enlists Cara's help to identify what artifact could cause such a hideous death while his desire to bring her husband to justice burns unabated. Someone's intent on making sure a decades old secret stays hidden and Cara must figure out who is responsible before this case consumes her family and rocks the entire realm to its foundations. A steampunk adventure perfect for fans of Gail Carriger, Shelley Adina, CJ Archer and Bec McMaster. Keywords: steampunk, gaslamp, historical fantasy, victorian, paranormal romance, action and adventure, alternate history

Nero's Fiddle

Ella must venture down a rabbit hole, but this is no wonderland... Ella and Alice are trying to forge a path with the men they love in a world reeling from the Great War and the influenza pandemic that left the countryside crawling with the undead. Then Alice goes missing without a trace, until the new vermin queen sends an invitation--Ella is welcome to try and rescue her friend before Elizabeth lets her subjects tear the housemaid apart. To save Alice, Ella must venture into a subterranean world ruled by her former step-mother. But does Elizabeth play to merely torment Ella, or is there a more sinister purpose? One tied to the endless wave of vermin spreading across Europe? Someone is going to lose this game and forfeit their head, but will it be Ella or Elizabeth? Elements of this novel are inspired by Alice in Wonderland. A fairytale retelling perfect for fans of Aya Ling, Marissa Meyer, Chanda Hahn and KM Shea. Keywords: young adult, historical fantasy, fairytale, fairy-tale retelling, Edwardian, zombies, romance

Alice, The Player

Imagine if Rapunzel's parents were Edwardian preppers... Hazel's parents saw the 1912 sinking of the Titanic as a portent of doom and locked their daughter away. Isolated and alone, each birthday she wishes to be free, whatever the risk. If only her childhood friend Henry would return and breach the high walls. On the frontlines of the Great War, Henry kept a token of happier times - a worn photograph of a young girl with long blonde plaits. He returns from war damaged and vowing to do one brave thing to make up for his cowardice - release Hazel from her prison. But is it safe with the pandemic and its horrific aftermath? How can Henry reconcile protecting Hazel with setting her free? Or perhaps the sheltered young woman will teach the soldier a lesson about life, and liberate him from a tower of his own construction. Please note: HENRY is a companion (prequel) to ELLA, THE SLAYER. The direct sequel to ELLA is ALICE, THE PLAYER Keywords: young adult, historical fantasy, fairytale, fairy-tale retelling, Edwardian, zombies, romance

Henry, The Gaoler

Dragons have taken up residence at Lowestoft and Queen Victoria is not amused. The queen is on the warpath and to protect the mythical beasts from treasure hunters, Cara needs to find the foundation stone from the Great Wall of China. To add to her problems, there’s a strange box hidden deep under the Lowestoft estate that makes her skin crawl and steals the air from her lungs. Nate is trying to find a way to make it reveal its secrets, but Cara would rather drop it in the deepest, darkest part of the ocean. Quite apart from arguing with the monarch and catching those who hunt her dragons Cara faces a far more terrifying trial—impending motherhood. Childbirth always ends in tragedy for her maternal line and even her bond with Nate might not be strong enough to battle Mother Nature… This steampunk adventure is perfect for fans of Gail Carriger, Shelley Adina, CJ Archer and Bec McMaster. Keywords: steampunk, gaslamp, gothic, historical fantasy, historical mystery, victorian, victorian era, victorian romance, paranormal romance, romantic fantasy, fantasy mystery, mystery, action and adventure, alternate history, ancient Egypt, artifact, artefact.

Nessy's Locket

In a steam and mechanical powered Victorian England, Feisty Cara Devon is on the trail of powerful ancient artifacts in this bestselling historical fantasy series. This set contains the first three novels. 1: Nefertiti's Heart A killer stalks the nobility seeking a legendary diamond said to have once belonged to Queen Nefertiti and rumoured to hold the key to immortality. 2: Hatshepsut's Collar An ancient Egyptian necklace is driving Queen Victoria mad with megalomania, and that's not Cara's most pressing problem. 3: Nero's Fiddle People start dying from spontaneous human combustion when someone uses a relic from Rome to cover up an old secret. A steampunk adventure perfect for fans of Gail Carriger, Shelley Adina, CJ Archer and Bec McMaster. Keywords: steampunk, gaslamp, historical fantasy, victorian, paranormal romance, action and adventure, alternate history

Books 1, 2 and 3

The Artifact Hunters Boxed Set

All things must come to an end… London is in the frozen grip of an unnatural winter and Queen Victoria wants answers. Cara and Nate know who – the Curator. The queen's artifact hunters just don't know what is responsible. Cara is on the trail of an ancient and powerful artifact capable of freezing a city and stirring demons. First she must confront her past and her father's history. Only in learning why her father became a disciple of the Curator can she hope to learn what the old noble seeks and why he is so fascinated by her. Then tragedy strikes and the bond forged by Nefertiti's Heart is severed. Nate without Cara succumbs to his darkness and he lashes out at those he holds responsible for her loss. Meanwhile, in the shadows, Inspector Fraser waits for his opportunity to pull down the man known as the villainous viscount. With London entombed in ice and all hope lost, could this be the end…? A steampunk adventure perfect for fans of Gail Carriger, Shelley Adina, CJ Archer and Bec McMaster. Keywords: steampunk, gaslamp, historical fantasy, victorian, paranormal romance, action and adventure, alternate history

Moseh's Staff

Who will awaken the sleeper…? Ella wants the sleeper to stay undisturbed. Especially since it's Millicent deMage, the first Duchess of Leithfield and a supposed witch who died over three hundred years ago. As Ella learns about the history of Serenity House, she begins to realise the long dead duchess could be the key to understanding the pandemic of vermin. For the final battle Ella needs a new ally, one forged from an old adversary—Charlotte, her step-sister. Ever since Ella shattered her world and destroyed her family, the young woman has been trying to figure out how to survive. Now, Charlotte is the one woman who can anchor Ella in this world as she does battle in another. Sometimes the fiercest battles are the ones we fight in our minds. But this might be one fight Ella can't win, and she will be the one put to sleep forever… An Edwardian fairytale retelling inspired by Sleeping Beauty and perfect for fans of Marissa Meyer, Aya Ling, Chanda Hahn and KM Shea. Keywords: young adult, historical fantasy, fairytale, fairy-tale retelling, Edwardian, zombies, romance

Rory, The Sleeper

The worlds of noble and guild are about to collide, with seventeen-year-old Allie Donovan as the catalyst… Allie lives in a shadow world until she is thrust into the light of the aristocratic St Matthew’s Academy. More at ease with a blade than a needle, she is stalked along the ancient corridors by a Scottish lord intent on determining why she is among them. She stumbles onto the reason when soldiers arrive to see her friend, Zeb, a mechanical genius. On the hunt for answers, she breaks into his underground laboratory. There, Allie discovers Zeb is not just constructing sentient mechanical creatures, he is building a devastating new weapon for the military. To protect her friend, Allie will have to stop the guilds from snatching the weapon and its creator. But if she betrays her world, she forfeits her own life. Unless she can rely on bonds of friendship to save both their lives… A historical fantasy academy adventure perfect for fans of Libba Bray, Marissa Meyer, and CJ Archer. Keywords: Victorian, young adult, teen romance, paranormal, steampunk, gaslamp, fantasy, historical, coming of age

Obsidian Eyes

This novella is a Victorian romance with a steampunk twist. It is a standalone read that compliments the Artifact Hunters series. Amy Hamilton is a good girl. She always did exactly as society demanded, kept her eyes downcast, never spoke out of turn, and hid the myriad of questions swirling in her brain. In return for shutting off her intellect she landed an abusive fiancé and was cast aside by the ton. Disgraced, she seeks refuge at the Lyons' country estate. There she is given a bracelet made from a unicorn's tail and told it contains enough magic to grant one wish. She knows what she wants, someone to love the true her, and not the shallow image that smiles back from the mirror. She never expected the unicorn to send her two men… Lachlan Hawke - dashing airship pirate and notorious rogue. Jackson Jackson - the scarred henchman and enforcer for the Lyons Empire. The two men have a bet, who will be first to win a kiss from the delicate rose? The loser to be tarred and feathered. Loki is sure of a quick victory and that Jackson will be impersonating a chicken by the end of the week. Jackson doesn't even know why he agreed to the stupid bet, the girl shudders whenever he enters a room. But the men are about to learn you should be careful making bets when a unicorn is involved…. Keywords: steampunk, gaslamp, historical fantasy, victorian, paranormal romance, action and adventure, alternate history

The Unicorn's Tail

Can Allie walk the line between shadow and light, or will she fall...? Allie Donovan returns to the elite St Matthew's Academy with mounting problems. Her heart wants Jared, but her brain argues their relationship is doomed. Weasel is acting strange, and Eloise is giving off sparks. Then Allie finds a kindred spirit looking for escape in the library--Princess Alexandrina Victoria of Kent. The heir to the British throne is on a temporary hiatus from her mother's tight control. But as friendship grows, the young woman turns into a catalyst who could shatter a five hundred year old treaty between the Noctis and Lux. Unless Allie can stop the chain of events from unfolding, her new friend will never become Queen of England. When you were born and raised in a shadow world, decisions aren't black or white. How far will Allie go, to protect the future queen...? A historical fantasy academy adventure perfect for fans of Libba Bray, Marissa Meyer, and CJ Archer. Keywords: Victorian, historical, fantasy, young adult, teen, romance, paranormal, steampunk, gaslamp, coming of age, action and adventure

Opaque Lies

Join an Edwardian Cinderella on a 3-book journey to defeat the undead and to find her happily ever after. Set contains...1: Ella,The Slayer The flu pandemic of 1918 took millions of souls within a few short weeks. Except it wasn't flu, and death gave them back Seventeen-year-old Ella copes the best she can scrubbing the floors, and slaying the undead. Then the new Duke of Leithfield arrives in the village and working alongside Seth, Ella glimpses a future she never dreamed was possible. But in overstepping society's boundaries, she could lose everything - home, head and her heart... 2: Alice, The Player Ella must venture down a rabbit hole, but this is no wonderland... When Alice goes missing without a trace, the new vermin queen sends an invitation--Ella is welcome to try and rescue her friend, before Elizabeth lets her subjects tear the housemaid apart. 3: Rory, The Sleeper Who will awaken the sleeper...? Ella wants the sleeper to stay undisturbed. Especially since it's Millicent deMage, the first Duchess of Leithfield. Could the long dead duchess be the key to understanding the pandemic of vermin? The final battle is looming, but this might be one fight Ella can't win, and she will be the one put to sleep forever... An Edwardian fairytale retelling perfect for fans of Marissa Meyer, Aya Ling, Chanda Hahn and KM Shea. Keywords: young adult, historical fantasy, fairytale, fairy-tale retelling, Edwardian, zombies, romance

A.W. Exley

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