Aiki Flinthart

A geologist seeks her missing sister on the moons of Jupiter. The crew of the Valentine dredge up something awful from the ocean's depths. An ancient God is called upon during a bloody war. PISCES is a collection of twisted poems and dark stories inspired by this fascinating Zodiac sign, as well as retellings of the myths behind the sign. The tales span multiple genres, including science fiction, horror, fantasy, dystopian and urban fantasy, told by some award-winning authors and new stars of the Australian and New Zealand speculative fiction scene.This anthology is the third volume in The Zodiac Series, with each volume focusing on a particular sign of the Zodiac.

Young midwife, Heather, has reached breaking point. Too many years of giving everything to save babies and women who can't afford USA health care. Too little love left, when all men do is take strength from her. Too much hiding and running.But when she discovers O'Conner Inc private investigator, Kade Miller, is tracking her, the only choice is to face him. A disastrous decision. Unprepared for her attraction to Kade, she cannot hide all her secrets.Secrets which could be devastating for both of them if she can't keep him at arm's length.Kade Miller is forced to take on a PI job he'd rather avoid: hunting down another baby-killing illegal midwife. But when Kade finally catches the woman, he is drawn not only to her, but also into a world of intrigue and danger. For she has strange abilities that influence him in disturbing ways. Reminding him of losses he's tried to forget.She's also beautiful, frightened, and hiding something important.The only thing Kade knows for sure is that he needs to get Heather back to New York and uncover her truths.Can he do that and still protect his own heart?

Rascals and rogues, thieves and pirates, scammers and scoundrels. Sixteen tales by sixteen fabulous Australian authors. Once more the Springfield Writers Group has delivered a rip-roaring array of short stories to keep you glued to the page.What's your poison?Fantasy action? Steampunk pirates? Wild west science fiction? Or maybe you prefer heart-wrenching family drama; LGBTQ; murders and detectives; laugh-out-loud comedy.The mix of genres means every reader will find something to enjoy.This collection features works by award-winning Scottish thriller author, Jan-Andrew Henderson, Aurealis short-listed science fiction author Pamela Jeffs, and Aurealis-award shortlisted and Amazon best-selling author, Aiki Flinthart.If you're looking for your next page-turner, look no further. Dive into Rogues' Gallery today."Such a lot of fun to read. So many great authors and excellent stories. Don't wait. Get it now." Neil Damonn

The jundom of Mamlakah is on the brink of economic collapse. Poverty is rampant and a slavery-based economy threatens the jundom's peace and its peoples' freedom. Only the twenty-one noble Jun families are safe.When Teya's six-year-old brother, Perrin, is captured to be sold as a slave, Teya is determined to free him.To do so she must become what she hates most--a xintou-telepath--and co-operate with those she swore never to trust--a noble family. Working with Dallan Johnston, she must learn to harness her unique psychic gifts and help prevent slavery from gaining a foothold in Mamlakah. Only then will her brother be safe.But Dallan and the jun families are just out to use Teya for their own ends. And secrets from Teya's past threaten to destroy Mamalakah's future.Can she and Dallan overcome their mutual mistrust and work together? If they fail, Perrin, Teya, and the entire jundom will be enslaved; the future of Mamlakah forged into darkness and pain."The Kalima Chronicles will delight lovers of epic fantasy." - Juliet Marillier - author of the Blackthorn & Grim series."A fantastic prequel to IRON and the Kalima Chronicles Trilogy. Great worldbuilding. Loved this story. A must for sci-fantasy readers." - Patrick Ruthvoss

The galaxy is a strange place full of weird creatures and even weirder sentient beings.See it through the eyes of four outcasts, banished to Asteri Station on the fringes of the Hegemon Economic Alliance. Absinthe Krull--an Aquanorian with a dark past--who runs The Zoo, the bar on Asteri. Ori Bligh, a young Terran whose life of privilege has been destroyed by a stupid mistake she's desperate to put right. Zev Smith, maintenance master for the station, in hiding for forty years for a poor decision; and Cordelia Bane, bounty hunter with a stack of debts to clear.When first Ori then Cordelia arrive on Asteri, the stories they hear at the Zoo slowly reveal not only the oddities all four have encountered in their travels, but also things all four would prefer left in the shadows of the past.Secrets that will, in the end, will help them decide on a new future.Fourteen stories from all corners of the galaxy and covering five hundred years of history. If you love science fiction, weird west, humour, and darkness, then The Zookeeper's Tales of Interstellar Oddities will keep you pinned to your seat.Join award-shortlisted, best-selling authors Pamela Jeffs and Aiki Flinthart on a wild ride into the future of Terran galactic expansion. Discover all the strangeness waiting out there.

Four-and-twenty extraordinary women; one chance to save a kingdom. What would you sacrifice to save your family, your loved ones, yourself?In September 1486, the reign of King Henry VII of England is again threatened by York loyalists. The only thing standing in the way is a four-hundred-year-old sidhe who just wants to be left alone, and a group of London women with a lot to lose if England is plunged back into war.But, in 1486, women have no power. Only the ability to make difficult choices and sometimes-heartbreaking sacrifices.Become immersed in the fascinating, perilous lives of these women, as told through the medium of 25 interwoven short stories. A prostitute selling her daughter's virginity to pay her debts; a nun returning to the world after 30 years; laundress whose son is murdered; a lady's maid hiding her Jewish culture; a blind musician running from a forced marriage; and more.Each story is a piece in the puzzle. Each woman faces her own trials as she plays her small part in the desperate attempt to protect King Henry and his wife, Elizabeth of York.Because if they fail, England will once again be thrust into civil war between the Yorks and Lancasters. And these four-and-twenty women have already sacrificed too much.

Humans are one with this world. Part of a greater whole. Tied by the four elements, Earth, Air, Fire, Water. Bound by Life's urge to survive. Elemental presents 16 stories of struggle, betrayal, humanity, and strength. Each containing Elements of Truth that will resonate with you for years to come. Once more, members of the Springfield Writers Group pour their collective hearts into their work. Their insights into human nature, love, fear and joy will delight and surprise you. It doesn't matter what genre you prefer, you'll find something in Elemental to enjoy. This collection features works by award-winning Scottish author, JA Henderson, and Aurealis-award shortlisted and Amazon best-selling author, Aiki Flinthart. Plus heartwrenching and joyful works by fourteen other talented authors. Looking for your next collection of short reads? Elemental is it.

With the immediate threat of war on Kalima averted, Alere, Kett, and Corin must track down Alere's sister, Mina. But Alere struggles to understand her new-found powers, only certain that Mina is in danger. When slavers decimate Mina's ship, the situation turns lethal. JArran, the new Jun First of Mamlakah, has been captured along with Mina, and Rohne Connor. Now Alere and her companions must recover the Jun First and Mina from Hassan Nasim, the most brutal Slavemaster of Melcor, - before Jarran loses his new throne to rebellion. And Rohne has his own, unknown agenda.In the attempt to free her sister and friends, Alere will risk more than just her own life and theirs. She'll gamble with the sovereignty of her Jundom, and the lives of the people of Mamlakah, itself.If she fails, it means death or slavery for everyone she loves and destruction for Xintou House. But succeeding could be even worse.

Kalima, an Earth-colony world with little mineable iron and no fossil fuels, is entrenched in a peaceful feudal society. The Jundom of Mamalakah is ruled by the ambitious Hanna Zah-Hill, wife of the Jun First. Hanna wants to overturn the status quo. But Mistress Li of Xintou House prefers to keep the world in the dark ages. And has the power to do so.When Alere Connor - failed xintou-telepath but skilled swordswoman - is sent to act as mistress to Jun First Radan Zah-Hill, she unwittingly triggers a revolution against the House and against the Jun. On his deathbed, Radan reveals the existence of a hidden iron ore deposit. With several factions vying for political domination of the Jundom, control of the iron would tip the balance of power. Alere is accused of the Jun First's murder and flees for her life. She must reach and warn the Jun Second, Rafi Koh-Lin, on whose lands the iron ore lies. If she fails, all-out war is inevitable - the first ever war in the seven hundred year history of Kalima.On the way, Alere will uncover the old and bloody secret of her own existence; the reason for her failure as a xintou-telepath; and unlock and even darker future for herself and her companions.But only if she survives.

Rowan Gilmore and her sidhe companions are in a desperate race to stop the truth of the sidhe's powers being revealed to the world. For once humans are aware of the sidhe, fear and greed will do what the Mors Ferrum has been unable to achieve -- wholesale slaughter of the Ruadh n Sidhe.The chase takes Rowan to Italy, where Maeve enlists the help of her son, Dante, to intercept the parcel of vital information sent to the Mors. But they're too late. The package containing everything the world doesn't know about sidhe ends up in the hands of Alexander Dyson - the leader of the Mors Ferrum.Now Rowan must decide who to trust - and how deeply - in order to save her people. Every one of her companions has an agenda. Every one of them wants to use her for their own cause. As does Dyson. But who is telling the truth and who is lying?In this epic clash between the Ruadh n sidhe, the Dark sidhe, and the Mors Ferrum, whoever controls Rowan's powers will determine the future of mankind and sidhe alike.But what if she's been on the wrong side of this battle, right from the start?Rowan Gilmore and her sidhe companions are in a desperate race to stop the truth of the sidhe's powers being revealed to the world. For once humans are aware of the sidhe, fear and greed will do what the Mors Ferrum has been unable to achieve -- wholesale slaughter of the Ruadh n Sidhe.The chase takes Rowan to Italy, where Maeve enlists the help of her son, Dante, to intercept the parcel of vital information sent to the Mors. But they're too late. The package containing everything the world doesn't know about sidhe ends up in the hands of Alexander Dyson - the leader of the Mors Ferrum.Now Rowan must decide who to trust - and how deeply - in order to save her people. Every one of her companions has an agenda. Every one of them wants to use her for their own cause. As does Dyson. But who is telling the truth and who is lying?In this epic clash between the Ruadh n sidhe, the Dark sidhe, and the Mors Ferrum, whoever controls Rowan's powers will determine the future of mankind and sidhe alike.But what if she's been on the wrong side of this battle, right from the start?

Rowan Gilmore and her mother, Anna, have spent most of Rowan's life running, hiding Rowan's speed, strength and precognitive powers--but without knowing why she's different, why they have to hide, or who from. And Rowan's sick of running scared. But she has to keep going, because she also harbours a dark power that emerges only when she's afraid or in danger. A power that kills indiscriminately to save her. When she moves to Australia, a street fight reveals Rowan's abilities to a stranger, Fynn, and she must decide whether to run again or stay and risk discovery by her pursuers. Her mother has found happiness with a new partner and Rowan is reluctant to wreck it. So, after foiling another kidnap attempt, Rowan makes her decision. The time has come to stand her ground. Then Fynn becomes and ally, with promises to help fight her unknown enemy - and to reveal the truth behind her extraordinary abilities. But what's his agenda? And who are the Mors Ferrum operatives Fynn says are chasing Rowan? What do they want? What is the ocair thing they keep asking about? Can she trust Fynn? Or herself, for that matter. Because, what happens if the darkness lurking in her mind wakes and comes out to play?