Cirrus@Austlit

'Enter a new universe filled with reincarnated superheroes, inter-dimensional demons and immortal enemies, from the acclaimed author of The Echo.

'Byrne Davin has lived many lives, from noblewoman to pioneer to slave, all of them filled with blood and death, all ending in pain and betrayal. This life, she would like to live in peace, or if not peace then to at least finish high school, maybe even meet a cute guy, go on a date, kick demon arse and be home in time to do her homework.

'But you don’t always get what you want, especially not with an ancient battle-crazed warrior sharing your soul, or fragmented dreams of an unseen enemy that threatens not just Byrne’s existence, but that of her reincarnated sisters.

'Sisters who doubt Byrne’s every word and hold terrible secrets of their own.

'A darkness is coming, a bitter cold rising from the depths of the universe on the ravening howl of a bloodthirsty demon horde. And the only thing standing between it and victory are Byrne, her sisters and the lies tearing them apart.

'Get ready for a new thrill ride as Crawford masterfully weaves another action-packed tale of secrets and suspense, where your friends are your enemies and your enemies are your friends.' (Publication summary)

'Short Bits is an eclectic mix of messy literary explosions, from fantasy to LitRPG and science fiction, each one exploring a new world. They're written for the fun of it and published here because otherwise they'll sit in a drawer, and where's the fun in that?

'Short Bits Volume 2 includes five original stories, including 'Woman In White', an ethereal xianxia tale about a mysterious, dangerous woman found in the snow. In 'This Is Darkness', two superheroes go head-to-head in a titanic battle between light and dark, while 'Don't Die' and 'Spirit in the Sky' take you into the world of virtual gaming where death is just the beginning. The collections ends with The Echo short story, 'Brother', a no-holds-barred space opera that will leave you wondering who the real monsters are.

'Every story is introduced by the author, taking you behind-the-scenes and providing insight into the inspiration and writing process behind each one.' (Publication summary)

Four original science fiction & fantasy stories.

Short Bits is a collection of messy literary explosions that don't always have a proper ending. They're written for the fun of it and published here because otherwise they'll sit in a drawer, and where's the fun in that?

'I'm a ship-kid, cruising around the galaxy in my spaceship home, exploring planetoids, charting asteroids and sleeping away the long years between solar systems in stasis/sleep along with my family and friends. Or, at least, that's what I'm supposed to be.

'I'm not that anymore, not by a long-shot, not since a sentient alien spaceship ate my home.

'That home is gone now, blown to bits by the same aliens that took my sister, kidnapped my friends and destroyed my family, all because of some long ago war we didn't have anything to do with.

'It's not fair. It's not right.

'It's not over.

'It's my turn now, my turn to take all of this death, all this destruction and shove it down the aliens' throats. And maybe, if I'm lucky - if we're all lucky - me, my friends and what's left of my family will come out of this alive, because there's one thing I know for sure...

'I won't let them win.'(Publication summary)

'A single slip. A night of terror.

'Elouise is a dutiful wife, a good mother, and a witch, but in this time of superstition, when men of power incite fear and the slightest hint of witchcraft invites the wrath of the mob, she is forced to hide her magic. She hides it well, until a moment of inattention exposes her secret to the world and sets her on a path to tragedy and revenge.

'Reprisal is a chilling short story of magic, betrayal and revenge.' (Publication summary)

'A mysterious invitation to the Black Hearts Club has Vickie reeling with curiosity.

'Is this a chance for her to have fun, or is there a mystery for her to solve?

'In order to find out more about the Black Hearts Club, Vickie keeps secrets from George. Will this cause their marriage to break down, or can they find a way forward?' (Publication summary)

'A HERO REBELLION NOVELLA!

'Descend into the Twilight, a world of illegal street races and genetically engineered animal companions, where the only thing more dangerous than the competition is the girl in its midst.

'Hero Regan wants her freedom, but first she has an AI to hack and a race to win. Between the traps and the other racers, winning a Twilight race isn’t as easy as it sounds, and now with the police on her tail and something funky happening with her telepathy, the finish line may be out of reach.'

Source : publisher's blurb

'Survival is just the beginning.

'Being a ship kid is meant to be easy; cruise around the galaxy, explore a few planets, chart some asteroid belts, race cargo palettes through the ship's freight system. It's all fun and games until we stumble across an alien wreck, that's when I'm kicked out of stasis/sleep to find my home under attack, my friends being eaten.

'I try to save them, but all I do is make things worse.

'And now... now I'm floating in an escape pod, the power fading, the cold invading my bones.

'Alone.

'Waiting to die.

'But there are worse things than death.

'And they're coming for me.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'On a toxic planet, humans live in floating cities, relying on the strength and courage of the Riders for survival.

'Subria is going to be one of the few, a Rider dedicated to scouting the food and resources her people need to survive, but first she has to pass the entrance exam. Of course, it's more than just an exam, it's a chance to attain the one thing that a Rider needs above all others; a steed.

'The bond between these genetically engineered companions and their Riders is legendary, and Subria wants it almost as much as she wants to follow in her father's footsteps as a Rider. Legends might be all she ever gets to know it as though, because as soon as the test starts, something goes terribly, terribly wrong.

'Now, Subria's no longer fighting for a dream, she's in a battle for survival.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'In the dark, empty space between solar systems, something lies in wait.

'It’s pretty easy being a ship kid; clean out the cyclers, avoid your sister, don’t get sucked into space. The hardest bit about it is spending a couple of decades in stasis/sleep while your ship travels to the next solar system. Then rinse and repeat all the way back to a home you’ve never seen.

'Except Kuma just got kicked out of stasis early, like decades early. And he’s alone.

'All. Alone.

'Except for the fug.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Hero Regan is a fugitive, running from family and foes alike. She’s on a mission to save Fink’s life, and no one, not a former best friend, an AI, or Fink himself is going to stand in her way.

But life on Jørn’s surface isn’t what she thought. The planet has secrets, secrets older than the human cities built atop them, and they have sharp teeth, bloodied claws and a mission of their own.

After a year on the run, Hero just wants to go home, but home has changed and after all the plans put in motion around her are done, it may not be there at all.

Hero Regan never wanted to be special, but when chaos ends, the world will remember her name.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Hero Regan is a telepath, the first in a new subspecies of human engineered to save the world, but that was before she blew up a chunk of Cumulus City. Now the world doesn't need her, which is just how she likes it. Hero has just about everything she wants: independence, friendship and a shot at her fondest dream, to explore the surface of the alien planet she calls home. Life would be perfect except her best friend is keeping secrets, Fink, her six hundred kilogram, genetically engineered companion, is constantly angry, and there's something wrong with Hero's brain. Like, really, really wrong. It all wouldn't be so bad, except Hero has secrets to keep too, the kind that may just be unforgivable, and the Librarian once again needs her help to save the world, whether she wants to or not.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'Centuries ago, humans colonised JOrn, a lonely planet on the far side of the galaxy. Arriving in five great colony ships, they quickly settled the surface only to discover, after a few short years, that the planet was killing them. The culprit, a native spore, carried on every wind to every corner of the globe.

'Genetic engineering, blending DNA from Earth and JOrn species, saved their crops and livestock, but for humans there was no cure. Instead they took to the skies, turning their colony ships into cities that floated above the spore's reach.

'Hero Regan is special, and not in a way she likes. She hears voices, voices in her head that other people can't. Surrounded by butlers, bodyguards and tutors, insulated from the outside world, her only solace is Fink, a six-hundred-kilogram, genetically engineered ruc-pard. They share lives, thoughts, triple-chocolate marshmallow ice-cream and the burning desire for freedom.

'Their chance comes when Hero is allowed to attend school in Cumulus City. Here, along with making unexpected friends, Hero discovers she is an unwitting part of a master plan set into motion by the first colonists, a plan she must either help or foil if she's ever to attain the freedom she craves.' (Publication summary)