In a world where tech runs off the concept of one's soul and where dragons steady cosmic scales, heroes are shaped in the shadow of an ancient grudge. Horizon's Crown was an Earther triumph; a stage at the frontier of the settled systems, a city of hope and dreams and infinite potential. Then one man bit another. Now, under the watchful eye of its orbital island, it straddles the line between dead and dying; a city of nightmares and endless sorrow. Varrett Vild Vickers belongs into a pilot's chair. He's meant to dodge asteroids, to race dragons, not chase credits so he can pay rent while HC's major demographic clicks its teeth at him and tries to eat his face off. But it's fine. Really. He copes. Or that's what he tells himself, all the way until a woman falls from the sky and turns his already upside-down life very sharply sideways. Armed with nothing but her worst-kept secret and a ledger of lies, Sophya Soulwright tricks her way into Horizon's Crown, looking for not only her sister, but for redemption and a meaning to a life she’s never held dear.  What she finds instead is a city trying its hardest to live, and a man who courts death every step of the way. He's infuriating, tireless, and after a glitch binds their souls together, he is now stuck with her. All chapters are free to read, but if you want to tip the author, she'd appreciate it. The full package unlocks worldbuilding information and may come with the sudden sensation of an ethereal cat slinking around your ankles in appreciation.

Being a thief requires more than just skill, and Sif’s had failed her miserably. After an ill-fated theft in a Fae ruin, she found herself cursed and on limited time. Were it not for the kindness of a relative stranger, Regis, she would have starved into undeath in the Red Basin. And then he died. Now, all she has left of his sacrifice is his bow, a rare vanawood relic taken all the way to the Kingdom of Vaspal. Sif journeys there in search of closure, and instead finds herself at the mercy of slavers. Though this misfortune isn’t quite her fault. Grim was Mechthild’s best war trophy, an orphan of the Eromani Civil War. Adopted into her mercenary company at an early age, his life has been one of brutal battles and humiliation. But when their company is betrayed and sold to the Lord of Crows, Grim finds himself as the only one who may save his Brothers from lifelong slavery.  Together, these two find themselves in a nest of vipers, where survival takes many forms among the collared and even those they trust can betray them. There’s Rhys, a former Faithman and a slave of twenty years, who takes Grim under his wing. The Vaspali Dreamer, Frey, whose magic bends reality to her will. Then there’s Slygut, the dwarven overseer who cuts at old wounds for his own amusement.  Apart, they and Grim’s Brothers are forever cemented as slaves. Together, they could find a way to break free and flee to the free country of Uswain. Perhaps even find the Brotherhood’s traitor in the process.   One thing is for sure, the Lord of Crows won’t make it easy, and their every step is marked by the shadow of black wings. If their group is truly to survive, they have to break away from more than just their chains - they may have to learn to live.