M. L. Wang Books

"On a mountainside at the edge of the Kaigenese Empire live the most powerful fighters in the world, warriors capable of raising the sea and wielding blades of ice. For centuries, the fighters of the Kusanagi Peninsula have held the Empire's enemies at bay, earning their treacherous spit of land the name "The sword of Kaigen.' Born into Kusanagi's legendary Matsuda family, fourteen-year-old Mamoru has always know his purpose: to master his family's fighting techniques and defend his homeland. But when an outsider arrives and pulls back the curtain on Kaigen's alleged age of peace, Mamoru ralizes that he might not have much time before he has to become the fighter he was bred to be. Even worse, the empire he was born to defend might stand on a fountain of lies. Misaki told herself that she left the passions of her youth behind when she married to the Matsuda house. Determined to be a good housewife and mother, she hid away her sword, along with everything from her days as a fighter in a faraway country. But with her son asking questions about the outside world, the threat of invasion looming on the horizon, and her frigid husband grating on her nerves, Misaki finds the fighter in her clawing its way back to the surface." -- from back cover

Discover a gripping dark academia fantasy that explores the limits of truth and power. The first woman admitted to a prestigious order of mages uncovers a conspiracy that could alter magic forever. For two decades, Sciona has devoted herself to mastering magic, driven by her ambition to join the High Magistry at the University of Magics and Industry. Upon achieving her goal, she faces hostility from her new colleagues, who assign her a janitor instead of a qualified lab assistant. Unbeknownst to Sciona, her taciturn assistant has a complex past; ten years ago, he was a nomadic hunter who lost his family during a treacherous journey. Now, he seeks to understand the forces that destroyed his tribe and maintain the status quo. Initially, their relationship is fraught, but as they collaborate, they uncover an ancient secret that could transform magic—if it doesn’t endanger their lives first. This standalone dark fantasy promises a merciless reckoning that lingers long after the final page, praised for its innovative storytelling and emotional depth. Readers have hailed it as a must-read, with accolades highlighting its powerful narrative and thematic richness.

Here be dragons and sorcery, time travel and sorrow. Vicious garden gnomes. A grounded phoenix rider. A new mother consumed with vengeance. A dying god. Soul magic.These stories wrestle with the experience of loss—of loved ones, of relationships, of a sense of self, of health—and forge a path to hope as characters fight their way forward.From bestsellers and SPFBO finalists to rising voices, 13 exceptionally talented authors explore the many facets of grief and healing through the lens of fantasy and sci-fi.