In honor of Black History Month, I decided to highlight some supernaturally awesome reads by Black authors. Faye Princess series by Layla J. Omorose If you like epic romantasy, you’ll love this slightly dark, slow burn spicy series! DARKNIGHT: ANCIENT BLOODLINES by Layla J. Omorose Faye Princess #1 His worth will be measured by the strength of her love… A Runaway Princess… Tara Du’Faye, Second High Princess of the Faye, has had it with the King’s demands. Fleeing the palace, she is captured by a world of savagery and black majick. She prays her warrior can find her before she is consumed by the dark walls of the Arena, A Warrior Without A Past… Alexios is the commander of the Faye Army, and a male, whose past is covered in darkness. Vicious in battle, deadly by nature, there is nothing he wouldn’t do to ensure the safety of those he cares for. Especially, the Second High Princess of the Faye. Searching for her will change him forever as darkness draws closer to the kingdom he left unprotected. Forbidden Love… Can a warrior, who had deemed himself unworthy, and a princess, whose only concern is claiming the one thing she cannot have, come…

While reading Laurell K. Hamilton’s new book SLAY, I started thinking about fantasy and fairytales. In Hamilton’s Anita Blake series, some characters (usually men) liken Anita to a princess. This never fails to annoy her to some degree. She will often respond to that comparison that she is more like the prince or brave knight in the story rather than the princess or damsel in distress. Certainly, in SLAY, Anita battles mythological beasts and endures things that normally test heroes in epic adventures. The main difference being that she battles alongside friends and fellow champions. So many readers tend to focus on the carnage or the sex scenes in these stories, but I would argue that love is a huge theme in these books. Hamilton writes about love between members of a created, rather than biological, family, as well as a sexual or romantic love shared between several members of a group. Those bonds are just as compelling and intriguing as those in a more traditional romance. Love is something that spurs the heroes in SLAY to protect and battle for. One of my favorite characters in this series makes such a powerful declaration of love, that is perhaps more…

Q: While browsing Amazon recently for more monster-themed romance, I happened on your new book THE UNSEELIE DUKE. The cover is fab and pulled me in right away, so I snagged it. However, the male protagonist, Izael, captivated me. I normally avoid fae-centric romance, but there’s just something about Izael. He’s as cray cray as some of the other fae characters I’ve read about in the past but a with a bit more charisma. What’s your inspiration? For this character and this series? Will it stop at being a trilogy? Izael definitely came out of left field! I had written my first series set in my dark fantasy fae realm, Maze of Shadows, and figured that’d be it for me. But that insane nope-rope just showed up in my head out of nowhere and demanded to be written. It definitely pulls from Labyrinth, and some of my other favorite old fantasy movies like Legend. I also just tend to love writing insane male leads—they always make me laugh.   Q: I love the artwork for your books. Can you tell me a little about that? Grace Zhu, my cover artist, is just fantastic! She came to me asking to illustrate…

T: Trouble – Caiden is in trouble when a blood curse is activated that could mean his death unless he keeps his new, accidental bride close at all times H: Human – Bryn is a human who stumbles into the world of the Dark Fae, a race she never knew existed E: Exclusive – Bryn, a Wisconsin girl who just lost her job, gets an offer in the mail for an all-expenses paid trip to a VERY exclusive hotel and casino…sounds totally legit, what could go wrong?   D: Dominant – the role Caiden has in multiple areas of his life, but none more exciting than in the bedroom A: Assassination – several attempts are made on Bryn’s life, but the question is why and who’s behind it R: Rhiannon – the Celtic Moon Goddess who the Dark Fae worship as their main deity K: Kidnapped – Bryn flew to Vegas for a quick weekend trip until she accidentally married a powerful, sexy billionaire who ends up kidnapping her and says she won’t be leaving anytime soon   K: King – Caiden is considered a “king” of Vegas, but he’s also the king of the Dark Fae of the Night…

1–What is the title of your latest release? ONLY BAD OPTIONS is book #1 in my Galactic Bonds science-fiction fantasy romance series.   2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? Only Bad Options is a mix of science fiction (spaceships, planets, etc.); fantasy (people with magical abilities, weapons, etc.); a touch of historical romance; and a broody, Mr. Darcy-type space assassin. LOL. It also contains: Space opera Soul mates Enemies to lovers Pew! Pew! Pew! action scenes A boiling lava planet of doom.   3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? I had never written a sci-fi book before, and I thought it would be a fun challenge to write my own sci-fi book and put my own spin on the genre.   4–Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life? Absolutely! Vesper Quill is a lab rat (think engineer/inventor), and she could definitely help me with some home repairs and projects. LOL.   5–What are three words that describe your protagonist? Smart, determined, capable.   6–What’s something you learned while writing this book? I was searching for some names to use in the book, and I decided to look up star…

I initially assumed that your new book TO TEMPT A SORCERER was part of your Brides of Prophecy series. When I looked it up on Amazon, it said that it is the first book in the Blood Prophecy series. Is this a spinoff series? If so, how is it connected? In book 7, RECLAIMING THE MAGIC, the hero and heroine reunite with their long-lost daughter, who ended up with a grumpy high sorcerer who’s had appearances in the series since book 3. The daughter’s story HAD to be told, but it doesn’t fit in the timeline in the main series, so a spinoff was the way to go. There are other interesting characters and places I also wish to explore in this spinoff, so every book will be a fun standalone.   How would you describe these “prophecy” books to readers unfamiliar with them? Mephistopheles, an evil being who thinks he’s a god has been creating his world by stealing parts of other worlds for thousands of years. The magical beings and human mages escaped to another world called Aisthanesthai. The remaining Earth humans with magic were persecuted until they were virtually wiped out. Then, Mephistopheles created vampires. But they…

To celebrate Gena Showalter’s new book RUTHLESS, we here at Fresh Fiction thought it would be a fun way for readers to get to know her characters better (from her many many fab books) to play a little game we call “The Character Most Likely”. I love this because it satisfies my romance nerd self AND because I love Gena Showalter’s books. If you’re new to her Immortal Enemies series – It’s a mix of fantasy and romance – with men AND women who are ruthless. The result often combines chaos and eroticism in a satisfying way. Gena is free to select her answers from any of her paranormal series. Most likely to hold a grudge longer than anybody else? ANSWER: Kaysar the Unhinged One from Heartless and Ruthless. He forgives no one, ever. Well, except his darling, homicidal Chantal, who can do no wrong.   Most likely to figure out a way to use an enemy’s strength against him? ANSWER: Micah the Unwilling from Ruthless. As a beast tamer, he often senses the inside scoop. Before scooping out their insides.   Most likely to prefer a cloak of invisibility to super-duper sword or other instruments of battle? ANSWER: Viori…

1–What is the title of your latest release? UNICORN SHIFTER ACADEMY by J.R. Thorn 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book?  “Taste the rainbow takes on a whole new meaning when your mates are Unicorn Shifters…” 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? Unicorn Shifter Academy came to fruition when my muse entertained her natural meanderings, taking me through the Enchanted Forest where bunnies are deadly, and unicorns are hot. She always leads me astray, but I happily follow her into the chaos! 4–Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life? Always! All the protagonists in the Blood Stone Universe are kick-A heroines I’d love to hang out with. 5–What are three words that describe your protagonist?  “Mischievous, stubborn, and spunky!” 6–What’s something you learned while writing this book? I’ve written and published over thirty books, but each book teaches me something new. Unicorn Shifter Academy taught me not to take things too seriously and to have some good-natured rainbow fun once in a while. 7–Do you edit as you draft or wait until you are totally done? I edit as I draft, yes. 8–What’s your favorite foodie indulgence? Japanese strawberry cake!…

1–What is the title of your latest release? RAGING SEAS – Warriors of the Stone Circles. It’s the second in what will be a 4-book paranormal/fantasy historical romance series. 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? When the ultimate evil threatens humanity, an ancient bloodline of warriors returns to defend them. Ran and Soren must put past betrayals behind them and accept their destiny – and their new powers. Will love be enough to save them all? 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? When I planned out this series – a first time for me since I usually plan book by book! The locations of the 4 books are all set near standing stone circles all over the British Isles. My guide to where to find the circles was a book about circles with a map that showed four areas of concentrated circles, so I chose one in each of those! I looked for lesser-known circles OR made up my own in Southern Scotland, Orkney, southwestern England and Ireland. 4–Would you hang out with your heroine in real life? Yes! Ran is a strong woman, molded by love and betrayal, who knows her…

1–What is the title of your latest release? SERPENT’S CLAIM 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? The Serpent’s Touch duet is a Paranormal Fantasy Romance with a human heroine and a gorgonian hero, a character based on Medusa. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? The story is set in my world of The River of Mists. At first, I planned for it to take place entirely in our contemporary world, like the trilogy Madame Tan’s Menagerie, also set in the River of Mists. But I really wanted to “see” Nerifir, the magical kingdom where all my heroes came from. So, the main couple of the Serpent’s Touch cross the River of Mists into Nerifir in this duet. It was so much fun to create an all-new magical world for these books! 4–Would you hang out with your heroine in real life? Absolutely. There is so much of myself in Amira, more than in many of my other heroines, I believe. She is quiet, contemplative, and introverted. But she opens up with the people she loves and trusts. Life isn’t fair to Amira. She has to work very hard for her Happily Ever…