Spotlight: The Academy War by Sean Scarborough

Publication date: October 1st 2026

Genres: Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Young Adult

Three colleges, three hearts, one prophesy that will either save magic or destroy it.

On their eighteenth birthdays, three strangers are ripped from ordinary life and thrust into a hidden world that has shaped history for centuries.

Aryna awakens a rare, volatile magic that doesn’t just channel power — it absorbs and reshapes it. At the Mage War College, her dangerous gift sets her apart and draws the secret attention of those with their own agendas.

Paul is claimed by an ancient vampire bloodline and forced into brutal trials where dominance means survival. As his humanity slips away, he realizes he’s being forged into a weapon for a war older than he knows.

Dean Blackthorn, an orphan desperate to belong, bonds with a powerful Stormwing dragon in trials where most recruits die. For the first time, he has a place — and a destiny tied to coming conflict.

Separated across rival academies, each believes they are training to protect their own kind. But when a devastating attack shatters the illusion of safety, a darker truth emerges:

They are not just students. They are pieces in a game controlled by an ancient power now awakening — and the fate of magic, monsters, and humanity may rest on who learns to control it first.

Excerpt

Chapter 1

The Wish

Aryna

“Look, Aryna,” my mom said, setting down the lopsided chocolate cake she’d clearly stayed up late making—complete with uneven frosting and slightly smudged Happy 18th Birthday written in shaky pink letters—her cheerfulness seemed forced.

“Let’s try to make today as fun as we can,” she said.

I love my mom, I really do, but sometimes she drives me absolutely crazy.

“Honey, I’m not upset you were out with your friends last night. I just wanted to know where you were.”

“Disappointed, then,” I said, unable to keep the snark out of my voice.

“Aryna!” She gave me that look, the one that said I was pushing boundaries we both knew I shouldn’t cross.

Mom walked around our tiny dining table, probably to avoid saying something she’d regret. She worked two jobs while Dad pulled night shifts, and they could barely make ends meet despite doing everything they could for me. I knew that. 

Knowing they were doing their best didn’t mean it didn’t hurt.

All my hard work, school, science fair wins- everything my parents had always told me they were proud of yet it had come with the same quiet disappointment. They were always proud. They just weren’t always there.

I remembered the state championship for English literature, my best subject. I had stood at the front of the auditorium, looking out at the crowd while the other students’ names appeared on handmade signs. Their parents cheered, waved, and called their names.

I scanned the room anyway.

Just hoping I’d see Mom and Dad.

A smile. A wave. Anything that said, We’re here. We’re proud of you! 

The last question was asked. “Who wrote The Divine Comedy” 

Easy. I hit the button “Dante Alighieri,” one of my favorites. 

Then I won first place.

I should have been excited, and I was. But there was a sadness underneath it, knowing I was experiencing it alone.

When it was over, I put the trophy in my backpack and went home.

It wasn’t that they were bad parents. They weren’t. They were busy. They were always cheering for me when they had the time—late at night, early in the morning, whenever our schedules happened to line up.

Just not in the moments when I wanted them there most.

Our apartment was so cramped, the dining room table took up most of the kitchen-dining room combo, leaving barely enough space to walk around it. On nights like this, with tension thick in the air, it felt even smaller. I could feel the frustration steaming from me.

I looked down at the table. The chocolate cake sat in front of me, eighteen candles flickering in the dim light of our cramped apartment kitchen. Mom’s face glowed with pride across the table, her tired eyes momentarily free of worry lines. Dad stood beside her, his arm draped around her shoulders, a rare moment of peace between them. Arguments about money were what I normally heard.

“Make a wish, Aryna,” Mom said.

I closed my eyes, feeling oddly self-conscious. Eighteen. A legal adult as of today, I felt no different than yesterday. What did one wish for when standing at the threshold of adulthood? College acceptance letters had already come and gone—mostly rejections with two waitlists. My part-time job barely covered gas money. 

I wish for something extraordinary to happen, I thought, surprising myself with the childish desire. Something to make me special.

I leaned forward to blow out the candles.

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About the Author

Sean Scarborough is the author of The Academy War, a young adult/new adult urban paranormal fantasy that blends magic, dragon riders, vampires, and unforgettable adventure. Although this is his debut novel, storytelling has been a passion of his for years. 

Inspired by a love of immersive fantasy and the belief that books can transport readers beyond the ordinary, Sean set out to create a world that feels as real as the one we live in—a place readers can return to whenever they need an escape. 

The Academy War was written through both the best and most challenging seasons of Sean’s life. Throughout that journey, writing became more than a creative outlet; it became a way to build a world filled with hope, courage, friendship, and wonder. 

Sean writes from the heart, believing every character carries a purpose. Some become a source of hope, others a promise, a reminder, or a heartbreaking loss—but each one is meant to leave a lasting impression. Every scene and adventure was created with the hope that readers would become fully immersed in the story and feel connected to the people and places within it. 

Seeing this world come to life and finally sharing it with readers is a dream Sean has held for years. 

He hopes The Academy War is more than just a book—that it becomes a place readers can get lost in, return to again and again, and carry with them long after they turn the final page.

Connect:

https://www.instagram.com/seanscarboroughbooks/

https://www.tiktok.com/@author.sean.scarb

https://seandscarborough.com/

https://www.facebook.com/people/Author-Sean-Scarborough/61590783893509/

https://seandscarborough.com/mailing-list

Spotlight: Who Needs Mistletoe? by Sarah Estep

Full of sparkling wit, swoon-worthy romance, and toe-curling heat, Who Needs Mistletoe? is a small-town, girl-next-door romance that will wrap your holiday season in big fun and bigger heart.

Ivy Weaver learned the hard way that some confessions are better left unsaid—like the one meant for her longtime crush, Austin, that was accidentally delivered to his older brother, Grant, instead. His brutal reaction made leaving town easy. Staying away for ten years? Even easier.

Until now.

When Ivy’s parents announce they’re leaving Coeur-de-Lac for good, Ivy can’t avoid the inevitable. She’ll return just long enough to celebrate the Christmas season while packing up her parents’ house, and her past, for good.

Grant Underwood has spent his life doing exactly what was expected of him—taking over the family business, keeping everything running smoothly, never making the same mistake twice. But when Ivy comes back to town, he sees a second chance he didn’t think he’d get.

The problem? Ivy has spent the past decade thinking she was in love with the wrong brother.

Between a chaotic family holiday, Austin’s sudden interest in Ivy, and one extremely mischievous orange cat, Grant is running out of time before the Christmas season ends and he loses his chance to prove the boy Ivy once loved isn’t the man she was meant to end up with.

It’s going to take more than mistletoe to seal this love story with a kiss.

Buy on Amazon | Audible | Bookshop.org

About the Author

Sarah Estep is a romance author who loves small towns, romantic comedies, and niche pop culture references. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, children, and two cats they're all very obsessed with her. Sarah would describe herself as "indoorsy" and has never lost a game of Disney trivia. When she isn't watching Bob's Burgers or British murder mysteries, she's probably taking a nap. A flight attendant for over a decade, the last place Sarah wants to be is the airport. Sarah is the author of the small-town romantic comedy series The Brunch Bros. sarahestep.com

Spotlight: The Me I Used to Be by Kristan Higgins

Back in senior year, Audrey, Micah, Jasmine, and Beck were the Core Four: the lucky one, the beautiful one, the smart one, the sporty one. They had color-coded dreams, inside jokes, and a lifelong friendship they thought would last forever. But graduation night ended in a tragic accident, followed by the kind of silence that stretches for decades.

Now, they’ve returned for their reunion, each carrying a life that looks nothing like the glossy future they imagined. There are stalled careers, complicated marriages, outspoken adult children, and secrets that never fit into holiday cards. For one of them, a diagnosis of early-onset dementia turns the weekend into a ticking clock.

Across one unforgettable weekend, the Core Four must decide if their past can still change their future together.

Excerpt

CHAPTER 1

Audrey

Reunion weekend 

Thursday afternoon 

I hear the crunch of wheels on the gravel driveway and get up, smoothing my long yellow dress, a hand going to my hair. I planned this outfit carefully, of course—wielding the iron, trying on different pairs of shoes. I mean, I plan everything carefully, but especially this. It’s important today to look my best. I’ve also taken an Adderall and had two cups of coffee this afternoon. I want to be on top of my game. 

After all, I haven’t seen the Core Four in twenty-five years. 

Gracie, my Irish setter, gets up from her spot and goes to the door to greet whoever it is. I glance out the window. The car is an aging Subaru hatchback, probably the most popular car in Vermont, and for a second I can’t see who’s driving it. A woman pulls out an oversize cloth bag and a pink box. She straightens and looks around, her hand shielding her eyes. She’s quite pretty, and I wonder whether she’s delivering a package. 

It’s Micah. She’s never left Stafford, so technically I have seen her. It’s impossible to avoid each other in a town of 2400, and when we’ve been forced to speak, we both make it excruciatingly superficial: Hi. Good turnout today. Nice weather. I know she married James, her high school boyfriend, and that they have a college-age son. 

Micah looks the worse for wear, I think with a not-unpleasant stab of satisfaction. Frumpy, heavier, her hair frizzier than in the olden days. Jeans, a button-down shirt, a blue sweater. Uninspired. It’s a bit of a shock. She was dubbed the beautiful one of the Core Four. At one time, she was desperate to leave Vermont, always putting down our little town, even knowing that I thought it was heaven. Then again, I was the lucky one who got to grow up on Bitter Creek Farm with my little brother and perfect parents, hundreds of acres of rolling hills and maple trees, horses and dogs and financial security. This was the house that hosted all the sleepovers, the place where we’d congregate before a dance or prom, the home away from home for all three of them. They shared my parents, my brother, everything. 

And then they left me. 

The doorbell rings, startling me even though I should’ve anticipated it. I take a breath, glance at myself in the foyer mirror. I look normal. I open the door and startle again. There are three women here, and I almost don’t recognize the other two. But of course I know who they are. There’s a moment of silence as the four of us stand in each other’s presence for the first time in a quarter of a century. 

“Can I help you?” I ask. “With your stuff, that is? Also, um . . . welcome.” I invited them here, I remind myself. I wanted this.

“I’m good,” Micah says. “I just have this bag. Oh, and I brought cupcakes. You can help with those, I guess. I don’t want to drop them.” She offers me the pink box and I take it, stepping back so they can come in. Gracie sniffs everyone, tail wagging. 

“You stuck with the Irish setters, I see,” Beck says. Her first words to me.

“This is Gracie,” I say.

“The place looks beautiful, Audrey,” Jasmine says. Her voice is warm, and I wonder why. 

“Thanks,” I say. Jasmine’s smile is very white. She’s wearing a bronze-colored off-the-shoulder sweater and an immaculate cream skirt, green suede mules. Diamond engagement ring, diamond wedding band, diamond stud earrings. I have to look away before I go blind. We get it, Jasmine. You’re rich. 

Beck’s hair is short and funky, a change from the ponytail she always had in high school. Her clothes are simple but chic—beige wide-legged pants with a dark-brown silk shirt, a rectangular gold pendant on a long, thin chain. No earrings, no rings that say whether she’s married or not. She looks effortlessly cool, upstaging the rest of us in a surprise move. In high school, she almost always wore athletic gear—sweats and gym shorts, that sort of thing.

“I brought my cat,” Beck says. “Sorry, I should’ve mentioned that. Couldn’t get a pet sitter.” She sets a carrier on the floor. “This is Mr. Littlejeans,” she adds. Gracie sniffs the crate, and the cat gives a low growl. 

“Mr. Littlejeans from the movie, or Mr. Little Jeans the singer?” Jasmine asks. I can’t say I understand what she’s talking about. 

“The movie,” Beck says. “Rushmore. Wes Anderson’s second movie.” Right. She works in film. 

“It’s fine, Gracie likes cats.” The feeling is not mutual, because Mr. Littlejeans turns up the volume, sounding like he might need an exorcist. “Well, come on in,” I say. 

We go into the kitchen, and Jasmine immediately compliments me on the decor. “I just love this island,” she coos. “And are these pendants Hubbardton Forge? They’re beautiful.” She has always chattered when she’s nervous. She’s had some plastic surgery, I think—her nose is straighter, her lips fuller, though they look natural enough. 

Just then, Mathilda thuds down the stairs. I’m grateful for the distraction, then nervous. Will she be mean to me?

“This is my stepdaughter, Mathilda,” I say. 

“Kylo!” she growls. “I go by Kylo now. As Audrey already knows.” So, yes to being mean, then. 5 Kristan Higgins 

“Sorry. My stepdaughter, Kylo. Kylo, these are my friends from high school. Beck Morrow, Jasmine Malinowski—” 

“Hahn. Jasmine Hahn, honey, nice to meet you.” 

“—and Micah Dell.”

“Yeah, I’m aware. Hi, Mrs. Paulson.” Of course. Kylo goes to Lola’s all the time and knows Micah took James’s last name. “I didn’t know you were friends with Audrey,” Kylo says to her. 

“We go way back,” Micah says. 

Mathilda—Kylo—gives me a questioning look. Micah’s never been invited here as an adult. Nor has Kylo ever heard me speak Micah’s name. 

“Will you be hanging out with us this weekend, Kylo?” Micah asks. 

“I’ll be at Everest’s, thank God. No offense.” 

“Her girlfriend,” I say, reaching for humor. “Not the mountain.” 

“So not funny, Audrey. Also, my they-friend, okay? You know Everest uses they/them pronouns.” 

“Of course, I know Everest. Lovely person,” Micah says. “So easy to talk to.” Kylo’s face softened. “They are. They’re awesome.” 

“Drive safely, Ma—Kylo,” I say. “Text me when you get there.” 

“I won’t.” She shoots me a dark look and heads out. 

“Good to meet you,” Beck calls. 

Another awkward silence falls. “Let’s sit down,” I say. “You can leave your stuff there for now.”

“Can I let my cat out?” Beck asks. 

“Sure.” 

She opens the carrier and the cat creeps out and hisses at Gracie, who gets the message and pads over to her bed. 

“Um . . . I’ve got snacks and drinks,” I say. “Make yourselves comfortable in the family room. Through there.” They know where it is, I remind myself. 

Just then, Clay comes in, and I’m relieved. 

“Well, hello there!” he says. “So nice y’all are here at last.” He offers his hand to Beck. “Clayton Joyce, Audrey’s husband. I take it you’re Beck, since Audrey said you used to play basketball?” 

“That’s me. Nice to meet you.” 

“That means you must be Jasmine,” Clay says, shaking Jasmine’s hand. 

“Yes. Lovely to meet you, Clayton.” 

“Call me Clay.” He smiles at Micah. “And of course, I already know you, Micah. Best muffins in town, outside of Audrey’s here.” Right. He stops by there now and again, since I never told him not to. “How ’bout I put on some coffee or make some tea?” He looks at me, an unspoken question in his eyes. “Sweet tea? Ice water? Seltzer water? Mineral water? Cranberry juice? Wine? Too early for cocktails?” 

Jesus, Clay, enough. “I’ve got this, honey. I baked a pie, and Micah brought stuff, and I’ve got a nice dinner planned for later. Thought we’d eat in tonight.” I pause. “Talk about old times.” 

“All righty, then! I’m gonna be stayin’ out in the guesthouse,” Clay says. “Y’all don’t want a man gettin’ in the way on your girls’ weekend, but I’ll be around if you need me. Okay, baby?” His accent is on full throttle because he thinks it’s charming. And it can be. Just not right now. He slides his arm around me and drops a kiss on my head, being the Wonderful Husband. “You sure you don’t want some help, hon?” 

“No, it’s fine. Thanks, Clay.” I watch him leave. “So. That’s my husband.” 

“He seems nice,” Jasmine says. 

“He was a widower. I married him when Mathilda was five.” Well, info-dumping is one way to catch up. “Anyway. Go sit down”—I point to the family room—“and I’ll bring some food out.” I don’t mean to sound so bossy, but I can deal with only so much right now, and sub tlety isn’t on the list.

I wonder whether they notice the newer pieces of furniture. It’s been twenty-five years; most people do buy new couches and chairs. I listen for conversation and hear nothing. From the fridge, I get the charcuterie board I picked up from the uber-expensive organic market this morning, grab the cloth napkins and a knife for the cheese. Two bottles of white wine and glasses are already set out in the family room, as well as a pitcher of ice water with lemon slices. I hope I haven’t for gotten anything. I don’t think I have. Taking a deep breath, I pick up the tray and go in. 

They’re all sitting there, looking around the room. Jasmine is smiling; Beck looks calm; Micah, anxious. God knows what my own expression is telling them. 

“Jasmine and Beck, did you come together?” I ask, putting the tray on the coffee table. They arrived at the same time, and there are only two cars in my driveway—Micah’s Subaru and a giant Range Rover. Did they stay friends? 

“No, we just pulled in at the same time,” Beck says. “I took the train and grabbed an Uber at the station.” 

Okay, then. So, not close enough to share a ride. 

“The foliage is remarkable,” Jasmine says brightly. “The forecast says it’ll be a beautiful weekend. Are you busy with the reunion, Micah? I looked at the class Facebook page and saw that you’re in charge. Chairman?” 

“Most of the stuff is all in place,” Micah says. “The committee’s been great.”

More silence. I reach for a bottle of wine, twist off the cap and fill four glasses. “Figured we’d need this,” I say. “Grease the wheels, so to speak.” We’ve never had a legal drink together. The thought makes a lump form in my throat. With some effort, I look around at each of them. “To the Core Four, I guess. Thank you for coming.” 

“To the Core Four,” they echo. Jasmine smiles, Micah stares at her lap and Beck wears a grim expression. We all take a healthy swallow, and Beck leans forward and grabs some cheese and meat and puts them on her plate. “I’m starving,” she says. The others take some, too, though Jasmine only nibbles on a cracker.

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About the Author

Kristan Higgins is the author of more than twenty novels, all of which were New York Times and/or USA Today bestsellers, much to her surprise and delight. Her books have been translated into two dozen languages and have sold millions of copies worldwide, receiving dozens of awards and accolades, including starred reviews from Entertainment Weekly, People, The New York Journal of Books, Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and Booklist.

​A smitten grandmother and the mother of two delightful adult children, Kristan enjoys gardening, mixology, the national parks and being overly helpful to strangers. She lives in Connecticut but is often on Cape Cod with her heroic firefighter husband, a rambunctious dog and their indifferent cat. 

Connect:

Website: www.kristanhiggins.com

Spotlight: The Honor Society by​ Rachel Van Dyken

Release Date: September 30

Charlie knows three things for certain.

She shot Axel.

He survived.

And somehow, he doesn’t remember she was the one who pulled the trigger.

It should be a relief.

Instead, the man she’s secretly loved for years feels different. Colder. More dangerous. Axel still smiles, still flirts, still looks at her like he might remember exactly how good they were together—but there are pieces of him she’s never seen before.

Secrets beneath the jokes.

Blood beneath the charm.

And a darkness he’s very, very good at hiding.

Because Axel remembers everything.

The bullet.
The betrayal.
The woman he still can’t stop wanting.

What Charlie doesn’t know is that Axel has spent years living two lives. In one, he’s the reckless man everyone underestimates.

In the other, he wears a mask.

The Proctor.

Judge. Jury. Executioner.

With the Convocation approaching, four powerful families are preparing to fight for control of the Honor Society, and someone is willing to wipe out entire bloodlines to take it. They need two things to win:

The Ledger.
And the Proctor.

Axel has both.

Now he has eighteen days to discover who is hunting him, keep Charlie alive, and stop a war without revealing the one secret that could destroy them both.

Because Charlie is searching for the Proctor too.

She just doesn’t know she’s already falling for him.

Again.

Buy on Amazon

Meet Rachel Van Dyken

Rachel Van Dyken is the #1 New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author of over 100 books ranging from new adult romance to mafia romance to paranormal & fantasy romance. With over four million copies sold, she's been featured in Forbes, US Weekly, and USA Today. Her books have been translated in more than 15 countries. She was one of the first romance authors to have a Kindle in Motion book through Amazon publishing and continues to strive to be on the cutting edge of the reader experience. She keeps her home in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, adorable sons, naked cat, and two dogs.

Keep up with Rachel Van Dyken and subscribe to her newsletter: https://rachelvandykenauthor.com/newsletter

To learn more about Rachel & her books, visit here!

Connect with Rachel Van Dyken: http://www.facebook.com/rachelvandyken or join her fan group Rachel's New Rockin Readers https://www.facebook.com/groups/RRRFanClub

Spotlight: Rough Cuts by Glenn R. Miller

It’s 1926 and the world of film is about to change forever. On the cusp of “talkies,” directors and actors fear their greatest days might soon be behind them. Patrick J. Shepard, a director at the end of his career, has just completed his masterpiece, his vehicle for eternal fame. But there’s one problem: Ohio.

Harold Dawdry, the young, second-string minister at a small church in a corner of Ohio, has been appointed to the State Film Censorship Board. He regards this appointment as his ticket to the power and relevance he desperately craves. There is one director who has particularly rankled his delicate sensibilities: Patrick J. Shepard. The minister feels Ohio is best served if Shepard makes drastic cuts to his final film. The silent era is about to get loud.

Buy on Amazon | Audible | Bookshop.org

About the Author

Glenn R Miller is the author of the critically acclaimed and award-winning novel “Doorman Wanted” which was named 2026 Plymouth Reads Book of the Year. “Rough Cuts” is his second novel, forthcoming from Koehler Books. Miller launched his professional career by working on television soap operas and game shows on the back lots of NBC Burbank. He holds a master’s degree from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism and has served as a CBS-affiliate news producer, public television producer, and creative director at production agencies within the Twin Cities. Glenn and his wife live in Minneapolis, and are the parents of two grown sons. Learn more about his work at: www.glenn-r-miller.com 

Connect: Facebook: @glennmiller1 | Instagram: @glennrmillerauthor

Spotlight: Life Plan by Rich Harris

Many of us do not consciously design our lives. We drift into routines and patterns shaped by habits, past experiences, and external expectations. Over time, those unexamined patterns can create a quiet but persistent sense of misalignment, even as our lives generate meaningful external validation.

In Life Plan: Living by Design, Not Default, Rich Harris provides a practical framework for living with greater clarity, balance, and intention. Drawing on neuroscience, psychology, and a written annual life-planning practice he has followed for three decades, Harris explains why change is hard, how subconscious patterns shape our behavior and decisions, and what it takes to create lasting alignment between who you are and how you live.

Rather than relying on inspiration alone, Life Plan introduces a structured life-planning process designed to help readers clarify priorities, interrupt autopilot thinking, and align daily actions with deeper values and long-term goals. Through accessible behavioral science, personal stories, real-world examples, and end-of-chapter "Thought to Action" exercises, readers learn how to reflect more honestly, decide more intentionally, and build habits that support meaningful change and true alignment.

More than motivational sound bites or traditional self-help platitudes, Life Plan offers a grounded, thoughtful guide to designing a life that reflects what matters most to you.

Buy on Amazon | Audible | Bookshop.org

About the Author

Rich Harris is an entrepreneur, writer, speaker, and founder of Life Plan, a platform dedicated to helping people live with greater purpose, clarity, and intention. For nearly thirty years he has completed an annual written life plan that aligns his actions with his values. He currently lives in Chapel Hill, NC with his wife and twins. Learn more at LifePlan-RichHarris.com.