QSFer Mimi Lyons has a new queer urban fantasy (bi, gay), Voidborn book 1: Voidsinger.
In a world where monsters and mortals live side by side, Aiden has always felt he belonged to neither. His origins a mystery shrouded in shadows as dark as the ones he should be able to control but can’t. Raised by a loving adoptive family, Aiden never wanted for anything, but the question of who—or more-so what—he is has always been at the back of his minds.
When unregistered rifts in reality start appearing at random across Havenwood, unleashing creatures not meant for this world, Aiden can no longer ignore the truth clawing at the edges of his life. There’s something potentially dangerous about him, and it was becoming obvious he was somehow tied to these events. With the world unraveling, the darkness within him is waking up and he must learn to control it.
With the help of his best friend, a steadfast Lycan named Kai, and his fiery cousin Lani, Aiden embarks on a journey of self-discovery, where uncovering his past could be the key to saving the future—or the thing that destroys him.
Because some doors, once opened, can never be closed.
Get It At Amazon | Publisher
Excerpt
Click. Click. Click.
Nothing. Dry from hours of scouring the internet in search of answers, my eyes struggled to focus. Pinching the bridge of my nose, I let out an exasperated sigh. Forums, archives, lore blogs, genealogy records; anything that might give me a hint about where I came from or what I am. My fingers were nearly numb from all the typing, my thoughts blurring into one long, tangled string of disappointment.
With a heavy sigh I leaned back in my chair, rubbing my temples. Catching my reflection on the computer screen, I stared at the shadowy marks that stained half my face. My mismatched crimson and blue eyes screamed at me defiantly, a constant reminder that I’d never be normal. Attempting to hide them with my hair, the stark contrast of my platinum blonde locks and fair skin just made them stand out more. No matter how hard you try, people always notice. They always end up staring.
It wasn’t just my face either—an array of shadow markings ran down the entire right side of my body, coiling under my skin. At times, it felt as if they were alive. The trio of bone-like ridges lining my shoulder matched the pair on my forearm, sharp and uneven. And then there was the tail; sleek, black, and spiked. It flicked against the chair leg with a faint tapping sound, emulating my frustrations.
I didn’t know what I was. Not really, anyway. My dads believed I was a hybrid. Of what? None of us knew. Where did I come from? Why do I look like this? What am I? Dozens of questions swirled in my sleep deprived mind. Before I could spiral further into my own thoughts, the front door crashed open, followed by the unmistakably cheerful voice of Lani.
Cousin, sister, and absolute menace in the best way. Like a whirlwind in punk rock packaging, the demon princess bounced into the front room, arms full of takeout and positive energy rippling off of her. All leather, spikes, and attitude, Lani was a walking contradiction.
“Breakfast is here!” She called out like she was announcing the arrival of salvation itself. “And yes, Addy, I got your favorite coffee.”
That got my attention. I lifted my head, unable to hide the smile tugging at my lips. She’s the only one who still calls me by my childhood nickname, and yeah, I’d die before I admitted I didn’t mind it.
“You’re a lifesaver,” I said with a stretch, already eyeing the takeout cup she was holding hostage.
A chuckle rumbled from across the kitchen. My dad, Theo, in all his towering glory stood by the counter sipping from his own coffee mug. There was no mistaking him for the demon he was; towering height, horns, a tail, and faintly glowing crimson eyes were obvious giveaways. Even relaxed, he looked like he could bench press a car without breaking a sweat.
“Aiden, the coffee snob,” he teased, shooting me a grin. “Cupboards full of coffee, and none of it good enough.”
“That’s because it’s not,” I shot back, accepting the holy grail of coffee from Lani with both hands.
I glanced at the logo; a sun rising over a trio of mountain peaks with the name The Dawn’s Embrace in fancy script. It was the best breakfast spot in Havenwood, hands down.
Theo eyed the bags in Lani’s hands. “Want me to take some of those?”
She smirked. “Only if you’re not just angling for one of my pastries.”
“I plead the fifth.” My dad smiled wryly.
This was our daily rhythm; teasing, warmth, and low-level chaos. It was the heartbeat of our house, and a reminder that no matter how lost I felt I was never alone.
Lani set the bags down on the counter and started unpacking with determination. Meanwhile, the smell of bacon hit me like a freight train and my stomach growled in immediate betrayal.
“You know,” she said with a mouthful of pastry, “the owner of that café is a hearth witch. She probably enchants the coffee. Maybe you only think it’s the best coffee in town.”
I contentedly savored the heat of the drink. “Honestly? I wouldn’t even be mad if that were the case,” I murmured between sips. “This coffee is god-tier.”
Devon, my other dad, had been silent the whole time, lounging with his usual quiet presence across the table. Devon was the opposite of Theo’s fire; where his partner took up space with laughter and big gestures, Devon was calm, collected, and effortlessly poised.
Even without the wings or the divine bloodline, you could feel it in the way he carried himself; like gravity bent around him just a little more than it did around the rest of us. A demigod—a son of Anubis himself. The resemblance was impossible to miss; that same warm chestnut skin, dark blue-black hair, those sharp jackal ears and piercing golden eyes that saw more than they should. The wings, though, were different. Huge feathered things the same deep color as his hair. He said they came from his mother, but that part of his history was a blank page; Anubis never talked about her and Devon never pushed the matter. Maybe that was why he understood, in some quiet way, what it meant to grow up without answers.
The rustle of paper broke my train of thought as Devon lowered the newspaper he’d been reading and tapped a clawed finger against a headline. His voice was calm, but I could hear the tension in it. “Well, it’s finally happened. The rifts made the front page.”
My eyes snapped to the paper as Lani peeked at the story from over his shoulder. Her eyes flitted across the article, brows arched in concern.
“Strange disturbances,” she read aloud, her tone grim. “Missing persons. Eyewitnesses claiming monsters stepped out of thin air. Rifts appearing with no warning, no logic.”
It wasn’t a secret anymore; the citizens of Havenwood were realizing that something was happening.
Author Bio
Mimi Lyons, known online as Fheang, is a lifelong fantasy and science fiction enthusiast. Her love of storytelling and art was first nurtured by her late father, who encouraged creativity at every turn. Inspired by classics like The Lord of the Rings, The Last Unicorn, His Dark Materials, and the Black Jewels trilogy, Mimi has spent a lifetime immersed in fantastical worlds and weaving new ones of her own.
A self-taught artist and writer, Mimi delights in mixing magic and technology, breathing life into stories filled with wonder, danger, and discovery. An avid gamer and devoted Dungeons & Dragons Dungeon Master, her passion for worldbuilding and character creation knows no bounds.
Proudly part of the LGBTQIA+ community, Mimi lives surrounded by four cats, two loyal German shepherds, and endless inspiration. She strives to bring authentic LGBTQIA+ voices into her stories and characters, weaving identity and representation seamlessly into the fabric of her worlds.
| Author Website | http://www.Fheang.com |
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| Author Bluesky | https://bsky.app/profile/fheang.com |
| Author Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/FheangArts/ |