Beneath the Skin
The ten great families of the “solaratti” hold such influence that even the galactic government hesitates to act openly against them, a power that has gained them unimaginable riches and allowed them to shape the fate of worlds.
Aleta Graham is a healer and empath, abilities that make her a useful pawn for the ruthless Dagarro family, who have addicted her to the drug known as Sand in order to keep her submissive. But Aleta is determined to overcome the influence of the drug, and make a desperate bid for freedom — even knowing that the penalty for disloyalty to the family is death.
Riven is a shapechanger, a computer genius, a spy sent by the government to destroy the power of the Dagarro. His ability to take on multiple identities allows him to infiltrate to the heart of their stronghold. But his rapidly growing feelings for Aleta, and hers for him, become a threat to his mission and put them both into deadly danger.
“Set against the background of galaxy-spanning intrigue between powerful families, Carolyn Hill’s Beneath the Skin features complex characterization and fine writing. A compelling read.” — NY Times bestselling author Susan Krinard
“An engaging sf world framing a central romance. Hill will draw you in and keep you on the edge of your seat.” — Jo Zebedee, author of Abendau’s Legacy
“Far-future space opera with roots in today’s political issues, with a hefty dose of dark romance, make this a compelling page turner.” —Sherwood Smith, author of the Change series, the Crown Duel series, and the Sartorias-Deles novels
Click here to read the first two chapters of Beneath the Skin.
Special for fans! Click here to read deleted scenes that show how Riven infiltrates the Scargorman secret facility near the end of the novel! (Spoiler alert!)
Bead’s Pickle
Bead McCheckrovsky’s band of misfits and teenage runaways have made a home for themselves running a fast-food restaurant aboard the aging starship Anarchy. When that home is threatened by government agents and menacing figures from their unhappy pasts, they hatch a desperate scheme to seek help from a mysterious race of dangerously eccentric aliens.
But are the ghostly aliens friend—or foe?
“An entertaining and original tale with an appealing protagonist, a plot full of quirks and unexpected turns, and an alien race like no other. Carolyn Hill has populated her universe with colorful, eccentric characters, and created a setting that is both exotically futuristic and a tongue-in-cheek reflection of our own times. Readers who like a little humor mixed in with their Science Fiction will be delighted with Bead’s Pickle.” — Teresa Edgerton, author of Goblin Moon, The Queen’s Necklace, and (writing as Madeline Howard) The Hidden Stars
“The plotting of this book is tight and complex, and the feel-good ending left me keen to read more. [ . . . ] I heartily encourage you to give this book a go!” — Mark Robson, author of the Imperial Series and the Darkweaver Series.
You can see Mark Robson’s full review of Bead’s Pickle on the SFF Chronicles Network. I think you’ll like Bead’s Pickle. Or I wouldn’t be telling you about it. I’d just put it in a back closet, under the cats.
Liminal Eyes and Other Unsettling Tales
Available for the Kindle on Amazon: Liminal Eyes and Other Unsettling Tales, a collection of eight of my short stories.
A crusading widow kidnaps an exceedingly strange girl. A family man sees more than he should. An aging cattle rancher stakes out a bridge to nowhere. An alcoholic ghost squares off against technology. A postal worker investigates a former beau gone up in flames. A Lord Dunsany fan suffers a plague of strangers in the night. A mysterious coin changes a panhandler’s life. An alien love moves planets—and destroys worlds. Identities, homes, and lives are threatened in these eight unsettling tales of science fiction and fantasy.
Alterna-Teas
Available for the Kindle on Amazon: Alterna-Teas, an anthology of several authors’ fantasy stories edited by ElizaBeth Gilligan, containing my story “Cracked.”
Pick up this anthology, sit back, and have a cup of your favorite tea. As you drink, savor stories where the cup of tea is part of a lively undertaking. These stories range from the odd to the quirky, glorious adventures and desperate measures, new and lifelong friendships to treachery in a tea cup. Our stories are urban fantasy, steampunk, and alternate histories. Prepare for the brilliant and bizarre.
(Fair warning: the publisher made a hash of the electronic Table of Contents. My story is in the middle of the e-book.)
Click to read my fantasy story “Cracked” online in PDF format.