When the Bridle taught children of loyalty, they spoke first of the Triens. For countless centuries, the bloodline fought and died at the behest of the secretive empire. Unwavering loyalty brought the Emperor’s favor and riches beyond the imagining of the lower castes. Darcy would know. For seventeen years, she’d reaped the benefits of her family’s legacy.

By and large, ‘unwavering loyalty’ wasn’t particularly difficult. Darcy mostly just had to protect her assigned sniper and secret lover, Stasia, which aligned rather neatly with her own wishes.

Upon receiving an unusual assignment, Darcy and Stasia find themselves in the ruins of Chicago – a molten memorial to the dangers of freedom. Having never gone undercover, stolen experimental medication, or supervised small children, Darcy is understandably concerned by this development. As she dodges curses, tantrums, and jetpack-toting guardians, Darcy must decide just how far she is willing to go for the Bridle.

Life was so much simpler before the frog eater appeared.

For fans of science fiction and fantasy, this LGBT thriller will keep you turning pages long after you should’ve gone to bed. Rainey mixes the stark brutalism of a world dominated by magic with the hilarious absurdity of human error. Decapitation by charcuterie board, acidic snot bubbles, and spy vs spy shenanigans abound in this fantasy thriller book.

Caution: Not for the squeamish. No frogs, lizards, or small rodents were harmed during the making of this novel, unless you count those that were eaten.

Cannibalism is not conducive to a polite society. Darcy said it all the time, so it must be true. Still, if Lucy had simply eaten her horrible classmates, she could’ve snacked on her frogs in peace. In a few short months, she could’ve earned her freedom through graduation. She could’ve joined her fellows in the fight to convince the world’s silly governments to trust in the Bridle’s guiding hand.

After a lost temper ignites the interest of the fearsome genies, Lucy is thrust into everything she always feared. Ostracized by her caste and embraced by monsters, Lucy finds solace in the gap-toothed grin of the lost princeling. He never minded the sparks that danced down her fingertips or the occasional jaunt into the outside world. When the tiny princeling looked at her with those golden dragon eyes, Lucy was almost a real person.

Almost. Almost. Almost.

Kidnappings weren’t particularly unusual in John’s experience. He was fairly certain he’d lived more of his life under the thumb of salt-traders than he’d ever spent in school. It wasn’t a bad life. Not really. Super-powered salts were far too expensive for any treatment rougher than casual cruelty. As long as John minded his manners and translated for interested buyers, he was safe.

Then She arrived like a lightning bolt and burnt John’s carefully constructed lies into cinders.

Seasons change. Empires fall. The Bridle watches over all.

Fantasy enthusiasts and science fiction lovers alike will adore the rich world of Benevolent Keepers. Rainey blends the grim reality of exploitation with the fantastical world of dragons, monsters, and flaming chamberpots. This contemporary epic fantasy is sure to strike a chord with outcasts, loners, and pyromaniacs alike.