Honored seven times in the Rainbow Awards for LGBTA literature, Turn-of-the-Century Toughs presents an epic tale of adventure, friendship, romance, and class struggles. ¶ Turn-of-the-Century Toughs is a cycle of alternate history series about disreputable men on the margins of society, and the men and women who love them. Set in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, as well as in a future that never existed, the novels and stories take place in an alternative version of America that was settled by inhabitants of the Old World in ancient times. ¶ Now the Midcoast nations of this world have reached a turning point: the old order is about to be overthrown. Brought together in friendship and romance by the danger of rising events, the people of the Midcoast nations must learn to adjust to a new world. ¶ Series in the cycle: The Eternal Dungeon. Dungeon Guards. Life Prison. Michael's House. Waterman (upcoming). Dark Light.

Turn-of-the-Century Toughs

Series Order
Newest Title Rating
The Breaking (The Eternal Dungeon) by
Series: Turn-of-the-Century Toughs, 0.5. Price: Free! Words: 45,850. Language: English. Published: August 14, 2010 . Categories: Fiction » LGBTQ+ » Gay, Fiction » Romance » Suspense
(4.00 from 2 reviews)
The prisoner knew that the Eternal Dungeon was a place where suspected criminals were broken by torture, and he was prepared to hold out against any methods used against him – except the method he could not anticipate. . . . A winner of the Rainbow Awards for LGBTA literature, this suspenseful novella is the introductory story for the alternate history series The Eternal Dungeon.
Rebirth (The Eternal Dungeon, Volume 1) by
Series: Turn-of-the-Century Toughs, 1.0. Price: $6.99 USD. Words: 140,210. Language: English. Published: February 22, 2016 . Categories: Fiction » LGBTQ+ » Gay, Fiction » Romance » Action/adventure
Elsdon Taylor, a prisoner accused of committing a terrible murder. Layle Smith, a torturer with a terrible past. Their meeting appears certain to bring out the worst in both men. Yet neither man is quite what he appears. As the prisoner and his torturer begin to be drawn toward each other, the ripple effects of their meeting will have a powerful impact on other inhabitants of the Eternal Dungeon.
Transformation (The Eternal Dungeon, Volume 2) by
Series: Turn-of-the-Century Toughs, 2.0. Price: $6.99 USD. Words: 121,970. Language: English. Published: March 28, 2016 . Categories: Fiction » LGBTQ+ » Gay, Fiction » Romance » Action/adventure
The Eternal Dungeon, a royal prison where criminals are transformed, has lost its leadership. The duty of returning the dungeon to normal falls on two Seekers (torturers). One Seeker is struggling to understand why an old love affair continues to gnaw at him. The other Seeker is faced with his greatest challenge: whether to risk the man who is most precious to him in order to save his own abuser.
The Balance (The Eternal Dungeon, Volume 3) by
Series: Turn-of-the-Century Toughs, 3.0. Price: $5.99 USD. Words: 98,680. Language: English. Published: April 11, 2016 . Categories: Fiction » LGBTQ+ » Gay, Fiction » Romance » Action/adventure
The Seekers of the Eternal Dungeon have always expressed contempt toward the Hidden Dungeon in the neighboring kingdom of Vovim, whose torturers abuse prisoners without restraint. But the balance between mercy and hell is not so clear as might be thought, and now that balance is about to tip. Only the strength of love will determine the paths of two Seekers whose fortunes are bound together.
On Guard (The Eternal Dungeon, Volume 4) by
Series: Turn-of-the-Century Toughs, 4.0. Price: $5.99 USD. Words: 94,210. Language: English. Published: May 9, 2016 . Categories: Fiction » LGBTQ+ » Gay, Fiction » Mystery & detective » Historical
The ties forged between the noble-minded Eternal Dungeon and an abusive foreign dungeon have set off an unpredictable chain of horrific events. Caught in the middle of the struggle are Barrett Boyd and Seward Sobel, loyal guards who will find themselves questioning their most fundamental beliefs about the royal prison's ideals.
Sweet Blood (The Eternal Dungeon, Volume 5) by
Series: Turn-of-the-Century Toughs, 5.0. Price: $6.99 USD. Words: 186,320. Language: English. Published: August 31, 2017 . Categories: Fiction » LGBTQ+ » Gay, Fiction » Alternative history
The Eternal Dungeon has been split by a civil war, with the division marked by a quarrel between two Seekers (torturers) whose faithfulness to each other has already become legendary. Into this explosive situation arrives a new Seeker, one who is determined to see that past evils do not continue in the dungeon. But can he keep control of himself when assigned a prisoner who falls in love with him?
The Awakening (Dungeon Guards, Volume 1) by
Series: Turn-of-the-Century Toughs, 6.0. Price: $5.99 USD. Words: 98,120. Language: English. Published: August 31, 2021 . Categories: Fiction » Romance » LGBTQ+ » Gay, Fiction » Alternative history
Barrett Boyd has awakened from death to a new and baffling life. He knows that he is a guard in the queendom's royal prison, the Eternal Dungeon. But why do the prisoners matters so much to him? Who are these other guards who appear to have claims over him? And how will he survive while he finds his new place in this world? . . . From the award-winning series cycle Turn-of-the-Century Toughs.
Mercy's Prisoner (Life Prison, Volume 1) by
Series: Turn-of-the-Century Toughs, 7. Price: $5.99 USD. Words: 94,480. Language: English. Published: August 27, 2014 . Categories: Fiction » LGBTQ+ » Gay, Fiction » Fantasy » Historical
A cold-hearted murderer. A vicious abuser. A young man hiding a shameful secret. A bewildered immigrant. A pure-minded spy. All of these men have found their appointed places at Mercy Prison, where it is easy to tell who your enemies are. But a new visitor to Mercy is about to challenge decades-old customs. Now these men's worst enemies may be hiding behind masks...and so may their closest allies.
Hell's Messenger (Life Prison, Volume 2) by
Series: Turn-of-the-Century Toughs, 8. Price: $6.99 USD. Words: 121,820. Language: English. Published: August 24, 2019 . Categories: Fiction » LGBTQ+ » Gay, Fiction » Fantasy » Historical
It had seemed for a while that the plan would work: a bold conspiracy by a group of idealistic prisoners and sympathetic guards to stop abuse at Mercy Prison. Then betrayal occurs, and Tyrrell finds himself in a new life prison, with new rules to be learned. No longer is he in a position of leadership; now he is surrounded by men who question his most fundamental values.
Whipster (Michael's House) by
Series: Turn-of-the-Century Toughs, 9. Price: $5.99 USD. Words: 87,400. Language: English. Published: June 2, 2012 . Categories: Fiction » Fantasy » Historical, Fiction » LGBTQ+ » Gay
Michael is an ex-prostitute, which means that nobody in polite society wants anything to do with him. He believes the only way to help other male prostitutes is to make their working conditions bearable. His friend Janus is an upper-class gentleman who believes his duty to the gods requires him to fight against sexual immorality. Now Michael wants Janus to help him run a house of prostitution.
Lockup (Dark Light, Volume 1) by
Series: Turn-of-the-Century Toughs, 10. Price: $5.99 USD. Words: 62,570. Language: English. Published: November 29, 2015 . Categories: Fiction » Fantasy » Historical, Fiction » Science fiction » Steampunk & retropunk
Deep underground lies a prison filled with idealistic men who have committed themselves to putting the best interest of their prisoners first . . . through torture. Soaring high in an adjoining nation are two "reformed" prisons where prisoners must band together for survival. "Lockup" explores with drama and dry humor the complexities of prison life in an alternative nineteenth century.
Risk (Dark Light, Volume 2) by
Series: Turn-of-the-Century Toughs, 11. Price: $5.99 USD. Words: 112,060. Language: English. Published: August 21, 2016 . Categories: Fiction » Alternative history, Fiction » LGBTQ+ » Gay
A soldier must decide how high a price he is willing to pay for an unspoken bond. A servant and his beloved master face stark truths as their lives are endangered. A young torturer, satisfied with his lot, gambles everything he has ever valued to learn a new way of treating prisoners. . . . . "Risk" looks at the dangers and rewards of taking risks.
Danger (Dark Light, Volume 3) by
Series: Turn-of-the-Century Toughs, 12. Price: $5.99 USD. Words: 67,200. Language: English. Published: April 23, 2018 . Categories: Fiction » Young adult or teen » LGBTQ+, Fiction » Young adult or teen » Science Fiction
Soon after they were born, they were tattooed with the signs of their ranks: master or servant. Now, in the time between past and future, the youths of the Midcoast nations find themselves in predicaments and even high danger. Unable to flee their troubles, they face a thick, unyielding barrier . . . until the power of friendship breaks through.