A time of innocence, if ever there was one, is about to end and there is no way anyone will be prepared for what comes next. Life is filled with apprehension for Josephine Rex. The older she gets the closer she comes to discovering the truth of who she is and what she is meant to become. Together with her twin sister, Josie increasingly feels trapped by forces beyond her control. The rising sophomore knows she is meant for a life of privilege, yet she struggles with the impossible expectations of being the eldest daughter of the King and a witch. Being the daughter of the king has its rewards. Being the daughter of the Black Weretigers ancient and most hated enemies complicates things. Josie didn't choose her parents but now she is locked in a silent war that has raged for generations. How can she come to grips with what she is and lead her people when the time comes? Josie sets out to calm her mind and reconcile with the implications of two major factions warring for her attention. The way will not be easy, for she is barely 15 and already the weight of the world is falling on her shoulders. Things take a bad turn when her father informs her that he has taken the liberty of finding her a mate. Making matters worse, Josie learns that binding or stripping her latent powers can potentially drive her mad or kill her. It takes ever ounce of mental fortitude and courage for her not to run and escape her destiny. Filled with love, betrayal, and the perpetual agony of trying to find her way through life before she is ready, Obsidian Tiger is a must read.

A captivating thriller novella that expertly serves as a fictional depiction of the Dyatlov Pass Incident of 1959 that ended the lives of 9 Russian engineering students. This unfortunate final trip is still just as mysterious as it was that wintry day in January when they never returned home from the Ural Mountains. Only one survivor lived to tell a tale no one ever confirmed to be true. Do you dare to go there? In Memory of Igor, Yuri, Georgiy, Rustik, Lyudmila, Aleksander, Tibo, Zina & Sasha #dyatlovpassincident #dyatlovpass #pocauthors #russia #sovietunion #thriller #suspense #novella #fiction #disappearances #dyatlov #dontgothere #osdio #osdiobookseries #lalaleo #horror #lalaleoauthor #mystery #paranormal #supernatural #shortstory #otorten #tragedy

This is a scene selection from a short story assignment that I completed for a Fiction Writing course that I am currently taking on Coursera. Let me know what you guys think. Any feedback is welcomed. We were asked to incorporate 12 words and create a believable visual of rising action.

Hotaru never expected to be the target of an evil yōkai. After her husband dies, the beautiful widow returns to the countryside to live with her brother, only to find herself forced into servitude by her cruel sister-in-law. Hotaru thought her life was over until the night the mysterious Man in the Fox Mask came to her. Then nothing was ever the same again! "Come by Night" is the first novella in a saucy new series exploring Japanese folklore and eroticism. Will the fiendish Demon Fox lure poor Hotaru into his seductive clutches? Or does she have the strength to resist the incubus's charm? Succumb to a floating world where pleasure and taboo are inseparable, and let the games of lust begin! 🍃 Greetings, Gentle Readers! Welcome to this fun adjunct to my Supernatural Cyberpunk Thriller series "The Atlas Dystopia Apocalyptica." After a traumatic encounter with the star MC in "The Origin of the White Wind," one of my bit characters can't stop thinking about him! Kohaku is obsessed with the legendary creature she came face to face with that dark night, the beast who tore the heart from her lover. Yet the allure cannot be denied! To cope with her conflicting feelings of terror and raw lust, she writes these novellas. They become a runaway hit in 22nd Century Japan and will be mentioned in Book Three. So be prepared for the finest slice of cheese I can dish out in 1st person alternating - 'cuz I'm going for broke! I'm a man writing for a woman who is writing for both. Don't overthink it - this is a yōkai tale! 🏮👹🦊🔥🖤🌸🥀 Note: Chapters alternate view points between male and female leads. All images and content belong to Xander Cross.