When a murder shakes her tiny village, Alera will discover a horrifying link between the scars on her arms and the werewolves and vampires that stalk her home. ***** Nineteen-year-old Alera has grown up in the village of Adaymos, listening to stories about the monsters that live in the forest that surround her home. Labelled an outcast because of the scars on her arm, she's an easy scapegoat after one of the villagers is found murdered, but when newcomer Will is framed instead she's forced to question everything she knows about the mysterious outsider. Could he really be the killer? Or is he hiding more about the werewolves and vampires that live in the forest -- and the truth behind Alera's scars -- than he lets on? [[word count: 100,000-150,000 words]]

Azima Rousseau, a demon hunter destined to save her world from the denizens of the Underworld, has to venture through the Seven Levels of Hell in order to face its Prince and close the rift between their worlds once and for all. ***** Ever since her eighteenth birthday, Azima Rousseau knew she would die battling the forces of Hell just as her mother had, and every other Rousseau before her. So when her destiny delivers her to Death's door, it is not the Devil who answers, but the Demon Prince Malecoda. Instead of ending her fated existence as his sworn enemy, he decides to bind her into a pact that challenges not only the intensity of her will to survive but also the integrity of her soul to persevere. Together they soon discover who the monsters truly are- Azima's own people. [[ 2021 WATTYS SHORTLIST ]] ---------- Cover designed by Stefanie Saw

I shouldn't have been walking around alone at night. I shouldn't have stopped and watch the obviously crazy man set the building on fire. And I sure of hell shouldn't have accidentally caught his attention. Then maybe, just maybe I wouldn't have been kidnapped by the world's most evil super villain. And then hopefully right now I wouldn't be wishing that he wasn't completely crazy, and wanted to kill every super hero in the world, and that he would, I don't know, take me to the movies, hold my hand as we walked together, or maybe take me to dinner one night. You know normal, cute couple stuff. Instead he likes to kick puppies when no ones watching, dropping me from high buildings, and throwing people into traffic, annoyingly. Maybe if I had just minded my own business and kept walking, maybe I wouldn't have been taken by someone who's whole mission in life is to watch every super die, and cackle evilly while he thinks of it. Maybe if I had just minded my own business and kept walking, maybe I wouldn't start feeling bad for this super villain. Maybe I wouldn't be questioning everything I've ever learned about him. And God forbid, I wouldn't be loving a villain.