This city is a mess. First of all, the police are hilariously unsuccessful in arresting a highly criminal nightclub owner. The media are ensuring everyone knows, resulting in city-wide romanization of crime. Second of all, the city's star detective is currently struggling to understand why that nightclub owner- a certifiable genius with a record-breaking intelligence score- chose the criminal lifestyle over, say, being a NASA engineer. And that brilliant criminal's boyfriend is equally confused over why she consistently takes unnecessary risks. This spiderweb of crime has been spun so far that even that detective's ex-fiancé, a bumbling idiot who also has custody over his daughter, is getting involved. So is that bartender who works for that criminal, and so is that detective's boss. And while all that happens, another criminal- most definitely not a certifiable genius- is ready to rip the spiderweb apart. In truth, it doesn't matter what they say about you while you're still here. It matters what they say about you long after you're gone. ** Rated mature for graphic depictions of drugs, violence and sex. Stunning cover by deathinreverie

After a devastating tragedy shatters the renowned Romano crime family their fate weighs heavily on Don Leonardo Romano's only heir twenty-two year old Valentina. Determined to uphold the family's power Val will go to any means necessary even if it means selling her heart to the highest bidder. As the Romano family's most notorious hitman Matteo Costa knows the most depraved corners of New York's underground. So when Val arrives home after college he is confident she won't last long. The New York mafia would chew her up and eat her alive and yet... Serving as Valentina's personal guard Matteo realizes Val has grown into a beautiful, smart and cunning woman. He knows it won't be easy keeping the principessa safe especially when the Romano's rivals set their sights on her. But as their relationship grows Matteo realizes that his own desire might be the greatest threat to the Romano dynasty. Season 1 of The Hitman's Mark WARNING: This story contains depictions of violence that may be upsetting for some readers.

❛I was scared. Scared of him, scared of myself. Scared of the pictures that wouldn't leave my head. Red blood. Red coats. Red blade. And now a new one. Pretty red curls.❜ °❈° In 17th-century England, the rich bask in luxury while the poor struggle to survive. Auden Murray, the youngest of six brothers, gets by working as a streetwalker in London. After stumbling on an opportunity to work in King Philip III's castle, he leaves home for a whole new life. When the King dies unexpectedly, Auden is faced with new opportunities, rebellious friends, and a dangerous craving that will bring out the darkest side of him.

{ ᴏɴᴄ ʜᴏɴᴏʀᴀʙʟᴇ ᴍᴇɴᴛɪᴏɴ & ᴀᴍʙᴀꜱꜱᴀᴅᴏʀꜱ' ᴘɪᴄᴋ } Tate has been the bartender at The Imp's Bottle for years. The dive bar attracts a trickling array of unusual patrons, but due to his social anxiety, Tate avoids conversation and interaction. ...Until a random encounter with a beautiful girl causes Tate to open up in a way he never imagined possible. Unbeknownst to Tate, the girl's kindness plants a seed, inspiring him to abandon his wallflower nature. The changes are subtle at first, but rather than hyperfocus on his beloved retro music and impulsive need to clean, Tate begins to converse and interact with the bar's patrons. He becomes more outspoken, engaged, and confident. And his positive changes inspire changes in those around him. However, not everyone is thrilled with Tate's newfound confidence. Ali, the bar's prickly lone waitress, has a bone to pick with Tate. And she plans to come out on top of their little workplace rivalry, no matter the cost to her coworker. || A story about how the tiniest pebble can create the biggest ripples, this is my entry for ONC 2023. ||

In Maddison's last visit to the ancient city, she encountered a man. More surprising was what he lacked on his face.... He wore no mask. A hundred years since the Great Disaster and he not only lived beyond infancy, but he breathed the air. No one breathed free air anymore at the risk of dying cancerous and crazed. Nothing of value is free-not the water, not the land, not the food... ...and certainly not the air.

Welcome to the Second Quarter Quell... When 16-year-old Haymitch Abernathy is reaped for the 50th Hunger Games, he faces a surprise twist: forty-eight Tributes will be sent into the arena in place of the typical twenty-four. While battling twice the amount of deadly adversaries, and his beautiful yet treacherous surroundings, Haymitch must navigate a deadly game of strategy, alliances, and sacrifice if he wants to make it home alive. What he doesn't expect is the brutal truth behind the Capitol's long-running agenda, and the lengths they'll go to keep the districts in line. ONC 2024 prompt 52: "And that is how that world was lost and a new one, our world, was born." This is a Hunger Games fanfiction and is meant purely for entertainment purposes. My intention is not to infringe upon any copyrights or claim ownership of the original material. I'm just writing the prequel I wanted to read.

Camilla Green is the popular, stunning, and talented class president at Edwardsville High. Everyone knows her as smart, hardworking, and skilled, but what nobody knows is that when she doesn't get her way, blood will be spilled. River Griffiths gets the lead role in the play over Camilla, but when she successfully takes her rival out, her plans are tarnished when one of her peers becomes a witness. Now, Camilla has to avoid being convicted and maintain her reputation. Will there be more blood on her hands? And will those on her side turn against her? ◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇ - First Place in the 2020 Aureate Awards - First Runner-Up in the Next Top Book Awards - First Runner-Up in the Dreamcatcher Awards - Second Place in the Maybe Awards - Second Place Night Awards June Winners - Third Place in the Rosette Awards Cover by @_BLACKSPADESZ

One year ago, the children of Hamelin disappeared in the middle of the night. With no clues about their whereabouts save a trail of footprints leading to the riverbank, their families believed them to be lost to the raging current. On the day of their memorial, the children return as suddenly as they left, but they are no longer the sweet kids the town lost. As the youngest person who was left behind, fourteen-year-old William is equal parts overjoyed and terrified to have his little sister back. With his father's temper as hot as his forge, William must protect Emma from the cruel treatment he has faced, but it soon becomes apparent that even greater horrors plague the children. Haunted by an alluring song that echoes in his nightmares, William must unravel the secrets of the Pied Piper's music before the rest of Hamelin falls victim to the same fate as the children. Trigger warning: This story contains physical and emotional abuse, animal abuse and death, child endangerment, suicidal thoughts, and mentions of a failed suicide attempt. Cover by @AriaOfStorms

Lord Tanden is finally free. Free from his family's obligations, free to sail around the world, free to explore. It's all he's ever wanted, to be allowed to experience everything life has to offer, away from the stuffy meeting halls of his childhood. To indulge his wanderlust. However, wanderlust isn't the only thing he's after. Captain Tanden is rich, he's charming, and he's handsome. He knows he can get the prettiest girl or the most attractive man in every port. Yet, he knows that none of them will hold his interest for long. He's always moved quickly, from one country to the next, from one lover to someone else. No one can keep up, but he doesn't mind. Tanden's life and adventures are a game he's destined to play on his own. But then he meets Soren in a bar, and things change. Soren isn't just an excellent sailor and fantastic candidate for first mate, he might be capable of keeping up. He might be the only person willing to play Tanden's game.

**ONC SHORTLIST 2024** Heems is an energy vampire, a parasite draining xeir hosts' energy with a single touch. That is until xe meets handsome thief Shiro, the only person immune to Heems's parasitism. ---- Working as a doctor on dwarf planet Eris, Heems drains the energy of xeir unknowing hosts -- Eris's sickly hospital patients -- to survive. Heems's rare parasitic condition doesn't seem to have a cure until xe attempts to make a host out of an injured smuggler. Heems's touch has no draining effect on the handsome vagrant, Shiro, possibly the only person in the Solar System immune to Heems's parasitism. Galvanised by the hope of finding a cure, Heems is lured by Shiro into a world of criminality and obsession, setting them both on a collision course with powerful organisations desperate to keep hidden Eris's biggest secret: that parasites can be hosts too. ☉ Energy vampirism ☉ LGBT+ romance ☉ Non-binary main character ☉ Cyberpunk ~~☉~~ ☆ No sci fi knowledge is needed to understand this story. Basically Eris is cold, has no atmosphere (literally and figuratively), and everyone's broke. I will put some sci fi comments inline for those who are interested, or if you don't understand something, just ask me. I'm happy to help! ☆ Notes on gender: Heems uses xe/xeir/xem pronouns. This book is written in first person so don't worry if you're new to these pronouns since there aren't so many instances of them being used in the book. Content Warning: This book is rated mature. It contains potentially triggering topics such as extreme hunger, chronic debilitating illnesses, suicide ideation, drug misuse, sexual intercourse while under the influence of recreational and medicinal drugs.