[2021 WATTYS Winner] Giovanna joins a handsome nobleman to save a friend from an arranged marriage, but they discover a plot that may have victims of Venice's Black Death rising from their graves. * * * As a child, Giovanna Visconti learned the arts of bloodletting and elixir brewing from her father with an intent to simply support his work, not take it over. But when he falls ill from the pestilence that's been ravaging Venice for months, she reluctantly dons the beaked mask of the plague doctor. Vowing to protect her father however she can, Giovanna hides him away and sees her first patient--the handsome, but alarmingly feverish Matteo Barozzi. Although she successfully treats this son of a high-ranking official, in a careless moment Giovanna fails to properly conceal her identity. The only reason she isn't tossed into a dank jail cell is thanks to the young man's honor and feelings of indebtedness. The association between the charming aristocrat and the clever commoner should end there, but when Giovanna's dearest friend goes missing right after her betrothal to the Doge's son and amid strange reports of nighttime attacks, violent commotions, and inexplicable behaviors in the community, the only person Giovanna can turn to for help is Matteo. Together, they must carefully navigate Venice's increasingly deadly canals to uncover a sect peddling false cures and a smuggling plot involving the highest levels of government or risk the entire Republic falling victim to something even worse than the plague: the risen dead. Historical Fiction with Fantasy Elements THE BORGIAS X FOREST OF HANDS AND TEETH * * * WATTYS 2021 winner for Historical Fiction and special HQ prize for "Catchiest Hook" AMBYS 2022 winner for Best Zombie story Content Warning for adult situations including assault and death.

For eight years, the kingdom of Lamyria was peaceful. But there is no such thing as "they lived happily ever after". Even though the great ravine cut off the Blighted Lands, still the darkness gathers over the Capital. Skylar and Gawyn must face the consequences of the decision they made. To protect their loved ones, they will have to venture where no one has ever dared before - deep into the Blighted Lands. To fight off the threat of dark magic once and for all. ___ This is the sequel to the Watty 2021 awarded story Till Death Do Us Part. It's a continuation happening after eight years. It is not necessary to know the first story to enjoy this one, although I recommend starting the story from the beginning to enjoy it to the fullest ;) ___ Beautiful cover made by @Dayisdemigod

Skylar pledged her life to protect her homeland, but she didn't expect that she would have to resort to marrying the king's brother and using her wits instead of a sword. ***** Skylar is not a typical noble lady. Captain to her own company, she feels more at home with a sword in hand than in the ballroom. Her whole life gets turned upside down when she is forced to marry Lord General Gawyn Gryphonheart for the alliance. The vicious political machinations will be the least of her problems because a far darker threat is looming in the east. Skylar, with her fighting experience, might be the only one who sees it coming. If only her husband trusted her enough to heed her advice. Can she fulfil her role as a graceful and obedient wife at the royal court and convince the noble families to unite against the monsters believed to be merely a legend? (Book One of Till Death Do Us Part series) [[The Wattys 2021 Award winner in the Fantasy category]] [[Word count: 70 000 - 75 000]] Content warning: This story contains violence, bloodshed and occasional crude language.

Li Xiang is the Priestess of the Moon, she can see read the stars and fortune as well as misfortune to her people. However, the life of a Priestess consists of nothing but loneliness: she can neither leave the palace nor meet with anyone but the Emperor and his advisors. One day a mysterious servant boy named Rui sneaks into her room, daring her to go outside if he wins against her in a game. Upon meeting him, she also befriends a female warrior and a scholar, and realizes life is much more than the palace. When the day comes she can either choose to go down the road her heart truly desires but bring ruin to the kingdom, or ignore the one chance she will ever have to leave this life? *** "My fate has been decided for me." "There's no such thing as that," he said. "We all make our own fate." "But the stars tell me--" I stopped talking when he holds my face in his hands, warm hands cupping my cheeks, brown eyes looking into my eyes. "Then stop looking at the stars. Look at me." A love story about fate, finding one's identity, stepping out of your comfort zone, and, most of all, choosing between your happiness or the happiness of others... [[Word Count: 80,000-90,000]] Wattys Fantasy Winner 2021