ONC 2023
20 stories
First Frost (ONC 2023 Novella, MxM Paranormal) by lisa_london_
lisa_london_
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A contemporary Scandinavian adaption of the legend of Jack Frost/Jokul Frosti. *** A first kiss changes everything. When Joakim kisses his childhood friend Anton it puts their relationship and also the weather in turmoil. Snow starts to whirl over Stockholm, turning the capital into a chaotic state. Is Joakim's emotional state actually affecting the weather and can his inner turmoil be stilled once he reunites with Anton, who mysteriously has disappeared after their intimate encounter? An ONC novella using prompt #69: "I had a marvellous time ruining everything."
Son of Mah by Shivran86
Shivran86
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[Pride Awards 2023, hosted by official lgbtq , Romance Category Winner and 5th Place Grandwinner] The foster son of a former cupbearer marries the cursed king of Persia, becoming not only the first consort to survive after the wedding, but also a threat to many conspirators. **** Shahryar had lost his first wife to a man no equal to him just after the wedding. Following their execution, each wife he marries dies some way or the other- falling down the stairs, suicide or even poisoning. Shahryar and his ministers are lost as to why it's happening, and eventually the king is called cursed. People are dissatisfied with the king and a rebellion threatens to bloom secretly. Soon there is a dearth of suitable women to marry Shahryar. But the sun cannot be complete without the moon. So comes forward Shahrazad.
Curse of Stone by wdhenning
wdhenning
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A Curse crawls inexorably across the Elysium Realm, turning everything it touches to lifeless stone. Anara, a powerful young witch, vows to stop it, but became herself infected and disfigured. After his mother goes missing, Micah, an unaware college student, finds himself drawn into an alternate world where magic rules. A world with more connections to him than he realizes. Together, Anara and Micah face a curse that may ultimately consume both worlds. But the political leadership fears their manipulation, and shadowy forces exist that do not wish them to succeed. **** 2024 Ambys Top Pick ****
Daughters of Kalika by Shivran86
Shivran86
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FEATURED on OFFICIAL WATTPAD's Community Happenings] Cover by the magician @MoranaInDesign (she is literally a magician!) Maya, a journalist, finds herself in the middle of religious panic when a prostitute she had met is found to be murdered. **** Lucifer, as they have been named, faces the namesake of the Devi in Devipuram. Will they be able to sacrifice this rose too like the other ones, or will the thorns now make them bleed to death? **** Maya has been tasked with writing something about the folk of Devipuram for the upcoming Puja magazine. She decides to visit the slums where the prostitutes live. Here, she meets Radha- a beautiful prostitute with a daughter. The very next day, Radha is found dead in the temple premises. And what the villagers label as the next-in-line in a chain of paranormal murders is a magnetic mystery in the life of Maya which tempts her to get to the root of this cruelty. Will she succeed in finding out the culprit or succumb to death like the five victims? WORD COUNT: 60,000-65,000 words
Mission: NYX || ONC2023 Shortlister by -aceospades-
-aceospades-
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[DUO spin-off, prequel to Codename: DEMON]  In the city of Portia, the government has a small branch called the Special Connections Division. On the outside, they serve as a way for for the government to keep an eye out for non-government funded organizations. On the inside, however, their job is different: they operate as a black ops, weeding out criminal organizations and gathering enemy information from the shadows During the night, Lucinda Saffirus works for the SCD as an assassin who uses her blood as a weapon. But during the day, she's a private detective working to solve the major crimes, especially murders, in the city. Juggling new jobs isn't new to her, but raising her eight year old son as a single mother changes a lot of things. Life isn't already easy, but a new threat makes things more difficult--one of the top members of the city's most powerful criminal organization has figured out her identity, and she's given one rule: play their game. And she has no choice but to accept. Otherwise, her family, friends, both jobs, and especially herself will be at risk.
Finding Heathcliff  by SilviaKrpatova
SilviaKrpatova
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ONC 2023 Shortlist Astrid, the Princess of Eurovea, a country existing several centuries in the future, had led a happy and sheltered life in the castle ruled by Regent Arcturus, her uncle. Only on reaching the age of ascension when, according to an ancient tradition, all future queens must face a trial, she realised that there were great gaps in her knowledge of the world around her, her uncle, and even the people she thought she knew well. In a world where love doesn't exist, a young girl who understands old novels better than her reality is sent on a dangerous quest to save her country from creatures who, just like love, were not supposed to be true... Mystery, romance, adventure, and magic combine in this tale, in which a young princess who had grown up surrounded by an impenetrable web of lies, has to find her true identity, and free her kingdom from suffering. A young-adult, dystopian, paranormal fantasy-romance. The wonderful cover created by @WakeWriteWrath
Mirror, Mirror, on the Wall [ONC 2023] by Azanthiel
Azanthiel
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When Ava is sucked into her grandmother's mirror, she is thrust into a world of her worst nightmares. Alone and surrounded by friends turned enemies, escaping seems like an impossible task. Grímhildr is a spirit tied to the mirror. Once a beautiful and powerful sorceress, centuries of confinement have taken their toll, and she is determined to lay waste to the real world. She will do anything to make it happen. Ava only has a week to face her fears, uncover Grímhildr's secrets, and escape the mirror. If she fails, she will be stuck in the mirror for good, and Grímhildr's vengeance will be unleashed on the outside world. The clock is ticking. --- Cover by @ryevain
Dark Star: The Lowly Guardian |ONC 2023| by Jagermeanshunter
Jagermeanshunter
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Born the son of a lowly hunter and abandoned as a child, Zhenxing never expected to be brought to Heaven and become the most treasured attendant of the mighty Tiger Immortal, one of the twelve Zodiac Guardians appointed by the Jade Emperor. But the world is tumultuous and not even the Heavenly Realm resides in peace for long. On the eve of the Lunar New Year, a dreadful discovery is made. The Tiger Immortal is found dead and a grieving Zhenxing flees Heaven, blamed and pursued by the remaining eleven Zodiacs. Abandoned and bewildered, Zhenxing seeks refuge in the one place those of the Heavenly Realm are loathe to tread: the Demon Realm. While in hiding, he discovers shocking evidence that the one who killed the Tiger Immortal was not his most beloved servant, but one of his fellow Guardians! With the help of a sinister and charming demon prince named Lixin, Zhenxing digs further into the mystery hoping to clear his name and avenge his beloved Tiger Immortal. Beautiful cover made by my lovely friend @AriaofStorms
The Last Star [ON HOLD] by KaraCarreira
KaraCarreira
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When a gruesome murder turns the prosperous celestial kingdom of Galakios upside down, Ascella has no choice but to go on the run. As the attendant to the dead zodio, Toksotis, she is the prime suspect in the case. When the surprise discovery of a clue points her in the direction of the true murderer, she accepts the call to investigate, even though it means teaming up with her ex-girlfriend and forbidden flame, Didimoi. But Ascella's search for justice for Toksotis may unveil more than she expects. In fact, it may just set her and Didimoi on the trail of an ancient threat to the zodia that everyone believed long dead. Cover by @-DeeIsDead- Update schedule: on hold until further notice
Unsettling - ONC 2023 by ItsTheQuietGirls
ItsTheQuietGirls
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Nikki Valentine is a smart, successful boudoir photographer with a curvy body and passion for empowerment. Despite this, she has spent years in a relationship so full of red flags she should have run a mile. Whilst on their eighth relationship break, she agrees to go on a date to a football match as a last-ditch attempt to salvage things. Evan Griffin knows he's approaching the end of his football career and is beginning to think about what he wants next from life. When pitch issues at a game lead to the commentators trying a "Kiss Cam" like American sporting events often use, something catches his eye and Evan can't resist stepping in. The unexpected encounter between the pair sets sparks flying and when they find themselves working together just a week later, the chemistry is intense! What happens when they both realise they don't have to settle for relationships or careers that don't fulfil them? Will their 'unsettling' cause them to collide or tear them apart? Based on prompt 51 for @OpenNovellaContest The problem with red flags is that I'm attracted to them. ✨️ ONC 2023 Longlister ✨️