🏆 SHORTLIST - OPEN NOVELLA CONTEST 2024 🏆 A young journalist must navigate a war-torn country and the intricacy of first love in order to save herself and her family. ⋯⋯⋯ In 2042, invaders crossed Philippine waters and marked the start of the war. Two years later, Maian Dizon, a displaced Metro Manila journalist, navigates the war-torn streets in search of a way out of the country. However, when her path crosses with Kian Lucero, a reservist medical doctor, doubts creep in. With the guilt he carries, the foreboding loss on her shoulders, and the pressing needs of her family, her calling points her back to her homeland with no promise of salvation. But the attacks crawl closer every day, and Maian must devise a plan to save the people she loves, even if it means sacrificing herself. From the award-winning author of 𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘓𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘕𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘋𝘪𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘌𝘯𝘥 comes a story of love and life, and how they fade and thrive at the face of war. There is an end to peace, memory, and glory, but there are things that will live forever. We only have to find them. ˜"°•.˜"°•˜"°•.˜"°•˜"°•.˜"°• © 2024 (First Edition) [30,000 - 35,000 words] [All graphics are made by @sardonictabby] C/TW: Some scenes in this story contain graphic physical violence, disturbing themes, or character introspection that may upset or trigger the reader. Please read at your own risk. 🏆 LONGLIST - OPEN NOVELLA CONTEST 2024 🏆 ROUND 2 QUALIFIER - OPEN NOVELLA CONTEST 2024 🏆 ROUND 1 QUALIFIER - OPEN NOVELLA CONTEST 2024

#4 Grand winner of Open Novella Contest 2024 🏅 _________________________ Regina Patrissia, the hundredth consort of King Rex III enters his harem at the age of eighteen. Widely known as the "Quiet Mouse" whose existence was ignored by all, in two years the "Quiet Mouse" has become a ferocious predator who could put anyone's intelligence, beauty and skills to shame. But the only opponent in her field was her husband, the Sun of the Empire, Emperor Rex, a genius in military strategies and cold in attitude. How would fate tie the two contrastingly similar figures when external forces outnumber them, betrayal lurks in every step and disloyal eyes watched their every conscious move? •─────────✦❀✦────────• Current Word Count: 20 K + Primary prompt: #59 Reincarnating into my favorite novel wasn't what I had in mind when I was begging for a second chance. Other prompts: #2, #16, #20, #24, #25, #26, #28, #35 and #48. •─────────✦❀✦────────• Cover Credits: Alfaesha Banners Credit: AngeBlancRose 🏅ONC 2024 Round One Qualifier 🏅ONC 2024 2024 Round Two Qualifier 🏅ONC 2024 Round Three Qualifier 🏅ONC 2024 Longlister 🏅ONC 2024 Shortlister 🏅ONC 2024 Top 5 Finalists 🏅ONC 2024 4th Grand Winner 🏅Featured on Historical Fiction RL 🏅Winner of EC Fiction Awards

"Love looks not with the eyes but with the mind, And therefore is winged Cupid painted blind." [Original] [Started: 02/25/2024] [Completed: 05/01/2024] Cover made by @Purplemist14 *** [ONC2024 Shortlist Qualifier] Written for the Open Novella Contest 2024, this story uses prompt #41: "I shot Cupid because I didn't want to fall in love again."

The Iron Plain is a symbol of the fragile peace between the State of Kurat and the Regency of Lomurat. But that symbol is tarnished when the regency launches a brutal attack on the kuratian troops stationed on the plain. Kenit ApGoral, the chief of the Eagle Squadrons of the Kuratian Army, is one of the fatal victims of the attack. Unwilling to accept her daughter's fate, Taria ApGoral, Kenit's mother, persuades two men to her help her bring Kenit back to life: Genul, Kenit's betrothed, and Luenji, Kenit's adjunct. Blood is the price to pay to bring the dead back to life, and those across the border are charged with it. Genul must unbury his past training in the military to get to his target: the Regent of Lomurat. But once infiltrated inside his palace, Genul finds himself fighting against his certainties. Because the regent, known for taking male servants as lovers, has a real interest in Genul. The alluring noble may hide secrets more valuable than his blood. Tasked with keeping Kenit's body safe as he waits for the blood meant to save her, Luenji starts an investigation that will lead him to a dangerous conclusion: perhaps the greatest enemy is within the borders of the kuratian state.

"I will become as monstrous as I must." Five hundred years after the Great Freeze, the empire of Britannia stands, untouchable, as the greatest power in the world. The Britannia that emerged from the Freeze is an empire built of iron and ice, of blood and ash and bone. Its rulers govern a strictly-organized society, with each class serving a purpose and kept strictly separated. Daphne Corvus has been raised from a frozen hell to the heights of wealth and power for one purpose alone: to become that which she hates the most in order to bring a cruel empire to its knees. If she succeeds, she will see the sister she's lost again; if she fails, she will die, and her sister will be left to suffer In order to succeed, she must first infiltrate the school where Britannia turns the children of its most powerful families into its greatest commanders. But the Academy is notoriously competitive, and Daphne is far from the only student who needs to triumph. *This story is my entry for the 2024 Open Novella Contest*