One year ago, Elliot disappeared. When a strange flower spirited her to the Fae filled d'Oré Isles, Serena is dedicated to finding her twin and uncovering answers. But will the price be higher than she can pay? Will she be able to convince the King to help her in her quest? Welcome to my Open Novella Contest 2026 entry! Over the next 12 weeks, I'll be participating in the Open Novella Contest and writing novella of no more than 40,000 words. From this year's prompts, I've chosen Prompt 2 as my main: The first flower to bloom in spring isn't just a sign of the seasons changing. It's a portal. When you touch it, you're transported into a magical world you never knew existed. I look forward to creating a story for you. I'd love if you would support me and my novella by sharing, commenting, voting, adding it to your lists, and, of course, reading along! Ongoing Word Count: 13,870(ish) Last edit for typos and comments: 11 March. Cover art created by myself on Canvas with Wattpad provided banners. Chapter art created on Pinterest - I own no part of that art. No part of this novella was created with AI. No part of this novella existed before 1 February 2026.

Aaron, a mercenary archer with a murderous past. Bram, a man who lives by winning contests of skill. Timo, a quiet woodcutter with no taste for war. Melody, a young swordswoman desperate to prove she belongs. Trent, a weary soldier awaiting the birth of his great-grandchild. Konstantina, a fire mage sworn to the king's service. Shai, a seer cursed with the knowledge of what is to come. They travel together, bound by circumstance, loyalty, and fragile hope. But their fates are already sealed. Because in the end... Everyone dies. A grimdark fantasy for adult readers containing violence, betrayal, and despair.

Bloodlust is set in 1820s Edinburgh and follows Aoife, a young socialite in the care of her mysterious Aunt (the notorious Mrs Montgomery). Dealing with a fresh heartbreak, Aoife meets captivating Cian and his friends James and Levi at a dance one night and is drawn to them through conversations of unusual topics. And is that just her or are the shadows watching? An accident in her Aunt's home makes Aoife find herself stumbling through the mysterious underworld of vampires, witches and their unending war as Levi turns her into a vampire to save her life. Aoife discovers the truths her Aunt had been hiding from her about how her parents died and the future that was planned for Aoife in her Aunt's witch coven. She can't go back to her Aunt as a vampire, can she? Soon, she must choose between the life she thought she knew or a brave new world. The novel questions what it means to be a family and how far you would go to protect what's yours and those you love. 🌟 New chapters every Wednesday & Friday! 🌟 Highest Rankings: 🌟 #1 in Scotland - 7 February 2026 🌟 #3 in Coven - 5 February 2026 🌟 #4 in Victorian - 23 January 2026 **** No part of this novel was created with AI. Cover Image: Chrisitian Holzinger on Unsplash - https://unsplash.com/photos/womans-face-on-black-background-kEXMAGTivXA

Vorath, a young knight-in-training, is terrified of battle and reluctant to hurt others. But when a massive army of men and monsters invades his magical homeland of Abyssia, he must rise to the occasion to protect those he loves. As he battles impossible odds and uncovers secrets of the past, Vorath discovers his own strength and bravery in a world filled with danger and intrigue.

Two cheese connoisseurs set out on a pilgrimage to Switzerland in search of Vacherin Mont d'Ciel, supposedly the greatest cheese in the world. Cover image hand-drawn and painted by me.

This short speculative fiction story originally appeared on the Canadian website, Ascent Aspirations way back in 2007.