books I really really really need to read
140 stories
Arising Fate by KeysOfFate
KeysOfFate
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Thessaly has spent her life haunted by nightmares of a shadowed male and a beast prowling beneath her skin. But her visions are not the only pieces of herself she cannot trust. Her memories have been stripped from her again and again, her past stolen and her origins buried, until one violent night forces her to unleash the darkness she has spent her life suppressing. Dragged into the hidden world of the fae, a realm divided between the radiant Seelie Court and the shadowed Unseelie, Thessaly learns her nightmares were never only dreams. They were warnings. Invitations. A door opening between her and something ancient enough to recognize the magic waking inside her. Riven, heir to the Seelie Court, is the first to see the woman beneath the prophecy. Ruthless, guarded, and bound by secrets of his own, he should be her enemy. Instead, he becomes the one person capable of anchoring her to the humanity she is terrified to lose. But fate has another claim on her-one that has been waiting in her nightmares. Kael, commander in a rising dark army, does not fear what Thessaly is becoming. He reveres it. As her power grows, the dreams that once haunted her become something far more dangerous: a connection. Where Riven offers control, Kael offers release. Where Riven loves the woman she is fighting to remain, Kael worships the weapon she could become. And to a girl whose life has been stolen, sealed, and buried, being worshipped might feel dangerously like being seen. As war stirs across the realms and forgotten bloodlines begin to wake, Thessaly must uncover the truth of what was taken from her before the darkness beneath her skin convinces her to surrender the last fragile pieces of who she was. Because the prophecy the courts fear may not be warning of a savior at all, but of the hidden heirs whose choices could save the realms-or end them. ~~~~~~ A special thank you to @ToWolfKin for creating the cover.
LUMEN: Rebirth by Blue_the_Bard
Blue_the_Bard
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🥇 1st Place - Best Prologue (Whispers Beneath the Ice mini-awards, 2025) 🥈 2nd Place - Best Writing Style (Enchanted Grave Awards, 2025) 🥈 2nd Place - Best Villain (Starfish Awards, 2025) ⸻ ✧ ⸻ Beneath the earth, the sun is only a memory - and its light is no longer free. The powerful have bottled it, priced it, and called it holy. Every flicker, every breath, must be paid for in Lumen. Lucy Farrow was born in the Gloom, where the air tastes of rust and hope is a dangerous thing. Her mother taught her to keep her glow low - to survive unseen. But when the light inside her begins to stir, Lucy's secret could unravel the order that keeps their divided city alive. High above, in the marble halls of the Halo, Prince Cassian Soleyne uncovers a secret among ink and dust - a forbidden lineage that could unmake the order he was born to protect. His duty is to snuff it out: his heart tells him to save it. As rebellion brews in the dark and doubt kindles in the light, their paths will cross - and together they will awaken a fire long thought dead. A Radiant who could bring back the dawn... or burn the world to ash. ⸻ ✧ ⸻ His guest merely nodded sharply. "Until next time, mister Briar". With that, he turned and marched toward the door - his colleagues followed him close behind. Lucy could hear their footsteps fade away and relief washed over her. As soon as it did, the lanterns of the chandelier rattled softly - the Lumen danced for a split second, as if celebrating. But that was enough. The agents abruptly turned around, having seen the shadows on the floor - slowly, they aimed their emotionless gazes skyward, staring at the chandelier. "Tell me, mister Briar", the captain spoke, his eyes still fixated upon the lamps, "Does your Lumen always malfunction like this?" The Lantern Man tapped with a finger on the desk. "As a matter of fact, sir - yes, it does. It's still an old batch: it flickers all the time. I ought to get it replaced soon".
Wicked Winter Book. 1 by AshtonMarie
AshtonMarie
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{Completed} Highest Ranking: # 1 in Fantasy (01/28/17) Book. 1 My blood boiled at the thought of one of them in our streets, hidden in plain sight, perhaps even by one of the kids from the orphanages. Would it murder innocent human children? You bet. Would it even think twice about gutting a starving child? Never. What could do this, you're probably asking. But it boils down to one single word. One word that made anger I hadn't known I possessed, roar to life like a pissed off lion. One word that sent a cold chill spider-walking down my spine. Faeries. ------------ Eve Scotts's world is divided by magic - The Order of the Seven who rules over her kingdom with a steel fist and the murderous faeries's she'll be forced to fight when she turns eighteen. Eve is a dueler, a human that dabbles in the elements to fight in underground scuffles for some extra coin to feed her fellow orphans back home. But she has a secret weapon: She can wield ice magic - a magic that is only reserved for the High Witches at court. But she makes a mistake. She exposes herself. Rumors are spreading of a small orphan girl who can wield the power of ice, and it isn't long until the Order sends one of their own to snatch up the bounty. In exchange for the secrecy of her special gift, Eve agrees to participate in the Witches Academy, where humans are taught to wield the power of the elements and become powerful witch soldiers for the Order's disposal. As Eve is drawn further into the Witch world, she risks everything to learn more about her power and her lineage. With her frozen heart melting for the Count of Night, Sebastian O'Neill, Eve is thrown into a cyclone of love, betrayal, and family drama she hadn't even known an orphan could inherit. Soon, Eve must decide: Is love, or survival more important? Word Count: 102,000.
To Kill a Fae - A Fantasy Romance by jawaters
jawaters
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Sabine has spent the past decade hiding from the Wild Hunt. But when a charismatic stranger recruits her to retrieve an invaluable artifact, she'll have to finally reveal her identity... and her dark secrets. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * The darkness holds more than just secrets... Marked for death, Sabine escaped from her home more than ten years ago. But the Wild Hunt will never give up. It should have been easy to stay hidden. All Sabine had to do was keep her head down, avoid telling anyone about her past, and above all else -- not let her glamour drop. Even the best-laid plans eventually fall apart. When a charismatic stranger arrives in the city, Sabine finds herself unwittingly drawn to the power she can sense hidden within him. Keeping her distance is nearly impossible, especially after a life debt is called due and she's tasked into helping steal a rare artifact. Sabine is the only one who can break the magical barriers protecting the item, but that means revealing the truth about her identity and exposing her darkest secrets. Unfortunately, the Fae aren't the only ones hunting her. And the most dangerous monsters aren't always confined to the dark.
The Blood of Darkness by annabelwritess
annabelwritess
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"𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙙 𝙤𝙛 𝙛𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙣 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙧𝙨 𝙛𝙡𝙤𝙬𝙨 𝙞𝙣 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙫𝙚𝙞𝙣𝙨, 𝙜𝙞𝙧𝙡. 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙙 𝙤𝙛 𝙬𝙖𝙧, 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙙 𝙤𝙛 𝙙𝙞𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙮, 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙙 𝙤𝙛 𝘿𝙖𝙧𝙠𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨." Valerie Tenebris is not human. She never was, and never will be. She is a monster, a nightmare, a killer, who dreams of an ancient battlefield and a different, brutal world where stars fall and dark blood stains the earth. Kye Merran is an Ember, one who wields fire magic. When a childhood friend shows up at his house with a strange girl who is bleeding black blood, he knows that he's getting into something he definitely shouldn't. Especially when the Dark King of Rurik, who may have much more to him than it seems, is looking to conquer another kingdom or two, preferably with a powerful, dark queen at his side. But Kye can't seem to stay away from the mysterious girl with the blood of Darkness. And Val can't stay away from Kye either, no matter how much she claims that she hates him. As Val, Kye, and their friends race to stop the Dark King and his approaching army, what they don't realize is that they are playing a part in an ancient, deadly game, a game between the light and the dark, one years in the making. But it is a game which neither of them can win, for their fates have already been determined by the desperate Gods, written in blood among the stars. Cover picture credit: Laura Sheridan **VIOLENCE, MENTION OF CHILD ABANDONMENT, ALCOHOLISM, RAPE, ASSAULT, DEATH, TORTURE, AND ABUSE** 364K words •HIGHEST RANKING• #1-Wind-1/26/21 #1-lightanddark-3/24/21 #1-magicalpowers-5/4/21 #1-War-5/13/21 #1-stars-8/9/21 #3-Night-4/10/21 #5-swords-4/18/21 #11-Darkness-4/10/21 **There will be a sequel; it will be a duology!
The Offering by megan_rose_writes
megan_rose_writes
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Almost a century ago, the fae discovered they could no longer bear children-and humanity paid the price. A treaty was forged: The Offering. Once every couple of decades, young fertile women are taken from their homes and delivered to the fae realm, destined to become wives for fae lords. Treasured. Trapped. Chosen. Daella always knew it could happen to her. But when the fae come, she isn't ready. And she sure as hell isn't willing. Now forced to live inside a gilded palace among the other chosen, Daella must learn the ways of the fae world-obedience, grace, and silence. She refuses. Her defiance draws the attention of the three fae princes, each bound by duty... and each dangerously intrigued by the human girl who dares to fight back. As desire grows and loyalties are tested, Daella begins to unravel the lies behind the treaty that stole her freedom. And in a realm built on secrets and power, she might be the spark that sets everything ablaze. Completed 27/12/2023 #1 in Fantasy-Romance 8/12/2023 #1 in brothers 17/12/2023 #2 in First Person 30/12/2023 #2 in Fae 01/03/2024 Copyright © 2023 Megan Stubberfield
The Grimm Dossier ⱽᵒˡᵘᵐᵉ¹ by BellOfSilence
BellOfSilence
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[DE GERMAN WATTYS GRAND PRIZE WINNER & TOP 25 HISTORICAL AWARD 2023] *The perfect first mission for two inexperienced seekers: a small village in the middle of dark forests. Gruesome deaths and mysterious events. Kyle is a self-proclaimed Master of the Arcane Arts and his partner, Dr. Archer has a well-loaded revolver. So what could go wrong?* "Mundus vult decipi, ergo decipiatur. The world wants to be deceived; so let it be deceived!" Credo of the Order of Seekers London 1898. Where the summoning of spirits has become as normal as cricket and tennis, the boundaries between fantasy and reality are blurred. In high society, Occultism and membership in 'secret' lodges are the most fashionable thing in the world. A very exclusive group of this kind is the Order of the Seekers, which is dedicated to researching, concealing, and disguising the occurrences of the mysterious. Kyle Crowford and Dr. Benjamin Archer are newcomers to the Order, recent graduates of the initiation rite, and eager to embark on their first mission... until they find out that it will take them to the remote backlands in the middle of Dartmoor. In a world beyond the obvious, where magic can bend reality and nightmares can become true, the agents must face the mysteries surrounding the gruesome deaths in Dartmoor - ideally without becoming the next victims themselves. Because, alongside their secrets, there are unexpectedly dark abysses lurking in St. George. *** GERMAN WATTYS 2022 GRAND PRIZE WINNER EDITORS PICK DE APRIL 2023 TOP 23 WATTPAD HISTORICAL AWARDS 18 x FEATURED ON OFFICIAL WATTPAD PROFILES** 🥇1st End of the Year Award 2022 Paranormal Moonly Awards Mystery Bungou Grand Prix Mystery Sweet Waffle Awards Mystery Pink Cloud Award Mystery Pacific Awards - Mystery Blurb WSP&Hibiscus Award Fighting Scene Hibiscus&Auctor Award Antagonist Auctor Award Protagonist Pawesome Award Cover&Best Opening Chapter Lion Awards
The Exiled King | ✔ by Calagtic
Calagtic
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Fifty years ago, demons invaded the mortal realm of Dargon, leaving a trail of destruction across the five kingdoms. The six Guardians of that generation united the kingdoms and fought back against the demons, scattering their ashes to the winds. Then, they vanished into legend, and with them, their powers. When the lost powers awaken in six strangers across the mortal realm once again, they seek answers... What danger has compelled the powers to reappear after half a century of peace? There are rumours that another demon army gathers in the fiery realm of the Abyss, greater than the first and led by a cunning mastermind whose motivations are unknown. But something doesn't add up. The deeper they dig, the more twisted the truth becomes and the more uncertain their path forward. Who... or what must they truly save their world from? As destinies unravel and loyalties are tested, one question lingers: What if saving the world... means trusting the very force that could end it? An epic trilogy of gods, mortals, and fates intertwined-where it seems that things may have been set in motion long before anyone could ever have anticipated and the path forward may just be the one that ends in death. Trilogical Compilation | Books 1, 2 & 3 (If the number of chapters seems daunting, just know that most of the chapters are short) [Fans of The Stormlight Archive may enjoy this book] Best Rankings #7 in fantasyadventure (Out of 32.4k stories) #8 in journey (Out of 30.4k stories) Cover by Azanthiel Human written. No AI :)
Oblivion, A Timeless Void by Aster_Rae27
Aster_Rae27
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❅| "Even a vastness can no longer shelter you... or engulf your dream." ⊱⋅ ──────────── ⋅⊰ [UNDER EDITING/REDRAFTING - latest chapter: 11] To a world seemingly shrouded in a cloak of safety and eternal peace, death is an unimaginable concept. Yet for those whose rule of life was mere survival, perhaps that's a different situation. For those who stood in the face of adversity, for those who refused to give in to the castigation of their lives, life has no sweetness to it. Merely the bitter tang of a blood-chilling revenge. To avenge a loved one or perhaps even their own pain, the murderous intent behind their deceitful eyes is unmistakable. For, to them, lamenting about the past is a life lost to the cruel hands of fate. - What happens when a woman as brilliant as the morning sun provides a haven in one's dreams? What happens when she, despite the agonies life carries, says to abandon everything right here and now and leave? Alcestis did not need to be told twice. Seizing the chance to escape the horrible clutches of her grandparents, she sets out to find the Elementals-a band of heroes protecting the human realm from those that lied beyond, headed by her parents. She knew of the darkness that festered within her; she knew of the hatred that danced in her heart. More than anything, she knew the extents of how fragmented her soul was. What, perhaps, would unfold when she sets out on her journey, leaving behind the world she knew; leaving behind what hopefulness remained in her battered heart? None would heed her an answer, indeed. None save for the rage that tainted her being.
The Heir and the Undoing  by ItsTheQuietGirls
ItsTheQuietGirls
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After one of the bloodiest battles in fae history, where a betrayal rocked the Light Court, Elora finds herself in a terrible position. To take the crown she was born to she must find a Consort to rule at her side. Tradition requires her to hold a tournament and allow Lords and Ladies from across the Isle to compete for her hand. Even if that means opening their doors to those of the opposing Court and coming face-to-face with family of the man who betrayed her brother. Without knowing who she can trust or how she will ever make a decision Elora is torn between making the right choice for her Court and the enigmatic Lord she has vowed to hate. With prophecies, notes, and an unknown power at her fingertips she soon realises that someone saw her on the battlefield that day and knows the truth about what happened. Siblings parted by centuries, One that will break us, Another that frees. A coming together to signal the end, One betrayed by a lover, One betrayed by a friend. ACOTAR X Reign Based on the ONC prompt: 96. "Was this a game to you?" Secondary prompts: 18. There was something inside me that wouldn't stop until the whole world was blood. 39. "Fine, make me your villain." - From 'Shadow and Bone' by Leigh Bardugo #ONC22 #tsc22 Featured on Wattpad @Fantasy June 2022