2026 Wattys Shortlist - Speculative Fiction In a post-apocalyptic world ruled by the Grid-a neural-controlled regime-Thalia Cove, a deadly resistance fighter marked for capture, becomes the obsession of the Grid's greatest soldier... until a connection forms neither can escape. This is the story of those who refused to surrender their humanity in exchange for ease. Survivors who chose to fight, even when it would have been easier to look away. People who would risk everything-not for glory, but for the ones they love. And for the ones they love, their Life will always be on the Line. Survival was never just about staying alive. It was about staying human.

🖤 Ashes of the Veilborn Dark Fantasy | Tragic Romance | Court Intrigue | Rebirth On the night the stars disappeared, a girl was born- a Veilborn princess never meant to exist. Feared for her magic. Silenced by her family. Marked from birth. Seraphyne Aelira lived her first life as a girl far too innocent for the world that raised her. She feared her older brother's hand, flinched at her father's voice, and learned quickly: no one defends a cursed child. Not even herself. Her only light was her older sister-the only one who ever truly loved her. But when tragedy struck, they said she caused it. A fire. A scream. A lie. And one day, when the fear and pain grew too much- Seraphyne snapped. Her magic-wild, ancient, Veilborn-exploded from her. And though she didn't understand it, couldn't even control it... The court saw a monster. From that day on, even their whispers were edged with terror. But even shadows can love. Years later, Seraphyne met Kaelion Draxmere Vaebrith. Their love was quiet. Fierce. Immediate. Like souls recognizing each other from lifetimes past. But it wasn't enough. Manipulated by her jealous guardian 𝐀𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐧... And deceived by the golden noblewoman Altheira, whose smile could ruin empires... Seraphyne was framed- And executed for a crime someone else committed. She was not killed by an enemy... But by someone who knew her best. Now, she is reborn- Haunted by the past. Carrying a power that no longer sleeps. And remembering every betrayal, every lie. She remembers how Altheira fooled her. How Kaelion stood still as she was taken. And how the court feared a girl who only ever wanted to be loved. But Seraphyne no longer craves their acceptance. She has returned not to forgive- But to uncover the truth, expose the traitor, and set fire to the lies that destroyed her. Fate chose her once. Now she chooses herself.

YANDERE CRIMINAL X READER LN farm was one of the nicest places in all of Westfall, a small Midwest town where nothing ever goes wrong. Mr. LN had the best crops, and the best honey in the whole county. Mrs. LN sold the softest blankets, and volunteered at every chance she got. Ephraim LN had brawn, but no brain. Margaret LN was as beautiful and talented as she was brilliant. YN LN was..... Well, you were there, I guess. To the public, the LN family was perfect in every possible way. Behind closed doors, however, your life was a fucking nightmare. Until a psychotic murderer escaped the nearby prison facility and took your entire family hostage. You must pretend everything is okay, which isn't an unusual thing for you. The killer starts to sympathize, and the person you were supposed to escape from might just be your ticket to a good life. ***** This story was inspired by the crimes of Billy Hughes in the UK. To learn more, either do a Google search, or listen to: Season 2 Episode 16 of They walk Among Us, a podcast on spotify.

When you've been a victim all your life, falling in love with a serial killer doesn't seem all that bad. It had been two years since people in New Hale have started going missing. Yet without any bodies found, it's unclear whether this is pure coincidence or the work of a genius serial killer. Lucy Starling starts her life at university with hope. Hope that her awful time in high school would not be repeated here. Hope that her family would stay safe in these uncertain times. And hope that her missing best friend is still alive out there somewhere. But all that hope is crushed when the first body is found. And she is the prime suspect. As though her life couldn't get worse, Lucy manages to catch the attention of the real killer. Yet instead of giving in to despair, she surprises him by falling in love. 𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙚𝙣𝙨 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙛𝙚𝙘𝙩 𝙠𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙧 𝙢𝙚𝙚𝙩𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙛𝙚𝙘𝙩 𝙫𝙞𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙢? *** 𝗧𝗥𝗢𝗣𝗘𝗦 𝗜𝗡𝗖𝗟𝗨𝗗𝗘𝗗: Killer x Victim Serial Killer Yandere Stalker Bullying Innocent Girl x Murderous Guy Slow Burn Love Triangle Reverse Harem Stockholm She falls first but he falls harder

Book 1 of (The Awakening Series) {#1 Supernatural} {#1 Paranormal} {#1 Lycans} {#1 Vampire Romance} {#5 Royalty} The world went to shit long before I was born. Humans like me use to believe other species were nothing more than fictional characters, myths, or figures of one's imagination. But that was before vampires left the shadows and decided to reveal their species to the world. I've been told that teenage girls use to fantasize about being swooshed off their feet by those mysterious creatures. Insane. Matter of fact, insane would be an understatement, they were fucking lunatics. Vampires are not some fictional character that would love you like no other. No, vampires are not some sort of myth, and they most certainly are not, a figment of anyone's imagination. They are very real, and they despise the human race. In fact, they have enslaved my entire species and formed a new world. Each continent is owned by a ruthless, bloodsucking, barbaric, the vampire king. Every single one of them has played a part in the war of the awakening, showing no mercy, killing without question. Humans didn't even stand a chance. Our army and world leaders were killed or imprisoned in less than a couple of days. They slaughtered my race, but it didn't stop there. No, that was only the beginning of human suffering. Trust me when I say the death was truly a kindness, because anyone who survived the awakening, would beg for death. I was positive that my suffering would come to an end when I turned eighteen. I was hoping and praying to be marked as a feeder, nothing more, nothing less. Death was the only way out of this world. You see, all of the kings who ruled over the earth were cruel and calculating. They are all tyrants in their own right and they all answered to one vampire. Who was known as the most barbaric of them all and I was marked as his chosen. The King of all Vampire Kings. "This book is currently undergoing edits for publication."

They sent her to the academy to learn control. What they didn't expect... was the storm she carried inside. Luna doesn't care about redemption. She isn't here to make friends, play nice, or be saved. She's darkness wrapped in flesh ,a girl with a stone heart, colder than death, and power that could tear the world apart if she let it. She's sent to Fledgling Institution,a prestigious school for different kinds of supernatural beings where they're molded to master their gifts and blend seamlessly into the human world. Secrets stir. Powers clash. And something ancient is waking beneath the surface of it all. Some monsters are born. Others are made.

I drowned, woke up in another world, got killed again by an arch-necromancer, and resurrected as half-zombie. I'm technically alive only because I'm magically bound to him. Now I'm stuck in a dark academy where bullying can be fatal, skeletons aren't in closets, but on payroll, students keep disappearing, and survival is very much optional. On the bright side, I've discovered a unique talent: the undead tend to fall in love with me. On the less bright side, an ancient lich wants to drag me into his world. Honestly, dying twice was the easy part. What to expect: - Humorous dark fantasy in an academy setting - Dark academia with Wednesday-like vibes - The heroine gradually discovers her hidden abilities - Slow-burn, subtle romance - complicated, awkward, and very intentional - A fake engagement / marriage of convenience (bad decisions made for good reasons) - Morally grey characters - Friendship, betrayal, jealousy, mystery and secrets

She was just a tired grade school teacher in the modern world- unappreciated, overworked, and denied her promotion year after year. Her only escape was her favorite otome game... until a tragic accident with a banana peel ended her life. When she opened her eyes again, she wasn't in her small apartment anymore. She was in a luxurious mansion. In a child's body. The villainess of her favorite game. Born as the real daughter of a Marquis, she knew how her story was supposed to end: starvation, betrayal, poison, and death. Her stepmother and stepsister would steal everything from her, and her own father would let her die without a tear. But this time, she refuses to play the role of a doomed villainess. Armed with memories from her past life, loyal brothers at her side, and a sharp tongue sharpened by years of teaching, she'll rewrite fate itself. Yet the world of nobility is more dangerous than she imagined- scheming crown princes, false heroines, poisonous stepmothers, and a cold northern Duke whispered to be a beast. But what if the "beast" turns out to be the one man who sees her for who she truly is?

Seilauna wakes up, unable to remember anything, only to discover that vampires are real and her world is vastly changed.