CHINESE ARYA STARK meets THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA. *A Wattpad Featured story* When everyone wears a mask, who do you trust? In the unforgiving empire of Erden where the Imperials reign supreme, Sarna is a slave. After escaping the brothel where a man burned half her face, she is determined to lead a new life by joining Zichuan Theater as a performer. When an assassination attempt on the crown prince casts suspicion on Zichuan Theater, the fragile foundations of that new life begin to crumble. Incarcerated with a death sentence in line, she is offered a dangerous deal: the crown prince's head in exchange for Zichuan Theater's freedom. To save her theater, Sarna journeys to learn the dark art of Facechanging from a forgotten god, hides herself behind borrowed beauty, and uses her new identity to infiltrate the Jade Palace. But no godly transaction comes without a price. Not only does she find herself trapped not only in a web of court intrigue, but in a battle for control of her body and her life. As time ticks down for her theater, she must decide between her heart and her freedom, or risk losing everything she has ever loved and worked for - including her identity. Highest ranking: #54 in Fantasy (14/2/18) Cover trailer by @Abyss-of-Crazy

A LINE UNBROKEN. A TRUTH UNSPOKEN. Born into wealth and privilege as the niece of an emperor, Starborn Lady Mhera never dreamt that tragedy would shatter her world. But darkness roils beneath the peaceful facade of the Holy City: a rebellion is brewing among the Arcborn-the dangerous, magic-blooded undercaste of Penrua-and they will stop at nothing to destroy the peace of the realm. That much is proven to Mhera when she is just a girl and her greatest treasure is taken from her. Years later, still wounded by the evil the Arcborn wrought against her, she is on the brink of professing her final vows as a nun...but before she can accept the life of safety and solitude she doesn't truly desire, she is offered a chilling compromise with fate that threatens everything she has ever known. FIRST PLACE WINNER - 2018 Clash of Swords (hosted by The Fae Folk) - Dark Fantasy Category SECOND PLACE WINNER - 2018 Sunset Awards - Fantasy Category SECOND PLACE - 2018 X Factor Awards - Overall!

Sealed inside the towering city walls of Acadia, magic users known as Wielders are feared and hunted for the abilities they have been blessed with. They're living in hiding, terrified of revealing themselves to the Authorities that hunt them. But while Acadia digs into the earth for the magical stone that weakens the Wielders, they are unaware of the ancient evil, known as Foulings, trapped underneath. Three young Wielders, scattered across Evaros, have the power to not only end the oppression of innocent Wielders, but also stop the Foulings from repeating a history of chaos and death. Determined to save her brother, Marina fights to control the ice she manipulates. Going against her own rules, she makes dangerous deals with a flame from her past. Adira, imprisoned for powers she has just discovered, gives hope to the others that one day her unique abilities will free them. She doubts she is the savior they want, when she doesn't even understand the powers she has. Soren struggles to reconnect with a girl seared into his memories. Controlled by a dark Wielder whose plans put the world in jeopardy, he realizes that the girl might be the key to restoring his humanity. Against the odds, Marina, Adira and Soren fight for freedom, strength, and love with their lives and their hearts on the line. / Fantasy / Romance / Young Adult / **First Draft** **Current Cover by @sugarcrystals**

❖ QUEENKILLER, KINGMAKER Book 1 ❖ Feudal Southeast-Asia filled with magic, daemons, and a royal conspiracy. This is Isla's quest for the truth, and her slow spiral into becoming her very own worst nightmare. When the gods ascended thousands of years ago, they left behind the divine gift of theurgy. Its powers still echo amongst men, but run fiercer yet in the blood of kings and queens. And one of them will stop at nothing before Isla is dead. A betrayal lures her out of refuge and into her journey home, where she must unmask her enemies before they unmask her. The theurgy that she has had to keep hidden for many years can be her greatest ally or her most lethal foil. Only her wits can guide her through the dangerous politics of the Surikh court. But amidst the plots and schemes bubbling around her, she uncovers something far more sinister than the identity of her enemies. Something that can change her entire life; indeed, entire kingdoms. ↝ this work contains violence, profanity, and sexual references ↜ ↝ Winner of Wattys 2016 HQ Love Award ↝ Winner of FANTASCI's first season Chosen One awards ↝ Winner of The Cryptic Awards 2018 ↝ Featured in Fantasy as of 18-01-2017 ↝ Wattpad Editor's Pick January 2021

A magic-addicted spy trapped in the queen's service must track a princess-turned-assassin in order to earn her freedom, but things get complicated when she falls for the princess she's supposed to capture. ***** Weak. Cursed. That's how seventeen-year-old Kayden Branimir, the realm's deadliest assassin, views herself. Some believe she could save the world with her rare healing magic, but she gave up on her powers long ago after failing to save her best friend. Her life changes when she receives a letter from her supposedly dead twin brother, Alaric, begging to be rescued from rival territory Leodia. For the first time since her friend's accident, Kayden is determined to be the hero, but she must learn to embrace her magic--and herself--along the way. Strange. Unnatural. Those are the words whispered about eighteen-year-old Zara Tait, a Leodian spy addicted to soul-stealing magic. Forced into the queen's service, Zara wants to escape and return home, but she has nothing to offer the queen in exchange for her freedom. When Kayden arrives in Leodia, Zara sees the quiet girl with unique magic as the bargaining chip she needs. But the more she learns of Kayden, the more her feelings grow. Now, Zara must choose between her freedom and the dangerous assassin she hadn't meant to fall for. [2020 Watty Award Winner] Content warning: This story contains mature themes of violence, addiction, abuse, self-harm, and mental illness. Cover by Faera Lane

A haunting mist sits on the harbor beneath Secora Tor. It hides a secret that only Captain Marshall, accomplished military figure and secret son to the greatest explorer in the kingdom's history, can unlock. When he receives a cryptic message from a shocking source, the stoic otter sets out on a dangerous journey to save his queen, never suspecting that notorious pirate captain McKinley the Marauder might have ambitions that could put his mission at risk. Now the captains find their paths converging in a race against time as they travel through mythical tales to the legendary island of Mosque Hill, each of them hoping to reach an ancient artifact before it is too late. Each of them desperate to stay ahead of the secrets that they keep. What will they lose along the way? And where will they turn when they realize that nothing is as it seems?

Nahlia and Thane are fugitives. Enemies surround them from every side. Not just Aeons and Templars, but a mysterious sect of assassins who seek the artifact they stole from Whitecliff. During this time, Nahlia's powers grow faster than she'd ever imagined. But this growth brings new challenges, including a darker side of Ethermancy that could change everything Meanwhile, Ciena Raider strikes out on her own. Driven by vengeance, she trains harder than ever before, vowing to become the strongest Aeon of this age. https://davidmusk.com/books/aeonica-the-justicars-heir

Sam is the most promising swordsman among this year’s crop of Paladin trainees...and knows it. Brash, cocky, and unbeatable with a sword (well, almost), Sam is the kingdom of Thule’s best hope against the violence wrought by demons. The only problem is that Sam is really Lady Samantha, daughter of the seventeenth Duke of Haywood, and if her father has his way, she’ll be marrying a Paladin, not becoming one. But Sam has never held much interest in playing damsel-in-distress, and so she rescues herself from a lifetime of boredom and matrimonial drudgery. Pity that Tristan Lyons, the Paladin assigned to train her, is none other than the hero of her childhood. He hasn’t recognized her as Lady Samantha--yet-- but if he does, he’ll take away her sword and send her packing. Sam is not the only trainee hiding secrets: Braeden is a half-demon with a dark past that might be unforgivable. Sam, Braeden and Tristan set out for the western coast, charged with rooting out an infestation of demons that has made the West unlivable. As they travel, they uncover a deep-seated corruption of power that threatens to derail everything they stand for. Rebellion stirs, led by a rival faction of warriors who tempt Sam to join them with an irresistible offer. A war between men is coming, and Sam must pick a side. Will saving the kingdom cost her life -- or just her heart? Reminiscent of Mulan, but with a medieval fantasy twist, Paladin is a tale of adventure, action, and romance.