The Best of the Best
21 stories
The Consequences of Champagne and Murder  by poznati
poznati
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{Wattys 2019 winner - Historical Fiction} In the glittering, rococo Paris of 1728, eighteen-year-old Olivier d'Aumont has a plethora of problems he'd rather not deal with, the most troublesome of which is his straight-laced and boring-to-tears older brother getting himself arrested for murder. Olivier, convinced his brother has been framed, enlists the help of his twin sister to investigate the murder and prove their brother is innocent. But a mysterious clock magic that turns aristocrats into mind-altered puppets has been plaguing the city, and Olivier soon discovers both the sickness and the murder are part of a sinister plot to overthrow the king. Teaming up with a teenage King Louis XV and a dagger-wielding female clockmaker, Olivier must push through his debilitating anxiety and stop the mastermind behind the plot. Time is ticking, and if Olivier doesn't succeed, his brother will be hanged for a crime he didn't commit-and the entirety of Paris will be overrun by deadly magic. **re-uploading heavily revised version**
The Dark Arm of the Maker by CeeMTaylor
CeeMTaylor
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[✓] [Now on Patreon] When a terrible plague strikes the city of Alkaya, Royal Chef Neveshir must attempt forbidden blood-magic in order to save his home, his people, and the Shah he isn't meant to love. ... Royal Chef Neveshir Sevelin is a Karán: a man born with dangerous magic running through his veins. Like all Maker-touched, he can use fire to transmute, but only Karán have the power to kill with it. Though most Karán spend their careers bound in service on the war-front, Neveshir has sworn off killing. He roams free in Alkaya where he uses his talents to craft culinary masterpieces for his former shieldmate and dearest friend, Shah Melík Saf Kanh, ruler of all Esenia. When a terrible disease breaks out in the city, however, Neveshir is asked to revisit the powerful magic he hasn't used in decades -- a request that has the Maker's Guild up in arms. Neveshir can't blame them. He knows what he is: a poison-blood who was Maker-made to take lives, not save them. Then Melík falls ill. The disease spreads beyond the Guild's ability to control, showing a malevolence that defies medicine and forces Neveshir to consider more extreme measures. In order to discover the source of the disease, transmute a cure, and save the man he's not supposed to love, Neveshir must overcome his fear of his own nature -- before it's too late. ... The Dark Arm of the Maker is a complete Dark Fantasy / Romance novel of 95k words with gay, bi, asexual, and non-binary characters. The romance is between two men. Read on for: found family, friends-to-lovers, forbidden romance, self-acceptance, a snarky MC, and things getting set on fire. ... [Round One Winner: Open Novella Contest. Now revised and expanded.]
Dead If You Do by KateNorth
KateNorth
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A campus thriller: suspense, murder & one handsome roommate. ***** When Haley Bell is offered a scholarship to study at the exclusive Woodcreek College, famous for moulding the world's brightest thinkers, politicians and entrepreneurs, she jumps at the opportunity. Except when she arrives, the murders start. In a campus hidden from civilisation in the mountains of Colorado, Haley's classmates are slowly turning up dead. As the bodies pile up and eyes of suspicion turn on her, Haley finds that there's a reason why she was brought to Woodcreek. And it wasn't to study. "That opening line will hook you (I still think about it) & it DOESN'T STOP! I binged this like crazy" - Leah, Sr. Editorial Manager @ HQ [[word count: 90,000-100,000 words]] Cover designed by Ellie Sita
Breeder (The Ephemeral: Book 1) by gtgrandom
gtgrandom
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[12 Chapter Preview of 2019 Edition-2025 Edition Available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble] When an army of darkness falls from the sky, Alex Kingsley enlists the help of her male peers and ventures into spirit-infested lands to save humanity. ***** She's an outcast cursed to consume the memories of anything she touches. A woman fated to repopulate the nation's army. A breeder barred from the sword. And she's desperate for a taste of freedom. So when a tournament is held to recruit the army's best candidates, Alex Kingsley does what she does best: she intervenes. But it's only after dark forces are unleashed upon humanity that Alex finally has the chance to prove herself -- and put her curse to good use. ***** 2020 Watty Award Winner: Fantasy 1st Place Admiration Awards 2020: Fantasy
Make Them Scream by AmyMarieZ
AmyMarieZ
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After a mysterious vehicle runs them off the road, Alex and his bandmates must fight for their lives to escape a vicious pack of wolves who bear unsettling similarities to the other band they are touring with. ***** Alex is the lead singer of the up-and-coming rock band Make Them Scream. Despite the fact that the insomnia he's fought with since he was a teenager has been worsening, the band have found themselves in the express lane to stardom. But, when a mysterious vehicle knocks their tour bus off the road in the middle of upstate Montana, the bandmates are left stranded with no cell service. When poor decisions lead them toward the dark woods, things go from bad to worse. If the elements don't get them first, their own demons might devour them alive. Some monsters only come out in the dark, and some reality is scarier than nightmares. ***** WATTYS 2021 WINNER WEREWOLF ***** Content Warning: This story contains mature language, violence, gore and reference to alcohol and drug use.
Pieces of Me by ShaunAllan
ShaunAllan
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Poetry is not just words. It's emotion given form. A place where grief, hope, love, and uncertainty intertwine. In this collection, we explore the depths of mortality, loss, and mental health, weaving personal experiences into universal reflections. Each poem speaks to the struggles we carry, the quiet moments of solace, and the truths we wrestle with, offering recognition to those who have felt the same weight. These words do not seek to provide answers but to remind readers that they are not alone. If you have ever searched for meaning in sorrow or comfort in shared experience, this book stands as an open hand, reaching out. Praise for Pieces of Me. "Beautifully written" "So powerful" "My favourite" "Wonderful" "Inspiring" "So beautiful" "WOW" "Poetry for the soul" "This. Is. The. Most. Awesome. Poetry. Collection." "Incredible." **Highest rank #1 in Poetry!!** Featured on @WattpadPoetry and @PoetsPub
Come Hell or High Water | mxm by ccstarfield
ccstarfield
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Recovering alcoholic Sam isn't quite ready to let go of his failing marriage. Gord gave up his dream to care for his dying father, and now he's trapped by an inheritance he doesn't want. When Sam's new job sends him to Gord's remote farm in the heart of the Canadian prairies, it isn't long before the two find themselves leaning on each other in ways neither expected; but between flood and wildfire and the echoes of the past, love and happiness aren't always as simple as finding someone who might want to be your second chance. ***** *featured on the Adult Fiction "Melting Hearts" and WattpadMulticultural "Multicultural LGBTQ+" lists, as well as Wattpad's "From Our Stars"* Complete at 37k words.
Fragments of His Being | ✓ by saintc
saintc
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When Quinn discovers a boy watching his friend group play basketball, his mind becomes filled with curiosity. A string of events will lead to him meeting Cody, and as he learns more and more about the small quiet boy, he starts to piece together the fragments of his being. [A PLAY] Cover by @shizunj
The Descendants - A Wattys Award Winner! by paulapdx
paulapdx
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❇️ 2018 WATTYS WINNER! The Originals category ❇️ - "The Breakfast Club" meets "Nancy Drew" in this most unusual YA Mystery. SUMMARY: Five high school students, with little in common other than being descendants of the town founders, are forced to work on a history project together. But when their history project uncovers evidence of a long-buried town secret, the kids must piece together the clues behind their discovery before its legacy comes back to haunt them. ***** Using ACTUAL, archival material (some dating as far back as 1776), The Descendants weaves a tale of mystery and intrigue, constructed entirely from real photographs, documents, and snippets of history from a small, rural town in New Hampshire. What Dan Brown did with conspiracy theories in "The DaVinci Code" and Ransom Riggs did with historical photographs in "Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children," I will attempt to do in "The Descendants," but with teen protagonists and the Cheshire County Historical Society. :-) Why? 'Cause I'm crazy like that! Yeah, I know...History?! Blah! But it actually turned out really fun! :-)
Sister | A Cinderella Retelling by LEPalphreyman
LEPalphreyman
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She picks up the pliers. "This is going to hurt." --- A feminist Cinderella retelling