tryna_not_to_hold's Reading List
7 stories
The Plague Doctor's Daughter by rskovach
rskovach
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[2021 WATTYS Winner] Giovanna joins a handsome nobleman to save a friend from an arranged marriage, but they discover a plot that may have victims of Venice's Black Death rising from their graves. * * * As a child, Giovanna Visconti learned the arts of bloodletting and elixir brewing from her father with an intent to simply support his work, not take it over. But when he falls ill from the pestilence that's been ravaging Venice for months, she reluctantly dons the beaked mask of the plague doctor. Vowing to protect her father however she can, Giovanna hides him away and sees her first patient--the handsome, but alarmingly feverish Matteo Barozzi. Although she successfully treats this son of a high-ranking official, in a careless moment Giovanna fails to properly conceal her identity. The only reason she isn't tossed into a dank jail cell is thanks to the young man's honor and feelings of indebtedness. The association between the charming aristocrat and the clever commoner should end there, but when Giovanna's dearest friend goes missing right after her betrothal to the Doge's son and amid strange reports of nighttime attacks, violent commotions, and inexplicable behaviors in the community, the only person Giovanna can turn to for help is Matteo. Together, they must carefully navigate Venice's increasingly deadly canals to uncover a sect peddling false cures and a smuggling plot involving the highest levels of government or risk the entire Republic falling victim to something even worse than the plague: the risen dead. Historical Fiction with Fantasy Elements THE BORGIAS X FOREST OF HANDS AND TEETH * * * WATTYS 2021 winner for Historical Fiction and special HQ prize for "Catchiest Hook" AMBYS 2022 winner for Best Zombie story Content Warning for adult situations including assault and death.
the sable spy by nyxiekitsune
nyxiekitsune
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MISTAKES WERE MADE. FRIENDSHIPS WERE DESTROYED. BUT NOW HE'S THE ONLY ONE WHO COULD HELP HER. Cassalyn Diao has made a dangerous, faceless enemy, and the only people in the world who could help her are the same ones she had abandoned six years ago. But she doesn't have a choice. Her sister is missing, her family doesn't care, and her adversary is too much for even her to take down alone. Marcus, Earl of Farnsworth, had lost his heart to the dark-haired spy years ago and still hadn't gotten it back. When she arrives at his doorstep half-dead and bleeding, he decides that he'd do anything to return her back into his arms. Whatever it takes. But they'll have to outwit their lethal opponent first, and as the clock ticks forward and the people closest to them are thrust into jeopardy, Marcus and Cassalyn find themselves in danger of losing much more than just their hearts in this game of cat-and-mouse. (Book One of The Sable Sisters Duology) Winner of the 2021 Wattys, Fantasy & Most Engaging World Wattpad Editor's Choice Formerly a Wattpad Original novel
QUALIFY: The Atlantis Grail (Book One) by VeraNazarian
VeraNazarian
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Nerd girl Gwen Lark must compete in deadly trials against all other Earth teens, including her crush, to Qualify for interplanetary rescue from an asteroid apocalypse, impress her arrogant, flame-hot commanding officer, and save everyone she loves. High-octane series for fans of THE HUNGER GAMES. Optioned for Film! *** Series Optioned for Film! - WINNER - The Fiction Awards 2016 * * * The Asteroid is coming... Your options: die or Qualify. I am Gwen Lark. Nerd, klutz, loser, awkward smart girl. Somehow, I will save you all. * * * In 2047 an extinction level asteroid is hurtling toward Earth, and the descendants of ancient Atlantis have returned from the stars in their silver ships to offer humanity help. But they can only save a tiny percent of Earth's teenage population. To be chosen, you must Qualify. * * * A high-octane dystopian SF teen romance adventure from a two-time Nebula Award Nominated author, in the vein of DIVERGENT and THE HUNGER GAMES. Nerd, geek, and awkward smart girl Gwen Lark must compete against other Earth teens, including her high school crush sexy Logan Sangre, in order to Qualify for interplanetary rescue from an asteroid apocalypse. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Buy the final, complete book here: Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00RALWMLM/ Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/qualify-vera-nazarian/1120954171?ean=2940150200227 Apple iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/qualify/id954670123?mt=11
Skinny Dipping by AliciaMKaye
AliciaMKaye
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Everyone has a fear. Fear of spiders? Arachnophobia. Fear of small spaces? Claustrophobia. And of course, the fear of being tickled by feathers: pteronophobia. Sophie Smart fears drowning. No, her fear isn't some made up malarkey like exposedflabophobia (acute paranoia when wearing a swimsuit and baring pasty thighs and a round bottom). Sophie drowned as a child. She died for three minutes. Her childhood trauma is real. Yet Sophie, hot-shot advertising executive, isn't a child anymore. Now Sophie's most important client, handsome Matthew Silver, is insisting she learn how to swim. She can't blame him really - he's the owner of a chain of swimming centers, and Sophie's in charge of his new advertising campaign. The last thing Sophie wants to do is get in the water, in a clingy swimsuit, with a client she's trying to impress. She's not going to win him over flapping around like an idiot, is she? But with a broken heart from her last relationship, maybe getting into the pool is just what Sophie needs. Maybe she can trust Matthew with her fears. Maybe it's time for her to forget about her past and take the plunge?
Unholy Matrimony by xxinlove
xxinlove
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Tobias and Talia are complete opposites, yet thrown together in an arranged marriage. Can they navigate married life in the wake of a terrible tragedy? ***** After being pressured into an arranged marriage to merge their families' companies, Talia and Tobias are stuck living together as husband and wife. Although they are both unhappy, neither tries to make the best of it. Tobias is too busy, and Talia is too distraught by the tragic death of her former fianceé, Jason. But as time goes by and they spend more time together, an undeniable attraction develops between the two. Despite this, Tobias can't seem to see past his jealousy of Jason and accept Talia - and Talia, plagued by guilt, is unwilling to let Jason go. Are the two heading for better - or are they headed for far worse? [[word count: 50,000-100,000 words]]
HAWK by Mike_I_am
Mike_I_am
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Exciting news update - HAWK is in the very early stages of being adapted into an animated TV show! Please make sure to stick around and add this story to your shelves for upcoming announcements. Thanks so much for your support :) Kas Balera is used to a bit of chaos. As a space bounty hunter, capturing three Class-2 criminals should have been the most difficult part of her week, but when a disaster of epic proportions rocks the entire solar system, Kas is thrust into the midst of an adventure far beyond her wildest fantasies. With the help of a federal robot, a child genius, and her trusty ship - the Calista - Kas must use all her quick thinking and sharp wit if she's going to stay alive and uncover the new dark and dangerous mysteries of the galaxy. Pursued by evil X1 robots, bio-mech panthers and astral police officers, even Kas's kick-ass fight training and expert piloting can't seem to stop the entire galaxy from going after her. * Wattys Shortlisted * * Highest ranking: #1 in Science-fiction * Thanks to @CAPTAINSARCASTIC101 for helping with the blurb.
Acrophilia by BelWatson
BelWatson
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acrophilia. noun. (uncountable) a love of heights. "For your information, some people actually enjoy heights and are not suicidal. I was just appreciating the view, enjoying the wind. I was actually enjoying life until you ruined the moment," he spits, carrying so much resentment that Jaebeom actually feels sorry. "I... I'm sorry. You just... looked like you wanted to jump." "You should've thought better before ruining my perfect moment and throwing me to the ground, which by the way, hurts like hell. Ass." (...) When Jaebeom's life is going down, he meets a strange boy who turns his world upside down. /crossposting on AO3/