Jack Ogswold, a charismatic, successful, but at times selfish art gallery owner lives in the copper country of Endil. With his cursed gift, he can read people's minds, but it gives him horrible headaches. The only way to cure his curse is to free a dragon from a greedy Enchantress. A strange girl called Eli may help with that. One day, an old nemesis crashes Jack's grandest gallery show, revealing a hidden past. For reasons unknown, Eli helps him escape from police. Soon, a cursed orphaned boy joins them and they set out to find the Enchantress, but it's not what they expected. The self-proclaimed Jack of all trades is soon faced with a dire decision and the fate of dragons is in the palm of his hands. Will he make the right choice? Or is this unreliable character too self-absorbed to care?

Lark was fine with doing the Bloodletting. She understood that through offering her blood to the vampires, she would earn their protection from other magical beings. But, during one of the Bloodlettings, Lark is drained of so much her father referred to her as a husk. When the next Bloodletting comes, her family is adamant that she does not participate, but her family can't afford to safeguard her. Besides, it's her last time for she's about to be married. At least, that's what she thought.

"To become King, you must kill a Royal of Elven blood." Dmitri Knyazev has only ever wanted to gain power and become King. And killing someone for it wasn't an issue. Unless that someone was Irina Pavlova. Eccentric, reckless, and innocent. She was everything Dmitri wasn't, and yet he struggled to get rid of her. She was too naive, undeserving of his cruel intentions. Who would he have to choose in the end? The throne, or his love? Would Irina be the cause of his fall? (TW- Cursing, angst) (Short hiatus)

Hope is as rare as water in a kingdom of sun-scorched sands and ancient walls. Princess Ilaria of Sigyn is poised to secure peace for her desert kingdom through an arranged marriage to Prince Godred, the ruler of a rival land. But when a shadowy assassin nearly takes her life, her plans-and her trust in those around her-crumble like desert dust. Forced into hiding on the distant island of Zospery, she finds herself under the protection of Lord Alaric Voss, a man as cold and unyielding as the sea cliffs that guard his home. Alaric is known as the Devil of the Spire, a relentless warrior with a reputation for cruelty and a heart as closed off as the fortress he commands. Yet, beneath his rigid exterior lies a past scarred by loyalty and loss, and he'll do whatever it takes to keep the princess alive-even if it means standing against the forces that seek to silence her forever. As enemies close in and the line between duty and desire blurs, Ilaria must confront a harsh truth: her greatest danger may not be the assassins lurking in the shadows, but the man who stands beside her, guarding secrets that could shatter everything she's fought to protect. But the more she learns about the unyielding knight, the more she sees glimpses of a depth that calls to her, even as her own resolve hardens into something far less forgiving. In the shifting sands of war and whispered betrayals, two souls clash-one desperate to keep hope alive, the other burdened by a past he cannot escape. And as threats loom from all sides, Ilaria and Alaric will have to decide whether they can truly trust one another... or if the secrets they keep will be the very things that tear them apart. -- COVER BY @-deeisdead- ONC 2024 SHORTLISTER

In a mystical forest where ancient trees grow tall and intertwine, there's a hidden, winding trail that leads to a forgotten ballroom. The ballroom is grand, yet shrouded in mystery, filled with elegant people dancing to an ethereal melody, seemingly untouched by time. One evening, a young girl named Bridget, drawn to the trail by a whispering breeze, finds herself following it through the dense forest. As she walks, the trees around her seem to guide her steps, almost as if they recognize her. At the end of the trail, she stumbles upon the ballroom, its crystal chandeliers glowing softly in the twilight. The dancers, draped in shimmering gowns and suits, appear both familiar and surreal. Bridget is invited to join the waltz, but as she dances, she becomes aware of a strange presence. A white butterfly flutters around her, guiding her toward a mysterious figure in the crowd. The figure, cloaked in shadow, holds the key to a family secret that Bridget has long been unaware of. With the butterfly as her guide, Bridget must unravel the truth about the ballroom's inhabitants, the connection to her ancestors, and the curse that binds the dancers to the enchanted forest. As she uncovers the dark magic entwined in the waltz, Bridget must decide whether to break the curse or allow it to continue forever.

"The most curious minds do not simply seek answers-they step into the unknown, never knowing if they will return."

To protect her people from two kingdoms at war, Princess Aurora must wed cold-hearted Prince Eric. However, she ends up being whisked away by a dragon before that can happen. And this dragon turns out not to be any regular beast at all... Out of the blue, Aurora finds herself dragged into dangerous territory where she will have to forget about etiquette, blend in with the enemy, and learn how to fight in order to save her kingdom. Thanks to the enemy prince, Oliver, she begins to walk the path that could save Eric, but one that might as well bring doom upon her. Still, love can overcome anything... right? ***COVER BY KARINA***

Severa grows up in a horrific world, one ruled by hatred, just like everything around her. Believing she has nothing left to lose, Severa clings to revenge. But what if her cold heart starts to beat faster for the enemy, and she becomes entangled in a journey that takes her on an adventure she never desired? A journey that threatens to take away her last possession - something she didn't even know she had. A heart. Full of love.

A shadow lies on Thranduil and his forest, and only a power stronger than the darkness of old can save them. Grief and loss have turned him into a king with a heart of ice, and if he is ever to find redemption, the chains of guilt and remorse holding him captive, must be broken. But he is running out of time, and if he fails, the Woodland Realm with fall with him. When Anna, a mere human, finds herself at his mercy and he mysteriously chooses to keep her alive, she is faced with a choice: heal his broken heart or find her way home; a decision that might tear her apart or make her whole again. A tale of bittersweet love, sacrifice, and the search for absolution. ---------- Thranduil x OC set during the Hobbit timeline Angsty romance with a fair amount of drama and an eventual happy ending. Completed with approx. 218k words ------------ Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters from Tolkien's Middle-earth. I do not make any money with this. This is purely for entertainment. The original characters (OC), as well as the plot, are mine!

Five Adventurers come together to seek forbidden knowledge, lost loved ones, a new purpose, and an escape from imprisonment. Follow the team as they journey through Chalice at risk of being branded enemies by unravelling unexplored mysteries.