Shortlist Stories

In a world held together by ancient magic, one girl's forbidden power could be the key to everything-or the catalyst for its destruction. Fourteen-year-old Thea Presten has never left her secluded ranch, let alone practiced Alchemy. But beneath Bergen, Norway, in the hidden halls of Blackthorn and Burtree, she's about to discover a gift that defies the very codes of magic. As war looms between the Keeper's Animarum and the Shadow Alchemists, Thea must learn to harness her dangerous abilities in secret. Thrust into a world of Conversion Circles and Alchemical beasts, Thea realizes she's been unknowingly breaking the laws of Alchemy her entire life. As she struggles to keep her powers hidden, she finds unexpected friendship with two fellow Spectrum Scholars. But with the Code Keeper and Code Breaker both potentially interested in her abilities, Thea must decide who-if anyone-she can trust. The Code Keeper has manipulated every aspect of Thea's life, pushing her towards a destiny she never chose. As global battles rage and the Earth itself seems to rebel, Thea's decisions could tip the balance of power. The Shadow Faction's leader would stop at nothing to possess her gift, while the Keeper sees her as the key to saving the world-but at what cost? Will Thea's reckless quest for control over her own life unleash a power that could mend their fractured world-or shatter it beyond repair? ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ This book is a preview of the Amazon exclusive. You can find this book on Kindle Unlimited. Thanks for your support! ~A.C. Sutliff 🏆 2021 Wattys Shortlist 🏆 🏆 2023 Ambys Top Pick Winner 🏆 🥇 2023 NanoWatt Winner 🥇 🥇 First Place in the Creative Awards 🥇 🥈Second place in the Pink Cloud Awards ☁️ 🎖️Featured on Wattpad Fantasy's List for Young Adult Fantasy 🔖 💎 Featured on Undiscovered Fantasy Gems 💎

Shortlist Story

Some diamonds slip through the net. Some brilliant books are overlooked at first. Think "Harry Potter" and The Great Gatsby". Even Shakespeare was dismissed as an "upstart crow" in the beginning. So here, in one directory, are the fragments of gold that slipped through the fingers of the Wattys Shortlisters. Different, daring, or just missed through dumb luck - scroll through and find yourself a gem. 2021 Edition. To be included, please DM @TheBelleDame for instructions.

Marithyda Skyelorn has learned the hard way not to trust royals, but to defeat the wicked King Harlan she may have no choice but to turn to the ruler of a mysterious kingdom across the Sea. ***** With the help of an unexpected ally within the castle, Marithyda and Sabin have barely managed to escape imprisonment following the disastrous Royal Exposition. Racing against King Harlan's forces, they aim to discover the truth once and for all about the kingdom of Magus Opté. Meanwhile, Princess Taileen Winship, the newly-appointed Commander of the Karvothian military, only has two directives: continue to hide her powers from the rest of the Kingdom, and recapture Marithyda Skyelorn. In the long-awaited sequel to Shadow Witch, powers will be tested, unlikely romances will blossom, and allegiances will be changed forever. (Book Two of the Skyelorn Chronicles trilogy) [[2022 WATTYS Winner, Sequel]] Content and/or Trigger Warning: Some scenes contain violence and mentions of self-harm that may upset sensitive readers [[Word Count: 90,000-100,000]]

*A Watty's 2021 Shortlister* Three months and twenty-five days. The last time Hadley Brown saw her brother alive. When Tanner commits suicide, the entire town is shaken but no one is more lost than Hadley. Grief-stricken and aimless, Hadley's life seems likes it's stuck in a never-ending replay of her brother's death. But when Tanner reappears in the form of a series of tasks inside of thirty-one carefully constructed letters, she is forced to confront her fears of living life without her brother by her side. With a goal to finish all of the letters by the end of summer and the help of a boy who just can't seem to stay away, Hadley embarks on an epic path of healing and love. ________________ *Note: this novel discusses themes around suicide, grief, healing, love, and personal growth. While the main intention of the novel is to focus on the grieving and healing process that occurs after losing a loved one, aspects of mental health and suicide are prominent throughout the entirety of the novel. This could be triggering for some readers so please be advised of these themes before reading this novel. *Cover made by the fabulous @aneonsky*

Before Bear, there was Taran. And Taran never had a chance--not with his bad luck. After being falsely accused of killing his mother, Taran ran away to avoid the noose. He hasn't stopped running since, even with warrants out for his arrest and criminals haunting the lonely dirt roads between cities. With nowhere to go and nothing to lose, Taran will have to fight tooth and nail against murderous thieves, corrupt lords, and religious zealots to keep his freedom-else he'll hang from the gallows before the true journey even begins. READ NOW to witness Taran fight his fate.

Wattys 2018 Shortlist!!! *First book in a two part series* June 1952-in a world of poodle skirts, convertibles, and rock and roll... At seventeen, Isadora (Izzy) Twiss is forced to accept she has a growing problem, and no matter how much she wishes it away, it just gets bigger. Having a baby out of wedlock is unacceptable. Those who do are shunned by their families and destined to lead a life of guilt and shame. She is forced to "disappear" to a remote island where a nun led home for unwed mothers lies, surrounded by nothing but wilderness. There she meets other girls, all suffering from the same predicament. They bond together, sharing in the heartache that comes with carrying an illegitimate child. Izzy dreams that one day, no matter how far-fetched, love will be hers to have and hold. When a mysterious man arrives on the island, Izzy realizes her dream just might come true.

A story loosely based on a dream I had that takes place where everyone are trolls from homestuck. (Similar to them)

Willow Beck would do anything to prove that the Westbury Faery exists, but Willow's desperate hunt for the truth might cost her everything. ⭐️This is a short story WINNER for the Westbury Farey writing contest. Now published by Tiny Owl Workshop. The full book may be purchased on their website.⭐️

Basically entries to various contests here on Wattpad. Feel free to check them out! 1. Clairvoyant (World of Words, winner) 2. Mirror (#ThePowerWithin, shortlisted) 3. Windwood Tale (Whispers of Autumn) 4. Pied Piper's Red Sun River (Fairytales Beyond the Veil) 5. To My Beloved, My Best Friend (Forever Grateful) Best rankings: #16 in Contestentries out of 1.24k, 13/01/2024 #1 in Contestwinner 01/04/2024 #2 in Contest winners 20/10/2023 #8 in Shortlisted 19/12/2023

What are wings for if not for flying with dragons in the realm where islands float in the sky? The life of order and monotony is not enough for a winged demon like Ansgarde. When society rules suffocate her, she escapes to fantastic dreams of dragons and epic quests. If only someone qualified took on the challenge to break the Dragon's Curse, her dream would come true - she would share the sky with a dragon. After all, the prophecy says that a demon like her would free the ancient race. But no one takes the legend seriously. No one but her. *** This book has been featured on the following Wattpad reading lists at one time or another: - Open Novella Contest: 2020 Shortlist, - Fantasy: Epic Fantasy, High Fantasy, and Featured Fantasy Stories, - High Fantasy: Wonderland, - YA Fantasy: Magical Creatures, - Watt-Dragons: Legendary Creatures, - Magic: A Magical Journey, - Secret Treasures: Fantastical Realms, - Warrior Goddess: Fantastical Warriors, - Horns and Halos: Underworld - Demon stories. 2nd place winner in The Dream Awards 2021 hosted by @TeamOfDreams. *** No trigger warnings. Just a laid-back high-fantasy adventure. This novella is a standalone prequel to The TriRealm series.

In a world of fractured magic and hidden truths, one girl's forgotten past could be the key to saving everything-or destroying it all. Tajana Pomoći has no memory of the first seven years of her life. Her foster father claims it's due to trauma, but a long-buried secret threatens to shatter her entire reality. Just as she successfully completes her Joint Trial with Chadwick, the Code Keeper sends her on a perilous mission to rescue her Mentor, Savannah Tully. But this task is merely the beginning of a journey that will unravel everything Tajana thought she knew about herself. As Tajana completes her rescue mission, disaster strikes. The Code Breaker launches an attack on Blackthorn and Burtree, endangering her Protégé Chadwick and her mysterious friend Thea. With hundreds of Alchemists and Chemists now in danger at Blackthorn, Tajana resolves to join the Giver and make a difference in the Alchemical war. Her choice to join the Personas sends her on a path to uncover the truth of her own past. Reunited in Verdandi, Chadwick and Thea agree to join the Giver's Fledgling Squad with Tajana, only to face a harrowing Trial of Entry-a rescue mission back in the Code Breaker's stolen stronghold. The stakes soar as they navigate this dangerous territory, complicated further by Chadwick's mysterious Affliction, a result of breaking an Oath to save Thea's life. His corrupted Spirit now threatens to unravel their plans and his very existence. As Tajana fights to keep Chadwick alive and complete their mission, she must confront her own past-but will unlocking her memories save them all, or unleash a power that could shatter their fragmented world forever?

|Round 2 Winner| |Round 3 Ambassador Pick| |Shortlist| Rhiannon "Banjo" Hart is a professional thief working her last ever job. The Hawk has promised a massive payout if she can steal data from Concorda International and Banjo needs the money to help her Mum get hospital treatment, but she is not sure The Hawk will stick to the adage of "honour amongst thieves". In her escape, she meets an android that adds complication after complication to her already complex life. Banjo needs to outrun the authorities, Concorda's security and The Hawk.

Shortlist Finalist in 2024 Nano Watt. Iron Man's plan to build an Iron Man legion upsets Count Dooku and many United Republic Senators. In addition the increasing reliance Chancellor Palpatine has on Iron Man and Shield is the catalyst for the formation of a new government called the Confederacy of Independent Nations. The Confederacy of Independent Nations seperates from the United Republic. Deemed Seperatist by a suspicious pro Republic media, Shield declares war along with the United Republic against the Seperatist. To expedite what is projected to be a long war; Shield Director Nick Fury reveals Agent Phil Coulson is alive. Coulson is ordered to lead an elite squad of Shield Agents: Melinda May expert field agent and pilot, Grant Ward an elite espionage agent, Leopold Fitz engineer, designer, and physicist, Jemma Simmons Biochemist, and medical expert, and a hacker named Skye who was hired by Dooku's apprentice Asajj Ventress and is conscripted by Phil Coulson to join Shield. This group will work with Obi Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker and Skywalker's new apprentice Ahsoka Tano to stop Count Dooku's quest for data related to the secret project Iron Man is working on to strengthen his powerful Droid army. The new team's first lead is a mysterious agent of Dooku's named the Clairvoyant. The Clairvoyant seemingly can predict Coulson's moves and evade Kenobi and his Jedi allies. Coulson soon learns that his mysterious resurrection from death is connected to the Clairvoyant and could be the key to ending the Clone Wars.

Writing saga ....

Aled is a gay man in a soldier's uniform. Unhappy with the turn his country is taking, Aled seizes the opportunity to enter a mysterious portal into the strange, primitive world of Thera. Finding himself trapped there, Aled discovers Marius, a man left to wander blindly in the wilderness. Surrounded by intrigue, Aled and Marius must find a way to trust each other, to save both themselves and Thera's Lady. 2022 AMBY AWARDS Winner for Alternate Universe stories. Finalist for the Open Novella Contest 2017/8. Sci-Fi and LGBT ♥ **Edited version now available on Amazon etc with the title PORTAL**

[Book Five of the "Patrons' World" series.] In the snow blasted wastes, far to the west, Únik, a woman with a tragic past and a terrible secret, becomes reluctantly charged with accompanying an exotic prince to her destiny as the concubine to the king of an opposing nation. As they take a long, circuitous journey to the capital city of Star Harbour, Únik finds herself pursued by relentless, implacable foes who seek nothing less than the blood of her charge, Hatyara. Accompanied by her faithful sled dog, Barsa, Únik learns nothing and no-one are what they appear in a desperate race to stop a war that could destroy two nations. A war that some people would do anything to ensure it happens. A fantasy tale of two people caught up in events beyond their control, set in "Patrons' World". 🏵Wattys 2023 Shortlist🏵 🏵Featured by Wattpad - Feb 2024🏵 🏵Featured on Ambassador Profile - Highfantasy - Jan 2023🏵 Cover created in Canva, using a Pixabay stock picture.