Life is but a Vale of Tears
[ Dark Romantasy / Mature ] The Vampyres of Gale are amid a flesh-eating pandemic, and Faerie tears are the only known cure.
Livinia, a Faerie healer, joined the Human side of a Vampyre war in Nival to avoid scandal and the captivity of an arranged marriage. Upon "Liv's" return to her icy homeland, she gets put into real chains. She may have leverage, but it's not something that will set her free, at least not quickly.
The Nightcaster Court is treacherous. They are rich, haughty, and powerful, but they haven't been hostile toward Faerie-kind since the "Vale of Tears" earned its name. It was before Liv's time, but it isn't any wonder why her people fled Crystal Hollows at the first sign of crisis.
Liv can try bargaining for the freedom she never had, but, as a rule, the Nightcasters are fickle, cruel, and can't be trusted. To complicate things further, there's Corbin, the ailing heir - gifted, powerful, grateful for a second chance. He's everything his family is not, but a Vampyre is still a Vampyre, and love isn't love if there are chains attached to it.
| ONC2025 Shortlist | - Now being expanded into a full-length novel.
