The moment you are waiting for is finally here — the announcement of our GRAND WINNERS!

After much reading and judging and deliberating, we have finally come to the end of this year's Pride Awards. This particular year had so many great entries that we had several tie-breaker judging rounds. Thank you all for being patient with our judging team as we carefully read through hundreds of entries but let's cut to the chase!

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Before we announce our top five entries, we'd like to give a shout-out to this year's HONORABLE MENTION.

The Lightning Mage by AziaElga

Your amazing story stood out to us and we had to give you this honor. CONGRATULATIONS!

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Fifth Place

Son of Mah by Shivran86

Shahryar had lost his first wife to a man no equal to him just after the wedding. Following their execution, each wife he marries dies some way or the other- falling down the stairs, suicide or even poisoning. Shahryar and his ministers are lost as to why it's happening, and eventually the king is called cursed. People are dissatisfied with the king and a rebellion threatens to bloom secretly. Soon there is a dearth of suitable women to marry Shahryar.

But the sun cannot be complete without the moon.

So comes forward Shahrazad.

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Fourth Place

The Taste of Home by sandydragon1

Humans and chupacabras rarely get along. As the younger brother of Saguaro Pack's leader, Miguel knows better than most just how unfair the world can be to those with scales and flesh-melting venom. Yet, after a violent incident at the sole restaurant dedicated to serving chupacabras, Miguel's life takes a turn for the strange when he's offered a job as a chef at The Crimson Goat.

Adapting to the culinary chaos soon becomes the least of Miguel's worries as he grows closer to Alejandro, an outspoken chef who's moonbeam smile brightens his world in a way he never thought possible. Navigating the strangeness of a relationship with a human would have been hard enough if Miguel didn't completely lack the urge to mate, but with The Crimson Goat struggling to stay afloat, inter-species tensions flaring, and Alejandro's ex-boyfriend serving as a constant reminder of what Miguel can never be, will Miguel be able to take the heat, or will he be forced out of the kitchen?

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Third Place

Blight on Magic by Aptionia

Salem, 1692: Witches are feared, and fear fuels the whispering winds detailing all the wicked deeds witches commit at dusk. As tensions within Salem rise and rumors of potential witches swirl within every corner, more and more men and women find themselves at the mercy of their townspeople.

One of the first to die? Elizabeth Varlett, an innocent woman. Anne Blight had the misfortune of watching her die while on trial—but she soon learns Elizabeth is far from dead. And as Anne starts to see strange visions and bloodstained memories that don't belong to her, she realizes that something far larger than false accusations is brewing within Salem.

And if she cannot solve this growing mystery, then her life may be the next one at stake.

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Second Place

The Atrophy of Clementine Darlington by TateCsernis

After being told he has only six months left to live, Clementine decides to track down his sister's murderers, leading him to Aldergrove Academy.

Clementine, while withering beneath his terminal sickness, must avoid the desperate, devious students of Aldergrove Academy and find the Ravenblood, the people responsible for his sister's murder. But after a girl is attacked on the first day of the semester, and his life is almost taken from him, he realizes his task might be more tedious than he initially thought.

And the students aren't the only ones stalking the corridors at night in search of lonesome victims.

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First Place

Witches Burn at Dawn by kndlntsva

❝It all started in fire. But it never ended in flames.❞

Welcоme to St. Daktaliоn, the city where magic exists till these days.

After burning alive for her crimes, Yarоslava Slavich, a witch once awed by everyоne, wakes up in a graveyard, in a stranger's body. Her cоnjurer, Mir Prаejis, offers her a chance to live anоther year, but in return, she must help him find a demon who hunts dоwn magic users.

Witches are wicked, thоugh. And a witch raised frоm the dead is the most wicked of all.

Now Yаra has a decision to make. Steal another girl's identity and run away to start her life anew? Or help Mir serve justice, redeem her sоul, but--die forever? The problem is, the girl whose body Yаra's now wearing seems to have feelings for Mir. And those feelings seem to slowly become Yаra's own.

As Yаra gets to know Mir better, she learns that he keeps his own dark secret. Abоut the demоn they seek. About Yаra's own past. About the day she was betrayed and chose witchery over her humanity.

Can she survive this time?

A witch brought back from the dead.

A boy rоbbed of his heart.

A demоn damned to wander in shadows till the end of times.

They share a secret, they share a past. But only one of them can have a future.

Tread carefully.

For the dead of these lands dо not rest in peace.

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Congratulations to all of you for winning our first-ever Pride Awards! We'd like to thank everyone for participating in this event and we hope to see you all for next year's Awards. Please be expecting a DM from us in the next week for winning stickers and other prizes offered.