Oxviola

[Set in Eilos, the world of 'Echoes of the Reach', and can be read standalone.]Where ripples of the past lead, the tidal waves of history soon follow. Jaster Brand is an artificing prodigy. From enchanted tools to automaton companions to his own right arm, his passion for arcane engineering has carried him to the Malkest Throne's biggest cities in search of work. Working with his fellow travelling apprentice, the rookie hunter Astrid Forrester, they scrape up enough money to support themselves and their families. On Jaster's latest visit home, however, something changes. The road to Flatsands transforms into a sunken cove, a seabound scape of sand and shells cut off from the wider world. Worse still, the village itself is abandoned, its residents vanished and their homes claimed by an insidious dark coral.Mysteries rise at every turn, yet none more startling than the sudden reappearance of Calypso, Jaster's one-time imaginary friend pulled back by forces unknown. Stranded together in a drowning village, the three must race to find the missing villagers, undo the curse that has befallen Flatsands, and face the ancient threat that stirs beneath the blackened waves.***Written for #ONC2025.96. "The road you've travelled almost every day of your life begins to change - transforming into a dark, terrifying place right before your eyes."105. "Your childhood imaginary friend, who disappeared years ago, suddenly returns - only this time, they're real."Cover and chapter-end banner skilfully crafted by the wizard of legend @-DeeIsDead- (thank you so much again, Dee!)…

Oxviola

- High fantasy drama meets TTRPG hijinks in a mystical adventure bursting with heart, hilarity, and otherworldly horrors -------When the truth calls to you, will you have the strength to face it?From the day she discovered her magical talents, Talwyn Farrier has been haunted by the same dream. Stranded in unfamiliar lands, she's tormented by swarming shadows, her missing father's cries, and the full face of the green moon, Vidias, looming over her. When her latest hope for insight into her dream hits another dead end, she's convinced her journey to the jungle-bound city of Trocari was all for nothing. New places bring new possibilities, however. After a fateful meeting with a travelling trio and their eccentric benefactor, Talwyn receives a golden opportunity to find the answers she needs in exchange for filling in on a routine job. Yet the work lures her down much darker paths of mysterious disappearances, political machinations, and otherworldly influences that soon seem all too familiar to her. Dangers mundane and magical gather at every turn. As their quest takes them beyond - and below - the bustling streets of Trocari, risks and revelations push Talwyn and her companions to their limits. Can they unearth the source of the corruption at the city's heart? How far will they go to protect their new bonds? And how does it all connect to the secrets locked in Talwyn's ever-present dream?------Updates on Thursdays.Cover and chapter-end banner kindly created by the master craftsperson @-DeeIsDead- (thank you so much, Dee!)…

Oxviola

[ONC 2024 Shortlister]When turning back isn't an option, what does it take to delve into the unknown?After a troubled upbringing in the foster care system, Gemma Haywood is used to switching homes. Her latest destination is Milnhome, the rural town where her runaway brother Jacob has resurfaced after five years of silence. With its distant location, picturesque countryside setting, and the chance to reconnect with her only living family, Milnhome carries all the hallmarks of a fresh start. Yet the move isn't the new beginning that Gemma hopes for. Jacob is nowhere to be seen when she arrives, and it doesn't take long for Gemma's search to turn up her brother's dead body. The news sends shockwaves through the quiet community, exposing deep tensions between the town's residents and the private security company Jacob worked for. And when Gemma digs into her brother's life looking for answers, she uncovers signs of a worrying conspiracy that threatens Milnhome's whole future. With every step, Gemma descends further into danger. What made Jacob reach out to her after so many years apart? Why did he keep her a secret from the locals? And as new friends and old mysteries spring up around the town in equal measure, can Gemma find herself a home between these hills?***Written for #ONC2024.13. "Every family has that one member of whom no one speaks, and that's you."27. "Sometimes love is what drives you to take your next breath. Other times, it's revenge."…

Oxviola

What would it take to turn a fading past into a brighter future?Life back on her old home coast isn't quite as inspiring as Elise Penrose imagined it to be. When she suddenly receives an offer to work on the latest novel by a leading romance author, she seizes the chance with both hands.Yet the job isn't the lift in fortunes Elise expects. The author, Florence Jago, hasn't written a word in months, and her erratic behaviour and bouts of brain fog block any attempts to help her. To top it off, the woman's daughter happens to be none other than Cadence Harrow, Elise's childhood best friend with a lingering resentment around the way things fell apart between them.As questions swarm around the source of Florence's writer's block, her condition takes a turn for the worse, and Elise and Cadence rely on each other like they haven't done in years. But when every move they make opens up old wounds, can their fragile bond survive the weight of the lost years?…

Oxviola

[ONC 2023 Shortlister] ['23 RGAs Overall Winner]When the storm comes, who will you choose to ride it out with?In the sleepy coastal village of Porthdruro, the most excitement literature student Sally Tremaine experiences is the coming and going of the tide. So, when she runs into carefree photographer Flick Scott on a routine errand, the waves the girl makes in her life are beyond anything she's seen before. Flick is confident, passionate, and just plain fun - in short, she's everything Sally had never expected to find in her small world. Things aren't all fun and games, though. The rest of the village wants nothing to do with the boisterous traveller, and Sally senses there's something lurking beneath Flick's impulsive character, something she doesn't want Sally to see. And when another stranger follows hot on Flick's heels, Sally faces a choice between staying true to the place she calls home and protecting the girl that could take her beyond the horizon.As the storm draws ever closer, the questions rumbling in Sally's mind grow louder. What brought someone so full of life to a place like Porthdruro? Why is she so possessive of a simple camera? And will the toll of trusting Flick Scott be more than Sally can take?***Written for #ONC2023.50. "An attractive, mysterious stranger moves to your small town. While everyone is desperate to make an impression, only you notice something a bit odd about them."51. "The problem with red flags is that I'm attracted to them."Stunning cover by the equally stunning @MiniMoxx.Adorable chapter-end graphic by the equally adorable @Metalcanine.…