dundee international book prize

To escape a poisonous snake, Milo Hartley must beg a lion to save him. “Milo, crawl here. Show him who you belong to!” _Nero Hartley “Well, stay still. Be a big boy, for once. Tell him who you will choose.” _Salvatore Portello, looking at Milo, who sat on his lap, his large hand gripping Milo’s hip possessively. *** Milo is cursed. Since he was seven years old, he has seen the exact day people will die. After his family died in an accident he predicted, he was sold to the Hartley family as an omen of bad luck. For thirteen years, he lived as a toy for the sadistic Nero Hartley, enduring constant humiliation. Now, Nero is trading him to Salvatore Portello, a ruthless Mafia boss who just killed his own uncle to take the throne. To escape Nero’s obsession, Milo risks everything. He kneels before Salvatore and begs for protection. Milo doesn’t know which is more dangerous: the snake or the lion. But now, both have claimed him. One with a dark obsession, the other with a lethal protection. ⚠️ Warning ⚠️ What to expect: -R18+ -Graphic violence and humiliation in the early chapters and recur throughout the story. -Sweet and dark romance between our leads. -Kink: BDSM play mostly consensual. -Smut, explicit adult content that is part to the plot.

[Mature Content] Pollyanna, haunted by her father's mysterious suicide and the rumors of a family curse, faces strange encounter in Dunecliff city. After a disillusioning relationship, she doubts true love exists, until mysterious messages and near-death experiences disrupt her life. When her ex-fiance is murdered, Pollyanna seeks solace in her hometown, Aleyska, only to uncover her father's hidden secrets. As she grapples with her newfound identity as part of a "pack" and the enigmatic title of "Luna," it was confirmed that she indeed has no Luna wolf. In the midst of making the public announcement, Pollyanna is confronted by a stranger with a chilling claim. "Get her bags," a commanding voice pierces the air, freezing Pollyanna in shock. "I'm here to collect my mate." Mate? Pollyanna's world spins as she faces the unsettling prospect of multiple Alphas vying for her allegiance. How did her life spiral into such uncertainty?

Luna, the daughter of the most prideful king in the entire empire, is the ideal woman, the beautiful decoration that all noble women should strive to be. And secretly, she is also the perfect man, devoted completely to the sword and the defense of her kingdom, masquerading as the king's only son so that she can learn the masculine arts, when in fact she has no siblings. However, her entire life is upended when the emperor's son finds his way to their little corner of the world, and she ends up lost in an entirely new political scene that makes what was in her hometown considered the epitome of manners look like a crude imitation. With wolves surrounding her, both literally and figuratively, Luna must either fight to the top or sink to obscurity. And it all depends on the whims of one single man. That is, until she begins to discover her true purpose...

Truth of the ends. Revelation chapter 1:1-8 1. The revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, 2. who testifies to everything he saw—that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. 3. Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near. 4. John, To the seven churches in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, 5. and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, 6. and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen. 7. “Look, he is coming with the clouds,”and “every eye will see him, even those who pierced him”; and all peoples on earth “will mourn because of him.”So shall it be! Amen. 8. “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”

Everyone knew that A-list Best Actor, Jiang Sheng, married a penniless pretty face. On the day of announcing their marriage, his fans wailed. Jiang Sheng's social media platform was flooded with fan posts: [Divorce now!] Jiang Sheng: [Do I need others to point fingers at how I live my life? Nobody knows how many damn years I've been chasing after her!] Fans: [I don't agree to this marriage! She has ruined my Big Brother's resources!] Jiang Sheng: [Please shut up! Your Big Brother's resources are all thanks to her!] Fans: [How is she worthy of my Big Brother? If they don't get a divorce, I'll immediately stop being his fan!] Jiang Sheng: [As for who's the one who's not worthy of the other, I know it from the bottom of my heart, Sis.] Fans: [She doesn't even know how to wash clothes and cook. How can she take good care of our Big Brother?] Jiang Sheng: [I don't need her to take care of me. I can take care of her!] ...Ning Xue was annoyed. She said, "There's so much noise. Let's divorce if it doesn't work out." Jiang Sheng hugged her thighs with tears streaming down his face. "Wifey, please don't say that. I'll listen to everything you say!" Ning Xue replied, "Scram. Men will only affect my attack speed." Persona: Ning Xue: Cold and arrogant; she was harsh on the outside but soft on the inside. Jiang Sheng: Cold and arrogant on the outside, but he was a maniac who loved his wife tremendously.

Han Ping, an international criminal police officer, was sacrificed while he was on a mission to capture an international terrorist organization. He was reincarnated, returning to ten years ago. To fulfill his duty and to uncover the true reason behind his death, Han Ping once again became an international criminal police officer. However, when he was conducting his first interrogation, a screen appeared before his eyes. Name: Han Ping Occupation: International police officer IQ: 108 Combat skill: 85 (click to read more) Reasoning skill: 55 (click to read more) Investigating skill: 63 (click to read more) Technical skill: 32 (click to read more) Special talent: none On the other hand, light masses appeared around the criminal. “The criminal that you are interrogating dropped [criminal psychology *3], [method of operation *5]... Your investigating skill improved a little.” “The criminal that you caught dropped [firearms knowledge *6], [strength fragment *3], [agility fragment *5]... Your combat skill improved a little.” “You failed your mission to interrogate a high IQ criminal. However, the other party dropped [IQ *1], [hacking technique *5], [photographic memory fragment *2]... You seem to have discovered a huge treasure!”

Erus has royal blood, but his own father treats him like a monster. To the King, Erus is just a savage creature who needs to be controlled. The people also branded him Tyrant. Growing up hated and alone, Erus only wanted one thing, a place where he truly belonged. ​To prove himself, he entered a deadly trial where the winner earns a title and a spot serving the King. He was even desperate enough to try making a deal with the God of Death just to win. But then Cana showed up and completely changed his path. Instead of a dark pact with the underworld, an accidental "Master-Slave" contract bound them together. Erus is the Master and Cana is the servant, but their connection is way deeper than a simple spell. ​As they fight through the trial, Erus realizes he isn't the only one with terrifying power—Cana’s abilities might actually be stronger than his. They share a bond that goes back to a past someone tried desperately to bury. Now, they have to survive a trial designed to kill them while facing enemies who are just hiding behind their own fear. ​In the end, what’s more important: the title that was stripped away, or the memories that were erased to keep the truth hidden?

Twenty years ago, Liliana Sterling lost her parents in a tragic accident, and the once-prestigious Sterling Clan fell into ruin, becoming nothing more than a forgotten name. Fortunately, the powerful St. Claire Family stepped in to care for her, honoring a lifelong friendship and a debt owed to her late father. Liliana once dreamed of becoming an actress and standing beneath dazzling stage lights. But fate had other plans. Setting aside her ambitions, she chose to live quietly in the countryside. With her thick glasses, brown pigtails, and modest dresses, Liliana spends her days cooking, cleaning, and keeping everything perfectly organized. To everyone around her, she is nothing more than an ordinary woman living an ordinary life. But Liliana is hiding a secret. She is married to the world’s biggest idol. Chris St. Claire is the man millions of women adore. As the charismatic vocalist of Pulse—the most popular boyband on the planet—he is an international superstar whose every move makes headlines. Handsome, talented, and heir to one of the wealthiest families in the country, Chris seems to have it all: fame, fortune, and countless fans who dream of becoming his wife. Yet none of them know the truth. To the world, Chris St. Claire is the entertainment industry’s most eligible bachelor. Behind closed doors, he is already a husband. What began as a marriage of obligation slowly blossoms into something neither of them expected. Through quiet moments, unspoken acts of care, and years of supporting one another from afar, Chris and Liliana become the most important people in each other’s lives. Yet neither realizes that the affection growing in their hearts has long since become love. But secrets are fragile. As Chris' fame reaches even greater heights, jealous celebrities, obsessive fans, and ambitious rivals threaten to expose the truth behind their hidden marriage. When their carefully guarded secret is pushed into the spotlight, Chris and Liliana must decide whether to continue protecting the life they’ve built—or risk everything for the love they’ve never dared to confess. Can a shy country housewife and the world’s most beloved idol overcome the pressures of fame and finally reveal their true feelings? Or will the world tear them apart before they ever get the chance?

Main Story: Monica, an ordinary girl studying at a prestigious royal university in England, finds her peaceful life shattered when a stranger kidnaps her and takes her to a mysterious building controlled by the old International President. His intent? To make her the next in line for an unimaginable role. Eight years later, haunted by the loss of someone she loved, Monica embarks on a dangerous journey for revenge. Will she rise above the betrayals and heartache, or will her life be forever changed in ways she never anticipated?

Sick of the city life, Qi Fan returns to his hometown island and ends up with an Island Management System. He starts with a special prize that helps him not only to have underwater night vision and breathing, but he also attracts ocean life. In the day, he takes a boat out to catch lobsters and fish marlins. At night, he dives into the deep sea to search for mysterious treasures. On the weekend, he takes a fishing boat far out to tease the turtles and look for blue whales. Once he’s earned enough, he’ll make his hometown rich by developing a holiday resort city. The beaches would be full of tourists enjoying the sun, sand, and bikinis…