caine prize 2022 shortlist

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...

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?

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…

Ava Sinclair has won a prize. She is to be escorted across the known half of the world by a ranger, a rover, and an inspector of the Department of Lost and Found. What should have been an ecological survey meant to broaden her understanding instead exposes the systems that decide what is protected, what is exploited, and what is quietly erased. In a world governed by resonance, authority is enforced by paperwork as often as violence — and survival depends on knowing which rules matter, and who enforces them. The first two rules of resonant ecology are simple: Watch your step. Watch who is watching your step. A bureaucratic / institutional fantasy focused on character, consequence, and slow-burn revelation. New chapters every Thursday. This story can also be found on ScribbleHub, SpaceBattles, and SufficientVelocity.

Katelyn has always been a proud and pampered princess. She grew up sheltered and doted on by her parents, never knowing the dangers that existed her small family life. In a twist of fate, she finds herself faced with an intimidating yet attractive man and path wrought with hardships she never could have prepared herself for. Will she fight for her freedom or will she fall under his rule and learn sometimes love can find you even in the darkest and most unsuspecting places? You can expect from this novel: mature content, possible violence, explicit language. ___________________________ temporarily putting this on pause as my time is currently allowing me to only work on one novel. I will return to this once my other is finished so please continue to watch for updates. Panda

It is said that when Caine first spilled the blood of his kin, he was marked and condemned to wander, eternal and unredeemed. In a world where the Mark is both gift and curse, those born with it are forged into living weapons bound to serve the great Orders in endless wars. One such boy, bearing a mark never before seen, walks the fractured lands in search of survival, purpose, and the truth of his own penance.

Haunted by her worst fear, Grace Vixon must learn to cope while there are strange things occurring in the secluded town of Caine. When unfamiliar faces arrive in town, death rates begin to rise. A suspicious Grace searches to find out why in hopes to subside the hallucinations but the closer she gets to answers, the more vivd and real the hallucinations become. With the help of her friends and a new love, secrets and investigations reveal that the town is not all that it seems and Grace is no ordinary girl.

Sam Bales is thrust into a world of terror and danger when she finds herself in the crosshairs of Damien, an unrelenting Fae-hunter. Captured and held prisoner after a fateful event, Sam discovers that her unique ability to sense and eliminate Fae creatures is exactly what Damien needs to achieve his mission - killing the enigmatic Fae queen. As Sam navigates this new, dangerous reality, she learns of the unseen politics and age-old rivalries governing the Fae realm. With each encounter, her perception of these magical beings evolves, uncovering a dark truth behind their motives. When Sam meets the powerful and charismatic Fae king, her outlook on the Fae forever shifts as she's pulled into a treacherous game of politics and prophecy. Realizing that her destiny lies intertwined with the fate of the Fae world, Sam must fight against time as they both teeter on the brink of disaster. In her quest for truth and redemption, Sam must navigate a treacherous path, facing betrayal, heartache, and unimaginable choices. Will she choose to embrace her role as the savior of the fae world, sacrificing her own desires? Or will she defy expectations, forging her own path as she discovers the true nature of her powers and the extent of her impact on both worlds?