24 hours. 10 bidders. 1 winner. A Princess from Earth is invited to an auction on a distant planetoid only to learn that she's the item on sale. Her foes include: a Chinese space pirate, a Russian duelist, a Japanese high-tech samurai, a Venusian mafiosi, two expert French poisoners, a floating Swiss banker, a German Baron with more ties to her family than she can imagine, and a British gentleman who also happens to be a pterodactyl. Her arsenal consists of: vague memories from classes she mostly slept through, a pile of gadgets for which she's never read the user manual, excellent table manners, and a ferret who's loyal to a fault. This will not be easy. Hey, so since the novel was published by WordFire press, I can't leave the whole thing online. You can get the whole thing here though. There's even an audiobook. If you read it on RR, a short Amazon review will be really appreciated. It helps a lot! Also, my second novel is here in full. It's a litRPG about a dwarf paladin who really, really wants to get a domain of her own...
25.19 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-29 15:17
parkertallan | mystery | Complete
When you let the mind wander, there's no telling where it's going to end up. This collection of short stories is the fruit of that wanderlust. Science fiction, mystery, and even a fairy tale can be found here, each with it's own subtle twist and an undercurrent of humor. Your imagination can take you anywhere. Start your wanderings here. This short story collection is now complete.
24.97 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-11 14:00
Elizabeth Tschereda | drama | Complete
After an unfortunate run-in with a strange alien liquid, ten humans from the beginning of the age of space colonisation are forced into Immortality, worshipped as Gods and trapped in their own Godly personas. Lae, a normal human interplanetary postal worker, doesn't really care that much about Gods. Or aliens. And while she used to be all for adventure, she's really had enough of it. All she really wants to do is to find her way home... CW: torture, kidnap and murder (non-descriptive)
24.80 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-25 13:01
TienSwitch | action | Complete
"Herald City. A great American metropolis, with gleaming towers and bustling streets. Never before has there been a safer place to live and work, because the citizens know that when disaster strikes, they can count on the protection of BLUE EAGLE. Blue Eagle--also known as David Dufraine--was born with incredible strength, powerful eyebeams, superhuman senses, and the amazing ability of flight. Possessing a strong sense of justice, he seeks to protect the city from criminals who prey on the innocent. Having taught these values to his son Jack, who possesses similar abilities, they protect Herald City as Blue Eagle and Switch the Blue Eaglet! Together, the Father-Son Duo wages a war on crazy criminals and notorious ne'er-do-wells, including the powerful perverter of plant life, QUEEN VENUS. These are the adventures of BLUE EAGLE and SWITCH THE BLUE EAGLET." Welcome, everybody! This superhero adventure is a nostalgic return to the good ol' days of the Filmation and Hanna-Barbera superhero cartoons of the 1960s and 70s. With Super Friends, The Adventures of Super Boy, and The Adventures of Batman and The New Adventures of Batman as inspiration, I hope to take you back to the olden days of wacky stories jam-packed with superhero action and excitement! This is actually a leadup of a much larger project I'm working on (which will be played straight, have a darker and more serious tone, and will be a multi-season serialized epic). I've been itching to publish something with my characters for some time, and this 8 episode miniseries just scratches that itch. So while my main series is being written, I hope you find some enjoyment in some good old fashioned superhero fun.
24.57 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-22 12:33
Story Bear | horror | Complete
Leo, a hunter living on his own in the woods happens upon a strange scene, with a noblemen casting out a young woman in rags and leaving her alone in the woods. Seeking to help the damsel, he invites her to his home to see if he can help get her back on her feet, but little does he know of the dangers ahead. Senna, the last vampire of her bloodline is looking for revenge. The last great house in the area has rejected her pleas, but the fire in her heart refuses to go as cold as her undead body. After getting a final warning to stop bothering them, a hapless human helps her out. Rather than killing him outright, she starts thinking of a new plan... ---------------------- This is a tale told from two perspectives, starting with Leo and switching each chapter change!
24.44 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-22 14:32
Brandon Dee | contemporary | Complete
Nico Moretti was a young man with no direction in his life. But that all changes when his mob boss grandfather gives him access to a System that seems tailor-made to transform him into the perfect mafioso. Will Nico be able to hold onto his values, or will this lifestyle and system bring out a darkness that he didn't know he had? Join him as he levels up and walks this dangerous new path. New chapters every Friday
24.43 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-29 17:01
Thequeenoflove | historical | Complete
A story about the tragic medieval princess, Joan of England. The worst plague to ever devastate the world is unknown in England. As millions of people die, Princess Joan travels to mainland Europe and facing what poor and royal alike must face -- that death is imminent.
24.29 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-22 11:49
Tighyt Sasomac is a normal person on the world of Kantala. Sure, he's a powerful human, and basically the leader of a city, but a normal human, at least for his level during the current regime. He went to bed like any normal decade. He woke up on another planet. One named Earth. And there, no one has any idea about magic. So yeah, he's basically able to do anything he wants-but monsters lurk on Earth. As his large mana pool fills Earth, the threats to Earth grow. Maybe it isn't some slum where there isn't any magic after all... That's the story. Here's more of the technical aspect. So, most of you you probably know that isekai is one of the most popular genres on this platform. For those of you who don't know what isekai is, it's when the main character, a normal person from Earth, gets teleported to some other planet with magic. Progression type magic. This is a spin on isekai. Instead of the main character, an Earthling, getting teleported to some planet with magic, someone from the magic planet, with powerful magic, is teleported to Earth. I wouldn't exactly call the main character's powers magic, but super strength achieved through a magic system is close enough to magic (the MC is a melee fighter). That leads to all sort of funny scenes where no one but the MC knows about magic power. Until the MC uses his high-level mana pool to make Earth into a magic planet, combining Post Apocalyptic with isekai. High fantasy with low fantasy. All sorts of stuff going together that shouldn't have. This is ruling class, but it won't be dedicated to town-building (it's more "MC is so OP he can declare himself king of Earth because he feels like it and the natives are too weak to resist). Content warnings are mainly for creative freedom, but I'm going to keep it within boundaries. Sadly, I couldn't do a full sized novel, but I promise, my next story will be out soon, and much higher quality (more description). Plus, unlike my previous story, this is normal-in a good way. Here's what to expect: Longer chapters Character driven Decent grammar Consistancy
24.21 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-25 10:10
peteradixon | mystery | Complete
THE JUGGERNAUT is a complete story, but is being released chapter by chapter on Royal Road. If you can't want to see what happens buy your own copy at my website. The Juggernaut: A city in space built from the twisted wreck of a thousand ships, in a decaying orbit around a dying star. Hunting ground of pirates, outlaws, and criminal gangs. Haven of outcasts and orphans. The last refuge of the dispossessed. The city Tila Vasquez now calls home. Tila's parents, and thousands of others, were lost twelve years before when the colony mission to Baru failed. The colony shipsRising StarandNew Dawnwere destroyed. TheFar Horizonwas never heard from again. So when Tila finds an impossible ship buried deep within the city a shuttle from theFar Horizon she sets out with her friends Ellie and Malachi to uncover the truth behind the colony mission and the deaths of her parents. But some things are buried for a reason, and some secrets should never be revealed& The Juggernaut: Now or never Watch the trailer at https://www.peteradixon.com/books/the-juggernaut/
23.75 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-25 10:46
ArgyleInsect | sci_fi | Complete
This is the first draft of the story. The edited and expanded final version is available free for KU subscribers and for sale on Kindle. Planet Dirt: Remnant of an exile world, ground down by governmental and megacorp warring.The Accident a generation ago erased what its inhabitants had not already forgotten.Their brightest scientists vanished without a trace, leaving only the icy Wasteland.Carrick, a gangster, chooses Wasteland exile rather than betray the Family. Intelligent and loyal, he determines to bend the frontier's prisoners to his will.After all, when people won't choose what's best for themselves, they must beforcedto choose.But the Wasteland conceals impossible scientific phenomena that force Carrick to realize how little he understands.And when an officer of humanity's ancient, starfaring empire crashes into the Wasteland's heart, he reveals Planet Dirt's coldest secret.The Accident was only the beginning of a bitter end.
23.62 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-25 17:44
PublicApology | contemporary | Complete
(I'm doing a complete rewrite as of 2/1/24. I hate the quality and the overall story changed so much that this has noncanon stuff to the petrichor series) Elizabeth Wilson commits suicide. She was the golden girl among her peers in Darkwood, Washington who stood above the pressure of her drug-riddentown. Explore the summer before her senior year that triggered the domino effect of Elizabeth's emotional and psychological breakdown that lead her to take her own life. This is the prequel to the main story, Petrichor and was never intended to be made. I wrote this because I wanted to explore Elizabeth's character and show how the main characters have changed since this event. I decided to release this first because Petrichor is undergoing a full rewrite. In the meantime, I'm writing a side story called Mourning Glory that takes place between thesecond and third act of Petrichor. Development is going rather fast so I suggest to to read that if you like this story
23.52 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-29 17:03
D. L. Schindler | horror | Complete
Anthology of horror stories with a strong focus on murder and death.
23.29 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-26 17:35
A thousand lifetimes ago, Qiu Xuanwu stood atop the world as the King of the Underworld. He sealed the righteous deities and reigned alone--until the last remaining righteous deity, Kai Bailong, tore him from his throne, released the righteous deities, and restored order to the world. Instead of exterminating Qiu Xuanwu, Kai Bailong consigned his soul to enter the cycle of samsara, experiencing countless reincarnations until his soul purified. Kai Bailong followed him into the mortal cycle, watching over the evil deity. For eons, the two reincarnated together, locked in eternal moral combat. As orange trees, bees, cats and dogs, and a thousand other lifeforms, the two struggled endlessly. A thousand lifetimes later, Qiu Xuanwu awakens as the young Chen Wuya, finally reincarnated into a human form capable of cultivation. With Kai Bailong nowhere in sight, he sets out to once more become the strongest martial deity and finally complete the vengeance that led him to become the King of the Underworld in his first life. Though a thousand lifetimes have passed, nothing will keep him from his goal... unless that damned Kai Bailong finds him again! -Low-fantasy for Xianxia, high-fantasy in general -Lightly comedic, mostly action/adventure -Updates biweekly Mon/Fri, daily updates until I catch up to backlog!
23.22 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-29 18:00
L. A. Sirius | mystery | Complete
Five child prodigies are invited to an elusive tech CEO's private island. Surrounded by enigmatic geniuses, Daniel is forced to face his past through everlasting, haunting, memories. Unravel the mysteries of the island along with the characters inside, but try not to get killed. How does one move on? Must you forget about your past to truly overcome it? If this is going to be the future, why live in the present? Complete
22.76 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-25 18:58
Social_Knight | contemporary | Complete
Jim Corwin always wanted to become a Doctor since he was a child, and he succeeded. But before he knew it, he was still single in his thirties, living the nerd life, and still swiping single women left and right in the prolific phone app, Ember, resigned to the fact that he would never have the time to build a relationship with a special someone. But when one day, after a close run in with an 18-wheeler, he finds himself in a parallel contemporary world without realising, his right swipe changes his whole life...----------A romance, told from the alternating perspectives of the male and female protagonists, and their resulting culture shock. Now complete. It was written with the intent to be Light Novel sized (40K~ words) during release.Hope you enjoy!
22.69 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-29 16:49
KenZero322 | romance | Complete
When life gives you a lemon, you make lemonade. When life takes away your ability to level in a world where that's how you get stronger. You complain until life throws you a orange. Follow the random adventures of Ken as he monologues his way to maybe one day saving the world.
22.51 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-25 13:36
NolanConrey | drama | Complete
The holiday Darkeve has come, and the crew of the Craton get to relax, dress up, and have a good time! Apollonia Nor is able to experience the first real holiday in her life - if she can get left alone. For Pirra and Tred, a happy day may turn out to be less than they had hoped. While for Captain Brooks, an old friend comes calling to settle on a debt . . .
22.51 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-26 13:48
MichaelJSullivan | one_shot | Complete
TWO ROGUES | FOUR SHORT STORIES | ONE CLASSIC FANTASY OF UNLIKELY HEROES The Riyria novels featuring Royce Melborn (a cynical ex-assassin) and Hadrian Blackwater (an idealistic ex-mercenary) have been enthralling fantasy readers for more than 15 years. Now for the first time four short stories and two full-length novels are available for free on Royal Road. You can read these shorts in any order, but if you haven't read any of my books, I suggest starting with The Thieves. The Thieves:THEY ATTACKED TWO RIDERS. THEY THOUGHT IT WOULD BE EASY. THEY WERE WRONG.A band of thieves set upon two lonely riders in the middle of the night. They had a larger party. They had the element of surprise. There was no reason to be concerned. But they didn't realize who they were dealing with. The Viscount and the Witch: WHO WILL BE SCHOOLED?A desperate woman seeks help to rid her barn of a drunkard. Hadrian agrees to help, and Royce goes along only to teach his idealistic partner that no good deed goes unpunished. What they find isn't what they expected, and maybe it'll be Royce's opinion that will be changed. Professional Integrity: YOU WANT US TO STEAL WHAT?Several years have passed since the war-weary mercenary Hadrian and cynical ex-assassin Royce joined forces to start their thieves-for-hire organization, better known as Riyria. Things have gone well enough for the team as they perform tasks for nobles throughout Elan. Usually, that means stealing something, but when a young heiress asks them to steal her . . . well, that's a first for the pair. The Jester: WHO WILL HAVE THE LAST LAUGH?Stop me if you've heard this one. A thief, a candlemaker, an ex-mercenary, and a pig farmer walk into a trap . . . and what happens is no joke. When Riyria is hired to retrieve a jester's treasure, Royce and Hadrian must match wits with a dwarf who proves to be anything but a fool. Difficult choices will need to be made, and in the end, those who laugh last do so because they are the only ones to survive. If you enjoy these Riyria short stories, you'll be happy to know there are another 10 full-length novels (2 are available for free on Royal Road) featuring these rogues-for-hire and a total of 19 novels in an epic series that spans 3,000 years. The novels are spread across four collections as seen here. The Riyria Revelations:Theft of Swords(containsThe Crown Conspiracy&Avempartha).". Rise of Empire(containsNyphron Rising&The Emerald Storm) "Heir of Novron(containsWintertide&Percepliquis) The Riyria Chronicles:The Crown Tower " The Rose and the Thorn " The Death of Dulgath ". The Disappearance of Winter's Daughter Legends of the First Empire:Age of Myth " Age of Swords " Age of War " Age of Legend " Age of Death " Age of Empyre The Rise and Fall:Nolyn "Farilane " Esrahaddon
22.48 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-27 17:36
ringe | psychological | Complete
[Entry for the June Royal Road Community Magazine Contest] A prisoner named Gemmei is gifted a chance to put her life on a better track after being transferred to the Hibiya Correctional Complex, a lower security prison allegedly intended for less violent offenders. However even though the walls keeping her in are no longer visible, plenty of barriers are in the way that prevent Gemmei from returning to the world she once took for granted. Chief among them is the Houzou Hakkyou, a special tattoo every prisoner in the system receives that alters how they can think and feel through forced sedation. The curse the Hakkyou enforces ensures compliance and docility among the inmates, but as Gemmei finds out, cruelty is born from more than emotion alone.
22.43 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-25 16:06
Canderon-Futurae | action | Complete
The One that was not created, but exists. Alone in the void. Until that being created more. During creation, that being felt things. Boredom. Anticipation. Until the Old One came to the world it helped to create. But, he doesn't remember anything. Fate wouldn't allow it.
22.43 Ten thousand words | Updated at 2024-03-25 18:00
