Noir Princesses by Astor Alexander
ok we gotta come up with writing prompts for these:
1. After her magnate father’s untimely demise, Ella, recently jilted by her very own prince charming, turns to an old family friend for help stealing back her inheritance from a wrathful stepmother. But the pair can only work so much magic and time is running out: in this increasingly deadly game of cat-and-mouse, there’s no telling who will still be standing when the clock strikes midnight. Bonus points if the writer uses a ‘sin-derella’ pun. bonus points if there are diamonds involved so we can make puns about glass.
2. When her police chief father is forced off the case, a young P.I. investigates a series of presumed kidnappings of beautiful socialites. All roads lead back to the mysterious mob boss known only as La Bestia, but under his violent reputation there may just be more than meets the eye. Throw in the once-resplendent now-defunct Castle Rose Casino, an egomaniacal ex-fiancé won’t take no for an answer, a local lycanthropy legend that may actually hold some truth, and the threat of being forcibly detained–this detective is in for the biggest hunt of her life. But beastly or not, she always gets her man: they don’t call her Jezebelle for nothing…
3. The Arabian Tiger’s Eye may not be the world’s largest ruby, but it’s certainly the most famous–and cursed. With a habit of disappearing and reappearing, the gem is briefly scheduled to be exhibited in public for the first time in decades. Naturally this brings all sorts of thieves out of the woodwork, including: a beautiful-but-dangerous royal descendant intent on reclaiming her country’s rightful heritage, a conman with a heart-of-gold being set up to take the fall, an indebted illusionist who is running out of magic to perform, and a treacherous museum director who is ruthless enough to kill them all. Not to mention what could happen when the ruby’s curse comes into play…
4. Commercial diving isn’t a glamorous job, and Ariel’s tired of the family business. When saving a handsome (but hopeless) swimmer leads to an invitation to a private resort, she jumps at the chance to travel. And if the wealthy stranger assumes she’s one of the jet set, who is she to correct him? In need of quick funding, Ariel makes a dangerous deal. Ursula Enterprises is fishy at best, and the job is anything but easy: locating the long lost Sea Witch. The shipwreck has spent centuries on the ocean floor, sunk in almost undivable waters. Now Ursula wants it–and its mysterious cargo. But sunken treasure is the least of Ariel’s worries–not when she’s already feeling like a fish out of water masquerading as a carefree tourist, and dealing with a love affair that won’t quite take off. Throw in a crabby family friend who wants her to return safely home, his sweet but floundering partner, and a contract she should have read more carefully before signing–it’s anything but smooth sailing for this rebellious diver, who just may be out of her depths.
i want to re-emphasize: in my version flounder & sebastian are gay
