Deep in the stacks of the over-library of the multiverse many Stories reside, buried but not dead, they are dormant, awaiting a reader to resurrect them.
Occasionally I'll click on a random author and read one of their offerings. Many are dross, in the times of dead tree press they would be slush pile material that would be used to fuel a reviewer's fireplace. Some stories are excellent, others are obviously amateur efforts, self edited, but still entertaining.
This thread is where I'll occasionally post a story link with a comment or two. Perhaps other readers will find them useful.
FWIW I tend to skip over sex scenes, so I don't rate them. Emotional build up and anticipation interest me, especially if it advances plot and relationships. Personal growth and adventure also push my buttons. Tab A into Slot B I skip, so those looking for erotica reviews should look elsewhere.
Now on with show.
https://storiesonline.net/a/Aeralyndal/
Aeralyndael is an author active between 2002 & 2003. His stories are still free to browse, so someone has logged in on the authors account in the last 3 years. Like many early internet authors there are spank bank short stories as well as long form stories cover subject matter such as romance, coming of age, paranormal & magic.
The two stories I recently read were both interesting takes on often repeated themes. As they are from the early days of the internet they were probably quite original when first published.
Hands of a Healer
https://storiesonline.net/s/38580/hands-of-a-healer
A teen half breed manifests healing hands and proceeds to to try and improve the lot of his fellow Indians on the Rez. As he grows up he finds love, makes friends, gains an education and expands his circle of trust and responsibility beyond members of his father's race. Its a gentle story, no black helicopters, Deep State kidnapping or coercion. Just a young boy with a gift learning to be a man. I enjoyed the story, although it felt cut short, wrapped up in a quick epilogue where several more chapters could have fleshed the story out.
It ain't Halloween
https://storiesonline.net/s/38596/it-aint-halloween
Paranormal romance isn't my normal area of interest, but this tale kept my attention and interest to the end. 'Young man renovates a house and falls in love with a ghost' is almost a trope these days, back in 2003 it may have been original. I found the story interesting because several now well worn plot elements were used (It was a dark & stormy night..) yet the story felt fresh. A paint by numbers work that turns into a life like portrait.
As with Hands of a Healer the wrap up came too quickly, but I still finished the book happy and entertained.