Dark Fantasy Short Stories

Divining the difference between reality and the fantastic may not be as simple as it seems. Because the world you think you know may not actually exist… STORIES is a collection of six short stories loosely based on legends and folklore. Each is set in a modern context, giving the reader an unusual take that yields interesting insight on these traditional tales. The Snow Woman: a spirit in Japanese folklore who traps people in snowstorms, then uses her icy breath to leave them frost-coated corpses. The Slit-Mouthed Woman: a figure from Japanese urban legends who, mutilated by her husband, ...

We have a pulse-pounding collection of sword swinging barbarians for your this month along with some sage advice on writing and publishing from best-selling authors. In this issue, Kell Myers returns with another episode in Kara Black's adventures and Ciarán Laverty thrills with his vengeful Hjalgrup in his quest to destroy a malevolent wizard. There is also an original from the talented Toni V. Sweeney. So pick up a copy today.

Black Heart, Ivory Bones showcases 20 beguiling tales for the child who was and the adult who is, penned by 20 of the most creative artists in contemporary American literature. Here dissected are the darker anatomies of the timeless, seemingly simple stories we have long loved. Here wonder and truth have serious bite.

From the author of Aevalorn Tales comes a dark fantasy story about holding on to the power of imagination. When a flamboyant magical showman arrives in the quaint halfling hamlet of Pondaroak to perform at the local inn, the whole town is excited to see his show. Perhaps none more so than Elina Hogsbreath, a hedge witch and the gracious proprietor of the Swindle & Swine, anxiously busy to ensure everything goes off without a hitch. Elina uses everyday kitchen magic during the show's height to quell wide-eyes and hungry appetites, but she’s too busy to notice the obvious. Something dark is...

A collection of horror/thriller stories for readers who would enjoy a stroll through a graveyard after midnight. Hark! Don’t read this book if a deranged maniac has escaped from the local asylum. Otherwise, enjoy the horror.The creepers include: BLOOD OF THE UNBORN: Daniel's lifelong obsession is to have a son to carry his name and legacy. Then, one fateful night, something answered. THE IMMORTAL PLAGUE: Felix has poured his wealth into conquering death and achieving immortality. The first step is reanimating the dead. THE DEVIL'S RETIREMENT: Lucifer is becoming senile after all the years...

Markas hears news about dead people with weird symbols on their bodies. He decides to investigate symbols at the library to see if he can find anything. Shortly after he starts having dreams about the people and the rituals done on them. In one of such dreams, Markas sees visions of his own dad… Markas learns more data about the killer from his visions. A police investigation is also underway. As soon as possible, Marcus wants to bring his father the artifact that he found. As the sword gets closer, he suspects the visions will last longer.This is the forth book of "The Demon King’s ...

A cursed wolf. A witch’s dangerous legacy. A love that defies fate itself. When Ruby inherits her grandmother’s cottage, she expects a fresh start—not a beast bound by dark magic. Lorcan, once a man, now wears the form of a monstrous wolf, his fate sealed by an unbreakable curse. The key to his salvation lies in a forbidden grimoire, hidden somewhere within the cottage’s enchanted walls. But breaking the spell comes at a terrible price. As Ruby delves into the secrets of her grandmother’s magic, she discovers a power within herself—one that breathes life into her soul and binds ...

When a mega popular band from Liverpool sang about Maxwell’s silver hammer, most listeners considered it a catchy, if dark tune. Flash forward half a century later, and something curious is happening around the world. Magic is returning-powerful enough to activate creations once lying dormant. Including some classic songs. When a silver hammer appears in the hands on one of Samantha Moon’s closest friends-along with a bloodthirsty need to use it-the vampire detective is about to discover just how clever (and literal) the universe can be..... Click BUY NOW or READ FOR FREE today!

From the author of Aevalorn Tales comes a dark fantasy story about the folly of arguing over something you'll never need. In the remote hamlet of Ehrendvale in the Aevalorn Wilds, a happy chance reveals a hidden treasure! However, its ownership is questioned, and tensions run high, threatening to split the once-peaceful community. Maedrey Puck, a Priest of Yondalla, is called to help settle the dispute. To put the matter to rest, she must administer three Trials by Ordeal to a landowner and a pig farmer, but can she quell their unbridled tempers and keep the hamlet from ripping itself apart...

From the author of Aevalorn Tales comes a dark fantasy story about retaining your dignity. The village of Bracklenock lies under a cloak of ash and sorrow, ruined in the shadow of devastation. Jayleigh Warmhollow, a Druid of the Ancients, must confront Uriah, a gorgon, the monster who destroyed everything. Charged with restoring balance to the region, Jayleigh is faced with a gutwrenching choice: the medusa must die or be convinced to forgive herself. Set against the backdrop of despair, this story weaves together the threads of identity, acceptance, and the quest for a place. Through the ...

In number-one New York Times best-selling author Charlaine Harris’s "Dahlia Underground,” venerable vampire Dahlia Lynley-Chivers survives an attack by an anti-vampire terrorist group, only to show them they tried to blow up the wrong bloodsucker. Bailey Ruth Raeburn, a ghost assigned to assist humans in trouble, steps into the middle of a marital dispute with surprising twists in Carolyn Hart’s “Riding High”....

There in the rain, in the crashing waves, the ebb and flow of the tide … can you hear the voices? Three holidaymakers stumble across the legend of the Black Dog. A fallen music idol makes a deal with the deadly unknown. Figures, like ink spots, stand silently waiting in the snow. Tiny unfinished children play games in the garden, drifting in and out of view. Rising sea levels threaten to consume the earth and reveal the world’s true monsters. Three Bells toll the swaying menace of the straw man. A chorus of tiny wings; music of the damned. The incomplete, the unclean, the undying. ...

Come one, come all! The Carniepunk Midway promises you every thrill and chill a traveling carnival can provide. But fear not! Urban fantasy's biggest stars are here to guide you through this strange and dangerous world....

From the author of Aevalorn Tales comes a dark fantasy story about the healing power of food. In the quaint halfling hamlet of Pondaroak, Elina Hogsbreath, a kitchen witch and the steadfast proprietor of the Swindle & Swine, manages the tavern's everyday magic. On a stormy evening, a rain-drenched, weary traveler arrives to stay for the night. He is burdened by grief and harbors a dark secret. Witnessing his sorrow, Elina prepares a meal to soothe the traveler's woes and confronts old fae magic threatening to consume him.Appealing to Brandon Sanderson, Travis Baldree, and S. L. Rowland fans...

A collection of horror/thriller stories with surprise endings to chill you and thrill you to the bone. The creepers include: BLACK AS NIGHT: THE SEQUEL: Norman's two sons disappeared on Halloween; the same night, a masked rider carries a screaming woman in a burlap sack from the abandoned house next door. DISTURBING ELEMENTS: A chemistry prof has a phobia of seeking vengeance on any student who reminds him of the jocks who bullied him in college. CHARLEY REVISITED: Mandy's new book about an invisible playmate jeopardizes her marriage and her life. THE NECKLACE: Hazel inherits her grandma's ...

From the author of Aevalorn Tales comes a dark fantasy story about trifling with fate. In the heart of the Aevalorn Parishes, the halfling folk prepare to celebrate the end of the Dark Days with warmth and camaraderie. But for Elina Hogsbreath, owner of the Swindle & Swine, this time heralds a troubling tradition. Horwich Cobbleberry is a vain and pompous halfling who has made it his habit to drink from a magical cup once a year, again endangering the inn and everyone in it. Having enough of Horwich’s false promises to forego the ritual, Elina takes matters into her own hands. Fans of ...

From the author of Aevalorn Tales comes a story about the power of words, deception and subterfuge, and helping out an old friend. When esteemed emissary Ser Roham Baz falls victim to a mysterious curse that twists his words, it's up to his loyal friend, Joliver Barleywood, the clever Halfling Bard of the Aevalorn Parishes, to unravel the mystery. Joliver must use his cunning tongue to root out those who cursed Ser Roham, undo Roham’s affliction, and save the kingdom from falling into war. Set amid diplomatic negotiations fraught with tension and deceit, The Taunting Tongue weaves ...

It’s the end of the farming season, and as celebrations get into full swing at the Swindle & Swine, Strelly Ramblefoot leads the raucous crowd through a barn-storming dance. Only something seems very wrong to the inn’s able barman. Fans of Brandon Sanderson, Travis Baldree, and S. L. Rowland will find The Song at Harvest's End spins a captivating cozy of community and dangerous magic. Halflings. Magic. Cozy. Trusting Your Intuition.

The sequel to the best-selling Zombie, Ohio, this explosive supernatural thriller from Scott Kenemore tells the story of three Chicagoans who have been thrown together by a bizarre, interconnected series of events during the first 24 hours of a zombie outbreak in the Midwest's largest city. A partnership is crafted between a pastor from Chicago's rough South Side, an intrepid newspaper reporter, and a young female musician, all of whom are fighting for survival as they struggle to protect themselves and their communities in a city overrun with the walking dead.

In their third critically acclaimed collection of original fairy tales for adults, World Fantasy Award-winning editors Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling present 21 new stories by some of the top names in literature today. Dark, disturbing and delightful, each story was written expressly for this superb collection of distinctly grown-up fantasy - a brilliant companion volume to Datlow and Windling's acclaimed anthologies, Snow White, Blood Red, and Black Thorn, White Rose.