Dark Fantasy Short Stories

When the mighty and cruel must be brought low, it's the killers and the schemers who emerge from the shadows. As plans twist and change, and our protagonists are foiled and beaten, one thing remains true: no matter the cost, the king must fall.

Charlie Bucket and his family are rushing around the Earth at seventeen-thousand miles an hour in a great glass elevator. It belongs to the fantastic Mr Willy Wonka, and the adventure becomes even greater upon discovering they're not the only ones orbiting the Earth at that particular time....

Such a long life of killing has left plenty of dangerous enemies in its wake. An ancient witch coven, a jealous assassin, and even a demon lord all have old scores to settle. With one last contract to fulfill, Yrlissa hopes to be free from her past and her guild forever so she can disappear with her husband and young daughter. But the past doesn't forget so easily, and neither will a betrayed guild of magical assassins. Yrlissa's only concern is to keep her new family safe, but with enemies closing in on all sides, will they become a distraction she cannot afford?

As Caden and Brighton's attraction grows despite the odds stacked against a happily ever after, they must work together to stop an Ancient fae from releasing the Queen, who wants nothing more than to see Caden become the evil Prince once feared by fae and mortals alike.

The stories in Fifty Beasts to Break Your Heart are about the abomination that resides within us all. That churning, clawing, ravenous yearning: the hunger to be held, and seen, and known. And the terror, too: to be loved too well, or not enough, or for long enough. To be laid bare before your sweetheart, to their horror. To be recognized as the monstrous thing you are. In these lush, strange stories, GennaRose Nethercott explores human longing in all its diamond-dark facets to create a collection that will redefine what you see as a beast, and make you beg to have your heart broken.

Deadwood meets Cthulhu in this wild and profane Western romp featuring zombies, werewolves, evil spirits, and one pissed-off gunslinging preacher. The Wild West has never seen the likes of the Reverend Jebidiah Mercer, a hard man wielding a burning Bible in the battle between God and the devil, in an endless struggle he's not sure he cares who wins. With its five stories laced with fast-paced action, nonstop humor, and spine-tingling horror, Deadman's Road is your ride to hell....

Sword and sorcery fans, rejoice! Discover a world of shining steel and deadly sorcery where larger than life heroes do battle with the forces of evil. This is sword and sorcery at its finest! There is never a dull moment in Savage Realms. If you yearn for the days of Robert E. Howard, Clark Ashton Smith, and L. Sprague de Camp, look no further. The latest issue of Savage Realms features another installment of Redgar and Natali along with a tale by the talented Victor H. Rodriguez and newcomer Chad Wilson. Pick up a copy today.

The old woman had lived alone in the mountains above the village for untold years, never being approached nor approaching anyone. Now that little world has encroached upon her in the form of a girl seeking refuge from a horrible future. Yet the villagers will not stand idly by while one of their own seeks to retreat from them and their ways. They will deal with the “witch” who has been watching them from afar for so many years. The outcome can only be horror. From the author of The Kobalos Trilogy and The Horrors of Bond Trilogy.

In this erotic futanari and lesbian romance, Lily, a pretty and sweet 18-year-old redhead from a small town, meets a beautiful and mysterious woman in the woods outside her home. I’ll take care of that later, sweetie,” the gorgeous dark-haired woman whispered as she wrapped her arms around Lily from behind. Kara nuzzled the young woman’s right temple and enjoyed the mild flowery fragrance that emanated from her hair. Lily melted into the dark-haired woman’s embrace. In Kara’s strong arms, she was a helpless but blissful captive, and felt as if she could remain there forever. ...

Predatory kraken that sing with - and for - their kin; band members and betrayed friends who happen to be demonic; harpies as likely to attract as to repel. Welcome to a world where humans live side-by-side with monsters, from vampires both nostalgic and bumbling, to an eight-legged alien who makes tea. Here you'll find mercurial forms that burrow into warm fat, spectral boy toys, a Maori force of nature, a landform that claims lives, and an architect of hell on earth.

Like the tanning of a leathered corpse, the inaugural release of Grimoire seeks to stretch the fleshy bounds of dark fiction and horror. Included within these unhallowed book are tales of medieval horror and cacophony, Lovecraftian delights and wretched Kaiju, accursed djinn and pestilential priests, all brought together for the very first time in one horrific collection. Engaging and provocative, these tales of the damned stalk the graveyards at night, crawl up from the empty and wet places of this world, and haunt the dreams of all who hear them.

Samantha Moon is back and fighting crime! Hired for what seems like another cheating spouse case, Samantha couldn’t be more surprised when the target of her surveillance seemingly walks in on a bank robbery. Is he somehow involved? Sam doesn't know, but a few twists and turns later, she soon finds herself hanging from a helicopter’s landing skid... and heading out to sea. Turns out, this is no ordinary cheating spouse case. Luckily, Sam is no ordinary private eye. Click BUY NOW or READ FOR FREE today!

Some witches heal. Some witches curse. Some never die. Step into the shadowed corners of magic with Whispers of the Coven, a haunting collection of witch stories where the line between power and peril is razor-thin. Inside, you’ll discover: 🕯️ A hidden village where every woman is born with a secret spell—one that can only be used once. 🌙 A forgotten grimoire that writes new spells in human blood. 🔥 A witch trial where the accused is more dangerous than the executioners. 📖 A bookshop that appears only to those with unfinished business with the dead. 💀 A curse that keeps...

Vitus Adamson has a second chance at life now that he's no longer a zombie. But after killing his brother, Jamie, Vitus lands in prison on murder charges. Jamie's death exposes secret government projects so deep in the black they cannot be seen - without Vitus, that is. Sprung from jail, the government hires Vitus to clean up Jamie's messes, but tracking down his brother's homemade monsters gone rogue is easier said than done. The first of them is a convicted killer assumed to be safely behind bars.

There has never been a hunt that Dorian has lost. With his sights sent on a relic the Dragon Kings need to battle an ancient foe, he won’t let anything stand in his way - especially not the beautiful owner. Alexandra is smart and cautious. Yet the attraction between them is impossible to deny - or ignore. In his arms, Alexandra finds passion like no other - and a love that will transcend time. But can she give her heart to a dragon?

Ignite your senses and surrender to a world transformed by fiery desire. In the wake of a cataclysmic meteor's arrival, humanity finds itself locked in an unending battle against alien creatures from another world. For forty-two years, survival has been a fierce struggle. Amidst the chaos, a single spark of hope emerges: the Starters. Extraordinary women who possess the ability to tap into their deepest desires, channeling their passions into elemental powers strong enough to stave off the impending invasion. Alanna, a tenacious young woman, dares to dream of becoming a Starter. However, ...

The 32nd edition of Writers of the Future may be the best new book yet! Brand-new adventure through space, time, and possibility. Along the way these new authors will introduce you to fascinating characters such as Nate, a very loyal companion - like most werewolves would be. Keanie has a parasite that lets her morph and so transform into anyone. Liz owns a dinosaur maker, but raw ingredients can be a problem. Anna slaves away in a factory but her magic leaves her unfulfilled. These authors take creative writing to a whole new level!

A collection of horror/thriller stories with surprise endings to chill you and thrill you to the bone. The creepers include: THE KILLER IN THE CLOSET: Elvis awakes with a butcher knife in his gut and calls 911 to save his life. AS RARE AS A WHITE CROW: An Uber driver picks up a fare, and a series of calamities occur on his way to the airport. MASSANUTTAN ACRES: A family enjoys their vacations camping each summer until a truck transporting a polar bear runs off the road. WAXWORKS: Sue discovers the wax figure of Jack the Ripper at the museum looks exactly like her new boyfriend. THE END OF ...

The first in a series of anthologies devoted to the Lovecraftian gods, Ordo ab Chao follows the highly successful The Gods of HP Lovecraft (published in 2015 by JournalStone Publishing). We begin our series with the primal origins and the god Azathoth, who represents primordial chaos in the Lovecraftian Mythos.

Featuring all-new tales of dark fantasy, cosmic horror, supernatural revenge, and the sorcery of terror from masters of the craft, this issue includes stories and poems by Alma Katsu, Heather Graham, Maurice Broaddus, Fran Wilde, Priya Sharma, Anne Walsh, Yvonne Navarro, Jake Bible, Gabrielle Faust, and Christina Sng.