Dark Fantasy Short Stories

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 ...

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, ...

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 ...

Deep in the quiet town of Garibaldi, Oregon, lies a dark and mysterious secret. Zoey follows her heart from Idaho to the Oregon coast where she is drawn into a world filled with romance, mystery, and danger as she navigates the small coastal village plagued with ghosts, dark magic, murder, and even a dragon. Will Zoey find what she's been searching for, or will the evil lurking in the mists of Garibaldi consume her completely? Join Zoey and the other inhabitants of this tiny fishing village as they move through perilous challenges and uncover hidden truths. If you enjoy thrilling tales of ...

When a woman’s fed up there’s hell to pay. When a female demon is fed up? You’d better get the f-ck out the way. Wassup? I’m Xenia, and I’m sick and tired of my mate. And no, he didn’t cheat on me, that’s human crap to get mad at. No, the f-cktard can’t get over the thought of his baby brother one-upping him; and has been neglecting me as a result. Well, an idle mind is a dangerous place, especially when it belongs to an intelligent, female demon. When my father-in-law, the devil himself, gives me a task to wipe out an entire country, I jump on it. Especially when I see just...

In her second collection from Trepidatio Publishing, award-winning author Gemma Files takes her listeners on journeys out beyond safe borders—from the trackless depths of the sea, to the empty desert frontiers of the Weird West, even to the edges of cracks between worlds. Here, in these narrow spaces between the known and the unknown, behind the paper-thin curtains of reality, lurk monsters both human and ancient: selkies and avenging revenants, voodoo priestesses and pirate sorcerers, ghosts and vampires, and the most famous murderer of all time.

Beyond the Veil: Three Dark Tales of Life, Death, and the Unseen Step into a world where the line between life and death blurs, and the shadows whisper of things unseen... Cappuccino Heaven: Journey into the afterlife with Elizabeth Walker, who discovers that Heaven isn't quite what she imagined. Amidst familiar faces and endless cappuccinos, a darker realm looms, pulling her toward secrets that could unravel everything she once believed. Dead Dreams: For Adam and Summer, living on society's fringe seemed like the perfect escape—until they realize not everyone can see them. Plagued by ...

In Caitlín R. Kiernan’s The Ammonite Violin & Others, one of contemporary dark fantasy’s most bewitching and distinctive voices is back with another banquet of the weird and unexpected. Within this book, you’ll discover a dazzling suite of stories situated on the borderlands between the unspeakable and the erotic, the grotesque and the sublime.

From Roger Zelansky's delightful tale of Death's disobedient godson to Peter Straub's blood-chilling examination of a gargantuan Cinderella and her terrible twisted "art," here are stories strange and miraculous - remarkable modern storytelling that remold our most cherished childhood fables into things sexier, more sinister - and more appealing to grown-up tastes and sensibilities.

Beast Hunt invites you to step into the claws, wings, and scales of the creatures humanity has feared for centuries. From mighty dragons to forgotten forest spirits, from mechanical monstrosities to cursed beings of the deep—these are the stories of the unseen, the unheard, and the misunderstood.

A fourth anthology from the editors of Ruby Slippers, Golden Tears presents contemporary retellings of traditional fairy tales in Gregory Frost's "Sparks", "The Dog Rose" by Sten Westgard, and other works by Jane Yolen, Joyce Carol Oates, Nancy Kress, and John Crowley.

Dame Armaelle Níallach, a battle-worn knight sworn to protect her sovereign, races through the moonlit forests, cradling an infant princess in her arms. Pursued by ruthless assassins, she seeks refuge in the ancient cemetery of Caer Mawnog, where stone statues of grieving widows and faceless wraiths stand as silent sentinels of forgotten tragedies. Wounded and desperate, Armaelle pleads with the old gods for help—only to find her prayers answered by something far older and more dangerous than she ever imagined. With its vivid world-building, rich in ancient lore and primal forces, the ...

From the author of Aevalorn Tales comes a dark fantasy story about resisting evil and fighting for what you believe in. Shambling from the depths of the Murkwode Fens comes a tale of courage, faith, and the unyielding nature of the human spirit. Bartram Humblefoot, Paladin of the Ancients, leads a contingent of Mumling regulars to retrieve a holy artifact from a ruined temple. Regrettably, the forces of darkness have other plans. War is coming, and the artifact would lend their evil disciples a great advantage. The dead are awakened, rising from death to secure the temple. Bartram must help...

Unravel the Mysteries: Strange Stories from Marseille Embark on an extraordinary journey with "Strange Stories from Marseille," a collection of horror short stories that defy clichés. Immerse yourself in the authentic legends of Marseille, where reality blends with dark mysteries, challenging the boundaries between fiction and reality. The networks are buzzing: "Horror, fantasy, sci-fi, and Marseille! Say no more, it's nearly perfect." – Etherlutisse. Embark on a journey through the hidden corners of Marseille with "Strange Stories from Marseille," a collection of fantastic and ...

The four previous volumes in Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling's anthology series of fairly-tales retold with a distinctively modern edge have been hailded by reviewers as "brilliant", "provocative", and "disturbing". In this triumphant new collection of original fiction, 21 of today's leading writers spin the cherished fables of childhood into glittering gold - offering magical tales for adults, as seductive as they are sophisticated.

Here are 23 terrifying tales, dark reflections of the silver screen from both sides of the camera. James Dean gets a second chance at life and death. The Wicked Witch is out of Oz, and she's made some very unlucky friends. When God decides reality needs an editor, what and who gets cut?

Markas hear 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 to them. In one of such dreams Markas seeing visions of his own dad…

With his player past, will she ever be able to trust him? Maggie Emerson has had a crush on her brother's friend Declan for years. She knows he's not into girls like her - he's always surrounded by skinny model types. With her curvy body and a career choice that never made her wealthy family happy, Maggie is sure Declan will never fall for her. Except now that her job is in jeopardy, she has no one else to turn to... Declan Archibald knows he wants no one else but Maggie. He wasn't ready for her before, but now he can't get her out of his mind. He tried wooing her a few months ago, and it ...