Dark Fantasy Short Stories

She’s a marine biologist; he’s a shark. Will they ever be able to make a relationship work, or is their sea-crossed love doomed to fail? And who says you need to be alive or even human to enjoy a happily ever after? Warning: this is not a kid’s story. This sharktastic love story is an over-the-top, cheeky tale with a ridiculously fun and shocking, gory conclusion. Originally, I wrote it years ago as a creepy romance just for my partner, as a Valentine’s Day gift. I revamped it after finding inspiration in the latest shark movie trailer. It seemed appropriate to release it on the ...

From paranormal plots to stories of the supernatural, tales of the unfamiliar have always fascinated us humans. To keep the tradition alive, fantasy aficionado Paula Guran has gathered the most delightfully disturbing work from some of today's finest writers of the fantastique! No two mysterious shadows are alike, and the same can be said for the books in this series. The Year's Best Dark Fantasy & Horror, Volume 4 contains more than twenty stories. Listener beware and indulge if you dare, because these chilling tales are sure to spook and surprise!

Sympathy with the sea, with the weird, and with monsters fills the stories of Imperfect Commentaries. Ruthanna Emrys' collection offers listeners feminist and #ownvoices Neo-Lovecraftian fiction, anthropological science fiction, and fantasies of belonging, plus miscellaneous deleted scenes, poems, and secret story origins. Listeners familiar with her novels (Winter Tide and Deep Roots) will see the first appearance of Aphra Marsh, an Innsmouth survivor, still recovering from her losses and making a life for herself in late-1940s San Francisco.

This is a SHORT STORY set within the ongoing THE UNSEEN franchise. Potential spoilers ahead! This short story stars the youngest character in the intense THE UNSEEN franchise, Hope Diaz. Her survival is one of heartache, terror, and perseverance, an event that occurs during book two of the main series, DESOLATION.

An ancient promise. An undying king. A love that defies destiny. When a young princess suddenly finds herself in the clutches of the fearsome vampire king, her life is no longer her own. He has chosen her—his bride, his possession, his queen. But Princess Ginger is not ready to submit so easily. She will fight, even though her heart beats faster with every encounter with him. The vampire king is dark, unyielding, and far too seductive. His kiss takes her breath away, his touch ignites an insatiable desire. But there is a secret that puts their connection to the test—an ancient prophecy ...

Welcome to Winterhaven ~ Almost Nothing Is What It Seems... But the Sex is Real and the Secrets are Many! Down and out on her luck, Verity answers an ad in in a small country newspaper. The job offer sounds almost too good to be true and the salary is much more than she made in the city. Even with her doubts, though, Verity visits Winterhaven and falls in love with the rural area... but behind the lush green beauty of the countryside lies ugly secrets! Winterhaven Manor holds many secrets, and all those associated with the grand old estate seem to have secrets of their own to protect. ...

A Sci-Fi Short Story In the far reaches of the Orion Expanse lies a mystery older than civilization—a silent forest no ship has ever returned from until now. The Dark Forest Protocol is a gripping, atmospheric sci-fi short story that explores the chilling theory that the universe may not be empty but hiding. With compelling characters, rich world-building, and thought-provoking themes, this tale will keep you hooked from the first page to the last. Perfect for fans of hard sci-fi, space exploration, and cosmic suspense, this short story delivers a powerful narrative in a fast-paced format...

Pick up the latest issue of Savage Realms Monthly and fill up on stalwart heroes doing battle with the forces of evil in this epic collection of short sword and sorcery fiction. This month brings you an exciting crop of stories; Brad Younie returns with another rousing adventure in the city of Sharkham, Jack Myers delivers a tale of dark vengeance, and Morgan Kane thrills with another tale of everyone's favorite exile. Don't miss the latest issue of Savage Realms!

> Berserker is a stand-alone short story, framed as a missing chapter from Paternus, the urban fantasy, mythic fiction novel, by Dyrk Ashton. It tells of the time when one of the characters finally met his father, many centuries ago.

This collection includes all three novels in The Shadow Changeling Series, a Colin McCool Junkyard Druid spin-off series set in M.D. Massey's Druidverse® urban fantasy setting. If you enjoy dark urban fantasy books featuring haunted antiheroes in the tradition of Snape, Walker Boh, and Constantine, you'll love this story about a shadow wizard who's searching for his long lost human family.

Three Stories. Three temptations. One irresistible surrender. Enter a world where desire obeys no rules—except the ones whispered in the dark. From teasing anticipation to the sweet sting of submission, this collection invites you to lose control… and love every moment of it. Read the following stories in this collection: The Art Class: Teach me Gently Trevor, a dominant by nature, guides Elizabeth on a journey of submission and self-discovery. Their tale unfolds through trust, understanding, and the captivating world of bondage, where the boundaries between Master and slave blur, ...

From a childhood as an abandoned orphan to life as one of the city’s most skilled burglars, master thief Rafiq has long lived high off the wealth of Avanasia—its trade, its jewels, and its women. The vaults of Avanasia's merchants are as open to him as the legs of its most beautiful courtesans. For in Avanasia, there is but one paramount truth: There are those who have, and those who take. And Rafiq is one of the latter. But when he steals an ancient heirloom blade from a powerful merchant, he sets in motion a series of events that will shift the balance of power in the city.

It's the holidays, and Samantha Moon and her family are ready to get together and celebrate. No, they may not be your average family, but the love is just as real. It's two days before the big Thanksgiving meal when Sam receives a most unusual guest. Unusual because she hasn't seen her brother, Clayton, in twenty years. Turns out, he isn't just here for the pumpkin pies and yams. He's got a problem. He's been cursed and thinks his little sister is his best chance to fix it. With pie baking put on hold, Sam and company set out to break his curse, locate a kidnapped baby, and save the day. ...

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...

A collection of horror/thriller stories with surprise endings to chill you and thrill you to the bone. The creepers include: THE BLIND MAN: Two career criminals see a blind man with a wad of cash at the mall and follow him home. BAD TO THE BONE: Ted sees a gruesome accident, discovers he can't get enough death and dismemberment, and his graphic videos go viral on the net. DEAL OR NO DEAL: An author who lost his wife in a fatal accident meets a weird man at the bar who says he can bring her back for a price. IDENTICAL: A frightened and confused pregnant woman delivers three identical girls ...

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.

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, ...

Anne Bishop's "darkly fascinating"* (SF Site) Black Jewel novels have enthralled readers and critics alike with their mixture of fantasy, intrigue, and romance. Now in Twilight's Dawn, Bishop returns to the Blood realm with four all-new captivating novellas.

Featuring stories from R.L. Stine and Madeleine Roux, this middle-grade horror anthology, curated by New York Times best-selling author and master of macabre Jonathan Maberry, is a chilling tribute to Alvin Schwartz’s Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark. Flesh-hungry ogres? Brains full of spiders? Haunted houses you can’t escape? This collection of 35 terrifying stories from the Horror Writers Association has it all, including ghastly illustrations from Iris Compiet that will absolutely chill listeners to the bone.

A collection of horror/thriller stories with surprise endings to chill you and thrill you to the bone. The creepers include: FANGS: Harry wakes up one morning and bites his lip because of the fangs that grew in his mouth during the night. CATHEAD CREEK: Fred inherits property in Cathead Creek, NC and discovers all three of his brothers were the victims of a legendary monster. FRESH: Sam's TV died, and a fellow worker offers him a side job robbing graves for a doctor who pays obscenely well for fresh corpses. THE TOWER: Ever since the anesthesiologist administered the drug ketamine for my ...