Dark Fantasy Short Stories

Journey from the fabled city of fabric in Paeu to the demon-infested landscape of Ishambria, from the Machiavellian scheming in Quing Tzu to the cat-littered crags of Al Kutz as you embark on a vivid voyage through this immersive high fantasy anthology, encountering along the way legendary Guardians, magic scarves, barbaric priests, duplicitous gods, cackling Witches, and wind-riders.

Jarek leaves the safety of the City to travel far and wide. A cursed priestess Hidden chambers Strange afflictions Danger lurks at his every step. In order to survive, Jarek must learn the secrets of the road! Discover the epic deeds of Jarek the Scholar, a new pulp hero, inside this anthology of fantasy and mystery.

Dip your toes into the exotic waters of Maradoum, exploring the realm through 11 stand-alone short stories set in the same world as the Convent Series. From the brutality of dust-blown Ogbun Nagali and the barbarism of high society in Zamphia to the rotten heart of civilized Justiqua and the treacheries secreted beneath the soothing tropics of Ishambria, this high fantasy anthology is stuffed to the gills with witches and wizards, gods and monsters, tales of love beyond death and familial vengeance, coming of age and reunification, and questing warriors and even noble foes.

The alien but oddly familiar realm of Maradoum welcomes you home with a magical medley of stand-alone short stories. From the ancient mysteries of Gorodzmeya - the lizard city in the desert - to the deities who protect the people of Quing Tzu, from the hidden treasures of Shimyahein to the sacking of the Spardican coast, this sword and sorcery anthology will keep you at the edge of your seat with stories of comeuppance and revenge, of mighty warriors and creatures of evil, of the lost finding family, of omens and urchins, and of portals to realms beyond what is known.

Samantha Lexi is back at it again with this bundle of two of her steamiest audiobooks! There is nothing hotter than listening to an arousing story about rough gangbangs with strangers or hot lesbian fantasies where anything goes. If you want to experience pure pleasure without having to leave your house, then this bundle is exactly what you need! It doesn’t matter if you like BDSM, threesomes, domination, or more—there's something for you! Find all kinds of naughty sex stories so there’s no way you won’t find something that turns you on instantly!

Worlds collide, mysteries unfold, and the extraordinary awaits in this kaleidoscope of tales. Step through the portal into a collection of spellbinding short stories where reality bends, humor sparks, and darkness lurks at the edges of imagination. From the satirical escapades of a giant and a Lilliputian journalist uncovering seismic scandals to a spectral lighthouse that beckons the brave, each tale invites you into a realm where the ordinary and the fantastical intertwine. Uncover chilling secrets in an enchanted garden, face the perils of corporate sabotage in the void of space, and ...

Award winning-narrator Mike Vendetti takes us to an old church in Providence, Rhode Island, where H. P. Lovecraft dedicates this horror story to Robert Bloch, who has killed Lovecraft's character in "The Shambler to the Stars". Lovecraft repays the favor by killing off Robert Harrison Blake (aka Robert Bloch).

They call the Malar Dorah unbreakable. Five centuries it stood unconquered until foul trickery cracked its gates. Now, it is the final bastion of a retreating northern army, and the culmination of a long-raging war. The warlord Belerod stands at the Dorah's doorstep with a horde at his back, set on testing the meaning of unbreakable with his golems.

Valerie’s Tale is a story about a little girl with a heart filled with courage and strength, living in a world plagued with war and where magic is divided by clerics, who believe in using magic conservatively, and mages, who use it for whatever their heart’s desire.

The light is gone. Darkness Reigns.Merida has fallen into darkness. With the Keeper of Light dead, no one stood a chance against the Dragon King. Now a vapid wasteland, the darkness reaches across the kingdom, withering everything in its path. With no choice but to fight, the heir to the Light Stone must fight to reclaim what was lost. If Adreus takes his place as the Keeper of Light, and wields the Light Stone, then maybe he can overcome the darkness once and for all. But he's not the only one seeking its power.

This is a short story set in the Narcoscape of the Book of Dreams series. It is named "Dreaming of a White Christmas" and was originally printed in the collection A Cozy Christmas. In this brief installment, Nicodemus Smith has her hands full tracking down a lost philanthropist who fancies himself to be Santa Claus. Enjoy the yuletide oddness with Nic and the gang no matter what the season. I'll see you on the dreamside, ---Melanie

The thing the machines consume is us. Ready to lease out your mind? Or pay for your next meal with involuntary ads? The Closet Full of Time collection contains five short stories that speak to that sinking feeling that we're serving the machines instead of the other way around. That our inventions are taking things we can’t afford to lose.

In this set of four short stories, the perennial struggle to catch the bad guys gets the supernatural treatment. Like holding a murder trial in a twilight zone, anything can happen—but in the end, justice will be served. In “Judge and Jury,” a violent gang tries to make its own rules. But out West, a kangaroo court is the only law, and this time, there’s a ghost in attendance. He knows the truth about their terrible crimes, and he won’t stop until someone pays for it. Capital punishment gets a vengeful twist in “The Wheel,” as the victim’s family gets involved in choosing ...

If a person is frozen before they take their last breath, are they dead? Embark on an unforgettable journey through life, death, and the unknown in "Where the Others Go," the captivating seventeenth installment of The Night Portals Fantasy Series. Meet Teddy Haims, a man on the brink of accepting his fate—until a chance encounter with a representative from the premier cryogenics company, CryoCorp changes everything. At ninety-five years old, Teddy has savored the highs and lows of existence, yet time slips through his grasp like sand. Facing mortality, he grapples with the elusive concept...

How do you protect a secret no one ever told you? Agnethe, a young Norse girl living in 882 Danelaw, finds herself alone and needs to answer that question. Now, she'll have to find a way to learn the secret or risk endangering more realms than her own. One mysterious woman could be the key if Agnethe can find her. To make matters worse, she's forced to leave her home and live with abusive relatives just as she starts to experience strange premonitions she doesn't understand. When she meets a handsome visitor, he offers her the security she craves, but will his love keep her from her true ...

Food. We use it to celebrate, to provide both comfort and energy, and to show our love. There’s something about mixing a pinch of this and a dash of that to create something new. And when you pair it with the perfect drink...'chef’s kiss'. Stories can do the same thing. They can be a celebration, bring us comfort and energy, and help us express our love. And when the perfect character is paired with the perfect plot...well, then you have something worth devouring. So take a place at the table, and let’s see what’s on the menu.

Richard has just buried his beloved wife. He is a man desperate for answers and has a hardened heart for vengeance. He knows deep down that his enemies have taken his wife from him and will stop at nothing to destroy the ones who did. Against the advice of his allies, he follows a lead to fulfil his vengeance. Yet this path will only bring death.

EPIC award finalist Howard Odentz has penned 26 disturbingly fascinating horror stories about the youngest predators among us. From Andy and Boris to Yuri and Zina, this eclectic anthology is filled, A to Z, with psychopaths, monsters, and murderers.

Valentean Burai, White Dragon of the Rosinanti, suffered a stunning defeat within the shadow of a desolate ancient city. Beaten and burned to the point of near-death, he recovers among his closest friends and allies, while harboring a dark secret. A world away, Princess Seraphina Kackritta, The Ice Queen, continues to fight against the forces of chaos that have claimed her homeland. Far from the man she loves, Seraphina must focus her magical abilities and lead an armed resistance to reclaim her kingdom from the shadowy evil that has enveloped her people.

Janell making phone calls to demonic lovers in front of her husband is just the beginning. The horrors hit home for two young men telling ghost stories while driving through the thickest fog of the year. An aging hunter summons the spirit of the Bavarian wilderness as his abilities and will begin to fade. A teacher opens his mouth to instruct his students - and finds himself speaking in the voice of his newly deceased mentor. A young woman, pregnant out of wedlock in the late 1950s, is "sent away" only to find her new home harbors strange secrets.