The Birth of Ida by Rachel Grosvenor

'You believe in ghost stories? You afraid of ghosts when there's snakes and men tryin' to kill you?' Ousted from her homestead, Ida Vale quickly learns that the only way to survive as a lone traveller is to disguise herself as a man. Unsuspecting farmer Colt is the perfect target, who just happens to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, looking roughly the right size. On the run as 'Colton John' the bounty hunter, Ida ventures into the unforgiving wilderness of The Nameless Stretch. Drawn towards a witch's house by the whisperings of the Derelict Woods, she discovers that the land is here, the murdered return to haunt their assailants. And to her shock, Ida is being haunted by someone she loves. She's not a murderer, like her brother. So who is it watching her every move? Meanwhile, Colt sets into motion a series of events that he hopes will end in one of two Ida Vale at his door, dead or alive. But in The Nameless Stretch, you can't escape your demons — and Ida soon learns she has far more to fear from the living than the dead.

The Cartoon Life and Loves of a Stupid Man by Marc Joan

As an independent comic book store owner and the heir to a pharmaceutical fortune, Philippe Favrier lives a life that straddles the real world and the realm of fiction. Struggling with mental illness, Philippe relies on his wife, Marilyne — a successful surgeon with her own haunting secrets — and a groundbreaking drug his father developed. Bound by their shared pain, they navigate their haunted lives, forever shadowed by the heart-rending loss of their baby, Antoine. Their fragile world begins to crumble when Philippe catches a disturbing glimpse of an unfamiliar profile in the mirror. And his uneasiness is further fuelled by an anonymous comic strip that arrives at his store, featuring a character bearing an eerie resemblance to him. Is Marilyne hiding an affair? Is she connected to the comic strip that’s tormenting him? As he probes deeper, Philippe is drawn into a web of deception, where the lines between reality and imagination blur — until his investigations into Marilyne and the malicious comic artist at last reveal the tragic truth.

Hangdog Souls by Marc Joan

Kingdom of Mysore, 1799. A guilt-racked British Army deserter tries to win safety for those he loves – but his reckless bargaining only leaves him trapped between destinies, condemned to facilitate centuries of suicide and murder. Death after death, and each death diminishes him, until — a quarter of a millennium later — a Keralan astrophysicist has the chance to annul the soldier’s Faustian bargain. But Chandy John is weakened by his own burden of grief — will this twenty-first century scientist only become another helpless nexus between undeserved death and undeserved life? Hangdog Souls is set in the Dravidian heartlands of South India — and in a blurred edgeland where alternative realities elide. Through linked narratives of guilt, shame and the search for absolution, this book takes readers from the arid Tamil plains to the highest peaks of the Nilgiris, and from occult horrors in Tipu Sultan’s kingdom to creeping madness in the world of particle physics. Spanning three hundred years, the stories in Hangdog Souls weave together the fates and fortunes of multiple characters – individuals that echo through the generations, asking always the same question: What weight can balance the death of an innocent?

Bring Out Your Dead by Heather Murphy

Secrets from the past cannot be ignored forever. After her mother’s untimely death, Lucy Fray discovers the existence of family she never knew she had. But Adeline and Edmund Fray have been living with a tragedy of their own - three murders that have gone unsolved for 40 years. When Lucy and her six-year-old son are invited to visit Fray House, they discover that secrets often long to be revealed… and ghosts can haunt us whether or not we believe in them.

The Hidden by D. Ann Hall

How will she survive… Kidnapped, tortured, amnesiac and on the brink of death. This will not be pretty!

The Mystery of the Pale King by Sam Flynn

"Tonight, my friends, the performance is real. To you, my most faithful, I dedicate this, the final production of 'The Mystery of the Pale King.'" As an orphan growing up in a distant border province, Faron took pride in the epic tales of the Hero of Hathur, a great and powerful warrior who ruled in the name of the sun-worshipping Church of the Sol Creator. That pride is shattered by accusations from the Hero's family that he squandered their entire inheritance on the production of a profane play with him at the center: "The Mystery of the Pale King." The Church proclaims him under interdict and dispatches Bishop Antonius, his devoted page Faron, and a cadre of soldiers downriver to repossess Hathur on its behalf. The cruelty they witness on their perilous mission forces them to confront the horrors at the heart of Hathur's past and question not just their devotion to the Church but their very beliefs in gods and heroes. Amid a storm of betrayal, murder, and sacrilege, Faron must survive fanatical cultists, their obscene rituals, and the evil hiding in the light in order to save Bishop Antonius from the Hero's final performance. Inspired by the historical legend of Gilles de Rais, The Mystery of the Pale King probes the roots of modern American dysfunction in a grim flintlock fantasy setting that reflects the best and worst of humanity. “While the dark, riveting The Mystery of the Pale King is set in a distant time and place, its sharp examinations of religious cults and hero worship are all too relevant to today’s world. Flynn’s clear prose leads the reader through a short yet complex tale of dark fantasy and horrors both earthbound and cosmic. It’s a gripping, highly recommended read." - Nicole Willson, Bram Stoker Award-nominated author of Tidepool

Liminal Space by Vicki-Ann Bush

Two worlds, a desperate fate, and the secret that binds them. A weekend getaway turns dark when friends Jesse and Micah witness a woman drenched in blood screaming in the middle of a casino. Security quickly whisks the woman away and the two friends are left shaken. Trying to get past what they saw, they attempt to move forward with their plans. But when mysterious events continue to occur, like a town appearing and disappearing from the view in their hotel room, the girls begin to wonder if their weekend getaway is a weekend nightmare. Their curiosity drives them to seek out and investigate the vanishing town. Initiating a journey that leads to a truth much bigger than they could ever have imagined and changing their lives forever.

The Darkest Light by Vicki-Ann Bush

War is coming. As the star quarterback for his high school football team and local celebrity in the quaint town of Boulder City, Luke Jacob enjoys a charmed life. Everything's going according to plan, that is until the night he spots a mysterious and alluring girl in the crowd. Despite his father's cryptic warning to keep away from her, he's instantly drawn to Mary. The team plans a gathering to celebrate their homecoming win, and Luke decides to invite her. The evening turns dark when the demon Abezethibou appears and threatens them. When Mary steps in to save her peers, Luke sees her for what she truly is, forever changing their future and creating a bond between them. The revelation shatters what Luke believes about himself and forces him to face his destiny. Will Mary stand by Luke in the face of the coming storm, or will she be swayed by the allure of darkness?

Midnight Falls by John Evans

After a series of disappointments and mishaps at college, Josh Blevins returns to his small hometown, loyal dog in tow, and begrudgingly settles in. Though he feels like a failure and his life is at a crossroads, he’s made new friends and even found a girl. But the pleasant façade of Midnight Falls he remembered from childhood hides a sinister evil. One that goes beyond the hate festering within the borders and etched in the streets to something much deeper and chilling. Anyone and everyone could be a monster lurking behind the mask of hospitality. Knowing who to trust is impossible, especially when he’s constantly butting heads with the sheriff, who has a grudge against him, an axe to grind, and no intentions of burying it unless it’s in Josh’s back.

An Empty Embrace by Cyril Mezden

Submit. Repent. Obey. Celest was raised to follow. Trained from an early age to be a cleric, the elf has lived his life fully devoted to the goddess of the sun and the doctrine of his citadel. Newly paired with his teammates, Sable, a quick-witted halfling witch, and Viktor, a bull-headed half-orc warrior, the three are swallowed into a dark city, long forgotten by the world from which they came. There, they find a family wracked by fear. A man of unquenchable thirst haunts the rain-soaked nights, preying off the living. But, when his interest is piqued upon first meeting the considerate Celest, all else seems unimportant. Armed with unnatural beauty, a silver tongue, and a wicked smile, the vampire begins his intimate pursuit to cage the cleric’s heart. AN EMPTY EMBRACE is a chilling tale of queer love and twisted intentions.

Marthas Notebook: A Zombie Apocalypse Trilogy by C. Fulster

Before the incident, Martha’s biggest worry was her parents’ divorce. Now she’s hiding from a zombie horde hell-bent on annihilating humankind nicknamed “Chippers.” However, this attack wasn’t spurred by a viral outbreak. Rather, these zombies seem to be puppets of an AI technology gone rogue, and with every day that passes, it’s learning more about how to accomplish its sinister goal. But why is an AI creating, controlling, and upgrading zombies—and more importantly, how do you stop an ultra-intelligent, world-ending technology that can shift course at a moment’s notice? Only one thing is there’s no going back. Martha’s Notebook is the electrifying first installment of a new sci-fi horror trilogy that will keep you on the edge of your seat with every twist. Jam-packed with survival, suspense, and existential dread, it’s sure to satisfy any post-apocalyptic fiction enthusiast.

Welcome to Cemetery by C. J. Daley

Stephen King has Castle Rock. Josh Malerman has Goblin. E. Reyes has Devil’s Hill. Now C. J. Daley welcomes you to Cemetery. A strange town with a strange name, Cemetery, NY is filled with crime and secrets. When a car accident one fateful night leads to a search for two missing bodies, detectives Abby Williams – an almost-thirty year old with something to prove – and Ed Reyes – a jaded, senior officer with a career as long as his partner is old – set out to solve the latest mystery. Before long, a string of missing persons becomes a collection of bloodless bodies that has even the police pathologist stumped. As the bloodshed continues, it becomes clear that the gruesome killings plaguing the town of Cemetery may not be the handiwork of some shadowy figure but of something even more sinister. As detectives Williams and Reyes start to question the world around them, can they learn to put their differences aside? Or will the investigation of a lifetime be the end of their lives? In this fast-paced small town horror, nothing is as it seems. “Beneath a web of lies and secrets, exists a small town plagued by masked figures and a growing body count. Daley shoves the reader headfirst into a nightmarish investigation where the deeper you dig, the more you realize some stories should stay buried. Welcome to Cemetery.” —Nick Roberts, best-selling author of MEAN SPIRITED and THE EXORCIST’S HOUSE

And the World Crumbled by Aldrea Alien

No escape. No defence. One chance. Who'll make it out alive? Everyone knows that Demarn’s spellster tower is the safest place to be for those with magic. The site is shielded by mountains to west, by allies to the north, and their kingdom's army in the south whilst the whole kingdom stretches between them and the magic-reviling people patrolling the sea to the east. And yet, the enemy has breached the gates. They’ve issued no demands. Only death. Fleeing the tower and the ultimate demise is the one choice left. There is but one way out and the enemy holds more power than anyone could possibly anticipate. For those trapped within, their whole world is about to crumble.

Our Broken World: The Fourth Nightmare by Stuart Tudor

Nothing is what it seems. John and Godwin seem to be alone, the only two souls in the crumbling universe. The Celestial Visitors, heroes designed to serve and protect, have disappeared. The Gods have gone silent. That is until Godwin finds a strange room with the apparent means to make contact. Desperate for answers or salvation from the reality shattering Breaking. The two friends brave a fracturing world to contact the Gods, to maybe restore the world, or save themselves from destruction. Our Broken World is the fourth entry in the Eight Nightmares, a collection of horror stories about the dreamlike, the surreal, and encounters with the fantastical.

Thin Slices: A Collection of Horror Flash Fiction by Melody E. McIntyre

Welcome to Thin Slices, the debut collection from Melody E. McIntyre, writer of short, dark fiction. With over 90 stories, all less than 1000 words apiece, this little book is bursting with scares. Melody drew her inspiration from history, mythology, science fiction, monsters, ghosts, and secret places only accessible by night. These stories may be tiny, but the terrors they invoke are anything but.

Chronicles of the Median by Nicholas House

A Median isn't something anyone chooses to be, it's just something you are. A living bridge between the worlds of the living and the dead. Now, long forgotten forces threaten the fine balance kept by the Medians and Richard is forced to face perils that would change his life forever. Setting into motion events that leave the world in the hands of the wrathful dead, Richard must work to set things right and find the truth of what it means to be a Median.

Alex McKenna and the Academy of Souls by Vicki-Ann Bush

No dark entities shall pass through this shield, as I will it ... so shall it be. Alex McKenna's plans for a couple of supernatural-free days are interrupted by an ominous visit from the ghost of seven-year-old Haven. The little girl needs his help and he's willing to risk his life to save her after-life. Despite his great-grandmother's warning, he choose to cross the bridge between the living and the dead to assist her. The trip lands Alex and his girlfriend at a high school known as the Academy of Souls. The ghostly campus for dead teens is a safe place for those who are unable to complete their after-life journey. There they meet Ophelia, Haven's older sister, who has been searching for her for more than a century. To reunite the sisters, Alex must cross the teacherous terrain of the in-between realm known as the Underworld, and rescue Haven from the clutches of the Soul Gatherer. A demonic spirit that feeds off of the souls of children. Could this be Alex's last case or will he keep his promise to Haven and save her soul before it's too late?

The Moon's Crimson Valleys by R.I. Károly

Clara used to say the weirdest things. But when she compares her engagement ring to the moon carved with beautiful crimson valleys, Bill starts to suspect that there is something more to her words. After he discovers that she has a rare condition and urges her to undergo surgery, their lives seem to return to their normal flow. But despite his care and selfless aid in her recovery, he is left baffled by the woman Clara is turning into. Disconnected yet reckless, he fears what she would do if left to her own devices. An accident that results in not only the injury of Clara’s hand, but the ruin of her wedding dress finally opens his eyes. He must never leave her alone.

North Woods by Dani Ripley

Hax can barely remember her real name, it's been so long since she's used it. "Hax" is a shortened version of the word Haxa - the Swedish word for witch a nickname given to her by people afraid of her seemingly supernatural abilities: appearing out of nowhere then disappearing again just as quickly; uncannily accurate weather pattern readings; and extraordinary skill at tracking prey, human or otherwise. Or perhaps it was simply her propensity for sudden and extreme violence. A natural loner, Hax isn't bothered so much by the apocalypse as she is by other people. As such, she's surprised to find herself traveling with a small group after a long solitary stint in the woods, but when a larger, more savage gang threatens her new people, she's unable to convince the smaller group of the danger. Realizing it's too late, she abandons them to their fate, but not before one of the younger members, Pip, sees her escape and decides to follow. After witnessing the brutal slaughter of their fellow travelers, the two strangers set off through an icy northern wilderness to find Pip's father, whose last known residence is a camp near the oil sands of Alberta, Canada. In order to survive, Hax and Pip will have to find a way to escape the ruthless horde of marauders still stalking them at every turn, as well as withstand extreme cold, starvation, and exhaustion. And above all, they'll have to learn to trust each other.

The God Sun by Alan K. Dell

The ISF Althaemenes was the first of its kind. A spacecraft capable of travelling the vast distances to other stars. But on its maiden voyage to Proxima Centauri, all contact was lost and its crew never returned. Four years later, the United Earth Confederacy received the ship’s distress signal. Captain Helene Cross and the crew of the ISF Apemosyne are sent to determine what happened, and if possible, rescue the wayward explorers. However, there is no response from the crew and the mystery deepens when scans show that the supposedly stranded vessel is in full working order, leaving Helene and her team no other choice but to board and investigate. Soon, a maddening presence begins to stalk their minds, influencing their actions, threatening their very survival. The crew of the Apemosyne must discover the source of the madness and put an end to it if they are to have any hope of escape.

The Witch's Detective by Karen Thrower

Lily Roa grew up known as ‘The little witch who killed her family,’ now she works for the police as a consultant, solving magical crimes. Her life’s purpose is to find the monsters who give the good ones a bad name, to find the magic users who would blacken the world and bring them to justice. Plus, the pay is good. There seems to be something dark creeping into Lily’s hometown, something that took her mentor away but brought in a partner she could trust. Something summoning the darkest of creatures and leaving evidence no one in town could explain. Now Lily must work with the new Detective Richard Moss against roadblocks, both magical and mundane, to find out what’s going on in the sleepy town of Arion.

The Lion Communique by Jim Cherry

The Lion Communique are thirteen darkly wound stories that examine the struggle between good and evil from multiple perspectives. Jim Morrison in the wilderness of Shamans and psychedelics, capturing the soul of General William Tecumseh Sherman, mysterious forces at play in the trenches of WWI, southern gothic/noir, families at war, and the ghosts of our pasts that we carry with us, and the hope of redemption.

In Fog by Amber Reinke

With a gasping breeze it fluttered the fallen leaves, toying with the weight of them as easily as it did the tail of my coat. We did not speak, the park and I, not in words. Yet we understood one another through the memories that followed. In those memories I felt your hands—chill as ever against my cheeks–and we were together again, whole as we were meant to be, whole as we had been so many years ago…

Venor by Halli Starling

A novel of werewolves, horror, and romance… Renzo's a bartender at the Silver Crow Pub. He's technically part-owner, but since his ex has the majority stake in the bar, Renzo often gets punted off to the side. An average midweek night turns dangerous when a patron seems to turn almost...rabid. As Renzo moves to defend the others in the bar, he's saved by another patron. Cedrick went to the Silver Crow looking for information on his latest case - a woman who went from mild-mannered schoolteacher to frothing rage and mindless fury, seemingly overnight. She died, and her brother wants answers. So Cedrick took his private detective skills to the Silver Crow, where the sister was last seen, but winds up using his fighting prowess to defend the bartender from a guy with a switchblade and blackened teeth and gums. What starts in the Silver Crow takes Renzo and Cedrick all over the city of Bennek and beyond, leaving them to grapple with their pasts, their attractions, and their secrets. And when Renzo’s ex is taken hostage, they team up again - this time to head back to a city on the brink of riots and to infiltrate the rehabilitation facility that had once saved Renzo’s life. Whoever is feeding people tainted drugs is causing mayhem across Bennek, and their sinister motivations are unknown.

Fortress of the Damned by J.R. White

Haunted by the echoes of his past, gunfighter Kit Barker is eager for a hunt. When an old friend’s cryptic cry for aid arrives, along with a bloodstained box of salt, it looks like he’s found one. Accompanied by the Navajo renegade John Swift-Runner, Kit’s quest takes him from the flame-scorched alleys of Chicago to a lonesome whiskey fortress in the harsh wilderness of the Montana frontier. When Kit and John find the desolate outpost seemingly abandoned, the mystery deepens. Was it Indians? Madness? But before they can find answers, Barker and his companions are besieged by an unknown force. Staring down the double-barreled shotgun of monstrous evil and a merciless winter, Barker and his companions are forced into a terrifying standoff. As their options dwindle, Barker must accept a horrifying possibility… that this devouring force is not so mindless after all. It will take more than a well-placed bullet to save them this time. Can Barker and his friends survive the onslaught, or will failure scatter their frozen bones in the Fortress of the Damned.

The Bounty & The Bones by J.R. White

Aging manhunter Harlon Slade needs a bounty, and fast. When a gang of dingy outlaws wanders into his saloon it seems his troubles are postponed. But when he overhears their hushed whispers of gold in the cliffside ruins of the Sonoran desert, he wonders if there's more than just a bounty to be had. Slade tracks the men into the desert night, ready to take the treasure for himself. But something dwells in the ruins, lying in wait, and as the hideous truth unfolds, both the manhunter and his prey will find there's more gleaming in the shadows than gold.

Hail of Brimstone by J.R. White

In the wilderness of the newborn nation of Mexico, a demonic gunman attacks a wedding, turning a day of joy into a massacre and wiping the mission of Nuestra Señora de la Sangre from the map. A half-century later, vagabond gunfighter Kit Barker finds himself on the trail of a lost friend and a sinister relic that will bring him face to face with an evil that threatens to rend the very bonds of his sanity. Following a blood-stained trail from the streets of old New York, across the great plains, and all the way to the jagged coasts of Baja, Barker and his friends must fight for survival against both man and beast as they stalk a doomed path to its inevitable and explosive end… if necessary, to the very fires of hell. Can Barker defend his soul against the devils and demons of his own mind? Can mere men resist the thing that hunts them from beyond the Hail of Brimstone? From the author of SHADOW OF WOLVES, a new action-packed tale of horror in the Wild West!

Shadow of Wolves by J.R. White

A tortured gunfighter. A Navajo outcast. – And the Creature whose claws would stain the stones of the Mojave red. Flush with raw silver and ruled by a baron with an iron fist, the tiny mining outpost of Shank’s Point is under siege by a sinister evil. When the rising sun reveals the claw-torn bodies littered among the rocks, John Swift-Runner calls on his old friend, a vagabond gunfighter, to stand with him against the slaughter he knows will come. But as their band of misfits hunts for the creature on the burning sands of the Mojave, they stumble into a generations old mystery that goes beyond shamanic curses and into the bloodstained pages of legend. Can the killing be stopped? And can a tortured gunman like Kit Barker – with a terrible secret of his own – prevail against something as savage and eternal as the Beast?

Where Willows Weep by Luna Fiore

If these walls could talk… Years ago, Jess ran away from her small Southern town and vowed to never return. But when her mother needs a caretaker, Jess is forced back into her childhood home with its rotting floors and growing stains. Reconnecting with her high school sweetheart, Sam, is the bright spot as Jess is haunted by disembodied cries, malicious shadows, and sleepwalking episodes. Will she survive the specters that haunt her home or will the house drown her in its secrets?

CICADA by Tanya Pell

Ash is stranded at a rural horror film festival about a giant killer cicada and can't decide what's worse, the movie or her idiot boyfriend, until she realizes she's starring in the bloody sequel when people start dying and the locals won't let them leave.

Offset: Book 2- Children of the Gulf by Delvin Howell

Magic is violent. No one understood this more than Kyle Harding, a young stick-licker from the Caribbean island of Bimshire, where miracles are sold every day. The problem is, each one comes with a burdensome debt. As an obeah witch, Kyle's mother has built a massive debt which was passed on to her sons upon her death. And now Gulfsyde, a duo of brutal assassins notorious for leaving carnage in their wake, has come to collect. With a past drenched in blood, fire and bodies, Gulfsyde aims to retire with one final kill. But Kyle has a little brother—Damien—to protect, and he will not lose any more family to the obeah trade. Though bus stops ignite, and devastating magical weapons form against him, Kyle defends his home with only the lowly sugarcane his mother left behind.

Offset: Book 1- The Mask of Bimshire by Delvin Howell

Magic is Expensive. An underground obeah trade lies within the Caribbean island of Bimshire, where miracles are sold every day. The problem is, each one comes with a burdensome debt. As a child, Kyle Harding thought Bimshire a frightening place. Bus stops glow. Flute music haunts the air. And the shadows themselves stalk him. With his mother dead, and a baby brother—Damien—to raise, Kyle had much to endure growing up. But when a serial killer attacks his home, Kyle is forced down a bloody path where he discovers the history surrounding his family and the massive debts his mother left behind.

The Half Killed by Quenby Olson

A dark apparition stalks the streets of Victorian London... Dorothea Hawes has no wish to renew contact with what lies beyond the veil. After an attempt to take her own life, she has retired into seclusion, but as the wounds on her body heal, she is drawn back into a world she wants nothing more than to avoid. She is sought out by Julian Chissick, a former man of God who wants her help in discovering who is behind the gruesome murder of a young woman. But the manner of death is all too familiar to Dorothea, and she begins to fear that something even more terrible is about to unleash itself on London. And so Dorothea risks her life and her sanity in order to save people who are oblivious to the threat that hovers over them. It is a task that forces her into a confrontation with her own lurid past, and tests her ability to shape events frighteningly beyond her control.

Midnight Waters by Rosie Wylor-Owen

“In my family, when someone is born, another will die.” A symbiotic curse has plagued the Arrowood and Everhart households for generations. When a new baby is born, a member of the ancient clans die. Only a truce between the warring families can break the deadly hex once and for all. Upon hearing her cousin is in labour, Maeve Arrowood hurries home to find out which one of them will be next. But the loss of her uncle is the least of her worries when a young man is found dead in the sea under suspicious circumstances. Called in by the police, Maeve has no option but to reprise her role as a scuba diving police consultant to retrieve the body. Unwittingly drawn into the investigation, Maeve is forced to work with the odiously handsome Ben Everhart. Obliged to put aside their differences, Maeve and Ben soon discover that a far deadlier danger has descended on the island of Dusk. One that could destroy both families forever.

The Ocean Hugs Hard by Eric Avedissian

Surfside City, New Jersey. 1966. Cub reporter Harman Bass is cutting his teeth in the fast world of local journalism and getting out-scooped by the competition. Facetious, cocky, and always quoting Nietzsche, Harman isn't making any friends both in and out of the newsroom. All that changes when the daughter of a prominent family is found dead on the beach, handing Harman the juiciest news story of the year. But she isn't any old beauty pageant queen; she's his high school girlfriend. Harman's dogged reporting into the young woman's death reveals pushback from the authorities and pulls the newshound into the resort's darkest corners. After one of his sources is murdered, the routine story becomes dangerous and personal. Something watches Harman from the shadows, something ancient and hungry, worshipped by powerful men who kill to keep their secrets. Harman's job and life are soon threatened, and the once brash reporter must battle his boss, rival journalists, and his own sanity before filing what could be his last story. THE OCEAN HUGS HARD is a mystery with the salty whiff of the ocean, a tinge of nostalgia, and a dollop of eldritch horror.

Fall, Sacred Apple by Emory Glass

The pact is bleeding. What started as a bountiful covenant between a Republic and the goddess who sustains it now suffers a drought of faith. Should a famine of devotees follow, the Blood Mother will uproot the pact. Civilisation will collapse. In the midst of these uncertain times, Corbha, a warrior-nun of steadfast faith, eagerly awaits her brother's birth. He will be the first child born at Madhcha Abbey in twenty-four years. If his delivery suggests divine favour, Corbha and her siblings are to punish a trio of disobedient senators. They have propagated the Republic's growing disregard for the Blood Mother and Her Eightfold Orchard. That cannot stand. For Einaid, a doomsday cultist in hiding, the child's birth raises questions about the abbey and its inhabitants. The answers are scandalous enough to spark widespread dissent should they fall into the wrong hands—and nothing would please Einaid more than igniting the flame that makes Her Orchard burn. Fall, Sacred Apple is a tragic dark fantasy drama washed in insidious and eldritch botanical horror.

Newcomers by Bryan Alaspa

For sixteen year old Rose, her family moving from Chicago to a small town in Colorado is the worst thing that can happen. She's not like other sixteen year olds and the the city life was the life she wanted. She's the type to read books instead of going out, and she can't imagine life in Bloomfield Valley, surrounded by mountains no matter how much her parents tell her they are moving to find a better life. Right from the start, there's something weird about Bloomfield. Rose feels it right away. Her weird neighbor across the street seems to be watching her all the time, even at night with binoculars into her bedroom window. Although the people seem friendly, there's something lurking behind the smiles that Rose knows is dark and twisted. No one believes here, not her parents and not Jake, the friendly pizza delivery boy she just might have a crush on. But Rose is not like other sixteen year olds. She is determined the find out the terrifying, horrible, secret of Bloomfield. She has to get into the weird locked room in the library, and finally check out the strange church that only allows those invited to attend. Something is very wrong with Bloomfield. A town with a secret that stretches back decades, to the final days of World War Two. Rose is determined to find out what it is, but will she and her family be able to survive the horror of what they learn.

Rotting In Vain by Lady Kilroy

"I am not the damsel. I am the weapon their parents warned them not to touch." Legends say the fae only exist because our gods are dead. That we were originally the vermin that feasted on their flesh. As future Queen of the Dhadren Fae, I can tell you I've never wielded the power of a god. I feel nothing in this land of death and decay. An ancient malevolence has taken my home hostage with the curse of a blight, and for twenty years I have been rotting in this cage, stalked by a beast and hunted by shadows that lure me into the night. And even though my mind is screaming for me to follow them, to let them catch me… I need to survive this world. I need to become the liberator my people need. Because if I don't, I’ll become the crown to a kingdom of dust and famine.

Space Station X by A.Z. Rozkillis

Will the space station bring them together or destroy them? Engineer Jax ran away to the farthest space station from Earth in the galaxy. It’s nothing more than a pitstop, frequented only by those looking to get away, and there she wanted to live in peace. It’s a mess, but it’s her Station. But peace was not in the cards once Saunders came on board, a chipper security officer with an infuriating habit of sneaking up on Jax and being friendly. Jax has no interest in attractive security officers reminding her of her stupidest mistakes. Now residents are being killed. There are sounds coming from the walls, ghostly footsteps and murderous, ravenous threats that can’t possibly be there. Can they? Deep space is unforgiving. The Station is dying. The residents are going bonkers. Jax discovers there are some problems that can’t be fixed by swinging an absurdly large murder-wrench.

The Three Worlds: The Valley of Kings by Eve Lorenzo

A fleshed out fantasy world, with the focus on three mains moving through the same worlds in very different ways, They are thrust into often harsh situations and forced to learn more about themselves and grow - interspersed with much needed breaks for them to take care of themselves and each other when they're taking themselves too seriously. Yet unseen enemies are the cause for a lot of strife and death around them, and with the tools at their disposal in this magical world, they have to fight to bring the enemies out into the open. A queer fantasy with a more mature tone and deep interest in character psychology.

TEETH TALON TONGUE by Lee Eirinn

"You are set to be bound in the mountains tomorrow. Lord Zeus has called all of my brethren for a meeting. I am too scared to think of why. Why He would call us now, on the eve of your exile? Everyone on Olympus knows of your transgressions, that you will be punished but no one will tell me how. Even the most loosed of lips will not speak of it. Lord Zeus has not told anyone, it would seem. I pray to the fates. May they be kind. My hands shake. My mouth feels dry. My stomach aches." TEETH TALON TONGUE is a dark, queer retelling of the Prometheus Myth. What if Zeus wasn’t the one to set Prometheus’s punishment, but his avian lover, a vulture? More importantly, a proud beast of Zeus? This is a story about obsessive love, and the measures taken to keep hold of it. TEETH TALON TONGUE is a 4.6k word short story featuring dark subject matter. Please refer to content warnings before reading. This story is not intended for anyone under the age of 18.

Paint It Black by Kaos Emslie

EXTREME HORROR, CHECK TRIGGER WARNINGS. Paint It Black is the first full length novel by Kaos Emslie, the first book in The Perfect Nightmare Trilogy, set in a universe filled with darkness and evil. Follow Jack Miller and Charlie Duvall as they descend into madness and feed The Creature that lives within their House. Inspired by Johnny the Homicidal Maniac and the novel House of Leaves, Paint It Black is a visceral look into the first steps a person takes down the path of darkness. Written as a means to manage and control the author's mental health, Paint It Black explores the darkness of rage and depression and psychosis. Something dark lives in the walls... When nineteen-year-old poet Jack Miller brings Charlotte "Charlie" Duvall--a twenty-one-year-old exotic dancer he meets in a bar--to his Victorian home because of dreams she's been having, all the fated pieces fall together. An Eldritch being has been unearthed... Shadows are alive and corruption grows... Darkness whispers... The Void is hungry and demands blood...

Keepers of the Crossing: The Dark Friars by Ryan J Hamshaw

For Seventeen-year-old Liam O’Connor, nightmares become reality when he dreams of a fellow student's murder. Eager to uncover the truth, Liam and his friends investigate, revealing hidden secrets about his identity. Targeted by the menacing Dark Friars, Liam is saved by the enigmatic Tariq, who introduces him to a supernatural world where good and evil battle in the shadows. Can Liam juggle college, family, friendships, and desires while bearing the heavy responsibilities of his newfound destiny? Against the picturesque cathedral city of Sarumbourne, the looming threat of the Dark Friars intensifies, and Liam's normal life shatters amid the chaos.

Sinister Stories and Twisted Tales: The Ultimate Anthology of Sci-Fi & Cosmic Horror by Anthony L. Abraham

A tapestry of interlinked cosmic horrors unfolds in this unique interactive anthology, featuring video links that accompany each chilling story. • "A boy's dream pet morphs into his family's nightmare, serving as a gateway to something far more sinister." • "A father's desperate quest to help his daughter leads him into a dark trade of body parts, where horrific bargains threaten everything he holds dear." • "In a dystopian world of twisted flesh and dark alchemy, a girl must escape her haunting existence or risk becoming the ultimate sacrifice in the pursuit of the New Flesh." • "In her quest for justice after her husband’s murder, Betty's plea to a seemingly benevolent god unleashes a dark cosmic force, revealing that true sacrifice may demand a far more monstrous price." This anthology immerses readers in puzzles reminiscent of Black Mirror, exploring unsettling, thought-provoking facets of the human psyche while venturing into realms beyond nightmares and dreamscapes. An absolute must-read for fans of speculative fiction seeking rich world-building and narratives that defy conventions, especially those who appreciate the eerie storytelling of The Twilight Zone, the philosophical twists of Philip K. Dick, and the gripping horror of Stephen King.

Green Fuse Burning by Tiffany Morris

After the death of her estranged father, artist Rita struggles with grief and regret. There was so much she wanted to ask him—about his childhood, their family, and the Mi’kmaq language and culture from which Rita feels disconnected. But when Rita’s girlfriend Molly forges an artist’s residency application on her behalf, winning Rita a week to paint at an isolated cabin, Rita is both furious and intrigued. The residency is located where her father grew up. On the first night at the cabin, Rita wakes to strange sounds. Was that a body being dragged through the woods? When she questions the locals about the cabin’s history, they are suspicious and unhelpful. Ignoring her unease, Rita gives in to dark visions that emanate from the forest’s lake and the surrounding swamp. She feels its pull, channelling that energy into art like she’s never painted before. But the uncanny visions become more insistent, more intrusive, and Rita discovers that in the swamp’s decay the end of one life is sometimes the beginning of another.

Three Curses and Other Dark Tales by Leanbh Pearson

Come closer, let me tell you a tale or three. Sit nearer the firelight and if you notice the folk in the shadows, best not garner their attention. Beware the gifts, treasures and promises you make along this journey. There are temptations and curses too, plenty of those. From the tricks of jinn, vengeful Ancient Mesopotamian goddesses, the Hidden People and shadowy deals with demons & devils—many. In our journey through fairy tales reimagined, legends and folklore, and alternate histories, beware the uncanny folk who prey on unwary travellers. Mind your step now, keep your senses sharp, take nothing offered and you might evade those beings hidden just beyond the reach of the firelight.

Cursed Shards: Tales of Dark Folklore by Leanbh Pearson

Be careful what you wish for… We’ve all heard childhood fairy tales and hearthside stories passed from generation to generation warning us of unseen dangers lurking in the dark forest, the glimpse of a future in watery reflections and to be wary of objects and people offering impossible gifts. The Fae are ageless beings dwelling between light and shadow, stalking the moonlit nights and wielding powerful gifts and curses. Welcome to Cursed Shards, a collection of dark fantasy stories inspired by folklore, legends, fairy tales and mythology. Ten authors spin ten different tales ranging from deserts, icy mountains and dark forests to legendary warriors to the mythical Fae. A realm where the landscape is as volatile as the rulers and an ancient cursed mirror, a once-powerful magical artefact created with blood magic was shattered before it could be used against the realm. A cursed mirror broken but never destroyed. Ten shards remain: now disguised and repurposed into ordinary items that are traded, stolen, and sold between rulers, common folk and the Fae. Whenever a shard re-appears its curse influences the decisions of all who come within reach. Table of Contents: FOREWORD – Kirstyn McDermott (Australia) THE CURSED HUNT – Leanbh Pearson (Australia) TATTERMOG – Louise Pieper (Australia) THE WITHERED – Mendel Mire (Australia) THE PHANTOM QUEEN – K. B. Elijah (Australia) LADY MARIAN’S GAMBIT – Clare Rhoden (Australia) THE STRENGTH OF BONES – McKenzie Richardson (USA) ONCE UPON AN AUTOMATON – Nikky Lee (New Zealand) THE WRAITH OF MURKDRES – Stephen Herczeg (Australia) CHILDREN OF THE WOODS – Amber M. Simpson (USA) THE LADY OF STRANGENESSE – Leife Shallcross (Australia)

The Saint of Heartbreak by Morgan Dante

Two of the Bible's greatest villains... After his betrayal with a kiss, Judas Iscariot dies in despair and goes to Hell. When Christ saves other souls during the Harrowing of Hell, he leaves Judas behind—but not alone in the ninth circle, where the most detestable traitors go. Callous, resigned, and abandoned by God long ago, the Devil sees Judas as a pathetic wretch, but he soon finds a kindred spirit. As the centuries pass, they struggle to find even a sliver of happiness in Hell. Doomed by the narrative, will they find happiness, or will their story continue to be a tragedy?

Shattered by Pauline Yates

In space, one woman’s quest for truth exposes a deadly conspiracy. In the vast, unforgiving expanse of space, Kate, now living under the alias Grace, is on a desperate mission—disguised as a Space Corp employee, she’s determined to uncover the truth behind her brother’s mysterious disappearance. On a routine debris collection mission, her world is shattered when she discovers a clue that could expose Space Corp’s darkest secrets. Thrust into a dangerous game of cat and mouse, Grace must navigate the treacherous void, facing not only the perils of space but also the haunting memories of her past captivity. With her crewmates’ lives hanging in the balance, she must decide who she can trust as she races against time to unravel the conspiracy threatening to consume her. A pulse-pounding sci-fi thriller that delves deep into the human spirit, exploring themes of identity, betrayal, and resilience. The intricate plot and breathtaking depiction of space will captivate you from the first page to the last. Perfect for fans of intense, character-driven narratives and gripping science fiction, promising a journey that is as emotionally compelling as it is thrilling.

Welcome to Meadowbrook by Cassandra L. Thompson

A psychiatric facility. An upscale hotel. A casino. A place for wellness. A retreat. No matter the decade, the towering edifice perched on the top of a mountain inspires both awe and fear. Holding the secrets of all who have walked her halls (and those who haunt them still), Meadowbrook’s facade shifts with time. But there is one constant that remains unchanged—Meadowbrook makes her own rules. Told in a series of short stories from alternating viewpoints, each from a different era, discover the unique tale of a place that is much more than what it seems.