stories in and

Prey For The Devil In Cold Embrace

Prey For The Devil In Cold Embrace by Gwen Leonhard

Welcome back to Herzkirch ā€“ a city on top of a hollowed-out mountain, that is in the firm grip of the Reinblut Kirche. They passionately spread the word of the vileness of Blendlings ā€“ the offspring of a Biest and a human ā€“ and fuel prejudice against them. No wonder, the parents who turn up on the doorstep of Freyjaā€™s agency are beyond worried that their son has disappeared. Freyja, who is a Blendling incognito herself, doubts that this was an abduction, but decides to investigate anyway. Only when all leads start to point to Lady Hagenā€™s, her suspicion starts to rise. After all, this woman not only happens to be the pimp of a bunch of half-concubusses, but also is Freya's ex-girlfriend. Goddess knows what she could do to someone as naive as her crush Emilia ā€¦? ā€œPrey For The Devilā€ is the second book in the ā€œIn Cold Embraceā€ series and follows the powerful trans woman Freyja deeper into the heart of Herzkirch. Thereby not only putting a strain on the relationships with her lesbian companions, but also bringing more light to her own past.


A Huntress Of The Night In Cold Embrace

A Huntress Of The Night In Cold Embrace by Gwen Leonhard

Discover Herzkirch, a city in the middle of a monster-infested wasteland, on top of a hollowed-out mountain. The Reinblut Kirche, a religious institution, holds it firmly ā€“ rallying the people against Blendlings, the half-blood offspring of Biest and humans. Freyja is such a Blendling, that manages really well to stealth between humans. So well that the Reinblut Kirche hires her to slay a Biest in the lower part of the city. This monster has dared to take a nun of the church hostage ā€“ at least that is what Freyja is told. But all is not as it seems, and maybe her target isnā€™t as much a threat as a companion to be enjoyed ā€¦ In this story, powerful women take center stage ā€“ foremost Freyja as a homosexual trans woman ā€“, carving their paths through adversity and religious norms. Still, at the heart of this narrative lies a love story that doesnā€™t shy away from showing intimacy between its protagonists ā€“ it rather likes to indulge in it.


Verona Green

Verona Green by Victoria Raschke

In a city where magic and art collide, Verity Green, a skilled witch and art restorer, guards a dangerous secret: she possesses the ability to channel the spirits of deceased artists and breathe life back into their masterpieces. For years, she's hidden her extraordinary gift, but whispers of her talent have reached the wrong ears. Shadowy forces crave her powers, willing to exploit her abilities for their own criminal purposes. When her best friend is kidnapped, Verity's world shatters. A clandestine society emerges, one with secrets darker than any painting sheā€™s ever done. In her quest to save her friend, Verity must navigate these ancient rivalries and confront a nefarious plot that threatens the integrity of art itself. Amid the chaos, Verity finds an unexpected ally, an enigmatic architect with his own murky past. As they delve deeper into the shadow of the art world, a romance sparks. But time is running out, and Verity must harness her magical prowess to rescue her friend before it's too late. Verona Green is a spellbinding, cross-genre contemporary fantasy, recommended for fans of Alice Hoffman and Neil Gaiman. Within this world where art becomes a conduit for the supernatural, Verity proves that the truest magic lies within the human heart.


Empowered: Agent (The Empowered Series Book 1)

Empowered: Agent (The Empowered Series Book 1) by Dale Ivan Smith

The world says those possessing superpowers are either heroes or villains. But what if youā€™re both? Mathilda Brandt isnā€™t the angry, out-of-control teenager she was before she got out of jail. Sheā€™s hungry for a chance at a normal life, but when a gang threatens her sisters, she has no choice but to use her illegal superpower to protect them. A secretive government agency gives her a choice: go back to prison for life, or infiltrate a notorious super-villain group in order to stop a psychotic Empowered. To save her city, her family, and herself, Mat must become the last thing she ever wanted to be again: a criminal.


Moonlight, Roses & Murder

Moonlight, Roses & Murder by Lorri Moulton, Anna-Violetta Carsini

This is the first part of the story, so there will be cliffhangers! Selina is a woman with a secret...and she has been hiding it for a very long time. With her nieces, she runs Luna's, a nightclub in downtown Seattle, catering to Steampunk and Goth clientele. When someone leaves a body behind her club, she is drawn into a web of mystery and murder. Puncture marks on the body indicate a vampire might be responsible and as more women are killed, a red rose is left by their bodies. When a vampire hunter with secrets of his own comes to investigate, Selina wonders who she can trust...


Destiny (A Seventeen Series Novel Book 6)

Destiny (A Seventeen Series Novel Book 6) by A.D. Starrling

An enemy they never anticipated. A brutal attack that tears them apart. A chain of immutable events that will forever alter the future. Discover the destiny that was always theirs to claim. Four years after Lucas Soul is reunited with the last of his remarkable kin, the man who was once the most hunted individual in the Immortal societies is finally at peace with his life and his fate. But when a shocking confrontation robs him of the people he cares most for in this world, the Immortal who survived his seventeenth death must take up arms once more and return to the deadly life he thought he had left behind. Except, this time, he is not alone. With their friends at their side, Lucas and his Immortal circle plunge headlong into a desperate chase to uncover the identity of the unknown opponent lurking in the shadows. Old truths are overturned and fresh secrets are revealed when an army they thought was long gone rises to face them once more. But it isnā€™t until an unforeseen incident awakens a group of unlikely allies that Lucas and his family finally realize the true, horrific extent of the enemyā€™s purpose. With the stakes escalating and the threat of war darkening the world, the Immortals marked by the divine must draw upon all the remarkable powers gifted to them to bring an end to a devious plot which has its origins in the distant past. As their destiny starts to unfold before their eyes, will Lucas and his kin be able to stop their enemy and embrace the future that awaits them?


Origins (A Seventeen Series Novel Book 5)

Origins (A Seventeen Series Novel Book 5) by A.D. Starrling

The gifts bestowed by One not of this world, to the Man who had lived longer than most. The Empire ruled by a King who would swallow the world in his madness. The Warrior who chose to rise against her own kind in order to defeat him. Discover the extraordinary beginnings of the Immortals and the unforgettable story of the Princess who would become a Legend. In a time when sickness covers the world in shadows, Romerus, descendant of the first man and woman to walk the Earth, ventures into the desert to find a cure for his dying sons. The gifts he receives from the mysterious stranger he meets on his crusade turn his children into beings who can defeat death itself, carving a destiny that makes them Immortal kings of an empire spanning hundreds of years and thousands of leagues. Mila, third daughter of Crovir and last-born grandchild of Romerus, knows the evil that resides in the heart of her father. When she dares challenge his increasing tyranny by sparing the life of a human governor, his twisted fear of her grows, triggering a chain of events that culminates in her witnessing his final, unforgivable sin. Accused of a crime she did not commit and forced to flee the empire of her birth, her path collides with that of an enigmatic captain who proves to be more than he claims. As the promise of war darkens the lands, the most powerful and fearless of all the Immortals must shatter old alliances and create fresh ones in order to forge a new destiny for her kin and mankind.


Testament

Testament by E.J. V'Kanty

Testament - Take a first-hand look at the New Yorke witch trials. Cast your vote in this compelling witchcraft trial to change the fate of this U.S. colony.


The Mysterious World of Professor Darkk And Miss Shadow: The Short Story Collection Book #0

The Mysterious World of Professor Darkk And Miss Shadow: The Short Story Collection Book #0 by Jeff Walker

It is a secondary world that remains hidden in the depths of the shadows, where fears and nightmares become a reality, and evil shrouds itself to all. That is where you will find Professor Darkk and his faithful student, Miss Shadow. Two mysterious individuals with unique abilities.They are the ones protecting us and safeguarding society from the strange, the bizarre, and the unexplainable things that emerge from out of darkness. These are six short stories of their adventures; Confronting demonic creatures, stepping into a haunted house, uncover horrors hidden out of sight, and travel to destinations out of time and into space.Prepare to step into their domain and push back the evil trying to breech into our reality. And read the included preview chapter of the coming novel (Book #1) to see where the journey will continue next. Welcome to the mysterious world of Professor Darkk and Miss Shadow.


UNTHREADED

UNTHREADED by Vicki-Ann Bush

Separated by Timeā€¦Bonded by Fate When a young man turns to dust right before his eyes, Noah Winston is hurtled into the center of a time-bending mystery. In his quest to uncover the truth, heā€™s driven deep into local legend and discovers a town that vanished over one hundred years ago. As he struggles to untangle the secrets of the past, he meets a family who he must save from the curse and finds himself falling in love. Can he save them from a fate worse than death and find true love, or will time slip away and steal her from him forever?


Alex McKenna and the Geranium Deaths

Alex McKenna and the Geranium Deaths by Vicki-Ann Bush

The dead need him. Seventeen-year-old Alex McKenna is a transgender boy who comes from a rich history of Strega witches. Possessing the ability to communicate with the dead, he uses his talents and understanding of what it means to be different to bridge the gap between the living and the beyond. With his girlfriend Margaret and his spirited great-grandmother by his side, Alex helps lost souls resolve their earthly connections and move on. When a series of murders plagues his neighborhood, Alex discovers the gruesome truth behind a sixty-year span of deaths and the sinister being responsible. Will Alex save the next victim and stop the murderer for good? Or will this be his final case?


Ascent of a Vengeful Woman

Ascent of a Vengeful Woman by Ashon Ruffins

In the aftermath of Goliathā€™s murder spree in New Orleans, Nola Maor has committed herself to becoming a more skilled hunter in order to cope with the bloodshed in her city. Confronted with tragedy in her life, but unwilling to process her own trauma and grief, she leaves her career as a New Orleans police detective behind, and suffers in solitude. Nolaā€™s lethal reputation has grown among the most savage and depraved for her unwavering resolve to eliminate the nightmarish creatures that stalk and feed on humans. Dozens of missing people, along with an unnatural and grotesque murder, prompt Nola to travel to the small town of Dalyville, hundreds of miles away. A disturbing occurrence will push her skills as a private investigator, a hunter, and her humanity to their limits. The townā€™s history of wickedness is catching up with its residents as an evil force that simmers beneath the surface boils over with blood-thirsty intent. The past never dies. It festers. It cultivates in pain, waiting to rear its ugly head and inflict suffering, terror, and vengeance, bringing everyone around it to their knees. Will Nola be able to identify the vicious beastā€™s origins and understand its motives before it destroys the town of Dalyville? Or will the entity eviscerate everything in its path and consume both the town and, eventually, Nola Maor?


Descent of a Broken Man

Descent of a Broken Man by Ashon Ruffins

James Corbin is an ambitious high school history teacher who resides in the lively, yet dangerous city of New Orleans. He suffers from severe depression and anxiety and is on a downward spiral, unwilling to seek the help he desperately needs. His troubles are compounded by a lack of progress in his professional career, his disintegrating marriage, and lack of respect from his peers. While his struggles threaten to cripple him, the city is marred by a series of brutal religious murders. However, itā€™s soon clear that there is not only one, but two murderers wreaking havoc on the city. While police chase the murderers, James focuses on his quest for professional success and self-worth from his research. Unfortunately for him, the research leads to the discovery of a nefarious essence, which unlocks a darkness and brings James face to face with a monster of his own. Within some people, there is somethingā€¦ off. Something dormant. A terror that, if found, will leave a path of pain in its wake.


Feral Night

Feral Night by Kell Shaw

Lukie's father is trapped in the Underworld and it's all her fault. Twenty years after her murder, Lukie has returned to life and is ready to go home, but her father isn't willing to believe his beloved daughter is back from the dead. Before she can reconcile with him, a supernatural predator steals her father's soul. One that she's led straight to his door, after foolishly ignoring the signs that something was amiss. To get her father back, Lukie must uncover the true nature of the ancient horror haunting Thunderhead Ward before a spectral hunt of bestial ghosts is unleashed upon the world. And she only has until midnight on New Year's Eve, when the borders between the dead and living lands seal, or her father will be lost foreverā€¦


Final Night

Final Night by Kell Shaw

Lukieā€™s been murdered. And she needs answers. Sheā€™s cut a deal with the Underworld to return to the living lands. But when Lukie returns as an undead revenant, twenty years have passed. Her former sleepy beach-side town is now a roaring tourist hot-spot. Her memory is full of holes and she doesnā€™t know which of her old friends to trust. Worse, a monster hunter is stalking her. Lukie has to stay one step ahead, or return to the Underworld without knowing who killed her, and whyā€¦.


Wings of Fire

Wings of Fire by Stephanie Mirro

Stealing objects for supernatural clients is my bread and butter. Murder? Not so much. As a phoenix, Iā€™m used to burning hot and rising from the ashes. Thatā€™s why I chose to make my living as a world-class thief. Some say itā€™s dangerous. I call it fun. Or it is until someone beats me to my latest mark, stealing the prize and killing a fae duke in the process. To add insult to injury, I get blamed for the gruesome murder. With my freedom on the line, Iā€™ve got three options. One, confess my failure and spend a few centuries as the caged pet of my sadistic, bloodsucking client. Nope. Two, take the blame and let the hotter-than-hell grim reaper take me to jail. Also a hard nope, unless he sweetens the deal with an offer to burn up the sheets. Is it any wonder I choose door number three? Iā€™ve got to find the real killer, steal back the goods, and remind everyone how I got my reputation as the worldā€™s best ā€œacquirerā€ in the first place. Thereā€™s just one problem. That sexier-than-sin grim reaper I mentioned? Heā€™s determined to see me go down.


Life Sucks After You Die

Life Sucks After You Die by Crystal-Rain Love

All Danni Keller wanted to do was go to a bar and drown her sorrows in some alcohol, but she managed to get attacked by an incubus. Now she's being guarded by a hunky but oh so irritating vampire (who bit her too) while the incubus stalks her. Being guarded by the sexy vampire probably wouldn't be that bad if not for the fact her perfect boss has finally noticed her. Try dating while a vampire guards you way too closely and an incubus tracks your every move, waiting to pounce. Then there's some creepy hunter guy who also wants to kill Danni. The sun wants to kill her. Human food wants to kill her. Don't even get her started on her family. Life sucks after you die.


Never Again: A Shifter Vengeance Novel 2

Never Again: A Shifter Vengeance Novel 2 by Silas Reames

Never thought sheā€™d pay any price to defeat her greatest enemy, but getting the information she needs to do it will cost her more than she imagined. The self-assured Were princess managed to save her friends from the sinister magical group called the Jeweled Claw, but now sheā€™s become their target. Thatā€™s fine by her, since the ex-mate she's vowed to kill has become its new leader. Thereā€™s just one problem. Thanks to her deal with the Bone Reader, she has to figure out how to turn someone into a Were, like herself. If she fails, she has no hope of defeating Damien and the Claw. But finding clues to completing her task means returning somewhere that carries her most traumatic memories, a place she has avoided for centuries. And when she finds the one being who can answer her questions, things get even more confusing. Why is she so drawn to him? Determined to do whatever it takes to fulfill her vow and protect her city, Never is running out of time. If she canā€™t accomplish everything by the deadline on her deal, she wonā€™t live to see the result of her failure.


Never: A Shifter Vengeance Novel 1

Never: A Shifter Vengeance Novel 1 by Silas Reames

Track down a killer, collect the reward, enjoy a well-deserved drink. Shouldn't be too hard, right? That's what Never, a 400-year-old Werewolf with a taste for cocktails and violent justice, thinks ā€”until the experienced Enforcer learns the case involves a long-dormant evil that threatens the magical world. Turns out she and the ex-boyfriend she's vowed to kill are searching for the same girl: a fellow Were who shares her rare ability. Is he the villain Never believes him to be ā€”or something worse? In a rush to save the girl, Never joins forces with a bear shifter, feline shifter, and young witch, and against her better judgment starts to care about them. One thing she knows for sure is that when you love something you're bound to lose it. But Never isn't used to losing, and she won't give up her new life or friends this time. No matter how powerful her foe.


Ghosts of the Catacombs

Ghosts of the Catacombs by Janna Ruth

I'm a ghost whisperer, not a catacomb crawler. But when you live in Paris, sometimes you end up being both. Hi, Iā€™m Alix. During the day, Iā€™m a history student at the time-honoured Sorbonne University. After class, I hang out with the ghosts of the revolution, the many undead misunderstood Parisian artists, and adventurous scientists that glow in the dark. None of them are alive, but they come to me to solve their problems with the living. When a recently deceased catacomb tour guide asks me to retrieve a mysterious personal item from the underground, things take a turn for the weird. Suddenly, I find myself in a city of ghosts, hunted by murderous cave crawlers, and stumbling across haunting secrets. If Iā€™m not careful now, I might end up a ghost myself. Urban Fantasy with a French twist. If you like cave-crawling adventures, hopeless romantics, and ghosts, you'll enjoy Ghosts of the Catacomb, the first instalment of the Parisian Ghosts series. Travel to Paris today to embark on your catacomb adventure.


Unfinished Business

Unfinished Business by Tim Susman

Private Investigator Jae Kim doesnā€™t have a werewolf problemā€”at least not as long as he can keep clear of his ex-boyfriend Czoltan. But when a suspicious police report hits the streets of Wolftown, Jae suddenly finds himself hunted on the streets he used to freely roam. Dodging bullets from Wolftown vigilantes, heā€™s stuck hiding out with Czoltan while he and his were-bear ghost Sergei search out whoever set him upā€”and his life isnā€™t the only one at stake.


imPerfect Gods

imPerfect Gods by C.N. Rowan

And so it comes to this. A showdown. An ending. But if we fail - if I end - then reality might follow along behind me. We've been through so much. Torture. Murder. Trap after trap mainly sprung by me blundering head first into them and one of my friends saving my stupid behind. But there's no room for mistakes now. We've got an inkling of what the scumbag we're up against is after. Enough to know what his next target is. Enough to know it's probably his last one. Enough to know it's everything he needs to complete his nefarious plans. If we don't get there first, he wins. Simple. And I'm not sure ... but my gut says if that happens, every living thing in the universe loses. No pressure, right? imPerfect Gods is the sixth book in The imPerfect Cathar series, and completes the first story arc. It is a darkly funny supernatural suspense mystery, containing dark humour and graphic violence.


imPerfect Hunt

imPerfect Hunt by C.N. Rowan

At last a warm trail, through blood and bones and long dead kings. The hunt is onā€¦ Weā€™re back in Toulouse, and for once we have the upper hand. Our foe has no idea Iā€™ve escaped from his trap in Fairie and weā€™ve got an actual lead. The famous discovery of a certain hunchbacked English kingā€™s remains gives us a tantalizing clue, and now weā€™re hot on our enemyā€™s heels with him none the wiser. Except nothing ever runs that smoothly. Hob kings, goth vampires and back-stabbing double-crosses are all lying in wait. And thatā€™s just for starters. To make it back to France weā€™re going to need serious magic, might and high-level brainpower. Two out of threeā€™s not bad, right? Because if we donā€™t manage it, the hunter might just become the hunted. imPerfect Hunt is a darkly funny supernatural suspense mystery that spans the south of France, England and Paris. Contains dark humour and graphic violence. WINNER - BEST SERIES 2023 - SUPERNATURAL THRILLER CATEGORY - AUDIOBOOK REVIEWER AWARDS


imPerfect Bones

imPerfect Bones by C.N. Rowan

The good news? Thereā€™s a way out of Faerie. The bad news? Itā€™s through the heart of the Unseelie Court of Winter. And thatā€™s not all. Maeve, Winterā€™s ruler, has been stealing human kids for her own twisted delights. Not only do we have to find a way to sneak into her lands, but also weā€™ve got to break in, rescue the stolen children and get them out again without her knowing. Or ... we go to war with the entire nightmarish Unseelie Court. Iā€™m not so much running on empty as trying to push myself forward with the handbrake on. The odds of survival seem minimal. But who wants to live forever? 800 years is good innings by anyone's standards. I can't leave the kids behind to suffer her sadistic indulgences. Weā€™ve got to get them out - or die trying. imPerfect Bones is the fourth book in ā€˜The imPerfect Catharā€™ series, a darkly funny supernatural suspense mystery spanning Fairie and the south of France. Contains strong language and graphic violence. WINNER - BEST SERIES 2023 - SUPERNATURAL THRILLER CATEGORY - AUDIOBOOK REVIEWER AWARDS


imPerfect Fae

imPerfect Fae by C.N. Rowan

Body-jacking a legendary assassin when Iā€™m running on empty. No problem, right? After the last few misadventures, Iā€™m not so much broken as ruined, a shell of my former self. But I canā€™t stop. The trail of those who betrayed me is getting cold, and if Iā€™m going to get any answers, I need to follow it, and now. Except it leads to Faerie. And the way is barred to all but the Fae. So Iā€™m forced to go toe-to-toe with a mercenary assassin whose name has been spoken in terrified whispers throughout the ages. One who got the drop on me the only time our paths crossed. The Jack of Plate. Half-Marred Jack himself. A man who may be more than a monster. Survival isnā€™t just unsure. Itā€™s highly unlikely. imPerfect Fae is the third book in The imPerfect Cathar series, a darkly funny supernatural suspense mystery following a trio of immortal heretics in the south of France. Contains strong language and violence. WINNER - BEST SERIES 2023 - SUPERNATURAL THRILLER CATEGORY - AUDIOBOOK REVIEWER AWARDS


An imPerfect Samhain

An imPerfect Samhain by C.N. Rowan

The walls between the worlds are thin. The nights draw in. And monsters walk abroadā€¦October 30th, 1958. Franceā€™s papers are haunted by the spectre of the Algerian War of Independence. But that still doesnā€™t explain why theyā€™re silent about a childā€™s skeleton, washed up on a French beach. No stories, no breaking news. Nothing but a set of police photos, delivered anonymously to my hands. And bite marks on the skeleton, too big for any human to have made.So my best friend, Aicha, and I head to the city of Nice to investigate. But what we find is more missing children, and an emerging pattern. One that raises some terrifying questions. Who would abduct and sacrifice children? Why isnā€™t the news getting out? What would demand such a sacrifice? And what terrors might it offer as payment in return?We need to find out fast to save the children, if they can be saved. And maybe save the whole of France at the same time.An imPerfect Samhain is a standalone novella in the best-selling ā€œimPerfect Catharā€ series. You can expect dark humour, strong language and explicit violence.


This Pact Is Not Ours

This Pact Is Not Ours by Zachary Sergi

The summer before college Luca Piccone returns to Copper Cove, the idyllic campsite he and his closest friends have visited every year since they were kids. To Luca, Copper Cove is like the setting of the fantasy movies he loves, a sanctuary, protected from the dangers of the outside world, where nothing goes wrong and everything stays the same. But this year things are changing. Desperate to make this summer the best one yet, Luca tries to ignore the freshly torn rifts within his tight friend group, the pangs of unrequited love, the anxiety attacks he thought heā€™d left back at school, and the shadows at the edge of the forest threatening to break free. Until he learns the terrible truth. Every generation the children of four families are bound by a pact. A pact designed to keep the camp pristine and the monstrous force lurking beneath the campsite imprisoned. But in order to do this, an unthinkable price must be paid--a price that has soaked the previous generations in blood. Can Luca keep his friends, and his favorite place, from being ripped apart? By the end of the summer, only one thing is for certain: Copper Cove will never be the same again. ā€‹ ā€‹ ā€‹


Polyphemus

Polyphemus by Zachary Ashford

"Ashford conjures a mean and grubby world laden with sex, drugs, rock and rollā€”and absolute buckets of gore." -Publishers Weekly When lead vocalist of Polyphemus Stephen Oaksā€™s near-fatal on-stage overdose leaves them under pressure from their label, the bandā€™s remaining members must find a new vocalist, pick up the pieces and forge on without him. Unfortunately, heā€™s fresh from rehab and desperate to reunite with his old band, In fact, heā€™s so desperate that heā€™ll bargain with dark forces and sacrifice everything ā€“ and anyone! After the final encore is played and the house lights come down, there is no telling who will remain or who theyā€™ll be in allegiance to. For Polyphemus, obsession costs far more than mere murder.


Unusual Light

Unusual Light by J. Elizaga

Engineering student Ana Juliet (AJ) takes a summer job as a swing-shift security guard at a hospital morgue--the same morgue once investigated by the police for unusual calls received during full moons. And the calls happen only when Matt, a guard assigned to the overnight shift, is on duty. AJ scoffs at the idea of otherworldly activities. But soon after, she witnesses a mysterious orb. The orb reveals itself to be the ghost of Binni Almond, a teenager who went missing thirty years ago. Despite AJā€™s shock, she befriends Binni. She vows to use her problem-solving abilities to find Binniā€™s family and solve the mystery of the young girlā€™s disappearance. But darker spirits are afoot. As AJ descends to the morgueā€™s basement to capture evidence of Binniā€™s remains, Mattā€™s visions worsen. Evil spirits surge around the premises. And AJ is in danger of getting caught in the middle of a paranormal showdown.


The Vampire's Mark

The Vampire's Mark by Rowena Aiello

Someone crouched on the ground. They clung to somethingā€”a forearm, he realized. Scott went cold and shivered. ā€œDad?ā€ The crouching figure turned and Mariaā€™s shining eyes locked with his. Her mouth was covered in something dark that matched something on his fatherā€™s arm. For a second, Scott froze, watching her like she was a wild animal twice his size. Maria stood up, her arms at her sides and her fingers splayed. A bolt of fear shot through his stomach until his bladder threatened to burst. He dropped the food. It landed with a weighty, crinkling thump that startled them both to life. ā€œScotty,ā€ she whispered, in the same slippery voice that had prickled the hairs on his neck. Dry mouthed, Scott dashed for his bike. In the sleepy town of Northam, Massachusetts, not everyone is who they seem to be. Isolated by what he knows, Scott must stop Maria from draining his father's blood before she kills him, or worse: turns his father into a vampire, too.


House of Bad Memories

House of Bad Memories by Michael David Wilson

From the author of The Girl in the Video comes a darkly comic thriller with an edge-of-your-seat climax. Denny just wants to be the worldā€™s best dad to his baby daughter, but things get messy when he starts hallucinating his estranged abusive stepfather, Frank. Then Frank winds up dead and Denny is held hostage by his junkie half-sister who demands he uncovers the cause of her fatherā€™s death. Will Denny defeat his demons or be perpetually tortured for refusing to answer impossible questions? House of Bad Memories is Funny Games meets This Is England with a Rosemaryā€™s Baby under-taste. ā€œHouse of Bad Memories is a haunting and equally visceral tone poem of cruelty, betrayal, and vengeance. Michael David Wilsonā€™s writing vibrates with the all-consuming trauma and suffering of humanity. This is a novel that I certainly wonā€™t forget.ā€ā€”Eric LaRocca, author of Things Have Gotten Worse Since We Last Spoke "All the many ties that bind a chaotic and increasingly dysfunctional extended family together are stretched to breaking point and beyond in House of Bad Memories. The book goes in every direction except the one you expect. Itā€™s a wild, bloody, and expletive filled riot thatā€™s never anything less than intense. With genre shifts worthy of a Ben Wheatley movie, itā€™s highly recommended.ā€ā€”David Moody, author of the Autumn books and Hater "House of Bad Memories hits so hard, you'll spit teeth out once you're done reading it."ā€”Clay McLeod Chapman, author of Ghost Eaters "An established master of human frailty and misdirection, Michael David Wilson's latest offering, House of Bad Memories, kept me off kilter and turning pages as reality tilted. Compelling and deeply unsettling, House offers a mystery with endless layers. Never doubt Wilson's willingness to skillfully cross lines you never knew were there. Excellent."ā€”Laurel Hightower, author of Crossroads and Below ā€œIf Ira Levin and Guy Ritchie had a drug-fuelled weekend binge with the Kray twins in a Kidderminster council flat, they wouldn't come close to House of Bad Memories. Darkly funny, brutally violent and strangely touching, Michael David Wilson has created something truly bonkers and I'm here for it.ā€ā€”Alan Baxter, author of The Gulp and Sallow Bend ā€œWith razor-sharp dialogue and some of the most unpredictable, WTF moments youā€™ll find anywhere in dark fiction, House of Bad Memories is what would have happened if Quentin Tarantino had grown up in the rancid underbelly of the English Midlands.ā€ā€”Kev Harrison, author of Below and The Balance


Lira

Lira by Armanis Ar-feinial

SFINCS

Lira is an innocent little girl, struggling to survive in a cruel, heartless world. As her father dies, she is left to fend for herself. Each day is a desperate and exhausting search for food, scouring through the Abyss, the only home she knows. Acute awareness does not always protect her from the very real risk of cannibalization or worse-- being abducted. This is a horrifying reality that no child should have to face in a brutally poetic tale


Epivision: Volume 1

Epivision: Volume 1 by Matthew Thompson

SPSFC 2023

Bright Olsson saved his young brother from drowning in 1964. He could not, however, save himself from the icy waters of Lake Runn, Sweden. But his life, as it would turn out, continues within a technologically advanced world, 3 billion light years from Earth. For his selfless act, he becomes an Epi-Guardian, gifted with the ability to see the future perils of others and be their saviour. Except for a life-altering accident, his future visions are severely hampered, and he fails to protect the love of his life. To save himself from self-destruction and to start over, Bright exploits his guardianship by illegally blessing clients in need of protection. It takes him to Sector HK-909, a replica of Earthā€™s Hong Kong, to work for a man known as Hawker. Kaye Riley, an agent for the Investigation of Criminality on Angelo, will go above and beyond to arrest an Epi-Guardian after what happened to her best friend. Partnered with agent Katsuhiro Miike, a man labelled a snitch and potentially a hindrance to her unorthodox methods, she arrives in HK-909 on a crusade to bring Olsson to justice. Her career and personal vendetta rest on the assignment, though she never expected how life-changing it would be.


In the House of Transcendence

In the House of Transcendence by Amanda Ross

Zora is a necromancer. Some say sheā€™s gifted, others say sheā€™s cursed, but her abilities always terrify her. Hoping to start a new life, she flees her childhood home and travels to Savannah, but she soon learns that some things canā€™t be changed. There, she meets an alluring and powerful witch named Birdie. She offers Zora a proposition: sheā€™ll give Zora a place to stay, a job dancing at a magical burlesque club called Nightingaleā€™s, and help controlling her powers if Zora can solve her loverā€™s murder. Zora accepts Birdieā€™s offer and is soon drawn into the magical community of Savannah, where rituals and magical fights are performed in grand old homes, potions can make people float on air, and three magical houses vie for dominance. As she tries to put the pieces together and solve the murder, Zora gets caught in the sight of the very forces responsible for the killing. Can she rise up and learn to control her powers and solve the murder or will her fears cause her to lose it all?


Bitten by Surprise

Bitten by Surprise by Lizzy Gayle

As a vampire-hating psychic, Char shouldā€™ve seen it coming, but she didnā€™t. Too focused on creating a cure for vampirism after watching her father turned into a bloodsucking menace, she looks at little else, until itā€™s too late. Not her lab being attacked and destroyed, her lifeā€™s work being stolen along with her lab assistant, nor the attractive and dangerous vampire, Julian, who swoops in to save the day, give her a job and the chance to set things right. But when her lost serum turns up on the streets used as a murder weapon against vamps, sheā€™s forced to hide the truth about her involvement in its development from her new boss in order to join the investigation. As they work together, sheā€™s inexplicably drawn to the very type of creature she should be terrified of. Suddenly, the idea of being bitten becomes a turn on if itā€™s Julianā€™s fangs at her pulse. Forced to admit everything she thought she knew about the bloodsuckers was wrong, Char is left with a decision: Should she create an antidote to save the vampires being murderedā€”and possibly the one sheā€™s falling for? Or should she finish what she started and try to cure the rest? The wrong choice could mean a sacrifice sheā€™s not willing to make.


Ethereal Malignance

Ethereal Malignance by D.P. Vaughan

Step into the shadows with Ethereal Malignance, the debut supernatural thriller from Australian author D.P. Vaughan. Meet John Wedgewood, a misunderstood loner, whoā€™s always been on the fringes of society. His life takes an unexpected turn when his only friend reveals a chilling secret: their city is overrun by ā€˜ethereal beingsā€™ā€”terrifying entities that possess bodies to blend in unnoticed. Faced with a life-altering choice, John can either continue his life of quiet desperation or risk everything to save a stranger from the clutches of these ethereal beings. His decision propels him into a relentless chase through the cityā€™s hostile streets under the cover of darkness. In a city that transforms into a hunting ground at sundown, John, who has nothingā€”no car, no resources, no fighting skillsā€”must rely solely on his wits and courage. With the ethereal beings always just a few steps behind. Ethereal Malignance is a gripping tale of resilience, self-discovery, and the power of the human spirit in the face of otherworldly terror. If youā€™re a fan of gritty, grounded thrillers set in an urban night-time environment, where ordinary people confront extraordinary horrors, this book is for you.


Dusk Undone

Dusk Undone by Bri Mooney

Waking up dead has its perks. An outcast, Raeden, had always lived on the fringes of society. So when she mysteriously vanished, her absence went unnoticed, much like her life. Little did anyone realize that her absence was the result of her death. But death has its own sticky consequences. It not only takes away a person's life but also clings to their memories and emotions. As Raeden's soul departed, it left her with a choice: recover her memories and find closure or remain a restless spirit forever. For most, the decision would be a no-brainer. But Raeden? Well, she's never been one to shy away from a challenge. With two reapers assigned to her case, she's catapulted back into the mortal world. Now, Raeden must navigate the intricacies of the living while grappling with her own mischievous ambitions. After all, who says a dead girl can't have some fun along the way? But this isn't your typical murder investigation. Raeden's journey unveils a treacherous web of secrets lurking in unexpected places, and a convoluted tapestry of dark humor. In the midst of her quest, she finds solace and companionship with the reapers, Booker and Sonja. These otherworldly beings, who are already entangled in a romantic relationship, become unexpected allies in Raeden's twisted fate. As they unravel the wacky circumstances of her demise, Rae's journey is laced with her own unique challenges. Panic disorder, Autism, and ADHD dance their way into the mix, adding an extra layer of complexity to her already adventurous life. Through wild encounters, perilous situations, and unexpected twists, Raeden's vibrant spirit shines as she navigates the realms of the paranormal. So buckle up and prepare for a tale that blends dark fantasy, paranormal romance, and a dash of dark humor. Join Raeden as she embarks on a journey that will make you laugh, gasp, and fall in love with her resilient spirit. Discover the extraordinary in the ordinary and embrace the enchanting chaos that accompanies life, death, and everything in between. Indiana Jones meets The Librarians.


How We End

How We End by LM Juniper

A deadly infection. Seven Strangers. The fight for survival begins... Jake didnā€™t think his night could get worse, but that was before his train stops deep underground and zombies attack and things go from worst-day-ever to run-for-your-life terror. Liv is good at running, mostly from other people straight into a bottle of vodka. But as chaos erupts on the city streets, depending on others may be her only chance at survival. London is gone. The world has ended. In the chaos that remains, seven strangers fight to escape the city. But as they navigate this new and dangerous world, they soon discover that surviving the apocalypse means confronting their deepest fears and making impossible choices. How We End is a heart-pounding diverse story with a character driven plot that explores how societal collapse forces ordinary people into extreme situations and reveals the lengths theyā€™ll go to survive in a world gone mad. Will they make it out alive, or will they become just another casualty?


How to steal a demon's heart and get away with it

How to steal a demon's heart and get away with it by Devi Letalis

Dante, a single father and demon hunter, has already completed multiple curious adventures in his life - from the elimination of minor demons to tracking down undead sheep. When he meets bloodthirsty Lariza and her inscrutable companion Layla as part of a new job, he becomes embroiled in a conflict with powerful demons. But the protection of his son has priority, even if he has to go to hell for him. And so a journey into a sphere where millennium old law prevails begins. This gripping urban fantasy novel takes the reader deep into a world where demons and human shadow beings live side by side. A story with plenty of action, tension, and dark humour - where anything is possible.


The Reanimator's Soul

The Reanimator's Soul by Kara Jorgensen

An autistic necromancer, his undead lover, and the case that could destroy everything. When a necromancer turns up dead, Oliver and Felipe think it will be the perfect, straightforward case for their new partnership. That is, until it leads them to a clinic promising a cure for magic, but they arenā€™t the only ones investigating the Institute for the Betterment of the Soul. Oliverā€™s ex, Ansley, is in town, and heā€™s certain the clinic isnā€™t the paragon of righteousness it claims to be. Forced to help Ansley infiltrate the institute, Oliver fears he is out of his depth in his work and in love as old wounds and bad habits resurface. But Oliver isnā€™t the only one struggling. Pulled between his cases, Oliver, and his daughter returning home for the summer, Felipe is drowning. Just when he thinks he finally has everything under control, a new reminder of his untimely demise threatens to throw his life into a tailspin once more. Between festering wounds and secrets, Oliver and Felipeā€™s lives stand upon a knifeā€™s edge. To face the evil lurking behind the clinicā€™s genteel smiles, they must stand together or face the destruction of the place they call home.


The Reanimator's Heart

The Reanimator's Heart by Kara Jorgensen

A reluctant necromancer, a man killed before his time, and the crime that brings them together. Felipe Galvanā€™s life as an investigator for the Paranormal Society has been spent running into danger. Returning home from his latest case, Felipe struggles with the sudden quiet of his life until a mysterious death puts him in the path of the enigmatic Oliver Barlow. Oliver has two secrets. One, he has been in love with the charming Felipe Galvan for years. Two, he is a necromancer, but to keep the sensible life heā€™s built as a medical examiner, he must hide his powers. That is until Oliver finds Felipe murdered and accidentally brings him back from the dead. But Felipe refuses to die again until he and Oliver catch his killer. Together, Felipe and Oliver embark on an investigation to uncover a plot centuries in the making. As they close in on his killer, one thing is certain: if they donā€™t stop them, Felipe wonā€™t be the last to die.


Lycaon's Fire

Lycaon's Fire by Jeff Schanz

A small town hides a savage mystery someone is killing to protect. A mild-mannered drifter carries a deadly secret that leaves slaughter in his wake. They clash at a remote bus stop on the way to nowhere, with time to kill. * * * * * The legend of the flesh-eating wolf-people that live in the mountains has preyed upon a remote Montana town for years. People go missing, presumed dead, suspected eaten alive. Though the myth is considered silly superstition to most residents, someone or something is killing to protect the truth. A mild-mannered drifter named Merrick, a haunted man with his own brutal, deadly secret, passes through the town, accidentally setting in motion a chain of events that will bring the townā€™s bizarre mysteries to light. When a fearless and feisty young waitress named Kat offers her help, she and Merrick fall into the murderous crosshairs of entities who eliminate anyone that threatens their agenda. On a forested mountain, far from anyone who can hear them scream, Merrick, Kat, and their allies are hunted in an unholy ritual, where the game is survival and the prize is life. But not all who are hunted are easy prey. Something else that no one counted on, something powerful and savage that can kill with the swipe of its clawed hand, also stalks the mountain. In the light of the sacrificial fire, the bloodthirsty hunters will face an unfathomable killing machine in a showdown that pits monster against monstrosity.


One Road In

One Road In by Hannah R. Palmer

'Some say, at night, you can see glowing eyes of fire between the trees, watching. Waiting...' Sadieā€™s younger brother Ben went missing 5 years ago. No one knows where he went. No one knows who, or what, took him. So explain the look of guilt on Sadieā€™s face when her mother called with the best news possible: Ben has come home. What does Sadie know about his disappearance? And what has her brother brought home with him? Thereā€™s something on the small island off the coast of Rose Bay, and its glowing amber eyes are making its presence known. Sadie needs to reconcile what happened all those years ago with where she finds herself now, before it has the chance to tear her family, and her hometown, apart again.


Soul Survivor

Soul Survivor by Isobel Lynx

A reluctant psychic medium searching for meaning after a life-altering tragedy must confront the world of supernatural he's long ignored. Like any young man, Ian wants normal things like a car, a girlfriend, or another tracksuit, but heā€™s always in danger of being called crazy, or worseā€”creepy. After all, if he were normal, he wouldnā€™t be seeing things that aren't there. His survival tactic is to ignore his intuition and deny what he sees, no matter how real it appears. Heā€™s been pretending to be ordinary for so long, he doesn't know who he is anymore. When a tragedy upends his life, Ian latches onto what he's sure is real, but the philosophy that's protected him thus far only further isolates him. So when a pretty girl enters his life, Ian jumps at the opportunity to find his ā€˜new normal.ā€™ A down-to-earth, sweet girl is exactly what he needs to break out of the limbo of grief, but welcoming her into his private world risks revealing the truth and unraveling his illusion of normalcy.


The Ghosts of Thorwald Place

The Ghosts of Thorwald Place by Helen Power

A Mystery Scene Magazine 2021 Editor's Pick Trust No One. Especially Your Neighbors. Rachel Drake is on the run from the man who killed her husband. She never leaves her safe haven in an anonymous doorman building, until one night a phone call sends her running. On her way to the garage, she is murdered in the elevator. But her story doesnā€™t end there. She finds herself in the afterlife, tethered to her death spot, her reach tied to the adjacent apartments. As she rides the elevator up and down, the lives of the residents intertwine. Every one of them has a dark secret. An aging trophy wife whose husband strays. A surgeon guarding a locked room. A TV medium who may be a fraud. An ordinary man with a mysterious hobby. Compelled to spend eternity observing her neighbors, she realizes that any one of them could be her killer.


Wish You Were Here

Wish You Were Here by J. Lynn Carr

A rookie agent searches for her estranged sister in this paranormal procedural for fans of Practical Magic and The Dresden Files. Harvest Rosenbloom is a trainee agent at the Bureau, an organization that specializes in investigating crimes of a supernatural nature. As a gifted witch with a unique second-sight, Harvest's abilities are an invaluable asset to the Missing Persons Unitā€”if only she could convince her boss of that fact. Her days consist of photocopies and data entry, but all of that changes when she receives a message from her estranged sister. Determined to do whatever she can to answer her sisterā€™s plea for help, Harvest teams up with fellow Bureau agent, Julian Quinn. As a centuries-old vampire, Quinn has seen his fair share of investigations and heā€™s certain this will be a routine inquiry. But it quickly becomes obvious that nothing about this case is routine. From the seedy underbelly of a vampire criminal network to Deathā€™s door and beyond, Harvest and Quinn find themselves in the middle of a case where nothing is as it seems.


Foundations

Foundations by Richard Holliday

HOW DID STREETS IN THE SKY BECOME THE TOWER OF TERROR FEARED FOR DECADES? Foundations is yet another page turner that I simply couldn't put down. It brilliantly explored the origins of the world in which Nightmare Tenant is set, and the author has excelled at giving the reader another wonderful story. Foundations is a thrilling period tale setting up the origin story to the creepy psychological thriller, answering questions and leaving some lingering in the mind! An exciting and engaging precursor. If you enjoyed Nightmare Tenant, Foundations lays the groundwork in another exhilarating adventure! And if you've not yet read Nightmare Tenant, then Foundations is just the start of a thrilling and creepy story in an unusual and effective setting Stephen Norris is a young man in a new job with an almost-famous architect at the turn of the 1970s. Quickly immersed in the murky world of town planning, he finds the transition from drawings and blueprints to brick and mortar is night and day. A discovery of ruins on the site of a state-of-the-art new tower block brings him into conflict with the construction workers, in particular the foreman, Peterson. Lurking inside the ruins is an ancient power are lost spirits. They channel through Norris, imbuing him with power to do the right thing and save their legacy. Within the modern world of the 1970s, complexities of life cloud Norrisā€™ judgment. Those closest to him ā€“ friends, family, even the girl he loves ā€“ are dragged with him into a whirlpool of mistrust, deceit, danger and lies. All seems lost when the forces of darkness ā€“ money and progress ā€“ appear to triumph and obliterate the past. Instead, the darkness unleashes the lost spirits who turn vengeful at this defilement of their mortal remains. Norris must battle these forces and save the woman he loves from being a prisoner of Chivron Towerā€™s new nightmare tenantā€¦ Foundations is the precursor to the novella Nightmare Tenantby Richard Holliday. Length: 20,000 words


Nightmare Tenant

Nightmare Tenant by Richard Holliday

WHERE OCCUPANCY BECOMES POSSESSIONā€¦ The chilling prologue left me hanging and I had no idea what was going on ā€“ so I just had to read on! I know the world, I spent most of my life driving past those flats, so I totally get the inspiration! Top notch horror with some brutal but satisfying scenes. Really enjoyed it, didnā€™t see some of the twists coming! Very effective! Loved the setting and reasons behind its hauntedness. I finished reading Nightmare Tenant in one sitting. Thatā€™s one block I wouldnā€™t want to live in! For years, Chivron Tower was abandoned and left to rot as the world turned. It loomed in the skyline a desolate, abhorred ruin; a forgotten relic of the past. That was how it should have stayed. But now, the Tower has been resurrected and shown a renewed lease of life, ready for a new generation of families to move in. Everyone in the community is celebrating this achievement. Councillors, developers, residents all applaud the regeneration of this unloved eyesore. Except for one member of the community. The one who still lives in Chivron Tower, unknown to all. The one who never left. The lone occupantā€™s way of life is under threat by these new invaders with their new ideas ā€“ sullying their idea of urban perfection cast in steel and concrete. Great hope for this restoration is soon to be extinguished. The mysterious tenant is angry, is without mercy and is hungry. It feeds on suffering, making things go bump in the night. It brings more victims to its lair. The warnings it gives turn to torment it revels in. Joel Barton and his family find they are trapped, with the last remaining residents, good and bad, as they realise escape means confronting aā€¦ NIGHTMARE TENANT


Meshkwadoon

Meshkwadoon by Alex Tilley

Meshkwadoon is a psychological, atmospheric experience, more focused on the individual perception of events rather than on the events themselves. As a perspective driven tale, it delves into the minds of a woman, a man, and a boy, as they are dragged through an experience of fear, obsession, trauma, and terror. Where the foundational spirit of the land seeks to fulfill its obligation to an exchange of life for the life of all. Discover the unspoken impact a melting pot society has on the folk lore and language of a land whose roots go deeper than 150 years. A world whose spirits carry on despite the hunger of the living. Genre: Fiction/ Thriller/ Folk Horror/ Magic Realism Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alexander_tilley/


When the Woods Fall Silent

When the Woods Fall Silent by D. Pines

When the Woods Fall Silent is based off of true events, if youā€™re willing to believe such things. After all, anything could be hiding out in the trees or among the desert sandsā€¦ Pinerock has always been know as ā€œThe Sleepy Town Beneath the Mountain,ā€ projecting a front of peace and solitude. But Cooper Elliot knows better: thereā€™s a creature in the woods out there. Heā€™s determined to figure out what it is at any cost ā€“ but when an old friend returns to Pinerock to find answers of her own, it puts them both in greater danger than either realizeā€¦


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