Dark Fantasy Short Stories

Year of the Lepper, 746 - 3rd Cycle of the Dragon Every couple of thousand years the Dark Citadel rises in the East, within the Endless Ruins looking to bring darkness and evil to the world of Capris. Every couple of thousand years, the races of Capris are charged with fighting back the darkness or succumbing to its eternal death. In the year of the Lepper, it is no different. Four maybe heroes are called into service of the kingdom to ensure the Dark Citadel is once again vanquished. One, a human past his prime, but a great warrior in his day. One, an energy mage of the Engeli (humans who ...

Each night, the world is overrun by bloodthirsty demons. For centuries, humanity survived only by hiding behind defensive wards – magical symbols of power. Now, though, the rediscovery of other, long-forgotten wards has given them the magic they need to fight back.... In Tibbet’s Brook, the fighting wards have brought change, heightening tensions and grudges of a troubled past. Selia Square, the woman they call Barren, has long been the force holding the Brook together. As a terrifying new threat emerges, she must rally the people of the Brook once more.

An anthology of eleven dark fantasy and paranormal short stories. There are haunted houses inhabited by mysterious beings; monsters; dark fairies; the horrors of a psychopathic mind; a cursed jewel; the element of the double as occurs in so many unusual works, and harrowing situations inspired by the universes of George MacDonald, Edgar Allan Poe, and Lovecraft. Ideal plots for more sensitive readers who enjoy dark and mysterious adventures with a hint of supernatural, but do not feel comfortable reading tales with extreme violence and gore scenes.

A Doomed Mission. A Sister’s Despair. A Warrior with Nothing Left to Fight For. Nightbreeze has spent centuries in battle, but war no longer holds meaning. Ready to take the great sleep, he returns home for one final farewell—only to find his sister, Starlily, preparing for her own end. A powerful mage, Starlily has given up hope of ever finding her soul mate. Seeking an escape, she joins an elite expedition to recover a lost sword—one hidden deep in the under realms, guarded by an ancient demon. The mission is suicidal, but she doesn’t care. But their powerful parents forbid her ...

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

Previously available on audio cassette from Darkscribe Press, this collection was nominated for a Grammy Award in 1992. Dark Dixie collects the following works of southern horror by author Ronald Kelly. This audiobook includes all the stories from the original audio and several more: Introduction by Ronald Kelly (2010); "Yea, Though I Drive", previously published in Cold Blood (1991); "Miss Abigail's Delicate Condition", previously published in Noctulpa (1988); "The Cistern", previously published in Cemetery Dance; and five more.

A collection of short stories ranging from horror to dark fantasy. All the stories herein share the mouth-watering carnal expectation of a dark embrace, a thrilling and forbidden kiss that promises to shred moral constraints and open the path to a new life of acceptance.

Where the Shadows Feed: Volume II Short Tales of Horror Prepare to unravel the terrifying secrets that defy the boundaries between control and chaos. In this spine-chilling second volume, Joe Ippolito masterfully explores the thin line between human ambition and supernatural retribution, where every carefully constructed world can unravel in an instant. Venture into realms where reality bends and primal forces beyond comprehension lurk just beneath the surface. From a landscape architect's meticulously crafted garden that transforms into a living nightmare of ancient, malevolent spirits to ...

Sometimes, a thread pulled through the flesh is all that holds you together. Sometimes, the blade of a knife or the point of a nail is the only way you know you're real. When pain becomes art and a quarter is buried deep within you, all you want is to be seen, to have value, to be loved. But love can be fragile, folded into an origami elephant while you disappear, carried on the musical notes that build a bridge, or woven into an illusion so real, so perfect that you can fool yourself for a little while.

Even monsters have to deal with Mondays!Mythical creatures like vampires, werewolves, and gremlins aren't lurking in shadows, they're trying to survive just like everyone else. From a vampire craving the feel of sunlight to a gremlin who desperately wants to fix things but never can, from duelling with the devil to being a most unusual type of were-creature, these misfits are just trying to live their best normal lives. But fitting in isn't easy when your fangs show, your full moon calendar is packed, and your inner demons are quite literal. Full of humour, heart, and supernatural ...

Want to explore new worlds, escape reality for a few hours, and enjoy amazing stories? Then Fantasy and Science Fiction Stories is the book for you! With 12+ different tales, you'll never be bored or lack new material. Fantasy and Science Fiction Stories is for anyone who loves to read both genres. Whether you're a child looking for a new adventure, an adult looking for a new escape, or someone who loves to explore different worlds, this book has something for you. With 12+ different stories, there's something for everyone to enjoy. Get lost in these amazing science fiction and fantasy ...

He can’t trust her, but he will claim her. Elise roams free in the anti-shifter research lab. For weeks, she walked by Ransom’s cage, ignoring him. Then she frees him, But she’s reluctant to escape. Ransom won’t leave her behind, She’s shifter, and shifters don’t abandon shifters. There’s more to this brave female than Ransom first realized. Ransom wants to find his pack. Elise wants to return to the anti-shifter research lab. Something has to give. It won’t be Ransom... ◆◆◆ Fight Hard. Love Harder. Ransom’s Revenge is a steamy, stand-alone romance in the Broken ...

It all started with a virus that spread through the Earth, it was an uncontrollable pandemic. A slightly more virulent flu was called. Governments closed borders, not too many people were infected and died, the world economy stopped for a long time... That was not the biggest problem.

This bundle includes The Dark Corner, Pan's Realm, and The Wishing Stone.

Five tales of dragons are included within this special Young Adult fantasy collection. The overall theme is dragons and features a sample of J.E. Feldman’s work. There are no triggers. Inferno A time traveling grandma and her granddaughter discover the true cause behind the burning of the Library of Alexandria. The Loch Legend An orphaned teenager harboring a secret of her own discovers the Loch Ness legend is real, but can she trust her new family with the truth? Instinct Vaccines made from dragon shifter blood turns the world into apocalyptic chaos and there’s no promise of surviving ...

Sometimes the world is a very dark place. You know the magic is still out there, but it feels distant or displaced. Voices in the Darkness is an attempt to create a link, to bring some of those voices together in a single work of art. Six award-winning authors lent their talent to this work. The stories are unique and dark, filled with wonder and emotion.

The first collection in the ongoing series of fantasy stories from the world of Esowon. You'll find dastardly beasts, tortured monks, and unexpected lovers in a set of tales that'll transport you to lands lost to time. Delve into these companion novellas to The Kishi, an African fantasy based on Angola folklore.

This lesser-known character isn't so much a typical Lumley hero as an innocent bystander, who all too often seems to be standing by in the wrong place at the wrong time - a man in collision with various weird horrors, who can never state definitely that the things he experiences are real. So here he is - the neither hero nor anti-hero narrator of these stories - though, in The Nonesuch and Others, he's at least seen to be brave, if not actually heroic.

Captain Torren, the warden of the Dormigan Prison, knows that the mysterious Prisoner 34 is much more dangerous than the authorities think. Torren does his best to guard him, going so far as to break some of his orders, but the new governor's sudden wish to personally inspect the prison threatens to destroy the shaky balance the warden has achieved. Will the Prisoner comply and help Torren through the inspection? What will he ask in return? And will he keep his word?

Viking magic is real, not all knights are honorable, and ancient magic comes with a price in these incredible epic fantasy tales. Bonus: Included are 17 bonus stories not available anywhere else, bringing this collection to many hours of incredible storytelling. These tales don’t have a happy ending. Dark, gritty fantasy at its finest.