Dark Fantasy Short Stories

The epic follow-up to the acclaimed short story "The Dark Forest Protocol" In the wake of Earth's desperate survival in the silence of the galaxy, humanity’s fragile peace is shattered once more. The Dark Forest Protocol: Crimson Covenant catapults readers into a thrilling, high-stakes space opera, where the consequences of breaking the universe’s unspoken rule — silence — are far more dire than anyone could have imagined. After the Dark Forest Protocol events, Earth’s connection to the mysterious and ancient Forestworld has led to cautious coexistence. But peace is short-lived ...

A collection of horror/thriller stories with surprise endings to chill you and thrill you to the bone. The creepers include: BLOOD: Dan receives a letter from a woman claiming to be his half-sister from their father's illicit affair while married to his stepmother. He's not interested in meeting her, but reluctantly agrees. THE SPIDER WOMAN: Evelyn is homeless when she inherits her mother's house, which has been abandoned for years. Her mother was an entomologist whose obsession with spiders ruined her life. DEAD PEOPLE: Jesse's father wants him to go with him to a wake to see his first ...

From Roger Zelansky's delightful tale of Death's disobedient godson to Peter Straub's blood-chilling examination of a gargantuan Cinderella and her terrible twisted "art," here are stories strange and miraculous - remarkable modern storytelling that remold our most cherished childhood fables into things sexier, more sinister - and more appealing to grown-up tastes and sensibilities.

Fantasy fanatics hang on because The Year's Best Fantasy, Volume 2 will take you on a fantastic journey like no other! Prepare to embark on yet another fantastic adventure with award-winning fantasy editor Paula Guran. Delve into realms that exceed the limits of your imagination and embrace the surreal! Enjoy tales ranging from wonderful to wicked. From lore and legends to myths and fables of alternative realities, you will discover bewitchment with every story.

"Brainfire-Light and Dark Stories to Ignite Your Imagination" is a collection of 30 fictional, nonfictional, humorous, and autobiographical stories. There is something for everyone in "Brainfire, "including Sci-Fi, Action Adventure, Fantasy, and Humor. A bonus section on "Surviving Lethal Threats," features five short stories on situational awareness. These informative stories will help the reader understand and use situational awareness in everyday life. Each story in "Brainfire" begins with an introduction by the author, giving the reader insight into the story and its creation.

This pretty much is what the title says. Many of the stories/novellas here will have only been done in limited print runs, such as in fanzines, magazines, pamphlets, special editions or online magazines. It’s a mixed genre of stories and these are what Brian considers the best of the rest of the stories in his body of work. We’ve got 111,000+ words in this collection so that means lots of enjoyment in what is likely the last collection coming from Brian.

After looking for a quiet town where he can finally hang up his gun belt, a weary gunslinger has to face one final enemy before he can retire in peace. "Tumbleweeds" is part of the Tumbleweeds & Terror™ series of standalone tales of the weird west.

From the author of Aevalorn Tales comes a short story about love and letting go. Join Joliver Barleywood, a halfling bard of the Aevalorn Parishes, on a heartfelt journey through the enigmatic Athenaeum, a secret library only found when needed. Just before midnight, Jak Lot frantically busts into the library, seeking words to convince their love to stay and not sail away for a distant suiter, engaging in a marriage of convenience and status. Through the magical power of words, Jak seeks to pen the plea that will anchor her heart to his. Joliver offers to help Jak, but in the process, he ...

From the author of Aevalorn Tales comes a story about the woe of omniscience. Dundermutton is a magical ram who can perceive everything in the universe. Tired of his otherworldly obligations, he sleeps in to enjoy a holiday. Still, the universe isn’t having it—fate screams for his attention. Terror approaches! Opening his mind’s eye, Dundermutton witnesses an unfolding tragedy. Far away, Gammond Brandyford, a troublesome halfling of the Aevalorn Parishes, has stumbled upon a magical chalice capable of transforming water into wine. What could possibly go wrong? Ignoring the universe's ...

From the author of Aevalorn Tales comes a dark fantasy story about self-discovery. Lured by the promise of treasure, Gammond Brandyford, a halfling with a knack for trouble, takes Vongur, a dwarven companion whose soul is trapped within an amulet, to a sacred sanctuary hidden in the mountains. In all truthfulness, Vongur might be looking for a connection to his past, but Gammond only wants a quick buck. Still, at the sanctuary, Gammond must defeat its steadfast guardian to acquire the memories Vongur’s been searching for. Together, they confront a challenge that tests their courage and ...

From the author of Aevalorn Tales comes a story about remembering and commitment. When Benzie Fernbottom - an eager, helpful halfling innkeeper - learns that Elina Hogsbreath, the inn’s proprietor, will shut down her business for a day, Benzie becomes very concerned. Unable to accept her explanation, Benzie makes more than one very foolish decision and ends up witnessing more than he gambled for. With his and Elina’s lives on the line, can Benzie help save the inn and maybe learn something about unhealthy attachment along the way? Fans of Brandon Sanderson, Travis Baldree, and S. L. ...

From the author of Aevalorn Tales comes a story about the wrongheadedness of prejudice. As the Mulzunite Knight, Ser Rastacil Selabras, traverses the flooded riverbed of the Free City of Enceröss, he comes across a halfling Child of Yondalla, Maedrey Puck, camped nearby. An unlikely and unwelcome encounter, Ser Selebras is eager to be rid of the halfling's company. But when Maedrey offers him a magic potion gifted by the goddess Yondalla–promising to shorten his journey from a week to a single day–Ser Selebras makes a hasty promise in exchange. However, Maedrey remains skeptical of the...

From the author of Aevalorn Tales comes a dark fantasy story about retaining your dignity. The village of Bracklenock lies under a cloak of ash and sorrow, ruined in the shadow of devastation. Jayleigh Warmhollow, a Druid of the Ancients, must confront Uriah, a gorgon, the monster who destroyed everything. Charged with restoring balance to the region, Jayleigh is faced with a gutwrenching choice: the medusa must die or be convinced to forgive herself. Set against the backdrop of despair, this story weaves together the threads of identity, acceptance, and the quest for a place. Through the ...

This short story collection will keep you on the edge of your seat to the last sentence. Misha Burnett has been published in a wide variety of modern fiction magazines, and here we've collected some of his best fantasy work.

In number-one New York Times best-selling author Charlaine Harris’s "Dahlia Underground,” venerable vampire Dahlia Lynley-Chivers survives an attack by an anti-vampire terrorist group, only to show them they tried to blow up the wrong bloodsucker. Bailey Ruth Raeburn, a ghost assigned to assist humans in trouble, steps into the middle of a marital dispute with surprising twists in Carolyn Hart’s “Riding High”....

"SEX in the CITY meets 50 SHADES in micro-binge style!" 🔥Dara Nichols Series, Box Set 2: Novelettes 9-16 🔥 From New York Times, USA TODAY, and #1 Erotica Bestseller Marata Eros. What Readers are Saying: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Five Stars..." ~ Lindsay Gould ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Addictive, edgy, and irresistible!" 💋 Smart Erotica for Smart Readers: Volume 2 in the wildly popular Dara Nichols Series continues the steamy escapades with a thrilling focus on Zoe Scott. When her firefighter boyfriend, Darrell, seems stuck in his vanilla ways, Zoe and Dara team up to ignite passion and push ...

"ALICE CROWLEY'S EROTIC STORIES ALWAYS HAVE SURPRISE ENDINGS!" ~ Hwk "I LOVED THE IMAGINATION OF THIS AUTHOR!" ~ Satisfied Kindle Reader "ALICE CROWLEY IS ONE OF OUR GREATEST LIVING WRITERS!" ~ G. Taylor Big, burly, alpha male KING KONG is at it again in this hot and hungry tale of tail! Two civilian women have a threesome one day in LA with a sexy chef named John, only the ladies are unaware of the man's hidden dark side. Things go all the way south as John shifts and mutates mid-coitus, turning into a half-beast, half-man with the size and strength to service a gaggle of females! Only ...

A strange symbol. Supernatural events. Portals to parallel worlds. Strange things are afoot in coastal New England. A group of extraordinary writers gathered in Salem, Massachusetts, at the legendary Hawthorne Hotel to collaborate on an eerie anthology for the Witches of Salem writers’ retreat hosted by J. Thorn and Zach Bohannon. These talented writers wrote a collection of short stories in a cocreated world that will satisfy even the most hardcore dark fantasy and speculative fiction listeners. Curse of the Spiral is a new paranormal dark fantasy anthology.

He traded his scythe for a clipboard. What could possibly go wrong? Mort Finley is done with death. After centuries on soul collection duty, he's hanging up the cloak and launching a new career—as a life coach. The kind with business cards, throw pillows, and an ever-wilting office fern. His clients? Burned-out, washed-up, or just plain stuck. But Mort sees their potential... and for the first time, maybe even his own. Of course, transitioning from Reaper to self-help guru isn’t without hiccups—like flickering lights, mysteriously appearing skull décor, and the occasional existential...

Scant years after the Civil War, a mysterious family confronts the legacy that has pursued them across centuries, out of slavery, and finally to the idyllic peace of the town of Rosetree. The shattering consequences of this confrontation echo backwards and forwards in time, even to the present day.