Dark Fantasy Short Stories

As a child, Henry Cadmus lived on Catalina Island, a scenic vacationland off the Southern California coast. But Henry's experiences were far from idyllic. Today, even though Henry has seen firsthand the horrors of war, the ghastly images that haunt his dreams are ones he associates with his childhood... and the island: a snarling pig-man holding a cleaver; a jackal-headed woman on a high balcony, dripping blood; strange occult rituals... and worse. If it was up to Henry, he would avoid the island entirely.

In this darkly comic and surreal collection from celebrated author Alissa Nutting, misfit women scramble for agency in a series of uncanny circumstances. Throughout these breathtakingly creative 17 stories spread across time, space, and differing planes of reality, we encounter a host of women and girls in a wide range of unusual jobs. A space cargo deliverywoman enlists the help of her cybersex partner to release her mother from cryogenic prison.

Unity waits. Unity is there to help people like you and me. Do not betray Unity. A house on the beach that no one ever visits. A house with a history. It craves company. A killer. The other side of the mirror. A seaside town, remote and fearsomely private. The fragments of a family, ancient and invulnerable. A Scottish town gripped by cold. A lone creature, isolated and far away. The ignored, the unwelcome, the denied. Solace comes from an unearthly, mysterious place. It comes at a price. * This is a collection of horror stories, birthed up and presented in all their grim glory. “We never...

Longing for the days of savage brutes, buxom wenches, and evil wizards? Look no more! Literary Rebel is proud to bring you a fresh new crop of monthly fantasy fiction by talented new authors. In the second issue: A dangerous shield maiden does battle with creatures from the deep, a barbarian is tasked with stealing a precious gemstone, and a hunter stalks epic prey.

A serum gives Valerie bouts of extreme sexual desire for a few days. Her first mission with Oceana involves rescuing a rich and spoiled 18-year-old and escorting her home safely. Because of the serum, the blonde finds herself being insanely tempted by the young woman they’re helping. Would she be able to resist temptation and stay faithful to her wife?

Night Portals is a metaphysical series that explores the hidden secrets of life around us. Twelve "What If" short stories from the mind of Ernie Howard. Aida is the first story in the series. Love is a many splendid thing. It can make you blind. It can make you feel like you're floating on a cloud. It can make you go crazy. In this fast-paced romantic thriller, we see that love can be the end of all things. A kiss can contain eternal bliss or eternal madness. What would you do for Love? George would do anything.

When a mega popular band from Liverpool sang about Maxwell’s silver hammer, most listeners considered it a catchy, if dark tune. Flash forward half a century later, and something curious is happening around the world. Magic is returning-powerful enough to activate creations once lying dormant. Including some classic songs. When a silver hammer appears in the hands on one of Samantha Moon’s closest friends-along with a bloodthirsty need to use it-the vampire detective is about to discover just how clever (and literal) the universe can be..... Click BUY NOW or READ FOR FREE today!

This is a SHORT STORY set within the ongoing THE UNSEEN franchise. Potential spoilers ahead! This action-packed thriller stars Jillian Moon, recapping her initial encounter with the Unseen inside New York’s Museum of Natural History, an event that occurs during ORIGIN (The Unseen Book 1).

From the author of Aevalorn Tales comes a dark fantasy story about the healing power of food. In the quaint halfling hamlet of Pondaroak, Elina Hogsbreath, a kitchen witch and the steadfast proprietor of the Swindle & Swine, manages the tavern's everyday magic. On a stormy evening, a rain-drenched, weary traveler arrives to stay for the night. He is burdened by grief and harbors a dark secret. Witnessing his sorrow, Elina prepares a meal to soothe the traveler's woes and confronts old fae magic threatening to consume him.Appealing to Brandon Sanderson, Travis Baldree, and S. L. Rowland fans...

It’s the end of the farming season, and as celebrations get into full swing at the Swindle & Swine, Strelly Ramblefoot leads the raucous crowd through a barn-storming dance. Only something seems very wrong to the inn’s able barman. Fans of Brandon Sanderson, Travis Baldree, and S. L. Rowland will find The Song at Harvest's End spins a captivating cozy of community and dangerous magic. Halflings. Magic. Cozy. Trusting Your Intuition.

Rachel Marek is a journalist with a plan. She intends to expose the truth about dragons to the world - and her target is within sight. Nothing matters but getting the truth, especially not the ruggedly handsome, roguishly thrilling Highlander who oozes danger and charm. And when she finds the truth that shatters her faith, she'll have to trust her heart to the very man who can crush it.

A collection of horror/thriller stories with surprise endings to chill you and thrill you to the bone. The creepers include: THE MALL OF THE DAMNED: During the zombie apocalypse, a masked assassin with unusual skills terrorizes five survivors seeking refuge in a mall. SHADOW OF A DOUBT- There's something Timothy is not telling about the fatal accident that took his sister's life. METAMORPHOSIS: A young teenager is repulsed when she looks in the mirror and pursues black magic to become beautiful. ANOTHER DAMN DAY IN VEGAS: Two detectives have a particularly grisly day chasing bad guys. ...

Tarn and Beck have reset the clocks and gone back to the beginning. They used the power of the elfin light to time travel and save their family and friends, changing their pasts. Now they’re living new lives, free from shadows, but they’re separated from each other. Tarn and Beck have never met, nor have they met their friends. But the villains Komotuvu, Tobias, Damian and Orfea have teamed up. They remember their past lives and how Tarn, Beck, and their friends ruined their plans before. The villains hold grudges against Tarn and Beck as they’re trying to reach the mystical city of ...

Discover the stories inspired by some of the greatest songs of all time. Dark fiction that will keep you turning the pages as you read stories influenced by songs like Satisfaction, Angie Baby, She Loves You, Maggie Mae, The Hotel California and more. Dark stories inspired by dark lyrics that tell the tales hidden behind the popular melodies that are so familiar to us all. Ten different authors bring you their literary visions provoked by their favorite song lyrics to create a chilling read you will not soon forget. Experience the insanity of a young woman who seeks refuge from reality in ...

She's stuck in a dark, underground dangerous medical experiment. He's on the hunt to find and rescue her... After being kidnapped and drugged, Renee keeps her wits about her while in captivity. With her fate tied to her ability to survive the medical testing, she focuses on staying alive and escaping. Sent to find her, super-soldier Dr. Bastian Fox will do anything and everything to rescue her from the atrocities of breeding experimentation. But from the information he's gathered, rescuing her might not be enough to save her life. He might need to make a permanent commitment and be willing ...

Welcome to futures profound, dark and unexpected… A businessman in the year 2047 awakens late one morning to discover that everything that has ever been written or entered on the internet has become instantly accessible to him. Then comes the terror of realising that his entire sordid life is now in the public domain. An Arnold Schwarzenegger replica arrives on Planet Strong, a theme-world teeming with Schwarzenegger look-a-likes, to compete in the Mr Arnold bodybuilding contest. Suddenly he finds his existence weirdly paralleling that of the plot of the movie Total Recall – and someone...

Introducing Book One of The Surprising Catch, the long-awaited follow-up to The Stubborn Suitor and The Reckless Secret. If you’ve been waiting for Ashley's story, this is it! Ashley Woodsen has sworn off all men. The love of her life walked out on their marriage over a year ago, for a slimmer, younger version of Ashley. She couldn't forget his hurtful parting words, and it was just easier to go it alone. So why does she feel her heart flutter and her insides tense every time someone mentions…him? Preston Alcott has always been a playboy. Wealthy, successful, and as alpha as they get, ...

In his Locus review of Two Worlds and in Between - the first volume of The Best of Caitlín R. Kiernan - Gary K. Wolfe wrote, “...it makes you wish the second volume were here now.” Well, the long wait is over. This second volume completes this ambitious undertaking, collecting the finest of Kiernan’s stories from 2004 to 2012, selected by the author herself. The book includes 25 short stories and one poem, plus the short novel Black Helicopters - more than 200,000 words of fiction, including the World Fantasy Award-winning “The Prayer of 90 Cats”.

What exactly is the difference between a love letter and a suicide note? Is there really any difference at all? These might be the questions posed by Dear Sweet Filthy World, Caitlin R. Kiernan’s 14th collection of short fiction, comprising 28 uncollected and impossible-to-find stories. Here are 28 tales of apocalypse and rebirth, of miraculous transformation and utter annihilation. Here is the place where professing your undying devotion might be precisely the same thing as signing your own death warrant or worse.

There has never been a hunt that Dorian has lost. With his sights sent on a relic the Dragon Kings need to battle an ancient foe, he won’t let anything stand in his way - especially not the beautiful owner. Alexandra is smart and cautious. Yet the attraction between them is impossible to deny - or ignore. In his arms, Alexandra finds passion like no other - and a love that will transcend time. But can she give her heart to a dragon?