Dark Fantasy Short Stories

Here there be gods and monsters—forged from flesh and stone and vengeance—emerging from the icy abyss of deep space, ascending from dark oceans, and prowling strange cities to enter worlds of chaos and wonder, where scientific rigor and human endeavor is tested to the limits. These are cosmic realms and watery domains where old offerings no longer appease the ancient Gods or the new and hungry idols. Deities and beasts. Life and death. Love and hate. Science and magic. And smiling monsters in human skin.

In her second collection from Trepidatio Publishing, award-winning author Gemma Files takes her listeners on journeys out beyond safe borders—from the trackless depths of the sea, to the empty desert frontiers of the Weird West, even to the edges of cracks between worlds. Here, in these narrow spaces between the known and the unknown, behind the paper-thin curtains of reality, lurk monsters both human and ancient: selkies and avenging revenants, voodoo priestesses and pirate sorcerers, ghosts and vampires, and the most famous murderer of all time.

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.

Tormented and abused by her father, teenaged runaway Alex soon finds herself the victim of a vicious sex trafficker. When she escapes, Alex realizes there are far worse abuses to suffer in her unlucky life. But that all changes the moment she dies. Her abusers are about to find out KARMA IS A BITCH.

Pick up the latest issue of Savage Realms Monthly and fill up on stalwart heroes doing battle with the forces of evil in this epic collection of short sword and sorcery fiction. This month brings you an exciting crop of stories; Brad Younie returns with another rousing adventure in the city of Sharkham, Jack Myers delivers a tale of dark vengeance, and Morgan Kane thrills with another tale of everyone's favorite exile. Don't miss the latest issue of Savage Realms!

The four previous volumes in Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling's anthology series of fairly-tales retold with a distinctively modern edge have been hailded by reviewers as "brilliant", "provocative", and "disturbing". In this triumphant new collection of original fiction, 21 of today's leading writers spin the cherished fables of childhood into glittering gold - offering magical tales for adults, as seductive as they are sophisticated.

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 ...

Divining the difference between reality and the fantastic may not be as simple as it seems. Because the world you think you know may not actually exist… STORIES is a collection of six short stories loosely based on legends and folklore. Each is set in a modern context, giving the reader an unusual take that yields interesting insight on these traditional tales. The Snow Woman: a spirit in Japanese folklore who traps people in snowstorms, then uses her icy breath to leave them frost-coated corpses. The Slit-Mouthed Woman: a figure from Japanese urban legends who, mutilated by her husband, ...

These are stories that explore the scarred outposts of desperation and desire, sickness and death, sex and decay. Within this audiobook, you will also find the acclaimed novella Nearly People (nominated for awards by the International Horror Guild and the British Fantasy Society), in which a woman's search for food in a nightmarish city brings her attention from an enigmatic man known as The Dancer, and a host of terrible epiphanies.

Together in one package for the first time, the dazzling prequels to the Three Dark Crowns series are finally available for fans in audio format. Uncover the sisters’ origins, dive deep into the catastrophic reign of the Oracle Queen, and reveal layers of Fennbirn’s past, hidden until now.

Syngor, the monstrous octopus with tentacles like black serpents, haunted the high seas for centuries. Ships quivered as he emerged, wrapping vessels in a watery grip, leaving fear in his wake. Once a decade, citizens of Elysium Isle converge at the Calm Seas Serenade, offering one innocent maiden to appease the vengeful Syngor's hunger. Will the sea monster devour his sacrificial maiden, or will she tame the beast and become a legend on her own? If you love monster romance short stories that feature possessive monsters, innocent maidens, and insta-love, then buy now!

Deep in the quiet town of Garibaldi, Oregon, lies a dark and mysterious secret. Zoey follows her heart from Idaho to the Oregon coast where she is drawn into a world filled with romance, mystery, and danger as she navigates the small coastal village plagued with ghosts, dark magic, murder, and even a dragon. Will Zoey find what she's been searching for, or will the evil lurking in the mists of Garibaldi consume her completely? Join Zoey and the other inhabitants of this tiny fishing village as they move through perilous challenges and uncover hidden truths. If you enjoy thrilling tales of ...

Spooky Stories to Tell in the Dark is the latest installment of tantalizing tales from S. Cary and Story Ninjas Publishing. In this book, you'll find 22 of the scariest stories to tell your friends. From Area 51 to fishing trips, this anthology has all kinds of spooky stories to make your spine tingle. What happens when a bunch of teenagers have a New Year's Eve bash on a private island? Or what about a paranormal party at Christmas?

Samantha Moon returns in an all-new story! Whoever heard of a Leprechaun losing his pot of gold? As Sam digs deeper, she’s faced with the question: was the gold lost or was it stolen? Or maybe, just maybe, something else? The search is on for what might just prove to be Sam’s wildest case yet! Click BUY NOW or READ FOR FREE!

A collection of twenty horror/thriller stories with surprise endings to chill you and thrill you to the bone. The nightmares include: SOMETHING IN THE SKY: Strange things happen to two college students on Lovers Lane after a meteor cuts a path through a nearby cemetery. THE TOASTER: The City of Baltimore appropriates funds to move Edgar Allen Poe's grave site to a new mausoleum. LORD OF DARKNESS: Fred finds a large box on his doorstep with a horrific looking ebony statue inside that terrifies him. He abhors scary things and takes it to the city dump for disposal. THE METEOR: Newt is ...

Young Lilith Bloodstone fancies becoming a necromancer, not for the purpose of creating undead, but to destroy them. But treading the fine line of staying true to her ethics and avoiding the temptations of power - known as the Black Rose - and being able to perform destructive spells is a difficult skill to master. Accompanied by her friend Raelean, an elf boy with impressive magical skills, their skills and their ethics are put to the test. Visit fiction.charlesmoffat.com to learn more about Lilith Bloodstone and the kingdom of Korovia.

At World’s Edge: Seven Liminal Stories from the Edge of Reality Beyond the borders of maps and memory lie worlds that obey no known rules. In this haunting anthology of speculative fiction and dark fantasy, seven stories explore what happens when reality thins—where time unravels, identity dissolves, and the familiar becomes unrecognizable. From a girl who returns from a doorless frame altered by the realm she crossed, to a lighthouse powered by memory guarding against something older than night, these tales are eerie, poetic, and charged with slow-blooming dread. Each story is a ...

Come one, come all! The Carniepunk Midway promises you every thrill and chill a traveling carnival can provide. But fear not! Urban fantasy's biggest stars are here to guide you through this strange and dangerous world....

A fourth anthology from the editors of Ruby Slippers, Golden Tears presents contemporary retellings of traditional fairy tales in Gregory Frost's "Sparks", "The Dog Rose" by Sten Westgard, and other works by Jane Yolen, Joyce Carol Oates, Nancy Kress, and John Crowley.

In April 2020, the world faced imminent lock-down, so a group of filmmakers started a virtual support group. Once a week, these diverse voices would assemble to do what they do best: tell each other stories. Campfire horror tales, emotional cosmic mysteries, and anything else that either made them take their minds off what was happening to the world, or help them understand it. HAUNTED REELS is the best of those stories.