Dark Fantasy Short Stories

From the author of Aevalorn Tales comes a story about the power of words, deception and subterfuge, and helping out an old friend. When esteemed emissary Ser Roham Baz falls victim to a mysterious curse that twists his words, it's up to his loyal friend, Joliver Barleywood, the clever Halfling Bard of the Aevalorn Parishes, to unravel the mystery. Joliver must use his cunning tongue to root out those who cursed Ser Roham, undo Roham’s affliction, and save the kingdom from falling into war. Set amid diplomatic negotiations fraught with tension and deceit, The Taunting Tongue weaves ...

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.

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 ...

From the author of Aevalorn Tales comes a dark fantasy story about doing the wrong thing to do right. Maeree Emberbloom lives in a comfortable home on a quiet hill overlooking her hamlet of Pondaroak. But she has a problem: her magical shop is overrun with piskies. With her business suffering, Maeree is at a loss for what to do. Gammond Brandyford, a young halfling widely regarded as a town menace, offers to "help" Maeree and sets out to capture one. Gammond, though, knows nothing about fae or the danger they represent. Armed with only magicked trinkets and ancient lore, he heads into the ...

From the author of Aevalorn Tales comes a dark fantasy story about trifling with fate. In the heart of the Aevalorn Parishes, the halfling folk prepare to celebrate the end of the Dark Days with warmth and camaraderie. But for Elina Hogsbreath, owner of the Swindle & Swine, this time heralds a troubling tradition. Horwich Cobbleberry is a vain and pompous halfling who has made it his habit to drink from a magical cup once a year, again endangering the inn and everyone in it. Having enough of Horwich’s false promises to forego the ritual, Elina takes matters into her own hands. Fans of ...

A thrilling horror story from #1 bestselling Kindle author, J.R. Rain! A young boy who hears a mysterious nightly train is about to come face-to-face with something not of this world... Click BUY NOW or READ FOR FREE today!

Family meant everything to Ayden Stratton. It always had even when he didn’t always allow it to show. Because of that, he understood the fury in Tobias Blaise’s eyes when they learned that his sister had been dragged out the backdoor of her restaurant despite every effort to stop her from being kidnapped. Fury didn’t begin to describe what he saw in his brother’s face. Cassidy Blaise might be Tobias’s sister, but she was Benjamin’s entire world. Tobias Blaise never expected to find any woman he wanted to spend his life with, let alone one who looked at him the way Ellis did, ...

Robert E. Howard may no longer be penning Conan tales but that doesn't mean you have to go without your fix of axe wielding barbarians, lusty wenches, and evil wizards! Literary Rebel is dedicated to bringing you a new crop of monthly fantasy fiction by talented authors. In this month's issue: Steve Dilks returns with another jaw-dropping Bohun tale, a fledgling sorcerer goes toe to toe with an evil warlord, and a mercenary pits himself against a villainous tree(?). You have to listen to it to get it.

The prophecy says she is the hope. Her magic will bring prosperity and happiness to her people. But her power makes her the prime target. He WANTS her power. His black magic trap is laid out to seduce her....

"Everything You've Always Wanted" by Mick Garris: It was supposed to be the night of his life - a celebration of his one hit slasher flick. But the price of admission is higher than this has-been filmmaker ever could have imagined. "The Land of Sunshine" by Kealan Patrick Burke: Although she was mute long before the affair that nearly wrecked their marriage, her silence has tortured her husband ever since. Now he will seek out what he has lost or be driven mad by remorse.

"He had been created to replace a lost son. His face was made of porcelain and burnt clay formed his spine. The lips were painted on and showed a never-changing smile, while twisted copper wire held his body together. When the artificial boy looked down he could see through the gaps between the coils. There, deep down inside him, was a living thing - a fleeting flutter, visible for only one moment at a time. His creator called him Felix." In three interconnected short stories, Felix searches for the truth about how he came to be alive. He meets a strange butterfly catcher, a terrifying ...

Love Is Absolutely Disgusting, and You Know It Licking the Bottom of the Love Jar is a collection of surreal fiction stories and bleak poetry. Using these strange offerings, we explore the topic of L-O-V-E for what it truly is: one part magical fantasy, and one part mental sickness, stirred together and served to those lost romantics who prefer their fables with an extra goop of weirdness. Let’s go ahead and ask ourselves the important questions, such as: Can a snake and a rabbit overcome the obstacles of their forbidden love? Can the boy get the girl when he's incapacitated by depression...

A collection of horror/thriller stories with surprise endings to chill you and thrill you to the bone. The creepers include: FANGS: Harry wakes up one morning and bites his lip because of the fangs that grew in his mouth during the night. CATHEAD CREEK: Fred inherits property in Cathead Creek, NC and discovers all three of his brothers were the victims of a legendary monster. FRESH: Sam's TV died, and a fellow worker offers him a side job robbing graves for a doctor who pays obscenely well for fresh corpses. THE TOWER: Ever since the anesthesiologist administered the drug ketamine for my ...

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!

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 ...

Markas hears news about dead people with weird symbols on their bodies. He decides to investigate symbols at the library to see if he can find anything. Shortly after he starts having dreams about the people and the rituals done on them. In one of such dreams, Markas sees visions of his own dad… Markas learns more data about the killer from his visions. A police investigation is also underway. As soon as possible, Marcus wants to bring his father the artifact that he found. As the sword gets closer, he suspects the visions will last longer.This is the third book of "The Demon King’s ...

A Hot Erotic Story Designed for MAXIMUM AROUSAL. *Adults Only 18+* *Read On Your PC, Mac, Smartphone, Tablet Or Kindle! * Wet & Sticky: Vol. 9 (A Preview): Like most people their type, they wanted nothing more than a night of fun. He was a struggling young writer with a hankering for booze and a hunger for sweethearts. She was the perfect blend, cute, smart, and coy to a fault; the type of girl who had no idea just how beautiful she really was. But her silence belied a powerful lust. For behind closed doors, it is the quiet ones who make the most noise... Seize Your Copy NOW Tags: erotic ...

From the radiance of redemption towards the depths of despair, from the nightmare of normalcy into the ecstasy of the unknown, Dark Detours: a Collection of Sinister Short Stories is an entertaining exploration into the shadowy boundaries of earthly imagination. The author's uniquely poetic prose compellingly involves the reader with 21 turgid tales of inner turmoil and astounding achievements while also evocatively expounding on the price of pain and the cost of conscience. Whether it be a fable about aliens or the occult, sensual schemes or sinister dreams, Dark Detours is an ...

Markas hears news about dead people with weird symbols on their bodies. He decides to investigate symbols at the library to see if he can find anything. Shortly after he starts having dreams about the people and the rituals done on them. In one of such dreams, Markas sees visions of his own dad… Markas learns more data about the killer from his visions. A police investigation is also underway. As soon as possible, Marcus wants to bring his father the artifact that he found. As the sword gets closer, he suspects the visions will last longer.This is the second book of "The Demon King’s ...

ROMANTIC LIES (BOOK 2) Five years after coming to New York for her cousin Emma's funeral, Abby has it all: the man of her dreams, a well-paying job, and a luxury apartment that she shares with her billionaire boyfriend. Little does she know that Liam has been keeping a secret from her...one that could ruin things forever. When he suddenly ends their relationship without any explanation, Abby's beautiful world comes crashing down. Her best friend, Isabella, gives her a clue that might explain everything, and Abby sets out on a journey to solve the mystery of why Liam left. What she discovers...