Dark Fiction Short Stories

For an imperial assassin, assignment as a courtesan in the Floating World seems like a waste of her talents...until killers target her clan sisters. In the legendary Floating World, wars are waged with wit, the strongest soldier can be bound with threads of silk, and flesh is the currency by which life, death, and freedom can all be purchased. Half-elf Jie bemoans her temporary assignment as a Night Blossom in the most sought-after house, even if it's the perfect cover for her real work as an assassin in the emperor’s service.

This collection of 22 short stories by the author of Daughter of Hounds and Alabaster firmly established Caitlín R. Kiernan as one of the preeminent voices in dark fantasy today. Through a cycle of interconnected narratives, Kiernan unflinchingly explores a surreal world where the fantastic and the mundane are never separated by more than the insubstantial thickness of a shadow.

Beware the weeping wails of the headless bride Harry Dwight, a broke tech genius, heard the folklore all his life - the headless bride floating over the swell off Cinder Bay, haunting wayward ships in the wee hours of night. But he knew it for what it was. Just another campfire story meant to scare kids. But when his best friend lands him a late-night pitch opportunity offshore, Harry's beliefs are shaken to the core. Her wails are loud, like the incarnated screams of a thousand tormented souls. Her vacant gaze stares wherever he goes. Her taunt is consistent, at the wake of every bleeding ...

Former vigilante-for-hire Simon Barré has one steadfast rule: stay far away from celebrities. Too bad Simon’s first assignment at Stark Security is to protect A-list actress Francesca Muratti. He can’t even turn down the assignment, as that would be violating his second rule—never fail a woman. Now he finds himself up-close-and-personal with a high-maintenance diva whose flash and sass drives him crazy—but whose touch he undeniably craves.

In this remarkable collection the author has selected over two dozen of her best Lovecraftian tales ranging from 2000s “Valentia” to her more recent classic “A Mountain Walked” as well as including the complete Dandridge Cycle, as well as a new story, “M Is for Mars.” In short, this is a cornerstone volume for Kiernan fans and Mythos devotees alike.

A scientist suffering from PTSD is faced with the terrible knowledge of the impending destruction of our species. In his desperate attempts to prevent humanity's fate, he commits violent acts and is branded a terrorist. How far would you go to save the planet from annihilation? Where do humans come from and how did we get here? Scientists have theorized about the human race's origins for many years. But no one was prepared for what was found in orbit, seven ancient alien probes that have been monitoring the planet for billions of years. The data and video images recorded inside them show ...

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 ...

Get ready to be spellbound by "Curse of the Hallow Moon," a spine-chilling Halloween horror anthology that will haunt your dreams long after the last page is turned. Delve into the darkness with thirteen tales of terror, where ancient curses, sinister creatures, and malevolent spirits lurk in the shadows, waiting to ensnare unsuspecting souls. From the eerie depths of the forest to the desolate corners of forgotten towns, each story in this collection is crafted to send shivers down your spine and quicken your pulse with every twist and turn. Whether you're drawn to the macabre or the ...

Josh Malerman is a master weaver of stories—and in this spine-chilling collection he spins five twisted tales from the shadows of the human soul.

If a person is frozen before they take their last breath, are they dead? Embark on an unforgettable journey through life, death, and the unknown in "Where the Others Go," the captivating seventeenth installment of The Night Portals Fantasy Series. Meet Teddy Haims, a man on the brink of accepting his fate—until a chance encounter with a representative from the premier cryogenics company, CryoCorp changes everything. At ninety-five years old, Teddy has savored the highs and lows of existence, yet time slips through his grasp like sand. Facing mortality, he grapples with the elusive concept...

Lacy Logan thought she had a normal life. She was healthy, happy, and about to start her own paranormal investigations business...until she met the man in black. In a matter of days, she was fighting for her life, questioning her sanity, and hoping to uncover a secret from her past that would allow her to slay a demon.

Introducing Book Two of The Unexpected Crush, the hot and sexy new series by Alexa Wilder... She won’t sacrifice her dreams for a man. He proves she doesn’t have to. Kaia Davenport has left her old life behind. Now an intern at a prestigious hospital, she’s sacrificed so much to get where she is. She’s confident in her job, but when it comes to her curvy body, she’s learned she’s not in every man’s taste. And it’s not like she has time to date - all she cares about is her dream of being a doctor. Unfortunately, she manages to get into trouble during her very first week at ...

For almost thirty years, Shirley Jackson Award–winning horror author Gemma Files has consistently served up tale after tale celebrating monstrosity in all its forms: the imperfect, the broken, the beautifully alien, and the sadly familiar. Her characters make their own choices and take their own chances, slipping from darkness into deeper darkness yet never losing their humanity—not even when they’re anything but.

The title of this book means ‘broken door’ in Latin, and within these pages you’ll definitely find doorways to other worlds, some of them broken and some… perhaps better left closed. Dive through a wormhole into the interstellar adventure of Anomalies, or visit the international space station in the surreal Patchouli Puke. Empathize with the protagonist in Five Minutes From Now who knows when people are going to die, or learn how a life lived poorly can still ultimately make a difference in The Horizon Behind. Perhaps you’re an action or horror fan? Then How Bhutan Became the ...

Deep in the dark forest, in a cottage that spins on birds’ legs behind a fence topped with human skulls, lives the baba yaga. A guardian of the water of life, she lives with her sisters and takes to the skies in a giant mortar and pestle, creating tempests as she goes. Those who come across the baba yaga may find help, or hinderance, or horror. She is wild, she is woman, she is witch—and these are her tales.

Grace had never been more terrified...the pain was relentless. Nothing in her life prepared her for this. She desperately needed somewhere safe...someplace she could hide. Someone she could trust with her life. It was dark...and getting darker. Ronan Hendricks didn’t recognize her voice. Not family...not friends. Probably not an enemy. But he didn’t need the years he’d spent as a detective to recognize what he did hear... Fear. In a desperate moment of hope, a single number saved her life. Then a complete stranger opened his home offering safety yet Grace knew danger surrounded them.....

Despite everything I have suffered, I never truly understood darkness until my family was in danger. Those desperate hours came close to breaking both Damien and me, but together we found the strength to survive and hold our family together. Even so, my wounds are deep, and wispy shadows still linger. But Damien is my rock. My hero against the dark and violence.

- A henpecked husband makes a stand against his surly wife.- Is a mysterious stain on the ceiling of a prison cell a product of the inmate's imagination or something more sinister?- A woman trapped in a loveless marriage finds magic in a gift from a friend.- Something is alive in the outhouse…- A young boy longs to venture beyond the walls of his post-apocalyptic city, until he learns the terrifying truth about what’s out there.- A terminally ill teen’s forbidden love affair turns tragic.- A young witch and her talking dog are tasked with ridding their home of unwanted guests. Magic ...

We have a pulse-pounding collection of sword swinging barbarians for your this month along with some sage advice on writing and publishing from best-selling authors. In this issue, Kell Myers returns with another episode in Kara Black's adventures and Ciarán Laverty thrills with his vengeful Hjalgrup in his quest to destroy a malevolent wizard. There is also an original from the talented Toni V. Sweeney. So pick up a copy today.

Long ago, powerful sorcerers stole the power of a god. Only the courage and sacrifice of great heroes stopped them from conquering the known world. They thought it was over. But the god who was robbed so long ago remained. He swore that long after the heroes were dead, when his power returned, he would have his vengeance on all of humanity. Now, the time of his prophecy is at hand. A band of elite desert warriors crosses the sea, hoping faith and courage will be enough to turn aside the coming apocalypse. Their leader, Prelate Yazid Valerian, seeks the mythical city of sorcerers.