June has always been in motion. She’s never satisfied with a place for long, so she’s always moving and never content. Even her love life is a maelstrom, leaving behind a long list of lovers. After years of searching for a sense of belonging, she is drawn to the ocean waters near Leekston. She convinces Jeremy, a wealthy young playboy with a yacht, to take her out to the cold open waters.
She hopes to find answers, but Jeremy expects compensation for his trip and something watches in the deep waters. They are not alone.
This wasn’t quite what I expected. Not in a bad way, but to me, it didn’t really come across as horror — more of a dark fantasy. For a short story, it had all the elements a story should have. I enjoyed the suspense as we waited to find out what was hiding in the water. I just felt what came next was anticlimactic. Overall, it was well-written, the characters were nicely done. The story just didn’t wow me.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. The review above is only my opinion.
Genre: YA Horror Release Date: May 31, 2025 Publisher: Into the Darkness Publishing
About the Book…
Obsession is deadly.
No one learns that better than Luna Ketz, a pessimistic high school senior. Caught between her parents’ intentions for her life and her own plans, boys are the last thing on Luna’s mind. This fact doesn’t deter the mysterious Chance Welfrey from trying to gain her affection.
Luna doesn’t think twice about him until girls at their high school begin to disappear. Girls who tended to hurt her. Girls she wished would disappear.
When she receives a call from a long-lost friend, normalcy goes out the window as she’s plunged into the paranormal. There’s a world beneath the surface of the unconscious mind, and a murderer who knows how to navigate it.
Luna is in danger and although she can avoid the killer in reality, she cannot avoid him in her dreams.
While I admit the first few chapters had a slower pace, it was necessary to build up to the main events. There were times Luna’s character annoyed me, but she was a strong character overall. But my favorite was Chance. The author did a fantastic job with his character! When I got to the end of the book and realized there’s going to be a second one, I was thrilled!
Dead by Morning is a must-read for fans of the Scream and Nightmare on Elm Street franchises. If you like your horror with twisted killers, suspense, and a dash of the paranormal, you won’t be disappointed with this book.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. The review above is only my opinion.
A Terror Triptych: Ireland Kasey Fallon Publication date: October 1st 2024 Genres: Adult, Horror
Readers can expect three chilling tales, each steeped in Irish folklore, history, and psychological horror. A Terror Triptych: Ireland is the second set of short horror by Kasey Fallon, with stories that delve into the darker side of the Emerald Isle. Each story is accompanied by original poetry and hand-drawn illustrations, enhancing the atmospheric tension of the collection.
Dark Legends Reimagined
Legacy, the first story, traces the cursed history of the Clairy family. The Clairys have fed centuries of blood into the Fair Farm of Clairy, and as an ancient Gaelic god demands more, their desperate choices lead to devastating consequences. As Fallon writes, “This is the bed the Clairys have wrought. Generations of blood.”
The collection continues with Dungeons Under Dublin, where guards at an ancient prison discover why they should have left the old wing untouched. Fallon’s use of Irish settings is not merely for atmosphere, but to invoke the weight of the country’s past, its myths, and its lingering shadows. Readers can expect historical accuracy intertwined with unnerving fiction, making the horrors all the more visceral.
Finally, in The Dead House, the picturesque Aran Islands become the stage for Clara’s unnerving attraction to the only house on the island left to rot in haunting silence. As one reviewer noted, “These stories are flat out, bone-chilling, creepy… The psychological touch was there, that’s what makes you shiver.”
“Da, I think he’s just… hungry, maybe?” Finn said, hesitant. He spoke quietly as the wind and rain died down.
Tiernan sniffled and looked at Finn with red eyes.
“He said what now?”
“He was just talking about gifts, and how he didn’t want any moldy bread anymore,” Finn said. “And Lughnasadh, he said the deal was for offers on Lughnasadh.”
“Offerings,” Tiernan corrected absently. His eyes narrowed on Finn.
“Did he say what the offerings are, Finn?”
Finn thought hard. Had The Comm specifically said what the presents were? There was the talk of old people… a whisper drifted over his shoulder.
“Nothing that isn’t already mine, young Clairy. All of Ireland is mine.”
Finn looked up at his Da.
“He said nothing that isn’t already his.”
Author Bio:
Kasey grew up on the East Coast, from Maine to North Carolina. She loves two things above all in nature: the water, and the forest. While she might not love her nightmares, they do inspire many of her works. A recipient of the Editor’s Choice Award from the International Library of Poetry, she writes across several genres. She and her dog can be found investigating new hiking trails, or curled up on the couch as he pushes her computer off her lap to make room for himself.
The Garden of Before Ryan Leslie (The Between, #2) Published by: Parliament House Press Publication date: September 23rd 2025 Genres: Adult, Fantasy, Horror
“That’s what happens here, Paul. Every power has its price. It always gets worse.”
For Paul Prentice things have gotten much worse. His house was destroyed in the battle with the Koŝmaro. He’s on thin ice at his job, where instead of working he loses himself in the Between’s computer game, trying in vain to find explanations. His best friend Jay has transformed into a shadowy killer. Corinne and Supriya have vanished. And it appears his wife, Julie, has finally had enough and left him.
Alone and near ruin, Paul receives a familiar visitor with a dire message: they are all back in the Between. Hunted, captured, doomed. For Paul, still wearing the serĉilo’s artifact on his wrist, escape was never an option. The game must be played until the end.
In the harrowing conclusion to The Between, Leslie once again invites readers into a mind-twisting world where the most terrifying monsters are the ones let loose inside of us.
Ryan Leslie oversees research for a large health system, where making stuff up is generally frowned upon. His creative outlet has always been writing fiction. He lives in Austin, Texas, with his wife, children’s author Lindsay Leslie, and their two sons.
Inked in Blood and Memory Allison Ivy Publication date: December 3rd 2024 Genres: Horror, LGBTQ+, New Adult
Recluse Sophie Vanguard’s winter cabin retreat turns ominous when blue flowers mysteriously appear. They’re everywhere. On her front porch, in kitchen cabinets, and even on her pillow. It isn’t long before chilling whispers echo in the halls, and her journal repeats seven unsettling entries.
Enter the bloodied and beautifully eccentric Ly Thi Ren. Though Ren seems familiar, Sophie refuses to believe the girl’s insistence that they are trapped inside a book.
In a land of fiction, truth and lies blur together, clear decisions are marred by doubt, and shared family trauma lurks just below the surface.
Can Ren and Sophie make it out alive? Or will they end up nothing more than words inked in blood and memory?
With elements of gothic horror, splatterpunk, romance, and fantasy, Inked in Blood and Memory is a self-aware LGBTQ+ horror that wraps its clutches around the reader and doesn’t let go.
You never forget your first ritual sacrifice. So why had I? That seems like something you’d remember. It’s not something most American families gather for.
Hey, Má. Could you pass the rau răm? Oh, and what time is the sacrifice tonight?
And yet, I had forgotten. I had forgotten the little things, too. My mother’s laugh, her abrupt chortles that often devolved into giggles. My childhood nickname.
We eat pho the night our own parents sacrifice one of my best friends. It’s weird what sticks with you after years of trying to forget. We eat in silence, though I haven’t yet realized the reason for the solemn mood. My nine-year-old brain doesn’t quite grasp the idea of “sacrifice.” I can’t wait to wear my new ceremonial cloak. I begged my parents to let me wear it through dinner, but they refused.
“It’s too special,” they say. “You don’t want to ruin it, do you, con gái?”
No, I don’t want that. Still, my eyes wander to the piece of clothing that hangs on the coat tree next to the front door. The intricate symbols fascinate me. The only other place I’ve seen them is on the book. Not just any book. The book.
I get to see it on special occasions during the four months out of the year our family guards it. The other eight months are split between two additional families. My best friends’, Sophie Vanguard and Jeremy Berg-Nilsen.
We’ll join them later for the ceremony or the “thanksgiving,” but not that Thanksgiving. We are not pilgrims, but our three families are special. Chosen. And today, Jeremy is the most special.
“Ông xã, are you sure this is the only way?” Má squeezes Ba’s arm.
Ba remains quiet for so long I almost ask him if he’s heard Má. I’m not sure what she means by her question or why it’s gotten even quieter than before.
Ba answers before I speak. “It’s too late to back out. Maybe we could have years ago, but not now. This is how we keep our family safe.” He kisses my mother’s hand and stands to clear the plates.
I knit my brows together. Why are they so serious? It’s like they’re sad. But it’s the day of the thanksgiving. They should be happy.
Later that night, I beam proudly in my cloak with the strange symbols, relishing the feel of the velvet hem between my fingertips. Incense burns in a corner, permeating the air with a smoky aroma that I’ve always hated, but it reminds me of the days we celebrate the four equinoxes.
The adults hug and talk amongst themselves excitedly. All but Mrs. Berg-Nilsen, Jeremy’s mom. She stands against the wall, keeping to herself. Her long blonde hair covers most of her face, but I can tell her cheeks are wet.
I ponder this as I sit cross-legged on the antique rug with Jeremy in his family’s living room. We sip Capri-Suns and talk about what we think will happen in a few minutes.
“Happy birthday, Jeremy,” Sophie says after arriving with her parents and barreling through the adults’ legs. She holds a cloak that matches mine out behind her as she runs like she’s a superhero or a bat and plops down on the rug between us.
“Thanks, Sophie,” Jeremy mumbles, staring at his Capri-Sun.
Of the three of us, Sophie is the most frenetic. I think that’s the word Ba used. The adults are always hiding the sugar from her. She channels her chaotic energy for good most of the time. At school this past week, a couple kids from our grade cornered Jeremy. Sophie took me by the hand and came to Jeremy’s aid, not letting up until the kids backed off.
“Why is your mom crying?” I ask Jeremy.
His eyes move from his drink to his shoes, and he tugs at the laces. “Dad says she’s happy, but she won’t look at me.”
“Grownups are weird,” I say, watching Jeremy’s parents lead the rest into the kitchen.
“I think I did something real bad,” Jeremy says.
The door swings closed, and I’m on my feet, ignoring Sophie’s questions and drawn to the conversation happening behind the closed door.
Author Bio:
Allison Ivy writes under a pen name and grew up reading a book a day. She graduated from Penn State with a B.A. in English and a Creative Writing certificate. She currently lives in Connecticut and listens to far too many show tunes and DVD commentaries. The Dragon and the Double-Edged Sword is her first novel.
We have the quintessential spooky read for you this month! Check out Gulf by Shelly Campbell, and the newly released sequel, Breach!
Gulf (Dark Walker Series Book 1)
Publication Date: July 2024
Genre: Horror/ Sci-Fi
A lonely teen discovers a new door in his family’s old summer cottage and unknowingly opens a portal to a terrifying world.
All my life they told me monsters weren’t real. They were dead wrong.
Hello. My name is David Rawlingson Junior and I’ve accidentally opened a door into Hell.
When my brothers and I found the locked door to the newly built extension on our rental cottage, the race to find the key was on. Little did I know that exploring the room beyond would create a bridge to countless alternate realities where humans have been eradicated. Ravenous creatures stalk the night, and they want nothing more than to get onto my side and feast.
But time is running out. I can’t get the bridge to break, and the more time I spend on the wrong side of the door digging for clues, the more I fade in my world.
Whatever these creatures are, I’m the only thing in their way. Shit.
Get ready for the re-release of this creepy, disturbing and intense novel by Shelly Campbell. Including a brand new BONUS Novella taking place after the events of that fateful day.
New to me author. That being said, I really love horror stories, and this was one was short enough I could squeeze it into my tight schedule. Don’t let the page count fool you. It’s a very well-written, fast-paced story that will keep you glued to the pages. The author didn’t skimp on details, and writes in a descriptive way that makes you feel as if you’re in the story. I found myself rooting for David, and sad over how he felt invisible to his family. But the world beyond the door was everything I hoped it would be. I don’t do spoilers so you’ll have to read the story to find out more. Very enjoyable read!
*Disclaimer: I received an ARC and am leaving an honest review. The review above is only my opinion.
It’s release day and that means The Ripper of Bedeville by C. Hebert is LIVE! It comes on the heels of the first anniversary of The House of Whispers, so happy book birthday to the author as well!
The Ripper of Bedeville (Living Nightmares)
Publication Date: October 13, 2024
Genre: Dark Fantasy Horror/ Novella
After the horrific murders committed by The Ripper of Bedeville, Casper finds herself locked away in an asylum, enduring endless mental and physical torture. It isn’t until she is brutally pushed beyond her mental capacity that her sanity breaks, unlocking an unstoppable chaos that guides her to a new world.
This novella sequels the characters, story, and timeline of The House of Whispers and contains spoilers. It is advised that you read The House of Whispers first.
Reader caution is advised as there are no happy endings.
In a world where so many dark things go bump in the night, terror awaits
around every corner as these authors take horror stories to the next level.
Discover ghosts, demons, and your worst nightmares. Read at your own
risk.
Featuring twenty-nine stories by Joshua Williams, Stephen A. Roddewig,
Joseph Hirsch, Max Blood, Paul Lonardo, Matt Spencer, S.J. Walker, Kelly
Barker, Gregory Scott Matics, Gaetan Battaglia, Fred Phillips, Cassandra
Jones, Barend Nieuwstraten III, Sean E. Britten, Larry Hodges, Donalee
Moulton, Arlo Z. Graves, C.L. Hart, Robb T. White, Kelly Piner, Benjamin
Curt Unsworth, Trixie Nisbet, Jennifer Papillo, Justin Jones, Diana
Parrilla, Jared Thomason, J.M. Bengtsson, Caleb James K., and J.E.
Feldman.
Full Cold Moon
Story Genre: Shifters, werewolf
Wolf shifter Roza Van Rompaye awakens in a basement filled with Christmas
decorations with a silver manacle around her ankle. Her captor spiked her
drink with silver nitrate, and now he wants her to be his mate and to turn
him. Roza isn’t about to do either. She warns her captor that he will
die if she is still a prisoner when the full cold moon rises.
Excerpt
No matter how I struggled, I couldn’t get free of the chains I was
bound in.
“You’d better hope they hold when the full moon comes out, you
silly shit,” I snarled.
The cadaverous young man with the watery green eyes, blemished face, and
greasy disconnected fuchsia pompadour presented me with a rectangular box
wrapped in metallic celadon paper.
“I don’t want presents from you,” I snapped, turning away.
“If you think holding a woman captive on Christmas Eve is seduction, I
guarantee you’ll die a virgin. Gavril Kuroki, president of GrassHopper Green
Construction and renowned seducer of both men and women, would be horrified
to learn his son was holding his favorite architectural consultant prisoner
in a dungeon that looks like Santa’s elves got hammered and puked all over
the walls while he tries to win her affections with cheesy lingerie. What
the hell is wrong with you, Yair?”
“Roza, please, just look,” Yair insisted. He eagerly unwrapped
the box, revealing a silky puce nightgown. “I’m not trying to
turn you into a sexual object, and I’d never force myself on you. I
know you’re not like those easy women who ride the cock carousel any
chance they get. This negligee is elegant and ladylike, like
you.”
“I’ll never be the fawning captive princess of your
pathetic fantasies.”
“My love, it pains me to keep you prisoner, but until you accept me
as your alpha, I must.”
“Being chained to a concrete wall in a windowless basement stuffed
with Christmas decorations like a holiday goose full of apples and bread
pains me. This plot to make me fall in love with you by forcing a full-blown
English Christmas on me is insane. We’re in Cresval, South Dakota, for
Krampus’ sake, not jolly old London town. I’m the
thirty-five-year-old spawn of a Dutch-American agnostic farmer, not the
demure daughter of flipping Bob Cratchit.”
About the Author
C. L. Hart is an editor who writes or a writer who edits. She primarily
writes Lovecraftian fantasy and horror with the occasional sweet romance
thrown in to upset the cosmic apple cart. This is her second year
participating in the annual For the Love of Winter anthology from First
Coast Romance Writers. She is a member of ACES Editing Society, The Denver
Horror Collective, First Coast Romance Writers, The H. P. Lovecraft
Historical Society, Passionate Ink (writing as Lil DeVille), Regency Romance
Writers, and Rocky Mountain Romance Writers.
Try not to wonder what secret darkness your neighbors or classmates hold in
their hearts for you.
It’s about the hidden dark thoughts that all of us think every day.
Most of us would never act on them, we’re not sociopaths, but what if
there was a circumstance where through supernatural intervention, you
couldn’t help but act on those hidden desires? That’s what IN
DARKNESS is about, the lethality in those hidden, benign shadows that some
of our thoughts live inside.
Dark thoughts, like cream, will always rise to the top at the wrong
moment.
About the Author
Russell Rothberg has worked in television as a writer and Executive
Producer for the Peacock series, Long Bright River, based on the bestselling
novel, as well as for the Paramount+ series The Offer. Before
returning to his roots as a writer, Russell was the Executive VP of Drama
Development at Universal Television, where he developed series such as Bates
Motel, Chicago Fire, Shades of Blue and Emerald City. Russell started
his career as an actor-writer-director with an original play, Life After
Death, at the Intar Theatre in NYC. Born and raised in New York City,
Russell currently lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Vera. In Darkness is
his first novel.
Everyone can achieve success through the Summit Conference.
They just need to follow one rule:
There’s no escape.
Surviving the
Summit Conference
by Jon Kaczka
Genre: Horror
Everyone can achieve success through the Summit Conference. They just need to follow one rule: There’s no escape.
In the luxurious and prestigious Beburoa Hotel, the
Summit Conference promises to help attendees achieve their dreams.
Meet five unlikely individuals who have come to the conference. An Asian
American single mom with a talent for social media hopes to launch a corporate
marketing career. An unemployed dad is determined use his new MBA to leave
behind his impoverished upbringing in a West Virginia trailer park. And a trio
of influencers, including a fake televangelist, a thrill-seeking rock climber,
and a laid-back stoner, accidentally stumble into the conference.
Little do they know, the conference is a trap set by the enigmatic Chairman,
Abigor, to manipulate and exploit them. As Abigor’s deadly intentions come to
light, the attendees must confront their deepest fears and fight for their
survival.
Don’t miss out on this heart-pumping and suspenseful read.
Find out who will survive the Summit Conference from hell.
I used to go to a lot of conferences for work, and I didn’t like it. While I don’t mind traveling for vacation, I realized I don’t like traveling for work. Also, I heard some stupid stuff at these conferences. Usually, 90% of the conference was focused on professional development, but 10% of the conference was a circle jerk. The exact ratio varies, depending on the conference, but there’s always a chunk of time devoted to people patting themselves on the back and saying how smart they are. Eventually, I started to imagine being trapped at a never-ending conference as a type of torture. And of course, the conference in Surviving the Summit Conference is 99% circle jerk.
I’m the kind of person who has an overactive mind, but that doesn’t mean I’m naturally productive. When I let my mind wander, I tend to overthink every aspect of my life and make myself miserable. But it can be fun to focus my attention on imaginary problems. Like, how can I draw from my own life and experiences to make an awful conference that will make fictional characters miserable? Writing Surviving the Summit Conference was a fun way to externalize my anxiety. It was strangely cathartic to write about fictional characters getting brutally murdered.
I spent a lot of time writing while on business trips. I wrote on airplanes. I’d go to a conference during the day, and then in the evening, when other people are at a reception, I’d sit in my hotel room and write my book. Parts of the book are inspired by stupid things I heard people say at conferences. Parts of the scenery were inspired by my surroundings. There’s at least one description of a carpet that was simply me describing the carpet in my hotel room as I typed.
Jon Kaczka is the author of Surviving the Summit Conference.
