The Plagued Cottage (Nightmares Book 1)

Jen said: ~ Interview with my 9 almost 10 year old ~Describe Nightmares in five if the sequel~ Nightmares-The sleepwalker tonic will be anything like this book? worst fears with Charlie Laird in his stepmonster stepmother's Purple House.
Table of contents

Pigsny is the kind of character that goes down in flames, but you love watching every minute of it. She-demons who come from the sky and devour people! It's like zombies except the zombies fly. Also apparently they have nice tits. Weirdly aware of social issues too, but still nice tits. Mary Rickert 4 out of 5 stars This sort of reminds me of the movie Don't Be Afraid of the Dark, which is a dark version of the tooth fairy.

Here we have a little girl who likes to play with the little creatures in a not too nice way, and they find a way to fight back. It's clever, it's original, and I love the idea behind it--my only qualm is that I wish there had been a solid description of the little things. I know what I picture in my head, but I wanted to fine-tune it. The Shallows John Langan 5 out of 5 stars I'm not totally sure I understood both plots here, but I freaking loved it anyway. It's definitely a slow burner, one that builds upon itself a little at a time.

One story is the one the character is telling--his wife, his son, and their obsession with a dog they found wandering the streets. The second is a little more off-kilter--giant crustaceans, battles with beings inside the neighbor's house, gardening having a few more critters than usual.


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I would love to see this one put into a full novel. Little Pig Anna Taborska 5 out of 5 stars This might be my favorite in the compilation. A woman makes the terrible decision to sacrifice something dear to her, and the phrase "little pig" is born. It's short but it packs a serious punch, holy crap. Omphalos Livia Llewellyn 4 out of 5 stars Omphalos is another one where I'm not totally sure I understood the ending, but it was definitely strong enough to hold my attention. An incestuous family goes camping sounds like a porno, right? Doesn't bring anything new to the story but it's still entertaining.

That Tiny Flutter of the Heart I Used to Call Love Robert Shearman 4 out of 5 stars It took a little bit longer to get to the meat and potatoes of this novella, but once it hit its stride it was fun. A girl pays special tribute to her dolls, the way her brother taught her. If I looked up from the page I would lose track of where I was every single time. So you can tell I liked this a lot if I still rate it five stars!

This particular one follows a couple who like to pick up hitchhikers A retired military man knows a little secret about the seemingly frail old man on his street. What happens when he tries to warn others is fabulously gritty and my evil heart loves the karma of people getting their comeuppance when they treat someone badly. The Atlas of Hell Nathan Ballingrud 4 out of 5 stars This was a wholly original idea about bringing stuff back from hell. We see monsters and a hellish impulse and death and gore, but not misplaced death and gore. I would definitely read more from this author.

Two ambitious boys decide to break into a house full of creepy dolls. They learn exactly what these dolls are and what they're for the hard way It's a great story. It has a good creepiness factor thrown in with elements of Home Alone I don't care what you say, a booby-trapped house will forever remind me of Home Alone. Oct 25, Barry rated it really liked it. This review originally appeared on New York Journal of Books http: So it was that back in that Datlow released an anthology called Darkness: Two Decades of Modern Horror. In her introduction to Nightmares: Rickert, Brian Hodge, and Richard Kadrey.

Subjectivity is the name of the game when it comes to anthologies of any sort. Just as the stories in Nightmares were standouts for Datlow, there will be standouts among them for its readers. Thus, for readers may be unfamiliar with a handful of the authors, a few stories will be detailed. They claim to have been kissed by a figure that they call the Ash-Mouth Man—whose kiss leaves nothing tasting the same, ever again.

To say more would be to spoil it, but suffice to say, this morose and haunting story is as surreal as the best Twilight Zone episodes. Only, in this case, the animals are fairies. Deeply uncomfortable and yet undeniably beautiful, this transgressive tale will surely make even the most robust and jaded readers of dark fiction squirm. What they find inside are not ghosts, but something far darker and insidious. Throughout the book are darkly hypnotic illustrations from artist John Coulthart, and with a perfectly unsettling cover image by Nihil, this anthology is handsomely presented, perfectly complementing its contents.

Some sci-fi, drama, bizarro fiction, but nothing that I really considered scary or anything. Some stories I enjoyed more than others, and to be honest this one fits more with the middle of the road anthologies. I would truly call this one horror. It was scary, disturbing, gory, and oh so awesome! The one thing I have to comment on with this anthology is seriously! What is up with all the incest?

There are like 3 stories involving incest and sexual abuse, which does not automatically make for horror, but does disturb. There are a few areas where triggers could happen so just be mindful. I received a copy of this via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review Nov 14, Karina rated it really liked it Shelves: Highlights for me included, but were not limited to: A mostly-forgotten military weapon goes, um, wrong. Oct 27, graveyardgremlin formerly faeriemyst rated it really liked it Shelves: Shallaballah by Mark Samuels Weird and I didn't completely understand it.

I'm not big on surreal-like stories. I feel like there was a missed opportunity and that the ending was too abrupt.

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I'd read more from Brian Hodge. Perfectly paced and pretty darned creepy. That's the first word that popped into my head when I finished this story. Also, disturbing, sad, and devastating. Had this been written as a regular short story, I do believe the horror is there for a good tale, but as it stands it didn't feel at all scary or nightmarish.

It sorta fit the book, but it also sorta didn't. The story almost felt noir, but not quite, plus everything was rather vague. Not bad, but fine. I'm not even sure what the point was. An even more twisted sequel of sorts to Hansel and Gretel sans Gretel. While it's gory, it didn't bother me but I didn't love it.

The MC is a conman of the old? I didn't understand why he did what he did exactly, like were there circumstances of something that happened to the country as a whole, but it's not such a big thing. I only hoped he'd get a taste of his own medicine, so to speak. Pigsny by Reggie Oliver An odd, creepy little tale.

Not bad, but not great either. I don't really have much to say about it. A quirky start with an powerful ending. It's sick, a little too descriptive with the incest. I don't need an actual scene with explicitness. While I felt sorry for the MC and her brother, the story made me sad for actual victims.

Possibly the point, but it's an upsetting story that some should probably skip. Also, what happened in the end? I get some of it, but it was so confusing and vague that I didn't fully comprehend the conclusion. It doesn't matter much, but I'm getting tired of vague endings or other scenes in these stories. I'm not sure exactly what I thought of this tale, and I'm not sure I totally get what happened at the end, but that seems to be my lot with some of these stories. Kiernan I liked this story. Not my favorite but solid. Oct 21, Jaclyn Hogan rated it really liked it Shelves: This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.

To view it, click here. I received a digital ARC of this book from Netgalley. Short story collections are always a mixed bag for me, especially when they're by multiple authors. Neil Gaiman is usually the only author that I trust to hold my attention through multiple stories. But I really enjoyed this collection. There are some real gems here, although there are also a few that don't work for me at all.

Weakest- Shallaballah- Some very creepy imagery, but the dreamlike feel never works for me. Very Low Flying Aircraft- Nothing supernatural, just human foolishness leading to terrible consequences. This honestly felt out of place in this anthology. Dead Sea Fruit- I like the idea of the stories made up by anorexic girls, but the rest felt disjointed.

Shallows- This is just my opinion, but I think I would have liked this better if the author started from the beginning and let the reader experience the whole cataclysm. Also the stuff about the dog was upsetting. Omphalos- Very creepy and weird incest is a major theme , but the second person narration and the ending didn't work for me. The Clay Party- Once again, a great premise.

I wanted this to do more than it did. Might have worked better as a novel. Pigsny- I just don't find slugs that scary. Most disturbing- Sob in the Silence- Great look inside the mind of a psychopath. Closet Dreams- Spine chilling and heartbreaking. Strappado- Laird Barron is fantastic at hinting at the horror behind real life. Little Pig- Not supernatural, but still horrifying. Probably the most disturbing, in my opinion.

My favorites- Spectral Evidence- A little hard to follow at times, but I enjoyed the found object format. Hushabye- I wanted more of this. I would've happily read this in novel format. The Goosle- Margo Lanagan's language is always so unique, yet believable. A very twisted take on Hansel and Gretel. Lonegan's Luck- Extremely satisfying. The Atlas of Hell- I want an ongoing urban fantasy series with these characters.

Has some wonderful, horrifying imagery. Ambitious Boys Like You- Don't rob weird old people who live by themselves, ok? It never goes well. Shay Corsham Worsted- My absolute favorite in the book. I reread it again as soon as I finished it, and I keep thinking about it still. Jul 11, Irene rated it liked it Shelves: First off I adore this cover and applaud the designer. It caught my eye immediately. This is a large volume of horror at over pages. While I can't say I fell in love with every story, it surely has something for every horror lover.

My favorites of the bunch were "Sob In The Silence" which was a story of murder. Now that is not to say the other stories weren't good, these are just the ones that will haunt me for a while. I received an advance copy for review Nov 11, Seregil of Rhiminee rated it it was amazing. Originally published at Risingshadow. A New Decade of Modern Horror edited by Ellen Datlow is a diverse and well-edited horror anthology that demonstrates what kind of terrors and mesmerising strangeness modern horror has to offer for readers who are looking for something dark, terrifying and unsettling to read.

It doesn't disappoint its readers, because the editor has done her best to gather as many different kind of stories as possible and has paid attention to quality.

The Carrow Haunt

Modern horr Originally published at Risingshadow. Modern horror fiction and modern weird fiction are intriguing sub-genres of speculative fiction, because they give authors plenty of freedom to explore difficult themes and issues in a memorable and thought-provoking way. In this anthology, readers have an opportunity to read about all kinds of unsettling things, because the contents of the stories range from psychological horror to modern weird fiction, covering a lot of ground between them. As many of us are aware of, horror fiction - and especially weird fiction - has become increasingly popular during the last decade.

I think it's great that several new and talented authors have emerged during the recent years and have taken their place alongside the old masters. This anthology allows readers to explore what kind of unsettling stories various authors have written. Nightmares contains the following twenty-four stories, which have been published during I had previously read some of them Laird Barron, Livia Llewellyn etc , but a few of them were unknown to me.

I have nothing bad to say about any of these stories, because they're excellent and atmospheric horror stories I liked each of them for different reasons. Prior to reading this anthology I was not very familiar with the stories written by Simon Bestwick, M. I intend to take a closer look at their works, because I liked their stories. When I read horror fiction, I tend to pay a lot of attention to the quality of the prose, because I feel that well written prose is an essential part of a good horror story. I was positively surprised by how well written and atmospheric these stories were, because the authors had done their best to write as memorable horror fiction as possible.

One of the reasons why I love modern horror fiction is that many authors are not afraid of delving into difficult themes and issues, but boldly embrace them and lead readers on a journey into a world where bad things can happen to good people and where mere existence can become a struggle for sanity and survival. In modern horror stories, everyday life can be filled with fear, pain and suffering, and the protagonists may experience or suffer from mental health problems. The protagonists may also be terrified and plagued by something unknown or are helplessly drawn towards darkness.

It's great that all of this - and much more - can be found in this anthology. Here are my thoughts about some of the stories: It features a terrifying "clinic" whose owner offers his services to people who can afford them. I think that everybody who reads this story will agree with me when I say that Mr. Punch and Nurse Judy give a whole new meaning to Punch and Judy. This is one of my favourite Gene Wolfe stories, because it demonstrates that the author is capable of writing all kinds of stories and is not afraid of shocking his readers with creepy material.

I liked this story a lot, because it differed from other stories and had a scientific feel to it. This disquieting masterpiece of modern horror has an excellent ending. I won't write more about this story, because I don't want to ruin it for those who have not had an opportunity to read it yet, but I can mention that it is one of the best stories I've ever read and the ending is memorable. Once you read this story, you won't be able to forget it, because it will stick to your mind.

This story is an interesting combination of western and zombie elements.

The Plague Charmer by Karen Maitland

The author has fully succeeded in blending these elements and has come up with a highly enjoyable story. The story begins with a man waiting for his Polish girlfriend's grandmother at the airport and then readers get a stunning glimpse into the grandmother's childhood. This short story works well from start to finish.

She tries to find shelter from her abusive and incestuous father. The author's way of writing about the girl's feelings and experiences has a deep emotional impact on the reader. This story has an impressive ending. The author writes fluently about Karen's childhood happenings and their impact on her.

Kiernan is one of the most memorable stories in this anthology due to its contents. In this story, the author combines a highway tale and a murder story in an intriguingly disturbing way as she writes about murderous twin sisters. He meets Tobias George who sells artifacts pulled from Hell and makes a lot of money doing it.

This is a fascinating story that reveals why the author one of the best writers of modern horror fiction. They find something very dark inside the house and get into trouble. I think that Ellen Datlow has done an excellent job at gathering as many different kind of stories as possible, because they highlight what modern horror is and how it has evolved in the hands of talented authors who dare to explore various things within the context of horror fiction.

She has created an anthology that has something for everybody. No matter what your taste in horror fiction is, you'll find something to enjoy in this anthology. Because I'm a devoted fan of weird fiction and love weird stories, I was delighted to notice that the editor had included many weird fiction stories into this anthology.

Mark Samuels, John Langan and Livia Llewellyn have unique literary voices and they're not afraid of pushing the boundaries of weird fiction into exciting directions. Nightmares is a dream come true anthology for those who love the darker and twisted side of speculative fiction and want to be entertained by beautifully written, dark and imaginative stories that give readers something to think about it's a chilling, entertaining, unsettling and rewarding reading experience.

Each of the stories in this anthology is worth reading and should not be missed by fans of quality horror fiction. Horror fiction anthologies don't get any better than this, so please make sure that you'll read this one as soon as possible or you'll be sorry to have missed it. Nov 26, Bernie Gourley rated it it was amazing Recommends it for: This is an anthology of 24 horror short stories. Horror is a simplification; there are several cross-genre pieces e. These stories have all been previously published in various magazines or collections, and they were all written during the decade between and A celebrity awa This is an anthology of 24 horror short stories.

A celebrity awakens in a hospital after a drunken crash that necessitated reconstructive surgery. This is an intriguing and distinctive tale. A horror writer has the family of an old friend to his house. This was among my favorites. The horror writer character is well developed. This anthology includes both stories that feel like they are realistically set in the world we know, as well as speculative fiction pieces.

This feels like the former, but makes a shift.


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A dentist of a different ilk takes up with this mythical man. An abduction and abuse victim tells her story of being locked in a closet, but no one believes the part about her fantastic escape. This is a gritty and evocative piece. This is an unconventional approach to story.

I sometimes like this approach. Reading through a file fills a kind of voyeuristic pleasure, and offers the challenge of piecing together events oneself. This story was solid, but not my favorite of the bunch. A man out walking in the middle of the night stumbles onto the scene of a young girl under attack. This is crime fiction with a supernatural twist. A Royal Air Force air crew in Zanzibar shows off for some ladies with dire consequences. This one is in the realist vein. It feels like a story one might be told in a bar by a particularly gifted storytelling veteran.

This tale seems to take place in the Hansel and Gretel universe. This is a compelling story in the dark fairy tale sub-genre. The diary approach worked well, being both easy to follow and having an authentic feel. Two hip and cosmopolitan lovers attend the performance art event of an artist deemed trendy and edgy by the in-crowd. This was evocative, and was, perhaps, a cautionary tale about being too up for trendy and edgy activities.

This is another of my favorites. A Professor with some mobster relatives attends the funeral of one such gangster. Pigsny, is masterfully portrayed as both a quiet professional and spine-tinglingly creepy. A big, strong man and a little girl meet, and team up with, a party of four survivors in a demon-infested dystopian wasteland.

Whether the odd pairing are truly allies, or, if not, what type of threat they present is not as was expected and made for a thought-provoking piece.


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  • Nightmares!!

I found this tale to be clever, and it revealed an unexpected theme. A little girl makes enemies by cruelly dispensing with little forest creatures--fairies, perhaps. Her parents debate what they should do to stave off the wrath of their neighbors of another species. The title says it all. This is one of those stories that tactically reveal information to keep the reader wondering.

The part of the story that resonated with me was about a stray dog that a family adopts only to have its apparently-negligent owner come and retrieve it. This was among my least favorite entries, but it was solidly written. A newly-wed man waits at Heathrow airport for the grandmother of his Polish wife. The mom and dad pretend they are taking the kids to Canada in their RV only to detour into remote parts of the Pacific Northwest.

The depravity quotient of this family is high. Much of the story is brutally realistic, but there is a supernatural element with regards maps, which appear to be marked up differently to each member of the family. The maps play an important role in the unfolding of the story. This is the story of a father and son living in a zombie apocalypse-ish—after the mother died. This is both an interesting take on the sub-genre, and an intriguing commentary on humanity. A girl requires the execution of her dolls from both her brother and later her new husband.

She says she cannot love them fully as long as the dolls are there taking in her love. A couple of homicidal girls pick up a hitchhiker as they ride cross-country. This is a page-turner. Besides the fear factor, this story has a dry humor that I found amusing. Like a few of the others, this story manages to make a commentary without detracting from its entertainment value.

What he stumbles into is even worse than he expected, but he makes a decision that will dramatically change his life. This was also an engaging story as well as a strong entrant in the anthology. A couple of burglars badly overestimate the ease of robbing an old man and what will come of it. This is a strong collection. There are several stories that have that cinematic quality that make for gripping reading.

Jul 03, Vijayalakshmi rated it really liked it. This anthology of 24 short stories, though slotted under horror, spans a bigger range of genres with horror intersecting fantasy, crime fiction and even sci-fi. It has something for everyone. Broadly, this is weird fiction. Like all anthologies, there is a mix of stories that are amazing, to others that one wants to skip over. I should add in here, that many of the stories are extremely disturbing and could be triggering. So the recommendation comes with trigger warnings for sexual abuse, incest, This anthology of 24 short stories, though slotted under horror, spans a bigger range of genres with horror intersecting fantasy, crime fiction and even sci-fi.

So the recommendation comes with trigger warnings for sexual abuse, incest, body horror, graphic torture. A lot of the descriptions are pretty gory and nasty, expected for the genre, but certainly not for a reader who may be disturbed by them. What ties a lot of these stories together is the horrifying realization that there is much more to fear in the here and now; that the real monsters walk amongst us.

Some more creepy stories, and these are so creepish, especially when they're being read at night! Contains ten years of terror from masters and newcomers both, and there are so MANY really great short stories that I need to highly recommend that you give this tome a lookie loo. Klieman; it was my absolute favorite!! It was a big book, it contained lots of stories, it was a recent publication, and I enjoyed Some more creepy stories, and these are so creepish, especially when they're being read at night! In that memory, you can see what looks like Muriel being booed.

There, Scourge Muriel is accompanied by Count Lucio. Lucio referred to Scourge as "his champion" in the memory reel. Shortly after, Lucio asks for them to boo more. When such is done, Scourge is to cease someone with his ax. He carried out that task with ease. After the heinous and gruesome scene, you mention that you wouldn't like to see it again as it may have slightly scarred you.

Afterwards, the Memory Dealer tries to sell you two artifacts supposedly from Scourge himself. You and Julian both point out that the first two are fake. In the end, he sells a real artifact from Scourge himself; a brush of some sort with a few fibers of hair. Julian hands over fake pirate money and rushes you out of the Coliseum before the Dealer can take action. You and Julian make it into the forest. When there, you let your magic lead you. Where it leads you is a house.

The door is bigger than Julian himself. Once you get inside, Julian warms you up with a fur coat he had found nearby. Julian is about to kiss you once again when the door is kicked open. Scourge finally reveals himself. He asks who you are and why the two of you are in his home. Scourge is accompanied by his companion, Inanna. Julian tries to help Inanna because Inanna has been, but Scourge rejects his offer. Scourge shields the wolf and protects her all while seeming both stubborn and aloof. Moments later, you mention that Asra sent you and Julian to Scourge's aid. This statement helps Scourge soften up.

Julian is finally able to help Inanna with her injuries. He uses the "curse" that Asra put upon him and heals Inanna. Scourge checks on her eagerly. He becomes content with Julian's doings, hesitantly thanking Julian. You, Julian, and Scourge begin to talk. Scourge reveals that he doesn't do what he used to do, and thus renamed himself. He tells you that he now goes by Muriel. Muriel wonders how you found him, which leads you to reveal the brush that you obtained.

Muriel tosses the brush into a nearby fire angrily. You are forced to go outside with him to collect firewood. Out in the rain, you watch him silently until he carries the logs inside. The three of you continue to converse until Muriel begins talking about the fire that killed Count Lucio. During this moment, Julian's innocence is proven. The room was already on fire when Muriel let Julian out of the dungeon where he was working on a cure. Muriel left after Julian ran into the burning room.

Julian then rips off his eyepatch, revealing the eye that he hides underneath. His has a red sclera. You make your way to Portia's shed to meet with her and Julian. Portia has prepared a disguise for Julian he is to pose as " Ian" your temp assistant for the day to help you and Julian explore the palace undetected while in search for the entrance to the dungeon. Julian calls for you to help him dress up and you are given the option to do so or refuse.

While exploring the palace, Julian activates a secret passage, separating him from you and Portia. You both begin your search for him and find him in the company of Nadia's sisters who have come for the masquerade. After pulling Julian away from entertaining the princesses, you hear Nadia approaching. Portia goes to distract her while you and Julian escape to a nearby magic portal and you emerge in the abandoned wing of the palace where Count Lucio's room is located. You explore the wing and end up in the Count's room.

After hearing suspicious noises, you both agree to exit the wing. However, before exiting, you hear two of the courtiers calling out for Lucio from outside his room. Vulgora insists to be let in but was stopped by Volta who pleads for them to leave and eat food instead.

Vulgora and Volta leave after Vulgora threatens you not to tell anyone about them being in the Count's abandoned wing. The incident reminds Julian of his old boss; Quaestor Valdemar, which leads to him remembering where the passage to the underground dungeon is. You rush towards the library and come across Portia who opens the door for you. Julian hurries to a bookshelf, pulling several books to reveal a secret entrance to the dungeon. Inside the passage is an elevator which can only be opened by Julian using the key he has found from his desk.

He enters the elevator and the metal gates close behind him. Before descending you get the option whether to reassure him or kiss him, he admits that he wants to have a future with you and the only way to do that is to face whatever is down there. Some time pass while you wait for Julian to come back up.

Portia emerges from the library worried about her brother. You comfort her and she decides to go back to her shed to see if Julian somehow managed to get there instead. As you make your way out of the palace, she offers to tell you a story from their childhood and you are given the option to listen to it or refuse. You come across Nadia while going through the garden and she asks you about the progress of your investigation. You are given the option to tell her about seeing the courtiers in Lucio's abandoned wing, tell her about the involvement of magic or tell her that Julian is innocent.

However, if you choose to tell her about Julian's innocence, you will find that you have forgotten how you came across this information due to Muriel's curse. In the middle of your conversation with Nadia, Julian suddenly appears. He looks at you with relief and then proceeds to regard both you and Portia as strangers so as not to raise Nadia's suspicion. He addresses Nadia and once again claims to have murdered the Count. You and Portia discuss how to save Julian. You go to try to convince Nadia that Julian is innocent while Portia works on plan B: Nadia informs you that Julian will have a trial by jury, and that you will be able to plea his case.

She tells you that you can visit him at the Coliseum. You find Julian pacing and muttering to himself. He is less than helpful, so you decide to visit the dungeons to discover whatever it is he found that inspired him to falsely confess to murder. Julian is horrified about this plan, and asks you to wait. You have the option of hearing him out paid , or immediately returning to the castle. In the palace library, you try to locate the entrance to the dungeon.

Quaestor Valdemar conveniently and creepily arrives to let you in. Valdemar unlocks the lift for you, allowing you access to the dungeons. They offer to provide you with safety gear, but for themself, they remove the mask they normally wear to improve their enjoyment of the foul air.

Valdemar shows you the tables where plague victims were vivisected, and the pit of red beetles where the bodies where thrown. There, you feel a magical tug. You can follow the memory paid option , or leave it alone. In the book, Julian has drawn a picture of the Hanged Man from the Tarot deck.

You realize he has the answers to this mystery. You take the book, and head to the Coliseum for the trial. Nadia announces to the crowd at the Coliseum that you, as her head investigator, will present what you have found, and then they will decide whether or not Julian is guilty. Praetor Vlastomil presides as judge. You begin by questioning Quaestor Valdemar, who reveals that Julian was locked inside his office the night of the murder. Julian interjects and asks to make a statement. He declares himself guilty. Julian fights your efforts to save him at every turn, maintaining that he is guilty.

Vlastomil calls a recess. Nadia apologizes to you; the trial is not going as she envisioned. You have a chance to speak with Julian in his cell. You can also choose to bring Mazelinka paid option. Julian reassures you that pretending to be guilty is part of a larger plan. When the trial resumes, Vlastomil breaks the jury's tie, declaring Julian guilty.

The crowd erupts in chaos. You are determined to save Julian, and decide to go talk to Asra. After the trial, you race back to the shop, hoping Asra can help you save Julian from execution. Portia and Mazelinka are already there, along with Malak the raven. Portia and Mazelinka will keep working on plan B, to rescue him. He tries to leave when he sees Asra, forgetting he is handcuffed to the chair. He dodges questions about why he pretended to be guilty, but under the combined might of you, Nadia, and Asra, he agrees to talk.

Julian says the plague is coming back. You immediately realize Julian is talking about the Hanged Man of the tarot deck. Julian remarks off-hand that Asra should know how the mark works, since he gave it to Julian. Its source is a mystery. Asra suggests trying an alternate plan before Julian allows himself to be hanged: While Asra prepares for the ritual in the garden, you and Julian have a moment alone.

You have the option of searching for somewhere private to talk 75 gold or conversing in the palace hallway. You meet Asra in the garden, who has prepared for the ritual. You close your eyes, and the world falls away. You find yourself underwater, Julian thrashing nearby. Once you stand up, the water is only waist deep, not nearly enough for you to have been completely submerged. Things work differently here. But Kensington is a dangerous building.

A HAUNTED Demon House

Immerse yourself in the macabre, the gothic, and the chilling with this collection of fifty short stories. In , a child went missing while he and his brother explored a disused cemetery. The brother insisted his death wasn't an accident, and that something dark and dangerous lurked inside the crypt.

Nightmares: A New Decade of Modern Horror

More than fifty years later, Sara faces the gates to the abandoned graveyard, determined to solve the decades-old mystery. Jasmine reluctantly accepted a dare to watch over a shadow-filled gully at midnight. When Erica discovers a door hidden behind the wallpaper in her new bedroom, she assumes it's a small crawlspace. There's nothing unusual about it Plus twelve other chilling stories: A guard discovers an unusual lifeform on her remote moon outpost.

She disregards protocol to investigate it, with catastrophic consequences. The parasitic alien wears its victims' skins and adopts their personalities. It's a perfect disguise, and allows the creature to spread without being detected. By the time humanity realises it's facing extinction, a third of its six hundred space stations have already gone dark. As the alien's ruthless progress collapses communication networks, wipes out defences, and leaves hundreds of stations to fend for themselves, a handful of remarkable individuals must find a way to battle the greatest threat the universe has ever encountered.

The Carrow Haunt Available in: But by then it's too late to escape. Craven Manor Available in: But an envelope waits for him inside the doorway. It contains money, and promises more. The Haunting of Rookward House Available in: The Folcroft Ghosts Available in: But strange things start happening. The House Next Door Available in: The Haunting of Ashburn House Available in: Only one thing is certain: Ashburn's dead are not at rest.

The Haunting of Blackwood House Available in: The Haunting of Gillespie House Available in: But things start to go very wrong, very quickly. Scratching in the walls And as Elle soon learns - just because he's dead, doesn't mean he's gone Dead Lake Available in: A week's visit to the remote Harob Lake cabin couldn't have come at a better time for Sam. But the dream retreat disintegrates into a nightmare when Sam discovers she's being stalked. Ghost Camera Available in: House of Shadows Book 1 Available in: House of Secrets Book 2 Available in: Shrouded figures stalk them.

Whispers echo through the night.