Dark fantasy

Book SynopsisThe Emperor is dead. Long live the Empire.General Bordan has a lifetime of duty and sacrifice behind him in the service of the Empire. But with rebellion brewing in the countryside, and assassins, thieves and politicians vying for power in the city, it is all Bordan can do to protect the heir to the throne. Apprentice Magician Kyron was assigned to the late Emperor’s honour guard escorting his body on the long road back to the capital. But even a magician’s power may fail when enemies emerge from the forests intent on seizing their precious cargo. Whoever controls the Emperor’s body, controls the Empire...Trade Review“The plot’s surprising twists and turns will wow fantasy fans.” -- Publishers Weekly * Publishers Weekly *"Matthews delivers visceral descriptions of battle, the cut and thrust of gladius and pila, the shouldering of shields, the smell of blood and fear – and weaving through this, the delicate nets of magical constructs that can still snap, inflame or explode." -- The Fantasy Hive * The Fantasy Hive *"This is fantasy at its finest." -- Grimdark Magazine * Grimdark Magazine *“Refreshingly original” -- SFX Magazine * SFX *"Matthews delivers on the bigger picture stakes" -- British Fantasy Society * British Fantasy Society *"It's exciting at every turn with a wonderfully spun plot that keeps you guessing the entire time." -- FanFi Addict * Fanfiaddict *"A cracking read that will burn the candle in the night." -- Aurealis * Aurealis *"Older teens and adults will enjoy the novel’s political intrigue and struggle to survive, which are reminiscent of George R. R. Martin’s Game of Thrones or a slightly less fantastical version of Jim Butcher’s Codex Alera series." -- Library Journal * The Library Journal *"A magnificent, thoughtful, highly readable account, full of political intrigue and dripping with potent, dark atmosphere. This is a must read for fantasy fans who enjoy political machinations." -- Bookworm Blues * Bookworm Blues *“It has all the elements you expect from fantasy: magic, battles, power-struggles and impossible odds keeping you gripped.” -- A Rambling Reviewer * A Rambling Reviewer *“It’s been a long time since a book made me swear out loud in horror... This is a story about politics, faith, betrayal and the loss of innocence, and I for one will be eagerly looking forward to a sequel.” -- Set the Tape * Set the Tape *

Read more less

Book SynopsisOrec Blackblade missed the fall of the Kinslayer, tasked instead with leading his elite band of warriors on a diversionary battle where he split the head and pulsating crown of the enemy’s sorcerer, causing a blast that killed almost everyone in a 100-meter radius. Just four months later the broken circlet finds its way to Doctors Catt and Fisher, collectors of rare artefacts, and their innate curiosity and tinkering with the crown unleashes a new terror on the land. Only Orec and his surviving men can stop it, but will the black sword he carries be enough to stop the coming darkness?Trade Review"I really enjoyed Redemp­tion’s Blade, and I’d like to see more." -- Liz Bourke, Locus"If you’re looking for something that celebrates the genre, while working to interrogate and question how that genre works, look no further than Redemption’s Blade. I can only hope there are more tales to tell in this world to come." -- Tor.com"Salvation’s Fire... it’s a damn good book in its own right." -- Liz Bourke, Locus"All in all, four different takes on two great characters, each author bringing something different and interesting to make a lovely little collection. You don’t have to have read the other books to enjoy them, though you probably get a bit more out of them if you do." -- fantasy-hive.co.uk"Catt and Fisher, or Catty and Fishy to their friends, are a delight... I just have to have more of these characters in my life." -- theeloquentpage.co.uk"If Jack Reacher came to Westeros and started beating the hell out of everybody, you’d have Mark De Jager’s Infernal ... daring, dangerous, and full of surprises" -- Sebastien de Castell"Clever, funny and cheerfully brutal" -- Snorri Kristjansson (on Infernal)"Infernal proves to be an incredibly strong start for this series. With drama, mystery, bloodshed, and grim humour abound, fans who favour the likes of The Elric Saga or The Silerian Trilogy will definitely have some fun with this one" -- Starburst"Epic fantasy without any pretensions of changing literature or establishing itself in the canon, Infernal is only concerned with being entertaining. And it definitely succeeds." -- SciFiNow (on Infernal)

Read more less

Book Synopsis Even death can’t get you out of high school… Covering up her own murder was one thing, but faking her life is much harder than ex-teen banshee Kaylee expected. Now she’s fighting to stay visible to the human world and struggling to find time alone with her new reaper boyfriend Tod. To stay in the mortal realm, Kaylee must reclaim stolen souls and, when her first assignment brings her face-to-face with an old foe, she knows the game has changed. Her immortal status won’t keep her safe. And this time Kaylee isn’t just gambling with her own life…

Read more less

Book Synopsis Concluding the story of The Hobbit, this is the final part of Tolkien’s epic masterpiece, The Lord of the Rings, featuring a striking black cover based on Tolkien’s own design, the definitive text, and a detailed map of Middle-earth. Trade Review‘The story moves on with a tremendous narrative rush to its climax… extraordinary imaginative work, part saga, part allegory, and wholly exciting.’The Times ‘A triumphant close… a grand piece of work, grand in both conception and execution. An astonishing imaginative tour de force.’Sunday Telegraph ‘His astonishing inventiveness remains to the end and is continued in a series of appendices.;The Guardian

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe sudden appearance of a sinister black hole in the English countryside leads to a baffling murder investigation for Ishmael Jones.The past is England''s dreaming, and not all of it sleeps soundly .Ishmael Jones and his partner Penny have been despatched to assist a group of scientists who are investigating a mysterious black hole which has appeared on a Somerset hillside. Could it really be a doorway to another dimension, an opening into another world?When one of the scientists disappears into the hole - with fatal consequences - Ishmael must prove whether it was an accident - or murder. But with no clues, no witnesses and no apparent motive, he has little to go on. Is there an alien predator at large, or is an all-too-human killer responsible? Only one thing is certain: if Ishmael does not uncover the truth in time, more deaths will follow .

Read more less

Book SynopsisA wedding. A murder. A 200-year-old curse: Ishmael Jones is plunged into a baffling investigation when he answers an old friend''s call for help.Although he hasn''t seen Robert Bergin for 40 years, Ishmael feels duty bound to respond when his old friend calls for help. Robert''s daughter Gillian is about to be married, and he is afraid she''ll fall prey to the ancient family curse. Arriving in rural Yorkshire, Ishmael and his partner Penny learn that the vicar who was to perform the ceremony has been found dead in the church, hanging from his own bell rope. With no clues, no evidence and no known motive, many locals believe the curse is responsible. Or is someone just using it as a smokescreen for murder? With the wedding due to take place the following day, Ishmael has just a few hours to uncover the truth.But his investigations are hampered by sudden flashes of memory: memories of the time before he was human. What is it Ishmael''s former self

Read more less

Book Synopsis"John Everson's newest novel is so powerful, so terrifying, so implacable in the evil it describes, that I could not stop reading." - The Haunted Reading Room Austin secretly wishes his wife would drop dead. He even says so one boozy midnight at the bar to a sultry stranger with a mysterious tattoo. When his wife later introduces that stranger as Regina, their new neighbor, Austin hopes she will be a good influence on his wife. Instead, one night he comes home to find his wife dead. Soon he’s entranced with Regina, who introduces him to a strange world of bloodletting, rituals and magic. A world that puts everything he loves in peril. Can Austin save his daughter, and himself, before the planets align for the Devil’s Equinox? FLAME TREE PRESS is the new fiction imprint of Flame Tree Publishing. Launched in 2018 the list brings together brilliant new authors and the more established; the award winners, and exciting, original voices.Trade Review"John Everson's newest novel is so powerful, so terrifying, so implacable in the evil it describes, that I could not stop reading." -- The Haunted Reading Room“With his latest novel, Everson twists seductive obsession with shadowy occult magic, bringing it all to a fever pitch.” -- This is Horror"...fast-paced narrative" -- Publishers Weekly"an interesting tale that kept me absorbed in this world" -- The Literary Licence Podcast"Everson is a master of the genre, and has stories that draw you in right away." -- Library Thing"a fast-paced, blood and sex filled novel not for the weak at heart." -- Booker's T Farm"I would recommend this to readers who like this genre or others that are looking for an engaging and thrilling tale" -- Books and Emma"I enjoyed this book, the writing and imagery were fantastic...If you like a classic Cult/Coven type read and you don’t blush easily this is definitely one for the to be read list!" -- Dark Reads with Toni"I originally thought this would be a straightforward thriller, with an obvious murder and a search for justice. But it’s a much weirder, darker story" -- Rambling Mads"a very interesting and suspenseful read" -- The Happy Horror Nerd

Read more less

Book SynopsisAt a weekend house-party at ancient Canonbury Manor, Alli is caught between fantasy and reality, past and present, in the life of Caroline Rand, a famous singer from the late Sixties, who reportedly killed herself in that house. Alli soon learns that evil infests the once-holy building. A sinister cabal controls it, as it has for centuries. Before long, her fate will be sealed, and she will learn about her role in the after-death of Caroline Rand. It begins with a chilling greeting: "Welcome to The Columbine, Miss Sinclair. You are expected."Trade ReviewAbout In Darkness, Shadows Breathe. “Cavendish breathes new life into familiar horror tropes in this spine-tingling tale of past and present colliding” -- Publishers WeeklyAbout In Darkness, Shadows Breathe. "A compelling, immersive, and intense time-slip horror novel with sympathetic characters that readers actively root for. The tale reads like The Devil in Silver by Victor LaValle if it were written by Sarah Pinborough." -- Library Journal

Read more less

Book SynopsisAt a weekend house-party at ancient Canonbury Manor, Alli is caught between fantasy and reality, past and present, in the life of Caroline Rand, a famous singer from the late Sixties, who reportedly killed herself in that house. Alli soon learns that evil infests the once-holy building. A sinister cabal controls it, as it has for centuries. Before long, her fate will be sealed, and she will learn about her role in the after-death of Caroline Rand. It begins with a chilling greeting: "Welcome to The Columbine, Miss Sinclair. You are expected."Trade ReviewAbout In Darkness, Shadows Breathe. “Cavendish breathes new life into familiar horror tropes in this spine-tingling tale of past and present colliding” -- Publishers WeeklyAbout In Darkness, Shadows Breathe. "A compelling, immersive, and intense time-slip horror novel with sympathetic characters that readers actively root for. The tale reads like The Devil in Silver by Victor LaValle if it were written by Sarah Pinborough." -- Library Journal

Read more less

Book SynopsisWhen curious nomad Anna hears about Whisperwood, a town that’s not on any maps, that nobody goes to, and nobody comes from, she sees an opportunity to hide from her violent witch-hunting ex. But not everything is peaceful in the isolated community. A vanishing town, a gruesome funeral rite, an emergency field surgery—these surprises and more test Anna's resolve. Prevented from leaving the frontier settlement by folk magic she doesn’t understand, Anna lends helping hands everywhere she can, but quickly finds that investigating the forest too closely could end up being the last thing she does. FLAME TREE PRESS is the imprint of long-standing independent Flame Tree Publishing, dedicated to full-length original fiction in the horror and suspense, science fiction & fantasy, and crime / mystery / thriller categories. The list brings together fantastic new authors and the more established; the award winners, and exciting, original voices. Learn more about Flame Tree Press at www.flametreepress.com and connect on social media @FlameTreePressTrade Review‘Modern horror done right, with gorgeous writing, moody overtones and a pace that keeps you turning pages well past your bedtime…a new face of horror has arrived.’ Mike James, author of the Hotel at the End of Time series ‘Dark, but also achingly heartfelt, clever, and funny.’ Lauren Bolger, author of Kill Radio

Read more less

Book SynopsisWhen curious nomad Anna hears about Whisperwood, a town that’s not on any maps, that nobody goes to, and nobody comes from, she sees an opportunity to hide from her violent witch-hunting ex. But not everything is peaceful in the isolated community. A vanishing town, a gruesome funeral rite, an emergency field surgery—these surprises and more test Anna's resolve. Prevented from leaving the frontier settlement by folk magic she doesn’t understand, Anna lends helping hands everywhere she can, but quickly finds that investigating the forest too closely could end up being the last thing she does. FLAME TREE PRESS is the imprint of long-standing independent Flame Tree Publishing, dedicated to full-length original fiction in the horror and suspense, science fiction & fantasy, and crime / mystery / thriller categories. The list brings together fantastic new authors and the more established; the award winners, and exciting, original voices. Learn more about Flame Tree Press at www.flametreepress.com and connect on social media @FlameTreePressTrade Review‘Modern horror done right, with gorgeous writing, moody overtones and a pace that keeps you turning pages well past your bedtime…a new face of horror has arrived.’ Mike James, author of the Hotel at the End of Time series ‘Dark, but also achingly heartfelt, clever, and funny.’ Lauren Bolger, author of Kill Radio

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe original Seven Deadly Sins are still among us, wearing modern dress. In this lavish, stunningly illustrated modern interpretation, the victims take revenge on their tormentors. The weak become strong and the powerful weak. The stories are humorous, violent and erotic; a celebration of the joy of sinning and of taking revenge. Each story, each sin, is different in setting, character and mood. Each sin in turn is inspected, tested and described in spare and unsparing prose. In each, the sin and the sinner are shown as malevolent, the victim undeserving of their state. This graphic fable is conceived as a collection illustrating Envy, Pride, Avarice, Sloth, Gluttony, Anger and Lust. The drawings and collages illuminate the foibles and wickedness described; from perpetrator to victim, no-one can hide

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less