Recent Reads

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Curse of Bronze

Publisher’s Description Bella Hathaway comes from a family of daredevil adventurers -- but she's a a quiet scholar of magical languages who wouldn't say boo to a goose. When her curse-breaker aunt is murdered in the Eldritch Library, Bella inherits a house full of dangerous artefacts & talking furniture. As she investigates her aunt's death,… Continue reading Curse of Bronze

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Damnation Games

*** I received an ARC in return for an honest review *** Publisher’s Description Alan Baxter, editor of Damnation Games, believes horror is the genre of honesty. ‘With horror, there’s no shying away from brutal reality to supply a happy ending. Even when the evil is overcome, it seldom happens without cost. Survivors are rarely… Continue reading Damnation Games

research, Writing

The Tengu

Kidomaru and the Tengu - Utagawa Kuniyoshi In Japanese folklore, many stories include spirits, supernatural creatures, and demons called yokai. And of all the yokai, the tengu is the one that might seem most familiar to a modern Westerner. At first glance, it's a lot like a superhero: the ability to fly, great physical strength,… Continue reading The Tengu

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The Bloody Chamber

Publisher’s Description From familiar fairy tales and legends – Red Riding Hood, Bluebeard, Puss in Boots, Beauty and the Beast, vampires and werewolves – Angela Carter has created an absorbing collection of dark, sensual, fantastic stories. Review I read the classic The Bloody Chamber and Other Tales by UK author Angela Carter as part of… Continue reading The Bloody Chamber

research, Writing

Dark Beira: Queen of Winter

In Scottish mythology, Beira or Dark Beira is the great mother of the gods and goddesses. She’s also known as the Cailleach, or the Cailleach Bheur in the Gaelic traditions of Ireland and the Isle of Man. Donald Alexander Mackenzie usually described her as being very tall and very old but could be terribly fierce… Continue reading Dark Beira: Queen of Winter

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The Haunting of Hill House

Publisher’s Description Four seekers have arrived at the rambling old pile known as Hill House- Dr. Montague, an occult scholar looking for solid evidence of psychic phenomena; Theodora, his lovely assistant; Luke, the future inheritor of the estate; and Eleanor, a friendless, fragile young woman with a dark past. As they begin to cope with… Continue reading The Haunting of Hill House

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The Mari Lwyd

In the darkest months of the Welsh year, a white horse appears at your front door. It is mysterious and menacing Mari Lwyd. The Mari Lwyd has a horse skull for a head and lights or baubles for eyes. Her mane is made of colourful streamers, sometimes made of holly and ivy. She is covered… Continue reading The Mari Lwyd

Short Fiction, stories, Writing

Year Four Release

Year Four Year Four, an anthology of dark drabbles was published on January 6th by Black Hare Press. Three of my dark folklore drabbles are featured and a flash fiction piece. If you’re interested in purchasing an ebook or paperback copy of Year Four, more details are available here

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Sabella

Publisher’s Description On the rosy sands of a distant Earth colony, Sabella lives a quiet life in her isolated home—carefully hiding her vampirism from society. Sabella may not be undead, but she is painfully allergic to sunlight, possesses supernatural strength and speed, and feeds on fresh blood. In her youth, Sabella seduced a number of… Continue reading Sabella

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The Finnish Joulupukki

Ilari-Grohn-Art on DeviantArt Joulupukki translates to “Yule Goat.” Yuletide, is a pre-Christian pagan festival which was held as a midwinter celebration with feasting and sacrifice taking place across many Germanic cultures. There is no certain answer as to the relate between goats and Yule. One concept links it to the Norse god Thor. He was… Continue reading The Finnish Joulupukki