#literaryhorror

[screamingeyepress]

Dracula’s Guest

By Bram StokerDracula's Guest is a chilling prelude to Dracula that follows an Englishman who, against all warnings, ventures out on a stormy evening near Munich and stumbles upon an abandoned graveyard.

📚 Bram Stoker’s Dracula’s Guest is an underappreciated classic for gothic literature fans. https://www.screamingeyepress.com/pulps/stories/draculas-guest-by-bram-stoker/

[sgcruz21-blog]

My review of 'Below' for Reader Views. A must-read for fans of literary horror.

[harmonyhealinghub]

The Whispering Runes Shaina Tranquilino October 27, 2024

No one ventured to the northern edge of Eldridge Forest anymore. The villagers knew better, having passed down stories about the cursed stones hidden deep within the woods, tales that chilled bones and tightened hearts. They spoke of The Whispering Runes, but few knew their origins. Even fewer lived to tell about them.

Mira didn't believe in curses. She was a historian, driven by logic, facts, and the pursuit of knowledge. When she first heard about the runes, she became obsessed with finding them. Her colleagues had warned her—caution etched on their faces—but curiosity had already taken root in her heart.

It was a misty autumn evening when she set out, backpack loaded with supplies, and a lantern swinging by her side. Eldridge Forest loomed ahead, the trees bending like skeletal sentinels guarding some ancient secret. Mira felt a chill crawl up her spine, but she pressed on, determined. Her research indicated the stones lay just a few miles in, hidden beneath a dense canopy of gnarled oaks.

The deeper she went, the quieter it became. The usual sounds of the forest—rustling leaves, the occasional birdcall—had vanished. All that remained was the crunch of her boots on the damp earth and the faint whisper of wind through the branches.

After hours of walking, Mira spotted them—the stones.

They stood in a rough circle in a small clearing, worn smooth by time, yet still ominous in their presence. Each one was engraved with strange symbols, runes that seemed to pulse faintly in the dim light. They were older than anything Mira had seen before, far older than the local folklore suggested. Her heart pounded with excitement as she set down her pack, pulled out her journal, and began sketching the runes.

As her pencil traced the ancient symbols, something shifted. At first, it was subtle—a slight vibration beneath her feet, the air growing heavier, almost thick with tension. Mira paused, looking around, but the forest remained unnaturally still.

She shook it off and continued.

Then she heard it.

A faint murmur, like the soft rustling of leaves, except it wasn’t coming from the trees. It was coming from the stones.

She froze, ears straining. The whispers grew louder, still indistinct, but undeniably human, as if voices were trapped beneath the surface of the runes, trying to claw their way out. Mira stood, staring at the stones, her heart now hammering in her chest. She couldn’t make out what they were saying, but the tone was unmistakable—they were calling her.

Her breath quickened. She took a step back, her mind racing with disbelief. “It’s just the wind,” she whispered to herself, but even she didn’t believe it. The whispers grew louder, more insistent, their cadence rising and falling like a terrible chant. Words began to form, faint but unmistakable: "Come... closer."

Mira’s pulse spiked. Every instinct screamed at her to run, to get as far away from the stones as possible, but something rooted her to the spot. She watched, helpless, as the runes began to glow, faint at first, then brighter, casting an eerie blue light over the clearing.

Suddenly, one of the stones shifted—just a small movement, a creak of ancient stone against the earth—but it was enough. Mira stumbled back, her lantern slipping from her grasp and shattering on the ground, the flame flickering out instantly. Darkness enveloped her.

The whispers grew louder, surrounding her now, filling her mind with a cacophony of voices. She could feel them pressing in, suffocating, as if the very air had turned thick and heavy. Desperation clawed at her chest as she turned to flee, but her legs felt leaden, as though the earth itself had wrapped around her ankles.

And then, out of the corner of her eye, she saw them.

Figures, pale and gaunt, rising from the ground around the stones, their hollow eyes glowing with the same unnatural light. They moved with a jerky, unnatural grace, their limbs too long, their faces twisted in expressions of eternal torment. The runes were no longer just glowing—they were alive, pulsing with each terrible whisper.

The figures moved closer, their mouths opening in unison, releasing a single, terrible word that echoed through the forest:

"Join."

Mira’s scream caught in her throat as one of the creatures reached for her, its bony fingers grazing her skin. She jerked back, heart pounding wildly, but it was too late. Her vision blurred, the air thickening until she could barely breathe. The whispers filled her mind, drowning out her thoughts, pulling her down into the earth itself, just as they had done to countless others before her.

As darkness consumed her, Mira’s last thought was of the runes—those cursed, ancient symbols—forever whispering their terrible truth to anyone foolish enough to listen.

The clearing was silent again.

The stones stood, waiting.

And the whispers continued, calling for the next soul to heed their call.

[shelfaddiction]

Today's Sponsor: The Chess Club Mystery series by TK Eldridge: https://tkeldridge.com/ Pick up the whole series today! Gambit (Prequel Novella)*As of 10/23/24, this book is FREE on Kindle!* Rook (#1) *As of 10/23/24, this book is FREE on Kindle!* Knight (#2) Bishop (#3) King (#4) In this episode of the Buddy Read podcast, hosts Tamara and Classy discuss 'The Only Good Indians' by Stephen Graham Jones, exploring its themes of horror, cultural commentary, and character development. They delve into the narrative's slow-burn pacing, the significance of the character's past actions, and the social issues surrounding Native American culture. The conversation highlights their reactions to the book, favorite scenes, and the literary elements shaping their reading experience. Ep 509 Pick up a copy of The Only Good Indians Connect with Tamara on social media: Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/shelfaddiction/ TikTok | @shelfaddiction Connect with Classy Green on social media: Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/thebookishvirtualassistant Join the SAO book club on BookClubs: https://bookclubs.com/shelf-addiction-book-club/join/ Check out our sponsors! - Book Review Journal | https://bit.ly/ReadersBookReviewJournal - Book Review Notebook | https://amzn.to/3OkjjSa - Reading Challenge Tracker | https://bit.ly/ReadingChallengeTracker - Try audiobooks! **New customers get 3 FREE audiobooks comprised of 1 premium credit and 2 VIP titles! Use our promo code SHELFADDICTION (spelled as one word) when you sign up at https://www.audiobooks.com/. - Get your bookish gear in the Shelf Addiction Merch store! http://bit.ly/ShelfAddictionMerch - Try Amazon Music Unlimited for 30 days FREE!! https://getamazonmusic.com/shelfaddiction Want to share a comment? Have a question you'd like answered on air? Call Shelf Addiction and leave a Speakpipe voicemail https://www.speakpipe.com/shelfaddiction *********************************** Do you enjoy the Shelf Addiction podcast episodes? Help support the costs of hosting and editing the podcast by becoming a part of our Patreon family! For as little as $2 a month, you can help our team create even more amazing bookish content. Learn more at https://www.patreon.com/shelfaddiction. If Patreon isn't your thing, consider becoming a supporter on the Spreaker app to gain access to exclusive audio-only content. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/shelf-addiction-podcast--1703669/support. *********************************** Produced with GarageBand This is a list of my frequently used music. Some or all may appear in this Shelf Addiction Podcast episode. -Ad Music | Sweet Success on Purple Planet is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) Artist: http://www.purple-planet.com/upbeat/4593380163 -Shelf Addiction Intro/Outro Music created by Samone Ward -Background Intro/Outro Music 1 | From album Music for Podcasts 4, Southside by Lee Rosevere and is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) -Background Intro/Outro Music 2 | In Private by Gunner Johnsen - Royalty Free music via Epidemic Sound/Spreaker -Transition Music | From album Creative Commons Vol 2, Summers Coming by Dexter Britain and is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License Artist: Artist: http://freemusicarchive.org/music/Lee_Rosevere/Music_for_Podcasts_4/ -Lightning Round Music | Zencastr standard background music -- licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) FTC Disclaimer: The show notes may contain affiliate and/or referral links. I receive a small commission if you purchase using my link(s). If you purchase using my link(s), you will be supporting the Shelf Addiction website and podcast. This is NOT a sponsored podcast. All opinions are genuinely my own. **This audio podcast shall not be reproduced, sampled, or uploaded elsewhere without my written consent. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/shelf-addiction-podcast--1703669/support.

[wellreadwyvern]

🐉RATING: 🔥🔥🔥🔥/5 Is Literary Horror a recognized sub-genre? Because that’s how I would categorize It Rides a Pale Horse by Andy Marino. My only experience with horror writing was reading The Shining as a teen (and I now have teen daughters), but the description of this book intrigued me. And I’m so glad I decided to try something different. I won’t go into too much detail so I don’t spoil anything. The story centers around artist siblings Lark and Betsy, and what happens when they are swept up into the world of extremely rich art collectors. The anticipation builds slowly to allow time for character development, while dropping hints about their past. As the plot unfolds in the present, the reader is treated to flashbacks that provide further depth and understanding of the artists and their relationship. The mood throughout is dark, but thankfully has moments of levity. The action is broken up by large chapters devoted to Rayanne, a spirit who resides in the collectors’ compound. Rayanne, a country music one-hit-wonder, is plucky with a wry sense of humor. It is through her memories and observations that the reader begins to understand the full horror of what Lark and Betsy could face. The book definitely has some gruesome moments, but the way it was described provided enough distance that it didn’t feel overwhelming. Quite a bit is shared as backstory by Rayanne, and her narrating style is light despite the nasty tales she tells. And I much prefer the supernatural horror that infuses this story over the more “real world” settings of many scary books and movies. I found It Rides a Pale Horse to be incredibly engaging, although with its literary style (i.e. big words) and frequent references to the art world, it won’t appeal to every casual horror fan. But for readers like me, who enjoy literary fiction and fantasy, and want to test out their tolerance for horror, this book just might be the perfect fit. ❓QOTD: Do you read or watch horror? Thank you to @redhookbooks @orbitbooks and @netgalley for providing this ARC. #itridesapalehorse #andymarino #literaryhorror #horrorbooks #netgalleyreads #arcreview #spookybooks #scarybooks #bookstagram https://www.instagram.com/p/Cj73fdKLhJQ/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[thenerdynarrative]

Trying this whole "review a short story collection" thing to see if I can pull it off. I would love your feedback! I enjoyed my journey through these 5 stories - let's see if they appeal to you as well! https://youtu.be/OlyEU7JF3-Q #Review #BookReview #Horror #ShortFiction #ShortStory #ShortStoryCollection #JamesFlynn #ABunchOfFives #LiteraryHorror

[valancourtbooks]

A torrential downpour forces Philip and Margaret Waverton and their friend Roger Penderel to seek shelter in an ancient, crumbling mansion inhabited by the strange and sinister Femm family. Determined to make the best of the circumstances, the benighted travellers drink and talk to pass the time while the storm rages outside. But as the night progresses and tensions rise, dangerous and unexpected secrets emerge. On the house’s top floor are two locked doors: behind one of them is the mysterious, unseen Sir Roderick Femm, while the other conceals something terrifying and deadly ... Benighted (1927), a classic ‘old dark house’ story of psychological terror, was the second novel by one of the most prolific and beloved British authors of the 20th century, J.B. Priestley (1894-1984). This edition includes an introduction by Orrin Grey, who discusses the connections between the novel and its film adaptation, James Whale’s The Old Dark House (1932).

Website

[fredhandbag]

The Book of Accidents is the new book from Chuck Wendig. "Nate and Maddie are moving back to his hometown - into the house he grew up in with an abusive father. They're hoping for a better life for themselves and for their son, Oliver. Nate doesn't talk much about the things that happened there - especially about the Murder Tunnel. A place where people disappeared - where a serial killer abducted his first victim - where people see odd things. The wall between good and evil is thinner there..." Lots of charcters and lots of moving pieces here, but Wendig makes it easy to keep up with the relatively short chapters and the helpful Chapter Titles. There is evil here that wants chaos and bloodshed. But there are others who want to pull their family close. There is a serial killer that thinks he's on a mission. There are multiple versions of the world. And a kid that looks very familiar that wants all of the worlds to crash together into chaos. Wendig builds and builds this story to a wild ending and even leaves part a little open-ended. Another great read from Wendig. Thanks to @netgalley and @delreybooks for the advanced copy. #thebookofaccidents #chuckwendig #chuckwendigbooks #netgalley #delreybooks #horror #multiversehorror #bookstagram #bookshelves #booknerd #bookhoarder #bookworm #sodacityreads #bookish #bookreview #hardcover #bookcover #bookhaul #literaryhorror #goodreads #homelibrary #fiction #thriller #horrorfiction #randomhouseballantine https://www.instagram.com/p/CRgqBXvLJgg/?utm_medium=tumblr

[sagemindset]

Medusa was the most beautiful of the land, who was later seduced by Poseidon. Athena discovered this and cursed her, transforming her beautiful hair into a head of snakes and her figure into that of a snake. Cursed to live as a beast, a gorgon. No longer could men, or anyone look at her gaze without turning to stone. * A hero heard of this beast, thinking to behead this monster offered a powerful weapon. Holding the head of the beast can turn his foes into stone. * If only the he could slay medusa with her own gaze, given a shield so shiny that it caused a reflection to cast upon it like a mirror. Surely if she saw her own gaze she would die. * He went into the forest where it was said no one who went there came out alive. He knew he had come upon the right place, what appeared to be crumbled statues of men who wandered in before some just normal folks other decorated with rusted armour and shields. * He thought to himself this isnt a normal shield it would definately kill the snake, he would not fall to the same fate. * The gorgon slithered out rapidly catching him off guard, but he had practiced, closing his eyes swiftly and raising his shield. There was a pause, a slow hiss then silence. * He did the gorgon turned to stone. * Lowering his shield, he peers over and gazes right into he eyes, he felt a paralyzing fear. Unable to move from fright...Or was it he was turning to stone. * Before his body hardened the gorgon snake from her hair pumped painful venom into his veins, and the whip like tail, ripped through his body. * What went wrong he had the perfect plan? * Of course a snake cannot be affected by it's own poison, a realization to late. * Tossed on the ground, in the next hour he would be left on the ground, slowly flesh hardening along with the organs, left as another statue to decorate the forest floor and another shield to rust in the rain. * #horrorstory #horrorcommunity #literaryhorror #medusa #monsters #horror_sketches #horrorfan #horrorwriter #horrorwriting #horrorart #horrorstories #horrorartwork #horror https://www.instagram.com/p/CLIUZNODSZ7/?igshid=12cfazl8skns4

[themadgirldiaries]

Today is the cover reveal for my upcoming poetry collection, Sheet Music to My Acoustic Nightmare, coming December 15 from Raw Dog Screaming Press. The cover art is done by the wonderfully skilled, Steven Archer, and the preorder link is as follows: http://rawdogscreaming.com/books/sheet-music-acoustic-nightmare/ #poet #poems #poetry #poetrycommunity #poetsofinstagram #rawdogscreamingpress #horror #horrorwriter #confessionalpoet #writer #writing #writingcommunity #writersofinstagram #publishingnews #coveralreveal #sheetmusictomyacousticnightmare #womenwhowritehorror #literaryhorror

[badseedaddict]

#macklittle #progenie #scionsofdarkness #writing #writerslife #bookstagram #literaryhorror #horror #houstonwritersguild #progenie #priestessmeadeaux https://www.instagram.com/p/BwDjeufAUBe/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=g14gswc7yo1i

[alwaystrustinbooks]

Witch Bottle by Tom Fletcher [Author Q&A] @QuercusBooks @JoFletcherBooks #literaryhorror #witchbottle #jofletcher #tomfletcher #quercus #author #interview

This book was sent to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

26.11.20 / Literary Horror / Jo Fletcher / Paperback / pp / 978-1784299675

About Witch Bottle

A deeply atmospheric literary horror novel about the nature of repressed guilt, grief and fear. Daniel once had a baby brother, but he died, a long time ago now. And he had a wife and a daughter, but that didn’t work out, so…

[f0restpunk]

@CharlesAustinMuir - This Is A Horror Book Happy National Book Day! Shoutout to @clashbooks, one of my fave independent publishers helmed by @lezacantoral, purveyors of fine, strange, boundary-pushing, genuinely interesting and exciting modern literature! And all around quality human beings! I'll go ahead and put that #linkinbio, as well. I recommend this one, This Is A Horror Book; Horror Film Poems by Christoph Paul; Tragedy Queens: Stories Inspired by Lana Del Rey & Sylvia Plath; and Leza Cantoral's Trash Panda, for starters! I've never read a bad word from this publisher, however, and their books are pretty inexpensive, so experiment and take a chance! . #NationalBookDay #Books #Bookstagram #bookworm #booklover #bibliophile #booksaremagic #CharlesAustinMuir #ThisIsAHorrorBook #ClashBooks #indielit #independentpublisher #indiepublisher #indieprint #indiebooks #ChristophPaul #HorrorFilmPoems #poems #poetry #poetrycommunity #horrorlover #horrorfanatic #horrorbooks #horrorlit #literaryhorror #LezaCantoral #TrashPanda #speculativepoetry #poetsofinstagram https://www.instagram.com/p/B_WXnp4ImWo/?igshid=y2ptuv75yk43

[countmorivond]

"Sirens of the Brine" by Count MoriVond #countmorivond new poetry reading tonight at 9:45pm. dark, poetry... JOIN ME!

#countmorivond #devilstroubadour #poetryrecitals  #darkromanticism #decadentpoetry #poetryreadings #horrormovieshort #horrorshorts #horrorwritings #literaryhorror #supernaturalhorrorreading #horrorwriters #sirensofthebrine #darkwritings

[shanannigansthebibliophile]

Home to Roost by Chauncey Rogers #Review #Books #DarkFiction #LiteraryHorror

Home to Roost by Chauncey Rogers #Review #Books #DarkFiction #LiteraryHorror

Book Review Who knew a story narrated by a chicken could be so amazing! It’s true! This genre-bending story is narrated by a tiny rooster named Brad, and his story will give you chills. Home to Roost (Release Date: March 20, 2017) In America’s heartland, a small farm lies nestled atop a hill, guarded by the dense surrounding forest. The sun rises, and the animals wake; the sun sets, and the…

[sinfulcelluloid]

Being examined by @jillkillsme @bullshitdecorator at #QueenMaryDarkHarbor #literaryHorror #Halloween