We’re thrilled to present the cover for A Poem Penned in Poison by R. Dugan! Pre-order today!
A Poem Penned in Poison (Tales of Wonder and Woe Series)
Expected Release: October 31, 2025
Genre: Dark Romantasy/ Fantasy Horror
Enemies to Lovers
Forced proximity
Grumpy x sunshine
Assassin x healer
Reluctant partners
Masquerade ball
He falls first AND harder
Villain romance
Social Recluse x social butterfly
Touch her and die
Poet x muse
NAOMI WEATHERS is running from something—and no one knows it.
THE POET POISONER is on the hunt…and Naomi has just stepped into his path.
In the enchanting and deadly third installment of the TALES OF WONDER & WOE, a healer and a poisoner clash in a wicked struggle for survival…a struggle that might be a blade in both of their hearts.
Fleeing from domestic violence, Chloe Morgan spent months hotel hopping in fear until the paperwork was finally signed off on the mortgage for her new home. Moving across the country and into a house situated on the outskirts of a quaint village will grant her the fresh start she needs and freedom from her dangerous ex-partner, Martin.
The relief and excitement is palpable, but as Chloe gets to know the strange new residents of The Glen, something feels just a little off, and her new neighbourhood might not be the idyllic dream she thought. She may have run from one nightmare, directly into another…
A.D Jones brings you Little Horn, a novel packed with mystery, intrigue, and confusion as Chloe tries to rebuild her life following the harrowing events of her past.
A.D Jones lives in the North of England; where he spends his time favouring books over people and can be found writing or devouring said books to review online. He loves Coca-Cola, Twin Peaks, all things horror, and cult movies. He dislikes the movie ‘The Karate Kid’ with a passion that burns brighter than the sun.
His debut novel – Umbrate was released in October 2023 to positive feedback. He also has multiple short stories in print through publishing houses such as Dark Village Publications and January Ember Press. You can find him on Instagram – the_evergrowing_library
My thoughts: Chloe is very brave and very lucky, leaving an abusive relationship is not easy and not everyone makes it out alive. Buying a house sight unseen is a bit crazy, but she’s hoping a fresh start and a clean break from the past will lead to better things.
Shame all her neighbours are so weird. She makes one friend, who might not be who she says, and has to deal with a dose or two of crazy from across the road. But things seem to be going OK, until events take a decidedly weird turn. Finding a secret notebook from the previous owner of her house lets her in to exactly how strange her new neighbours are and then, well, now she’s got a hell of a problem to deal with…
Creepy, clever and quite funny in places, this is why it’s definitely best not to get to know your neighbours too well!
*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in this blog tour, but all opinions remain my own.
Welcome to the tour for When the Witch Visits by Michael Rands. Read on for more!
When The Witch Visits
Publication Date: April 18, 2025
Genre: Paranormal/ Horror Comedy/ Supernatural Fantasy
Rick and Kayleigh Zapp are living proof that perfection sells. With their idyllic family, overflowing bank accounts, and millions of online followers, they’re the world’s second-most beloved power couple. But on the night a hurricane rages through their town, a witch appears in their garden and tells Rick he has one year to live—unless he can repair the flaws in his seemingly flawless life.
As Rick’s paranoia builds and Kayleigh hides a secret that could topple their empire, their social media influence continues to grow—thanks in part to their increasingly twisted friendship with the enigmatic Max and Maxine Maxwell, the world’s most beloved power couple.
Humorous, dark, and eerily timely, When The Witch Visits is a horror-comedy for the age of the online personality.
13 original tales to terrify in a brand new anthology showcasing the very best and bizarre in horror fiction Featuring horror legends and worldwide bestsellers Olivie Blake, Ramsey Campbell, Lisa Tuttle, Tim Lebbon, V Castro, Ally Wilkes, Rian Hughes, Lindy Ryan, Susi Holliday, Lily Kade, TL Huchu, Adrian Tchaikovsky, and Clay McLeod Chapman.
Be careful what you wish for. Whether searching for love, fame, money or revenge, remember that everything comes with a price. From stepping into an unknown in nature to ignoring the warnings of locals, to finding your perfect match or facing the hidden horrors of your past, beware. The thirteen stories in this brand-new anthology explore the dark side of human nature and take us into the hidden, terrifying recesses of a world we never see. Until it’s too late . . .
Following record breaking sales in horror fiction and the rise of new imprints focusing on the genre, the appetite for all things weird and wonderful is bigger than ever. Both a new venture and passion project, The Black Crow Book of Best New Horror combines stories from the biggest and best authors writing today, brought to you by industry experts, uber nerds and fans. Genre bookseller Matt Holland (The Broken Binding) and genre comms specialist Jamie-Lee Nardone (Black Crow PR) joined forces in 2024 to launch Black Crow Books; an agile and bespoke publisher and bookseller with a mission to publish the best new names in horror while also bringing out special editions of classics both old and new as well as subscription boxes. The Black Crow Book of Best New Horror Volume 1 is their inaugural anthology. Cover design, logo and typography by Rian Hughes. http://www.blackcrowbooks.co.uk
The Black Crow Book of Best New Horror (Volume 1)
13original tales to terrify in a brand new anthology showcasing the very best and bizarre in horror fiction
Publishing 07 October from @blackcrow_bks worldwide £17.99 | $27.95
Alone in the desert and covered in blood, Josiah Dennis comes across an abandoned town, and two unlikely storytellers burdened with sharing its history—past, present, and future. Rogue gangs of vampires, young witches, flayed cadavers, giant lizards, and men with dark hearts dwell in these pages, looming over Buzzard’s Edge, a town full of people struggling to survive in an unforgiving Arizona frontier. So, sit down a spell, and settle where the daybreak ends.
Brennan LaFaro is a music teacher by day, horror writer by night, living in southeastern Massachusetts with his wife, two sons, and his hounds. He is the author of the Slattery Falls trilogy, the Buzzard’s Edge Saga, as well as Illusions of Isolation and Last Stay. You can read his short fiction in various anthologies and find him on Twitter at @brennanlafaro or at http://www.brennanlafaro.com
My thoughts: a series of short stories featuring the residents of the terrifying frontier town of Buzzard’s Edge, related to a lost traveller by Coyote and Vulture as they lead him across the desert.
Each story features horrifying creatures, some of them in human form. There are murders, creatures that literally appear out of the ground, vampires, and other nasties, all terrorising the brave (foolish?) inhabitants of this desert town.
I don’t know the other Buzzard’s Edge books, and it might be helpful to read them first, but not essential. I read this as a standalone collection and was quite happy with it as that. Although I now want to read the other stories, I especially want to know more about Alice.
*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in this blog tour, but all opinions remain my own.
Check out this amazing cover for upcoming Horrormance, Vessel by Poppy L. Roberts — Available June 6th!
Vessel
Expected Publication Date: June 6, 2025
Genre: Paranormal/Horrormance
Cults
Ritual Sacrifice
River Baths
Morally Gray FMCs
Hand Necklaces
Dark Secrets
Forced Proximity
Demons and Dark Magic
The hollow waits.
Harper is lost—drowning in a life that feels hollow, disconnected, and disenchanting. Technology, consumerism, and monotony have drained the world of meaning, leaving her restless and yearning for something real. Then one day in her search for feeling, she stumbles across an obscure online forum whispering about Saint’s Hollow, an off-grid commune hidden deep in the mountains. They promise her a detox from the bog of her overwhelming life and reconnection with herself. They promise belonging.
Desperate for escape, Harper sells everything, erases her old life, and follows the invitation that simply reads: We’ve been waiting for you.
Saint’s Hollow is beautiful, untouched by the decay of modern life. Its people are warm, and its leader, Naamah, is intoxicating. But the deeper Harper sinks into their world, the more her reality fractures. Strangeness seeps into every crevice of life in Saint’s Hollow. Shadowed figures haunt her movements and the darkness whispers back.
As Harper unravels, she faces an impossible choice: fight for her fading humanity or surrender to the darkness that has always been waiting.
Because Saint’s Hollow doesn’t just want her dreams.
It wants all of her.
COMING SOON!
CW: This book is intended for adults and may contain graphic or distressing content, including graphic on-page violence, death, gore, and explicit sexual content. A detailed list of content notes can be found at authorpoppyroberts.com.
Newly remastered, re-edited, reworked, unabridged, and released as one volume Perfect for new readers, and old fans will love the new content.
After a bitter and costly divorce, construction handyman Tim Russell buys a farmhouse in the country. Aiming to renovate and re-sell, Tim’s plans take a turn when he discovers the house is haunted by a fractured family whose ancient problems outweigh his own. Tim sees a soaking-wet ghost boy and his mother, who is often seen chasing him around the house and property. Someone leaves Tim clues and burning candles, but who? Footsteps and wailing can happen anytime and anywhere. Tim, it seems, has been invited to the chaos. Pressed into duty, Tim soon realizes he’s made a mistake. He’s been tricked and has started a war with a scorned dead woman, a woman whose middle name is Vengeance. Leaving is not an option.
Michael Clark is the author of Hell on High and The Patience of a Dead Man trilogy. He lives in Massachusetts with his wife, Josi, and dog, Bubba, and takes long walks in the woods daily, thinking of new ways to scare you.
My thoughts: I don’t believe in ghosts, never have but my mum reckons that when we moved into my childhood home (I was 6) she felt a distinct presence, that of the old lady who’d previously lived there, and it was only after she decided we were going to look after her house, after my mum reassured her (yes, out loud) that we would take care of it, that she left.
However, Mildred Wells is something altogether less friendly than this presence my mum felt. Instead she, and her family, are deeply unwelcoming. They act out a series of scenes from their lives on the farm that terrify Tim and his girlfriend Holly.
Mildred is angry, violent and driven by a deep seated rage. According to the local stories she killed her son and herself after her husband Thomas died during training for the American Civil War.
Both Thomas and son Elmer appear to Tim too, they seem to be seeking a resolution to their time trapped on Earth, and through the diaries the last home owner left, Holly maps out the events that the trio seem doomed to repeat.
Divided into three sections, first Tim and Holly’s experiences, then Mildred’s story, before returning to Tim and Holly, as they, and Mildred, try to find an end to this cycle of horror, this is a well researched and well written book. It’s gripping and chilling, Mildred’s rage is something else. But when you read the middle section, you will understand her a bit better, the things she saw and went through growing up are pretty dire.
That final section, where she returns, but now just wants to be with her family, leading her to do something desperate but ultimately redeemable, is slightly different, she’s both more sympathetic but more monstrous at the same time.
Both Tim and Holly are changed by their experience at Mildred’s hands, and yet somehow, they haven’t been driven completely mad. The shocking things the returned Mildred does, the number of deaths she leaves in her wake is crazy, but all she truly wants is be done and at peace. If she communicated this better, a lot could be avoided!
Sinister and dark, this isn’t a book to read just before bed, especially if you leave near the woods!
*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in this blog tour, but all opinions remain my own.
Selina Dragavei wanders the northern wastes in fear of persecution from the Holy Roman Church. In Europe’s Dark Age, witchfinders scour the lands and traveller folk such as she are put to flame and suffering. On the ruthless steppes, she evades them but something far sinister will lay claim to her soul.
Returning to the world of men, a dark, transformed Selina has a thirst for blood and only the drift down through the centuries will quench it. But she won’t make that journey alone, as she determines to bring others to her. As a troupe of entertainers, they attend pageants, festivals, and even royal galas, where a family bound to darkness feed on unsuspecting mortals. Such debauchery, however, does not go unnoticed. Famed witchfinder, Desider von Brandenburg, becomes obsessed with bringing this band of vampire-devils to a righteous cleansing, and so a deadly game of cat and mouse ensues.
Will the holy man bring God’s wrath down upon them, or will Selina and her nightwalkers battle the might of Heaven and emerge unscathed? Only instinct, cunning, and a little luck under the watch of a wolf moon will tell…
Beverley Lee is a bestselling dark fiction author who lives close to the dreaming spires of Oxford, England. Her work specialises in atmospheric horror, creeping dread, and broken boys – sometimes altogether – but are always filled with heart and the tenuous threads of relationships pushed to the brink. All the Feels all the time. Vampires are her first love and occasionally they stop whispering long enough for her to write other books. When she’s not writing you’ll find her rambling through the countryside, dreaming about male vampires kissing, and exploring time-worn graveyards.
My thoughts: Roaming Europe, a family of vampires has been lucky so far, they move on before anyone finds their victims, but their luck is running out. A team of hunters is on their trail and their leader has sworn not to stop until they, or he, are dead.
As the hunters harry their undead prey across Europe’s wintery depths, they must use all their skills to stay one step ahead of the men who see it as a holy duty to wipe out the creatures. The two parties clash and both sides suffer losses, who will prevail and at what cost?
A dark and bloody tale of monsters and men, wolves and snow. Selina is cunning and has stayed “alive” a long time but she and her family may just have met their match, can all her centuries of wandering last or will she be brought to an end?
There’s some clever twists in this story and fans of horror and folklore will enjoy it.
*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for taking part in this blog tour, but all opinions remain my own.
Welcome to the tour for upcoming sapphic horror, Inked in Blood and Memory by Allison Ivy!
Inked in Blood and Memory
Expected Publication Date: December 3, 2024
Genre: Sapphic Horror
Eat the rich
“Family is complicated”
Sapphic (f/f) romance
2/5 spice level
Multi-POV
Vietnamese FMC
Plus size FMC
Mixed race FMC
FMC who wears glasses
New Year’s Eve Horror
Dark Academia
Estranged friends to lovers
Grownup “The Pagemaster” vibes
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.
Swearing (Not overboard. Three or four F-words and three or four other words.)
Gore/violence/body horror (not gratuitous and nothing sexual)
one scene of main character drug use (joint)
Brief suicidal ideation
Child endangerment
Self-deprecation in terms of weight (one paragraph).
Welcome to the tour for The Lavender Fields, a collection of eerie tales by Derek Mola!
The Lavender Fields
Publication Date: October 19, 2024
Genre: Horror Anthology/ Short Stories
In the heart of the cosmos lies a dimension unlike any other—a realm of shimmering lavender fields where every possible universe is visible in the tapestry of existence. When an astronaut accidentally teleports to this mysterious plane, he finds himself in a front-row seat to the bizarre and terrifying narratives of alternate realities.
The Lavender Fields invites readers to journey as the astronaut recounts six chilling and fantastical stories from the multiverse. From eldritch cults that worship ancient deities to a drug that can freeze time itself, each tale plunges into the cosmic and supernatural horrors lurking at the edges of reality. Witness a meteor that incites unbridled rage, a shapeshifting prostitute who blurs the line between pleasure and peril, possessed pigs with unfinished business, and a witch mother whose dark magic has evil plans for her daughter.
Prepare for a mind-bending adventure through worlds where the unimaginable becomes real, and the only certainty is that fear transcends dimensions.
ramblingmads 