- Table View
- List View
Plain Bad Heroines: A Novel
by Emily M. Danforth‘Brimming from start to finish with sly humour and gothic mischief’ SARAH WATERS ‘Atmospheric, sexy, creepy…totally addictive’ KATE DAVIES, author of In At The Deep End ‘A gloriously over-the-top queer romp’ I PAPER, top picks for 2021
Plain Bad Heroines: A Novel
by Emily Danforth‘Brimming from start to finish with sly humour and gothic mischief…a brilliant piece of exuberant storytelling’ SARAH WATERS ‘Atmospheric, sexy, creepy, full of lesbians and wasps, disturbing and funny and totally addictive’ KATE DAVIES, author of In At The Deep End
The Politics of Horror
by Damien K. PicarielloThe Politics of Horror features contributions from scholars in a variety of fields—political science, English, communication studies, and others—that explore the connections between horror and politics. How might resources drawn from the study of politics inform our readings of, and conversations about, horror? In what ways might horror provide a useful lens through which to consider enduring questions in politics and political thought? And what insights might be drawn from horror as we consider contemporary political issues? In turning to horror, the contributors to this volume offer fresh provocations to inform a broad range of discussions of politics.
Queen of Storms: Book Two Of The Firemane Saga (The Firemane Saga #2)
by Raymond E. FeistDark and powerful forces threaten the world of Garn once more in this second novel in legendary New York Times bestselling author Raymond E. Feist’s epic fantasy series, the Firemane Saga
The Quickening
by Rhiannon WardFeminist gothic fiction set between the late 19th century and the early 20th century - an era of burgeoning spiritualism and the suffragette movement - that couldn't be more relevant today.England, 1925. Louisa Drew lost her husband in the First World War and her six-year-old twin sons in the Spanish Flu epidemic of 1918. Newly re-married to a war-traumatised husband and seven months pregnant, Louisa is asked by her employer to travel to Clewer Hall in Sussex where she is to photograph the contents of the house for auction.She learns Clewer Hall was host to an infamous séance in 1896, and that the lady of the house has asked those who gathered back then to come together once more to recreate the evening. When a mysterious child appears on the grounds, Louisa finds herself compelled to investigate and becomes embroiled in the strange happenings of the house. Gradually, she unravels the long-held secrets of the inhabitants and what really happened thirty years before... and discovers her own fate is entwined with that of Clewer Hall's.An exquisitely crafted and compelling mystery that invites the reader in to the crumbling Clewer Hall to help unlock its secrets alongside the unforgettable Louisa Drew.For fans of The Silent Companions, The Little Stranger and The Familiars.
The Red Wyvern: Book One Of The Dragon Mage (The Dragon Mage #1)
by Katharine KerrBook nine of the celebrated Deverry series, an epic fantasy rooted in Celtic mythology that intricately interweaves human and elven history over several hundred years.
Restless Slumber
by K.J. Sutton'I told you the crown came at a cost.'Fortuna's world has been transformed. The faerie court is whispering in her head, her brother has lost touch with reality and an obstinate werewolf won't leave her side.And then there's Collith: her enigmatic, beautiful, infuriating mate. She hates him, so why is he causing her such turmoil?But as the new Queen of the Unseelie Court she is determined to uproot the corruption around her. The question is not if she has the strength - it's whether she can survive long enough.
The Return
by Rachel HarrisonHer best friend disappeared. A stranger came back.SEX AND THE CITY MEETS STEPHEN KING'S THE SHINING IN THIS CHILLING DEBUT Julie is missing, and no one believes she will ever return-except Elise. Elise knows Julie better than anyone. She feels it in her bones that her best friend is out there and that one day Julie will come back.She's right. Two years to the day that Julie went missing, she reappears with no memory of where she's been or what happened to her.Along with Molly and Mae, their two close friends from college, the women decide to reunite at a remote inn. But the second Elise sees Julie, she knows something is wrong-she's emaciated, with sallow skin and odd appetites. And as the weekend unfurls, it becomes impossible to deny that the Julie who vanished two years ago is not the same Julie who came back. But then who-or what-is she?An eerie storm of a debut that fuses thriller and horror into a brilliant depiction of women's friendships - the rivalries, jealousies, anxieties and love.Praise for THE RETURN'The Return expertly treads the fine line between thriller and horror. It's as deliciously creepy as opening up a box of candy-coated spiders-and eating them all in one sitting' Christina Dalcher, bestselling author of Vox'Combining suspense and horror with razor-sharp insights into the nature of female friendships, Rachel Harrison's The Return is a creepy, nerve-wracking, page-turning addition to the emerging field of horror thrillers' Alma Katsu, award-winning author of The Hunger 'The Return is moving and terrifying in equal measure. A brilliant rumination on friendship, pain, and the myriad of unsuccessful ways we all try to run from our past and fill the holes in our hearts. Harrison's keen prose won't let you go. Be warned, you'll double check the locks on your doors before you try to sleep' Mallory O'Meara, author of The Lady from the Black Lagoon 'By turns scary and funny, horrifying and real, The Return is impossible to put down. It takes an honest, scathing look at female friendship while at the same time pulling the reader into a perfect nightmare of a story' Simone St. James, bestselling author of The Sun Down Motel 'The Return is supernatural horror at its very best! Sharp dialogue, complex relationships and mind-bending action will have readers locking their doors and checking under their beds. Rachel Harrison has reinvented this genre and will surely be hailed as a pioneer among her peers' Wendy Walker, bestselling author of The Night Before 'Hair-raising horror and pure entertainment in Harrison's compulsively readable debut . . . The tension and nuance of Harrison's complicated female friendships add depth to an already delicious, chilling debut' Publishers Weekly'Fusing horror and thriller together, it's an unsettling tale of rivalry, envy, fear, friendship and love' Culturefly's Books of 2020
Ring Shout (PDF)
by P. Djèlí ClarkIn 1915, The Birth of a Nation cast a spell across America, swelling the Klan's ranks and drinking deep from the darkest thoughts of white folk. All across the nation they ride, spreading fear and violence among the vulnerable. They plan to bring Hell to Earth. But even Ku Kluxes can die. Standing in their way is Maryse Boudreaux and her fellow resistance fighters, a foul-mouthed sharpshooter and a Harlem Hellfighter. Armed with blade, bullet, and bomb, they hunt their hunters and send the Klan's demons straight to Hell. But something awful's brewing in Macon, and the war on Hell is about to heat up. Can Maryse stop the Klan before it ends the world?
The Searcher: The mesmerising new mystery from the Sunday Times bestselling author
by Tana French'Terrific - terrifying, amazing' STEPHEN KING'Completely, indescribably magnificent' MARIAN KEYES-----A DISAPPEARANCE. A SMALL TOWN. A QUESTION THAT NEEDS ANSWERING...Cal Hooper thought a fixer-upper in a remote Irish village would be the perfect escape. After twenty-five years in the Chicago police force, and a bruising divorce, he just wants to build a new life in a pretty spot with a good pub where nothing much happens.But then a local kid comes looking for his help. His brother has gone missing, and no one, least of all the police, seems to care. Cal wants nothing to do with any kind of investigation, but somehow he can't make himself walk away.Soon Cal will discover that even in the most idyllic small town, secrets lie hidden, people aren't always what they seem, and trouble can come calling at his door.A gripping tale of breath-taking beauty and suspense that asks how we decide what's right and wrong in a world where neither is simple, and what we risk if we fail.WINTER RICHARD AND JUDY BOOKCLUB PICKTHE SUNDAY TIMES PAPERBACK OF THE YEAR 2021THE TIMES PAPERBACK OF THE YEAR 2021FT BEST BOOK OF 2020THE GUARDIAN BEST CRIME AND THRILLER BOOK OF 2020THE TIMES THRILLER OF THE YEAR 2020-----'I'm a big fan of Tana French' IAN RANKIN'I didn't want it to end' HARRIET TYCE'To say Tana French is one of the great thriller writers is really too limiting. Rather she's simply this: a truly great writer' GILLIAN FLYNN'Immersive and atmospheric ... Cal and Trey could very well be the new sort of heroes we need in this strange world' ARAMINTA HALL'This is a tour de force of suspense and storytelling. Comes closer to perfection than anything I've read in the last decade' SARAH HILARY'The Searcher is its own kind of masterpiece' WASHINGTON POST'One of the most compulsive psychological mysteries since Donna Tartt's The Secret History' THE TIMES'French offers a masterclass in unreliability' SUNDAY TIMES'[Crime fiction's] biggest contemporary star' GUARDIAN'One of the finest writers of contemporary crime fiction' THE DAILY MAIL'An audacious departure for this immensely talented author . . . not to be missed' THE NEW YORK TIMES'Nuanced and compelling' THE NEW YORKER
Settling the World: Selected Stories
by M. John HarrisonThroughout his career, M. John Harrison’s writing has defied categorisation, building worlds both unreal and all-too real, overlapping and interlocking with each other. His stories are replete with fissures and portals into parallel dimensions, unidentified countries and lost lands. But more important than the places they point to are the obsessions that drive the people who so believe in them, characters who spend their lives hunting for, and haunted by, clues and maps that speak to the possibility of somewhere else. This selection of stories, drawn from over 50 years of writing, bears witness to that desire for difference: whether following backstreet occultists, amateur philosophers, down-and-outs or refugees, we see our relationship with ‘the other’ in microscopic detail, and share in Harrison’s rejection of the idea that the world, or our understanding of it, could ever be settled.
The Shadow Friend: The gripping new psychological thriller from the Richard & Judy bestselling author of The Whisper Man
by Alex NorthTHE GRIPPING NEW PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER FROM THE BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF RICHARD & JUDY BOOK CLUB PICK THE WHISPER MANThe victim was his friend. So was the murderer.Twenty-five years ago, troubled teenager Charlie Crabtree murdered his friend and classmate.For Paul Adams, it's a day he'll never forget.He's never forgiven himself for his part in what happened. He's never gone back home. But when his elderly mother has a fall, it's finally time to stop running.It's not long before things start to go wrong. A copycat killer has struck. Paul's mother insists there's something in the house. And someone is following him.Which reminds Paul of the most unsettling part of what awful day. The fact that afterwards, Charlie Crabtree was never seen again . . .Praise for Alex North'The best crime novel of the decade' Steve Cavanagh, bestselling author of Thirteen'First it's spooky. Then it's scary. Then it's terrifying. And then . . . well, dear reader, proceed at your own risk. An ambitious, deeply satisfying thriller - a seamless blend of Harlan Coben, Stephen King, and Thomas Harris. My flesh is still crawling' A. J. Finn, no.1 bestselling author of The Woman in the Window'Alex North has achieved the seemingly impossible. The Whisper Man is a thriller that is both terrifying and utterly heartbreaking. Mesmerising and masterful' Mark Billingham'A dark, creepy, thriller with a huge amount of heart. Damn, but Alex North can write!' Stuart MacBride
She Wanted to Be Haunted
by Marcus EwertWith whimsical, rhyming stanzas, She Wanted to be Haunted offers a delightful, lyrical twist on the ever-important question of how to be your very best self.Clarissa the cottage is adorable . . . bright pink, with windows that wink, and flowers growing all around. But Clarissa doesn't want to be adorable--being cute is boring. Couldn't she be like her father, a creepy castle home to vampires and crypts? Or like her mother, a witch's hut full of spells and smells? If only she were haunted! Then she'd be less ordinary . . . What will it take for Clarissa to go from adorable to horrible?
Sisters: the exhilarating new novel from the Booker prize shortlisted author of Everything Under
by Daisy Johnson'A short sharp explosion of a gothic thriller' ObserverSomething unspeakable has happened to sisters July and September.Desperate for a fresh start, their mother Sheela moves them across the country to an old family house that has a troubled life of its own. Noises come from behind the walls. Lights flicker of their own accord. Sleep feels impossible, dreams are endless.In their new, unsettling surroundings, July finds that the fierce bond she's always had with September - forged with a blood promise when they were children - is beginning to change in ways she cannot understand.Taut, transfixing and profoundly moving, Sisters explodes with the fury and joy of adolescence. It is a story of sibling love and sibling envy that fans of Shirley Jackson and Stephen King will devour.'Daisy Johnson is one of the best writers in this country ... an astonishing stylist. Sisters is a thumping good book, haunting, visceral and potent.' Max Porter, author of Grief is the Thing with Feathers'This is a book that makes you remember why you first fell in love with reading. I was haunted by it.' Evie Wyld, author of The Bass Rock'A blistering read. An exquisitely rendered exploration of sibling love and rivalry that rattles the core.' Irenosen Okojie, author of Nudibranch'I LOVE THIS BOOK! Explosive, dark, weird and utterly compelling... There are few writers as talented as Daisy Johnson.' Elizabeth Macneal, author of The Doll Factory
The Sisters Grimm: A Novel (The\sisters Grimm Ser. #1)
by Menna van Praag'Absorbing and beautiful - a great achievement.' BRIDGET COLLINS, bestselling author of The BindingThere are hundreds, possibly thousands, of sisters Grimm on Earth.You may well be one of them, though you might never know it. This is the story of four sisters Grimm – daughters born to different mothers on the same day, each born out of bright-white wishing and black-edged desire. They found each other at eight years-old, were separated at thirteen and now, at nearly eighteen, it is imperative that they find each other once again. In thirty-three days they will meet their father in Everwhere. Only then will they discover who they truly are, and what they can truly do. Then they must fight to save their lives and the lives of the ones they love. Three will live, one will die. You’ll have to read on to find out who and why . . .___________________'A darkly beguiling delight that’s perfect for fans of rich and imaginative fantasy books akin to Erin Morgenstern and Neil Gaiman.' CULTUREFLY
Snow Ghost: The Most Heartwarming Picture Book of the Year
by Tony MittonSnow Ghost came whispering out of the air,"Oh, for a home to be happy – but where?"Flying through the swirling, snow-filled skies, Snow Ghost searches for a place to call home, swooping gracefully over the whirling traffic of town, winding her way through the dense, tangled wood and to the top of the blustery hill. Then on the quiet calm of the moors, she sees a girl and a boy playing. She breathes magic and sparkle into their play until it's time for them to stumble back home to bed. And while shimmers of moonlight cast their glittering light, Snow Ghost curls herself round the roof of the farmhouse. She has found her happy home at last.A timeless story of hope and belonging, perfect for sharing with loved ones this winter.This audio-enabled edition comes with a gorgeous reading by Sarah Ovens, along with music and sound effects.
Spectres from the Past: Slavery and the Politics of "History" in West African and African-American Literature (Routledge Research in American Literature and Culture)
by Portia OwusuSpectres from the Past: The "History" of Slavery in West African and African-American Narratives examines the merit of the claim that West African writers, in comparison to African-Americans authors, deliberately expunge the history of slavery from literary narratives. The book explores slavery in contemporary West African and African-American literature by looking at the politics of history and memory. It interrogates notions of History and memory by considering the possibility that shared traumas, such as West African and African-American experiences of slavery, can be remembered and historicised differently, according to critical factors such as socio-economic realities, cultural beliefs and familial traditions. At the heart of the book are compelling and new readings of slavery in six literary narratives that draws on cultural philosophies, musicology and linguistics to demonstrate diverse and unusual ways that Black writers in West Africa and North America write about slavery in literature.
Spectres from the Past: Slavery and the Politics of "History" in West African and African-American Literature (Routledge Research in American Literature and Culture)
by Portia OwusuSpectres from the Past: The "History" of Slavery in West African and African-American Narratives examines the merit of the claim that West African writers, in comparison to African-Americans authors, deliberately expunge the history of slavery from literary narratives. The book explores slavery in contemporary West African and African-American literature by looking at the politics of history and memory. It interrogates notions of History and memory by considering the possibility that shared traumas, such as West African and African-American experiences of slavery, can be remembered and historicised differently, according to critical factors such as socio-economic realities, cultural beliefs and familial traditions. At the heart of the book are compelling and new readings of slavery in six literary narratives that draws on cultural philosophies, musicology and linguistics to demonstrate diverse and unusual ways that Black writers in West Africa and North America write about slavery in literature.
Storm
by Nicola SkinnerThe extraordinarily moving, funny and original new novel from the author of the rapturously acclaimed BLOOM.
The Storm Beneath a Midnight Sun
by Alexander Dan VilhjálmssonReturning to the world of Shadows of the Short Days, it's time to go beyond Reykjavík to Hrímland's remote islands . . .CHANGE DOES NOT ALWAYS HAPPEN FOR THE BETTER.War on the mainland is draining Reykjavík. For some, the remote islands off Hrímland's coast are their only hope of survival.Elka, a recovering addict, has fled there with her son Sölvi. In their village they find a new life - all thanks to the Deep, a peculiar power their neighbours praise for the booming fishing industry. Everything seems perfect, but Sölvi does not trust the people who take his mother in.Kari is a professor of sorcery, recruited for a career-making venture - an excavation of an ancient power. He must go deep into the magical wasteland, find what is buried there, and turn the tide of the war forever. But the world might not be ready for the storm he will unearth . . .* * * * * * * * * *'A marvellous, quirky, original fantasy' Joanne Harris, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Strawberry Thief on Shadows of the Short Days'One of the most ambitious, intense, original and thrilling debuts I've read in a long time' Grimdark Magazine on Shadows of the Short Days'Fresh and exciting: full of dark, demonic, revolutionary shenanigans' Peter Newman, author of The Vagrant on Shadows of the Short Days
The Sun Down Motel
by Simone St JamesSomething hasn't been right at the Sun Down Motel for a very long time, and Carly Kirk is about to find out why . . .1982Viv Delaney wants to move to New York City, and to help pay for it she takes a job as the night clerk at the Sun Down Motel, in Fell. But Viv feels that something is wrong, something disturbing and haunting. And then she vanishes.2017Carly Kirk has never been able to let go of the story of her aunt Viv. She decides to move to Fell and take a job at the hotel - as a night clerk - to try to get to the bottom of the mystery.But Carly soon discovers that, before she vanished, Viv believed she was on the trail of something truly sinister.And if Carly can't work out the truth soon, then she's in line to be the next victim . . ._________'Deliciously creepy. A chilling blend of mystery and ghost story' RILEY SAGER, New York Times bestselling author of Lock Every Door'Spooky, unsettling, and brilliantly written, it will hook you early, and never let go' JENNIFER HILLIER, author of Jar of Hearts
The Sun's Devices: Book 3 of The Hollow Gods (The Hollow Gods)
by Rebecca LeveneBook 3 of the outstanding The Hollow Gods seriesIn the aftermath of the shattering of Mirror Town, Krish has taken has rightful place as heir to the kingdom of Ashanesland, with his friends and allies ruling by his side. He's turned his back on his divine birthright and set out to bring unity to the warring tribes and nations as no more than a man.The mysterious land once known as the Eternal Empire has opened its borders at last, and invited Krish to take his place as part of its ruling Triumvirate. But there are plots within plots in the country that once worshipped his sister, the sun, and now hates all gods.Because the sun goddess been made flesh once again and is determined to end the ancient conflict with her brother's final defeat. And there are strange and new gods stirring in the lands - while some search for a weapon that could destroy them all.
Thirteen Storeys
by Jonathan Sims'Left me feeling uneasy . . . creeped out, and a little bit horrified. In other words, this was an excellent book' NetGalley reviewerGOING UP? A dinner party is held in the penthouse of a multimillion-pound development. All the guests are strangers - even to their host, the billionaire owner of the building . None of them know why they were selected to receive his invitation. Whether privileged or deprived, they share only one thing in common - they've all experienced a shocking disturbance within the building's walls. By the end of the night, their host is dead, and none of the guests will say what happened. His death has remained one of the biggest unsolved mysteries - until now. But are you ready for their stories?Jonathan Sims' debut is a darkly twisted, genre-bending journey through one of the most innovative haunted houses you'll ever dare to enter. Early reviewers say you're in for a fright:'Steals your sleep, not only because it's such a page turner but it is very very creepy . . . Highly recommended' NetGalley reviewer 'Chilling and so creepy - perfect reading for dark, Halloween evenings in. . . Even if you don't usually go for this genre, give THIRTEEN STOREYS a try - you won't be disappointed!' NetGalley reviewer 'This book literally has it all: simply faultless. A majestic tour de force of the imagination' NetGalley reviewer
The Torchbearers (The Darkdeep)
by Ally Condie Brendan Reichs"This book left me breathless!" - R. L. Stine, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Goosebumps and Fear Street, on The Darkdeep "Everything you could want in a series." - Soman Chainani, New York Times bestselling author of The School for Good and Evil, on The Beast The blockbuster middle-grade series by New York Times bestselling authors Ally Condie and Brendan continues in this edge-of-your-seat adventure that's Stranger Things meets The Goonies. After the events of Dark Halloween, the town of Timbers is in a full-blown monster panic, making life for the Torchbearers--Opal, Nico, Tyler, Emma, and Logan--extremely difficult. Nico is investigating the Rift and the strange natural phenomena that continue to occur, all while worrying about his dad's potential work transfer. Opal has her hands full researching the founding Torchbearer, Yvette Dumont, and deciphering clues from another realm sent by the mysterious Thing In a Jar. Emma's wildly popular YouTube show has brought her new-found fame, but also earned her some enemies. Logan is trying to unlock secrets in his own family history that might shed light on how the Torchbearer Order began, while Tyler, as the self-proclaimed Beastmaster, strives to commune with--and not be eaten by--the mercurial and deadly alien sea creature living in Still Cove. But that's not all. Something cryptic has surfaced from within the Darkdeep. Questions arise, and the five friends find themselves suddenly at odds. The stakes climb even higher when an enigmatic new girl comes to town, with an agenda of her own. As the Torchbearers discover shocking secrets about their houseboat hangout, the Rift, and the Darkdeep itself, signs point to new realms beyond the ones they know, putting their friendships to the test as never before . . . Told from alternating POVs, this thrilling next book from bestselling duo Ally Condie and Brendan Reichs will once again have readers sleeping with the lights on.
The Trouble With Peace: Book Two (The Age of Madness #2)
by Joe AbercrombieSecond in the AGE OF MADNESS trilogy, THE TROUBLE WITH PEACE is the next instalment of a series which is revolutionising fantasy . . .Conspiracy. Betrayal. Rebellion.Peace is just another kind of battlefield . . .Savine dan Glokta, once Adua's most powerful investor, finds her judgement, fortune and reputation in tatters. But she still has all her ambitions, and no scruple will be permitted to stand in her way.For heroes like Leo dan Brock and Stour Nightfall, only happy with swords drawn, peace is an ordeal to end as soon as possible. But grievances must be nursed, power seized and allies gathered first, while Rikke must master the power of the Long Eye . . . before it kills her.Unrest worms into every layer of society. The Breakers still lurk in the shadows, plotting to free the common man from his shackles, while noblemen bicker for their own advantage. Orso struggles to find a safe path through the maze of knives that is politics, only for his enemies, and his debts, to multiply. The old ways are swept aside, and the old leaders with them, but those who would seize the reins of power will find no alliance, no friendship, and no peace, lasts forever.