“Revenge is horror fantasy at its very best: magical, truly frightening, lyrical and sewn-through with a thread of hope. Gabrielle Faust & Solomon Schneider are two of the most exciting horror writers in the business.” — Jonathan Maberry, New York Times bestselling author, Dust & Decay and Dead of Night
Preview the first four chapters for free at
www.barkingrainpress.org
To Suffer a Witch
The Blackthorne Chronicles, Book 1
by Christopher Treagus
Print ISBN: 978-1-935460-68-8
eBook ISBN: 978-1-935460-69-5
Salem, Massachusetts—1692. A plague of witches and dark magic has descended upon the village of Salem. When a court of Oyer and Terminer is called by the governor to bring the guilty to trial, Judge Jacob Blackthorne and the Reverend Cotton Mather are tasked with finding the reasons behind all of this evil.
The trouble is, Jacob Blackthorne already knows the answer.
Fifteen years ago, Jacob became the lover of a witch named Abigail Colman. One night in the woods outside of Salem Village, she shared her secret with him—the power of the Sangreal—a magical elixir that forestalls the natural process of death… for a price.
Now cursed with near-eternal youth and the loss of his soul, Jacob prays that he can yet find a path to salvation. When he hears a rumor that witchcraft is once again running amok in Salem, he returns in hopes of finding redemption. Instead, he discovers that the secret once shared with him runs much deeper than just one woman as he uncovers a conspiracy dating back to Biblical times.
“With To Suffer a Witch, Christopher Treagus has created a dark fantasy masterpiece. An emotional gauntlet full of brooding atmosphere and prose as sharp as a razor, this is one you don’t want to miss!” — Brian Keene, author, The Rising, City of the Dead and The Conqueror Worms
“Treagus depicts another time and place with his characterization of Salem in the 1600s. The subject matter makes To Suffer a Witch unique, as the language and actions of the people cast in the story are as though you are a witness to those days. Treagus provides many insights into how people lived in that time as his main character, Jacob Blackthorne, reveals how his depravity caused him to fall into the clutches of a witch and become cursed forever. His journey to regain his soul delves into the dark and sordid world of witchcraft, yet justice is served to reaffirm the perception of good surpassing evil.” — The Quill Review
Preview the first four chapters for free at
www.barkingrainpress.org
The Unremarkable Squire
by Nick Hayden
Print ISBN: 978-1-935460-54-1
eBook ISBN: 978-1-935460-55-8
A squire’s oath is to be of service… but to whom?
In the kingdom of Basileon, an unremarkable and emotionally detached young man named Obed Kainos is about to stumble into adventure—quite against his will. When the knights of the realm gather in a quest to search for the lost Armor of Arkelon, Obed is chosen at random to replace the recently deceased squire of Sir Lance Valentino. While trying to perform his menial tasks faithfully, the young squire becomes entangled in the plots of mages, thieves, and kings.
And that’s just his first week on the job.
Unfortunately for Obed, his indifference cannot save him from his new oath. For despite his enigmatic personality (or perhaps because of it), he manages to attract a band of misfits to his cause—the ugly, the arrogant, the clumsy, and the cowardly—putting the legendary armor within the grasp of one who never wanted anything at all.
“A remarkable tour de force set in a medieval world where magic is as common as muck, misunderstandings are ten a penny, and everyone but the hero has a remarkably good opinion of themselves. Nick Hayden mixes humor with fantasy to delight the inner eye and ear of the reader.” — Adele Abbot, author, Of Machines & Magics and Postponing Armageddon
“Dazzling damsels in distress, a magical suit of armor, mayhem and danger at every turn, a host of unique characters and plenty of laughs make this novel worth reading. Mr. Hayden tells a worthy tale well!” — Phillip Tomasso, author, Sounds of Silence
“An engrossing and adventurous novel with echoes of the Arthurian Romances by De Troyes. The unlikely rise of Obed Kainos from contented obscurity to fame and fortune will provide entertainment for readers of all ages.” — Sean Mulcahy, author, Slip Sliding Away
Preview the first four chapters for free at
www.barkingrainpress.org
Never Again Page 25