Tags:gothic

Miss Kim Knows and Other Stories

Miss Kim Knows and Other Stories

FROM THE AUTHOR OF KIM JIYOUNG, BORN 1982 'There is laughter and joy to be found in these pages, along with the kind of laughter that sets two women over 50 rolling in the snow with tears streaming down their frozen cheeks and the aurora borealis dancing above them.' The Observer ‘A thought-provoking, nuanced read’ Sarah Manning, Red 'Dazzling prose' Elle  Eight women. Eight stories. One reality.   A woman is born. A woman is filmed in public without consent. A woman suffers domestic violence. A woman is gaslit. A woman is discriminated against at work. A woman grows old. A woman becomes famous. A woman is hated, and loved, and then hated again.   Written in Cho Nam-Joo’s masterful, razor-sharp prose, Miss Kim Knows brings together the lives of eight Korean women, aged 10 to 80. Contained in each of these biographies is a microcosm of contemporary Korea, and the challenges and injustices that women face from childhood to old age. As with Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982, the fates of these eight women are the fates of women the world over. And under Cho Nam-Joo’s precise, unveiled gaze, nothing and nobody escapes scrutiny--not even herself.  

The Strange Countess

The Strange Countess

Edgar Wallace's "The Strange Countess" delves into the murky depths of ambition, deception, and the intricacies of human relationships within a vibrant early 20th-century London backdrop. Wallace employs a gripping narrative style, combining elements of crime fiction and mystery with sharp, dynamic prose that reflects the pulse of a society in transition. The novel's exploration of social class, identity, and the juxtaposition of charm and menace is set against the thrilling literary context of the interwar period, revealing the darker undercurrents of an era marked by both hope and disillusionment. As a prolific British writer known for his contributions to crime and thriller genres, Edgar Wallace drew on a rich tapestry of experience as a journalist, playwright, and novelist. His background in the bustling streets of London, coupled with his incisive understanding of human nature, enables him to craft compelling narratives that resonate deeply with readers. This wealth of life experiences informs "The Strange Countess," where themes of moral ambiguity and the psychological underpinnings of ambition take center stage. For any enthusiast of classic crime literature or those intrigued by the complexities of character and society, "The Strange Countess" is a must-read. Wallace'Äôs masterful storytelling pulls the reader into a world where every action holds weight and every character harbors secrets. This novel not only entertains but also invites reflection on the human condition and the choices that shape our destinies.

Written in Blood

Written in Blood

‘Wonderful storytelling, with a superbly drawn killer, it underlines exactly how good Carter has become’ DAILY MAILTHE SUNDAY TIMES NUMBER ONE BESTSELLER   A serial killer who will stop at nothing…  The Killer His most valuable possession has been stolen. Now he must retrieve it, at any cost.  The Girl Angela Wood wanted to teach the man a lesson. It was a bag, just like any other. But when she opens it, the worst nightmare of her life begins.  The Detective A journal ends up on Robert Hunter’s desk. It soon becomes clear that there is a serial killer on the loose. And if Hunter can’t stop him in time, more people will die. Starting with Angela.  If you have read itYou must diePRAISE FOR CHRIS CARTER  ‘An exceptional thriller writer who fully deserves to be ranked alongside Jeffery Deaver’ Daily Mail   ‘Former criminal psychologist Carter knows what he’s talking about when it comes to creating bone-chilling serial killers, so be prepared for a terror ride’ Heat   ‘Carter has a background in criminal psychology and the killers at the centre of his novels are all the more terrifying for it’ Mail on Sunday ‘Carter is one of those authors who makes writing look effortless . . . I couldn't put it down’ Crimesquad ‘An insanely good crime series. Extraordinarily well written, high quality and high drama all the way’ Liz Loves Books ‘An intriguing and scary thriller’ Better Reading ‘A gripping feast of thrills’ Shots   ‘A page turner’ Express   ‘A gripping psychological thriller’ Breakaway   ‘Punchy and fast paced’ Sunday Mirror

Of Fate and Phantoms

Of Fate and Phantoms

As Charlie and Lincoln’s lives settle into a harmonious pattern, a new threat arises that could have far reaching effects for the royal family and Lincoln’s parents. When a seer warns the Prince of Wales that his life is in danger, only Charlie and Lincoln take her seriously. After all, what sensible person would believe a gypsy who claims the danger will come in the form of the prince's dead father? A meeting at the palace sets them on a path that takes Charlie back to her old haunts in the London slums, on the hunt for a man who can change his appearance. The new threat is their most dangerous yet, but for Lincoln, the biggest concern isn't confronting the shape-changer or meeting his parents for the first time, it's whether Charlie will put his engagement ring on her finger.

The Emily Chambers Spirit Medium Trilogy Boxed Set

The Emily Chambers Spirit Medium Trilogy Boxed Set

Get all 3 books in C.J. Archer's THE EMILY CHAMBERS SPIRIT MEDIUM TRILOGY in a single volume for one low price. Each book in this boxed set is available for purchase separately, but by buying them in this bundle, you're getting a better deal! Praise for the books in THE EMILY CHAMBERS SPIRIT MEDIUM TRILOGY "Thank you, C.J.Archer. Please keep writing." ~ Amazon reviewer Senior Citizen #8 in a review of THE MEDIUM "C.J. has done it again." ~ Amazon reviewer Richard Bird in a review of POSSESSION "I have to admire CJ Archer's creative mind to have produced such an enjoyable series." ~ Amazon reviewer outspoken1 in a review of EVERMORE Seventeen year-old spirit medium Emily Chambers has a problem. Actually, she has several. As if seeing dead people isn't a big enough social disadvantage, she also has to contend with an escaped demon and a handsome ghost with a secret past. And then there's the question of her parentage. Being born an entire year after her father's death (yes, a year), Emily is as much a mystery as the dead boy assigned to her. Jacob Beaufort's spirit has been unable to crossover since his death several months ago. It might have something to do with the fact he was murdered. Or it might not. All he knows is, he has been assigned by the Otherworld's administrators to a girl named Emily. A girl who can see and touch him. A girl who released a shape-shifting demon into the mortal realm. Together they must send the demon back before it wreaks havoc on London. It should be a simple assignment, but they soon learn there's nothing simple when a live girl and a dead boy fall in love.KEYWORDS: historical fantasy, gothic, historical romance, historical paranormal romance, alternate history, gothic romance, ghosts, ghost story, clean paranormal, clean romance, young adult book, teen book, book appropriate for teens, bestselling series, slow burn romance, box set bargain

The Complete Freak House Series

The Complete Freak House Series

THE COMPLETE 9-BOOK SET OF THE BESTSELLING FANTASY SERIES BY C.J. ARCHER.A lush, sweeping romantic gothic delight.Enter the dark and dangerous world of Victorian England and Freak House, where nothing is as it seems and everyone has secrets. Full of unforgettable characters, quirky humor, fast action, and delicious romance, C.J. Archer's Freak House Series is now available as an exclusive boxed set. Get all 3 trilogies that make up the FREAK HOUSE series at a lower price than buying them individually!THE 1ST FREAK HOUSE TRILOGY (Contains THE WRONG GIRL, PLAYING WITH FIRE, HEART BURN):It's customary for Gothic romance novels to include a mysterious girl locked in the attic. Hannah Smith just wishes she wasn't that girl. As a narcoleptic and the companion to an earl's daughter with a strange affliction of her own, Hannah knows she's lucky to have a roof over her head and food in her belly when so many orphans starve on the streets. Yet freedom is something Hannah longs for. She did not, however, want her freedom to arrive in the form of kidnapping. Taken by handsome Jack Langley to a place known as Freak House, she finds herself under the same roof as a mad scientist, his niece, a mute servant and Jack, a fire starter with a mysterious past. They assure Hannah she is not a prisoner and that they want to help her. The problem is, they think she's the earl's daughter. What will they do when they discover they took the wrong girl?THE 2ND FREAK HOUSE TRILOGY (Contains THE MEMORY KEEPER, SEARED WITH SCARS, EDGE OF DARKNESS):Charity Evans wants nothing more than to leave her troubled past behind and start afresh. The teacher at a London school for orphans is encouraged to have her memories blocked by hypnotist Samuel Gladstone, but when they experience visions with an unknown third person, they realize the past can never be truly erased. Now her past is returning to haunt Charity all over again. Samuel is determined to help her, but how can a woman who trusts no man trust a hypnotist? And what dark secrets changed the charming gentleman into a desperate one who'll do anything to keep those secrets buried?THE 3RD FREAK HOUSE TRILOGY (Contains GHOST GIRL, BANISHED, MY SOUL TO TAKE):Cara Moreau is dying from a supernatural curse. Her only chance of survival lies with the warrior, an enigmatic man who comes from a realm "in between." Quin St. Clair lived hundreds of years ago, but now exists solely to protect the world he once called home. That's all he will tell Cara, the woman he must keep alive by remaining close to her. Very close. But Cara is determined to discover more answers as she grows to like her warrior. While they search for the book of spells and the cure contained within its pages, their feelings for one another can no longer be denied. But what will happen when Cara is cured and Quin's assignment is complete? And can she trust this mysterious man with the book if they find it? As friends and family from the previous Freak House novels help them, and old and new foes vie for power, Quin and Cara must not allow their feelings to get in the way of their task. Or Cara's life, and Quin's afterlife, may be cut short.What readers are saying about the Freak House books:"This is one of my favourite books I've read this year... I can't praise it enough... The real stand out for this was the writing and the character voice." - The Moonlight Library "The writing in The Wrong Girl was beautiful. There were so many quotes that I wanted to write down, and keep... The world building, and the plot drew me in from the get go, and didn't falter until the last sentence." - Books For A Delicate Eternity"This was one fantastic read! A really fascinating story which I couldn't put down, so this is easily a 5 stars." - Tea Party Princess KEYWORDS: historical fantasy, gothic, historical romance, historical paranormal romance, alternate history, gothic romance, shifters, clean paranormal, clean romance, young adult book, teen book, book appropriate for teens, bestselling series, slow burn romance, box set bargain

The Wisdom of Madness

The Wisdom of Madness

With Alice determined to discover the truth about her past, and Seth determined to help her, the couple find themselves sucked into a world where nothing is as it seems and no one can be trusted. On the run to escape a mad queen's wrath, and with an entire realm looking for them, tensions fray and friendships are tested. Even worse for Seth, shocking secrets he'd rather leave buried are brought to the surface. Joined on their adventure by an irritable Gus and a mysterious Eva, the four friends must learn the truth of Alice's past so she can forge her future. But a future with whom? And where? The MINISTRY OF CURIOSITIES series is complete:#1 The Last Necromancer#2 Her Majesty's Necromancer#3 Beyond The Grave#4 Grave Expectations#5 Ashes To Ashes#6 From The Ashes#7 Of Fate And Phantoms#8 Veiled In Moonlight#9 Vow Of Deception#10 The Wisdom Of Madness

Beyond The Grave

Beyond The Grave

At the request of Lady Harcourt, Charlie and Lincoln begin searching for her missing stepson. Still recovering from her ordeal at the hands of a diabolical villain, Charlie is supposed to be resting. But resting is dull, so she throws herself into the task at hand, much to Lincoln's frustration. The search leads them down a dark path littered with family secrets and titillating scandal. Using her necromancy to expose those secrets, Charlie unwittingly raises a spirit with the power to override her control. With a dead body on the loose in London, Charlie and Lincoln must work together to send it back before havoc is unleashed, and the committee members find out. Because if they do, they will have more ammunition in their fight to send Charlie away from her home and everyone she loves. Keywords: alternate history, paranormal romance, urban fantasy, victorian era, victorian historical romance, historical fantasy, ghost story, spririts, gothic, teen novel, young adult, fantasy romance, myths & legends, Frankenstein, steampunk

Grave Expectations

Grave Expectations

Charlie's life is perfect. She has everything her heart desires. Until it all goes horribly wrong.Charlie and Lincoln return to London to find two supernaturals have been murdered, and Charlie might be next. As if that wasn't bad enough, the man who adopted her has escaped from prison, and the committee members have just learned some news that infuriates them. Now there's talk of sending Charlie away again. Far away.But the worst is yet to come. Charlie is kidnapped and forced to summon one of the murder victims - but she's unable to send him back. With an angry dead supernatural on the loose and the committee determined to get rid of her, Charlie's time with the Ministry of Curiosities, and Lincoln, is in grave danger of coming to an end. 

The Wrong Girl

The Wrong Girl

 REVIEWS"This is one of my favourite books I've read this year... I can't praise it enough... The real stand out for this was the writing and the character voice." - The Moonlight Library "The writing in The Wrong Girl was beautiful. There were so many quotes that I wanted to write down, and keep... The world building, and the plot drew me in from the get go, and didn't falter until the last sentence." - Books For A Delicate Eternity "This was one fantastic read! A really fascinating story which I couldn't put down, so this is easily a 5 stars." - Tea Party PrincessBOOK DESCRIPTIONIt's customary for Gothic romance novels to include a mysterious girl locked in the attic. Hannah Smith just wishes she wasn't that girl. As a narcoleptic and the companion to an earl's daughter with a strange affliction of her own, Hannah knows she's lucky to have a roof over her head and food in her belly when so many orphans starve on the streets. Yet freedom is something Hannah longs for. She did not, however, want her freedom to arrive in the form of kidnapping.Taken by handsome Jack Langley to a place known as Freak House, she finds herself under the same roof as a mad scientist, his niece, a mute servant and Jack, a fire starter with a mysterious past. They assure Hannah she is not a prisoner and that they want to help her. The problem is, they think she's the earl's daughter. What will they do when they discover they took the wrong girl?THE WRONG GIRL is a historical gothic paranormal romance that is now FREE for your reading pleasure. It's also included in a 3-book bundle with the other books in the trilogy. You can purchase the complete set of The 1st Freak House Trilogy at a cheaper price than buying the ebooks individually.  Keywords: fantasy, urban fantasy, historical fantasy, fantasy series, speculative fiction, dark fantasy, paranormal, female protagonist, female main character, paranormal romance, historical romance, historical paranormal romance, action, adventure, ghosts, spirits, demons, magic, alternative history, parallel world, victorian romance, victorian era, victorian london, gothic, teen fiction, young adult, free, freebie, bestseller, bestselling, similar to books by Sarah J Maas, Cassandra Clare, Bella Forest's A Shade of Vampire, Maria V Snyder's Poison Study

The Memory Keeper

The Memory Keeper

**You don't need to have read the 1st Freak House series to enjoy this book. The 2nd Freak House Trilogy can stand on its own.**Charity Evans wants nothing more than to leave her troubled past behind and start afresh. The teacher at a London school for orphans is encouraged to have her memories blocked by hypnotist Samuel Gladstone, but when they experience visions with an unknown third person, they realize the past can never be truly erased. Now her past is returning to haunt Charity all over again. Samuel is determined to help her, but how can a woman who trusts no man trust a hypnotist? And what dark secrets changed the charming gentleman into a desperate one who'll do anything to keep those secrets buried?

The Last Necromancer

The Last Necromancer

REVIEWS:"C.J. Archer has expertly weaved fantasy, mystery and a dash of romance together to make the perfect story and I will be reading more by her in the future!" ★★★★★ Cosying Up With Books"Simply put: This book is pretty darn bad a$$. I highly recommend The Last Necromancer to all fans of fantasy, whether you think you like historical fiction or not." ★★★★★ My Book Addiction"I like to be kept on my toes, but this was more like on my toe nails! Without a doubt one of my new favorite reads of 2015" ★★★★★ Mama Reads Book Blog"An addictive read" ★★★★★ Hooked on Books"The Last Necromancer was simply fantastic." ★★★★★ Book and Coffee Addict"Expertly depicted and well-paced, The Last Necromancer is a stunning novel by C.J. Archer that sweeps readers into a passionate new world" ★★★★★ The Rest Is Still UnwrittenDESCRIPTION:Victorian London: For five years, Charlotte (Charlie) Holloway has lived as a boy in the slums. But when one theft too many gets her arrested, her only means of escape lies with a dead man. Charlie hasn't raised a spirit since she first discovered she could do so five years ago. That time, her father banished her. This time, she brings even more trouble upon herself.People are now hunting Charlie all over London, but only one man succeeds in capturing her.Lincoln Fitzroy is the mysterious head of a secret organization on the trail of a madman who needs a necromancer to control his newly "made" creatures. There was only one known necromancer in the world - Charlotte - but now there appears to be two. Lincoln captures the willful Charlie in the hopes the boy will lead him to Charlotte. But what happens when he discovers the boy is in fact the young woman he's been searching for all along? And will she agree to work for the man who held her against her will, and for an organization she doesn't trust?Because Lincoln and his ministry might be just as dangerous as the madman they're hunting. AUTHOR'S NOTE: If you like some or all of the following then you'll enjoy THE LAST NECROMANCER: plot twists, waifs, assassins, secret societies, supernatural or paranormal fantasies with romantic elements, feisty heroines, cold-hearted heroes who melt, a slow-burn romance, ghost stories, a dash of humor, mysteries, history, quirky secondary characters, strong female characters, dissident noblemen, Victorian London.Keywords: alternate history, paranormal romance, urban fantasy, victorian era, victorian historical romance, historical fantasy, ghost story, spririts, gothic, teen novel, young adult, fantasy romance, myths & legends, Frankenstein, steampunk, speculative fiction, dark fantasy, paranormal, female protagonist, female main character, historical romance, historical paranormal romance, ghosts, spirits, demons, victorian era, victorian london, teen fiction, cheap book, free fantasy, free historical fantasy, free fantasy book, bestseller, bestselling, slow burn romance, alpha hero, similar to books by Sarah J Maas, Cassandra Clare, Bella Forest's A Shade of Vampire, Maria V Snyder's Poison Study