Book Spotlight: The Joining: Scenes of Wedding Terror

Today's book spotlight is the anthology The Joining: Scenes of Wedding Terror edited by Jacob Steven Mohr.

The Joining: Scenes of Wedding Terror

Deadly Beloved, we are gathered here today for The Joining, a horror anthology like nothing you’ve ever read before.

 

Weddings are beautiful, terrible things. And in this chilling anthology from editor Jacob Steven Mohr (Dead Letters: Episodes of Epistolary Horror), you’ll see the happiest day of your life from both sides of the aisle... and the grave.

 

Undead bridesmaids feed on more than layer cake. Engagement parties spiral into blood-soaked horror and madness. Guests at a wedding feast must play a sinister Skin Game—for their lives.

 

Seventeen stories from horror’s rising stars deliver tension, gore and twisted romance, making this anthology perfect for fans of wedding horror. From the crackle of white lace to the blinding flash of the camera, no ceremony is safe in The Joining... and no guest can be trusted. 

 

Curated with precision by Jacob Steven Mohr, The Joining confidently earns its seat at the feast of must-read horror anthologies.

 

Perfect Union by T.L. Bodine

Severed Blessings by J.A.W. McCarthy

Cut-a-Skin, Outside-In by Jes Malitoris

Of Vows Bone-Deep & Sacrosanct by Jonathan Louis Duckworth

Bride of the Black Isle by Jack Lothian

Another Dirt Wedding by Donn L. Hess

The False Bride by Rebecca Lyons

Speak Now Or— by Gordon B. White

—Forever Hold Your Peace by Steve Neal

Same Barn, Same Groom by Corey Farrenkopf

Ermintrude by Amelia Mangan

Polodski’s Bride by Simon Bestwick

Other People by Scott J. Moses

Starving Stones, Speaking Stones by Joe Koch

The Dead Do Not Want by J.R. Harlow

Samanthas by Jacob Steven Mohr

The Better Man by Michael Harris Cohen

Perfect for fans of wedding horror, supernatural thrillers, and dark suspense, The Joining delivers stories full of tension, gore, and twisted romance. From the crackle of white lace to the flash of the camera, no ceremony is safe—and no guest can be trusted.

Book Link: https://geni.us/TheJoining

About the Editor

Jacob Steven Mohr does not believe in human consciousness; his works emerge as though from the ether, fully formed and fully ominous. Selections of these can be observed in Cosmic Horror Monthly, Shortwave Magazine, Chthonic Matter Quarterly, Weird Horror Magazine, and The Best Horror of the Year Vol. 15. He exists in Columbus OH.

Instagram: @jacobstevenmohr

Book Spotlight: Bloodlines

Today's book spotlight is for the epic fantasy, Bloodlines by Rafael Canoa. Enjoy. 

Bloodlines by Rafael Canoa

In a world forged by gods and divided by blood, three strangers are bound by a destiny older than time itself.

 

After the tragic loss of his parents, young orphan Flynn begins to suspect he played a horrifying role in their deaths. When his search for truth sets off a chain of mysterious events, he uncovers a revelation that will change his understanding of life—and of himself—forever.

 

Across the sea, the warrior Vurax is captured by raiders and sold into slavery in a brutal foreign land. Struggling to survive, he’s forced to confront a violent heritage that may grant him freedom—but at a price far darker than death.

 

Meanwhile, Ellianna, the sole survivor of a plague-stricken village, is haunted by dreams of a mysterious stranger. With the aid of her mentor, her grandfather, and a charming young thief by her side, she sets out to uncover the meaning behind her visions—and the ancient power that stirs within her veins.

 

Their paths fated to intertwine, these unlikely heroes are drawn toward a coming war between gods and mortals, where faith, betrayal, and destiny collide. Together, they must face the truth of their Bloodlines—and the divine power that unites them could either save their world… or end it.

Perfect for fans of The Lord of the Rings, Dragonlance, and The Belgariad, Bloodlines is an epic high-fantasy saga filled with magic, mystery, dark destiny, and the enduring power of friendship.

Book Link: https://geni.us/Bloodlines

About the Author

 

I was born in Portugal but moved to Canada in the early ‘80s as a teenager. After leaving high school and a brief and directionless foray into the world of computer information systems in college, I finally focused my studies on the English language at Simon Fraser University. Because reading books and living in the clouds doesn’t pay the bills, I ended up spending a couple of decades working in the hospitality industry. When that got old (as did I), it was time to go back to my first love—the written word. Going back to school in your midlife is no joke, but after getting my certification as an editor and working as a freelance contractor for a time, I concluded that as much as I enjoy editing, writing is my true calling. Now, with the support of my wife, I finally have the time to put pen to paper and see what I can do.

From an early age, I was always fascinated with science fiction, growing up watching Star Trek and Star Wars, and dreaming of discovering and visiting new worlds. Everything changed one day as a 15-year-old when I picked up a little book titled The Hobbit. Instantly captivated by this mysterious world of wizards, dragons, and magic rings, I was quickly drawn into the wider realm of Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings, and the fantasy genre became my newest and greatest passion. Like many teens with the same interests, I began to play Dungeons & Dragons, and it wasn’t long before I began to not only expand upon published adventures and settings, but to write and develop my own. From these early scribblings and chaotic notes, a new realm was born from my imagination—one that was very much like the ones I’d dreamed of exploring as a child. The final and natural step was to compile these stories into my first series of novels, beginning with Bloodlines. Welcome to the world of Akar—I hope you enjoy the journey as much as I’ve enjoyed writing it!

Book Spotlight: Humbug

Today's book spotlight is for Humbug by Luciano Marano. Enjoy.

Humbug by Luciano Marano

From award-winning author Luciano Marano comes Humbug—a gruesome, noir-infused reimagining of A Christmas Carol that blends supernatural horror, crime thriller, and psychological suspense into one unforgettable holiday nightmare.

A terrifying new take on the most famous ghost story of all time.

 

In modern-day Seattle, Detective Stuart (Scrooge) Caine is a jaded homicide cop on the edge of burnout. Every Christmas brings another murder, but this year’s case is different. A brilliant psychopath—dubbed “Humbug” by the press—has made a tradition of killing an entire family every December 25th. With the investigation going cold and his career slipping away, Scrooge receives a visitation on Christmas Eve that shatters his skepticism: the ghost of his former partner, Marley, and three monstrous spirits—manifestations of history’s most notorious unsolved killers: Jack the Ripper, Zodiac, and The Cleveland Torso Murderer.

 

As the line between nightmare and reality blurs, Scrooge is forced to confront his past, his sins, and the darkness waiting for him on Christmas morning.

 

Sometimes, the ghosts of Christmas past don’t come to save you…they come to collect.

Humbug is a chilling holiday horror novella—a macabre fusion of ghost story, police procedural, and psychological redemption tale—perfect for fans of A Christmas Ghost Story, Candy Cain Kills, and Hark! The Herald Angels Scream.

 

Book Link: https://getbook.at/Humbug

“Luciano Marano extracts the DNA of Dickens’s classic tale and rewires it for his own gonzo spin on the noir detective story."—Matthew Mercier, author of Poe & I

About the Author

Luciano Marano is an award-winning writer, journalist, and photographer. He is the author of the werewolf novella trilogy The Ambush Moon Cycle (Raven Tale Publishing) and numerous works of short fiction appearing in anthologies such as Year’s Best Hardcore Horror and The Best New Weird Horror, among others, as well as Nightscript, PseudoPod, Chthonic Matter Quarterly, and Chilling Tales for Dark Nights. His written and photographic reporting has earned a number of industry accolades, and he was twice named a Feature Writer of the Year by the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association. A U.S. Navy veteran originally from rural western Pennsylvania, he now resides near with his wife. 

Book Spotlight: The Night Crew II: Bloodlust

 

Today's book spotlight is for The Night Crew II: Bloodlust by Brad Ricks. Enjoy.

The Night Crew II: Bloodlust by Brad Ricks

The hunt never ends—especially when the prey hunts back. 

The Night Crew thought they’d seen it all—werewolves, vampires, and things too monstrous to name. But after barely surviving their last mission, they’re about to face something far more dangerous: a supernatural killer with an insatiable thirst for blood and a plan to unleash chaos on New Orleans. 

For Michael and the team, the city’s neon glow hides shadows that writhe with ancient hunger. Every lead drags them deeper into a twisted web of murder, betrayal, and forbidden magic. And this time, the enemy isn’t hiding in the dark—they’re walking boldly among the living, leaving a trail of corpses in their wake. 

But the Night Crew isn’t just fighting to stop the bloodshed. They’re battling their own demons—haunting memories, deadly secrets, and the creeping fear that not all monsters are born. Some are made.

Book Link: https://getbook.at/NightCrew2

About the Author

Brad Ricks is an author of supernatural horror and thrillers, blending dark settings, paranormal terror, and psychological suspense.

His novels blur the line between psychological horror and terrifying thrillers. His NIGHT CREW SERIES delves deep into the shadows of the supernatural.

Inspired by masters like Edgar Allan Poe and Stephen King, Brad crafts stories that haunt readers long after the final page.

He lives in Central Texas with his wife and children, balancing his day job with late-night horror storytelling.

Website: https://www.bradricks.com

Book Spotlight: One-Shot

 Today's book spotlight is One-Shot by Jacy Morris from Torrid Waters. 

One-Shot by Jacy Morris

In One-Shot, Jacy Morris crafts a haunting tapestry of Native American heritage and cosmic horror. 

 

One-Shot, an Indigenous naturopathic insemination expert, is teetering on the brink of sanity. His life takes a sudden turn when he's tasked with transporting his grandfather's ashes from Pittsburgh, PA, to their ancestral reservation.

 

As he embarks on this cross-country odyssey, the scars of past traumas reawaken. The highways become a surreal landscape, where spectral figures from Native folklore and twisted horrors of a Lovecraftian nature emerge. These apparitions are not just hauntings but reflections of a fracturing mind, struggling to discern reality from nightmare.

 

With his grandfather's ashes as his solemn companion, One-Shot confronts these terrors, each mile bringing him closer to a harrowing truth. This journey is more than a physical traverse—it's a pilgrimage through the fragmented realms of memory, heritage, and fear.

 

What lies at the reservation is more than the end of a journey—it's the precipice of insanity.

Book Link:  https://getbook.at/One-Shot

About the Author:

Jacy Morris is an Indigenous author. He is a registered member of the Confederated Tribes of Siletz. At the age of ten he was transplanted to Portland, Oregon, where he developed a love for punk rock and horror movies, both of which tend to find their way into his writing. He has written several novels, including the "This Rotten World" series and the "One Night Stand at the End of the World" series. His latest novel, We Like It Cherry was published August 2025 by Tenebrous Press. His next work will be the novel One-Shot from Torrid Waters (November 2025).

Website: Jacymorris.com

Book Spotlight: Lilitu: Bloody Caleb

Today I have a spotlight on the new release, Lilitu: Bloody Caleb by Jonathan Fortin, a gothic horror novel. Enjoy.

Lilitu: Bloody Caleb

Dante’s Inferno meets The Count of Monte Cristo in Lilitu: Bloody Caleb, the newcomer-friendly second volume in a Gothic Dark Fantasy saga of revenge, seduction, and the horrors of Hell.

22-year-old Caleb Schwartzenfeld is a vagrant violinist, struggling to survive the fog-choked streets of Victorian England. But when his search for a patron leads him into the clutches of a sinister cult, he is brutally sacrificed—and awakens in Hell, a nightmarish realm filled with demons who delight in torturing damned souls like him.

Refusing to let eternal agony break him, Caleb vows to escape from Hell, reunite with the woman he loves, and exact revenge on those who murdered him—even if it means becoming a demon himself. But as he becomes seduced into the twisted pleasures and deadly politics of Hell’s elite, Caleb must decide whether reclaiming his life is worth risking his soul.

Book Link: https://getbook.at/Lilitu2

Series link: https://geni.us/LilituSaga

About the Author

Jonathan Fortin is a neurodivergent author and voice actor from Oakland, California, whose dark fiction has been published by such presses as Crystal Lake Publishing, Dark Recesses Press, Mocha Memoirs Press, and Siren’s Call magazine. In 2017 he won the Next Great Horror Writer competition from HorrorAddicts.net. He is an affiliate member of the Horror Writers Association, a graduate of the Clarion Writing Workshop, and a summa cum laude graduate of San Francisco State University’s Creative Writing program. When not writing, Jonathan enjoys wearing Victorian gothic attire, growling along to black metal, and exploring all things odd and macabre in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Website: https://www.jonathanfortin.com/

Book Spotlight: The Exorcist’s House: Resurrection

 A new book spotlight today for The Exorcist’s House: Resurrection by Nick Roberts.

The Exorcist’s House: Resurrection

The final chapter of The Exorcist's House trilogy brings an unrelenting battle against evil—where a mother’s love is tested by the darkest forces imaginable.

Christmas Eve,1999: A brutal tragedy occurs during Midnight Mass at the newly built church on Sunny Branch Way. Nora Hill, a woman still haunted by her past, suspects this isn’t just a random act of violence, but the omen she’s been dreading. As shocking visions continue to plague her, Nora is determined to protect her daughter, Maren, and bring some semblance of peace to their fractured lives, hoping to find her own happiness again. But no matter how far they run or how much time passes, it becomes clear that some demons refuse to let go.

In The Exorcist’s House: Resurrection, the unsettling story of Nora and Maren spans thirteen years, told through five pivotal moments in Maren’s life. And as the darkness slowly encroaches, Nora realizes the terrifying truth: to save her daughter’s soul, she must return to the sinister place where it all began, one last time. But some houses refuse to Fall…

Ideal for readers who enjoy dark horror, psychological suspense, emotionally complex characters, and chilling supernatural mysteries, this book will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very last page.

Book Link: https://getbook.at/THResurrection

About the Author

Nick Roberts is a native West Virginian and a doctoral graduate of Marshall University. He is an active member of the Horror Writers Association and the Horror Authors Guild. His works include Anathema, The Exorcist's House, It Haunts the Mind and Other Stories, Mean Spirited, and others. He currently resides in South Carolina with his family and is an advocate for people in recovery from substance use disorder.

Website: www.nickrobertsauthor.com

Book Spotlight: The Great Dick and the Dysfunctional Demon

A new book spotlight today for The Great Dick and the Dysfunctional Demon by Barry Maher. Enjoy.

The Great Dick and the Dysfunctional Demon by Barry Maher.

A wickedly funny dark humor horror novel that blends supernatural horror with a thrilling murder mystery.

 

“What a page turner! Witty, literate, scary, sexy, and powerfully evocative.”—Gayle Lynds, New York Times bestselling author

 

It’s 1982. Steve Witowski, a failed songwriter on the run from the law, finds himself caught in a supernatural thriller after an apparently innocent act of heroism—saving a woman from a vicious assault by a seemingly unstoppable wino. The woman, Victoria, is just part of a mystery Steve can’t unravel. Even as he’s looting the decomposing dead for the secrets of a self-proclaimed sorcerer. Even as he plummets into a nightmare of fire and blood and murder. Even then, Steve remains certain the sorcerer’s spells, the occult rituals—the supposed demons and supernatural horror—are simply delusion and fantasy. Steve is wrong.

 

Victoria, who has just bought a dilapidated church with a haunting past, entangles Steve in a deadly game of dark magic and rituals. As, unknown to him, the demon grows desperate, Steve plunges deeper into a world of crypts, grave robbing, and long-forgotten secrets, all while trying to escape his own haunted past. But when the face of the man Steve killed appears on his arm, the line between reality and nightmare begins to blur.

Book Link: https://geni.us/TheGreatDick

About the Author

Barry Maher is a product of four years at the University of Notre Dame, an hour and a half at the Graduate Journalism Program at U.C. Berkeley, and five befuddled weeks at Burger King’s Whopper College. In his misspent youth, his non-fiction appeared in perhaps a hundred different publications and, in order to eat, he held nearly that many different jobs. Sometimes he lived on the beach. Not in a house on the beach. On the beach. With the sand and the seagulls. 

 

After a sentence with a Fortune 100 company, he started speaking professionally. He told stories to audiences across the country and around the world: his client list a Who’s Who of multi-national corporations and large associations. Eventually, that led to the Slightly Off-Kilter syndicated newspaper column.

 

You may have seen Barry on The Today Show, CNN or CNBC and he’s been featured in publications ranging from The New York Times, USA Today and The Wall Street Journal to, his persona favorite, Funeral Service Insider.

 

On the downside, Barry’s also been incarcerated twice. Once for not making a left hand turn out of a left hand turn lane, and once for aiding and abetting a loiterer. He’s deeply repentant.

Website: www.barrymaher.com

Book Spotlight: Kali’s Web

A new book spotlight today for Kali’s Web by Mark Matthews. Enjoy.

Kali’s Web by Mark Matthews

Kali's Web is a supernatural horror novel that delves into the darkest corners of addiction and the terrifying psychological effects it leaves behind.

Kaliana Cook, a heroin addict haunted by a traumatic past, is desperate to reunite with her child after being paroled. But what begins as a chance at freedom soon turns into a horrific nightmare. After making a daring escape, Kali finds herself trapped in a sinister web, pursued not only by a relentless parole agent but also by a monstrous presence she unwittingly unleashed.

This eerie entity, a grotesque fusion of nightmare spiders and a seemingly innocent child, embodies the horrors of addiction and the twisted distortions of the mind plagued by heroin. As Kali’s journey unravels, she discovers that escape isn’t just about outrunning physical pursuers. It’s about confronting the haunting specters of her past and the supernatural horrors they manifest.

Will Kali escape the grip of the terrifying web she’s tangled in, or will the darkness consume her?

Kali’s Web is a gripping supernatural thriller with an unsettling blend of psychological horror, bizarre creatures, and the raw desperation of addiction. Fans of Cronenbergian horror, surreal suspense, and folk horror will find themselves immersed in this twisted, nightmarish journey.

Book Link: https://geni.us/KalisWeb

About the Author:

Mark Matthews is a Shirley Jackson Award finalist and author On the Lips of Children, All Smoke Rises, Milk-Blood, and The Hobgoblin of Little Minds. His most recent novel, To Those Willing to Drown, was just released in March of 2025 to acclaimed reviews. Matthews is the editor of three 'addiction horror' anthologies including Orphans of Bliss, Lullabies for Suffering and Garden of Fiends. He is a graduate of the University of Michigan and a licensed professional counselor who has worked in behavioral health for over 25 years.

Website: WickedRunPress.com

Kali's Web Interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iS3-8iVXm-E

Book Spotlight: What Remains

 

A new book spotlight today for What Remains by Corey Niles. Enjoy.

What Remains by Corey Niles

In a world on the brink of collapse, the White, an ominous force of undulating clouds, sweeps across the northern United States, leaving nothing in its wake. As food runs out and supplies become scarce, extremist religious groups seize control, plunging society into chaos and anarchy.
In this devastating new reality, Alexander and Sebastian—ex-boyfriends fleeing from their painful past—embark on a perilous journey south, hoping to escape the White's deadly path. With their only hope of survival tied to reaching the equator, they are pushed to their limits, both physically and emotionally. 
As they battle against the encroaching end of the world, they must also contend with their fractured relationship. What is the true cost of survival when everything they’ve known is collapsing? With danger lurking at every turn, the pair faces a fight for their lives—against not only the White but the demons within themselves.
What Remains is a gripping post-apocalyptic survival story, blending horror, heartache, and hope. In a world where society is on the brink of extinction, Alexander and Sebastian must decide what it truly means to survive.

Book Link: https://geni.us/WhatRemainsC

About the Author:

Corey Niles was born and raised in the Rust Belt. A graduate of Seton Hill’s MFA program, he has published over thirty works of short fiction and poetry, appearing in Nightmare Magazine, Space and Time Magazine, and The Horror Zine. 
 
He is the author of Blood & Dirt, a novel, and Death & Other Forms of Devotion, a poetry collection. He lives in North Carolina with his partner, Sean, and a sizable army of cats and dogs.

Website: coreyniles.com

Book Spotlight: Dead Scalp

 A new book spotlight today for Dead Scalp by Jasper Bark.

Dead Scalp by Jasper Bark

The West just got a whole lot weirder!

 

Legend has it, when you’re down on your luck.

When the law is on your tail and there’s nowhere left to run.

There’s one last place to hide…

Dead Scalp.

 

You won’t find Dead Scalp on any map. It’s not at the end of any trail. And your only way in is hard cash and dark magic. But if you’re willing to risk everything you might just make it. And if you make it, you might just live forever!

 

Outlaw James Briggs has nothing left to lose. Through a desperate gamble, he bluffs his way into Dead Scalp and onto the payroll of Big Bill Baldwin the boss of the whole violent burg. But something sinister stalks the bloody streets, something in search of retribution. A terror that defies belief and crushes what little faith James has left in humanity.

Book Link: https://getbook.at/DeadScalp

About the Author:

Multiple award-winning author Jasper Bark is infectious—and there’s no known cure. If you’re reading this you’re already contaminated. The symptoms will manifest any time soon. There’s nothing you can do about it. There’s no itching or unfortunate rashes, but you’ll become obsessed with his mind-bending books, from the acclaimed Draw You In trilogy and the ground-breaking Bark Bites Horror series, to graphic novels like Bloodfellas and Beyond Lovecraft.

Then you’ll want to tell everyone else about his visionary horror, about its originality, its wild imagination and how it takes you to the edge of your sanity. Don’t fight the urge, embrace it.

Get bitten by the Bark bug and love it!

Website: www.jasperbark.com

Book Spotlight: Murder in the Monashee Mountains

Another book spotlight today for Murder in the Monashee Mountains by JP Behrens, the second book in the Travis Daniels Investigation series. Enjoy.

Murder in the Monashee Mountains

After barely escaping the haunted streets of Arkham and Miskatonic University, Travis Daniels is on the run with his ward, Leslie Owens. Seeking refuge in the remote woods of Monashee Mountain, their lives take another dark turn when they witness a brutal, savage murder. Now, they’re thrust into a web of deceit, danger, and old grudges as they are drawn into a conflict between warring factions in the small town of Tonasket.

Travis must navigate the escalating tension between the town’s residents, the Native American tribes, and the ancient, shadowy creatures that dwell in the wilderness. The clock is ticking as dangerous rivalries between Sasquatch and werewolves threaten to erupt, and the local logging operations are sabotaged by forces more sinister than anyone can imagine.

As Travis works to uncover the truth behind the murder, he must decide who he can trust before it’s too late. With danger closing in, only one thing is certain: the truth will come at a cost.

Book Link: https://getbook.at/MonasheeMountains

About the Author

JP Behrens is the author of Portrait of a Nuclear Family, We Don’t Talk Anymore and Other Dark Fictions, and The Travis Daniels Investigations series. A graduate of the Yale Writers’ Workshop, he spend his days writing, reading, and practicing Kung Fu. In his spare time he builds Legos, hang out with his family, and occasionally gets some sleep.

Website: JPBehrensauthor.com