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