Our Books - Age Appropriateness
Our goal is to always publish books that are appropriate for teenagers on up. This page details the genres and styles of our adult books so parents, teachers, guardians, librarians, and anyone else can make educated choices for their young readers.
Be sure to visit our Young Readers Bookstore for books specifically for kids!
Short horror stories that reflect the finest of dark speculative horror that is both nostalgic and contemporary and have true terror to them that keeps the reader on edge.
Adult themes and situations.
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Similar to: M.R. James, Shirley Jackson, Brian Lumley, Ramsey Campbell.
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Appropriate for teenagers.
The Art of
Ghost Writing
by
Alistair Rey
Dark horror story collection
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Satanic cults, witches, aliens, pagan gods, ancient monsters, serial killers, and global conspiracies make each of these thrilling and intriguing short stories real page-turners with a classic pulp style.
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Similar to: Ray Bradbury, Edgar Rice Burroughs, Robert E. Howard, .Robert Heinlein.
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Appropriate for teenagers.
The Brotherhood of
Secret Darkness
and Other Cults,
Cabals, and Conspiracies
by
Jason J. McCuiston
Classic conspiracies, new cabals, and strange cults.
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Epic fantasy adventure.
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In a land where telling stories dictates the world around them, an old man who has the gift to be able to tell such tales must gather a fellowship to stop the Fallen Lord and save the Storied Lands.
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Similar to: J.R.R. Tolkien, David Eddings, Robert Jordan, Mercedes Lackey.
Appropriate for ages 11 and up.
The Keeper of Tales
by
Jonathon Mast
Epic fantasy adventure
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Are you ready to become part of the cycle?
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Short horror stories that imply that the nightmare doesn't end when you wake up, that these terrors will continue long after you go to sleep. Some adult themes and situations.
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Similar to: Stephen King, Dean Koontz's early work, Peter Straub.
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Appropriate for teenagers.
The Nightmare Cycle
by
Lawrence Dagstine
Nightmare-style
horror story collection
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Worldwide horror
based on dark locales
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Horror short stories that focus on various locations across the world, from haunted houses to haunted lands, spanning various time periods and subjects.
Similar to: Ray Bradbury, Stephen King, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Dean Koontz.
Appropriate for teenagers.
Of Dark Places
by
Gustavo Bondoni
Worldwide horror stories
focusing on dark locales
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Sci-fi alien conspiracy action adventure
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Based on a real UFO incident in 1947, four elite WWII veterans are sent to investigate. They find much more is involved than just a potential chance encounter with aliens.
Similar to: The X-Files, detective and sci-fi pulp stories of the 30s and 40s.
Appropriate for teenagers.
Project Notebook
by
Jason J. McCuiston
Sci-fi alien conspiracy action adventure
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Weird western anthology.​
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Genre fiction stories that take place in the North American Old West. Includes sci-fi, horror, thriller, fantasy, and mystery stories, all in the background of the Wild West.
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Similar to: Ray Bradbury, Stephen King, Dean R. Koontz, Richard Matheson.
Appropriate for teenagers.
Something Wicked This Way Rides
by
various authors
Weird western anthology
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Horror and terror within a dark mass of short stories.
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Strangely mystical and shockingly uncomfortable stories that will terrify and horrify, but also make the reader think. Includes diverse characters with common sense morals; an examination of humanity.
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Similar to: Stephen King, Dean Koontz's early works, Harlan Ellison, Ray Bradbury.
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Appropriate for teenagers.
The Tension of a Coming Storm
by
Adrian Ludens
Horror and terror story collection
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Horror western
story collection
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When Carter returns to Scar Ridge, Arizona and discovers it has disappeared, we begin to learn the horrors and terrors that exist within the town. Each story is intertwined to come to a very dark conclusion.
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Similar to: M.R. James, Richard Matheson, Ramsey Campbell
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Appropriate for teenagers.
Welcome to
Scar Ridge
by
Jonathon Mast
Horror western
story collection
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Short weird horror stories that combine familiar horrors with self-reflection and dark realizations. Sometimes terrifying, sometimes comedic, always strange and mysterious.
Adult themes and situations.
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Similar to: Robert W. Chambers, John Carpenter, Ramsey Campbell.
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Appropriate for teenagers.
Bad Dreams and Reflections
by
Trevor Kennedy
Weird horror story collection
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Gothic historical fiction.
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Two novels and a short story collection that are tied to the town of Ste. Odile, the characters connected by harrowing events and frightful circumstances. Deals with medial anomalies and tragic historical events of the late 1880s into the 1920s.
Similar to: Edgar Allan Poe, M.R. James, Mary Shelley, Shirley Jackson.
Appropriate for teenagers.
The Gothic Stories of Ste. Odile
imagined and written by
John S. McFarland
Gothic historical fiction
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Sci-fi pulp adventure.
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The adventures of the Last Star Warden and his trusted friend Quantum are chronicled in classic sci-fi stories reminiscent of the days of dime-store pulp fiction.
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Similar to: Sci-fi pulp from the 50s, but with modern sensibilities.
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Appropriate for ages 12 and up.
The Last Star Warden Series
written and illustrated by
Jason S. McFarland
Sci-fi pulp adventure
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Genre fiction collection.
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A collection of stories in the sci-fi, fantasy, horror, thriller, and speculative fiction genres exploring various themes concerning life, death, and the struggles between.
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Similar to: Shirley Jackson, Ursula K. Le Guin, Octavia E. Butler.
Appropriate for teenagers.
No Lesser Angels,
No Greater Devils
by
Laura J. Campbell
Genre fiction story collection
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Further stories of dark imaginings.
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Our second collection of short stories from Matias come from all areas of the world and examine horrors across time. Some stories feel like myths or legends, and all have beautiful prose that induces terror.
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Similar to: M.R. James, T.E.D. Klein, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Ambrose Bierce.
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Appropriate for teenagers.
The Potion and
Other Perilous Libation
by
Matias Travieso-Diaz
A second dark and worldwide horror collection from Matias
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Stories of dark imaginings.
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An ominous collection of short stories that examine settings from around the world and characters who have deep seated problems and fears. Some stories feel like myths or legends, and all have beautiful prose that induces terror.
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Similar to: M.R. James, T.E.D. Klein, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Ambrose Bierce.
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Appropriate for teenagers.
The Satchel
and Other Terrors
by
Matias Travieso-Diaz
Dark and worldwide horror story collection
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Sci-fi dinosaur
action adventure
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New Pangea is a world where humans are the invasive species! Carnivore Keepers and the varied stories are classic sci-fi pulp combined with family values, strong morals, and the ever-present struggle of learning to live with dinosaurs!
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Similar to: Michael Crichton, H.G. Wells, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Edgar Rice Burroughs
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Appropriate for teenagers
and savvy younger readers.
Tales from
New Pangea
by
Kevin M. Folliard
Sci-fi dinosaur
action adventure
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Classic Sword and Sorcery with violence and gore.
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Written as part of the Hyborian Age, the main novella is about a violent Barbarian vampire avenging his clan against a horrific reptilian tribe. Also includes 12 vampire short stories. Adult situations abound.
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Similar to: Robert E. Howard, Edgar Rice Burroughs,
Brian Lumley, and 70s and 80s pulp horror paperbacks.
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Appropriate for 16-year-old teenagers and up.
Vanther the Vanquisher: Bloodquest
by
Scott Harper
Sword and Sorcery
with pulp-style battles
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Gritty, grindhouse​
sci-fi thriller
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A super soldier alien crash lands on earth and is tracked by the military. She teams up with a man on the run from the Dixie Mafia, and they work together to keep their pursuers at bay, leaving carnage and chaos in their wake.
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Similar to: Quentin Tarantino, Robert Rodriguez, Garth Ennis
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Appropriate for teenagers.
