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Stories from Riverbrook Inn: Six Tales from Hailgalad
Greetings, traveler. Pull up a chair and grab an ale. The stories are just beginning!
On the edge of the capital of Hailgalad, the Riverbrook Inn offers more than just a warm bed for the night. It is a sanctuary where adventurers, mercenaries, and mages gather by the hearth to share the chilling truths of a dangerous world.
Step into the shoes of a patron at the inn and listen as six gripping tales come to life:
- A desperate escape from a goblin cult’s sacrificial pit.
- A band of monster hunters on a perilous mission.
- A lone caretaker standing against a dark necromancer.
- The tragic final stand of the lost Army of Gold.
In Stories from Riverbrook Inn, Harrison DeVries weaves a rich tapestry of fantasy and suspense. Whether you're facing down a killer on Krell Street or singing tavern songs with new friends, you’ll find that in the world of Hailgalad, every road leads to adventure.
Grab your copy today and join this new fantastical world!
On the edge of the capital of Hailgalad, the Riverbrook Inn offers more than just a warm bed for the night. It is a sanctuary where adventurers, mercenaries, and mages gather by the hearth to share the chilling truths of a dangerous world.
Step into the shoes of a patron at the inn and listen as six gripping tales come to life:
- A desperate escape from a goblin cult’s sacrificial pit.
- A band of monster hunters on a perilous mission.
- A lone caretaker standing against a dark necromancer.
- The tragic final stand of the lost Army of Gold.
In Stories from Riverbrook Inn, Harrison DeVries weaves a rich tapestry of fantasy and suspense. Whether you're facing down a killer on Krell Street or singing tavern songs with new friends, you’ll find that in the world of Hailgalad, every road leads to adventure.
Grab your copy today and join this new fantastical world!
138 pages, Paperback
Published August 26, 2025
2 people want to read
About the author
Harrison DeVries
1 book3 followersHarrison DeVries is the creator of Hailgalad, a sprawling new fantasy universe filled with epic adventures, harrowing tales, and cozy taverns. Since 2021, Harrison has been crafting novels and the history of this land. His debut collection, Stories from Riverbrook Inn, brings this world to life through the eyes of those who sit by its the inn’s hearth.
When he isn’t documenting the legends of Hailgalad, Harrison spends his time in Southern California with his wife, Lauren, and their adventurous dog, Kona. A graduate of Marquette University (BA in Political Science) and American University (MA in Education Policy), Harrison uses his background in history and policy to add depth and realism to the kingdoms he builds.
Learn more about this world at harrisondevrieswriting.com.
When he isn’t documenting the legends of Hailgalad, Harrison spends his time in Southern California with his wife, Lauren, and their adventurous dog, Kona. A graduate of Marquette University (BA in Political Science) and American University (MA in Education Policy), Harrison uses his background in history and policy to add depth and realism to the kingdoms he builds.
Learn more about this world at harrisondevrieswriting.com.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
December 17, 2025
The first page or so is written quite lyrically and it is very atmospheric when the character is making their way through the dark to the Inn. I liked the idea of sitting around a roaring fire with mugs of ale and different characters telling different dark stories. I did enjoy the short stories themselves although I do think they could have each been a little longer and made a little bit darker.
What I did feel was jarring was the switch to second person in between the short stories for what "you" are feeling about each story while sat in the Inn experiencing it.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
What I did feel was jarring was the switch to second person in between the short stories for what "you" are feeling about each story while sat in the Inn experiencing it.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
November 7, 2025
Book Review: Stories From Riverbrook Inn, by Harrison DeVries
Stories From Riverbrook Inn by Harrison DeVries gathers six fantasy horror stories framed by a simple but intriguing premise: a group of patrons at a quiet inn share strange and unsettling tales over pints. Between each story, short first-person bridge passages introduce the next tale, giving the book a loose sense of continuity even though the stories themselves stand alone.
DeVries writes with clear skill and care. His prose is elegant and confident, and his ideas show real creativity. Each story offers its own twist of fantasy or horror, and the variety moves the collection at a good pace. Unexpected twists keep readers on their toes.
However, the book doesn’t always deliver the depth its premise promises. The world-building, creative imagery, and character development feel a bit thin, at times, without the context of the fantasy world he has built in other writings. This disconnect may render the stories harder to connect with for those not familiar with his other work.
The first-person bridges, while an interesting framing choice, can feel disjointed without a stronger sense of who is speaking or why.
Still, Stories From Riverbrook Inn is an imaginative and nicely written collection with a creative structure and flashes of originality. It's an enjoyable read for those who appreciate short fantasy fiction that experiments with form and mood.
Verdict: A well-written and inventive collection of fantasy horror tales that shows promise.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Stories From Riverbrook Inn by Harrison DeVries gathers six fantasy horror stories framed by a simple but intriguing premise: a group of patrons at a quiet inn share strange and unsettling tales over pints. Between each story, short first-person bridge passages introduce the next tale, giving the book a loose sense of continuity even though the stories themselves stand alone.
DeVries writes with clear skill and care. His prose is elegant and confident, and his ideas show real creativity. Each story offers its own twist of fantasy or horror, and the variety moves the collection at a good pace. Unexpected twists keep readers on their toes.
However, the book doesn’t always deliver the depth its premise promises. The world-building, creative imagery, and character development feel a bit thin, at times, without the context of the fantasy world he has built in other writings. This disconnect may render the stories harder to connect with for those not familiar with his other work.
The first-person bridges, while an interesting framing choice, can feel disjointed without a stronger sense of who is speaking or why.
Still, Stories From Riverbrook Inn is an imaginative and nicely written collection with a creative structure and flashes of originality. It's an enjoyable read for those who appreciate short fantasy fiction that experiments with form and mood.
Verdict: A well-written and inventive collection of fantasy horror tales that shows promise.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
October 15, 2025
"Stories from Riverbrook Inn: Six Tales from Hailgalad" by Harrison DeVries is a gripping and atmospheric read. The book opens on a cold autumn night at the Riverbrook Inn, where the Helhain Festival is in full swing. As part of the celebrations, everyone gathers to hear a spooky tale from Connor, who begins narrating a chilling story about a goblin.
The tale follows Thimbrand, who is journeying toward the Iron Mountain with his companions. Ten riders race ahead, but the rest are captured by terrifying goblins. Their chieftain demands the prisoners be kept alive. Just as Thimbrand is seized, a mysterious woman intervenes and saves him. Read this book to find out what happens next.
Another story centers around Gregory, the caretaker of the capital’s graveyard, whose solemn duty is to ensure that the dead remain undisturbed—a premise as eerie as it is intriguing. Watch him surrounded by tombstones and crypts.
This collection and its unforgettable characters linger in the mind long after reading. Harrison DeVries’s writing is fluid and evocative, the pacing brisk, and the atmosphere delightfully chilling. The cover art is striking, and the title perfectly captures the mood of the stories. For the best experience, read this book at night—when the world is quiet and the shadows come alive.
The tale follows Thimbrand, who is journeying toward the Iron Mountain with his companions. Ten riders race ahead, but the rest are captured by terrifying goblins. Their chieftain demands the prisoners be kept alive. Just as Thimbrand is seized, a mysterious woman intervenes and saves him. Read this book to find out what happens next.
Another story centers around Gregory, the caretaker of the capital’s graveyard, whose solemn duty is to ensure that the dead remain undisturbed—a premise as eerie as it is intriguing. Watch him surrounded by tombstones and crypts.
This collection and its unforgettable characters linger in the mind long after reading. Harrison DeVries’s writing is fluid and evocative, the pacing brisk, and the atmosphere delightfully chilling. The cover art is striking, and the title perfectly captures the mood of the stories. For the best experience, read this book at night—when the world is quiet and the shadows come alive.
October 19, 2025
Stories from the Riverbrook Inn is an anthology of stories set in the fantasy world of Hailgalad. The reader, in the guise of a weary traveler, spends an evening listening to ghost stories, murder, and those of myth and legend with other denizens of the inn.
The stories have enough intrigue and action to keep the reader going for a while, but I personally feel that a good short story is like a fine wine: it needs a little time to breathe and be something you can savor. The stories ended as they were getting through breathing room and I felt disappointed that there wasn’t more substance and a stronger resolution.
Characters felt similarly thin. I didn’t feel like I learned enough about them to really forge any connection to them and feel moved by their plights. Being in the inn felt more like an outsider watching a group of friends talking than really feeling part of it, despite the persona the reader takes on being a known quantity.
With all that said, it’s a lot of work to create your own cohesive world and I commend the author for his creativity. I think there is real potential here and with a little more substance to the stories going forward, it will be great.
The stories have enough intrigue and action to keep the reader going for a while, but I personally feel that a good short story is like a fine wine: it needs a little time to breathe and be something you can savor. The stories ended as they were getting through breathing room and I felt disappointed that there wasn’t more substance and a stronger resolution.
Characters felt similarly thin. I didn’t feel like I learned enough about them to really forge any connection to them and feel moved by their plights. Being in the inn felt more like an outsider watching a group of friends talking than really feeling part of it, despite the persona the reader takes on being a known quantity.
With all that said, it’s a lot of work to create your own cohesive world and I commend the author for his creativity. I think there is real potential here and with a little more substance to the stories going forward, it will be great.
August 21, 2025
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I have to say, this one's got A LOT of potential! It tool me back to the 1980s/1990s Fantasy books I used to read back then, all very D&D, very fast reads, full of magic and strange creatures and peppered with cosy taverns along the road. The interludes between tales were my favourite, as the writing there seemed somewhat different - more polished, more flowing, and the twist of addressing the reader directly was superb, for me, I really loved that! As for the overall writing of the tales, it was a bit clunky and with flowing issues - more on the expositional side, and the dialogues felt very awkward and unnatural. I believe that with a little more polishing to this book, and the same kind of attention to detail given to the rest of the series, this is one really great old school fantasy that the author has weaved!
I have to say, this one's got A LOT of potential! It tool me back to the 1980s/1990s Fantasy books I used to read back then, all very D&D, very fast reads, full of magic and strange creatures and peppered with cosy taverns along the road. The interludes between tales were my favourite, as the writing there seemed somewhat different - more polished, more flowing, and the twist of addressing the reader directly was superb, for me, I really loved that! As for the overall writing of the tales, it was a bit clunky and with flowing issues - more on the expositional side, and the dialogues felt very awkward and unnatural. I believe that with a little more polishing to this book, and the same kind of attention to detail given to the rest of the series, this is one really great old school fantasy that the author has weaved!
September 2, 2025
Imagine an Inn where travelers go to tell dark and magical stories. The stories shared offers a little something for everyone… that being said, I really think I just wasn't in the mood for this read at this time. I didn't really connect with any of the stories, the standout for me was the spider story though- it reminds me of the iconic spider scene with Ron asking if he can panic after seeing all the baby spiders.
If you like a dark folklore type vibe with high fantasy, this needs to be on your TBR, especially if you are looking for multiple adventures!
Thank you so much for this ARC. I do wish I was more in a eerie reading mood to see this as a 4 star. I rated this a 3 but really, it's a 3.5 in my opinion.
I received this ARC for free, and I'm leaving this review voluntarily.
If you like a dark folklore type vibe with high fantasy, this needs to be on your TBR, especially if you are looking for multiple adventures!
Thank you so much for this ARC. I do wish I was more in a eerie reading mood to see this as a 4 star. I rated this a 3 but really, it's a 3.5 in my opinion.
I received this ARC for free, and I'm leaving this review voluntarily.
January 5, 2026
I received an ARC of this book and am leaving a review voluntarily.
This is a perfect collection of creepy tales that never dip completely into the horror genre. Instead, they teeter on that edge between supernatural and fantasy which given the framing of the book, makes perfect sense. I'm not usually a fan of second person but the framing works excellent
The book treats itself exactly the way you would expect for stories like this—an old inn full of food, candlelight and friends egging each other on. You get the impression that these stories are meant to be scary stories passed down among families that get a bit scarier as they go.
I appreciate the stories have humor and it doesn't take away from the chill they feberare.
This is a perfect collection of creepy tales that never dip completely into the horror genre. Instead, they teeter on that edge between supernatural and fantasy which given the framing of the book, makes perfect sense. I'm not usually a fan of second person but the framing works excellent
The book treats itself exactly the way you would expect for stories like this—an old inn full of food, candlelight and friends egging each other on. You get the impression that these stories are meant to be scary stories passed down among families that get a bit scarier as they go.
I appreciate the stories have humor and it doesn't take away from the chill they feberare.
December 29, 2025
*ARC Reader*
Stories from Riverbrook Inn gave me the same feelings as a young me reading Goosebumps. I love how we get to take part with the MC, listening to the different stories. The writing, and so on the stories, is a bit to simple for me, and while it catches my interest, it has a hard time keeping it throughout the book. However, it kept me engaged long enough to wanting to know more about the MC and what happens next - so many unanswered questions! I’m excited to see what other stories we can get from Harrison DeVries
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
Stories from Riverbrook Inn gave me the same feelings as a young me reading Goosebumps. I love how we get to take part with the MC, listening to the different stories. The writing, and so on the stories, is a bit to simple for me, and while it catches my interest, it has a hard time keeping it throughout the book. However, it kept me engaged long enough to wanting to know more about the MC and what happens next - so many unanswered questions! I’m excited to see what other stories we can get from Harrison DeVries
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
November 24, 2025
Good fun stories but not really scary. Overall a quick, fun read. I enjoyed how the stories were individual but also had some little links about them and the switching between a story and back at the inn each chapter.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 13, 2025
Read this book and there’s a lot of potential for Harrison as a writer! Spooky enough for the target audience without being overtly scare or gory. Excited to see what he writes next!
Side note: I grew up with Harrison and he’s a wonderful guy!
Side note: I grew up with Harrison and he’s a wonderful guy!
August 15, 2025
A fun collection of short stories set in an original fantasy world! An engaging and amusing read! I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 16, 2025
This was a nice collection of horror stories. Not too gory and not too tame.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews