Inheritance

by Fallon O'Neill

EVIL LURKS IN THE BLOOD

Rufus is an idle youth content to spend his scholarships on stiff drink and loose company, but even he knows such a life cannot last forever. On the cusp of financial ruin, he receives a letter from his estranged grandfather, Baron Matthias Grünewald, promising him the rustic village of Altstadt and its environs upon the heir’s return to the family estate. Against his better judgment, Rufus boards a black coach and is ferried to a far, fogbound stretch of moorland—ever in the shadow of Schloss Fleischberg and the unspeakable horrors therein.
Shortly after his arrival, Rufus discovers that his grandfather has died of mysterious circumstances following an expedition into “the Pit” beneath the old keep. He is soon swept in a labyrinth of rural politics, madness and murderous creatures with the truth of his ancestor’s sins at its heart, torn between securing his family fortune and preserving his own life. Though Rufus enlists mercenaries of all stripes to chart the dark corners of the estate, all remain ignorant to the evil stirring beneath their feet—and the apocalyptic threat it poses.

Set four hundred years before the Geist series, Inheritance is both a stand-alone work and a companion piece to Leper Errant, though its passages illuminate a cosmic revelation which pervades more than its own pages imply. Return to the world of Geist under the pall of gothic horror, and witness Rufus in his pursuit of family redemption. No good will come of his endeavors, but will he retain his humanity? Or will he succumb to the darkness that dwells not only in these forlorn halls, but his very lineage as well?

248 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication February 15, 2026

About the author

Diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder at a young age, Fallon O'Neill has been writing genre fiction for over fifteen years. These initial vignettes would eventually become the earliest drafts of his debut novel, Geist: Prelude. Dedicated and passionate, Fallon has workshopped the Geist series with the Blue Moon Writer's Group for over seven years, culminating in winning second place at the Will Albrecht Young Writers Competition of 2012, and publication in the eighth issue of the Blue Moon Art And Literary Review. Thereafter, Fallon went on to publish the six books of the Geist series and is currently writing his next major projects. His favorite pastimes include roosting at dive bars, blasting JRPG soundtracks into his skull, and staring at the wall to keep the existential dread at bay.

Reviews

[Kat M · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this as a eighth entry in the Geist series, it had that mystery element that I enjoyed from the previous books. The characters were written perfectly for this type of book and from the other books I read from Fallon O'Neill. It had that suspenseful atmosphere that I was looking for and was hooked from the first page until the end. It had that historical thriller element that I wanted and was glad it worked well overall.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Robert Foland · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Inheritance" takes readers on a captivating and mysterious adventure. Fallon O'Neill masterfully creates a dark world filled with the walking dead. The land is plagued by something far from ordinary. With well-developed characters and a gripping storyline, one question remains: is anyone truly safe in this small kingdom?.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.