From the Shadows: Villainous Tales of Dark Lords, Despots, and Devils

by Angel Haze, Rachel Rener, Zaid Samer Alshattle

I thought I would be the hero. Instead, I became the villain.

They curse me, call me ruthless, insane, unhinged… a monster.

But is life so black and white?

What if they took the time to understand my motivations? Would they still condemn me if they recognized the same monster lurking inside themselves? There’s a villain inside us all. Unhinge yourself from reality and walk with me into the darkness.

If you dare…

From the Shadows is an anthology of twenty-one villainous stories brought to you by the authors of Indie Fantasy Addicts.

Genres: Fantasy, Short Stories, Anthologies, Crime, Magic, Adult

646 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 19, 2020

About the author

Angel lives with her two amazing, half-gremlin children in a small Canadian town far from the borders of Middle Earth. She is deadly with a throwing ax, has an arsenal of dwarven jokes, and a legion of signed books she obsessively hoards with Gollum-like tenacity. She loves escaping to different fantasy worlds and finding new fantasy gems from the wonderfully amazing readers of the Indie Fantasy Addicts Facebook group. There she drinks with assassins, mages, and dwarves in shady taverns and revels in their crazy, amazing journeys to far off lands. She lives for adventure, whether it’s losing herself to phenomenal fantasy books, zip lining across jungles, snorkeling in underwater caverns, pole dancing, or traveling the world. She believes that life should be lived to the fullest and encourages others to follow their dreams and passions so they can see just what they are capable of.

Unleash the Adventure at http://www.angelhaze.com

Reviews

[Alyssia Cooke · Rating 4 out of 5]

From the Shadows is a fascinating anthology that stays away from the heroes and instead shines a light on the darker elements of our fantasy stories. From the slightly grey to the definitively villainous, this anthology takes you to the view points that you often don’t see in fantasy works. From the humorous to the intense, there will almost certainly be something for everyone here.

Ghoul Grief by Jacob Peppers; 4/5 stars. A humourous tale of a hero who isn’t quite the hero that everyone thinks. He wasn’t in life and he isn’t in undeath. This was good fun and a good start to the anthology. The humour running throughout it us excellent and I really enjoyed how all of Maximillian's previous exploits had an alterative truth to the public view!

The Precipice of Sin by Rachel Reneer; 4/5 stars. This felt like the back story to a wider narrative and also worked really well. Far more traditional in feel, I liked how much empathy you felt for the villain of the piece here. The juxtaposition between good and evil was cleverly portrayed, along with the age old question of would we know joy without sorrow.

A Dragon’s Guide to Hatching a Rebellion by JC Kang; 5/5 stars. Again, a very different feel to this one with a dragon learning to be human... and hatching a rebellion almost by accident. I really appreciated just how well JC Kang portrays the non-human thought processes of the dragon lead and just how ridiculous some human conventions such as clothing appear to his eyes. This is an unusual little tale... and one with a sting in the tail!

Interview With The Dark Elf by Jamie Edmundson; 4.5/5 stars. Another humour driven tale, but with a distinctly darker edge to it. I’m even more interested in reading the full length works by this author now as this was funny, dark and brilliant. The view from the eyes of the dark elf following the hero around and trying to kill him in various ingenious ways is cleverly done. It was like reading the other side of the typical fantasy novel, where you are kinda rooting for the evil guy!

Let the Dark In by Stacey Trombley; 4/5 stars. Another dark edged tale, focussed on a dark magic and the depths we can sink to when pushed beyond our limits. In fact this is more than dark edged, as the victim becomes the aggressor and the darkness that is overtaking the world steps one foot closer to total victory. Out of the two characters, Malcolm is by far the most fleshed out, whereas Julie seems almost a footnote. Still enjoyable and there is some interesting world building here.

The Sea Witch by Bethany Hoeflich; 5/5 stars. I'd give it more stars if I could. I adored this dark tale on the background to The Little Mermaid. If you ever wondered where Ursula came from, this is the tale for you. It adds a huge amount of depth to the existing faerie tale, making a two dimensional villain into a fully fleshed out character with a tragic history. The author also adds those small, incredibly important details of her own to the tale, making it a truly worthy prequel to a very well known children's tale. I'd happily read a full 100 page novella of this particular retelling, and have picked up the Dreg Trilogy on Kindle Unlimited on the strength of this short. Truly spectacular and one of my absolute favourites of the collection.

A Mad King’s Hymn by J.E.Mueller; 3/5 stars. This was clever, but wasn’t quite to my taste. I just didn’t quite get on with the demonic depictions, but it’s certainly well written. There's some really interesting world building here though and it felt as though a full novel could quite easily rise from the back of it.

This Trap Has A Beating Heart by Sarah K. L. Wilson; 4.5/stars. We’re back in the realms of epic fantasy and it is beautifully written. The power struggles and family strife is brilliantly depicted; I thoroughly fell in love with scene, characters and narrative. I particularly liked the fact that the villain... isn't really a villain here. Yeah, he's definitely morally grey and manipulative as hell, but he's not evil... His father on the other hand... yeah. Evil. I kinda want a short from his perspective now! My Kindle Unlimited shelf is now getting crowded as I discovered that Sting Magic is set in the same universe and I obviously have to read it.

Zen’s Dragon by Eileen Mueller; 3.5/5 stars. Re-reading this, I've bumped it up a half star as it's been a while since I read the other books and so didn't actually remember the scenes I thought were recycled. This is an interesting look at the villain of the authors excellent Riders of Fire series. I particularly liked the scientific aspects that were brought into play as Zens tries to master cloning. Zens isn't a particularly likable villain, even with his tragic history, but the means and methods he has taken to become a villain are fascinating.

Wizardoms: Soul Blade by Jeffrey L. Kohanek; 4/5 stars. The Wizardoms series has been on my to read list for what seems like forever and I really need to get around to it as this glimpse at the world was fascinating. There is a huge amount of depth in not too many words here, and it has really wet my appetite for the main series. The world building was particularly strong, as indeed were the hints at the future. It's intriguing, giving a foretaste of what seems to be a well realised world with strong, three-dimensional characters.

The Binding Day Truce by Allegra Pescatore and J.P. Burnison; 2.5/5 stars. This made a lot more sense having read A Bond of Thread, but I still have to say it doesn't work particularly well as a stand alone short. The full novel gave me some much needed character background and world building that seemed lacking in the short first time round. I would thoroughly recommend this if you have already read the full novel set in the same world, but without that background the dual perspectives were difficult to follow. As these shorts frequently seem to be introductions into the world, I'm going to leave my initial rating. I certainly enjoyed it far more on re-reading, but anyone who hasn't read the full novel will be just as lost as I was first time round, particularly with the character shifting. I will say that I still loved the ambiguity of the ending and it was even more powerful on a second read through.

Sun Touched by Zaid Samer Alshattle; 2.5 stars. Another confusing tale that didn’t quite grab me. There just wasn’t the character depth or world building displayed by some of the precious works, and I suspect it would work better as the opening chapters to a longer work than as a stand alone. It seemed to need far more pages than were possible in an anthology to truly bring the world to life in honesty and I struggled to get a real sense of what the characters were fighting for. This made it difficult to engage with.

Oblivion - Eric T. Knight; 5/5 stars. Simplistic in many ways, but no less brilliant for it. Another stand out favourite of the collection, this really threw me into the tale along with our villain. There are all the hallmarks of an intricate and detailed world hinted at here, and my only complaint is that it was over so soon. In contrast to the last couple of shorts, this really captured the characterisation wonderfully and captured me completely. It's a bite sized slice of life, with no overarching narrative, but it works beautifully.

The Menagerie by Miri C. Golden; 5/5 stars. Where the last story was a bite sized moment in time, this could easily work as a far longer piece. It’s the mark of an excellent author that it also worked so well as a short. This is dark, grimy and absolutely brilliant. I loved the characterisations here, on both sides. I felt the threat of Prisoner Zero from Day's perspective, even as the world was built up in such a way that I knew they were living on a house of cards, ready to topple at any moment. But what I liked most about this is the uncertainty of who the villain really is. Because from Day's perspective, Prisoner Zero is a threat to everything he holds dear... even if what he holds dear is a tottering pile of lies, manipulations and propaganda.

Gravitas: A Tale of the Constella by Christopher Russell; 4/5 stars. Another epic fantasy win here, this is dark as all hell, but brilliantly written. I admit to being slightly confused as to who the actual bad guy is here, but it's all the better for it. There's an ambiguity to this that is really appealing, as the lead character is obviously committing heinous acts, but can the ends sometimes justify the means?!

Birth of Darkness by Aaron Hodges; 3.5/5 stars. When family jealousy combines with a hunger for power, the results get interesting. This has a spooky vibe to it that almost crosses over into horror.
Apples and Shadows: A Tale of Dwemhar by J.T. Williams; 4.5 stars. Another one with horror vibes going for it, but in a far more corruption of innocence fashion. Another stunning tale.
The Trouble With Necromancy by Joe Jackson; 4.5/5 stars. We have what is perhaps the darkest tale here yet and it’s brilliant. Never trust a necromancer.
Ascension to Hell by Jeff Bacon; 3/5 stars. Still on the necromancy, this perhaps tries to bite off more than it can manage in the short format.
Into the Storm by D. W. Hawkins; 3.5 stars. Some interesting world building here, and a delightfully competent villain. I quite enjoyed this, and felt there was some interesting hints at a larger universe.
Bound in Death by Angel Haze; 5/5 stars. And we finish on the darkest of the dark, brilliantly written and darkly stunning. Serial killer meets necromancy and it’s excellent.

So all in all, this is an excellent anthology. There were a handful that I didn’t get on with so well, but the standard was excellent as a whole.

Many thanks to the authors for my free review copy of this title.

[Nils Ödlund · Rating 5 out of 5]

There's this quote about how everyone is the main character in the story of their life. To put that into perspective, have you ever met anyone who truly viewed themselves as a side character in someone else's story? Have you ever met anyone who truly considered themselves to be a villain?
I don't believe I have.

An anthology like this is a great way of exploring the concept of villainy a little bit deeper. Even when the characters are, including by their own admission, horrible people, the story is still told from their point of view, and they're still the main character. The hero, if you will. It brings them a little bit closer, and makes them more real.
It's an interesting experience.

In many of the stories, the main characters don't necessarily feel evil, even though they would very clearly be villainous monsters in the story of someone else.
They're people (well, more or less), doing their thing, for their own reasons. Sure, their reasons may not be ones I agree with or relate to, but they are reasons. These people aren't evil for the sake of being evil - it's just a means to an end, and by seeing the story from their point of view, it's a little bit easier to understand them and justify their actions.

For example (and I'll only give one example or I'd be here all night), there's a story about the how the Son of Darkness is due to fight the Chosen of the Light, told from the side of the bad guy (that's the SoD, just to be clear).
The thing is...
Apart from the little detail about how Really Bad Things tend to happen around him in more or less mysterious ways, he seems to be a pretty nice guy. The Chosen of the Light however, is a proper twat.
Perspective.
I like it.

So what's good and what's bad about this anthology - and I don't mean the villains (duh, seriously...).

THINGS I'LL WHINE ABOUT:
This will seem a bit silly, but I had expected the stories to be shorter. Sure, not all of them are very long, but overall, the book is a lot chonkier than I thought it would be, and it took me aback when I realized. My kindle listed the reading time as above twelve hours.
I'd thought I'd breeze through this in an afternoon, but that was definitely not the case. Way to foil my plans, villains.

THINGS I'LL GUSH ABOUT:
This book is one mean, massive bastard of a tome. It's kind of fitting that the print version could be used as a bludgeoning weapon (I've seen pictures).
Much as I just complained that it was too long, I also enjoyed that, once I'd gotten used to the idea. It lets the stories be rich enough to really suck me in, and it builds up that need to stay in the story's world and learn more about it. That otherworldly feeling of homeness you really only get from escaping into a solid fantasy world.

FINAL COMMENT:
I should probably mention that not all stories were to my taste, but I don't feel like that's a reasonable complaint. There are twenty one stories by a bunch of different authors, and they're not all going to cater to me. This isn't to say the stories I didn't enjoy were bad - just that they weren't for me.
On the whole, the quality of writing and storytelling is excellent throughout.

THE RETURN OF THE FINAL COMMENT:
This is good stuff. I'm already familiar with some of the authors, and many of them have been on my radar for some time. Reading their stories here has strengthened my resolve to check out their other works in the near future.
As such, this is a great way to discover new authors to read.

COMMENTUS FINALUS ULTIMATUS:
I received a free ARC, and was informed an honest review would be appreciated, but not required. I also know some of the authors involved with the book - horrible, twisted lunatics though they be.

[Marie Reed · Rating 4 out of 5]

All of these stories are very well written, even if the subject of each wasn't something that I throughly enjoyed. I will be looking for more works by most of these authors. Averaging out my individual reviews, it comes out a little over 4 stars. Each short story is reviewed individually below.

Ghoul Grief: A wannabe hero gets himself killed and turned into a ghoul. It's surprisingly hilarious and I'd love to read more. 5/5

The Precipice of Sin: A prophecy says that the marked Chosen One will defeat the marked Evil One and evil will be vanquished. This is the villian's side. 5/5

A Dragon's Guide to Hatching a Rebellion: How pathetic do dragons think humans are? The answer: very. 4/5

Interview with the Dark Elf: Ended before I could really get into it. It's a tie in to the author's series; maybe it's expanded enough there for me to decide what I think. 3/5

Let the Dark In: Post-apocalyptic story with an evil energy coming from just outside the town, and a boy who doesn't want to be powerless. 4/5

The Sea Witch: Cool Little Mermaid-esque prequel backstory. 5/5

A Mad King's Hymn: A man dies and finds he quite enjoys being a demon. Unfortunately I found the story itself to be very boring. 2/5

This Trap Has a Beating Heart: This is a snippet in the Empire of War & Wings series, which I have not read. Okay novella which probably makes more sense with the rest of the books. 3/5

Zens' Dragon: Frankenstein's Monster-esque character tries to become more powerful than anyone and lets his anger ruin his chance, at least temporarily. 4/5

Wizardoms: Soul Blade: Dark Elves use forbidden magic. 5/5

The Binding Day Truce: Two who have wished each other dead for years come together to survive after a brutal battle. This is a prequel to a new series coming next year. I'm really looking forward to it. 5/5

Sun Touched: Two of the most powerful men have very different ideas for saving their people. Battle and death follow. 4/5

Oblivion: the price of the Oblivion is steeper than Hagen could have ever imagined. This is an origin story for the author's series The Thrasher Wars. 5/5

The Menagerie: a jailer tortures a prisoner who tried to overthrow the government. But who is the real villan here? 5/5

Gravitas: A Tale of the Constella: Fixer Scraw is called by the Magisters of Lestadt to save the land from total destruction. How far he is willing to go to keep this from happening could be worse than the originally promised destruction. 5/5

Birth of Darkness: Theo is envious of his cousin's magical gift. 5/5

Apples and Shadows: A Tale of Dwemhar: Eldin the orphan is given a special job at the palace. 5/5

The Trouble with Necromancy: Daorun is trying to make his reanimated corpses useful so he can bring back his dead wife. His assistant Antasirras, a lizard-like being, seems to know more about necromancy than he does. 5/5

Ascension to Hell: A man wants to stop a war, but instead gets addicted to power and starts a new one. Couldn't really get into this one. 2/5

Into the Storm: Captain Raush will do all he can to obliterate anyone who refuses to convert their religious beliefs to the Prime. Many lives are lost. Very anticlimactic and even though there was quite a bit of action, I found it very boring. Maybe an expansion with explanations about the opposing peoples would help. 3/5

Bound in Death: Luthen will do anything to get his wife Vanessa back. Replacing her with undead copies isn't enough. 5/5

[Cleocutie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great set of stories that let you see the point of view of a villain. It is a neat idea and the authors pull of making you see things from their perspective beautifully.

[Clarissa Gosling · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an amazing collection of stories. Some were obvious lead ins to series I now need to read, while others were more stand alone.

[The Reading Ruru (Kerry) · Rating 4 out of 5]

IAnthology of Villians 👿💀🦹‍♀️🧟‍♂️🧜‍♂️

I LOVE anthologies - they make a nice change from the usual tomes or 3-10 books series that usually fill my kindle. If a book hasnt grabbed me by 20-25% I'm usually not keen so when I come across a book of short stories where 90% of stories can hold my interest then I'm in a happy space...and if they are about villains or questionably ethical then even better. This book held itself up there with some of the other wonderful anthologies I've read this year - ROGUES, KNAVES, BLACKEST KNIGHTS to name a few. Look forward to reading more from the Indie Addicts 😊😊

[Tina Merritt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seeing what’s it like to be a villain and not the hero is such a reverse thing to read, but it really works. This is a book with multiple short stories and they have it in order of darkness! I read Rachel Renners and I loved it! Comedic and eye opening.

[Darcy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A collection of short stories that can easily pull you in. They have villains that are not always a villain and then you have some that the villains are truly diabolical. A great collection of stories.

Ghoul Grief by Jacob Peppers:  This story has a bit of humor that has you chuckling along with snark of the dialog and thoughts of the characters. We have a hero who isn’t quite the hero that everyone thinks he is. This story has karma at her best. She for sure gave as good as she took.  

The Precipice of Sin by Rachel Rener:  I love Rachel Rener's work. It always has this feel of a journey that you are taking alongside the characters. This one is no different. We are led to feel empathy for our poor Zeb as he just wanted to be a regular guy as his story is told.  But, there is a thin line between good and evil.  Sometimes what we think is evil is not and what is good is not. Such a twist on the story at the end.

A Dragon's Guide To Hatching A Rebellion by J.C. Kang: I really liked this one and I felt a little bad for the dragon in the end. It was a great story on how the dragon thinks and I loved how he thought about his changes in the human form compared to his dragon form. It was a great story.

Interview With the Dark Elf by Jamie Edmundson: The story has a bit of humor and is told to a recorder that he is trying to basically get his life story. When starting it it seemed like Wro'Kuburni'-Dy-Hrath'Simbowa was a very feared Dark Elf. You have to wonder why the recorder would venture into his domain. But as we know a story sometimes has a mind of its own and must be told. It was a good story.

Let The Dark In by Stacey Trombley: This reminds me of a coming of age story for a young person who wasn't a villain and becomes a villian by circumstances. It is a good story that has a young man that is pushed to far and needs to never feel weak again.

The Sea Witch by Bethany Hoeflich: A fantastic story based on the Little Mermaid featuring Ursula and where she came from. It shows a side of her that we never thought we would get to see.

A Mad King's Hymn by J.E. Mueller: This one is a little shorter and about a king and him making a bargain to a demon for protection, only it doesn't go as planned. The story has a bit of action and the King learns to navigate his new world. It for sure ends a little differently than I thought it would. It was a good story

This Trap Has A Beating Heart by Sarah K.L. Wilson:  This was a quick read that really has the makings of a much longer story. It for sure has secrets and betrayal in such a short amount of time. It definitely ends with a shocking conclusion.
 
Zens' Dragon by Eileen Mueller: I started off feeling very sad for Zens. His parents were horrible and honestly making him the way he was throughout the story. As he gets older we see such a change in him. I loved the concept of the story as it definitely different.

Wizardoms - Soul Blade by Jeffrey L. Kohanek: I started out this one a tad confused as it feels like a snippet from a larger story. But as the story progresses it becomes much clearer. I did enjoy the sparring and fighting in it.

The Binding Day Truce by Allegra Pescatore and J.P. Burnison: I throughly enjoyed this story. It has so much action and drama. I honestly do not feel that Ilyas nor Willow were villains. I feel they did what they felt was the right thing to do for everyone. It was a fantastic story.

Sun Touched by Zaid Samer Alshattle: Once again I do not see Quareth really as a villain. He may have been with some but to me he was just trying to take care of his people. I would have loved to know more about the curse. It was a great story.

Oblivion by Eric T. Knight: A quick story that is well written and leaves you wanting for more as it shows not everything is as it seems.

The Menagerie by Miri C. Golden: This story was very interesting. Right and wrong is the concept. Lies and betrayals are always an interesting read and this was right up that alley. I wish it was longer as it ends too abruptly to me but was an excellent story.

Gravitas - A Tale of the Constella by Christopher Russell: This was packed with action and drama. It was a tale that try’s to save the people and the salvation is to be the fixer. But, is he really the salvation? A great story.

Birth Of Darkness by Aaron Hodges: Wow! You feel sorry for Theo and how disappointed he has been. But really there is a thin line between good and evil. Sometimes jealousy can make a person do bad things. This was extremely well written. Was a great story.

Apples and Shadows - A Tale of Dwemhar by J.T. Williams: This had some interesting moments. This boy who is an orphan gets to be a servant in the castle. We have a bit of mystery and drama. It is well written and a very interesting story.

The Trouble With Necromancy by Joe Jackson: The snarky comments actually had me laughing. Daorun may have been talking to himself at times but it still made me laugh. It definitely does end in a surprising manner with all the drama that it had.

Ascension To Hell by Jeff Bacon: What starts off as a supposed good thing becomes such a bad thing by greed and power. This was a good story that was well written.

Into The Storm by D.W. Hawkins: This was definitely different. It has the concept of conversion and no one else’s point of view matters. It was and interesting concept of a story,

Bound In Death by Angel Haze: I really enjoyed this story. It was full of action. A tale of a love lost but no one can win. It was well written and story kept me engaged into it.

[Ann Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book simply because it had short stories by Aaron Hodges and DW Hawkins. However, I read all the stories and enjoyed most of them. I now have a list of authors who’s books I will be reading.

[Joe Jackson]

Over 20 new villain-focused shorts by indie authors including one by yours truly! Free on major book retailers. Dive in and see how the other half lives.

[Teri · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story for everyone

You might not like them all. But I bet you like some of them. Putting tons of authors together makes it easy to find some you like.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed most of this anthology. Some stories were a little too dark for my taste, but standouts were definitely Rachel Rener's PRECIPICE OF SIN (I felt so much empathy for her main character and loved the twist!) and Jacob Pepper's GHOUL GRIEF, which had me laughing and cringing at the same time. I also thought Bethany's twist on Ursula worked really well. Many more were enjoyable, I just like those three the most :) Hope to see more anthologies from this group!

[Renee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great samples of Amazing authors

A highly enjoyable collection of dark fantasy characters. Each story highlights the talents of these authors for truly deep, dark character creation. If you are looking to delve into some awesome Indie works, I recommend this collection.

[Clairisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great Anthology about Villians ! Will give a more detailed review later on.

[Patti · Rating 5 out of 5]

1- Ghoul Grief by Jacob Peppers
Perfect start to an anthology! Imagine finding out your whole world isn’t what you think? This author totally shows us what embracing a new perspective could be like!
2- The Precipice of Sin by Rachel Rener
Absolutely love the snarkiness of the MC. Reality and truth no matter how bleak, can have that in your face humorous side. Some choose to cry, others choose laughter. This tale truly made me ponder the balance of things.
3- A Dragons Guide to Hatching A Rebellion by JC Kang
Immediately, my odd brain thought, “ shouldn’t Orc taste just like chicken?”. Of course that has nothing to do with the true focus of this short. This particular dragon had the craving to experience something entirely new to his obscenely long lifespan experiences. Something so simple to a dragon, can translate to a change in the course of history to lesser beings.
4- Interview With the Dark Elf by Jamie Edmundson
Anyone else think this is the laziest villain ever? It really is quite interesting to get this villains take on the infamous 3 headed ogre. Love the way this author chose to cut the description of the conquests! Very humorous and entertaining.

5- Let the Dark In by Stacey Trombley
This tale….a really skilled way to entice a reader into wanting more of these characters! Good vs evil but riding that grey area rim. Is being bad okay if the end goal produces something good? I want to know, where does “he” go from here, and how does “she” fair because of “him”? Yes, my reviews are teasers of a sort but the do reflect the thoughts the tale drew from me.
6- .The Sea Witch by Bethany Hoeflich
Now here’s a villain I could get behind! Strong willed and not willing to kiss butt to the hierarchy. A title doesn’t mean you have common sense . This MC pays a price for non conformity, yet after all is said and done, she also gets the last laugh.
7- A Mad Kings Hymn by J E Mueller
A strange tale indeed. A perfect example of making sure you really know what’s at stake before agreeing to anything. Love the strange twists this short tale takes. I actually felt like I was left hanging there at the end.
8- This Trap Has A Beating Heart by Sarah K L Wilson
What a cunning tale of manipulation and deceit. An heir and a spare. A simple statement that means the inevitable death of one! Truly found myself hating the blatant evil of one. Once again, I am amazed how quickly a readers emotions can be engaged by the skilled words of an author!
9- Zen s’ Dragon by Eileen Mueller
The child abuse is hardcore. Which explains the mindset of this MC. His evolution surpasses even his parents cruelty. I can’t wrap my head around why 000 didn’t behave differently. Oh the questions!! There must be more somewhere!
10- . Wizardoms: Soul Blade by Jeffrey L Kohanek
This tale leaped into action and I willingly leaped with it. Without me realizing it, thus rake delivered the origin story of a particular group. The soul blade totally reminded me of another hungry blade. Now I realize why my husband fell in love with these characters! A wonderful intro!
11- The Binding Day Truce by Allegra Pescatore and J P Burnison
Two warriors pledged to opposing sides, both with lifelong histories misery and war. They face off yet again just mere hours before a truce and Mother Nature intervenes throwing the common instinct of survival at both of them. This tale totally grabbed me. I could feel the angst and hopelessness. The presumed loss of purpose. A wonderful short!
12- Sun Touched by Zaid Samer Alshattle
Warriors battling for what each believes he must. And what a battle! This is just a brief glimpse of this authors writing style and it’s brilliant! I could imagine clearly the determination and drive of each character, as well as the will of their minds. A wonderful exposure to a new to me author.
13- Oblivion by Eric T Knight
It’s just a glimpse, a mere moment in the life of an Assassin who is striving to become the best version of himself. Confidence fills him as he faces the ultimate trial. Love the shock and surprise this author served up so smoothly! Of course I expected it not to go great however an authors imagination is boundless!
14- The Menagerie by Miri C Golden
From the jump, this is such a descriptive tale I could imagine clearly the stench of the prison. Extreme measures are used trying to extract information from a prisoner. Normally it doesn’t take much, until now. “The novelty of defiance.” This tale is deep and dark and everything you expect and more when rebellion, war, power, and control are the prime players.
15- Gravitas: A Tale of the Constella by Christopher Russell
Scraw is scary, a serious badass. The power he wields is unfathomable. The mission he is on seems like a madman’s folly. Everyone fears him and nothing phases him…nothing. I am constantly surprised how thorough and complete these quick tales feel, even though they are just mere glimpses. This one truly turned out to me more than I imagined.
16- Birth of Darkness by Aaron Hodges
Okay, now that I’ve read this shirt, I see where the title came from. But admittedly, I was caught unaware and shocked. And of course, it provided a perfect lead into the series, now that this character has sprung to life and free to run rampant through more pages. I experience one of those moments where you are floating in the story and boom…it’s a short…and it’s over. I call foul…but it the best of ways.
17- Apples and Shadows by J T Williams
An orphan child believes he has stumbled into a better life serving the king in his castle. Nothing is ever truly as it seems though. This tale takes a deep slant into the dark side and even though it’s a short tale, it feels full. How does one apple satisfy a unicorn?
18- The Trouble with Necromancy by Joe Jackson
Necromancy has always been a shuddering thought for me. I’ve read a few tales where this power was only used for beneficial means but most are nefarious. This is such a tale. One that you know is gonna be ugly, but you just can’t help but continue to read regardless. This author gives us a twist, and you must read it to find out if it’s good or bad…or “so bad it’s great”.
19- Ascension to Hell by Jeff Bacon
I’m just going to speculate here, the total peace being strived for equated to the elimination of humanity. Probably not the first time that thought has occurred but usually on smaller targets such as particular groupings of human beings. This is yet again a mere slice of a tale, yet it encompasses so many yet to be discovered things. Loved this dark tale!
20- Into the storm by D W Hawkins
Loading kids into cannons? Never could I ever dream that up. Rebellions, torture, self sacrifice, all the elements of war. How much is one person willing to endure for their cause and does it differ for their loved ones? This world that the author created, and the journey into the storm, I totally want to see it on film just because.with today’s special effects, if it came even remotely close to this written description, it would be awe inspiring!oh…and I am hugely impressed with Lt. Kori. Awesome air battle!
*21- Bound in Death by Angel Haze
Totally screamed of necromancy, yet it never stared as such. Regardless, this dude totally took obsession to the ultimate worst levels. Wanting that illusionary perfect mate, all the while it was already in front of him. Sounds like every dysfunctional pairing. What a tasty morsel of murderous love.

[Gayreth Walden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who knew villains could be so fascinating? The authors take villains to a whole new level with unique and entertaining tales. These tales are about villains so expect some dark reading, some are very dark but they will keep you turning the pages. I read all the stories and loved this anthology!

[Lisa Maughan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some of these stories are dark. Some have some humor included. All are written well, full of description and easy to imagine.

[Alan Behan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grim Villians.

Absolutely amazing array of Dark, Grim and Gruesome stories, 21 amazing author's have contributed to this fantastic fantasy anthology, highly recommended....😁

[Cully Mack · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great collection of villainous short stories from very talented Indie Authors. A couple were a little dark for my taste but overall I enjoyed these extremely well written stories. There is something in this anthology for everyone.
Also, a nice treat to read some great quotes setting up each of the stories.

[Zaid Alshattle]

Loved the works by all the fellow authors in this anthology, many amazing stories that suit all tastes!

[David Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading about villains is fun, right? The more villainous and complex the better? If you agree, and why wouldn't you, then From the Shadows is for you. 21 dark fantasy tales from the badguys point-of-view are compiled in this anthology. As with all collections, some stories stand out more than others, but, in my opinion, there isn't a *bad* story included. All are well-written, though some work as standalone stories more than others. That being said, this anthology is absolutely worth a fantasy fan's time.

A nice touch is that the stories become darker as the stories progress - for people a little more squeamish or readers who don't like their fantasy too dark, it signals a good time to tap out.

Ghoul Grief by Jacob Peppers: A really fun, strong start to the anthology, dealing in fake news and PR spin in a fantasy setting. Maximillian is a great character, one not as heroic as his press would make out, in life or undeath.

The Precipice of Sin by Rachel Rener: While this felt like a part of a larger story, Ms Rener did a good job at making the story work on its own, too. Excellent writing to make us feel empathy for Zeb.

A Dragon's Guide To Hatching A Rebellion by J.C. Kang: Excellent. Very enjoyable *and* skillful how Mr Kang portrayed the dragon, its thought process, its journey, and how it sparked a rebellion almost through accident.

Interview With the Dark Elf by Jamie Edmundson: Mr Edmundson has proven adept at adding sharp wit to his fantasy, and there's no change here, but this story comes with a deliciously vicious streak. I'm not sure why, but I got a Wile E. Coyote vs Roadrunner vibe from this, and I'm all for it.

Let The Dark In by Stacey Trombley: We meet Malcom and Julie in this magical story about abuse and what happens to people who are pushed too far. How will they snap? And what happens when they do? I'd like to have known Julie a little better here, but this was a tense, well-written read.

The Sea Witch by Bethany Hoeflich: A wonderfully dark prequel to The Little Mermaid, focusing on Ursula. Taking the fairy tale and adding depth, this is a brilliant example of an author working with an existing property and bringing something new to it.

A Mad King's Hymn by J.E. Mueller: Enjoyed the worldbuilding here, and feel this story would benefit from a longer storytelling form. There's a novel just waiting to be unleashed in this demonic tale!

This Trap Has A Beating Heart by Sarah K.L. Wilson: A fan of writing about family struggles and strife, this story really spoke to me as a reader and author. The characters all feel *real* and I could empthasise with many of them. Except the Emperor. Kiss the dust!

Zens' Dragon by Eileen Mueller: I've always had a soft-spot for science crashing into fantasy, and the cloning shenanigans here are very satisfying. I feel this is part of a larger story, and researching says that is, and this story has me interested in reading more. Zens isn't a likeable villain, but compelling.

Wizardoms - Soul Blade by Jeffrey L. Kohanek: Feeling like a slice of a larger tale, Soul Blade nonetheless proved a worthwhile read due to the wonderful world-building present, and the craft and deft detail shining through.

The Binding Day Truce by Allegra Pescatore and J.P. Burnison: I'm glad I'd read A Bond of Thread before this as I think it's quite essential to fully enjoying this excellent story. I'm not certain it would work as a standalone of without prior knowledge, but I had a great time with it, The Fae are well explored and defined, and the break-neck pace with shifting POVs worked well.

Sun Touched by Zaid Samer Alshattle: I enjoyed Quareth, and the dark-brooding tension of this tale, but it left me wanting more. Not a bad thing, but it really did feel like the beginning of a larger story.

Oblivion by Eric T. Knight: A real high point. Straightforward but not lacking in detail, the characterisation here really shines through in this ripping-yarn villainous adventure. Hagen is brilliant, and the monk/religious aspect of the fantasy here is fascinating. It's the origin story for a larger work, but it tells its own story, and really whets the appetite for more.

The Menagerie by Miri C. Golden: A dark, thrilling story of perspectives. Who's is the villain in someone's life? A person who represents change, or someone who craves the status-quo? A fascinating, moreish story that left me wanting more.

Gravitas - A Tale of the Constella by Christopher Russell: Ambiguous and delightfully dark, this is epic fantasy distilled into a wonder short-story. Scraw held my attention throughout, and at times I found myself rooting for him.

Birth Of Darkness by Aaron Hodges: A strong bit of fantasy horror, and it's welcome at this stage of the anthology. Enjoyable, Theo's manipulation and drive is fun to read.

Apples and Shadows - A Tale of Dwemhar by J.T. Williams: "Elvish wine. The King might claim he hates elves but he sure as Vankou doesn't mind drinking their wine." Isn't that just the way? More fantasy straying into horror, this story explores hypocrisy and the corruption of innocence, and don't we all love that?

The Trouble With Necromancy by Joe Jackson: I've always enjoyed a necromancer story and Mr Jackson doesn't disappoint here with one of my favourites in the anthology. Daorun's experiments are a wild ride, and his characterisation is on-point.

Ascension To Hell by Jeff Bacon: Ambitious, this story is perhaps confined by the short-story format. Well-written, it tries to cover so much ground and detail that it would benefit from more space to breathe.

Into The Storm by D.W. Hawkins: "Please understand - conversion is best for you all." And with that, the author had me hooked. The villains here believe they're in the right, and aren't they just the best ones to deal with?

Bound In Death by Angel Haze: "The blond would die tonight." The darkest comes last, in this horrifically dark necromancer tale that should come with its own warning. I loved it! A perfect way to end a strong anthology, and a story that had me laughing out loud when I really shouldn't have.

[Sarah Metcalf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of great stories

This is a collection of short stories from indie authors. There are a lot of great stories in this anthology. One of the things I liked best about this book was I could put it down and pick it up between reading other books if I needed a break from reading a series. If you like villains and malevolence, you’ll want to read this!

[Hanneke · Rating 5 out of 5]

A superb collection of dark tales, where you sometimes wonder.... who is the villain and who is the hero?

[Vancil C. Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Fantastic Fantasy Collection!

I was somewhat hesitant in starting this collection of short stories, many of which fall into the Grim/GrimDark genres, but I am very happy that I did! There were several of the ‘Villainous Dark Lords, Despots, and Devils’ that I found myself feeling sorry for, or even hoping they would accomplish their tasks they needed to do. Several stories are also prequels, or at least a lead up, to book series by the authors. Because of all the great short stories I read in this collection, I now have a TBR stack of books that should last me into next year!!! That’s OK with me; I love to read! I highly recommend this collection to those who love Fantasy!

[Phi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ghoul Grief by Jacob Peppers: This story was a very interesting take on ghouls, unlike any story I've read before. I enjoyed watching the main character figure out what's going on, and there were several parts that made me giggle.

The Precipice of Sin by Rachel Rener: Holy moly! I legitimately teared up a bit during this one. I got so attached to the main character in such a short time. I love the unique spin on this trope!

A Dragon's Guide to Hatching a Rebellion by JC Kang: I loved this story so much! I want to read more about what happens after. Seeing things from the perspective of a dragon is always fun, IMO, and this story was super well-written and intriguing!

Interview with the Dark Elf by Jamie Edmundson: opening with a map and an interview was such a neat way to start the story! This one was really interesting, though I'm not sure I have a clue how to pronounce the character names, haha 😅

Let in the Dark by Stacey Trombley: I actually thought I wasn't going to love this one because of how it started, but by then end, I was drawn in and even though it ended kind of darkly, I really thought it was a great story.

The Sea Witch by Bethany Hoeflich: this story wasn't quite my cup of tea, but it was interesting enough. I did like all the references to The Little Mermaid, though!

A Mad King's Hymn by J.E. Mueller: this story was interesting, though a bit confusing at the end. It felt like the beginning of a story, so I'm hoping it's maybe a prequel. I enjoyed it nonetheless.

This Trap Has a Beating Heart by Sarah K. L. Wilson: I have already read Empire of War and Wings, so I very much appreciated seeing this viewpoint of the villain, although I hate him (as one should with most villains). Very well-written and intriguing.

Zens' Dragon by Eileen Mueller: this story was surprisingly dark compared to what I've previously read by Eileen. It was interesting, but I had to skim through several parts that were too dark for me. I know sometimes backstories have to be dark to make a villain become the villain, though.

Wizardoms Soul Blade by Jeffrey L. Kohanek: I'm currently listening to the Wizardoms audiobooks so this was an interesting peek into the characters from a different perspective.

The Binding Day Truce by Allegra Pescatore and J.P. Burnison: I didn't think I was going to get very into this one at first, but I did like the magic system related to eye color. I ended up liking the story though!

Sun Touched by Zaid Samer Alshattle: this wasn't my favorite, but it was a decently interesting story. I didn't feel any connection to the characters, personally, though.

Oblivion by Eric T. Knight: this was a dark, short, and very interesting story. I like the idea of Oblivion (what it says happens to you when you enter at the end of the story).

The Menagerie by Miri C. Golden: this story wasn't a good fit for me, but I did like how descriptive the author is (although there were many parts where the descriptions were disgusting, intentionally, haha).

Gravitas A Take if the Constella by Christopher Russell: this was an interesting story written in a pretty unique style. I like how it was separated by Days rather than chapters.

Birth of Darkness by Aaron Hodges: this story was an interesting introduction to a series I've definitely added to my TBR. The author did a great job showing inside the mind of the main character.

Apples and Shadows - A Tale of Dwemhar by JT Williams: this story intrigued me from the beginning, but got a bit too dark for me by the end. It's well-written but not quite my cup of tea.

The Trouble with Necromancy by Joe Jackson: this was an intriguing story with a twist that I honestly didn't see coming. I liked the unique feel of this story.

Ascension to Hell by Jeff Bacon: this one was hard to get through for me because of the graphic/gory parts, but it was still overall an interesting story.

Into the Storm by D.W. Hawkins: this story was interesting and well-written, but it wasn't quite my cup of tea.

Bound in Death by Angel Haze: this one made me think of the movie House at the End of the Street! Very similar concept, but really well-written, although dark (but I fully expected that based on the rest of the anthology). I listened to the audiobook, and Andy Peloquin did an amazing job with the narration as well.

[Christina Morley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't normally read Grimdark/Horror, but this anthology has a great selection, and many of the stories are unique. The first ones I'd call humorous horror. They would be great to tell at night by the campfire. Then the stories get darker and some are downright creepy or gruesome. The best ones had compelling bad guys where their choices, although wrong, made sense. Some of the short stories even have an epic quality to them. I also liked the quotes at the beginning of each. I do have a couple of complaints with a few of them, but not enough to reduce the five-star rating. If you like dark stories or if you're doing research on evil characters, then this anthology is for you!

[Anya Josephs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Overall, I was blown away by how good this anthology was. I find that most short story anthologies (trad pub or otherwise) vary wildly in the quality of the writing and in how much I like the story. Not so here--all of these stories were excellent, even the ones that were not especially to my particular taste. I loved the way the anthology was organized, with the stories progressing in terms of darkness from one to the next. If I had to critique the anthology, I'd have two points to make. The first is that I felt like a lot of the protaganists weren't really villains! More like anti-heroes that lashed out under very sympathetic circumstances. I did enjoy how the stories got darker and darker throughout, and I'd love to see more truly villainous villains (like those in The Trouble with Necromancy and Bound in Death) as protaganists. The other is that I wish the stories had been longer! Although they were generally excellent, self-contained and focused at this relatively brief length, they were so good (and the worldbuilding was so interesting) that almost all of them left me wishing they had gone on longer.

Ghoul Grief by Jacob Peppers: This story sheds a welcome focus on an underrepresented fantasy monster: the hungry ghoul. Although the writing style was not my favorite (it felt slightly stilted to me), I loved the concept, and there were some really delightful gory details. This story also has a very satisfying concluding moment.

The Precipice of Sin by Rachel Rener: I had high expectations for any story by Rener, and this one certainly paid off. The writing is absolutely beautiful here, the voice crystal-clear. I would have liked to see a lot more from this character, but even in a tiny number of pages, there's some amazing development.

A Dragons' Guide to Hatching A Rebellion by JC Kang: Another writer who's work I've previously loved! Kang's writing is so evocative, as usual, with an array of sensory images that really conjure what it's like to live in Avarax's very non-human mind. His thinking is so clear here, and he's so believably unlike us. A really interesting experience (though again, would've liked this story to be longer).

Interview With The Dark Elf by Jamie Edmundson: How thrlling to see some references to my beloved Og-Grim-Dog! I love that character (s?) so much that just seeing them referenced put a smile on my face. This was really just a snapshot into that universe, but it was fun to return there briefly.

Let the Dark In by Stacey Trombley: Trombley's work, as far as I know, is new to me, but I loved this story. It's a dark tale of what happens when someone is pushed too far and lets evil in. The characters are well-defined and there is plenty of action and development in these few pages.

The Sea Witch by Bethany Hoeflich: What an amazing little story! It's a backstory/retelling for Ursula of the Little Mermaid, one of the greatest campy villians of all time. This gives her quite a tragic backstory without straying into maudlin territory. It's believably consistent with the character we all know and love, and yet expands on the world and its story. I would have gladly read this as a full-length novel.

A Mad King's Hymn by J.E. Mueller: I really enjoyed Mueller's writing style, which is quite descriptive, and the thoughtful worldbuilding here. However, the story did feel rushed to me--there's clearly so much going on in this world, but I wanted to see more of it!

This Trap Has a Beating Heart by Sarah K.L. Wilson: Loved this surprising story. The very first scene is so engaging that I was dying to find out what would happen. It's quite a trick to fit political fantasy into such a small number of pages, but it's very successful here!

Zens' Dragon by Eileen Mueller: I really liked the concept of this story. It blended classic sci-fi and fantasy tropes in a very engaging way. Though I didn't find the characters quite as convincing in this story (Zens' parents are just so comically evil that they don't feel real to me), the premise is fascinating and the writing is strong.

Wizardoms: Soul Blade by Jeffrey L. Kohanek: A very neat little story with awesome epic fantasy vibes--not an easy thing to pull off in so few pages! I thought the pacing was terrific, and there was clearly very rich worldbuilding underlying this story of rebellion and upturned fantasy tropes.

The Binding Day Truce by Allegra Pescatore and JP Burnison: I've read this one before as a novella, so this is a reread for me. It was fun to "meet" this story anew in this context. It continues to work really well for me. I love the characters, especially the stalwart Ilyas. The writing is beautiful, and the ending a little heartbreaking.

Sun Touched by Zaid Samer Alshattle: This is an absolutely gorgeous little story. The writing is so beautiful, with lots of details that allow readers to imagine a much broader world than the one we can see in this small number of pages. It was easy for me to picture in my mind, and to imagine more details that didn't make it into this relatively short tale. The central conflict between two onetime friends is persuasively rendered and quite moving.

Oblivion by Eric T. Knight: Brief though this story is (I think it's about three pages on my kindle), it is incredibly compelling. Hagen makes for a persuasive villain-protagonist, and the magic system of the world is laid out clearly and then overturned convincingly even in this short time.

The Menagerie by Miri C. Golden: This was an interesting story. Golden has some beautifully written sentences (well, maybe beautiful is the wrong word, as a lot of the most evocative are about the disgusting interior of a prison, but, artistically successful, to say the least) and there are some fascinating tidbits of worldbuilding. However, there are also a lot of different characters, places, and ideas introduced here, which made me feel a bit lost.

Gravitas by Christopher Russell: This is a wonderful short story. It depicts a persuasive "corruption arc" as Scraw watches his dreams fall apart before him and turns to villainy. Set in a rich fantasy world, it is nonetheless approachable and stands alone as a successful short (but for an existing fan of Russell like myself there are some extra treats!)

Birth of Darkness by Aaron Hodges: A fascinating story. Theo and his cousin Calybe are on your standard fantasy-quest-adventure, but things take a stunningly dark turn--one that, even in what I knew was a collection about villains, shocked me. The pacing is great here, and the writing strong. It definitely made me want to f=pick the full series up to learn more about Theo's story.

Apples and Shadows by JT Williams: This is an interesting subversion of a standard fantasy premise: the orphan child taken into the palace as a servant/ward, but with the dark turn we might expect from the collection. I was very interested in the world, though I did feel like I wanted to know more about it for the story to hold emotional weight.

The Trouble with Necromancy by Joe Jackson: Right off the bat, great title. Followed by an even more great story. From the first words, I was drawn into this world of quasi-scientific necromancy. This was the darkest story thus far by a huge margin, the first time I felt like a protagonist was not just someone who did bad things, but a truly wicked person. Yet he was not completely unsympathetic, and the end brought some true compassion for him. That ending is so powerful, and so powerfully written. Perhaps my favorite story in the collection!

Ascension to Hell by Jeff Bacon: Interesting short story with great worldbuilding. It definitely stood out as a very different world than the rest of the collection. The writing style was a tiny bit choppy, but the ending was very satisfying.

Into the Storm by DW Hawkins: This narrative of attempted forced conversion was excellent. It was satisfying to read a story where the villainous protaganist is so genuinely villainous. The worldbuilding was excellent. Though we didn't get to see much of how Hex worked or the overall magic system, it was clearly implied in the story, making it an inviting and interesting read.

Bound in Death by Angel Haze: A phenomenally dark story of twisted love and dangerous magical sacrifice. The writing here was splendid, and the complexity of the relationship between the villain-protaganist and Vanessa was amazingly well-rendered.

[Gary Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

"From the Shadows" takes you into stories as seen through the eyes of the villain, demon, or antagonist.

[R.M. Krogman · Rating 5 out of 5]

"From the Shadows" is a wonderful compilation of villain origin stories ranging from a steampunk-ish battle commander to a burned-out hero whose identity is founded on lies, to a royal sister striving to protect her people (and do whatever it takes). Settings range from medieval secondary worlds with castles, to under the ocean and high in the sky with floating islands like Avatar, to a dystopian present. There is such variety here that you are sure to find your next author obsession, but across the board the stories were high quality and generally well-edited. I've reviewed them briefly below.

"Ghoul Grief" by Jacob Peppers: The tone of this story cracked me up, as the hero is a *liiiittle bit* high on himself, mostly hoping that if he repeats things enough, he'll feel a bit more awesome. Fun read!

"The Precipice of Sin" by Rachel Rener: I enjoyed this dive into destiny and the curse of the predestined path. Although our storytelling styles differ (this one is first-person present tense), I gravitate toward this theme as well.

"A Dragon's Guide to Hatching a Rebellion" by JC Kang: A shifting dragon story that definitely sets the stage for a bigger strife as he seeks to reestablish his dominance.

"Interview with the Dark Elf" by Jamie Edmundson: This is a teaser from the Dark Elf's point of view of adventures he's had, which leads the reader to check out the book on Og-Grim-Dog.

"Let the Dark In" by Stacey Trombley: Bullied and forced into a dark place of dark magic, Malcolm must choose what and who he will be when he emerges. I really liked this one!

"The Sea Witch" by Bethany Hoeflich: A fun villain origin reminiscent of Maleficent, featuring a misunderstood and rejected mer royal, with worldbuilding like the Little Mermaid.

"A Mad King's Hymn" by JE Mueller: This was an interesting dive into an evil man's pursuit of power after death. Harnessing the power of demons, the Mad King rises to the earthly realm, his eyes on the world and easy prey above.

"This Trap Has A Beating Heart" by Sarah KL Wilson: This was a political intrigue-type of story, with an unloved prince realizing how endangered his right to the throne really is. It does a nice job of setting up the characters for the Empire of War and Wings series.

"Zens' Dragon" by Eileen Mueller: This was more futuristic in setting, with an abused child who became his own family's test subject. Enhanced beyond control, Zens pushes out of his small lab and seeks the glory to be found not only in his world, but others.

"Wizardoms: Soul Blade" by Jeffrey L. Kohanek: True to his style, this story had lots of action scenes and interesting magic, all revolving around a Drow striving for recognition of his warrior status. I enjoyed the culture presented and the implication of a history on the surface, giving the dark elves more depth than is often allocated in fantasy.

"The Binding Day Truce" by Allegra Pescatore and JP Burnison: I adored this one. Ilyas, like many others, is bound to the mad queen Maevian, and even as her lover, holds little love in his heart. An endless war grinds on, partially by his own hand, and his character development as he re-evaluates everything he knows is wonderful.

"Sun Touched" by Zaid Samer Alshattle: Unlike many stories, this one focuses on the conflict between countrymen who diverge on how to save their people. Living in a cursed, dry land, they all seem to be viewed as undesirables by the outside world. Quareth chooses slaughter of their enemies; Maketh chooses peace. Who is right?

"Oblivion" by Eric T. Knight: This is a short backstory of an assassin which leads toward the book Badger Company. I enjoyed that book too, so check this out to get a little more context on one of the characters!

"The Menagerie" by Miri C. Golden: This story follows a sadistic mage in charge of the torture and questioning of an enemy mage Ulk. The magic is powerful, and both sides clearly prone to violence to support their side. It's a little hard to be sure whether either side is good, but this story seems to lead into a bigger one.

"Gravitas: A Tale of the Constella" by Christopher Russell: This story featured a really interesting magic system revolving around Gravitas, the inherent power of history and authority. Scraw, a repellant character with seemingly greater insight to the dangers to the world, embraces this magic for his purposes. Heartless or not, Scraw may not be the worst threat to the kingdom.

"Birth of Darkness" by Aaron Hodges: I really like this straightforward origin story. Theo struggles to survive and thrive in a world where everyone seems to have magic, except him. The world is fraught with dangerous demons and magic users, and he is powerless. That jealousy can drive one absolutely mad.

"Apples and Shadows: A Tale of Dwemhar" by J.T. Williams: This story follows a young peasant, saved from a life on the streets by the royal castle's employment. His job, though, is strange, and he quickly realizes the foundation of his new home may be lies, tears, and a blackness he cannot resist.

"The Trouble with Necromancy" by Joe Jackson: I like this one quite a bit, as it gave me major Frankenstein vibes. The necromancer Daorun seems a little imbalanced, and then a lot imbalanced as he justifies every single action no matter how extreme.

"Ascension to Hell" by Jeff Bacon: This story had a more unique setting, with real-world references to cities and somewhat modern technology, but with witches and warlocks. Apparently there is a big war among magic users and a regression to knights in society, and the MC sacrifices everything to change the course of that war. However, he spirals in the dark magic embraced.

"Into the Storm" by D.W. Hawkins: I loved this one, partially because of its steampunk vibes with an airship and Hex gun tech, and partially because the author did an outstanding job with characterization. Captain Raush is a fascinating man, and I would very much like to read more about him although I'm pretty sure he is on the wrong side.

"Bound in Death" by Angel Haze: This is another mage-gone-mad story, this time with a truly obsessive MC. He is not redeemable, and he is strong. This one definitely seems like it is a prequel for a bigger story!

[Rally Russell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ghoul Grief - Jacob Peppers
Maximilliam the Magnificent wakes up with no memory of how he ended up in a room as dark as a tomb. Things take a bad turn when he remembers his last mission to kill Taslen the Terrible, a necromancer, and he begins to suspect how that quest might have ended. The narrative style was a bit slower paced but quite entertaining. The story itself is clearly just a taste and leaves an open ending.

The Precipice of Sin - Rachel Rener
An interesting take on the Evil One and Chosen One tropes where the villain is the main character. I enjoyed the in-depth narrative and the writing style. It finishes with an open ending, so maybe Zeb's fate will be revealed some other time.

A Dragon's Guide to Hatching a Rebellion - JC Kang
A great little dark story of a dragon taking on human form (for the first time) to try and find a girl whose voice makes his dragonstone sing. Even though he has lived a long life, Avarax the dragon knows little of humans and their customs, but he believes he has found a way to woo this powerful human who can use dragon songs. But things don't quite turn out the way he has planned. This tale serves well as backstory for a (what I'm understanding) a quite powerful and interesting villain, and it definitely gives you an enticing little taste of the series to which it connects.

Interview with the Dark Elf - Jamie Edmundson
A story told by a villain, Interview with a Dark Elf, is about [insert unpronounceable name here], as he is interviewed by "the recorder" about his POV during one of the books of the Og-Grim-Dog series. It's a unique perspective, and was a fun little side story. Not quite as much humour as in the series proper but still an enjoyable read.

Let the Dark In - Stacey Trombley
An origin story of a necromancer villain and how he receives his powers of darkness. It was an entertaining way of telling the tale, and I enjoyed the introspection offered, especially from Malcolm's POV. A great take on how someone not inherently evil ends up a villain due to circumstances they can't control.

The Sea Witch - Bethany Hoeflich
A backstory for the villain in what seems to be a The Little Mermaid retelling. It's well-written and packed with lore and world building despite the limited page count. I really enjoyed reading from Ula's POV.

A Mad King's Hymn by J.E. Mueller
A short tale about a king who sold his soul to a demon and turned into one himself. This one is fast-paced, perhaps a bit sparse on description, but entertaining.

This Trap has a Beating Heart by Sarah K. L. Wilson
This was a cool story of an underdog prince finding out he's not the only heir to the throne. I loved the introspection this story offered, with a fast pace and plenty of court intrigue.

Zens' Dragon by Eileen Mueller
Zen is abused as a child and used for his parents' despicable experiments. This story is about how he achieves his powers, and how he uses them to reach his ultimate goal - the exact vengeance on the whole academic community that failed him. It's a dark tale with gore and abuse, and gives plenty of backstory to what seems a vicious villain.

Wizardoms: Soul Blade by Jeffrey L. Kohanek
An intriguing tale, with both action and fabulous character interaction. You get to walk in Tranadal's shoes, as he goes from a noble quest, to one of death and conquer. Highly entertaining!

The Binding Day Truce by Allegra Pescatore & J. P. Burnison
Great prequel centring on two arch nemesis and how they are forced to make a truce rather than kill each other. I enjoyed Ilyas' perspective the most, what with the issues of being soulbonded with a mad queen entails, and how he struggles with his past as much as his present. Well-written and entertaining. I only wished I had read the book first because I was a bit confused at times about the world building.

Sun Touched by Zaid Samer Alshattle
This was fast-paced and full of action, with battles, gore, and lots of introspection from a warriors POV. A bit confusing to at times, as I would have loved more background knowledge to understand all of it, but entertaining nonetheless.

Oblivion by Eric T. Knight
This was great. Short, to the point, but still highly entertaining, well-written and intriguing. Characters with depth and a story that makes you want to know more.

The Menagerie by Miri C. Golden
Am intriguing snippet of insight into what I can only imagine is a large and complex world. This contains a lot of world building and character interaction, and the pace is kept throughout. Very interesting story!

Gravitas by Christopher Russell
A highly entertaining read, and being a lover of real crime, reading about villains is certainly something I enjoy. Like a deep dive into a dark mind - wonderful!

Birth of Darkness by Aaron Hodges
A great little novella, that I can only assume is a form of origin story for yet another delicious villain. It's high paced with plenty of world-building still. I enjoyed this.

Apples and Shadows: A Tale of Dwemhar by J. T. Williams
Apples and unicorns, who could have thought there would be so much court intrigue? A little less polished than the rest, this story still holds its own and is a taste of a dark world.

The Trouble with Necromancy by Joe Jackson
Intriguing tale and a very interesting take on necromancy. Loved the twist towards the end and the secrets revealed.

Ascension to Hell by Jeff Bacon
Another story about necromancy, this time set in a version of the real world. I liked the take on the magical aspect and the hint towards what other magic is out there.

Into the Storm by D.W. Hawkins
Oooh, airships! This had a lot of world building, but it still delivers plenty of action and intriguing characters. I enjoyed this one!

Bound in Death by Angel Haze
A well-written, short read, but it is fast-paced, packed with action, and loaded with dark, disturbing themes and emotions. Loved this one!