Gothic-fantasy Stories

Anorakii. They are not just a tribe; they are the only life Giiunayi has ever known. As the winter solstice approaches, he anticipates the sacred rite of passage that will mark himself into the heart of the Anorakii, bringing a close to his restless belonging. But as the ancient rituals unfold, they awaken a wrathful force, unearthing dark secrets long buried beneath their warrior ethos. In Knowing, There Is A Sun is a novella of a blessing and a curse, of the struggle against unleashed fury as the shadows of the past close upon not only the fate of the Anorakii but also upon the essence of who Guiinayi is. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ Published in February 2025 for Open Novella Contest 2025 Book Cover (Design & Illustration) © by Maddy Alson 2025 Copyright © by CrownedMadness (Maddy Alson) 2025

Perfect for fans of supernatural mysteries, brilliant teen detectives, dark academia, gothic humor, eerie creatures, ancient conspiracies, and fearless heroines who refuse to fit into the world's expectations, Viper: Shadows Never Lie is a haunting mystery where every shadow hides a secret, and the smartest detective in the room may also be its greatest mystery. Most people think Viper is strange. She's quiet when everyone else is loud. She notices details no one else sees. She solves puzzles before teachers finish asking the question. Rumors follow her through every hallway, whispers that she's cursed, creepy, or simply impossible to understand. They're only half right. Gifted with psychic visions triggered by touch, an uncanny instinct for danger, and the ability to see pieces of the truth hidden from everyone else, Viper has spent her life solving mysteries that adults refuse to believe exist. Every crime scene, abandoned manor, forgotten cemetery, and haunted forest seems to call her name. The dead leave clues. Monsters leave footprints. Secrets always leave cracks. When a prestigious gothic academy becomes the center of a string of impossible disappearances, Viper uncovers evidence of an ancient conspiracy buried beneath the school's stone foundations. Hidden societies, forbidden rituals, forgotten monsters, and centuries-old betrayals begin crawling back into the light. The deeper she investigates, the more she realizes someone has been waiting for a detective exactly like her. But every vision comes with a cost. Every answer reveals an even darker question. And every monster she uncovers isn't nearly as terrifying as the humans protecting them. Armed with razor-sharp intelligence, relentless determination, biting wit, and supernatural abilities she barely understands, Viper must untangle a web of lies before an ancient evil awakens beneath the academy-and before she becomes its next target.

By night, the grand castle falls silent-except for the soft echoes of footsteps that should not exist. A forgotten relic, once an ordinary object, stirs to life when the moonlight seeps through the stained-glass windows. It wanders the empty halls, weaving through shadows, searching for something... or someone. As it pieces together lost memories hidden within the castle's walls, a lingering presence watches from the dark, waiting for the relic to remember the truth.

Natascha Griggs never asked to be a killer. But when her magic spiraled out of control, leaving bodies in its wake, she was given a choice-rot in prison or be sent to the Institute for the Unruly, a facility designed to rehabilitate children like her. She chose survival. But the Institute isn't just a school. Beneath its pristine walls, something sinister lurks. Whispers of a long-dead tyrant, a cult that never truly died-and a chilling truth: they believe she's the key to bringing their leader back. As she struggles to control her power and navigate the shifting alliances within the Institute, Natascha begins uncovering secrets she was never meant to find. With time running out and the walls closing in, she must decide: fight against a past she barely understands or embrace the darkness and become what they need her to be. One choice could save her. One choice could doom them all. ⸻ Disclaimer: The Institute for the Unruly is being written as part of a 30-day rough draft challenge. This means the story is in its earliest, unpolished form, with ongoing development. Expect raw storytelling, evolving ideas, and a journey that will refine over time! TikTok-@katyohera

The first time Mu Hyuk saw him, he thought he was seeing a fallen god. A boy floating above a black lake beneath the moonlight. White wings drifting against the water. Lifeless violet eyes staring into nothingness. Beautiful enough to be divine. Empty enough to be terrifying. Years later, they meet again in the human world- both hiding beneath fragile human appearances, both pretending to be human. But while Meiryu was sent to protect the balance between realms, Mu Hyuk came only to watch humanity destroy itself. They should have stayed away from each other. Instead, they become something far more dangerous: an imbalance capable of tearing apart the boundary between worlds. And somewhere beyond the portal, the Abyss is beginning to wake.