Story cover for The Bloody Key: A Bluebeard Retelling by ljthomas
The Bloody Key: A Bluebeard Retelling
  • WpView
    Reads 90
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    Parts 8
  • WpHistory
    Time 34m
  • WpView
    Reads 90
  • WpVote
    Votes 15
  • WpPart
    Parts 8
  • WpHistory
    Time 34m
Ongoing, First published Oct 05, 2023
Fifteen-year-old Anne tends goats while daydreaming of fairy tales-until the day she finds herself in one. When a wealthy nobleman marries her older sister, they're both swept off to his castle deep in the woods. Upon entering this world of finery, lush gardens, and nightly balls with dashing suitors, Anne believes her own happily-ever-after is just around the corner. She has almost forgotten the rumors surrounding the estate-tales of the castle's tragic history and whispers of ghosts-when her sister falls mysteriously ill.

To save her, Anne must uncover the shadowy pasts of those who share her new home. Her sister's husband refuses to speak of the disappearance of his last wife (or possibly wives), the domineering housekeeper hides her own secrets in a forbidden garden, and the handsome, enigmatic gardener urges Anne to escape the castle and leave her sister behind. There are signs, too, that something dark and supernatural haunts the estate.

If Anne misplaces her trust or fails to discover where the real danger lies, she'll forfeit her sister's life-and her own.

Told through the diaries and letters of those who live within the castle, this reimagining of the Bluebeard fairy tale is perfect for fans of Crimson Peak, Erin A. Craig's House of Salt and Sorrows, Lyndall Clipstone's Lakesedge, or classic Gothic horror. 

Note: this is only a sample of the full novel. Ebooks are available through Amazon; paperbacks available through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop.org, and other online retailers.
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