Grimdark - Stories

It is a truth universally acknowledged that Geralt of Rivia will plough anything with breasts. This is not entirely correct. As it happens, breasts are optional. Yours truly, Dandelion the bard, knows this both from first hand accounts, and from . . . personal experience. The following manuscript is, of course, for my own eyes only.

The story follows Kandric and his brothers through a world of magic and danger. Monsters of all sorts dominate this story in a very gritty world full of slavery and other things not mentioned in polite society. Kandric makes his own path. Dare you follow?

Vanus Kaufman has diamond eyes; everyone thinks he's a daemon. Three days before he is to turn eighteen and leave the orphanage, he discovers he is the heir to a powerful dynasty. In the blink of an eye, he finds himself surrounded by wealth, fame, and power beyond anything he could imagine. But even for a powerful magician the city of Vaylin is a dangerous and corrupt place. If Vanus wants to keep what is his, he will have to fight for it.

After the successful assassination of his older brother, Xavier, the party boy deviant, is forced to take over ruling as Prince of The Underworld. It's all fun and games until the welcome party with his subjects is ruined by a pissed off Demigod coming to collect on a promise his dear, dead brother stupidly made. Xavier has no intention of making good on the deal, especially when he finds out it involves him. But when the Prince of the Underworld takes on a Demigod, they find their murderous blood-thirst isn't that far from lust, and until they can break the spell keeping them both invincible, they might as well enjoy themselves.

In the dark future, an unlikely trio in a rundown metropolis are set on a path of unexpected heroism through horrifying trials. For Agrell, Dozi, and Ilya, the harrowing events bring growth through sacrifice and redemption. However, bizarre rituals and arcane arts are commonplace in the world of "The Mantis Variant," and tragedy and death are always close at hand.

A year has passed since the events of "The Mantis Variant - Book One" and the clash between the underground and the tower. A group of Biological Shifts has started slaughtering Messiahs in Teshon City. To find the culprits, the Principal Messiah establishes a task force to investigate the murders. Meanwhile, the mystic and his husband with their group of friends convince Dozi to take a trip. They help a child while away, but when they return to Teshon City, the streets become a battleground. Who will survive this new confrontation and what will be left of them?

In the east are monsters. In the north is the witch. In the south is the capital. To the west is the waste. The land is called Xin. Life has been nothing but cruel to the children soldiers Sumi and Harakin. They were not expected to survive as long as they have. In the north, a child with shadows ventures to the witch's lair. In the south, an organic mechanic is expelled from her guild.

How will these different individuals from a distant land connect to the events in Books One & Two? And what will happen with the monsters?

This short story is a classic fairytale retold from the other side.

THE MANTIS CONTINUUM leaves behind the grimdark style of the previous story, and it morphs into an eldritch tale of psychic confrontation. Two weird children, Jzuna and Thech, go through a significant upheaval in their happy lives. A unique trio of gay 17 year old lads embark on a buccaneer adventure. A man living alone in isolation is found and helped, but with very unexpected consequences.

All of them suffer loss. All of them go through grief. All of them end up in Teshon City.

There is a cursed village, a trip to paradise, and a painting party.

There are giants, multiple alternate dimensions, and ice cream!

The road out of hell is long and paved in blood and betrayal

Thirteen-year-old Travis Turner thought he had a handle on his alien powers. Then demons captured him and took him to Pandemonium.

Lord Abraxas, a King of Hell, takes in Travis and teaches him to control his demonic abilities. But he must be on guard, for his enemies are legion, and loyalties can shift in a heartbeat.

If he’s to survive long enough to find a way back to his boyfriend, Travis must master The Game of Souls, the intricate rules governing demon interactions and warfare.