My Eighth Anthology Publication – Enchanted Tales & Twisted Lore by Cabbit Crossing Publishing
Today, February 25, is the day. My all-time favorite short story, “Dabria’s Shadows,” is officially out in Enchanted Tales & Twisted Lore: Fairy Tales, Folklore, and Fables Reimagined – Volume 1 by Cabbit Crossing Publishing.
You can purchase your copy of the anthology everywhere books are sold, including Amazon, Apple Books, and Barnes & Noble.
A Peek Into “Dabria’s Shadows”
“Dabria’s Shadows” is a new adult dark romantasy reimagining of “Death’s Messengers,” a lesser-known Brothers Grimm fairy tale.
Dabria, one of Death’s immortal reapers, is traveling the treacherous streets of wintery Alaska and setting souls free when she glimpses a figure who looks like her fallen love. She believes it’s only her imagination, but when she slips off a cliff and gets stuck in snow, the man pulls her free and she looks into a face she hasn’t seen in two thousand years. Back in Imperial Rome, she broke the Reaper Code when she fell in love with a mortal. Ever since he got sick and she was forced to put him to rest, the Dark God has punished her, and now, Dabria thinks Death is doing so yet again by presenting her with her love’s modern lookalike. Still, Dabria thanks the man for helping her out of the snow and promises to send her messengers to warn him before she comes for him herself. As he’s walking her home to her underground house in a nearby cemetery, Dabria can’t stop thinking of her fallen love and eventually spirals. Done with the Dark God’s vicious games, Dabria uses shadow magic to open her tombstone front door and descends into her home. She summons the Obumbratio Mortis, her Shadows of Death. She sends her messengers to inflict pain and illness on the mysterious stranger and watches the scenes unfold in her black mirror. To her utter shock, the man shows no signs he felt the shadow’s attacks. Learning the man is immune to the Shadows of Death makes Dabria question his mortality. Taking matters into her own hands, Dabria ventures to the cottage she saw in her black mirror to confront the stranger and discover the truth.
I loved, loved, loved writing this story. I’ve always wanted to create my own dark fairy tale with shadow magic and characters that personify death. Dabria’s Obumbratio Mortis are my absolute favorite.
Since I love “Dabria’s Shadows” so much, I really want to expand on this story. I already have a very loose idea for a full novel. Maybe I’ll write it someday.
If you grab a copy of Enchanted Tales & Twisted Lore, you’ll get to read my author essay that shares my inspiration for the story and more behind the scenes details.
Receiving My Author Copy of Enchanted Tales & Twisted Lore
The day I got my author copy was a special one. I couldn’t be happier that “Dabria’s Shadows” is finally in print.
Also, “Dabria’s Shadows” is the first story in the anthology. When I received the digital ARC right before Christmas and found out, I almost cried. I’ll never get over this.
My Shadow Ice Cream Pie Recipe
Since I love “Dabria’s Shadows” and ice cream, I made my very own shadow ice cream pie. You should totally do the same and enjoy this delicious dessert while you read the story.
Huge thank you to Marx Pyle and the whole Cabbit Crossing Publishing team for including “Dabria’s Shadows” in Enchanted Tales & Twisted Lore. This anthology is a very special addition to my growing collection. I hope readers love Dabria’s dark and twisted love story as much as I do.