Boys in the Valley
St. Vincent's Orphanage for Boys.
Turn of the century, in a remote valley in Pennsylvania.
Here, under the watchful eyes of several priests, 30 boys work and learn and worship. They live their lives in a methodical way and get along despite different personalities and pasts. Peter Barlow, orphaned by a nighttime murder at his childhood home, has made a new life here. As he approaches adulthood, he has friends, a future... a family.
Then, late one stormy night, a group of men arrive at their door, one of whom is badly wounded, his body covered with occult symbols carved into his flesh. Upon his death, an ancient evil is released that infests St. Vincent's and the children within. Soon, boys begin acting differently, forming groups. Taking sides.
Others turn up dead.
Now Peter and those dear to him must choose sides of their own, each of them knowing their lives -- and perhaps their eternal souls - are at risk.
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Philip Fracassi
Philip Fracassi's name might not yet be whispered alongside the giants of horror, but those who have dared to enter the dark and twisted worlds he crafts know that his work leaves a lasting impression. Fracassi’s writing isn’t just about fear—it’s about the way fear clings to the edges of the ordinary, distorting the familiar into something nightmarish. His stories tend to veer into unsettling, psychological terrain, where horror isn’t a matter of what’s seen, but of what’s felt. In his worlds, the scariest monsters are often the ones lurking within ourselves.
Earthling Halloween Series
From the website of Earthling Publications:
Boo.
This series of books celebrates Publisher Paul Miller's favorite holiday. Each October, as the air turns colder and leaves fall off the trees, Earthling will release one novel of flat-out horror, usually featuring classic terrors such as monsters and haunted houses rather than psychological suspense or real-life horrors. The dustjacket spine will feature a pumpkin with the series number of the book. MR. DARK'S CARNIVAL was an ultra-short run of only 15 handmade hardcovers, and therefore BLOOD RED was counted as Book #1 in the series.
Earthling Halloween Series consists of sixteen primary books, and includes one additional book that complement the series but is not considered mandatory reads — considered a complete series. The current recommended reading order for the series is provided below.
