Goddess Fish Promotions Presents

A Cold Christmas and the Darkest of Winters
published by Cinnabar Moth

A randomly drawn winner will receive a $25 Amazon/BN GC – Enter Below

A Cold Christmas and the Darkest of Winters is a collection of Christmas- and winter-themed short stories from an international group of authors with diverse perspectives. Each of the stories was selected for the incredible world building, character development, and fantastic storytelling. The collection is divided into two groups: stories that include Christmas or have a Christmas theme, and stories that take place in winter. None of the stories are for the faint of heart, and we strongly advise that everyone read the content notes in their entirety.

The Christmas tales are a mixture of profound loss and familiar fantasy with a fresh twist. The fantasy Christmas stories are a mixture, ranging from tales of despair and frustration to those with hope, delight, and an amusing twist.

The darkest of winter begins with a whimsical fantasy tale, followed by some paranormal tales that will leave you feeling haunted. Also included are dark contemporary, dark fantasy, chilling and brutal horror, and postapocalyptic science fiction. The contemporary works include twisted tales of sadness and loss. There are no purely happy endings, but there are many thrills, chills,and surprises.

4 out of 5

If, like me, you enjoy horror all year round, you’re going to love this wintry collection. I probably should have skipped over “Copper Snow” by Zoë Markham (I’m terrified of clowns, but once I started the book, I was determined to read every story). Each story is unique, and although they’re all tied together, it was interesting to have so many unique voices withing the pages. Like all anthologies, if you don’t like one author’s story, you may like another. I found some to be more chilling than others, but all were pretty fun to read (although I don’t think I’d read this alone at night, as much as I love horror). If you’re looking for chilly, scary fun, then this is the anthology you’re looking for!

The Bear and the Bee by André Santana

For the past several days, Haylem has woken up and dragged a spiked metal beam from the bow pulpit, his knees trembling as he slides down to the submerged stern of his boat. He stands, surveyor to the valleys, looking over his work before sliding the sharp metal across the stiff ocean in arching curves. And he writes:

Dear Andrew,

How many times can I say your name before it counts as sinning? Before the sky swallows me up and takes me back to Channel Cay 
Drive? I am holding your hand right now—in my mind—in the 

290 back of that busted up Subaru your uncle gave you. I have stared at the gap between the ocean and sky for days now, and I have never seen 
two disparate worlds come together like we do when I kiss you. How 
could I have forgotten that?

Exhausted and tinged purple by the fading sky, Haylem collapses onto the ice, a reckless ball of panting. When he looks up, there is nothing to obscure his understanding that the universe is a thing for gods to hold in their hands and laugh about. When, he returns to his boat, he rips up a new plank from the deck and smashes it under his foot until the painted strips resemble kindling. Holding the tips together with the care of a new father, he sets them ablaze using a dwindling collection of matches. Down at the stern, where the ice seems to curve right through his boat the way tsunamis swallow cities, he watches the fire burn and the smoke curl up until he remembers.

Amazon | Goodreads

This Anthology was written by an international team of renowned short story authors. Each author’s point of view is unique, and their voices are from groups not typically heard from. Every author is either a BIPOC, neurodivergent, part of the LGBTQIA community, or is physically or mentally disabled. This thrilling work contains story that reflect their own voices and lived experiences.

The full list of contributing authors is included below:
Angelo Lorenzo
Vashelle Nino
Kisstopher Musick
T. War Powers Tilden
A.M. Weald
Chad Musick
Cynthia McDonald
Archita Mittra
Alexis Hansen
Ashe Thurman
Katie Groom
Elyse Russell
Joe Haward
Hector Duarte, Jr.
Suraya
Kasimma
Zoë Markham
Gwen C. Katz
André Santana
Roy Christopher
Frances Ogamba
Phoenix Blackwood

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