Gwendolyn Kiste Libri

Exploring the works of Thomas Ligotti and related authors, this literary journal features a diverse range of content, including critical essays, literary horror fiction, poetry, and innovative hybrid pieces. It showcases contributions from notable writers such as Gwendolyn Kiste and Daniel Braum, alongside striking cover art by Jason Barnett. Vastarien serves as a unique platform for both critical analysis and creative expression within the realm of literary horror.

The narrative intertwines various intriguing stories, including a murdered movie star connecting with an unexpected admirer and an enchanted orchard filled with toxic apples. It explores the lives of outcasts facing a chilling neighborhood questionnaire and two sisters concealing a dark secret in a Victorian bathtub. Additionally, the plot delves into themes of friendship and revenge, as a deceased best friend harbors a grudge from the afterlife. Each tale weaves elements of mystery and the supernatural, creating a captivating tapestry of suspense.

"No witch has ever been permitted a peaceful life. It starts with crows tumbling out of the clouds and spectral voices on the wind that won't leave Odette alone. And the midnight visits to the graveyard ... Odette wants to forget magic, but her magic doesn't want to forget her. Her worst nightmare is about to come true--the witchfinders are returning. And this time, the decree is clear: to burn the witch that got away."--Page 4 of cover

It's the summer of 1980 in Cleveland and Phoebe Shaw and her best friend Jacqueline have just graduated high school, only to confront an ugly, uncertain future. The girls they've grown up with are changing. One by one, the girls' bodies wither away, their bones exposed like corroded metal beneath their flesh.

For fans of Mexican Gothic, a harrowing, sultry horror novel about the forgotten women in Dracula and Jane Eyre as they combat the toxic men intent on destroying their lives.