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"The Curse of Blackwood Manor"
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Blackwood Manor, shrouded in sinister legends, lures journalist Mira into its eerie depths on a stormy night. As she explores the decaying mansion, she encounters ghostly visions, unsettling whispers, and an otherworldly presence lurking in the mirrors. Drawn into a chilling mystery of madness and malevolent forces, Mira vanishes without a trace, leaving behind haunting evidence of her final moments. The manor’s curse grows stronger, its whispers calling out for the next unwitting soul.
4
Reads
58 Chapters
The Eternal Shadow
Astra Dawn
In the bustling metropolis of Sangravia, ordinary people unknowingly live alongside ancient martial clans, spirit cultivators, and hidden supernatural forces. Arin Veer, a disgraced martial artist and orphan, struggles to survive on the city's dark streets. Betrayed by his closest allies during a failed tournament, Arin is left to die—only to awaken in a mysterious ancient realm where a shadowy figure offers him a second chance at life in exchange for a pact: become the Eternal Shadow and bring balance to the human and supernatural worlds. Empowered by forbidden martial techniques and shadow magic, Arin returns to Sangravia, determined to reclaim his honor, protect those he loves, and unravel the dark conspiracies threatening to plunge the city into chaos. But the path of revenge is fraught with enemies, and the shadows Arin controls may consume him before he achieves his goals.
5
(1)
33
Reads
Crooken Sands
Bram Stoker
An English merchant takes his family on a Scottish vacation, where he becomes fascinated with the traditional Highland chiefs’ attire. He commissions a similar outfit for himself before departing London. Upon arrival, he encounters a mysterious and eerie atmosphere, which culminates in a terrifying experience. The story explores themes of vanity, mortality, and the supernatural, characteristic of Stoker’s horror style. Ultimately, the merchant’s admiration for Highland culture turns into a haunting and unsettling encounter with the unknown.
A Dream of Red Hands
Bram Stoker
The story follows a protagonist who awakens in a desolate, eerie landscape, surrounded by ghostly voices and faces. He struggles to recall his identity and the events leading up to his current predicament. As he navigates this supernatural realm, he encounters various apparitions, including a mysterious woman with red hands. Through his encounters, the protagonist uncovers fragments of his past and the circumstances of his death. Ultimately, the dreamlike narrative blurs reality and fantasy, leaving the reader questioning what is real and what is mere illusion.
The Burial of the Rats
Bram Stoker
A young English traveler, seeking refuge in a French forest, encounters a mysterious old woman who recounts eerie tales of her past. As night falls, the traveler realizes his host’s sinister intentions and flees for his life. However, he soon discovers that he has more to fear than just the old woman, as giant rats begin to emerge from the darkness. The rats, seemingly under the old woman’s control, pursue the traveler with relentless ferocity. In the end, the traveler’s desperate attempts to escape are foiled, and he succumbs to the horrors that surround him.
The Coming of Abel Behenna
Bram Stoker
In the small Cornish fishing port of Pencastle, Sarah Trefusis is courted by two suitors, Eric Sansom and Abel Behenna. Abel returns to Pencastle after years abroad, bringing with him a mysterious and ominous presence. As tensions rise between the two suitors, Sarah’s mother pressures her to choose a husband, unaware of the dark secrets surrounding Abel’s past. The story builds towards a tragic confrontation, culminating in a haunting and eerie conclusion. Through the narrative, Stoker explores themes of fate, guilt, and the power of the past to haunt the present.
The Gipsy Prophecy
by
Bram Stoker
The Gipsy Prophecy
Bram Stoker
Dr. Burleigh and Joshua Considine visit a gipsy encampment on a moor, where they witness a fortune teller’s predictions and prophecies. The gipsy woman foretells a tragic event, which Considine’s wife Mary believes will come to pass. Despite skepticism from the men, Mary becomes increasingly convinced of the prophecy’s accuracy. As the story unfolds, the gipsy’s words prove to be eerily correct, leading to a comedic yet unsettling conclusion. Through the tale, Stoker explores themes of superstition, femininity, and the power of prophecy.
The Secret of the Growing Gold
Bram Stoker
The story revolves around the Brent and Delandre families, both with long histories in rural England, but struggling with decline. The Brents, once aristocratic, are now worn out and degraded, while the Delandres, yeoman class, are scandalously connected to the Brents through Margaret Delandre’s marriage to Geoffrey Brent. As the families’ fates intertwine, a sense of terror and revenge from beyond the grave unfolds. The narrative explores themes of decay, family secrets, and the consequences of past actions. Ultimately, the story builds towards a climax of eerie and unsettling events, characteristic of Stoker’s gothic horror style.
The Squaw
Bram Stoker
The story revolves around Elias P. Hutcheson, a boastful and careless individual, who encounters a mysterious and menacing cat while exploring a city fosse. The cat, reminiscent of a “squaw” (an old-fashioned term for a Native American woman), seems to be haunting Hutcheson and his companions. As they observe the cat from a distance, Hutcheson’s inflated ego and careless attitudes are gradually deflated by the cat’s unsettling presence. The story explores the themes of pride, vulnerability, and the power of nature to humble human arrogance. Ultimately, Hutcheson’s encounter with the cat serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of underestimating the unknown and the natural world.
The Judge’s House
Bram Stoker
A scholar, Malcolmson, seeks isolation to focus on his studies and rents a remote house, unaware of its dark history. The house was once the residence of a notorious judge known for his cruel sentences. As Malcolmson settles in, he discovers the house is infested with rats and begins to experience strange and terrifying events. Despite his initial skepticism, Malcolmson comes to realize that the house is indeed haunted by the malevolent spirit of the judge. In the end, his rational mind proves no match for the horrors that surround him, and he meets a tragic fate.
Dracula's Guest
Bram Stoker
A young Englishman, traveling through Germany on a cold and snowy night, seeks shelter in a wayside inn. He meets a mysterious and sinister stranger, who warns him of impending doom and advises him to return to his coach. Despite the stranger’s ominous warnings, the Englishman decides to explore the nearby graveyard, where he encounters a group of ghostly women and a wolf-like creature. As the night wears on, the Englishman becomes increasingly uneasy and disoriented, eventually fleeing the graveyard in terror. The story ends with the implication that the stranger’s warnings have come true, and the Englishman has narrowly escaped a terrible fate.
27 Chapters
DRACULA
Bram Stoker
Count Dracula, a vampire from Transylvania, travels to England and preys on humans, including Mina Harker and Lucy Westenra. A group of men, led by Professor Van Helsing, discovers Dracula’s true nature and sets out to stop him. The novel explores themes of good vs. evil, sexual repression, and the struggle for power and control. As the story unfolds, the characters use various methods, including crucifixes and holy water, to try and defeat the vampire. Ultimately, Dracula is destroyed when he is staked through the heart and burns to ashes, freeing Mina from his curse.
2
Reads
10 Chapters
The Trial
Franz Kafka
Josef K., a bank clerk, is abruptly arrested and put on trial without knowing the charges against him. The trial is a labyrinthine and incomprehensible process, with multiple judges, lawyers, and witnesses, but no clear evidence or explanation of the crime. As Josef navigates the bureaucratic and illogical legal system, he becomes increasingly isolated and desperate to uncover the truth. Despite his efforts, the trial reaches a conclusion without revealing the nature of his supposed offense, leaving Josef feeling helpless and disillusioned. Ultimately, the novel presents a haunting critique of modern society’s dehumanizing institutions and the search for meaning in a seemingly meaningless world.
3 Chapters
Metamorphosis
Franz Kafka
Gregor Samsa, a traveling salesman, wakes up one morning to find himself inexplicably transformed into a giant insect-like creature. He is confined to his room, unable to communicate with his family or perform his job. As his physical condition deteriorates, Gregor’s family struggles to cope with his new form and the financial burdens he once provided. Despite his efforts to adapt, Gregor becomes increasingly isolated and despairing, leading to a tragic conclusion. Through Gregor’s metamorphosis, Kafka explores themes of identity, alienation, and the absurdity of modern life.
1
Reads
210 Chapters
A Man Like None Other
Unknown
The novel tells the story of Jared Chance, an ordinary man who faces maltreatment from others. After being released from prison, Jared discovers that his girlfriend has married the man who previously made advances on her, leaving him heartbroken. Throughout the story, Jared’s character evolves as he navigates the challenges of his life, including poverty and lack of education. The novel explores themes of relatability, realism, and life’s lessons, emphasizing the importance of not judging others based on their social status. The plot follows Jared’s journey as he deals with the aftermath of his imprisonment and the loss of his girlfriend. The novel’s suspenseful and thrilling elements are woven throughout, creating a gripping narrative that keeps readers engaged.
5
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290
Reads
13 Chapters
The Art of War
Sun Tzu
For more than two thousand years, The Art of War has stood as a cornerstone of Chinese culture-a lucid epigrammatic text that reveals as much about human psychology, politics, and economics as it does about battlefield strategy. The influence of Sun-tzu's text has grown tremendously in the West in recent years, with military leaders, politicians, and corporate executives alike finding valuable insight in these ancient words. In his crisp, accessible new translation, scholar John Minford brings this seminal work to life for modern readers.
1
Reads
47 Chapters
LITTLE WOMEN
Louisa May Alcott
Little Women was originally published in two volumes in 1868 and 1869. This edition contains both volumes. It follows the lives of the four March sisters--Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy-- from childhood to womanhood and is loosely based on the author and her three sisters. Although Little Women was a novel for girls, it differed notably from the current writings for children, especially girls. The book was an immediate commercial and critical success and has since been adapted for cinema, TV, Broadway and even the opera.
2
Reads
39 Chapters
JANE EYRE: AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY
Charlotte Brontë
Orphaned as a child, Jane has felt an outcast her whole young life. Her courage is tested once again when she arrives at Thornfield Hall, where she has been hired by the brooding, proud Edward Rochester to care for his ward Adèle. Jane finds herself drawn to his troubled yet kind spirit. She falls in love. Hard. But there is a terrifying secret inside the gloomy, forbidding Thornfield Hall. Is Rochester hiding from Jane? Will Jane be left heartbroken and exiled once again?
42 Chapters
CRIME AND PUNISHMENT
Fyodor Dostoevsky
Crime and Punishment: A psychological novel by Fyodor Dostoevsky, published in 1866. The story revolves around Rodion Romanovich Raskolnikov, a poor and isolated former student who murders an old pawnbroker and grapples with guilt and redemption. Raskolnikov’s philosophical justification for the crime, based on his theory of extraordinary individuals who can transcend moral laws, is challenged by his own conscience and the investigations of Porfiry Petrovich, a perceptive detective. Through Raskolnikov’s journey, Dostoevsky explores themes of morality, guilt, and redemption, delving into the complexities of the human psyche. Ultimately, the novel presents a powerful critique of rationalism and nihilism, emphasizing the importance of compassion, empathy, and moral responsibility.
2
Reads
21 Chapters
Martial Maverick: The Rise of Kabir Singh Rathore
Astra Dawn
Kabir Singh Rathore, a young orphan with a mysterious past, grows up in a small Kolkata neighborhood. Humiliated by society, neglected by his foster relatives, and struggling to support his two younger siblings, Kabir seems destined for a life of hardship. However, unknown to everyone, Kabir is the rightful heir to the powerful Rathore Empire, one of India's wealthiest and most influential business families. The story follows Kabir's rise from obscurity as he transforms from a humble, mistreated youth into a charismatic leader, earning respect, love, and power. His journey is filled with revenge, family betrayals, business wars, romance, and rediscovery of his legacy.
5
(1)
22
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