Gothic Blue Book

A collection of short stories and poems resurrect the spirit of the Gothic Blue Book.

Gothic Blue Books were short fictions popular in the 18th and 19th century. They were descendants of the chap book trade-small, affordable booklets that spread terrifying stories of haunted castles, cursed abbeys, supernatural beings, restless ghosts, and dark revenge. These stories were meant to thrill, unsettle, and horrify, blending horror and Gothic romance in unforgettable ways.

Burial Day Books presents its second Gothic Blue Book: The Revenge Edition.

This carefully curated anthology features fifteen short stories and poems from both new and established horror authors. Each tale explores the Gothic obsession with misery, fear, despair, regret, and dread while reimagining the old tradition for modern readers. Within these pages, you'll uncover vengeful spirits, witches that refuse to stay buried, cursed lovers, sinister crypts, and encounters with death itself.

Unlike ordinary horror, Gothic horror thrives on atmosphere-decay, loss, forbidden secrets, and the chilling consequences of revenge. The Revenge Edition continues this tradition, weaving narratives that echo the past while confronting contemporary fears.

• Chad P. Brown - The Peepers

• Tara Cleves - The B&B Owner

• M.N. Hanson - Slender Man

• Phil Hickes - The Beautiful Dead

• Emma Hinge - Penance

• K. Trap Jones - The Flailing Arm

• Daniel Kraus - Nora and the Gravedigger

• David Massengill - Bellevue

• Carl Palmer - Visitation

• Cynthia Pelayo - Blaspheme

• Gerardo Pelayo - First Date Checklist

• Cortney Philip - When the Sun Stays Down

• Wednesday Silverwood - Angelique

• Jennifer A. Smith - Last Summer

• Melissa Stanziale - The Children of Ororo

Cynthia Pelayo & Gerardo Pelayo
Cover Art: Abigail Larson

• It pays homage to the classic Gothic Blue Book tradition while delivering fresh, terrifying twists.

• Perfect for fans of Edgar Allan Poe, Mary Shelley, Bram Stoker, Ann Radcliffe, and Sheridan Le Fanu.

• Combines atmospheric Gothic dread with modern horror sensibilities, appealing to readers of both classic and contemporary dark fiction.

• Features a diverse range of horror voices that explore everything from haunted houses to urban legends.

If you enjoy Gothic anthologies, supernatural short stories, vengeful ghosts, dark poetry, and chilling horror tales, The Revenge Edition will keep you reading long into the night.

Enter the world of revenge, terror, and Gothic darkness-but beware, for some shadows never fade, and some spirits never rest.