Grimdark - by Shannon Morgan (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Thrilling and melancholic, with a through line of female connection and courage across centuries, this ambitious and evocative novel spans three timelines--present day, 1645, and 1216--in a remote English seaside town where legends of witches and ghosts obscure an even stranger truth. For fans of Simone St. James, Eve Chase and Jennifer McMahon.

Teetering on the edge of the North Sea in Norfolk, Grimdark Hall is both grim and dark in name and nature. When Cló and Jude Honeyborne arrive from Toronto to claim Jude's inheritance, Cló is unsettled by the foreboding ancient building and the hostility of Jude's sisters, who stalk her every move.

But Cló is drawn to the strange energy of the treacherous fens and the haunting sadness of a drowned village in the bay where ghostly church bells toll thirteen, sweeping her back into another woman's memories . . .

In 1645 Euphemia Figgis was accused of witchcraft and burned at the stake, screaming a curse on the Honeybornes as the flames consumed her. Now, flashes of Effie's life torment Cló at every turn.

Cló isn't the only one who's lived before: an odd little girl lurks about Grimdark claiming to be the reincarnation of a notorious pirate, and waiting in the shadows is a darker, vengeful incarnation who has hunted them both through the centuries in search of a medieval treasure.

As echoes of Cló's past lives converge in present threats, she must confront a final reckoning of old betrayals and relentless greed to end an eight-hundred-year-old quest for vengeance.

Review Quotes

Praise for Shannon Morgan

"A dark weaving of history, horror and timelines, Grimdark draws you into its depths and doesn't let go. Gothic, ghostly and enthralling." --Angela "A.G." Slatter, award-winning author of The Crimson Road on Grimdark

"Grimdark has everything gothic-lovers crave: a sprawling, coastal English manor haunted by its dark past, a spirited heroine determined to solve the mysteries within its walls, and a climactic ending that will set your pulse racing. Morgan has created something both classic and fresh, replete with lush atmosphere and laced with historical intrigue. It's all here--love, tragedy, family secrets, curses, and the power of breaking free from them. A brilliantly told tale." --Paulette Kennedy, bestselling author of Parting the Veil

"Shannon Morgan's Grimdark is a unique and sweeping journey through time. At once mind-bending and gothic, tragic and hopeful, it's a beautifully crafted exploration of memory, longing, and what we must leave behind to move forward." --Chelsea Iversen, author of The Witches at the End of the World

"Taking a deep dive into how past experiences (and past lives) can shape our future, Morgan's Grimdark brims with atmospheric prose intended to haunt us, as we're pulled along the tide of self-reflection, self-awakening, and self-discovery. Through Cló, Grimdark explores the nuance of family trauma and the legacies that define us, delivering a stunning and harrowing work of Gothic wonder that's sure to keep you up at night." --Maria Tureaud, author of This House Will Feed

"Morgan's prose is atmospheric without being overly dense, and tropes of the classic gothic novel are juxtaposed with references to the 21st century to create a sense of anachronism. Overall, the novel provides a compelling supernatural mystery that will hold a reader's attention right up to the last page. Recommend to fans of Kate Morton and Eve Chase." --Library Journal on Her Little Flowers

"Fans of ghost stories and gothic settings will love Shannon Morgan's newest novel... a captivating mix of dark family tragedy, haunting atmosphere, and very lively ghosts." --Kelsey James, author of The Woman in the Castello on In the Lonely Hours

"What an amazing story Shannon Morgan has delivered! With a gothic twist, a beautifully haunting atmosphere, and a big splash of family drama, this makes an incredible read for modern ghost story lovers!" --Shanora Williams, New York Times bestselling author of The Wife Before on Her Little Flowers

"Poetic prose and haunting heartbreak--a story that will stay with the reader!" --Lisa Childs, New York Times bestselling author of The Missing on Her Little Flowers

"In Shannon Morgan's supernatural novel, a mother's love is expressed through the language of flowers." --Foreword Reviews on Her Little Flowers

"Look for Gothic atmosphere and pleasantly creepy vibes in Shannon Morgan's story of a middle-aged woman and her extremely haunted mansion." --GoodReads, Most Anticipated Books of the Summer on Her Little Flowers

About the Author

Shannon Morgan is the author of atmospheric modern gothic novels, including In the Lonely Hours and the Goodreads Choice Award-finalist Her Little Flowers. She has had a nomadic past, involving, but not limited to, nearly being shot in Kashmir, playing a marathon ten-hour game of backgammon on the side of a road in Turkey, getting horribly sea-sick off the coast of Madagascar and milking a camel in the Sahara Desert. She now lives with her husband and sons in Wiltshire, England, and can be found online at shannonmorganauthor.com or on Twitter as @morgan_shan.