Where Dead Things Grow - by Megan Bontrager (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Armed with a stolen sword and accompanied by Death himself, a young au pair ventures deep into the heart of a sentient swamp to rescue her charges in this creeping botanical horror from Megan Bontrager.

Evangeline Faust is no stranger to Death. He's always been a silent companion, connected through her ability to sense when he'll come for someone. Now, Death has followed her to Thrasher House, where she cares for twins with similar strange and deathly magic.

When people begin to whisper about a cult at the heart of the ever-growing swamp promising eternal life, Evangeline is inclined to ignore it. But when the twins are kidnapped and taken into the swamp, Evangeline doesn't hesitate to follow. Ever her companion, Death accompanies her.

Together, Evangeline and Death journey deep into the overgrowth, a world full of undead creatures and sentient, necrotic flora. The deeper they go, the clearer it becomes that the cult's power is not the stuff of rumor. A delicate balance has been broken somewhere at the heart of the swamp, and rescuing the twins will require great sacrifice, but nothing will stop Evangeline from saving her children.

About the Author

Megan Bontrager is an author of SFF and horror currently based in Ireland, where she is a PhD candidate at NUI Maynooth. Her short fiction has previously been published with Quill & Crow Publishing House, Cypress Dome Literary Magazine, Frontier Poetry, and 30 North Literary Magazine. Megan's indie debut, Eye of the Ouroboros, was published in 2024. When she isn't frantically scribbling down her next big idea, Megan enjoys playing TTRPGs and volunteering with animal rescues. She is responsible for two furry children and hopes to support their lavish lifestyles with her books.