Ancient Ghosts

There are few things more in common across cultures than the belief in ghosts. Ghosts inhabit something of the very essence of what it is to be human. Whether we personally 'believe' or not, we are all aware of ghosts and the rich mythologies and rituals surrounding them. They have inspired, fascinated and frightened us for centuries - yet most of us are only familiar with the vengeful apparitions of Shakespeare, or the ghastly spectres haunting the pages of 19th-century Gothic literature. But their origins are much, much older.

For fans of Victor Davis Hanson, Donald Kagan, and Barry Strauss comes a rich, sweeping account of the most imitated---and vicious---battle in history.

When Alexander the Great died at the age of 32, his empire stretched from the Adriatic Sea in the west all the way to modern-day India in the east. In an unusual compromise, his two heirs - a mentally damaged half brother, Philip III, and an infant son, Alexander IV, born after his death - were jointly granted the kingship. But six of Alexander's Macedonian generals, spurred by their own thirst for power and the legend that Alexander bequeathed his rule "to the strongest," fought to gain supremacy.

Murder, magic, and mayhem on tap—Turk’s pub has seen better grand openings. Sera Grass is used to waltzing through life—literally. As the manager of the Crystal Ballroom, her world revolves around grace, rhythm, and the occasional ghostly audience. But when a body drops in the middle of her best friend Turk’s newly renovated pub, Sera finds herself in the spotlight of a much deadlier dance. With Turk looking guiltier by the pint, Sera dives headfirst into the mystery, determined to clear his name. Her tools? A ghost who loves to meddle, magical powers she’s still learning to ...

The ocean guards its secrets jealously. But some mysteries, once disturbed, unleash a terror that infects the soul. An unnatural fog descends upon the Archer's Wake, swallowing the horizon and the crew's courage in its chilling embrace. When a ghost ship, the Vanta Grey—lost to the abyss for half a century yet impossibly preserved—drifts into view, duty and a gnawing curiosity compel them to investigate. What they uncover aboard the silent, eerie vessel is not just a maritime enigma, but a descent into a horror that defies sanity. A forgotten logbook whispers of an ancient, slumbering ...

Stay Away - An amazingly original horror novel from Ike Hamill Every small town has secrets. Some secrets can kill. He’s always been there, the old gentleman in the funeral suit, hanging around the big oak tree. Even before the cemetery was dug, the natives knew about him. He was just as much a part of the landscape as the rocks or the river. If you ever needed anything, especially if it was a matter of life and death, you could find him and make a trade. He always trades fair. Everybody says so. Eric is about to trade without even realizing it. He isn’t tricked. It’s only a mistake. ...

Chiyo Adachi shares her knowledge and experience in the little known ceremony of ghost paneling. Once practiced by mystics and spiritual guides, ghost paneling seeks to achieve communication with spirits, both human and other, through the construction of ghost panels: symbols and words painted upon cloth intended to communicate with voiceless souls, along with the placement and use of these in ceremony. She goes on to describe instances of human souls helped along to the waiting embrace of their ancestors as well as ceremonies to drive away evil sprits. At times beautiful and harrowing, ...

A gothic folklore book set in Ireland, Canada, and Italy during the 19th to early 20th century. Dive deep into the eerie world of *The Irish Banshee*, a spine-chilling collection that captures the essence of ancient Irish legends and supernatural encounters. This gripping gothic folklore narrative spans from the hauntingly beautiful countryside of Ireland to the atmospheric locales of Canadian wilderness and Italian coastal regions. Transporting readers to the 19th and early 20th centuries, it brings to life the spectral harbingers that stalk these lands. Discover the Mysteries: Linked only...

Winter is coming. Souls' Night draws near. Eostra, the Eagle Owl Mage, holds the clans in the grip of terror. Torak must leave the Forest and seek her lair in the Mountain of Ghosts, while Renn faces an agonizing decision. Wolf, their faithful pack-brother, must overcome wrenching grief. And in the final battle against the forces of darkness, Torak will make the most shattering choice of all.

A mother and her daughter come to the remote Orkneys to grieve and find themselves instead dealing with a ghostly Viking legend. A Dark Ages king doesn’t realise his wife carries another man’s child and she is desperate for him not to find out. A young woman, who has spent her whole life hiding her supernatural strength, discovers on the eve of her wedding that she is Odin’s daughter. Sir Percival’s sister finds herself trapped in a castle of bloodletting sorcerers with only her sexuality as a weapon.

It was supposed to be a banner day for Alyssa’s gourmet pet food business—until the magic hit the fan. Just as Alyssa is about to launch her premium line of pet snacks, a magical tremor rocks Largo Island, uncovering long-buried secrets—and a dead body. Worse, the cops seem more interested in pointing fingers than finding answers, and Alyssa’s bank account is hanging on by a paw-shaped thread. Enter Malachite, her ex-fiancé, whose specialty is breaking hearts and stirring trouble. Teaming up with him to solve a murder and save her business feels like the worst idea since gluten-...

Previously published as KA. The Seeking Spirit of Khaemwaset: Guarded secrets, forbidden knowledge by Roy Lester Pond (AUTHOR) There is a certain statue in the Sculpture Gallery of the British Museum of the son of Rameses The Great, Egypt’s most illustrious pharaoh. The statue has an eerie attraction even today. In the 1900s a London group known as The Society of Inner Light regularly conferred with the exhibit in the Egyptian Sculpture Gallery, convinced that it was a medium for metaphysical activity and emanated unseen forces. She was an American historical writer visiting the British ...

THE LAST STARSHIP Before her sentencing for a murder she did not commit, River Langstrom had been an external station repair technician aboard the space station Danbury. Hovering in a geostationary orbit above what had once been the North American continent, Danbury, a massive spoked wheel, was home for ten thousand colonials, refugees from Earth. Two hundred years earlier, Earth’s atmosphere was rendered toxic in a catastrophic conflict now long forgotten. Despite its many dangers, River found working in the vacuum of space both challenging and exciting, or at least she did before her ...

She was in on the game but a reluctant player The game started right after Nero’s suicide in AD 68, and his death was part of the game. He’d been tricked by the other players into taking his own life, opening the race, the free-for-all to seize power in Rome. What ensued went down in History as the ‘Year of the Four Emperors’. But from the start the rivals vying for the top prize discovered that Nero had a half-sister, eighteen-year-old Antonia, the daughter of Claudius and Agrippina, and using her as a pawn became part of the game. Only, she didn’t want to be used—or eliminated...

Samantha Moon figured her daughter's birthday would be nice and normal, not usher in a magical apocalypse. Amid the frequent chaos in her life, Sam has learned to take comfort in the boring moments. She's one of the few people who doesn't mind a long day in the office. So when Paxton's fourteenth birthday rolled around, she expected it would be cute, innocent and full of unicorn-themed stuff. An actual unicorn, though? Not so much. What's an immortal psychic vampire to do when a creature of fable decides to crash in their backyard? Sam has no idea. However, it soon becomes apparent that the...

It is the time belong the tumbuna - the time of the ancestors. In the ancient tropical forest, the River Tribe find two of their own, dead. They know that a shining giant has crossed into their lands. They send for a hunter from Big Village, but the young man who travels the wide river to help is not quite what they expect. He is on the run and calls himself Painted Fox. With him, comes his old and ragged dog, UkanDooAh. There are ghost tattoos on the hunters that follow, and Painted Fox must take the village girl, Atepe, and run. If he is going to survive, he will need her much more than ...

The House of Life & Death by Vann Chow is an epic narrative that spans generations, weaving together love, betrayal, history, and the supernatural. Elise’s world turns upside down when she stumbles upon her grandmother’s ancient diary, leading her into a web of dark family secrets and haunting supernatural forces. The diary reveals a deep connection to the House of Life, a mystical realm where the souls of the dead linger, shaped by Chinese folklore and ancient rituals. As Elise uncovers her family’s legacy, she learns that the House of Life is tied to a centuries-old curse rooted in ...

On a bitterly cold night in January 1945, a heavily armored train pulled into the station at Breslau in German occupied Poland. Here, ancient tapestries, priceless masterpieces, and three hundred tons of gold looted from the treasuries of conquered countries were loaded aboard. Just before dawn, laden with treasure, the train pulled away from the station heading west and disappeared from history. Deep in the primeval forests of the Eulengebirge Mountains of southwestern Poland, a secret Nazi fortress lies buried, untouched by the passage of time. Here, in a labyrinth of tunnels, Hitler’s ...

In the dark corners of Japan's ancient past, five stories echo with blood, betrayal, ghosts, and honor. These are not just tales—they are warnings whispered by time itself. Here, the line between life and death blurs, and those who break the code of loyalty often pay with their souls. In this gripping anthology, you will find stories filled with: Samurai vengeance, cursed spirits, legendary battles, unshakable loyalty, and the wrath of the forgotten. Included in this collection: The Divine Wind A mighty empire sets sail to conquer Japan, but nature has its own plans. Witness the storms ...

Step into a world where ancient Chinese spirits and ghosts reveal hidden truths about love, betrayal, and justice. In these captivating tales, the deceptive "Painted Skin Ghost" lurks behind beauty, while the fierce protector Zhong Kui defends the realms beyond life. Each story is a gateway into centuries-old beliefs and mysteries, inviting readers to explore the rich tapestry of Chinese folklore. Discover what lies beyond the veil, where supernatural encounters echo the values and fears of ancient China—offering haunting insights that still resonate today.