The land is dying. The first victims of a devastating catastrophe struggle to understand what could cause the terrifying tragedy that seems to signal the end of everything. There is no place to run when the Earth dies. The Perishing Land is a short story (approximately 3,200 words).Fiercely independent Ashla is the healer in a village blighted by the shadow of a dark god. Exinious created Ashla’s civilization centuries ago and silently watches them from his mountain fortress. His only interaction is to choose a bride from their ranks every generation.A disease has stricken the villagers that Ashla can’t cure with her magic potions. She knows this must be the work of Exinious, and journeys to his fortress to face him.Deep down she already knows what’s going on. It’s time for Exinious to choose a new bride, and he must have his eyes on her. Unfortunately for the god, Ashla will never leave her post as healer. She fears the prospect of being the first woman to ever refuse him.

The Prince of Graves tells of the end of the sixth war between the Necromancer Kingdoms and the remnant people of Maladine. Four princes lead armies against the climactic invasion of the Dagir Xethu, the armies of the Necromancer Kings. As steel and magic falters in the face of the armies of death, whispers rise that now is the time of the Prince of Graves and the end of the days of mortals.It has been a millennium of war. Since the collapse of the majestic realm of Maladine one thousand years ago, the wicked Necromancer Kings have sought to destroy the Remnant Kingdoms and enslave their descendants. One by one, the nations that emerged following the sundering of Maladine fell under the shadow of the Lords of the Dead, until only Valeot the Great remained. Four princes now lead their armies against the climactic invasion of the Dagir Xethu, the armies of the Necromancer Kingdoms. As steel and magic falters in the face of the armies of death, whispers rise that now is the time of the Prince of Graves and the end of the days of mortal kingdoms.The Prince of Graves novella (approximately 27,500 words) chronicles the climax of the sixth war between the Necromancer Kingdoms and the remnant people of Maladine. The story also sets the stage for The Desolation War, and the final conflict between good and evil.

The Sins of Acheryn tells the tale of the cataclysmic fall of a vanished empire. As the legendary Kings of Acheryn moved to consume the nations of the ancient world, her pride and violence rose to the thrones of heaven. At the pinnacle of her power, three judgments would punish the greatest empire of a world now lost to myth and time. (Short Story. Approximately 4200 words).Percival Ratham is not a nice man. This bothers him not at all, as niceties interfere with getting what he wants. And what Percival wants now is a meal to surpass all others. And Percival gets exactly what he wants.One in a series of short stories by Shawn McDaniel that explore the dark thoughts and desires we hide behind thin masks of civility and humanity.