🩸 Horror Fiction

The Shores of Night (Books of Anguish 3)

✍️ Kurt Steiner
Reader Score
4.5
(1 review)
$20.95
In stock — ready to ship Ships in 1–2 business days
📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A journalist and his fiancée face a curse from Cagliostro in this gothic horror novel.

This volume examines the intersection of historical legend and supernatural dread through the lens of a cursed manuscript. Steiner utilizes the legacy of Cagliostro to anchor the plot, creating a sense of authentic menace for the characters. The narrative moves from the initial discovery of the book to the horrifying realization of its power over the protagonists' lives. By setting key events in Italy, the author taps into regional folklore and the visual imagery of submerged ruins. The pacing emphasizes atmosphere and psychological pressure rather than physical combat. Readers interested in the evolution of horror literature will find value in how Steiner adapts traditional tropes for a mid-twentieth-century audience. The work reflects Ruellan's broader interest in speculative fiction.

Key Themes
cursed book submerged village leprous specters
Literary Context

Published in 2024 by Hollywood Comics, this edition revives the work of Andre Ruellan, a distinguished French writer. The story reflects European gothic traditions and historical superstition surrounding Cagliostro. It bridges mid-century horror fiction with contemporary reprint culture.

Difficulty
●● Medium
Recommended For Fans Of
H.P. Lovecraft · Bram Stoker · Algernon Blackwood
🩸
Horror Fiction
🏛 Hollywood Comics 📅 2024 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9781649322869

📝 Description: The Shores of Night (Books of Anguish 3)

Kurt Steiner, a pseudonym for Andre Ruellan, brings his background in science fiction and horror to this third volume of the Books of Anguish series. The narrative follows an English journalist and his fiancée who become trapped in a nightmare after encountering a cursed text attributed to Cagliostro. Their descent leads them to the Lake of Lepers, where they confront specters rising from a submerged Italian village. The story draws heavily on gothic and supernatural traditions, blending historical mystery with visceral horror. Steiner structures the plot around the psychological unraveling of his protagonists as they face the leprous ghosts of a bygone era. The work relies on the eerie atmosphere of ancient curses and the dread of the unknown rather than explicit gore. It suits readers who appreciate classic European horror fiction and tales of cursed artifacts. Those seeking fast-paced action or modern thriller elements may find the tone too slow and atmospheric. The book stands as a distinct entry in the genre, focusing on psychological terror and historical legend.

💎 Our verdict on The Shores of Night (Books of Anguish 3)

“
🩸
Horror Reads editorial team
Horror desk
Steiner masterfully anchors his narrative in the legacy of Cagliostro, creating a sense of authentic menace that permeates every page. By setting key events in Italy, he taps into regional folklore and the visual imagery of submerged ruins to build an oppressive atmosphere. The story prioritizes psychological unraveling and dread over visceral horror, making it a strong choice for connoisseurs of classic gothic traditions. While the pacing may feel too slow for those seeking thriller elements, the work succeeds as a distinct study in psychological terror. It effectively blends historical mystery with supernatural themes, offering readers a chilling exploration of cursed texts and spectral entities rising from forgotten depths without relying on modern sensationalism.
✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers who appreciate the slow burn of psychological terror over explicit gore will find this volume deeply rewarding. It appeals to those fascinated by the intersection of historical legend and supernatural dread, particularly those intrigued by the legacy of Cagliostro and the atmospheric weight of submerged ruins. Fans of classic European horror fiction and tales involving cursed artifacts will value the authentic menace Steiner creates through psychological pressure rather than physical combat. This book is ideal for audiences seeking a distinct entry in the genre that focuses on historical mystery and the eerie atmosphere of ancient curses, offering a contemplative experience rather than fast-paced action.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

Reader rating

4.5
Based on 1 reviews
5
0
4
1
3
0
2
0
1
0
H
Horror Reads editorial team

Steiner masterfully anchors his narrative in the legacy of Cagliostro, creating a sense of authentic menace that permeates every page. By setting key events in Italy, he taps into regional folklore and the visual imagery of submerged ruins to build an oppressive atmosphere. The story prioritizes psychological unraveling and dread over visceral horror, making it a strong choice for connoisseurs of classic gothic traditions. While the pacing may feel too slow for those seeking thriller elements, the work succeeds as a distinct study in psychological terror. It effectively blends historical mystery with supernatural themes, offering readers a chilling exploration of cursed texts and spectral entities rising from forgotten depths without relying on modern sensationalism.

✍️ More books by this author Kurt Steiner

Mortefontaine (Books of Anguish 2)
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Kurt Steiner
Mortefontaine (Books of Anguish 2)
$20.95
81
Read →
Blood Light (Books of Anguish 1)
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Kurt Steiner
Blood Light (Books of Anguish 1)
$20.95
78
Read →

🏛 Books from this publisher Hollywood Comics

Sibilla: Deadly Circles
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Nelly Chadour
Sibilla: Deadly Circles
$20.95
81
Read →
The Land of Everlasting Gloom: Napoleon's Vampire Hunters 3
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Frank Schildiner
The Land of Everlasting Gloom: Napoleon's Vampire Hunters 3
$24.95
78
Read →
The Return of Captain Vampire
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Brian Gallagher
The Return of Captain Vampire
$22.95
81
Read →
The Exigent Shadow
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
Catulle Mendes
The Exigent Shadow
$22.95
86
Read →
The Spells of Frankenstein
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Frank Schildiner
The Spells of Frankenstein
$23.95
78
Read →
French Tales of Vampires (Volume 3)
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
Jean-Marc Lofficier
French Tales of Vampires (Volume 3)
$29.95
86
Read →

You might also like

See more →
Mortefontaine (Books of Anguish 2)
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
1
Kurt Steiner
Mortefontaine (Books of Anguish 2)
$20.95
81
Read →
Blood Light (Books of Anguish 1)
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.4
1
Kurt Steiner
Blood Light (Books of Anguish 1)
$20.95
78
Read →
The Gates of Hell
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
Maurice Level
The Gates of Hell
$20.95
86
Read →
Danse Macabre
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
Paul LaCroix
Danse Macabre
$20.95
86
Read →
The Vengeance of the Oval Portrait
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
Gabriel De Lautrec
The Vengeance of the Oval Portrait
$20.95
86
Read →
The Exigent Shadow
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
Catulle Mendes
The Exigent Shadow
$22.95
86
Read →

Have a question about this item?

Ask about the edition, condition, delivery or anything else — we reply by email or phone, usually within a day.

Home Genres
Cart
Wishlist