Everything dies in the desert.
A standalone dark fantasy horror novel for adults - perfect for fans of Stephen King, Clive Barker, and Peter Straub. Part American magical realism, part Southwestern Gothic, all darkness.
Some places have a history so dark it stains the dirt.
Orphan Rock is one of them.
Minister Northamm was born a snake - a boonchild who can invade minds. But that door swings both ways, and what came knocking was the Pigfather, the same devil that drove his father to ruin. One day, it will claim his son, Markus, to continue its dogma of pain.
Esther was kidnapped as a teenager and brought to Orphan Rock to survive and appease the Pigfather's bloodlusts. In that hell, she and young Minister fell in love and dreamed of escape. But under the Pig's barbaric rule, they had no future of their own.
So they made a bloody bargain with the Pigfather's mortal enemy - Delora, the Crooked Woman, eater of children. But her price was their unborn daughter, Shelby, transformed into something with an endless hunger and a taste for human flesh to rival Delora's own.
Now Delora's Grim Seed rises. The pigs are crossing over for war. And Orphan Rock itself is tearing free from the earth. Trapped between two ancient evils, the Northamms will do anything - sacrifice anything - to survive one more day together.
Even if it means becoming monsters themselves.
ADVISORY: Content warning: Ghost River is a dark contemporary fantasy with elements of extreme horror. It contains graphic violence, sexual assault, body horror, child endangerment, and disturbing supernatural imagery. Not for the faint of heart.
Goodreads readers compared Ryan's writing to a mashup of Clive Barker and Stephen King - and called it "award-worthy like the Bram Stoker awards."
Review :
"Wildly original, warped, and creepy as hell!" - Char, Goodreads Reviewer
"The most gripping horror story I've ever read." - Matt Hardman, Author
"A truly spectacular horror unlike anything you've ever read before." - Cassondra Windwalker, Author
"I have never read anything remotely like this fantastically insane book... Genius." - Danielle Vinson, Goodreads Reviewer
"For a debut novel to be THIS good is... almost insulting. This book will challenge you. It is DARK. But it will also make you want to hold these characters and tell them everything is going to be okay." - Braden M, Goodreads Reviewer
"Ryan's writing style rivals any of the horror superstars. This book is dark. It's gritty. It's an in your face, down in the muck, beat-the-hell-out-of-your-soul ride." - Matt Hardman, Author
"The writing style reminded me of a mashup between Clive Barker and Stephen King. I'd highly recommend it for any Barker or King lovers." - Dawn Hosmer, Author
"Chad Ryan has created not only religions and monsters, but a method of storytelling I've never encountered before. Truly unique and mind-blowing." - Tanweer Dar, Author
"This book is award-worthy like the Bram Stoker awards. A must-read for any horror fan." - Marc Tizura, Author
"At times poetic, which I didn't realize tough and gritty horror could be. I've never read anything like it before." - Shane Blackheart, Author
