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It Became Much Darker
Dark Threads tells three haunting dark-fantasy stories where desperate survivors endure brutal magic and impossible choices in worlds crumbling under their own shadows. What sparked the initial idea for Dark Threads, and did one story come first?
The Breath Borrower was the first dark-fantasy story I’d ever written. I wrote it specifically for the Writers of the Future contest about five years ago. When I first had the idea, I don’t think it was dark, per se, but as the story developed, the weight of it grew, and it became much darker.
It received a Silver Honorable Mention in the contest, and I really loved the story, but after trying for a few years to get it published—and receiving a few quite nice rejection letters—I decided to share it with readers on my own. The other two stories in this volume had also received HM’s in the contest, and since they were also rather grim and dark, I thought they’d work well together.
I plan to continue the series, since I enjoy dwelling dark occasionally, but their release may be erratic since I write across multiple genres, and these types of stories can be emotionally intense to create.
The magic systems are uniquely brutal. How did you approach designing magic that feels both inventive and emotionally costly?
I think because of the depth of magic involved in these stories, the giving or receiving of something from inside the characters themselves, it made the cost automatically become greater and more intimate. Very personal. And because of that, it became a choice for each character. Risking their own life for others. Even in the case of Vapors of Misuse, the twins are seeking revenge, but also an end to the misery their lives are a part of, either for each other, or for the community after they’re gone.
Your characters often operate in moral gray zones. How do you balance empathy with their harsher decisions?
Once I started coming up with the ideas, the characters themselves took over. That often happens in my writing. They flesh themselves out. They become very real, and real people often have far more gray in them than edging toward black or white. And the gray is interesting to explore.
It goes back to the choice thing. Under “normal” circumstances, the main characters would be ordinary people, but I’ve thrown them into some type of chaos, and they have to react while trying to still keep part of themselves…well, themselves.
The endings are powerful but intentionally not tidy. How do you know when a story with this much darkness has reached its conclusion?
Life isn’t very tidy. A lot of my short stories feel like vignettes of the character’s life to me. You know things were happening before this moment, which are sometimes alluded to, giving the reader more background, but you also get the feeling something else will probably come after the story, though perhaps not with the central character.
The vignette ends at a pause, like the end of an exhale. The flow of that particular moment narrows until you break away. It’s not always a clean break. Something might not be fully resolved. It’s a bit like ending on a discordant note in music. It might leave you feeling a little disturbed, but glad it’s fading away at the same time.
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In this collection of haunting dark fantasy tales, mortals and spirits alike wrestle with destiny, sacrifice, and the cost of power.
In The Breath Borrower, a sacred thief of breath must choose between duty and mercy in a city where life and death hang on a whisper.
The Withering follows a lone scholar through the dream-infested Underland, seeking a cure for a dying world—even as her own body fades.
And in Vapors of Misuse, a cursed twin races against time to use forbidden magic against a ruthless tyrant—before he is consumed by the very power he wields.
These are not stories of easy victories or neat endings. They are stories of survival, of sacrifice, and of what lingers when hope is gone.
Dark Threads: A Gathering of Dark Fantasy Tales, Vol.1
Kat Farrow’s Dark Threads is a collection of three short, dark fantasy stories. Each one explores a different, gloomy world full of desperate people. “The Breath Borrower” is about a holy thief who steals breath from the living to give to the dying. “The Withering” follows a scholar trying to save her world as it, and she, fade away. The last story, “Vapors of Misuse,” is a bleak tale of two twins bound by magic and a thirst for revenge against a tyrant. All three stories are tied together by themes of sacrifice, grim choices, and magic that costs way too much.
Farrow builds these worlds that feel incredibly heavy and real. You can almost smell the back alleys in “The Breath Borrower” or feel the chill of the Underland in “The Withering.” It’s not flashy writing. It’s solid and direct, and it uses that simplicity to hit you hard. I felt a real sense of dread and hopelessness seeping from the pages. These stories are not about heroes. They are about survivors, and the writing makes you feel the weight of that survival. It’s an impressive feat, making things feel so gloomy yet so compelling.
What really stuck with me were the ideas. The magic systems are brutal. The whole idea of a third lung for borrowing breath was new to me, and it was wrapped up in so much guilt and duty for the main character. The final story, “Vapors of Misuse,” was just a gut-punch of an idea. The magic, the blood ritual, the twin-bond, the “Seizing,” it was all so tangled and dark. I found myself thinking about the characters long after I finished. They aren’t always likable, but their motives are powerful. They are driven by things like revenge or a desperate, fading hope, and that felt incredibly human, even in these dark fantasy worlds.
Dark Threads is a heavy read, and I mean that as a compliment. The stories are tough, and the endings are not neat, tidy bows. They’re bloody, and they’re sad, and they feel earned. I would definitely recommend this book. If you love your fantasy truly dark, and you like stories that make you feel something real and gritty, you should pick this up.
Pages: 79 | ASIN: B0FM6DD3ZR
The World of Fae and Magic
Bobbin and the Magic Thief follows a shunned faerie who sets out on an adventure to rescue her best friend, who has been kidnapped by a human. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
I’ve always loved fairytales, and often wondered about the many variations the Brothers Grimm collected before writing the versions that most people know today.
If there had been many variations around a particular tale, was there some grain of truth to it? What would it have been?
I started thinking about Rumpelstiltskin. What if he wasn’t the one spinning the gold? What if he was just an opportunist?
Somewhere in the mix, I started wondering why there weren’t many tales about faeries and spinning or cloth production. Fae are often either mischievous or helpful in stories, and I’m sure I would have appreciated some help spinning all the thread needed for making cloth for everything from clothing to sails for ships.
So I created Spindle Faeries and decided to play with different tales involving spinning or clothing, starting with Rumpelstiltskin.
What character did you enjoy writing for? Was there one that was more challenging to write for?
I tended to fall in love with each new character as I wrote them, but I truly adore the pixie clan. I’ve started writing some short stories about some of them.
Bobbin was probably the most challenging. Being the main character, she carries the story and I wanted to pace her growth, but my creative mind kept wanting to play with the other characters. Staying focused on her was sometimes difficult.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
Bobbin has often felt like a misfit or outsider, even when she’s trying very hard to fit in. It’s something I can personally relate to. When she finds and accepts the friendship of others who accept her as she is, her unique qualities come through. It makes her personality shine and allows her to be the brave person she is.
I also tried to really ground the story in a historical period. Yes, it’s the world of fae and magic, but most faerie and folk tales take place in a primarily medieval time. So I did research on the 14th-16th centuries in Europe to get a good sense of place. How flax would have been spun, what kind of food and plant life might be around. I took some literary license, but I feel the research helped to make the story much more textural and real.
Can you tell us a little about where the story goes in book two and when the novel will be available?
The next book, Bobbin and the Stolen Thread, will be a twist on The Emperor’s New Clothes and takes place following the main events of this book, but before the epilogue. Bobbin and her friends continue their adventures, traveling further north in Rose Valley. The Magic Thief doesn’t make a direct appearance in this one, but the mischief he causes is still the root of the problem. I’m hoping to release it at the end of 2024 or early 2025.
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Bobbin is losing everything. Abandoned by her mentor and banned from her trade, the young Spindle Faerie’s best friend is now gone. But when she discovers the thief’s true intentions, she is compelled to disobey faerie law or risk losing her friend forever.
Hoping to stop the nefarious plot, Bobbin joins forces with unexpected allies. But the greed for magical things soon places all their lives in peril.
Can Bobbin succeed in saving her friend and ceasing the thief’s mischief, or will her failure result in the end of the Spindle Faeries?
Bobbin and the Magic Thief is the first book in the faerie tale retelling adventure series The Spindle Faeries.
Bobbin and the Magic Thief: A Middle-Grade Fairytale Retelling
Step into a world of enchantment with Bobbin and the Magic Thief, where Bobbin, a spirited fairy, embarks on a spellbinding adventure alongside some unlikely companions. Her best friend, the charming Heddy, has been mysteriously kidnapped by a cunning human thief, setting the stage for a captivating journey filled with surprises. As Bobbin embarks on her daring rescue mission, she encounters a delightful array of characters, from mischievous pixies to otherworldly beings. But it soon becomes clear that Heddy’s captivity is not an isolated incident, adding layers of complexity to Bobbin’s quest.
Author Kat Farrow artfully weaves elements of traditional fairy tales into the narrative, including a clever nod to Rumpelstiltskin. Throughout the book, occasional illustrations add depth to the story, helping readers visualize the enchanting settings and characters. The author masterfully combines elements of fantasy and suspense, creating a narrative that is as enthralling as it is heartwarming. Bobbin’s unwavering determination and the bond of friendship that drives her forward make her a relatable and endearing protagonist. As the story unfolds, the reader is drawn deeper into a world of enchantment and mystery. The well-crafted plot, filled with unexpected twists and turns, keeps you guessing until the end. The stakes are high, the danger palpable, and the emotional resonance of Bobbin’s quest is undeniable. The story introduces many characters, but you can’t help but love them all.
Bobbin and the Magic Thief is captivating perfect for older children and fantasy-loving tweens. It transports readers to a world brimming with imagination, delivering the essence of a timeless fairy tale that will leave them spellbound and eager for more. Dive into this enchanting adventure and let your imagination take flight!
Pages: 286 | ASIN : B0C7FNBNYQ
LITERARY TITAN 