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Blend of Fantasy and Horror
The Warning Signs is a collection of tales featuring elements of dark fantasy, horror, and psychological terrors. What inspired you to write this collection of stories?
I enjoy reading and writing in a variety of genres, but I am most drawn to creating works of fiction that examine the darker and more frightening side of human nature, mental processes, the strange, and the mysterious. For the stories within this particular collection, apart from sticking with the subject of warning signs, my goal was to showcase a blend of fantasy and horror, written in differing styles. Inspiration for each of the tales came from different places, for instance, the town described in Perception was modeled after some medieval villages I visited while traveling.
Do you have a favorite among the stories in this collection? One that was especially enjoyable to craft?
That is a tough question to answer. I took pleasure in creating each of these tales. The process of getting to know your characters on an emotional level and allowing their journeys to unfold can be exhilarating. That said, I don’t think I could pick just one story, but after giving it some thought, I would say from the first section, I am particularly fond of The Other Side of the Door.
As far as the second section goes, I always enjoy revisiting the world of Sumir. Doing so allows me to expand on lesser character’s ambitions as well as offering the opportunity to delve deeper into the lore and mythology from my completed dark fantasy series, The Blood Inheritance Quartet.
Can we look forward to more work from you soon? What are you currently working on?
Right now, I am working on a few projects simultaneously. My main focus is reworking some short stories, which I plan to publish together as a dark fantasy/horror collection titled Wishes Gone Awry. Barring any scheduling conflicts with editors, I aspire to have the short story collection available this summer.
Author Links: GoodReads | X (Twitter) | Facebook | Website | Amazon
…the warning signs
Something lurks beneath the waves on an island where the sun never sets; a ghost tries to stop an up-and-coming serial killer; a heartless sorceress is thrilled when she finds access to the human realm; a boy tries to win his crush’s heart by challenging a horrifying local legend.
Delve deep into the shadowy, unexplored territories of the imagination with these short stories that are sure to frighten and enchant.
From misunderstood spirits to encounters with mythical creatures, these twisted tales include run-ins with ghosts, mermaids, werewolves, sorceresses, vampires, murderers, and their victims.
(Includes three short stories from the world of Sumir – The Blood Inheritance Quartet)
The Warning Signs: Tales of Horror and Dark Fantasy
M. Ainihi’s The Warning Signs is a collection of dark fantasy and horror short stories that plunges readers into eerie landscapes filled with unsettling truths, strange creatures, and psychological terror. The book is split into three sections: One-Shot Shorts, Tales from Sumir, and Day 32,854, each offering its own brand of nightmare fuel. Whether it’s ghosts that refuse to be forgotten, twisted mermaids exacting revenge, or apocalyptic survivors battling unseen forces, every tale grips with an uncanny sense of doom. This isn’t a book about cheap thrills—it’s about slow-burning horror that lingers long after the last page.
What I love most about Ainihi’s writing is her ability to create an atmosphere. She doesn’t just tell you a horror story; she makes you feel it. Take “Dead Already,” for example. The protagonist gradually realizes she’s watching her own body being hidden away, and the dread seeps in line by line. It’s not just the horror of death; it’s the horror of being erased and forgotten. That’s the kind of existential terror Ainihi plays with, and it’s chilling. Similarly, in “The Warning,” a house isn’t just haunted; it feels alive, like it’s waiting to consume its new occupants. These aren’t just ghost stories; they feel like whispers of something deeper, something ancient.
Not every story delivers the same kind of impact, but that’s part of what makes The Warning Signs so engaging. Some, like Cultivating Wrath, lean more into dark fantasy, bringing a sense of adventure alongside the horror. Others, like The Three Percent, take bold risks by exploring post-pandemic dread in a way that sparks the imagination. Ainihi’s strength lies in her ability to craft diverse narratives, each with its own unique style and pace. When she allows her stories to unfold naturally, they become truly mesmerizing.
What makes this collection stand out is its originality and refusal to rely on predictable horror tropes. Ainihi doesn’t hand out easy answers, she makes you think. In stories like Amma, the real horror isn’t just the physical threats but the unsettling realization that reality itself may not be what it seems. It’s this kind of storytelling that lingers, making you question and reflect.
The Warning Signs is the perfect collection for anyone who loves eerie, thought-provoking horror that lingers long after the last page. Ainihi has a knack for crafting unsettling, immersive tales that pull you into strange and terrifying worlds. If you enjoy slow-burning suspense, psychological twists, and a blend of dark fantasy and horror, this book is a must-read.
Pages: 181 | ASIN : B091YR9H1M
Unique Mythology
The Blood Inheritance Novels Series Two-Book Set: Endow and Resist follows the journey of three friends as they make a dangerous trip through the realms. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
I have loved to write for as long as I can remember and although I can’t recall what exactly what inspired the Blood Inheritance Quartet, I believe one major influence was a paperback which I received called of Legends of the Fire Spirits: Jinn and Genies from Arabia to Zanzibar by Robert Lebling. Shortly after that, I began developing stories around the fictitious world of Sumir, in which the Blood Inheritance Quartet takes place. Like many legends, I find the mythology pertaining to Jinn and Genies fascinating and when creating the unique mythology for the world of Sumir, the Jinn were the main focus to start with. From there the idea continued to grow and before I knew it, I had planned a series.
What were the morals you were trying to capture while creating your characters?
The situations in these books may be fictitious and take place in a fantasy world, but the self-questioning that occurs and the doubt, those are things we face every day. I like to say that the protagonists do the best they can with the information that they are given and have found out, especially as they learn and accept more about themselves and each other.
Regarding these heroines especially, I wanted them to be strong and believable characters that held different behaviors, ideas, and moral beliefs, and I strove to maintain their differences in order to show the distinct ways each young woman thinks.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
Some of the themes that I felt were important to explore were: BETRAYAL, LOSS, FEAR, SURVIVAL, COURAGE, HEROISM, DISCOVERY, POWER, MAGIC, ISOLATION, ACCEPTANCE, IDENTITY, and MORAL DILEMMA.
I hope the series continues in other books. If so, where will the story take readers?
I have a lot of ideas for the world of Sumir, but in regard to the main characters in this series, I would like to explore what would happen if Amanda came face to face with the guardian that she trapped in the space between the realms. The truth is, I am already working on a few short stories that take place in this fictional world. My hope is to include them in my next short story collection.
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Experience the epic fantasy in book three Endow: A Blood Inheritance Novel
Picking up where Lost ended, Endow takes Emily, Amanda, and Kiami on a dangerous trip through the realms. Amanda is determined to prove that the stones they were given are the very ones from the ancient myth. To do so she may have to divulge a few of her dark secrets.
The fate of Sumir is sealed forever in book four–Resist: A Blood Inheritance Novel.
With the end at hand, Amanda seeks redemption. But the myths of Sumir are only half-truths, and the layers of deception go deeper than she ever imagined. After an unknown ally tips her off, completing the puzzle, a bargain is struck, and it’s a race against time.
Once the half-bloods are united, the celestial will come at them with everything he has…
Included short Stories:
Bavmorda Part One: The Journey
Bavmorda Part Two: Lessons
The Blood Inheritance Novels Series Two-Book Set: Endow and Resist
The Blood Inheritance Novels Series Two-Book Set: Endow and Resist is a captivating extension of a spellbinding saga rife with magic and adventure. It chronicles the extraordinary journey of Amanda, a character of notable strength and determination, who, despite a past laden with trials and tribulations, embarks on a quest to unravel her true identity. Alongside Amanda, an ensemble of diverse characters navigates through multifarious realms, working collaboratively to assemble a team of seven half-bloods, each possessing distinct characteristics and abilities rooted in their half-human, half-realm heritage. Their mission? To shield the realms from an ominous looming threat.
This tale delights with an engaging array of characters, each masterfully given the freedom to carve out their unique paths. For instance, as Amanda traverses one trajectory, her compatriot Kiami sets off on a divergent course. This approach to character development introduces a tapestry of distinct conflicts and viewpoints that breathe richness and depth into the overall narrative. Particularly captivating is the creation myth of the realms, crafted by three goddesses. This story-within-a-story unfolds a mesmerizing mythos replete with symbolic layers that ripple throughout the protagonists’ quests.
Authored by M. Ainihi, this enchanting tale is painted with vivid descriptions and reveals that circumstances are seldom what they initially appear to be. The seeds of doubt and apprehension planted in the minds of Amanda and her companions in the early stages of their journey evolve into transformative self-discovery.
Endow and Resist serve as both a testament to personal sacrifice and a maze of intrigue, nestled within a fantastical universe where the impossible becomes tangible. They illuminate the complexity of moral decision-making, casting a gray shadow over the binary concept of good and evil. Admittedly, the interweaving narratives of individual characters may initially confound the reader. Still, as the characters bloom and their stories converge, the plot’s trajectory clarifies, and the storytelling captivates.
The Blood Inheritance Novels Series Two-Book Set is a remarkable read for young adults with a penchant for intricate world-building and distinctive mythology. It’s a testament to the limitless potential of the fantastical genre, cementing itself as a must-read in its category.
Pages: 608 | ASIN : B0BWK7R2WT
The Blood Inheritance Novels Series Two-Book Set: Rise and Lost
![The Blood Inheritance Novels Series Two-Book Set: Rise and Lost by [M. Ainihi, Tauseef Ahmed, Allister Thompson]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41RR+w+HLGL.jpg)
Amanda seems to be a normal girl in a normal world, but everything very quickly changes when she inadvertently releases a genie from a bottle – literally. The djinn, or jinni, Erol becomes bound to her until death. Amanda is kidnapped by an evil sorcerer to force her and Erol on a journey to find a powerful relic, but the more she learns about the dark new world she finds herself in, the more she realizes that she will do anything to stop him from getting it – including something unexpected!
The first of The Blood Inheritance Series by M Ainihi, Rise is a gripping read right from the first page. The characters are interesting and believable; and I found some of the relationships intriguing, particularly the one between Amanda and the jinni Erol. The realm that they are drawn into is dark and dangerous, and there are unexpected twists that are absolutely riveting. For me, the first two-thirds of Rise is the best of both the books. It is engaging and interesting with an enjoyable grit and plenty of dark magic.
This book is a combination of two novels in the Blood Inheritance Series. The story continues through the second book of the series, Lost. Amanda joins forces with two more female characters, Emily and Kiami, each with their own skills. Between them they seek to understand and control their powers and deal with a series of problems in their realms. Lost has more characters, more varied settings and a lot more action, so I found this story to be the more engrossing of the two.
This is an impassioned story that I heartily enjoyed but I did feel the writing style change between books and it took a while to get used to the adjustment. But once the adjustment is made it is easy to once again get lost in this dark fantasy novel.
This two book set in the The Blood Inheritance Series makes the overall story feel more epic. While the stories alone are on the shorter side, especially Rise, having them both together here makes the story arc feel more grand and the ending feels more satisfying. But I am a reader who loves fantasy series but hates waiting for the next book, so this is a gift to have both books already ready for me to enjoy.
Pages: 433 | ASIN: B0929FK8TT
Rise: A Blood Inheritance Novel
![Rise: A Blood Inheritance Novel by [M. Ainihi, Allister Thompson]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51Xs2m6XYYL.jpg)
Rise: A Blood Inheritance Novel by M. Ainihi is the first novel from the “Blood Inheritance” YA dark fantasy series. It follows the story of Amanda Garrett, a fifteen-year-old girl who lives in a small town with her father. The book starts off with a prologue set hundreds of years before the main story takes place, where we learn of the imprisonment of Erol, a jinn(genie), and the reason behind it. Hundreds of years later, while on a day trip in the woods with her dad, Amanda stumbles upon an ancient artifact she discovers contains a jinn(genie), which is Erol, that will change her life forever. Amanda’s life soon spirals out of control as she is sucked into a fantastical world where she’s orphaned, kidnapped, and forced to work for a powerful wizard who seeks a mythical talisman. All the while, Amanda harnesses dark powers unbeknownst to her. And as she sets off on her journey, Amanda learns about the creation of the universe, different mythical creatures, realms, and her own demonic ancestry. She has to deal with unwanted feelings and make decisions that will harm those she loves, some of which leave both her and the reader shocked.
Rise is an incredibly fast-paced novel, one-second you’re following the story of a joyful girl, completely unaware of the journey she’s about to begin, and the next you’re reading of genies, evil wizards, gods, and the creation of the universe. Although it is 160 pages it is extremely detailed and provides the reader with a good understanding of the characters and the realms they reside. As for the language used, it is fairly simple to understand, which makes it a suitable read for anyone. I did find a couple of spelling mistakes and redundancies but really nothing to fret over. The main character, Amanda, is very believable. She starts off as a naive young girl, happy to spend time with her father and worried over trivial matters. But as the story develops, so does she, as she becomes a troubled young woman trying her best to understand and control the dark powers and impulses within her.
Throughout the book, we get to see two sides of the same character and that makes it a lot more interesting. Other characters, such as Erol and Aden, also provide a refreshing break from what you might expect from a genie, for even though they want to do good with their powers, they also have secrets and desires that add complexity to what could otherwise be bland and predictable characters. M. Ainihi does a great job creating a beautiful setting, making you feel like you’re actually visiting the realms described. The theme is very fun and original. the author provides a different concept with the genies, as opposed to your typical vampires and werewolves. I very much enjoyed reading about these mythological creatures and all the lore behind them.
Pages: 162 | ASIN: B075PX97CK
LITERARY TITAN 