Stories
Ending in Ashes is a collection of neo-Gothic stories that explore the classic genre through a raw and salacious lens. Spanning across time, from the Salem Witch Trials to the Covid-19 pandemic, Rebecca Jones-Howe stays true to traditional Gothic themes as she boldly explores human depravity and how it relates to the female experience. Ending in Ashes is a tome of modern horrors waiting to be uncovered, each tale functioning as a warning that some tropes can truly stand the test of time.
Praise for Ending in Ashes
“Make yourself a cup of tea and wrap yourself in Jones-Howe’s Gothic shroud to shut out any prying eyes—devour this collection of raw, unfiltered, and erotic stories. Jones-Howe satisfies a craving I didn’t know I had.”
SADIE HARTMANN, author of 101 Horror Stories to Read Before You’re Murdered
“In time-hopping tales of lust, lunacy, and intrigue, Ending in Ashes burns bright with inspired storytelling. Rewinding from present day through a number of historical eras, Jones-Howe draws on the genre conventions of gothic romance and paranormal mystery to make a larger statement about the horrors of the patriarchy, though never at the expense of keeping us entertained. The stories sizzle, the writing dazzles. It’s a winning combo of deadly secrets, carnal thrills, and sharp social commentary that is sure to set your senses ablaze.”
NATHANIAL BLACKHELM, author of Little Black Crimes
“A haunting medley of atmospheric dread and chilling trauma, Ending in Ashes proves Rebecca Jones-Howe is a powerful voice in gothic horror.”
JESSICA MCHUGH, 2x Bram Stoker Award-nominated author of Strange Nests
“Before you pick up Ending in Ashes, be aware that it isn’t a collection of short stories; it’s a study in heartbreak, longing, and rage. Horror of the highest calibre, Rebecca Jones-Howe’s writing will leave you breathless, broken, and begging for more.”
CAITLIN MARCEAU, author of This is Where We Talk Things Out
“To call this powerful collection of stories gothic horror, well, that’s the tip of the iceberg—the rest of the darkness, despair, and longing are hidden from view. If there is a line, Rebecca will cross it; if there is a sickness, she will expand it; if there is a looming fear, she will embrace it. Not for the faint of heart, we are mutually destroyed in these whispered secrets.”
RICHARD THOMAS, author of Spontaneous Human Combustion, Disintegration, and Breaker
“Ending in Ashes is a darkly beautiful collection of stories about broken people, ghosts, and the ghosts of broken people. A menacing, claustrophobic journey through timeless narratives of shattered and dysfunctional love. Jones-Howe expertly leads the reader into places they don’t want to go but can’t look away from. She will leave you devastated.”
JESSICA LEONARD, author of Antioch and Conjuring the Witch