The Horror Library
Browse Stories
2 public-domain horror, weird fiction, and dark fantasy stories. Filter by genre, mood, or reading time — or start with our curated shelves below.
Thrawn Janet
Originally published in 1881, "Thrawn Janet" is Robert Louis Stevenson's masterwork of Scottish folk horror, blending supernatural dread with psychological complexity. The story examines the collision between rationalist theology and ancient supernatural evil when a young minister hires a woman whose strange affliction may be something far darker than illness. Readers should expect a richly atmospheric tale told in vernacular Scots dialect, combining community hysteria, demonic possession, and the minister's slow descent into understanding that some forces resist rational explanation.
The Child That Went With The Fairies
Sheridan Le Fanu·1870·16 min read Set in rural Ireland near the Slieveelim hills, this atmospheric tale recounts the mysterious disappearance of young Billy Ryan, who is taken by beautiful fairy folk traveling in an ornate carriage. Written by the Victorian master Sheridan Le Fanu, the story blends Irish folk traditions with psychological horror, exploring the grief of a mother and the haunting visitations that follow. Readers should expect a carefully constructed narrative grounded in local legend and the ineffable terror of the supernatural in everyday rural life.