{"product_id":"the-december-dark-ethan-ross-9798232023089","title":"The December Dark: A Collection of Winter Hauntings","description":"\u003cp\u003e\"The Bell-Ringer's Toll and Other Stories\" is a chilling collection of fourteen tales that peel back the cheerful facade of idyllic communities and manufactured traditions to reveal the dark and unsettling truths beneath.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAt its heart, this anthology explores the psychological suspense and folk horror lurking within isolated towns that demand a heavy price for their perfection. The stories often pit cynical, modern protagonists against ancient, desperate rituals, where the relentless pursuit of an \"authentic\" life leads to uncanny uniformity and terrifying secrets.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFrom a 19th-century settlement forced into human sacrifice to survive a brutal winter to a skeptical historian invited to an eerily flawless \"Christmas town,\" these narratives delve into themes of: \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eThe Uncanny: \u003c\/strong\u003e The creeping dread of places that are \u003cem\u003etoo\u003c\/em\u003e perfect, where every smile is uniform and every tradition hides a sinister origin.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDark Pacts: \u003c\/strong\u003e The extreme lengths people will go to for survival or prosperity, and the generational curses that follow their choices.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSkepticism vs. the Supernatural: \u003c\/strong\u003e Rational minds colliding with pre-Christian horrors that defy logic and explanation.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003e\"The Bell-Ringer's Toll\" is a masterclass in atmospheric dread, inviting readers to question the cheerful exteriors of holiday seasons and small-town life, and to consider the chilling sacrifices that might be required to maintain a perfect illusion.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Ethan Ross\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9798232023089\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Firebird Publishers\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 11\/04\/2025\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 224\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.58lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 8.50h x 5.50w x 0.51d","brand":"Ethan Ross","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":49097205973247,"sku":"9798232023089","price":11.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/the-december-dark-ethan-ross-9798232023089","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}