After reading my novels, I often visit the author’s website and have been pleasantly surprised to discover that they’ve released their own “short stories” that follow the series I am reading. Here are links to their webpages, with some examples that I’m sure you’ll enjoy!
FREE READS from Sara Reinke (lots of great paranormal stuff here) – she’s even giving away the first book (e-book) in her Brethren series (vampires) if you sign up for her newletter.
“Deleted Scenes” from the Night Huntress books (Cat and Bones! by Jeaniene Frost)
“Tax Not the Zombie” A free Broken Heart, Oklahoma short story by Michele Bardsley
Books that have to do with the Vampire Diaries:
FROM L.J. Smith: The Full Access site for Vampire Diaries: The Awakening and The Struggle can be viewed read in full! (this is the ENTIRE FIRST BOOK (not a short story)!! – I was hooked once I read it online) – quick synopsis – high school love, with a VAMPIRE student!! How can you go wrong with that? – Only available for free online until April 14th!
Matt & Elena: First date (a prequel to the Vampire Diaries)
Bonnie & Damon: First Kiss (I hear this may be sort of a “spoiler” if you haven’t read the actual Vampire Diaries volumes yet)
Some goodies involving the “Nightworld” series characters (these next stories are associated with “Strange Fate”):
An Apocalypse Night Story called “Thicker than Water”
Brionwy’s Lullaby (as per L.J. Smith : “There will be much more about Brionwy in Strange Fate, but this story is meant to stand alone”)
Those Who Favor Fire (a short story involving my favorite Nightworld characters – Ash & Mary-Lynette. I loved it, despite being slightly confused about their environment – I have only read the first Nightworld volume so far.)
Jez and Morgead’s Night Out (I am unfamiliar with this one also, but I’m sure once I go deeper into Nightworld, I will enjoy this story too!)
Twilight Saga – a link to Stephenie Meyer’s webpage containing “Midnight Sun: Edward’s Version of Twilight”:
My absolute FAVORITE read called “Midnight Sun“. Here is a link to Stephenie’s webpage that allows you access to the story, and includes an explanation as to why she is allowing us to read the unfinished book. Although the story was a great read (she had a ton of chapters already written) the enjoyment is bittersweet due to the disheartening circumstances that she describes. I’m hoping that Stephenie will finish this book as it is the PERFECT story to appease our “Twilight fix”. If she finishes and publishes this book, I will buy it and add it to my prized collection of the Twilight Saga.
From Sherrilyn Kenyon – Fear the Darkness (as part of the Dark-Hunter series) (sign up to get access to the free e-book!)
From Sherrilyn Kenyon – “Winter Born” (sign up to get access to the free e-book)
A plethora of free short stories by Rachel Caine! From Weather Warden stories to Morganville Vampires, you can read to your heart’s content directly on her website 🙂
Free Stories from Anya Bast!
- Otherkin Fury
- Otherkin Tranquility
- Micah’s Magick (she warns: DO NOT read this one until you have finished Witch Fury)
Here is a link to Kelley Armstrong’s webpage containing Free Online Stories or “Novellas” that compliment her “Otherworld” series such as
- Becoming (as per the author, this story is “This free online graphic novella tells the story of Elena’s “becoming” a werewolf”)
- Rebirth: Aaron’s first year as a vampire
- Demonology: Talia discovers the truth about her son, Adam’s, heritage
- Birthright: Logan’s first visit to the Pack
- Case of the Half-Demon Spy: Paige & Adam’s first sleuthing adventure
- Expectations: Lucas’s confrontation with Eve
- Territorial: Karl Marsten before the events of Bitten
- Ghosts: Jeremy after sending Elena & Clay to Toronto in Bitten
- Escape: Eve’s incarceration at the compound
- Wedding Bell Hell: Paige & Lucas’s Wedding
- Adventurer: A Kenneth adventure!
- Bargain: Xavier gets the “From Hell” letter theft job
Free stories from Larissa Ione:
- Bloodlust
- Demonica: Overkill (Snippets of Demonica Life)
- The Demonica Compendium
and deleted scenes from her Demonica series
Caridad Piñeiro provides these free short stories:
The Wolf Within (a part of “The Calling” series)
Yes, I totally agree!!
Reading Midnight Sun was AMAZING!!! I can’t believe it is better than Twilight!! (and twilight is the best)
PLEASE Stephanie finish the book!!
It was a heartbreak when I couldn’t read on………
I had to go and read Twilight again for the 3rd time to get my fix……….. Please get Midnight Sun on the shelves.
Thanks for taking the time to put this web page together. I’ve been searching all over the net for Kelley Armstrongs short stories and novellas. Her website says these stories are on line and free, but she doesn’t say how to find them and access. Obviously, you did. Thank you, thank you, thank you. I also loved reading the start of “Midnight Sun” seeing things through Edward’s eyes. I also like the Vampire Diaries short stories. You’re the best. I’m looking for Tales of the Otherworld, Volume Two stories on-line with limited luck. Specifically, “Stalked” narrated by Clay. Elen and Clay are my favorite characters. Jeremy and Jaime are running a close second. I just finished “Ghosts”. I managed to find “Beginnings” and LOVED it!!! Kelley Armstrong is my favorite writer of supernatural books and stories. Feel free to write to me with any suggestions or any questions. I have a five page word document listing all the “supers” books I’ve read over the past two years. It’s my preferred topic for reading.
You know, many of my favorite authors have a “free reads” section on their websites (lots of great short stories that they wrote). Comes in handy for those times when you’re stuck without a book somewhere, or only have a bit of time to read.
I’m going to link to them to make it easier 🙂
Updates coming soon….
Wow. I’ve been visiting your site for several times now and I thought I know all the pages you have but waaallaaa! You have a page for free online stories. One stop shop for book lovers!!! I love that you recognize the need of a book fanatic to know everything about the series that they are reading and that includes side stories that authors give out for free. Now I don’t need to go to every website of my Paranormal Romance authors and check if they have new free stuff. I could just visit here. Sweeeeeettttt 🙂
Wow, thanks for the free reads, Maryse! These were GREAT! Excellent between-series reads for me. Loved them!
Hi Shana! Glad I could help. I love some of these short stories that help a series along…
Thank you for this page! You are a very hard worker for us, reader fanatics! Haha..thank you so much. Your web is great!
I have looked everywhere for the anthology the Bridges of Eden park it was supposed to be in the back of a few demons more but I have yet to find it..also The Bespelled anthology by Kim Harrison.when I seen the list of free anthologies and novella s I was hoping you could help me….
Thanks Samantha
have looked everywhere for the anthology the Bridges of Eden park it was supposed to be in the back of a few demons more but I have yet to find it..also The Bespelled anthology by Kim Harrison.when I seen the list of free anthologies and novella s I was hoping you could help me….
Thanks, Samantha
Hi Marise
Thank you for this amazing blog. I have read a lot of wonderful books. Great work Maryse!
I am a reader fanatic, i love the hot, sexy vampires…
Xoxo
Lia
Hi Maryse:
I’m surprised Moriah Jovan’s ebooks/books have not made your Recommends list! Moriah is an indie-publisher (under her own B10 Mediaworx) and has written The Proviso, Stay, Magdalene, $20 Rag, Dunham and more. Her characters are many-faceted, intense and always entertaining. Give her a try, she does not disappoint – and her Extras, on her website, provide even more HEA freebies!