12 new science fiction and fantasy releases to get chills with this October
By Lacy Baugher
October 2021 release: Flowers for the Sea – Zin E. Rocklyn
A Gothic horror novella about a group of refugees fleeing a flooded kingdom on an ark with few resources, Flowers for the Sea may be brief, but it’s one of the most striking titles on this list.
It follows the story of Iraxi, a commoner in the group’s highly stratified society that has survived for 1,743 days at sea. She’s pregnant and her unborn baby has become something of a symbol of hope among others on the ark. But Iraxi has doubts: Whether it’s moral to bring a child into a world like theirs, with so many dangers and scant supplies.
And when she begins to question whether her child is even human – or the product of something much darker – her position becomes much more complicated. She’s the first woman on their voyage to successfully carry a pregnancy – what will it mean if that all goes wrong?
The official synopsis describes the story as follows.
"Survivors from a flooded kingdom struggle alone on an ark. Resources are scant, and ravenous beasts circle. Their fangs are sharp. Among the refugees is Iraxi: ostracized, despised, and a commoner who refused a prince, she’s pregnant with a child that might be more than human. Her fate may be darker and more powerful than she can imagine."
Flowers for the Sea is available on October 19.