The End of the Trail

A barren land of salt and snow; a castle where underground paths twist and turn in endless circles and a reclusive king has not shown his face in years; a forest where few things are what they seem. An unnamed hero must navigate through these places as he takes on the task of tracking down a supposed witch, in a story that blends dream and reality, rumor and truth, danger and hope.

"The End of the Trail" by author Louis Rakovich is a magic realism / dark fantasy novelette that would appeal to fans of those two genres, as well as those who enjoy dark literary fiction, fairy tale horror, and all things strange and magical -- where beauty is found in the terrible, the unpleasant, the vast and lonely and dangerous. It's a story about a physical and spiritual journey in a peculiar, harsh land.