“Mercedes M. Yardley writes with a knife in one hand and a lullaby in the other. Darling is a Southern Gothic that understands the deepest truth of horror fiction: that dread means nothing unless you love the people in danger. Cherry LaRouche and her children will stay with you long after the last page.” —Cynthia Pelayo, Bram Stoker Award-winning author of It Came From Neverland

“Mercedes Yardley’s Darling blossoms with grief and anxiety. And when the blossoms wither, the ovary swells. The fruit is sweet, and tart, with a heart like a stone, and a touch of cyanide if you bite down too hard.” —Sarah Read, Bram Stoker Award®-winning author of The Atropine Tree

“Mercedes M. Yardley’s epic novel, Darling, is written with the eloquence that makes Yardley’s work stand out. It is an emotionally raw and thrilling novel. The twists and turns will keep you guessing. And, for me, that’s always a good thing… Highly recommend.” —Cindy O’Quinn, Bram Stoker Award®-winning author

“Mercedes M. Yardley’s mad, pantheistic, breathtaking vision of a natural world both insane and profound—where houses hunger, men smile like sharks, even flowers have teeth, and the moon can devour the sky—is authentically shocking and ecstatically alive. She conjures pages draped in brilliance. And my soul feels heard.” —John Skipp, bestselling author of This Is Splatterpunk and The Change

"Some writers’ works sneak up on you and there are others whose words strike you full force. Mercedes M. Yardley accomplishes both of these feats with Darling. Her lyrical prose speaks to you, whispering of things fantastic and terrible, while also managing to succinctly set a scene, depict action, lay bare a character’s thoughts and heart. She makes you feel.” —Michael T. Burke, author of Vengeful Spirits in Sinister Societies and Fragments of a Greater Darkness

“Frightening and familiar… Darling is an unflinching horror novel—an unsettling story about what constitutes true evil.” —Catherine Thureson, Foreword Reviews

“Darling… explores the relationships and dynamics of small towns which, ultimately, can be scarier than any ghosts or demons. A definite recommendation…” —Mark Walker, Ginger Nuts of Horror