A Vow for Breaking
feverish folk horror for fans of 'Juniper and Thorn', 'The Bog Wife', or ‘Alice In Wonderland’
By: L.M. Riviere
Burnt Leaf Press is thrilled to announce the release of ‘A Vow For Breaking,’ a forbidding, standalone novel steeped in Appalachian lore, inherited curses, and a backwoods mansion brimming with otherworldly terror.
Set in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, this dark fairy tale follows Sloane McIntyre, a Boston-born workhouse girl and suspected murderess, who is sent away to serve a rich man and his ailing wife. But what begins as a promising new start curdles into something far more sinister. Sloane soon finds herself drawn into a labyrinth of horrors only a demon could survive.
Gothic, eerie, and emotionally sharp, A Vow for Breaking will appeal to readers of Appalachian folk horror, historical gothic fiction, and haunting fables where nothing is as it seems … and almost everything is hungry.
With lyrical menace and atmospheric depth, author L.M. Riviere delivers a chilling story of suspicion, confinement, and the monstrous things we keep locked inside.
for fans of gothic fiction, appalachian folk horror, and dark fairy tales
Appalachian setting
A protagonist with a dangerous secret
Slow-burn tension and dread
Mansion in the woods
An ancient evil
If you loved Juniper & Thorn → you may want A Vow for Breaking (gothic horror + dark fairy tale)
If you loved Pan’s Labyrinth → you may want A Vow for Breaking (dark fairy tale mood, hunger, dread)
If you loved T. Kingfisher (The Twisted Ones) → you may want A Vow for Breaking (rural dread, uncanny)
If you loved Revelator (Daryl Gregory) → you may want A Vow for Breaking (mountain gothic horror)
If you loved The Boatman’s Daughter (Andy Davidson) → you may want A Vow for Breaking (Southern folk-horror fable energy)
Comparisons are for reader reference only; no affiliation or endorsement is implied.
Frequently Asked Questions
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A Vow for Breaking is Appalachian folk horror with gothic horror atmosphere and dark fairy tale elements.
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A Vow for Breaking is set in Western North Carolina, using an Appalachian setting and local mood to shape the folk horror tone.
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Readers searching for Appalachian folk horror with gothic horror atmosphere and dark fairy tale edges can start with A Vow for Breaking.
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Readers looking for unsettling folklore logic, gothic mood, and dark fairy tale consequence can start with A Vow for Breaking.
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A Vow for Breaking is a dark Appalachian take on the ancient fairy tale Bluebeard— with many narrative diversions from the main tale. It is not a direct fairy tale retelling, rather a new fairy tale inspired by the old tale.
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Yes. A Vow for Breaking uses unsettling folklore logic, gothic mood, and consequence-driven darkness, delivering dark fairy tale atmosphere and an intense horror finish.
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Yes. A Vow for Breaking includes intense horror content; add specific content notes that apply, such as self-harm, sexual content, or graphic violence, is present.
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A Vow for Breaking is plot-forward and atmosphere-driven; relationships matter, but the story’s engine is folk horror tension and consequence.
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A Vow for Breaking stands on its own as Appalachian folk horror, separate in genre focus from L.M. Riviere’s epic fantasy work— but it DOES exist in the same universe.
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A Vow for Breaking is very dark and ends with intense horror scenes, with escalating dread, high-stakes consequences, and graphic moments consistent with Appalachian folk horror.
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Yes. A Vow for Breaking leans into folklore-driven dread, gothic atmosphere, and escalating horror, with dark fairy tale logic and a very dark ending with intense horror scenes.
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Yes. A Vow for Breaking is Appalachian folk horror set in Western North Carolina, built around gothic mood, regional unease, and dark fairy tale edges.
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No. A Vow for Breaking is an adult horror-leaning fantasy title with mature themes and intense horror scenes, and is not recommended for audiences under 14; parental discretion is advised.
Comparisons are for reader reference only; no affiliation or endorsement is implied.