Belle Ombre: a Southern Gothic Horror Novel

In the shadow-draped bayous of Louisiana, Belle Ombre Plantation harbors a curse that has festered for forty years—one that transforms the descendants of slaveholders into the monsters they always were beneath their human skin.When Nadine Washington inherits her great-uncle Barry’s property, she discovers more than just a decaying house. She uncovers decades of documented horror, a town trapped in terrified silence, and a family of supernatural predators who have been feeding on the innocent for generations.Armed with nothing but her uncle’s research and the spiritual strength passed down through generations of women who survived the unsurvivable, Nadine must confront the Beauregard children—creatures born of privilege and twisted by a curse that reflects their true nature.Belle Ombre weaves authentic Haitian Vodou traditions with atmospheric Southern Gothic horror, exploring themes of generational trauma, community resilience, and the possibility of transforming cycles of vengeance into cycles of protection. This is horror with cultural depth, featuring a strong Black female protagonist who draws power from ancestral wisdom rather than supernatural gifts.Perfect for readers of Tananarive Due, Jesmyn Ward, and Tracey Baptiste—those seeking horror that respects its cultural sources while delivering genuine scares and meaningful themes.Some curses are meant to be broken. Others are meant to be transformed.**Content Warning: Contains graphic violence, disturbing imagery, and mature themes.If you loved the grotesque transformations in The Island of Dr. Moreau, the authentic Louisiana voodoo atmosphere of The Skeleton Key, and the haunting Southern Gothic mystery of Angel Heart — then gather ’round the fire for Belle Ombre.This spine-chilling tale reads like a nightmare whispered by flickering flames: a cursed plantation family transformed into literal monsters, an ancient voodoo binding seeking justice, and a young woman who must become something darker to save the innocent.Body horror meets spiritual reckoning in the Louisiana bayou, where children’s cruelty births decades of terror — until one brave soul dares to transform vengeance into protection.Perfect for readers craving visceral scares, authentic folklore, and the kind of Southern Gothic horror that lingers long after the last page.