Charles Michael Bryant–Charlie-Bear to his parents–is nine months old and suffers from that age-old and worrisome condition known as colic. The doctors say he'll grow out of it. His father, Sam, wishes he would go ahead and do so...and his mother, Faith, wants a good night's sleep. It isn't gas that keeps Charlie-Bear awake, nor is it heartburn, reflux or a wet diaper. Charlie-bear has drawn the attention of Wicked...a nasty thing who moves as a shadow, speaks only in rhyme and steals the souls of children. He is a monster who creates more nightmares and wants Charlie-Bear to become one.

Jake, once a rising star in the literary world, is now a man on the edge of madness. Now, the characters he created—once confined to the pages of his stories—are haunting his every waking moment. Victor Black, the cold-blooded villain. The Butcher, pure evil incarnate. Eliza Nightshade, deadly and seductive. The eerie Twins, laughing in the shadows. And Mr. Snuggles, the sarcastic talking cat, now a chilling figure of Jake's spiraling mind, stalking him with yellow eyes and a grin that promises terror.

Long ago, an otherworldly creature made the Earth almost uninhabitable and nearly consumed all of mankind. Now angels protect, and rule over, New Eden—Earth’s last remaining city. By angelic decree, and scripture akin to propaganda, all redheads are enslaved. Alizard is the stubborn daughter of the two most powerful families in the city. She expects to inherit a position of great leadership until the day her hair turns red.

Having just graduated from college, Parker is excited to get a career started in the United States Forest Service and serve the community in his home state of California. Unfortunately for Parker though, there currently are no forestry job opportunities in Northern California. Except for one volunteer summer job that no one has applied for in the area. However, deep in these woods exists a creature of folklore that hunts humans for prey with a ravenous and insatiable hunger as told by generation after generation of loggers and outdoorsmen in the area.

Moving from Reykjavík to the rural village of Búdardalur in Iceland, a successful yet overworked and divorced master chef, Bragi, hopes to start a new life with his two teenagers. He buys an old house by the sea and takes over management of a local motel and restaurant. Soon, a mysterious woman walks in: Karitas. Bragi feels strangely attracted to her. Thinking he's in love, he convinces himself Karitas will be part of his new life.