Anna M. Rivers — everything gothic & dark academia

Anna Maria Rivers is the proud author of The Dark Calendula, a psychological horror novel set to debut on September 1, 2026 on Amazon. In the literary and cinematic spheres, she is especially interested in gothic settings, unhinged female characters, religious symbolism, characters that haunt the narrative, cannibalism as a metaphor for all-consuming love, and multigenerational stories. She is constantly moving across Europe in the noble pursuit of higher education and dreams. Her latest adventure has brought her to Stockholm, where she is currently engaged in the study of poisons (or colloquially, toxicology). She currently has multiple novels lined up for publishing, so keep a close eye on her — and make sure to subscribe to her newsletter.

The Dark Calendula — coming September 1 to Amazon

❀ A sinful priest who has lost all faith.

❀ A heartbroken artist who would do anything for love.

❀ A pragmatic detective, unaware of the evil lurking in the shadows.

❀ And a peculiar young woman with a special connection to the other world.

After a close encounter with death leaves Atena Sebastian with the ability to communicate with the dead, she decides to start a new life as a grief counsellor in Edinburgh. Together with her cousin and best friends, she receives an invitation from the rich widow Faye Ferguson to spend two weeks at the luxurious albeit remote Bellemore Manor, during which they will get to drink expensive wine, eat fine cuisine and stroll through lavish gardens. The only rule? Don’t mind the neighbours’ children, who come in the night to play on these gilded corridors. But when strange sightings and vivid dreams start plaguing their idyllic vacation, igniting repressed passions and bitter rivalries, Atena quickly learns she can trust neither the mistress nor the butler of the manor. She sets out to uncover the buried secrets of Bellemore on her own, but will she be able to show her friends the truth before they turn to killing each other?