Hydra Publications is proud to announce the release of The Legacy of the Gods Omnibus: Volumes 1 and 2. The novels and related short stories have been collected, and the entire saga is presented here in chronological order for the first time ever!

“If John Carpenter wrote prose, his pen name would be Michael West.” ~ Sci-Fi Guys Book Review

From acclaimed novelist Michael West comes this omnibus edition of one of the “Best Fantasy Book Series” of all time!*

Man no longer worships the old gods; forgotten and forsaken, they have become nothing more than myth and legend. But all that is about to change. After the ruins of a vast, ancient civilization are discovered on the ocean floor, Coast Guard officers find a series of derelict ships drifting in the current—high-priced yachts and leaking fishing boats, all ransacked, splattered in blood, their crews missing and presumed dead.

And that’s just the beginning.

Now, to stop the carnage, a group of unlikely heroes must work together to unravel a mystery as old as time, and face an enemy as dark as the ocean depths.

Available for the first time in chronological order! Experience the complete saga the way it was originally intended. This omnibus contains Book One: Poseidon’s Children, the short story “Trolling,” and book 1.5, Spook House.

Available now in paperback and eBook editions.

*As voted on Ranker

Terrifying creatures exist all around us, hiding in plain sight. Ancient. Deadly. They gather in secret, conspiring, dreaming of nothing less than humanity’s destruction, and their numbers are growing.

Earl Preston knows the danger all too well. After tangling with a horde of mythological sea monsters in Colonial Bay, he has been tasked with finding these beasts and exposing their plans whatever they may be. But Earl is not the only one with a mystery on their hands. At the very top of the world, Carol Miyagi has stumbled onto an artifact from Earth’s past, something magnificent held captive in a prison of ice and snow. Now, Carol and Earl must work quickly to decipher the will of the gods–a plot that defies imagination–and to stop their followers from carrying it out.

They thought the nightmare was over, but they are about to discover that the horror has only just begun.

Available together for the first time! Experience the complete saga the way it was originally intended. This omnibus contains the short story “Masako’s Tale,” Book Two: Hades’ Disciples, and Book Three: Zeus’ Warriors.

Available now in paperback and eBook editions.

Author Michael West married Dr. Robin Blankenship, P.h.D. in a lavish gothic ceremony held at the Central Branch of the Indianapolis Public Library on Halloween night, 2025. They were surrounded by friends and family.

The review website I Smell Sheep has posted a new 5 Star…er, “sheep” review of Michael West’s first short fiction collection, Skull Full of Kisses, available now from Hydra Publications. Here’s a snippet:

“There are demons. Ghosts. Aliens. Serial killers. Dinosaurs…freaking dinosaurs. West makes the reader feel like we’re glued to the old late-night horror show on television. I couldn’t wait to get to the next story to see what other monster was waiting for me. What wicket twist was going to grab me and get my heart pounding in my chest? 5 out of 5 sheep!” ~ Belle Bivdavo, I Smell Sheep

Originally published in 2010, Skull Full of Kisses contains some of West’s earliest and most well-regarded works.

Love and evil know no bounds! Turn the page and enter a world of shadow, as Michael West brings together his most disturbing short stories — twisted tales of forbidden desires and ghoulish deeds, where nightmares manifest in the most mundane and unlikely of places…

The basement of a Japanese restaurant, where a seductive creature promises comfort to a lonely hitman, if only he will set her free…

A ruined city, where survivors of a natural disaster have become prey to something unnatural…

An Indiana farmhouse, where a frightened child attempts to fool the Angel of Death…

And the darkest regions of space, where a man fights to protect the woman he loves from invaders only he can see…

Ten reasons to lock your doors.
Ten reasons to keep the lights on.
Ten reasons why you may never sleep again.

Skull Full of Kisses includes the following stories:

“Jiki”

“The Bridge”

“Dogs of War”

“Trolling”

“Einstein’s Slingshot”

“God Like Me”

“To Know How to See”

“For Her”

“Sanctuary”

“Goodnight”*named Best Horror Short Story of 2005 in the annual P&E Readers’ Poll.

Skull Full of Kisses is available now from Hydra Publications!

Michael West was the featured guest on the season finale of The Funky Werepig, where he discussed the release of his new novel from Hydra Publications, The Legacy of the Gods Book Four: Kronos’ Return!

Bestselling author Michael West’s critically-acclaimed dark fantasy series, The Legacy of the Gods, is coming to an end on February 8th with the release of Book Four: Kronos’ Return.

Earl Preston has been fighting dark, seemingly impossible forces, trying to prevent the return of ancient, otherworldly beings — creatures of unfathomable intellect, rumored to have created all life here on Earth.  Gods or monsters, these unseen puppet masters continue to pull strings despite a millennia of exile.  Now, as the gateway to their alien world nears completion, Earl must locate Hades’ secret base of operations, must destroy this doorway before it can ever be opened.

And time is running out.

Scattered across the globe, allies and foes alike are coming together — Poseidon, Hades, and Zeus, all rallying their forces for one last confrontation.  This will be a battle to end all battles, and its outcome will decide the fate of generations yet to come.

In this fourth and final installment of the Legacy of the Gods series, bestselling author Michael West provides answers to all the questions faithful readers have been asking for years, closing his dark, fantastic narrative in spectacular fashion.  Prepare for Kronos’ Return!

With amazing cover art and interior illustrations by artist Enggar Adirasa, Kronos’ Return marks West’s first new release from publisher Hydra Publications.

Global Traveler Magazine calls it “a fantastic mix of horror, fantasy and sci-fi,” and says “Kronos’ Return is a fitting conclusion to the story West started with Poseidon’s Children and continued through the next two books in the series. ”

The Legacy of the Gods Book Four: Kronos’ Return is available now for pre-order in digital formats, with paperback and audiobook versions forthcoming. This fourth novel brings to a close one of “the all-time best fantasy book series,*” and marks the end of a thirty year odyssey for author Michael West and faithful readers everywhere.

Pre-order Kronos’ Return now!

*Ranker.com

Read the entire Legacy of the Gods series from the beginning, and hear it narrated by S. W. Salzman on audiobook! #ListentotheLegacy

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Global Traveler Magazine has named its list of the Top Reads of 2020, and the books to look forward to reading in the new year. One of their picks for Most Anticipated Reads of 2021 is the final novel in Michael West’s Legacy of the Gods series: Kronos’ Return!

The Legacy of the Gods Book Four: Kronos’ Return is coming soon from Hydra Publications!

We are pleased to officially announce that Michael West has signed with Hydra Publications.

“Hydra Publications is excited to announce the signing of horror meister extraordinaire, Michael West.

Michael West is the bestselling author of Cinema of Shadows, Spook House, The Wide Game, Skull Full of Kisses, and the critically-acclaimed Legacy of the Gods series. He lives and works in the Indianapolis area with his wife, their two children, and their dog, King Seesar.

His children are convinced that spirits move through the woods near their home.

We look forward to the thrills and chills Michael will bring to the Hydra family.”

We are excited to announce that the unabridged AudioBook version of Michael West’s Zeus’ Warriors, the third book in the best-selling Legacy of the Gods series, is now available through Audible, Amazon, and iTunes! Narrated by S.W. Salzman!

Synopsis of Zeus’ Warriors: Zeus’ warriors, the defenders of humanity, have suffered terrible losses.

Presumed dead, Earl Preston has been forced to retreat into a forgotten underworld beneath New York City, but he is still far from safe.   Hades’ disciples need only to recover the two remaining crystal skulls — ancient vessels of indescribable power — and their dark quest to return the vanquished gods to Earth will be all but complete.  To save civilization as we know it, Earl must rise to confront his greatest challenge yet, but this is a fight he cannot win alone.

Trapped inside an alien environment, Alan Everson and Kari Hannigan must put aside their differences and work together to help a gravely injured Carol Miyagi — a woman they both claim to love.   Theirs is a journey to discover the secret of life itself.  And they may not like what they find.

Zeus’ Warriors is book three of the Legacy of the Gods Series!

The Legacy of the Gods Book Three: Zeus’ Warriors was nominated for an Imadjinn Award for Best Urban Fantasy Novel of 2016

Get the AudioBook of Zeus’ Warriors at any of the links below!

Audible

Amazon

iTunes

We are excited to announce that the unabridged AudioBook version of Michael West’s Hades’ Disciples, the second book in the best-selling Legacy of the Gods series, is now available through Audible, Amazon, and iTunes! Narrated by S.W. Salzman!

Synopsis of Hades’ Disciples: Terrifying creatures exist all around us, hiding in plain sight. Ancient. Deadly. They gather in secret, conspiring, dreaming of nothing less than humanity’s destruction, and their numbers are growing. Earl Preston knows the danger all too well. After tangling with a horde of mythological sea monsters in Colonial Bay, he has been tasked with finding these beasts and exposing their plans whatever they may be. But Earl is not the only one with a mystery on their hands.

At the very top of the world, Carol Miyagi has stumbled onto an artifact from Earth’s past, something magnificent held captive in a prison of ice and snow. Now, Carol and Earl must work quickly to decipher the will of the gods-a plot that defies imagination-and to stop their followers from carrying it out. 

They thought the nightmare was over, but they are about to discover that the horror has only just begun. 

Hades’ Disciples is book two of the Legacy of the Gods Series!

Get the AudioBook of Hades’ Disciples at any of the links below!

Audible

Amazon

iTunes

Michael West’s thrilling Lovecraftian-horror novel, Spook House, is now available for the first time as an audiobook!

Synopsis of Spook House:

“There are some places in this world that go far beyond any normal definition of “haunted.”  These places are so evil, so diabolical, that they become gateways to Hell itself.  The Fuller Farm is one such place.

It is said that old man Fuller conducted unspeakable acts, blood rituals and human sacrifices, all in an attempt to gain the ultimate knowledge, the ultimate power.  And then, he was killed–horribly murdered on his own lands, leaving the house to stand as a vacant monument to his wickedness.  But once a door is opened, it can never really be closed.

Now, the stars are right.   The gateway is ready to once more unleash unspeakable horror upon the town of Harmony, Indiana.   And this will be one Halloween that they will never forget!”

Originally released for Halloween in 2012 by Seventh Star Press, Spook House went on to become an international bestseller* and has slithered its way into the hearts of Michael West’s faithful readers everywhere. Now, thanks to the wonderful work of narrator Nila Hagood, the novel has been given thrilling and horrific new life with this unabridged audio book version!

Enter the Spook House if you dare! #HearTheFear

Click hear to get your copy directly from Audible.com!

*eBook format