“With his latest, Bastianelli presents the story of a woman infected with a strange disease navigating a dying and unforgiving world.”
Working the front lines in Cassino, Italy, Dr. Monica Cucinotta has to deal with a deadly contagion with unheard of symptoms: the illness causes thorns to sprout from the surface of the body.
After becoming infected herself, Monica leaves the confines of the hospital and treks across a changed world. Traveling to return home to her loved ones, she encounters the best and worst of humanity, testing her belief in science, faith, and her will to survive.
Why we’re excited about this book:
We often turn to apocalyptic horror stories to escape the current horrors we’re experiencing, and Gregory Bastianelli’s new end-of-the world tale is one destined to send shivers down your spine. Bastianelli is the author of Jokers Club, October, Loonies, Mystery Men, Shadow Flicker, and Snowball, and his short fiction has been featured in such publications as Night Terrors II: An Anthology of Horror. With his latest, Bastianelli presents the story of a woman infected with a strange disease navigating a dying and unforgiving world. JG Faherty (The Wakening, Ragman, Sins of the Father) says: “Thorns stands out from other apocalyptic tales in that it relies on suspense and believable human situations rather than gore, military actions, or political rhetoric to achieve its goal: to make you read the book in one gripping, tense sitting. This is yet another example of Bastianelli’s fine writing and I recommend it highly!”, and Publishers Weekly describes Bastianelli’s work as a “dark, disturbing treat”.
Releasing from Flame Tree Press 21 July 2026, Thorns by Gregory Bastianelli is available for pre-order now.
BOB PASTORELLA
