Your guidebook to the shadows and monsters of modern fairy tales.

In the title story, 'Checkmate', a devilish game of chess goes apocalyptically wrong. Elsewhere, 'Bleed Them Dry' puts a new spin on the contemporary corporate vampire, an aristocratic corpse tells his side of the story in 'The Dead Do Listen', and a little girl is fascinated with an antique that hides a dark world in 'The Mirror Phase'.

Described as "a wonderful collection of tales of subtle urban fantasy with a delicious gothic flavour", Checkmate wants to thrill you, comfort you, and creep you out, all in one go.

If you enjoy the dark fairytales of Neil Gaiman, then you'll love the weird tales of Checkmate!

Icy Sedgwick was born in the North East of England, and lives and works in Newcastle, where she teaches graphic design and illustration.

She spends her non-writing time working on a PhD in Film Studies, considering the use of set design in contemporary horror.

Icy is also a secret evil genius who enjoys good chocolate cake.