Smoke That Sings from Ushguli

A Folk Horror Novel by Philip Stengel

Some secrets are better left buried. Some songs, once heard, can never be forgotten.

In the snow-choked towers of Ushguli, Mariam Khergiani's life is upended when a strange dirge rises from the smoke of her grandmother's funeral pyre. The mournful melody marks the awakening of an ancient curse tied to her family's bloodline: the Ash Singers. A supernatural force born from a forgotten blood feud, it begins to unravel the very fabric of their village, infecting the living with the sins of the dead.

As the song spreads, so does madness. Mariam's brother is the first to fall, driven to relive the violent rage of their ancestors. Soon, the entire village is caught in the throes of inherited violence, and even the children begin to wander the misty paths at night, their voices joining the chorus of the dead.

To stop the curse, Mariam must confront her family's dark past, unravel forbidden rituals, and confront a deadly pact made long ago. But breaking the silence may not bring peace-only unleash the full, horrifying power of the mountain's memory.

Perfect for fans of atmospheric folk horror and stories of generational trauma, The Smoke That Sings from Ushguli is a chilling descent into a world where the past is never dead, and some songs, once heard, can never be forgotten.