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249 reviews by:
brennanlafaro
Full review at https://deadheadreviews.com/2019/10/21/review-walk-the-darkness-down/
John F.D. Taff, while accomplished in a great variety of writing styles, tends to showcase himself most often in short fiction. With the Fearing showing up in small pieces every 6 weeks, it's easy to forget that it was originally conceived and executed as an epic doorstop novel, something Taff is not necessarily known for writing. Would Taff be able to wrap up a work north of 500 pages in a satisfactory manner?
Yes.
Okay, some elaboration. Reverend "please don't call me Rev" Mark becomes the primary focus, and Earth & Ember sees him help to rally the troops against wannabe dictator Tim Jacoby. As has become a staple of these books, not everything goes according to plan, and for the umpteenth time we find ourselves shaking our fists at the sky and cursing the King of Pain, who sits in his ivory tower laughing at us. From there we barrel towards the end, and the inevitable reveal of who Adam really is, who Monday really is, and how this wild hayride all turns out.
This installment is pretty hefty at 167 pages, at least in comparison to the former entries. Book four is necessarily heavy on plot development, but still finds time to put in some of the demonstrations of fear we've come to anticipate. In fact, there's one scene that I found to be the most disturbing, out of all the books. Full credit to Mr. Taff, because outdoing the camp attack in book three wasn't going to be easy. He kept telling us "it gets so much worse". I guess we should have listened.
If you're reading a review of book four, there's a solid chance you're already invested in this series. Or maybe you just wanted to see if the ending would justify your time and energy. That's fair, it does. I won't offer up spoilers for how everything shakes out, but speaking as a reader, I felt fully gratified. Of course, it's possible you may have a different experience, but I can assure the lingering questions get answered and we don't wrap things up with cliches or deus ex machinas. The epilogue and the author's afterword are both required reading, and only serve to compliment your experience. And the closing line? Absolute perfection.
If you have looked forward to this as much as I have, may you enjoy yourself as much as I did.
Yes.
Okay, some elaboration. Reverend "please don't call me Rev" Mark becomes the primary focus, and Earth & Ember sees him help to rally the troops against wannabe dictator Tim Jacoby. As has become a staple of these books, not everything goes according to plan, and for the umpteenth time we find ourselves shaking our fists at the sky and cursing the King of Pain, who sits in his ivory tower laughing at us. From there we barrel towards the end, and the inevitable reveal of who Adam really is, who Monday really is, and how this wild hayride all turns out.
This installment is pretty hefty at 167 pages, at least in comparison to the former entries. Book four is necessarily heavy on plot development, but still finds time to put in some of the demonstrations of fear we've come to anticipate. In fact, there's one scene that I found to be the most disturbing, out of all the books. Full credit to Mr. Taff, because outdoing the camp attack in book three wasn't going to be easy. He kept telling us "it gets so much worse". I guess we should have listened.
If you're reading a review of book four, there's a solid chance you're already invested in this series. Or maybe you just wanted to see if the ending would justify your time and energy. That's fair, it does. I won't offer up spoilers for how everything shakes out, but speaking as a reader, I felt fully gratified. Of course, it's possible you may have a different experience, but I can assure the lingering questions get answered and we don't wrap things up with cliches or deus ex machinas. The epilogue and the author's afterword are both required reading, and only serve to compliment your experience. And the closing line? Absolute perfection.
If you have looked forward to this as much as I have, may you enjoy yourself as much as I did.
This book is oddly, beautiful. I really can’t think of a better way to describe it. The odd can be attributed to Gwendolyn Kiste’s very unique idea of what if we put a group of famous, fictional Mary’s under one roof. That’s Resurrection Mary, Mistress Mary (quite contrary), Miss Mary Mack, Mari Lwyd, and a Bloody Mary for you keeping track at home. The Mary’s are also given personalities and quirks, and it’s not just to keep them straight as it might have been in the hands of another author. It’s warm to us up to them as people.
The star of the show, and the beautiful, is Kiste’s prose. The storytelling voice transcends the page and pulls us right in to the action. The reader lives right there with all the Pretty Mary’s. We want to be part of the solution to the problem, and we want to aid them in any way we can to battle the darkness. Pretty Mary’s all in a Row walks a line, and does so with grace and finesse, between fitting nicely into a horror niche, and leaning into something altogether more fantastical like we might expect to see from Neil Gaiman. Given the strong voice Kiste possess, I’d say it’s about time I got my hands on the Rust Maidens and And Her Smile Will Untether the Universe.
The star of the show, and the beautiful, is Kiste’s prose. The storytelling voice transcends the page and pulls us right in to the action. The reader lives right there with all the Pretty Mary’s. We want to be part of the solution to the problem, and we want to aid them in any way we can to battle the darkness. Pretty Mary’s all in a Row walks a line, and does so with grace and finesse, between fitting nicely into a horror niche, and leaning into something altogether more fantastical like we might expect to see from Neil Gaiman. Given the strong voice Kiste possess, I’d say it’s about time I got my hands on the Rust Maidens and And Her Smile Will Untether the Universe.
4.5 stars, rounded up
Jon O'Bergh's The Shatter Point is a tough book to pigeonhole as far as genre is concerned. It fits nicely into the thriller mold, but that doesn't get you anywhere close to a complete picture. There are elements of ghost story and even a touch of slasher horror. Psychological horror may be the most apt description, as The Shatter Point seeks to examine people under stress, and what happens when they reach their breaking point.
O'Bergh sets up the type of story where we begin by following two groups of people whose stories have nothing to do with each other, but whose paths seem destined to cross at some point. In that vein, we are reminded of Stephen King's The Dead Zone as we start to try to guess just what's going to happen when they do. Side note: if you are able to guess how it all turns out, you'd make a far better chess player than I.
A good deal of our time is spent with Asher, a sensitive musician who is dating a less-than-sensitive, and pretty much instantly unlikeable girl named Jada. We spend a lot of time with Asher and his band, writing and playing music, and O'Bergh nails musical terminology and recording techniques in a way that many readers might pass by, but students of music will appreciate. Of course this is small potatoes, but we've sat through too many "he played the loudest pitch" moments, and we're not gonna take it anymore.
I digress. While Asher seeks to prove himself worthy of Jada's attention, we also follow Phil and Donna Woods, as well as Donna's son from a previous marriage, Billy. New to the neighborhood, and living in a house of dubious repute, the Woods seek to set up a haunted house. Not the ghost-y fun kind, but the push yourself to the limit, borderline torture kind. One particular neighbor, Ruth, is understandably opposed to the haunt, and a feud between her and the Woods begins to escalate. O'Bergh sprinkles in bits of family drama and personality characteristics, some as clues, some as red herrings, and we digest the information and eagerly turn the page to find out what happens next.
At around page 150 or so of 186, The Shatter Point makes a choice. I was hooked, but very concerned we were going to tread down a predictable path and the story would be stuck in 2 star, don't bother because you've read this before, purgatory. Thankfully, we bypass that path without a second glance. There are enough twists and turns in the last few pages to fill an entire novel. Even within the last ten pages, the author sets up what looks to be an ambiguous, reader fits the pieces together, ending. I was okay with that. But, oh man, the last few pages. The last few (and I literally mean 3-4 pages) wrap things up in a way that is devious, unsettling, and for me, made it all work.
If you're looking for a weekend read that is thrilling, fast-paced, and provides a very interesting insight to what choices different people will make and what different people are capable under duress, you owe it to yourself to give this a read. If you do, and you're finding it a bit paint-by-numbers, know that this is a story that needs all 186 pages to perform its' magic. Speaking of magic, I have no doubt that Jon O'Bergh is taking pleasure in trying to get us to look in one direction so that we are surprised and applaud when the crux of the trick is revealed.
I received a copy of this book from the author for review consideration.
Jon O'Bergh's The Shatter Point is a tough book to pigeonhole as far as genre is concerned. It fits nicely into the thriller mold, but that doesn't get you anywhere close to a complete picture. There are elements of ghost story and even a touch of slasher horror. Psychological horror may be the most apt description, as The Shatter Point seeks to examine people under stress, and what happens when they reach their breaking point.
O'Bergh sets up the type of story where we begin by following two groups of people whose stories have nothing to do with each other, but whose paths seem destined to cross at some point. In that vein, we are reminded of Stephen King's The Dead Zone as we start to try to guess just what's going to happen when they do. Side note: if you are able to guess how it all turns out, you'd make a far better chess player than I.
A good deal of our time is spent with Asher, a sensitive musician who is dating a less-than-sensitive, and pretty much instantly unlikeable girl named Jada. We spend a lot of time with Asher and his band, writing and playing music, and O'Bergh nails musical terminology and recording techniques in a way that many readers might pass by, but students of music will appreciate. Of course this is small potatoes, but we've sat through too many "he played the loudest pitch" moments, and we're not gonna take it anymore.
I digress. While Asher seeks to prove himself worthy of Jada's attention, we also follow Phil and Donna Woods, as well as Donna's son from a previous marriage, Billy. New to the neighborhood, and living in a house of dubious repute, the Woods seek to set up a haunted house. Not the ghost-y fun kind, but the push yourself to the limit, borderline torture kind. One particular neighbor, Ruth, is understandably opposed to the haunt, and a feud between her and the Woods begins to escalate. O'Bergh sprinkles in bits of family drama and personality characteristics, some as clues, some as red herrings, and we digest the information and eagerly turn the page to find out what happens next.
At around page 150 or so of 186, The Shatter Point makes a choice. I was hooked, but very concerned we were going to tread down a predictable path and the story would be stuck in 2 star, don't bother because you've read this before, purgatory. Thankfully, we bypass that path without a second glance. There are enough twists and turns in the last few pages to fill an entire novel. Even within the last ten pages, the author sets up what looks to be an ambiguous, reader fits the pieces together, ending. I was okay with that. But, oh man, the last few pages. The last few (and I literally mean 3-4 pages) wrap things up in a way that is devious, unsettling, and for me, made it all work.
If you're looking for a weekend read that is thrilling, fast-paced, and provides a very interesting insight to what choices different people will make and what different people are capable under duress, you owe it to yourself to give this a read. If you do, and you're finding it a bit paint-by-numbers, know that this is a story that needs all 186 pages to perform its' magic. Speaking of magic, I have no doubt that Jon O'Bergh is taking pleasure in trying to get us to look in one direction so that we are surprised and applaud when the crux of the trick is revealed.
I received a copy of this book from the author for review consideration.
It feels like I just finished writing about how excited I was about what Silver Shamrock Publishing is doing in my review of Midnight in the Graveyard. Now here we are again, singing the praises of the fiction this press is casting upon us. As part of a campaign to read a bunch of novellas in November, I wanted to make sure that In the Scrape was on the list. James Newman and Mark Steensland have crafted an unforgettable coming-of-age story that I will not be surprised to see pop up on a few Best of 2019 lists.
In the Scrape follows two brothers, Jake and Matthew, who live with their father since their mother left the family. The relationship between father and sons is strained to put it lightly, and most of the story revolves around the boys concocting a plan to run away and try and find their mother. The strength of the story lies in how Newman and Steensland present the relationship between Jake and Matthew to the reader. We are shown that these boys are in it together, and it becomes quickly apparent that they would do just about anything to protect each other. It'd be fair to say it doesn't take long for these characters to burrow into your heart.
Newman and Steensland should be lauded for the complexity they weave into the 102 pages the story encapsulates. There is not a wasted word present, and the story is so masterfully brought together in the novella form. As much as I would loved spending more time in this world, I think expanding the story could have only done harm. I genuinely don't know how two authors working together have the ability to keep a narrative so tight, but I do hope these two will work together again.
With only 100 pages, it's difficult to say too much without wandering into spoiler territory, and I don't have it in me to ruin your reading experience. Not on this one. I will say that part two of the story should not have worked. It's wild, but it's lead up to in such a gentle way, that it somehow does. I love stories that work their way into my psyche, but I rarely have physical reactions to something I've read. During the culmination, I had to contend with questions from my wife and kids - "why are you covering your mouth?" "Why did you just gasp?" "When's dinner?" "Why are your eyes so big?" It's just that engaging.
In the Scrape checks all the boxes for a good coming-of-age story. I'm just not sure I've enjoyed one on this level since Boy's Life. There is so much beauty in here. If you clear an afternoon to lose yourself in this story, you will come clear out on the other side with no regrets.
In the Scrape follows two brothers, Jake and Matthew, who live with their father since their mother left the family. The relationship between father and sons is strained to put it lightly, and most of the story revolves around the boys concocting a plan to run away and try and find their mother. The strength of the story lies in how Newman and Steensland present the relationship between Jake and Matthew to the reader. We are shown that these boys are in it together, and it becomes quickly apparent that they would do just about anything to protect each other. It'd be fair to say it doesn't take long for these characters to burrow into your heart.
Newman and Steensland should be lauded for the complexity they weave into the 102 pages the story encapsulates. There is not a wasted word present, and the story is so masterfully brought together in the novella form. As much as I would loved spending more time in this world, I think expanding the story could have only done harm. I genuinely don't know how two authors working together have the ability to keep a narrative so tight, but I do hope these two will work together again.
With only 100 pages, it's difficult to say too much without wandering into spoiler territory, and I don't have it in me to ruin your reading experience. Not on this one. I will say that part two of the story should not have worked. It's wild, but it's lead up to in such a gentle way, that it somehow does. I love stories that work their way into my psyche, but I rarely have physical reactions to something I've read. During the culmination, I had to contend with questions from my wife and kids - "why are you covering your mouth?" "Why did you just gasp?" "When's dinner?" "Why are your eyes so big?" It's just that engaging.
In the Scrape checks all the boxes for a good coming-of-age story. I'm just not sure I've enjoyed one on this level since Boy's Life. There is so much beauty in here. If you clear an afternoon to lose yourself in this story, you will come clear out on the other side with no regrets.
I loved this book, but instead of anything resembling a review, I'm just going to treat you to some rejected opening lines for a review:
- Alan Baxter wants the reader who has never done cocaine to understand what's its like to do cocaine. - Reading this book, I consistently had to remember to breathe. The action was unrelenting and wouldn't quit long enough for me to grab a Diet Coke. - I've never seen any of the John Wick movies, but I'm assuming there aren't enough ghosts! This has that! And more! - Ever wish Jack Reacher cursed a lot more and had extremely questionable morals? Have I got a story for you.
Manifest Recall was a thrill-a-minute read, and it's a damn shame that this book is not already being developed as a Netflix movie or some such.
- Alan Baxter wants the reader who has never done cocaine to understand what's its like to do cocaine. - Reading this book, I consistently had to remember to breathe. The action was unrelenting and wouldn't quit long enough for me to grab a Diet Coke. - I've never seen any of the John Wick movies, but I'm assuming there aren't enough ghosts! This has that! And more! - Ever wish Jack Reacher cursed a lot more and had extremely questionable morals? Have I got a story for you.
Manifest Recall was a thrill-a-minute read, and it's a damn shame that this book is not already being developed as a Netflix movie or some such.
This is the first book I'm reading from Lutzke besides Night as a Catalyst, one of his short fiction collections. I'd heard a million and one great things about this, and that Lutzke is a writer who excels at writing at this length. With that in mind, starting here was a no-brainer.
The storytelling in this book is beyond reproach, and truth be told, Lutzke puts as much story in 98 pages as some authors do in 300. He accomplishes this by dropping us directly into the action, and has us caring deeply about all 3 girls in just a few pages. I don't know exactly how he pulled it off. The man must be magic.
The Pale White is beautiful, it's heartbreaking, and it's (unfortunately) very real. As much as we're reading the product of Lutzke's imagination, it feels like we could be reading the stylized account of a true story, even with the vampire element, which also plays right into the many strengths of the book. If you've read this, I hope you loved it, and if you haven't, I hope you'll check it out.
The storytelling in this book is beyond reproach, and truth be told, Lutzke puts as much story in 98 pages as some authors do in 300. He accomplishes this by dropping us directly into the action, and has us caring deeply about all 3 girls in just a few pages. I don't know exactly how he pulled it off. The man must be magic.
The Pale White is beautiful, it's heartbreaking, and it's (unfortunately) very real. As much as we're reading the product of Lutzke's imagination, it feels like we could be reading the stylized account of a true story, even with the vampire element, which also plays right into the many strengths of the book. If you've read this, I hope you loved it, and if you haven't, I hope you'll check it out.
Kealan Patrick Burke is becoming an author whose work consistently draws my attention. If he releases it, I'm there. If he has a story in an anthology, I'm going to check it out. Sour Candy is no exception. Creepy kid meets cosmic elderitch horror with a drizzle of the psychological )wait, is thus real?) just for taste.
Burke is able to write in such a manner that his stories are full of dread. It lurks in the background of every scene like an unseen character. Who else could write a scene about discovering cupboards full of candy that is legitimately terrifying?
I took this 74 page behemoth down in one sitting, and then promptly went off to live my mundane existence, fully cognizant of how little control I have over the outcome of my own life. At least I guess that's the case, should the elders decide their needs and desires outweigh my own. This guy's going to give me a complex. Hell of a cover artist, though. Just try and get that image out of your head.
Burke is able to write in such a manner that his stories are full of dread. It lurks in the background of every scene like an unseen character. Who else could write a scene about discovering cupboards full of candy that is legitimately terrifying?
I took this 74 page behemoth down in one sitting, and then promptly went off to live my mundane existence, fully cognizant of how little control I have over the outcome of my own life. At least I guess that's the case, should the elders decide their needs and desires outweigh my own. This guy's going to give me a complex. Hell of a cover artist, though. Just try and get that image out of your head.