This Week, I've Been Braving. . .

Deadly Ground

I rather enjoyed the first installment of the Base Fear series – Deadly Secrets – by S.C. Fisher, involving the Daniels family and their move into a military married quarter ay Ynys Mon, Wales, following dad’s new posting in the RAF. As we discovered, the house comes with a rather sinister history. One that begins to bleed into their everyday lives and take over.

Of course, that story set the scene for what now takes place in Deadly Ground. And as the blurb highlights, events take a dramatic twist and become much more menacing.

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It wasn’t just the house. Something else stalked her family; something ancient and relentless.

In book two of the Base Fear series, (the sequel to Deadly Secrets), Paige Daniels must wage war against the entity that has staked a claim on her family, or lose her loved ones forever. With her little brother, Griffin, and her friend, Ben, by her side, can Paige unearth the final secrets her new home guards?

Time is running out, and this ground is deadly.

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Once again, S.C. Fisher’s knowledge of military procedure comes to the fore.

As the unknown entity haunting their home starts to emerge more fully, the family is thrown into a panic. But what to do? This IS a military home, after all, and certain protocols have to be followed. But when those protocols fail to help in any way, it’s left to Paige and her brother – and close friend, Ben – to do what they can to stay alive and prevent an ancient evil from taking root and spreading.

As you can imagine, the pace of this second story steps up a gear, and maintains an intensity that has you rooting for Paige and Co as things turn from bad to worse. Folk law and myth are also combined with the actual history of the story’s setting – Llyn Cerrig Bach – a place where ancient relics were discovered during WW II dating back more than 2000 years. So kudos there, because mixing reality/history with fiction is a surefire way to strengthen any story with a foundation that will pull the reader in and involve them in the magic from the word go.

Great fun!

Amazon Review

This Book Really Cut Me Up.

See My Review Of. . .

My Heart is a Chainsaw

As followers of my blog will know, I’m absolutely ‘stacked’ when it comes to my read and review list. So much so, that sometimes I don’t have time to scour the internet for fresh ideas. Especially those that will fit my ‘quirky’ preferences. However, THAT’s where Black Gate Fantasy comes in, as the staff there have an eye for spotting things that will appeal to my particular tastes.

Just look at the blurb for My Heart is a Chainsaw:

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Jade is one class away from graduating high-school, but that's one class she keeps failing local history. Dragged down by her past, her father and being an outsider, she's composing her epic essay series to save her high-school diploma.

Jade's topic? The unifying theory of slasher films. In her rapidly gentrifying rural lake town, Jade sees the pattern in recent events that only her encyclopedic knowledge of horror cinema could have prepared her for. And with the arrival of the Final Girl, Letha Mondragon, she's convinced an irreversible sequence of events has been set into motion.

As tourists start to go missing, and the tension grows between her community and the celebrity newcomers building their mansions the other side of the Indian Lake, Jade prepares for the killer to rise. She dives deep into the town's history, the tragic deaths than occurred at camp years ago, the missing tourists no one is even sure exist, and the murders starting to happen, searching for the answer.

As the small and peaceful town heads towards catastrophe, it all must come to a head on 4th July, when the town all gathers on the water, where luxury yachts compete with canoes and inflatables, and the final showdown between rich and poor, past and present, townsfolk and celebrities slasher and Final Girl.

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So, we have all the ingredients of an absolute gem here.

Jade Daniels is something of a social misfit, both at school and within her local community. Her dad’s a deadbeat drunken bum; her mother’s absent; nobody gives a damn about her. And to top it all off, she walks the proverbial tightrope by retreating into a blood-tinted haven in which 1980’s horror movies color her perspective. But that’s how she copes, by viewing the world about her and all its pressures through a lens of grime and gore.

 

Weird eh?

 

Well, it would be, except for the fact that Jade is a walking library when it comes to the horror genre. She knows everything. All the twists and turns. All the feints. All the clichés and tropes. So much so, that when the everyday drudgery of life is suddenly jarred by a number of unexpected deaths, Jade becomes convinced she can see the link. There’s a serial killer on the loose. A killer who is no doubt preparing for a grand, July 4th slasher-fest finale.

 

The thing is, nobody believes her when she tries to tell them what’s coming. So how the hell will she convince the authorities that they have to do something?

 

Well, as I found out, this is a story of two halves. Or more accurately, a story of 99.5% Awesome and 0.5% What the hell?

 

Let me explain. . .

 

Jones’ knowledge of the horror genre is encyclopedic, giving his main character an undeniable depth that makes you just want to dive in and help her. Yes, Jade’s a rebel. She’s an oddball who deliberately tests the boundaries of what’s acceptable. But she also has a heart of gold. She wants to help an unwilling and undeserving community from a fate worthy of the most horrendous bloodbath imaginable, and she goes out of her way to do just that. In doing so, she digs herself an ever deepening hole in which her reputation will remain forever buried.

 

But she doesn’t care. She wants to do the right thing. . .
And nobody believes her, setting in motion a chainsaw of events that are as morbidly hypnotic as they are inevitable and compelling. Jones sprinkles clues throughout his narrative that point toward an apocalyptic climax. And you can literally feel the tension building as we inevitably head toward that climax, until . . . BAM! The story leaves you floundering.

 

And not in a good way.

 

As I mentioned above, 99.5 % of the story is a 5-star blitz of excellence. A blitz that suddenly fizzles to a puff of elusive smoke in the last pages that – how can I say this – takes all the wind out of your sails, and all the pzazz out of the fabric of the story.

In fact, I had to re-read the last chapter in its entirety three times. Yes, THREE times, just to make sure I hadn’t missed something vital in my haste to witness the grand finale.

 

You’ll see what I mean if you read this story for yourself.

All that work. All that depth and creativity. All those breadcrumbs and slow, pressure cooker buildup for . . . THAT? There was certainly nothing grand about it. And as for a finale? I’m sorry, I’m still waiting.

 

I note with interest how many other reviewers thought the book was brilliant. And to be fair, it is. Except for the ending, which I felt was a horror story in itself. A shame, as this could easily been one of the best books I’ve read and reviewed in a long time.

Amazon Review

 Take a Stab at My Review Of. . .

The Pendragon Protocol

Whenever I have a spare half hour, I like to scour the bookshelves of various sites on the lookout for something a little bit different. I read a great deal. So, anything that comes across as unconventional is always welcome.
And speaking of unconventional, take a gander at this little blurb regarding The Pendragon Protocol by Phillip Purser-Hallard

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The Circle are the modern-day successors of the Knights of the Round Table. Armed with the latest military hardware and operating from a hidden fortress on the South Bank, they protect 21st-century Britain from certain very specific threats - criminals who, like the Circle's own Knights, have characters from Arthurian legend living inside their heads. Jory Taylor, the Knight bearing the device of Sir Gawain, has grappled on the Circle's behalf with mercenaries, serial killers and far-right terrorist cells. However, when he is captured by Gawain's traditional enemy the Green Knight, he discovers a new side to the myths he lives by - one which, as he learns more about this clandestine world, becomes both threateningly personal and terrifyingly political. The legends of King Arthur are not the only stories with influence on the British psyche - and some of the others have their own, very different agendas. A smart, contemporary political thriller and a new kind of urban fantasy, The Pendragon Protocol is the first volume in The Devices Trilogy.

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How about that for a quirky twist on the usual fantasy fare?

And it’s a great concept. Building on the principle that focused belief gives certain concepts, certain totems or ideas, the power to actually manifest in the present. In this case, the mythos surrounding King Arthur and his knights.
And it’s cleverly done. This isn’t a case of a bunch of guys and girls getting ‘zapped’ by a mystical crystal, or drinking a magical elixir to get supernatural abilities. Oh no. This story is much more believable, and centers on the psychosomatic. The way the subconscious mind perceives things – and can use them as a focus/mantra – to manifest certain talents in a physical way. (Think of athletes before they run, jump, lift or throw things you and I can only marvel at). And then weave that into a fantasy setting. In this case, the skills and characteristics attributed to Knights of the Round Table.

Clever eh?

I certainly thought so, especially as the storyline itself is also made all the more credible by an unusual ‘narrator’ style delivery. And it works. The exploits and events portrayed within the book are as down to earth as they are relatable. You form a connection to the main character and those around him that helps to involve you in what’s going on. Add to that the twists and turns of a nice little espionage-thriller, and you get a great action adventure that’s bound to please.

The Pendragon Protocol. The first book in the Devices Trilogy. A series I think I’ll delve into a little more as time goes by. I’d recommend you get to know it too.

Amazon Review

 See My Review Of. . . 

Meat Eaters

I do rather enjoy those stories that aren’t afraid to advertise what they’re about. And in Meat Eaters, by Michael Cole, you kinda get the drift of what you’re going to read from the word go. However, it’s even more subtle than that.

How so?

I’ll tell you later. First, let’s set the scene:

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When rancher William Boone found the remains of his neighbor’s dead steer, he assumed it to be the work of hungry coyotes. When he found the second one, it became clear something strange was going on.

It was when he discovered the human corpses that he understood the severity of the situation.

They are as voracious as they are numerous, giving no thought to the suffering they cause. Their metabolism has doomed them to an insatiable appetite. Each one must eat three times their body weight every twenty-four hours, or starve.

Now, they are loose, and invading the farmlands of Eastland County. With cheetah speed and teeth like scalpels, they seek to feed on anything they can catch. Horses, cows, pigs, humans—nothing is safe, for they are Meat Eaters.

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I caught myself smiling on a number of occasions as I read this book. The first time, really, when I noticed a tongue-in-cheek reference/homage to the actual title. (The more discerning reader will spot the reference as they go through); and secondly, because it was such darn fun.

Eastland County sounds like the ideal place to live. The people there work with the land by raising cattle. Everyone knows just about everyone. And life has a routine that helps you feel as if you belong. Then something happens!

What that is, exactly, is referenced in the blurb. But if you think Yellowstone meets Jurassic Park, you won’t go far wrong. The characters are instantly relatable. The scenario is comfortably familiar. And the story progresses and evolves at an easy pace. That, together with plenty of action and a little personal conflict thrown in, ensures for an overall great read.

You’ll definitely enjoy this book. I know I did.

Amazon Review

 See What I thought of My Voyage Through The

Sea of Rust

Sea of Rust is yet another Black Gate Fantasy recommendation. Something, I must admit, I was rather glad of. I’m an avid speculative fiction fan, as you know, and this book was first published in 2017. How I missed it, I don’t know, as it rings all the bells and toots all the whistles of what usually attracts me.

What do I mean?
Here’s the back cover taster to give you an idea:

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HUMANKIND IS EXTINCT.

Wiped out in a global uprising by the very machines made to serve them. Now the world is controlled by OWIs - vast mainframes that have assimilated the minds of millions of robots.

But not all robots are willing to cede their individuality, and Brittle is one of the holdouts.

After a near-deadly encounter with another AI, Brittle is forced to seek sanctuary in a city under siege by an OWI. Critically damaged, Brittle must evade capture long enough to find the essential rare parts to make repairs - but as a robot's CPU gradually deteriorates, all their old memories resurface.

For Brittle, that means one haunting memory in particular . . .

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I don’t know about you, but I thought that a rather compelling intro, as it seemed to hint that the robots of the future are individuals. Individuals with minds of their own that they want to keep that way! I wanted to find out how that came about and how it affected their everyday behavior. And especially if they felt remorse for the atrocities they’d committed.

Our story takes place thirty years after the uprising that eventually led to the end of the human race, and only fifteen years after the execution of the last man found alive. We concentrate on the life of Brittle, a former caregiver robot – now scavenger – as she wanders the Sea of Rust, the wasteland created by deforestation, climate change, and general all round neglect, formed after the war that led to AI supremacy.

Now, let me say straight away that while the story is good old-fashioned ‘hard’ sci-fi, it’s presented in a style reminiscent of a western. Think of the arid wastes in Mad Max, mixed with The Road – starring Viggo Mortensen – as seen through the eyes of Marshal Will Kane in High Noon.

Robots are indeed sentient, possessing all the traits, quirks and emotions of the humans they liquidated. But, far from enjoying a life of high-tech luxury, they live in fear. Fear of running out of replacement parts, and fear of the OWIs – One World Intelligence – the shared consciousness of millions of robots, uploaded into one huge mainframe brain.

You see, not all robots are willing to cede their individuality – their personality – for the sake of a greater, stronger, higher power. Not even the OWIs themselves, who contend with each other in a constant war of attrition to reign supreme. The smaller individuals, like Brittle, are outcasts, wandering the wastes and underground outposts in the search of parts and companionship, while keeping an eye out for the ever hungry OWIs.

The trouble is the remaining robots have come to resemble the humans they eradicated, by banding together into unruly townships in the wasteland that was once our world. And when Brittle runs into trouble, she doesn’t only have to contend with the turmoil of shutting down – a process that slowly drives AIs mad by bleeding hallucinations and vivid, waking dreams through into remnants of those memories they have deliberately filed away. Memories that are a perfect record of the terrible crimes the robot population perpetrated on humanity – but she also has to deal with mercenary hunters out to take advantage.

An excellent premise, because you end up exploring what it’s like to be a human, as seen through the eyes of a robot. A robot suffering from Post Traumatic Stress. Yes, Brittle is as complex and compelling as she is repulsive. Her companions are as diverse, funny, irritating and flawed as anyone you could meet. And with them, you get to romp through a gripping post-apocalyptic world, woven with issues of philosophy, ethics, desire, comradeship and need.

There’s plenty of action too. The fight scenes are well thought out, and conjure all sorts of imagery in your mind. (After all, you do have out and out ex-military models fighting side by side with fresh out the wrapper sexbots, former utility service droids, medi-nurses, and laborers), all of them united in their hatred of the cold and emotionless OWIs and their hive-mind facets.

I highly recommend the Sea of Rust. It’s a soul-destroying vision of a brave new world, free of humans, slowly cannibalizing itself at the expense of purity. Yes, it would appear the AIs haven’t learned the most valuable lesson of all, and are determined to pay homage to the species they eradicated.

Both poignant and thought-provoking.

Amazon Review

*** Extended review coming soon - via Amazing Stories***

 New Release

It is with great pleasure that I can announce the release of my latest Skinwalker story

Skinwalker - Exodus

Continuing the exploits of former Royal Marine Captain, Callum MacDonald, as he adjusts to life as one of the fabled yee naaldlooshii skinwalkers of ancient legend.

And as he soon finds out, his transition doesn't guarantee a life of safety or ease.

Far from it. . .

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Skinwalker Exodus

Callum MacDonald’s hope of becoming a fully fledged member of the UK Special Forces died on the day he became a skinwalker – A legendary creature capable of assuming the form and nature of any animal they desire.
Many would look on such a metamorphosis as a dream come true. Not so Callum MacDonald, who now views his existence as a nightmare, one in which he must consider every step he takes.

And the reason?

There are those who would exploit his gifts should they ever learn of his existence. And with a mounting tally of dead bodies surrounding his every move, that likelihood becomes more of a reality with each passing day.

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To find out more about Skinwalker Exodus and other books in the series

just follow the link below

Amazon Link

And 2023 Kicks Off With. . .

 

A Mutilated Mind

My interest was piqued when I saw that Greg Stumbo & Jeff Crawford had collaborated to create this little number. As I enjoy both writers’ work, I was keen to see how their individual styles would blend in this story. And I wasn’t disappointed.

Here’s the blurb:

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Trying to build a life in a dying town may sound like a fruitless endeavor. But, if you can’t leave, shouldn’t you at least try?

Gerry was making the most with the hand that he had been dealt. He had a home, a car, a decent job – now if he could just get the girl, he might be able to add a bright spot to the gray urban landscape that he lived in.

In a rundown town, you can hide your depression. You can hide your disorders and dysfunctions. You can ignore other people's problems, and other peoples' short mindedness. You can ignore relationships with people that you don’t want to be around. But the police won’t ignore mutilated bodies that someone forgot to hide.

When your home is a rundown rental, and your job is threatened, you have a mother who has taken ill and you would kill for a single night’s sleep, how far would you have to go to escape the gloom and darkness? Sometimes it closes in until there is nothing left except the darkness it seems.

When Gerry thinks he sees a connection to the girl of his dreams and the murders, he answers a calling within himself to make sure that she is safe. He only has to find the truth in the darkness, but that darkness can be the most terrifying place of all. Will the darkness allow him to see if he has what he must have…to do what must be done?

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So, what do we get . . . (without spoilers, of course)?

A rather nifty little murder, mystery, psychological thriller, that’s what. And it’s plain to see how well Greg Stumbo’s down to earth conviviality and ‘everyday Joe’ vibe combines to the slow burning intensity that permeates Jeff Crawford’s writing. And it combines very well, adding a realistic and disturbing element to the story arc that grounds it in reality.

You see, serial killers are strange creatures. They don’t wear neon signs advertising their presence. They blend in, serving as your neighbor; your workmate; even your acquaintance. It’s not until the compulsion inside them builds to trigger levels that their true self emerges, prompting them to act. And what we get here is a superbly detached, almost dislocated sense of happening with a truly unsettling voyeuristic quality you’d expect to see in an elusive predator who hides away in plain sight within the community.

I really enjoyed it. And looked forward to how the story progresses.

Amazon Review