Beware The ‘Frostwalker’ ~ New Release Review

Posted: May 14, 2013 in horror, New Release, otherworldly, Paranormal or fantasy, reviews, suspense
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A Survival Horror Novel

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Title Artwork

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The moment I’ve been waiting for.

The release of Frostwalker!

I’m really excited to tell you about Brandon’s new release.

Frostwalker

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There’s something in the woods behind Jake Marsden’s house – and someone wants him to find it. A strange dream shatters his sleep, night after night, and a compulsion to find the dark presence in the forest wars with his logical and ordered nature. What’s a geek to do?

When his small hometown of Wynn falls under an ancient curse, Jake will find himself in a battle against creatures worse than any he’s faced in a game. Playing for keeps, it will be geek versus god in the fight to stop an evil force bent on destroying everything he holds dear.

The Geek Shall Inherit The Earth – If They Live Long Enough.

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My Review

I heard the theme from Jaws when I started reading this.

No one gets eaten in the beginning of Frostwalker though. But, the terror creeps up on you slowly as the author breathes atmosphere and dread into the story, like an eerie, slow rolling mist.

Jake has been dreaming about a Light in the woods. Dreaming about it for weeks. A Light in the woods behind his house.

scary woods photo: Dark Woods mysterious-scary-forest-pacific-northwest-halloween-holiday-1050x1400.jpg

It calls to him, pulling him from his sleep. He finds himself standing in the frigid cold, facing the stand of trees, night after night.

His sleepless nights begin to wear him down, make him question his sanity, so he confides in his best friend and fellow geek, Eric.

These two have been best friends since they were knee-high to a grasshopper. They’ve stuck together through thick and thin, and Eric sees no reason to change that now.

Whatever’s in the woods is growing stronger, leaching into the small town, changing people. Those it doesn’t consume, it inhabits, taking over their bodies and minds and turning them loose on others.

snowed in town photo: Sunny snowed in town StuckinSilverton056.jpg

The sleepy little town of  Wynn is in the midst of the worst snow storm anyone can remember, cutting the inhabitants off and they have no idea of the evil moving closer, advancing house by house towards the heart of the town.

I like a story about men as best friends. It’s like being a fly on the wall, watching how they bond and act when women aren’t present. Jake and Eric are a good example.

When Jake finally sees her, I mean really sees Nancy, his receptionist, he realizes he’s been in love with her for a long time.

Eric and his girlfriend, Wendy, cut Jake no slack, ribbing him about how long it took him to take off his blinders.

Nancy is gentler on him. She fell in love with the shy geek that is Jake, and has just been biding her time.

You can’t help but become attached to these four. The author does an excellent job of giving each one their own unique personalities. Each voice stands out and makes for fun reading.

When the horror ramps up, you’ll be pulling for these guys, cringing when things go bad, as you can see no good outcome.

That’s when it gets even more intense, as the entity in the woods must be confronted and stopped.

I was reminded of a couple of movies while reading Frostwalker. The small town, isolated by snow and ice, had me thinking of 30 Days of Night.

30 days of night photo: 30 DAYS OF NIGHT 30daysofnightpic.jpg

And the insidious power of the entity also reminded me of the movie, Phantoms, from the Dean Koontz book. How the power takes over the town with a palpable presence.

Jake and Eric are ready. They’ve prepared. It’s time to see what’s in the woods. And they won’t be going alone.

Cue some sinister music and the chills will run up and down your spine!

5 Stars for making me afraid to go to sleep.

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Go here to catch my interview with Brandon. We had a lot of fun!

More about Frostwalker

Read excerpts posted on Brandon’s blog:

Excerpt #1 – Dreams Of Smoke

Excerpt #2 – The Pit

Excerpt #3 – Opening Scene: Jake Walks The Field

Excerpt #4 – Deputy Fallon Gets Busy

Read the first third of the book for free at the Smashwords link below!

Smashwords | Amazon | KoboDiesel | Versent | iTunes

I’ve also read Brandon’s short stories

The Card

When a strange tarot card appears in a friend’s deck, Jason assumes it’s just a prank done in poor taste. But, when terrible events befall those around him, he must face the possibility that something sinister is afoot.

Death is closing in, along with a suspicious detective who believes that Jason may be the killer he’s stalking. With his life turned upside down, Jason finds that there are worse things to be hunted by than the authorities.

This 4,500 word short is a supernatural horror story in the spirit of the pulp era, but with a modern feel.

Go here for my review.

Out After Dark

A cat and mouse game played by those who stalk the night. Who is the hunter and who is prey? This 2,100 word short explores the classic vampire and hunter story from a different angle.

Go here for my review.

About the author

Brandon R. Luffman

Born in Statesboro, Georgia in 1976, Brandon Luffman was raised in rural North Carolina from the time he was old enough to walk. In the sixth grade he discovered “The Chronicles Of Narnia”. Soon after that, he was on to Stephen King and Arthur C. Clarke. At the same time, he was making his first forays into writing fiction. After creating a series of short fantasy pieces for a class assignment that were received with praise, he was hooked on writing fiction for the entertainment of others. Now Brandon writes supernatural horror as well as fantasy, science fiction, and other genres. His short fiction is available online in various formats. Brandon still lives on the family farm in northwestern North Carolina with his wife and family. Taking inspiration from his homeland, he brings southern sensibilities and a modern flair to these classic genre themes. His first novel, Frostwalker, was released in May of 2013.

Find Brandon Online

Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon | Smashwords

Comments
  1. Taylor Dean says:

    Any book that causes the Jaws music to play in your head is going to be scary!! Yikes! But I like the way you described the personalities of the characters. If the reader is invested in the characters, then scary plot lines become all the more fascinating–and it makes all the difference in the world!

    • fuonlyknew says:

      Thank you Taylor. You should know:) lol

      Character driven stories are my favorite. If I don’t have a vested interest in their well-being, I don’t connect with the story.

      Brandon’s characters are genuine, quirky, and fun.

  2. Awesome! Thank you so much for giving Frostwalker a read and taking the time to share your thoughts! I’m giddy!

    • fuonlyknew says:

      I got so excited while writing my review! That happens when I really love a story. Congratulations on your new release and thank you for the scare! The pleasure, or should I say shivers, was all mine:)

  3. […] Beware The ‘Frostwalker’ ~ New Release Review […]

  4. […] I want to offer a special thanks to book blogger Laura Thomas who was kind enough to do a review of Frostwalker on her blog, FUONLYKNEW, as well as inviting me for a very fun interview! She has high standards, […]

  5. […] You can read my interview with Brandon here. He talks about himself, his writing, his new release of Frostwalker, and answers some fun questions! You can read my review here. […]

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