Archive for the ‘otherworldly’ Category

I have a guest ! Diane is doing a guest post here on fuonlyknew! And, there is a giveaway. Details are at the bottom.

But first let me tell you about Coven.

Coven: The Scrolls of the Four Winds

by Diane Wing

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Amira, Mina, Iman, Uzma. They are the Triad witches from long ago, born and raised to protect the Scrolls of the Four Winds.

Once they were sisters in training, until one betrayed the others.

It’s been centuries since the betrayal, since Amira erased her sisters memories of what she’d done. Her lust for the scrolls and the power to rule the world proved too hard to turn away from and she stole them.

The sisters have lived through many reincarnations, but Amira is the only one who’s retained her memories through each life. She’s been waiting many lifetimes to bring them all together again.

Victoria – Amira, Alexis – Mina, Cassandra – Iman, Macy – Uzma. In present day they may have different names but they are still the Triad Witches.  The binding spells cast upon them by Victoria, causing them to forget, are weakening. They’re starting to remember who they are and soon they will remember the betrayal.

Victoria has always regretted betraying the trust of her sisters and longs for the love and companionship she once had. She needs the others to help harness the power of the scrolls but she fears them also.

She wanted ultimate power, but vowed never to harm her three sisters unless it became absolutely necessary.

Victoria is still plotting and manipulating, but she’s also struggling with her inner demons, wanting what once was, yearning for it. She has never felt whole, felt loved, like when the Triad was together. The time will come when she must choose, world domination or love.

I became quite fond of Alexis, Cassandra, and Macy. Their witchly powers are portrayed in their daily lives and are their very essence of being. It was fun discovering how each ones powers showed in how they lived and worked.

Ethan I disliked right away. He is shallow and narcissistic. Not someone I cared for at all. There is another character that I liked at first, but grew to distrust. I’m sure this was the authors intent.

Victoria. Oh, what can I say. She’s a liar and a manipulator, doing whatever it takes to get what she wants. At first I was ambivalent about her, then I got mad at her, and then I felt such sadness for her. If you looked in the dictionary under lost, you’d find Victoria.

There is much to dislike about Victoria, but there’s also much to empathize with, perhaps because of the inner demons she struggles with. Her hunger for power and her longing for the love of her sisters is ripping her apart. She will have to choose one or the other.

Coven is about much more than witches and witchcraft. It guides you through friendship, betrayal, love, loss and regret. You will learn that nothing is final, bad choices can be changed, wrongs righted, and good can overcome evil. Love yourself, trust your heart, and others will love you too.

I was moved by Coven and it made me take a long look at myself. I felt there was a message for everyone in this story and I recommend this book to everyone as it has something for all of you.

            Magickal!!

I’m thrilled to have Diane here as my guest to tell you about Coven and a little something about herself. The stage is yours Diane.

Coven: The Scrolls of the Four Winds was my first novel.  It was magickal from the moment I began writing it.  I was working in a very demanding corporate job at the time, and I asked the Universe to give me the time to finish writing it.  Miraculously, I contracted the flu, which landed in my throat, ultimately making me lose my voice for many months, during which time I was able to complete writing Coven.  Goes to show it’s important to be careful what you wish for and how you make your request!

The idea came to me as I considered the misconceptions and negative connotations associated with Witches and what it really means to be one.  In its most positive context, everyone has the potential to be a Witch, and many aspire to be so.  Being a Witch is a lifestyle, a way of being, a dedication to lifelong learning, a sense of connection with nature, the Divine, and all of the energies that surround us.  It is the ability to direct those energies toward a focused purpose.  It is the ability to understand Divine Will while developing a singularly strong will of one’s own.  It is understanding Universal Law and riding the wave of the Tao to achieve in an effortless way, to manifest, and to thrive in abundance.  It is a way to come into your power.

Many of the rituals and occult encounters in Coven come from personal experiences…you’ll have to guess which ones!  Life is a string of magickal moments. The Triad Witches embrace who they are and use their powers in the course of everyday life; so, too, can each of us incorporate our Inner Magick into everything we do.  You have magick within you!

© Diane Wing, www.ForestWitch.com, For more information about this topic, contact Diane at DianeWing@forestwitch.com and become a member of her new website at www.DianeWing.tv.

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Image of Diane Wing

Diane Wing, M.A. is an author, teacher, personal transformation guide, and intuitive consultant.  She is the founder of Wing Academy of Unfoldment and the creator of Pathways: An interactive journey of self-discovery.  She has a Master’s degree in clinical psychology and has been providing valuable insights for the highest good of her clients for over 27 years.  Diane works with her clients to find meaning and fulfillment in their lives by helping them release their Inner Magick.

And now for the giveaway. Diane is giving away one copy of Coven, The Scrolls of the Four Winds.

Paperback or e-book (winners choice).

An International Giveaway – everyone is welcome!

To enter, leave your email address and answer this question, “Could you forgive a friend’s betrayal?”

Giveaway ends December 10th.

I’ve also read Thorne Manor…and other bizarre stories by Diane. You can read my review here .

To purchase Coven and other books by Diane Wing, just click on the images below.

The Snow Witch is predicting snow! Happy Holidays to ya’ll!

With this many reported sightings, how can we not believe Bigfoot exists? We can hope, can’t we?

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Okay, now for the fun part. It’s time to announce the winners of Undermountain by Erik Edstrom!

The winners are:

  Beth

  stuffsmart

 

Winners have been notified.

Thanks to everyone for your comments. I loved reading them and hope you keep coming back to fuonlyknew.

For all of my giveaways go here .

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It’s Santa! No. it’s Bigfoot! That’s not it either. It’s Santasquatch! Merry Christmas ya’ll!!

Newest release

To order any of these books, just click on the cover.

Free Friday and Saturday, November 9th and 10th!

Special Offers by M L Ryan

I loved this book and am thrilled that Book Two will be released soon. So ready for more.

Go here to read my review.

To get your free copy go here .

About the book:

Hailey Parrish is quick-witted, irreverent, and hasn’t had a date in three years. She only wanted an eBook reader because her collection of paperbacks threatened to take over her small living space. Little did she know that the “special offers” that prompted the purchase included much more than a reduced price in exchange for a few ads. The device came pre-loaded with the essence of Sebastian Kess, an erudite womanizer with magical abilities from a parallel dimension. When she inadvertently releases him and he inhabits her body, she finally has a man inside her, just not in the way she imagined. And soon her predicament introduces her to yet another supernatural, the handsome could-be-the-man-of-her-dreams Alex Sunderland. Can Alex and Hailey find a way to return Sebastian to his own body, stay one step ahead of the criminals who want to keep him where he is, and not lose their sense of humor?

For more about M L Ryan and where to find her:

Author’s web site: http://www.coursodondimension.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/CoursodonDimension

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/MLRyan1

Email: MLRyan@coursodondimension.com

I have a fantastic series to tell you about. The Undermountain Saga.

I’ll be reviewing Undermountain, Book One and Afterlife, Book Two. I tried not to put in any spoilers for book two. Just teased you a bit. And I also have a giveaway for you. US/Canada only.  Details are after my reviews.

Undermountain

by Eric Edstrom

Undermountain (The Undermountain Saga, #1)

It starts normally enough. Six teen-agers and their guide,  Harvin, are on a grand adventure, camping in the wilds of Canada. Harvin is gruff and unfriendly but very knowledgeable about the Rockies and its dangers. The kids are from all walks of life and couldn’t be more different. This trip is going to be interesting.

While collecting water Danny and Breyona see something amazing.  Racing along is this two-headed creature with four pointy legs and right behind him is this huge hairy beast best described as a Bigfoot. When Danny tells the group what they witnessed, the other kids laugh it off as a joke.

When they discover giant footprints on the bank of the stream, their guide passes them off as bear tracks. But Shiv isn’t so sure of that. He has books on the flora and fauna of the Rockies and can’t find anything that matches the prints.

Danny and Breyona have another close encounter with the hairy bigfoot when it fishes Danny out of the stream, saving his life. They run away and hide in the woods, stopping to spy on the creature. It’s not chasing them. Instead it’s pacing back and forth on the bank, holding it’s hand to its head and muttering to itself. No wait, it’s talking into a cell phone and it’s speaking English.

It’s not long before everyone has a close encounter. The four-legged creatures, called Shriekers, which I visualize as the bugs from Starship Troopers, are hungry and they hunt as a pack. The kids are on the menu and running for their lives. Separated from their guide they are quickly surrounded and things look really bad. Seemingly from out of nowhere a bigfoot appears and quickly subdues several of the shriekers. He doesn’t kill them. Instead he calms them somehow.

Several more of the hairy creatures take care of the rest of the pack and turn their attention to the humans. Then, the one Danny recognizes from before speaks, “Be at ease. I cannot harm you.”

Definitely not a bigfoot!

Here are a couple quotes I really liked:

“I’m sorry I didn’t believe you about … bigfoot,” Wa said. “But you need to work on your delivery.”

– A barrage of swearing came flying in. Breyona. “I’m gonna kill you, and after I kill you, I’m gonna kill you again. I’m gonna keep on killing you until your dead. Do you hear me, you furball?”

Everyone will love this story. It’s action packed, you’ve got alien creatures and a huge secret. I wish I could tell you more. I really want to, but that would be spoiling it.

One scene in particular sticks in my mind. It ‘s when they base jump from a cliff and the cliff is inside the mountain. Can you just picture it?

The author does a beautiful job of describing this secret world, you’ll feel like you’re there. I’d love to visit.

Anyone looking for a grand adventure will love Undermountain. It’s so well written, flows seamlessly and rushes along to a great ending. There’s never a dull moment and I eagerly turned each page, excited to see what was coming next. That’s what makes this story so great. There’s always something new and surprising and it makes me wish I could be there.

         I loved it and you will too.

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[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8j926g4C1A]

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And now for my next review.

Afterlife

Book two

Afterlife (The Undermountain Saga, #2)

I really love the cover art for these books. They compliment the stories and are just incredible.

All of my favorite characters are back, human and hairy. And of course, since there’s a second book, you know our hero’s will be seeing their alien friends and enemies again.

It’s been more than six months since they returned from  the mountain, bringing something away with them that’s changed them forever.

Now they are having a reunion of sorts. All meeting up again at Danny’s grandma’s house.

I can’t wait for you to meet Grandma. She is amazing and I just love her. So much character in such a tiny, frail looking body. You’ll see what I mean.

Everyone is there except for Breyona. She’s running late. Then the doorbell rings.

Danny froze as a surge of excitement filled him. The doorbell rang again, followed by two sharp knocks.

“Are you going to stand there like a lump or are you going to open the door?” Grandma asked.

Danny smiled. It had to be Breyona. He turned the knob.

The door smashed into his face and sent him stumbling backward. He tripped and fell over the porcelain frog and landed hard on his back.

A man wearing a black track suit and gas mask barged in. “Okay, nobody move.”

Another man in a gas mask rushed in and pointed a spray can at Danny.

Grandma stepped forward and kneed Track Suit in the groin. He bent double, swearing in a high-pitched rasp.

“Sit on him, Bronson,” Grandma said.

Didn’t I tell you. You can’t help but want to hug her. She is such a tough old bird. But not tough enough. They all succumb to the gas.

Breyona is four hours late when she finally pulls up to Grandma’s house. Once everyone is awakened, they discover that Danny and Wa are missing.

The whole thing was caught on security cameras and they watched it play out on Grandmas computer. The men came there looking for something Danny had. Something they needed badly.  And they got it. They take the unconscious Danny and bring Wa along for leverage.

It looks like the enemy isn’t done with them and it’s time to go back under the mountain.

This time they may not be so lucky.

Eric is at it again. Filling the pages with excitement, danger, intrigue and plenty of humor. This series is so addicting. And it just keeps getting better. He builds this incredible secret society, fills it with amazing creatures, and opens you up to a whole new world. I swear I can hear the sounds of this city and see all the wonders with my own eyes.

It’s a fast read from beginning to end, pulling you along with it. You won’t want to stop until you reach the conclusion, and maybe not even then.

           Still lovin it!

Great news for you. There will be more!

And now for the giveaway. Eric is offering two paperback copies of Undermountain. US/Canada only.

To enter is easy. Just leave your email address and answer this question, “Do you believe bigfoot exists?”

Giveaway ends November 24th.

Not required but I’d love it if you followed me on twitter and my blog

You can find Eric’s contacts below.

Did you like this post? Please hit that tweet and like button! Thank you.

For all of my giveaways go here

About the Author

Eric is an author, songwriter, husband, father, and guitarist. He is the author of Undermountain and Afterlife, the first two entries in YA science fiction series The Undermountain Saga.

Eric loves working out with kettlebells and eating pretty much anything with peanut butter.

Eric has a featured article just published: http://www.kalkion.com/news/1736/scie…

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5408492.Eric_Edstrom

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/ekedstrom

Facebook.com/erickentedstrom

www.ericedstrom.com

Newest release

To order any of these books, just click on the cover.

The photo and comments of Shaggy below, were copied from Eric Kent Edstrom’s blog.

Is This Hanameesovenama (aka Shaggy)?

The brilliant concept artist Cristof Grobleski created this stunning conceptual image of Hanameesovenama, one of the villains from The Undermountain Saga.
Hanameesovenama, of the bigfoot Council of the Strict (click for bigfoot sized view)

View more of Christof’s wonderful artwork here.

Happy Release Day!

Legend Unleashed

by M Latimer Ridley

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When an infamous criminal is unleashed from his prison, it has consequences for everyone in Carwick. Temperance Levinthal in particular…

Temperance is satisfied with her ordinary life. Dealing with her eccentric, childlike parents is all the excitement she needs. That changes when Alastair Byron returns home.
After a failed matchmaking attempt by her father, sparks fly between her and Alastair-just not the good kind.
They are forced together though, when they are implicated in a grisly murder. Their search for the truth leads them to a secret world beneath Carwick, filled with werewolves, wizards and other magical faey.
However, uncovering the truth is far more dangerous than they’d ever imagined.
There are secrets within secrets.
Even Alastair may be more than he seems…

I’m reading this right now and will be back to tell you all about it real soon!

About the authors

Latimer (Karen) and Ridley (Rachel) are two eccentric best friends with far too many obsessions and a frightening addiction to tea. When they aren’t reading stories filled with magic, passion and adventure, they’re writing them. A writing duo for the last nine years, they’ve always dreamed of sharing their imaginary worlds and quirky characters with others. While they live in Ireland, they would love to spend their lives travelling the world. But for now, they can be found happily wandering the internet.

Website: www.mlatimerridley.com

Get your copy by clicking on the image below! A copy is waiting for you.

Rogue Hunter : Inquest

by Kevis Hendrickson

Rogue Hunter: Inquest

This is not my normal genre to read. That said, I am happy I read Rogue Hunter: Inquest.

I like a character driven story and the protagonist,Zyra, is a powerful character.

Zyra needs money badly.  Her solution is to break Boris Skringler out of prison. As a bounty hunter, she would get a tidy reward to help clear her debts.

Boris is in prison on New Venus, a planet consisting only of women . No men are allowed there and he’s caught. Guess his disguise as a woman wasn’t too convincing. Next stop for him is execution.

Zyra follows Boris and is caught breaking him out of prison and ends up locked up herself.

Now the war that’s been looming has come to New Venus and  everyone must fight to survive.

I don’t normally read space operas so I wasn’t too sure whether I’d like this or not. I enjoyed it very much, mostly because of how well it was written. Kevis was able to show me a new world, a world where men are not wanted or needed. The women are able to thrive and procreate without a male counter-part. It is actually quite believable and reminded me of Amazon women a bit.

The author writes Boris as the “bad guy” in the story and does it convincingly. For some reason, I found I really connected with him. His personality is strong and he’s quite the character.

There’s a history between Zyra and Boris and it’s explored anew in this story. However, it’s not the main focus here. Zyra also has a female lover which causes a lot of emotional conflict for her. She has some hard decisions to make, ones that could end the lives of so many people.

I really connected with Zyra and liked her immensely. She is strong and determined, but has self-doubts, which made her genuine for me.

The story starts  a little slow, but once the action starts it never stops and races super fast to the conclusion. You do get a cliff-hanger at the end, but to me , it’s just the tease I need to read more of the series. My questions were answered and I was left smiling.

My rating is all about the writing with this book. I didn’t think I’d like this book, but I did and that says a lot about the author. Thanks Kevis, for getting me to read outside the box. Look what I’d have missed.

     

About the author and where to find him:

Kevis Hendrickson is an aspiring filmmaker who has penned three full-length novels, one novella, one epic poem, and eight short stories. Hendrickson lives in sunny Miami, Florida U.S.A.

Goodreads

Website

Twitter

You can find all of Kevis Hendrickson’s books here

Time to announce the winners!

I can’t believe how incredible the response has been! Huge thanks to everyone for your comments. I really enjoyed reading them. Also, I want to thank M. L. Ryan for allowing me to host this awesome giveaway and for a really good story.

The winners of Special Offers are:

Winner of Paperback: Christina

Winner of e-book: Stephanie Grego

Winner of e-book: Penumbra

Congratulations!

I have emailed the winners and forwarded their information to the author. She will contact you about your prizes!

You can purchase Special Offers by clicking on the image below or in the left hand sidebar.

Look at what I’m reading! It’s Witch Blood : Vampire in the City (Book Three). And it’s now available for everyone!

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For those of you who aren’t familiar with the Vampire in the City series and for those of you that, like me, have been anxiously waiting, Witch Blood is now available! You can purchase a copy of all three books in the Vampire in the City series by clicking on the images in the left hand sidebar.

I’m thrilled to hear there will be a fourth book in this awesome series, Cold Blood. This is great news!

Here’s a bit about the book:

Vampire Emma Hammond and her best friend and roommate Tammy Torres have rarely had a disagreement, but that’s all about to change. Apart from hating each other’s boyfriends, the duo have more monumental problems to deal with, like controlling Emma’s growing and increasingly dangerous bloodlust and trying to get blood stains out of the carpets. And when new witch Tammy joins a coven whose leader’s lust for power knows no bounds, Emma is unwittingly pulled into their plan.
I’ve read the first two books in this series and absolutely loved them! Let me show you.
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New Blood

Emma Hammond is a normal young woman living in New York City whose life changes forever when one misstep brings her very close to death. Luckily, Alex Thompson, a handsome stranger (who also happens to be a vampire), jumps in to save her, turning Emma into a vampire. She quickly discovers the numerous advantages (no more allergies, glasses, or acne) and slight drawbacks (wanting to eat her boyfriend) of joining the ranks of the creatures of the night. But Emma soon finds out her new undead life isn’t all it’s cracked up to be when she gets pulled in to an age-old dispute between two feuding vampire clans.

You can read my review here

Loved it!!

Wild Blood (Vampire in the City #2)

Recently-turned vampire Emma Hammond is not only getting used to her undead lifestyle, but also to living with her new and unlikely roommates–her human best friend Tammy, and David, a werewolf. While the girls speculate as to possible drawbacks to having such a fuzzy tenant (shedding and marking of territory, to name a few), nothing will prepare them for the dispute that is to come between the NYC clan of vampires and an upwardly-mobile werewolf pack from the suburbs. Will Emma be able to get out of it with both her undead life, and her blossoming friendship with David, intact? And, perhaps more importantly, will she be able to choose between Alex Thompson, her sire and sometimes lover, and James, a slightly-unhinged vampire with a mysterious past?

You can read my review here

  Loved it! Howling for more!

Donna also was so generous and allowed me to have a giveaway for each book and she took time out from her busy schedule to sit down for an interview. She also let the roomies stop in for an interview. We had a lot of fun and I hope to have Donna and the girls back again!

 

About the author and where to find her
Donna Ansari was born in New York City and has lived there for most of her life. Donna graduated from Pace University with a BA in Literature and Communications. Since then, she has been working as an editor, primarily in the field of medical education.
Donna lives in Queens with her husband, son, and large black cat. She is not currently aware of any vampires in her neighborhood.
Tp purchase New Blood ,  Wild Blood and Witch Blood,  just click on the images on the left hand sidebar.

Phantom Warriors: RIOT

by Jordan Summers

Riot (Phantom Warriors #6)

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Riot is a Phantom Warrior, a shifter, from the planet Zaron. He has been sent here by the Atlantean King Eros to find a mate. Females are rare on Zaron and in their travels the warriors discovered that the females on Earth were a compatible species. It’s vital to save their race from extinction.

At six and a half feet tall and 280 lbs. Riot is a bear of a man. Most females are afraid of him. He doesn’t hold out much hope of finding a mate until he spots Nina. Could she be the one?

Nine Whitetail is one of the People of the Cherokee Nation. She has a lot on her plate right now. Her veterinary clinic needs more customers or she’ll have to shut her doors, her beloved grandfather, Harold Twofeathers, lies dying in the hospital, and the damn poachers are back in the Rocky Mountain National Park, setting deadly snares and traps in the hopes of nabbing a bear or two.

To top it all off, her best friend Kim is getting married soon and will be moving away. The two friends go out in the woods one last time, seeking the poachers traps and destroying them. They end up running from flying bullets and separate to confuse the poachers hell-bent on killing them.

Nina gets turned around in the forest and stops to catch her breath. Out of the shadows steps a huge bear. No bear could possibly be this massive. Her grandfather told her the legend of the Great Bear who will take you to the stars, never to return. They are the size of Woolly Mammoths.

When the bear speaks to her, Nina’s certain the bear is either the one of legend or she’s losing her mind.

What a rush. This is a fast-moving story. It’s complimented by well-developed characters and a great plot line. It may be about two souls seeking love, but there is so much more going on.

I don’t know how the author did it. She managed to introduce me to a new world, gave me action, adventure, suspense galore, plus made me fall in love with the characters. I even felt a connection to the peripheral characters . And the ending, it was different. Near the end I was thinking, “I don’t want it to end,” and it didn’t. Not right there. Jordan wrapped it up so nicely, putting a bow on top. I can’t wait to unwrap the other stories in this series.

        Four stars for this one!

Oh yeah, forgot to mention. I didn’t realize this was a series and was so happy when I found out it was. The other thing I found out was it was the sixth book in the series. Yes, that means they can all stand alone!  Love it.

I know what I’m going to be asking Santa for on Christmas. Good thing I’ve been a good girl!

I would recommend this to mature readers as there are some explicit sexual scenes in the book.

About the author and where to find her:

Jordan Summers is an ex-flight attendant with a penchant for huge bookstores and big, dumb action movies. She prefers quite dinners with friends over maddening crowds. Happily married to her very own Highlander, she splits her time with her husband between two continents.

Jordan Summers finished her first book in 2002, which finaled in the ‘Daphne Du Maurier‘ contest. She went on to sell eight fantasy books to Ellora’s Cave Publishing, two to Kensington, Brava, three to Tor, one to Harlequin Blaze, two to Mammoth books, and one to Pocket books. Her latest paperback release is Blood Lite 2: Overbite (9/2011), an anthology put together by the Horror Writer’s Association.

Jordan has twenty-six published books to her credit, both N.Y. and Indie. She is a member of Novelist Inc., International Thriller Writers, Horror Writer’s Association, Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, and Romance Writers of America. Learn more at jordansummers.com.

Website

Goodreads

Amazon

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To purchase any of Jordan Summers’ books click on the images below.

Check out her awesome cover art!
Phantom Series:

Other Series:

Dead World

Atlantean Quest

The Ghost Hunter Chronicles

Lords of the Night

Moonlight Kin

and many other books which you can find here .

The Dark Horde

by BREWIN

The Dark Horde

Check out this scary good trailer!

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZl2uZNvj5c]

Book Description from Goodreads

Part thriller, part crime-fiction, all supernatural horror, The Dark Horde tells of the return of an ancient evil that is neither stoppable nor comprehensible…

My Review

From the opening page to the horror driven end, this story had me riveted.

Howqua Hills is under siege by something. Monster, demon, alien, or creature from another dimension, who knows? They have been waiting, but no more. Out of the shadows they come, the Dark Horde.  Hungry for flesh, they thrill to feel our terror and revel in our pain. Want a taste?

The beast had an acute sense of smell, enabling it to smell the raw terror in the sweat of its quarry. The smell of this human was strong, indulging its senses with delectable wafts. Hungry for the kill, it gripped the wooden handle of the trap door and slowly teased it open. The shrieking cry of its hinges rang out, enhancing the fear of the cornered prey…It entered, scraping its clawed feet across each wooden step with calculated intent to terrify… Two down, one to go.”

The action is intense and relentless and the creatures are absolutely terrifying. Want a bit more?

“It glared at them with red, hate-filled eyes the shape of swollen slits as its bloodied snout curled to reveal a chaotic array of sharpened teeth. It grinned.”

Able to manipulate our minds, they invade our dreams with heart-stopping nightmares. I was worried they would invade my dreams. I read this book in one sitting and finished in the wee hours. Maybe it was because I was sleep deprived, but I didn’t remember dreaming. However, there are many more nights to come.

Brewin’ is a master at making you afraid of the dark. I suggest you sleep with a flashlight!

Brewin is having an awesome giveaway right now. Go here to check it out!

Don’t wait. Contest runs October 24th thru 31st. Happy Halloween!

He is  giving away a bunch of e-books and three signed paperback copies and t-shirts for The Dark Horde!

Brewin's Coffin Hop Prizes!

 Prologue

I was once an avid believer in many things… I believed in love, in compassion, in hope. I even believed in a God watching lovingly over us and that somewhere within the mystery of it all, there was a special place for us. This inclination towards a blind faith was strong in me, stamped upon my DNA and cultivated through my upbringing. I was sheltered from the brutal reality of this world, hidden from the horrible truths of our existence.

It is your choice to hear these words, but be warned, once you understand what they mean you will never be able to hide in the warm comfort of ignorance again.

Unless you’re prepared for this, it’s best you stop now. Time is short now, I sense them drawing close. Whilst blood flows through these shaking hands, I will tell you of them, in the hope that someone hears these words and know of what is inevitably to come.

I know not how to stop the Dark Horde, or how to stop the events I have set into motion. But I doubt it makes any difference, as mankind is doomed anyway.

It wasn’t always like this. Once I enjoyed a happy life too. Once I had  a life. my early childhood to the outsider seemed like any other. A child full of energy and confidence, and the world around me was of wonder. Then, when I was seven, came the visions. They were infrequent at first, like intermittent thunder before the storm, but by the time I was eight they were coming to me not only every night, but every hour of every waking day. Every child fears the dark, but who’s to believe that a child’s nightmares could possibly be real?

I was trapped alone in a world of nightmares, under constant assault from a force no one could see or believe. With time the cancerous visions only grew stronger and my parents grew ever more frantic in their attempts to find a cure. After numerous doctors and counselors, my parents finally found a psychiatrist to their liking. I was not yet ten when he gave his damning assessment; “Your son is suffering from temporary psychosis of a type that is treatable and not uncommon in boys his age. Nightmares and the fear of the dark occur in most children and have been known to be so intense that it results in delusions and even hallucinations. it is merely a product of the hormonal imbalance of puberty, of an over-active imagination…But he will be cured and in years to come he’ll look back at these days with humor and think how silly he’d been! Fear not, this psychosis will come to pass.”

I was to receive therapy and medication, and for a few mostly happy years, the treatment seemed successful. but always below the surface, dark forces gathered, revealing themselves in occasional “fits of madness”. My doctor was intrigued by this and sought to uncover what was best left alone. He put me under hypnosis, an event that was to forever alter my life. I was only thirteen. The hypnosis swept aside the clouds of consciousness, revealing my past in all its horror. I saw my previous life and the terrible deeds I had done. I realised then that the visions keep returning to haunt me because they are my past. In some archaic time I had brought them into this world, though what they were, I did not know. I only knew that they were alien to this world and meant only to destroy it…And I. in some “fit of madness”, had let them in.

I became resigned to the power of the visions, recognising my place in the scheme of things and realising the futility of it all. With time, I learned to hide the visions effects and ceased to even tell others of their existence. By the age of sixteen, I was deemed cured and ready to join the “real world”…But I had merely learned to wear the mask of sanity. Sometimes, however, the mask slipped…And deeds of darkness came to light.

I would wake alone in a dark forest, shivering. Then I’d realize…I dreamt this. Somehow I had sleepwalked into the forest at night, the black shapes of swaying trees crowded around me and the wind taunted in strange voices. Then I’d notice the candle-lit inscriptions in the dirt before me…If what I just dreamt was real, then I knew we were in great danger. Screaming, I’d run through moonless undergrowth until I found a road I could follow home, or someone found me, bruised and feverish, the next day.

My fate was inevitable. I was doomed to repeat history.

Neither drugs nor therapy would stop my sleepwalking and before long I was sleeping in restraints. At seventeen I left school and moved with my parents from Howqua Hills to far away Melbourne. With the move, my sleepwalking tendencies ended and I was able to begin a new life among strangers who did not know my past, nor care. They teased me for my country background, but accepted me as normal, as someone who was dependable. But never did the visions relent on my tortured mind, ever reminding me of who I was and who I was destined to be.

It is now five years later and things are no different. destiny is cruel when you are its slave. There is no privilege in this, no fortune in being chosen, there is only eternal damnation. but I cannot be held responsible for something that started and was predetermined before i was even born. And if I wasn’t their channel, it inevitably would have been another, if it wasn’t my past life, it inevitably would have been someone elses.

it is utterly useless to try to stop them. Their age is limitless, as is their knowledge and power. We are to them as ants on the Earth. An organized society that adapts and multiplies, but does not know of the world around it. We are not the most advanced creature in the universe, even on our own planet. Nor are we blessed in any way. Just as many other species of life succumbed to our dominance, so shall we succumb to others.

And now as I sit here making this recording of my final words; i know that i can restrain them no longer. Consciousness is fading, the lights grow dim and my voice faint. they are close now.

Calling…Calling…Calling…

“…..Come Dark Horde, remember, and once more be!

We are as one, as many are we,

Become one, once more be.

We are as one, as many are we,

Become one, once more be…”

After many hours of semiconscious chanting, I was startled awake by a sharp crack in front of me. Before me stretched a black void with depths beyond comprehension. A nauseating stench fell over me and I saw that within the nebulous darkness was a pair of eyes: red convex slits. They were a short distance away and staring directly at me, my mind naked before their gaze…

My God, what had I done?

About Brewin’

Brewin’ knew he wanted to be a writer when he was only seven and that has shaped his life. A gift from his brothers of a Role Playing Game Book was a pivotal moment in his life. Game books(along with role-playing games) made him the writer he is today. The last third of his first published novel, Evermore: An Introduction, is a choose-your-own-adventure and his second novel, The Dark Horde, has one of the characters from Evermore in it. For more about Brewin’ and his work visit:

http://www.thebrewin.com

To purchase The Dark Horde, click on the cover below