Thursday, 2 July 2015

Book Review - Solom: The Scarecrow by Scott Nicholson

The blurb contains a reference to Stephen King from a review and I agree with some of the sentiment from that statement. The author develops the characters well and with the sort of detail that King provides for even his minor characters. It has the downside that it stretches the story out more than it probably needs, but doesn't really matter because there's joy in getting to know the characters. It also meant that before things really get going you're aleady inside their heads.

The story is solid, although it does follow a traditional theme of scarecrows and harvest sacrifice. While I did find the main plot a bit predictable there's some nice twists along the way to keep things interesting. I did enjoy the goats - they deserved a bigger part!

The writing is good and accessible,it conjoured up plenty of atmosphere. The pacing also worked well with a gradual build up in the tension and horror until reaching the conclusion. Most of the pieces fit into place along the way and cocludes in a satisfactory way. There were a few details I would have liked to have learned more about, like the old preacher for example.

Overall this is a solid horror read and one worth checking out for horror fans and I've ordered the second book in the series to see what happens next.

Click on image to buy from Amazon

"Like Stephen King, he knows how to summon serious scares." - Bentley Little, The Burning

"Always surprises and always entertains." - Jonathan Maberry, Patient Zero

SOLOM: THE SCARECROW
Book#1 in the Solom series.

When Katy Logan moves her troubled teen daughter Jett to the Appalachian community of Solom, she envisions a peaceful rural lifestyle on her new husband's farm.

But there's more to Solom than she ever imagined. Gordon Smith's first wife Rebecca died under mysterious circumstances, and Katy believes her spirit is still in the house. Gordon's great-grandfather was a horseback preacher who vanished while on a mission one wintry night, and local lore holds that he returns from time to time seeking vengeance. And Gordon teases Katy and Jett with a story about a wicked scarecrow that comes in from the fields at night to slake an unnatural thirst.

When the legends come to life, Katy and Jett discover the Smith family secrets cut deep. And they must face the supernatural menace together or become part of Solom's legends forever.

Click here to buy Solom: The Scarecrow from Amazon (and it's a pretty good horror story)

Drabbles of Art - Vanitas with Sunflower and Jewelry Box by Maria van Oosterwijck



This week's Drabble of Art is inspired by a painter unknown to me, but the odd collection of items in this still life fitted an idea I already had perfectly.

You can read the previous drabbles in the series here:

http://thecultofme.blogspot.co.uk/p/as-promised-in-last-weeks-final-post-in.html


Vanitas with Sunflower and Jewelry Box by Maria van Oosterwijck

She loved to collect things and always placed her favourites in the gloom of my study. Some of them were so weird that I didn’t dare ask her where she’d found them.

I liked the flowers. They brought new and delightful scents into the air. Most of what she collected were dead things, except for flowers. She cared for them. With delicate care she tended to them to keep their bloom alive until the inevitable wilt.

Now the decay happens faster because the bouquet will never be cared for again, not in this empty house.

I miss her so much.

The Cult of Me now Available on Oyster

The Cult of Me was  my first release and is the first book in the Third Path tilogy. It is now available on Oyster:

https://www.oysterbooks.com/book/JU3um8jeZX8u4ry5Xzbp3B/the-cult-of-me-the-third-path

The Cult of Me is also available on a wide range of online stores - see below for a full list:




In my youth I developed a talent for reading other people’s minds and with practice, forcing my will upon them. I have never encountered anyone capable of resisting my thoughts and for a time I enjoyed the fruits of my power. A terrible tragedy led me to a darker place and then I wielded my ability not simply to satisfy my desires but to torment and judge the throng of humanity around me.

Years passed until I realised that my life lacked meaning and I lived without purpose. It wasn’t a difficult change to make. And with that choice I have one final act to inflict upon the world and they will remember my name with fear for ages to come.

The Cult of Me is the first book in The Third Path trilogy.


Review Highlights

"An Enjoyable Romp through a Tortured Mind"

"This book is so hard to define. It’s a dark, psychological thriller but also philosophical, metaphysical and totally unusual."

"In The Cult Of Me, Michael Brookes has created one of the most memorable villains I have ever read about - and he is sort of the good guy of the story."

"Whatever genre you read I would recommend this book, it's not quite horror, not quite fantasy and to be honest I'm not entirely sure where this would sit. But, whatever its genre it's good and that's really all that matters."

The Cult of Me is available from these online stores:

Buy now from Amazon (US): http://amzn.to/1onGoyo
Buy now from Amazon (UK): http://amzn.to/Ot1Ze1
Buy now from Barnes & Noble (Nook): http://bit.ly/1pGQMUu
Buy now from iTunes (US): https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id639396634
Buy now from iTunes (UK): https://itunes.apple.com/gb/book/id639396634
Buy now from Kobo: http://bit.ly/1jrsHxq
Buy now from Page Foundry: http://bit.ly/1o1t6rD
Read now on Scribd: http://bit.ly/1mliOB5

Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Third-Path-Trilogy/135021196680047
The Cult of Me on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15778078-the-cult-of-me

Wednesday, 1 July 2015

Drabbles of the Gods - Moloch

"MedinaPL1" by John Baptist Medina (1655/1660–1710)
I'll confess that I cheated a little with this week's Drabble of the Gods and took a small extract from my favourite story Paradise Lost to match this week's deity. It's such a great piece of text that I'm sure you won't mind!

If you want to read the previous drabbles in the series then you will find them all here:

http://thecultofme.blogspot.co.uk/p/drabbles-of-gods.html

Moloch

Moloch, the Sceptered King took his turn to speak. In defeat the fiercest of the rebels was eager to return to the fight.

“I counsel open war. We mustn’t diminish in this Hell. Within this prison of shame we should grasp the fires of our punishment and rise to challenge the tyranny which cast us down.

“Fear not the possibility of a second defeat for we’re already in Hell. Already we suffer but there is no lower pit to fall. Together we can rise and even if victory eludes us then at least we’ll cast our revenge against his throne.”

An Odd Quartet Now Available on Oyster

An Odd Quartet was my first published collection of short stories and it is now available on Oyster:

https://www.oysterbooks.com/book/4ZP4u4zs4ERYWZzx2umQEK/an-odd-quartet

It's also available from a wide range of online retailers, the full list is provided below:


An Odd Quartet is a collection of four dark short stories, each with a twist in the tale.

The Yellow Lady

A grave robber encounters a ghost from a story he was told as a child.

This Empty Place

At the heat death of the universe, the Grim Reaper contemplates his existence.

Forced Entry

A special forces team enters a suburban house to rescue a family taken hostage, they encounter more than they were trained for.

The Reluctant Demon

A young demon prepares to take his possession exam.

This Drabble Enhanced edition also includes some of my favourite drabbles (100 word stories).


Review Highlights

"This is an intriguing collection which I raced through in an evening. Each tale has an unexpected element to it and this is what makes the book interesting."

"I enjoyed the darkly satisfying twists that surfaced in a couple of the tales, and I loved the imagery throughout."

"All in all a very good and entertaining read with some well executed and different approaches to the stories."

"It has been speculated that writers of the bizarre must have broken minds. I say, they simply have potent imaginations because they are the ones who have the ability to see beyond the edge of reality, capture those images, and truly bring them to life. Michael Brookes is surely in possession of a most potent imagination."

An Odd Quartet is available from these online stores:

Buy now from Amazon (US): http://amzn.to/1tRD0ka
Buy now from Amazon (UK): http://amzn.to/OK7R3A
Buy now from Barnes & Noble (Nook): http://bit.ly/1o9uqeU
Buy now from iTunes (US): https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id636526301
Buy now from iTunes (UK): https://itunes.apple.com/uk/book/id636526301
Buy now from Kobo: http://bit.ly/1iBxFNc
Buy now from Page Foundry: http://bit.ly/1lKmw7q
Read now on Scribd: http://bit.ly/1o9uCe8
Read now on Oyster; http://bit.ly/1NxovLL