A serial killer is loose in Misty Hollows, Ohio and Katie Johnson is sure that her friend Julie has been abducted by this madman. As she searches for her friend, Katie finds an unexpected ally in the ghost of one of the killers victims and soon finds herself transported to a completely foreign time and place. She only hopes that she can find Julie before it's too late.
My review
This book was different from what I expected. For the first half of the book it seemed to be a normal contemporary story about a serial killer. Then it got weird, but not in a bad way. The author threw in ghosts and parallel worlds, a wizard and strange metal killing machines. Katie ended up in a strange land that seemed mid evil and at the same time some parts were futuristic. She befriended a ghost, and a wizard and her journey began.
I honestly wasn't expecting the twists the author threw in, but I really enjoyed the story and I am looking forward to reading the next one in the series. I would definitely recommend this book if you like paranormal, horror or even sci-fi. Fantastic read!
Haven
Katie finds that the town of Haven is not what it seems as she continues her journey across the strange world of Desolace, searching for her friend, Julie. During her travels Katie makes new friends, but also makes a horrifying discovery. The creatures that she thought to exist only in myths and legends, while she grew up on Earth, are very real on this world! The only bright spot is a message that Katie receives from Julie, but the message is filled with a sense of urgency. Will she find Julie in time? Or will the darkness of this world consume Julie first, leaving only a useless husk of flesh behind?
As Edward and his makeshift group of adventurers descend the stairs leading underground from the Outpost, they find a strange object as well as Katie's friend, Julie. They watch in horror as Melissa disappears through this new portal, and decide to follow her. When they get to the other side, they find themselves in a post-apocalyptic world that resembles Earth. Will Edward be able to lead the group back to Desolace to continue their battle with the Black Knight? Or will they be stuck in this new Hell, fighting just to stay alive?
My review
Katie and the group find themselves in a post apocalyptic land that resembles a future earth. They are faced with more new horrors and obstacles. They travel this land in search of a way back to Katie's own time or back to Desolace. Along the way they meet up with a couple of new faces, but they begin to wonder if they will ever find their way out.
This series about a strange group of travelers,
is getting to be one of my favorite this year. With the mix of
paranormal, fantasy and horror, each book has kept me fascinated and
eager for the next book. The author does a great job of throwing in a
new twist into each book and this one is no exception.
I have devoured all the books in this series and I keep bugging the author about the next book. I can't get it in my hands soon enough. Great read!
I have devoured all the books in this series and I keep bugging the author about the next book. I can't get it in my hands soon enough. Great read!
City of the Dead
Upon their return from the post-apocalyptic realm of future Earth, Edward and the remaining members of his group destroy the portal to keep a never-ending flood of zombies from wreaking havoc on Desolace. They are reunited with their ghostly friend, Amber, but have no weapons or supplies and are forced to return to the town of Loknar to seek help. After enlisting the aid of the town guard, and their new friend, Jasper, Edward leads the group toward his home town, the city of Elysia.
When they arrive, Edward is saddened to see his once great city has been decimated. The lone surviving elder speaks to Edward of an incursion by the forces of darkness, which seems bent on completely destroying the largest city upon Desolace. Sending Edward and his faithful followers on a mission to the south, they soon discover a small town, seemingly forgotten and uninhabited for a very long time.
Was it the work of the Black Knight and his minions which has left the city streets littered with corpses? If so, will they be able to stop his madness before it consumes Elysia and everything Edward holds dear to his heart?
My review
Have you read the other 3 books in this series? Why not?? If you like Horror and fantasy, you'll love it. The first book threw me for a loop by seeming to be a contemporary serial killer novel, but then becoming more of a paranormal/fantasy book. It was amazing and after that I first book I have devoured all the other books just as soon as I can get them in my hot little hands. City of the Dead was no exception. Each one has the group of travelers battling new and unimaginably horrible creatures. In City of The Dead they meet yeat another new foe. The Black Knight's demon minions. This time they narrowly escape, but not before poor Edward loses yet another horse and get's very badly injured himself. Katie really steps up in this book as more of a warrior and less of the damsel in distress. And hopefully this isn't me projecting, but I think I finally saw some chemistry between Edward and Katie. FINALLY!!
Like the other book, I swept through this one in just over 24 hours and Now I am impatiently waiting for the next book!! Another 5 stars for City of the Dead!! I loved it.
After a raging, intense battle with a large contingent of the Black Knight's minions, Edward and the remaining members of his group take shelter in an abandoned inn to lick their wounds. Formulating a plan to chase after the demonic creatures in order to eradicate the threat of a reoccurrence, Brian and Katie head off, leaving their werewolf companion to keep watch over their leader as he attempts to heal.
Following the trail of the railroad tracks, they discover more than they were bargaining for; the retreating demons spring an ambush on the unsuspecting duo as they ascend toward the pinnacle of the mountain. Surviving the surprise attack and, for the time being, eliminating the immediate threat, Brian and Katie continue to climb. As they reach the termination point of the railroad tracks, they find themselves staring at the gaping entrance to a cave.
Determination fueling them, they step through the opening, making sure there aren't more of the tiny demons regrouping inside. As they enter, a blood red veil of light falls over their vision. The expansive chamber is adorned with row upon row of enormous, wooden crosses, some of which have nude prisoners shackled to them. Could this be the place Julie had referred to as Cemetery Hill? If so, what were the odds of her still being alive? Would Katie find her best friend in this chamber of horror, or was she too late?
My review
Cemetery Hill is book five in the horror/fantasy Desolace series. In the first four books Katie has joined a team to help rid the world of Desolace of the evil that has captured and enslaved many of it’s inhabitants. The team has grown and it has also lost a few along the way. Currently the group consists of Katie, Edward the White, Jack the werewolf, Amber the ghost, and Brian the shaaman. In the beginning of book 5 they are taking refuge in an abandoned Inn to nurse their wounds and figure out where their journey should go from there. In this small abandoned town they meet another new foe and try to take on a group of the demons with Brian’s holy fire. In following and destroying the demons they find the most terrifying sight after traveling through yet another portal. Will this revelation lead them to the victory they are striving for or the doom they fear?
I just wrote that first part and then read it and thought “when I summarize the stories like that it makes it sound like it isn’t very exciting, but believe me, if you are a fan of horror, fantasy, or paranormal, you will like this series!
The character Katie has grown so much since the first book. She has gone from a giggling teenager to a wise warrior. Edward has gone from a serious no nonsense kind of wizard to a kind and compassionate friend. Katie and Edward obviously have feelings for each other despite their age difference, but the author stubbornly refuses to write them a romantic scene. Maybe when the story concludes, Mr. Barnes?? Do you have any idea how emotionally damaged I will be if these two don’t get at least some form of a happily ever after?? Ok back to the review….
With each book in this series a new enemy is revealed and new obstacles are put in their way. Each novel has gotten better than the last and the story is building to a big finish I can feel it. But what kind of ending is in store for this strange group of unlikely friends? I guess we’ll have to wait till the next book (or books) to find out.
If you haven’t read any of the books in this series and you like fantasy, and horror and any of the genres I listed above, you should really check it out. I give Cemetery Hill 5 stars. Even though one of my favorite characters was killed off in the worst way. Yes, I did cry. It was very sad.
Destined for Darkness
Frank Mancini had suffered with his abusive mother for many years, until the day that he snapped. After telling his friend, Johnny, about the incident, his friend encouraged him to leave Misty Hollows. Taking his advice, Frank journeyed across the country to California hoping for a fresh start.
Shortly after his arrival, he met a beautiful woman. He was determined to hide his dark past from her, especially after finding out that she was a psychic, able to see both the past and the future of anyone she came into contact with. He managed to hide his secrets from her until several years after they'd gotten married and started a family. Fearing that she would turn him in to the police, he killed her. Not realizing that his son, George, witnessed this act, Frank decided to take him back to Misty Hollows.
How would the memory of his mother's death effect young George? Would he follow in his father's footsteps? Journey through the years, from infancy to adulthood, with George to see if he can resist the inner darkness!
My review
Are you looking for a read that will creep you out and give you nightmares? Destined for Darkness did that for me. In this book we get a look into the Mancini family. We see how the darkness starts to creep in and eventually take over the lives of first Frank and then his son George. The story show us how two men can be seemingly harmless, but hide an evil so vile that even they are repulsed by their own actions.
Despite the fact that this book gave me a major case of the creeps, I was compelled to read on about the horrific things the Mancini men did. I think a writer has done their job well when you are reading and making gagging noises because you can envision the carnage. When you cringe because you can almost see what’s going to happen next. If this were a movie, I would have had my hands over my eyes for most of it. Job well done Mr. Barnes. You thoroughly disturbed me with this book.
Buy Links:
Amazon links :
Author page : http://amzn.to/14YJ8yQ
Desolace : http://amzn.to/14sWO4Y
Haven : http://amzn.to/ZAgqjE
Outpost 13 : http://amzn.to/10MdIq2
City of the Dead : http://amzn.to/1aA67zH
Destined for Darkness : http://amzn.to/1cFjQoH
Smashwords links :
Desolace : http://bit.ly/11kTLDG
Haven : http://bit.ly/Zoxg6M
Outpost 13 : http://bit.ly/11CxgyC
City of the Dead : http://bit.ly/1bfxTEz
Destined for Darkness : http://bit.ly/1c2yhDe
Kobo links :
Desolace : http://bit.ly/1636srL
Haven : http://bit.ly/11Fb7Nf
Outpost 13 : http://bit.ly/11lg7Ku
City of the Dead : http://bit.ly/18eJWRc
Barnes & Noble links :
Desolace : http://bit.ly/1bwdaro
Haven : http://bit.ly/194z1a3
Outpost 13 : http://bit.ly/14e9707
City of the Dead : http://bit.ly/17VHxsC
Destined for Darkness : http://bit.ly/1cGoItB
iTunes links :
Desolace : http://bit.ly/119TbNN
Haven : http://bit.ly/15Cczmg
Outpost 13 : http://bit.ly/1610gQv
City of the Dead : http://bit.ly/1f60wnM
Lucian began his writing career late in 2010, but has spent most of his life writing stories. He is a fantasy/horror novelist that enjoys weaving aspects of the paranormal into each story. Lucian's first published works were released in 2012. He has just released the fifth book of the Desolace Series, Cemetery Hill, and will be donating a portion of its sales to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Lucian lives in Pueblo, Colorado.
For more about Lucian Barnes and the Desolace series:
https://www.facebook.com/lucianbarnesauthor
http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Desolace/292242934166864
https://www.facebook.com/groups/224805344323163/
http://lucianbarnes.wix.com/author
Check out my review for Destined for Darkness on Lucian Barnes' website!
http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Desolace/292242934166864
https://www.facebook.com/groups/224805344323163/
http://lucianbarnes.wix.com/author
Check out my review for Destined for Darkness on Lucian Barnes' website!
also on Twitter @LucianBarnes
I love how you set up your blogg. I must know how you did it!!
ReplyDeleteThank you! I had a little help, and I really like it too. :)
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