MIND WRECK - SHADOW GAMES by J.Z. Foster

MIND WRECK - SHADOW GAMES by J.Z. Foster

Published March 20th 2018

(from the book description)

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Has anyone ever told you how special you are? How great you could be at anything if you just put your mind to it? They were lying. There are people, Shadows, who really can do anything. They walk like gods among us, speaking with the dead and tearing their enemies apart with a simple thought. Some live unchained by death, and others live without the shroud covering what tomorrow brings. They’ve had the Mind Wreck. It’s when the chemical stew inside your brain begins to boil. All those soft spots start to turn red and bleed as a host of human potential claws its way into you, dragging you into the deep end of the world. Matthew Reed is drowning in the deep end. He’s been thrust into the games, The Shadow Games, where god-like beings vie for control and power, everyone out there is playing their own hand, and everyone has a seat at the table. He’ll have to learn to play quickly because being the son of a powerful Shadow has drawn a lot of attention. Let the games begin.

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MIND WRECK - SHADOW GAMES is the 3rd novel released by J.Z. Foster since the beginning of the year. Yes you did read that right,,,since the beginning of this year. WITCH HUNTER was released in Jan, THE WICKED ONES (my review of which appears on this blog) was released in Feb and this novel was released in March. I thoroughly enjoyed the first two, but this 3rd outing is the best yet.

I have to admit that reading this book made my head hurt. Not in a negative way, but because the authors narrative is so descriptive that you feel part of the story. Coming across like a mix of Cronenberg's classic Scanners and Gaimen's American Gods (not bad material to be associated with), the story builds and builds into it's own incredible mythos. There are no wasted moments here. Characters are built up and well formed. The pacing is done to a tee, the action never stops or lulls. The ride begins with the first sentence of the Prologue and carries you to the final page.

Matthew Reed is just a everyman, suffering from migraines he cant control and dreams he does not understand. Enter his father, whom Matthew thought was dead, and his world suddenly becomes a roller-coaster ride he can never come back from. Since I hate spoilers, that's about as much story info I want to give. Just let me say you will not be disappointed by this story.

MIND WRECK - SHADOW GAMES is the opening salvo on what could be an epic series. And J.Z. Foster has set himself up to be a literary force to be reckoned with in the coming years.

MIND WRECK - SHADOW GAMES can be purchased on AMAZON.

For more about J.Z. FOSTER you can visit his website HERE.


                                                                                           Jim Coniglio
                                                                                       04/21/2018

THEY FEED by Jason Parent

THEY FEED by Jason Parent

Publish date : April 15th 2018

254 pages

Published by Sinister Grin Press

(From the book description)

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The night uncovers all we wish not to see.

A troubled man enters a dusky park before sunset. A young woman follows, hidden in shadow. Both have returned to the park to take back something the past has stolen from them, to make right six long years of suffering, and to find justice or perhaps redemption—or maybe they'll settle for some old-fashioned revenge.

But something evil is alive and awake in those woods, creatures that care nothing for human motivations. They’re driven by their own insatiable need: a ravenous, bottomless hunger.

The campgrounds are full tonight, and the creatures are starving. Before the night is over, they will feed.

An unrelenting tale of terror from Jason Parent, acclaimed author of People of the Sun and What Hides Within.

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The Great Outdoors.....camping, hiking, fishing and all the other outdoorsy things that people do. Me,,not so much. As a youth I loved camping, but as I aged my body decided it didn't like sleeping on the ground or having to start a fire to warm your body up and make some tea.

Well...about 2 chapters into THEY FEED by Jason Parent, I have decided to to never even think about going camping at the State Park ever again.

Jason Parent has given us a truly gruesome tale of tragedy, revenge and monsters that plays out like a extended episode of The Outer Limits. This story would also make a great evolution/continuation of the classic story The Raft from Creepshow 2.

Tyler has just been released from serving a six year sentence for a murder that was committed while hunting at the State Park. But Tyler knows there is more to the story and heads back to the park for answers. Little does he know that he has been followed by someone with their own agenda. As the evening progresses, Tyler will find himself fighting for his life with a small group of others. Can the rickety shack they have all found themselves in protect them from the monsters that are hunting them?

This is a great creature story from start to finish with a cool horror movie vibe. If you are a reader like me, you picture the story playing out in your head as you read. I could see the black leach-like monsters that Jason has created, as they roll and leap after their victims. Hear the screams of the doomed and feel the adrenaline of those trying to escape. The characters that populate the story are well developed and I found myself rooting for them. (Well, except for 3 of them your will have to encounter for yourself). And the ending twist caught me totally of guard.

It takes an truly accomplished author to really transport someone into their story, and Jason Parent has done that wonderfully with THEY FEED.

THEY FEED can be purchased HERE

To learn more about Jason Parent you can visit his website HERE

(Thanks to Sinister Grin Press and Hook Of A Book for the ARC)

                                                                                                                                  Jim Coniglio

                                                                                                                                  04-15-2017