UNSETTLED by Jay Sigler

UNSETTLED: A NOVELLA by Jay Sigler

Published April 19th 2019

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 

(from the book description)

Friends since high school, Brendan and Matt have been there for each other through all of life's ups and downs. But when a devastating accident takes everything from Brendan plunging him into a state of paranoid obsession, their friendship is put to the ultimate test. Fighting to keep his own family from falling apart, Matt struggles to help his friend, and his long suppressed anger begins raging to the surface.

As raw emotions take over, the lines of reality begin to blur. And when actions are taken solely on perceived reality, can anything truly be settled?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Wow! Yes that is my expert, official statement about UNSETTLED. I just finished it and had to sit for awhile to gather my thoughts and decide how to right up a review that is both informative and at the same time not ruin what is such a well crafted story. So I decided to just talk about my views on the story and let the description from the book cover above be the only peek at the actual story line.

I went into this novella knowing I was not going to get a smiley happy tale. If you have read the author's first novel TRAIN THOUGHTS (review available HERE), you will already know that his style is very raw and emotional and at times horrifying. 

UNSETTLED takes the agony and despair from TRAIN THOUGHTS and turns it up to 11. Jay's ability to create a believable character is on display right up front. This is a small cast, our two main characters, Brendan and Matt, and 3 more that figure into the story. The attention given to these few characters is wonderful. They are your normal, every-day people, they have flaws, they have ups-and-downs and most of all they have inner turmoil and secrets. 

This story is 100% emotion. From the first page, till the last you will be biting your nails as the next chapter unfolds. There are no creatures here or malevolent forces, the true monsters are the human characters themselves. Whether driven by anger, despair or resentment, sometimes what man can do to man is the most horrible thing we can witness. 

The despair and tension build to a crescendo in the final chapters and all boils over into a utterly horrifying, bloody and tragic ending.

 This is only the 3rd published work by author Jay Sigler, and with UNSETTLED he has placed himself in some rare company with other authors who excel at emotional horror such as Chad Lutzke and Brain James Freeman.

UNSETTLED is a small novella at just over 60 pages, so it is perfect for your weekend read. Just have 1, no maybe 2, OK let's just say 3 glasses of wine ready while you read. This story will make you gasp and leave your heart aching, but you don't want to pass it up.

You can purchase UNSETTLED in ebook and print on AMAZON.

To learn more about JAY SIGLER and his works you can follow is author's page on FACEBOOK.

ROTTEN LITTLE THINGS by Justin M. Woodward

ROTTEN LITTLE THINGS by Justin M. Woodward

Published April 12th 2019

Published by Simple Bicycle Publishing

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(from the book description)

TWELVE YEARS BEFORE THE EVENTS OF TAMER ANIMALS

Monica has suffered from paranoid schizophrenia her entire life. For the most part, she manages her disease well--that is, until her family moves into an old house in the woods, and she starts seeing an imaginary entity from her childhood creeping around the property.

NEW HOME. OLD HAUNTS.

Things quickly become terrifying for Monica as her reality begins to blend with fiction, and something else entirely. . . some indescribable evil out in those woods.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I was a big fan of Justin Woodward's TAMER ANIMALS that came out last year. (you can read my review of that book HERE) It was a very well written and creepy coming-of-age story that featured a legendary creature named the Goatman. Myself and other readers really wanted to see more about that character. With ROTTEN LITTLE THINGS, we finally have more of a look at the elusive and deadly Goatman.

ROTTEN LITTLE THINGS is a prequel novella taking place 12 years before the events from TAMER ANIMALS.  You can read the new novella on its own without having to have read TAMER ANIMALS, but you will miss out on those "holy crap" moments that come to light in the new novella.

 The story introduces us to the Dresden family who have moved to a new home in a small town in Georgia. Monica, the wife/mother suffers from paranoid schizophrenia which she has dealt with for most of her life. They are hoping for a new start, but Monica starts seeing a creature that has haunted her since her youth, appearing in and around the new home. As her episodes get more violent and disturbing, how will she tell real from delusion? And are her visions a warning to what is coming for her next?

The author has managed to pack a lot into this fairly short novella. The tension builds from the first pages and we are pulled along as we watch poor Monica's sanity unravel. We are witness to a whole family in decline. Monica's husband and son are there as a support structure, but are helpless to stop what transpires. Justin's writing style is super-tight and you will never feel a lag in the story. It just barrels on to it's very horrifying conclusion.

Those who have read TAMER ANIMALS will notice references to places and people they are familiar with. Weather it be a creepy old covered bridge, a ragged house deep in the woods or one single name uttered on the last page.

Once again Justin M Woodward has given us an excellent story and left us wanting more. I cannot wait to see were the author, and the Goatman take us next.


Both books mentioned in this review are available on Amazon.
ROTTEN LITTLE THINGS and TAMER ANIMALS

To learn more about Justin M. Woodward you can follow him on FACEBOOK.

WHERE THE GODS SLEEP by Mike Duke

WHERE THE GODS SLEEP by Mike Duke

Published March 31st 2019

Published by Stitched Smile Publications

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(from the book description)

We have made a grave error in vigilance, brothers. The dark comet has drawn near. The cultists have selected a vessel. He dreams of the hidden place, where the Gods Sleep, banished there by our Lord.

After centuries of inactivity, Korrobbathith and his followers are attempting, once more, to open the gate.

We must move with haste if we hope to stop them.

You know the consequences of failure. Korrobbothith and the other gods will walk this earth again, and I fear, this time, they will not remain in the shadows. None of us - man, woman, or child - will find refuge from their barbaric reign unless we submit and serve them.

God help us all if we are too late.

_________________________________________________________________________

There are writers who can craft amazing stories, then there are those who invent entire worlds for their creations to live in. This act of creating a whole new mythos can be a very taxing feat. H.P Lovecraft is the perfect example of mythos building, more recently we can look at Brian Keene and Brain Fatah Steele. We now add Mike Duke to that list.

WHERE THE GODS SLEEP is a love letter to the world of Cosmic Horror. Mike Duke has given us a living, breathing world where the Old Gods walk among us once more.

The story is presented in a kind of "found footage" narrative. We are shown the events as they happened through eye witness accounts, police reports, video tapes and other means. I am not always a fan of this method, but here it is used correctly. Because he is building this world for the characters, the format helps convey the sense of growing dread and helplessness of the players involved.

If you have read the author's novel, LOW (if not you can read about it HERE), you will know that Mike can create some very real believable characters. Some you will like and others you will love to hate. The Old God Korrobbothith is the main character of this story. The humans around him are just a means to the end; to be used and thrown away.  The symbiotic relationship between Korrobbothith and Kenneth is truly tragic. We see the human host's decline, both physically and mentally as he is dragged along against his will. Seeing horrors committed by his own hand, as if watching the events unfold on TV. Having no control except for brief moments of lucidity.

There is also an impressive cast of supporting characters. Not all are fleshed out completely, but we know that they will be having more impact as the story progresses. We are dragged along on a world-tour of carnage and no-one is safe from the wrath of the Old God.

If you like your blood and guts, you will not be disappointed here. From human sacrifice to dismemberment, the author does not hold back on letting the blood flow and the limbs fly.

The book also includes some amazing artwork from Francois Vaillancourt, Brian Scutt and John Peevahouse. I'll share a couple here just so you can how gorgeous these art pages are. There are 9 art pages in the book including a double-page spread.

John Peevahouse

Brian Scutt

WHERE THE GODS SLEEP is the first in this new series from Mike Duke, and I cannot wait to see what happens next.


You can purchase WHERE THE GODS SLEEP in ebook format on AMAZON.

Print edition is coming soon. Also keep an eye out for a special Limited Edition Hardcover via Kickstarter.

You can learn more about the published and the other great books they offer at
STITCHED SMILE PUBLICATION.

Guest Post: Wolfing Out by Glenn Rolfe

It has been a busy week here at One-Legged Reviews as we relished in the light of the Full Moon and celebrated Werewolf Week. 

Today we are joined by author and publisher Glenn Rolfe. I have been a big fan of Glenn's work for some time and he has contributed to our site in the past. I was very excited when he was able to closeout our week with his look at his love of werewolves.

Also I wanted to mention that THE BEAST OF BRENTON WOODS by Jackson R Thomas, one of my favorite books from last year, will be released in Audio Book format of April 16th from Tantor Audio and featuring the voice talent of Joe Hempel.

If you have not read it yet make sure to check out my past review and add it to your TBR list.

THE BEAST OF BRENTON WOODS

Now let's finish out our howling-good week and welcome Glenn Rolfe.

WOLFING OUT

by Glenn Rolfe

My obsession with the werewolf actually began in the early 80s when I saw Michael Jackson’s video for THRILLER. Man, that opening scene scared the bejesus out of me! Like lots of things when I was between the ages of 5 and now, despite the fear, I kept going back for more. Yeah, back in the day, we didn’t own a VCR. We would go down to the Home Vision Video store and rent one of the Quasar VCRs that you loaded the tape into the top. I remember when Jackson released the “Making of Thriller” VHS. I got my dad to rent it for me again and again. Seeing how they applied Michael’s make up made it all less frightening, but I was amazed (and stilled scared whenever I watched that opening scene).

After that, my brother introduced me to SILVER BULLET. Still one of my favorites. Thinking of a kid stuck in a wheel chair and discovering who the town beast was? Man, that was powerful stuff for a kid. Then he faces him down?

When I decided to try my hand at writing, I noticed that there weren’t too many cool werewolf books. It was mostly zombies and vampires. I had an idea for one and I went for it! 

The result was BLOOD AND RAIN (Cemetery Dance Publications). First picked up by Samhain Publishing, BLOOD AND RAIN was a hit for me straight out the gate. When Samhain crumbled, well, it eventually (as in just last month) landed with Richard Chizmar’s Cemetery Dance Publications.  

In my story, we have a sheriff, Joe Fischer, that makes mistake after mistake trying to do what he thinks is right. He’s a flawed individual with a good heart and seemingly everyone’s best interests in mind. Unfortunately, he screws up as much as he gets it right. BUT does he save his town? You’ll have to read the book to find out.  

Last year, I started publishing a few titles for some friends. One of those books is another werewolf story, THE BEAST OF BRENTON WOODS, from Jackson R. Thomas. In that story, a teen named Ben Cutter has a strange connection to a local legend, The White Wolf. I did say “legend”, right? Or is it? When bodies start piling up, Ben feels closer to what’s happening than he should. A small town with many secrets is about to explode. 

I love werewolf stories. And if you do too, you should check out these other amazing titles:

 RAVENOUS by Ray Garton 

MONGRELS by Stephen Graham Jones 

WOLF LAND by Jonathan Janz

 THE HOWLING by Gary Brandner

 I’m really looking forward to the new Max Booth III novel, CARNIVOROUS LUNAR ACTIVITY. Started reading it last night!  

Some of my favorite flicks?  

THE HOWLING 

SILVER BULLET 

AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN LONDON

 WOLF (w/Jack Nicholson) 

THE WOLF MAN (2010) 

Thanks to Jim and One Legged Reviews for having me. Arroooooo! 

FANGTASTIC TALES OF WEREWOLF SAVAGERY by Toneye Eyenot

FANGTASTIC TALES OF WEREWOLF SAVAGERY by Toneye Eyenot

Published March 21st 2019

Published by Luniakk Publications

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(from the book description)

 La Lluna Plena – the Full Moon – that beautiful and mysterious celestial body which stirs within us all those deep, dark emotions we do our best to subdue and control. For some of us, her influence runs deeper, much deeper. We all walk beneath her maddening rays, yet, while most may shrug off the notion that inside us all resides a beast – a savage wolf – there are those of us who embrace the monster within and ride that lunatic wave with abandon each time she casts her gaze upon us.

Some see it as a blessing, others…a curse. To be bitten, and fall prey to murderous urges beyond our control, or to have the good fortune to be born into the pack, or perhaps even to whisper words of spell in order to evoke the lycanthropic gift, there are more than a few ways to cast aside the human skin and let loose the wolf within. Those ways are explored throughout this collection of werewolf terrors.

Suspend disbelief, dear reader, because whether you care to admit it, or continue to live in ignorant bliss, we walk among you. We smell the blood as it courses through your veins and taste your fear on the breeze. We long to see the life drain from your quivering flesh as we gorge. Beware the Full Moon, as you are about to enter the world of the Werewolf.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

If there was ever someone in this world that could be a real werewolf, I would believe that person would be Toneye Eyenot. This man virtually lives, breaths and thank the moon, writes werewolves.

Toneye's newest release, FANGTASTIC TALES OF WEREWOLF SAVAGERY is a collection of five stories. Each story is a different take on the wolf, but they all feel like they could be taking place in the same world. This web of inter-connectivity creates a feeling of falling into a mythos created out of the blackness of the authors nightmares.

Toneye treats the werewolf as the main character. No beast taking the back seat to a hero looking to save the day, or a girl in a red hood trying to lead it astray. The wolf is front and center, and that is what I really enjoyed about the tales. I have always loved a good werewolf story and it is so spectacular to see the wolf be set free. And these are proper werewolves, not your over-sized cuddly dogs chasing sparkly vampires. They are bloody, savage killers, rending flesh and chewing on bone.

Lets take a look at the stories included in this book.

BLOOD MOON BIG TOP

This is a revised 2nd edition of this story which was originally published in 2016. I wanted to include a image of the original cover, just because it is awesome. What could be just as scary as werewolves...clowns of coarse.

This doozy of a tale follows a clown named Marbles. He is a loner who enjoys his solitude between shows with a traveling circus. One night while out for a walk he stumbles across a feral child in the forest and and gets bit on the hand. Little does Marbles know that this one event will make life as he knows it spiral out of control and lead him down a path of blood and death.

This is the longest story in the collection and boy does it deserve to be front and center. We see this man slowly and methodically start fighting with his own humanity. We all know that he will lose to the wolf in the end, but the journey to that point is a roller-coaster ride of emotions. As Marbles looses his battle to the beast, he partakes in murder after murder to feed his growing hunger. Each one more gruesome then the last as the full moon approaches.

Toneye does not hold back on the gore. The deaths are horrible and vicious and keep building until one of the biggest blood-soaked conclusions you will ever read.
---------

HUNTER'S MOON

A pack of werewolves in the Blue Mountains of Australia prepare for the night of the Blood Moon and The Great Hunt.
They have gathered their prey from the surrounding community of humans and when the time is right they will be released and the wolves will hunt.

This tale gives a good look at the Pack dynamic of this group of werewolves. Each member is different, but when the hunt begins, they are one. The common goal, hunt and kill the human prey.
---------

DIRE

A thief takes a job to steal a fossilized paw print from the natural History Museum. It is a strange artifact, and when he returns to the man who hired him, events take a strange and deadly turn.

This story, with it's quick lead in and finale, reminded me of a Outer Limits episode. Just a nice little satisfying compact story.
--------

HUMAN SKIN

Two Private Investigators at a gruesome crime scene try to decipher the truth about a mangled body. Was this a stray animal attack or something far more sinister. And what could the old man who lives alone by the old docks have to do with it.

Hard Boiled crime and werewolves. I could read a whole book on this topic alone.
-------

THE TOMB OF LEGION

It's werewolves vs vampires (not the pretty sparkly ones) in an all-out battle of supremacy. And we even get some witches thrown in for good measure.

Out of the 4 shorter stories in this collection, this is my favorite. Who doesn't love wolves and vamps tearing into each other. The author gets to let loose and creates some real carnage on the page. We even get a ending that leaves the door wide open for a new chapter.
--------

As a bonus, a excerpt from the authors other novel, WOLVZ: WHISPERS OF WAR is included at the end of the book.

The moon is full tonight, so grab your copy and howl away. The night of the wolf is just beginning.


FANGTASTIC TALES OF WEREWOLF SAVAGERY can be purchased on Amazon in
EBOOK and PRINT.

To learn more about Toneye Eyenot please visit is website www.toneyeeyenot.weebly.com

Toneye also runs LUNIAKK PUBLICATIONS. Make sure to to stop by their site to see all the other Fangtastic books they have to offer.

Guest Post: Her Maddening Rays by Toneye Eyenot

Today we are joined by author and musician Toneye Eyenot. Toneye is also the owner of Luniakk Publications. His newest book, Fangtastic Tales of Werewolf Savagery drops tomorrow. Please make sure to stop by luniakkpublications.com to check out all of the authors other great books.

Her Maddening Rays 

By Toneye Eyenot

 “There’s a darkness in me 

With the power of oceans, it swells within me 

Surges the tides as it yearns to break free

 Crashing waves of black emotions, the Moon sings to me 

The clouds dispersing, her maddening rays 

Churn the depths of my soul to a rabid blood craze”

 ~ Excerpt from ‘Rabid Blood Craze’ –Eyenot –Chaotic Impurity

How many of us are able to remain in control of those emotions when that beautiful celestial body takes her seat in the night sky? Is it true that the Moon dictates the rhythms of our psyches? Science seems to lean towards ‘Yes’, at least with the latter. It is also apparent that many do find it difficult to contain the Beast within when the Moon is at her fullest. We’ve all heard the stories:crime rates rise, hospitals and ambulance crews become busier. Hell, even parties on a Full Moon night tend to get just a lOttle bit wilder than usual. There is definitely merit to the theory.

 But, this lunacy, when it takes hold, affects some a lot more than most. Lycanthropy: either the delusional belief that one has become a wolf, or perhaps even the true ability to cast aside the human skin, be it by spell or curse, the Werewolf has been a constant throughout history going back through time immemorial. 

Surely, there is a spark of truth behind the myth. Shamans of many cultures, both ancient and modern, sorcerers, witches, gypsies –those who dwell on the fringes and beyond of ‘accepted’ societal beliefs hold fast to this knowledge. The aforementioned ‘science’ never has all the answers, much as the scientific community may scoff at absurd notions such as Man becoming Wolf.

The one thing science always manages to prove is that it is perpetually wrong. Scientific ‘discoveries’, for the most part, are just a confirmation (and admission) of what has been known for millennia by those who are not bound to our ‘agreed upon’ reality, and that which scientifically minded people had previously spent years ridiculing.  

 Yes, there is magic in our world. Creatures and forces beyond our comprehension roam these lands, as many throughout history have borne witness to, and still do to this day. Stories of the Dogman, the Skunk ape, Bigfoot and a plethora of terrifying beasts crossing our paths have sparked the curiosity and imagination of countless people around the globe.

Just as it could be considered arrogant, even ignorant, to say that we are alone in the universe, who’s to say these creatures of myth and legend don’t really exist? Suspend disbelief, dear reader, because whether you care to admit it, or continue to live in ignorant bliss, we walk among you. We smell the blood as it courses through your veins and taste your fear on the breeze. We long to see the life drain from your quivering flesh as we gorge. Beware the Full Moon, as you are entering the world of the Werewolf.

Toneye Eyenot 

 

CARNIVOROUS LUNAR ACTIVITIES by Max Booth III

CARNIVOROUS LUNAR ACTIVITIES by Max Booth III

Published February 22nd 2018

Published under the Fangoria Presents banner by Cinestate.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(from the book description)

Ted and Justin were once best friends, but over the years they’ve seen less and less of each other. Now, something’s wrong with Justin. He can’t sleep, he can’t think straight, and he certainly can’t explain why he keeps waking up naked and covered in blood. Ted might be the only person who can save him-- assuming he’s okay with shooting his childhood BFF with a silver bullet. But that’s what friends are for, right?

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

CARNIVOROUS LUNAR ACTIVITIES by Max Booth III is the 3rd book published under the Fangoria Presents banner and shows that Fangoria has an eye not only for the scares, but for the truly entertaining stories.

 Ted and Justin are 2 childhood friends who have grown apart over the years, but circumstances bring them together. Justin has a problem, and he needs to convince Ted that what he fears is real, before it is too late. An evening of friends catching up, loads of beer and one big-ass anchor will lead both friends down paths they never imagined they would travel.

It has been quite awhile since I picked up a horror book expecting frights and found those, but also loads of humor that will make the reader laugh out loud. The author has created a story that is very unique.  At its core this is a story of two friends getting reacquainted, even though not at the best of times, or terms. In some writers hands the premise of two friends talking for the majority of the book could go horribly wrong, but Max Booth has handled the conversation aspect of this story wonderfully. It is just pure enjoyment to read the interactions between the friends. They know each other, what buttons to push and stories from their past to tell. They could just be any of us on a weekend with our friends. The humor helps movie the story along and really it could have just kept reading about these to talking all night. It is that much fun.

But even with the humor, this is still a werewolf story and there is blood and gore by the buckets. When the action really starts the author does not hold back. The last few chapters will fly by in a flash of blood and fur. And even though you know what is coming as the story progresses, the author still manages to throw a few surprises in on the reader.

I also have to give Max props for using the city of Hammond IN as a back drop. I grew up spending my weekends in downtown Hammond and it is always fun seeing someplace you are familiar with appear in a story. It just gives you that much more of a connection to the story.

So pick up a six-pack and spend the weekend with CARNIVOROUS LUNAR ACTIVITIES.
(big-ass anchor optional)


You can purchase CARNIVOROUS LUNAR ACTIVITIES on AMAZON.

To learn more about MAX BOOTH III and his works please visit his website
www.talesfromthebooth.com