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Riddled with Violence
Deification follows a gang leader on a bloody quest to restore her dark saviors powers in the end times. What were some sources that informed this novels development?
I have always been interested in Christianity and Catholicism as theological fields of study, so much of my research material was the Christian Bible.
I love the concept of angels and what they can and cannot do, their connections to humans, and even their punishments for taking humans as spouses. I enjoy the Book of Enoch even though it isn’t widely accepted as part of the canonical Bible, and in it are descriptions and stories that are beyond fascinating to me.
But what I really wanted to discuss through Torrence and her devotion to this dark savior was the idea of idolization. I often wonder why we spend so much time praising others and so little time praising ourselves. Torrence’s past was already riddled with violence; Why then was she so quick to worship Conrad for his?
What draws you to the horror genre and inspires you to write?
Though this is my sixth published work, it is my first horror story. I’m always inspired to write as a vehicle to explore greater concepts, innately human ones. The theme I wanted to consider here was idolization and hero-worship, and placing a character on a mission to complete someone else’s divinity instead of attempting to deify themselves as the god of their own life seemed a theme best explored by the darker elements of that type of admiration. How far will someone go for the person they view as their God?
The book has some fantastically unforgettable scenes. What was the funnest scene for you to write?
Thank you for saying so! It’s hard to pick one. I had a lot of fun with so many of the scenes. The end was certainly fun to write but for the sake of spoilers I won’t explain why. Honestly, though, I think I enjoyed War’s sections the most. It was nice to take a step back from the darkness and remember that there is room even in the worst of us for something purer, even if it’s just our feelings for another person.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
I am working on a sequel to Deification, but I’m not even to the halfway point of its completion. I’d hope at the very latest I’ll have it completed and ready to release by the summer. Hopefully much sooner, though!
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Deification
Deification by Brooklyn Dean is a violent, sexy, supernatural whirlwind of a story that follows Torrence, a young woman that has survived the opening; tearing of the sky that indicates the end times. Angels and demons now roam the earth, carrying out their personal and spiritual plans. Torrence is on a deadly, seemingly Satanic, mission to capture and murder seven virtuous people, a set of communion rituals assigned to her by Conrad, an individual that may or may not be a demon. The path she cuts through this new world is grim, edgy and immensely entertaining.
This book does a great job of turning on its head the common theme of the seven deadly sins being defeated by a hero on their path to righteousness. Instead, this book deals with dark themes, flawed characters, and it does it all as the main character seeks to invite those deadly sins into her body by murdering individuals that represent the virtues that oppose them.
I’ve seen other authors try to delve into these kinds of topics get caught up with too much sexual content, too much violence, or other issues that make other stories feel off-balanced and immature. Author Brooklynn Dean though has truly struck a masterful balance in this dark supernatural thriller, all while leaving the reader to wonder if the main character is truly on the path she believes, or if those holding the cards are keeping secrets.
If there is a weakness in the story, it comes down to flashback scenes that are perhaps a little too numerous and stretch out just a bit too long. It’s not major, and I’m sure many readers will actually enjoy these scene changes that round out the secondary characters.
I am absolutely enthralled by this story, and I hope there is a follow-up installment coming soon. Deification is a horror novel that takes evangelical themes to some uniquely sinister extents in riveting style.
Pages: 137 | ASIN: B08TGS2D1Y
The Word of the Rock God
![The Word of the Rock God by [Brooklynn Dean]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41gDgHRTQaL.jpg)
In The Word of the Rock God, we meet Max. He is the talented front man of a rock band who are making their way around bars and clubs building up a following, singing songs written by Max. Max isn’t a typical rock god but has a strict moral code. Brooklynn Dean creates a world where good battles evil, where we look at how people can tempt others to stray from their paths. Although there are religious elements, you don’t need to be religious to read or enjoy this. The author creates a set for good to do battle with evil and brings that to life with her words.
Brooklynn Dean has written a thought provoking novel that is consistently entertaining. It opens with Max in another new city, and the author quickly cements Max as a musician devoted to his art, but he is a person with a strong moral code and they way these two motivations interact gives Max’s character much more depth thn I was expecting. Max’s strong moral code doesn’t sit with the stereotypical idea of a rock god, but how the authors makes it work throughout the story is intriguing. She uses Craig and Philip to fulfill the stereotypes, but in a realistic, non-judgmental way. From the outset, I liked Max. I liked the fact he wasn’t a stereotype. The author then introduces the characters of Malum and Bodum, both of whom follow Max around. The author does a great job of building connections and relationships between people slowly and methodically so that they feel authentic. The book develops the idea that temptation lives in all of us, even when we believe we have a strong rigid moral code. As we follow Max around the gigs, the author creates a world where we can see good and evil, without resorting to creating caricatures. She also doesn’t make the reader feel like they have to be religious to enjoy this book. She shows the battle we all fight to avoid temptation and what happens when we decide whether or not to give into temptation.
In The Word of the Rock God reminds me of the methodical and thought-provoking writing of Anne Rice. In The Word of the Rock God is a thrilling mystery novel that explores the old age battle between good and evil with a unique perspective.
Pages: 331 | ASIN: B07P9DPM2Y
LITERARY TITAN 