Blog Archives
I, Monster
I, Monster tells the story of Hans, a boy born into poverty, abuse, and neglect who grows into a man consumed by cruelty. What begins as childhood bullying and violence slowly shapes him into a predator, then into a soldier, and eventually into a commander of a concentration camp. Through Hans, the book explores how systematic brutality and dehumanization can turn an ordinary person into an architect of horror. It is not a story of redemption but of descent, a chilling portrait of the way cruelty feeds on itself until nothing remains but emptiness and power.
The writing is sharp, relentless, and full of imagery that sticks in the mind long after you finish the book. The brutality is not sensationalized but presented with a stark clarity that made me feel both horrified and transfixed. At times, I wanted to look away. At other times, I found myself compelled to keep reading, almost against my own comfort. The author’s ability to take me into Hans’s mind disturbed me, because I caught myself understanding the logic of cruelty, even while despising it. That balance between revulsion and reluctant empathy is what made the book so powerful for me.
The prose can be heavy, almost poetic in its repetitions and its grim rhythm. It worked in creating atmosphere, yet sometimes I felt like I was drowning in it. Still, that might have been the point. The book doesn’t want to let the reader breathe too easily. It forces us to live in the same suffocating darkness as its main character. I appreciated that. It’s not an easy read, but it left me thinking hard about the banality of evil and how ordinary pain can harden into extraordinary cruelty.
I, Monster reminded me of Ordinary Men by Christopher Browning, since both confront the terrifying truth that cruelty often grows not from monsters at birth but from ordinary people shaped by their times and choices. I would recommend I, Monster to readers who are willing to confront the darkest corners of human nature. If you want a raw, unsettling exploration of how monsters are made, this will stay with you long after the last page.
Pages: 216 | ASIN : B0FN6T64YQ
The Manifestation of Evil: Part One – The Birth of the Antichrist
The Manifestation of Evil tells the story of Asya, a young girl whose seemingly ordinary life in Ankara slowly unravels under the weight of sinister visions, haunting figures, and a destiny tied to forces beyond her understanding. Her journey is both spiritual and terrifying as she faces abuse, betrayal, and visions of the Morning Star, who claims her as the bearer of a prophecy that could reshape the world. Intertwined with her narrative is the rise of Igor Alexander, a ruthless Russian leader whose political ambitions escalate into a global confrontation, setting the stage for a sweeping clash of faith, power, and prophecy. Together, these threads create a sprawling tale of innocence and corruption, of individuals caught in the machinery of evil and destiny.
The writing is vivid, richly descriptive, and often cinematic. At times, though, the descriptions lingered long in certain places, which slowed the pace when I was eager to know what would happen next. I admired how the author captured the small details of ordinary life and then shattered them with sudden dread. That contrast made the moments of fear hit even harder. Some passages carried a touch of melodrama, and at times I felt steered toward a reaction.
The ideas in the book are bold, unsettling, and often heavy. The blending of prophecy, political intrigue, and personal trauma was thought-provoking. The narrative dares to tackle immense themes like the nature of evil, the vulnerability of children, and the dangerous ambitions of nations. At times, the larger themes took center stage, giving the characters a more symbolic presence within the story. There were moments, especially when Asya confided in Imam Ali, when her courage shone and reminded me why I cared. Those were the passages that stayed with me even after I finished the book.
I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy apocalyptic fiction rooted in faith, political thrillers with spiritual overtones, or stories that wrestle with the darkest corners of belief and power. It often challenged me to reflect on how fear and hope can coexist. If you are drawn to intense, layered stories that blur the line between the spiritual and the political, you’ll enjoy this book.
Pages: 193 | ASIN : B0F8VVHSW7
Cats of Ulthar – A Tale Reimagined
The story in this riveting graphic novel follows a family of cats on the eve of returning home, where a father recounts to his children the tale of their grandfather. What begins as a bedtime story quickly becomes a dark memory of captivity, vengeance, and rebirth. Through a mix of folklore and horror, the grandfather’s story shifts from being a tale of survival to one of transformation, wrath, and liberation, ultimately leading to the cats’ uprising and the claiming of Ulthar as their own. It’s framed as a fable meant to soothe children, but the truth hidden beneath is haunting and violent.
I felt the writing carried a sharp edge. The narration had a mythic quality, but it didn’t feel distant. It gripped me with its bluntness, its willingness to hold nothing back. I found myself unsettled, yet strangely compelled. The pacing worked in waves. Quiet moments of family warmth gave way to gut-punch images of horror and then swelled into something almost triumphant. The ideas in the story were compelling. Comfort as a prison, freedom as something bought in blood, and vengeance as both a curse and a gift. Those thoughts stuck with me long after closing the book.
The art and writing played well together; each panel really captures the scene beautifully. I appreciated the artistic way it conveyed the sense of dread. What I really enjoyed about this book was the tone. It never preached, it never softened. Instead, it whispered through shadow and silence. The ideas about rage and justice made me uneasy, though in the best way. I felt torn, both rooting for the cats and recoiling at the brutality. The line between freedom and cruelty blurred, and that tension made the story more than just a horror tale. It made it human, even though it was about cats.
Cats of Ulthar left me shaken and thoughtful. I’d recommend it to readers who enjoy dark fables, horror, and fans of H.P. Lovecraft. It’s for those who want a story that claws at them a little, one that scratches the surface and digs into the tender parts beneath. If you like tales that balance beauty with terror, this graphic novel is for you.
Pages: 26 | ASIN : B0FMC1X9J1
Lord of the Crimson Dawn
Lord of the Crimson Dawn follows Jack Salez, a hitman who lives by a strict code until one assignment in Mexico pushes him into a strange world of shadows, vampires, and dangerous truths. What begins as a straightforward job quickly turns into something far darker and more personal as he becomes tangled with Maria, a woman who is more than she appears. The book mixes crime thriller grit with supernatural horror, taking readers on a ride that feels both raw and eerie.
I found myself pulled in by the pacing right from the start. The writing doesn’t waste time. It drops you into Jack’s world with sharp edges, hard choices, and a rhythm that keeps you turning pages. At times, it felt over the top, but that’s part of the fun. The action scenes have a bloody, cinematic style, and I liked how they were cut with quieter moments that gave me a glimpse into Jack’s mind. The flashbacks to his past gave the violence some weight, and while the language is blunt, it fits the character.
The supernatural angle caught me off guard in the best way. I thought I was settling in for a hitman thriller, and then suddenly I was thrown into Mayan mythology, vampires, and curses. It was strange, sometimes even messy, but it kept me curious. I liked that the book didn’t make it easy to figure out what was real and what wasn’t, especially when Jack himself started questioning his grip on reality. The mix of horror and crime gave it an unusual flavor, and I appreciated the risk the author took in blending genres this way.
I’d recommend Lord of The Crimson Dawn to readers who enjoy fast, dark thrillers with a supernatural twist. If you like stories that move quickly, characters who blur the line between good and bad, and a touch of the uncanny creeping in at the edges, this book will hit the spot. It’s for someone ready to dive into grit, blood, and mystery with a hitman who finds himself in over his head.
Pages: 183 | ASIN : B0FL17C8SK
Kamp Kromwell: A Novel
The novel follows Joey Carpenter, a teenage boy caught between the ordinary trials of growing up and the monstrous legacy of Kamp Kromwell, a summer camp haunted by tragedy, folklore, and something darker that won’t stay buried. It weaves Joey’s personal journey of survival, identity, and trauma with the eerie history of Jasper Mill and the cursed land it sits on. The story blends horror, coming-of-age, and queer self-discovery into a narrative that feels both chilling and raw, moving from gothic lore about the crooked oak tree to Joey’s painful memories of abuse and his attempts to reclaim his life.
Reading this book stirred up a whole mess of feelings in me. The writing is sharp and biting, like it wants to cut the reader open just to show what bleeds underneath. Other times it lingers in the shadows, letting dread seep in slowly. I was unsettled more than once, not just by the supernatural elements but by the human ones. The portrayal of Sam Barnes made my skin crawl, and the way the author shows Joey’s shame and survival felt almost too close for comfort. But that’s what hooked me. It’s horror that doesn’t rely only on monsters in the woods, but on the monsters we know too well.
The story moves from ghost stories to camp drama to deeply personal confessions, and yet that unevenness feels true to life. Memories don’t line up neatly, trauma doesn’t follow a straight path, and the narrative mirrors that jagged rhythm. Grea’s style veers between gritty and tender, and I loved the shifts. There were moments of humor that broke through the darkness, and they mattered because they reminded me that life is never just one thing. I also admired how unapologetic the book is about queerness. It doesn’t smooth over the rough parts or wrap them up in platitudes. It leaves the edges sharp, and that honesty made the story feel alive.
Kamp Kromwell reminded me of a strange marriage between Stephen King’s It and Boy Erased by Garrard Conley. Like King’s work, it builds its terror through folklore, small-town legends, and the slow creep of something monstrous hiding in the shadows, yet it also grounds itself in the personal anguish of a boy dealing with abuse and identity. Where Conley’s memoir is brutally honest about the shame and secrecy of growing up gay in a hostile environment, Grea filters that same raw vulnerability through a horror lens, giving the trauma both a literal and supernatural shape.
Pages: 294 | ASIN : B0FHC149LJ
My Own Take On Elden Ring
Mercy: Tears of the Fallen follows a cast of broken warriors, seers, rebels, and rulers as they claw through violence, political upheaval, and their own personal demons. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
The primary questions I asked myself when setting out to write this story were:
What if Aragorn lost everything after the War for the One Ring?
And what if Sam had to kill Frodo in order to save Middle Earth?
Taking those into my story as I explored my newly crafted world helped me identify key themes and modes of that very exploration.
I find the world you created in this novel brimming with possibilities. Where did the inspiration for the setting come from, and how did it change as you were writing?
Inspiration for the setting came primarily from Elden Ring. There are so many deeply minted stories hidden in the Lands Between. And I truly wanted to create my own world with Elden Ring being a primary influence. I played a lot of World of Warcraft growing up, and so geographically as far as the continents and factions/races are concerned, one may find several similarities or at least be able to identify the inspiration there.
As far as the darkness of the setting goes though, Elden Ring has to take the biggest nod.
When creating the dynamic characters in this novel, did you have a plan for their development and traits, or did they grow organically as you were writing the story?
I had a plan for where each of the main ones started and where I wanted them to end up at the end of the four-volume epic. Other characters introduced themselves to me and I decided to explore their personalities and thoughts and mannerisms to really bring the life out of the story. Everybody is the hero of their own story—and I felt the need to put that on full display each time I entered a character’s perspective.
Is this the first book in the series? If so, when is the next book coming out, and what can your fans expect in the next story?
The next book (MERCY: ILL IS THE FATE) is slated for release on March 31st, 2026. The cover reveal is September 25th. In this second installment, fans can expect a close-out of a lot of the questions I raised in the first volume.
This being a four-volume series, books one and two serve as a single “arc” just as books three and four will serve as the second “arc” of the story. And I’m very excited to share what’s in store (Already 10,000 words into drafting the third volume). And if anybody is curious as to more of the story, I have the “Blood Rebellion” Short story and the first four chapters of Tears of the Fallen available through my newsletter on my website!
Author Links: GoodReads | X | Instagram | Website
A paragon left for dead, Alevist Lightseeker sought peace—but peace had other plans.
Thirty four years past, the blade he buried must rise again. As he hunts the ones who shattered his world, another exile awakens—Erevayn. A man drunk on grief and bound by blood. A minstrel must bring the two together in a war against a rising ill fate.
Viyala, a lost love, unexpectedly returns and sparks a fire in Erevayn—but will it be enough to quell his thirst for vengeance? And will the world unfolding around her offer the chance for the future she has long desired?
Salasmir, Blade of the Reckoning, must answer the call of duty once again.
Hayde and Neera, twins of the Stained, hunt for sacred artifacts for their false king. Steyvin and Ilatu must travel across the Sundered Sea in order to do the same, but for their once wise father—who holds damning secrets of his own.
The Tears awaken—and call to the broken.
Two men, one path, and no Gods left to help them.
Some martyrs stay dead. Others—become legend.
An Eye for Vengeance
In the dust and blood of the frontier, one man’s world was torn apart. Jed McCallister watched his family slaughtered, his body broken, and his eye carved open so he could never look away. Left for dead, he was found by the Crow, healed by their medicine man… and cursed with the Eye for Vengeance. Beneath a leather patch, a hellish red light waits. When revealed, ghosts rise to rip the souls from their flesh, hands rise up dragging them screaming into Hell. Blackwood thinks he’s untouchable. But Jed has returned. And he has but one purpose… vengeance.
LITERARY TITAN 