J.L. Engel (Author of A Dangerous Man)

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J.L. Engel rated a book it was amazing Without A Whisper: Song Two of the Tangled Elegies (Songs of the Tangled Elegies Book 2) by Molly Macabre (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Without A Whisper isn’t just a sequel, it’s a scream into the void about how deeply and desperately the broken are to find connection anywhere they can. It’s a binding theme throughout dystopian future narratives, which makes sense given that in any ...more
Aug 17, 2026 11:07PM · like · see review
J.L. Engel and 4 other people liked Tim McKay's review of Sledge vs. The Wendigo: This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
Aug 16, 2026 10:28PM · see review
J.L. Engel rated a book it was amazing Sledge vs. The Wendigo by Nick Horvath (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
Aug 16, 2026 09:01PM · 1 like · like · see review
J.L. Engel liked Stories Podcast's review of Where the Children Don't Play: "This is my book of the year for 2026 so far. It was absolutely amazing! I recently lost my dad and this was the first book I read to escape the world and it helped so much. Mason is a deputy in the small town of Lazarus who went through a horrible trag" Read more of this review »
May 02, 2026 02:37PM · see review
J.L. Engel is now following Stories Podcast and Tim McKay
May 02, 2026 02:37PM
J.L. Engel made a comment on Lillian Patterson’s review of Where the Children Don't Play " Damn, Lillian, this is incredible! If this is what a 4 star from you gets, I may have to make it a mission to land a 5! Thank you for taking the time t ...more "
Apr 22, 2026 06:21PM · see review
J.L. Engel and 1 other person liked Lillian Patterson's review of Where the Children Don't Play: This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
Apr 22, 2026 06:19PM · see review
J.L. Engel made a comment in the group Nightmares and Dreamscapes — seeking ARC topic " Hi, I’m offering ARC copies of my upcoming supernatural thriller Where the Children Don’t Play (441 pages). "A deputy sheriff must confront the creature ...more "
Mar 07, 2026 04:30PM

J.L. Engel has read

Sledge vs. The Labyrinth
by Nick Horvath (Goodreads Author)

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Without A Whisper: Song Two of the Tangled Elegies (Songs of the Tangled Elegies Book 2)
by Molly Macabre (Goodreads Author)

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Without A Whisper isn’t just a sequel, it’s a scream into the void about how deeply and desperately the broken are to find connection anywhere they can. It’s a binding theme throughout dystopian future narratives, which makes sense given that in any Without A Whisper isn’t just a sequel, it’s a scream into the void about how deeply and desperately the broken are to find connection anywhere they can. It’s a binding theme throughout dystopian future narratives, which makes sense given that in any generation depicting such a future the people are inherently divided as a whole, breaking them into tribal elements for any cause that will keep them alive and far from becoming a braindead, rotting cannibal. What you find here starts dark and stays dark – very dark. What shines is that it's written in a near poetic fashion, heightening the element of the unlikely ability to find romance where cackling zombies roam the open road and trust in humanity hangs on the brink of extinction.

On the coattail of her incredible debut, Dark Bloom, author Molly Macabre re-inserts us into the struggles of Nick and Kate as they navigate a fractured life designed to devour them at every turn. All they want to do is love one another and survive. But that would make for a boring story if a happily ever after were in their cards given their experiences. And with Nick’s “upgrade” and Kate’s knack for making decisions that regularly launch them headlong into trouble, boring is not what you’ll find here!

Macabre stomps on the accelerator, infecting the story with more action and intensity than before, shying away from very little. The ensemble grows exponentially, but as with any post-apocalyptic environment, no one is safe from the chopping block, so brace yourself if you get attached. Beyond the harrowing circumstances, Nick and Kate endure everything together, strengthening their relationship and their resolve through any high they fleetingly grasp, and every form of low the depths of human depravity can drum up.

While the story is well-done despite some minor repetitive elements, the true hero of this novel is Macabre’s writing talent. She has a graceful gift for the written word, drumming up interest in some seemingly basic interactions with depth and interest, intertwining strong emotional arcs that are believable and that claw at you with real-world resonance from the page. By the end, you may even come to question which of the multitude of threats they face are more dangerous: the Infected, the humans fighting for survival, or love itself.

Though we can’t please everyone with what we write, nor should we try, Molly has done a phenomenal job here, end-capping her duology, and bypassing the muddy sequel trenches that can kill a solid follow-up. Instead of getting stuck in the muck, likely littered with the rotten corpses of half-buried undead, Molly soars! She is amongst the handful of authors I will drop what I’m reading to pick up her new work. I hope you are, too. ...more

J.L. Engel and 4 other people liked Tim McKay's review of Sledge vs. The Wendigo:

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

J.L. Engel rated a book it was amazing

Sledge vs. The Wendigo
by Nick Horvath (Goodreads Author)

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Sledge has returned and in brutal fashion. This isn’t just a sequel to “Sledge vs. The Labyrinth.” This is an evolution witnessed in real-time of story, world building, character, and talent. It’s methodical. It’s purposeful. It’s deeper than expecte Sledge has returned and in brutal fashion. This isn’t just a sequel to “Sledge vs. The Labyrinth.” This is an evolution witnessed in real-time of story, world building, character, and talent. It’s methodical. It’s purposeful. It’s deeper than expected.

And it’s a banger!

Those familiar with the ultimate anti-hero created by author, Nick Horvath, have expectations for Sledge and the path of destruction he will inevitably endure. Rest assured, this journey is rife with threats that greatly exceed what Einarr Laukkanen has encountered prior to this thrilling entry, and with that, much more dire stakes. Naturally.

For starters, this is a take no prisoners narrative. Full-on no hold – and at times, no holes! – barred. Raw, and enough c*nts to make Guy Ritchie blush! Not for the sensitive of heart, mind, or faith. These elements will test you, as they test Sledge, who launches himself headfirst into a trafficking investigation with the Sledgiest of intentions… meaning, when that mighty hammer swings – and he swings it a lot along with a new addition to his arsenal – no prisoners are taken. It’s what Sledge does. It’s what we love about him, that a bad ass mofo goes after the baddest of mofos without mercy.

Like Labyrinth, Wendigo calls back to the inspirations that brought Sledge to life, such as a list of enemies with a video game-like ranking system, as each one he encounters varies from the last in their purpose and skillset, and level of threat they pose. You may be high on the Sledge bandwagon thinking, “no one opposes, Sledge.” But again, you’d be high, and he’s opposed at every turn by the most dangerous killers the Wendigo have to offer. There’d be no story if he weren’t. That’s the fun of it. The danger is constant…

As is the pacing, never letting up except for short, needed breathers, only to quickly test your endurance at the turn of a page. In general, Wendigo idles at 80 mph and ramps up to 120 in a flash when sh*t gets real. Be careful of paper cuts or flash burns from turning the pages so quickly. But if your Sledge enough, you won’t care if you catch a slice or burn along the way. You’ll barely notice… because it’s Sledge.

In terms of depth, Horvath takes us into the void to show us how Sledge has become more of what we already know him to be, and what we don’t. There’s background involved here that simply teases the totality of Sledge’s history, but it’s important to the evolution of the narrative. It’s also a display of Horvath’s own writing evolution, upping the ante so greatly that there is no doubt he has written a superior sequel in terms of story, prose, and skill. Both character and author become synonymous with change here. Leveling up. After all, what chance does a glass ceiling stand against a 7-foot monster with a 40 lb hammer? (It doesn't, obviously.)

Horvath takes Sledge to a place that’s maybe unexpected given the tales of the tank and how said tank operates. He exposes vulnerabilities that humanize the Leviathan. That show the tank has armor to protect what fragments of gushy hippy stuff that might still exist within him, if not ONLY for “God’s greatest creation.” It’s what gives him a reason to fight… to hunt… to kill. So often the big barbarian men of fiction and lore get overlooked for having a heart, depicted to being cold and merciless, though Sledge does all he can to ignore the former in this land of one-man armies. As I wrote in my own novel, A Dangerous Man, Sledge fits under the warning banner of, “Be wary of the hearts you trifle with. Some of the gentlest hearts belong to the most beastly of men.”

And those who trespass against this warning get what they deserve… the f*cking hammer. ...more

J.L. Engel liked Stories Podcast's review of Where the Children Don't Play:

Where the Children Don't Play by J.L. Engel

"This is my book of the year for 2026 so far. It was absolutely amazing!

I recently lost my dad and this was the first book I read to escape the world and it helped so much.

Mason is a deputy in the small town of Lazarus who went through a horrible trag" Read more of this review »

J.L. Engel is now following Stories Podcast and Tim McKay

J.L. Engel made a comment on Lillian Patterson’s review of Where the Children Don't Play

" Damn, Lillian, this is incredible! If this is what a 4 star from you gets, I may have to make it a mission to land a 5!

Thank you for taking the time t ...more "

J.L. Engel and 1 other person liked Lillian Patterson's review of Where the Children Don't Play:

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

J.L. Engel made a comment in the group Nightmares and Dreamscapes — seeking ARC topic

" Hi,

I’m offering ARC copies of my upcoming supernatural thriller Where the Children Don’t Play (441 pages).

"A deputy sheriff must confront the creature ...more "

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	A Dangerous Man 4.69 avg rating — 39 ratings — 6 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
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