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Hell on High
"Clark’s much-anticipated follow-up to his Dead Man series sweeps readers into the tumultuous path of Juliana, a tough-as-nails heroine for the ages. Spanning multiple countries and all terrains, Juliana’s journey takes the reader to the mouth of madness, and the furthest reaches of human endurance. A thrilling story of heart, horror and perseverance – not to be missed.”
—Laurel Hightower, author of Every Woman Knows This: A Horror Collection and Crossroads
Prepare for adventure as Juliana, a nineteen-year-old Brazilian, finds herself forced to run from an occult overlord, leaving her sister in peril. Temporarily safe, Juliana works to save money for Vilma’s rescue—and along the way, meets Patrick, a rich-boy mountain climber with friends in high places.
Angus Addison wants to see his corporate flag on the summit of Mount Everest—carried there by the first woman in history—but the Himalayas are no joke. Failure could cost both sisters their lives.
Juliana weighs the risks and rewards—for even if she raises the cash, she still must figure a way to free Vilma from the same man she ran from—a man known to his disciples as The Farmer.
—Laurel Hightower, author of Every Woman Knows This: A Horror Collection and Crossroads
Prepare for adventure as Juliana, a nineteen-year-old Brazilian, finds herself forced to run from an occult overlord, leaving her sister in peril. Temporarily safe, Juliana works to save money for Vilma’s rescue—and along the way, meets Patrick, a rich-boy mountain climber with friends in high places.
Angus Addison wants to see his corporate flag on the summit of Mount Everest—carried there by the first woman in history—but the Himalayas are no joke. Failure could cost both sisters their lives.
Juliana weighs the risks and rewards—for even if she raises the cash, she still must figure a way to free Vilma from the same man she ran from—a man known to his disciples as The Farmer.
369 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 9, 2023
8 people are currently reading
149 people want to read
About the author
Michael Clark
6 books200 followersMichael Clark is an author of horror fiction, having written the books Hell on High and The Legend of Mildred Wells.
He is also the author of "The Patience of a Dead Man" trilogy (including "The Patience of a Dead Man, "Dead Woman Scorned," "Anger is an Acid," and "The Patience of a Dead Man: COMPLETE"), which are out of print to make room for "The Legend of Mildred Wells," a retelling of TPOADM optimized as a standalone novel.
You can find him here:
sleek.bio/michaelclarkbooks
He is also the author of "The Patience of a Dead Man" trilogy (including "The Patience of a Dead Man, "Dead Woman Scorned," "Anger is an Acid," and "The Patience of a Dead Man: COMPLETE"), which are out of print to make room for "The Legend of Mildred Wells," a retelling of TPOADM optimized as a standalone novel.
You can find him here:
sleek.bio/michaelclarkbooks
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
June 3, 2024
“There were several scenarios, he figured, and unfortunately, he died in most of them.”
Spanning four continents, I absolutely devoured this world tour of terror. Hell on High set an avalanche pace, as you tumbled from one chapter to the next knowing that salvation was not possible and the chills you felt had nothing to do with the cold.
Starting in Brazil, Juliana faces the dangers of escaping from one of the most prolific organ farming cartels on the continent, to finding herself fighting off hypoxia and hypothermia while traversing over the frozen dead at the highest point on earth.
The characters in the book are fleshed out so well. They really feel like someone you know (be glad that you don’t). The way Michael Clark writes makes you empathize with these people, there was one character that I thought was way beyond redemption but I’ll be damned if I didn’t start to like and have some hope for them.
My words can not do this book justice, to say that I was fully absorbed into Hell on High would be such an understatement. There is so much that I want to talk about but won’t because it will be so much better when you find things out own your own. I can’t ask for anymore from a book. It was entertaining, educational, made me think, made me feel, was original, left me hoping for more, and left me with a book hangover that I am going to dwell on.
“I’m not a spiritual man, in case you haven’t noticed.” “You are now,” Pemba countered.
“Maybe, but it’s too late to find a god who will help me.”
“Not too late for next life.”
Spanning four continents, I absolutely devoured this world tour of terror. Hell on High set an avalanche pace, as you tumbled from one chapter to the next knowing that salvation was not possible and the chills you felt had nothing to do with the cold.
Starting in Brazil, Juliana faces the dangers of escaping from one of the most prolific organ farming cartels on the continent, to finding herself fighting off hypoxia and hypothermia while traversing over the frozen dead at the highest point on earth.
The characters in the book are fleshed out so well. They really feel like someone you know (be glad that you don’t). The way Michael Clark writes makes you empathize with these people, there was one character that I thought was way beyond redemption but I’ll be damned if I didn’t start to like and have some hope for them.
My words can not do this book justice, to say that I was fully absorbed into Hell on High would be such an understatement. There is so much that I want to talk about but won’t because it will be so much better when you find things out own your own. I can’t ask for anymore from a book. It was entertaining, educational, made me think, made me feel, was original, left me hoping for more, and left me with a book hangover that I am going to dwell on.
“I’m not a spiritual man, in case you haven’t noticed.” “You are now,” Pemba countered.
“Maybe, but it’s too late to find a god who will help me.”
“Not too late for next life.”
March 15, 2023
Finally! Another Michael Clark book in my hands! There was much rejoicing to be had for this bookworm when I was able to finally crack this one open!
What I liked: The outdoorsy adventure horror setting - Mount Everest sounds intense. I would not ever have the courage to try and tackle that beast, but I liked getting a bird's eye view of it from our characters, Renata and Patrick. Clark really captured the quiet horror of the mountain, at least it matched what my imagination conjured up.
Michael Clark maintained that easy, free flowing writing style that keeps you turning page after page - I'm not a fast reader, but Clark writes in such a great conversational way that I'm able to easily read and keep up.
What I didn't like: The short chapters. I'm a girl who loves short chapters, but these were too short. Several in a row were the same POV and they could've been combined with a little break in line spacing to show time passing. With how short these were, they started becoming an interruption to my reading.
I also did not mesh with the pacing - the first half of the book, years were passing with page turns, but then we get to Mount Everest and suddenly time slows way down.
This is going to sound really odd - but I didn't like that it tied in to The Patience of a Dead Man trilogy. When I first read one of the characters discovering the element that tied to the two stories, before I realized it was an intentional tie-in, I thought Clark was just using the same "trick" regarding magick. I guess I wanted this one to have its own "schtick."
What I would have liked more of: More about Macumba! I would have liked some explanation of the few rituals written about, or more of what it was. I thought when a character was being indoctrinated, we would learn through her or with her about Macumba, but sadly, I didn't get it. This was my most anticipated element of this story, so I was hoping for a lot more information about it other than getting small glimpses from a practicing family.
I would have loved more character development - I think there were some missed opportunities for this due to the fast pacing, so I never formed any connections or feelings for any of them.
Honestly, this one had a really high bar to live up to, considering THE PATIENCE OF A DEAD MAN is one of my all time favorite books ever. I know this review may not sound like it, but I did like this one, I just perhaps had my expectations too high. I'm glad to have read it and at the end of the day, next piece Michael Clark publishes, I'll be one of the first to buy it too.
What I liked: The outdoorsy adventure horror setting - Mount Everest sounds intense. I would not ever have the courage to try and tackle that beast, but I liked getting a bird's eye view of it from our characters, Renata and Patrick. Clark really captured the quiet horror of the mountain, at least it matched what my imagination conjured up.
Michael Clark maintained that easy, free flowing writing style that keeps you turning page after page - I'm not a fast reader, but Clark writes in such a great conversational way that I'm able to easily read and keep up.
What I didn't like: The short chapters. I'm a girl who loves short chapters, but these were too short. Several in a row were the same POV and they could've been combined with a little break in line spacing to show time passing. With how short these were, they started becoming an interruption to my reading.
I also did not mesh with the pacing - the first half of the book, years were passing with page turns, but then we get to Mount Everest and suddenly time slows way down.
This is going to sound really odd - but I didn't like that it tied in to The Patience of a Dead Man trilogy. When I first read one of the characters discovering the element that tied to the two stories, before I realized it was an intentional tie-in, I thought Clark was just using the same "trick" regarding magick. I guess I wanted this one to have its own "schtick."
What I would have liked more of: More about Macumba! I would have liked some explanation of the few rituals written about, or more of what it was. I thought when a character was being indoctrinated, we would learn through her or with her about Macumba, but sadly, I didn't get it. This was my most anticipated element of this story, so I was hoping for a lot more information about it other than getting small glimpses from a practicing family.
I would have loved more character development - I think there were some missed opportunities for this due to the fast pacing, so I never formed any connections or feelings for any of them.
Honestly, this one had a really high bar to live up to, considering THE PATIENCE OF A DEAD MAN is one of my all time favorite books ever. I know this review may not sound like it, but I did like this one, I just perhaps had my expectations too high. I'm glad to have read it and at the end of the day, next piece Michael Clark publishes, I'll be one of the first to buy it too.
March 12, 2023
Hell yes. Epic adventure, bone chilling horror. An absolute thrill ride.
June 6, 2024
Everything I watch or read about high mountains makes me further convinced I never want to climb a high mountain. Hell of High ticked that box further still.
Before we get to the gruelling mountain scenes, though, Clark sets us up with a compelling story of dark magic and old gods in Brazil, with a fascinating, strong protagonist in Juliana, a young Brazilian girl who finds out the hard way about family secrets.
What she endures and the way she changes throughout are probably the part that compelled me most about this story. Though the side characters here also add their weight in terms of how contemptible some of them are.
Short chapters ensure it's a lightning fast read, the science of the mountains feels like its enough to help the non-specialist through without ever being an info dump.
Overall a hugely enjoyable novel, with a satisfying conclusion. Highly recommended!
Before we get to the gruelling mountain scenes, though, Clark sets us up with a compelling story of dark magic and old gods in Brazil, with a fascinating, strong protagonist in Juliana, a young Brazilian girl who finds out the hard way about family secrets.
What she endures and the way she changes throughout are probably the part that compelled me most about this story. Though the side characters here also add their weight in terms of how contemptible some of them are.
Short chapters ensure it's a lightning fast read, the science of the mountains feels like its enough to help the non-specialist through without ever being an info dump.
Overall a hugely enjoyable novel, with a satisfying conclusion. Highly recommended!
March 5, 2023
After reading Michaels series Patience of a Dead Man, I knew I would want to read whatever he came up with next. And here it is! Hell on High was a fantastic story with a great plot, multi dimensional characters and multiple chilling settings. The pacing of the book was perfect, and really covered some original and thought provoking ideas 🙌.
—-
Juliana is on the run from a very dangerous man. Her father. Also know as The Farmer, Ze is in the business of trafficking human organs and when he realizes his daughter has found him out, he will do anything to keep his secret safe. As Juliana flees from Brazil to the United States, she knows she must try and get her sister, Vilma, away from her father and stepmother as soon as possible. But that will cost money. A lot of money. In order to pay, she gets a job as a housekeeper but soon realizes it will just take too long. An opportunity comes along after meeting an avid climber named Patrick, and even though it’s dangerous, she decides it’s her best option for saving her sister.
“𝘐𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘱𝘢𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘢𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘳𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘴𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘳, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘯𝘰 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘫𝘰𝘣; 𝘣𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦, 𝘢𝘴 𝘪𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭-𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘰𝘥𝘺 𝘧𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳-𝘣𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯.”
—-
Filled with black magic and more than one perilous journey, Hell on High is an adventure you will want to embark on yourself. Pack your bags because this one hits shelves March 9th !
—-
Juliana is on the run from a very dangerous man. Her father. Also know as The Farmer, Ze is in the business of trafficking human organs and when he realizes his daughter has found him out, he will do anything to keep his secret safe. As Juliana flees from Brazil to the United States, she knows she must try and get her sister, Vilma, away from her father and stepmother as soon as possible. But that will cost money. A lot of money. In order to pay, she gets a job as a housekeeper but soon realizes it will just take too long. An opportunity comes along after meeting an avid climber named Patrick, and even though it’s dangerous, she decides it’s her best option for saving her sister.
“𝘐𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘱𝘢𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘢𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘳𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘴𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘳, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘯𝘰 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘫𝘰𝘣; 𝘣𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦, 𝘢𝘴 𝘪𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭-𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘰𝘥𝘺 𝘧𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳-𝘣𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯.”
—-
Filled with black magic and more than one perilous journey, Hell on High is an adventure you will want to embark on yourself. Pack your bags because this one hits shelves March 9th !
October 21, 2023
A Tour de Force of Horror!
Having loved THE PATIENCE OF A DEAD MAN series, I was eager to read one of Clark's standalone novels. HELL ON HIGH does not disappoint! It's gripping and intense, and I enjoyed the short, fast chapters. HELL ON HIGH would make one hell of a movie. Highly recommended!
Having loved THE PATIENCE OF A DEAD MAN series, I was eager to read one of Clark's standalone novels. HELL ON HIGH does not disappoint! It's gripping and intense, and I enjoyed the short, fast chapters. HELL ON HIGH would make one hell of a movie. Highly recommended!
March 8, 2023
Huge thanks to Michael for sending me a digital ARC of this one!
Michael Clark is the author of the The Patience of a Dead Man series, a trilogy of novels that own, all of them on my Kindle, but have yet managed to get to any of them. My good pal, George, has told me to read them close to a dozen times, but like many of you out there, my TBR is a mile high and I’m hoping to get to them shortly (like within a year or so… haha!).
‘Hell on High’ caught my interest (not from the fantastically ominous cover art) but from the climbing synopsis. As you’ll be aware, I’m a huge fan of wilderness based dark fiction. But I also love watching/reading non-fiction set in the wilderness. Extreme athlete documentaries and works such as ‘Into Thin Air’ by Jon Krakauer. There’s been a few horror novels I’ve read that deal with high-up mountain stuff, ‘Ararat’ by Christopher Golden and ‘The Mourner’s Cradle: A Widow’s Journey’ by Tommy B. Smith, so I was really intrigued with what Michael was going to do.
What I liked: The story follows two characters before their plots become interwoven. We have Juliana, who discovers the truth of her father and is whisked away to the US in the hopes of being safe and finding a way to get her sister out of South America as well, and Patrick, a douchebag, spoiled son of dentist’s. He himself is now also a dentist, but being a total dick, he likes to travel and spend money as though it grows on trees.
Their worlds intersect when Juliana, now having changed her name, meets Patrick in the US. Patrick has returned after being detained in Greece, the results of him letting his girlfriend die while on a hiking trip. He tries to play it off as though he desperately attempted to help her, but the evidence is stacked against him and without his parents paying off the government officials, he’d still be in jail.
Juliana is constantly worried about her father catching her. One big aspect of this is his connection to black magick and it works well to keep a growing sense of dread. No matter the distance she puts between them, she knows he has the ability to find her.
When Patrick and Juliana go to Everest, things really ramp up another level and we get some wonderful environmental revenge/supernatural elements that leak in and show just how much doing wrong to someone can get you in deep water over your head.
Clark does a great job of keeping these two at polar opposites of who the readers will side with, while also having us desperately want things to work out very differently than you can expect it to happen.
The ending is a blast, it rips along and I really loved seeing the tides turn and the various elements get wrapped up.
What I didn’t like: I spend an awful lot of time on Twitter and interacting there. With that in mind, I found myself constantly pulled out of the realm of the story with the significant amount of characters named after people I interact with a lot. It made it hard to suspend some disbelief in parts because all I could picture was the real life person. I know some people don’t mind, but for me it was a tougher aspect to ignore throughout.
Secondly, I know Michael has discussed his usage of short chapters before, but this is a roughly 225 page book with 225 chapters. At times the shorter chapters worked to slow the pace in places it would’ve been great to have it ramp up.
Why you should buy this: This has a ton of elements that’ll have dark fiction fans happy. We get some great characters, tons of back story and ‘why’s’ over various actions and of course a ton of action involving the outdoors and mountains. Clark has really delivered a fun read, one that definitely does the cover art justice.
Really engaging read.
Michael Clark is the author of the The Patience of a Dead Man series, a trilogy of novels that own, all of them on my Kindle, but have yet managed to get to any of them. My good pal, George, has told me to read them close to a dozen times, but like many of you out there, my TBR is a mile high and I’m hoping to get to them shortly (like within a year or so… haha!).
‘Hell on High’ caught my interest (not from the fantastically ominous cover art) but from the climbing synopsis. As you’ll be aware, I’m a huge fan of wilderness based dark fiction. But I also love watching/reading non-fiction set in the wilderness. Extreme athlete documentaries and works such as ‘Into Thin Air’ by Jon Krakauer. There’s been a few horror novels I’ve read that deal with high-up mountain stuff, ‘Ararat’ by Christopher Golden and ‘The Mourner’s Cradle: A Widow’s Journey’ by Tommy B. Smith, so I was really intrigued with what Michael was going to do.
What I liked: The story follows two characters before their plots become interwoven. We have Juliana, who discovers the truth of her father and is whisked away to the US in the hopes of being safe and finding a way to get her sister out of South America as well, and Patrick, a douchebag, spoiled son of dentist’s. He himself is now also a dentist, but being a total dick, he likes to travel and spend money as though it grows on trees.
Their worlds intersect when Juliana, now having changed her name, meets Patrick in the US. Patrick has returned after being detained in Greece, the results of him letting his girlfriend die while on a hiking trip. He tries to play it off as though he desperately attempted to help her, but the evidence is stacked against him and without his parents paying off the government officials, he’d still be in jail.
Juliana is constantly worried about her father catching her. One big aspect of this is his connection to black magick and it works well to keep a growing sense of dread. No matter the distance she puts between them, she knows he has the ability to find her.
When Patrick and Juliana go to Everest, things really ramp up another level and we get some wonderful environmental revenge/supernatural elements that leak in and show just how much doing wrong to someone can get you in deep water over your head.
Clark does a great job of keeping these two at polar opposites of who the readers will side with, while also having us desperately want things to work out very differently than you can expect it to happen.
The ending is a blast, it rips along and I really loved seeing the tides turn and the various elements get wrapped up.
What I didn’t like: I spend an awful lot of time on Twitter and interacting there. With that in mind, I found myself constantly pulled out of the realm of the story with the significant amount of characters named after people I interact with a lot. It made it hard to suspend some disbelief in parts because all I could picture was the real life person. I know some people don’t mind, but for me it was a tougher aspect to ignore throughout.
Secondly, I know Michael has discussed his usage of short chapters before, but this is a roughly 225 page book with 225 chapters. At times the shorter chapters worked to slow the pace in places it would’ve been great to have it ramp up.
Why you should buy this: This has a ton of elements that’ll have dark fiction fans happy. We get some great characters, tons of back story and ‘why’s’ over various actions and of course a ton of action involving the outdoors and mountains. Clark has really delivered a fun read, one that definitely does the cover art justice.
Really engaging read.
March 9, 2023
A couple of years ago, author Michael Clark popped up as a suggestion on my Facebook feed for his first novel, Patience of a Dead Man. It not only covered all my favorite horror genre bases, but was the first of a trilogy. I've since read them all several times and highly recommend them. I've always been a huge horror fan and love adding new authors of the genre to my watchlist. I was really excited about Hell on High, and it didn't disappoint.
My favorite thing about Michael Clark's writing are his plots. They aren't retellings of the same old thing you've read a hundred times. They're fresh, new and interesting. This one really sucked me in and I couldn't seem to put it down. "One more chapter" takes on a new meaning here because they are very short. I expected that to make switching between characters messy, but it's done seamlessly and really helps build the tension. The ending was satisfying and tied everything together nicely.
It was a happy surprise to reenter the Patience of a Dead Man universe. It isn't necessary to read the trilogy, but those that have will enjoy it. This was a great read and I'm really looking forward to the next one.
A huge thank you to Michael Clark, Brigids Gate Press and NetGalley for this advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.
My favorite thing about Michael Clark's writing are his plots. They aren't retellings of the same old thing you've read a hundred times. They're fresh, new and interesting. This one really sucked me in and I couldn't seem to put it down. "One more chapter" takes on a new meaning here because they are very short. I expected that to make switching between characters messy, but it's done seamlessly and really helps build the tension. The ending was satisfying and tied everything together nicely.
It was a happy surprise to reenter the Patience of a Dead Man universe. It isn't necessary to read the trilogy, but those that have will enjoy it. This was a great read and I'm really looking forward to the next one.
A huge thank you to Michael Clark, Brigids Gate Press and NetGalley for this advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.
March 15, 2023
I wondered, when I began this book, if Michael Clark's initial idea was to write something completely opposite to his last project: a more confined story to something more vast, so I asked him.
He said he began with 'dead bodies on the mountain are creepy' and he just took it from there.
Fair enough... Good place to start...
For the most part, the short chapters worked well for me, but occasionally I did find it a little jarring for a chapter to end so soon. A page break would have been quite sufficient, but what is interesting is how such short chapters can make scenes feel strong when they really aren't. Sometimes there isn't much happening at all. It's a very clever technique. I quite like it.
Now, don't get me wrong here, as an overall experience there is plenty happening. This is an extremely well constructed story. Great care has been taken to build it to exactly the halfway point, and from there on it gets better and better.
Solid work and a cracking read.
Admirable.
An epic tale that zips along.
Five stars deserved.
He said he began with 'dead bodies on the mountain are creepy' and he just took it from there.
Fair enough... Good place to start...
For the most part, the short chapters worked well for me, but occasionally I did find it a little jarring for a chapter to end so soon. A page break would have been quite sufficient, but what is interesting is how such short chapters can make scenes feel strong when they really aren't. Sometimes there isn't much happening at all. It's a very clever technique. I quite like it.
Now, don't get me wrong here, as an overall experience there is plenty happening. This is an extremely well constructed story. Great care has been taken to build it to exactly the halfway point, and from there on it gets better and better.
Solid work and a cracking read.
Admirable.
An epic tale that zips along.
Five stars deserved.
June 8, 2024
This was a breathtaking (literally) adventure horror that never let up on the thrills. I enjoyed this one.
April 8, 2023
Michael Clark made a splash in the indie horror scene with his Patience of a Dead Man trilogy, amassing an army of ardent readers eagerly waiting for his next release. And here it is, Hell on High from Brigids Gate Press. Short, razor-sharp chapters set the pace of this globetrotting supernatural thriller, alternating between the story of a young woman escaping the evils of her father in Brazil, and a young dentist in Massachusetts with some skeletons in his closet. Complete with all the creeps, eerie atmosphere, pure scares, and unsettling moments readers expect from a Michael Clark book, but without simply playing the same notes. The King of Swag is here to stay.
February 12, 2023
Michael Clark takes you on a journey with Juliana and in part of that journey he also shows you the horror someone can go through when they leave their country for the journey to the US via
Starting out in Brazil:
Juliana is a 19-year-old high schooler, her father, unbeknownst to her is a very evil man also known as The Farmer by some that knew him. When Juliana invites a friend to spend the night, her friend accidently enters a wrong room in the house and notices beads that are known for a certain occult worship. When Juliana's stepmother tells her father, he gets worried it will be known to others, so they both decide to abduct Julianas friend and make her one of their prisoners.
Juliana figures it out just how evil her father is when her friend goes missing and she runs away in fear, leaving behind her beloved sister Vilma. After changing her name and with her grandmothers help, she leaves Brazil heading to the US in hopes to start a new life with one mission: to work and save money to get her sister Vilma.
Juliana ends up meeting Patrick who is not very liked by some because he is a spoiled rich kid whose parent bought his way out of trouble. As an experienced mountain climber Patrick teaches Juliana who was offered a lot of money by a rich friend of his family to create history, climb Mount Everest and have a picture taken with his flag. The amount of money would help get Vilma, so Juliana embarks on this dangerous journey.
What a read! Michael Clark is a new author for me, and I am excited to read more of his books. This book was so well written with no dry or slow areas, very smooth reading which was very entertaining to say the least!
Thank you Michael Clark and Brigids Gate Press for the ARC in return for my honest opinion.
Starting out in Brazil:
Juliana is a 19-year-old high schooler, her father, unbeknownst to her is a very evil man also known as The Farmer by some that knew him. When Juliana invites a friend to spend the night, her friend accidently enters a wrong room in the house and notices beads that are known for a certain occult worship. When Juliana's stepmother tells her father, he gets worried it will be known to others, so they both decide to abduct Julianas friend and make her one of their prisoners.
Juliana figures it out just how evil her father is when her friend goes missing and she runs away in fear, leaving behind her beloved sister Vilma. After changing her name and with her grandmothers help, she leaves Brazil heading to the US in hopes to start a new life with one mission: to work and save money to get her sister Vilma.
Juliana ends up meeting Patrick who is not very liked by some because he is a spoiled rich kid whose parent bought his way out of trouble. As an experienced mountain climber Patrick teaches Juliana who was offered a lot of money by a rich friend of his family to create history, climb Mount Everest and have a picture taken with his flag. The amount of money would help get Vilma, so Juliana embarks on this dangerous journey.
What a read! Michael Clark is a new author for me, and I am excited to read more of his books. This book was so well written with no dry or slow areas, very smooth reading which was very entertaining to say the least!
Thank you Michael Clark and Brigids Gate Press for the ARC in return for my honest opinion.
February 22, 2023
This novel was so full of unexpected twists that I had no idea where the journey was going until we got there.
The characters are rich and feel very real. Renata/Juliana is a driven woman who only wants to escape the evil life her father has created around them. She manages to escape, but she must then fight for her sister.
Black magic, mountain climbing, and fleeing a south American country. At first it may not seem connected, but by the end, it all makes perfect sense.
This story is very well crafted and thought out. It flows very well, and I had a hard time putting it down!
The characters are rich and feel very real. Renata/Juliana is a driven woman who only wants to escape the evil life her father has created around them. She manages to escape, but she must then fight for her sister.
Black magic, mountain climbing, and fleeing a south American country. At first it may not seem connected, but by the end, it all makes perfect sense.
This story is very well crafted and thought out. It flows very well, and I had a hard time putting it down!
February 20, 2023
Oh my goodness… this book left me speechless.
There were so many intense plots points, the story really captures your mind and heart. The Everest part had me holding my breathe at some moments.
The ending I absolutely did not expect and it was such a surprise. Like I said… I was shook.
Reading about Brazil and the culture of Macumba was so interesting, I had never heard of this spiritual/religious following before.
Honestly, if you get the chance, read this book ASAP!
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, & Brigids Gate Press for a copy.
There were so many intense plots points, the story really captures your mind and heart. The Everest part had me holding my breathe at some moments.
The ending I absolutely did not expect and it was such a surprise. Like I said… I was shook.
Reading about Brazil and the culture of Macumba was so interesting, I had never heard of this spiritual/religious following before.
Honestly, if you get the chance, read this book ASAP!
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, & Brigids Gate Press for a copy.
February 24, 2023
4.25 ☆ LOVED The Patience of a Dead Man Series so I was uber excited when the author gifted me with an ARC of this one.
Same great writing and loved the storyline. The parts on Everest just dragged a little too long at parts for my taste. Also- short but great ending.
Looking forward to reading more from Michael Clark.
Same great writing and loved the storyline. The parts on Everest just dragged a little too long at parts for my taste. Also- short but great ending.
Looking forward to reading more from Michael Clark.
March 5, 2023
After reading Michaels series Patience of a Dead Man, I knew I would want to read whatever he came up with next. And here it is! Hell on High was a fantastic story with a great plot, multi dimensional characters and multiple chilling settings. The pacing of the book was perfect, and really covered some original and thought provoking ideas 🙌.
—-
Juliana is on the run from a very dangerous man. Her father. Also know as The Farmer, Ze is in the business of trafficking human organs and when he realizes his daughter has found him out, he will do anything to keep his secret safe. As Juliana flees from Brazil to the United States, she knows she must try and get her sister, Vilma, away from her father and stepmother as soon as possible. But that will cost money. A lot of money. In order to pay, she gets a job as a housekeeper but soon realizes it will just take too long. An opportunity comes along after meeting an avid climber named Patrick, and even though it’s dangerous, she decides it’s her best option for saving her sister.
“𝘐𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘱𝘢𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘢𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘳𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘴𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘳, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘯𝘰 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘫𝘰𝘣; 𝘣𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦, 𝘢𝘴 𝘪𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭-𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘰𝘥𝘺 𝘧𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳-𝘣𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯.”
—-
Filled with black magic and more than one perilous journey, Hell on High is an adventure you will want to embark on yourself. Pack your bags because this one hits shelves March 9th !
—-
Juliana is on the run from a very dangerous man. Her father. Also know as The Farmer, Ze is in the business of trafficking human organs and when he realizes his daughter has found him out, he will do anything to keep his secret safe. As Juliana flees from Brazil to the United States, she knows she must try and get her sister, Vilma, away from her father and stepmother as soon as possible. But that will cost money. A lot of money. In order to pay, she gets a job as a housekeeper but soon realizes it will just take too long. An opportunity comes along after meeting an avid climber named Patrick, and even though it’s dangerous, she decides it’s her best option for saving her sister.
“𝘐𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘱𝘢𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘢𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘳𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘴𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘳, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘯𝘰 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘫𝘰𝘣; 𝘣𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦, 𝘢𝘴 𝘪𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘭𝘭-𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘰𝘥𝘺 𝘧𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳-𝘣𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯.”
—-
Filled with black magic and more than one perilous journey, Hell on High is an adventure you will want to embark on yourself. Pack your bags because this one hits shelves March 9th !
February 13, 2023
The story take time in 1970. I hope for ghost stories or mystical creature and meet Monster of Codó. The Monster believe in Magick, practice Black Magick and worship Exu. He also has abilty as a clairvoyant with that he know what happend next and make a move before get caught.
Juliana/Renata journey was awe me, 11 country to get better life to get away from her father. Jungle, wild animal, be hunted by her father minion, dessert, another trauma, oh Renata.. she is a fighter, i dont blame her to take revenge. Renata make a plan arrive in US, get a job, gather money to safe her young sister Vilma. Another event leading her meet Patrick and she find way to make more money. Climbing montain for sponsorship.
I really enjoy Renata journey, Patrick stuborn, Renata father determination, Vilma smart thinking, Aparecida petty nagging, Fernanda believe in her bestfriend.
Thank you to NetGalley for provide this book, it is pleasure to review this book.
#HellonHigh #MichaelClark #BrigidsGatePress #NetGalley #ARC
Juliana/Renata journey was awe me, 11 country to get better life to get away from her father. Jungle, wild animal, be hunted by her father minion, dessert, another trauma, oh Renata.. she is a fighter, i dont blame her to take revenge. Renata make a plan arrive in US, get a job, gather money to safe her young sister Vilma. Another event leading her meet Patrick and she find way to make more money. Climbing montain for sponsorship.
I really enjoy Renata journey, Patrick stuborn, Renata father determination, Vilma smart thinking, Aparecida petty nagging, Fernanda believe in her bestfriend.
Thank you to NetGalley for provide this book, it is pleasure to review this book.
#HellonHigh #MichaelClark #BrigidsGatePress #NetGalley #ARC
March 30, 2023
Adventure horror on Everest, Macumba black magick, Brazil, Massachusetts, and the house in Sanborn New Hampshire from The Patience Of A Deadman Trilogy all concocted together for a smooth, fast paced tale of terror.
The author, Michael Clark, did his research, let me tell you. As an avid hiker and climber, his homework was done prior to or while writing. I appreciated the true facts on Everest.
Fast-paced, short chapters, CREEPY, and I loved revisiting the house on Lancaster Hill Rd (from his Trilogy The Patience Of A Dead Man) 5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The author, Michael Clark, did his research, let me tell you. As an avid hiker and climber, his homework was done prior to or while writing. I appreciated the true facts on Everest.
Fast-paced, short chapters, CREEPY, and I loved revisiting the house on Lancaster Hill Rd (from his Trilogy The Patience Of A Dead Man) 5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
May 24, 2023
I was given a copy to review for a book tour. My reviews are always honest and all opinions are my own. #HellOnHigh #MichealClark #ZooLooBookTours #BookTourReview #Horror #BookReview #gifted #ad
Having not read Michael Clark before I was not sure what to expect from this one but from the blurb it sounded something that I would enjoy. Juliana is a nineteen-year-old Brazilian who ran from an occult overlord leaving her sister, Vilma, in peril. Seemingly safe she begins to work to save money to rescue her sister but along the way she meets Patrick, a spoilt rich-boy mountain climber but he has what she needs which is friends in high places. One of these is Angus Addison who wants to see his corporate flag on the summit of Mount Everest. He plans to have this done by the first woman in history but the Himalayas are not a forgiving place and it could easily cost Juliana and thus Vilma their lives. Juliana left with no choice if she wants to free Vilma from the man she ran from, known as the Farmer, decides to embark on this history making journey.
I have to say that I was interested in this one but I personally found the start a bit hard to get into. A lot seemed to happen and a lot of time was at the start of the book which made it a quick read but also left me wondering what was going on for some part. Based on the first half I was probably looking around three stars but towards the second half the horror and paranormal elements picked up and I became hooked and my rating quickly shot up to four and half stars rounded to five. That isn’t to say I disliked the first half. It just didn’t gel with me that well. The one thing that did keep going was Juliana who was a brilliant and complex protagonist. She faces a lot in her journey from Brazil to America and it was certainly both harrowing and inspiring to see what she overcome.
The rest of the characters are interesting in that they are, for the most part, morally grey or downright terrible – barring Vilma of course. Patrick, while arguably an antagonist was extremely unlikable but this wasn’t a bad thing. If anything it added to the story for me because I wanted to see him fail. So even the bad characters are great in the way Clark brings them to life. You cannot help but get invested in them and their struggles which to me is one of the makings of a great novel or story.
On top of this Clark’s writing is amazing for capturing the environment and all the emotions it can invoke. Especially when he describes and deals with the bleak and unforgiving environment of the Himalayas and Mount Everest. I did like the paranormal and occult aspects as well and would have enjoyed more in depth exploration of this. That said it worked well because it left you wanting more.
I think the best part for me though was the final chapters, not in a bad way or because the book was over, quite the opposite. It was, though, in my opinion a brilliant conclusion to Juliana and Vilma’s stories and tied up everything rather nicely as well. In all this one was one that surprised me in a good way from a start where I wasn’t sure I would enjoy this to an ending that left me wanting more.
Having not read Michael Clark before I was not sure what to expect from this one but from the blurb it sounded something that I would enjoy. Juliana is a nineteen-year-old Brazilian who ran from an occult overlord leaving her sister, Vilma, in peril. Seemingly safe she begins to work to save money to rescue her sister but along the way she meets Patrick, a spoilt rich-boy mountain climber but he has what she needs which is friends in high places. One of these is Angus Addison who wants to see his corporate flag on the summit of Mount Everest. He plans to have this done by the first woman in history but the Himalayas are not a forgiving place and it could easily cost Juliana and thus Vilma their lives. Juliana left with no choice if she wants to free Vilma from the man she ran from, known as the Farmer, decides to embark on this history making journey.
I have to say that I was interested in this one but I personally found the start a bit hard to get into. A lot seemed to happen and a lot of time was at the start of the book which made it a quick read but also left me wondering what was going on for some part. Based on the first half I was probably looking around three stars but towards the second half the horror and paranormal elements picked up and I became hooked and my rating quickly shot up to four and half stars rounded to five. That isn’t to say I disliked the first half. It just didn’t gel with me that well. The one thing that did keep going was Juliana who was a brilliant and complex protagonist. She faces a lot in her journey from Brazil to America and it was certainly both harrowing and inspiring to see what she overcome.
The rest of the characters are interesting in that they are, for the most part, morally grey or downright terrible – barring Vilma of course. Patrick, while arguably an antagonist was extremely unlikable but this wasn’t a bad thing. If anything it added to the story for me because I wanted to see him fail. So even the bad characters are great in the way Clark brings them to life. You cannot help but get invested in them and their struggles which to me is one of the makings of a great novel or story.
On top of this Clark’s writing is amazing for capturing the environment and all the emotions it can invoke. Especially when he describes and deals with the bleak and unforgiving environment of the Himalayas and Mount Everest. I did like the paranormal and occult aspects as well and would have enjoyed more in depth exploration of this. That said it worked well because it left you wanting more.
I think the best part for me though was the final chapters, not in a bad way or because the book was over, quite the opposite. It was, though, in my opinion a brilliant conclusion to Juliana and Vilma’s stories and tied up everything rather nicely as well. In all this one was one that surprised me in a good way from a start where I wasn’t sure I would enjoy this to an ending that left me wanting more.
May 23, 2023
Micheal Clark is an author that I have been waiting so impatiently for his next book after The Patience Of A Dead Man series. I loved that series. I was happier than you would imagine when I realised Hell On High was released.
This is another perfectly paced book. Micheal Clark has again created characters that are multi-layered and so realistic. The storyline and plot are fabulous. I'm so happy I never wanted to climb mountains or anything similar! This book definitely made sure I will never bother.
Alongside the mountain scenes that create such an atmospheric read, Michael Clark writes a story in which dark magic and the old gods of Brazil are interwoven so skilfully to make this a book one that I was compelled to read until I couldn't read anymore.
The main character is Julianna, a Brazilian girl who discovers family secrets that she wished she never knew. Her character development throughout the story is excellent. The author has yet again brought other characters that I love to hate, and that adds another layer to the book. This author always writes a story that grips me, and his characters are always well made.
This is definitely a book of short chapters. It just sucks you in, and before you know it, the lights are on, and it's past time for sleep. I was happy to be back in the Patience of a Dead Man world. It really gave Hell On High an edge for me. You don't have to have read the Patience Of A Dead Man, but if you have, like me, you are going to enjoy it.
A tense, atmospheric read with characters that are so well made. This is a book I would recommend so highly to anyone who enjoys a superbly woven horror.
Thanks to ZooLoo's Book Tours and Brigids Gate Press for the gifted ebook in exchange for an honest review.
This is another perfectly paced book. Micheal Clark has again created characters that are multi-layered and so realistic. The storyline and plot are fabulous. I'm so happy I never wanted to climb mountains or anything similar! This book definitely made sure I will never bother.
Alongside the mountain scenes that create such an atmospheric read, Michael Clark writes a story in which dark magic and the old gods of Brazil are interwoven so skilfully to make this a book one that I was compelled to read until I couldn't read anymore.
The main character is Julianna, a Brazilian girl who discovers family secrets that she wished she never knew. Her character development throughout the story is excellent. The author has yet again brought other characters that I love to hate, and that adds another layer to the book. This author always writes a story that grips me, and his characters are always well made.
This is definitely a book of short chapters. It just sucks you in, and before you know it, the lights are on, and it's past time for sleep. I was happy to be back in the Patience of a Dead Man world. It really gave Hell On High an edge for me. You don't have to have read the Patience Of A Dead Man, but if you have, like me, you are going to enjoy it.
A tense, atmospheric read with characters that are so well made. This is a book I would recommend so highly to anyone who enjoys a superbly woven horror.
Thanks to ZooLoo's Book Tours and Brigids Gate Press for the gifted ebook in exchange for an honest review.
May 26, 2023
Having just watched a wonderful film about the joys and absolute passion nature and the mountains can hold - I come to read this book! And if I can just say now, I can pretty much guarantee that I won't be climbing any more mountains any time soon!
This book is so well written and atmospheric that I can still feel the chills down my spine! Creepy and some!
Juliana has run from the overlord of an occult group, but left her sister in peril. Safe for a while but saving and planning, she has to fight to rescue Vilma at any cost.
The scene was perfect. The isolation of the mountains and the descriptive narrative really set us up nicely and puts us on edge.
Juliana is such a strong character that you can't help but be on her side and I found myself often holding my breath waiting for the events to pan out.
An excellent read that makes me want to check out other books by this author.
This book is so well written and atmospheric that I can still feel the chills down my spine! Creepy and some!
Juliana has run from the overlord of an occult group, but left her sister in peril. Safe for a while but saving and planning, she has to fight to rescue Vilma at any cost.
The scene was perfect. The isolation of the mountains and the descriptive narrative really set us up nicely and puts us on edge.
Juliana is such a strong character that you can't help but be on her side and I found myself often holding my breath waiting for the events to pan out.
An excellent read that makes me want to check out other books by this author.
September 12, 2023
At this point, we know what to expect from Michael Clark. Fast pacing. Fun characters. Monsters that, whether human or supernatural, will be brutal and relentless. Just like he did with the Patience of a Dead Man series, Clark knocks HoH out of the park.
The adventure horror novel represents a fun pivot away from the ghost story slasher, but Clark handles the pivot exceptionally well. Delivering a story that feels utterly unique, yet featuring everything we hope for when we break the spine on one of his books. Bundle up and make sure you acclimate properly. This climb is a doozy :)
The adventure horror novel represents a fun pivot away from the ghost story slasher, but Clark handles the pivot exceptionally well. Delivering a story that feels utterly unique, yet featuring everything we hope for when we break the spine on one of his books. Bundle up and make sure you acclimate properly. This climb is a doozy :)
December 19, 2023
Brilliant. The characters are spread across the planet, connected only by a thread of dark magic. Part horror, part adventure, with a deep emotional core. This one sucks you in and you'll be surprised how quickly 400+ just flies.
April 18, 2023
"Fernanda wanted to die, but Zé wouldn’t allow it, harvesting her at Aparecida’s behest, piece by piece, until her body would take no more. Finally, after almost a month of torture, she could no longer see. What will they do with my eyes? she wondered, not really wanting to know the answer."
Originally published at https://runningreader87.wordpress.com
The Story:
1970's Brazil. A madman, nicknamed The Farmer, is on the loose, abducting people and practicing Black Magick.
Juliana is a teenager growing up in Brazil during this time. When events transpire to make her realize The Farmer is closer to her than she ever dreamed, she must flee for the United States. Here she desperately works to save enough money to rescue her baby sister, Vilma, from this madman.
But work is tough, the pay is low and it's taking too long. Juliana fears for her sisters life. That's when fate intervenes and she learns of a special gift she has for mountain climbing. A gift that could bring sponsorships greatly speeding up the process of bringing Vilma to safety.
The only problem is, mountain climbing is as dangerous as it is difficult. Especially when her partner might be unstable as well.
My Thoughts:
I found myself captivated and drawn to the story.
At the time I had 3 books competing for my attention. This one won my sole attention outright.
I kept coming back to it and ultimately let it take over. The drive to know what was going to happen and where we would end up next led me to keep turning pages.
First off, Clark takes us on a round the world adventure. We start in Brazil and then head north through South America, Central America and into the United States. From here we travel from the northeast across the U.S. and eventually end up in the Himalayas!
Like I said, we go all over the world. But the crazy thing is, I never felt like I was rushed from one place to the next. I felt like Clark had a love, appreciation and understanding of each place. He wanted the reader to get a taste of the cultures and atmospheres in each country, and in doing so he shows great respect and reverence for all people.
Clark also created some splendid characters.
Juliana is a great protagonist. She has a compelling story. Her plight, while vastly different than anything I've ever experienced, is about overwhelming love, and who can't relate to that? You find yourself rooting for her in all she does.
The antagonist(s) are well crafted too.
Dr. Ze is a dark character, committing unspeakably heinous crimes. His will to do whatever he can to further his own cause makes him easy to root against.
Patrick, on the other hand, is very complex. (I'll keep this vague because I don't want to give spoilers.) There are times you are completely exacerbated with him. You want his to fail and fall. But then, a short while later, you find yourself wanting him to turn it all around. You want him to be the unlikely hero that helps Juliana unexpectedly. It's a battle between if he'll turn out to do what's right or what's wrong. In the end, you are satisfied. I feel like Clark created a special character here.
Conclusion:
From the depths of Brazil to the Boston suburbs, from the Alaskan mountains to the heights of Mt Everest, this book takes you around the world. Swiftly and keenly sharing his knowledge of Brazilian culture, Michael Clark brings a fast paced, globetrotting adventure.
The story, tone and pace of this book are exceptional.
I do think I would have liked it to be even longer. I would have like the ending to be drawn out a bit more-- to delve into what happened to our main antagonists with greater depth.
But overall, this desire was minimal. I felt like the book was refreshing and took turns that were completely unexpected. I had no idea what was going to happen and where we would end up next. It had elements of supernatural and religious horror. It also had the vibe of a slasher at times, and even a bit of a ghost story.
I loved it. If someone was looking for a unique horror read, I would have no hesitation recommending Hell on High!
Originally published at https://runningreader87.wordpress.com
The Story:
1970's Brazil. A madman, nicknamed The Farmer, is on the loose, abducting people and practicing Black Magick.
Juliana is a teenager growing up in Brazil during this time. When events transpire to make her realize The Farmer is closer to her than she ever dreamed, she must flee for the United States. Here she desperately works to save enough money to rescue her baby sister, Vilma, from this madman.
But work is tough, the pay is low and it's taking too long. Juliana fears for her sisters life. That's when fate intervenes and she learns of a special gift she has for mountain climbing. A gift that could bring sponsorships greatly speeding up the process of bringing Vilma to safety.
The only problem is, mountain climbing is as dangerous as it is difficult. Especially when her partner might be unstable as well.
My Thoughts:
I found myself captivated and drawn to the story.
At the time I had 3 books competing for my attention. This one won my sole attention outright.
I kept coming back to it and ultimately let it take over. The drive to know what was going to happen and where we would end up next led me to keep turning pages.
First off, Clark takes us on a round the world adventure. We start in Brazil and then head north through South America, Central America and into the United States. From here we travel from the northeast across the U.S. and eventually end up in the Himalayas!
Like I said, we go all over the world. But the crazy thing is, I never felt like I was rushed from one place to the next. I felt like Clark had a love, appreciation and understanding of each place. He wanted the reader to get a taste of the cultures and atmospheres in each country, and in doing so he shows great respect and reverence for all people.
Clark also created some splendid characters.
Juliana is a great protagonist. She has a compelling story. Her plight, while vastly different than anything I've ever experienced, is about overwhelming love, and who can't relate to that? You find yourself rooting for her in all she does.
The antagonist(s) are well crafted too.
Dr. Ze is a dark character, committing unspeakably heinous crimes. His will to do whatever he can to further his own cause makes him easy to root against.
Patrick, on the other hand, is very complex. (I'll keep this vague because I don't want to give spoilers.) There are times you are completely exacerbated with him. You want his to fail and fall. But then, a short while later, you find yourself wanting him to turn it all around. You want him to be the unlikely hero that helps Juliana unexpectedly. It's a battle between if he'll turn out to do what's right or what's wrong. In the end, you are satisfied. I feel like Clark created a special character here.
Conclusion:
From the depths of Brazil to the Boston suburbs, from the Alaskan mountains to the heights of Mt Everest, this book takes you around the world. Swiftly and keenly sharing his knowledge of Brazilian culture, Michael Clark brings a fast paced, globetrotting adventure.
The story, tone and pace of this book are exceptional.
I do think I would have liked it to be even longer. I would have like the ending to be drawn out a bit more-- to delve into what happened to our main antagonists with greater depth.
But overall, this desire was minimal. I felt like the book was refreshing and took turns that were completely unexpected. I had no idea what was going to happen and where we would end up next. It had elements of supernatural and religious horror. It also had the vibe of a slasher at times, and even a bit of a ghost story.
I loved it. If someone was looking for a unique horror read, I would have no hesitation recommending Hell on High!
April 19, 2023
Overall I enjoyed this book, but did have issues with the pacing.
The beginning of the novel starts out well and was really intriguing. When the plot reaches the journey to Mt. Everest, however, I found the pacing slowed down and found it wasn't really holding my interest. By about the 85% mark, I was wondering how the author would wrap everything up. The last 10% of the story made up for the previous slow pacing though and is where the supernatural horror aspect of the novel really picks up. I would have loved to see more of this throughout the story because it was well done and made for excellent ending.
I will definitely try out more from this author.
The beginning of the novel starts out well and was really intriguing. When the plot reaches the journey to Mt. Everest, however, I found the pacing slowed down and found it wasn't really holding my interest. By about the 85% mark, I was wondering how the author would wrap everything up. The last 10% of the story made up for the previous slow pacing though and is where the supernatural horror aspect of the novel really picks up. I would have loved to see more of this throughout the story because it was well done and made for excellent ending.
I will definitely try out more from this author.
February 23, 2023
Wow….just finished this black magic tale in one sitting-I couldn’t put it down. From the start in Brazil to the US to Mt Everest…the journey was long and rich with vibrant characters! At first starting out there are two journeys, one a man starting a downward spiral and another a fierce young woman fleeing everything she knows to escape the evil surrounding her. Juliana/Renata is such an amazingly complex character, she goes through so many emotions throughout her journey & her emotions are felt by the reader most definitely! The environments shown in this novel are so well fleshed out, you feel the biting cold from the mountains! Loved this story, the characters, and the ending! It’s a must read for any horror fan!
April 9, 2023
Characters - 7
In this story we meet many characters as we move through the years. Juliana is the main character of this story. As we move through this novel we also see other perspectives which I enjoyed because these people were very different from Julia, which added a different tone and feel to the story. Clark does a great job of creating characters that I hated and also really enjoyed following. I really enjoy it when an author creates characters that I love and characters that I hate.
Atmosphere - 8
This dark and very tense story explores many hard themes such as murder, rape, human trafficking, mutilation and so much more so please beware when going into this story. As we move through the story the tension continues to ramp up as storylines converge.
Writing - 7
Michael’s writing is effortless to get into. It flows really well and I always enjoy his writing. I have read from Michael Clark before and have always found his writing to be very easily accessible and very absorbing.
Plot - 7
The plot was very interesting. I have never read a book about mountain climbing so it was very interesting to learn everything about climbing and the effort and training that goes into something like a high-altitude climb. I also enjoyed the other side of the plot following Juliana’s father and his journey.
Intrigue - 6
I was intrigued when I read the synopsis even though this book isn’t something I normally read mainly the historical fiction element. I did find one plotline a little more interesting but I was still intrigued to see what happened to all the characters we were following.
Logic - 6
Some of the decisions made in this book didn’t make a lot of sense to me but to the characters, it made perfect sense to them. There wasn’t anything too crazy weird or out there in this story so the book made a lot of sense.
Enjoyment - 6
I had a good time reading this book. I enjoyed the horror elements in this story although many of the scenes are gruesome as hell.
In this story we meet many characters as we move through the years. Juliana is the main character of this story. As we move through this novel we also see other perspectives which I enjoyed because these people were very different from Julia, which added a different tone and feel to the story. Clark does a great job of creating characters that I hated and also really enjoyed following. I really enjoy it when an author creates characters that I love and characters that I hate.
Atmosphere - 8
This dark and very tense story explores many hard themes such as murder, rape, human trafficking, mutilation and so much more so please beware when going into this story. As we move through the story the tension continues to ramp up as storylines converge.
Writing - 7
Michael’s writing is effortless to get into. It flows really well and I always enjoy his writing. I have read from Michael Clark before and have always found his writing to be very easily accessible and very absorbing.
Plot - 7
The plot was very interesting. I have never read a book about mountain climbing so it was very interesting to learn everything about climbing and the effort and training that goes into something like a high-altitude climb. I also enjoyed the other side of the plot following Juliana’s father and his journey.
Intrigue - 6
I was intrigued when I read the synopsis even though this book isn’t something I normally read mainly the historical fiction element. I did find one plotline a little more interesting but I was still intrigued to see what happened to all the characters we were following.
Logic - 6
Some of the decisions made in this book didn’t make a lot of sense to me but to the characters, it made perfect sense to them. There wasn’t anything too crazy weird or out there in this story so the book made a lot of sense.
Enjoyment - 6
I had a good time reading this book. I enjoyed the horror elements in this story although many of the scenes are gruesome as hell.
July 19, 2023
I need to go read the author's previously published trilogy asap. I've been missing out. Hell On High is epic and terrifying in ways that most author's only strive for. Everest, human trafficking and all it's related evils, some jaunts through my home state of Massachusetts, and some good old fashioned vengeance, made this a great read for me.
I really loved the scenes on Mt. Everest, as the place is a famous graveyard in it's own right and has a literal Death Zone. It's not a climb to be treated lightly and when Patrick and Renatta agree to summit it, I was worried for Renatta. She only just started out climbing with Patrick ( a super douche of a man), and watching the dollar signs light up in the elder men's eyes at the thought of sponsoring the first woman to summit Everest was just sickening. Seriously, the men in this book deserve everything coming to them, and then some.
The book is an epic adventure and touches on topics that resonate in today's world. I recommend it to any one who likes eerie horror tales with lots of real world danger involved.
I really loved the scenes on Mt. Everest, as the place is a famous graveyard in it's own right and has a literal Death Zone. It's not a climb to be treated lightly and when Patrick and Renatta agree to summit it, I was worried for Renatta. She only just started out climbing with Patrick ( a super douche of a man), and watching the dollar signs light up in the elder men's eyes at the thought of sponsoring the first woman to summit Everest was just sickening. Seriously, the men in this book deserve everything coming to them, and then some.
The book is an epic adventure and touches on topics that resonate in today's world. I recommend it to any one who likes eerie horror tales with lots of real world danger involved.
March 5, 2023
After reading “The Patience of a Dead Man” trilogy (which I absolutely loved) I had really high expectations for this book and was in for a good scare.
Unfortunately, I was a bit disappointed. This book went absolutely in the opposite direction of horror. It was intriguing but I missed the feeling of looking constantly over my shoulder.
Still, I found it an interesting read. I loved to be a part of Juliana´s journey and the last bit of the book really gave me the chills.
I give this book 4 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. This is an honest review, and all opinions are entirely mine.
Unfortunately, I was a bit disappointed. This book went absolutely in the opposite direction of horror. It was intriguing but I missed the feeling of looking constantly over my shoulder.
Still, I found it an interesting read. I loved to be a part of Juliana´s journey and the last bit of the book really gave me the chills.
I give this book 4 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. This is an honest review, and all opinions are entirely mine.
March 24, 2023
I was introduced to Michael Clark's first book The Patience of a Dead Man which is a trilogy by my sister in law who knows Michael personally. I couldn't put any of those three down so when I herd he was writing Hell on High I was extremely excited for him to finish and publish it so I could read. He yet again didn't disappoint. Michael has a very vivid imagination and an amazing writing style, his writing keeps you wanting more and makes it to where you don't want to put the book down.
I highly recommend this book and if you haven't read his The Patience of a Dead Man trilogy, I highly recommend that as well.
I highly recommend this book and if you haven't read his The Patience of a Dead Man trilogy, I highly recommend that as well.
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