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The Hand of the Archer
William Runner, a wildlife biologist and national park ranger in Aberdeen, Colorado, uses endurance sports to combat his inner demons.
At the urging of a psychiatrist and family friend, Will embarks on a psychedelic therapy session involving 5-MeO-DMT, toad venom. After his psychedelic journey goes horribly wrong, Will experiences a series of increasingly disturbing flashbacks and nightmares, finally setting out alone into the Uncompahgre National Forest to deal with the frightened, confused, and violent entity he brought back with him.
Can Will find what’s haunting his visions out in the wilderness of Colorado...or will it find him first?
At the urging of a psychiatrist and family friend, Will embarks on a psychedelic therapy session involving 5-MeO-DMT, toad venom. After his psychedelic journey goes horribly wrong, Will experiences a series of increasingly disturbing flashbacks and nightmares, finally setting out alone into the Uncompahgre National Forest to deal with the frightened, confused, and violent entity he brought back with him.
Can Will find what’s haunting his visions out in the wilderness of Colorado...or will it find him first?
383 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 25, 2023
3 people are currently reading
40 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
September 22, 2023
This novel explores psychedelics in a horrifying manner and is a thrilling read from beginning to end.
After a "trip" from a psychedelic goes wrong for our protagonist, he begins to experience strange unnatural events. As a game and wildlife ranger, he's seen things in the woods. But nothing will prepare him for the things he's about to encounter. During the interrupted trip something was unleashed into our world. Taking over the bodies of animals, it begins to go on a bloody killing spree in an attempt to go back to its realm.
But our protagonist is connected to it. He can see through its eyes and starts to believe he is somehow responsible for these gruesome deaths. And then, it's coming for him!
I truly enjoyed this book and the characters in it. From the doctor who prescribed the psychedelic trip to our protagonists ailing father, to his best friend and co-worker, they are all a part of this story, pieces of the terrifying puzzle if you will. And not all of them will survive this journey.
This book gets bloody and gory and the brutality of the kills are on full display but it's also about a man's journey for redemption and finding happiness while the situation spirals out of control. I highly recommend it!
I want to thank the author for sending me a copy. This review is voluntary and is my own personal opinion.
After a "trip" from a psychedelic goes wrong for our protagonist, he begins to experience strange unnatural events. As a game and wildlife ranger, he's seen things in the woods. But nothing will prepare him for the things he's about to encounter. During the interrupted trip something was unleashed into our world. Taking over the bodies of animals, it begins to go on a bloody killing spree in an attempt to go back to its realm.
But our protagonist is connected to it. He can see through its eyes and starts to believe he is somehow responsible for these gruesome deaths. And then, it's coming for him!
I truly enjoyed this book and the characters in it. From the doctor who prescribed the psychedelic trip to our protagonists ailing father, to his best friend and co-worker, they are all a part of this story, pieces of the terrifying puzzle if you will. And not all of them will survive this journey.
This book gets bloody and gory and the brutality of the kills are on full display but it's also about a man's journey for redemption and finding happiness while the situation spirals out of control. I highly recommend it!
I want to thank the author for sending me a copy. This review is voluntary and is my own personal opinion.
April 25, 2023
Hand of the Archer by Kurt Phillips is a chilling journey through one's internal struggle with the world around them. Austin Texas' own author Kurt Phillips crafts a wonderfully thrilling story with a unique and interesting supernatural threat that only makes you want to keep reading. By the time the story comes to an end, the open space for theorizing and thinking on the ending finds just the right balance between being open while still not being convoluted. Kurt's story both made me gasp in shock and laugh far louder than I'd like to admit. The entire book is so perfectly paced that by the end, I hadn't realized how much time had passed. Personally, Im a slow reader, but I finished this in about two days. It's obvious how much passion was put into this book with how well structured and well paced the overall story and plot is, as each thread is clear and easy to follow. At no point was I lost or confused while still having questions that didn't have obvious answers. Each of the characters feel real and are clearly grounded in their world. There's no way for anyone to not be bought in and completely invested by the end. The Hand of the Archer is perfect for book clubs that enjoy discussing and debating events of a story, people who love intense thrillers, and those looking for a new unique experience in this near ancient genre.
May 20, 2023
Bloody, gory, disturbing... fantastic! The suspense had me almost skipping paragraphs. Loved the exploration of the supernatural, psychedelics, and therapy. Highly recommend this page turning thriller!
April 26, 2023
Really great visuals! Wonderfully captured the atmosphere of a supernatural thriller! 10/10 would recommend!
August 7, 2023
The Hand of the Archer drew me in quickly, then kept me there; fast-paced, often disturbing, and uniquely fascinating. It was a great read, and it’s implications will linger for a long while.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews