Lucas

by Alan Meredith

Hallucinations where I am tortured to death or Emmerdale? Tough call. Ever feel that your life is so empty that all there
is left to do is drink? Life for Lucas hasn't changed since he was 20, battling an addiction which consumes him and anyone close. Can Lucas break the cycle or is he cursed to have his life stuck on repeat?

Unlike my previous two books this is adult fiction with mature themes, sexual references, graphic violence and swearing (even the 'c' bomb). If you have bought Shimmer or Midas for your younger kids, please don't just buy this one and put it in their Xmas stockings. Beware!

154 pages, Paperback

Published December 2, 2022

About the author

Hi! I’m Alan Meredith, CFA Spooky Shorts Winner 2024! I like to write books where you are never quite sure whether the events of the story are actually happening, or whether they are the main character’s delusion. Mark Twain did say, “Write what you know.” Shimmer, Midas and my latest book Valhalla, fall into this self-styled genre I’m titling ‘Delusional Fantasy’. Sometimes I slip into my first love, Horror. Lucas, Father’s Day and Self Defence all fall into this well-established genre. For those who want to know more you can find me on Facebook & Good Reads.

Reviews

[Graeme Cumming · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like the blurb, this novella is both witty and dark. And it pulls you in on the first page and, in my case at least, kept dragging me back at every opportunity. As someone who reads mainly at bedtime, it can often take me several days - or even weeks - to finish a book. I dipped into Lucas early on a Saturday morning and read the last page by teatime.

So what can I tell you about this book? The main thing really is to go in with no expectations - other than the afore-mentioned witty and dark. Mainly the dark, though, because even the humour has a dark edge to it. If you're looking for a fairy story, or a rom-com, you will need to look elsewhere. But if you like the kind of story that plays with you, leading you in one direction and then revealing it meant something else, you'll love this. It'll help if you're comfortable with a bit of horror and gore as well.

I'm always impressed when I find a writer who can tell a story concisely. To find one who can do that, but also manage to leave you feeling as if you've experienced a character's whole life story takes things to an even higher level for me.

As a reader looking for a new author, it's always good to see a comment like, 'for fans of...', on the cover. If I was asked to quote on the cover of this, I honestly don't know who I could insert into the blank space. There really isn't anyone I can think of to compare him to. But, if you're willing to take a bit a gamble - it's only a novella, so how much of a gamble is it? - I'd strongly recommend giving Lucas a go. You won't be disappointed.

[Alan Meredith · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Urban fantasy is not my usual genre, but I found that once I started reading Lucas I could not stop. Engaging and fast paced, I found myself routing for the monster of lead character as he tries to overcome his addiction, leaving a trail of death and destruction in his wake.”
Dan Mercer
“I couldn't help falling in love with the characters, a bitter sweet book with a lot of laughs. I particularly loved the trans character. Beautifully written!”
Fliss Hobbs
“I loved this story! Only intended to spend some time looking through while having a coffee break. Ended up reading it from start to end for the rest of the day. The author had a wonderful way of making me truly care about the nasty lead character. Very unusual genre for me to read, but it was very well written and very readable.”
Anne-Marie Coles
“Overall a unique, gritty and addictive page turner filled with laughter, sadness, gore and much more with a bitter sweet ending you won’t see coming!!”
Bookworm86
“This is a must read!! It's one of those books where you definitely don't expect to feel sorry for the main character at the end (and whom you hated at first). I even shed a few tears.”
Jelena Havelkova

[Patrice Gotting - #prdgreads · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Thoughts: do not let the calming front cover fool you (although this will make sense at the end) what’s contained in these pages is, brutal and dark at times.

This is classed as Horror and Urban fantasy and it was absolutely fantastic. It had me laughing at Luke’s really dry humour and the fact that he just tells it as it is, but I suppose when you’re trying and sometimes failing to against your nature than you have to find the joy and the laughs where you can even if it’s at other people’s expense.

This is a fairly short book which meant the story took off straight away and never really tailed off or slowed down.

Luke is the kind of character that you should hate, he’s the ‘bad guy’ after all, but how can you when he redeems himself so cleverly and more than once in the story you’re praising him for the havoc he caused!

Im not ashamed to admit that this book had me shedding a tear too, and for an author to have me feeling 2 different emotions at opposite ends of the scale within 154 pages is a skill in itself.

Brilliant book that I would definitely recommend to fans of the horror/urban fantasy genre!

[Guy Gardner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn't know what to expect with this story and maybe if I had known what it was about might not have given it a go. I am so glad I did. Alan combines really funny scenes with heart breakingly sad ones, and pulls all of this off with a story that is fast paced and slickly told. He never wastes a word. He has pulled off an amazing feat. Lucas is a poignant and funny character trying his best to battle addiction, so even though he is a vampire long departed from the world of the living, we feel for him every step of the way. I cannot recommend it highly enough.