Reversion: The Inevitable Horror

The Portal Arcane Series #1

by J. Thorn

With a noose around his neck, Samuel arrives in a forest littered with caution tape and artifacts of the deceased. He struggles to regain his memory while fending off a pack of wolves and the mysterious visitors who seem to know more about this dying world than he does. Major, Kole, and Mara, new companions also trapped in the strange locality, realize they must outrun the ominous cloud eating away at reality. As their world collapses upon itself, Samuel must find a way to escape the Reversion.

Genres: Horror, Fantasy, Thriller, Fiction, Ebooks, Amazon, Science Fiction

196 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2012

About the author

Want a story that’s rooted in a fundamental aspect of being human?

I believe reading dark fiction can be healing. My overriding mission is to connect with you through my art, and I hope to inspire you to do the same. I’m a word architect and driven visionary. I’m obsessed with heavy metal, horror films and technology. And I admire strong people who are not afraid to speak their mind.

I grew up in an Irish Catholic, working class family and was the first to go to college. I didn’t have expensive toys, so I used my own imagination for entertainment. And then I abused alcohol for entertainment. I spent the first thirty years of my life convincing myself I wasn’t an addict and the last ten worrying about all the potential threats the substances hid from me.

Anxiety and depression are always hiding in the corner, waiting to jump me when I start to feel happiness.

I had to break through family programming and accept the role of the black sheep. In my 30s I started writing horror and formed a heavy metal band while my family rolled their eyes, sighed and waited for the “phase” to end.

I spent years paralyzing myself with self-loathing and criticism, keeping my creativity smothered and hidden from the rest of the world. I worked a job I hated because that’s what Irish Catholic fathers do. They don’t express themselves, they pay the damn mortgage. I may have left my guilt and faith behind long ago, but the scars remain.

My creativity is my release, my therapy and my place to work through it all. I haven’t had a drink in a long time, but the anxiety and depression are always lurking. Writing novels and songs keeps it at bay. I scream over anxiety with my microphone and I turn my guitar up loud enough to drown out the whispers of self-doubt.

I hope to leave a legacy of art that will continue to entertain and enrich lives long after I’m gone. I want others to see that you don’t have to conform to the mainstream to be fulfilled.

Don’t be afraid of the dark. Embrace it.

Experience:
By the end of 2014, J. Thorn will have published over one million words and sold over 100,000 ebooks, worldwide.

J. Thorn is a Top 100 Most Popular Author in Horror, Science Fiction, and Fantasy (Amazon Author Rank). In March of 2014 Thorn held the #5 position in Horror with his childhood idols Dean Koontz and Stephen King at #4 and #2 respectively. He is an official, active member of the Horror Writers Association and a member of the Great Lakes Association of Horror Writers. J. is a contributor to disinformation.com and a staff writer for HeavyPlanet.net as well as a founding board member of the Author Marketing Institute.

Thorn earned a B.A. in American History from the University of Pittsburgh and a M.A. from Duquesne University. He has spent the last twenty years researching mysticism and the occult in colonial American history.

Reviews

[Katy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review Repost: to fix some errors, and let folks know I'm holding a giveaway for this book on my blog from 4/29 through 5/7, 2013, which you can enter by clicking this link. I've also embedded some music into the post, so you can listen while you read! Go!

Book Info: Genre: Dark Fantasy
Reading Level: Adult
Recommended for: Fans of Stephen King, especially his more esoteric stuff

My Thoughts: Imagine an infinite number of realities, all vibrating at different speeds. Some are steady. Some are picking up speed. Some are slowing down. Some... are about to stop. Samuel has apparently stepped from one reality into another – this movement between realities seems to happen just prior to the point of death.

In some ways, this story reminds me of Stephen King’s short story “The Langoliers”: mainly the creeping cloud o’ doom that leaves... nothingness in its wake. There is also a sense of recursiveness - especially toward the end - that reminded me of the Dark Tower series. So, basically what I’m saying is that this book reminded me a lot of Stephen King. It’s all about the journey, about the creeping horror of individual moments, the long wait, the brief moments of terror, and then more waiting. It was... a fascinating read, and I will definitely be interested in following this series. If this sounds like something that would appeal to you, don’t wait – go and pick it up.

Disclosure: I received a free advance copy of this ebook from the author. He specifically absolved me of any responsibility for a review, but I am happy to provide an honest one anyway. In February 2013 I edited the book for re-release. All opinions are my own.

Synopsis (from the flap): With a noose around his neck, Samuel arrives in a forest littered with caution tape and artifacts of the deceased. He struggles to regain his memory while fending off a pack of wolves and the mysterious visitors who seem to know more about this dying world than he does. Major, Kole, and Mara, his new companions also trapped in the strange locality, accompany Samuel and attempt to outrace its destruction, to outrun the Reversion.

[Julie Powell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given the trilogy and found book one to be a fascinating read. I don't think it had all the answers but was certainly thought-provoking and honed in on the human condition.

In some ways, it reminded me of Stephen King's gunslinger series and those worlds of the dark tower - the eerie feel of the place and how the characters fell into such strange surroundings. Intriguing characters, too.

Well-written and fast-paced. Perhaps the rest of the story will bring further explanations.

Recommended.

[KyBunnies · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally posted at Bunny's Review


If I had a nickel for every book I have ever read I would be rich, instead I am rich in literature and personally think that is worth more than any amount of money. Starting this book I felt an immediate connection from another famous author I greatly admire. Keep reading because I will not state who until the end.

This is not your average horror, fantasy but more of a dark fantasy. Granted I am not big on fantasy unless it is by one specific author. I will only read his work but this book really pulled me it. I enjoyed being able to find an author that write a genre that I would normally turn up my nose at instead of even trying to read. To say I stepped out of my comfort zone with this one would not be a lie.

After I finished this book I reflected because it really made me think. See Samuel has died and is in a world that is nothing but a waste land. A waste land that is slowly dissolving away and he needs to find a way to either stop this from happening or slide into a different world. As always there are obstacles in the way. Obstacles that do not want him slide to another world, obstacles that want to eat him.

While Samuel is running he encounters a few other people. During this time he does not realize how these people might help him. Until the end Samuel is clueless about these people and how he might of played a part in their life. When reflecting back Samuel is consumed with guilt.

Honestly if a person really reads this book it will leave the reader looking back at their own life wondering if we have made any type of impact on others. Did we say the wrong thing to someone and they end up hurting themselves? Did we forget to tell someone something important and that person leave our life?

Reading this book will leave readers questions parts of your life.

If you enjoyed The Dark Tower series or The Stand by Stephen King then I highly suggest this book.

The bunnies and I give this book carrots.

I purchased this book at Amazon 2014.

[No-Genre-Unread · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was not a feel-good type of book. It was dark, it was depressing, and it was very bleak. You get taken on a journey through this dreary, rundown Purgatory type of realm with a group of deceased who are all kind of assholes. Well, except for Mara. She was okay. I don’t know why she was there. While on Earth, she didn’t seem to have lead an indecent life full of mistakes and regrets, like the other three, and she didn’t commit suicide. She was killed in a car accident. Although Samuel had ended up there because he had committed suicide, he wasn’t really that awful of a person while alive either. He’d just made a lot of wrongful decisions. Kole and Major were just plain bad. It’s a wonder why they didn’t end up in a Hell realm.
Bleakness aside, I couldn’t help love the weirdness of it all. I loved the aspect of a dying world not just going dark and losing the life that dwelled on it, but also losing the smells and sounds of its surroundings and how the tastes of whatever consumable foods that were hanging around would fade while being eaten. The way that, whenever Samuel started fires on this dying world, their flames were tinted sickly green and were barely warm. Cool, unique and imaginative world building.
I loved the Purgatory feel of this realm. The barely lit sky and the long stretches of baron landscape. The silent forests that were devoid of wildlife, except for the pack of demonic wolves. The sparsely furnished, dusty old cabins that were all alike. And how the foods available were mediocre things like cold canned sour krout and packs of processed cheese and crackers. So Purgatory. Not an afterlife of fire and brimstone and Eternal suffering, but still definitely not a place one would want to be stuck in after dying.—Even if this realm wasn’t on borrowed time.
I like the whole thing with the “reflections” as Major called them. Items of sentimental value from Samuel’s life that appear out of nowhere and help him get some of his memory back, but then they disappear. For me, it added to the depressing feeling of being in this place. It was sad when the picture on the cabin wall of Samuel and his wife, which was taken during happier times, had faded to being a blank, black square. And when a treasured pocket knife he had gotten from his dad during a special moment in childhood had came back to him, only to disappear too. It also sucked that Samuel couldn’t get any answers to what had ever became of his wife and where had she ended up.
I did not find this story confusing. All worlds die and go through a reversion—both those of the living and non physical. As they die, they get swallowed in by dark nothingness. However, all worlds become reborn again, and the cycle continues like a cosmic pulse. Samuel, Major, Kole, and—I guess even Mara—had all lived unsavory lives and ended up in a purgatory realm but this realm was going through a reversion. Although they weren’t the happiest bunch, they’d rather hang onto their lives as broken souls than get sucked into the nothingness. Their realm of Earth as they knew it had already undergone the reversion. So they have to work together and figure out how to open the right portal and escape to a realm that isn’t under threat. Samuel and his funky little talisman have the power to help them make this escape. Or rather, Samuel and one other character. Two among the group perished while the four of them were trying to escape the demonic wolves and a crowd of zombies called the undead. While all this is going down, Samuel and Mara have flashbacks about things that had happened in their lives and when they’d crossed paths on Earth. To add to the complexity, this story has a Sliders aspect, where they could teleport into an Earth realm, but it would be a different Earth than the one they had lived in.
There were quite a bit of loose ends. But I assume the missing pieces come together in the other books? Such as—How come Samuel got amnesia when he’d entered Purgatory, yet Major remembered his Earthly life pretty clearly? I thought Samuel’s suicide had something to do with his amnesia, at first, but Major had hung himself too. In one part of the story, it’s explained that many on Earth had committed suicide by hanging when their world went through the reversion, with Samuel being among them. Then later on, you find out Samuel’s suicide was due to a different reason. Maybe this is one of the reasons some reviewers found this story confusing? What were the significance of the wolves and the zombies in the dying purgatory? Were they a part of the cloud of dark nothingness that was slowly consuming everything? Did they come from the cloud, like reversional henchmen who were out to help it consume? And what was the point of Kole being among the group? Even Samuel couldn’t figure that one out. Also, once again, why was Mara really there? Aside from the fact that she, Samuel, and Major were—it seemed—spiritually related somehow and very important to this Dava entity who was in charge of the reversion and re-creation process. Either Samuel or Major would sometime take Dava’s place—But why them??? Neither of those guys seem even the least bit fit for taking charge of such a godly position! Or am I confused too? This is one of those way-out-there types of books that should be read two or more times to really, really get it.
One thing that I do not understand is the aspect of dying twice. I’ve seen this in other fantasy stories, and it’s just weird and doesn’t make sense. Somebody dies and goes to an afterlife realm where they—as a soul—could die too. Seriously? What? Like death is a nesting doll of multiple layers? The characters in this story who’d died after they’d died had even bled and suffered with pain, just like physical living people. Further to my frustration, neither in this book, nor in the other books with this aspect, is there any explanation to how or why someone could die after they had already died. And if a person’s soul goes to a spirit realm after the person dies, where does a soul’s soul go after they die again?
Despite the loose ends and what a mind bender this book is, it’s a very cool and unique story. However, it’s an acquired taste, and I wouldn’t recommend it for every fantasy reader. Like I’d said, it’s bleak and depressing. None of the characters are likable enough to where I was rooting for any of them. Especially not Kole and Major, who were total dickheads. If you’re looking for a light and easy read that is not only as uplifting as it is entertaining, but also has a happy ending, this book is at the opposite end of the spectrum. But if you’re into all things odd and way-out-there and dark, taking a plunge into this purgatory adventure might be an unforgettable trip.

[Michael Brookes · Rating 4 out of 5]

I almost didn't finish this book and that would have been a shame, the intro put me off a bit as it feels like a different story that the book evolved into. The set up is good, but the wolf pack attack seemed a bit cliched. Thankfully it developed quite quickly and I stuck with it and it became a lot more interesting.

The book is well written, and despite the bumpy start kept me reading. The pacing is a little slow, but that doesn't really harm the story. It's quite a contemplative book that hints at the purpose of the situation that characters find themselves in.

What I liked most is the mystery of what is going on, I would have liked to have learned more about the set up though. I did look for the next book in the series, unfortunately it's not out yet. I'll be keeping my eyes open for it though.

[Julie Powell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given the trilogy and found book one to be a fascinating read. I don't think it had all the answers but was certainly thought-provoking and honed in on the human condition.

In some ways, it reminded me of Stephen King's gunslinger series and those worlds of the dark tower - the eerie feel of the place and how the characters fell into such strange surroundings. Intriguing characters, too.

Well-written and fast-paced. Perhaps the rest of the story will bring further explanations.

Recommended.

[Lucian Barnes · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first book I have read by this author and for the most part I enjoyed the story. At times the descriptions the author used were borderline brilliant, but at other times they seemed to go too far, leaving little to the reader's imagination. While my overall experience with the story was positive, by the end of the book I was almost sick of seeing the name Samuel. I felt it was severely overused, often appearing multiple times in the same paragraph.

[The Phoenix · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think that this book was pretty good. It has an interesting alternative to the afterlife. There were some parts that, to me, were a little confusing, but I figured it out a little later. Not sure if that's what the author intended or not, or if it was just me that experienced that. Otherwise, I would recommend it. I found it to be somewhat unique.

[Heidi Frese · Rating 3 out of 5]

Weirdest thing I've read in awhile, and that's saying a lot.

[Phyllis Griffiths · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found Reversion: The Inevitable Horror to be very much of a visit to The Twilight Zone. It's a dystopian mystery set in a most horrific set of circumstances.

This book reads more like a short story than a full novel; an ending that is a bump-in-the-road of the plot line that sets up the next book in the series. It is an easy read.

[James Groenestein · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author has created possibly 1 of the best dark fantasy books that I've ever read!!

Fantastic use of words to describe an alternate world; full of sorrow and despair, but also hope and belief that culminates in a cliffhanger that will seriously leave you wanting answers!!

I'm hoping that those answers will be found in book 2 of the series.....

[Angela · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not recommended.

The characters were pretty one dimensional. Alpha wolves are not a real, scientifically proven thing, so having a wolf pack with consciousness, all being afraid of the "alpha male," was gross and irritating to read. The one character that was a woman was boring and lame.

It feels like a draft of a potentially good idea.

[David Watson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Horror can be many things. It can be shocking or terrifying but it can also be creepy and atmospheric like Portal Arcane 1 Reversion by J Thorn. The story begins in another world with a man name Samuel who has amnesia and a noose around his neck. He doesn't have much time to think before a pack of wolves finds him. Samuel escapes into a tree and is saved by a man called Major. He then finds out that the wolves were the least of his worries. The world he's in is being destroyed by a giant cloud which is preceded by an undead army. Samuel and three others must find a way to escape.

J Thorn does a great job of bringing his story to life by describing everything in great detail. The opening scene is excellent with Samuel waking up and looking around at the forest. He is happy to be alive but the mood changes quickly as he hears the howls in the background. I like how J Thorn doesn't set up the story right away. He puts his main character in a dire situation and you get to see the tension build. The opening scene was almost like the author was painting a picture. I liked how the wolves stalking Samuel were described along with the terror as he realizes he can't fight them off forever. At this point you don't know what is going on, but you see Samuel's situation and you are forced to root for him.

I also liked the description of the army of zombies that comes before the cloud and the reason why they are there. The use of flashbacks in the story was well done. Your not sure what you're going to get in the beginning of the story, it's almost like Portal Arcane 1: Reversion starts in the middle. J Thorn hooks you in with some eerie moments of terror and then delivers a good tale of dark fantasy.

Portal Arcane: Reversion is very reminiscent of Stephen King's Langoliers. The characters aren't really alive but there not dead either. Little by little you learn why they are here but where is here? Throughout the book there is a feeling of dread and the atmosphere is one of impending doom. Despite the story being very dark, I felt compelled to read on because I liked its theme of redemption and I wanted to see if the characters could make amends with what brought them here.

If you do decide to read this book pay close attention, because everything in the story is a metaphor for something, such as the Reversion cloud, personal objects that disappear and reappear and how nothing looks quite like it should. You could compare this story to a Twilight Zone episode because you have to pay attention to get the most out of it, in fact you might want to read it twice. Things aren't exactly what they seem and its very much a tail about morality. My only complaint about the story was the way it ended. There are some unresolved questions but I wondered if that was by design. This is the first of a series and the second book is available. Portal Arcane 1: Reversion is a great read if you like psychological horror.

[Craig · Rating 3 out of 5]

*free ebook version won off of the Now is Gone blog in exchange for an honest review*

I'd like to start off by saying that I would actually rate this store as a 3 1/2 stars. Unfortunately one cannot give half stars. Also, I have been informed that there has been some further editing done on the story, so some of these concerns might be addressed already. The writing was crisp. The story did seem to flow, though for the first half it was quite confusing, though in a good way. It really makes you have to concentrate on the story and keeps you guessing. It wasn't until the end that I was reminded of a major clue that occurred in the first page. By the time I reached the half way point, I could not stop reading.

I did see a Stephen King influence and would certainly recommend Portal Arcane: Reversion: the Inevitable Horror to fans of video game type horror stories. What follows may contain spoilers.

There were a couple of parts at the very beginning that caused me to twinge internally. The description of an empty forest that contained animals/insects and various trash strewn around made me pause. I could not fully grasp what seemed to be contradictory descriptions. Secondly, the idea of the main character starting what is described as a bonfire in the middle of a forest without any attempt at containment befuddled me. All I could picture was a raging inferno developing and consuming the entire forest.

There were a couple of points in the story where it seemed almost too fortuitous for Samuel, the main character, especially in his final exchange with Major. I also felt a little disappointed in his interactions with Deva, though I do understand the need for a 'spiritual guide'.

While I didn't find the atmosphere to be all that terrifying, the later reveals, though I was able to figure them out right before the author lets us know, to be quite satisfying in their emotional toll.

I look forward to reading more from J. Thorn.

[Kristine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this in the freebie compilation QUEST from Instafreebie !
This story was really different ; wasn't sure in the beginning that I would like it. I seemed similar to The Dark Tower, which I didn't care for. But I do love quirky end of days stories, so I carried on. I had a feeling it was purgatory ; props to Mr Thorn for the symbolism. I really liked the storm descriptions; I'm a storm junkie. Interesting Concept; I may try another!

[Ken · Rating 4 out of 5]

Revision: The Inevitable Horror (The Portal Arcane Series - Book 1) by J. Thorn is a dark fantasy, a portrait drawn of people placed in strange and perhaps imaginary surroundings that can’t be real, yet they are there.

The first part of the book is disorientating and confusing, but that mirrors the plight of our initial traveler, Samuel. The reader comes to sense Samuel’s plight as Samuel does himself. What is this strange place that seems like a pale shadow of our world, how did these people come to be here, and what are they supposed to do about it?

There are forests, wolves, barren fields, broken down cabins that have some magical protective property. Samuel meets others in his quest, a young woman Mira, who seems to be just as confused as he is. A reckless younger man, Kole, who seems to have a different idea about what the group is supposed to be doing. And an older man, Major, who starts out as a guide, but may know more that he is letting on.

This is a very original story, and Thorn has crafted a mystery and odyssey not only through a semblance of a physical world, but a trip through the mental states of his characters as well. I hesitate to describe too much, so as not to give away the story. I recommend the start of this series of fans of Dark Fantasy, Horror, Psychological Thrillers, and Eastern Mysticism.

[Kyle West · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an esoteric and ultimately well-told dark fantasy story. It takes awhile for it to pick up, as the beginning is quite disorienting.

The beginning is a bit slow and confusing. We don't really know who the character is; indeed, he doesn't know himself, and the entire book is him trying to figure it out. However, it is done well, and it is fascinating to see how things come together as the main character moves about the world and rediscovers snippets of his past.

Portal Arcane is definitely not a conventional tale. It has flashbacks galore, although the flashbacks are integral to the story. It is slow-building, but don't think it doesn't have any action. It definitely has its creepy moments, and the main terror of the story lies in that of inevitability. Definitely toward the end I could not put it down.

It is well-edited - I only caught a few errors, and it is definitely worth more than the $.99 I paid for it.

It took a while to get into, which was my main problem with the book. That said, I'm glad I stuck it out because this has been one of the more interesting novellas I've read.

[Diana Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author J. Thorn is up with the all time greats in writing for horror/dark fantasy readers! 5 starts is simply not enough, I would rate this much higher!
Book 1 of The Portal Arcane Trilogy Reversion:The Inevitable Horror
Starting with Samuel waking in a seemingly suicide forest, in Mr. Thorns words "Samuel pushed the twisted sheet from his shoulder and let the makeshift noose coil on the ground like a dead snake." the descriptive and horrifying beginning was hypnotic and had me hooked, I wanted to know more.
In Samuel's journey, his past mostly unknown to him prior to his awakening, he comes across others who live in this same universe and are all on a journey of their own, that of seeking dharma or redemption.
The characters come to life under Mr. Thorns masterful guidance, I found myself liking some, relating to some and definitely distrustful and disliking others!
I was given a copy of this book after signing up for Mr. Thorn's newsletter and upon finishing purchased the entire Portal Arcane Series as I absolutely had to finish the story and see what would become of Samuel!

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Huh. This is a tough book to review without giving away all the pertinent points. But I shall try!

Sooo.... This book is twisty and dark and very compelling. It takes a look at choices and the actions that result from those choices. The mystery of what's happening around -- and to -- Samuel and the people he comes across in his journey is revealed a piece at a time and the disjointedness of it all is both jarring and captivating.

There's a lot going on here, guys. A LOT. Bad things happen, good things happen, truth comes to light. Samuel's journey through this broken, dying land is just one part of it all. And... you know, that's pretty much all I can say without completely spoiling this book. THINGS HAPPEN. BIG THINGS. DARK THINGS. BLOODY THINGS!

Big, dark, bloody things. Bring it!

-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal

[Tammy Ramey · Rating 4 out of 5]

although i don't usually read this type of book i was grabbed and pulled into the story from the first page. i found myself intrigued and fascinated by "their historical facts" in the story and the characters were a joy to get to know and watch them grow into their own. i also found myself rooting for the hero(s) and heroine(s) and booing the villain(s) and then on the next page laughing out loud at something else. it was a truly wonderful book.

this is also not one of those books that you can figure out who did what in the first few chapters but it kept me guessing right up to the last page. i find myself hoping to hear more about these characters in a future book as well as some of the secondary characters that need their story told.

if this is the type of book that you enjoy you shouldn't miss this one and if you are not into this kind of book you should give this one a try and perhaps it will change your mind the same as it did mine.

[Brian Mcclain · Rating 4 out of 5]

So this was a really odd read,and felt like a lot of stuff went on that I didn't really understand. But at the same time that was kind of the aesthetic of the story and therefore it added to the inherent mystique of the situation that the characters had themselves in.

Mara and Samuel were good fleshed out characters whereas Major and Kole were left almost purposefully one dimensional, perhaps because of the length and the way they were utilized in the plot development.

The world was an interesting place to say the least, with a whole lot of stuff about rebirth and values and even the undefeatable forces had a purpose to them.

I'm not sure if I'd read the sequel, but the first one was definitely interesting enough to recommend to someone looking for a thinking man's existential cerebral kind of horror story.

[Brandon Luffman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started reading this on the recommendation of a friend. I found it interesting at first, but feared that it was beginning to veer off into a confusing mess. It felt a little like the author was trying to be a bit too coy with the details. However, I decided to press on and I am very glad that I did!

After the initial confusion of the first part of the story, I began to get more comfortable with the author's style and accept that the story would have to unfold itself at its own pace. By the end of the book, I had enough of my questions answered to satisfy my personal hangups about mysterious prose and the twist that closed out the book was a very nice way to tie up some of the loose ends.

I will quite likely be reading more of this series, as I am interested in seeing where Samuel's path leads to next.

[Shannon Everyday · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reversion, to me, was a really good twisting, turning horror dark fantasy story. The story starts with Samuel who wakes up and finds himself in another place, with no memories. I liked being dropped right into the story, and finding things out about Samuel as he found out things about himself. While Samuel is trying to figure out what is going on around him, he meets up with various characters, who are all trying to escape the purgatory type environment they are in. I thought all the pieces came together nicely, and set up perfectly for the next book. I liked the mood and tone the author set for the story, and am interested in seeing what is ahead.

[Denise Keef · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are a few things I can always be certain of when I open a book by J. Thorn and that is I will highly entertained and scared witless! I have read quite a few books by this amazing author and have never been disappointed by any of his books! His stories are always very detailed and very dark and always leave me wanting more! If you haven’t read anything by him as of yet, do not hesitate to get this book. I recommend it everyone who enjoys books on dark fantasy and the occult and it should be on everyone’s TBR list!

[Birgit · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not really my taste of fantasy/horror - up until the end, I did not really know what this was all about. The "ingredients" for a good story were there, but personally, I think it was not put together well, at least not to my liking. I found it boring, did not understand the reason behind the characters' actions, or the appearance of some characters etc.
On the plus side, I did not spot any spelling or grammar errors ;)

[T.W. Brown]

This book is a bit cerebral in its approach to horror. It is not full of spine-tingling stuff that has you on the edge of yoru seat, instead, it has a lot to offer the mind as you journey through a very interesting take on "after-life"(?)

I did find myself wanting a bit more action at times, but once I got into the flow, I found this to be a very pleasant read that fit perfect in small doses during my day.

[Monica T. Rodriguez · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just couldn't get into this book. While I'm not a fan of info dumps, and would rather be left with questions at the start of a story, this story never seemed to give me enough to grasp what was going on or why I should care about these characters. I couldn't find a point to focus on. I think. I'm not even sure what the problem was, but that itself says enough.

[Robert Breeze · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Little Confusing, But Makes You Want More

I have read a couple of short stories by J Thorn, and was told by the author that this was the best book to start out with. I have to admit that most of the book had me confused, but by the end it made me all ready to start on Book 2. Thorn has a great writing style and my grammar Nazism was not tested once.

[Karen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had a really hard time finishing this book.The story just couldn't hold my attention,and I found myself picking other books to read.The narrator did ok portraying the story,yet something was missing.I purchased the e-book,but received the audiobook from the author in exchange for an honest review.

[Art Griswold · Rating 4 out of 5]

The descriptions in this book are top notch, the reader can really feel the surroundings such as they are.
And a great job was done building the characters.
Book 2 will be devoured just as quickly as book 1