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Cake
In May of 2053, forty years following the Separation of Wirral from the mainland, there is but a handful of people who remember what life was like before.
Geraldine Waters is one of the few.
In a land ruled by gang law, and horrors beyond mortal imagination, Geraldine lives in a perpetual nightmare, from which she knows she will never wake.
Her story is one of hatred and desperation, of living shadows and dying hopes.
It is a story about family...
It is a story about cake.
Geraldine Waters is one of the few.
In a land ruled by gang law, and horrors beyond mortal imagination, Geraldine lives in a perpetual nightmare, from which she knows she will never wake.
Her story is one of hatred and desperation, of living shadows and dying hopes.
It is a story about family...
It is a story about cake.
- GenresHorror
88 pages, Paperback
First published June 17, 2013
2 people are currently reading
9 people want to read
About the author
Kevin G. Bufton
27 books25 followersBetween 2009 and 2017 Kevin G. Bufton wrote a total of sixty-nine short stories, which appeared in anthologies, magazines, and websites the world over.
His entire back catalogue can be found in his 2017 collection - The Basement Sessions: Collected Fiction (2009-2017).
Since 2017, he has chosen not to write any more fiction, content to columns and book reviews for his website.
He lives in Birkenhead, on the Wirral Peninsula, with his wife and their two children, where he writes his darkest fiction whilst wearing his brightest shirts.
He thinks the world could do with more rum.
His entire back catalogue can be found in his 2017 collection - The Basement Sessions: Collected Fiction (2009-2017).
Since 2017, he has chosen not to write any more fiction, content to columns and book reviews for his website.
He lives in Birkenhead, on the Wirral Peninsula, with his wife and their two children, where he writes his darkest fiction whilst wearing his brightest shirts.
He thinks the world could do with more rum.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
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August 8, 2013Cake by Kevin G. Bufton is a short novella written in the tradition of Ramsey Campbell and Clive Barker.
Set in a dystopian near-future in which an English peninsula is separated from the mainland by dark and unknown forces, the scene is set with a strong and evocative sense of place that continues throughout the tale.
There’s a real sense of otherness and detachment to this story - both literal and metaphorical. The central scenario is all-too-identifiable (especially if you hail from the area in question, like the author does!): being literally split from the mainland, marooned on an island with a terrible, barely-glimpsed fear. The universal themes of loss of stability and loss of family prevail, to horrible effect, and there are some truly gruesome scenes throughout.
Being a fan of more off-camera horror, I personally enjoyed most the parts where things were left unsaid. There’s a nice build-up of tension as we are introduced to the Tyrant, and little throw-away details such as “have the body removed to the kitchens,” are a nice touch.
Main protagonist Geraldine is a likeable and believable character and I particularly enjoyed the early-on interaction between her and her sister.
Fans of horror legends like Dean Koontz and Richard Laymon will be sure to enjoy this blood-drenched debut - but be warned; it’s not for the faint-hearted.
Set in a dystopian near-future in which an English peninsula is separated from the mainland by dark and unknown forces, the scene is set with a strong and evocative sense of place that continues throughout the tale.
There’s a real sense of otherness and detachment to this story - both literal and metaphorical. The central scenario is all-too-identifiable (especially if you hail from the area in question, like the author does!): being literally split from the mainland, marooned on an island with a terrible, barely-glimpsed fear. The universal themes of loss of stability and loss of family prevail, to horrible effect, and there are some truly gruesome scenes throughout.
Being a fan of more off-camera horror, I personally enjoyed most the parts where things were left unsaid. There’s a nice build-up of tension as we are introduced to the Tyrant, and little throw-away details such as “have the body removed to the kitchens,” are a nice touch.
Main protagonist Geraldine is a likeable and believable character and I particularly enjoyed the early-on interaction between her and her sister.
Fans of horror legends like Dean Koontz and Richard Laymon will be sure to enjoy this blood-drenched debut - but be warned; it’s not for the faint-hearted.
August 30, 2013
Cake is a quick read.
The book stands at only 88 page and is the first solo publishing effort put forth by Kevin G. Bufton. Like most first efforts, it has its issues. The editing is a little rough in some places and there are a couple of loose ends in the plot that never get tied to anything. For example, the opening scene with the teenage boy and girl, nothing ever comes of that. There is also very little information given about the mysterious events that have lead to the small island where the story takes place being isolated from the rest of the world. The author starts, during a flash back, to tell the tale of what happened on the fateful day that the fog came to surround the land, but this is abruptly cut off and never revisited.
Despite all this, Cake is a fun and action packed read. It is my sincerest hope that Mr. Bufton will continue to write and will perhaps one day revisit the characters and world of Cake. I believe with a little more loving attention and fleshing out, Cake could easily be turned into a very good full length novel.
The book stands at only 88 page and is the first solo publishing effort put forth by Kevin G. Bufton. Like most first efforts, it has its issues. The editing is a little rough in some places and there are a couple of loose ends in the plot that never get tied to anything. For example, the opening scene with the teenage boy and girl, nothing ever comes of that. There is also very little information given about the mysterious events that have lead to the small island where the story takes place being isolated from the rest of the world. The author starts, during a flash back, to tell the tale of what happened on the fateful day that the fog came to surround the land, but this is abruptly cut off and never revisited.
Despite all this, Cake is a fun and action packed read. It is my sincerest hope that Mr. Bufton will continue to write and will perhaps one day revisit the characters and world of Cake. I believe with a little more loving attention and fleshing out, Cake could easily be turned into a very good full length novel.
July 7, 2013
Starts out really strong on the first page and continues until the last.
June 22, 2013
Great read! I was right there and I didn't want to be. Way to go Kevin. I loved it.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews