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We Come Bearing Curses

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Nestled in primeval forests and misty valleys is the isolated community of Haven Shire. This quiet town holds a terrible secret that only the brothers Thatch know- this is where the world ends.Born and raised in the shadows of Haven Shire, George and Phineas Thatch must face their past and worst fears and prevent cosmic horrors from invading our plane of reality.Along with an eclectic team of misfits, they will put their lives on the line to stop a family of murdering cultists from summoning the apocalypse. Against an army of horrors from beyond the Veil, these unlikely heroes will use every weapon at their disposal. Even those that bear the curse of their past.They just have to resolve their family trauma at the same time.

402 pages, Paperback

Published October 14, 2023

31 people are currently reading
420 people want to read

About the author

Zachariah Chamberlin

1 book25 followers
Zachariah was raised on horror. From Friday Fright Night movies, his love of the scary and macabre was born. Today, he lives in the Kansas City area, a 12-year veteran of fire fighting and EMS. He has seen the best and some of the worst human beings are capable of.

It is the human condition that inspires his writing. He is a proud father to two girls and husband.

Join him now as he breaks into the world of horror with We Come Bearing Curses!

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
Profile Image for Charlene (Char)🍁☕️📚.
510 reviews26 followers
August 29, 2024
Healing old family wounds and saving the world

This book was selected for my August read. This book is about George and Phineas two brothers that grew up with humbled beginnings they both see the world through two different lenses. George starts noticing strange things that are happening in his small town so he decides to take action. His action leads him towards a total mind maze and all I can say is this author spares no prisoners. There is nothing like horrific monsters and people who are driven by greed and power they’ll do just about anything to obtain it, murder even.
What I love most about this book is the characters are relatable and they’re people you would come across in your life. There is nothing like saving the world, kicking ass and some of the best actions scenes I read. There were scenes that made me cry and I don’t cry easily.
The best way to describe this author writing style is its very descriptive with a dash of humor but one thing I can say is I was not bored reading this book. If you would like a book that is attention grabbing and holds you in its clutches? Look no further this is the book for you !
Book 2 can’t come quick enough!
Profile Image for Horror Reads.
911 reviews325 followers
March 30, 2024
If you, like me, are a fan of cosmic horror, tales of old ancient gods, and cults that seek to bring unspeakable horrors into our world, this is a book you'll love.


With a small town setting and an eccentric cast of characters, We Come Bearing Curses shines when it comes to terrifying and descriptive eldritch beings. It's part kick ass action, part family drama, but mostly, it's all about the monstrositys invading our world through the "veil".


Two estranged brothers are at the center of this novel. Their childhood was marked by a mother who was sent to a psychiatric hospital because of her "visions". They each have their own abilities but have since been worlds apart. One has honed and accepted these gifts, the other suppressed them and became sheriff of the small town they grew up in.


When horrific events start happening in that town, it soon becomes apparent that something not of this world is taking place and it's going to require more than guns to fight. This will eventually lead to an uncomfortable reunion of the brothers as they must fight together for the sake of humanity while trying to heal the wounds of the past.


They'll have help as each one has friends ready to join the fight. And the characters in this book are really well written and unique. The character driven portions of the book are fun and gives the reader enough background to care about them.


The creatures are horrifying, as they should be, and paint a clear picture of the kinds of things the characters must face to survive. You never feel that they are safe, which adds to the overall suspense of the book.


Perhaps the book is a tad long for what it is. I think some cuts would have made a more tight narrative. But, overall, it's a really good cosmic horror story that provides drama, tension, and terrifying creatures from beyond. I would recommend it.
Profile Image for Milt Theo.
1,808 reviews152 followers
March 22, 2024
Zachariah Chamberlin's 'We Come Bearing Curses' blends cosmic, occult and body horror with a strong dark urban fantasy style (the kind where you deal with demons with your fists, while curses and chants along with magical objects replace guns and other weapons.) I don't read fantasy, so the moments where those superhero types came up, wizards ready to pounce on giant monsters and evil warlocks, I had to roll my eyes; but there are so many scenes of good horror in the book, so many truly deeply thought out episodes of shocking nastiness, I admit I found myself enjoying the story and craving to see how it all ends. This is a typical debut novel: it's occasionally messy (especially in the first half, when a lot of flashbacks take place at once and some awkward introductions of new faces are given), and characterization and setting are predictably secondary, sacrificed to the very intricate plot. The idea seems to be that a small town, where supernatural phenomena already abound, is slowly being taken over by a rich family of Cthulhu worshippers; this is presented in great detail and brutally - the novel begins with an incredibly dark scene of body horror that stings, upsets, and fascinates! The gore never stops. On the contrary, it escalates, as a trio of magical warriors are introduced (I include the doggie!), helped by a former client who's grown to be a father figure. Called to help free the town from the malicious cult of Old Ones worshippers, they are slowly embroiled in a series of battles with monsters and characters who seem to have been drawn out of the Hellboy and Constantine movies: palpable, sinister groups of otherdimensional entities, hungry for sapient flesh, keep attacking the families in the town, and even worse things are creeping in the dark. Lots of family drama (mostly father-son complications), police banter, and every kind of supernatural and paranormal mayhem follow! Thankfully, the book is a self-contained story with a proper conclusion. Overall, then, the concept is good, the story surprises and intrigues, and even jaded readers will be amused and entertained!
Profile Image for Melinda | mello_reads.
387 reviews31 followers
June 23, 2024
3.5

This had one of the strongest openings of any horror book I’ve read in a long time. I was hooked instantly. The body horror was amazingly disgusting, and the feeling of dread that permeated really really scared me.

I loved the Lovecraftian and cosmic horror elements with the occult elements sprinkled throughout. I also loved the entire cast of characters and the dark humor that their “save the world” team-up provided. The first half scared me, entertained me, and had my complete attention.

Somewhere in the second half I just started to get pretty bored. Nothing was really happening to move the plot forward. It was just cycle after cycle after cycle of really long action sequences with increasingly gross and violent entities until it was over (I’m using gross and violent as endearments). I’m not sure if maybe there are plans for a sequel, but the way things wrapped up for the main cast of characters felt sort of incomplete.

Despite me not loving the second half, I do still highly recommend this for any fellow fans of lovecraftian and cosmic horror.
Profile Image for Gillian.
52 reviews16 followers
August 22, 2024
Welcome to Haven Shire. Come for the lusciously dense forest and misty valley, and stay for the battle against horrifying monsters. Brothers, George and Phineas, must band together to fight in a gruesome apocalypse that just might be terrifying enough to cause Sam and Dean Winchester to go into retirement.

Chamberlin starts off with a prologue that would give any seasoned horror fan terrifying dreams; and, once the horror starts, it never lets up.

Just shy of 500 pages, all of Chamberlin's characters feel fleshed-out, even the minor ones, without any unnecessary filler chapters. Some of the characters' backstories were my favorite parts. Chamberlin's transitions from past to present flow naturally and his placement of these scenes are strategic for maximum effect on the story's plot.

Chamberlin draws out your worst nightmares with his incredible descriptions and battle scenes. George and Phineas join forces with a group of friends, and one tough-as-nails cane corso, named Lizzie, to fight a raging cult.

With an ending that had me gasping and cheering on this team of friends, it was difficult to say goodbye for now. In the best ending, Chamberlin set the stage perfectly for a sequel.

Every time I picked up this book I had to force myself to put it down to sleep...but some nights, I just didn't sleep. It's going to take something beyond spectacular to replace this as my favorite book of the year. We Come Bearing Curses is holding, and holding strong, the top chair.

Without a doubt a MUST READ!
Profile Image for Jay myrandomspace2023.
311 reviews8 followers
April 13, 2024
OMG, this is why I DON'T DO HORROR! This took me almost a week to read, and I'm surprised I didn't have nightmares. This is scary, graphic, and vividly detailed. I was a little confused when they had memories, because it wasn't obvious (to me) that you were in one until after it happened. I did like the different points of view, and I liked how it ended. If you're into horror, then I definitely recommend this book!
Profile Image for Adrea arnold.
65 reviews
July 12, 2024
This book was beautifully written but yet horrifyingly gruesome! I loved the occult aspects of this and Mata is a bad @ss!!!!
Profile Image for Book Nerdection.
333 reviews60 followers
November 30, 2023
"Nerdection Worth to Read"

I thought We Come Bearing Curses was detailed book, suspenseful, dark, and unsettling in the best way possible. It’s gory and some of the descriptions of the Formoria (specifically descriptions of their “births”) sent shivers down my spine. The locations and actions in the book were very detailed, so I could clearly envision everything. It is an action-packed book, so if you like a thrilling read, this might be a good fit!

There are three different plot lines occurring simultaneously throughout most of the book. George and the Haven Shire PD, Phineas and his friends, and the Marcus’ with the Formoria. Even though we’re privy to all of those stories throughout the novel, there are still a lot of surprising elements in the story because the author doesn’t give away a lot of the action before it happens. When all three of the storylines come together I thought it had a very rewarding payoff as well!

As someone who is very interested in Celtic folklore and mythology, I loved seeing the Formoria used in this. The cosmic horror elements of the story blended very well with the mythology and I thought it was a unique way to use the legends. The Formoria were creepy, versatile, and depraved creatures that I simultaneously loved and hated ready about. Cosmic horror can often include a lot of body horror and the way the Formoria were created really leaned into that. A lot of the descriptions were over-the-top and grotesque, which I enjoy, but it might not be for people who are easily grossed out.

Not all of the characters had clear backstories, but George, Phineas, and Vincent really stood out for that. Other characters had brief mentions of their backstories, but I don’t necessarily think going into extreme detail for the side characters was needed either. There are just a couple of instances with Sicily and Robert that I felt would have had more emotional payoff if there was more backstory.

One of the main issues I had with We Come Bearing Curses is that there were times when I wasn’t entirely clear on the timeline of events. Some different POV sections backtrack in the story a bit, retelling things from another viewpoint, sometimes with more detail the second time we see it. Though, that’s likely just a stylistic choice that I don’t mesh with.

Overall, I would recommend We Come Bearing Curses to horror fans! Just keep in mind it does not spare any details when it comes to the action and gore.
Profile Image for Vanessa.
31 reviews
April 27, 2024
Darkly Imaginative

In this debut novel by Zachariah Chamberlain, we meet the Thatch brothers, George and Phineas. The two have been torn apart by family trauma, and the secrets buried deep behind the veil that is now opening in their small hometown of Havenshire. Each have gifts, but only one has fully embraced what those gifts mean.
George has stayed in Havenshire, becoming an officer, and when his “spidey senses” tune in to something terrifying playing out in front of him, he faces an impossible situation that leaves him scarred, confused, and a bit broken.
The Marcus family have sold themselves to the Formoria, those beasts that lay in wait just beyond the veil. These monsters once ruled the world, and they want desperately to roam free, feeding off the terror they so much enjoy inflicting. The Marcus’s have been given many abilities, such as strength, sight, etc. from the Formoria in exchange for helping to bring unimaginable terror to the town of Havenshire.
Meanwhile, Phineas and his rag tag team of misfits are battling the things that go bump in the night. They help innocent souls to rest, and help bring those who inflict harm to their knees…be it humans or otherwise.
One fateful night, Phineas has a nightmare that evokes one simple message, to come home. With his team, Phineas returns to Havenshire, and along with them, the many cursed objects that they use in the fight against evil.
The clock is ticking for this small town, and the rest of the world….leaving George, Phineas, and their respective teams to quickly set aside their differences and learn to fight together in their biggest battle against evil yet.

From the start I was pulled in! I could see the images playing out in my mind, and I fully experienced everything from horror, disgust, excitement, anger, sadness, and a fully functioning gag reflex 😂

The ending leaves an opening for a possible 2nd book, and I sincerely hope we see more of the Thatch brothers in the future!
Profile Image for Larae Perry.
141 reviews20 followers
April 27, 2024

"We Come Bearing Curses" takes readers on a chilling journey into the heart of darkness, where the quaint facade of Haven Shire belies the horrors lurking within. Set against the backdrop of primeval forests and mist-shrouded valleys, this tale intricately weaves together elements of horror, suspense, and familial drama.

The brothers Thatch, George and Phineas, serve as our reluctant guides through the twisted secrets of their hometown. As they confront their own past traumas and face unimaginable terrors, readers are kept on the edge of their seats, eagerly turning pages to uncover the next spine-tingling revelation.

What sets this book apart is its attention to detail and atmospheric world-building. From the eerie whispers of the forest to the palpable sense of dread that permeates every page, the author crafts a setting that feels both hauntingly familiar and disturbingly alien.

Accompanied by a cast of eclectic characters, the Thatch brothers embark on a perilous quest to thwart a family of murderous cultists hell-bent on bringing about the end of the world. As they battle against an onslaught of cosmic horrors, the lines between heroism and madness blur, leaving readers questioning who, if anyone, will emerge victorious.

While the narrative occasionally falters under the weight of its own complexity, overall "We Come Bearing Curses" is a gripping read that will leave fans of horror and dark fantasy eagerly awaiting the next installment. With its intricate plot, memorable characters, and relentless sense of dread, this book is sure to satisfy even the most discerning of horror enthusiasts
Profile Image for ⚜️Heather-Christine⚜️ Lynch.
56 reviews9 followers
February 11, 2024
We Come Bearing Curses!!!

This is NOT my normal genre, so to say my expectations weren’t high, is an understatement! I read romance, and thought I would struggle with this book! I started it in the morning and finished it the same day. This story absolutely blew my mind. The visual imaging that you’ll experience reading this book is nothing short of brilliant. This book reads so well it would be a brilliant screenplay. The Formoria creatures are frightening. Some of the scenes in this book are so raw you can smell the blood, bile and filth coming off the pages. I was gagging, cringing and lifting my feet off the floor (closing my eyes at times). This book is frightening in the best ways. Zachariah’s attention to details during some of these scenes are so graphic I wasn’t left wanting. I felt like I was standing in the room watching in real time.

Standouts:

The prologue had me feeling queasy, I could smell the stench on the homeless man. I thought out the gate, “oh lord” what have I signed up for?!

I will never look at a person named Paul again and not want to Gag! Paul’s poor, poor wife. The Choo-Choo scene of Paul’s portion of this story will live rent-free indefinitely…I was unwell!🤮😩

I would have loved to hear more about Thaddeus’s fascination with the birthing of the formoria and the weird private times he enjoyed with the footage. 🫣 I was oddly invested in how he responded to the birthing scenes. The union between Abumna-romrynth and Thaddeus …I was on the edge of my seat during their merging…I loved this part of the story. The Easter egg left behind has my fingers crossed for future projects.

I loved Mata such a bad ass FMC. The connection she has with Phineas and the connections to the human world, I was fascinated when Vincent walked in on them prepping for battle. I would have loved to hear more about the origins of their ruins.

Ultimately, I loved it! I’m invested in Zachariah’s future work! This book was amazing and I loved every minute of it. I’ll be watching cartoons tonight before bed hopefully purging some of these scary creatures in hopes of peacefully sleeping again!
Cheers,
H
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Brittany.
181 reviews4 followers
April 30, 2024
If you like graphic and detailed writing to bring you into a life of horror and chaos then you’ll probably like This book!
The starting chapter literally 🤯. I will say though I got a little confused with alternating chapters and POVs, I think I needed a little more character development before switching so much- that’s probably just a me thing though since alternating POVs in any book confuse me. As the book went on though it was easy for me to follow. This did take me a little longer to read because of how detailed and attention focus I needed to be but I’m happy I read this book.
This is one of the books you wish more people knew about I’ll deff recommend this book to anyone who likes horror books!
221 reviews10 followers
April 28, 2024
I am new to horror, and this is extreme horror. The story and the plot are extremely well written. The world building is unique. I've never read anything like this. I couldn't stop! I needed answers. The descriptives left me shocked. If you are into extreme horror, this book is for you!
Profile Image for Mysteriousenchantment.
196 reviews10 followers
February 13, 2024
OMFG!!!!! This book was everything. I admit that I was questioning how good this book was going to read because I never found an Occult horror that I like and there aren’t many amazing horror books that are almost 500 pages. Most likely people get bored BUT not with this book from the first page I was hooked. Of course life got in the way but the minute I opened my kindle again I was sucked in again. Like my friend Heather said while we buddy read this book together is that it played like a movie in my head. The creatures that this man bought to life in this book was insane. There were times where I would gag or cringe with how disgusting these things were. The images that he created to tell you what these things or the people of this small town looked like was so disgusting that you couldn’t help but gag. Just the prologue of this book started with a freaking bang.i can’t wait to see what else this amazing author comes up with.
Profile Image for Ella Graff.
96 reviews6 followers
April 18, 2024
I will say that I don’t usually read this genre. I’ve changed my mind about that with this book. If I hadn’t taken a chance I would have missed out on a book that created a world split between the living and the dead. With characters who battle against good and evil and the evil is really evil. His descriptions are so clear and concise felt I was in the battle with the characters. If Zachariah doesn’t continue with these characters, I will still read his next book. Wow.
Profile Image for Marie Wikle.
376 reviews9 followers
April 18, 2024
gore galore

This book was overflowing and full of gore, horror and demons. Descriptive and creative. Horror lovers will love this book
Profile Image for Emily Doll.
151 reviews3 followers
April 3, 2024
Wow! What an intense ride. This book opened with such a visual bang I had to set it down and regroup for what I was in for. I went into this read with no expectations or guesses on the journey it would take me on, and boy, did it take me on a journey. It started with a scene that pulled me into its darkness and gore so quickly I craved more immediately. As I traveled through its pages, it set a tone with its characters and their background stories. Tying them together in ways that I didn't understand for a bit, and then the thread quickly pulled tight, and everything was woven together so intensely. I haven't red a horror book before as my main concern was how most horror is visual and that's why it's scary, but this Author wrote these scenes so well you could feel the fear, hear the gore. Your skin was prickled by the darkness in the pages of the evil our characters were up against. I bounced in so many emotions from panic and pain and grief to laughter at times. I was screaming and cheering and gasping. Audibly projecting my worries and anxieties into the room around me as I read, walking out the plot that just kept giving! I have to say I've never read anything that I am begging Netflix to puck up and give us a show based on because I would binge this to the very end. This book was so good, and I can't wait until we get to continue this terrifying adventure when it picks back up from the cliff hanger it left us clawing on to!
Profile Image for Harlie  D.
Author 7 books6 followers
April 13, 2024
OMG!!!

This book was filled with terror and intense emotions. I enjoyed every thrilling second of it. I was totally engaged throughout the entire book. All the detailed descriptions and flavorful word choices really made this piece of work true horror. I was honestly blown away. I went into it blind and was sure surprised to find a unique story. I will be reading this again.
Profile Image for PJ.
476 reviews3 followers
June 29, 2024
This was an excellent horror novel. So many stories intertwined throughout the exploration of a messed up small town with a terrible secret history. I was pleasantly surprised as I started fully realizing what was actually happening in Haven Shire. This was a dark occult horror that masterfully tied in the Old Gods, the rot bubbling just under the surface of a small town, and the unlikely band of misfit heroes that will face it all, to create something sinister and gripping. The setting is dark and foreboding, many social issues were flawlessly mixed into the story, and some of the scenes were graphic and bloody. I would recommend to anyone who enjoys ancient gods and magic mixed in with their gore and horror.
Profile Image for Crystal Coyner.
16 reviews2 followers
May 1, 2024
Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
We Come Bearing Curses by Zachary Chamberlain
This debut novel is a dark horror that blends cosmic, occult, & some fantasy into this twisted story.. Small town setting haunted by an already present supernatural past, with deep rooted cultist activities happening. It starts out with a brutally gore event, flashbacks along with current events throughout the beginning to introduce characters and both worlds, and the gore just doesn’t stop. You’ve got family drama, hometown heroism police feelings, & paranormal / supernatural worlds all at play together. If extreme horror, brutality & dismemberment is your thing, totally suggest reading it!
Profile Image for Amy  Porter.
65 reviews
February 1, 2024

We Come Bearing Curses
Zachariah Chamberlain

When it comes to supernatural horror, I preferred to watch mine. However, this book definitely captured the elements of supernatural horror, and if it was a movie, I would totally watch it.

I had a lot of favorite characters in this book the George and Phineas were at the top of my list for characters that I loved .

This book is thick, but I can promise you it builds up so much of what you need in this story it is totally worth every page .

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Profile Image for Stephanie Vicente.
553 reviews29 followers
September 16, 2025
I love reading occult horror books , so I was excited to read this one. It had some very vivid descriptions. I was hooked from the start!! I enjoyed getting to read this one! It was definitely very twisted and dark!! Two of my favorite things in one book!! I loved how descriptive it was. I had a hard time putting it down as I was reading it. This book had a great story and It’s definitely a good book recommendation for hardcore horror fans.
1,224 reviews59 followers
November 19, 2024
George Thatch has always lived in the small town of Haven Shire. His brother Phineas fled. The brothers possess special abilities. They know that Haven Shire has dark secrets. Things are coming unraveled in the town. Phineas must return home. People are doing totally unexpected things. Can the brothers trust anyone? Will they save the town and possibly the world? Cosmic horror at its best full of tension, suspense, and horror. Amazing characters pull you in.
Profile Image for Kearstin Ellis.
566 reviews27 followers
May 9, 2024
Such an amazing book

The horror and trauma the characters all endured was jaw dropping.

The love George had for his wife Amanda to protect her from the dangers of the world made the story have a slight hint of love.

The rest of the novel was horror and I loved it.
The creatures and their descriptions were first class terror.

If you enjoy all things spooky this book is for you!

Profile Image for Nina.
458 reviews134 followers
September 4, 2024
This one did so not resonate with me. I am not a horror genre reader, and tried hard with this one. So, what I liked was the style of writing, also some of the setting, maybe the characters. What I did not like were the plot, the violence, and seriously, the supernatural stuff that was just too over the top for me. However, I am absolutely sure that fans of horror stories might love this title. 3.5 out of 5 stars.
Profile Image for ⛧⚸ Kitty ⚸⛧.
59 reviews2 followers
August 23, 2024
So right off the bat i will say this book is so vividly described I could picture EVERYTHING. I am a massive horror/thriller lover, and there was a time or two ya girl was scared enough i had to move rooms to have more light 😅. It was a really lovely. And lets not talk about the times i almost lost my stomach 🤣 because Zachariah really does NOT miss on creating the scenes. I HIGHLY reccomend it
Profile Image for Shell.
632 reviews13 followers
December 15, 2024
DNF. I made it about 40% of the way through. It’s an odd writing style, rather hyperbolic - every single sentence had to be very highly descriptive and there didn’t feel like an ebb and flow to the story, just a wall of adjectives. The inclusion of so many back stories wasn’t necessary and after I started skimming those chapters I decided it was time to move on.
Profile Image for Erin.
112 reviews4 followers
May 3, 2024
This book was a lot of fun. I normally prefer slow burns, but this was an action-packed book that I really loved. It has a lot going on, but at almost 500 pages in the Kindle version, it works out. It has cults and demons. It was a wild trippy ride.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews

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