Dead Carnage

by Amanda Fasciano

How do you defeat a monster that can injure the Gods?

All everyone wants to do is catch their breath. With Cadence’s brother and the head of Southern Paranormal Investigations gone, Cadence, Aiden, and Derrick struggle to move past the deaths of those dearest to them. They want to breathe and grieve, taking a moment for some quiet time out of danger. With X’Haldzos released from Scarecrow Farms, however, they have more pressing concerns as one-safe spaces are being demolished. The ghostly team will be shaken to its core as the dangers and casualties mount.

Andy is trying to find his way in the now far more complicated and dangerous waters of his job when things take a turn. Now he’s faced with choosing to meet his enemy head on or spending the rest of his life looking over his shoulder. Meanwhile, Cadence is reeling, not only from what happened, but from the implications of what could come as she’s caught in the crossfire of the grim chaos that’s enveloped the world.

With X’Haldzos free to roam, no one is not mortal, not spirit, not even the Gods themselves. Breath catching is going to have to wait. He must be defeated. But how? And whose life may it cost this time?

234 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 4, 2024

About the author

A Paranormal Urban Fantasy author, Amanda Fasciano has had a lifelong love for everything related to the paranormal and horror. Local to Southwest Florida, she can often be found at local conventions or spending time with her family and friends.

Reviews

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love this series!! Such a clever premise to have spirits who monitor activity so that breathers as they call those who are living don’t get too much of a sneak peak of the afterlife. Cadence is absolutely amazing. She’s tough, smart, loving and vulnerable though she doesn’t care to show that. I’m really like I g her new partner Will though I miss the perfect foil that is Snow. It’s hard to decide what to say in this review without spoilers. I ca say there is action, sadness, tons of surprises and just a great story to enjoy!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Cath · Rating 5 out of 5]

After the devastating losses in the last book, spirit detective Cade and the human ghost hunter team, must mourn their dead and reassess what to do next. But they still have the challenge of stopping the non-human entity that was released from its shackles at Scarecrow Farm and the trail of spirits it has completely devastated in its path. It is hunting something or someone, visiting all the sites Cade and her team have been involved in cases and danger is mounting, as she must lead her new partner Will, into the chaos that has been released. A portal allows this entity to go wherever it wants and seek new targets for it to control and feed upon. Each spirit it consumes leaves that spirit with no further existence or chance of rebirth, and that has taken a deep toll on Cade with her brother’s death, knowing she can never see or speak to him again. Whitfield’s role in everything Cade, Snow and the others had been dealing with, brings Cade and her former partner, Andy, from her human life, back in contact and working together as Wolf is finally identified and confronted. The ghost hunting team have lost their leader and medium, with a base in Lauren’s shop, now in turmoil and their continuing existence being questioned. Wolf wants to persuade Cade to join his vision of the future for the police force and spirits, in the fight against criminals and evil, but that would never be something she would condone. Wolf was sold a false dream, but still believes it will come to fruition! Andy has questions about his job after recent revelations of the cults wishes for the police force and a new method of stopping criminals. Not what Andy wants to allow to happen, leaving him to have to rethink his future. Cade and co may have managed to capture Shaldoxz, but the evil and out of control non-human X’Haldzos, is free and causing chaos everywhere it goes. X’Haldzos manages to trace a scent he has been following to an afterworld, and it turns out even the powers of angels and demons, as well as Gods will struggle to stop him!

The fight doesn’t stop there however, as whilst one foe may get taken down in a fierce battle, another spirit will escape, leaving all to fear what they may do next. Cade’s spiritual team have a lot of work to do, to catch all the dangerous spirits released by X’Haldzos, in one of his shock attacks, causing chaos, with the hope of drawing the focus away from himself. Lives will be on the line as they attempt to put a stop to X’Haldzos once and for all, but even Gods will find it a difficult battle and will have to lay their lives on the line, knowing if they are killed, there will be no rebirth or return. Ramon is afraid for Cade, knowing she will act without thought of her own safety, just to protect others around her, but it is the Gods themselves, who will get the biggest surprise, when they see Cade and Will in action. Even Whitfield will do his part to aid in the attempts, to make up for his actions. I received an ARC copy of this book from BookSprout, and I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.

[Nancy (The Avid Reader) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dead Carnage is the fifth book in The Life After Series by Amanda Fasciano. Dead Carnage starts with a blast and never lets up from the first page to the last with its many twists and turns that will have you racing to the end. Like all the other books in The Life After Series, Dead Carnage kept me glued to the pages waiting and wanting to know what lay ahead for Cadence and all the others.

Monsters are breaking loose and entering our world, putting everyone in danger, even the Gods and ghosts. Cadence has her hands full trying to find a way to stop this monster before it destroys the world and everyone in it. Can she stop this monster before it is too late?

I know one thing for sure this monster kept me in suspense page after page cringing time after time. This monster is one bad dude that can destroy Gods. Can it be stopped? I was chopping at the bit to find out.

I love this series, The Life After. It is so unlike anything I have read before. I love the life that Cadence lives in the afterlife. I love her job. I also love everyone’s special abilities. I can’t wait to read more in this series. Once I pick up a book from this series there was no way I can lay it down until I have read the last page.

I highly recommend Dead Carnage to anyone who loves monsters, gods, and ghosts! Grab a copy of Dead Carnage today!

[Andra Shaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dead Carnage is the fifth book in The Life After series, and it most certainly lives up to its title. The last book in the series, Dead Revelations, left me reeling, and so does this one. Dead Carnage picks up in the aftermath of the previous book, and from the first page, it draws you right back to where the story ended. This book has many twists, lots of paranormal action, and a little romance that keeps you turning the pages. You will not want to put the book down.

The characters also make Dead Carnage a page-turner. They are very endearing and engaging, and you want everything to work out well for them. Cadence and her team could really use a hug with all of the upheaval and loss they suffer. However, they carry on as they are protecting those in the human world and the Life After world from those beings that are set on destruction and doing evil things.

Dead Woods is the next book in the series, and I can hardly wait to read it!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading Dead Carnage. We pick up right after the previous book in the series, so it's an emotional and action-packed roller coaster from the get-go. The monster definitely lived up to the book title, wreaking havoc on the spirits and even Gods, and this series has shown so far that you never know which of the characters will survive the book. The result is an engrossing story that I read in one sitting. I can't wait to see where the author goes next with this series, because it should be very, very interesting. I highly recommend this book and the whole Life After series to fans of ghosts and supernatural mysteries. Just be sure to start at the beginning of the series.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Sabrina Nelson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 5 of the life after series. it starts from our book for left off and the characters are very well written. The descriptions of everything is very well. The storyline has you following it easily and wanting more and really enjoy a little detective work with spirits involved, and being able to speak with the spirits and solving issues. In this book, it starts very quickly was having demons already involved. I do like how the story shows the ghost in an abandoned prison and those ghost watch over the other ones I look forward to reading more on the series and more mysteries.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Johanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 5 of The Life After series. For maximum enjoyment read the books in series order.

'How do you defeat a monster that can injure the Gods?'

The characters carried the story and they remain consistent and complicated and compelling. Plot was intriguing and intense and exciting and well paced. World building continues to be solidly drawn and impressive. All in all a great addition to the series. Enjoyed immensely and highly recommend.

Grab a copy, kick back and enjoy!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Vanessa Sylvia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 5 of The Life After is a series worth reading. I have not read one book that disappoints me, and this one is no exception. Cade and her new partner are hunting XHaldzos. As this entity grows stronger no one is safe. The ghosts and humans must work together to defeat XHaldzos. Cade must deal with the loss of her brother and find her footing with her new partner before XHaldzos destroys them all.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[madtrekkie · Rating 5 out of 5]

After all the loses and danger Candace still rises to each day for justice in the afterlife. This series has had me eager for the next installment and I just love it! There's so much mystery, danger, twists and turns in this fast paced story had me reading long into the night...I just couldn't put it down!

[Cheryl Hollingsworth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another amazing story in this series!!! So many unexpected twists and turn! And, so many story lines to look forward to as the series continues to unfold!! Love all of these characters!!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Urszula · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy a good book. Interesting characters and relationships among them. plus a paranormal twist. Plot full of action twists and turns. All together an enjoyable read.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[AMBER CLARK · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dead Carnage is the fifth book in The Life After Series by Amanda Fasciano. It starts with Cadence, Aiden, and Derrick struggling to move past the deaths of Cadence's brother. I love this series.