My Enemy

Snapdragon, #1

by Brandon Berntson

A stranger arrives in Ellishome, Colorado astride a black horse. His face is that of death, but he is no bogeyman. He is a purveyor of lost souls, and he has come to Ellishome to claim the lives of men, women, and children.

Seth Auburn, an innocent boy, is deeply affected by the horrors plaguing his small town. When Ben, a magical tiger appears in the meadow beyond his backyard, the stranger is suddenly all too real, and Ben needs Seth's help.

Assembling a band of newfound friends, Seth and his companions travel to a mysterious palace high in the mountains above Ellishome, Colorado. Only there can they find a way to destroy the demon forever, because if Seth fails it will mean the end - not only of the town and people he loves - but of countless worlds altogether.

A dark fantasy, horror, coming of age tale of adventure, monsters, magic, parallel worlds and profound redemption, Snapdragon is a must read for fans of urban fantasy and paranormal fantasy! Don't miss the conclusion in Snapdragon Book II: In the Land of the Dragon.

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction

386 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 15, 2014

About the author

Brandon Berntson grew up in various towns throughout Colorado, where most of his stories take place. His work spans from serious, adult horror to playful, young adult fantasy and everything in between. He is the author of Castle Juliet and When We Were Dragons, enchanting, magical reads for all ages. He is also the author of Body of Immorality, a cryptic collection of horror stories, and the raw, adult themed All The Gods Against Me.

He loves art, music, indie films, classic horror films, and hockey. He lives in Longmont, Colorado.

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Reviews

[Mandy Walkden-Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightful tale about the blossoming friendship of a group of fifth graders amidst the circling horror of a murderous demon.
A heavy burden for young shoulders but as most of the adults are oblivious to the threat, it is they, together with Ben, the magical talking tiger, that now must undertake a quest to destroy the evil in their town.
Strangely, a tale about ten year olds shouldn't be that appealing to adults, but this most certainly is. It's very well written and the innocence of these young ones and their struggle to understand what has befallen their town makes for a compelling read.
I'm off to download Book II to continue this enjoyable story and follow them on their journey.
Highly recommended.

[C. Coleman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good story, well told, with nice characterization. I'd give it 5-Stars, but it needs a real copy edit, lots of the wrong, though valid, words a spellchecker won't catch such as 'What that' which should have been 'What then.' Also, I thought much of the dialog used words a ten year old wouldn't know or understand. The story is excellent overriding these flaws. The ending left me annoyed, too unfinished. I'm sure it will get buyers for book 2 to find out what happens.

[Jared · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read most of Brandon's work, and I love his versatility. Snapdragon is never dull, but has so much going on it, it's really a web of small town kids, adults, magic, a stranger on a horse, a magical tiger, and that is just the surface. These characters have life. They are vivid, and very real, and you can't help but relate to all of them. Extraordinary!

[John Wiggins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Couldn't put it down. Berntson really creates a cast of characters, a setting, and supernatural elements that are truly out of this world. Like a modern day Lion, Witch and Wardrobe, but with horror.

[Toni L. · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a good story. Have started the 2nd book
and hope it is as good as the first and that it
will give me the answers to the mystery. I'm
guessing that it will.

[Kelsey Carter · Rating 1 out of 5]

I dnfed this book at around 50%. It just didn’t work for me. I don’t usually go for her books with Demons in them. The judging by the blurb of this book, I thought the story might be a bit more whimsical. They were also way too many characters for me to try to connect with. On the plus side though, the authors writing is very atmospheric. He has a very good writing style.

[Victoria Simcox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Haunting Seth’s sleep at night is a stunning white fortress high in the mountains overhead of Ellishome, Colorado. Terror swiftly afflicted his small city yet he is unscathed by it. Ben, a talking tiger desires Seth's assistance. The palace is unexpectedly very tangible when Ben is in the field behind Seth’s yard. Meandering near are the souls of the inhabitants of Ellishome. In a flare-up of insanity and massacre, they are a well-known evil in the disguise of a foreigner, straddling a black horse. Ben, Seth, and his friends must journey to an enigmatic palace, one they only know from their dreams. It will be the finale for all of them if Seth falters and messes up. This is a fast paced fantasy filled with action and Brandon Berntson’s vivid imagination. He has a way of describing scenes to make you feel like you are right there in the middle of it all. Note: This is an adult read due to horror content.

[Penny · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the way the things went in this book. I wasnt sure what was going on then it would all become clear. I had to get the second book to see what happened to the kids.

[phyllis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Evil is coming your Way

Something is happening in Ellistown. People are seeing things and there's bodies beginning to pile up. Seth and his friends have to stop the evil from spreading. They may be young, but they have the will and strength to do what has to be done. Will they succeed or will evil take over?

[Debra · Rating 1 out of 5]

I put it down at about 16% in. The main characters are supposedly children which is not really my cup of tea. If this was the only reason I didn't like the book, I would not have given it such a low rating. But the pace was too slow. With a really good editor the two books that make up this story could possibly have been cut down to one really good book.

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Is a great book to read

[Velvetink]

kindle

[Teresa Lauster · Rating 1 out of 5]

Snapdragon book 1

Well this book was very boring I didn't even finish it and I will not be reading any other book in this series