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Demon Drink
A night out becomes a nightmare in this dark supernatural novel that blends demonic possession, occult rituals, and the chilling consequences of temptation.
Times are tough in Black Wattle. Drought and forest fires have ravaged the town and its lifeblood, tourism, is on the wane. Nobody is feeling the pinch more than divorcee Shirley Goodsall, who is trying to keep the historic Ironstone Hotel afloat while quelling animosity between her ex-husband and their teenage daughter. So when the business manager for a microbrewery, Damon Prince, offers her a promotional deal that includes free kegs of beer, it’s a deal that seems too good to be true.
And it is. Shirley’s elation soon turns to horror as she discovers she has unwittingly helped Prince unleash dark forces in her town. Black Wattle’s residents are plunged into a nightmare of infection and blood-curdling transformations. Shirley and a handful of survivors band together to try to foil Prince’s fiendish plot, but Prince is no ordinary man. He will stare into their souls and turn their most shameful personal demons against them…
Fans of King’s earlier novels such as ’Salem’s Lot and Needful Things will revel in every ghastly, page-turning detail of Demon Drink, a master class in small-town horror from Australian Shadows Award Winner, Kris Ashton.
Can you handle your drink? Click the link to find out!
Proudly represented by Crystal Lake Publishing—Where Stories Come Alive!
Times are tough in Black Wattle. Drought and forest fires have ravaged the town and its lifeblood, tourism, is on the wane. Nobody is feeling the pinch more than divorcee Shirley Goodsall, who is trying to keep the historic Ironstone Hotel afloat while quelling animosity between her ex-husband and their teenage daughter. So when the business manager for a microbrewery, Damon Prince, offers her a promotional deal that includes free kegs of beer, it’s a deal that seems too good to be true.
And it is. Shirley’s elation soon turns to horror as she discovers she has unwittingly helped Prince unleash dark forces in her town. Black Wattle’s residents are plunged into a nightmare of infection and blood-curdling transformations. Shirley and a handful of survivors band together to try to foil Prince’s fiendish plot, but Prince is no ordinary man. He will stare into their souls and turn their most shameful personal demons against them…
Fans of King’s earlier novels such as ’Salem’s Lot and Needful Things will revel in every ghastly, page-turning detail of Demon Drink, a master class in small-town horror from Australian Shadows Award Winner, Kris Ashton.
Can you handle your drink? Click the link to find out!
Proudly represented by Crystal Lake Publishing—Where Stories Come Alive!
341 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 25, 2025
12 people are currently reading
15 people want to read
About the author
Kris Ashton
34 books10 followersAward-winning writer and editor Kris Ashton has published four novels, nearly fifty short stories, and numerous essays and reviews. His work has appeared in Aurealis, Midnight Echo, Andromeda Spaceways and many international titles, including The Fiction Desk.
Graduating with a Bachelor of Arts from Western Sydney University in 1997, he has had a 25-year career as a journalist and is currently associate editor of Open Road, one of the longest running and most widely read magazines in Australia.
He lives in the wilds of western Sydney with his wife, two children, and a crippling mortgage.
Graduating with a Bachelor of Arts from Western Sydney University in 1997, he has had a 25-year career as a journalist and is currently associate editor of Open Road, one of the longest running and most widely read magazines in Australia.
He lives in the wilds of western Sydney with his wife, two children, and a crippling mortgage.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
April 22, 2025
A rich character driven story with great writing that entertains as well as terrifies.
The story follows a variety of characters but starts off with Truman who is a formerly successful artist that has fallen into a haze of alcoholism and drugs. His circumstances mean he has to leave and decides on a whim to move to a small rural town called Black Wattle.
From there, the POV switches to other characters within that town as they experience a terrifying infection that transforms the townspeople into creatures thanks to Damon Prince, a charismatic business manager for a microbrewery who is much more than he seems.
The character driven approach really helps this book shine. Everyone is unique and I couldn't help but be invested in the struggles in each of their lives as they struggle with everyday problems and then on top of that, the craziness of what begins to happen in their small town.
The book also doesn't shy away from the gore when it's needed and uses it to great affect, showing just how dire they're circumstances are.
It was also interesting how the book ended, with an extended look at what happens with each character and the impact of what they went through had on them. It was unique and enjoyable.
This is one of my top reads of the year so far. I'd highly recommend this to people who like a strong character driven story with great writing and a unique and terrifying premise.
The story follows a variety of characters but starts off with Truman who is a formerly successful artist that has fallen into a haze of alcoholism and drugs. His circumstances mean he has to leave and decides on a whim to move to a small rural town called Black Wattle.
From there, the POV switches to other characters within that town as they experience a terrifying infection that transforms the townspeople into creatures thanks to Damon Prince, a charismatic business manager for a microbrewery who is much more than he seems.
The character driven approach really helps this book shine. Everyone is unique and I couldn't help but be invested in the struggles in each of their lives as they struggle with everyday problems and then on top of that, the craziness of what begins to happen in their small town.
The book also doesn't shy away from the gore when it's needed and uses it to great affect, showing just how dire they're circumstances are.
It was also interesting how the book ended, with an extended look at what happens with each character and the impact of what they went through had on them. It was unique and enjoyable.
This is one of my top reads of the year so far. I'd highly recommend this to people who like a strong character driven story with great writing and a unique and terrifying premise.
April 24, 2025
Shirley Goodsall is teetering on the brink of bankruptcy. Times are tough, and customers in the pub are few and far between. When she is offered a collaboration opportunity from a new microbrewery that includes free kegs of beer, she is skeptical at first but decides she's got nothing to lose. She is wrong.
A single mom, a former cop, an alcoholic holy man, and a drug-addled artist are among the small band of unlikely heroes who will join together in an attempt to save the town of Black Wattle from evil forces, if they can get past their own temptations.
Expect massive amounts of blood and guts, but also heart. Somewhere in there beats a love story. Well-developed characters with detailed back stories and motivations had me engaged in the plot even before the horror started. Once it did, it was an all out gore fest. If you like small town horror, this is for you.
My thanks to Crystal Lake Publishing.
A single mom, a former cop, an alcoholic holy man, and a drug-addled artist are among the small band of unlikely heroes who will join together in an attempt to save the town of Black Wattle from evil forces, if they can get past their own temptations.
Expect massive amounts of blood and guts, but also heart. Somewhere in there beats a love story. Well-developed characters with detailed back stories and motivations had me engaged in the plot even before the horror started. Once it did, it was an all out gore fest. If you like small town horror, this is for you.
My thanks to Crystal Lake Publishing.
April 25, 2025
Small-town supernatural horror for people who can hold their drink? Sign me up! - OK, just kidding! The first half of the book is a wonderful mashup of King's "Needful Things" and "The Exorcist," the second a romp of survival horror set in a hotel bar ("Seinfeld" with demons lol), with plenty of scotch and beer - but also a lot of heart and adventure to satisfy the strictest teetotalers among us! The pacing is incredible, I went through the first third before I knew it, thanks to the terrific writing (plain but somewhat cheerful) and the characters - as much action as this story has, it's definitely a character-driven tale, since the overarching plot involves a group of old and new small town residents trying to save their neighbors and survive a demonic apocalypse. It's easy to care for them, they're honest, relatable, and quite inventive when cornered. (The villains, not so much; they sounded very dumb to me - but is evil the smart choice, ever?)
"Demon Drink" is literally about a craft beer that turns people into demons. And people DO drink in this story, so expect hordes of demons (to be fair, beer isn't the only culprit for the looming demon pandemic!). Expect some dark humor as well, irony and incongruity, and a bit of gore. It has an ending with an eerie feeling and not what I would have expected.
Highly recommended!
"Demon Drink" is literally about a craft beer that turns people into demons. And people DO drink in this story, so expect hordes of demons (to be fair, beer isn't the only culprit for the looming demon pandemic!). Expect some dark humor as well, irony and incongruity, and a bit of gore. It has an ending with an eerie feeling and not what I would have expected.
Highly recommended!
April 15, 2025
Demon Drink is a wild, gory romp that blends small-town struggles with supernatural horror in all the best ways. Kris Ashton knows how to set a scene and then completely unravel it in the most chaotic, entertaining fashion. The story’s got everything I love—creepy vibes, unpredictable twists, and a sense of dread that builds with each page. It doesn’t take itself too seriously, but when the horror hits, it hits. There’s a great mix of tension, dark humor, and gnarly moments that'll stick with you. Ashton’s writing is sharp and fast-paced, making this a fun read. It feels like classic horror with a modern, beer-soaked twist. If you're into stories where things spiral out of control (like Needful Things) in the most horrifying ways, give this one a go. Just maybe skip the local brew while you’re at it—you never know what might be in the keg.
May 11, 2025
Demon Drink is compelling. Set in the small town of Black Wattle, events take a dark turn following the introduction of a new craft beer. Characters have depth and originality, with each navigating personal challenges before the crisis unfolds. The pace is fast, the journey unsettling, and totally entertaining.
The story also highlights how easily people can be manipulated by those with hidden agendas, often with disastrous consequences.
A fantastic read!
The story also highlights how easily people can be manipulated by those with hidden agendas, often with disastrous consequences.
A fantastic read!
May 22, 2025
When a representative from a micro brewery offers Shirley Goodsall some free kegs of beer to promote she jumps at the chance hoping this is what she needs to save her from bankruptcy. This is a fast paced small town horror meets supernatural horror and I loved it. The characters were well written, believable, likable, and it was easy to get engrossed in the story.
April 22, 2025
This is a novel of bloodshed and mayhem, possession (of sorts), and a thrill a minute narrative that'll keep your eyes glued to the pages.
A woman is trying but failing to keep an historic pub open in a small town. The town has had some economic setbacks and business isn't exactly booming. She's constantly worried about her and her daughter's future.
A reprieve comes when a man makes her an offer. He owns a brewery and, in exchange for promoting his beer, he'll give her free kegs to help spread the word. She accepts and holds a special discount on a pint. And it seems to draw in the locals.
But anyone who drinks it is going to transform and change. They become bloodthirsty, animalistic, and depraved. Soon, violence takes over the town.
A small group of people who didn't imbibe are now forced to find a way to survive, but by the time they figure out who that man was and what's actually in the brew, it might be too late.
This is a fantastic novel that contains the supernatural, transformation, small town horror, and even some religious horror. The characters are great as well and the ones who change are absolutely horrifying as they lose all sense of humanity.
I like a good scary book that combines different genres effortlessly like this and it makes for a fun, thrilling, and terrifying read. I highly recommend it.
I received an ARC of this book through the publisher. This review is voluntary and is my own personal opinion.
A woman is trying but failing to keep an historic pub open in a small town. The town has had some economic setbacks and business isn't exactly booming. She's constantly worried about her and her daughter's future.
A reprieve comes when a man makes her an offer. He owns a brewery and, in exchange for promoting his beer, he'll give her free kegs to help spread the word. She accepts and holds a special discount on a pint. And it seems to draw in the locals.
But anyone who drinks it is going to transform and change. They become bloodthirsty, animalistic, and depraved. Soon, violence takes over the town.
A small group of people who didn't imbibe are now forced to find a way to survive, but by the time they figure out who that man was and what's actually in the brew, it might be too late.
This is a fantastic novel that contains the supernatural, transformation, small town horror, and even some religious horror. The characters are great as well and the ones who change are absolutely horrifying as they lose all sense of humanity.
I like a good scary book that combines different genres effortlessly like this and it makes for a fun, thrilling, and terrifying read. I highly recommend it.
I received an ARC of this book through the publisher. This review is voluntary and is my own personal opinion.
September 17, 2025
This book is terrific! There are loads of books that are "okay" and others are interesting. What's really wonderful is finding a book you love, you can't put it down, something about it keeps you reading it. The plot of is admittedly bizarre, a demon attack. The characters are well clarified with their own skeletons in the closet haunting them. With nowhere left to run they attack with surprising and unexpected results. It's good in the world of horror to see people band together and make a difference.
I bought the book as I am nearing 5 years of alcohol abstinence and really for a kind of lark. Demon + Drink = Yes. The plot is good. The characters colorful. The twists and bends unpredictable. Wherever the characters go at the end they will never forget their shared experience. And neither will you after reading it. Demon Drink is terrific!
I bought the book as I am nearing 5 years of alcohol abstinence and really for a kind of lark. Demon + Drink = Yes. The plot is good. The characters colorful. The twists and bends unpredictable. Wherever the characters go at the end they will never forget their shared experience. And neither will you after reading it. Demon Drink is terrific!
April 20, 2025
'Demon Drink' by Kris Ashton might just be my favourite read of the year so far, and very likely a contender for my best of 2025 list. I was engaged from page one and it was a fun, gory read to the very end! Sympathetic characters and great writing makes this one an easy recommendation to horror lovers out there. Now to find my next read by this author!
April 25, 2025
I never knew what I was missing until I read the latest Kris Ashton book, Demon Drink. He draws the reader into his narrative and refuses to drop his lasso until the final page has been read. I haven't read his other books but that will definitely change now. An amazing story about the people in a small town and their pub.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews