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Crossfades
In a dark horror novella for fans of Stephen King, Joe Hill, and Dean Koontz, one unsuspecting man faces a mass murderer who’s turned the afterlife into his own terrifying playground. Some men fear their own deaths. Others dream of peace and heaven. But Albert knows exactly what he to be the lord of his own private hell, where his eternal reward will be torturing the souls of his victims. And he knows how to get it. While Chuck’s dream of a promotion may be ordinary, his career is anything but. As a Recon and Enforcement Technician, Level II, at a mysterious organization known only as the Institute, Chuck spends his days rescuing souls that get trapped between this life and the next, caught in mini-hells known as crossfades. Lydia has no dreams—only nightmares. There will be no awakening from the impossible realm of terror and pain where she’s trapped . . . unless Chuck tracks her down. But this rescue will not be easy, not for a mere Level II technician. Because, in this place, Albert is god. And he’s determined that none shall escape his wrath. Praise for William Todd Rose’s Apocalyptic Organ Grinder “With strong echoes of Richard Matheson’s I Am Legend, William Todd Rose’s Apocalyptic Organ Grinder delivers on all fronts. The action is brutal and the blurring of man and monster intelligently and inventively handled. Rose has written a smart thriller with a ton of heart.”—Joe McKinney, Bram Stoker Award–winning author of The Savage Dead and Inheritance “The book just took me away. . . . The prose is beautiful.”—39 Purple Sunrises “Dark, and definitely not fluffy . . . a no-holds-barred look at what may happen in the future.”—Mrs. Condit & Friends Read Books
- GenresHorror
132 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 31, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
October 18, 2016
This is by far one of my stand-out reads. What a trip this was!
This one really blew my socks off. To be honest I went in not really knowing what I was going to get but what I did get I devoured and absolutely loved. This is something really different, speculative horror? A bit of sci-fi (sort of) thrown in. It just worked, a mash-up that worked. It's called a Dystopian Novella however, and that bit I think is misleading and in some ways may drive potential readers away if they don't like Dystopian fiction, I disagree as I don't feel it was.
It's one of those books that if I write a long review and babble on too much I will give too much away, so here is the brief synopsis, then lets get to my babble:
While Chuck's dream of a promotion may be ordinary, his career is anything but. As a Recon and Enforcement Technician, Level II, at a mysterious organization known only as the Institute, Chuck spends his days rescuing souls that get trapped between this life and the next, caught in mini-hells known as crossfades.
Lydia has no dreams—only nightmares. There will be no awakening from the impossible realm of terror and pain where she's trapped . . . unless Chuck tracks her down. But this rescue will not be easy, not for a mere Level II technician. Because, in this place, Albert is god. And he's determined that none shall escape his wrath.
So Chuck, basically "astral travels" for want of a better description from his body (all fully trained up in amazing ways) to the place where lost souls are kind of floating around stuck. He's not the only one, he's part of a crack team. His job is to help the stuck souls move on. Sounds simple right? Nope. Not when Chuck hit's a major glitch on what should be an easy mission.
You see, really EVIL and BAD souls get stuck there too and can create havoc and pain and misery for other poor souls that are in the wrong place at the wrong time in this other realm and Chuck hits one of these scenarios big time. And Lydia? Well sweetheart...
The plot is fantastic, I have not read anything like this that I can recall to be honest, it's a novella but it's long enough that you feel sated at the end of the book. I loved the descriptiveness of the landscapes, the emotions, the graphic horror scenes (oh yes, not for the faint of heart) - it was crackling on the pages. Movie? Yes, yes yes!
It gets darker as you travel on with Chuck here in your earthly body, darker, more evil, more dangerous, more risky, more terrifying, more scary...you get the picture right? It's an awesome ride. I could not put this down. Even better, there is a follow on from this that I am about to get my teeth stuck into (not literally).
Loved it, five stars - fans of darker fiction, slightly offbeat horror will enjoy this, those that get queasy even reading a psychological thriller may want to avoid. But if like me, you like a good scare, a creepy scene that has you freaking out, creatures that make your skin crawl and chase scenes that have you nearly wetting yourself. Then grab this. You won't look back.
For more of my reviews, book chat, giveaways and more come to:
https://www.facebook.com/BookloverCat...
Thanks so much to the publisher for my ARC of this novella via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
This one really blew my socks off. To be honest I went in not really knowing what I was going to get but what I did get I devoured and absolutely loved. This is something really different, speculative horror? A bit of sci-fi (sort of) thrown in. It just worked, a mash-up that worked. It's called a Dystopian Novella however, and that bit I think is misleading and in some ways may drive potential readers away if they don't like Dystopian fiction, I disagree as I don't feel it was.
It's one of those books that if I write a long review and babble on too much I will give too much away, so here is the brief synopsis, then lets get to my babble:
While Chuck's dream of a promotion may be ordinary, his career is anything but. As a Recon and Enforcement Technician, Level II, at a mysterious organization known only as the Institute, Chuck spends his days rescuing souls that get trapped between this life and the next, caught in mini-hells known as crossfades.
Lydia has no dreams—only nightmares. There will be no awakening from the impossible realm of terror and pain where she's trapped . . . unless Chuck tracks her down. But this rescue will not be easy, not for a mere Level II technician. Because, in this place, Albert is god. And he's determined that none shall escape his wrath.
So Chuck, basically "astral travels" for want of a better description from his body (all fully trained up in amazing ways) to the place where lost souls are kind of floating around stuck. He's not the only one, he's part of a crack team. His job is to help the stuck souls move on. Sounds simple right? Nope. Not when Chuck hit's a major glitch on what should be an easy mission.
You see, really EVIL and BAD souls get stuck there too and can create havoc and pain and misery for other poor souls that are in the wrong place at the wrong time in this other realm and Chuck hits one of these scenarios big time. And Lydia? Well sweetheart...
The plot is fantastic, I have not read anything like this that I can recall to be honest, it's a novella but it's long enough that you feel sated at the end of the book. I loved the descriptiveness of the landscapes, the emotions, the graphic horror scenes (oh yes, not for the faint of heart) - it was crackling on the pages. Movie? Yes, yes yes!
It gets darker as you travel on with Chuck here in your earthly body, darker, more evil, more dangerous, more risky, more terrifying, more scary...you get the picture right? It's an awesome ride. I could not put this down. Even better, there is a follow on from this that I am about to get my teeth stuck into (not literally).
Loved it, five stars - fans of darker fiction, slightly offbeat horror will enjoy this, those that get queasy even reading a psychological thriller may want to avoid. But if like me, you like a good scare, a creepy scene that has you freaking out, creatures that make your skin crawl and chase scenes that have you nearly wetting yourself. Then grab this. You won't look back.
For more of my reviews, book chat, giveaways and more come to:
https://www.facebook.com/BookloverCat...
Thanks so much to the publisher for my ARC of this novella via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
May 19, 2015
Review copy
"The official description of Crossfades described them as being like that moment in movies where Acts One and Two briefly coexist; they meld into a composite for a moment--both scenes visible, yet semitransparent--but eventually one asserts its dominion over the other and the plot moves on."
Chuck Grainger has a job that is at the same time both a dream and a nightmare. His official title was Recon and Enforcement Technician, Level II, he thought he'd be some kind of cosmic cop, but now he just feels more like a glorified janitor.
This story is out there, way out there. Much like Chuck when he's on assignment, trying to guide a soul who's passed on and for whatever reason can't quite cross The Divide. At times, surreal, Crossfades is definitely creepy, and there is also an anomaly that has come up, leading to things getting out of control. Although above his pay grade, Chuck goes in to try and sort things out, and that's when the trouble really starts.
I really struggled to find the point of the story and it was really only my desire to always finish the books I start to read that kept me going. In the end, I was glad I did as there was a nice payoff for the reader.
Crossfades is published by Hydra, a Random House imprint and is available only as an ebook.
Recommended if you're feeling adventurous. I liked it enough to request the sequel Bleedovers which will be released on September 1, 2015.
"The official description of Crossfades described them as being like that moment in movies where Acts One and Two briefly coexist; they meld into a composite for a moment--both scenes visible, yet semitransparent--but eventually one asserts its dominion over the other and the plot moves on."
Chuck Grainger has a job that is at the same time both a dream and a nightmare. His official title was Recon and Enforcement Technician, Level II, he thought he'd be some kind of cosmic cop, but now he just feels more like a glorified janitor.
This story is out there, way out there. Much like Chuck when he's on assignment, trying to guide a soul who's passed on and for whatever reason can't quite cross The Divide. At times, surreal, Crossfades is definitely creepy, and there is also an anomaly that has come up, leading to things getting out of control. Although above his pay grade, Chuck goes in to try and sort things out, and that's when the trouble really starts.
I really struggled to find the point of the story and it was really only my desire to always finish the books I start to read that kept me going. In the end, I was glad I did as there was a nice payoff for the reader.
Crossfades is published by Hydra, a Random House imprint and is available only as an ebook.
Recommended if you're feeling adventurous. I liked it enough to request the sequel Bleedovers which will be released on September 1, 2015.
February 14, 2015
I received a free copy from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, Random House Publishing Group - Hydra!
Crossfades actually gave me nightmares. If you hide behind the sofa while watching scary movies, this is not the book for you. If, like me, you love the horror genre, you may want to pick it up immediately. Chuck is just another cog in the machine that is The Institute. A shady organization that uses patients in coma to reach lost souls and help them move on. When he finds "the one" in the space between (a Crossfade), he will do anything to help her cross over. And what happens in the Crossfade is literally the stuff of nightmares. It made me cringe, some passages were unbearable to read... and I enjoyed every second. It reminded me of Clive Baker, Hieronymus Bosch and the Robin Williams movie What Dreams May Come. Amongst all of this, there is a love story so beautiful, I didn't expect it at all. A treat for horror fans.
Crossfades actually gave me nightmares. If you hide behind the sofa while watching scary movies, this is not the book for you. If, like me, you love the horror genre, you may want to pick it up immediately. Chuck is just another cog in the machine that is The Institute. A shady organization that uses patients in coma to reach lost souls and help them move on. When he finds "the one" in the space between (a Crossfade), he will do anything to help her cross over. And what happens in the Crossfade is literally the stuff of nightmares. It made me cringe, some passages were unbearable to read... and I enjoyed every second. It reminded me of Clive Baker, Hieronymus Bosch and the Robin Williams movie What Dreams May Come. Amongst all of this, there is a love story so beautiful, I didn't expect it at all. A treat for horror fans.
February 23, 2015
I so bought in to the world of Crossfades....up the point that I didn't.
Chuck Grainger is a whisk, a member of a secret but vital organization. He is responsible for helping souls stuck in the Crossfades, an area created by the newly dead that they create for themselves, somewhere between life and death. Grainger works with them and then they can move on. The first half of this book was great - incredibly descriptive, but believable, engaging, and then....
Love. Pfft. Not just love but soulmate love. And she's trapped in the worst Crossfade ever, one that has moved to a Cutscene, which is capable of devouring the Crossfades of others and capturing their essences within the Cutscene. So there is a dead serial killer that has managed to create a Cutscene.
In and of itself, this would have been fine, but for the complete collapse of the chain of command and structure within the organization, based solely on the stupidity and whim of Grainger and Control. This really annoyed me - maybe if they did their jobs according to the rules, none of the terrible things that happen would have. I don't know when I became such a rule follower, but Rose lost me at this point.
So, I loved the first half (more fantasy than horror) and really didn't like the second half (here's your horror). Rose is a good writer, but this story just stopped working for me. Extra points that Rose is from West Virginia, though and I would certainly give him another try.
Chuck Grainger is a whisk, a member of a secret but vital organization. He is responsible for helping souls stuck in the Crossfades, an area created by the newly dead that they create for themselves, somewhere between life and death. Grainger works with them and then they can move on. The first half of this book was great - incredibly descriptive, but believable, engaging, and then....
Love. Pfft. Not just love but soulmate love. And she's trapped in the worst Crossfade ever, one that has moved to a Cutscene, which is capable of devouring the Crossfades of others and capturing their essences within the Cutscene. So there is a dead serial killer that has managed to create a Cutscene.
In and of itself, this would have been fine, but for the complete collapse of the chain of command and structure within the organization, based solely on the stupidity and whim of Grainger and Control. This really annoyed me - maybe if they did their jobs according to the rules, none of the terrible things that happen would have. I don't know when I became such a rule follower, but Rose lost me at this point.
So, I loved the first half (more fantasy than horror) and really didn't like the second half (here's your horror). Rose is a good writer, but this story just stopped working for me. Extra points that Rose is from West Virginia, though and I would certainly give him another try.
May 25, 2015
REVIEW: CROSSFADES by William Todd Rose
CROSSFADES is a delightfully compelling, and believable, novella about a wholly unexpected kind of Dystopiana: not the post-apocalyptic kind resulting from plagues, wars, or nuclear holocaust. This is a veritable Dystopiana of the Dead, where the less speedy or knowing spirits are caught in a type of Limbo known as Crossfades, needing only a little aid to move on. That's the kind of help that dedicated Recon Tech Chuck Grainger provides, until he discovers that there exists a willfully designed CROSSFADE trap, one set up with malignant intent.
CROSSFADES is a delightfully compelling, and believable, novella about a wholly unexpected kind of Dystopiana: not the post-apocalyptic kind resulting from plagues, wars, or nuclear holocaust. This is a veritable Dystopiana of the Dead, where the less speedy or knowing spirits are caught in a type of Limbo known as Crossfades, needing only a little aid to move on. That's the kind of help that dedicated Recon Tech Chuck Grainger provides, until he discovers that there exists a willfully designed CROSSFADE trap, one set up with malignant intent.
May 12, 2015
I received an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Wow! A journey into terror which is unimaginable! Souls trapped in a hideous afterlife controlled by a monster provide a story which may keep you up all night.
Dark horror at its best.
Wow! A journey into terror which is unimaginable! Souls trapped in a hideous afterlife controlled by a monster provide a story which may keep you up all night.
Dark horror at its best.
October 1, 2024
Woah. This was a crazy quick ride. Such a fun book that gets better and better all the way til the end. Totally underrated.
February 25, 2018
ARC courtesy of author and publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.
Genre: Adult Fiction>Horror
Excerpt from the book: "Two minutes passed before he drifted toward the ceiling, his astral form slipping from his body like a balloon from the grasping hand of a child. He looked down upon a body that appeared to be wrapped in the arms of sleep; his chest rose and fell with evenly spaced breaths and his eyelids flickered slightly. Chuck knew he wasn't sleeping, though; he existed in the boundary separating wakefulness from dreams, floating weightlessly with a silver ribbon streaming from his sternum."
Chuck's office lies 15 stories underground, his comatose partner gives him assignments. His organization helps souls of the recently deceased move on to where they belong. His job is to offer aid to souls needing only a little help to continue their journey. The employer recruits prospects from college tests on psyche students. Chuck is known as a "Whisk" and wears a halo and patches to allow "control" to monitor him as he wanders through the afterlife. Chuck is tethered to this realm by a floating silver cord acting as a life-line.
Crossfades are areas created by the newly dead, a place where they linger between life and death. Within some crossfades are dark cutscene traps, capable of devouring the essences of other Crossfades to keep them from moving on. Chuck discovers a cutscene with evil intent.
Excerpt from the book: "The sky was a deep shade of lavender with puffy white clouds drifting lazily across its expanse; to the south, a lemon yellow sun blazed, its rays streaking the atmosphere around it, and a soft breeze carried the scent of lilacs as it rustled grass in a field that seemed to stretch into eternity. This grass was dotted with daisies of every color imaginable: pink, blue and yellow petals mingling side by side with red, aquas and variegated pastels not normally found in nature. The little girl sitting within the tire swing looked to be around seven or eight years old and her blond pigtails brushed against her shoulders as she swung back and forth."
"The entire world disappeared into darkness, everything flashing out of existence in a single instant."
Excerpt from the book: "This Cutscene had been responsible for the destruction of Abigail's Crossfade. It had consumed the energy the little girl's construct radiated, devouring it so thoroughly that not so much a speck of pollen remained. Had her soul fled to another location, retreating to a place where her tire swing and field could rebuild themselves, offering the comfort she so desperately needed?"
Lydia has no dreams - only nightmares.
Excerpt from the book: "It drew a little closer each time, no matter how quickly Lydia forced her body to move."
"But at every twist or turn, the sounds reached her once again: stop, sniff, scurry, repeat."
Excerpt from book: "The walls of the room were literally carpeted with the creatures. Dusty-colored wings fluttered and flapped, struggling against the silver needles that pinned their thoraxes to the wall. There were so many that their bodies overlapped each other, making it nearly impossible to tell where one ended and another began. Though the eye spots on the wings were nothing more than defensive mimicry, each one seemed to glisten behind a well of tears, and Chuck pressed his palms against his eyes, remembering what Johnson had told him about moths sometimes being linked to departing souls."
"Exactly how many souls were pinned here?"
This book is truly a journey into evil terror complete with monstrous creatures in the dark. I highly recommend the book and am looking forward to reading the sequel, "Bleedovers".
Genre: Adult Fiction>Horror
Excerpt from the book: "Two minutes passed before he drifted toward the ceiling, his astral form slipping from his body like a balloon from the grasping hand of a child. He looked down upon a body that appeared to be wrapped in the arms of sleep; his chest rose and fell with evenly spaced breaths and his eyelids flickered slightly. Chuck knew he wasn't sleeping, though; he existed in the boundary separating wakefulness from dreams, floating weightlessly with a silver ribbon streaming from his sternum."
Chuck's office lies 15 stories underground, his comatose partner gives him assignments. His organization helps souls of the recently deceased move on to where they belong. His job is to offer aid to souls needing only a little help to continue their journey. The employer recruits prospects from college tests on psyche students. Chuck is known as a "Whisk" and wears a halo and patches to allow "control" to monitor him as he wanders through the afterlife. Chuck is tethered to this realm by a floating silver cord acting as a life-line.
Crossfades are areas created by the newly dead, a place where they linger between life and death. Within some crossfades are dark cutscene traps, capable of devouring the essences of other Crossfades to keep them from moving on. Chuck discovers a cutscene with evil intent.
Excerpt from the book: "The sky was a deep shade of lavender with puffy white clouds drifting lazily across its expanse; to the south, a lemon yellow sun blazed, its rays streaking the atmosphere around it, and a soft breeze carried the scent of lilacs as it rustled grass in a field that seemed to stretch into eternity. This grass was dotted with daisies of every color imaginable: pink, blue and yellow petals mingling side by side with red, aquas and variegated pastels not normally found in nature. The little girl sitting within the tire swing looked to be around seven or eight years old and her blond pigtails brushed against her shoulders as she swung back and forth."
"The entire world disappeared into darkness, everything flashing out of existence in a single instant."
Excerpt from the book: "This Cutscene had been responsible for the destruction of Abigail's Crossfade. It had consumed the energy the little girl's construct radiated, devouring it so thoroughly that not so much a speck of pollen remained. Had her soul fled to another location, retreating to a place where her tire swing and field could rebuild themselves, offering the comfort she so desperately needed?"
Lydia has no dreams - only nightmares.
Excerpt from the book: "It drew a little closer each time, no matter how quickly Lydia forced her body to move."
"But at every twist or turn, the sounds reached her once again: stop, sniff, scurry, repeat."
Excerpt from book: "The walls of the room were literally carpeted with the creatures. Dusty-colored wings fluttered and flapped, struggling against the silver needles that pinned their thoraxes to the wall. There were so many that their bodies overlapped each other, making it nearly impossible to tell where one ended and another began. Though the eye spots on the wings were nothing more than defensive mimicry, each one seemed to glisten behind a well of tears, and Chuck pressed his palms against his eyes, remembering what Johnson had told him about moths sometimes being linked to departing souls."
"Exactly how many souls were pinned here?"
This book is truly a journey into evil terror complete with monstrous creatures in the dark. I highly recommend the book and am looking forward to reading the sequel, "Bleedovers".
May 21, 2015
I received a digital copy of this book from Net Galley in return for an honest review Thank you to the publisher that allowed me to do so
It's been a long time since I've read a horror story of this nature. It's about the "area" that a soul can be stuck in, after dying. A crossfade
Chuck is a living human who through psychological testing, was determined he could work in this unmentionable secret world of helping lost souls enter into their ever after
He goes to work each day and he's called a "Whisk" he lies aside of a man who is in a coma but being sustained with medication, respirator & other medical means. Chuck puts on a "halo" & patches so that he can be monitored on machines as to what his vital signs are as he goes about his job. There's a woman named "Control" who watches the monitors & if detects too much activity beyond normal, will draw Chuck back in so he doesn't die
One day as he's at work he goes into his meditation & breathing techniques that allow him to get to these souls. He imagines a silver cord attached to his umbilical that is his lifeline to draw him back in. He meets Abigail , a little girl swinging on a tire swing in middle of a field. He's trying to get to her to get her to the crossfade when a dark force enters
Lydia is soul stuck, trying to find her way to a crossfade but she's in a cutscene where it's dark, & she doesn't know which way to go when she comes upon an awful monster. Chuck is interrupted with Abigail by what's happening to Lydia & he's not sure exactly what's happening but Control realizes this is more than his training has taught him so she brings him back in He's upset because he's fallen for Lydia & wants to save her
Meantime since he's now on suspension from his job he sees on TV where a mass murderer named Albert has been executed by electric chair. Chuck feels he's able to get back to finding Lydia even without going into work with the help of Control & his comatose sidekick so he applies the formula to finding Lydia.
He's now in a strange cutscene where souls are in terrible conditions, manacled, bodies in all states with flesh open, organs showing & just a really dark morbid stench filled room when a man is brought in on a throne. It is Albert. Forces are now against Chuck as he tries to find Lydia. Will he be able to find her? Will he have to die in the process of saving her? I'll leave all questions unanswered so as to not spoil the story
It's a good horror story especially if you like reading about the "areas between life/death" where a soul may linger before crossing over
It's been a long time since I've read a horror story of this nature. It's about the "area" that a soul can be stuck in, after dying. A crossfade
Chuck is a living human who through psychological testing, was determined he could work in this unmentionable secret world of helping lost souls enter into their ever after
He goes to work each day and he's called a "Whisk" he lies aside of a man who is in a coma but being sustained with medication, respirator & other medical means. Chuck puts on a "halo" & patches so that he can be monitored on machines as to what his vital signs are as he goes about his job. There's a woman named "Control" who watches the monitors & if detects too much activity beyond normal, will draw Chuck back in so he doesn't die
One day as he's at work he goes into his meditation & breathing techniques that allow him to get to these souls. He imagines a silver cord attached to his umbilical that is his lifeline to draw him back in. He meets Abigail , a little girl swinging on a tire swing in middle of a field. He's trying to get to her to get her to the crossfade when a dark force enters
Lydia is soul stuck, trying to find her way to a crossfade but she's in a cutscene where it's dark, & she doesn't know which way to go when she comes upon an awful monster. Chuck is interrupted with Abigail by what's happening to Lydia & he's not sure exactly what's happening but Control realizes this is more than his training has taught him so she brings him back in He's upset because he's fallen for Lydia & wants to save her
Meantime since he's now on suspension from his job he sees on TV where a mass murderer named Albert has been executed by electric chair. Chuck feels he's able to get back to finding Lydia even without going into work with the help of Control & his comatose sidekick so he applies the formula to finding Lydia.
He's now in a strange cutscene where souls are in terrible conditions, manacled, bodies in all states with flesh open, organs showing & just a really dark morbid stench filled room when a man is brought in on a throne. It is Albert. Forces are now against Chuck as he tries to find Lydia. Will he be able to find her? Will he have to die in the process of saving her? I'll leave all questions unanswered so as to not spoil the story
It's a good horror story especially if you like reading about the "areas between life/death" where a soul may linger before crossing over
May 18, 2015
Chuck has an unusual job. Yes, he gets up every morning and hops on the subway just like everyone else. But when he gets off, Chuck takes a second train with a very limited passenger list. His office lies hidden fifteen stories underground and his officemate, the one who basically gives Chuck his assignments, is comatose.
See Chuck works for a group that helps send the souls of the dead where they belong. Sometimes those souls become trapped between our world and the next. They call this the Crossfades, a borderland the soul creates and inhabits when they aren't ready to believe they've died. It's Chuck's job to enter the Crossfades and convince the soul that their new reality is anything but. It isn't terribly difficult or dangerous at Chuck's level, but when a routine job turns into something much more sinister Chuck soon finds his very existence at risk.
This is a cool concept for a series: a super secret organization that recruits employees through standard psychological tests - you know, the ones they do in college. I myself had to participate in at least three during my Psych 101 semester as part of my grade. Anyway, the test was just the beginning for Chuck and he soon found himself part of said organization.
The Crossfades were definitely cool. William Todd Rose describes these magical and horrific worlds with such great detail, lulling us in the beginning with a pleasant alternate world before throwing us into a nightmare created by a mind so twisted even our hero may have trouble defeating it.
Crossfades is just the first novella to feature The Institute. It's out now from Penguin Random's Hydra imprint. The second installment, Bleedovers, follows in September and I for one am looking forward to seeing what's in store. I'm particularly interested in learning more about The Institute itself and hope that'll play a larger role the second time around. Their basics are included in this first outing but that's about it. Though that certainly makes them more mysterious, it also left me with a lot of questions. Questions regarding some of the why, though, nothing pertaining to the actual story itself. Basically William Todd Rose did his job, he left me wanting - and looking forward to - more.
See Chuck works for a group that helps send the souls of the dead where they belong. Sometimes those souls become trapped between our world and the next. They call this the Crossfades, a borderland the soul creates and inhabits when they aren't ready to believe they've died. It's Chuck's job to enter the Crossfades and convince the soul that their new reality is anything but. It isn't terribly difficult or dangerous at Chuck's level, but when a routine job turns into something much more sinister Chuck soon finds his very existence at risk.
This is a cool concept for a series: a super secret organization that recruits employees through standard psychological tests - you know, the ones they do in college. I myself had to participate in at least three during my Psych 101 semester as part of my grade. Anyway, the test was just the beginning for Chuck and he soon found himself part of said organization.
The Crossfades were definitely cool. William Todd Rose describes these magical and horrific worlds with such great detail, lulling us in the beginning with a pleasant alternate world before throwing us into a nightmare created by a mind so twisted even our hero may have trouble defeating it.
Crossfades is just the first novella to feature The Institute. It's out now from Penguin Random's Hydra imprint. The second installment, Bleedovers, follows in September and I for one am looking forward to seeing what's in store. I'm particularly interested in learning more about The Institute itself and hope that'll play a larger role the second time around. Their basics are included in this first outing but that's about it. Though that certainly makes them more mysterious, it also left me with a lot of questions. Questions regarding some of the why, though, nothing pertaining to the actual story itself. Basically William Todd Rose did his job, he left me wanting - and looking forward to - more.
May 14, 2015
Review: Crossfades by William Todd Rose Publication Date: 19th May 2015
Publisher: Random House Publishing group - Hydra
ISBN: 9781101883686
Source: Netgalley
Rating: 2.5*
Synopsis:
Some men fear their own deaths. Others dream of peace and heaven. But Albert knows exactly what he wants: to be the lord of his own private hell, where his eternal reward will be torturing the souls of his victims. And he knows how to get it. While Chuck's dream of a promotion may be ordinary, his career is anything but. As a Recon and Enforcement Technician, Level II, at a mysterious organization known only as the Institute, Chuck spends his days rescuing souls that get trapped between this life and the next, caught in mini-hells known as crossfades. Lydia has no dreams—only nightmares. There will be no awakening from the impossible realm of terror and pain where she's trapped . . . unless Chuck tracks her down. But this rescue will not be easy, not for a mere Level II technician. Because, in this place, Albert is god. And he's determined that none shall escape his wrath.
Review:
The exciting synopsis for Crossfades encouraged me to request it on Netgalley, but once I started reading, I was a little disappointed to be honest. I was expecting a suspenseful, gripping tale but this just didn't do it for me.
Whether the way it is written didn't light the fire in me, or I didn't find the story was like I had hoped, I'm not sure. Some parts were fast-paced and held me interest for a short while, but I was sorely tempted to skim read which is never a good sign.
I'm sure that other readers will really enjoy Crossfades. it just wasn't for me.
This review is merely my honest opinion and is primarily feedback for the author and/or publisher.
**I was provided with a review copy by the publisher, in return for my honest review**
Publisher: Random House Publishing group - Hydra
ISBN: 9781101883686
Source: Netgalley
Rating: 2.5*
Synopsis:
Some men fear their own deaths. Others dream of peace and heaven. But Albert knows exactly what he wants: to be the lord of his own private hell, where his eternal reward will be torturing the souls of his victims. And he knows how to get it. While Chuck's dream of a promotion may be ordinary, his career is anything but. As a Recon and Enforcement Technician, Level II, at a mysterious organization known only as the Institute, Chuck spends his days rescuing souls that get trapped between this life and the next, caught in mini-hells known as crossfades. Lydia has no dreams—only nightmares. There will be no awakening from the impossible realm of terror and pain where she's trapped . . . unless Chuck tracks her down. But this rescue will not be easy, not for a mere Level II technician. Because, in this place, Albert is god. And he's determined that none shall escape his wrath.
Review:
The exciting synopsis for Crossfades encouraged me to request it on Netgalley, but once I started reading, I was a little disappointed to be honest. I was expecting a suspenseful, gripping tale but this just didn't do it for me.
Whether the way it is written didn't light the fire in me, or I didn't find the story was like I had hoped, I'm not sure. Some parts were fast-paced and held me interest for a short while, but I was sorely tempted to skim read which is never a good sign.
I'm sure that other readers will really enjoy Crossfades. it just wasn't for me.
This review is merely my honest opinion and is primarily feedback for the author and/or publisher.
**I was provided with a review copy by the publisher, in return for my honest review**
May 21, 2015
I received this from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I will admit that I had low expectations for this due to the comparisons to Stephen King, Joe Hill, and Dean Koontz, but I really enjoyed this (and I don't consider the comparisons very apt - I feel like it reminds me more of movies such as Silent Hill, The Oregonian, and Wristcutters as well as authors like Jeff Vandermeer and Philip K. Dick). The plot is imaginative and captivating - and I was left wanting more. I had a few gripes about the ending, but all in all, I really enjoyed it and will seek out more by this author.
I will admit that I had low expectations for this due to the comparisons to Stephen King, Joe Hill, and Dean Koontz, but I really enjoyed this (and I don't consider the comparisons very apt - I feel like it reminds me more of movies such as Silent Hill, The Oregonian, and Wristcutters as well as authors like Jeff Vandermeer and Philip K. Dick). The plot is imaginative and captivating - and I was left wanting more. I had a few gripes about the ending, but all in all, I really enjoyed it and will seek out more by this author.
May 15, 2015
I received a free copy from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, Random House Publishing Group - Hydra.
The story is a novella, so it's quite short. I felt the beginning was a bit slow, and it took me a bit to get interested, but when the action started, I was totally involved! I felt the writing was excellent and once things started happening, I was riveted. I felt the story was so short though, I am looking forward to the next part of the story!
I don't know if I would call the genre Dystopian, but maybe that will be more evident in future books.
The story is a novella, so it's quite short. I felt the beginning was a bit slow, and it took me a bit to get interested, but when the action started, I was totally involved! I felt the writing was excellent and once things started happening, I was riveted. I felt the story was so short though, I am looking forward to the next part of the story!
I don't know if I would call the genre Dystopian, but maybe that will be more evident in future books.
September 23, 2017
Horrorful, inventive and unique. A great novella!
June 23, 2015
Hydra has published solid horror titles this year, and after reading and loving Consumption by Heather Herrman, I dug right in to William Todd Rose's novella, Crossfades. While novellas can sometimes leave you feeling like there's something missing, or maybe story isn't as well developed as it could be with characters that you don't get to know that deeply, I never felt that way throughout Crossfades.
Chuck's job is to astral project into the world between life and the afterlife where souls can get stuck before moving on, not realizing that they aren't alive anymore. These areas are called crossfades, and Chuck helps these confused souls cross over. As a level II technician, he only deals with the more routine, benign souls cross over, but there's a serial killer that was just put to death that uses a crossfade as his own personal afterlife playground, luring in these lost souls so he can continue his sick, twisted, torturous games in death. Chuck isn't prepared for the danger and depravity that he will encounter when this routine crossfade morphs into a dangerous cut scene, and he's even less prepared for the rescue mission ahead of him when he meets the lost soul Lydia inside this hell.
Crossfades is a perfect blend of dark atmosphere and emotional turmoil with horrific scenes that are vividly portrayed. Chuck's isolation in his job with no outside life is palpable, and the struggle to contain his emotions--which is a necessary part of his job to keep him safe as a living person visiting the crossfades--is quite believable once he connects with Lydia. His entire life is his job as has been demanded by his employer, and that empty hole in him has never been filled by anything. Once he's decided to go against protocol to help all of those poor souls stuck in the cut scene with serial killer, all bets are off and he's left without a support system to yank him out by his silver cord if everything goes wrong.
Lydia's not sure how she came to be in the crossfades or who she was, and she doesn't even know what she looks like. But she knows that there's something evil out to get her--and it knows her deepest fears. But when Chuck appears and tries to explain everything, Lydia allows herself to be a little bit optimistic, and maybe she'll be able to move on from the hell she's been stuck in for seemingly years.
I give Crossfades a 4.5 out of 5. A few minor things were left unresolved, but William Todd Rose does an excellent job of constructing a tight and well-drawn novella. The world building is excellent over the course of the 129 pages, and I loved how everything made scientific sense and was explained in the beginning. You weren't left trying to figure it all out as you went along. The ending wasn't too predictable and while the villian was formidable, Crossfades was more about going against ones own imagined constraints and limits to become stronger. This has definitely left me happy, and I'm eager to read the next novella, Bleedovers.
(Also on Bewitched Bookworms, book received from TLC Book tours in exchange for honest review)
Chuck's job is to astral project into the world between life and the afterlife where souls can get stuck before moving on, not realizing that they aren't alive anymore. These areas are called crossfades, and Chuck helps these confused souls cross over. As a level II technician, he only deals with the more routine, benign souls cross over, but there's a serial killer that was just put to death that uses a crossfade as his own personal afterlife playground, luring in these lost souls so he can continue his sick, twisted, torturous games in death. Chuck isn't prepared for the danger and depravity that he will encounter when this routine crossfade morphs into a dangerous cut scene, and he's even less prepared for the rescue mission ahead of him when he meets the lost soul Lydia inside this hell.
Crossfades is a perfect blend of dark atmosphere and emotional turmoil with horrific scenes that are vividly portrayed. Chuck's isolation in his job with no outside life is palpable, and the struggle to contain his emotions--which is a necessary part of his job to keep him safe as a living person visiting the crossfades--is quite believable once he connects with Lydia. His entire life is his job as has been demanded by his employer, and that empty hole in him has never been filled by anything. Once he's decided to go against protocol to help all of those poor souls stuck in the cut scene with serial killer, all bets are off and he's left without a support system to yank him out by his silver cord if everything goes wrong.
Lydia's not sure how she came to be in the crossfades or who she was, and she doesn't even know what she looks like. But she knows that there's something evil out to get her--and it knows her deepest fears. But when Chuck appears and tries to explain everything, Lydia allows herself to be a little bit optimistic, and maybe she'll be able to move on from the hell she's been stuck in for seemingly years.
I give Crossfades a 4.5 out of 5. A few minor things were left unresolved, but William Todd Rose does an excellent job of constructing a tight and well-drawn novella. The world building is excellent over the course of the 129 pages, and I loved how everything made scientific sense and was explained in the beginning. You weren't left trying to figure it all out as you went along. The ending wasn't too predictable and while the villian was formidable, Crossfades was more about going against ones own imagined constraints and limits to become stronger. This has definitely left me happy, and I'm eager to read the next novella, Bleedovers.
(Also on Bewitched Bookworms, book received from TLC Book tours in exchange for honest review)
Read
June 9, 2015I read the blurb advertising this book on NetGalley, and I was instantly intrigued by the book's comparison to works by masters of horror and suspense Stephen King and his son Joe Hill. So, I requested it (a big thanks to NetGallley and Hydra for approving that request), and I've read it; BUT, I can't say that Rose rises to the greatness of Hill or King. That isn't to say that he doesn't have some intensely creepy stuff lurking inside the cover of this slim novella...but it what he offers has a slightly, um, recycled feel to it.
Let me explain. I have a slightly unhealthy obsession with Vincent D'Onofrio. As such, I've seen The Cell just a few times, and I'm only slightly ashamed to admit that (mainly due to JLo's involvement in the film because, generally speaking, I enjoy it - AND, let's face it - it gets bonus point for Vince Vaughn, another swoon-worthy interest of mine). I felt that this book was just a tad too reminiscent of The Cell to warrant any originality points. No, it's not identical, but both feature protagonists delving into comatose persons' minds to access the highly bizarre and frightening worlds that have been crafted by serial killers. Don't get me wrong: the delusional, demented world that Rose has created here is frightening and well-crafted. If there was more substance to the rest of the story, I think that I would have been more forgiving of the similarities between Crossfades and The Cell. Because it is a novella, the pacing and development of the romantic relationship between Chuck and Lydia felt forced and frantic (see also: completely false and unbelievable). To be honest, the instantaneous love that developed between the two was, probably, what ruined the story for me. The repeated references to mediation and Eastern philosophy was another element of the novella that just didn't feel authentic to the rest of the horror story. And why the loose ends, the underdeveloped characters? There was so much potential in the little girl, Alison/Bug, who initially drew Chuck into the killer's cutscene; but, much to my disappointment, there wasn't any resolution to her short-lived section of the story. Likewise, I felt there wasn't enough backstory centering around the serial killer. The reader is dropped into his sick delusion but refused any details of his life and crimes.
Ugh. I feel like such a Negative Nancy. This one was difficult for me to enjoy. Overall, there were signs of both potential and talent, but neither came to fruition for me. Sorry, NetGalley. This just wasn't for me.
Let me explain. I have a slightly unhealthy obsession with Vincent D'Onofrio. As such, I've seen The Cell just a few times, and I'm only slightly ashamed to admit that (mainly due to JLo's involvement in the film because, generally speaking, I enjoy it - AND, let's face it - it gets bonus point for Vince Vaughn, another swoon-worthy interest of mine). I felt that this book was just a tad too reminiscent of The Cell to warrant any originality points. No, it's not identical, but both feature protagonists delving into comatose persons' minds to access the highly bizarre and frightening worlds that have been crafted by serial killers. Don't get me wrong: the delusional, demented world that Rose has created here is frightening and well-crafted. If there was more substance to the rest of the story, I think that I would have been more forgiving of the similarities between Crossfades and The Cell. Because it is a novella, the pacing and development of the romantic relationship between Chuck and Lydia felt forced and frantic (see also: completely false and unbelievable). To be honest, the instantaneous love that developed between the two was, probably, what ruined the story for me. The repeated references to mediation and Eastern philosophy was another element of the novella that just didn't feel authentic to the rest of the horror story. And why the loose ends, the underdeveloped characters? There was so much potential in the little girl, Alison/Bug, who initially drew Chuck into the killer's cutscene; but, much to my disappointment, there wasn't any resolution to her short-lived section of the story. Likewise, I felt there wasn't enough backstory centering around the serial killer. The reader is dropped into his sick delusion but refused any details of his life and crimes.
Ugh. I feel like such a Negative Nancy. This one was difficult for me to enjoy. Overall, there were signs of both potential and talent, but neither came to fruition for me. Sorry, NetGalley. This just wasn't for me.
June 19, 2015
Originally posted on The Bibliophile Chronicles!
Albert only wants one thing in life – to be the lord of his own private hell and eternally torture his victims. And he knows exactly how to get it.
Chuck is hoping for a promotion in his mysterious career – a Recon and Enforcement technician. He rescues souls caught between this world and the next, spending their days in mini-hells known simply as crossfades.
Lydia’s life is full of nightmares. There is no escaping the realm of terror she lives in, unless Chuck can rescue her. But this will be no easy mission. Albert will not let any escape his wrath.
Welcome to the blog tour for Crossfades, run by the lovely TLC Book Tours! The first thing that struck me about Crossfades, as soon as I opened the email about it was the killer synopsis. I knew as soon as I read the first few lines that I had to get my hands on this book, and I definitely made the right choice.
Crossfades is a short book, being just over one hundred pages, but it packs a lot into such a small space. There’s so much going on – I won’t say too much about what that is because I don’t want to spoil the story – but this book is dark, at some points even scary. There’s plenty of graphic horror, as well as a bit of that hair raising, make you need to switch the light on kind of horror too. If you’re looking for something out of the ordinary, Crossfades is definitely the book for you.
I love horror fiction, but sometimes I think the genre can get a bit repetitive – that’s absolutely not the case with Crossfades. It’s dark, different and completely draws you in. It also feels very realistic and believable, there’s a great amount of emotion and depth in the characters, even though we don’t get to delve into their minds for long. This book is not for the faint of heart, but it is one hundred percent worth the read.
While Crossfades is only a short novella, there is a sequel entitled Bleedovers, due for release in [] I am immensely looking forward to this, and can only imagine how horrific and fear filled book two will be. If you’re looking for something more exciting than a summer beach read, then I sincerely recommend Crossfades.
As part of this tour William Todd Rose has been kind enough to hold a giveaway of a $25 giftcard as well as an ebook copy of Crossfades. To be in with a chance of winning simply click here to enter! Thanks for checking out my stop and be sure to stop by the other tour stops for Q&A’s, reviews and more!
Albert only wants one thing in life – to be the lord of his own private hell and eternally torture his victims. And he knows exactly how to get it.
Chuck is hoping for a promotion in his mysterious career – a Recon and Enforcement technician. He rescues souls caught between this world and the next, spending their days in mini-hells known simply as crossfades.
Lydia’s life is full of nightmares. There is no escaping the realm of terror she lives in, unless Chuck can rescue her. But this will be no easy mission. Albert will not let any escape his wrath.
Welcome to the blog tour for Crossfades, run by the lovely TLC Book Tours! The first thing that struck me about Crossfades, as soon as I opened the email about it was the killer synopsis. I knew as soon as I read the first few lines that I had to get my hands on this book, and I definitely made the right choice.
Crossfades is a short book, being just over one hundred pages, but it packs a lot into such a small space. There’s so much going on – I won’t say too much about what that is because I don’t want to spoil the story – but this book is dark, at some points even scary. There’s plenty of graphic horror, as well as a bit of that hair raising, make you need to switch the light on kind of horror too. If you’re looking for something out of the ordinary, Crossfades is definitely the book for you.
I love horror fiction, but sometimes I think the genre can get a bit repetitive – that’s absolutely not the case with Crossfades. It’s dark, different and completely draws you in. It also feels very realistic and believable, there’s a great amount of emotion and depth in the characters, even though we don’t get to delve into their minds for long. This book is not for the faint of heart, but it is one hundred percent worth the read.
While Crossfades is only a short novella, there is a sequel entitled Bleedovers, due for release in [] I am immensely looking forward to this, and can only imagine how horrific and fear filled book two will be. If you’re looking for something more exciting than a summer beach read, then I sincerely recommend Crossfades.
As part of this tour William Todd Rose has been kind enough to hold a giveaway of a $25 giftcard as well as an ebook copy of Crossfades. To be in with a chance of winning simply click here to enter! Thanks for checking out my stop and be sure to stop by the other tour stops for Q&A’s, reviews and more!
May 2, 2015
The subtitled description of William Todd Rose's Crossfades reads "A Dystopian Novella" It is a bit misleading since I identify dystopian novels with dysfunctional societies and social-political conflicts. Rose's sci-fi/horror hybrid involves a somewhat clandestine company but beyond that it is mainly about life after death and the struggle of making connections with others in our world and beyond. Chuck works at a mysterious place known only as the Institute where he enters into shadow areas, between our life and whatever exists beyond, that are called crossfades. His task is to help those souls caught in these crossfades continue their journey into the hereafter. It is a job that becomes his sole purpose, squeezing out anything else life has to offer him. In most cases, entering this limbo area is a routine task that consists simply of pointing the way out to the trapped soul. But sometimes a soul deliberately stays and manipulates the delusional surroundings of crossfades, trapping others for their own evil purposes. Chuck gets caught up in one of these crossfades, gets himself in over his pay scale so to speak, and breaks one of the primary rules of his profession, don't become attached to your target.
Crossfades is a short but nicely structured tale deftly combining a sci-fi feel with the more psychological, and psychopathic, thrill of supernatural horror. While there is a villain and we discover who he is, he is primarily an instrument of the terror to come. Scary but not all that well defined. But that is OK. This is a story about a man who does his job and is solely invested in his job to the detriment of everything else in life. It is about how one must examine the niche one finds themselves in and achieve something else even if that something else may cost you your job and even your life. As a novella it works well, maybe too well. This could have easily been stretched into a full novel since we have an interesting protagonist and a very intriguing dilemma. I wish it was. But for what it is, I enjoyed it. There is a nice twist at the end and even if further reflection brings out the pat convenience in the resolution, it still works nicely. This is one of those works by a new author that stays there in your mind while you wonder what else the writer is capable of; Good, not great but has hints of greatness to come. We will just have to wait and see.
Crossfades is a short but nicely structured tale deftly combining a sci-fi feel with the more psychological, and psychopathic, thrill of supernatural horror. While there is a villain and we discover who he is, he is primarily an instrument of the terror to come. Scary but not all that well defined. But that is OK. This is a story about a man who does his job and is solely invested in his job to the detriment of everything else in life. It is about how one must examine the niche one finds themselves in and achieve something else even if that something else may cost you your job and even your life. As a novella it works well, maybe too well. This could have easily been stretched into a full novel since we have an interesting protagonist and a very intriguing dilemma. I wish it was. But for what it is, I enjoyed it. There is a nice twist at the end and even if further reflection brings out the pat convenience in the resolution, it still works nicely. This is one of those works by a new author that stays there in your mind while you wonder what else the writer is capable of; Good, not great but has hints of greatness to come. We will just have to wait and see.
March 11, 2016
This horror / sci-fi novella is billed as a ‘dystopian’ tale, which suggests a bleak futurescape of social or technological woe. Instead, Crossfades uses movie-making language in a supernatural / paranormal setting, to describe the moment between life and death, where a few lost souls get stuck in imaginary worlds of their own making.
So, naturally, there’s a team of Men In Black, trained in the art of meditation and in controlling their chi. This was my favourite part of the story: the intricacies of the set-up, the braindead ‘partner’ providing a bridge through whom the dead could murmur; the role of ‘control’ who anchors the operatives when they step into the dreams of the recently departed, the weird worlds of the unconscious. Inventive and intriguing, with echoes of ‘Inception’, this is a background it’d be interesting to explore in greater depth.
For me, however, the main plot of Crossfades was less fulfilling. A serial killer met the righteous end of his earthly existence, but he’s carrying on exactly where he left off in an appalling interpretation of an afterlife. He delights in the gleeful manipulation and torture of the confused souls of the freshly dead. Around a half of the story is given over to the bad guy’s tower of festering torment… which, if you like reading about flayed souls and evil incarnate, may well do it for you. I prefer my menace to be a more suggestive and psychological, and a little less explicit and anatomical – not through squeamishness, but because there’s only so many pulsing livers being eaten from a living body you can endure before ennui sets in.
However, there’s plenty of opportunity left at the end of the story for author William Todd Rose to return to this reality and to explore the agency in more detail. A more complex plot; different agents; different religions; a link to mediums and parapsychology – there’s heaps of potential here. Far more than a fairly straightforward shlock-horror-movie story, so I hope Rose comes back to his creation with a more complex tale to tell.
7/10
There's more detail about this book at:
https://murdermayhemandmore.wordpress...
So, naturally, there’s a team of Men In Black, trained in the art of meditation and in controlling their chi. This was my favourite part of the story: the intricacies of the set-up, the braindead ‘partner’ providing a bridge through whom the dead could murmur; the role of ‘control’ who anchors the operatives when they step into the dreams of the recently departed, the weird worlds of the unconscious. Inventive and intriguing, with echoes of ‘Inception’, this is a background it’d be interesting to explore in greater depth.
For me, however, the main plot of Crossfades was less fulfilling. A serial killer met the righteous end of his earthly existence, but he’s carrying on exactly where he left off in an appalling interpretation of an afterlife. He delights in the gleeful manipulation and torture of the confused souls of the freshly dead. Around a half of the story is given over to the bad guy’s tower of festering torment… which, if you like reading about flayed souls and evil incarnate, may well do it for you. I prefer my menace to be a more suggestive and psychological, and a little less explicit and anatomical – not through squeamishness, but because there’s only so many pulsing livers being eaten from a living body you can endure before ennui sets in.
However, there’s plenty of opportunity left at the end of the story for author William Todd Rose to return to this reality and to explore the agency in more detail. A more complex plot; different agents; different religions; a link to mediums and parapsychology – there’s heaps of potential here. Far more than a fairly straightforward shlock-horror-movie story, so I hope Rose comes back to his creation with a more complex tale to tell.
7/10
There's more detail about this book at:
https://murdermayhemandmore.wordpress...
May 31, 2015
Must say this novella took me by complete surprise in a VERY good way. It was pitched to me as Dystopian, but I see more DARK speculative fiction, horror even a lick of sci-fi, crazy eclectic mix, nonetheless, it works.
The plot is original, explosive, it's short in pages with plenty leaving you fulfilled. Rose provides intensity in his writing trifecta pertaining to environment, emotions, and incredibly halting vivid horror backdrops.
With the turn of every page the sinister and terror let alone downright scary darkness with pull you in deeper, you won't be able to put this down. I cannot wait to read BLEEDOVERS - the horror and mayhem continues.
Fascinating read, fans of dark fiction, horror with graphic descriptions will gobble up this undeniable psychological thrill ride. I appreciate a narrative scaring me, causing me to jump after I have closed the cover, delineated scenes causing chills down my spine, every light on in the house, noises making me gasp and flinch, yes, this terrifyingly creepy novella accomplished all this and more. Add to your TBR and see how freaked out you'll be, I dare you!
The plot is original, explosive, it's short in pages with plenty leaving you fulfilled. Rose provides intensity in his writing trifecta pertaining to environment, emotions, and incredibly halting vivid horror backdrops.
With the turn of every page the sinister and terror let alone downright scary darkness with pull you in deeper, you won't be able to put this down. I cannot wait to read BLEEDOVERS - the horror and mayhem continues.
Fascinating read, fans of dark fiction, horror with graphic descriptions will gobble up this undeniable psychological thrill ride. I appreciate a narrative scaring me, causing me to jump after I have closed the cover, delineated scenes causing chills down my spine, every light on in the house, noises making me gasp and flinch, yes, this terrifyingly creepy novella accomplished all this and more. Add to your TBR and see how freaked out you'll be, I dare you!
June 10, 2015
Have you ever read a book/novella and said to yourself after, what did I just read? Yeah, that is what happened to me with Crossfades. To be honest, I'm not 100% totally sure I "got" what was going on in the book. From my best understanding, Chuck was picked for a secret job through a psych test in college. He astrally projects to a person's "crossfade" to try to help them to the other side. A crossfade is a reality a soul makes for themselves instead of crossing over. The rest, I'm a bit hazy on, especially the "cutscene" concept. I wish the novella had been longer to give more of a explanation of the whole process and how things worked.
As for the rest of the story, it's definitely chilling and disturbing. Lydia's scenes were fast paced and creepy, especially the bathroom scene! It's almost like a car accident. You know it's bad, but you can't help but look anyway. This book definitely takes you on a wild, almost trippy, ride right through to the end.
I think this is a novella I will be re-reading more slowly to get the whole effect, now that I have been through the journey once with Chuck.
As for the rest of the story, it's definitely chilling and disturbing. Lydia's scenes were fast paced and creepy, especially the bathroom scene! It's almost like a car accident. You know it's bad, but you can't help but look anyway. This book definitely takes you on a wild, almost trippy, ride right through to the end.
I think this is a novella I will be re-reading more slowly to get the whole effect, now that I have been through the journey once with Chuck.
July 8, 2015
I would like to thank Random House Publishing Group - Hydra and NetGalley for providing me with an electronic copy to review. Crossfades is a unique concept about the moment where life and death overlap. Chuck is one of the chosen few who can help lost souls find their way, by a method not unlike astral projection. When he faces a potentially dangerous spirit who can manipulate the Crossfades until it becomes a larger Cutscene, Chuck is sent on the most dangerous assignment he has ever undertaken. For a relatively short novella, the author was successfully able to impart a large amount of action and plot twists. Well written and interesting, Crossfades has just enough intrigue, horror, and excitement to have me want to complete the book in one sitting. I liked the author's writing style, as the descriptions of the world in between were very complete and spooky. With a quick pace and great characters, Crossfades is the book for those readers who love horror and paranormal intertwined into something that you just cannot put down.
August 3, 2015
This is the second book I've read by the author and I can only think of one phrase to describe it; "OMG!" I read a lot of books about serial killers, thrillers, true crime, books about death and the dead, and the occasional horror and I really couldn't name the last book that scared me. "Crossfades" scared the living daylights out of me!! It totally creeped me out!! This novella had me hooked, but I couldn't read it all at once because it freaked me out so bad I had to take a breather. Excellent! Excellent! I loved "Apocalyptic Organ Grinder" too.
March 7, 2015
A good horror novel with a promise of more to come
For a full review, please go to http://www.examiner.com/review/crossf... and follow me on Twitter @josenher
For a full review, please go to http://www.examiner.com/review/crossf... and follow me on Twitter @josenher
July 25, 2015
A weak premise made this a very uninspiring read. The plot never went anywhere and the ending just seemed tacked on.
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June 23, 2016A good horror novel with a lot of plot
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