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Bleedovers
Sure to thrill readers of Stephen King, Joe Hill, and Dean Koontz—William Todd Rose’s new dark horror novella is a tale of bloody retribution that blurs the line between the waking world and the terrors of the night. There’s only one thing standing between humanity and the dark forces of the the secret agency known as The Institute. The organization depends on regular guys like Chuck, a Level I Recon and Enforcement Technician who guides tormented spirits into the next life. From an office deep underground, Chuck projects his spirit into Crossfades, monstrous realms where the souls of the dead, unable to move on due to fear or anger, devise macabre tortures for themselves and one another. He’s always been able to leave his work behind at the end of the day . . . until now. First in dreams, then in waking nightmares, Crossfades are bleeding into the physical world. And now it’s up to Chuck—along with his partner, a woman named Control—to put a stop to it. Because there’s no telling what might come over from the other side.Praise for Bleedovers “Rose never lets up when it comes to disturbing concepts. . . . [Bleedovers] has a lot to offer those who love their horror.”—Publishers Weekly “Bleedovers by William Todd Rose is a strong second novella in a series, and readers will want more of this strange world. . . . Rose has a gift for creating believable science fiction worlds that are wrought with real, and even imagined, dangers around every corner.”—Savvy Verse & Wit “I give Bleedovers a five out of five.”—Bewitched Bookworms
- GenresHorror
126 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 23, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
June 5, 2015
I read Bleedovers completely unaware that it is the second novella in the Crossfades Dystopian novella series and my first read from William Todd Rose.
Mental note: must start the headache inducing drag known as research. That said I didn't really feel like I'd missed much concerning the premise of a Crossfade but maybe a little with respect to the protagonists history.
What's a Crossfade? Well first an introduction into the world building. There exists a secret government agency, more secret than both Men in Black and X-files, based in an underground hideaway and known as the Institute. They exist to sort of compartmentalize and even add a slight technological aspect to the supernatural. Our technicians are able to project their spirit into a Crossfade, kind of like a nightmare conceived by the souls of the dead unable to pass on. Where their physical body is nothing more than an illusion in the realm of the dead, and they 'longed to return to the physical world, to claim their spot among the living, and hang on to it with everything they had.'
Chuck Grainger is our protagonist with his handler, a woman known only as control and a young girl from Physical Research and Anomalies, concerned with the paranormal. When The Crossfades start to bleedover, uncontrolled into the physical world and a ghost kills a sleeper then it's time to go against all protocol and fight what's coming.
The story starts off with an extremely creepy Crossfade in a school that finishes with a slightly silly jump across a number of rotting pumpkins hanging by chains from the ceiling. It then goes into familiar territory where you never know what's real, nightmare, Crossfade or a mixture. Is it a bird, is it a plane, am I still asleep, pinch myself, gotta be awake now surely, no there's a bag with my severed head in it. Finally conscious after a couple of false alarms, sure I've been here before.
Joking aside there's some really good ideas in here, the writings crisp, good pace and flow to the story. It certainly felt unique yet at the same time strangely familiar, maybe because I've read or seen movies mimicking some of the concepts and I'm sure I'll read others in the future.
I received Bleedovers from Random House Publishing Group & Netgalley in exchange for an honest review and that’s what you’ve got.
Also posted at http://paulnelson.booklikes.com/post/...
Mental note: must start the headache inducing drag known as research. That said I didn't really feel like I'd missed much concerning the premise of a Crossfade but maybe a little with respect to the protagonists history.
What's a Crossfade? Well first an introduction into the world building. There exists a secret government agency, more secret than both Men in Black and X-files, based in an underground hideaway and known as the Institute. They exist to sort of compartmentalize and even add a slight technological aspect to the supernatural. Our technicians are able to project their spirit into a Crossfade, kind of like a nightmare conceived by the souls of the dead unable to pass on. Where their physical body is nothing more than an illusion in the realm of the dead, and they 'longed to return to the physical world, to claim their spot among the living, and hang on to it with everything they had.'
Chuck Grainger is our protagonist with his handler, a woman known only as control and a young girl from Physical Research and Anomalies, concerned with the paranormal. When The Crossfades start to bleedover, uncontrolled into the physical world and a ghost kills a sleeper then it's time to go against all protocol and fight what's coming.
The story starts off with an extremely creepy Crossfade in a school that finishes with a slightly silly jump across a number of rotting pumpkins hanging by chains from the ceiling. It then goes into familiar territory where you never know what's real, nightmare, Crossfade or a mixture. Is it a bird, is it a plane, am I still asleep, pinch myself, gotta be awake now surely, no there's a bag with my severed head in it. Finally conscious after a couple of false alarms, sure I've been here before.
Joking aside there's some really good ideas in here, the writings crisp, good pace and flow to the story. It certainly felt unique yet at the same time strangely familiar, maybe because I've read or seen movies mimicking some of the concepts and I'm sure I'll read others in the future.
I received Bleedovers from Random House Publishing Group & Netgalley in exchange for an honest review and that’s what you’ve got.
Also posted at http://paulnelson.booklikes.com/post/...
May 28, 2015
This second novella was nowhere near as good as the first Crossfades. I'm feeling annoyingly let down in fact. I was so excited to read this second installment.
Chuck is still doing his travels to the astral/soul realm to help lost souls (in a technical futuristic way) and this time he meets up with a soul he has met before, but it's not a happy reunion at all. Nope, not good at all.
This did not have the hold my interest factor like the first and the horror element I felt was much weaker. More like an afterthought novella. The beginning was good, close to the end great but the middle and the very end didn't excite me.
It's a mix of great scenes and dragged out scenes that frustrated me, I think this could have been done a lot better. The first one blew me away and I recommended it to everyone I knew. This one, I don't know what to say really.
I think Chuck is a good character but in this book he gets swamped a bit by others, didn't come across as the hero for me in this one and the ending was just really disappointingly boring.
I liked where the author teased the book was headed but not where it finally landed. 3 stars, not awful but not the five star brilliance of the first book that I loved. Meh.
For more of my reviews, book chat and more go to:
https://www.facebook.com/BookloverCat...
Chuck is still doing his travels to the astral/soul realm to help lost souls (in a technical futuristic way) and this time he meets up with a soul he has met before, but it's not a happy reunion at all. Nope, not good at all.
This did not have the hold my interest factor like the first and the horror element I felt was much weaker. More like an afterthought novella. The beginning was good, close to the end great but the middle and the very end didn't excite me.
It's a mix of great scenes and dragged out scenes that frustrated me, I think this could have been done a lot better. The first one blew me away and I recommended it to everyone I knew. This one, I don't know what to say really.
I think Chuck is a good character but in this book he gets swamped a bit by others, didn't come across as the hero for me in this one and the ending was just really disappointingly boring.
I liked where the author teased the book was headed but not where it finally landed. 3 stars, not awful but not the five star brilliance of the first book that I loved. Meh.
For more of my reviews, book chat and more go to:
https://www.facebook.com/BookloverCat...
September 1, 2015
Review copy
William Todd Rose writes dark, speculative fiction from his home in West Virginia. You can discover him online at www.williamtoddrose.com.
Bleedovers is a sequel of sorts to Crossfades. Both novellas feature the same characters in similar situations, but Bleedovers certainly works well as a stand-alone read.
Chuck Grainger has a job that is at the same time both a dream and a nightmare. His official title is Recon and Enforcement Technician, Level II. Basically, when he's on assignment, he's supposed to guide souls who've passed on, but for whatever reason can't quite cross The Divide.
After the apparent murder of his Sleeper, a counterpart who works in tandem with Grainger, Marilee Williams, age ten, is brought in to assist in tracking down the NCM responsible. NCM - Non-Corporal Manifestations - or in layman terms, a ghost.
If you enjoyed Crossfades, Bleedovers is a nice followup. A solid, enjoyable story and a quick read.
Published by Hydra, an imprint of Random House, Bleedovers is now available as an ebook only.
William Todd Rose writes dark, speculative fiction from his home in West Virginia. You can discover him online at www.williamtoddrose.com.
Bleedovers is a sequel of sorts to Crossfades. Both novellas feature the same characters in similar situations, but Bleedovers certainly works well as a stand-alone read.
Chuck Grainger has a job that is at the same time both a dream and a nightmare. His official title is Recon and Enforcement Technician, Level II. Basically, when he's on assignment, he's supposed to guide souls who've passed on, but for whatever reason can't quite cross The Divide.
After the apparent murder of his Sleeper, a counterpart who works in tandem with Grainger, Marilee Williams, age ten, is brought in to assist in tracking down the NCM responsible. NCM - Non-Corporal Manifestations - or in layman terms, a ghost.
If you enjoyed Crossfades, Bleedovers is a nice followup. A solid, enjoyable story and a quick read.
Published by Hydra, an imprint of Random House, Bleedovers is now available as an ebook only.
September 2, 2015
REVIEW: BLEEDOVERS by William Todd Rose
I knew I would enjoy BLEEDOVERS because I totally enjoyed the author's CROSSFADES. I was right: BLEEDOVERS leaps right in and treats us to finely-tuned and literate horror. Along with protagonist Chuck Grainger, we walk the paths of darkness and nightmare, as Chuck guides misplaced souls and helps them move on. But as Chuck is targeted by an evil, revenge-seeking spirit, the paths he takes might well be his final steps.
I knew I would enjoy BLEEDOVERS because I totally enjoyed the author's CROSSFADES. I was right: BLEEDOVERS leaps right in and treats us to finely-tuned and literate horror. Along with protagonist Chuck Grainger, we walk the paths of darkness and nightmare, as Chuck guides misplaced souls and helps them move on. But as Chuck is targeted by an evil, revenge-seeking spirit, the paths he takes might well be his final steps.
August 7, 2015
I Happily received this book from Netgalley and
Hydra
For an honest review.
Spooky paranormal Dystopian Theme.. This had my interests up when I Viewed the cover of this. Set in the future somewhat. A Tech team use there paranormal gifts. CrossFading A gift of been able to shift from different realms that normal humans can't see.
Going into a depraved serial killer's world of pain and suffering doesn't sound like something a normal person would want to do. Especially when you know that in this weird Place,There are real souls stuck there being tortured for eternity with no end in sight Not even death. But that's what Chuck does. He goes into these wastelands of lost souls and tries to help them move on.
All in all I really enjoyed this Book The start of it grabbed me. I have to admit I was a bit confused as to what was going on but once I got in to it. It was an awesome tale! I also looked up and found it This was a second instalment to the first by William Todd Rose you can get it here > https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebo...
April 8, 2021
Bleedovers by William Todd Rose is a strong second novella in a series, and readers will want more of this strange world. There is so much more to be explored. Is the last battle the end, or are there more to come? Will Grainger be able to fully free himself from the past and his notoriety? Rose has a gift for creating believable science fiction worlds that are wrought with real, and even imagined, dangers around every corner.
September 16, 2015
William Todd Rose struck me as a horror author to not miss with his novella Crossfades that came out earlier this year. It was in this work that we first met Chuck, whose job it is to astral travel into the in-between areas called Crossfades and help stuck souls cross over into the light. Now Chuck is back in Bleedovers after having defeated the very dangerous and very dead serial killer from Crossfades, and now a very angry ghost is hell bent on breaking through the Crossfade into the real world to get their revenge on Chuck. Is the serial killer back or does someone else hold a vendetta against Chuck?
Chuck Grainger is still a Level I Recon and Enforcement Technician for the Institute, working with the woman who is only called Control. But after they went off protocol to defeat the serial killer in Crossfades, they are assigned a girl named Marilee who has a sub-dermal microchip implanted in her brain to enhance her psychic abilities when the Divide starts to bleed into the real world. As the entity seems to grow stronger and more dangerous, how can they stop a dangerous killer and keep themselves safe at the same time?
I really loved getting a better insight into Chuck and how his attitute has changed towards his job. His friendship with Control is forbidden but they still forge one anyway, and seeing them interact was really fun. Marilee was a very interesting little girl, and as intimidating as she is at eleven years old from being a psychic and working for the Institute for so long, she’s definitely very layered and complex at the same time.
I give Bleedovers a five out of five, and it can be read as a stand alone novella but I highly recommend reading Crossfades first. This one flowed a lot more smoothly than Crossfades for me since the mechanics of how Crossfades and traveling to them works wasn’t delved into in depth like in the Crossfades novella. Bleedovers was definitely more of a man vs supernatural monster story, and I really enjoyed how Chuck, Control, and Marilee worked with each other. The imagery and scenes were descriptive and vivid, especially as the metaphysical world bled into and overlapped with the physical world. This book is not for people who are a bit bug phobic, so just be warned.
(Also on Bewitched Bookworms, free copy received for TLC Book Tour in exchange for honest review)
Chuck Grainger is still a Level I Recon and Enforcement Technician for the Institute, working with the woman who is only called Control. But after they went off protocol to defeat the serial killer in Crossfades, they are assigned a girl named Marilee who has a sub-dermal microchip implanted in her brain to enhance her psychic abilities when the Divide starts to bleed into the real world. As the entity seems to grow stronger and more dangerous, how can they stop a dangerous killer and keep themselves safe at the same time?
I really loved getting a better insight into Chuck and how his attitute has changed towards his job. His friendship with Control is forbidden but they still forge one anyway, and seeing them interact was really fun. Marilee was a very interesting little girl, and as intimidating as she is at eleven years old from being a psychic and working for the Institute for so long, she’s definitely very layered and complex at the same time.
I give Bleedovers a five out of five, and it can be read as a stand alone novella but I highly recommend reading Crossfades first. This one flowed a lot more smoothly than Crossfades for me since the mechanics of how Crossfades and traveling to them works wasn’t delved into in depth like in the Crossfades novella. Bleedovers was definitely more of a man vs supernatural monster story, and I really enjoyed how Chuck, Control, and Marilee worked with each other. The imagery and scenes were descriptive and vivid, especially as the metaphysical world bled into and overlapped with the physical world. This book is not for people who are a bit bug phobic, so just be warned.
(Also on Bewitched Bookworms, free copy received for TLC Book Tour in exchange for honest review)
September 14, 2015
Bleedovers by William Todd Rose is a dark fiction novella that will keep you awake at night, wondering, could it happen to you.
The title didn’t make much sense to me until I started to read. Then it became clear.
OMG! The elaborate details of William Todd Rose’s world building are amazing. I am thoroughly creeped out. I sure couldn’t figure out WTF was going on. I raced through the pages, sometimes forgetting to breathe.
Chuck is a Level I Recon & Enforcement Technician – Whisk. He works in a covert, underground facility. He loves puzzles, math equations and the process of finding solutions. Chuck was investigating an unnatural death. Would it take him too?
Meditation frees the mind from the body and sometimes someone gets stuck in a Crossfade. Imagine the horror of not knowing whether you are dead or alive.
The paranormal leads to science fiction horror. The experiments invade your privacy, they know all your thoughts. I cannot imagine what it would be like to feel someone crawling through my mind, ferreting out all my secrets.
There are ghosts who refuse to move on. They have unfinished business. They delight in terrorizing. Why did the ghost scare him more than Crossfades? Being haunted and tortured by a serial killer seeking revenge and you can do nothing about it.
The details take me into his head and I feel his paralyzing terror, his inability to move to save himself, as the hatred washes over him. The ghost can cause physical damage, maybe even kill. It is all powerful. It not only enters your sleep, but your reality, making you see things. How would you fight something you cannot touch?
What is real, what is illusion?
Poltergeist is a fairy tale compared to Bleedovers by William Todd Rose.
Bleedovers is a dark, and I mean dark, speculative fiction novella that kept me enthralled beginning to end. Oh, about the ending, I didn’t see it coming and I was let down. It had to happen that way, but I didn’t want it to. That makes it all the better. We can’t always get what we want.
I received a copy of Bleedovers by William Todd Rose in return for an honest and unbiased review.
To see more, visit http://www.fundinmental.com
The title didn’t make much sense to me until I started to read. Then it became clear.
OMG! The elaborate details of William Todd Rose’s world building are amazing. I am thoroughly creeped out. I sure couldn’t figure out WTF was going on. I raced through the pages, sometimes forgetting to breathe.
Chuck is a Level I Recon & Enforcement Technician – Whisk. He works in a covert, underground facility. He loves puzzles, math equations and the process of finding solutions. Chuck was investigating an unnatural death. Would it take him too?
Meditation frees the mind from the body and sometimes someone gets stuck in a Crossfade. Imagine the horror of not knowing whether you are dead or alive.
The paranormal leads to science fiction horror. The experiments invade your privacy, they know all your thoughts. I cannot imagine what it would be like to feel someone crawling through my mind, ferreting out all my secrets.
There are ghosts who refuse to move on. They have unfinished business. They delight in terrorizing. Why did the ghost scare him more than Crossfades? Being haunted and tortured by a serial killer seeking revenge and you can do nothing about it.
The details take me into his head and I feel his paralyzing terror, his inability to move to save himself, as the hatred washes over him. The ghost can cause physical damage, maybe even kill. It is all powerful. It not only enters your sleep, but your reality, making you see things. How would you fight something you cannot touch?
What is real, what is illusion?
Poltergeist is a fairy tale compared to Bleedovers by William Todd Rose.
Bleedovers is a dark, and I mean dark, speculative fiction novella that kept me enthralled beginning to end. Oh, about the ending, I didn’t see it coming and I was let down. It had to happen that way, but I didn’t want it to. That makes it all the better. We can’t always get what we want.
I received a copy of Bleedovers by William Todd Rose in return for an honest and unbiased review.
To see more, visit http://www.fundinmental.com
September 12, 2015
Excellent sequel to Crossfades! Not as scary but still downright creepy! Rose knows how to write scenes of intense grotesquery and horror. This book furthers the adventures of Chuck and Control in their unique job dealing with troublesome souls caught between here and the hereafter. A very evil spirit is out to make Chuck pay and a little girl from the psychic division is sent around to help them stop it. Great characters, some fun dialogue and truly disturbing scenes not for the faint of heart.
October 13, 2017
Great little horror adventure and a worthy follow up to Crossfades.
November 2, 2015
Originally posted on The Bibliophile Chronicles.
Chuck and Control are back in this fantastic sequel to Crossfades!
Synopsis:
There’s only one thing standing between humanity and the dark forces of the supernatural: the secret agency known as The Institute. The organization depends on regular guys like Chuck, a Level I Recon and Enforcement Technician who guides tormented spirits into the next life.
From an office deep underground, Chuck projects his spirit into Crossfades, monstrous realms where the souls of the dead, unable to move on due to fear or anger, devise macabre tortures for themselves and one another. He’s always been able to leave his work behind at the end of the day . . . until now.
First in dreams, then in waking nightmares, Crossfades are bleeding into the physical world. And now it’s up to Chuck—along with his partner, a woman named Control—to put a stop to it. Because there’s no telling what might come over from the other side.
Review:
Bleedovers is the sequel to the horror novella Crossfades. It’s a fantastically creepy story, and if you haven’t read it yet, you can read my review here. Bleedovers follows the same characters from the previous book, so its interesting to see how they've progressed. Chuck is still working for The Institute, and saving lost souls. As with the previous book it has plenty of character depth, and even with the supernatural aspects, the characters are very realistic.
The thing I loved most about Crossfades was how scary and creepy it is, and you can definitely say the same thing about Bleedovers. Filled with some really fantastic scenes and frightening imagery, this is definitely a book to read with the lights on. William Todd Rose does a fantastic job of really sucking you in and making you feel like part of the moment. Rose’s writing flows really well and is excellently paced.
Probably the most haunting bit is the Crossfade which occurs in a school. For anyone who’s ever been in a school after dark when no one else is around, you’ll know how completely eerie it can be. William Todd Rose does a fantastic job of bringing that imagery to life, and making you feel incredibly uncomfortable at the same time.
Although I really enjoyed Bleedovers, I definitely preferred Crossfades. Maybe it’s just because the ideas in the story were all new and strange, but there’s something about it that just has that extra oompf. If you’re looking for something a bit different and a bit eerie. I’d definitely recommend these books. They are both very short, just under 150 pages each, so you can read them pretty quickly. If you’re a fan of the likes of Joe Hill, you’ll absolutely love William Todd Rose.
Chuck and Control are back in this fantastic sequel to Crossfades!
Synopsis:
There’s only one thing standing between humanity and the dark forces of the supernatural: the secret agency known as The Institute. The organization depends on regular guys like Chuck, a Level I Recon and Enforcement Technician who guides tormented spirits into the next life.
From an office deep underground, Chuck projects his spirit into Crossfades, monstrous realms where the souls of the dead, unable to move on due to fear or anger, devise macabre tortures for themselves and one another. He’s always been able to leave his work behind at the end of the day . . . until now.
First in dreams, then in waking nightmares, Crossfades are bleeding into the physical world. And now it’s up to Chuck—along with his partner, a woman named Control—to put a stop to it. Because there’s no telling what might come over from the other side.
Review:
Bleedovers is the sequel to the horror novella Crossfades. It’s a fantastically creepy story, and if you haven’t read it yet, you can read my review here. Bleedovers follows the same characters from the previous book, so its interesting to see how they've progressed. Chuck is still working for The Institute, and saving lost souls. As with the previous book it has plenty of character depth, and even with the supernatural aspects, the characters are very realistic.
The thing I loved most about Crossfades was how scary and creepy it is, and you can definitely say the same thing about Bleedovers. Filled with some really fantastic scenes and frightening imagery, this is definitely a book to read with the lights on. William Todd Rose does a fantastic job of really sucking you in and making you feel like part of the moment. Rose’s writing flows really well and is excellently paced.
Probably the most haunting bit is the Crossfade which occurs in a school. For anyone who’s ever been in a school after dark when no one else is around, you’ll know how completely eerie it can be. William Todd Rose does a fantastic job of bringing that imagery to life, and making you feel incredibly uncomfortable at the same time.
Although I really enjoyed Bleedovers, I definitely preferred Crossfades. Maybe it’s just because the ideas in the story were all new and strange, but there’s something about it that just has that extra oompf. If you’re looking for something a bit different and a bit eerie. I’d definitely recommend these books. They are both very short, just under 150 pages each, so you can read them pretty quickly. If you’re a fan of the likes of Joe Hill, you’ll absolutely love William Todd Rose.
November 11, 2015
Chuck Grainger's office lies 15 stories underground. His employer, a secret agency known only as the Institute, helps tormented souls of the recently deceased journey on to where they belong. His job is to offer aid to souls needing only a little help to continue their journey into the light. The Level 1 Recon and Enforcement technician recruits are selected from college tests on high scoring 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 projects his astral spirit to travel into the Crossfades to assist the souls of the deceased with the crossover.
Although Bleedovers is a stand alone novella, it is the second novella in this Dystopian series. My personal recommendation would be to read Crossovers first. Or at least read the reviews for Crossfades posted on Goodreads and Amazon.
Now, first in Chuck's dreams and then in waking nightmares, crossfades are "bleeding over" into the reality of the physical world. Previously, Chuck defeated a dead serial killer and is now targeted by this angry ghost from the first book as he seeks a horrific revenge. Chuck knows he is awake during the visitations by the spirit during the bleedovers, but the opening gate is blurred and to Chuck, it seems as if he is in a dream. The bleedovers must be stopped before monsters from the other side are allowed to cross over into the real world.
Chuck and Control are accompanied by Marilee Williams, a little girl from the Physical Research and Anomalies section of the Institute. Her psychic abilities are enhanced by a subdermal microchip implanted in her brain. Marilee is brought in to assist with trapping and destroying the angry spirit bent on revenge before it will be unleashed in our world.
I enjoyed this story, and highly recommend both novellas to Science Fiction and Horror genre readers.
ARC courtesy of the author and publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.
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 projects his astral spirit to travel into the Crossfades to assist the souls of the deceased with the crossover.
Although Bleedovers is a stand alone novella, it is the second novella in this Dystopian series. My personal recommendation would be to read Crossovers first. Or at least read the reviews for Crossfades posted on Goodreads and Amazon.
Now, first in Chuck's dreams and then in waking nightmares, crossfades are "bleeding over" into the reality of the physical world. Previously, Chuck defeated a dead serial killer and is now targeted by this angry ghost from the first book as he seeks a horrific revenge. Chuck knows he is awake during the visitations by the spirit during the bleedovers, but the opening gate is blurred and to Chuck, it seems as if he is in a dream. The bleedovers must be stopped before monsters from the other side are allowed to cross over into the real world.
Chuck and Control are accompanied by Marilee Williams, a little girl from the Physical Research and Anomalies section of the Institute. Her psychic abilities are enhanced by a subdermal microchip implanted in her brain. Marilee is brought in to assist with trapping and destroying the angry spirit bent on revenge before it will be unleashed in our world.
I enjoyed this story, and highly recommend both novellas to Science Fiction and Horror genre readers.
ARC courtesy of the author and publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.
July 4, 2015
Going into a depraved serial killer's world of pain and suffering doesn't sound like something a normal person would do. Especially when you know that in this weird limbo, there are real souls stuck there, being tortured for eternity with no end in sight--not even death. But that's what Chuck does. He goes into these wastelands of lost souls and tries to help them move on.
I didn't read Crossfades first, so some of the references were ones that I had to just assume certain things for. It didn't really mess up the flow of Bleedovers at all, but I think it probably would have been easier to read this if I had read Crossfades first. There were returning characters, and there were certain rules to Chuck's career that seemed to already have been established for the reader before I came around. This doesn't pose as much of a problem as you might expect, though!
Chuck deals with some intensely creepy stuff. When a bleedover happens, he knows he is awake but all the rules in the universe act as if he is in a dream. In this case, an unknown enemy has such powerful bleedovers it seems as if Chuck will eventually die in one of them. And let me tell you--those things are insane in all the best ways. The worst was the frozen children with no face holes--no eyes, no mouths, nothing. And they move closer, and closer, whenever you can't see them....
Eesh. Yeah, I couldn't do Chuck's job. Way too terrifying but amazing to read about. That guy has some cahones, because holy crap. The things he had to face off against are literally the stuff of nightmares.
I didn't read Crossfades first, so some of the references were ones that I had to just assume certain things for. It didn't really mess up the flow of Bleedovers at all, but I think it probably would have been easier to read this if I had read Crossfades first. There were returning characters, and there were certain rules to Chuck's career that seemed to already have been established for the reader before I came around. This doesn't pose as much of a problem as you might expect, though!
Chuck deals with some intensely creepy stuff. When a bleedover happens, he knows he is awake but all the rules in the universe act as if he is in a dream. In this case, an unknown enemy has such powerful bleedovers it seems as if Chuck will eventually die in one of them. And let me tell you--those things are insane in all the best ways. The worst was the frozen children with no face holes--no eyes, no mouths, nothing. And they move closer, and closer, whenever you can't see them....
Eesh. Yeah, I couldn't do Chuck's job. Way too terrifying but amazing to read about. That guy has some cahones, because holy crap. The things he had to face off against are literally the stuff of nightmares.
September 27, 2015
Chuck is back with the Institute after miraculously finding his way back to his body. Though his actions were clearly not by the book, he has been forgiven and allowed back to work. But things are in a bit of a lull after his partner dies and a replacement isn't easily found.
That lull doesn't last long. It seems Chuck's partner didn't die of natural causes but was killed by an NCM - Non-Corporeal Manifestation in official speak. In other words, Nodens was murdered by a ghost. Meanwhile, Chuck himself is experiencing Crossfade-quality nightmares and these nightmares come with an ominous warning.
Ummm, Bleedovers really is the stuff of nightmares! Seriously. Chuck's "nightmares" are gory and incredibly creepy - even in the middle of the afternoon. I kind of worried what kind of dreams I'd have as a result of reading this one!
Like its predecessor, Crossfades, Bleedovers introduces some quite unique concepts - or explanations of them. The NCMs - or Bleedovers themselves (ghosts that know they're dead and bounce from Crossfade to Crossfade, sometimes even manifesting in real life) - are new to this second outing. This paired with The Institute itself and Chuck's job makes William Todd Rose's stories interesting twists on classic ghost story tropes. Plus, you know, this one is kind of a murder mystery as well!
That lull doesn't last long. It seems Chuck's partner didn't die of natural causes but was killed by an NCM - Non-Corporeal Manifestation in official speak. In other words, Nodens was murdered by a ghost. Meanwhile, Chuck himself is experiencing Crossfade-quality nightmares and these nightmares come with an ominous warning.
Ummm, Bleedovers really is the stuff of nightmares! Seriously. Chuck's "nightmares" are gory and incredibly creepy - even in the middle of the afternoon. I kind of worried what kind of dreams I'd have as a result of reading this one!
Like its predecessor, Crossfades, Bleedovers introduces some quite unique concepts - or explanations of them. The NCMs - or Bleedovers themselves (ghosts that know they're dead and bounce from Crossfade to Crossfade, sometimes even manifesting in real life) - are new to this second outing. This paired with The Institute itself and Chuck's job makes William Todd Rose's stories interesting twists on classic ghost story tropes. Plus, you know, this one is kind of a murder mystery as well!
October 23, 2015
I was given an electronic copy by Random House Publishing Group - Hydra and NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
To be honest, I was a bit confused at the start of this novella. I had read and enjoyed Crossfades, the precursor to this book, but Bleedovers is not nearly as successful. Chuck, Level 1 Recon and Enforcement Technician, is back and guiding more tormented souls into the Afterlife. The big problem is that Crossfades are coming back into the physical world, which has catastrophic implications. The author is masterful with descriptive passages, making Bleedovers feel more like a full length novel. This complete story has a well developed character in Chuck and an interesting premise. The only place where it falls short is the beginning, as the author is slow to reveal the situation. Regardless of the fact that it is definitely more horror filled than Crossfades, Bleedovers just did not hold my interest all the way through. That being said, the action packed ending more than made up for the confusing beginning. No doubt, author William Todd Rose is skillful at weaving a horror story. I look forward to exploring new, scary worlds with this author in the future.
To be honest, I was a bit confused at the start of this novella. I had read and enjoyed Crossfades, the precursor to this book, but Bleedovers is not nearly as successful. Chuck, Level 1 Recon and Enforcement Technician, is back and guiding more tormented souls into the Afterlife. The big problem is that Crossfades are coming back into the physical world, which has catastrophic implications. The author is masterful with descriptive passages, making Bleedovers feel more like a full length novel. This complete story has a well developed character in Chuck and an interesting premise. The only place where it falls short is the beginning, as the author is slow to reveal the situation. Regardless of the fact that it is definitely more horror filled than Crossfades, Bleedovers just did not hold my interest all the way through. That being said, the action packed ending more than made up for the confusing beginning. No doubt, author William Todd Rose is skillful at weaving a horror story. I look forward to exploring new, scary worlds with this author in the future.
November 23, 2015
disclaimer – i received a copy of this book via hydra in exchange for an honest review.
welcome to the institute, the one thing standing between you and the supernatural. now say hello to chuck. he works for the institute, projecting himself into crossfades to help spirits who are stuck crossover into the afterlife. now get ready to run, because the crossfades, those in-between spaces where souls torture themselves and each other, are bleeding into our reality and it’s up to chuck to stop them.
let’s get this out of the way first – bleedovers was spectacular. i’m not sure what the “dystopian” part of the title really refers to but william todd rose has written an incredibly good horror novella. the characters are likeable, the spirits are scary, and the crossfades are completely freaky (imagine those times when you’re not sure if you’re awake or asleep but you’re still scared to death). apparently there’s a novella that takes place before this one and i definitely have to pick it up.
four out of five stars
welcome to the institute, the one thing standing between you and the supernatural. now say hello to chuck. he works for the institute, projecting himself into crossfades to help spirits who are stuck crossover into the afterlife. now get ready to run, because the crossfades, those in-between spaces where souls torture themselves and each other, are bleeding into our reality and it’s up to chuck to stop them.
let’s get this out of the way first – bleedovers was spectacular. i’m not sure what the “dystopian” part of the title really refers to but william todd rose has written an incredibly good horror novella. the characters are likeable, the spirits are scary, and the crossfades are completely freaky (imagine those times when you’re not sure if you’re awake or asleep but you’re still scared to death). apparently there’s a novella that takes place before this one and i definitely have to pick it up.
four out of five stars
October 8, 2015
Chuck saves lost souls. He projects himself into the crossfade which are monstrous realms that souls get trapped in. Chuck goes there to help the lost souls to move. Chuck discovers that cross fades are entering his dreams which doesn't normally happen. Then the crossfade comes into his life while he is awake. Why? What is happening? The boss of the Institue that Chuck works for calls him and his partner Control in to tell them that they will be working with ten year old Marilee Williams to track the ghost and catch it and move it on. Marilee needs their help to do it.
Bleedovers is a sequel but I don't think you need to read it to enjoy the book. Bleedovers is my first book that I read by William Rose. It is excellent! It is dark and creepy. I recommend reading this book at night with all the lights on. The writing is exception and pulls you right into the story. Read it!
Disclaimer: I received an arc of this book free from the author/publisher from Netgalley. I was not obliged to write a favorable review, or even any review at all. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.
Bleedovers is a sequel but I don't think you need to read it to enjoy the book. Bleedovers is my first book that I read by William Rose. It is excellent! It is dark and creepy. I recommend reading this book at night with all the lights on. The writing is exception and pulls you right into the story. Read it!
Disclaimer: I received an arc of this book free from the author/publisher from Netgalley. I was not obliged to write a favorable review, or even any review at all. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.
September 2, 2015
I read this book for NetGalley.
Mr. Rose takes an ancient genre, the wounded warrior story, and transforms it into a refreshingly new and exciting novel about a psychic warrior, Chuck Grainger, and his comrades in arms at the Institute, who keep the malevolent and dark forces of the supernatural from disturbing and destroying the real, mundane everyday world.
Bleedovers, the successor to Mr. Rose's first novel in the series (Crossfades), works as a standalone novel since Mr. Rose deftly fills in background material where required in the story. This literary device works very well to educate the reader without confusing flashbacks and moves the plot and action along quickly.
The characters are a nice change from the usual genre types. This adds a lot to the plot and atmosphere. The novel has a very good plot with a nice plot twist near the end. The action is nice and fast paced so the reader is not bored. And the dialogue is believable as well.
All in all, a very entertaining and enjoyable book. I look forward to reading more in this series by Mr. Rose.
Mr. Rose takes an ancient genre, the wounded warrior story, and transforms it into a refreshingly new and exciting novel about a psychic warrior, Chuck Grainger, and his comrades in arms at the Institute, who keep the malevolent and dark forces of the supernatural from disturbing and destroying the real, mundane everyday world.
Bleedovers, the successor to Mr. Rose's first novel in the series (Crossfades), works as a standalone novel since Mr. Rose deftly fills in background material where required in the story. This literary device works very well to educate the reader without confusing flashbacks and moves the plot and action along quickly.
The characters are a nice change from the usual genre types. This adds a lot to the plot and atmosphere. The novel has a very good plot with a nice plot twist near the end. The action is nice and fast paced so the reader is not bored. And the dialogue is believable as well.
All in all, a very entertaining and enjoyable book. I look forward to reading more in this series by Mr. Rose.
February 10, 2016
Bleedovers: A Dystopian Novella by William Todd Rose I received a free kindle copy of Bleedovers: A Dystopian Novella by William Todd Rose from the author in exchange for a fair review. That did not influence my rating.
I gave this intense, horror filled book five stars from start to finish.
While some of the events were puzzling, the characters were incredibly well drawn, the dialogue was on target & the pace was steady. It is a suspense-filled stand alone book.
I will now look for more of William Todd Rose's books.
Link to purchase: http://www.amazon.com/Bleedovers-Dyst...
I gave this intense, horror filled book five stars from start to finish.
While some of the events were puzzling, the characters were incredibly well drawn, the dialogue was on target & the pace was steady. It is a suspense-filled stand alone book.
I will now look for more of William Todd Rose's books.
Link to purchase: http://www.amazon.com/Bleedovers-Dyst...
June 20, 2015
I received a free ARC from NetGalley.
I did not read the first book in the series, and I admit I was a little confused at first. I didn't know what was going on at first, and then found out we were in a dream. OK, that made a little more sense. I enjoyed the book more once Chuck got to work and began investigating the bleedover. I liked the concept of the Institute and the work they were doing. Going into the crossfades was really interesting. Overall, I liked the ideas contained in the story, I just thought they could have been executed better.
I did not read the first book in the series, and I admit I was a little confused at first. I didn't know what was going on at first, and then found out we were in a dream. OK, that made a little more sense. I enjoyed the book more once Chuck got to work and began investigating the bleedover. I liked the concept of the Institute and the work they were doing. Going into the crossfades was really interesting. Overall, I liked the ideas contained in the story, I just thought they could have been executed better.
September 2, 2015
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
As a semi-sequel to Crossfades, Bleedovers is gruesome and horrifying. Chuck Grainger moves between our world and the ghostly afterlife, investigating crossfades and bleedovers, encountering powerful forces imprisoned there. Terrifying and highly readable, William Todd Rose takes his place with Stephen King, Joe Hill and Dean Koontz.
As a semi-sequel to Crossfades, Bleedovers is gruesome and horrifying. Chuck Grainger moves between our world and the ghostly afterlife, investigating crossfades and bleedovers, encountering powerful forces imprisoned there. Terrifying and highly readable, William Todd Rose takes his place with Stephen King, Joe Hill and Dean Koontz.
September 1, 2015
A short book but lush with rich language descriptions to take the reader into unknown areas. The plot is twisted and leads to a surprising solution. The lyric descriptions of foul places are not for the faint of heart, but ramp up the intensity of the story to stratospheric levels. An "aha" moment at the end helps to place the features of the dystopian landscape into prospective. Terrifying and satisfying at the same time. Worth a read or two.
August 6, 2017
2 STARS
Thanks to the author for giving me a free copy in exchange for an honest review
I particularly liked the fact that there was not a love story between the characters in the story, although, I admit, I was expecting a kiss between Control and Chuck.
I do not recommend reading this book to a public impressionable or to whoever (like me) has a phobia of insects.
June 15, 2015
I received this from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This novella is a sequel to Crossovers, and I think that Crossovers is much stronger. However, I still enjoyed this book and read it in one sitting. I eagerly look forward to reading more of William Todd Rose's books.
This novella is a sequel to Crossovers, and I think that Crossovers is much stronger. However, I still enjoyed this book and read it in one sitting. I eagerly look forward to reading more of William Todd Rose's books.
June 14, 2015
Not as good as the first but still a worthwhile read
For a full review, please go to http://www.examiner.com/review/bleedo... and follow me on Twitter @josenher
For a full review, please go to http://www.examiner.com/review/bleedo... and follow me on Twitter @josenher
August 29, 2015
I received this arc from Netgalley.
I enjoyed this quick read. Very entertaining and a real page turner.
I enjoyed this quick read. Very entertaining and a real page turner.
September 1, 2015
For lovers of the supernatural told in an extremely creepy way this novella is perfect for you,
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