Unto the Altar

by John Tigges

YOUNG, INNOCENT -- AND DAMNED

She had come to the remote island to recover from the shock of her parents' violent death. The other guests at Revillion Manor welcomed her with open arms, eager to make her feel at home -- perhaps too eager, Adriana begin to think. Overwhelmed by their solicitude, she sensed a mysterious purpose behind the ministrations of her incredibly attractive companions, all of whom seemed to have discovered the secret of eternal youth and beauty.

And when Adriana found out the horrifying truth, there was nowhere to run, no one to turn to, no way to save her immortal soul…

Genres: Horror

400 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 1985

About the author

Tigges began his career as an author and writer in 1973. He wrote more than thirty-eight books under his own name and pen names "Ned Stone" and "William Essex."

In 1976 Tigges was commissioned to write Jean Marie Cardinal, an historical novel. Teaming with James Shaffer, he wrote Dubuque: The 19th Century, Dubuque: The 20th Century, Iowa’s Last Narrow-Gauge Railroad, and Railroads of Dubuque, Iowa. Tigges wrote such novels as Garden of the Incubus, Unto the Altar, Kiss Not the Child, Evil Dreams, The Immortal, Hand of Lucifer, As Evil Does, Vessel, Comes the Wraith, Venom, and Book of the Dead. Under the pen name William Essex he wrote The Pack, Slime, and From Below. He wrote Mountain Massacre, and Rails to Hades using the name Ned Stone. Tigges founded the Sinipee Writers Workshop and taught writing seminars in Iowa and Wisconsin.

Tigges made many contributions locally to the field of music. He established the Dubuque "Pops" orchestra and co-founded the DUBUQUE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA in 1956. Tigges served as business manager of the symphony for ten years and played violin with it from 1958 to 1968 and again from 1971 to 1973. In 1972 Tigges founded the Julien Strings, a society string orchestra. He led the group and played violin.

Reviews

[Peter · Rating 3 out of 5]

When Adriana is informed that her parents died in a car crash she collapses. A psychiatrist helps her to get back to a normal life. But Morrison isn't true to her. He has other plans. She is chosen to bear Satan's child, to be the mother of the Antichrist... can Adriana survive the Satanists on the remote island he brings her to? What about the Antichrist? Is he really born and who will raise the child? The novel started strong and uncanny but soon started to ripple along. Not much happened here, some typical black mass scenes, Adriana being impregnated by the leader of the cult, details on the unholy intercourse, other cult members... well. There was a bit of a stale aftertaste. Not bad, at parts uncanny at parts tedious and overwritten, but in general Rosemary's Baby was far better in my opinion. Recommended to those who like books on satanists and friends of The Omen series (also better). Great cover though!

[Christopher Fulbright · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed Unto the Altar, so don't think the three-star rating is a slam. The reason I didn't give it four stars was because I felt it was a bit overwritten and could have been almost half the length it was. There was a lot of internal monologue, and I didn't find the main character all that sharp. Yes, she's supposed to have been brainwashed, but there are some real bonehead moments here. That said, I am nostalgic for 80s pulp horror, and I love John Tigges books overall, so I did enjoy reading this book. Great occult horror, devil worshipers in a manor on an isolated island, sacrifices, orgies and a few surprises at the end made this a satisfying read for me.

[Liz · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the cheesiest of cheesy 'satanist' novels. If you know anything about the subject, turn your brain off before reading this; the author very clearly didn't care what things were, as long as it sounded 'creepy'.

My main complaint is how repetitive the book becomes, especially in later chapters. I understand *why* it is, but after about the fourth or fifth time of the main character getting "confused" and having to read the same text over and over, I'd had enough; there's a way around that to not bore your audience.

The storyline is completely ludicrous, but I can usually go along with that. Unfortunately, with this, there was *just* enough evidence of research to make me especially irate; it's clear he did his research, but that it just didn't extend very far.

Decent writing, and for that I give it two stars. Decent, but could have been so, so much better!

[Ethan’s Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first satanic cult type of book and I couldn’t of asked for anything more. This book had me hooked from start to finish.

I tried to read kiss not the child which is the second one in the series. But I could not get into it. I’ll try again another day.

[Arin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Awesome, quick addictive read.

[Reevrb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent right to the last page!!

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

Even as a child I read and re-read books like 'Scary Stories To Tell In
The Dark' (all three books) and as a pre-teen I
read countless R.L. Stine books. It's been some time since I've read them, however reading this book, memories of R.L. Stine books come to mind. Not to say this book is for young horror lovers, the main character is held against her will and raped to produce the antichrist. (I suppose in '85 when the book was released, such things were new and not written into the ground, the whole Satanic Cult out to produce the Antichrist is a tad bit tired though IMO)
I am interested in other books by this author with the hopes that he has gotten better with time. I see a potentially good writer here and am hoping his other books have a little more to offer.

[Ronald Mbewe]

It feels as if the man is making out on a disclosure of satanic connections to the devil for professional and spiritual success, and the eminent failure of the anti-Christ by devil worshipers! All in all, a detailed class of well schooled, highly determined devils.

[Priyanka · Rating 1 out of 5]

read it out of curiosity.