This is not the fake, Hollywood-style Sleepy Hollow American television series. This is the true, terrifying story.
The Devil’s Patch! Book Two (and conclusion) of the debut Sleepy Hollow Horrors by Austin Dragon.
Ten years ago Ichabod Crane disappeared! The Horseman took him—like so many others—one dark night in 1790. All that remained of the town's amiable schoolmaster was his hat on the side of the road, with a shattered pumpkin beside it. But soon the fearful townspeople of Sleepy Hollow realized that the terrifying Horseman, that haunted their region for ages, had also disappeared, inexplicably, after that night. They were free!
Then a lone Julian Crane—Ichabod’s nephew—arrived in Sleepy Hollow.
He was friendly enough, well-mannered, charming, but he hid his true intentions—his personal hunt for the foul murderer of his dear uncle—and he single-handedly turned Sleepy Hollow upside-down in his quest of vengeance.
Now he knows the truth of who killed his uncle—and the many, many other victims—and that murderer is not a man of flesh and blood. But can he and his Super Posse stop this evil thing? They are no longer in Sleepy Hollow. They have tracked it to its accursed domain—The Devil’s Patch.
Will Julian, or any of them, survive the wrath of the Headless Horseman?
Austin Dragon is the author of the new military sci-fi Planet Tamers series, epic fantasy Fabled Quest Chronicles, the sci-fi detective Liquid Cool series, the international epic After Eden Series, and the classic Sleepy Hollow Horrors. He is currently working on new books and series in science fiction, fantasy, and classic horror!
He is a native New Yorker, but has called Los Angeles, California home for the last twenty years. Words to describe him, in no particular order: U.S. Army, English teacher, one-time resident of Paris, political junkie, movie buff, Fortune 500 corporate recruiter, renaissance man, dreamer.
Great ending to a great adventure. The characters are well written and developed. This book picks up where the other left off and it goes into detail about 10 other people who the horseman is after. Apparently the horseman tries to kill them from afar before they can get to where he is at, but all of them escape death and come together to fight him. It is a great conclusion to the Legend of Sleepy Hollow. If you love The Legend of Sleepy Hollow then you should definitely read this series it will not disappoint you.
A collection of backstory snippets for the posse members, pose scenarios and a variety of the disparate characters, travelling to, living in, wary of, keen to get to, or doomed to meet the foul fiend of Sleepy Hollow and his evil minions, who are seen inhabiting its formerly peaceful locale.
More than three-quarters of the men and boys applying to the posse Marshal Julian Crane interviews aren't even fighters, but tradesmen, braggarts and bullies, whom he turns away. Then Shaughnessy, an Irish bounty hunter arrives with many circus folk, including 'Chief Baltimore', a white-skinned man, brought up by a wise mentor/medicine man among a tribe, who taught him many secrets, legends and tricks and two huge brothers who fight and kill anyone who crosses them and knocks ordinary men and women out cold.
With 'Brom Bones' offering a huge reward to each man joining the final ten men, assembled to kill the Horseman in his lair, the date with doom begins at dawn.
The determined raiders set off, with the Chief steering them the best way to avoid being killed before the face-off. Who's followed them from the Hollow? What happens when they get near the ghastly Isle? Where does Julian find Ichabod? Does Shaughnessy get closure?
A soul-searing, heart-stopping series of events, ensures the posse's battle to the death, (and beyond), will take you on a journey to the very edges of Hell itself. You won't forget the revelations within Austin Dragon's second Sleepy Hollow Horrors Series, Book 2, The Devil's Patch, for a very long time.
Are you sitting comfortably? Ready to enter the harrowing horrors within? Be assured the author cannot be held responsible for any nightmares or other reactions, experienced by those of a nervous disposition, who won't be sleeping well tonight, once they - and you - are gripped by mortal fear of the Headless Horseman...run for your life and never look back!
As I write elsewhereSects and Violence in the Ancient World, there’s always a satisfaction to finishing a two-volume set. Austin Dragon’s Sleepy Hollow spinoff certainly is creative. It’s of course one of many recent re-envisionings, retellings, or sequels to the Washington Irving original that was an early favorite of American readers.
To read this conclusion of the story it really helps to have read Hollow Blood, since this volume continues with some of the original characters and certainly a continuation of the story. I suspect this could’ve been squeezed into one volume, but it takes a real commitment to get someone to pick up a big book.
This one features an ensemble cast put together to go and finish off the headless horseman. For some reason he’s located well to the north of Sleepy Hollow, and this detracts a bit from the area charm that location lends a story. The storytelling is about the same as the previous volume and ends with a successful foray for the team that sets out to take on the menace. I suspect this isn’t the last time Sleepy Hollow will be revisited.
Don't read this until you've finished "Hollow Blood" Book One, but HAVE IT READY! This is the grand finale and denouement of the story begun in Book One. It adds an essential conclusion to the story. Part I introduces us to the Headless Horseman and the Legend of Sleepy Hollow. Then in Part II we read about ten men's stories, who somehow escaped whatever the evil thing was that stalked them. Part III tells of how the posse to hunt and destroy the Headless Horseman, or whatever it is, is chosen. We meet again the ten men who escaped, as they arrive to join the posse to destroy the monster that so terribly affected their lives. The posse makes plans and sets out. They track the Headless Horseman monster to its lair, and the final confrontation erupts. Wow! I originally thought this was a detective story, but that was a major misapprehension - this truly is a horror story.
This was a well written, thrilling, and enjoyable read. I wasnt sure at first if a new spin could be taken on The Headless Horseman without being boring, but Austin Dragon did just that! I liked that it did have some of a horror factor, but not overly. It told of the history of the men who were the main characters and how they came to be in the Final Posse. I liked the family stories and the bad stories that brought them all together. The detail also to what happend to the Head, and the people who were killed. The ending was also good, and I was not left hanging, Austin kindly put together where the men went after the Hunt, who stayed in Sleepy Hollow, and who left. I look forward to the next story! Thank You Austin Dragon for a great story!
I wasn't sure which direction this book was taking when I started reading, as I was expecting it to carry on from Book One. I'm glad that I persevered as it gave insight into the reasons why these men decided to go after the Headless Horseman. A thrilling read and well deserved outcome.
In the second, and final, book of his Sleepy Hollow Horrors duet, "The Devil's Patch," Austin Dragon continues the story begun in the first book, and maintains all the things that made the first book so good - a very unique plot, a great twist on a legendary tale, and interesting and unforgettable characters. Not to mention the realistic dialogue, atmospheric setting and creepy mystery. As Julian confronts the evil at Devil's Patch, you'll be holding your breath in excitement and anticipation, in the concluding volume (but hopefully not the last story set in this realm), of this fantastic and well-executed series.
**I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review**