Blood Forge

by Kathryn Meyer Griffith

An ancient evil lay trapped in the darkness of hell, enduring an eternity of pain and
desolation.

Genres: Horror, Fantasy

392 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published December 1, 1988

About the author

About Kathryn Meyer Griffith 2023
Since childhood I’ve been an artist, and have worked as a graphic designer in the corporate world and for newspapers for twenty-three years before I quit to write full time. But I’d already begun writing novels at 21, over fifty-one years ago now, and have had thirty-five (romantic horror, horror novels, romantic SF horror, romantic suspense, romantic time travel, historical romance, thrillers, one non-fiction short story collection, dinosaur books, and murder mysteries) previous novels and thirteen short stories published from various traditional publishers since 1984. But I’ve gone into self-publishing in a big way since 2012; and upon getting all my previous books’ full rights back for the first time in 36 years, have self-published all of them. My seven Dinosaur Lake novels and Spookie Town Murder Mysteries (Scraps of Paper, All Things Slip Away, Ghosts Beneath Us, Witches Among Us, What Lies Beneath the Graves, All Those Who Came Before, When the Fireflies Returned, and Echoes of Other Times) are my best-sellers.
I was married to Russell for over forty-three years; have a son, two grandchildren and a great-granddaughter. I live in a small quaint town in Illinois. I have a quirky cat, Sasha, and we live happily in an old house in the heart of town. Though I’ve been an artist, and a folk/classic rock singer in my youth with my late brother Jim, writing has always been my greatest passion, my butterfly stage, and I’ll probably write stories until the day I die…or until my memory goes.
2012 EPIC EBOOK AWARDS *Finalist* for her horror novel The Last Vampire ~ 2014 EPIC EBOOK AWARDS * Finalist * for her thriller novel Dinosaur Lake.

*All Kathryn Meyer Griffith’s books can be found here:
http://tinyurl.com/ld4jlow
*All her Audible.com audio books here:
http://tinyurl.com/oz7c4or

Novels and short stories from Kathryn Meyer Griffith:
Evil Stalks the Night, The Heart of the Rose, Blood Forged, Vampire Blood, The Last Vampire (2012 EPIC EBOOK AWARDS*Finalist* in their Horror category), Witches, Witches II: Apocalypse, Witches plus Witches II: Apocalypse, The Nameless One erotic horror short story, The Calling, Scraps of Paper (The First Spookie Town Murder Mystery), All Things Slip Away (The Second Spookie Town Murder Mystery), Ghosts Beneath Us (The Third Spookie Town Murder Mystery), Witches Among Us (The Fourth Spookie Town Murder Mystery), What Lies Beneath the Graves (The Fifth Spookie Town Murder Mystery; sixth, All Who Came Before, When the Fireflies Returned (the seventh Spookie Town Murder Mystery), Echoes of Other Times (the eighth Spookie Town Murder Mystery), Egyptian Heart, Winter’s Journey, The Ice Bridge, Don’t Look Back, Agnes, A Time of Demons and Angels, The Woman in Crimson, Human No Longer, Six Spooky Short Stories Collection, Forever and Always Romantic Novella, Night Carnival Short Story, Dinosaur Lake (2014 EPIC EBOOK AWARDS*Finalist* in their Thriller/Adventure category), Dinosaur Lake II: Dinosaurs Arising, Dinosaur Lake III: Infestation and Dinosaur Lake IV: Dinosaur Wars, Dinosaur Lake V: Survivors, Dinosaur Lake VI: The Alien Connection, Dinosaur Lake VII: The Aliens Return, Memories of My Childhood, and Christmas Magic 1959.

Her Websites:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/KathrynG64
My Blog: https://kathrynmeyergriffith.wordpres...
My Facebook author page: https://www.facebook.com/KathrynMeyer...
Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/pg/Kathryn-M...
https://www.facebook.com/kathrynmeyer...
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http://www.authorsden.com/kathrynmeye...
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https://www.pinterest.com/kathryn5139/
https://tinyurl.com/ycp5gqb2

Reviews

[Marie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Well what to say about this book.......

I will do a small backstory just to give out a taste:

A .357 Colt Python was forged within the gates of hell as a demon is melded into the gun and anyone that comes in contact with it will use the gun in violent ways.

Thoughts:

That is mainly the gist of the story about the gun as it travels through time and centuries as violence erupts wherever the gun lands. I am in the minority on this book as I have seen that it has received quite a few four and five star reviews. Writing style is great - I was drawn right into the story, but the stories with the gun gets old after awhile as that is what mainly this book is about. The gun travels through time and every time it lands in someone's lap then look out because someone is going to get murdered with the gun.

The stories of what each person went through to acquire the gun was long and drawn out with details which was fine up to a point but then it just seemed to keep dragging on as finally the story lays out someone getting murdered with the gun.

I do have a couple or so more books by this author and will try one of her other books at some point in time, but this book just did not do it for me. Normally with dnf books I do not give out ratings, but I will give this book one star for a cool cover. Giving this book one Gun Will Travel star.

[Phil · Rating 2 out of 5]

Blood Forge had the bones of a good story and some good moments, but overall it felt severely bloated, filled as it was with way TMI about the characters. The prologue is set in ancient Peru with some sacrifices being led to appease the great snake god; centuries later, we are back in Peru with some miners refusing to work on a newly opened cave deep underground. It seems an earthquake opened up some tunnels deep under a mountain rich with iron ore, but once some of the locals saw idols and such of the snake god, they wanted nothing to do with it. Still, the tyrant overseer managed to get some miners to excavate a batch of ore before another earthquake closed the tunnels once again.

Eventually, some of this ore found its way to a gunsmith who laboriously hand crafts antique guns and one 357 Magnum Colt Python contained some of the metal from the mine; in fact, more than just the metal, as it seems to carry the evil spirit of the Incas! Whomever comes into contact with the gun eventually meets a bad end. Now this could be really fun, but after a few changes of hands and time, we end up in a small, midwestern town in 1981 for the rest of the story. First, some 'crazy man' gets pulled over for speeding and he offers the cop the gun to get out the ticket. Cop accepts, and off we go!

The problem with Blood Forge resides in the detailed, in depth explorations of all the main characters involved in the story; we basically get the life stories of everyone involved in page after page. I like character development and slow burn horror, but Griffith takes this more than a little too far. I was pretty tempted to put this into the DNF category, but Griffith kept me interested enough to stick it out. Probably should have DNF as the denouement was nothing to write home about. 1.5 boring stars.

[BookLoversLife · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review to come.

[Victoria Haugen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great story! I've read/listened to a couple others by Kathryn Meyer Griffith, and have loved them all. This is no exception - awesome story!! I love the premise about a demon taking over a 357 Colt, nothing good can come of that! :) I thought the story was riveting, creepy, and the narration was great! Really enjoyed, I'd definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys the genre, and even those that maybe don't! :) Great job!
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

[Victoria Haugen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great story! I've read/listened to a couple others by Kathryn Meyer Griffith, and have loved them all. This is no exception - awesome story!! I love the premise about a demon taking over a 357 Colt, nothing good can come of that! :) I thought the story was riveting, creepy, and the narration was great! Really enjoyed, I'd definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys the genre, and even those that maybe don't! :) Great job!
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

[Martha F. Shean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quite a story

Very hard to get going, but impossible to put down. Spooky and scary. Almost unbelievable. I’m glad I made it threw it.

[Stuart Sear · Rating 5 out of 5]

I Have read quite a few of her books but this one was so different it will give you that tingling feeling up and down your spine and will not let you put it down SPOOKY

[Romancing the Book · Rating 4 out of 5]

Posted on Romancing the Book's blog
Reviewed by Robin
Reivew Copy Provided by the Author

Ms. Meyer Griffith leaves you hanging on the edge of your seat with this horror story. Because horror is defiantly what this story is.

To find the origins of Blood Forge we have to travel back to 1530 Peru, where we find a snake demon locked in an Incan Prison. The demon ends up escaping and latches itself onto a 357 Colt Python forged by a gun maker who sees the snake and a pentagram attached and quickly rids him of the gun.

As we journey through history with this gun we find that anyone that is in procession of it has their lives ruined as the gun wreaks havoc in its path. Destroying those that own it, I guess now one really owns the gun as we soon discover that the gun controls and actually owns you.

A man by the name of David Willows had the gun while in the Korean War/Conflict. One day his whole patrol is killed. As it is investigated it is said that he was just under stress causing him to kill his patrol. David shipped the gun to his mom and dad’s where is lay around collecting dust till it fell in the hands of a junk dealer. This junk dealer through it in his truck where is eventually ended up along the side of the road somewhere.

Over the years it ends up in the hands of many people all who’s lives where destroyed because of this gun. The destruction and still no one knew why.

As the tension builds throughout the story you find yourself wanting to reach in and smack someone just to get their attention all the while screaming at them to leave the gun alone.

We will fast forward to a small town that could be any small town across America. The gun finds its way into the local police department and right into the hands of Roger. Roger hasn’t been the most upstanding cop. He has cheated on his wife Sandy even beating her up a few times. Sandy wanting just to be loved finds comfort in the arms of another cop Tom. When Roger finds out about the two of them he goes into a jealous rage killing Tom. While in jail he commits suicide all the while spouting what most thought to be nonsense about snakes.

As we near the end of the story the gun ends up in the hands of fellow cop Sam Walters and his loving wife Emily. Emily must have realized something wasn’t quite right because she started to piece together the destruction of the gun as it started to control her husband.

Emily finds help when she goes to Father Gabriel with her strange story. As she explains what she believes Father Gabriel actually believes what she has to say.

Ms. Meyer Griffith has written a horror story that is not for the faint of heart and leaves you gripping the edge of your seat as you set upon the path of destruction left by the gun. It almost seems as if everyone is connected in some small way.

I loved the way she had the characters interact with the gun. Making it seem more real, more alive so that the story seemed more believable. I felt it was actually quite possible for the gun to be processed. Makes you think twice about buying an old antique gun. Especially one with a snake on it or a 357 Colt Python doesn’t it?

Ms. Meyer Griffith takes what we have heard for so long on the news every night; about guns not killing people but in fact people are the ones that kill people because they after all are the ones that pull the trigger to a whole new level as we find that this gun does kill people.

If you love the horror genre or just a well written story that leaves you grasping for more with every turn of the page I feel that you will most definitely love Blood Forge.

[Arlena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author: Kathryn Meyer Griffin
Published By: Damnation Books LLC; Revised
Age Recommend: Adult
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Raven Rating 5
Blog Review For: Great Minds Think Aloud
Review:

"Blood Forge" by Kathryn Meyer Griffin was another great read for me. The snake demon was really something in this read. I was really glad when it was ....oh I can't tell you. You will simply have to read this read for yourself (smile). I will say that this demon escape was in the form of a alluring 357 Magnum Colt Python pistol that was to bring havoc and death into many people.

Starting with the pistol... referred to as 'snake God' .... monstrous snake... ghosts...then Todd Cummings ending in the bottomless pit... on to .David Willows in Korea...wanted to be a painter...hated his father and war.. had given him a replica of a Magnum Colt Python. This gun had come from a gunsmith (Jed) that wanted to get rid of it eagerly. Now David was in Korea(Chinese) in a war that he hated... with this pistol that "evoked strong sensations in people." Was he bitten by this pistol?...Was he hearing things?....Was he a "sniveling Coward?" During this investigation...it had been determined that Willows due to stress..going out of his mind had killed his patrol. ... nothing about this pistol. This alluring Magnum Colt Python was packed and shipped to his parents where
it lay in dust for years... until later sold to a junk dealer.. only to be to be bounced out of the truck (in a trunk) and spilled over the road. Unnoticed....

As the novel progresses this pistol get into many other hands bringing much destruction to several people. All who came in contact with this pistol was in for a horrible ride.

The characters.... Roger, Sandy, Tom, Martha, Sam and Emily....but it was Emily who was able to see that this sinister gun was the root of their problem. The author did a good job in presenting this plot and even the ending was truly well delivered. "Blood Forge" will keep you on the edge of your seat wanting to know what is going to happen next.

Thank God for David Kramer knowing of Father Gabriel who was definitely the hero to saved the day from this posed gun. Sorry that Michael wasn't saved. I know I am telling too much!

Indeed I did enjoy the storytelling of "Blood Forge." Truly, it was another great read by Kathryn Griffin.



Read more: http://www.greatmindsthinkaloud.probo...

[Sara Townsend · Rating 4 out of 5]

They say guns don’t kill people – people kill people. In this story, it’s most definitely the gun that kills people. The gun in question – a colt python – is host to an ancient snake-like demon, who possesses anyone who lays hands on the gun and fills their mind with thoughts of hate and violence. The first few chapters of the book detail the gun’s journey through history. The back story bogs the plot down a little, but it does set up the ‘evil-ness’ of the gun.

Like all good horror novels, though, the characters know less than the reader does, and the tension is ramped up as the gun passes from hand to hand, wreaking havoc along the way. By the time we come to modern day, the gun has fallen into the hands of a cop called Roger. Roger is already a man with flaws. He’s cheated on his wife Sandy many times, and beaten her up a couple of times as well, so is it so surprising that Sandy is finding comfort in the arms of another cop, Tom? When Roger finds out about Sandy’s affair he goes after Tom and shoots him dead. Everyone is shocked, but knowing Roger’s anger management issues, no one is too surprised. Then Roger hangs himself in his police cell, after babbling about seeing snakes.

Through a circuitous route, the gun eventually ends up in the hands of another cop, named Sam, colleague and friend of both Tom and Roger. It is Sam’s wife Emily who starts to put the pieces together. Emily is a great character – smart, resourceful and determined. When Sam, a recovering alcoholic, falls off the wagon in a big way, and starts behaving in an uncharacteristically violent way, Emily eventually realises that the gun connects all the trouble, and seeks spiritual guidance from a new priest in town, Father Gabriel. There’s something a bit strange about Father Gabriel too, but it turns out he believes Emily when she comes to him with a bizarre story about an evil gun.

This is a well-plotted story, and the way it portrays ordinary people having to deal with extraordinary events is reminiscent of early Stephen King. At times it’s frustrating when you know as a reader that the characters are blundering innocently into peril, but you get pulled into the story and you want to keep reading to find out what happens next. BLOOD FORGE is an accomplished horror story that will keep you gripped until the very end.

Review property of www.read2review.com

[Zada Kent · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story begins in Peru in 1530 at the temple of the Beast. Horrors beyond my imagination seem to occur here and continue through hundreds of years to come as the story progresses. The Beast from South America that began as a “snake god” is eventually forged into a .357 Magnum Colt Python pistol that travels the world. From steering a soldier to madness in Korea, to in-sighting chaos in a small American town’s police force, the new demon gun commits horrible acts throughout the story twisting its evil around those who come in contact with it.

This book definitely fits into the horror genre. My stomach churned a few times at the details of the demon’s evil acts. I easily envisioned some of the murderous violence the gun’s influence caused.



Yet it also seems the story includes a love story of sorts. The author has created characters you hope and pray will be happy in the end. My anticipation of what would happen next to those I wanted to survive kept me from putting this story down many nights. All the characters are beautifully tied together. And the ending was perfect!

I recommend Blood Forge to any reader who enjoys the horror genre and stories that include strong characters.

[Toni · Rating 5 out of 5]

An eerie tale, guaranteed to send a few chills scurrying down your spine and possibly back up again.

The tale of an object possessed by evil isn’t new but in Ms Griffith’s hands, it has become a frightening vehicle. With each person who falls under the Colt Python’s spell, the reader will wonder, “Why can’t they just let it go?” The answer, of course, is that evil has a way of taking hold and it isn’t so easy to simply walk away. It takes courage and a great force of will because evil, by its very nature, is generally able to overcome all but the most self-suffient.

Even though the time-span leaps years, the characters in each vignette are well-delineated as well as their fears and mental struggles as they recognize something is wrong, but not what. My advice: Don’t read this story if you own a gun or know someone who likes weapons!



Blood Forge is available from Damnation Books, www.damnationbooks.com
This novel was supplied by the author and no remuneration was involved in the writing of this review.

[Deedra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to the Audible version of this book.I liked this book.We start out in ancient times where a snake demon has been walled up so it can harm no one else.It was feeding on vrigins.Year later it's wall is opned releasing it into a rifle.Anyone who touches it becomes obsessed with it and the demon takes over.It sweeps thru a police force leaving destruction in its wake.One woman,one Priest and one psychic seem to be the only ones that know what to do to get rid of it BUT will they be seduced by the demon themselves?
Marilyn Ghigliotti is a wonderful narrator and is convincing in all her characters voices.
"I was provided this audiobook at no charge by the author, publisher and/or narrator in exchange for an unbiased review via AudiobookBlast or MalarHouse dot com"

[Leslie Fisher · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It is about a gun that is imbued with evil and changes everyone who comes to possess it. I especially liked the beginning of the book that tells the origins of the gun. The situations and dialogues that resulted from one possessing the gun were absolutely chilling! This book kept me on the edge of my seat, and I kept wanting to know what would happen next. I listened to the audio version of this book, and I thought the narrator, Marilyn Ghigliotti, did a good job, even with the male voices (it is always a test for me how a narrator does the voices of the opposite gender). I enjoyed her narration, and would listen to her again. Overall, this is a great book for those who like paranormal horror/suspense.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gun posessed by an evil entity. This book was awesome! We get to know several small groups of people at different times throughout the book. At first I was a little confused by this, but at some point I realized all these people knew each other in some way. It was really interesting to see how each person was effected during the story. The narrator did a great job bringing the story alive. There were some truly creepy moments, and she made it even creepier. I really enjoyed this audiobook, and I'm excited to read another book from this author!

I was provided this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

[Blaze McRob · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished this great book last night. What a superb read! Time after time the demon did horrific things, seemingly unstoppable. My heart was pounding in my throat because I get so wrapped up in a story that I fell empathy and hatred for the different "story people." That's what was so great about Kathryn's masterful story weaving. It wasn't until the very end that you knew who won and who lost. A real cliff-hanger. I have never read anything from this great author I haven't loved. Kathryn Meyer Griffith is a master story teller!

Blaze