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Subdue #2
Emerging
Traumatized by war, friends gather for a reluctant reunion… A historic house in Jotham, Texas harbors a malevolent force, and as her fear grows, widow Maggie Smith pleads with three lifelong friends to gather in her home. But will their presence combat the darkness…or feed it? Minister Jake Williams fears Maggie has had a breakdown… Feeling he has no choice, Jake locates the other intended guest, Bobby Weeks, who agrees to go with him but struggles with keeping his lycanthropic curse hidden. Jonathan Steele, a wounded veteran battling PTSD, arrives with his disgruntled wife. After drinking too much at dinner, Jonathan insults the homeless Bobby, and Bobby is missing from the house the next morning. The dark past of Maggie’s home awakens in the present… Jake, whose faith is in doubt, confides in a local priest while he and Jonathan search for Bobby, and Ricky’s ghost makes another visit to Jonathan, causing him to become fixated on saving Maggie from the evil that surrounds her. As the danger intensifies, trust is elusive, and betrayal is certain… Maggie might be lost, Bobby confronts a terrible choice, and Jake and Jonathan fight to save them all—before they become more victims of the horror emerging beneath the deadly house in Jotham.
- GenresHorror
334 pages, Paperback
First published December 15, 2015
6 people are currently reading
55 people want to read
About the author
Thomas S. Flowers
34 books122 followersThomas S. Flowers is an Operation Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom Army veteran who loves scary movies, BBQ, and coffee. Ever since reading Remarque’s "All Quiet on the Western Front" and Stephen King’s "Salem’s Lot" he has inspired to write deeply disturbing things that relate to war and horror, from the paranormal to his gory zombie infested PLANET of the DEAD series, to even his recent dabbling of vampiric flirtation in The Last Hellfighter readers can expect to find complex characters, rich historical settings, and mind-altering horror. Thomas is also the senior editor at Machine Mean, a horror movie and book review site that hosts contributors in the horror and science fiction genre.
PLANET of the DEAD and The Last Hellfighter are best-sellers on Amazon's Top 100 lists for Apocalyptic Fiction and African American Horror.
__________________________________
You can follow Thomas and get yourself a FREE eBook copy of FEAST by joining his newsletter. Sign up by vising his website at www.ThomasSFlowers.com.
PLANET of the DEAD and The Last Hellfighter are best-sellers on Amazon's Top 100 lists for Apocalyptic Fiction and African American Horror.
__________________________________
You can follow Thomas and get yourself a FREE eBook copy of FEAST by joining his newsletter. Sign up by vising his website at www.ThomasSFlowers.com.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
February 12, 2016
Emerging picks up where Dwelling left off. Thomas S. Flowers has brought the haunted house to a deeper, darker level. If you’re looking for a pretty little house with pink walls and unicorns, you’re knocking on the wrong door.
Thomas S. Flowers has allowed this story to brew slowly, allowing the mystery and horror of the house on Oak Lee Road to reveal itself bit by bit. The author is a master of taking an everyday, normal object and twisting it into a horrific monstrosity. I always find that this style makes the story more terrifying. These items, such as old houses and antique chairs are part of our everyday lives, we see them regularly, and every time we do, we wonder…what if?
In addition to the demons in the house, each of the characters has their own cross to bear. Flowers has created a fabulous cast of characters, there is no “Superman” flying in to save the day. In order to conquer the evil of the house, Jonathan, Jake, Maggie and Bobby must first defeat their own demons that torment them.
The author has perfected his writing style. He creates a horror story shrouded in mystery with characters that are so real that they immerse you within the story. If you love to be spooked, you need to read the Subdue Series.
*4.5 Stars
Thomas S. Flowers has allowed this story to brew slowly, allowing the mystery and horror of the house on Oak Lee Road to reveal itself bit by bit. The author is a master of taking an everyday, normal object and twisting it into a horrific monstrosity. I always find that this style makes the story more terrifying. These items, such as old houses and antique chairs are part of our everyday lives, we see them regularly, and every time we do, we wonder…what if?
In addition to the demons in the house, each of the characters has their own cross to bear. Flowers has created a fabulous cast of characters, there is no “Superman” flying in to save the day. In order to conquer the evil of the house, Jonathan, Jake, Maggie and Bobby must first defeat their own demons that torment them.
The author has perfected his writing style. He creates a horror story shrouded in mystery with characters that are so real that they immerse you within the story. If you love to be spooked, you need to read the Subdue Series.
*4.5 Stars
March 8, 2017
Book 2 of the Subdue series, Emerging, picks up where Dwelling (book 1) left off. The remaning members of the Suicide Squad are holding on by a thread. Johnathan is still haunted by his dead friend and has turned to the bottle to cope with it all while his marriage crumbles. Jake is losing his faith and is about to lose his job as a priest. Bobby is still homeless running away from the evil that he becomes every 30 days when the moon is full. And Maggie, poor sweet Maggie. For reasons unkown to her, she is compelled to purchase a house in Jotham that her and the other members of the Suicide Squad visited when they were kids. Also unknown to her, and the rest of the Squad, is why they all can't remember the horrors that happened to them when they entered the house so many years ago. With every member's sanity teetering on the edge, Maggie gets ahold of them and requests that they all come visit her at the Jotham house. Unfortunately, the evil that they can't seem to remember still resides in that house on top of the hill and it's waiting.
Emerging is more of the same good formula that made Dwelling such a page turner. The characters are realistic and flawed. Flowers' descriptive storytelling has me feeling like I'm the sixth member of the Suicide Squad, but I'm stuck watching the horror unfold and there isn't a damn thing I can do about it to warn the others. That's good stuff. The slow burn writing style reminds me of Charles L. Grant, and that's not a bad thing. Some might say that the story bogs down in the middle with not much going on and they wouldn't be completely wrong, but I'm ok with it. Again, I like how Flowers builds things up in anticipation of the payday at the end. Also, some might say that Emerging can be read by itself without reading book one, Dwelling, and I would disagree. Sure, you COULD do it, but why would you want to? This is a three-part story and you'd be coming in at the middle without fully knowing what happened to lead up to book two. No thank. I'm fully vested in this series and you should be too. If you haven't read book one, do it. And once you're done, grab Emerging and keep immersed in the horrors that the Suicide Squad have fallen into.
4 1/2 Red Eyed Demon Cicadas out of 5
I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
You can also follow my reviews at the following links:
https://kenmckinley.wordpress.com
http://intothemacabre.booklikes.com
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5...
Emerging is more of the same good formula that made Dwelling such a page turner. The characters are realistic and flawed. Flowers' descriptive storytelling has me feeling like I'm the sixth member of the Suicide Squad, but I'm stuck watching the horror unfold and there isn't a damn thing I can do about it to warn the others. That's good stuff. The slow burn writing style reminds me of Charles L. Grant, and that's not a bad thing. Some might say that the story bogs down in the middle with not much going on and they wouldn't be completely wrong, but I'm ok with it. Again, I like how Flowers builds things up in anticipation of the payday at the end. Also, some might say that Emerging can be read by itself without reading book one, Dwelling, and I would disagree. Sure, you COULD do it, but why would you want to? This is a three-part story and you'd be coming in at the middle without fully knowing what happened to lead up to book two. No thank. I'm fully vested in this series and you should be too. If you haven't read book one, do it. And once you're done, grab Emerging and keep immersed in the horrors that the Suicide Squad have fallen into.
4 1/2 Red Eyed Demon Cicadas out of 5
I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
You can also follow my reviews at the following links:
https://kenmckinley.wordpress.com
http://intothemacabre.booklikes.com
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5...
January 29, 2016
"Thomas S Flowers is a fantastic writer. There is no other way of putting it. He writes a single book but has so many different writing styles within that single book that all come together beautifully to present you with a story that totally engrosses you. You just do not want to put it down. I know that is an old cliché but believe me you’re eating your dinner and you have a forkful of food on route to your mouth and when it actually reaches your mouth, it’s freezing, because you stopped half way there to keep reading, that’s when you know you need to put the book away until you are finished."
See here for the full review:
Emerging
See here for the full review:
Emerging
December 14, 2016
Review: EMERGING by Thomas S. Flowers
(Subdue #2)
The horrifying, electrifying, EMERGING is second in author Thomas S. Flowers "Subdue" series. The first, DWELLING, weaves the background during Operation Iraqi Freedom, showing us in vivid color some of the human costs, and weaves in the Suicide Squad's backstory, EMERGING is the contemporary story of Johnathan, Jake, Bobby, and Maggie, plus Maggie's younger sister, Karen, and Karen's daughter Tabitha. Maggie, widow of Ricky, and only girl in the long ago "Suicide Squad" club, invites Jonathan, Karen, and Tabitha, Jake, and Bobby, to her isolated farmhouse on a country back road outside Jotham, Texas. During the visit, illusion rules, alcohol loosens tongues and feelings are deeply hurt. Worse is the hidden agenda operating beneath the surface, an agenda millennia old, an implacable and inescapable horror with an inexorable hunger for humanity.
(Subdue #2)
The horrifying, electrifying, EMERGING is second in author Thomas S. Flowers "Subdue" series. The first, DWELLING, weaves the background during Operation Iraqi Freedom, showing us in vivid color some of the human costs, and weaves in the Suicide Squad's backstory, EMERGING is the contemporary story of Johnathan, Jake, Bobby, and Maggie, plus Maggie's younger sister, Karen, and Karen's daughter Tabitha. Maggie, widow of Ricky, and only girl in the long ago "Suicide Squad" club, invites Jonathan, Karen, and Tabitha, Jake, and Bobby, to her isolated farmhouse on a country back road outside Jotham, Texas. During the visit, illusion rules, alcohol loosens tongues and feelings are deeply hurt. Worse is the hidden agenda operating beneath the surface, an agenda millennia old, an implacable and inescapable horror with an inexorable hunger for humanity.
January 19, 2018
I received this book from the narrator of my own free will for an honest review.
Well continuing the tale, this one was so gripping too, I mean all the things that where in an standby on the first book came running through the night and reached out to this group of friend.
Now with this development I wonder where this story will take us, but I'm anxious to hear more about what will happen next with all this character that have gotten a little piece of my heart and this plot that has take my mind over.
Well continuing the tale, this one was so gripping too, I mean all the things that where in an standby on the first book came running through the night and reached out to this group of friend.
Now with this development I wonder where this story will take us, but I'm anxious to hear more about what will happen next with all this character that have gotten a little piece of my heart and this plot that has take my mind over.
February 20, 2018
( Format : audiobook )
"Grief changes a person ...from the inside out."
The four remaining friends from the youthful Suicide Squad are each struggling with problems, echoes from the war, and had mostly lost touch with each other since Maggie's husband and their friend Ricky was buried. Maggie had purchased the house in Jotham which had scared them so much as teenagers, yet none of them seemed able to remember. She wrote to them asking that they come visit her, and they did - Jonathan with his wife and step daughter, although mother and daughter quickly left after Jon's drunken outburst on the first evening, homeless Bobby even though the full moon was approaching, and Jake, still struggling to reconcile his relationship with God. And still they don't remember the house despite a photo showing them all standing in front of it.
Maggie has changed. She looked I'll. And everywhere the chirping, the clicking ...
Interspersing the unfolding events with excerpts from their past, happier days as a close friendship group before war entered, and destroyed, their lives, Mr.Thomas flowers writes with skill and word craft, whilst narrator reads in a frequently deadpan voice, though with good intonation and giving individual voice to each of the protagonists, which serves to increase the tensions of the text. A slow, insidious horror of mind and body, creepy and impactful.
This book continues directly from book one and really needs the predecessor to fully appreciate it.
My thanks to the rights holder for freely gifting me a complimentary copy of Emerging, at my request, via Audiobook Boom..
"Grief changes a person ...from the inside out."
The four remaining friends from the youthful Suicide Squad are each struggling with problems, echoes from the war, and had mostly lost touch with each other since Maggie's husband and their friend Ricky was buried. Maggie had purchased the house in Jotham which had scared them so much as teenagers, yet none of them seemed able to remember. She wrote to them asking that they come visit her, and they did - Jonathan with his wife and step daughter, although mother and daughter quickly left after Jon's drunken outburst on the first evening, homeless Bobby even though the full moon was approaching, and Jake, still struggling to reconcile his relationship with God. And still they don't remember the house despite a photo showing them all standing in front of it.
Maggie has changed. She looked I'll. And everywhere the chirping, the clicking ...
Interspersing the unfolding events with excerpts from their past, happier days as a close friendship group before war entered, and destroyed, their lives, Mr.Thomas flowers writes with skill and word craft, whilst narrator reads in a frequently deadpan voice, though with good intonation and giving individual voice to each of the protagonists, which serves to increase the tensions of the text. A slow, insidious horror of mind and body, creepy and impactful.
This book continues directly from book one and really needs the predecessor to fully appreciate it.
My thanks to the rights holder for freely gifting me a complimentary copy of Emerging, at my request, via Audiobook Boom..
March 24, 2018
Review originally published at: http://www.lomeraniel.com/audiobookre...
Second installment of the Subdue series. Maggie’s friends arrive at her place and the mood is not what was expected.
While the previous book dragged a bit for me, I found the pacing in this one a bit better. The characters are well depicted and I found the situations they found more relatable. It was easier to connect to the characters and their internal struggles, even though they were all quite different.
There’s gore but it’s mostly psychological horror, the feeling that there is something wrong but none of the characters are able to put their finger on what. That, coupled with their own issues creates a complex story where it’s sometimes difficult to know what’s true and what’s just in their heads.
Rick Gregory did a fantastic job portraying all the characters and creating the right atmosphere with his narration. There were just a couple of audio edits that I found a bit distracting but it was an enjoyable narration.
I received a copy of this book in audio format from the narrator in exchange for an honest review.
Second installment of the Subdue series. Maggie’s friends arrive at her place and the mood is not what was expected.
While the previous book dragged a bit for me, I found the pacing in this one a bit better. The characters are well depicted and I found the situations they found more relatable. It was easier to connect to the characters and their internal struggles, even though they were all quite different.
There’s gore but it’s mostly psychological horror, the feeling that there is something wrong but none of the characters are able to put their finger on what. That, coupled with their own issues creates a complex story where it’s sometimes difficult to know what’s true and what’s just in their heads.
Rick Gregory did a fantastic job portraying all the characters and creating the right atmosphere with his narration. There were just a couple of audio edits that I found a bit distracting but it was an enjoyable narration.
I received a copy of this book in audio format from the narrator in exchange for an honest review.
December 16, 2018
Terrifying
I was hooked with the first paragraph and couldn’t put this story down!
Amazingly written the author took me into the minds of all his characters the good and the bad which made me feel their terror.
This book is one of my favorite horror books! Can’t wait To read the rest of this series.
I was hooked with the first paragraph and couldn’t put this story down!
Amazingly written the author took me into the minds of all his characters the good and the bad which made me feel their terror.
This book is one of my favorite horror books! Can’t wait To read the rest of this series.
December 10, 2021
Great creepy horror story. I wish more insight was given to the story of the house. For eg: What is Nashirimah?. Makes no sense still repeated in the story..
January 9, 2017
As a general rule, I'm not as big of a fan of the series of books. Nothing against it as a narrative form but I'm at a stage in my life where it's hard to make a long term commitment. And with horror genre in general, I often find that the longer the form, the less I seem to enjoy it.
That said, as with all things, there are always exceptions. I think that Flowers has something unique and special going on here with these books. As I now sit, two books into the experience, I'm already looking forward to the third.
First, there's the atmosphere. It seemed like he took the creepy moments that I loved from the first part and stretched them out to cover an entire book. I think it's awesome how the environment of the story feels like it has a thin veneer stretched out over it, concealing something underneath that isn't right.
Second, the characters. This wasn't exactly a shock to find good characters as this is a series, but there is a special art to maintaining the tone of a character from one book to the next and he has done a great job.
And finally, the realism Flowers brings in terms of his own experiences. I have never been a strict proponent of the "write what you know" stereotype but in this case, Flowers definitely brings his military background to bear and highlights some of the inherent tragedy for the experiences of our soldiers, both at home and overseas. I feel like somewhat of a Hallmark card thanking him for his service so instead I will thank him for his books.
If you have read Dwelling, the first book of this series and are curious, I say, "read on." If you haven't read Dwelling, I say, "Go back and do it now!"
That said, as with all things, there are always exceptions. I think that Flowers has something unique and special going on here with these books. As I now sit, two books into the experience, I'm already looking forward to the third.
First, there's the atmosphere. It seemed like he took the creepy moments that I loved from the first part and stretched them out to cover an entire book. I think it's awesome how the environment of the story feels like it has a thin veneer stretched out over it, concealing something underneath that isn't right.
Second, the characters. This wasn't exactly a shock to find good characters as this is a series, but there is a special art to maintaining the tone of a character from one book to the next and he has done a great job.
And finally, the realism Flowers brings in terms of his own experiences. I have never been a strict proponent of the "write what you know" stereotype but in this case, Flowers definitely brings his military background to bear and highlights some of the inherent tragedy for the experiences of our soldiers, both at home and overseas. I feel like somewhat of a Hallmark card thanking him for his service so instead I will thank him for his books.
If you have read Dwelling, the first book of this series and are curious, I say, "read on." If you haven't read Dwelling, I say, "Go back and do it now!"
April 5, 2016
Emerging is the second book of the Subdue Series by Thomas Flowers. It's starts just where Dwelling left off, following a group of childhood friends that have been torn apart by war, fear and maybe a little insanity.
This was a very fast paced, intense read that I couldn't put down...much like Dwelling. Thomas is an amazing writer that develops his characters into people you actually would love it sit and have a beer with. They feel real. Being that Thomas and I went to school together....I can tell you that at least one of the characters is real. Haha!
The more I read from Thomas, the bigger fan I become. That says a lot because this genre has never been on my radar. He's opened me up to a whole new world of works that I can't wait to read.
Anxiously awaiting the 3rd and final book to this story. I can't wait to see what happens next.
This was a very fast paced, intense read that I couldn't put down...much like Dwelling. Thomas is an amazing writer that develops his characters into people you actually would love it sit and have a beer with. They feel real. Being that Thomas and I went to school together....I can tell you that at least one of the characters is real. Haha!
The more I read from Thomas, the bigger fan I become. That says a lot because this genre has never been on my radar. He's opened me up to a whole new world of works that I can't wait to read.
Anxiously awaiting the 3rd and final book to this story. I can't wait to see what happens next.
August 29, 2016
This is a great, non-traditional haunted house story. Oh yeah, there's something in there, but the story is more focused on a set of childhood friends than the Big Bad. Those friends have all been dealt a few rough hands, and they need to confront their own demons--in some cases literally--before they can deal with what is happening with the house.
This author's writing style is a slow burn, filled with action and suspense. If you can put this book down you have way more willpower than I. One caveat, though--don't read this series in the dark.
This author's writing style is a slow burn, filled with action and suspense. If you can put this book down you have way more willpower than I. One caveat, though--don't read this series in the dark.
January 5, 2018
Great horror story! Thomas Flowers is still fairly new to me but I've enjoyed everything I've heard so far! His choice of narrators for this series is great as well. Rick Gregory does an excellent job telling the story! I recommend listening to book 1 first if you want a little history of the characters, but this also works well as a stand alone story.
January 8, 2018
I liked this,the second part of a story.It was narrated by Rick Gregory,much better than the first.A war widow asks her friends to come to her house,which she believes is haunted.Finding one,Bobby,is a challenge because he is a homeless vet.“I was given this free review copy audiobook and have voluntarily left this review."
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews