Cthulhu Armageddon

Cthulhu Armageddon #1

by C.T. Phipps, Jeffrey Kafer (Narrator)

“Under an alien sky where gods of eldritch matter rule, the only truth is revenge.”

CTHULHU ARMAGEDDON is the story of a world 100 years past the rise of the Old Ones which has been reduced to a giant monster-filled desert and pockets of human survivors (along with Deep Ones, ghouls, and other “talking” monsters).

John Henry Booth is a ranger of one of the largest remaining city-states when he’s exiled for his group’s massacre and suspicion he’s “tainted.” Escaping with a doctor who killed her husband, John travels across the Earth’s blasted alien ruins to seek the life of the man who killed his friends.

It’s the one thing he has left.

Genres: Horror, Fantasy, Lovecraftian, Audiobook, Post Apocalyptic, Fiction, Science Fiction

9 pages, Audiobook

First published August 22, 2016

About the author

C.T Phipps is a lifelong student of horror, science fiction, and fantasy. An avid tabletop gamer, he discovered this passion led him to write and turned him into a lifelong geek. He is a regular reviewer on Booknest.EU and for Grimdark Magazine.

He's written the Agent G series, Cthulhu Armageddon, the Red Room Trilogy, I Was A Teenaged Weredeer, Lucifer's Star, Psycho Killers in Love, Straight Outta Fangton, The Supervillainy Saga, and Wraith Knight.

Blog: http://unitedfederationofcharles.blog...

Website: https://ctphipps.com/

C.T. Fanclub: https://www.facebook.com/groups/14917...

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ctphipps

Reviews

[Gavin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an entertaining fantasy/horror story. It had a decent mix of action and humour. The setting was also fairly interesting world with its mix of weird Lovecraftian monsters and left over technology from our era.

As the title might suggest this story was set in a post-apocalyptic future. 100 years have passed since the return of the great Cthulhu and the other Great Ones to the earth. Humanity is in its dying days with just a few pockets of survivors living in the monster filled desert wastelands.

John Henry Booth is a soldier in the army of one of the largest remaining city states. Things go bad for him when his squad are killed while trying to rescue a bunch of kids from the hideout of a group of slavers. Booth is the only survivor but soon finds himself on trial for incompetence and under suspicion of being "tainted". He manages to escape with his life with the help of the the cities want-away torturer. She has her own reasons for needing to flee the city. Booth vows to return to the wastelands and seek vengeance on the man who was responsible for the murder of his squad!

As with all Phipps' books the pacing was good and there was a good mix of humor, action, and cool monsters to keep things interesting. The failing in this book was that none of the characters were particularly memorable or likeable. Which was an issue as this book was so similar in style to both Phipps' Supervillainy Saga and The Secret Files of the Red Room series that it was impossible not to compare the characters!

The Lovecraftian monsters were pretty cool as was the magic. I also felt like Phipps did a decent job with the world building. We had everything from crazy survivalist communities to weird cults worshipping the Great Ones or other Gods. There was a great mix of monsters and inhuman creatures. Some oblivious to humanities existence and some trying to live alongside them or to enslave them!

All in all this was a decent enough read that I think I'd have enjoyed a lot more had I not read Phipps other series.

Rating: 3.5 stars.

Audio Note: Jeffrey Kafer seems to narrate all Phipps audiobooks. Initially I felt like that was a good thing as the guy is an excellent narrator but now I'm leaning towards thinking it is only adding to that overall feeling of familiarity and sameness I have while reading the various different series!.

[Montzalee Wittmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cthulhu Armageddon (Cthulhu Armageddon #1) by C.T. Phipps is an awesome fantasy/with a touch of sci-fi. There is plenty of action, adventure, suspense, magic, creatures, a great plot, well developed characters, and intrigue. It was a wild ride and it was a strange mix of desert, western, and more. I thought of Scorpion King only Western and in the future, after an Earth destruction. It was unique and suspense filled, action packed, and you never knew what was going to happen. I can picture this as a movie! I really enjoyed this book, it was never boring! I was given this book to read and the review was voluntary.

[Dave · Rating 4 out of 5]

No, it’s not just another post-apocalyptic wasteland novel. It’s a weird western by virtue of the cowboy hats and the weird monsters. But, it’s a post-apocalyptic vision fueled by Lovecraft’s Cthulhu world where all-powerful alien monsters lay dormant for millennium beneath the earth’s surface and now have arisen. The last remnants of humanity fight each other and fight all manner of fell monster as well as half-human ghouls and a mad scientist. Magic and sorcery are alive and well in this universe which seems to bleed into others where dreamwalks exist.

Our hero is a military type and the opening salvo is Boothe leading his squad into battle against the overwhelming forces of the necromancer, his Los mad scientist buddy. This is truly an action-packed adventure with an oddly collected group. On the way, battle is joined with monsters more gigantic and slithering than Frank Herbert’s sandworms, flying creatures rivaling the biggest of Tolkien’s dragons, and a crew of virtually unkillable reanimating creatures.

What makes this fantasy stand out is how vast and rich the background is and how beyond imagination the alien beings who are beneath the earth are. There is just so much packed into this one volume.

[C.T. Phipps · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wrote this book because it occurred to me the Great Old Ones are always coming but rarely get a chance to actually destroy the world. Cthulhu had lost his first encounter with humanity by getting a boat driven through his head and the stars not being right. So, instead, I wrote a book where they'd already one to reverse some of their badass decay. I was inspired by equal parts Fallout, Mad Max, and the Gunslinger/Dark Tower for this novel. Interestingly, the racial politics got the most commentary on this book as a lot of people noticed that John being a black protagonist with a Asian American partner was something you normally didn't see with HPL inspired fiction. Either way, it's one of my best selling books and even has fans in France of all places where they really love it.

[Seth Skorkowsky · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

I'm a huge fan of the Cthulhu Mythos (not as much as many, but more than most) so I was quick to pick up Cthulhu Armageddon to see a modern take on the Mythos folklore. I've enjoyed several of C.T. Phipps previous works, so I was comfortable with both the author and materiel.

Phipps' world, set after the Great Old Ones have returned, is a lot of fun. The Cathedral is the crown jewel of that world and it beautifully captures this familiar and alien setting. Other locations, such as New Arkham, offer a little bit of old and new for those familiar with Lovercraft's settings.

Another thing I highly enjoyed was that the Mythos is not merely a flavor or a cookie-cutter backdrop set behind the story, but is highly essential and used throughout. The Mythos is always involved in the story. More than just a generic Mythos, but highly specific. Phipps obviously loves the source materiel and it shows. You will find references to "The Color Out of Space," "Herbert West-Reanimator," "The Case of Charles Dexter Ward," "The Shadow Over Innsmouth," "At The Mountains of Madness," "The Call of Cthulhu (obviously)," and many, many more of Lovecraft's tales. The only problem I could see with it is for readers that are not familiar with Lovecraft's world might not fully grasp it. Maybe they will. I don't know.

One aspect of Lovercraft that I did not feel was necessary was "indescribable horror." Lovecraft uses that term often to describe his creatures because they are from the point of view of a person glimpsing their first encounter with the Mythos. Here, we have a hero who has spent their entire life with these things and is somewhat hardened to them. When they encounter colossal statues of The Great Old Ones, and these mind-bending terrors are depicted in stone, describing them as "indescribable" was disappointing because these are not oozing, writhing monsters charging to eat the shocked hero, but static representations, and the narrator could have actually described them. Using "indescribable" felt more like a cop-out here.

One thing that's also worth noting is Cthulhu Armageddon refers to itself as "Post-Apocalyptic Western." It's not. Yes, it's post-apoc, but not Western in either theme or technology. It's a mythos-inspired action/revenge story set in a post-apocalyptic wastelend. The heroes use automatic weapons, night vision, solar-powered vehicles, attack helicopters, and other modern technology. Aside from the hero wearing a stetson and a duster in a few chapters, it lacks anything Western. Other post-apoc stories, like The Road Warrior, have Western themes (A man with no name arrives at a remote outpost besieged by villains only to return to the wastes once he has solved their problem), Cthulhu Armageddon does not. Rob Zombie wears a cowboy hat, yet he is neither a cowboy or a Country singer.

The action is good and I enjoyed that characters would die, sometimes quickly and without warning. It is definitely more serious than Phipps' comedic stories that he is so good at. However there are a few moments when his comedic voice slips through and the narrator sort of winks at the audience. To me, this lessened the sincerity and horror of the overall story.

Overall I enjoyed it. Fans of post-apocalyptic fantasy and fans of the Cthulhu Mythos will find this to be a real treat. I fully intend to use some of Phipps' setting in a post-apoc Call of Cthulhu game I'm running in the next few weeks.

[Jesse Teller · Rating 5 out of 5]

I gave this book four stars instead of five because I am a Lovecraft purist and it would darken my soul to give it a five. But then I got some distance from it. I started thinking the last thing that this world needs is another rabid fan and I looked at the book for what it is instead of what I think it should be. Then I changed my rating to a five. Lovecraft’s work is my bible and my love for it is unbridled. I don’t know why I even picked this book up to be honest except that it is a book written by a writer that intrigues me.

And he should intrigue you too.

Reading a Charles Phipps book is unlike anything else I have done. It takes me on a journey I have never been on before. I have read two. I have talked to many who have read many more and I want to talk for a bit about what the experience is like.

Charles is dark. The books I have read are black in heart, this one being no exception. The ideas and the realities of the world he creates are harsh and unforgiving. He crafts tales about evil pure and malevolent and he has a grasp on dark fantasy in a way I have seen few other times.

He knows how to write a battle scene. There is a scene in this book where his main character fights an otherworldly creature and the scene is packed with adrenalin and verve. You can hear the gunfire, the war cry and the sound of shells hitting the ground at your feet. The rage of the warrior is real and hits you in the chest shuddering your heart. He takes you straight out of your chair and drops you in the middle of the blood like few writers I have come across. Charles is a master at aggression and combat.

Mr. Phipps is not trying to please you. His tales are not going to coddle you and lull you to bliss. He makes hard choices that you will not be comfortable with. Takes you to places you don’t want to go as you look over your shoulder to stare in the direction you wish his story had gone.

These are truths about Charles Phipps and truths about his book Cthulhu Armageddon. You can see these things in his work and you don’t have to look hard to get them. But there is a quality you cannot, to my knowledge, get anywhere else. Charles Phipps is hilarious.

Its not dark humor. I have seen that before. Watched dark comedies and read them. This is not what I am talking about. There is a very subtle thing Phipps does that cannot be easy and that is the ripple of humor that runs across the surface of everything he writes.

He is witty, it is all over this book. Comments are dropped, little details given that show that though you are in the darkness of a world savaged by horror you are being taken through it in a fashion that is not oppressive, not damaging. You experience this world in a way you can’t with anyone else. There is a kind of gallows humor present in his work where you can see the characters are kind of shrugging saying. “Yeah this is horrifying. We laugh or we cry.”

I read this book very quickly. You will too. I tried not to like it. As I said, I’m a Lovecraft guy and I walked into this world with a chip on my shoulder. But in my opinion this book is impossible not to enjoy. Try not to take it too seriously. In a Charles Phipps book, you either laugh or you cry.

I would like to thank the author for the West Boys, for the Hawaiian shirt, for Ward’s chest and the Black Soldier.

[BookLoversLife · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a massive departure from this author's other works but it was just as good. It's a blend of different genres, which can be hit or miss, but it works here. It's kind of like Mad max with a western feel, mixed with a little Stephen King and Lovecraft thrown in. Sounds odd, but I really enjoyed it.

This tells the story of John Henry Booth, a soldier who protects the remnants of humanity from the hellish creatures that have taken over the world. During a mission, things take a turn for the worst and his team are killed, he is the only survivour but is blamed for their deaths. Declared dead himself, he sets out with some questionable characters to get revenge and find out the truth of what happened. It's actually a really really hard book to summarise in my own words because there is so much to this book that can't be explained, it needs to be experienced to enjoy it fully. It is an immensely complex world but one that will grab you and suck you in.

The characters were all well written and developed. The MC was badass but he was also kind, thoughtful and reliable. He really shines with his attitude to different people, like the little girl and the Ghoul. Plus his dedication to his team members was admirable. I also have to give the author props for his imaginative and crazy imagination!!! The creatures and monsters in this were equal parts crazy as they were scary. You seriously have to read it to see what I'm on about.

I have read a lot of this author's books and really loved them, but this one shows much more of his abilities than the other ones. The writing and world building was amazing and really complex. It's the type of book that you will need to concentrate on but also one that takes no effort to enjoy. You will find yourself immersed in a magical, desperate, desolate world yet it will captivate you and bring you on an unforgettable journey. It definitely defies categorisation, genre wise, so should appeal to a wide variety of people.

In all, this was a fast paced, action packed and addicting read. I finished it last week yet still find myself remembering details of the world daily. It may not have been as funny and witty as his other works, but this was an amazing read and I devoured it.

Jeffrey Kafer absolutely nailed this book. He brought the characters and the world to life. He definitely knows how to tell a story the right way and is a narrator that never fails to deliver!

I received this for free via Audiobook Boom. This in no way affected or influenced my thoughts.

[Stephen Kozeniewski · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the book I didn't realize was missing from my life. Now that I've read it, I feel this great, CTHULHU ARMAGEDDON-shaped hole in my heart.

Picture, if you will, a Warhammer 40,000 novel, only not set in that unique landscape. That's the closest thing I can think of to compare this book to. It doesn't read like Lovecraft, although it's clearly and deeply indebted to him, Derleth, and the rest of the gang. It doesn't read like military porn, although I was halfway expecting it to go that way based on the first chapter. It's not even really a whole lot like your standard apocalyptic fiction. It's not a Western, either, despite the logline. I hesitate to say this because I'm sure some well-read snob will fix my wagon, but IMHO CTHULHU ARMAGEDDON is unique.

First things first, for the Lovecraft fanatic, this is a loving, painstaking homage with such a depth and breadth of references it'll send you running for your mythos wiki if you're anything short of a Lovecraft scholar. I caught a number of references, but a few flew right by me. Which leads to my next point. For the casual fan who doesn't know Cthulhu beyond that plushy your nerdy girlfriend owns, I think you'll be fine as well. Phipps takes the time to describe every monster the characters encounter in dripping, gruesome detail, whether they're as well known as old squidface himself or as relatively obscure as a Byakhee or the Colour out of Space.

Beyond that, this was an engaging, absorbing, engrossing read. I can always tell how much I'm enjoying an audiobook by how long it takes me to read. If I'm constantly finding excuses to turn on the radio instead during the morning commute, it's usually because the audiobook is a bit of a chore. If I turn the book on every time I step into the car and keep listening, spellbound, as I'm doing my chores around the house, then I know the author has me hooked. CTHULHU ARMAGEDDON was one of those. I devoured it in less than a week. And all glory, incidentally, must be given to the narrator, Jeffrey Kafer, who did a more than capable job, and that's even before you consider that he was having to pronounce names like Nyarlathotep and Shub-Niggurath, at some points seemingly every other word. So kudos to Mr. Kafer on a job well done and to Mr. Phipps on one of the best novels I've read in ages. An easy 5 stars.

[David Hambling · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cross Aliens and Mad Max, and you get noisy, spectacular fun — and that’s pretty much what we have here. Picture a squad of Colonial Marines blasting their way through HP Lovecraft’s entire back catalog of weird and wonderful creatures and you’re starting to get close. Phipps has a strong 80s action movie aesthetic; while HPL’s protagonists cower, gibber and faint when they encounter eldritch horrors, here they empty their Heavy Assault Rifle into the incoming before reaching for the hand grenades.

Our hero, Captain Booth is an outcast on a mission of vengeance against an uber-sorcerer in a post-apocalyptic, monster-infested wasteland. The scenery is lovingly imagineered with plenty of evidence of the alien onslaught which has eradicated human civilization, along with the efforts by the few survivors to build semi-functional settlements out of the wreckage, resulting in a strange mix of modern and primitive. Along the way Booth has to rescue a few female characters and handle some decidedly Lovecraftian sub-plotting. In fact, in addition to more obvious elements, the whole book is suffused with nods and tips of the hat to HPL — Phipps knows his Mythos. The narrative is enlivened with some neatly-drawn characters, from a Pink Floyd- loving, aloha-shirted ghoul mechanic and a semi-aquatic mob boss, as well as a ton of action with fists, automatic weapons and flamethrowers right up to helicopter gunships. Some of those critters are BIG...

While the plotting is in theory dark, with both Booth and humanity itself facing inevitable extinction in the face of unstoppable horrors, the cheerful destruction on all sides is distinctly upbeat rather than depressing. If you like rollercoasters, heavy rock and your Mythos turbo-charged and with extra ketchup, then this is the book for you.

[Join the Penguin Resistance! · Rating 5 out of 5]

C. T. Phipps is a prolific author in multiple genres, but CTHULHU ARMAGEDDON is my first experience of his work. Thankfully, I now have many more of his books to read, including the sequel, THE TOWER OF ZHAAL. For any reader who loves or even just admires Lovecraft, or Post-Apocalyptic fiction, or Dystopiana, CTHULHU ARMAGEDDON is absolutely not to be missed.

CTHULHU ARMAGEDDON postulates New England AFTER the Great Old Ones have risen. Amazingly, they didn't arrive from Outer Space, but from underground. Scary! This is a couple of centuries in "our" future, and Arkham is now New Arkham, a more or less armed and guarded community surrounded by desert. Kingsport is a criminally active traders' town which practices (or allows) human slavery, gambling, and so forth. John Henry Booth is a soldier, descendant of soldiers, who is more and beyond what he seems and what he thinks he is. Two decades of soldiering in the wilderness have hardened him, estranged him from his psychic wife, and kept him away from daughter and son. He perseveres to save the remnant of humanity. When his squadron is killed at the Black Cathedral, and he discovers the cause is Dr. Alan Ward, John's former mentor, he sets out on a personal quest for vengeance (and to save humanity). In the process, he will begin to discover aspects of himself he could never have possibly imagined and now does not know how to cope with. Yet every single time he decides to end it all, his mission to save the human species reawakens and inspires him.

For readers well familiarized with Lovecraft's stories (or of the Mythos writers), this novel will be like "coming home," with a multiplicity of twists and turns. For those not aware of Lovecraft, this will still be a fascinating post-apocalyptic read with a lot of monstrous entities (otherworldly and human).

[Assaph Mehr · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like genre mash-ups, have loved Lovecraft's work (and have role-played the old Call of Cthulhu RPG), and although I don't read much dystopian works these days I was in the mood for something darker. Cthulhu Armageddon was it.

What to Expect

The author notes in the preface that he set out to mix Mad Max with the Cthulhu mythos, coming from a background of gaming. He has done exactly that. The tone of the novels has that lone-gunman, cobbled-up technology relics feeling of the Mad Max movies and similar dystopia, while the creatures that inspired H.R. Giger and generations of horror lovers pop up to provide a suitable bloodbath and target practice.

The pace is quick, the action is constant, and in between the protagonist travels and adventures reminiscent of The Walking Dead there is that sense of deeper, mystical conspiracies and the doom of mankind.

What I liked

I loved the tone of the book, how Phipps unashamedly appropriates the Cthulhu mythos and asks the logical "what if" question - what will the world looks like, in the days after the horrors have already won? Don't expect a pure continuation of Lovecraft tales, but instead they are used as the basis for a new world.

Phipps writes what almost feels like a gaming scenario, as the hero navigates the ravaged world and uncovers its secrets in between bouts of gruesome violence. That keeps the story advancing at a rapid pace, where the backstories are interspersed just in time for when they become relevant.

What to be aware of

As with most Lovecraftian horror, it's not just about the inconceivable monstrosities but about the bleakness of existence. Don't expect a happy ending (even by the horror genre standard). There is no good vs evil, but a sense of the fatalistic, ultimately futile, struggle of humanity to just survive. As the protagonist says, there is nothing much left but blood and vengeance, like ants spoiling the gods' picnic.

This is makes for a harsh read, and for a harsh protagonist. I didn't find Booth (the main character, from whose view the story is told) particularly appealing or relatable, though naturally that's a matter of taste. Another similar aspect for me is that the writing style and characterisation feel a bit simplistic at times, going for the cheesy hard line rather than a deeper emotional description.

Summary

I'd highly recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys dystopian horror, whether they're familiar with Lovecraft's stories or not. Especially if you like gaming-style high-action sequences of bloody violence.
--
Assaph Mehr, author of Murder In Absentia: A story of Togas, Daggers, and Magic - for lovers of Ancient Rome, Murder Mysteries, and Urban Fantasy.

[Mihir · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall rating = 3 & 1/2 stars

Full review over at Fantasy Book Critic

OVERVIEW/ANALYSIS: Cthulhu Armageddon is a book that grabbed my attention for two reasons. One it’s a dystopian, post-apocalyptic story that mixes Lovecraftian mythos with action & terrific characters. The second reason being C. T. Phipps himself, he has impressed me a lot with his previous work and so I have high hopes for this one.

The book's main character John Henry Booth is an Remnant Recon & Extermination ranger & squadron leader. He's been trained to retrieve objects, humans & other items of interest from the surrounding areas. John in his last mission went with his team in different area of the wastelands and came back a different man. He doesn't quite remember what happened but his entire team got wiped out & he has been branded a traitor. Events are in play which call for his execution but then a fortuitous turn leads Booth to finding out what might have happened & sets up the main plot.

The best way to describe this book is Mad Max meets Cthulhu and with lots of action and horror mixed in. The thing I loved about the book was the world settings, usually it's very tricky to balance a post apocalyptic dystopia but kudos to Charles Phipps for making this world believable and also providing a rich mythological feel to it.

The characterization is another plus point as I enjoyed those characters who are introduced in this series opener. This goes majorly for the side character cast which is introduced. My favorites were Katryn and Richard as they both seemed so much more than their appearances. Particularly I was plain horrified at one of the minor character’s death as that was just out of the left field. This is to the author's credit that he makes us invested in ech and everyone. The main character Booth is a bit unsavory but he has reasons to be such and there are tiny snippets of his past revised which reveal a further humane side to him. Another particular aspect of the book which I loved was the main character is black and the author doesn't make too much of it. His world is a diverse world reflecting our own and it was very heartening to see the author include the mythos but add his own touches to make it so much more diverse.

This book is mainly about secrets, secrets about Booth, secrets about the world, secrets from the past affecting the future and much more. I like how you get to know some but others remain just that; secrets. I hope that the author reveals Booth's past connection to a side character (from what is revealed, it's too rich to not be further explored) as well as lets us meet his ex-wife. The pace of the story is such that you will constantly be flipping pages to see where it all ends.

Now going to the negatives about the book, there are a few situations within the book that stretch the imagination even more that what is required. It felt more cut & dried rather than organic and within the story so that detracted from my enjoyment. Lastly Booth while being a main character isn't all that strong to drive your interest. In fact it's the secondary characters who often prop up the story as much as him. So with that in mind I'm hoping that the author can rectify this in the sequels and make the story stronger.

Overall this is a story that is similar to Steven Montano's Blood Skies series but less grim dark and has more of a human element involved. The authors spoken about where he wishes to take the story next & based on the potential shown in this story, I’m willing to go along for the ride. Cthulhu Armageddon is a good thrill ride mixing Lovecraftian horror along with grimdark dystopia and for the most part gives the readers exactly what its blurb promises.

[Lee Conley · Rating 5 out of 5]

A review of
Cthulhu Armageddon
By
C.T. Phipps

I am a big fan of H.P. Lovecraft and his Cthulhu mythos, so I was excited when I got my hands on Cthulhu Armageddon. This book is described as a ‘post apocalypse western’ but with a Lovecraft-esque spin, sounds intriguing right?

This book follows the adventure of John Booth, a Recon and Extermination Ranger for the United States Remnant which is one of humanity’s few surviving city states after the apocalypse. The backstory is, humanity is on the brink of extinction following an apocalyptic event called the Rising, in which The Great Old Ones from Lovecraft’s canon emerge and destroy the planet, leaving the world we know as a twisted wasteland full of Lovecraftian horrors and monsters, and also the fractured survivors of humanity.

The story kicks off with booth and his team of Rangers, investigating reports of abducted children and a mysterious ‘Black Cathedral’ in the wastelands. All hell breaks loose, as they find themselves desperately fighting for their lives against the re-animated dead and a mysterious sorcerer.

The characters are varied and quite fun. John Booth plays a kind of special forces/ gunslinger character. He teams up with some unlikely allies, Mercury a former United States Remnant torturer, a talking flesh eating ghoul named Richard, a young girl and some Mad Max style wasteland warriors to venture through the wasteland with the final aim of returning to the Black Cathedral for vengeance. There is Lovecraft references and creatures spread throughout the book. The creatures of Lovecraft such as Shoggoths and Deep Ones appear frequently throughout alongside some fittingly created new creatures which have a Lovecraft feel. We have loads of references to Lovecraft’s characters and places, folk descended from the Dunwych, mention of Howard Carter and practically every Lovecraft character has been cleverly used and re-worked into the story. The post-apocalyptic world Phipps has created using an obvious in-depth knowledge of Lovecraft’s work, and clever use of it, is a fantastic setting. We get a glimpse into humanities various attempts at continuing civilization, often corrupted by the worship and insidious magic of The Great Old Ones, and living alongside and sometimes breeding with foul Lovecraftian creatures such as Ghouls and fishy Deep Ones.
Phipps has taken Lovecraftian canon and made it his own, I really liked what he’s done here. The cosmic sense of horror has been incorporated well. The story is original and well written, there’s plenty of humour and action. It’s certainly not a Love-craft rip off and at times definitely has the feel of a western and has post-apocalyptic sci-fi elements. I would recommend this book to read for fans of Lovecraft (obviously) but also fans of weird westerns, sci-fi, dystopian fantasy and post-apocalyptic settings. Great book, diving into the sequel now.

Thanks for reading
Lee C. Conley

[Timothy Ward · Rating 4 out of 5]

In a genre of Cthulhu monsters and elder gods, this was expectedly strange and unique. The weird western setting was a cool start, with the hook of a soldier trying to find out how his team was killed on a mission. The many twists and clues about who was responsible and how our hero would respond led to a fast paced journey through the strange and magical blend of realities. The middle of the book lost me at times, and had portions where I lost interest in the plot, but I rode out the last three hours and thought it had a great ending. Part of my problem was the compounding grimness of the feel and succeeding stages in the plot. The ending offered a piece of hope that helped enhance my empathy for the characters going forward, and as a kind of relief from the mostly depressing tone of the rest of the book. The narrator, Jeffrey Kafer does a great job as always, and certainly fits the bleak feel. This one landed a little outside my preference for dystopia/post-apocalyptic in this sense, but the creativity in world building and plot twists could make this a great read for someone with a bit different preferences on tone. After the ending, though, I'm eager to see how the next book goes.
3.5/5 stars

[Daniel James · Rating 4 out of 5]

The year is 2137, and “There are no heroes in the Wasteland.”

And that’s pretty much what the entire world has been reduced to since
The Rising, when the Great Old Ones ascended, altering the global topography, creating new mountains and cliffs, unearthing buried cities, and leading to the downfall of humanity; a nigh-on extinction event unwittingly aided by the global governments using nuclear war heads to no effect against the ancient gods.
But that’s all in the past now.

Captain John Henry Booth, a Recon & Extermination Ranger for the Remnant-mistakenly believed to be all that remains of the United States-leads his Gamma Squadron team on a mission to the Black Cathedral somewhere in the Waste, to rescue a number of kidnapped children and eliminate their captors. Unfortunately, John didn’t count on Alan Ward, the Remnant’s former Director of Arcane Studies and now ostracised zealot, being behind the child abductions.
Sadly, the rescue mission does not end well for John and his team.

Some time after the bloody massacre of his Gamma Squadron, John, sole survivor, awakes to find himself face-face with Mercury Takahashi, the Remnant’s top intel extractor. It seems John’s survival, particularly his return home, was under deeply suspicious circumstances, which has led to him being falsely, and publicly accused of his team’s murders by the Council of Leaders, and so he was deemed a killer and given a false trial and execution.

Not a good situation for John to be in: besmirched, stripped of rank, and with a family who now believe their war hero father is a psychotic murderer. But Takahashi doesn’t plan on interrogating John; instead, she wants him to help her escape New Arkham and the Remnant to see the world beyond its fortified borders. It seems like suicide, but John wants to return to the Black Cathedral, find Ward, fill in the gaps of his missing memory, and kill him.

Thus begins the exciting and action-packed pulp adventure.

Phipps paints a good clear picture of his post-apocalyptic world, which comes alive in the small details e.g. during Booth’s escape from New Arkham, he gives a parting glance at the USAF base, mentioning how the now defunct traffic control towers have been reduced to homes for rich families. It’s little things like this, not to mention the savage Cthulhu worshipping tribes, the melding of magic and salvaged tech, a ghoul with a penchant for Old Earth Hawaiian shirts and rock ‘n’ roll, and a garish city of sin being vied over by several gangsters, which help create a grand depiction of a deadly but fascinating world.

The author has also packed it to its squiddy gills with Lovecraft lore and horrors, from night-gaunts, Elder Things, the Necronomicon, the Dreamland, “Reanimated-class undead” or “West Boys”-named for Herbert West’s devastating formula whose effects brought New Boston to its knees-and many other popular entities and references.

I also liked John as a character. He’s hardened, cynical, and stares the harsh truths of life in the eye; having joined the R&E Rangers in the hope of dying, he fights for humanity knowing they’re a lost cause, but is unwilling to simply lay down and make death too easy on a world full of horrors. And his backstory is interesting, which I won’t divulge here.

And post-Epilogue, Phipps has included a nice and succinct breakdown of the story’s world and history, including an in-depth glossary of all of Lovecraft’s labyrinthian creatures and lore, which is not only a cool feature, but also a nice refresher course to help readers less initiated with the multitudes of his whacky-named bestiary.

All in all, if you dig Lovecraft and Mad Max, I recommend checking this book out.
Oh! And there’s a second book, which I will certainly be reading in the near future, preferably before Cthulhu rears his iconic face.

[Gilbert Stack · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of C.T. Phipps’ many strengths is his vivid imagination and this book highlights that as he brings to life what the world might look like after the elder gods of the Cthulhu mythos break civilization. Unsurprisingly, it’s not a nice place to be, but we have one kicka$$ hero to guide us through the apocalypse who makes every moment exciting.

The plot revolves around a strange construction—the black cathedral—which has appeared out of the desert and from which child-kidnapping hordes emerge. At the start of the novel, our hero tries to rescue those kids and gets his whole team killed. Then his world further falls apart as he prepares himself to go back to the black cathedral and get some serious vengeance.

It’s a good story with lots of action and a couple of nice surprises.

If you liked this review, you can find more at www.gilbertstack.com/reviews.

[Al Burke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review here - https://www.alwroteabook.com/2018/11/...

[Larry · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a review of the audiobook, narrated by Jeffrey Kafer.

Cthulhu Armageddon is an outstanding addition to the Cthulhu mythos and faithful to the sanity-warping vision of H.P. Lovecraft. As someone who has listened to several of Lovecraft’s tales over the years, I can appreciate the obvious respect the author demonstrates for the Cthulhu genre while he solidly lays the foundation of his own unique new chapter that I believe Mr. Lovecraft would approve of. Of particular note, the author’s depiction of a devastated wasteland as a result of the rising of the Great Old Ones was expertly done while leaving plenty of room for further exploration in the upcoming sequel, The Tower of Zhaal, available in a few months (info courtesy of the author via his blog).

The synopsis found on Goodreads is a little misleading. It isn’t exactly wrong but it definitely doesn’t do the novel’s plot justice or inform the reader/listener enough. I was under the impression it was a Wild West version of an apololyptic tale involving Cthulhu. Forget the “Wild West’ part. The story is the equivalent of a squad leader who sets out to avenge his murdered soldiers and kill the Evil Professor who has gained Power from the Old Ones amidst the remnants of the fallen human civilization and survive the various factions of survivors living in the wasteland that the Earth has become as a result of the Great Old Ones’ rising. The story is not as simplistic as my description and there are many surprises and twists in the plot, but I think the above is enough to inform without ruining the pleasure of discovering for yourself the surprises in this excellent book. Just don’t expect a “Man With No Name” character/story…

The outstanding performance by Jeffrey Kafer really added to the various moods evoked by this novel. From the gruffness and stoicism of a combat veteran hunting horrors from beyond space-time to the machinations of a psychic/witch to the innocence of a child who has had her world turned upside down to a likeable ghoul trying to hold onto his humanity, Mr. Kafer’s narration/performance was spot on and added that extra ingredient that results in an audiobook that the listener is simply unable to stop listening to. Mr. Kafer has rapidly established his narration pedigree with quality performances and, having more than a handful of audiobooks with his narration, he has never disappointed. While I have listened to several of Mr. Phipps’ audiobooks and enjoyed them all (they were all narrated by Mr, Kafer), seeing that this narration was by Mr. Kafer was the deciding factor for spending my hard-earned Audible credit on Cthulhu Armageddon.

If you are not familiar with the Cthulhu mythos, I recommend hitting the library and I am sure you will find many audiobooks and print editions available. If you just want a taste to see if the genre is for you, I recommend the approximately 20 minute tale called “Dagon”. There are many tales to choose from, but Dagon is a particular favorite of mine. Anyways, it should serve as a good introduction and litmus test for your interest of the genre. Just be aware that this genre does not (and should not!) have many happy moments. Due to the Powers involved, there are no happy endings, the good guys don’t win, and characters are going to die.

Bottom line: Cthulhu Armageddon was an excellent listening experience. It benefitted from an excellent plot, suspense, vision, and a professional vocal performance that resulted in me finishing this riveting 8hr 30min audiobook in one day and immediately wanting more. I will be the first to preorder the sequel. Highly recommended!

[Phillip III · Rating 5 out of 5]

CTHULHU ARMAGEDDON is the first book I have read by C.T. Phipps. I wasn't sure what to expect. For starters, the cover is amazing. I've said it many times before, but will gladly repeat myself, I oftentimes judge a book by the cover. It may be shallow. It's, however, what makes me pick up a book in the first place for closer inspection.

There is a lot going on in this tale. Information comes at the reader from all directions. Phipps is world building, and does a fantastic job at it. At first I was compelled to take notes while I read. When I set my pen down and just let the storyteller tell the story, I settled in and enjoyed the ride.

The earth is little more than a giant wasteland, with groups of survivors banded here and there. John Henry Booth is a ranger. When his team is wiped out during an ambush, and only Booth survives, he is blamed for the deaths despite his protests that former Dr. Alan Ward is behind the attack, and responsible for the murders of his soldiers.

When torturer, Mercury Takahashi, is wanted for the untimely death of her husband, a plan is hatched. Luring Booth in as a guide, she convinces the former ranger to help her traverse the wastelands to where she hopes to find solace in Kingsport. Since her trek, and his plan to hunt down Ward --founder of the Black Cathedral in the Great Barrier Desert-- coincide, he agrees.

Crossing the wasteland would be dangerous enough. The slavers, and ghouls, the monsters, and everything-that-goes-bump-in-the-night only make the journey that much more treacherous. Banding together with others along the way, one dangerous situation after another, Booth is certain they will find Ward. The problem? Will he be able to get revenge for his soldiers, and defeat Alan Ward when he gets to the Black Cathedral?

The action is constant. Intense. I loved the characters. Booth is tough, a wiseass, but also genuine and caring. There is a clear sense of purpose, and drive behind the story. And Phipps moves it forward with practiced pacing, and skill. C.T. Phipps spits out enough hints and allegations throughout the book to craft an entire universe of books in the series, and who has two thumbs and would be happy about that? This guy right here.

Be sure to check out my interview with C.T. Phipps for a more personal look at the man, the author!

Phillip Tomasso
Author of the Severed Empire Series, and
The Vaccination Trilogy

[M.L. Spencer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Captain John Henry Booth, United States Remnant Recon and Extermination Ranger, murdered his entire squadron while assaulting the Black Cathedral in the Great Barrier Desert. Because of this catastrophic event, Booth was found guilty of treason and executed. His wife was reassigned to another spouse and his children were re-purposed other families. Only…

...that’s not how it really happened. That’s just what they said happened.

Here’s how it really went down:

In truth, Booth was betrayed by his former teacher. He was touched by the hand of a god, his memory erased, and is now hell-bent to kill the man responsible for his squadron’s annihilation. And he has some amazing talent at his side: Richard, a ghoul in a Hawaiian shirt, two women who hate him but are mysteriously attracted to him (make that three?), and a black-magical spellbook that everyone wants to get their hands on.

The mind that created this Neapolitan-blend of tropes is truly astonishing. Oh, wait, I’m speaking of C.T. Phipps, who I already know is capable of mind-boggling feats of literary contortionism. And all delivered with his signature sarcastic wit and tongue-in-cheek cynicism (is that enough hyphens for one paragraph?) Anyone who can mix Lovecraft, Mad Max, and Alien in a blender and make something that shines has won my respect.

I really enjoyed this novel. I found John Henry Booth a relatable main character who is easy to like and a terrific deconstruction of your typical Gary Stu protagonist. Speaking of deconstruction, that’s what this book’s all about and where it shines—deconstructing one trope after another. It does this remarkably well without never taking itself too seriously.

This book has been my first foray into Lovecraftian-inspired fiction. I enjoyed the milieu filled with Deep Ones, Elder Things, Cthulhu cultists, and E.B.E.s (Extra-Biological Entities). And the pace never lets up; it is pretty relentless from start to finish. The stakes are high and the ending—and our protagonist’s life—is never guaranteed.

I highly recommend this novel for anyone with even the slightest inclination toward dark science-fantasy.

[Trevor Sherman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Have you ever read anything by H.P. Lovecraft? how about listened to one of the radio plays by The H.P. Lovecraft Historical Society? No? Well why the hell not? Go and read them!! It's ok I'll wait...
Ok that's better. Now remember how the "Things" that came and everyone dies? Well not everyone did die. A few small pockets of humanity survived for around one hundred years, and one of these Pockets is called United States Remnants.
The story is told in first person through the eyes of John Henry Booth a Remnant Recon squadron leader. He is kind of unlikeable the first peep we get in his head. Then his rage at seeing a child harmed made him instantly relatable to me. He goes out of his way to help kids and slaves. For the latter its more so he can kill the slavers, but that is still a good thing right?.
if you took some Lovecraft tossed in a bit of Fallout 3 and a pinch of Clint Eastwood you would get those three things mixed together (lol I need Sleep) Actually It felt like I was reading a lost Lovecraft book. Which I suppose could be high praise or condemnation depending. But I say it in praise. The disturbing parts where DISTURBInG.
But what I really loved about this book was the unexpected humor. Many times I laughed so much I had to rewind because I missed something. I call it unexpected humor because the funniest moments in the book are when they talk about a dead Private, when people are trying to shoot John, and when he tells Jessica how fucked up the situation is.
Cthulhu Armageddon is not a long Audio book Around 8 hours. Jeffrey Kafer did an excellent job Narrating and C.T. Phips did a great job writing. I really did enjoy it more then I thought I would I give Cthulhu Armageddon by C.T. Phipps
4.5 out of 5

[Jan Chlapowski Söderlund · Rating 1 out of 5]

* - I did not like this book.

Mr Phipps has written a book which I am afraid did not go down well with me.

Let me first explain why I read Weird and New Weird stories. I consider myself an avid Lovecraftian fan because of the intelligent horror-angle which shines through in his stories. Lovecraft's philosophy of cosmicism, which portrays some heavy-weight existential angst with the ant- or mosquito-like quality of humans vs the supernatural. And the fact that the horrors are not evil in themselves, they are just devoid of our kind of moral qualms and are utterly alien in their motivations.

Unfortunately, I found all of these qualities absent in Cthulhu Armageddon. The names of the horrors were the ones found in the Lovecraft Mythos, but the atmosphere of mysticism and the unknown was entirely lacking throughout the whole story. The book felt like a Young Adult-read... on a particularly bad day. No depth. Cheap humour. Even cheaper love-story touches. A hero who did not follow any logic in his character-development (the fact that he was changing into something non-human does not count as an excuse).

I have recently read two books with modern Lovecraft Mythos-stories edited by Ross Lockhart, one of which was amazing: The Book of CthulhuThe Book of Cthulhu. If you want some modern Lovecraftian prose - grab that book instead.

[Dyrk Ashton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cthulhu Armageddon is extremely imaginative with a startling, well drawn post-apocalyptic world where Lovecraft’s Old Ones have returned - and won.

When I first saw this book was coming out I knew I had to read it. With a title like that, how could I not? The Old Ones of Lovecraftian lore have been summoned and nearly destroyed the world. Cool! The few remaining humans struggle to survive against supernatural, inter-dimensional horrors? Right on! Great cover too.

And I enjoyed this book quite a bit. Wonderful imagination at play here, practically non-stop action and adventure, fun crazy magic, and very cool monsters.

There are a few reasons I give it less than five stars that may not bother anyone else. The writing feels hurried to me, not incompetent or bad at all, just rushed. Also, there are technical or physical details that didn’t make sense to me or were I felt were incongruous, in my opinion. Those are probably just me, and I know this is - it felt more like following someone playing a game than reading a novel (but I guess that’s what LitRPG is, though I’m not sure if this is technically LitRPG), and some folks may love it for that reason. Anyway, nit-picky reasons that have more to do with me than the author, and I recommend it to anyone looking for a fast fun read.

3.5 stars (rounded up to 4)

[Toby Tate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cthulhu Armageddon immediately thrust me into a bizarre world of weird wonders and terrifying dangers and held me fast in its grip until the last page. C.T. Phipps' writing, although it has always been good, just gets better with each book. The author will probably think this description is bonkers, but the story reminds me of a cross between Starship Troopers and Stephen King's Dark Tower series, with a big heapin' helpin' of H.P. Lovecraft's Colour Out of Space spooned on top.

With great characterizations, believable dialogue, and a story line that keeps you flipping pages well into the night, you can't go wrong with Cthulhu Armageddon!

[Darren Dilnott · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first encounter with C. T. Phipps. But after reading Cthulhu Armageddon it won't be my last. This was such a fun easy read, that I struggled to put it down. This book is Cthulhu Mythos, post apocalypse, with a western feel. The author clearly knows his mythos, and it's filled with some of the best known monsters and gods. But what sets it apart for me is the underlying humour the author has injected. So many laugh out loud moments.
Really enjoyed this book.

[Seregil of Rhiminee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally published at Risingshadow.

C. T. Phipps' Cthulhu Armageddon is an amazing post-apocalyptic weird western novel, because the author delivers an original no-holds-barred vision of what the world is like after the Lovecraftian Great Old Ones have conquered it and how the surviving humans try to cope in the new world. In this novel, elements of horror, science fiction and western blend seamlessly together in an exciting way.

Before I write more about this novel and my thoughts about it, I'll briefly mention that I don't normally invest time in reading this kind of fiction, because I've often been extremely disappointed by weird western novels due to their lack of imagination, originality and style. This novel is one of the few exceptions that I have found enjoyable and original enough to please me. It strongly appealed to my sense of weirdness, because it had plenty of Lovecraftian elements in a fresh and exciting format. There's a fantastic feel of hardboiled pulp with a faint touch of bizarro fiction to this novel that I found charming.

I think that most speculative fiction readers are familiar with Cthulhu Mythos or have at least heard of it, but if there are readers out there who are not familiar with it yet, below are a few words about it, because in order to fully enjoy the story it's good to know at least something about Cthulhu Mythos (knowledge about Cthulhu Mythos gives you more insight into the various elements found in this novel).

The Cthulhu Mythos is a shared fictional universe, based on the work of H. P. Lovecraft. The fictional cosmic entity Cthulhu is a central figure in Lovecraft literature. An ongoing theme in Lovecraft's work is the complete irrelevance of mankind in the face of the cosmic horrors that apparently exist in the universe. The Great Old Ones are a loose pantheon of ancient, powerful deities from space who once ruled the Earth and who have since fallen into a deathlike sleep. (More detailed information about Cthulhu Mythos can easily be found from the internet.)

If you're wondering what kind of a novel Cthulhu Armageddon is, it can best be described as a weird combination of Mad Max films, Cthulhu Mythos, Fallout games (especially Fallout 3), Clint Eastwood's western films and cosmic horror. It's an irresistibly original genre mash-up that is unlike any other weird western novel, because it contains post-apocalyptic elements and loads of Lovecraftian weirdness.

It's possible that Cthulhu Armageddon may not be to everyone's liking due to its contents, but that's one of the reasons why I love it and recommend it to other readers. I respect the author for having the courage to write his own kind of weird western novel that boldly differs from what has been previously written by other authors. I never would've guessed that somebody could write so captivating and entertaining a weird western novel, but C. T. Phipps has written such a novel. The use of Lovecraftian elements truly makes a difference, because it separates this novel from other similar kind of novels and elevates it into a class of its own.

Here's a bit of information about the story:

Captain John Henry Booth is leading Gamma Squad Rangers through the Great Barrier Desert. They're performing a rogue operation because of mass kidnappings and are searching for a Black Cathedral. Soon they find the Cathedral, the appearance of which is both alien and disturbing, because it's black and darker than obsidian and grotesque statues line its walls. They move into the Black Cathedral and find themselves surrounded by armed Cthulhu cultists. They annihilate the cultists, but they're surprised to notice that the bodies are starting to rise up and things go badly wrong. Soon Booth passes out... When Booth recovers his consciousness, he finds himself tended by doctor called Mercury Takahashi. He finds out that a lot has changed since he passed out and he's no longer a Captain, but a traitor who is declared dead. Mercury tells that she needs to escape New Arkham and asks Booth take her to a safe place in the Wasteland...

This is the beginning of an amazing story that is filled with surprises, horror, science fiction, action and humour.

The characterisation works well, because the author gradually reveals bits and pieces about the characters and their secrets. It's nice that the author doesn't get stuck on meaningless details when writing about the characters, but keeps things fresh and avoids repetition. The characters feel developed and well written, and they experience feelings of terror, madness and disgust. Some of the characters feel a bit clichéd, but that's not a bad thing in this novel.

John Henry Booth is an interesting protagonist, because he has been through a lot. He is a soldier and a respected leader whose life changes when he is believed to be a traitor. After being declared dead, he decides to seek the person who is responsible for what happened to him and make him pay for it. The complicated relationship between Booth and his wife, Martha, who's a psychic, is handled well. I enjoyed reading about what happened between them.

I enjoyed reading about Mercury Takahashi, because she had her own reasons for escaping New Arkham. She was a woman had been brought up to be a torturer. She doesn't know much about life and survival outside in the Wasteland (she is inexperienced when it comes to the ways of the outside world).

Richard is an especially interesting character, because he's an immortal ghoul. He lives in the Scrapyard among humans and is Booth's friend.

It was touching to read about Jackie, because she's a young eleven-year-old girl who has lost her parents. She's all alone in the world.

It's great that the author uses Lovecraftian elements in a boldly original way. He dares to experiment with them and has fun doing so. Almost every possible element from the Great Old Ones to Necronomicon is mentioned and featured in the story, but the author's approach to them is wonderfully fresh (the author makes several nods to H. P. Lovecraft's stories and uses many names that are familiar to readers who have read Lovecraftian fiction).

By the way, if you're a narrowminded purist when it comes to Lovecraftian fiction, you'll probably experience a major shock when you begin to read this novel and may abhor what you read, but if you're openminded and enjoy reading something different, you're in for a whole lot of fun and you'll get to read about several fascinating scenes. I found this novel to be very entertaining, because I've never read anything quite like it ever before.

This novel has a fascinatingly weird atmosphere that is enhanced by the author's depictions of the strange beings and monsters. There are certain sections in which the story feels a bit dream-like and otherworldly and evokes a strong sense of eldritch threat. The Black Cathedral is quite a sight to behold for fans of Lovecraftian weirdness, because it's a captivatingly strange and otherworldly place.

The action scenes are excellent. In my opinion, the author fluently writes about the frenzy and desperation associated with action and makes sure that his readers enjoy the scenes.

The worldbuilding is excellent, because Earth has changed permanently and landscapes have been altered by the Great Old Ones. I love the author's vision of the new world, because much changed since the Rising and the world has become a hellish place for humans. Whole sections of the globe have been upended by the Great Old Ones and ancient cities have been unearthed from the ground. Humanity has been reduced into pockets of few survivors and power play and politics among the survivors complicates life.

It was interesting for me to read about the Wasteland and life there, because it was a dangerous, harsh and unforgiving place. People who lived there had adapted to a new way of living, because there was no going back to old life. The author's vision of people and ghouls who lived in the Wasteland felt intriguing and I enjoyed his descriptions about them.

By the way, the audiobook version of Cthulhu Armageddon is great. If you're interested in listening to audiobooks, the audiobook version is worth listening to (please, give it a try). The narration by Jeffrey Kafer is good, because he brings the story to life with his performance. I also want to mention that if you find this novel enjoyable, the author has written a sequel called The Tower of Zhaal (published January 2017), which continues the story of Booth. I'm personally looking forward to reading it, because I loved everything about this novel.

I highly recommend C.T. Phipps' Cthulhu Armageddon to readers who want to experience something original, captivating and weird. It's a fascinatingly original and action-filled weird western novel that will appeal to those who enjoy reading about Lovecraftian beings and post-apocalyptic happenings. If you want Lovecraftian mayhem with style and originality, I can guarantee that you won't be disappointed by the story. There's a lot to love in this novel, because it has action, humour, horror, human emotions and surprises.

My final words are:

Cthulhu Armageddon is fresh and thoroughly enjoyable Lovecraftian entertainment! More, please!

[Ian Miller · Rating 3 out of 5]

The basic premise is that humanity is being extinguished by various alien monsters who have always been here, but have been hiding. Irrespective of how odd you think such a premise is, a premise is a premise. So what happens? From the title, you can see that the end of` humanity is in sight. You might also guess there are going to be a few unpronouncable words for names and utterances of the monsters. The plot involves a wasteland with a "cathedral" in it, and John Booth, and some others, go to this cathedral to kill monsters who inhabit it, and initially most of the party are killed, but Booth and Jessica escape, badly wounded. However, they have learned that Ward, who was once human, has morphed into a monster necromancer, and the quest then is to return and kill him. Of course there are a number of other things that have to be done first. A sort of mix of Lovecraft, King, with a sort of apocalyptic western style.
The writing style is clear and easy to follow, and the characters, while not very likeable, are reasonably well drawn, and much better drawn than I expected. The world building is excellent with one reservation. The monsters are almost indestructible. This, for me, does not build tension because I realize that some sort of magic is going to be required from somewhere or our heroes are simply going to die. There is one really good exception to that, and the author should consider having more of that sort of thing in future books. However, overall the balance is not good. As a consequence, the frequent somewhat pulpy fight scenes did not draw me in. A further problem for me was continuity. One example. They are in some sort of dreamworld and Booth is captured and tied down. He escapes, somehow (unconvincing) and floors a captor with a kick. The problem: two pages before he had his legs blown off. Yes, it is a dreamworld, but it would still help to have some words to describe how he got his legs back. Further, throughout the book, horrible damage is inflicted, but it does not stop our fighters. So, it is magic. Perhaps, but then there is no realism and no tension.

[Anna Mocikat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Imagine the Cthulhu mythos was real and he and all other Lovecraftian creatures decided to conquer the human world. Would humanity stand a chance?
This is the premise of C.T. Phipps's Cthulhu Armageddon. The story starts decades after the apocalypse. As it turns out, in a war against the Old Ones humans got the short end of the stick and are now close to extinction.
The story follows John Booth and his team of rangers. They belong to the tiny military forces humanity has left and their job is to patrol the wastelands and fight monsters, mutants and humans who behave like monsters.
Until one day they enter the Black Cathedral and John loses all his team... and his memory...
This book is very different from Phipp's other works, as it's not a comedy but post-apocalyptic monster action. It's a modern take on Lovecraft's Cthulhu mythos and the author does a good job merging the well-known creatures and monsters with an action-driven adventure story.
I haven't read anything by Lovecraft for years but immediately found myself engaged in the world, which is well-known and yet new.
The story kept me interested from the beginning to the end and the characters are believable and interesting. I particularly liked the descriptions of the various monsters and that the author paid tribute to Lovecraft throughout the story. Similar to Lovecraft's books, the monsters are so horrifying that anyone who only looks at some of them could go insane.
I listened to the audiobook version narrated by Jeffrey Kafer, who narrates most of Phipps books. As always, Kafer does a great job at bringing the characters to life.
I had a lot of fun with this book and certainly recommend it to horror fans and fans of H.P. Lovecraft in particular. I have book two already downloaded and am looking forward to listening to it!

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

C.T. Phipps is the author of Cthulhu Armageddon, a clever novel of the western/post apocalyptic/horror genre. Oh, you didn't know there was such a genre? Neither did I. But there are no rules against it in literature so off we go! This is only western in the desert wasteland setting sense but it plays well here anyway. There are some very 'Big Lebowski dream sequence' parts here and there that can start to feel almost too weird and despite my initial aversion to this type of story, I rather liked it. A few of the names are nearly impossible to sound out; talking to you, Cthulhu and Nyarlathotep! That irritated me more than it probably should have but this is my review so I can say what I want. Monsters, aliens, gods, and humans both good and evil leave their mark in this book and it makes for reading that is never dull. I loved the humor the author was able to insert amongst everything else. I would recommend this to a specific group of my friends, for sure.

[Jacob Rundle · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an interesting read. Cthulhu Armageddon is a horror/fantasy story that is placed 100 years after the great Cthulhu returned to the planet. What's left? Well, very few humans and "age-old technology."
John Henry Booth was a soldier in one of the few remaining city armies. His group was on a mission to save a group of children when the group was murdered. He's put on trial, yet he escapes with the help of another interesting character. They help each other navigate the interesting world that Phipps has created.
I give this novel 4/5 stars. The story has many Lovecraftian creatures, which were written well, and his system of magic was quite interesting. I do recommend this story to anyone who loves Horror, Fantasy, Sci-fi, and I enjoy the cover. A very interesting image.