Feast

by Thomas S. Flowers

What would you do for family?

Between the rural Texas towns of Bass and Sat is one of the most popular barbecue restaurants in America. Big Butts Bar-B-Que has been the seat of power for the Fleming family since the Great Depression, but when tragedy and scandal beset Titus and his surviving transgender son Lavinia, deals are made to keep control of the restaurant. An arrangement that will put a father at odds with his legacy. As the table is set, is it just the keys to the barbecue kingdom some are after, or something else entirely?

An extreme horror story inspired by Shakespeare’s play Titus Andronicus.

Genres: Horror

183 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 18, 2017

About the author

Thomas 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.

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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.

Reviews

[Peter Topside · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an incredible story. Totally unique premise with multiple layers, loads of drama and backstabbing, and I just enjoyed everything about it. It was like watching Dallas, but with loads of finely made BBQ food involved. Just amazing! Thomas Flowers masterfully balances a huge array of characters, which I am mostly turned off by, but he absolutely nailed it. At no point was I confused or forgetful of who each person was. And they all had purpose, as they became more deeply enmeshed with each other, and this story became more unhinged. You didn’t like any of them, but somehow Flowers kept you totally invested in all of it. So the writing skills were off the chain. It all had great flow and resolution, and was one of the finest horror books that I’ve read this year. I did, however, take some issue with it being described as an extreme horror. It has some nasty and gritty content, but nothing that I would call extreme. Beyond that, I would have liked some more development on Aaron and Anna which would have further solidified and clarified their roles with everything. Beyond that, I highly endorse this book and am excited to read further works by Thomas S. Flowers.

[Shadow Girl · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven't had time to get online to tell you to READ THIS BOOK!!

I'll have a full review posted soon!

[Latasha · Rating 2 out of 5]

**I received this audiobook in exchange for a honest review**

I did not finish this book. it opens with a very violent and explicit scene. that was a shocking opening. then, it continues to be very sexually explicit. that's just not for me. this may be a good book, I just don't think it's my cup of tea.

[Icy_Space_Cobwebs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review of FEAST
by Thomas S. Flowers

Whenever I open a story by Thomas S. Flowers, I don't know what theme, character, or plot to expect (the man's imagination is wide-ranging), but I do expect that the story, whatever it is, will be deep—and wide; rather like a river than a tiny crick. I also know that, like a river, deep within will be soil and grit and mud; personal and family secrets; and horrors unexpected. So too is FEAST, Mr. Flowers' latest, which commences with a bang (quite literally), unexpected and unplanned violence, and then delves really deep into the river of human unconsciousness. These individuals and families might be from a tiny patch in rural Texas, but their currents run very, very deep.

FEAST is subtitled “an extreme horror story,” which is factual; but I don't think it goes far enough. FEAST is dark, dark, dark. Just when you think, “can this situation turn any worse? Can these folks do anything more evil than what has already been accomplished?”, you learn that yes, it can be worse, and yes, it can be more evil. Oh, my; what folks won't do in the service of greed, not just for money, not just for flesh, but for fear of the unknown and fear of the “different,” out of misguided empathy, shame, guilt, and vengeance. There is much reflection here of classical Greek drama. Those Greek playwrights really understood how to reveal twisted human psyches. So does Thomas S. Flowers.

I expect I will have nightmares for quite some time. What a story!

[Melanie Marsh]

Feast by Thomas S. Flowers is a disturbing story centering around 2 families in Texas. It’s violent from beginning to end and I enjoyed it immensely. At just a smidge over 100 pages, it’s a quick and easy read, and it is the type of story that is difficult to put down because it moves so quickly.

 

This story is crazy. The son of one family wronged the daughter of another family. Her family is determined to ruin his family business, Big Butts Bar-B-Que despite the fact they had nothing to do with it and were trying to work with them.  Her mother is a horrible person and her brothers are just as bad if not worse. They are all seriously screwed up in the head.

 

The violence in Feast is quite gruesome. An extremely violent rape scene made me sick to my stomach but was, unfortunately, necessary for the story. This book is also quite gory. I hate that Titus’s family has been through so much but I really like how he handled things.

 

Feast is the first book by Thomas S. Flowers I have read and I look forward to reading more from him. I can see why this book is considered “extreme horror.” I recommend this book to anyone looking for a quick read and has a strong stomach. Be prepared for violence galore but if you are easily triggered you should probably skip this one.

 



 
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This review was originally posted on Fang-Freakin-Tastic Reviews

[Robin Goodfellow · Rating 4 out of 5]

-I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.

Feast, by Thomas S. Flowers, is a horrific tragedy centering around the mutilation of a young boy, with bloody nightmares caressing a guise of endless wealth and fortune.

Titus Fleming, the owner of Big Butts Bar-B-Que, has recently lost his son in a terrible murder suicide, a son who was also the heir to his restaurant. In order to prevent losing the family business, he decides to arrange a marriage for his transgender son, Lavinia, to Anna, the daughter of greedy woman named Tamora. However, when Lavinia turns up beaten, raped, and mutilated, Titus grieves for the loss of his son, and decides that no matter what, he will have revenge on Lavinia’s assailants. Flowers outdoes himself with meticulously gory details, as he shows what happens when hatred goes unchecked.

I loved the twisted devotion Titus shows Lavinia, however terrible a road it led him. Their relationship reminded me of a promise parents would make to their children, that no matter what they would do anything for them, even murder if they had too. It was the abomination of that love that took the physical form of a bloody feast, one that every bystander had taken part of, directly or indirectly. And while there was one redeeming quality both Tamora and her own sons had, in the end they fell to their own arrogance.

I also enjoyed a dark nostalgia with each word I read. From Titus’s murderous butcher shop, so very reminiscent of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, to the beautiful Lavinia, who shared his namesake with the equally tragic character from Shakespeare’s Titus Andronicus, the book was like a morbid reminder of the wonderful works of art that had detailed the destruction of lives, literally and metaphorically. Even the age old fairytale, The Juniper Tree, made an appearance here, and it was something I am deeply indebted to Flowers to. Not only does he illustrate the various aspects of these tales through the book, but he also creates a unique storyline that pertains to our culture today. Homophobia, transgender issues, infidelity, corruption; it’s like a macabre kaleidoscope that draws readers in, only beginning to scratch the surface of what it means to truly be insane.

Overall, I would give this book a 4.2 out of 5 stars. The characters were a bit too neat in my opinion, but I loved seeing them and their demons. I also enjoyed the terrifying elements Flowers had incorporated in the book. Though it was tragic, it was beautiful nonetheless. Thus, I would recommend this book to fans of the horror genre in general.

[Elena Alvarez Dosil · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have received a free copy of this book in audio format from the narrator in exchange for an honest review.

This is the tragic story affecting two families, due to some misunderstandings and somebody prone to breed quarrels. Titus owns a successful restaurant called Big Butts Bar-B-Que. Sadly he has just lost two of his sons, one in killed in war and the other committed suicide after harming and disfiguring Anna, his girlfriend. To make things right for Anna and her mother Tamora, Titus proposes to marry his transexual son Look - Lavinia to Anna. It does not matter what Anna thinks, or the fact that Lavinia disagrees, or that Anna's brothers have a cunning hate for homosexuals. But this will only bring disgrace.

Knowing that this book is based in 'Titus Andronicus' by Shakespeare I was already expecting a gruesome tale, but I have to say that there was even more gore than I expected. The rape scene was one of the crudest I have seen in books, even though, some details were skipped.

The characters were really well portrayed, and their actions and dialogs felt natural. I found strange though, that Lavinia referred to him/herself as 'him', and everyone did the same. I would have expected him to address himself as 'she', since he changed his name from Look to Lavinia.

There are some plot differences between 'Titus Andronicus' and 'Feast' but on the whole it is a catchy story with very intense moments and some evil characters. It is difficult to justify Aaron or imagine why he acted like he did, but this part is common with the classic tragedy, and it is key to the whole story.

I really enjoyed Rick Gregory's narration of this book, impersonating each one of the characters making the story easy to follow. He also captured and transmitted all the emotions from the characters, which made from this a very good experience.

I have a little complaint, though, but I am not partial here. There is a sentence in Spanish in the book, and although it is grammatically correct, nobody would say it like it appears in the book. It is also not read correctly. I am sure this will not be perceived by 95% of listeners but it always bothers me when writers or narrators do not double check this kind of things, especially being so easy nowadays.

All in all it was a very entertaining listen, but stay away from it if you are too impressionable.

[Lydian Faust · Rating 5 out of 5]

*Disclaimer- I received a free copy of this book for a fair and honest review*
In this extreme horror story, inspired by Shakespeare's tragic play, "Titus Andronicus," Flowers gives us a slightly absurdist take on the classic tale of two devastated families hell-bent on revenge. This retelling requires some suspension of disbelief on the part of the reader, as the author weaves core elements of the classic play into a modern setting (instead of an empire, there is a BBQ joint at stake here). There are a few LGBTQ characters in the work, with Lavinia being the most dimensional and fully fleshed-out among them. I wish there had been a deeper exploration of the personal feelings and motivations of Tamora, as it was difficult for me to believe she felt any real grief over the tragic events (but maybe she didn't). Those familiar with Shakespeare's 'Titus' will already know that this is going to be an extremely gory and gruesome work. For those not familiar, be forewarned- "Feast" is not only fantastically, horrifically violent but also graphically sexual. I think Shakespeare would've enjoyed it.

[Chad · Rating 4 out of 5]

While not the most extreme I have read, definitely not for the faint of heart. Still, as I am not a huge reader of this sub-genre, I was still able to enjoy it so maybe there is a message in that. The pacing and the setup for the book is great and the length is just about perfect. There were a few moments that I wish the motivations of the characters was a little clearer but that didn't prevent me from enjoying this. Take this one on at your own risk. Don't say I didn't warn you.

[Todd Oliver · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great horror story! Two families are dealing with tragedy. Both want revenge on the other. In the end, revenge is best served with BBQ! This book gets pretty gory and has some very erotic scenes, so unless you're alone or using headphones, be aware of your surroundings! I'm not sure if this is considered extreme horror or not, but it was pretty extreme! Great narration by Rick Gregory!

[Randy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Special Sauce!

Two crazy red neck families fighting over a Barbecue business leads to a bloody, backwoods Texas battle, resulting in carnage and mayhem. Gruesome, bloody, and sadistic, and written like something Herschel Gordon Lewis would release at the drive-in, this is a colorful, entertaining, and fun read. I loved it!

[Marshall Lovering · Rating 2 out of 5]

good concept, but

The author doesn’t tackle race or gender in a way that seems intelligent or referential. I get they’re all in the Deep South but the concepts seem actively racist & homophobic & transphobic instead of being a statement on those things.

Also lots of spelling errors. Sometimes characters’ names are spelled incorrectly.

[Ericzon Santos · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disgusting, disturbing, politically incorrect, senseless fun. It is like watching those 80's exploitation movies.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Texas is known for many things, especially it’s barb-b-que. The Fleming family has a legacy of great bar-b-que to uphold with their restaurant Big Butt’s Bar-B-Que. Now that legacy is threatened as Titus has lost two of his sons and his third son doesn’t show much interest in carrying on the business. Others conspire to steal his hard-earned wealth.

This is a horror story first and foremost. If you’re squeamish, then this is not the book for you. Also, there’s a graphic rape scene. For me, this story was mediocre. The characters are archetypes for the most part, there’s some plot holes, and the tale is a bit predictable.

The most well developed character is Lavinia Fleming, who was once Luke Fleming. He’s Titus’s youngest son. His transgender status has made him the target of cruel words and acts. Titus doesn’t understand his son but he does want good things for him. Lavinia’s lover, Aaron, plays an important role in the story.

Then we have Anna, who was married to one of Titus’s sons. Unfortunately, she cheats on him, is caught in the act, is mutilated by her husband, and then made witness to his suicide. All that happens right at the beginning of the book so I don’t feel bad about telling you. Now Tamora, Anna’s mom, wants recompense from the Fleming family for the physical and emotional damage to her daughter. Or so she says. In truth, she’s a very selfish woman looking to gain whatever she can out of this. Tamora also has two sons that get to play brutal dunce caps for much of the story.

I didn’t really like any of the characters. They are all flawed and rather one dimensional. Still, I didn’t like the characters of Brave New World but I quite enjoyed the story. Here, not so much. The tale is rather predictable and I was expecting more nuance since it’s being marketed as inspired by Shakespeare’s Titus Andronicus. Also, there’s this rather glaring plot hole where certain characters believe they can get away with a certain crime… when there are plenty of ways to get info (like collecting evidence, talking to suspects, etc.). None of that was addressed and I felt a bit cheated by that. At one point, a character loses a body part and almost no one comments on it and the lose doesn’t seem to impair the character at all, which just isn’t realistic in this case.

In the end, we do get some real horror and not just drama and scheming. It was OK. I think if you have a book entitled Feast in the horror genre, you can guess right from the start where the tale will go. And it did. Then at the end a character shows some remorse over one of their actions but it’s a bit twisted. The character never really gets to explore their motivations for their horrendous actions and that left me feeling a little cheated as well.

I received a free copy of this book.

The Narration: Rick Gregory did a decent job with this narration. His female voices were believable though sometimes Lavinia’s voice sounds a bit childish. I especially liked his voice for Lavinia’s mom. Sometimes I had trouble keeping the voices for Tamora’s sons straight. There’s a few sexy scenes in this book and I felt Gregory could have worked on his sexy voices a bit for those. The pacing was good and there were no technical issues.

[Robin Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first time reading anything by author Thomas S. Flowers and won’t be my last. He is most known for his popular “Subdue” series, so fans should be prepared for this extreme horror story. Oh, and it does contain extreme horrific and graphic content. This is terrifying human horror and a sad tragedy all around. The very climatic ending had me emotional.

The author touches on subjects going on today such as; small rural towns going out of business, family feuds, homophobia, being transgender and hate crimes. Plus, an evil, twisted scheme that triggers events that will set off a non-stop chain reaction. Yet, all the while the author has your mouth watering for some barbecued pulled pork and ribs with cornbread muffins on the side. Until you get to the bloody showdown where you just may have seen the secret to that sweet, sticky, tangy barbecue sauce comes from. So, the story does ask far will a father go to avenge his family.

Titus Fleming’s business Big Butts Bar-B-Que has fallen on hard times, plus the untimely deaths of his two sons. This has put a serious strain on Titus and all he has left is his younger son Lavinia that he does quite get. Marcus’s death has left a stain on his family and the town cries for justice for Anna Lange. Mom, Tamora Lange knows just what she wants and that’s the business which she sees big money, but Titus’s ego won’t settle for it. So, they come to terms with an arranged marriage between Anna Lange and Lavinia Fleming. No one has any clue as to what horror is to come. Now before the big day and signing of papers, Titus is treating everyone including the Mayor of the town to a big “Feast” at Big Butt’s Bab-B-Que. He is putting out all the fancy dinnerware and special dishes just for the occasion.

So, come on down and join the fun that has just begun.

Reviewed by robinleesdarkside.com/