Redemption

The Curburide Chronicles #3

by John Everson

What if you woke up in hell?
Alex hadn’t really thought of what would happen after she dragged Ariana through the portal to close the gate between worlds. She hadn’t given sacrificing herself a thought, she’d just wanted to end the demonic summoning before it was too late. But when Alex wakes up on the other side, in the world of the Curburide, she has to think fast if she ever wants to see Joe Kieran, or Earth, again. Her only ally is an occult serial killer. Demons are searching for both of them, and there’s nothing demons love more than human fear and pain. They feed on it. In the world of the Curburide, demons are everywhere. And they’re hungry...

Genres: Horror

378 pages, Paperback

Published January 19, 2017

About the author

John Everson is a former newspaper reporter who writes thrillers filled with erotic horror and supernatural suspense. He is the author of the Bram Stoker Award winner Covenant, and finalist NightWhere, which reviewers called "50 Shades Meets Hellraiser!" He is also the creator of the characters Danika and Mila Dubov, seen in the Netflix series V-Wars, based on the books created by Jonathan Maberry. Booklist said his recent New Orleans novel, Voodoo Heart, "is a solid blend of supernatural horror and hard-boiled detective fiction, and should appeal to horror devotees as well as mystery buffs” while Living Dead Magazine called him "the master of dark and sexy."

Follow John on the BookBub: John Everson page for information on book sales and new releases as well as on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. For information on his fiction, art and music, visit John Everson: Dark Arts at www.johneverson.com.

Reviews

[Albert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great ending to the trilogy. The world is saved and our hapless hero finally picks a woman, although after everything they've endured not sure if a normal sex life is in the cards.
Everything about the demons was extremely disturbing but fun to read. Couldn't help but cringe and go turtle with some of the sick scenes that Everson came up with in this one.
For me, this book was right up there with Nightwhere and The Family Tree.
Overall, very nice trilogy, with each book better than the last. Fun and endearing characters, even shed a tear for the badlass at the end, and a very satisfying story.
If you enjoy horror novels about summoning perverted demons that want to come to Earth and "play" with their food, should give these novels a try.

[Shawn Deal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Here is a great conclusion to the series of the Covenant and Sacrifice. This novel takes place right after Sacrifice and is a two pronged story. We continue to follow Joe Kiernan whose guilt at losing Alex in the Sacrifice has put him on a hunt to try and reach her if not save her. And then we follow Alex and Ariana down the darkest rabbit hole ever. As they go over to the world of the Curburide and try to survive in a nightmare world filled with sex and violence, often mixed together. I am not sure one can fully understand or appreciate this novel without readin the first two. Please do so, as they are all great reads. The first of the series won the Bram Stoker award.

I have said it before, and will say it again here. John Everson is currently the best horror writer out there on a consistent basis. Every novel he comes out with is a wonderfully horrorific page turner. I have loved everything he has written and I can never wait to read his next.

[Stephen Glover · Rating 5 out of 5]

Firstly, I need to say a huge thank you to John Everson for having the tenacity and desire to get this third book in the Covenant series published. It makes me sad that a writer with so much talent has to resort to self publishing especially as the book was so good. I supported John during his Kickstarter campaign to get this published and it is worth every penny.

The third book in the Covenant series picks up where the second ended in very unfamiliar territory as we explore the world of the Curburide demons. This isn't just a whistle stop tour either folks, this is a grand horror extravaganza of humans caught in a world they don't belong. A world ruled by demons where humans are their playthings and sometimes even their furniture. I don't want to give too many spoilers away so if you are even half intrigued then I urge you to get a copy of Redemption as you won't be disappointed.

I know the horror genre isn't everybody's idea of a good read but I loved how the author really pushed the boundaries of this one and wrote some really effective scenes. The story comes in at just under 400 pages so you won't be left disappointed about the quantity and quality of content. Familiar characters return and some new ones are introduced but it all combines very effectively as a story and gives us a greater insight into the demon world.

If you liked the first two books in the series then you will love this one. It is a very fitting conclusion to a series I started to read back in 2007...the only thing is Mr Everson...it was so good I kind of want you to do another one :)

[Gen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yikes

John Everson really outdid himself with this one! This book is seriously twisted and definitely not for the faint of heart. If you're already a fan of Everson, you'll love this. If you're just finding him and are at all squeamish, prudish, have ANY rape triggers.... well you've been warned.

[Kevin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad, but I can't help but be somewhat disappointed that Covenant, through its sequels transitioned more from a true horror novel into what feels like paranormal fantasy.

[Bob · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent action/suspense packed conclusion to the Curburide trilogy. Alex, Joe and fanatical serial killer, Ariana find themselves in the Curburide demon dimension. These hellish creatures feast upon the fear and pain of humans who are tortured and skinned alive by night and returned to health the next day after "redemption." This horror novel is tightly written with interesting characters (even the demons), and will keep you on the edge of your seat. Obviously not for the timid. Highly recommended.

[Fonda G. Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely LOVED this book and was so glad to get an ending to the story!!! John Everson has a way of writing that let's me sink into his books and I tend to forget what is happening around me! If haven't read the first two books in this series...do yourself a favor and read them. This, the third and last book of the series, will not disappoint!!

[Maria Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the third and final part of the trilogy (Covenant and Sacrifice are the other two). With this author don't let the title fool you into feeling there's a good ending. Great read.

[Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the usual erotic horror I've come to expect from John. An interesting read, even though it goes some dark places. Some parts of this novel will leave you with a lump in your throat.

[Scott · Rating 3 out of 5]

I usually don't give books three stars if I like them, but I didn't feel that the first two were exactly "5 stars," especially by Goodreads definitions. Maybe I'm being too hard on all of the books in this series, because I did like the story, start to finish. Read the whole review to see if you agree or disagree with my assessment. (Convince me in comments that I'm on track with this rating...) This is better than a "C" (average) book but not as good as the first two, in my opinion. It is again "erotic horror" but in this instance it comes in more heavily on the "erotic" and less on the "horror" though there is plenty to horrify a reader.

It picks up where the last one left off, with Joe Kieran, now alone, traveling around the country. His friend Alex (the ghost whisperer from the last book) has been dragged through the portal along with the serial killer Ariana when she closed the door to the world of the Curburide. Joe is desperate to find a way to reach Alex and rescue her if possible, and he may have discovered a way in New Mexico. Meanwhile Alex and Ariana are suffering the attention of sadistic, sex-crazed demons in the world of the Curburide. Plenty of description there. Maybe too much. I wanted to find out what was going to happen, how was the whole thing going to resolve, but I have to admit that I ended up skipping over the graphic descriptions. Others might have a different reaction. (Although I write horror myself, I have a hard time reading the "extreme" horror that is out there. I certainly can't seem to write it...)

It concludes the story well, and I was happy to see the choices that Joe makes in the end. Again, I do think that a "C" grade (three stars?) is too low. But I wanted to differentiate it from the first two in the series that were quite good. Maybe I'm rating them all too low. I wasn't disappointed by the stories or the writing in any of them. (On Amazon, I'd give the first two 5 stars, and give this one 4 stars, probably...)

[A.R. · Rating 5 out of 5]

As usual, John mixes horror and perversion in the third book of The Curburide Trilogy, and it works triumphantly. His description and invention of uber-violent and sexually-twisted demons is uncanny. He really captures how violating and insidious demons would be. Everything's here: great story, stellar description, excellent dialogue, sex and murder. Don't let the name fool you--it's a different kind of Redemption than the usual, believe me.

[Brett Grossmann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Smuttier than the second. The story relies on bad people or demons going against character and be good. It worked sometimes. Mostly it was unbelievable writer short cut stuff. World building lacked the grounding to make it feel real. Still the book was entertaining

[J.M. Guillemette · Rating 5 out of 5]

It all started with a Covenant. It continued with a Sacrifice. Now it will all end with a Redemption. John Everson returns with an action packed horror finally. Did you ever wonder what happened to Joe Kieran at the end of Sacrifice? What about poor Alex and the demon worshiper Ariana after they were sucked into the void? Did they survive? Find out what happens to everyone in this high paced final act.

Everson has really brought the horror to this book. Covenant reminds me of a good old fashion Hitchcock psychological horror flick. Sacrifice stepped it up to the likes of Stephen King. With Redemption Everson brings a new level to the horror genre. A level that made my skin crawl and my spine shiver. At times I was excited,scared and horrified all at once.

This book is a must read for fans of horror and fantasy alike. If you ever wondered or even halfway imagined what hell would be like, Everson sets forth a version that will blow your mind and send you running to the confessional.

If you haven't read Covenant or Sacrifice this book can stand alone. However if you want to truly experience the horror to it's extreme, I would recommend grabbing the other two and quickly reading through them. You'll thank me.

[Steve Isaak · Rating 4 out of 5]

Redemption is an excellent, fun, b-movie of a horror novel, with well-written characters, explicit and hellacious sex, gore and reader-hooking (and fast-moving) storytelling. Like its prequels, Covenant and Sacrifice, it is worth owning, with a finish that leaves this not-for-the-squeamish series open to continuation while successfully closing its immediate tale.