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Wretchedness
There is no hope.
A peculiar tablet unearthed in a Middle Eastern ossuary provokes madness in those who encounter it. One by one people come under the tablet's sway and are subjected to horrific visions and dreams. In time, the tablet's true purpose becomes clear: It is the harbinger of an eons-dead god whose reemergence will steep the world in terror and suffering. Having put the pieces together, two men race against the clock and attempt to disrupt the terrifying work of an ancient cult.
A peculiar tablet unearthed in a Middle Eastern ossuary provokes madness in those who encounter it. One by one people come under the tablet's sway and are subjected to horrific visions and dreams. In time, the tablet's true purpose becomes clear: It is the harbinger of an eons-dead god whose reemergence will steep the world in terror and suffering. Having put the pieces together, two men race against the clock and attempt to disrupt the terrifying work of an ancient cult.
Audible Audio
First published August 17, 2015
About the author
Ambrose Ibsen
51 books683 followersOnce upon a time, a young Ambrose Ibsen discovered a collection of ghost stories on his father's bookshelf. He was never the same again.
Apart from horror fiction, he enjoys good coffee, brewed strong.
Apart from horror fiction, he enjoys good coffee, brewed strong.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
September 22, 2017
I just finished this audiobook with Jake Urey as the narrator. What a journey. The unfolding of the story was done in such a way that I was unable to walk away for a moment. The anticipation was grand in this book. I found myself holding my breath waiting on the next sentence.
Archaeological horror is such a fun genre. The uncovering of a mystery and the connecting of the historical dots is completely fascination. Well done!
Amazing storytelling from Ambrose and amazing characterization by Jake. These two are the perfect one two punch in a horror story.
Archaeological horror is such a fun genre. The uncovering of a mystery and the connecting of the historical dots is completely fascination. Well done!
Amazing storytelling from Ambrose and amazing characterization by Jake. These two are the perfect one two punch in a horror story.
July 9, 2020
Aw you... you middle finger of an ending. This book gave me a creep factor build up of 11. I didn't listen to it at night on my long drives home because well, I don't like weird dreams. It's a spooky mystery surrounding a stone tablet that predates most other languages and is related to a cult of the serpent. Now as it turns out the answer to the mystery is...
...
...
...
Nada. The answer is nada, the climax is carneanada. It ends and that's it, there's no indication of what happens after what happens. You are just left marinating in nada, poop smelling nada. However, I enjoyed everything up until the end. It reminded me of The Taking of Deborah Logan which is also pretty creepy. There's emaciated characters, attitudes galore, and gory twisted bodies. So if you don't mind being disappointed by the ending (although it appears this book is well loved by the masses so maybe it's just me) give it a look. It is pretty creepy so that was a plus but just so.
There it is and there you have it.
...
...
...
Nada. The answer is nada, the climax is carneanada. It ends and that's it, there's no indication of what happens after what happens. You are just left marinating in nada, poop smelling nada. However, I enjoyed everything up until the end. It reminded me of The Taking of Deborah Logan which is also pretty creepy. There's emaciated characters, attitudes galore, and gory twisted bodies. So if you don't mind being disappointed by the ending (although it appears this book is well loved by the masses so maybe it's just me) give it a look. It is pretty creepy so that was a plus but just so.
There it is and there you have it.
August 24, 2016
Review: WRETCHEDNESS by Ambrose Ibsen
So far, I think this is the best I have read from this wide-ranging author, and that expresses high praise indeed. This novel is literary horror taken to an extreme. Although never specifically stated, I saw a very Lovecraftian viewpoint, as the author writes of a priestly caste existing BEFORE the dawn of recorded time, worshipping a god long dead, but recoverable, and planning made for an outcome then many millennia into the future. Their forsaken deity is reminiscent of Lovecraft's eldritch and outre Elder Gods, and the geometry it foments of Cthulhuian geometry with its awkward and mind-blowing angles. The result is not a fast-flowing horror-thriller, but a meaty, metaphysical, thought-provoking, novel. I think it will be especially enjoyed by fans of Jasper Bark, whose works also delve into unknown pre-written records cults in the geographic location we know as the Middle East.
So far, I think this is the best I have read from this wide-ranging author, and that expresses high praise indeed. This novel is literary horror taken to an extreme. Although never specifically stated, I saw a very Lovecraftian viewpoint, as the author writes of a priestly caste existing BEFORE the dawn of recorded time, worshipping a god long dead, but recoverable, and planning made for an outcome then many millennia into the future. Their forsaken deity is reminiscent of Lovecraft's eldritch and outre Elder Gods, and the geometry it foments of Cthulhuian geometry with its awkward and mind-blowing angles. The result is not a fast-flowing horror-thriller, but a meaty, metaphysical, thought-provoking, novel. I think it will be especially enjoyed by fans of Jasper Bark, whose works also delve into unknown pre-written records cults in the geographic location we know as the Middle East.
November 10, 2017
I don’t listen to many audiobooks but there is something quite joyous about having a book read to you. To be honest this is not a book that I would have picked up to read as I generally avoid horror but I really enjoyed listening to it. I have listened to other books narrated by Jake Urry and knew that I would like listening to his voice but I’m genuinely surprised how much I enjoyed the story so maybe Ambrose Ibsen has converted me to horror. There was a great build of tension as the book progressed and an ending that was worth waiting for.
August 28, 2017
Audiobook
A very creepy spooky story. I enjoy Jakes narration as he keeps the creepiness of the tale alive & keeps the momentum flowing really well.
The story itself was good, with a few twist and built up to find yourself waiting for what was next.
A very creepy spooky story. I enjoy Jakes narration as he keeps the creepiness of the tale alive & keeps the momentum flowing really well.
The story itself was good, with a few twist and built up to find yourself waiting for what was next.
August 23, 2017
Wretchedness
: Ambrose Ibsen
Another scary, edge of your seat thriller that's full of suspense for the listener. This book held me in its grip to the very end. Please keep the " Wretchedness" away from me.
The narration was well done. The characters were well portrayed. Jake Urry voices this genre excellently!
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
: Ambrose Ibsen
Another scary, edge of your seat thriller that's full of suspense for the listener. This book held me in its grip to the very end. Please keep the " Wretchedness" away from me.
The narration was well done. The characters were well portrayed. Jake Urry voices this genre excellently!
I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
October 24, 2019
This is my first experience with either Ibsen or Urry and I was pleasantly surprised with both.
The story picks up quickly. We kind of straddle two storylines until they join. The story of the tablet and the story of Solomon and his freaked out tenant at the apartment building he owns. As as scary story/movie buff, I think the author was brilliant at painting every horrible picture. You really got a great mental image of the downward spiral of all the characters developed in the story. His writing style is really pleasant to hear too. Which is funny since its such gory graphic content but he's a brilliant writer technically. There was a bit of non-linear storytelling in the first half of the book that had me a bit confused on the timeline and then we seem to skip forward in time with some characters and not others. But for the most part it flowed rather well.
Urry....now I wasn't sure how on board I was going to be at the beginning with his spooky unique voice. Its dramatic! and I feel like it was waaaayyy more dramatic at the very beginning than when the story was a few hours in. Perhaps I was just used to the nature and cadence of his voice at that point but I felt like I could get on with him a lot better once I acclimated to his reading style and strong accent. Now I'm diving right into a multi-book series narrated by Urry in part due to his voice! LOL That said, he did really great transitioning from Solomon to Hagon, to the old woman to Solomon's wife, to the nurses in the convalescent home. You really felt the decline and increased gravel to his voice when necessary character wise.
I can tell that this author likes to get you with shock value and graphic details and he indeed got me. I had to stop eating lunch during one section of story because it was really nauseating what was being described.
All in all, great spooky tale in time for Halloween! On to Ibsen's and Urry's next.
The story picks up quickly. We kind of straddle two storylines until they join. The story of the tablet and the story of Solomon and his freaked out tenant at the apartment building he owns. As as scary story/movie buff, I think the author was brilliant at painting every horrible picture. You really got a great mental image of the downward spiral of all the characters developed in the story. His writing style is really pleasant to hear too. Which is funny since its such gory graphic content but he's a brilliant writer technically. There was a bit of non-linear storytelling in the first half of the book that had me a bit confused on the timeline and then we seem to skip forward in time with some characters and not others. But for the most part it flowed rather well.
Urry....now I wasn't sure how on board I was going to be at the beginning with his spooky unique voice. Its dramatic! and I feel like it was waaaayyy more dramatic at the very beginning than when the story was a few hours in. Perhaps I was just used to the nature and cadence of his voice at that point but I felt like I could get on with him a lot better once I acclimated to his reading style and strong accent. Now I'm diving right into a multi-book series narrated by Urry in part due to his voice! LOL That said, he did really great transitioning from Solomon to Hagon, to the old woman to Solomon's wife, to the nurses in the convalescent home. You really felt the decline and increased gravel to his voice when necessary character wise.
I can tell that this author likes to get you with shock value and graphic details and he indeed got me. I had to stop eating lunch during one section of story because it was really nauseating what was being described.
All in all, great spooky tale in time for Halloween! On to Ibsen's and Urry's next.
September 3, 2017
Audiobook review: Narrator Jake Urry - 5 stars
I've always loved Ambrose Ibsen's books and he has become one of my favorite horror authors. Mr Ibsen writes in a very poetic language with very vivid descriptions and is one of the few who delivers a 5-star description of what fear feels like. He does in this book - many times - and we'll find out that fear doesn't feel the same way for anyone.
I was disappointed in this book though, because it took too long before getting to the point. When a character is about to do something and I have to go through two pages of a description of this characters fear, I fall apart before getting to the point and keep thinking: What will he DO and what is the OUTCOME? So this book didn't work for me like the others, but I'm not telling you not to read/listen to it, if you love Ibsen's books. It could be just me. However, I'm still looking forward to the next book by Ibsen and I'm sure I'll think it's amazing.
Jake Urry narrates amazingly as he always does in the horror genre and the poetic descriptions in this book was very well done and also provides some heart-pounding sound effects. As I've said before about Mr Urry - he's a master in the thriller/horror genre and never disappoints.
I've always loved Ambrose Ibsen's books and he has become one of my favorite horror authors. Mr Ibsen writes in a very poetic language with very vivid descriptions and is one of the few who delivers a 5-star description of what fear feels like. He does in this book - many times - and we'll find out that fear doesn't feel the same way for anyone.
I was disappointed in this book though, because it took too long before getting to the point. When a character is about to do something and I have to go through two pages of a description of this characters fear, I fall apart before getting to the point and keep thinking: What will he DO and what is the OUTCOME? So this book didn't work for me like the others, but I'm not telling you not to read/listen to it, if you love Ibsen's books. It could be just me. However, I'm still looking forward to the next book by Ibsen and I'm sure I'll think it's amazing.
Jake Urry narrates amazingly as he always does in the horror genre and the poetic descriptions in this book was very well done and also provides some heart-pounding sound effects. As I've said before about Mr Urry - he's a master in the thriller/horror genre and never disappoints.
August 24, 2017
Oh my days! Oh my days! What a book! Absolutely flipping terrifying. Right from the first paragraph you are thrown into the deep end. The story moves along at a seriously fast pace, leaving you breathless from the speed and the sheer unrelenting terror. Ambrose Ibsen has written a story which is dark, atmospheric and deeply disturbing. It's horror writing at its absolute best. How many times did I find myself jumping at shadows and checking people's skin for any hint of blue. On its own the story is mind blowingly frightening. But then add the narration of Jake Urry and you'll find the hairs on the back of your neck standing completely upright and your legs quivering like a bowl of jelly. The partnership of Ibsen and Urry takes this book to the top of the out of this world super league. As for the ending, I was WTF? That simply cannot be, mouth hanging open, in shock. Genius, pure genius. If you like horror, you're going to love this book and I'm really proud to recommend it.
September 1, 2017
( Format : audiobook )
"I am beginning to listen ..."
Narrator Jake Urry, could, if he wanted to do so, make Winnie the Pooh sound sinister - and this is no tale of friendly nursery toys. Instead, Wretchedness is what befalls the protagonists who are brought under the influence of some dark mystery. One which could threaten the world as we know it.
It is a straightforward horror story, creepy in the writing and made even more so by the brilliant narration as Mr.Urry squeezes every comma for creepiness from the text. And a very good ending.
Not for the fainthearted, but otherwise, highly recommended
"I am beginning to listen ..."
Narrator Jake Urry, could, if he wanted to do so, make Winnie the Pooh sound sinister - and this is no tale of friendly nursery toys. Instead, Wretchedness is what befalls the protagonists who are brought under the influence of some dark mystery. One which could threaten the world as we know it.
It is a straightforward horror story, creepy in the writing and made even more so by the brilliant narration as Mr.Urry squeezes every comma for creepiness from the text. And a very good ending.
Not for the fainthearted, but otherwise, highly recommended
September 18, 2017
Oh my gosh! This audiobook sent chills through me. The reader did such a fabulous job with the wicked voice, the scary, taunting subtleties in his speech that it added two-fold to my fear factors! If you like a creepy, scary, chilling, ghostly book, and one that makes a great audiobook, this is the one for you! I couldn't concentrate on anything other than what was going on in this story, when usually my audiobooks are saved for cleaning house. Nope, ha! If you're a lover of chills and thrills, go with this one here. I can't say enough good and creepy things about it.
September 29, 2017
Audible:Another spooky story by one of my favorite authors! An acient tablet found in a desert brings new horror to a small neighborhood.Jake Urrys unique voice adds so much to the experience.Loved it!“I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator, or publisher.”
December 17, 2017
I listened to this on audible and I am glad I did, the narrator was excellent.
Overall a great book, I look forward to reading/listening to more books from the author and narrator.
4.5 stars rounded up to 5.
Overall a great book, I look forward to reading/listening to more books from the author and narrator.
4.5 stars rounded up to 5.
February 15, 2021
A good horror novel creepy, close to HP Lovecraft books lived it
December 14, 2024
Another great and fast read!
October 31, 2017
So Ambrose Ibsen has done it again!! This book was awesome. The author has created an extremely creepy and terrifying book.
This was a slow burner in a way. We don't get a true sense of what the tablet is, or what it does for a while, but the plot is also fast paced and intense. We are thrown into the story right from the start and from there, it's a never ending series of events and creepy things happening.
The author has a way of making it easy to connect to his characters. They just feel so real. This is no different. I liked all the characters and connected with them easily.
In all, this was a well written and developed book. The world building was awesome and the plot was fascinating. The idea of an unearthed tablet and what it caused was equal parts terrifying as it was captivating.
Jake Urry is such a talented narrator. He has an amazing array of tones and voices and his ability to capture the atmosphere of the book was phenomenal. He just oozed creepiness!! When you pair him with an Ambrose Ibsen novel, it's certain to be a winner!
I was voluntarily provided this audiobook for free from the author, narrator, or publisher. This in no way affected nor influenced my thoughts.
This was a slow burner in a way. We don't get a true sense of what the tablet is, or what it does for a while, but the plot is also fast paced and intense. We are thrown into the story right from the start and from there, it's a never ending series of events and creepy things happening.
The author has a way of making it easy to connect to his characters. They just feel so real. This is no different. I liked all the characters and connected with them easily.
In all, this was a well written and developed book. The world building was awesome and the plot was fascinating. The idea of an unearthed tablet and what it caused was equal parts terrifying as it was captivating.
Jake Urry is such a talented narrator. He has an amazing array of tones and voices and his ability to capture the atmosphere of the book was phenomenal. He just oozed creepiness!! When you pair him with an Ambrose Ibsen novel, it's certain to be a winner!
I was voluntarily provided this audiobook for free from the author, narrator, or publisher. This in no way affected nor influenced my thoughts.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews