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Awake in the Dark #1
Fade to Black
Live. Die. Repeat.
Dying violent deaths over and over again totally blows. Loner Jeff Grobnagger has learned this the hard way. Every time he has a seizure, he dreams that a hooded man strangles and kills him. He runs. He fights. He hides. No matter what he does, his efforts end in a pretty bad case of death.
But when someone tries to kill him in real life, he realizes that what happens with the hooded man isn't just a dream.
Who is the hooded man? And who tried to kill Grobnagger in real life? His quest for answers leads to a missing girl, cults obsessed with astral projection, an arcane puzzle sphere, an evil book, a buxom private detective named Louise and a mustached man named Glenn that makes 'the best martini you've ever tasted.'
Yep. If it weren't for all of the horrific deaths, Jeff Grobnagger would be having the time of his life.
Dying violent deaths over and over again totally blows. Loner Jeff Grobnagger has learned this the hard way. Every time he has a seizure, he dreams that a hooded man strangles and kills him. He runs. He fights. He hides. No matter what he does, his efforts end in a pretty bad case of death.
But when someone tries to kill him in real life, he realizes that what happens with the hooded man isn't just a dream.
Who is the hooded man? And who tried to kill Grobnagger in real life? His quest for answers leads to a missing girl, cults obsessed with astral projection, an arcane puzzle sphere, an evil book, a buxom private detective named Louise and a mustached man named Glenn that makes 'the best martini you've ever tasted.'
Yep. If it weren't for all of the horrific deaths, Jeff Grobnagger would be having the time of his life.
Unknown Binding
First published October 19, 2014
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November 26, 2014I read the sample because one of the authors sent me a DM on twitter:
I'd step on a Lego barefoot to get you to read my book's free sample. Don't make me do it! http://www.amazon.com/Fade-Black-Psyc...
I was curious enough to have a look, and now I find myself unable to stop. I hate ebooks, I hate KINDLE ebooks even more (because I have to read them on a computer, as my ereader is a Sony), but now I need the rest of the book.
Off to order the physical copy and try and exercise some self restraint with the "one click" button on the Amazon page.
Well played, L.T. Well played.
I'd step on a Lego barefoot to get you to read my book's free sample. Don't make me do it! http://www.amazon.com/Fade-Black-Psyc...
I was curious enough to have a look, and now I find myself unable to stop. I hate ebooks, I hate KINDLE ebooks even more (because I have to read them on a computer, as my ereader is a Sony), but now I need the rest of the book.
Off to order the physical copy and try and exercise some self restraint with the "one click" button on the Amazon page.
Well played, L.T. Well played.
October 23, 2015
Jeff Grobnagger suffers from seizures and when these occur he dreams the same thing over and over, his own death from a mysterious hooded man. When one of these occur in a public place Jeff meets an older man who thinks he may know what is going on with him and that it may also have something to do with his missing daughter so he asks Jeff's help to find her.
Starting off with this book I honestly thought I'd end up giving it four of five stars, there are a lot of others that have done so. The first few chapters were great and I really thought I would enjoy it but the further I read the more it lost my interest and just seemed a confusing mix of different ideas that weren't really fitting together well.
I didn't really care for Jeff, he kept insisting he was a loner and out for himself which really became a bit annoying to keep stating but then he would end up doing the exact opposite anyway. The story starts off with a bit of a mystery but then adds more and more to it which really don't even seem to fit together. By the time I got to the end I ended up with one of those that's it? feelings. Just not my cup of tea I'm afraid.
Overall, lost interest really quickly and really wouldn't recommend this one.
Starting off with this book I honestly thought I'd end up giving it four of five stars, there are a lot of others that have done so. The first few chapters were great and I really thought I would enjoy it but the further I read the more it lost my interest and just seemed a confusing mix of different ideas that weren't really fitting together well.
I didn't really care for Jeff, he kept insisting he was a loner and out for himself which really became a bit annoying to keep stating but then he would end up doing the exact opposite anyway. The story starts off with a bit of a mystery but then adds more and more to it which really don't even seem to fit together. By the time I got to the end I ended up with one of those that's it? feelings. Just not my cup of tea I'm afraid.
Overall, lost interest really quickly and really wouldn't recommend this one.
October 21, 2014
**Fade To Black** by *L.T. Vargus and Tim McBain*: The Grobnagger Chronicles #1.
First, there's someone who appears to be just an ordinary kind of guy, but he gets seizures in which he dreams he's hanging upside down in an alley with a rope attached to his foot and no idea how to get himself out of this position much less return to his real life where he doesn't have to undo knots and figure out how to get to the ground without breaking a limb or falling on his head. Once he's met this challenge and overcome it, he is not prepared for what's next which is a brute who begins chasing him down this alley with the sole intention of strangling him to death. After repeating this scenario a number of times, our hero, Jeff Grobnagger, does get better with the knots and the running away, but he still ends up dead until the seizure ends and he returns to the present. Then the story expands to include a new found friend named Glenn who has a cat with digestive problems and a missing daughter. At first Jeff is somewhat wary of Glenn, but after Glenn takes Jeff home and cooks him some of the best food he's ever tasted, Jeff starts to become less paranoid about what Glenn's motives might be.
There is more to Glenn than meets the eye, however. He does have an agenda of his own concerning a missing daughter, and he does know more about the dreams Jeff has during the seizures than he admits to Jeff at first. However, neither Jeff nor Glenn could possibly prepare themselves for some of the occasions they experience together that defy logical explanation. There are very few dull moments once these two men hook up and begin meeting others who appear to have some stake in what Jeff's dreams are all about. The most entertaining parts for me were when Jeff gave his take on either what was happening at the moment or what had previously happened. I laughed out loud more than once at the way in which Jeff perceives his situations and circumstances, even when he's being strangled. Which is why the pages flew by and I didn't want to stop reading until I had all the answers to all the questions -- or at least the answers the authors were willing to give up in this, the first book of Jeff Grobnagger.
The last third of the book was the best part for me. That's when we got to see who Jeff Grobnagger is all about. It was obvious to me that the authors gave a lot of thought to each of the main characters we came to know. There was a lot of humor in this book, but as it came to a close, there was also a lot of heart. There is a maturity in the writing that made me stop and think about what I'd read more than once. There were also a couple surprises I never saw coming. Vargus and McBain have written something quite unique, and I highly recommend it to those who like to read books a little out of the mainstream and who appreciate a fresh look at material that really hasn't been done quite like this before. I'm looking forward to the next installment of the Grobnagger Chronicles as well as anything else these talented writers give us. I'm telling everyone I know about this book, and not only because I thought it was such a good read. It's because it's fun to say Grobnagger over and over again!
First, there's someone who appears to be just an ordinary kind of guy, but he gets seizures in which he dreams he's hanging upside down in an alley with a rope attached to his foot and no idea how to get himself out of this position much less return to his real life where he doesn't have to undo knots and figure out how to get to the ground without breaking a limb or falling on his head. Once he's met this challenge and overcome it, he is not prepared for what's next which is a brute who begins chasing him down this alley with the sole intention of strangling him to death. After repeating this scenario a number of times, our hero, Jeff Grobnagger, does get better with the knots and the running away, but he still ends up dead until the seizure ends and he returns to the present. Then the story expands to include a new found friend named Glenn who has a cat with digestive problems and a missing daughter. At first Jeff is somewhat wary of Glenn, but after Glenn takes Jeff home and cooks him some of the best food he's ever tasted, Jeff starts to become less paranoid about what Glenn's motives might be.
There is more to Glenn than meets the eye, however. He does have an agenda of his own concerning a missing daughter, and he does know more about the dreams Jeff has during the seizures than he admits to Jeff at first. However, neither Jeff nor Glenn could possibly prepare themselves for some of the occasions they experience together that defy logical explanation. There are very few dull moments once these two men hook up and begin meeting others who appear to have some stake in what Jeff's dreams are all about. The most entertaining parts for me were when Jeff gave his take on either what was happening at the moment or what had previously happened. I laughed out loud more than once at the way in which Jeff perceives his situations and circumstances, even when he's being strangled. Which is why the pages flew by and I didn't want to stop reading until I had all the answers to all the questions -- or at least the answers the authors were willing to give up in this, the first book of Jeff Grobnagger.
The last third of the book was the best part for me. That's when we got to see who Jeff Grobnagger is all about. It was obvious to me that the authors gave a lot of thought to each of the main characters we came to know. There was a lot of humor in this book, but as it came to a close, there was also a lot of heart. There is a maturity in the writing that made me stop and think about what I'd read more than once. There were also a couple surprises I never saw coming. Vargus and McBain have written something quite unique, and I highly recommend it to those who like to read books a little out of the mainstream and who appreciate a fresh look at material that really hasn't been done quite like this before. I'm looking forward to the next installment of the Grobnagger Chronicles as well as anything else these talented writers give us. I'm telling everyone I know about this book, and not only because I thought it was such a good read. It's because it's fun to say Grobnagger over and over again!
October 7, 2014
Fade to Black (The Grobnagger Chronicles #1) By Tim McBain & L.T. Vargus
Jeff Grobnagger keeps having the same terrifying dream over and over again. Every time he has a seizure he dreams of a hooded man that kills him. The dreams are frightening and feel real. He doesn't remember the seizures, but he vividly remembers each horrifying dream.
In his waking hours someone is out to kill him. Are these dreams connected to real life, if so how and why? He is a loner, a simple man, who wants him dead? Who can he trust? What is real, what is not? Jeff must figure this all out.
A fantastic horror story. I loved the thrill, the horrifying dreams, the unusual people he (Jeff) meets. Well written the readers gets to feel everything that Jeff is going through. There is that air of mystery, the dabble in the occult, a missing girl, an evil book, and a possible "love interest" names Louise. I highly recommend Fade to Black to those who love a great horror/psychological drama.
Jeff Grobnagger keeps having the same terrifying dream over and over again. Every time he has a seizure he dreams of a hooded man that kills him. The dreams are frightening and feel real. He doesn't remember the seizures, but he vividly remembers each horrifying dream.
In his waking hours someone is out to kill him. Are these dreams connected to real life, if so how and why? He is a loner, a simple man, who wants him dead? Who can he trust? What is real, what is not? Jeff must figure this all out.
A fantastic horror story. I loved the thrill, the horrifying dreams, the unusual people he (Jeff) meets. Well written the readers gets to feel everything that Jeff is going through. There is that air of mystery, the dabble in the occult, a missing girl, an evil book, and a possible "love interest" names Louise. I highly recommend Fade to Black to those who love a great horror/psychological drama.
November 14, 2014
The darkest places in hell are reserved for those who maintain their neutrality in times of moral crisis. – Dante Alighieri
Knowing your own darkness is the best method for dealing with the darknesses of other people. – Carl Jung
“Come on,” he says. “Maybe I want to offer some fatherly advice or some goddamn thing, right?”
Poor Jeff Grobnagger can’t catch a break. You see, he suffers from seizures. Seizures that fling him not only into the pain of the seizure itself. They throw him into another world – a world where he wakes to find himself hanging by his ankle in a filthy alley in a dark and grayscale world. And every time he gets free, usually falling both ungracefully and painfully to the alley’s filthy pavement, his reward is to be strangled to death by a shadowy figure in a hooded cloak.
“Any minute now a hooded man will come barreling out of nowhere and kill me.
So. That sucks.”
That first line of Fade to Black sets the theme for the rest of the book – an extraordinarily snarky, moody, broody, and oh-so-elegant and humourous fall into the absurd that kept me reading well past ridiculously late hours.
I first found L. T. Vargus, the co-author of the book, along with Tim McBain, when I read and reviewed her book Casting Shadows Everywhere. In that book, I wrote:
This book moved me, pained me, in so many ways. It brought up memories best forgotten, pain, heart break. But mostly, it opened me up with the wisdom and compassion shown by the author.
Happily, I can say much the same about this newest book by Vargus. I completely identified with Grobnagger. His lost soul, his pain and distance from others, and his quirky psychological musings touched my heart and carried me away to his world. A world where people still watch VCR’s and the questions of humanity are deeply felt, and pity is far, far away. But I still burst into laughter in what should have been the most inappropriate moments. You can’t help it. Grobnagger is just funny.
Vargus’s work weirdly resonates with me. It is sneaky in a way – it holds the things we fear up to the light – opening the reader up to honesty – to love and hope and the truths of our souls found in the darkest of nights. It’s weird and dark and twisted – and real. And I recommend the trip.
I received this book from the author in return for a realistic review. My weird thoughts are my own!
Knowing your own darkness is the best method for dealing with the darknesses of other people. – Carl Jung
“Come on,” he says. “Maybe I want to offer some fatherly advice or some goddamn thing, right?”
Poor Jeff Grobnagger can’t catch a break. You see, he suffers from seizures. Seizures that fling him not only into the pain of the seizure itself. They throw him into another world – a world where he wakes to find himself hanging by his ankle in a filthy alley in a dark and grayscale world. And every time he gets free, usually falling both ungracefully and painfully to the alley’s filthy pavement, his reward is to be strangled to death by a shadowy figure in a hooded cloak.
“Any minute now a hooded man will come barreling out of nowhere and kill me.
So. That sucks.”
That first line of Fade to Black sets the theme for the rest of the book – an extraordinarily snarky, moody, broody, and oh-so-elegant and humourous fall into the absurd that kept me reading well past ridiculously late hours.
I first found L. T. Vargus, the co-author of the book, along with Tim McBain, when I read and reviewed her book Casting Shadows Everywhere. In that book, I wrote:
This book moved me, pained me, in so many ways. It brought up memories best forgotten, pain, heart break. But mostly, it opened me up with the wisdom and compassion shown by the author.
Happily, I can say much the same about this newest book by Vargus. I completely identified with Grobnagger. His lost soul, his pain and distance from others, and his quirky psychological musings touched my heart and carried me away to his world. A world where people still watch VCR’s and the questions of humanity are deeply felt, and pity is far, far away. But I still burst into laughter in what should have been the most inappropriate moments. You can’t help it. Grobnagger is just funny.
Vargus’s work weirdly resonates with me. It is sneaky in a way – it holds the things we fear up to the light – opening the reader up to honesty – to love and hope and the truths of our souls found in the darkest of nights. It’s weird and dark and twisted – and real. And I recommend the trip.
I received this book from the author in return for a realistic review. My weird thoughts are my own!
October 20, 2014
I used to have a friend who would say “This hurts like real life” when a book or comic hit on something particularly truthful. That was the highest compliment he could give a book. For me, Fade to Black hurts just like real life. Jeff Grobnagger, our narrator and very reluctant hero, is trapped in that ironic detachment so prevalent in our generation, trying desperately to stay away from relationships of any kind—friendship, dating, random social interaction, you name it. There were times while reading when I cringed because I’ve heard myself and some of my friends voice the things Grobnagger says. There’s a moment near the middle of the book that made my stomach hurt it was so real.
All of that said, Fade to Black isn’t some long-winded psychological rumination of a chronic sad-sack. It’s full of action and Grobnagger’s narration is hilarious. There are going to be times while reading this that you find yourself laughing even while he’s breaking your heart. That old saying about writers sitting down at their typewriters and bleeding? McBain and Vargus nailed that, but also somehow managed to be funny and keep the pace fast. For a book that takes such a hard look at self-loathing, isolation, and emotional responsibility, Fade to Black sure has a lot of kick-a** fight scenes...and magic...and other cool stuff I can’t tell you about without spoiling it. I’m only giving it five stars because I’m not allowed to give it more. I loved Fade to Black, and I can’t wait to read the sequel, Bled White.
All of that said, Fade to Black isn’t some long-winded psychological rumination of a chronic sad-sack. It’s full of action and Grobnagger’s narration is hilarious. There are going to be times while reading this that you find yourself laughing even while he’s breaking your heart. That old saying about writers sitting down at their typewriters and bleeding? McBain and Vargus nailed that, but also somehow managed to be funny and keep the pace fast. For a book that takes such a hard look at self-loathing, isolation, and emotional responsibility, Fade to Black sure has a lot of kick-a** fight scenes...and magic...and other cool stuff I can’t tell you about without spoiling it. I’m only giving it five stars because I’m not allowed to give it more. I loved Fade to Black, and I can’t wait to read the sequel, Bled White.
October 21, 2014
I’ve been eagerly looking forward to this one ever since devouring the superlative ‘Chasing Shadows Everywhere’ earlier in the year. Since then, LT Vargus has become LT Vargus and Tim McBain (I guess technically they always were, but whatever), and after a naturalistic standalone novel, this time we’re given the first part of a projected five part series (!!), ‘Fade To Black’, a dark tale of magical realism.
The authors have lost none of their touch with regards to voice: in the marvellously named Jeff Grobnagger we have a protagonist that is both richly layered and immediately familiar. The first person present narrative puts the reader right into the action from the get-go, and as the novel develops and we discover the many layers to Jeff’s personality our affection for him grows. He’s a relatable person to whom extraordinary things are happening, and the writers do an outstanding job in establishing and developing his character as the plot unfolds. His friend Glenn Floyd is similarly well drawn and enjoyable.
Those ‘extraordinary things’ are also brilliantly written – the otherworldy qualities of the environment Jeff finds himself in are described with elegance and skill, and the snarky voice of the narrator manages to convey humour without undermining the tension or darkness. It’s in many ways a classic story of a person finding a glimpse of another realm, an illness that may or may not be a gift, and magical symbolism, complete with a wiser older hermit figure (the aforementioned Glenn) , alongside shadowy secretive societies which may or may not be acting in Geff’s best interest. The authors manage to breathe fresh life into these well worn tropes, in part by subverting expectations in genuinely funny ways (a moment concerning the identification of a mysterious item left behind by Glenn’s missing daughter was a particular highlight).
The other way they manage to make this feel so fresh is the prose, which is as sparkling and readable as I’ve come across in the indie realm, and puts more than a few traditionally published authors to shame. It’s just so damn smooth, so damn funny, and so damn moreish! This was a strong feature of ‘Chasing Shadows’, and if anything it’s stronger here, even more assured. I found myself reading this very quickly, and on more than one occasion laughing out loud at a particularly well delivered line or turn of phrase.
Indeed, the only significant criticism I have of this book will be a familiar one, I suspect – it was over too soon. Also, as is the nature of the first part of a series, far more questions were asked than answered. In this regard, I feel it’s only fair to emphasise that this in not in any way a standalone book, but clearly the opening of a longer narrative, with no real attempt at a resolution at the end of part 1. That’s not an issue for me, (apart from having to wait for part 2, of course!) but I just wanted to put that in as fair warning.
With that in mind, I had a little trouble in deciding whether or not this was worth 4 or 5 stars. In the end, I plumped for 5, for the simple reason that it was an incredibly enjoyable experience, and based on ‘Chasing Shadows’, I have every faith that the authors will pay-off this set up in spectacular fashion over the next four books. No pressure guys... :)
The authors have lost none of their touch with regards to voice: in the marvellously named Jeff Grobnagger we have a protagonist that is both richly layered and immediately familiar. The first person present narrative puts the reader right into the action from the get-go, and as the novel develops and we discover the many layers to Jeff’s personality our affection for him grows. He’s a relatable person to whom extraordinary things are happening, and the writers do an outstanding job in establishing and developing his character as the plot unfolds. His friend Glenn Floyd is similarly well drawn and enjoyable.
Those ‘extraordinary things’ are also brilliantly written – the otherworldy qualities of the environment Jeff finds himself in are described with elegance and skill, and the snarky voice of the narrator manages to convey humour without undermining the tension or darkness. It’s in many ways a classic story of a person finding a glimpse of another realm, an illness that may or may not be a gift, and magical symbolism, complete with a wiser older hermit figure (the aforementioned Glenn) , alongside shadowy secretive societies which may or may not be acting in Geff’s best interest. The authors manage to breathe fresh life into these well worn tropes, in part by subverting expectations in genuinely funny ways (a moment concerning the identification of a mysterious item left behind by Glenn’s missing daughter was a particular highlight).
The other way they manage to make this feel so fresh is the prose, which is as sparkling and readable as I’ve come across in the indie realm, and puts more than a few traditionally published authors to shame. It’s just so damn smooth, so damn funny, and so damn moreish! This was a strong feature of ‘Chasing Shadows’, and if anything it’s stronger here, even more assured. I found myself reading this very quickly, and on more than one occasion laughing out loud at a particularly well delivered line or turn of phrase.
Indeed, the only significant criticism I have of this book will be a familiar one, I suspect – it was over too soon. Also, as is the nature of the first part of a series, far more questions were asked than answered. In this regard, I feel it’s only fair to emphasise that this in not in any way a standalone book, but clearly the opening of a longer narrative, with no real attempt at a resolution at the end of part 1. That’s not an issue for me, (apart from having to wait for part 2, of course!) but I just wanted to put that in as fair warning.
With that in mind, I had a little trouble in deciding whether or not this was worth 4 or 5 stars. In the end, I plumped for 5, for the simple reason that it was an incredibly enjoyable experience, and based on ‘Chasing Shadows’, I have every faith that the authors will pay-off this set up in spectacular fashion over the next four books. No pressure guys... :)
December 27, 2014
When Ms. L.T. Vargus sent me a message through twitter recommending this book.. I thought, why not?!… It is on a genre that I am into: a coming of age paranormal mystery/horror. And the blurb really got my interest.
It’s about a 27 years old loner, Jeff Grobnagger, who suffers from seizures… And during these seizures, he dreams himself being strangled and killed by a hooded man. Then he wakes up and all is good.. till his next seizure and he is killed again. On these seizure-induced-dreams, he tried to run, hide, or fight the hooded man.. But it didn’t seem to matter when in the end, he always ends up dead. Then, what was just a dream is now happening in reality, when someone tries to kill him in the real world.
There is conspiracy, mystique and suspense that kept me anxious. I thought this was a cleverly written dark mystery mixed with humour.
A sample of one of the early scenes that I find amusing : (Jeff on his way home..)
That said…..
A much as this had me really eager in the early part of the story… I feel like somehow the story derailed as it concentrated on the lead character. Not that he is not intertaining. I thought he was funny and innocently charming. It was interesting to see him slowly come out of his comfort zone.
When the story did get back on track, it brought more puzzles with not a hint of an answer. And the puzzlers just keeps on piling. Not that it’s a bad thing. But as the story ended on a cliffy and I am left with more questions, it did left me confused. The good news though is that the sequel is already out in Amazon and B&N. ;)
A short read, with 212 pages. :)
Review also posted here : http://slitsread.com/2014/12/23/fade-...
It’s about a 27 years old loner, Jeff Grobnagger, who suffers from seizures… And during these seizures, he dreams himself being strangled and killed by a hooded man. Then he wakes up and all is good.. till his next seizure and he is killed again. On these seizure-induced-dreams, he tried to run, hide, or fight the hooded man.. But it didn’t seem to matter when in the end, he always ends up dead. Then, what was just a dream is now happening in reality, when someone tries to kill him in the real world.
There is conspiracy, mystique and suspense that kept me anxious. I thought this was a cleverly written dark mystery mixed with humour.
A sample of one of the early scenes that I find amusing : (Jeff on his way home..)
Though the light next to me remains green, a black Lincoln pulls up and stops. The passenger door opens, and a large man in a suit steps out. At first, I think maybe he just has some gold to sell, but he seems pretty focused on me. The world is really sucking at the whole leaving me alone thing lately.
“Ms. Babinaux will see you now,” he says.
Now, I have no idea who Ms. Babinaux is. Seems to be of French descent. That’s all I’ve got. My guess, of course, is that she has something to do with one of the groups slash cults that Glenn mentioned, though how they might know about me and my seizures, I couldn’t say. Still, my instincts say it’s best not to tip off my knowledge or lack thereof. I’m guessing they already know the French part, anyway.
“I assume she’s in back,” I say.
He tilts his head forward to say yes.
“Well, if she has eyes, I’m sure she will see me,” I say.
I give a mock wave and smile at the general vicinity of the backseat of the car.
“Here I am. It’s me!” I say in a squeaky voice.
The guy snorts and then laughs. At first I think this is some form of sarcasm, but no. It’s real laughter.
“Are you new at this?” I say. “Cause stoicism is like 50% of your job description. You’re supposed to look imposing and be stoic. That’s it. And you’re totally effing it up.”
“Just get in,” he says, opening the door.
That said…..
A much as this had me really eager in the early part of the story… I feel like somehow the story derailed as it concentrated on the lead character. Not that he is not intertaining. I thought he was funny and innocently charming. It was interesting to see him slowly come out of his comfort zone.
When the story did get back on track, it brought more puzzles with not a hint of an answer. And the puzzlers just keeps on piling. Not that it’s a bad thing. But as the story ended on a cliffy and I am left with more questions, it did left me confused. The good news though is that the sequel is already out in Amazon and B&N. ;)
A short read, with 212 pages. :)
Review also posted here : http://slitsread.com/2014/12/23/fade-...
April 5, 2015
Casting Shadows Everywhere, despite being a juvenile YA, was actually just decent enough to check out McBain & Vargus's venture into adult fiction. Sadly, it was just more of the same. They raised the age of their protagonist from teen to 27, but the narration still sounds as if done by a smart alecky teen or the most part, and while his hermitized self contained misanthropic nihilism was actually entertaining and realistic, the author felt a need to fix him via yet another absurdly heavy handed morality lesson. Plus the entire metaphysical angle with quantum physics thrown in for good measure is way too overdone. It is uncertain as to where the story wants to go and the readers won't find out either, not in this book which ends quite abruptly with a suggestion to buy book 2 in the series. The authors are not without talent, but their writing consistently betrays immaturity and although this was a very quick read, it still didn't really offer enough for two and a half hours of time and certainly didn't entice or intrigue enough to continue with the storyline. Maybe YA geared audience might enjoy this. Not sure.
December 4, 2019
Even though the story wasn’t as gripping as my beloved The Scattered and the Dead series, I enjoyed McBain’s and Vargus’ writing. There is a certain beauty to it.
March 3, 2015
Before I pack everything up, I scrawl a note and magnet it to my fridge: “Dudes, Please stop trying to kill me as soon as possible. Thank you, Jeff Grobnagger”.
I was contacted by Tim McBain and asked if I would be interested in reading his novel. Of course, I said yes! And I am so glad I did. This book was amazing. I really loved it. It made me laugh, it made me think deeply, and it was so relatable.
Jeffery Grobnagger is what you would call a loner. He doesn’t like being around people if he can help it. He has made enough money gambling online that he doesn’t have to worry about working. He can just stay home and spend his time tasting delicious new beverages and hanging out with his cat. Nobody would know who Jeffery Grobnagger was if it weren’t for the seizures.
Every now and then Grobnagger has a seizure followed by a strange dream, and they’re getting more frequent. He always wakes up in a dark alley hanging upside down with a noose around his ankle. Almost as soon as he frees himself, a murderous cloaked figure appears in the alleyway, chases him down, and strangles him to death. It is always the same, and it is very realistic in his mind until he wakes up at home or at the grocery store on his back. Even with the concern of strangers, he refuses to go to the doctor about his situation. That would require being around people, and not just any people, prodding and nosy people.
After having a fit in the grocery store, he meets Glenn, a bit of a loner himself with more cats than Grobnagger. He takes him to his house and explains to him that his daughter had gone missing. He believes the cult may be involved with her disappearance. What’s even more of a surprise is that Jeffery’s name has been spreading around the cults. His seizures and dreams are somehow known to them, and they’re interested.
Jeffery Grobnagger doesn’t understand how flopping around like a fish and having an annoying dream about dying would cause a ruckus around people he has no interactions with, but it’s very inconvenient. Little does he know that his life is going to be changing very soon and that his life in the real world may be in danger too. You need to read this book to see what happens next. It’s awesome.
You never know what to expect when you pick up an ebook, but this one exceeded my expectations. It was clever and witty with a humor that made me have to put the book down until I could stop laughing multiple times. I also appreciated the dark moments of internalizing for the main character. I definitely relate to Grobnagger. We are both introverts living with a cat and trying to make that enough. Somehow we both seem to still have serious self-esteem issues. We both have a need for control. We try not to complain and just accept our situations, but it sucks, you know.
This book was very thought provoking about life and the reason we humans act the way we do. I loved the balance of humor and seriousness. The characters are amazing and really well written. You immediately become friends with all of them. I’m planning on reading the second book this month. Really excited!
Two of my favorite excerpts from this book:
“Control makes you feel powerful and less afraid,” he says. “But it won’t make your happy.”
“Nerve endings and epidermis are not the miracles of existence. Consciousness is the miracle. You can call it a soul or whatever you want. Or not. Doesn’t really matter in a way, I guess. Either way, consciousness is the miracle and the physical body is just the tool to experience it through.
I was contacted by Tim McBain and asked if I would be interested in reading his novel. Of course, I said yes! And I am so glad I did. This book was amazing. I really loved it. It made me laugh, it made me think deeply, and it was so relatable.
Jeffery Grobnagger is what you would call a loner. He doesn’t like being around people if he can help it. He has made enough money gambling online that he doesn’t have to worry about working. He can just stay home and spend his time tasting delicious new beverages and hanging out with his cat. Nobody would know who Jeffery Grobnagger was if it weren’t for the seizures.
Every now and then Grobnagger has a seizure followed by a strange dream, and they’re getting more frequent. He always wakes up in a dark alley hanging upside down with a noose around his ankle. Almost as soon as he frees himself, a murderous cloaked figure appears in the alleyway, chases him down, and strangles him to death. It is always the same, and it is very realistic in his mind until he wakes up at home or at the grocery store on his back. Even with the concern of strangers, he refuses to go to the doctor about his situation. That would require being around people, and not just any people, prodding and nosy people.
After having a fit in the grocery store, he meets Glenn, a bit of a loner himself with more cats than Grobnagger. He takes him to his house and explains to him that his daughter had gone missing. He believes the cult may be involved with her disappearance. What’s even more of a surprise is that Jeffery’s name has been spreading around the cults. His seizures and dreams are somehow known to them, and they’re interested.
Jeffery Grobnagger doesn’t understand how flopping around like a fish and having an annoying dream about dying would cause a ruckus around people he has no interactions with, but it’s very inconvenient. Little does he know that his life is going to be changing very soon and that his life in the real world may be in danger too. You need to read this book to see what happens next. It’s awesome.
You never know what to expect when you pick up an ebook, but this one exceeded my expectations. It was clever and witty with a humor that made me have to put the book down until I could stop laughing multiple times. I also appreciated the dark moments of internalizing for the main character. I definitely relate to Grobnagger. We are both introverts living with a cat and trying to make that enough. Somehow we both seem to still have serious self-esteem issues. We both have a need for control. We try not to complain and just accept our situations, but it sucks, you know.
This book was very thought provoking about life and the reason we humans act the way we do. I loved the balance of humor and seriousness. The characters are amazing and really well written. You immediately become friends with all of them. I’m planning on reading the second book this month. Really excited!
Two of my favorite excerpts from this book:
“Control makes you feel powerful and less afraid,” he says. “But it won’t make your happy.”
“Nerve endings and epidermis are not the miracles of existence. Consciousness is the miracle. You can call it a soul or whatever you want. Or not. Doesn’t really matter in a way, I guess. Either way, consciousness is the miracle and the physical body is just the tool to experience it through.
October 21, 2014
I was given an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Here's the 10,000-foot view for those who are looking for a quick summary: This is a fantastic first entry in a series that blends the universe-building complexity of Lev Grossman's "Magicians" series with the sardonic, wiseass lovechild of Victor Gischler and Chuck Palahniuk. Part urban fantasy, part coming-of-age, "Fade to Black" is a megaton followup to McBain's and Vargus's first novel, "Casting Shadows Everywhere."
We meet the oddly-named main character, Jeff Grobnagger, while he is hanging upside down in an alley, contemplating life and generally being a miserable dude. It becomes quickly apparent that Grobnagger is in an atypical hanging-in-an-alley situation, as we watch a hooded man sprint down the alley and strangle him to death.
Jeff hates it when that happens. And it happens a lot--every time he has a seizure, apparently.
And there are people who know why.
I'm going to stop there, because the fun of this book is watching where the story goes--I mean, you'll never anticipate some of the crazy stuff that goes down. The story is solid, and engaging, and I haven't been this stoked to read a sequel in a long, long time.
The characters, too, are wonderful--deep, realistic, eccentric. You know someone like Jeff--who's quick with his words but is numbed by life. You probably have a friend like Glenn--someone who is more like a father than a friend. And you actually care about them, and that's impressive, because as a person, Jeff Grobnagger is a miserable pessimist. You don't really WANT to like Jeff at first. But just as he does to other characters in the group, Jeff endears himself to you, and by the end, you're rooting for him.
As far as universe-building goes, McBain and Vargus do an incredible job of slowly introducing you to the elements and the rules that govern the world of "Fade to Black." I'll be straight with you: don't expect to find all of your answers in this book. That's a good thing, because that means there is a lot of room for the following books in the series to explore. It's clear at the end that we, just like Jeff, have a lot more to learn about just what's going on.
The well-crafted humor and snappy dialogue is a perfect compliment to the serious stuff going down in the main story. Love him or hate him, Jeff is a joker, and his dry, dark humor offers some nice comedic relief. The dialogue never feels forced, and even Jeff's internal monologues are well-crafted, important, and concise--he is not a rambler.
Overall, the entire story was very tight. While I did notice a few typos during my read, it wasn't more than I see in most advance copies, so hopefully they were able to fix prior to publication.
I don't normally give five stars, but "Fade to Black" gets five stars from me for one reason: I haven't been this excited about a book in a long time. As I mentioned earlier, I am eagerly awaiting the second novel in the series, because I have to see what happens. It kind of reminds me of the feeling I got the first time I watched Lost, the TV series. It feels like my eyes have been opened to a universe of possibilities, and I cannot wait to see how McBain and Vargus explore that world.
Here's the 10,000-foot view for those who are looking for a quick summary: This is a fantastic first entry in a series that blends the universe-building complexity of Lev Grossman's "Magicians" series with the sardonic, wiseass lovechild of Victor Gischler and Chuck Palahniuk. Part urban fantasy, part coming-of-age, "Fade to Black" is a megaton followup to McBain's and Vargus's first novel, "Casting Shadows Everywhere."
We meet the oddly-named main character, Jeff Grobnagger, while he is hanging upside down in an alley, contemplating life and generally being a miserable dude. It becomes quickly apparent that Grobnagger is in an atypical hanging-in-an-alley situation, as we watch a hooded man sprint down the alley and strangle him to death.
Jeff hates it when that happens. And it happens a lot--every time he has a seizure, apparently.
And there are people who know why.
I'm going to stop there, because the fun of this book is watching where the story goes--I mean, you'll never anticipate some of the crazy stuff that goes down. The story is solid, and engaging, and I haven't been this stoked to read a sequel in a long, long time.
The characters, too, are wonderful--deep, realistic, eccentric. You know someone like Jeff--who's quick with his words but is numbed by life. You probably have a friend like Glenn--someone who is more like a father than a friend. And you actually care about them, and that's impressive, because as a person, Jeff Grobnagger is a miserable pessimist. You don't really WANT to like Jeff at first. But just as he does to other characters in the group, Jeff endears himself to you, and by the end, you're rooting for him.
As far as universe-building goes, McBain and Vargus do an incredible job of slowly introducing you to the elements and the rules that govern the world of "Fade to Black." I'll be straight with you: don't expect to find all of your answers in this book. That's a good thing, because that means there is a lot of room for the following books in the series to explore. It's clear at the end that we, just like Jeff, have a lot more to learn about just what's going on.
The well-crafted humor and snappy dialogue is a perfect compliment to the serious stuff going down in the main story. Love him or hate him, Jeff is a joker, and his dry, dark humor offers some nice comedic relief. The dialogue never feels forced, and even Jeff's internal monologues are well-crafted, important, and concise--he is not a rambler.
Overall, the entire story was very tight. While I did notice a few typos during my read, it wasn't more than I see in most advance copies, so hopefully they were able to fix prior to publication.
I don't normally give five stars, but "Fade to Black" gets five stars from me for one reason: I haven't been this excited about a book in a long time. As I mentioned earlier, I am eagerly awaiting the second novel in the series, because I have to see what happens. It kind of reminds me of the feeling I got the first time I watched Lost, the TV series. It feels like my eyes have been opened to a universe of possibilities, and I cannot wait to see how McBain and Vargus explore that world.
October 31, 2014
I got this eBook from L.T. Vargus in exchange for an honest review. She probably sent it to me because I loved Casting Shadows Everywhere and wrote a good review for it.
Many times I wanted to drop my reading this time. But since I got the book for free against a review, I finished reading it all.
I must not be young enough to really enjoy this kind of story (paranormal suspense), which includes many of the usual characteristics of fantasy books: a living dead, people with super powers, evil or mysterious objects, secret messages, a wise man (Glenn), etc. And frankly, I find that there are already plenty of superheroes out there, no need to imagine new ones. Note that I didn't enjoyed The Lord of the Rings or Harry Potter Boxset series. So maybe if you enjoyed these books, you'll love this one too.
To add to my displeasure, there is a whole crap about positive thinking mixed with quantum physics that could give you the power to "manifest" objects or fulfill all your dearest wishes. I know that quantum activities allow plants to produce chlorophyll. But all the rest in this book is physics + metaphysics for amateurs. This made me think of the book The Secret. That was a very popular reading when it was first published. I didn't read it but I heard of it so much, I feel like I did. Perhaps the authors had just read it and believed in its message. Anyway, they intertwined it with a little quantum physics and built a story around it all.
But this story is repetitive. Jeff Grobnagger (Not worse than Sigourney Weaver, is it?), the main character, has repeatedly what looks like epileptic seizures. For some mysterious reasons, everyone seems to believe that there is something magical in there, that what he sees during his seizures must be of a great significance. But these repetitive seizures, as all sorts of repetition, quickly become boring. We can't wait for something to happen other than to see the MC discover a new way to undo his knot, find a new place to flee or learn how to kill the hooded man, his pursuer in those dreams.
Finally, we discover that all you need is love (lolll), and Jeff's strange dreams of being attacked only served to teach him this lesson.
I apologize, but I wasn't impressed by this story or its final message. So I give it 2½ stars that I round up to 3 only because this novel is not badly written and there was some good-natured humor that made me smile once or twice.
P.S. Since I'm a good guy, I won't publish this review on Amazon.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 20, 2014
Jeff Grobnagger is a twenty-something, cynical introvert, who does his best to avoid reality. Supported by his online poker winnings, he's doing a pretty good job of being a recluse with no job, no girlfriend and no friends. Unfortunately, he has a problem Recently, he's been plagued with a series of recurring dreams that put him in an apoplectic state. The dreams are always the same. He finds himself in an unenviable position that despite his best efforts always ends messily for him.
His latest episode finds him flopping about on the floor of a Meijer grocery store. Upon regaining his senses, he finds himself being helped by Glenn Floyd, an older man with his own reasons wanting to know Jeff. Glenn's daughter had become involved in mystical esoterica, joining a like minded local group and subsequently disappearing. With his dreams, Glenn thinks Jeff can help him. Jeff also learns that the groups somehow know about his dreams and they aren't sharing any information about them. Best of all, someone seems to want him dead because of them. It seems Jeff has several mysteries to address.
Fade to Black has enough surreal twists and turns to the keep the reader guess at "What next?" as nothing and no one seems to be who they really are. With his ethereal and real world challenges, Jeff has more than enough to put himself in harm's way in a variety of manners. It has him thinking about his take on the world and his place in it. Hiding from reality doesn't change it but keeps him from the better parts of it. He is forced to develop and change to face what is thrown at him, driving from his very narrow comfort zone.
From the beginning, the story drags you in and makes you chase after Jeff as he seeks his answers and meets surprises along the way. With its combination of solid plot and developing characterization, it is a read worthy tale that will have those of an introverted persuasion looking at life and possibly reconsidering its track. At it's end, Fade to Black leaves you looking for more and that part of the journey will continue in the next book.
His latest episode finds him flopping about on the floor of a Meijer grocery store. Upon regaining his senses, he finds himself being helped by Glenn Floyd, an older man with his own reasons wanting to know Jeff. Glenn's daughter had become involved in mystical esoterica, joining a like minded local group and subsequently disappearing. With his dreams, Glenn thinks Jeff can help him. Jeff also learns that the groups somehow know about his dreams and they aren't sharing any information about them. Best of all, someone seems to want him dead because of them. It seems Jeff has several mysteries to address.
Fade to Black has enough surreal twists and turns to the keep the reader guess at "What next?" as nothing and no one seems to be who they really are. With his ethereal and real world challenges, Jeff has more than enough to put himself in harm's way in a variety of manners. It has him thinking about his take on the world and his place in it. Hiding from reality doesn't change it but keeps him from the better parts of it. He is forced to develop and change to face what is thrown at him, driving from his very narrow comfort zone.
From the beginning, the story drags you in and makes you chase after Jeff as he seeks his answers and meets surprises along the way. With its combination of solid plot and developing characterization, it is a read worthy tale that will have those of an introverted persuasion looking at life and possibly reconsidering its track. At it's end, Fade to Black leaves you looking for more and that part of the journey will continue in the next book.
January 7, 2015
I finished Tim McBain and L.T. Vargus' book, Fade to Black, a few weeks ago and I have been struggling to get my review in. I rated this book with 5 stars, mainly because it is a well written interesting story that kept my interest from the beginning to the end, so writing a review should be a breeze, right? Well it has been tough for me because the book is a little different from the rest of the books I have read, and I've read quite a few. The book is written from the protagonist's point of view, which is not the different part, but he is a bit of a, sad sack anti-hero kind of guy. Still, I found myself kind of pulling for him throughout his struggles, both in the stories reality side and in the other place the story takes him, but I'll let you read about that for yourself to understand what I mean. His character reminded me of that one friend you have or have had in the past that never seems to catch a break, always has something sarcastic or in appropriate to say, but is usually sorry right after he says it. I don't like to write reviews that give away the story, so let me put it this way: if you like novels that are a little different, written in "today's language", are difficult to predict, and make you want to keep turning the page to find out what the heck is going to happen next, then I recommend you give this book a try. I did and now I'm ready to read what's going to happen next.
December 13, 2019
So many things to say...what are words?...I say.
"Pants. Poop them." (p. 160)
...
(Update March 2, 2015:)
Fade to Black starts off with an opening that immediately grabbed my attention: And continued to completely amaze me with humor, insight, and mystery. In sum, Tim McBain and L.T. Vargus created a story of mystery that is also a philosophical journey to understanding life. Is that a ridiculous notion?
It's a book that makes me fulfills my craving to read about other worlds beyond this physical one, including doing things like astral projection, and all that other freaky stuff they talk about on Mysterious Universe.
Not only can McBain and Vargus make a believable character and be unpredictable, but they make scenes much more interesting than they should be. Something as mundane as taking a shower became this clever and humorous way to clean the human body. It is details like this that makes it seem like a scene is in motion and that it means something, but you realize it doesn't. It's just that you've enjoyed it.
McBain and Vargus have this dark humor that makes me wonder what really goes on in their heads and what else they will be writing and if they may be holding back even stranger details. I know something sinister is awaiting in the next book, and I'm interested to see what else they can do to blow my mind.
"Pants. Poop them." (p. 160)
...
(Update March 2, 2015:)
Fade to Black starts off with an opening that immediately grabbed my attention: And continued to completely amaze me with humor, insight, and mystery. In sum, Tim McBain and L.T. Vargus created a story of mystery that is also a philosophical journey to understanding life. Is that a ridiculous notion?
It's a book that makes me fulfills my craving to read about other worlds beyond this physical one, including doing things like astral projection, and all that other freaky stuff they talk about on Mysterious Universe.
Not only can McBain and Vargus make a believable character and be unpredictable, but they make scenes much more interesting than they should be. Something as mundane as taking a shower became this clever and humorous way to clean the human body. It is details like this that makes it seem like a scene is in motion and that it means something, but you realize it doesn't. It's just that you've enjoyed it.
McBain and Vargus have this dark humor that makes me wonder what really goes on in their heads and what else they will be writing and if they may be holding back even stranger details. I know something sinister is awaiting in the next book, and I'm interested to see what else they can do to blow my mind.
May 4, 2015
Reviewed by RJ at http://ineedanotherbookcase.blogspot....
Jeff Grobnagger is just a normal guy who suffers from seizures. While not visibly odd or alarming outside the normal, in reality, Jeff is transported to a strange realm, where he is finds himself reliving the same dream over and over again: arriving hanging upside down, being chased by a mysterious figure, and getting killed. During one such seizure he wakes up and meets Glenn, a man who, through his own struggles, Jeff comes to find might have some connection to what’s happening to him. While he initially blows him off, choosing to keep to his normal, introverted lifestyle, after almost being killed in real life, Jeff decides that working together might not be a bad idea. Jeff finds that his strange dreams might somehow be connected to the same astral projection obsessed cults that Glenn has been looking into to find his missing daughter. What he uncovers will leave him questioning everything he knew about life, assuming he doesn't die in the process.
Fade to Black had a lot of potential. It touched on genres that I like to read but, due to what I can only assume is lack of editing, experience, or both, it really fell short.
There are four key problems I found with the story. The first three are mostly prevalent in the first half, occurring in the second half occasionally, while the fourth was prevalent throughout but mostly in the second half. First, the transitions between ideas and events were weak to nonexistent. Given that this story is told from first-person perspective, Jeff’s, the narrative is told in a very train-of-thought manner, and I don’t think the authors made a bad choice in that. However, the transitions made the story very jarring, pulling me out of the story and making it hard for me to build up any steam. I could mostly tell how events led to one another without clear transitions, but I shouldn’t have to stop and think about the how. This problem is almost solely in the first half but, because of that, it draws even more attention to itself.
Second, and this one is minor, is that the sentences are a bit too simple at points. Short and compact sentences are one thing, able to express a lot with a little, but the short sentences here would serve much better as compound or complex sentences, able to add to the flow of the story. It’s not a huge problem, but it’s prevalent enough that they feel like ideas for sentences/paragraphs that were never finished. This isn't an issue for most of the story, but because it can be found throughout the story, it has the same problem as the transition issues in that I kept being pulled out of the story.
Third, events in the beginning of the story happen way too fast. Events crucial to the story happened out of nowhere and for reasons that weren't fully explained. Many of these crucial events in the first fifty or so pages of the book are important to the story, yet were never fully integrated into the book and since they weren't explored or introduced fully enough, I had trouble believing in their authenticity. It seemed like the authors were saying “here is some important information, accept that it’s important and lets move on.
The fourth and final key problem is that, at about the halfway mark in the book, there’s a notable shift in dialogue and theme that, at times, crosses into the territory of outlandish and inane. I can appreciate what is being aimed for but, at the same time, the way it’s gone about seems almost a caricature of what was trying to be written.
The length is also an issue. As this is part of a larger series, I can only wonder whether all this was originally part of a longer story that got split into multiple books, especially with the way this book ended, more an interruption than a cliff-hanger. It almost seems like it should be Part I of a larger book. The problems I listed above could have been easily fixed by increasing the size of the book. It seemed as though the authors wanted to finish this in two hundred pages, when three hundred or so would allow for more impressive and consistent sentences, better transitions between sentences and paragraphs, and made the flow of events and ideas seem much more natural. As for the twist(s) at the end, due to the lack of density in the story and Glenn’s MacGuffin status, they weren't that surprising. It’s a problem to lose the story in the details, but without enough it feels like it’s incomplete.
Glenn is an interesting character. He was a bit of a clichéd “elder who has wisdom for younger main character” type of character, but I still liked him, or at least I wanted to like him. He had a cheery personality, was a very warm person, and, though he seemed a bit manufactured and a bit of a MacGuffin, his problem in the story mixed well with the main conflict of the story, giving him an authentic reason to be helping Jeff.
Ms. Babinaux is even more of a MacGuffin, serving only to provide information and move the story along, without much explanation behind her purpose. (She is one of the events crucial to the story I mention in my third key problem) There’s a difference between making a character mysterious and leaving them underdeveloped. The few times her personality does show through you can tell she’s got a sarcastic, secretly-terrifyingly-angry sort of thing going on. And then at the end of the story we’re essentially told to ignore the little development made on her character because she’s actually the opposite of how she seems.
Jeff’s flashback/recollections of events with Allie come as a bit out of place, suddenly appearing with no clear connection to the overarching story. After the first two—these moments come without much transitions—they work with the story, but only because I became aware that these events were relevant. She’s initially thrown in out of the blue. I know that this story is told in a very train-of-thought manner, and I know that, in real life, that type of thinking can be very random, one thought not even tangentially related to another somehow triggering it. But that’s harder to accept in a story. Thinking about her and what his life was and what it’s become is a way to establish and build Jeff’s character for the reader. It’s also, arguably, the most important facet of the entire book. Given how this plays a much larger role in the overarching story, it shouldn't have a weak introduction.
Though I clearly have a number of problems with the book, I don’t hate it. While not what manifested itself in the book, the potential for a good story and good storytelling is there. The story has potential and I'm curious to know what happens next. However, since this book and its sequel were published in the same year, I don't see how any large corrections could've been made. The time just wasn't there. Maybe the corrections were made but, based on the information I have, it's not worth finding out. Above all else, an editor would do wonders here. I’d say that anyone who’s read any of the Odd Thomas series by Dean Koontz and/or The Marbury Lens series by Andrew Smith, and liked the theme, might like this. I recommend skipping this book, though keep an eye on the authors. The potential is there.
Rating: 1/5
Jeff Grobnagger is just a normal guy who suffers from seizures. While not visibly odd or alarming outside the normal, in reality, Jeff is transported to a strange realm, where he is finds himself reliving the same dream over and over again: arriving hanging upside down, being chased by a mysterious figure, and getting killed. During one such seizure he wakes up and meets Glenn, a man who, through his own struggles, Jeff comes to find might have some connection to what’s happening to him. While he initially blows him off, choosing to keep to his normal, introverted lifestyle, after almost being killed in real life, Jeff decides that working together might not be a bad idea. Jeff finds that his strange dreams might somehow be connected to the same astral projection obsessed cults that Glenn has been looking into to find his missing daughter. What he uncovers will leave him questioning everything he knew about life, assuming he doesn't die in the process.
Fade to Black had a lot of potential. It touched on genres that I like to read but, due to what I can only assume is lack of editing, experience, or both, it really fell short.
There are four key problems I found with the story. The first three are mostly prevalent in the first half, occurring in the second half occasionally, while the fourth was prevalent throughout but mostly in the second half. First, the transitions between ideas and events were weak to nonexistent. Given that this story is told from first-person perspective, Jeff’s, the narrative is told in a very train-of-thought manner, and I don’t think the authors made a bad choice in that. However, the transitions made the story very jarring, pulling me out of the story and making it hard for me to build up any steam. I could mostly tell how events led to one another without clear transitions, but I shouldn’t have to stop and think about the how. This problem is almost solely in the first half but, because of that, it draws even more attention to itself.
Second, and this one is minor, is that the sentences are a bit too simple at points. Short and compact sentences are one thing, able to express a lot with a little, but the short sentences here would serve much better as compound or complex sentences, able to add to the flow of the story. It’s not a huge problem, but it’s prevalent enough that they feel like ideas for sentences/paragraphs that were never finished. This isn't an issue for most of the story, but because it can be found throughout the story, it has the same problem as the transition issues in that I kept being pulled out of the story.
Third, events in the beginning of the story happen way too fast. Events crucial to the story happened out of nowhere and for reasons that weren't fully explained. Many of these crucial events in the first fifty or so pages of the book are important to the story, yet were never fully integrated into the book and since they weren't explored or introduced fully enough, I had trouble believing in their authenticity. It seemed like the authors were saying “here is some important information, accept that it’s important and lets move on.
The fourth and final key problem is that, at about the halfway mark in the book, there’s a notable shift in dialogue and theme that, at times, crosses into the territory of outlandish and inane. I can appreciate what is being aimed for but, at the same time, the way it’s gone about seems almost a caricature of what was trying to be written.
The length is also an issue. As this is part of a larger series, I can only wonder whether all this was originally part of a longer story that got split into multiple books, especially with the way this book ended, more an interruption than a cliff-hanger. It almost seems like it should be Part I of a larger book. The problems I listed above could have been easily fixed by increasing the size of the book. It seemed as though the authors wanted to finish this in two hundred pages, when three hundred or so would allow for more impressive and consistent sentences, better transitions between sentences and paragraphs, and made the flow of events and ideas seem much more natural. As for the twist(s) at the end, due to the lack of density in the story and Glenn’s MacGuffin status, they weren't that surprising. It’s a problem to lose the story in the details, but without enough it feels like it’s incomplete.
Glenn is an interesting character. He was a bit of a clichéd “elder who has wisdom for younger main character” type of character, but I still liked him, or at least I wanted to like him. He had a cheery personality, was a very warm person, and, though he seemed a bit manufactured and a bit of a MacGuffin, his problem in the story mixed well with the main conflict of the story, giving him an authentic reason to be helping Jeff.
Ms. Babinaux is even more of a MacGuffin, serving only to provide information and move the story along, without much explanation behind her purpose. (She is one of the events crucial to the story I mention in my third key problem) There’s a difference between making a character mysterious and leaving them underdeveloped. The few times her personality does show through you can tell she’s got a sarcastic, secretly-terrifyingly-angry sort of thing going on. And then at the end of the story we’re essentially told to ignore the little development made on her character because she’s actually the opposite of how she seems.
Jeff’s flashback/recollections of events with Allie come as a bit out of place, suddenly appearing with no clear connection to the overarching story. After the first two—these moments come without much transitions—they work with the story, but only because I became aware that these events were relevant. She’s initially thrown in out of the blue. I know that this story is told in a very train-of-thought manner, and I know that, in real life, that type of thinking can be very random, one thought not even tangentially related to another somehow triggering it. But that’s harder to accept in a story. Thinking about her and what his life was and what it’s become is a way to establish and build Jeff’s character for the reader. It’s also, arguably, the most important facet of the entire book. Given how this plays a much larger role in the overarching story, it shouldn't have a weak introduction.
Though I clearly have a number of problems with the book, I don’t hate it. While not what manifested itself in the book, the potential for a good story and good storytelling is there. The story has potential and I'm curious to know what happens next. However, since this book and its sequel were published in the same year, I don't see how any large corrections could've been made. The time just wasn't there. Maybe the corrections were made but, based on the information I have, it's not worth finding out. Above all else, an editor would do wonders here. I’d say that anyone who’s read any of the Odd Thomas series by Dean Koontz and/or The Marbury Lens series by Andrew Smith, and liked the theme, might like this. I recommend skipping this book, though keep an eye on the authors. The potential is there.
Rating: 1/5
May 18, 2020
It’s a curious book. It doesn’t get exciting till the end, when what’s actually real & important becomes apparent. I guess it sort of ends on a cliffhanger, but not in a way that makes me want to rush to the next book in the series. I need time to absorb what’s happened. Jeff’s a curiously detached character who’d never fully in the land of the living. Glenn’s an enigma. Amity. Hm. We won’t know that yet.
July 7, 2015
Live. Die. Repeat.
Dying violent deaths over and over again totally blows. Loner Jeff Grobnagger has learned this the hard way. Every time he has a seizure, he dreams that a hooded man strangles and kills him. He runs. He fights. He hides. No matter what he does, his efforts end in a pretty bad case of death.
But when someone tries to kill him in real life, he realizes that what happens with the hooded man isn't just a dream.
"Dude, please stop trying to kill me."
Who is the hooded man? And who tried to kill Grobnagger in real life? His quest for answers leads to a missing girl, cults obsessed with astral projection, an arcane puzzle sphere, an evil book, a private detective named Louise and a mustached man named Glenn that makes 'the best martini you've ever tasted.'
Yep. If it weren't for all of the horrific deaths, Jeff Grobnagger would be having the time of his life.
Rating: 3/5 Stars
Quick Reasons: dark humor and expert use of satire; interesting and unique ideas; nicely written, with a strong plot and a good sense of action; some confusing moments/plot loops that aren't explained adequately
L.T. Vargus approached me on twitter recently with a comical (and slightly strange) request. It went something like, "I would drink Clorox to get you to read my book!"
"Well," I thought, "I can't let her do that!"
Of course, I checked out the blurb before diving into this headfirst, and was intrigued--and hooked--by what I read. Astral projection? Being killed off in some sort of dream world again and again? This book had my name all over it!
And to start out with, it seemed I would really enjoy the read. Our narrator had an awesome voice uniquely his own, standing out from the many books I've read the last few months. The dark humor and satire was woven masterfully into the words, spaced out just enough to keep me entertained while remaining true to the story the writers were attempting to convey. While not the most descriptive prose, the first ten chapters hooked me, seeming to fly by in a blink.
But the deeper into the story I got, the more I started to notice the inconsistencies. For starters, our two main characters have never met. In fact, the first time they meet is after one of Jeff's infamous seizure/hallucinations in the middle of a parking lot. Jeff, being the macho stubborn man he is, refuses to leave with an ambulance...and Glenn apparently decides to go out of his way to give Jeff a lift. Except Glenn, for some reason, has a DIFFERENT idea. He takes Jeff to his own home...and proceeds to become Creepy McCreepster, asking Jeff to help him find his missing daughter. So...okay...you've just met this dude, but you think he can help you? This was only the start of the weird and inconceivable.
Throughout the rest of this novel, Jeff and Glenn suddenly and inexplicably--in the course of like three days, mind you!--become "best" friends. Jeff spills the contents of his life story all over Glenn, moves in with him, and then continues spilling drama all over the floor. I had SUCH a hard time believing that Jeff, who is ADAMANT he doesn't need anybody, who pushes everyone who tries to get close away immediately...would let Glenn become such a prominent part of his life, but apparently Glenn doesn't count as a human, or something? Characters seem to care about each other more deeply/quicker than they should, being strangers. Or maybe I just didn't connect with the characters in the way I needed to.
Now, don't get me wrong. The ideas that L.T. Vargus and Tim McBain play with throughout this novel are intriguing and hold a LOT of potential. The problem is, I didn't see them being utilized to the best of their ability. Is Jeff ONLY in an alternate world when he seizes...or is that the REAL world, while the alternate world is the one he thinks is real? If the world he thinks is the real one, really IS the real one...how did Glenn draw a door into a concrete wall and walk out of it? Why does Jeff remember the alley scenes in the world he shares with Glenn...but doesn't remember the world he shares with Glenn in the alley scenes? There are a lot of plot-holes and loops that remain unclear and unexplained. Sometimes, the writing seems as if readers are supposed to already know certain things about the characters/this world without having been told. I think there were a LOT of things going on in this first book that weren't given the chance to grow and breathe properly.
I'm intrigued to see how the next book pans out. Hopefully there are more answers--hopefully a lot of the inconsistencies get cleared up/resolved, because right now, I have a TON of questions...mostly revolving around what happened in the book I just finished. If you're into dark humor, satire, the paranormal, and stories with a sense of intrigue, I recommend checking this one out! It shows a TON of promise; my fingers are crossed the next book holds the key.
Dying violent deaths over and over again totally blows. Loner Jeff Grobnagger has learned this the hard way. Every time he has a seizure, he dreams that a hooded man strangles and kills him. He runs. He fights. He hides. No matter what he does, his efforts end in a pretty bad case of death.
But when someone tries to kill him in real life, he realizes that what happens with the hooded man isn't just a dream.
"Dude, please stop trying to kill me."
Who is the hooded man? And who tried to kill Grobnagger in real life? His quest for answers leads to a missing girl, cults obsessed with astral projection, an arcane puzzle sphere, an evil book, a private detective named Louise and a mustached man named Glenn that makes 'the best martini you've ever tasted.'
Yep. If it weren't for all of the horrific deaths, Jeff Grobnagger would be having the time of his life.
Rating: 3/5 Stars
Quick Reasons: dark humor and expert use of satire; interesting and unique ideas; nicely written, with a strong plot and a good sense of action; some confusing moments/plot loops that aren't explained adequately
L.T. Vargus approached me on twitter recently with a comical (and slightly strange) request. It went something like, "I would drink Clorox to get you to read my book!"
"Well," I thought, "I can't let her do that!"
Of course, I checked out the blurb before diving into this headfirst, and was intrigued--and hooked--by what I read. Astral projection? Being killed off in some sort of dream world again and again? This book had my name all over it!
And to start out with, it seemed I would really enjoy the read. Our narrator had an awesome voice uniquely his own, standing out from the many books I've read the last few months. The dark humor and satire was woven masterfully into the words, spaced out just enough to keep me entertained while remaining true to the story the writers were attempting to convey. While not the most descriptive prose, the first ten chapters hooked me, seeming to fly by in a blink.
But the deeper into the story I got, the more I started to notice the inconsistencies. For starters, our two main characters have never met. In fact, the first time they meet is after one of Jeff's infamous seizure/hallucinations in the middle of a parking lot. Jeff, being the macho stubborn man he is, refuses to leave with an ambulance...and Glenn apparently decides to go out of his way to give Jeff a lift. Except Glenn, for some reason, has a DIFFERENT idea. He takes Jeff to his own home...and proceeds to become Creepy McCreepster, asking Jeff to help him find his missing daughter. So...okay...you've just met this dude, but you think he can help you? This was only the start of the weird and inconceivable.
Throughout the rest of this novel, Jeff and Glenn suddenly and inexplicably--in the course of like three days, mind you!--become "best" friends. Jeff spills the contents of his life story all over Glenn, moves in with him, and then continues spilling drama all over the floor. I had SUCH a hard time believing that Jeff, who is ADAMANT he doesn't need anybody, who pushes everyone who tries to get close away immediately...would let Glenn become such a prominent part of his life, but apparently Glenn doesn't count as a human, or something? Characters seem to care about each other more deeply/quicker than they should, being strangers. Or maybe I just didn't connect with the characters in the way I needed to.
Now, don't get me wrong. The ideas that L.T. Vargus and Tim McBain play with throughout this novel are intriguing and hold a LOT of potential. The problem is, I didn't see them being utilized to the best of their ability. Is Jeff ONLY in an alternate world when he seizes...or is that the REAL world, while the alternate world is the one he thinks is real? If the world he thinks is the real one, really IS the real one...how did Glenn draw a door into a concrete wall and walk out of it? Why does Jeff remember the alley scenes in the world he shares with Glenn...but doesn't remember the world he shares with Glenn in the alley scenes? There are a lot of plot-holes and loops that remain unclear and unexplained. Sometimes, the writing seems as if readers are supposed to already know certain things about the characters/this world without having been told. I think there were a LOT of things going on in this first book that weren't given the chance to grow and breathe properly.
I'm intrigued to see how the next book pans out. Hopefully there are more answers--hopefully a lot of the inconsistencies get cleared up/resolved, because right now, I have a TON of questions...mostly revolving around what happened in the book I just finished. If you're into dark humor, satire, the paranormal, and stories with a sense of intrigue, I recommend checking this one out! It shows a TON of promise; my fingers are crossed the next book holds the key.
October 27, 2014
This is really 4.5 starts, nearly perfect.
OK, I've read McBain/Vargus's books before, and I have to tell you...one of my favorite writing styles *ever*. I was captivated by the voice from page 1. The style has a witty, clever, funny edge to it that completely draws me in. This book did not disappoint in that area.
Now that the gushing is over, let's get on with it, shall we? So you have this dude, Jeff, who's dying over and over again in what appears to be dreams. Or nightmares. I guess if some hooded mystery man is killing you, it ain't no dream. :) But this doesn't happen when Jeff goes to sleep; his world literally fades to black and launches him into this death sequence with increasing frequency.
Yeah, not good.
He meets this older gent, Glenn, with whom he develops a friendship. Glenn is the kind of guy that seems to know a little something about everything. He's the kind of guy who takes a stranger into his home. He's the kind of guy who "knows things". He's the kind of guy who raises red flags all over this sistah's brain!
I liked the characters. I liked Jeff with his self-depreciating humor. He's obviously broken, keeps away from people, wants to be alone, and you find yourself rooting that the guy is going to be fixed somehow. I also liked Glenn, with his nurturing nature and his happy attitude. And apparently the guy's a genius in the kitchen. I'd like to invite him over for dinner!
I liked the plot, which moves forward at an easy pace, and never loses it's witty charm, even when things go black. I think the humor is more evident when things go black, which is a nice contrast. There are mysteries upon mysteries in this little book; lots of suspicious characters and missing daughters and secret groups and oh my, who is Jeff to trust?
You know, read the whole book, and still can't answer that question. As the first book in a series, I guess we'll get answers in future books.
Which brings me to my only complaint. The book ends with more questions than it started with. To me, I like to have some closure when I read a book. Even books in a series should have some amount of closure at the end...the book should have a beginning, middle and end and I felt this one really only had a beginning and a middle. Yes, some questions were answered at the end, but not the bigger issues. Throw a girl a bone here! I don't mind cliff-hangers in series; that's the draw to get you to read the next book, and to me this ending was a cliff-jumper!
However, that doesn't detract from my over-all enjoyment of this story, characters and writing, and I will read on when the next books are released. A definite recommend for paranormal and urban fantasy fans!
OK, I've read McBain/Vargus's books before, and I have to tell you...one of my favorite writing styles *ever*. I was captivated by the voice from page 1. The style has a witty, clever, funny edge to it that completely draws me in. This book did not disappoint in that area.
Now that the gushing is over, let's get on with it, shall we? So you have this dude, Jeff, who's dying over and over again in what appears to be dreams. Or nightmares. I guess if some hooded mystery man is killing you, it ain't no dream. :) But this doesn't happen when Jeff goes to sleep; his world literally fades to black and launches him into this death sequence with increasing frequency.
Yeah, not good.
He meets this older gent, Glenn, with whom he develops a friendship. Glenn is the kind of guy that seems to know a little something about everything. He's the kind of guy who takes a stranger into his home. He's the kind of guy who "knows things". He's the kind of guy who raises red flags all over this sistah's brain!
I liked the characters. I liked Jeff with his self-depreciating humor. He's obviously broken, keeps away from people, wants to be alone, and you find yourself rooting that the guy is going to be fixed somehow. I also liked Glenn, with his nurturing nature and his happy attitude. And apparently the guy's a genius in the kitchen. I'd like to invite him over for dinner!
I liked the plot, which moves forward at an easy pace, and never loses it's witty charm, even when things go black. I think the humor is more evident when things go black, which is a nice contrast. There are mysteries upon mysteries in this little book; lots of suspicious characters and missing daughters and secret groups and oh my, who is Jeff to trust?
You know, read the whole book, and still can't answer that question. As the first book in a series, I guess we'll get answers in future books.
Which brings me to my only complaint. The book ends with more questions than it started with. To me, I like to have some closure when I read a book. Even books in a series should have some amount of closure at the end...the book should have a beginning, middle and end and I felt this one really only had a beginning and a middle. Yes, some questions were answered at the end, but not the bigger issues. Throw a girl a bone here! I don't mind cliff-hangers in series; that's the draw to get you to read the next book, and to me this ending was a cliff-jumper!
However, that doesn't detract from my over-all enjoyment of this story, characters and writing, and I will read on when the next books are released. A definite recommend for paranormal and urban fantasy fans!
September 28, 2014
Fade to Black is dark, it's filled with psychological ramblings, and it features a disturbed young man plagued by seizure dreams, which feature a hooded figure killing him time after time, no matter what he tries to do. It's enough to drive one crazy.
I mention the psychological ramblings as a plus. In Casting Shadows Everywhere, these came primarily from the main character's night time psychology classes at the local college. In Fade to Black, they come from Glenn, an old man trying to use Jeff's unique condition to track down his daughter Amity. But, it's not an information dump.
As we and Glenn learn more about Jeff and begin making some conclusions, Glenn feels drawn to help Jeff understand himself. Then Jeff takes that information and thinks about it, and either internalizes or disregards it, depending on his own level of self-awareness or denial. I think it is interesting to see how different events spark a response in Jeff's self-image, and I dig the science behind it being trickled in.
And, yes, this story is dark, and delightfully so. How could it not be when the main character gets killed over and over? But it's also laced with humor (and a fair share of foul language).
Now, there were a couple of things that kept me from loving this book. First off, it seemed choppy in places, kind of like when an overzealous commercial placement eats a scene in a movie and you wonder how you got from where you were to where you are. This happened mostly in the beginning. Second, there are also several examples of the main character accepting things that are happening to him that a normal person would question. Since he seems to be a mistrustful, paranoid fellow, this seemed out of character.
Overall, I really liked this story. It's smart, dark and thrilling. I think folks who enjoy a metaphysical or psychological thriller with a side of humor would enjoy this one. It is the first in a series. Both this and the next in the series, Bled White, are being released October 20th.
I received this book as an ARC from the author
I mention the psychological ramblings as a plus. In Casting Shadows Everywhere, these came primarily from the main character's night time psychology classes at the local college. In Fade to Black, they come from Glenn, an old man trying to use Jeff's unique condition to track down his daughter Amity. But, it's not an information dump.
As we and Glenn learn more about Jeff and begin making some conclusions, Glenn feels drawn to help Jeff understand himself. Then Jeff takes that information and thinks about it, and either internalizes or disregards it, depending on his own level of self-awareness or denial. I think it is interesting to see how different events spark a response in Jeff's self-image, and I dig the science behind it being trickled in.
And, yes, this story is dark, and delightfully so. How could it not be when the main character gets killed over and over? But it's also laced with humor (and a fair share of foul language).
Now, there were a couple of things that kept me from loving this book. First off, it seemed choppy in places, kind of like when an overzealous commercial placement eats a scene in a movie and you wonder how you got from where you were to where you are. This happened mostly in the beginning. Second, there are also several examples of the main character accepting things that are happening to him that a normal person would question. Since he seems to be a mistrustful, paranoid fellow, this seemed out of character.
Overall, I really liked this story. It's smart, dark and thrilling. I think folks who enjoy a metaphysical or psychological thriller with a side of humor would enjoy this one. It is the first in a series. Both this and the next in the series, Bled White, are being released October 20th.
I received this book as an ARC from the author
August 26, 2015
AMAZING!!!
This book follows Jeff Grobnagger, a normal young man who suffers from seizures. He goes into a dream state every time and dies, when he wakes he doesn't recall having a seizure and vaguely remembers the dream. Glenn is a man who's lost his daughter and is determined to find her, Glenn isn't who he seems and he knows more about Jeff's dreams than he lets on. Jeff brings a lot of dark humor to this book, I found myself smiling constantly. He sees the world differently to most people. He thinks that people don't ever truly care about others, in his eyes they just do certain things to make themselves feel better. But as the book goes on he realizes that it is possible for people to care about others and mean it. Glenn helps him see things differently.
Jeff keeps having the same terrifying dream every time he has a seizure. The dreams (nightmares) focus on him waking up in a dark alleyway, hanging from a rope wrapped around his leg the dream goes on to him being murdered by a person in a black cloak, each time he has a seizure he has to try and find out why this is happening and what it means. Throughout the book he starts to realizes he has more control in his dream state. As he gets closer to finding out what's going on, his dreams start to become reality when he realizes that someone is trying to kill him.
This book follows Jeff Grobnagger, a normal young man who suffers from seizures. He goes into a dream state every time and dies, when he wakes he doesn't recall having a seizure and vaguely remembers the dream. Glenn is a man who's lost his daughter and is determined to find her, Glenn isn't who he seems and he knows more about Jeff's dreams than he lets on. Jeff brings a lot of dark humor to this book, I found myself smiling constantly. He sees the world differently to most people. He thinks that people don't ever truly care about others, in his eyes they just do certain things to make themselves feel better. But as the book goes on he realizes that it is possible for people to care about others and mean it. Glenn helps him see things differently.
Jeff keeps having the same terrifying dream every time he has a seizure. The dreams (nightmares) focus on him waking up in a dark alleyway, hanging from a rope wrapped around his leg the dream goes on to him being murdered by a person in a black cloak, each time he has a seizure he has to try and find out why this is happening and what it means. Throughout the book he starts to realizes he has more control in his dream state. As he gets closer to finding out what's going on, his dreams start to become reality when he realizes that someone is trying to kill him.
March 24, 2015
I enjoyed this book. It is a pretty simple book, with a good storyline, and not a bunch of characters.
The main character, Jeff, has seizures, blacks out and has a reoccurring dream where he is strangled by a person in a hooded cape. He can not figure out the dream. He then meets Glenn who wants/needs his help in finding his daughter. In turn Glenn tries to help him figure out his dreams. Some very strange things start happening. The ending is definitely one that will make you want to read the sequel, which I will be doing.
I think these two authors have great potential, obviously, or I wouldn't have downloaded the sequel and another one of their books.
Thank you,Tim McBain, for asking me to read and give an honest review of the book. I am glad I did.
3.95 to 4 stars out of 5.
You can also follow my reviews at the following links:
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/2...
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http://thezeroshour.com/
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https://m.facebook.com/thezeroshour?r...
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http://www.amazon.com/gp/profile/A1NU...
The main character, Jeff, has seizures, blacks out and has a reoccurring dream where he is strangled by a person in a hooded cape. He can not figure out the dream. He then meets Glenn who wants/needs his help in finding his daughter. In turn Glenn tries to help him figure out his dreams. Some very strange things start happening. The ending is definitely one that will make you want to read the sequel, which I will be doing.
I think these two authors have great potential, obviously, or I wouldn't have downloaded the sequel and another one of their books.
Thank you,Tim McBain, for asking me to read and give an honest review of the book. I am glad I did.
3.95 to 4 stars out of 5.
You can also follow my reviews at the following links:
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/2...
http://lisasandberg88.wordpress.com/
http://thezeroshour.com/
https://m.facebook.com/lisa.sandberg8...
https://m.facebook.com/thezeroshour?r...
http://1988lisa1988.tumblr.com/
Twitter - @1988Lisa1988
http://www.amazon.com/gp/profile/A1NU...
June 10, 2015
I was introduced to LT Vargus and Tim McBain via their free book Casting Shadows Everywhere. I was impressed by their writing style and found very little to fault in that book. Fade to Black fortunately came with Bled to White because I devoured it in two days!
This is top quality writing. The characterisation is deep and wonderful. This author duo have completely tuned into their upper YA/New Adult readership. The pacing is spot on and the writing is professional. The main character has a casual cool attitude which initially almost seems too cool but the reader quickly finds the real character under that front who is constantly undermined by his own insecurities and clumsiness and youthful quest for meaning. The plot hops along with twists and turns and leaves the reader hanging, forcing us to immediately pick up Bled to White. Fortunately these books are not expensive so reading on is a pleasure.
In the wild sea of self-published over-promotion, these writers deliver the real deal. They deserve more attention. I think the publishing world will live to regret not snapping these books up. I predict this will be a self-publishing success story.
This is top quality writing. The characterisation is deep and wonderful. This author duo have completely tuned into their upper YA/New Adult readership. The pacing is spot on and the writing is professional. The main character has a casual cool attitude which initially almost seems too cool but the reader quickly finds the real character under that front who is constantly undermined by his own insecurities and clumsiness and youthful quest for meaning. The plot hops along with twists and turns and leaves the reader hanging, forcing us to immediately pick up Bled to White. Fortunately these books are not expensive so reading on is a pleasure.
In the wild sea of self-published over-promotion, these writers deliver the real deal. They deserve more attention. I think the publishing world will live to regret not snapping these books up. I predict this will be a self-publishing success story.
June 6, 2015
Fade to Black: a Story of Fear and discovery
This book is unlike any book I have ever read. It is in some ways like a fantasy, and in others, startlingly real. It has characters who seem to be there just to teach the main character some specific lesson, and some who are there to help him on his strange journey. The reason I gave this book five stars, and the reason I will probably read the rest of the series, however, is that even though I have never read a book like this before, and even though I probably would not read a book like this if I were told about the plot in advance, when I opened this book, and began reading it, I could not put it down. It is written so welll that it caught me at the beginning and kept me turning pages. I recommend this book to anyone who is up for something very different, but somehow spellbinding. I am not naive enough to believe that everyone who looks at this book will love it. But I, who never reads books like this, do love it. So maybe you will too. I will read the rest of the series, because I want to know how it ends.
This book is unlike any book I have ever read. It is in some ways like a fantasy, and in others, startlingly real. It has characters who seem to be there just to teach the main character some specific lesson, and some who are there to help him on his strange journey. The reason I gave this book five stars, and the reason I will probably read the rest of the series, however, is that even though I have never read a book like this before, and even though I probably would not read a book like this if I were told about the plot in advance, when I opened this book, and began reading it, I could not put it down. It is written so welll that it caught me at the beginning and kept me turning pages. I recommend this book to anyone who is up for something very different, but somehow spellbinding. I am not naive enough to believe that everyone who looks at this book will love it. But I, who never reads books like this, do love it. So maybe you will too. I will read the rest of the series, because I want to know how it ends.
January 7, 2015
How many stars you give usually to a book that you have read in a day and half? How many stars, if it has you compelled to bring the e-reader even at dinner? 5 stars, obviously! I loved Fade to Black, really loved it.
I think the compelling thing is the mystery behind the seizures : why Jeff continues to have those ? He's ill? Is he really a special being? Then you begin to know Jeff, for real, chapter after chapter, and you fall in love with his sarcasm, the general humor of some bad situations and you ask yourself : why is he so wounded? Why he thinks like that? Jeff Grobnagger is not patetic, is a round character with strenghts and weaknesses, he has a lot to offer. I think he functions greatly with Glenn, they make a funny duo. This book is full of suspense, action, witty humor and also dense thoughts that have kept me entertained, fascinated, amused until the last page. I can't wait to read Bled White !
I think the compelling thing is the mystery behind the seizures : why Jeff continues to have those ? He's ill? Is he really a special being? Then you begin to know Jeff, for real, chapter after chapter, and you fall in love with his sarcasm, the general humor of some bad situations and you ask yourself : why is he so wounded? Why he thinks like that? Jeff Grobnagger is not patetic, is a round character with strenghts and weaknesses, he has a lot to offer. I think he functions greatly with Glenn, they make a funny duo. This book is full of suspense, action, witty humor and also dense thoughts that have kept me entertained, fascinated, amused until the last page. I can't wait to read Bled White !
December 26, 2014
Dark, twisted, hilarious and refreshing
This book is one the most refreshing books I've read recently. The main character, Jeff's views and ideas of the world and life in general are refreshing, dark and twisted and almost sad, but different which is refreshing. Although at some point he gets really annoying because I feel like he self-pitied too much, at the end, you can't help but from a sort of connection or at least an understanding with the character. I loved this book, I recommend anyone that enjoys a nice, different and refreshing book (take a break from vampires and werewolves and murder mysteries), you should definitely read this. I hate writing reviews, in fact I never have written one but this book deserves it.
This book is one the most refreshing books I've read recently. The main character, Jeff's views and ideas of the world and life in general are refreshing, dark and twisted and almost sad, but different which is refreshing. Although at some point he gets really annoying because I feel like he self-pitied too much, at the end, you can't help but from a sort of connection or at least an understanding with the character. I loved this book, I recommend anyone that enjoys a nice, different and refreshing book (take a break from vampires and werewolves and murder mysteries), you should definitely read this. I hate writing reviews, in fact I never have written one but this book deserves it.
March 3, 2016
I very much enjoyed Fade to Black. It was funny, adventurous, and mysterious all at once. The character creation and development was clear and clever and enjoyable to read.
The writing style is strange and I don't know how to describe it. It's good, but I don't think that I have read anything quite like it before.
The story is unique in the most awesome way. Not in that it has to do with the occult, a person dreaming out a thing that must happen, or in the direction they take with character relationships, but in the combined use of all these elements in such a way that you become the character. I was the one having a seizure in a grocery store, I was the one making a weird friend and it was great that I got to take this journey.
The writing style is strange and I don't know how to describe it. It's good, but I don't think that I have read anything quite like it before.
The story is unique in the most awesome way. Not in that it has to do with the occult, a person dreaming out a thing that must happen, or in the direction they take with character relationships, but in the combined use of all these elements in such a way that you become the character. I was the one having a seizure in a grocery store, I was the one making a weird friend and it was great that I got to take this journey.
October 19, 2014
Jeff Grobnagger is a loner. Every night he has the same terrifying dream over and over. Everytime he has a seizure he dreams that a hooded man kills him. The dreams feel very real and they are frightening.When he is awake someone is out to kill himbut who and why? Are the dreams somehow connected to his real life? Jeff must figure out what is real and who he can trust! A great psychological/ horror story.I enjoyed the dreams they were very horrorying and the thrill the reader experiences everything Jeff does. There is a touch of the occult with an evil book a missing girl and Louise a possible love interest. I highly recommend if you enjoy a great horror story.
January 24, 2016
I don't even know how this book got on my kindle, not my typical read. Sometimes I one click just because I like the cover, that may be what happened here. A slow and confusing start for me, I almost gave up but I was bored at work so I trudged on. The more I read, the more the main character just pulled me. Being able to identify with him is what snagged me. It took a couple chapters but I'm hooked! So many questions. As soon as I finished, I bought the next one. Sometimes the best books are the ones I find by accident.
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