Forsaken

Southern Watch #7

by Robert J. Crane

WARNING: Due to extremely disturbing content, this book is intended for MATURE READERS ONLY.

Things in Midian, Tennessee are just going straight to hell. Demons rise, allies fall, and some prepare to make the ultimate sacrifice.

Genres: Fantasy, Urban Fantasy

275 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 17, 2018

About the author

Robert J. Crane was born and raised on Florida's Space Coast before moving to the upper midwest in search of cooler climates and more palatable beer. He graduated from the University of Central Florida with a degree in English Creative Writing. He worked for a year as a substitute teacher and worked in the financial services field for seven years while writing in his spare time.

Reviews

[Anne Monteith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Midian can't hold out much longer. Will it survive or will it disappear like other towns? How long will readers have to wait to find out the final outcome for this town and all those that have fought so hard.

While this series is disturbing on many levels, it is also a series that I am glad that I've read and will continue to read until the brutal, blood end. Many of the characters are flawed, some are just evil and the demons are enough to make any lover of horror stories cringe.

Mr. Crane has said that this is his least popular series and as such is on the back burner in order of writing, publication and release; book 8 was tentatively scheduled for 2019 and has been pushed back until 2020 and I'm disappointed. I'm not sure how many more are planned, but I'd like to finish the series before I die so I hope he'll change his mind.

Mr. Crane, because of this series you have a new fan who plans to read your other series. The next one will be the second least popular.

4.25 Stars

[Jeremiah · Rating 1 out of 5]

You may ask me, why I read all of these books if I didn't like them. The answer is that a) they were free on Kindle Unlimited and b) I read very fast. c) I was hoping for some kind of payoff.

When the series began, it seemed more organized and characters were actually on a track that suggested there would be an arc coming. That organization lasted for at best three books, and then it all just sort of went awry. Established characters suddenly had conflicts with each other that came about unnaturally and not remotely set up in previous interactions. Other characters made ridiculous leaps in ability that didn't come because of a series of steps, but only because it seemed that the author thought it was cool. After three books, this series takes a bit of a turn and becomes something else. I can only speculate on the endless cycles of pointless sex and violence and why the author felt the need to keep regurgitating them, but the plot doesn't move forward for three more books. The setting goes through changes, and the characters have things happen to them, but these events don't organically lead to any character development, and worse, they are completely disconnected with the original arcs.

Like other self-published series, the lack of an editor or oversight really makes itself evident over time. I feel like a strong guiding hand might have been able to turn this cool idea into a competent epic modern fantasy series. There are interesting ideas here, but man are they draped in thick blankets of cheese at times. It's kinda frustrating really.

[Miguel Ángel Alonso Pulido · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lo primero, el libro me ha encantado y creo que mejora bastante a los anteriores, demostrando que un libro no tiene que ser más largo para ser mejor. Lo que sí estoy viendo es una pauta con los últimos libros de la serie. En el primer tercio más o menos, Crane introduce una serie de personajes y situaciones nuevas en cada libro, que me hace preguntarme una y otra vez por qué no se dedica a Arch y el resto de la Guardia del Sur. En cuanto pasamos la mitad del libro, mezcla todas esas situaciones y personajes de formas que no me espero y me hace devorar el libro como loco hasta el final, dejándome con ganas de más. Este tío es un gran escritor y si te gusta la fantasía urbana oscura (pero bien oscura), ya estás tardando en leer este libro. Deseando que publique cuanto antes la siguiente entrega.

[Bob · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everything

It happened to me.
All the cursing; cutting; seperated body parts; double crossing; back-stabbing; slashing; blood; sprayed intestines; cauterizing evil, the insertion of the FBI into the story cracked me up.
It was like the Marx brothers; or Charlie Chaplin; or the Three Stooges; or Laurel and Hardy; or Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis ... or Jim Carrey and Jim Carrey were using double entendre while performing slapstick.
I cracked up, laughed until I cried - and it wasn't even funny.
I just got overwhelmed.

[David J · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another solid entry in the series. A surprise villain and a truly disgusting villain. A new character, who is truly obnoxious, but may improve. Arch's squeamishness is getting a little old. More development of Erin. Casey remains totally fixated on sex, but he gets a chance to be a hero. conflict between the OOC's, with more to be revealed Solid action. A developing villain, who reveals herself to be truly abhorrent. I can handle almost anything in a villain, but this was even too much for me. I look forward to the next book.

[Joanne Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mr. Crane is a tremendous talent. But he has a hugely warped mind. Enjoyably warped and as an example, he has a fleet of black snake demons coming out of a toilet and biting someone on the ass before killing them by, you guessed it, suffocation. Also a demon who ejaculates acid and numerous other truly scary beasts.
I ask you to read his work and come to your own conclusions. If you agree with me, lets form a Crane for president club.

[Pam App · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book picks up and introduces new characters which are a breeze and the disappearance of an important one. Looking forward to his return as Midian is approaching hell pretty rapidly! Most of the watch are being tested in ways they definately wouldn't want to but that is what makes these books so great. Love the darkness and complexity to this series

[Connie Fogg-Bouchard · Rating 4 out of 5]

there's snakes in the bathroom and the creek is low

if it can go wrong, it will. nothing like a plumber down on his luck. and nothing like a little wild times with the family taking out a big nest of snakes. but there's all kinds of crazy stuff happening in Midian and even the FBI has decided to check it out.

[Malinda Hoard-Atkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Weird but good

Ok. This has got to me. What an imagination! I start reading and can't stop. When I finish, I just have to know what comes next. Wow! I never dreamed anyone could write so much about demons, let alone all the different kinds and different evils. But I really love how the people come together to fight them, even when they discover they are in our government.

[Kaitlyn Reed · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well this was the darkest one so far, minus Halloween. BUT I can’t say that I didn’t see the story kinda heading in that direction. Anyway as a Tennessean I do feel like my small town would rise to the occasion in the same way Midan has. Can’t wait to see where the next book leads and just where that Cowboy is going to come back in at.

[Delreo Norris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Score One for Midian

This 7th book kept the action going and the characters are still surprising me. I can’t wait for the next book! My only problem is I like the bad guys and the good guys.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

ka - BOOM!

Filled with intensity and trauma deep enough that the characters could drown in. The fight for Median is a powder keg just waitin' to blow!
Can't wait to see how it all shakes out; on to the last book ...

[Richard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good series but I find myself getting tired of the content. It’s just never ending death and destruction.

[Lynnie Green · Rating 2 out of 5]

This sucksm

Read all the books then you leave it hang like that really sucks by the time I get the next one I will have read 20 more books

[Tanya Livingston · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fab read

I've come to expect nothing less from this author. Was great to catch up with our residents of Midian HOWEVER it was too short for me. Roll on book 8.

[Kgabo Mathekga · Rating 5 out of 5]

Southern watch is amazing. Although I am a bit saddened that we are reaching the conclusion of the series but excited as well. Can't wait for the next book.

[Alison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best Ever. Kept you right on the edge. What else can happen in this town?

[Mickey Hyde · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series is crazy!

It was really hard to put this book down. The introduction of new characters was well done. It’s like watching a train wreck!

[Brenda Douglas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really really fun read from 1 thru 7.

[Brenda Gray · Rating 2 out of 5]

I like the story line but the pornography got old fast. I want to know what happens to the characters and the town but maybe with a bit more class.