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Wagon Buddy
“Hello Scott,” the creature said, its voice deep and tasting like dirt.
You ever have an imaginary friend? You know, that made up person that was always there for you, always willing to play with you and letting you confide in them?
“Scott, you wouldn’t like my real name. So how about you just call me your wagon buddy?”
What if your imaginary friend turned out to be real? And not a person at all?
Wagon Buddy tells the tale of a man and his creature, his only friend, who time and time again comes to his aide. But what happens when you can’t control the creature anymore?
You ever have an imaginary friend? You know, that made up person that was always there for you, always willing to play with you and letting you confide in them?
“Scott, you wouldn’t like my real name. So how about you just call me your wagon buddy?”
What if your imaginary friend turned out to be real? And not a person at all?
Wagon Buddy tells the tale of a man and his creature, his only friend, who time and time again comes to his aide. But what happens when you can’t control the creature anymore?
- GenresHorror
130 pages, Paperback
Published September 15, 2018
5 people are currently reading
140 people want to read
About the author
Steve Stred
88 books672 followersAn award-winning author, Steve Stred lives in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, with his wife and son.
Known for his novels, ‘Mastodon,’ ‘Churn the Soil,’ and his series ‘Father of Lies’ where he joined a cult on the dark web for four years, his work has been described as haunting, bleak and is frequently set in the woods near where he grew up. He’s been fortunate to appear in numerous anthologies with some truly amazing authors.
His novel ‘Mastodon’ will be translated into Czech and Italian over the next few years.
His novel 'Churn the Soil' won the Best Horror Novel award in the 2024 Indieverse Awards.
His novel 'Mastodon' and his novella' Sacrament' were both nominated for Splatterpunk Awards.
He is represented by Kodie Van Dusen at The Rights Factory and Alec Frankel at Independent Artist Group.
Outside of writing, Steve received his Bachelor Degree in Kinesiology from the University of the Fraser Valley in 2008, and became a Certified Canadian Pedorthist in 2013.
Known for his novels, ‘Mastodon,’ ‘Churn the Soil,’ and his series ‘Father of Lies’ where he joined a cult on the dark web for four years, his work has been described as haunting, bleak and is frequently set in the woods near where he grew up. He’s been fortunate to appear in numerous anthologies with some truly amazing authors.
His novel ‘Mastodon’ will be translated into Czech and Italian over the next few years.
His novel 'Churn the Soil' won the Best Horror Novel award in the 2024 Indieverse Awards.
His novel 'Mastodon' and his novella' Sacrament' were both nominated for Splatterpunk Awards.
He is represented by Kodie Van Dusen at The Rights Factory and Alec Frankel at Independent Artist Group.
Outside of writing, Steve received his Bachelor Degree in Kinesiology from the University of the Fraser Valley in 2008, and became a Certified Canadian Pedorthist in 2013.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
July 14, 2025
This was a really great experience. I haven't read much of Steve Stred over the years, but am well aware of his presence in the literary community. And this was, by far, my favorite work of his. The writing was kept simple, yet effective, as was the overall premise. The concept of an imaginary friend, of sorts, acting as a protector to an underprivileged person, Scott, is really enjoyable. Having dealt with bullies in my younger years, a lot of the situations that Scott found himself in are not too far off from reality. It brought me back to that absolutely stunning scene from Let Me In when the vampire was slaughtering the bullies, as Owen was being held under water. I would have liked a little more explanation as to what the Wagon Buddy really was, but I also enjoyed the mystique, too. And just seeing Scott have that saving grace, despite how extreme things were taken, did me proud. I wouldn't call this a feel good story, but you did feel very empathetic for our lead and his struggles, and smiled every time the Wagon Buddy swooped in to save him. It was a little short, which is a shame, because the content is so great, but it still satisfied the horror fiend inside of me. I think some additional development on Scott and his mother would have benefitted the overall story a bit further, and also a lot more depth of his emotional states throughout, which felt abbreviated. But it's definitely worth a look, for any horror fans that want something a little different than the normal fare.
December 28, 2020
The story of Scott, a young man who, from boyhood, has had a difficult home life and has been unmercifully bullied by his peers. By his side is a supernatural creature who strives to protect him. Many adversaries are brutally murdered. Is Scott's protector real, or a figment of his imagination? Answers will not come easily, but this novella will entertain, provoke and provide much attention to Scott. I am looking forward to reading the follow-up novella.
December 9, 2020
‘The story of a guardian angel, a very unusual guardian angel.’
Meet Scott - he has no friends…except for the one!
Starting when still a 6 year-old child, Scott was persistently bullied and victimised at school, whilst his father left home, never to return, and his mother turned to the demon drink in order to cope with stresses and strains of everyday life. He felt alone, with no escape from this isolation. Then, one day, when playing with his toy wagon in the dark shadows of his back garden, a black, sinister and scary figure suddenly appears. A new friendship is about to begin, he has just met and made a new friend - ‘Wagon Buddy,’ his new friend…a friend for life!
This story opens with the now adult Scott being interviewed by police about people known to Scott that have recently mysteriously disappeared, and maybe even possibly murdered and now he is asked to explain and account for his undoubted involvement. He is most definitely thought of as serious crime suspect number 1. But Scott is adamant about his innocence - it was his friend, his weird friend ‘Wagon Buddy’. In explanation, Scott recounts flashbacks and traumatic childhood experiences, but is his story of a brutal supernatural being feasible and just how could police believe it and give it any credibility whatsoever?
I found there to be both positives and negatives to ‘Wagon Buddy’ but ultimately it proved itself to be an enjoyably gratifying and thought-provoking experience. A strong, familiar storyline, given an evil twist, and good imaginative detail to the creatures general appearance and ruthless, blood-thirsty actions. On the negative side however, I did find the flashbacks a little obvious and repetitive, with a disproportionate amount referring to Scott’s childhood, rather than the more interesting opportunities that arose when he was found in adulthood. More backstory and greater focus on ‘Wagon Buddy’ himself would also have been welcomed and perhaps may even have added a little extra spice and devilment to the actual horror element embedded within the story.
Overall, a clever and unusual story about a murderous protecting guardian angel that appears to have come straight from the gates of Hell themselves. But is he a genuine, real entity or just a figment of imagination coming from a disturbed, twisted and troubled mind. Dear reader, it will be ultimately up to you to decide. Enjoy!
Rating: 3.5 stars for true friendship - a most definite maybe!
Meet Scott - he has no friends…except for the one!
Starting when still a 6 year-old child, Scott was persistently bullied and victimised at school, whilst his father left home, never to return, and his mother turned to the demon drink in order to cope with stresses and strains of everyday life. He felt alone, with no escape from this isolation. Then, one day, when playing with his toy wagon in the dark shadows of his back garden, a black, sinister and scary figure suddenly appears. A new friendship is about to begin, he has just met and made a new friend - ‘Wagon Buddy,’ his new friend…a friend for life!
This story opens with the now adult Scott being interviewed by police about people known to Scott that have recently mysteriously disappeared, and maybe even possibly murdered and now he is asked to explain and account for his undoubted involvement. He is most definitely thought of as serious crime suspect number 1. But Scott is adamant about his innocence - it was his friend, his weird friend ‘Wagon Buddy’. In explanation, Scott recounts flashbacks and traumatic childhood experiences, but is his story of a brutal supernatural being feasible and just how could police believe it and give it any credibility whatsoever?
I found there to be both positives and negatives to ‘Wagon Buddy’ but ultimately it proved itself to be an enjoyably gratifying and thought-provoking experience. A strong, familiar storyline, given an evil twist, and good imaginative detail to the creatures general appearance and ruthless, blood-thirsty actions. On the negative side however, I did find the flashbacks a little obvious and repetitive, with a disproportionate amount referring to Scott’s childhood, rather than the more interesting opportunities that arose when he was found in adulthood. More backstory and greater focus on ‘Wagon Buddy’ himself would also have been welcomed and perhaps may even have added a little extra spice and devilment to the actual horror element embedded within the story.
Overall, a clever and unusual story about a murderous protecting guardian angel that appears to have come straight from the gates of Hell themselves. But is he a genuine, real entity or just a figment of imagination coming from a disturbed, twisted and troubled mind. Dear reader, it will be ultimately up to you to decide. Enjoy!
Rating: 3.5 stars for true friendship - a most definite maybe!
November 30, 2020
I bloody loved this offering from Stred.
It’s a crime / horror thriller that is told brilliantly. The story is set around two police officers interviewing Scott our main protagonist about some murders (or disappearances) and the main part of the novella is told through flashbacks as we see him explore his childhood, the bullying, the assaults, the evil that is enacted upon him - and of course we meet his friend Wagon Buddy (imaginary or not).
Throughout the course of the interview we witness Scott grow older with his retelling and the things from his childhood have spilled over into his later life with his bullies still tormenting him into adulthood. But his only friend Wagon Buddy is still a constant, still a protector and enforcer.
Such a marvellous little tale that reminded me of a bloodier and more horror ridden version of ‘A Monster Calls’ - Stred knows how to writer young protagonists and this is just damn masterful, I was completely absorbed in this story and the best thing is is that he’s also written a follow up which I’m looking forward to jumping into shortly! These characters and this story have more to offer!
It’s a crime / horror thriller that is told brilliantly. The story is set around two police officers interviewing Scott our main protagonist about some murders (or disappearances) and the main part of the novella is told through flashbacks as we see him explore his childhood, the bullying, the assaults, the evil that is enacted upon him - and of course we meet his friend Wagon Buddy (imaginary or not).
Throughout the course of the interview we witness Scott grow older with his retelling and the things from his childhood have spilled over into his later life with his bullies still tormenting him into adulthood. But his only friend Wagon Buddy is still a constant, still a protector and enforcer.
Such a marvellous little tale that reminded me of a bloodier and more horror ridden version of ‘A Monster Calls’ - Stred knows how to writer young protagonists and this is just damn masterful, I was completely absorbed in this story and the best thing is is that he’s also written a follow up which I’m looking forward to jumping into shortly! These characters and this story have more to offer!
December 22, 2018
While this novella didn't quite go as deep or as weird as I usually prefer, I found the prose effortlessly readable and the action was gory and fun. It's the perfect kind of book to jump in and out of during downtime at work, which is where I read the majority of this. Good times.
July 8, 2021
About:
‘Wagon Buddy tells the tale of a man and his creature, his only friend, who time and time again comes to his aide. But what happens when you can’t control the creature anymore?’
My Thoughts:
I have read a few books by Stred, and I must to say WAGON BUDDY is hands down my favorite! The imagery and creepy vibes mixed with the angelic child-like quality of the creature were perfect!
WAGON BUDDY
Source: Gift From The Author/eBook/Own
Released: September 15, 2018
Recommend!
‘Wagon Buddy tells the tale of a man and his creature, his only friend, who time and time again comes to his aide. But what happens when you can’t control the creature anymore?’
My Thoughts:
I have read a few books by Stred, and I must to say WAGON BUDDY is hands down my favorite! The imagery and creepy vibes mixed with the angelic child-like quality of the creature were perfect!
WAGON BUDDY
Source: Gift From The Author/eBook/Own
Released: September 15, 2018
Recommend!
September 25, 2023
Creepy and cute!
I know this is a horror story, but I thought it was a cute story about friends. I think we'd all be lucky to have wagon buddy on our side. Very much enjoyed this book!
I know this is a horror story, but I thought it was a cute story about friends. I think we'd all be lucky to have wagon buddy on our side. Very much enjoyed this book!
July 29, 2019
3.5 stars. Steve has come up with some amazing story ideas. I was very impressed with his extremely visceral and creepy Yuri, and loved the basis for Wagon Buddy as well. The dialogue was a little off, and I didn't feel satisfied by the ending, but I'm still impressed with Steve and will continue to check out his works and the products of his creative imagination. My thanks to the author for sending me a free Kindle copy to read.
March 16, 2019
This afternoon while sorting the awesome books on my Paperwhite, I opened this one. I started reading... and finished it in one sitting.
Scott is a lonely boy with a father who abandons the family, and a mother who turns to drinking. So when a creature appears in his yard and offers to play with him, Scott can't believe he's finally got a friend. Sure, it might be a hideous rotting monster, but at least his Wagon Buddy looks out for him.
This comes in handy when the bullying starts at school. Actually, the bullying continues through much of his life, and having a powerful creature on his side comes in handy. Until the day he's arrested...
I really enjoyed this dark novella about a victim of bullying so serious it messes up his life and chases him into the future.
Essentially, Wagon Buddy is a horror story. It features a horrifying creature capable of tearing people apart. It's spooky and there's quite a bit of violence, but it's also a very sad story about a boy who can't escape the physical scars of bullying. What these awful and disgusting kids do to Scott is appalling and cruel. They don't just call him names and push him around, they actually bash and drug him. Hurt him so badly he ends up with broken bones and so much more.
The only problem is that this poor character's bullying doesn't end after his teens. It continues into his adult life, and is so terrible that I liked the bloodthirsty creature and despised the people. This says a lot about how well the story was told, because my sympathy for Scott builds and builds until I was cheering the Wagon Buddy's vengeful ways.
Scott's story is a horror tale that echoes real life. I felt so bad for him. :(
I also liked how the story unfolds during a police interrogation. This way it goes back and forward, filling in the blanks presented at the beginning and eventually connecting to reach a very satisfying end.
The only negative thing I found were a few typos and spots that could've been tightened. But I was so engrossed in the story that it didn't get in the way of my enjoyment.
If you're in the mood for an interesting and heartbreaking story with a good dose of gore, check it out!
Scott is a lonely boy with a father who abandons the family, and a mother who turns to drinking. So when a creature appears in his yard and offers to play with him, Scott can't believe he's finally got a friend. Sure, it might be a hideous rotting monster, but at least his Wagon Buddy looks out for him.
This comes in handy when the bullying starts at school. Actually, the bullying continues through much of his life, and having a powerful creature on his side comes in handy. Until the day he's arrested...
I really enjoyed this dark novella about a victim of bullying so serious it messes up his life and chases him into the future.
Essentially, Wagon Buddy is a horror story. It features a horrifying creature capable of tearing people apart. It's spooky and there's quite a bit of violence, but it's also a very sad story about a boy who can't escape the physical scars of bullying. What these awful and disgusting kids do to Scott is appalling and cruel. They don't just call him names and push him around, they actually bash and drug him. Hurt him so badly he ends up with broken bones and so much more.
The only problem is that this poor character's bullying doesn't end after his teens. It continues into his adult life, and is so terrible that I liked the bloodthirsty creature and despised the people. This says a lot about how well the story was told, because my sympathy for Scott builds and builds until I was cheering the Wagon Buddy's vengeful ways.
Scott's story is a horror tale that echoes real life. I felt so bad for him. :(
I also liked how the story unfolds during a police interrogation. This way it goes back and forward, filling in the blanks presented at the beginning and eventually connecting to reach a very satisfying end.
The only negative thing I found were a few typos and spots that could've been tightened. But I was so engrossed in the story that it didn't get in the way of my enjoyment.
If you're in the mood for an interesting and heartbreaking story with a good dose of gore, check it out!
December 2, 2018
This fine novella from Steve Stred took me little to no time at all to get through. I wasn’t sure what to expect, judging from the creepy-if-you-look-it-in-the-right-kinda-way cover, and the blurb about an imaginary friend. But once I got started I just had to finish. And quickly.
The story follows Scott as he sits in a police interrogation room pleading his innocence following a senseless murder. All evidence points towards him, but he never did it, did he?
The novella jumps between the present day and the story he’s telling the cops. They want to know why he is so sure his imaginary friend is the one behind the murder, and quite a few others. And guess what? They don’t believe him.
Scott is a loner. His father’s gone and his mother would rather down a few beers instead of being there for him. One day he encounters his ‘imaginary friend’, his wagon buddy. But this isn’t the typical kind of made-up pal that you may imagine. No, this dude is a horrific-looking monster with a rotting face and an aura of death.
His buddy is beautifully described. I could almost taste the rotting flesh in the back of my throat and feel the heaves emanating as his appearance was meticulously described. But if you were to imagine a non-existent friend then surely you’d make them a little more aesthetically pleasing. Although, is Scott really imagining this thing?
We follow him through school as he’s picked on, beaten, then beaten some more for good measure. But little do these bullies know that Scott’s wagon buddy will do anything for his pal, and this includes murder, dismemberment, and sometimes a little itty bit of cannibalism. Yeah, don’t mess with Scott, should be the lesson here.
But throughout his life people don’t seem to heed this warning. Once he grows up, Scott is still the target of these evil bastards, but luckily his bud is right there with him.
Of course, the police don’t believe a word but let him continue his tale all the same. Will they ever believe him?
Scott is a great protagonist. Although picked on you never feel like he deserves any of this, and instead of whinging about it he just tries to hold his head up and carry on regardless. Even his alcoholic mom he still kind of gives the benefit of the doubt.
The only gripe I have, although it’s not really a gripe, is that I wanted more. Now this says more about the quality of the story than anything. I’m not one who likes my stories to be nicely wrapped up and explained away, but I really felt like ‘come oooon’ after finishing this. I wanted to know more about the wagon buddy, like where did he come from and why? I really hope that this character is introduced again in another story by Mr Stred, because he was so awesomely presented here. I. Just. Want. More!
Maybe I’m being too critical. If everything had been explained I’d probably be craving for a little to have been left open to interpretation. So I’m going to stop moaning now. What I will mention, though is the gore on offer here. There’s not too many graphic descriptions, but just enough to really have you wincing as the various enemies of Scott are ‘taken care of’.
So all in all this was a highly enjoyable story, and here’s hoping for a sequel!
The story follows Scott as he sits in a police interrogation room pleading his innocence following a senseless murder. All evidence points towards him, but he never did it, did he?
The novella jumps between the present day and the story he’s telling the cops. They want to know why he is so sure his imaginary friend is the one behind the murder, and quite a few others. And guess what? They don’t believe him.
Scott is a loner. His father’s gone and his mother would rather down a few beers instead of being there for him. One day he encounters his ‘imaginary friend’, his wagon buddy. But this isn’t the typical kind of made-up pal that you may imagine. No, this dude is a horrific-looking monster with a rotting face and an aura of death.
His buddy is beautifully described. I could almost taste the rotting flesh in the back of my throat and feel the heaves emanating as his appearance was meticulously described. But if you were to imagine a non-existent friend then surely you’d make them a little more aesthetically pleasing. Although, is Scott really imagining this thing?
We follow him through school as he’s picked on, beaten, then beaten some more for good measure. But little do these bullies know that Scott’s wagon buddy will do anything for his pal, and this includes murder, dismemberment, and sometimes a little itty bit of cannibalism. Yeah, don’t mess with Scott, should be the lesson here.
But throughout his life people don’t seem to heed this warning. Once he grows up, Scott is still the target of these evil bastards, but luckily his bud is right there with him.
Of course, the police don’t believe a word but let him continue his tale all the same. Will they ever believe him?
Scott is a great protagonist. Although picked on you never feel like he deserves any of this, and instead of whinging about it he just tries to hold his head up and carry on regardless. Even his alcoholic mom he still kind of gives the benefit of the doubt.
The only gripe I have, although it’s not really a gripe, is that I wanted more. Now this says more about the quality of the story than anything. I’m not one who likes my stories to be nicely wrapped up and explained away, but I really felt like ‘come oooon’ after finishing this. I wanted to know more about the wagon buddy, like where did he come from and why? I really hope that this character is introduced again in another story by Mr Stred, because he was so awesomely presented here. I. Just. Want. More!
Maybe I’m being too critical. If everything had been explained I’d probably be craving for a little to have been left open to interpretation. So I’m going to stop moaning now. What I will mention, though is the gore on offer here. There’s not too many graphic descriptions, but just enough to really have you wincing as the various enemies of Scott are ‘taken care of’.
So all in all this was a highly enjoyable story, and here’s hoping for a sequel!
September 30, 2018
Stred Does It Again!!
The first book I read by Stred was 'Invisible' and I was blown away. And now, after reading this book, I experienced a double whammy of a blow!! Stred is so good at creating creatures, both horrific and relatable. You want to see these creatures as villainous, but you just can't! The creatures in both novellas are horrific and brutal, yet they have compassion and genuine care for their subjects. I don't know how Stred does it, but I hope he never stops developing characters like these!
In Wagon Friend, we follow a man being interrogated by the police, as he recalls every major event in his life, from youth to present time, and we are introduced to his life-long friend, supposedly a creature that he conjured from thin air in order to ease his loneliness as a child, his father having left the home and his mother a heavy alcoholic. As the boy grows and ages, so does this creature, who has over time became his protector and savior.
I want to know what this creature is! I want more and more from this story! I hope Stred will one dat decide to rewrite Wagon Buddy into a full-fledged novel!
The first book I read by Stred was 'Invisible' and I was blown away. And now, after reading this book, I experienced a double whammy of a blow!! Stred is so good at creating creatures, both horrific and relatable. You want to see these creatures as villainous, but you just can't! The creatures in both novellas are horrific and brutal, yet they have compassion and genuine care for their subjects. I don't know how Stred does it, but I hope he never stops developing characters like these!
In Wagon Friend, we follow a man being interrogated by the police, as he recalls every major event in his life, from youth to present time, and we are introduced to his life-long friend, supposedly a creature that he conjured from thin air in order to ease his loneliness as a child, his father having left the home and his mother a heavy alcoholic. As the boy grows and ages, so does this creature, who has over time became his protector and savior.
I want to know what this creature is! I want more and more from this story! I hope Stred will one dat decide to rewrite Wagon Buddy into a full-fledged novel!
October 21, 2018
Book Review 📚
Wagon Buddy - Steve Stred
.
"This is Decective Dave Linear, officially recording Scott Carlsville, of his account of the missing people here in our city!"
.
Wagon Buddy is a novella but the story it packs feels so much bigger!!
This is my first read from Steve Stred & it won't be the last...
.
The story follows Scott from his childhood years through to adult hood, by all means poor Scott has a hard life and pure rotten luck! He is constantly bullied and through adult life extremely under appreciated.
But his luck isn't all that bad because he has his Wagon Buddy. 😊 But all is not what it seems with his good old imaginary friend, is he all in Scott's mind or is he something different.
.
Going into the book you know you are in for a wild ride!
The story focuses on Scott and his friend and we discover in great detail the struggles Scott goes through.
I loved the fact that we got a little back story on the creature but he still remains an absolute mystery! The gore in this book is everything you could wish for!!
.
I adored this novella and just wished it to go on and on and on.. Hopefully Mr Stred will revisit this dynamic duo in the not so far future.
.
5 brightly shining stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️, seriously guys go and check this book out, I'm sure you won't regret it!
Wagon Buddy - Steve Stred
.
"This is Decective Dave Linear, officially recording Scott Carlsville, of his account of the missing people here in our city!"
.
Wagon Buddy is a novella but the story it packs feels so much bigger!!
This is my first read from Steve Stred & it won't be the last...
.
The story follows Scott from his childhood years through to adult hood, by all means poor Scott has a hard life and pure rotten luck! He is constantly bullied and through adult life extremely under appreciated.
But his luck isn't all that bad because he has his Wagon Buddy. 😊 But all is not what it seems with his good old imaginary friend, is he all in Scott's mind or is he something different.
.
Going into the book you know you are in for a wild ride!
The story focuses on Scott and his friend and we discover in great detail the struggles Scott goes through.
I loved the fact that we got a little back story on the creature but he still remains an absolute mystery! The gore in this book is everything you could wish for!!
.
I adored this novella and just wished it to go on and on and on.. Hopefully Mr Stred will revisit this dynamic duo in the not so far future.
.
5 brightly shining stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️, seriously guys go and check this book out, I'm sure you won't regret it!
September 23, 2018
3.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
This was a quick, entertaining read. Stred begins this book in medias res, and we meet our protagonist in the interrogation room. From there, the story flashes back to the past to fill in the story, with forays to the present scattered throughout. Eventually, the past meets the present and it's times quite well. The "time switches" transition nicely and I was never left in a state of confusion regarding where I was in regards to the timeline.
There were a couple times that the present day narration "spoiled" what I considered major events; I would've liked to have more opportunity for discovery, to watch those events unfold. The dialogue here, for me, lacked something - this could probably just be me, though.
Overall, I truly enjoyed the story idea. Oh, the horror/gore? It's there and it's suitably shocking😳. I look forward to reading more from Stred in the future.
This was a quick, entertaining read. Stred begins this book in medias res, and we meet our protagonist in the interrogation room. From there, the story flashes back to the past to fill in the story, with forays to the present scattered throughout. Eventually, the past meets the present and it's times quite well. The "time switches" transition nicely and I was never left in a state of confusion regarding where I was in regards to the timeline.
There were a couple times that the present day narration "spoiled" what I considered major events; I would've liked to have more opportunity for discovery, to watch those events unfold. The dialogue here, for me, lacked something - this could probably just be me, though.
Overall, I truly enjoyed the story idea. Oh, the horror/gore? It's there and it's suitably shocking😳. I look forward to reading more from Stred in the future.
April 1, 2023
Wow. This little story is quite sweet, intense, funny and scary. Poor little Scott has a rough life, especially since his dad abandoned him. Luckily he has a secret weapon, his imaginary gruesome, tall friend, who is everything that Scott is not. I won't say he is a super great protector all the time, because Scott gets beat up a lot, but he is good at getting revenge and dealing with the problems. It's hard not to be on Scott's side, he's such a lovable guy, on the surface. This is a quick read and doesn't let up for a moment. I adored it.
January 10, 2019
I've always found the concept of imaginary friends creepy, so this was an easy sell for me.
This is quick, spooky read about a tormented kid (who grows into a tormented adult) who only has his imaginary friend to count on. It was sad that poor Scott never got a break, and I wondered if there would ever be an explanation as to why the town had it in for him. But sometimes people are just assholes who pick on those whom they feel are weaker, and that seems to be what happened here.
Wagon Buddy has a great ending and some awesome imagery. Though it's a simple story, it's a memorable one.
This is quick, spooky read about a tormented kid (who grows into a tormented adult) who only has his imaginary friend to count on. It was sad that poor Scott never got a break, and I wondered if there would ever be an explanation as to why the town had it in for him. But sometimes people are just assholes who pick on those whom they feel are weaker, and that seems to be what happened here.
Wagon Buddy has a great ending and some awesome imagery. Though it's a simple story, it's a memorable one.
September 29, 2018
If you're looking for a sweet coming of age story about a bullied little boy and the friend who saves him, dont read this! This book is so much better than that! It's not very often that I read something that has me rooting for the hellishly creepy monster, but Steve Stred flips the script on the typical "human good, demons bad" story line and you find yourself rooting for the "bad guy". What a great read!
December 28, 2020
This was my first story by Steve Stred and it did not disappoint! Very likable and well-written characters. Hell, I even loved Wagon Buddy. He’s like your own personal bodyguard albeit rabid and rotting.
This reminded me of a buddy film/book with a twist of monstrosity. I love the revenge and the idea that eventually karma and justice catches up to everyone. Even those bullies from high school!
Quick 5 star, enjoyable read!
This reminded me of a buddy film/book with a twist of monstrosity. I love the revenge and the idea that eventually karma and justice catches up to everyone. Even those bullies from high school!
Quick 5 star, enjoyable read!
October 3, 2018
Not a bad story. First book in my "Month of Horror", although I didn't find it very scary.
September 25, 2019
Can't exactly point to what I liked most about this book. The "creep" factor was pretty high up there, which is great - very hard to find (IMHO) good, creepy stories. The setting and pacing was good, nice buildup, vivid gory scenes, without being overdone. Overall, one of the better horror stories I've read in a while.
September 5, 2019
Excellent
I was not expecting this book to be this good. It's definitely worth the read I was not disappointed, I wish I had a wagon buddy😊
I was not expecting this book to be this good. It's definitely worth the read I was not disappointed, I wish I had a wagon buddy😊
August 21, 2019
What a creepy, inventive read from author Steve Stred - the idea for the wagon buddy, and its execution in this story, are something out of the ordinary. I found the descriptors of the buddy visceral and scary, and this was such a quick, enjoyable read. My first by this author, and won't be my last!
August 19, 2019
This is my first read from my digital friend, Steve Stred, but it won't be my last.
Wagon Buddy kicks off right in the middle of things, where pro-tag Scott is cuffed and under investigation for the death of a woman. They've got him dead to rights - picture of him with the corpse in the back of a wagon, but they can't explain how he did it. Up and down Scott swears it's his "wagon buddy," but the detectives aren't having any of it.
So much pain in this book. This could be a deterrent for readers who struggle with or have fallen victim to bullying. The way Scott is treated from the very beginning is heart breaking. Instantly, you side with him and hope things'll get better for the young'n. There were times when you knew another wave of harassment was coming, and all I could do was brace for it and hope it wasn't too bad. Problem was, it was always worse than expected.
The premise itself is fantastic. You get a bullied kid who has an EXTREME ally. The levels of escalation felt, at times, disproportionate. Had it been one person that was acting this way, I would totally understand. But, the whole damn world was against Scott it seemed. Then again, we have to look at stories in their most extreme fashion. When things are bad, they are BAD. The good thing here, though, the tormentors always gets what's coming to them in spades.
Some things to note: I felt the dialogue was a bit rigid. Too literal at times, and not enough flow between characters.
Other than that, the story was enjoyable and I look forward to my next read from Steve.
Wagon Buddy kicks off right in the middle of things, where pro-tag Scott is cuffed and under investigation for the death of a woman. They've got him dead to rights - picture of him with the corpse in the back of a wagon, but they can't explain how he did it. Up and down Scott swears it's his "wagon buddy," but the detectives aren't having any of it.
So much pain in this book. This could be a deterrent for readers who struggle with or have fallen victim to bullying. The way Scott is treated from the very beginning is heart breaking. Instantly, you side with him and hope things'll get better for the young'n. There were times when you knew another wave of harassment was coming, and all I could do was brace for it and hope it wasn't too bad. Problem was, it was always worse than expected.
The premise itself is fantastic. You get a bullied kid who has an EXTREME ally. The levels of escalation felt, at times, disproportionate. Had it been one person that was acting this way, I would totally understand. But, the whole damn world was against Scott it seemed. Then again, we have to look at stories in their most extreme fashion. When things are bad, they are BAD. The good thing here, though, the tormentors always gets what's coming to them in spades.
Some things to note: I felt the dialogue was a bit rigid. Too literal at times, and not enough flow between characters.
Other than that, the story was enjoyable and I look forward to my next read from Steve.
September 18, 2018
WAGON BUDDY by Steve Stred is a 93 page novella that feels like a much bigger story. Steve has crafted a story that barrels along at break-neck speed. The tale follows Scott from childhood to adult life. Scott has a hard life, bullied as a child, unappreciated as an adult. But he has one thing that makes him feel better, his imaginary friend, his Wagon Buddy. The Wagon Buddy appears to Scott one day when he was young. A tale creature dressed in black with a mask covering his face. Through the years Scott's friend helps him with problems, but is he helping or plunging Scott into death and horror.
You should know going in that there is not much joy in this story. Scott is the target of some truly horrible bullies throughout his life. Fleeting happiness always gives way to despair. The only constant he has is his Wagon Buddy. The author builds the whole story just around these two characters. Scott is just a normal kid trying to make it through school and later adult life. He is a very believable character and your heart breaks for him as you read. The creature is handled perfectly. He is given the smallest of back story, never revealing his true name or nature. Just happy to be Scott's Wagon Buddy. The author does not hold back on the blood and gore, but does not saturate the story with it.
If there is one complaint I have about WAGON BUDDY, is that it was over too soon. I wanted the story to continue. Hopefully Steve will revisit these characters again.
You should know going in that there is not much joy in this story. Scott is the target of some truly horrible bullies throughout his life. Fleeting happiness always gives way to despair. The only constant he has is his Wagon Buddy. The author builds the whole story just around these two characters. Scott is just a normal kid trying to make it through school and later adult life. He is a very believable character and your heart breaks for him as you read. The creature is handled perfectly. He is given the smallest of back story, never revealing his true name or nature. Just happy to be Scott's Wagon Buddy. The author does not hold back on the blood and gore, but does not saturate the story with it.
If there is one complaint I have about WAGON BUDDY, is that it was over too soon. I wanted the story to continue. Hopefully Steve will revisit these characters again.
October 21, 2018
3.49/5. First, thank you to the author for a free copy of this book. I enjoyed this quick, imaginative read. In it, we follow the protagonist in a tumultuous coming of age tale. Plenty of creepiness is abound and some of the more intense scenes had a bit of a comedic element for me. But maybe that's my sick sense of humor coming out.
So, why not a higher rating? Well, I felt the book was a bit monotonous. I kind of knew how every scene was going to conclude. Lather, rinse, repeat. And there are some parts that could benefit from some editing. But overall, a good read.
I look forward to checking out more titles from this author!
So, why not a higher rating? Well, I felt the book was a bit monotonous. I kind of knew how every scene was going to conclude. Lather, rinse, repeat. And there are some parts that could benefit from some editing. But overall, a good read.
I look forward to checking out more titles from this author!
March 6, 2019
First off, this was a very unusual read. I didn’t know when to cringe, laugh or throw the book across the room while yelling “NO” at the same time. Scott is a lonely child. No father figure and haggard mother. He’s a target of bullying so extreme it makes you cry! He is befriended by a lonely creature that becomes his friend, protector and father figure, kind of like if your Dad was the Grim Reaper! No spoilers but when Scott gets arrested for a murder he didn’t commit his story all comes out. I think this was meant to be a lively read as the characters aren’t very deep emotionally and that works for this genre. I highly recommended for anyone that likes different and weird! I know you do! Enjoy!
April 20, 2019
I enjoyed this quick read by Steve Stred. To me, it felt larger than 93 pages. This is because you get a robust back story about the main character's childhood, coupled in with what is actually happening now. There is also an element of mystery around what this wagon buddy really is, which made me to want to know more about it/them. Even if I never find out, I will say that I would love to have my own wagon buddy, so someone please tell me how to get one!
August 10, 2024
CW: alcoholism, bullying, death of parent, infidelity, miscarriage
Aside from some minor misspellings, this novella is perfect. Scott has a friend he at first believes is imaginary, until his friend proves to be real after everyone who bullies him disappears. This is now on my list of favorite books. I would recommend this to readers who like horror and the book Frankenstein. :)
Aside from some minor misspellings, this novella is perfect. Scott has a friend he at first believes is imaginary, until his friend proves to be real after everyone who bullies him disappears. This is now on my list of favorite books. I would recommend this to readers who like horror and the book Frankenstein. :)
September 15, 2018
This takes having an imaginary friend to a whole different level!! Wow!! Add issues of extreme bullying to the mix. It’s disturbing that the wagon we all associate with childhood ends being tied up with the creature! Great ideas!! I’ll never look at a child’s wagon the same way again!!
July 14, 2023
Short fun read. We all need a wagon buddy!!
Whenever I read a Stred book I immediately want to read two more!
Whenever I read a Stred book I immediately want to read two more!
September 30, 2018
Loved it!
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