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The Uncanny Ink #5
Bad Thoughts
Tough as nails and sharp as barbed wire, Erin Banks has seen it all and kicked most of it in the teeth. Surely there can’t be anything left in the Uncanny Kingdom that scares her?
The magical tattoos etched into Erin’s flesh give her strength, speed, and the ability to survive damage that would kill any normal person. But they come at a price. Wearing them is painful, and the deeper Erin buries herself in her work, the steeper the toll they take on her body and mind.
Her friends tell her to rest, but how can she when the demonic Long Man is dangling another carrot in front of her, another clue to her brother’s disappearance? She’s so close. Erin has no choice but to do as the demon asks, power through the pain, and uncover the truth that’s haunted her all of her life.
Only there’s another problem. A problem beyond the physical toll of her tattoos. When Erin was a child, she used to have nightmares about a monster called Uncle Scritch-Scratch. Just her childhood bogeyman, that’s all, he was never real. Except now she’s started to see him again, in the flesh, and he’s doing everything he can to scare her to death.
Is Uncle Scritch-Scratch a figment of Erin’s fevered imagination? Is his sudden reappearance a consequence of her tattoos, warping not just her body but her mind, or is the bogeyman real after all? More to the point, will Erin survive long enough to find out, or will this be the monster that finally breaks her?
Magic, scares, and acid-tongued snark collide in this thrilling urban fantasy series set in the Uncanny Kingdom. Buried secrets and whiplash twists will keep you riding the edge of your seat. Read Bad Thoughts now for a pulse-pounding tale you won’t be able to put down.- GenresFantasy
192 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 13, 2018
17 people are currently reading
30 people want to read
About the author
David Bussell
37 books180 followersDavid Bussell is a best-selling British author renowned for his contributions to the urban fantasy genre. He is the co-creator of the Uncanny Kingdom, a series that explores a secret Britain teeming with paranormal suspense stories. His notable works include the "Spectral Detective" series. David's writing prowess has been recognized with the P.G. Wodehouse New Comic Writer Award. Beyond his literary achievements, he is an avid fencer, a lover of synthwave music, and a committed comic book fan.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
December 13, 2018
Bad Thoughts, great read.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review and holy booya, this is one mind trip of a ride I am glad I took!
The toll of messing in Uncanny business is steeper than ever for Erin in this action-fueled tale. Emotions and mystery run high, creating some very memorable and humorous situations that helped pull me quickly into the story. I cant wait for the next book!!!
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review and holy booya, this is one mind trip of a ride I am glad I took!
The toll of messing in Uncanny business is steeper than ever for Erin in this action-fueled tale. Emotions and mystery run high, creating some very memorable and humorous situations that helped pull me quickly into the story. I cant wait for the next book!!!
December 9, 2018
Haunted by her childhood nightmares, she thinks she's losing her mind
Erin is in the wars again. On another mission for the Long Man, she travels to Blackpool and guess who she sees there? If you've read all of David and Matt's other books set in the Uncanny Kingdom, that question is a no-brainer. If you haven't, what's wrong with you? Broken bones and one game of chicken later, Erin has completed part one of her mission and is on her way back to Brighton to get paid. I know I'm a bit of a freak but oh, how I love the Long Man. There's just something about him that makes me go all gooey when he's gazing adoringly at his twisted forest. I'm also strangely fond of Gerald.
Things go downhill for Erin in this book as her childhood nightmare returns to haunt her waking hours. Her tattoos were already taking a massive toll on her health and strength, and now her mind may be playing tricks on her as she sees a dead man in her local pub. Has she lost the plot or is there something far more insidious going on? Her friend Parker and her cousin Lana are both worried about her but she refuses to slow down until she has finished the Long Man's mission. Erin may be her own worst enemy but in this story, it is hard to tell who are enemies and who are friends. Her motto is probably "Never do anyone a good turn because it's bound to come back and bite you on the arse" and never a truer word would be spoken.
David and Matt seamlessly weave characters from the earlier books, as well as cross-over characters from the Uncanny Kingdom canon, into this book to great effect. I love the cameos and every single one just makes me wish for more books about all these characters, new and old. There is so much potential in the Uncanny Kingdom that it would be possible for David and Matt to write about nothing else (I hope) because their characters are so much fun (when they're not scaring the pants off me).
I am looking forward to Bad Memories and hope that it will not be the last we see of the sarky, scruffy, shit-kicking Erin.
Erin is in the wars again. On another mission for the Long Man, she travels to Blackpool and guess who she sees there? If you've read all of David and Matt's other books set in the Uncanny Kingdom, that question is a no-brainer. If you haven't, what's wrong with you? Broken bones and one game of chicken later, Erin has completed part one of her mission and is on her way back to Brighton to get paid. I know I'm a bit of a freak but oh, how I love the Long Man. There's just something about him that makes me go all gooey when he's gazing adoringly at his twisted forest. I'm also strangely fond of Gerald.
Things go downhill for Erin in this book as her childhood nightmare returns to haunt her waking hours. Her tattoos were already taking a massive toll on her health and strength, and now her mind may be playing tricks on her as she sees a dead man in her local pub. Has she lost the plot or is there something far more insidious going on? Her friend Parker and her cousin Lana are both worried about her but she refuses to slow down until she has finished the Long Man's mission. Erin may be her own worst enemy but in this story, it is hard to tell who are enemies and who are friends. Her motto is probably "Never do anyone a good turn because it's bound to come back and bite you on the arse" and never a truer word would be spoken.
David and Matt seamlessly weave characters from the earlier books, as well as cross-over characters from the Uncanny Kingdom canon, into this book to great effect. I love the cameos and every single one just makes me wish for more books about all these characters, new and old. There is so much potential in the Uncanny Kingdom that it would be possible for David and Matt to write about nothing else (I hope) because their characters are so much fun (when they're not scaring the pants off me).
I am looking forward to Bad Memories and hope that it will not be the last we see of the sarky, scruffy, shit-kicking Erin.
December 14, 2018
The dream team of David Bussell and MV Stott are back again with Bad Thoughts, book 5 in their The Uncanny Ink series. Fans of their several separately written series set in their shared Uncanny Kingdom urban fantasy universe can rejoice as there are fun cameos as this series weaves interacts with the others. Newcomers need not worry, however, as you’ll not even realize when this will be done, and Erin Banks is such a fascinatingly fantastic character, and this book is so well done, that it’s easily worth five stars on its own. Having said that, your enjoyment will certainly be boosted by starting with book 1 in this series - and either when you eventually (addictively, I promise) finish this series, or before you turn to it, trust me that you’ll love the other tales of the Uncanny Universe either of these masters has penned (or, err, more likely has typed). But for the fact that I’m literally dictating this review to my husband from my hospital bed I could go on and on with praises - the book definitely deserves it. Since I can’t do that I will simply note that the book is most definitely one to read, it is easy to highly recommend. I’m definitely looking forward to Bad Memories, the next book in this series.
December 13, 2018
Being a normal covered in magical tattoos is not something that will end well, Erin finds that out the hard way. With her mind messing with her senses and a job for the Long Man (who has the most bizarre doorway I have ever come across) Erin has a battle on her hands.
Freaky, funny, twisted, I do love this series as Erin is so likeable in a weird way. It had me biting my nails and not wanting to put it down.
Freaky, funny, twisted, I do love this series as Erin is so likeable in a weird way. It had me biting my nails and not wanting to put it down.
September 7, 2023
Erin lives by burning the candle at both ends and its finally wearing her down. Her magic-enhancing tattoos are getting more painful, she's having flashbacks to childhood nightmares (or are they the real thing?) and she thinks she's going mad.
Everyone is worried about her, even Kirklander takes his mind out of the gutter for a while to note his concerns.
But the Long Man is dangling a very attractive carrot and Erin will move heaven and earth to get the information she needs from him. She's closer than every to finally discovering what happen to her brother.
As her world becomes stranger and stranger Erin is driven to the very edge of sanity.
But, she's always been a fighter and she just needs a target.
I really like the way in which the series, despite its very chaotic nature, never lets go of the overall story arc.
4 Stars.
Everyone is worried about her, even Kirklander takes his mind out of the gutter for a while to note his concerns.
But the Long Man is dangling a very attractive carrot and Erin will move heaven and earth to get the information she needs from him. She's closer than every to finally discovering what happen to her brother.
As her world becomes stranger and stranger Erin is driven to the very edge of sanity.
But, she's always been a fighter and she just needs a target.
I really like the way in which the series, despite its very chaotic nature, never lets go of the overall story arc.
4 Stars.
December 16, 2018
If you read Books 1-4, plus 'The Hexed Detective' and 'The Spectral Detective, you'll recognize the ghost and the red-headed axe wielder, and be pretty much up to speed for the start of this book. If you haven't read them yet, start there before reading Book 5. Erin gets a tip from Cupid, executes an assassination, takes a trip through Gerald to the Long Man, has an encounter with Sharez Jek (oops! mistaken identity), gets a visit from mum (oops! mistaken identity) - then things start getting bad - Uncle Scritch-Scratch returns to pay a visit. Things get really confusing for Erin for a while. Then an old acquaintance makes an appearance, things get clear, and we go for the exciting, violent climax.
January 22, 2019
Working for demons as a bounty hunter does not pay that well, especially since Erin wants her pay in erased memories. And she hasn't been giving her merely human body sufficient time to recover between gigs, which means her arcane tattoos are hurting enough to kill her all by themselves. On top of that, someone is messing with her mind, bringing nightmares to life, chipping away at her survival instinct itself.
But the moment Erin realizes it isn't all in her head, when she has a target for her rage, no hell is deep enough for her enemy to hide.
But the moment Erin realizes it isn't all in her head, when she has a target for her rage, no hell is deep enough for her enemy to hide.
March 28, 2021
Probably my favorite
This is actually better than most of the others in this series. You're constantly wondering if she's going crazy or is really haunted by the past and it was a trippy ride. For once she actually dealt with something and lost. I liked that. I don't know if I'm okay with them only now mentioning progress in finding her brother and I'm pretty sure I'm just gonna read what's available and then not read anymore until the rest is out.
The book finished at 83%. It's creepy. It's draining.
This is actually better than most of the others in this series. You're constantly wondering if she's going crazy or is really haunted by the past and it was a trippy ride. For once she actually dealt with something and lost. I liked that. I don't know if I'm okay with them only now mentioning progress in finding her brother and I'm pretty sure I'm just gonna read what's available and then not read anymore until the rest is out.
The book finished at 83%. It's creepy. It's draining.
February 2, 2019
Talk about intense poor Erin I really though she was for it I this book she's been through so much and I kinda feel like I've gone through it with her this series is amaze balls full of action lots of drama blood and sassy for good measure loved it
December 17, 2018
Erin Banks is one tough girl! A seriously action-packed book! This series has just gotten better and better! I can’t wait for what happens next!
January 6, 2019
Well this one I read from start to finish in a day, couldn’t put it down. Slightly different than the others but no less enjoyable. Erin sure is one mean dude. Highly recommended.
June 17, 2020
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Lots of action, full of dark suspense and humor. I complete end to the story with a can't wait for the next taste.
Lots of action, full of dark suspense and humor. I complete end to the story with a can't wait for the next taste.
December 31, 2021
Erin is a bad ass and her life the farthest thing from normal. Another excellent tale of another day in the life of Erin. Well done!
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews