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Tar
Brendan Cobb calls it tar, but there might be as many names for it as cities left standing.
To some, it’s known as filth, or blight. Others call it the Black God in reverential whispers. Whatever name it takes, the effects are the same. Cities left in ruins. People turned into monsters. Living infections with no known cure. The best anyone can do is avoid it, but even that gets harder the more it spreads.
Brendan survives this waking nightmare by trading salvage for shelter and for repairs to his cybernetic arm, until a newcomer arrives, convinced Brendan is the key to ridding the world of tar once and for all. Reluctantly, Brendan and his mechanic join the newcomer on a journey across the desolate highways of a ruined world, where he learns the true history of the tar…and of the dark power inside him, which grows stronger every day.
To some, it’s known as filth, or blight. Others call it the Black God in reverential whispers. Whatever name it takes, the effects are the same. Cities left in ruins. People turned into monsters. Living infections with no known cure. The best anyone can do is avoid it, but even that gets harder the more it spreads.
Brendan survives this waking nightmare by trading salvage for shelter and for repairs to his cybernetic arm, until a newcomer arrives, convinced Brendan is the key to ridding the world of tar once and for all. Reluctantly, Brendan and his mechanic join the newcomer on a journey across the desolate highways of a ruined world, where he learns the true history of the tar…and of the dark power inside him, which grows stronger every day.
487 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 27, 2018
5 people are currently reading
82 people want to read
About the author
Taylor Hohulin
10 books95 followersTaylor has worked in the Christian radio industry since 2008, in roles ranging from on-air personality to webmaster. Currently, he is a morning show host in West Des Moines, Iowa, where he lives with with his wife, his cat, and his dog. He has lost track of the number of times he's eaten a whole sleeve of Oreos.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
November 29, 2018
Something other worldly has taken over the world and infecting anyone it comes in contact with. If you want to live then don’t go out at night. Why? Well that is when the Tar comes out to play and destroys anything and everything it touches. During the day humans go out in search of food or whatever they can find so that they can trade it for a place to sleep at night.
Brendon Cobb just may be the key to the whole thing. Brendon just may be the one to stop the Tar or so that is what this new guy who just showed up out of nowhere has informed him.
Samuel tells Brendon that he has these special powers and that he can save the world from the Tar. Samuel wants Brendan to go with him so he can help him to learn to use his powers and stop the Tar but Brendon is not sure he can trust him or not. When his friend Krystal hears what Samuel has to say she decides that she wants to go along as well. Brendon figures he doesn’t have much choice but to tag along now.
Tar was unlike any book I have read before. The world building was phenomenal. Tar was a very intense read that kept me turning the pages. It has action from beginning to end. I kept waiting to see how the Tar would appear next and what damage it would create. Brendon kept me on my toes as well wanting to know what he was going to do next.
If you are looking for something a little different in the horror or post-apocalyptic world then Tar is the book for you. Give it a try. I recommend it.
Brendon Cobb just may be the key to the whole thing. Brendon just may be the one to stop the Tar or so that is what this new guy who just showed up out of nowhere has informed him.
Samuel tells Brendon that he has these special powers and that he can save the world from the Tar. Samuel wants Brendan to go with him so he can help him to learn to use his powers and stop the Tar but Brendon is not sure he can trust him or not. When his friend Krystal hears what Samuel has to say she decides that she wants to go along as well. Brendon figures he doesn’t have much choice but to tag along now.
Tar was unlike any book I have read before. The world building was phenomenal. Tar was a very intense read that kept me turning the pages. It has action from beginning to end. I kept waiting to see how the Tar would appear next and what damage it would create. Brendon kept me on my toes as well wanting to know what he was going to do next.
If you are looking for something a little different in the horror or post-apocalyptic world then Tar is the book for you. Give it a try. I recommend it.
December 12, 2018
For as long as Brendan has been alive, there has been tar in the world. Tar infiltrated the world as an infection that took over the bodies of people who got too close to it. Tar attacks the body by hollowing out the insides and replacing blood with blight. There is no cure. Brendan has managed to survive as a salvager, trading his finds for a fitful night of rest in one of the converted hotels that offer safe shelter. The only protection from tar is to stay away from it and those infected, but as easy hauls dwindle in Brendan's town of Newhaven he must venture to new places and take more risks. Brendan has never known a world without tar and he has become very good at avoiding it, until one day when another gang of salvagers bumps into him. That same day, Brendan runs into another stranger who believes that Brendan is the key to ridding the world of every last speck of tar. If Brendan believes this stranger and goes with him on this quest, would he be better off without a world of tar?
Every book I've read by Taylor Hohulin is better than the last. The writing style sucks you into the first page. Being thrust into the middle of an action sequence keeps you reading past the first page. The world Hohulin has built keeps you reading through to the end of the first chapter. By then you are hooked and you haven't even gotten to the good part yet.
The three main characters were fully developed and had such distinct personalities and backstories. They all felt so alive and real. Brendan does everything he can to stay alive down to the careful skepticism of every stranger, acquaintance and even friend. He doesn't let down his guard. Almost all his actions are propelled by his strong will to survive. He is one of the most selfish people you will read about. Hohulin cleverly builds Brendan's character throughout the book, showing us just how far he will go to survive and then puts Brendan into a position where he will have to make a difficult choice. Is there an alternative? Can Brendan make this kind of decision? As a reader, I was so hopelessly obsessed with Brendan and the way he approached the apocalyptic world he lives in, that I finished this book in less than two days.
I loved Krystal! She was the empathetic do-gooder who was easily taken advantage of, always looking for the good in people. And yet, years and years after the apocalypse, she still survives. She is the opposite of Brendan in so many ways and yet they are friends. She is smart and tech-savvy but also the voice of reason and humanity for Brendan. Will she be able to influence him enough that he can set aside his own will to survive and help others or will he finally prove to her that the world is a terrible place?
What is tar? It is more than a simple alien substance. It creates the worst monsters out of people. It is a substance that zombifies its host, but also sticks to inanimate objects, waiting for any victim to walk too close.
Every book I've read by Taylor Hohulin is better than the last. The writing style sucks you into the first page. Being thrust into the middle of an action sequence keeps you reading past the first page. The world Hohulin has built keeps you reading through to the end of the first chapter. By then you are hooked and you haven't even gotten to the good part yet.
The three main characters were fully developed and had such distinct personalities and backstories. They all felt so alive and real. Brendan does everything he can to stay alive down to the careful skepticism of every stranger, acquaintance and even friend. He doesn't let down his guard. Almost all his actions are propelled by his strong will to survive. He is one of the most selfish people you will read about. Hohulin cleverly builds Brendan's character throughout the book, showing us just how far he will go to survive and then puts Brendan into a position where he will have to make a difficult choice. Is there an alternative? Can Brendan make this kind of decision? As a reader, I was so hopelessly obsessed with Brendan and the way he approached the apocalyptic world he lives in, that I finished this book in less than two days.
I loved Krystal! She was the empathetic do-gooder who was easily taken advantage of, always looking for the good in people. And yet, years and years after the apocalypse, she still survives. She is the opposite of Brendan in so many ways and yet they are friends. She is smart and tech-savvy but also the voice of reason and humanity for Brendan. Will she be able to influence him enough that he can set aside his own will to survive and help others or will he finally prove to her that the world is a terrible place?
What is tar? It is more than a simple alien substance. It creates the worst monsters out of people. It is a substance that zombifies its host, but also sticks to inanimate objects, waiting for any victim to walk too close.
January 26, 2019
Read this review and more on my blog at [Roxie Writes].
‘Tar’ by Taylor Hohulin
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5
Finished on January 23, 2019
$3.99 on Kindle | $14.99 in Paperback
BOOK DESCRIPTION:
The survivors in Newhaven call it tar, but others call it blight, filth, or the Black God. It’s all the same, though, and it’s decimated the world. It creeps through every crack and crevice, and if it gets into you, you become a monster. The more it spreads, the harder it becomes to avoid it.
The tar has been around for as long as Brendan Cobb can remember. He’s managed to survive by looking out only for himself. He salvages supplies in exchange for a place to sleep and for repairs to his cybernetic arm. The only friend he has in the world is the mechanic who fixes him, Krystal, but even she is only a means to an end to Brendan.
A mysterious man arrives in Newhaven. He claims to know how to stop the tar for good, but Brendan’s help is required. Reluctantly, he and Krystal join in the old man’s quest. Along the way, he learns the truth about the tar — and about himself. Can Brendan put aside his own survival in order to save others or will his newfound power and inherent selfishness come out on top?
MY REVIEW:
‘Tar’ melds monsters, magic, cybernetics, and the apocalypse into one fast-paced and fun novel. It seems like an odd combination but, somehow, Hohulin has brought it together to create a spellbinding end of the world scenario.
I don’t think I’ve ever read another book quite like ‘Tar’.
Parts of this book are so vivid that it’s easy to see this as a movie. Hohulin describes scenes in a simple yet effective way that make it impossible not to envision Brendan Cobb’s world. The upside-down castle is the best example. Despite it being an impossibility, I could see it. Really see it, and it was delightful.
Brendan is a hard character to like, but he’s real. He is selfish and relatively short-sighted, but in the world he’s grown up in, it would be hard to hold onto your humanity. He’s a bit of an antihero or, if failing that, he’s certainly a reluctant hero.
In my opinion, Krystal is the real heroine of this story. She keeps Brendan on the ground and reminds him of his humanity. Without her, he surely would have made different decisions.
I half-expected Brendan and Krystal’s story to become a romantic one, so I was delighted when I was wrong. If it had, I think it would have been a less powerful tale.
Pick this up. It’ll surprise you, I think.
‘Tar’ by Taylor Hohulin
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5
Finished on January 23, 2019
$3.99 on Kindle | $14.99 in Paperback
BOOK DESCRIPTION:
The survivors in Newhaven call it tar, but others call it blight, filth, or the Black God. It’s all the same, though, and it’s decimated the world. It creeps through every crack and crevice, and if it gets into you, you become a monster. The more it spreads, the harder it becomes to avoid it.
The tar has been around for as long as Brendan Cobb can remember. He’s managed to survive by looking out only for himself. He salvages supplies in exchange for a place to sleep and for repairs to his cybernetic arm. The only friend he has in the world is the mechanic who fixes him, Krystal, but even she is only a means to an end to Brendan.
A mysterious man arrives in Newhaven. He claims to know how to stop the tar for good, but Brendan’s help is required. Reluctantly, he and Krystal join in the old man’s quest. Along the way, he learns the truth about the tar — and about himself. Can Brendan put aside his own survival in order to save others or will his newfound power and inherent selfishness come out on top?
MY REVIEW:
‘Tar’ melds monsters, magic, cybernetics, and the apocalypse into one fast-paced and fun novel. It seems like an odd combination but, somehow, Hohulin has brought it together to create a spellbinding end of the world scenario.
I don’t think I’ve ever read another book quite like ‘Tar’.
Parts of this book are so vivid that it’s easy to see this as a movie. Hohulin describes scenes in a simple yet effective way that make it impossible not to envision Brendan Cobb’s world. The upside-down castle is the best example. Despite it being an impossibility, I could see it. Really see it, and it was delightful.
Brendan is a hard character to like, but he’s real. He is selfish and relatively short-sighted, but in the world he’s grown up in, it would be hard to hold onto your humanity. He’s a bit of an antihero or, if failing that, he’s certainly a reluctant hero.
In my opinion, Krystal is the real heroine of this story. She keeps Brendan on the ground and reminds him of his humanity. Without her, he surely would have made different decisions.
I half-expected Brendan and Krystal’s story to become a romantic one, so I was delighted when I was wrong. If it had, I think it would have been a less powerful tale.
Pick this up. It’ll surprise you, I think.
December 27, 2019
Preface: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book was delightfully weird. It's a mash-up of sci fi, post apoc, and...wizard fantasy, of all things. Merlin is a freakin' character in this book about black goop eating people with robot arms, and if that isn't delightful, I don't know what is.
It's also an interesting character study. Our main character, Brendan (Brenden?), does some pretty heinous things in the beginning, just to stay alive. He continually battles his own selfishness and hunger for power throughout the story. I honestly wasn't sure at certain points in the novel which way he would end up going - if we were reading his redemption arc, or his path to villainy. And, of course, there was no sure sign that he would survive either route, let alone any of the other characters. Krystal in particular I 100% expected to end up dead (a female POC? Of course she's getting fridged) but I was pleasantly surprised.
Most of the novel ends up being a sort of road trip story. In a lot of these, you can end up with a problem where the characters encounter problems and weird situations just to break up the monotony of travel, but that wasn't the case here. Every encounter built upon the central themes of the story, and helped further Brendan's character. It was almost like every scene had a clear point and precise reason for existing, which honestly isn't something I'm used to from self-published authors. It was nice.
My one critique lies in the character of Alicia, a little girl with superpowers of some sort who crops up throughout. Unfortunately, she is by and large simply a plot device, a mini deus ex machina who shows up whenever Brenden needs to level up, so to speak. Apparently she's part of her own book series, but she really doesn't fit in here. I think the novel would have been stronger if Brendan had to unlock his powers himself instead of just conveniently gaining them (and general insight) as the plot demanded.
Overall, though, this book was a lot of (depressing) fun. I'd definitely recommend it to anyone with a post apoc/sci-fi bent, as long as they're okay with some wizardry being thrown in.
This book was delightfully weird. It's a mash-up of sci fi, post apoc, and...wizard fantasy, of all things. Merlin is a freakin' character in this book about black goop eating people with robot arms, and if that isn't delightful, I don't know what is.
It's also an interesting character study. Our main character, Brendan (Brenden?), does some pretty heinous things in the beginning, just to stay alive. He continually battles his own selfishness and hunger for power throughout the story. I honestly wasn't sure at certain points in the novel which way he would end up going - if we were reading his redemption arc, or his path to villainy. And, of course, there was no sure sign that he would survive either route, let alone any of the other characters. Krystal in particular I 100% expected to end up dead (a female POC? Of course she's getting fridged) but I was pleasantly surprised.
Most of the novel ends up being a sort of road trip story. In a lot of these, you can end up with a problem where the characters encounter problems and weird situations just to break up the monotony of travel, but that wasn't the case here. Every encounter built upon the central themes of the story, and helped further Brendan's character. It was almost like every scene had a clear point and precise reason for existing, which honestly isn't something I'm used to from self-published authors. It was nice.
My one critique lies in the character of Alicia, a little girl with superpowers of some sort who crops up throughout. Unfortunately, she is by and large simply a plot device, a mini deus ex machina who shows up whenever Brenden needs to level up, so to speak. Apparently she's part of her own book series, but she really doesn't fit in here. I think the novel would have been stronger if Brendan had to unlock his powers himself instead of just conveniently gaining them (and general insight) as the plot demanded.
Overall, though, this book was a lot of (depressing) fun. I'd definitely recommend it to anyone with a post apoc/sci-fi bent, as long as they're okay with some wizardry being thrown in.
May 22, 2019
From the beginning of the novel, I was hooked.
TAR is an enthralling story about, essentially, a young man being forced into a road trip with his best friend and a wizard with a shotgun to save the world. But Brendan Cobb isn't sure he's the man for the job. Along the way, the group encounters the effects of the horrifying TAR, as well as the deranged and dangerous people left in its wake.
There are so many fantastic elements woven together in this novel and they all work: steampunk cybernetics, magic, adventure, and a morally ambiguous protagonist that makes you cheer him on in one breath then curse him in the next.
Taylor has a great ability to keep the action creative and breathtaking while still weaving complex and believable characters we can't help but care about. HIGHLY recommend this novel!
TAR is an enthralling story about, essentially, a young man being forced into a road trip with his best friend and a wizard with a shotgun to save the world. But Brendan Cobb isn't sure he's the man for the job. Along the way, the group encounters the effects of the horrifying TAR, as well as the deranged and dangerous people left in its wake.
There are so many fantastic elements woven together in this novel and they all work: steampunk cybernetics, magic, adventure, and a morally ambiguous protagonist that makes you cheer him on in one breath then curse him in the next.
Taylor has a great ability to keep the action creative and breathtaking while still weaving complex and believable characters we can't help but care about. HIGHLY recommend this novel!
April 8, 2019
I can honestly say that I did not really expect to like this book! Even when I first started it, I was unsure if I would be bale to get into it. Then... it sucked me right in!
Brendan's personality s hard to like but you also don't hate him. I found myself getting frustrated with some of his choices yet also feeling like I might make the same choices at times! Krystal is definitely my favorite character in this story. In my opinion, she makes the book!
Tar is definitely not like any book I have ever read before. I highly recommend it! I can see this as a movie, for sure! I know would watch it!
*Note: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Brendan's personality s hard to like but you also don't hate him. I found myself getting frustrated with some of his choices yet also feeling like I might make the same choices at times! Krystal is definitely my favorite character in this story. In my opinion, she makes the book!
Tar is definitely not like any book I have ever read before. I highly recommend it! I can see this as a movie, for sure! I know would watch it!
*Note: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
October 26, 2019
I received this book free as an ARC reader for review.
Do you ever get to the end of a book and say out loud “oh thank God I’m done!“? This was one of those books for me.
I really liked the first 40 or 50 pages. It’s full of people with bio-mechanical mods living in a post-apocalyptic world full of danger. But, then things got really weird. It turned into a combination of mad Max, the blob, Stranger Things, and Star Wars. Not only did none of it feel original, but it was written in a two dimensional, over simplistic form that was so brain numbing that I ended up skimming sections just to get through the whole thing.
Do you ever get to the end of a book and say out loud “oh thank God I’m done!“? This was one of those books for me.
I really liked the first 40 or 50 pages. It’s full of people with bio-mechanical mods living in a post-apocalyptic world full of danger. But, then things got really weird. It turned into a combination of mad Max, the blob, Stranger Things, and Star Wars. Not only did none of it feel original, but it was written in a two dimensional, over simplistic form that was so brain numbing that I ended up skimming sections just to get through the whole thing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 24, 2019
Oh my!
I read this book today. All of it, today.
I'll be honest. When I started, I wasn't sure what to think, but I'm so glad I kept reading! This book has everything. Wizards, monsters, a world ending plague. What more can you ask for? The book is well written and the story is interesting. I found it a little slow to start, but seriously, keep reading. By the end, I was afraid for these characters, I worried about them, and it takes a good author to d do that.
Totally worth it.
I read this book today. All of it, today.
I'll be honest. When I started, I wasn't sure what to think, but I'm so glad I kept reading! This book has everything. Wizards, monsters, a world ending plague. What more can you ask for? The book is well written and the story is interesting. I found it a little slow to start, but seriously, keep reading. By the end, I was afraid for these characters, I worried about them, and it takes a good author to d do that.
Totally worth it.
June 3, 2019
Tar is Epic
Taylor has really outdone himself with this epic tale. One of the most important things I need when I read a book...need, to rate it five stars...is that I hate to put it down (to sleep, eat, work, whatever is pulling me away). I always hated to put Tar down, and I thought about it when I wasn’t reading it; wondering what was coming next, mulling over scenes I’d already read. Taylor’s writing just gets better and more compelling with every tale he tells. I am so looking forward to the next one.
Taylor has really outdone himself with this epic tale. One of the most important things I need when I read a book...need, to rate it five stars...is that I hate to put it down (to sleep, eat, work, whatever is pulling me away). I always hated to put Tar down, and I thought about it when I wasn’t reading it; wondering what was coming next, mulling over scenes I’d already read. Taylor’s writing just gets better and more compelling with every tale he tells. I am so looking forward to the next one.
September 29, 2019
Interesting story
I found Tar by Hohulin to be an interesting, post-apocalyptic story. I think this story was a mix between sci-fi and futuristic fantasy. The characters had a great range, including monsters and wizards. This is the first book of this author's that I've read, and I really enjoyed the read. The plot was well-thought out, and the characters reacted and acted based on their environment and surroundings. I liked the story, and I look forward to reading more by this author. This book is recommended by Amy's Bookshelf Reviews.
I found Tar by Hohulin to be an interesting, post-apocalyptic story. I think this story was a mix between sci-fi and futuristic fantasy. The characters had a great range, including monsters and wizards. This is the first book of this author's that I've read, and I really enjoyed the read. The plot was well-thought out, and the characters reacted and acted based on their environment and surroundings. I liked the story, and I look forward to reading more by this author. This book is recommended by Amy's Bookshelf Reviews.
January 24, 2020
A truly a new apocalyptic story. A page turner and a must read.
April 17, 2022
Read: April 17, 2022; December 18, 2020.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews