Mayhem

by Michael Molisani

Apocalypse is only a temporary setback.

After the Collapse, chaos swept the world. Cities burned and flesh was sacrificed on an altar of wholesale rage. Out of that bloody and ashen swamp rose new powers. City states and whole nations, adapted to a world where magic is real, ghosts whisper, and ancient gods lust. This is a salacious world, infested with malignity and apotheosis.

The Bruja's adopted daughter lives on. Lady Mayhem, nightmare mirror of the Antecedency. As Mayhem prepares to retire, she is pulled into a gossamer conspiracy of enigmatic gods and flawed mortals. The balance of power twists, shrouding enemies. Mayhem is forced to unravel treacheries and bargains. But first, the Antecedent battlewitch must come to terms with her own monsters. These fearsome creatures do not wear scales or growl in shadow, however. They are creations of the Collapse, trauma beyond imagination.

In this highly anticipated sequel to 2018's breakout hit, "The Bruja," Michael Molisani returns you to the Collapse with a riveting tale of horror, intrigue, and lascivious brutality.

525 pages, Paperback

First published April 19, 209

About the author

Michael Molisani has had a mind full of terrible horror and bewildering beauty his entire life. Unable to exorcise these visions of worlds beyond imagining, he set out to become a writer. Having no idea what a terrible decision this was, he soon went mad, burrowing into the unspoken mysteries of how to tell a story worth reading in a style both pleasing and entertaining. When he’s not hard at work writing, Michael Molisani can be found falling backward in time on the sidewalks of Virginia City, Nevada; or exploring the remote mysteries of The Great Basin. Michael and his wife, Kimberly, reside in Northern Nevada.

Reviews

[Payal Sinha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mayhem is a beautiful story centered around a strong central character of a witch. Margaret or Mayy is an emphatic witch who is essentially a loner and manages to heal everyone she touches. Mayy is in her forties but has the favors of Aphrodite (a Goddess who dresses in an improper manner and smokes an inextinguishable cigarette), hence, she looks as young as ever. Although connected with the prestigious Lopez clan, she neither receives any special attention from her family nor does she inherits their cruelty and ambition. In fact, right at the prime of her age, she is ready to retire and enjoy the beauties of life. However, life has much in store for her and she embarks on the most challenging phase of her life.
Mayhem is a highly interesting book, yet, I believe that its cover and its synopsis do not fully credit to the story. Mayy is the first great heroine that I have come across in a long time and she leaves a deep imprint on my mind.

[Michellej · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Mayhem” is a gritty and explosive story all about dark magic and witchery mixed in with an epic family battle. There are vivid and graphic descriptions that make this story so intense and realistic. This is an example – “Her eyes; however, were not eyes. Her eyes were the ocean, windows to a clear, blue sea, waves rippling, hinting at unfathomable depths. Margaret could have sworn she heard the cries of seagulls and water lapping at rocks out of sight, lulling her into an uneasy calm.”
The central figure – Margaret – is powerful while at the same time showing compassion and understanding. She can probe minds and emotions and is able to sooth persons. Her start in life was as an unloved and abused girl which is very graphically described. This horror story is fast-paced and holds your interest and never let it go.

[Jimmy Jefferson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A post apocalypse story of horror from the Bruja

This horror story comes straight out of the post apocalypse world and drags you into this brutal journey through magic and ghosts. The story of lady mayhem and the twisted world that she lives in will scare you right down to your toes.
I found this story to be addicting and the characters to be developed and believable. It is easy to relate to at least one of the characters in this horrific misadventure. I found myself wanting to see what happens next and finished the book in a short time. If you live for the horror and mystical style of stories , this one will be most enjoyable to you. Check out the story and let me know your thoughts.

[Mark Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Michael Molisanl’s new horror/fantasy novel is a great read for any avid reader. While the content is often difficult to read (too much description), the author does a great job painting a picture. Reader’s will easily visualize the location and characters. Not to mention, Molisonl hits the mark with his premise and hero’s journey. The only negative worth mentioning is the graphic content. This book isn’t for the weak of heart or young readers.

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

For a sequel, this story does tie very well with the “The Bruja” as it is filled to the brim with as much magic as there are horror and violence. The best part for me is the power struggle between family members, the politics of leadership in a post-apocalyptic setting. I did find most parts to be too intense for my liking but I appreciate that these are what makes this a top notch horror story. Cannot recommend this book to young readers as the themes discussed may be way too dark and not age appropriate. The cover art is really cool though, very reminiscent of heavy metal album covers.

[Rachel Bird · Rating 3 out of 5]

This novel merges fantasy and horror elements, telling the story of Mayhem, a battlewitch caught up in a fantastical struggle for power that involves many members of her dysfunctional family. There are a lot of interesting details included in descriptions of the setting and character relationships, making it clear the author has considered the story world’s history and culture in depth. Luckily for fans of this novel, the author is penning further works set in the same story world, providing further insight into some of the characters featured in Mayhem. I found the depiction of the lead character Mayhem as a battlewitch novel and surprising, as I’d never read a book in which witchcraft was positioned in this kind of military context before. An aspect of the novel I really appreciated was just how many female characters play a dominant role in the plot, both as allies and adversaries (and sometimes both) to Mayhem. Just as a note, due to the sexual content and intensity of violence depicted in Mayhem, this novel would likely be an unsuitable pick if you’re shopping for a young fantasy reader or you're someone who finds such content offensive.

[Johnathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book

I love a well told story with places and ideas that make me relaxe
I have fun when the the people just seem to gut go and react the same ways I would. I love the feeling it give when it's like putting on a favorite item. It just make you feel ..
...

[Jessica · Rating 2 out of 5]

I kind of went through phases with this novel.
I found it hard to get into. At the very beginning, it seemed like a sci fi/fantasy/erotica story, and I did not see any of the horror elements. I also did not feel connected to any of the characters.
The story began to capture my interest with the introduction of Aurora and Ramona. I liked the character of Ramona. There was also a change in the narrative style once Margaret was interacting with a character that she was not immediately being aggressive with. It seemed like there was more cohesive storytelling happening between these two.
The overuse of italics was very distracting and actually took me out of the story quite a bit. I also found the defensive disclaimer about typos in the introduction rather odd.

[Pegboard · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are horror novels you can read then put down, then there is Mayhem by Michael Molisani. Not only can you not put this book down, but you feel as if your fears where written for all to see and feast upon. I take horror novels personally and with the intense action and descriptive details in the heroine’s life, this novel was powerful. There is much opposition as Mayhem faces her monsters and family members.
 
Mayhem is an extreme horror as Michael Molisani conveys the battles Lady Mayhem faces during post apocalypse. The pace is fast though the scenes are descriptive. This is a blend of dark fantasy and erotica fiction. If the author’s goal was to scare his readers, he has my vote. Horror fans will enjoy this novel.