What do you think?
Rate this book
The Fearing #1
Fire & Rain
John F.D. Taff's highly-anticipated epic supernatural thriller, The Fearing, begins with Book One: Fire & Rain where humanity faces a series of catastrophes spawned by a worldwide event that unleashes all of mankind's greatest fears.
In the American high desert, vacationers returning from a road trip are thrust into a heart-stopping flight from death as they try to avoid a cataclysmic end. In rural Missouri, the lives of a group of high school students are destroyed after their small town is devastated and they're forced to confront the end of everything they've ever known.
And on the eastern seaboard, there's someone else. An enigmatic man who thrives on despair and embraces all fear. A man with his own dark and sinister goals. Someone who wants to ensure humanity goes out with the biggest bang possible.
In the American high desert, vacationers returning from a road trip are thrust into a heart-stopping flight from death as they try to avoid a cataclysmic end. In rural Missouri, the lives of a group of high school students are destroyed after their small town is devastated and they're forced to confront the end of everything they've ever known.
And on the eastern seaboard, there's someone else. An enigmatic man who thrives on despair and embraces all fear. A man with his own dark and sinister goals. Someone who wants to ensure humanity goes out with the biggest bang possible.
110 pages, Paperback
First published July 9, 2019
30 people are currently reading
650 people want to read
About the author
John F.D. Taff
85 books258 followersJohn F.D. Taff is a multi-Bram Stoker Award short-listed dark fiction author with more than 30 years experience, and more than 100 short stories and seven novels in print.
He has appeared in Cemetery Dance, Eldritch Tales, Unnerving, Deathrealm, Big Pulp and One Buck Horror, as well as anthologies such as Hot Blood: Seeds of Fear, Hot Blood: Fear the Fever, Shock Rock II, Lullabies for Suffering, Gutted: Beautiful Horror Stories, Behold!, Shadows Over Main Street 2, Horror Library V, Best of Horror Library, Dark Visions Vol. 1, Ominous Realities, Death's Realm, I Can Taste the Blood and Savage Beasts. His work will appear soon in The Seven Deadliest and I Can Hear the Shadows.
His novels include The Bell Witch, Kill-Off and the serialized apocalyptic epic The Fearing. Thunderstorm Books and Grey Matter Press will release a one-volume version of The Fearing in 2021, in limited edition hardcover, soft cover and digital. Short fiction collections include Little Deaths: The Definitive Collection and Little Black Spots, both published by Grey Matter Press.
Taff's novella collection, The End in All Beginnings, was called one of the best novella collections by Jack Ketchum and was a Stoker Award Finalist. His short "A Winter's Tale" was also a Stoker Finalist.
His upcoming anthology Dark Stars, a tribute to that seminal '80s work Dark Forces, will be published by Tor/Nightfire 11/2/21.
His website is at johnfdtaff.com. Follow him on Twitter @johnfdtaff.
He has appeared in Cemetery Dance, Eldritch Tales, Unnerving, Deathrealm, Big Pulp and One Buck Horror, as well as anthologies such as Hot Blood: Seeds of Fear, Hot Blood: Fear the Fever, Shock Rock II, Lullabies for Suffering, Gutted: Beautiful Horror Stories, Behold!, Shadows Over Main Street 2, Horror Library V, Best of Horror Library, Dark Visions Vol. 1, Ominous Realities, Death's Realm, I Can Taste the Blood and Savage Beasts. His work will appear soon in The Seven Deadliest and I Can Hear the Shadows.
His novels include The Bell Witch, Kill-Off and the serialized apocalyptic epic The Fearing. Thunderstorm Books and Grey Matter Press will release a one-volume version of The Fearing in 2021, in limited edition hardcover, soft cover and digital. Short fiction collections include Little Deaths: The Definitive Collection and Little Black Spots, both published by Grey Matter Press.
Taff's novella collection, The End in All Beginnings, was called one of the best novella collections by Jack Ketchum and was a Stoker Award Finalist. His short "A Winter's Tale" was also a Stoker Finalist.
His upcoming anthology Dark Stars, a tribute to that seminal '80s work Dark Forces, will be published by Tor/Nightfire 11/2/21.
His website is at johnfdtaff.com. Follow him on Twitter @johnfdtaff.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 87 reviews
May 23, 2019
I'm really looking forward to writing up my review for Cemetery Dance. I have so many feelings! So many thoughts! I'm actually dying inside that this book is scheduled to be released in 3 more parts after this one--trust me, when you finish book one, there will be a book-sized hole in your heart where the rest of the story should be.
Anyhoodles,
Recommending for fans of epic, apocalyptic horror like The Stand and Swan Song. Also people who love characters you can latch on to--stories that ignite your drive to binge read!
Okay, shutting up. More later. Full review soon! (I think Book One comes out early July)
Anyhoodles,
Recommending for fans of epic, apocalyptic horror like The Stand and Swan Song. Also people who love characters you can latch on to--stories that ignite your drive to binge read!
Okay, shutting up. More later. Full review soon! (I think Book One comes out early July)
June 11, 2019
So yeah, you need this book. And you're going to need all the books that follow. Because this is the kind of horror I'm always looking for and hoping to find. This is the kind of horror I'm constantly seeking, nay the kind of writing, period.
This is a book event that I'm so excited about. And yes, this is an event. Many of us remember when Stephen King released The Green Mile series as a serial. King wrote the book, and then the publisher serialized the story, releasing only a few chapters at a time, making fans wait anxiously for the next installment. I remember each time a new installment was released, and how excited I was to dig into it. I couldn't wait to get back into the story. It was almost like a drug, and each slim new volume was my fix. Well, now it's happening again with Taff's serialized novel THE FEARING.
I read this installment last night, and I was immediately, from the very first word, absolutely hooked and invested. This is an epic tale told from multiple POV's and I love every single one of them. Taff is exploring fear in this novel, and I'm absolutely loving his approach. Fear is something that many of us deal with on a daily basis. Anxiety is born of fear, and those of us who suffer from anxiety can understand how powerful fear can be. Taff understands this very well too, because he's written a book about fear, and he knows how to perfectly manipulate it for this tale. I absolutely cannot wait to read the next installment.
I already know that this is going to be one of my favorite stories this year. It grabs you that quickly. This is an epic event in the horror world, and it makes me giddy. It was a brilliant idea to serialize this story, and I'm sincerely feeling like all of those Victorian Americans who stood on the docks in New York City, shuffling for space and anxiously awaiting the ship to come in with the next installment of the latest novel by Charles Dickens. I would gladly wait on the docks for the next installment of THE FEARING. However, I'm glad that I don't have to.
This is a book event that I'm so excited about. And yes, this is an event. Many of us remember when Stephen King released The Green Mile series as a serial. King wrote the book, and then the publisher serialized the story, releasing only a few chapters at a time, making fans wait anxiously for the next installment. I remember each time a new installment was released, and how excited I was to dig into it. I couldn't wait to get back into the story. It was almost like a drug, and each slim new volume was my fix. Well, now it's happening again with Taff's serialized novel THE FEARING.
I read this installment last night, and I was immediately, from the very first word, absolutely hooked and invested. This is an epic tale told from multiple POV's and I love every single one of them. Taff is exploring fear in this novel, and I'm absolutely loving his approach. Fear is something that many of us deal with on a daily basis. Anxiety is born of fear, and those of us who suffer from anxiety can understand how powerful fear can be. Taff understands this very well too, because he's written a book about fear, and he knows how to perfectly manipulate it for this tale. I absolutely cannot wait to read the next installment.
I already know that this is going to be one of my favorite stories this year. It grabs you that quickly. This is an epic event in the horror world, and it makes me giddy. It was a brilliant idea to serialize this story, and I'm sincerely feeling like all of those Victorian Americans who stood on the docks in New York City, shuffling for space and anxiously awaiting the ship to come in with the next installment of the latest novel by Charles Dickens. I would gladly wait on the docks for the next installment of THE FEARING. However, I'm glad that I don't have to.
January 14, 2020
#1 Fire & Rain ★★★★★
#2 Water & Wind ?
He was too much of the world, and the world was too much of him.
Holy crap, that was such a fun little ride! This was my first time reading anything by John F.D. Taff, but a lot of my friends have raved about his works to me, so I had high hopes — and I definitely wasn't disappointed. The first chapter comes in with a bang, and it's a constant series of twists and turns and suspense from there until the last page.
The story switches perspectives between a few different groups of people, and they're all so varied and enjoyable that there's no one set of perspectives I liked less than any of the others (which is rare for me in multi-POV books!). While I thought Adam's chapters were the most intriguing, the chapters of the group of middle-aged and seniors were the most "true to life"-feeling, and then the teens were just downright fun.
This is the sort of read that you'll fly right through, which is both a blessing and a curse, because now I'm impatiently awaiting my review copy of book 2 in the series and I need to know what happens next! I definitely will be checking out more of John's work, but first and foremost, I have to know what other wickedness he's got up his sleeves for these characters.
Thank you so much to Grey Matter Press for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
January 4, 2020
*This review is for all four parts of THE FEARING.
John F.D. Taff’s THE FEARING is one of the best books I read this year. Though it’s full of grand ideas and scenes of terror, Taff never loses sight of the most important element of any tale: his characters. I loved it. Highly recommended!
John F.D. Taff’s THE FEARING is one of the best books I read this year. Though it’s full of grand ideas and scenes of terror, Taff never loses sight of the most important element of any tale: his characters. I loved it. Highly recommended!
July 12, 2019
My review of THE FEARING: FIRE AND RAIN can be found at High Fever Books.
In May, I was fortunate enough to hear John F.D. Taff read the opening chapter from book one of his serialized novel, The Fearing, at StokerCon 2019. It clearly establishes the character of Adam Sigel and his plethora of fears, and hinges on a remarkable twist that sets the trajectory for what follows. As Taff read the final words of chapter one, you could feel the momentous nature of the work itself and he left those of us in the audience completely wowed.
Reading it myself at home some weeks later, even knowing the reveal, it lost none of its impact. It’s still a sucker punch of a reveal — and it’s only the beginning of the book, damnit!
As much as the book’s opener works to set the stage, it also doesn’t adequately prepare you for what, exactly, The Fearing is or the sheer range of scope this story is being told through. As this is but the opening of a much larger work, Fire & Rain raises a whole lot of questions, ones that I want answers to immediately. By the half-way mark, I was already cursing the wait for Book Two, and wishing I could binge read the whole damn series, but such is the nature is good serialized fiction. And The Fearing is very, very good indeed. It leaves you aggressively wanting and demanding more, itching for your next fix.
At the core of it is a wonderfully imaginative premise, but one that also asks some scary questions of the reader. What are you largest, most secret fears? And what would you do if they started coming true? What if, on top of all that, you found yourself trapped in the nightmares of your friends and neighbors most frightening, awful, apocalyptic worries? Such is the issue Taff sets about exploring in this opening volume, and it looks like The Fearing is going to be a wonderfully epic, high-concept horror disaster story. It’s such a wonderfully delicious premise, and I’m eager to see where Taff is going to take all this as his story unwinds over the course of four novellas.
Like Stephen King’s The Green Mile, Taff and Grey Matter Press have opted to break up the story into a handful of character-driven narratives that will see release from July to November 2019. The schedule looks like this:
Book One: Fire & Rain — July 9
Book Two: Water & Wind — Aug 20
Book Three: Air & Dust — Oct 1
Book Four: Earth & Ember — Nov 11
Half the fun with The Fearing, of course, is in the painful anticipation! Hell, I’m already dreading September’s bye month...
The Fearing has been a long time coming (Taff, I believe, has been writing it on and off for five years) and the author, Grey Matter, and their readership have been doing a marvelous job of kicking the hype machine into full gear over the last several months. Thankfully, this is one of those rare instances where the final product (or, at least, part one of the final product) fully lives up to, and exceeds, the hype. And now, thanks entirely to Taff, I’ve developed a new phobia and now find myself slightly afraid the world actually will end before I get to finish the story.
In May, I was fortunate enough to hear John F.D. Taff read the opening chapter from book one of his serialized novel, The Fearing, at StokerCon 2019. It clearly establishes the character of Adam Sigel and his plethora of fears, and hinges on a remarkable twist that sets the trajectory for what follows. As Taff read the final words of chapter one, you could feel the momentous nature of the work itself and he left those of us in the audience completely wowed.
Reading it myself at home some weeks later, even knowing the reveal, it lost none of its impact. It’s still a sucker punch of a reveal — and it’s only the beginning of the book, damnit!
As much as the book’s opener works to set the stage, it also doesn’t adequately prepare you for what, exactly, The Fearing is or the sheer range of scope this story is being told through. As this is but the opening of a much larger work, Fire & Rain raises a whole lot of questions, ones that I want answers to immediately. By the half-way mark, I was already cursing the wait for Book Two, and wishing I could binge read the whole damn series, but such is the nature is good serialized fiction. And The Fearing is very, very good indeed. It leaves you aggressively wanting and demanding more, itching for your next fix.
At the core of it is a wonderfully imaginative premise, but one that also asks some scary questions of the reader. What are you largest, most secret fears? And what would you do if they started coming true? What if, on top of all that, you found yourself trapped in the nightmares of your friends and neighbors most frightening, awful, apocalyptic worries? Such is the issue Taff sets about exploring in this opening volume, and it looks like The Fearing is going to be a wonderfully epic, high-concept horror disaster story. It’s such a wonderfully delicious premise, and I’m eager to see where Taff is going to take all this as his story unwinds over the course of four novellas.
Like Stephen King’s The Green Mile, Taff and Grey Matter Press have opted to break up the story into a handful of character-driven narratives that will see release from July to November 2019. The schedule looks like this:
Book One: Fire & Rain — July 9
Book Two: Water & Wind — Aug 20
Book Three: Air & Dust — Oct 1
Book Four: Earth & Ember — Nov 11
Half the fun with The Fearing, of course, is in the painful anticipation! Hell, I’m already dreading September’s bye month...
The Fearing has been a long time coming (Taff, I believe, has been writing it on and off for five years) and the author, Grey Matter, and their readership have been doing a marvelous job of kicking the hype machine into full gear over the last several months. Thankfully, this is one of those rare instances where the final product (or, at least, part one of the final product) fully lives up to, and exceeds, the hype. And now, thanks entirely to Taff, I’ve developed a new phobia and now find myself slightly afraid the world actually will end before I get to finish the story.
January 11, 2020
Pretty damn good.
Very easy to get involved in the story and want to know what happens next.
Very easy to get involved in the story and want to know what happens next.
September 25, 2019
I read this book encouraged by Sadie Hartmann’s fantastic review. Boy am I glad I did. There is a publishing event happening this year and that is the four book series called The Fearing. An event that is not unlike when Stephen King was publishing The Green Mile in segments.
The Fearing Book One: Fire and Rain is an end of the world story told from multiple character perspectives in various different locations in the USA. Despite, its short length of less than a hundred pages you are immediately gripped by the characters within these pages while being pulled along by the stories pedal-to-the-floor like pacing. My only complaint is that I wished for more character interaction, I would have happily had a slower pace for more time with them.
The Fearing Book One: Fire and Rain is an end of the world story told from multiple character perspectives in various different locations in the USA. Despite, its short length of less than a hundred pages you are immediately gripped by the characters within these pages while being pulled along by the stories pedal-to-the-floor like pacing. My only complaint is that I wished for more character interaction, I would have happily had a slower pace for more time with them.
June 25, 2019
"He was too much of the world, and the world was too much of him."
The Fearing: Fire & Rain was my introduction to John FD Taff. Sometimes I have a hard time getting invested in post-apocalyptic stories, but this one grabbed my attention. I think this is the first time I've checked out a serial novel, and I'm definitely interested in seeing how it turns out. I'm very curious to know what is going on, and I can't wait for the next installment!
The Fearing: Fire & Rain was my introduction to John FD Taff. Sometimes I have a hard time getting invested in post-apocalyptic stories, but this one grabbed my attention. I think this is the first time I've checked out a serial novel, and I'm definitely interested in seeing how it turns out. I'm very curious to know what is going on, and I can't wait for the next installment!
July 19, 2019
The Fearing so far is fast paced and has left me with a creeping sense of dread for what is yet to come!
The Fear is coming. All of it.
You are going to need to get yourself a copy of this book!
Read My full review here
http://darkreads.blog/2019/07/16/the-...
The Fear is coming. All of it.
You are going to need to get yourself a copy of this book!
Read My full review here
http://darkreads.blog/2019/07/16/the-...
June 28, 2019
"He was too much of the world, and the world was too much of him."
Well, goddamn.
WHY MUST WE HAVE TO WAIT FOR PART TWO?! I NEED THE REST IMMEDIATELY! Ahhh!
Indeed, The Fearing is a serialized release! It's comprised of four parts - this first installment is Fire and Rain, part two will be called Water and Wind, part three is Air and Dust, and the final part? Earth & Ember! I can't help but immediately love those titles. I mean.. COME ON!
Being a serial, this of course made me think of King's The Green Mile. Arguably one of his greatest stories! I used to buy them from the local pharmacy in my small town when I was a kid. One was released each month, but I didn't know that at first. I would go in and check constantly. I'm sure the people that worked there rolled their eyes at the nerd looking for Stephen King among the Harlequin romance and Westerns they always had there. "You, again?!" It felt like torture waiting for the next installment! Looking back, it just made the experience that much more special, y'know? I have a feeling this will be a similar event. The buildup. Waiting for the next fix. Nervous, yet excited of what's to come.
The Fearing is an apocalyptic journey that follows three separate POV's, each one quite different from the other:
Adam Sigel is the main focus, at least within this volume. He is afraid of everything. EVERYTHING. He's an intriguing character, one that is much more complicated than he first appears.
Carli, Sarah and Kyle are high school students that have survived a tornado that touched down on school grounds. They have yet to realize what immense devastation awaits them outside.
The final POV is that of a group of vacationers on a bus tour travelling to Arizona from California when a massive earthquake hits.
"Sometimes the best thing to do with fear is confront it."
This came to me at the exact right time. My anxiety has been especially janky over the last week and I'm sure not unlike many, I find horror to be comforting. Reading horror, watching horror.. it's controlled, as opposed to real life and what terrors come with it. For as long as I can remember, I've always found comfort in horror. It's therapy for me, in many ways. The Fearing was a much-needed session and I am grateful for the distraction!
I fucking LOVED this with the tightly woven storytelling, mounting tension and the thrilling events that unfold over such a small page count. It's a frantic, intense apocalyptic journey that just grabs you by the throat and stomps all over your chest while maniacally laughing.
The Fearing is delightfully fucked up and I am anxiously waiting for part two!
(Big thanks to Grey Matter Press for sending me a copy!)
**The quotes above were taken from an ARC & are subject to change upon publication**
Well, goddamn.
WHY MUST WE HAVE TO WAIT FOR PART TWO?! I NEED THE REST IMMEDIATELY! Ahhh!
Indeed, The Fearing is a serialized release! It's comprised of four parts - this first installment is Fire and Rain, part two will be called Water and Wind, part three is Air and Dust, and the final part? Earth & Ember! I can't help but immediately love those titles. I mean.. COME ON!
Being a serial, this of course made me think of King's The Green Mile. Arguably one of his greatest stories! I used to buy them from the local pharmacy in my small town when I was a kid. One was released each month, but I didn't know that at first. I would go in and check constantly. I'm sure the people that worked there rolled their eyes at the nerd looking for Stephen King among the Harlequin romance and Westerns they always had there. "You, again?!" It felt like torture waiting for the next installment! Looking back, it just made the experience that much more special, y'know? I have a feeling this will be a similar event. The buildup. Waiting for the next fix. Nervous, yet excited of what's to come.
The Fearing is an apocalyptic journey that follows three separate POV's, each one quite different from the other:
Adam Sigel is the main focus, at least within this volume. He is afraid of everything. EVERYTHING. He's an intriguing character, one that is much more complicated than he first appears.
Carli, Sarah and Kyle are high school students that have survived a tornado that touched down on school grounds. They have yet to realize what immense devastation awaits them outside.
The final POV is that of a group of vacationers on a bus tour travelling to Arizona from California when a massive earthquake hits.
"Sometimes the best thing to do with fear is confront it."
This came to me at the exact right time. My anxiety has been especially janky over the last week and I'm sure not unlike many, I find horror to be comforting. Reading horror, watching horror.. it's controlled, as opposed to real life and what terrors come with it. For as long as I can remember, I've always found comfort in horror. It's therapy for me, in many ways. The Fearing was a much-needed session and I am grateful for the distraction!
I fucking LOVED this with the tightly woven storytelling, mounting tension and the thrilling events that unfold over such a small page count. It's a frantic, intense apocalyptic journey that just grabs you by the throat and stomps all over your chest while maniacally laughing.
The Fearing is delightfully fucked up and I am anxiously waiting for part two!
(Big thanks to Grey Matter Press for sending me a copy!)
**The quotes above were taken from an ARC & are subject to change upon publication**
June 10, 2019
So, let’s talk about the end of the world. Apocalyptic fiction has always existed. We can go back to Mary Shelley with her novel The Last Man. Even in religion, we often create an apocalyptic narrative of how our society and our achievements will crumble and fall. But, apocalyptic fiction differs from religious stories. Apocalyptic fiction deals with mankind and how mankind faces death. In most apocalyptic stories, mankind doesn’t give up, at least not without a fight. Even when the planet is in ruins, people always have something to live for. In The Road, we have the father and his son; the father is doing everything he can to keep his son alive, even if it means sacrificing himself. In The Stand, we have the classic good vs evil plot. A flu virus has killed most of the earth’s population and there is a battle among the survivors for who will populate the land. In Swan Song by Robert McCammon, we have the same outline; the world has ended and now the good, will fight the bad in a way that shapes society to come. There is so much apocalyptic fiction to look at, as a society, we fantasize about the end of the world. Well, let me say this. We have never seen an apocalyptic narrative as fitting, suspenseful, shocking, and original as The Fearing by The King of Pain himself, John F. D. Taff.
The Fearing is a unique take on the apocalypse. We’re given three perspectives, the first is on the east coast with our antagonist Adam Sigel. Adam is afraid of everything. He can’t leave his apartment, the city scares him, darkness scares him, and even people scare him. However, one day he leaves his apartment, and he realizes that he can sense other people’s fears, and he can make them face their own fears in the most sinister way possible. Even worse, he loves this power, and he relishes in it. Our second perspective is down in Mississippi where we follow three high school students Sarah, Carli, and Kyle. These students are the only three survivors of a tornado that touches down on their school when they leave the school and see what has happened to the world outside, they realize that things are worse than it seems. Our last perspective is a group of people who were driving to Arizona as a giant earthquake hits California. These narratives are riveting and suspenseful, but Taff really shines with Sarah, Carli, and Kyle. I love these three characters and I’m afraid for what Taff will put them through in the next books.
Which leads me to the next main comment about The Fearing. This is a serialized apocalyptic epic. It will be four books, the first book, Fire & Rain is due out July 9th. Book two will be called Water & Wind, three will be Air & Dust, and the final one will be Earth and Ember. All four books together will create The Fearing.
Even though the novel is serialized, this is a page-turner, and my heart sank when I saw the “To be continued…” at the end. I need more, I haven’t been this compelled to read an apocalyptic novel since, forever. This book grabs you from the first chapter and it refuses to let you go. I can’t say that about The Stand of Swan Song. Those two books take their time. The Fearing refuses to take its time. It lets you know what it’s about and it pulls you in, and there is no stopping it. What follows is a heartbreaking, suspenseful narrative full of characters you will love and hate. Taff knows how to engage the reader, and he does so wonderfully in this book.
The first book involves setting up the main plot to come, Taff uses this as a tool to introduce us to the scenario and the main characters. Which leads me to the apocalypse itself. The apocalyptic event is based on our fears becoming personified. There is something out there which feeds off our fears and uses that to its advantage. I can’t say anything else because there is more to come. Let me just say I am completely hooked, and once you read this book, you’ll be begging for the second book.
John F. D. Taff is the King of Pain, and nobody can take that away from him. He writes emotionally harrowing apocalyptic horror like nobody has before. If the rest of the books continue as this one does, this book will be held in higher esteem than The Stand or Swan Song. This is an epic for the ages, and we are lucky to be living in the time to be the first to read it.
The Fearing is a unique take on the apocalypse. We’re given three perspectives, the first is on the east coast with our antagonist Adam Sigel. Adam is afraid of everything. He can’t leave his apartment, the city scares him, darkness scares him, and even people scare him. However, one day he leaves his apartment, and he realizes that he can sense other people’s fears, and he can make them face their own fears in the most sinister way possible. Even worse, he loves this power, and he relishes in it. Our second perspective is down in Mississippi where we follow three high school students Sarah, Carli, and Kyle. These students are the only three survivors of a tornado that touches down on their school when they leave the school and see what has happened to the world outside, they realize that things are worse than it seems. Our last perspective is a group of people who were driving to Arizona as a giant earthquake hits California. These narratives are riveting and suspenseful, but Taff really shines with Sarah, Carli, and Kyle. I love these three characters and I’m afraid for what Taff will put them through in the next books.
Which leads me to the next main comment about The Fearing. This is a serialized apocalyptic epic. It will be four books, the first book, Fire & Rain is due out July 9th. Book two will be called Water & Wind, three will be Air & Dust, and the final one will be Earth and Ember. All four books together will create The Fearing.
Even though the novel is serialized, this is a page-turner, and my heart sank when I saw the “To be continued…” at the end. I need more, I haven’t been this compelled to read an apocalyptic novel since, forever. This book grabs you from the first chapter and it refuses to let you go. I can’t say that about The Stand of Swan Song. Those two books take their time. The Fearing refuses to take its time. It lets you know what it’s about and it pulls you in, and there is no stopping it. What follows is a heartbreaking, suspenseful narrative full of characters you will love and hate. Taff knows how to engage the reader, and he does so wonderfully in this book.
The first book involves setting up the main plot to come, Taff uses this as a tool to introduce us to the scenario and the main characters. Which leads me to the apocalypse itself. The apocalyptic event is based on our fears becoming personified. There is something out there which feeds off our fears and uses that to its advantage. I can’t say anything else because there is more to come. Let me just say I am completely hooked, and once you read this book, you’ll be begging for the second book.
John F. D. Taff is the King of Pain, and nobody can take that away from him. He writes emotionally harrowing apocalyptic horror like nobody has before. If the rest of the books continue as this one does, this book will be held in higher esteem than The Stand or Swan Song. This is an epic for the ages, and we are lucky to be living in the time to be the first to read it.
June 28, 2019
Author, John F.D. Taff, lives in the wilds of Illinois with his wife, two cats, and three pugs, and has been writing for nearly thirty years, with more than ninety short stories and five novels in print. Taff’s work also appears in Dark Visions I, Ominous Realities, Death’s Realm, Savage Beasts, Gutted, Behold and Shadows Over Main Street 2, The Seven Deadliest, among many others. In 2012, Taff’s collection Little Deaths was named the best horror fiction collection by HorrorTalk. I just finished reading his collection of novellas, The End in All Beginnings (finalist for a Bram Stoker Award® for Superior Achievement in a Fiction Collection) published by Grey Matter Press in 2014, and I’m still in awe. Jack Ketchum called it ‘the best novella collection I’ve read in years’, and I couldn’t agree more. In 2017, the King of Pain returned with his collection, Little Black Spots; fifteen stories of dark horror fiction, that includes the Bram Stoker, nominated short, ‘A Winter’s Tale’. In 2018 The Bell Witch was published (next on my never-ending TBR list), which brings us to 2019 and the book featured in this review, book one of the serialized novel published this year by Grey Matter Press,
The Fearing: Book One - Fire & Rain
.
The Fearing: Book One is the first book that I read by Taff, followed by his collection of novellas, The End in All Beginnings; the constant driving each narrative forward is fear. The latter touches on heartbreaking fears of loss, be it a loved one, a friend, the fear of forgetting or being forgotten, the fear of one’s surroundings, the unexpected, the known and the unknown. Such a small word, fear, a word that carries with it a weight so crushing, for many, it can feel downright debilitating. The characters in The Fearing: Book One – Fire & Rain aren’t afforded the luxury of remaining idle for very long, despite their fear, to do so may quite possibly mean death. As you dive into this novel, you will soon realize that the end is, quite literally, just the beginning.
The novel opens with Adam Sigel who’s afraid of, well, everything. A debilitating, cautious fear, every decision he makes is measured by checks and balances – mulling over worse case scenarios if he makes the wrong choice. At first, I empathized with him, the need to go out and live his life though he struggles to so, however, you soon learn there’s something mysterious about him, aside from his rational and irrational fears or, perhaps, because of them? How his story ties into the narrative, his fear, will keep you guessing to the very end, as it should in a serialized novel, leaving you with more questions than answers.
One of my favorite lines:
‘As silly as it seemed—and it did seem silly, even to him—he was afraid of the dark, the small scurryings and scuttlings concealed by the absence of light, the creaks and groans, how the traffic down on the street sounded angrier in the night.’
Adam Sigel is one of the many main characters in this book, not to the point of confusion, through alternating chapters the reader is introduced to the cast of characters from different parts of the United States, when the end, as I mentioned, is quite literally just the beginning. Taff does an excellent job of plunging the reader right into the mayhem, forcing my fears to bubble to the surface, as I sit and wonder, with great anticipation, what will happen next?
I remember when The Green Mile was introduced to the world by way of a serialized novel, purchasing book one, refraining from reading it until I bought book two, and how mad I was when it was later released as a complete novel. That irritation, however, was short lived when I came to realize how lucky I was to be given the opportunity to experience the anticipation and excitement that comes with, what I call teasers, one book at a time. The Green Mile is one of my favorite novels written by Stephen King, though I was already a huge fan prior to its release. I’m thankful to Grey Matter Press and John F.D. Taff for letting me experience that excitement again.
~Highly Recommend!
Thank you, Grey Matter Press, for sending me an ARC of The Fearing: Book One – Fire & Rain.
The Fearing: Book One is the first book that I read by Taff, followed by his collection of novellas, The End in All Beginnings; the constant driving each narrative forward is fear. The latter touches on heartbreaking fears of loss, be it a loved one, a friend, the fear of forgetting or being forgotten, the fear of one’s surroundings, the unexpected, the known and the unknown. Such a small word, fear, a word that carries with it a weight so crushing, for many, it can feel downright debilitating. The characters in The Fearing: Book One – Fire & Rain aren’t afforded the luxury of remaining idle for very long, despite their fear, to do so may quite possibly mean death. As you dive into this novel, you will soon realize that the end is, quite literally, just the beginning.
The novel opens with Adam Sigel who’s afraid of, well, everything. A debilitating, cautious fear, every decision he makes is measured by checks and balances – mulling over worse case scenarios if he makes the wrong choice. At first, I empathized with him, the need to go out and live his life though he struggles to so, however, you soon learn there’s something mysterious about him, aside from his rational and irrational fears or, perhaps, because of them? How his story ties into the narrative, his fear, will keep you guessing to the very end, as it should in a serialized novel, leaving you with more questions than answers.
One of my favorite lines:
‘As silly as it seemed—and it did seem silly, even to him—he was afraid of the dark, the small scurryings and scuttlings concealed by the absence of light, the creaks and groans, how the traffic down on the street sounded angrier in the night.’
Adam Sigel is one of the many main characters in this book, not to the point of confusion, through alternating chapters the reader is introduced to the cast of characters from different parts of the United States, when the end, as I mentioned, is quite literally just the beginning. Taff does an excellent job of plunging the reader right into the mayhem, forcing my fears to bubble to the surface, as I sit and wonder, with great anticipation, what will happen next?
I remember when The Green Mile was introduced to the world by way of a serialized novel, purchasing book one, refraining from reading it until I bought book two, and how mad I was when it was later released as a complete novel. That irritation, however, was short lived when I came to realize how lucky I was to be given the opportunity to experience the anticipation and excitement that comes with, what I call teasers, one book at a time. The Green Mile is one of my favorite novels written by Stephen King, though I was already a huge fan prior to its release. I’m thankful to Grey Matter Press and John F.D. Taff for letting me experience that excitement again.
~Highly Recommend!
Thank you, Grey Matter Press, for sending me an ARC of The Fearing: Book One – Fire & Rain.
May 26, 2019
I had the pleasure of meeting John F.D. Taff at this year's StokerCon, where he was generously gifting copies to readers. I was so excited to read this, especially after hearing all the buzz from other attendees, telling me all about his wonderful writing skill. This story did not disappoint.
From the first chapter, I was drawn in, and the adventure never let up. I'll be honest in sharing that apocalyptic horror is typically lower on my list than other sub-genres, but this series has me re-thinking what I might add to my TBR in the future. There were several things I loved about this book. One was the characters- there were several that I felt a connection with, and I look forward to seeing how they fare in later books in this series. Another aspect of the story that got me was the dread that I felt early on and throughout the entire story. In several spots, it felt like my heart was pounding along with the characters. The fact that some of the catastrophic events could truly occur really left me shook.
I am eagerly awaiting Book Two of this series, and am planning to order a stack of Taff's other work as soon as possible. Can't wait to read more from the "King of Pain"!
From the first chapter, I was drawn in, and the adventure never let up. I'll be honest in sharing that apocalyptic horror is typically lower on my list than other sub-genres, but this series has me re-thinking what I might add to my TBR in the future. There were several things I loved about this book. One was the characters- there were several that I felt a connection with, and I look forward to seeing how they fare in later books in this series. Another aspect of the story that got me was the dread that I felt early on and throughout the entire story. In several spots, it felt like my heart was pounding along with the characters. The fact that some of the catastrophic events could truly occur really left me shook.
I am eagerly awaiting Book Two of this series, and am planning to order a stack of Taff's other work as soon as possible. Can't wait to read more from the "King of Pain"!
June 26, 2019
Only John FD Taff could create a cast of surprising characters and dump them into a mysterious landscape. The first part keeps you guessing as to what is coming next... and I need to read what comes next!
July 29, 2019
John F.D. Taff and the clever folks at Grey Matter Press have concocted this nefarious plan to drive readers insane by releasing this great big post-apocalyptic story as little novellas. Just enough to whet one's appetite and get you asking a thousand questions. But that's okay. I'm on the hook for the remaining books in the series because this is some compelling storytelling. I would expect nothing less than pitch-perfect writing from the "King of Pain" and in FIRE AND RAIN he does not disappoint. This is a thriller that will withstand the tides of time. Come to think of it, it might even be around long after we're all gone.
Don't wait, don't think, don't breathe. Just get your eyeballs on this one.
What are you afraid of?
Don't wait, don't think, don't breathe. Just get your eyeballs on this one.
What are you afraid of?
June 8, 2019
Full Review To Follow On Kendall Reviews
98 pages of engaging, epic, apocalyptic horror.
How John F.D. Taff has created strong characters and set up an epic horror of near biblical proportions in so few pages is testament to his skill as a writer.
Superb.
I can't wait for Part 2.
98 pages of engaging, epic, apocalyptic horror.
How John F.D. Taff has created strong characters and set up an epic horror of near biblical proportions in so few pages is testament to his skill as a writer.
Superb.
I can't wait for Part 2.
July 10, 2019
I was gifted the ARC and I want more immediately!! I’m holding back full review until release because any reviews now is a spoiler! I’m blown away and apocalyptic horror is some of my favorite kind and this one grabbed me! Adding Mr. Taff to my must read list and you should too! Book one of The Fearing not even out and I need book two, yesterday!
January 9, 2020
Very interesting and intriguing first part of the series. It's a short read and I loved the idea of the story and how it's structured: we follow and see here how very different generations deal with an end-of-world scenario and this is done very well by the author.
I instantly ordered books 2 & 3 and can't wait to see what will happen to our survivors.
I instantly ordered books 2 & 3 and can't wait to see what will happen to our survivors.
June 26, 2019
Man can John F D Taff write. I was hooked from the first page. This is the first part of a serial that will be at least four parts. This book introduced the main characters and set events in motion. Not all of the characters are likeable but the author has made them all interesting and compelling. The pace was just about perfect. The action has just started but I read this in one day. The writing just flowed as well as could be expected. This is the first thing I have read by the author but I look forward to reading more. The only thing I don’t like is having to wait for the next part but it will be worth it. This has my highest recommendation.
July 9, 2019
I’m definitely a fan of Taff’s writing, and this installment of his new serial novel is no exception. So far it’s meeting all of the things I enjoy in a post-apocalyptic read: engaging characters, a large territory to cover, and unusual happenings.
I really like where the author is headed with this one in regards to “the problem” and I’m curious to see how the character of Adam develops as well as what happens to the group of teens...except Carli, ha.
I really like where the author is headed with this one in regards to “the problem” and I’m curious to see how the character of Adam develops as well as what happens to the group of teens...except Carli, ha.
May 27, 2019
I loved this story from the get go. My review to coming soon.
June 17, 2019
I. NEED. THE. REST!!! This is my first book by this author, but it definitely won't be my last. This was everything I wanted in an apocalyptic horror book, and what impressed me more was that the story is only just starting.
The plot was compelling, unique and terrifying! This is being released as a serial and the author did an amazing job of setting the scene for what seems to be an amazing book. We meet quite a few different people but each is setting the scene to a much larger picture. We get an idea of what is happening but I was left with a heck of a lot of questions, and it just makes me more eager to pick up the next section.
The characters are fascinating. Adam is a mystery that I can't wait to unravel!! The others were intriguing and getting to know them through their fear was thrilling. Even though this is only something like 110 pages, I'm already invested in these characters and their story.
In all, this was an unputdownable, absorbing and riveting read. I can't wait till the full story is revealed because it's sure to be epic. Go buy this book ASAP.
The plot was compelling, unique and terrifying! This is being released as a serial and the author did an amazing job of setting the scene for what seems to be an amazing book. We meet quite a few different people but each is setting the scene to a much larger picture. We get an idea of what is happening but I was left with a heck of a lot of questions, and it just makes me more eager to pick up the next section.
The characters are fascinating. Adam is a mystery that I can't wait to unravel!! The others were intriguing and getting to know them through their fear was thrilling. Even though this is only something like 110 pages, I'm already invested in these characters and their story.
In all, this was an unputdownable, absorbing and riveting read. I can't wait till the full story is revealed because it's sure to be epic. Go buy this book ASAP.
June 30, 2019
This was hella good! Can't wait to read the rest of the books in the series! This is my first read by Taff and I'm an instant fan!
January 30, 2020
DNF at 50%. Interesting premise ruined by poor writing and cliches.
The whole high school plot line made me feel like I was reading Twilight. I think this paragraph says it all:
"Sarah was definitely NOT that kind of girl. She was a strict under-the-radar flyer. She wasn't always wearing makeup. Her hair wasn't always done, her clothes not the latest fashion. She was rarely photographed, even by herself, and she had few friends interested in snapping selfies with her."
This is in contrast to descriptions of the cheerleader/popular girl.
Additionally, a woman in the book who is strong willed and opinionated is basically described as a harpy.
John Taff needs to take off his fedora and take a class on writing women/writing in general.
The whole high school plot line made me feel like I was reading Twilight. I think this paragraph says it all:
"Sarah was definitely NOT that kind of girl. She was a strict under-the-radar flyer. She wasn't always wearing makeup. Her hair wasn't always done, her clothes not the latest fashion. She was rarely photographed, even by herself, and she had few friends interested in snapping selfies with her."
This is in contrast to descriptions of the cheerleader/popular girl.
Additionally, a woman in the book who is strong willed and opinionated is basically described as a harpy.
John Taff needs to take off his fedora and take a class on writing women/writing in general.
June 8, 2019
Compelling apocalyptica!
January 23, 2020
rounded up from 3.5
this book scared me to death! i won't be listening to the others for that reason alone. the writing is great. i do plan on reading more from this author.
this book scared me to death! i won't be listening to the others for that reason alone. the writing is great. i do plan on reading more from this author.
June 11, 2019
Ever since I was a little boy, I’ve believed that Hell is completely individualized to each soul unfortunate enough to go there…. John FD Taff may have just proven me correct.
The Fearing is John FD Taff’s new serialized novel and I’m loving the concept. I remember when Stephen King serialized with The Green Mile and at that point, I wondered why more authors didn’t do this… well, it’s been 23 years since then and I still wonder why more authors don’t serialize novels. In this crazy busy world, these short snippets of novels are far easier for the average reader to talk themselves into than a 150,000 word book. Who can resist a book of less than 100 pages?
And The Fearing jumps right in.
You know that feeling you have when you hit the big reveal in a book and you instantly go, “Holy shit!”? Yeah, that happens in the first chapter of this book.
The weird thing is that even though it happens only a few pages into this book, it’s so good, I’m not going to tell you anything more about it, because I want you to have the wind knocked out of your chest when you read it the same way I did.
I’ve already said too much about that.
Let’s get back to what Taff accomplished in the first volume of THE FEARING. The book follows three different people/groups of people. One is a group of high school kids, following a natural disaster. Another group are on a bus when a different type of natural disaster hits. The other is our (so far anyway) main antagonist. There are ten chapters and it cycles through the three groups, telling their stories.
What I loved most about this first volume is the pacing. It’s nonstop. Like I said, we start with a pretty big twist almost immediately and it never lets go after that. As the fears build, the pacing gets even tighter. There’s one chapter that feels much longer than the others and the pacing slows a tad… but the more I thought about it, the more I realized that doing so completely reflects what the characters in that scene are going through. Now I love it even more. That scene is additionally the beginning of the merging of the realistic and not… which makes it even better. I love the order in which the fears build and manifest. I adore the mix of very real world and very not. Taff’s plot construction builds to world destruction like no other. As it builds toward the dreaded words, “To Be Continued…”, the story speeds directly at the wall with a feverish step until all hell breaks loose and we’re left desperately begging for the next volume.
What Taff does best -- in this book and any other -- is to take really well constructed characters and kick the living shit out of them for the rest of the story. The King of Pain reigns supreme… but The Fearing may actually have exceeded the nickname bestowed upon him.
The Fearing is John FD Taff’s new serialized novel and I’m loving the concept. I remember when Stephen King serialized with The Green Mile and at that point, I wondered why more authors didn’t do this… well, it’s been 23 years since then and I still wonder why more authors don’t serialize novels. In this crazy busy world, these short snippets of novels are far easier for the average reader to talk themselves into than a 150,000 word book. Who can resist a book of less than 100 pages?
And The Fearing jumps right in.
You know that feeling you have when you hit the big reveal in a book and you instantly go, “Holy shit!”? Yeah, that happens in the first chapter of this book.
The weird thing is that even though it happens only a few pages into this book, it’s so good, I’m not going to tell you anything more about it, because I want you to have the wind knocked out of your chest when you read it the same way I did.
I’ve already said too much about that.
Let’s get back to what Taff accomplished in the first volume of THE FEARING. The book follows three different people/groups of people. One is a group of high school kids, following a natural disaster. Another group are on a bus when a different type of natural disaster hits. The other is our (so far anyway) main antagonist. There are ten chapters and it cycles through the three groups, telling their stories.
What I loved most about this first volume is the pacing. It’s nonstop. Like I said, we start with a pretty big twist almost immediately and it never lets go after that. As the fears build, the pacing gets even tighter. There’s one chapter that feels much longer than the others and the pacing slows a tad… but the more I thought about it, the more I realized that doing so completely reflects what the characters in that scene are going through. Now I love it even more. That scene is additionally the beginning of the merging of the realistic and not… which makes it even better. I love the order in which the fears build and manifest. I adore the mix of very real world and very not. Taff’s plot construction builds to world destruction like no other. As it builds toward the dreaded words, “To Be Continued…”, the story speeds directly at the wall with a feverish step until all hell breaks loose and we’re left desperately begging for the next volume.
What Taff does best -- in this book and any other -- is to take really well constructed characters and kick the living shit out of them for the rest of the story. The King of Pain reigns supreme… but The Fearing may actually have exceeded the nickname bestowed upon him.
April 25, 2020
Wow!This was an explosion of fears!A nice bus ride home turns to terror for a group of survivors of what seems to be an earthquake that takes California into the ocean.Another group try to help a woman being chased by butterflies,what the heck!?
I think I know where we are headed and I am looking forward to reading the rest of the series.Linda Jones was a fine narrator.I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.'
I think I know where we are headed and I am looking forward to reading the rest of the series.Linda Jones was a fine narrator.I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.'
July 8, 2019
Thank you to Grey Matter Press for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review!
My fear? That I’m not going to give The Fearing the amount of credit it deserves in this review.
The Fearing: Fire and Rain is the first book in John F.D. Taff’s serial. & my introduction to the man, himself. As we speak, I’m placing two of his other books on my Goodreads TBR, because I need more of Taff’s work. & I need it ASAP.
This entry in the serial clocks in at only 92-pages, and holy heck, does each page deliver. With this being only book one, it’s only touching the surface of what’s to come & I can not wait to see what else Taff puts his characters through during this apocalyptic tale.
The Fearing: Fire & Rain alternates between three sets of characters: Adam Siegel, a man who seems to devour & live off of others’ fear & has some wild agenda. Kyle, Sarah & Carli, three high school students that just lost everything they’ve ever known. And, vacationers who have just returned from a road trip, only to witness a gigantic earthquake.
At some point, we learn of the fears these characters have; this is definitely a huge focus in the book, but I can’t give too much away, because #spoilers. One of my favorite things is when stories use fear as a villain (i.e. It by Stephen King). We all are afraid of something, and one of the hardest things to face is our fear.
When starting The Fearing, I instantly related to Adam Siegel. Granted, with the story’s progression & learning more about this character, I can’t say that I still relate to him. In the opening chapter, Taff describes Adam’s thoughts and anxiety so well. As someone with anxiety, I found myself nodding along with each of his many fears — no matter how irrational they seemed. Sure, Adam is a fictional character, but there’s nothing more validating than to hear another person has the same thoughts as you.
There's really not much more I can say besides the fact that this is a phenomenal story & I am beyond excited for the rest of the serial's release. With everything that's already happened in only 92 pages, I can only imagine how more to the extreme this is going to get.
All that fear, all that glorious, wonderful, unnecessary fear.
My fear? That I’m not going to give The Fearing the amount of credit it deserves in this review.
The Fearing: Fire and Rain is the first book in John F.D. Taff’s serial. & my introduction to the man, himself. As we speak, I’m placing two of his other books on my Goodreads TBR, because I need more of Taff’s work. & I need it ASAP.
This entry in the serial clocks in at only 92-pages, and holy heck, does each page deliver. With this being only book one, it’s only touching the surface of what’s to come & I can not wait to see what else Taff puts his characters through during this apocalyptic tale.
The Fearing: Fire & Rain alternates between three sets of characters: Adam Siegel, a man who seems to devour & live off of others’ fear & has some wild agenda. Kyle, Sarah & Carli, three high school students that just lost everything they’ve ever known. And, vacationers who have just returned from a road trip, only to witness a gigantic earthquake.
At some point, we learn of the fears these characters have; this is definitely a huge focus in the book, but I can’t give too much away, because #spoilers. One of my favorite things is when stories use fear as a villain (i.e. It by Stephen King). We all are afraid of something, and one of the hardest things to face is our fear.
When starting The Fearing, I instantly related to Adam Siegel. Granted, with the story’s progression & learning more about this character, I can’t say that I still relate to him. In the opening chapter, Taff describes Adam’s thoughts and anxiety so well. As someone with anxiety, I found myself nodding along with each of his many fears — no matter how irrational they seemed. Sure, Adam is a fictional character, but there’s nothing more validating than to hear another person has the same thoughts as you.
There's really not much more I can say besides the fact that this is a phenomenal story & I am beyond excited for the rest of the serial's release. With everything that's already happened in only 92 pages, I can only imagine how more to the extreme this is going to get.
June 30, 2019
I’m not a fan of spoiler-ridden book reviews, so I’m going to try to give you my thoughts on this title without giving too much away to detract from your reading pleasure.
First of all, let me say a big “thank you” to Anthony Rivera and Grey Matter Press for the advanced reader copy. I read “The Fearing - Book One – Fire & Rain” by John F.D. Taff over the course of a couple of evenings and loved it. I was hooked from the first word to the last.
I’ve read several of Taff’s titles and enjoy his work, but “The Fearing” takes it to a whole new level of enjoyment. It’s a riveting read and one of that rare breed of books you don’t want to put down.
I’m not normally a fan of this style of apocalyptic horror, but “The Fearing” has changed my point of view.
“Fire & Rain” is an apocalyptic tale packed with tension, chaos, and horror. Taff’s writing is vivid and sharp, with no wasted words. The story grabs you by the throat and never lets up from Chapter One,. The pacing is nonstop and I enjoyed the way fear builds and manifests throughout. The dialogue sounds natural and there’s even a little humor. The characters are left in the dark, facing unimaginable horrors in a world where nothing is safe anymore. The series promises to be an epic read. The author places us into a world that is in chaos. The characters are strong, with plenty of depth, and there are many different subplots I want to see explored.
Grey Matter Press and John F.D. Taff have broken the story into four narratives that will be released from July to November 2019. Here’s the publication schedule:
• Book One: Fire & Rain - July 9th
• Book Two: Water & Wind - August 20th
• Book Three: Air & Dust - October 1st
• Book Four: Earth & Ember - November 11th
If I had one complaint about the story it would be three simple words, “To Be Continued...” It’s a story that leaves you breathless and wanting more, itching for the next installment. I’m already ticking off the days until ‘Book Two: Water & Wind’ is released because the concept is so damned epic.
“The Fearing” is good, very good. I already know it’s going to be one of my favorite stories of the year. Do you yourself a BIG favor. Go buy this book ASAP. You won’t regret it. Trust me.
Once again, my sincere thanks to Grey Matter Press for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
First of all, let me say a big “thank you” to Anthony Rivera and Grey Matter Press for the advanced reader copy. I read “The Fearing - Book One – Fire & Rain” by John F.D. Taff over the course of a couple of evenings and loved it. I was hooked from the first word to the last.
I’ve read several of Taff’s titles and enjoy his work, but “The Fearing” takes it to a whole new level of enjoyment. It’s a riveting read and one of that rare breed of books you don’t want to put down.
I’m not normally a fan of this style of apocalyptic horror, but “The Fearing” has changed my point of view.
“Fire & Rain” is an apocalyptic tale packed with tension, chaos, and horror. Taff’s writing is vivid and sharp, with no wasted words. The story grabs you by the throat and never lets up from Chapter One,. The pacing is nonstop and I enjoyed the way fear builds and manifests throughout. The dialogue sounds natural and there’s even a little humor. The characters are left in the dark, facing unimaginable horrors in a world where nothing is safe anymore. The series promises to be an epic read. The author places us into a world that is in chaos. The characters are strong, with plenty of depth, and there are many different subplots I want to see explored.
Grey Matter Press and John F.D. Taff have broken the story into four narratives that will be released from July to November 2019. Here’s the publication schedule:
• Book One: Fire & Rain - July 9th
• Book Two: Water & Wind - August 20th
• Book Three: Air & Dust - October 1st
• Book Four: Earth & Ember - November 11th
If I had one complaint about the story it would be three simple words, “To Be Continued...” It’s a story that leaves you breathless and wanting more, itching for the next installment. I’m already ticking off the days until ‘Book Two: Water & Wind’ is released because the concept is so damned epic.
“The Fearing” is good, very good. I already know it’s going to be one of my favorite stories of the year. Do you yourself a BIG favor. Go buy this book ASAP. You won’t regret it. Trust me.
Once again, my sincere thanks to Grey Matter Press for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 87 reviews