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The Fear #1
The Burnt Watcher
The Excise exists to keep the world safe.
This is done in two ways.
First is the Judiciary.
It understands local law and applies it evenly.
The second is the Watcher.
It understands Fear and fights it mercilessly.
Five hundred years ago the old world burned and the Fear rose from the ashes and the Glass. Watchers knew the Fear and found the ways of fighting it, enabling the world to be built anew.
Now the Fear is a memory, a story to remind people why they should not build with stone. The Watchers have all but disappeared, remnants of a time that has passed.
But in a small village in the west of England a retired Watcher suspects that the Fear is not as distant as people believe.
This is done in two ways.
First is the Judiciary.
It understands local law and applies it evenly.
The second is the Watcher.
It understands Fear and fights it mercilessly.
Five hundred years ago the old world burned and the Fear rose from the ashes and the Glass. Watchers knew the Fear and found the ways of fighting it, enabling the world to be built anew.
Now the Fear is a memory, a story to remind people why they should not build with stone. The Watchers have all but disappeared, remnants of a time that has passed.
But in a small village in the west of England a retired Watcher suspects that the Fear is not as distant as people believe.
- GenresHorror
198 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 25, 2020
1 person is currently reading
10 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
January 27, 2023
Like K.M. Alexander's Bell Forging Cycle, this duology (unsure if the author plans on more books) is set in a post-post-apocalyptic future several centuries after the collapse of our present society in a supernatural cosmic catastrophe and the rebirth of a new, less technologically advanced one. This world is medieval in character with the occasional bit of steampunk, such as a primitive airplane with a propeller. The antagonistic force - a lurking, intangible threat called simply the Fear - has vaguely Lovecraftian overtones that become more pronounced towards the end and hint at the potential return of a familiar entity (NOT Cthulhu).
Many thanks to the random Redditor who recommended this to me!
Many thanks to the random Redditor who recommended this to me!
July 28, 2020
Something strange is going on in the village of Stonehouse and we set out alongside the eponymous Watcher and his two companions, in a very Steampunk contraption, to discover exactly what is going on.
The story is set in a neo-medieval post-holocaust future where things are both very familiar and very, very different. It’s Healing’s skill in conveying the atmosphere of the setting of his story with simple strokes that first catches the reader, comforting familiarity softens the otherworldly strangeness. Do not expect clear explanations of how this world came about, because they are not forthcoming, and nor should they be.
The story’s milieu reminds me greatly of John Wyndham’s The Chrysalids, no mean comparison, in its setting and its moody atmosphere.
The tale itself is part adventure, an exploration of a very different world, mixing both fantasy and science fiction, part detective novel and part horror. There is darkness here afoot and as we get drawn further into the narrative, a subtle dread settles not just upon the characters but the reader too. By the time we are two thirds of the way into the Watcher’s tale that dread has gained considerable weight, and we really need to know what the hell is going on in that village.
Though other characters are well thought out, as with most first person detective stories, we don’t get to really know them in depth, which serves well for that added sense of paranoia – what is going on and who is involved? Suspects, clues and red herrings abound.
I’ve been brought up on detective fiction, SF and fantasy, and I can spot a plot device a mile off and solve a TV murder mystery in minutes, but I must say I was enthralled by this one. Healing plots his story masterfully; something nasty is going on in Stonehouse but the reader is as much at a loss to grasp it fully as the Watcher himself.
I thoroughly enjoyed it and heartily recommend it. It’s clever, intelligent, thought provoking and compelling reading. I loved the post-holocaust world that Healing creates, the character of the Watcher himself, and the subtle way he gently layers fear like a ton of old musty blankets. I look forward to reading the Watcher’s next adventure against his new and terrible adversary with a mix of anticipation and dread.
Don’t go into the woods.
Mat McCall
The story is set in a neo-medieval post-holocaust future where things are both very familiar and very, very different. It’s Healing’s skill in conveying the atmosphere of the setting of his story with simple strokes that first catches the reader, comforting familiarity softens the otherworldly strangeness. Do not expect clear explanations of how this world came about, because they are not forthcoming, and nor should they be.
The story’s milieu reminds me greatly of John Wyndham’s The Chrysalids, no mean comparison, in its setting and its moody atmosphere.
The tale itself is part adventure, an exploration of a very different world, mixing both fantasy and science fiction, part detective novel and part horror. There is darkness here afoot and as we get drawn further into the narrative, a subtle dread settles not just upon the characters but the reader too. By the time we are two thirds of the way into the Watcher’s tale that dread has gained considerable weight, and we really need to know what the hell is going on in that village.
Though other characters are well thought out, as with most first person detective stories, we don’t get to really know them in depth, which serves well for that added sense of paranoia – what is going on and who is involved? Suspects, clues and red herrings abound.
I’ve been brought up on detective fiction, SF and fantasy, and I can spot a plot device a mile off and solve a TV murder mystery in minutes, but I must say I was enthralled by this one. Healing plots his story masterfully; something nasty is going on in Stonehouse but the reader is as much at a loss to grasp it fully as the Watcher himself.
I thoroughly enjoyed it and heartily recommend it. It’s clever, intelligent, thought provoking and compelling reading. I loved the post-holocaust world that Healing creates, the character of the Watcher himself, and the subtle way he gently layers fear like a ton of old musty blankets. I look forward to reading the Watcher’s next adventure against his new and terrible adversary with a mix of anticipation and dread.
Don’t go into the woods.
Mat McCall
August 28, 2020
This is the first book I read from this autor and let me tell you that I loved it! Such a good book, very well writen with great characters that keeps you obsessed with every page since the first one. The story is very fresh and intriguing. I Loved it. Amazing job! definitely a must read!
December 28, 2023
I loved every page of this novel. You think you understand what’s going on in the country but you’re not quite sure.
The characterisation is excellent, the story keeps going at a good pace.
I can’t wait to read the second book in the series.
The characterisation is excellent, the story keeps going at a good pace.
I can’t wait to read the second book in the series.
August 15, 2020
Interesting post-apocalyptic tale which is supposed to be the first in a series. Complex and interesting characters of whom the 2 central characters are older.
August 10, 2020
This book is absolutely in my Top 10 Reads of 2020. For a first-time, independently-published novel, it caught me up in its tale and I found myself trapped within its pages late into the night.
‘Five hundred years ago the old world burned and the Fear rose from the ashes and the Glass. Watchers knew the Fear and found the ways of fighting it, enabling the world to be built anew.’
This may be the calmest post-apocalyptic novel I’ve ever read. It starts long after the Big Catastrophic Event, and reminded me at first of Ellis Peters’ ‘Cadfael’ books: a spiritual man, injured in the course of his work and seeking peace and quiet, pulled into a mystery from a world he’d left behind.
Master Grey is a Watcher, trained to fight The Fear which destroyed the ancient cities and drove all survivors into the countryside. This is recognisably England, albeit with slightly changed names (watch out for the dangers of the M4 motorway!), with technology that is something between medieval and steampunk, born of practicality and without using any concrete whatsoever.
I love how Master Grey leads us through his world. He assumes that those hearing his tale already understand the foundations of his society, so doesn’t go out of his way to explain them – there’s little exposition here. He remembers events and people as they’re important to him, and so the reader is able to build the world he moves through it.
The Fear hasn’t been seen in many years, so the Watchers are now few in number. However, we soon learn that it has certainly not disappeared, but is working subtly in the background while humanity starts to forget. Yes, magic is present here, but in a very practical manner… and scoffed at by the ‘educated, civilized’ folk. Until they have need of it.
The author uses his own interpretation of folk magic such as ley lines and runes to create a very grounded spiritual tradition that quickly seems very natural. I’d be intrigued to see how the society of the book formed post-event, but at the same time it’s tremendous fun to figure it out myself.
There’s a few influences here, I’d guess, but all combine to make a fascinating world. From Cadfael we move to the Swiftian bureacracy of middle England, then on to ‘The Wicker Man’ (or even ‘Deliverance’), with shades of ‘Rivers of London’ and ‘Neverwhere’. I use these as hints, by the way – the book is absolutely its own creature – but if you like any of the above, you’ll likely enjoy this.
Before you know it the gentle pace has ramped up, and by the end is hurtling along as we read faster and faster to see how Master Grey will discover what’s going on, defeat the Fear, and how even more damaged he might be as a result.
I understand that there is a sequel (or two) in the works, and they can’t come fast enough!
I love being recommended new books, and this is one Find that I’m happy to sing the praises of. Absolutely do seek it out.
‘Five hundred years ago the old world burned and the Fear rose from the ashes and the Glass. Watchers knew the Fear and found the ways of fighting it, enabling the world to be built anew.’
This may be the calmest post-apocalyptic novel I’ve ever read. It starts long after the Big Catastrophic Event, and reminded me at first of Ellis Peters’ ‘Cadfael’ books: a spiritual man, injured in the course of his work and seeking peace and quiet, pulled into a mystery from a world he’d left behind.
Master Grey is a Watcher, trained to fight The Fear which destroyed the ancient cities and drove all survivors into the countryside. This is recognisably England, albeit with slightly changed names (watch out for the dangers of the M4 motorway!), with technology that is something between medieval and steampunk, born of practicality and without using any concrete whatsoever.
I love how Master Grey leads us through his world. He assumes that those hearing his tale already understand the foundations of his society, so doesn’t go out of his way to explain them – there’s little exposition here. He remembers events and people as they’re important to him, and so the reader is able to build the world he moves through it.
The Fear hasn’t been seen in many years, so the Watchers are now few in number. However, we soon learn that it has certainly not disappeared, but is working subtly in the background while humanity starts to forget. Yes, magic is present here, but in a very practical manner… and scoffed at by the ‘educated, civilized’ folk. Until they have need of it.
The author uses his own interpretation of folk magic such as ley lines and runes to create a very grounded spiritual tradition that quickly seems very natural. I’d be intrigued to see how the society of the book formed post-event, but at the same time it’s tremendous fun to figure it out myself.
There’s a few influences here, I’d guess, but all combine to make a fascinating world. From Cadfael we move to the Swiftian bureacracy of middle England, then on to ‘The Wicker Man’ (or even ‘Deliverance’), with shades of ‘Rivers of London’ and ‘Neverwhere’. I use these as hints, by the way – the book is absolutely its own creature – but if you like any of the above, you’ll likely enjoy this.
Before you know it the gentle pace has ramped up, and by the end is hurtling along as we read faster and faster to see how Master Grey will discover what’s going on, defeat the Fear, and how even more damaged he might be as a result.
I understand that there is a sequel (or two) in the works, and they can’t come fast enough!
I love being recommended new books, and this is one Find that I’m happy to sing the praises of. Absolutely do seek it out.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews